IGN Video Games

IGN Video Games

Resident Evil 4 Remake Reportedly Getting Partial Development Reboot Due to Internal Disagreements

Posted: 22 Jan 2021 09:10 AM PST

The much rumoured remake of Resident Evil 4 is reportedly seeing a 'partial reboot' at Capcom, and a change in development leadership, after disagreements over its direction. VGC reports that, per sources close to the project, core Resident Evil studio Capcom Division 1 has taken the lead on the project, with original developer M-Two seeing its role reduced. The changes could apparently lead to a 2023 release date. The report explains that, following a project review, M-Two was seen to be too faithful to the original game, with Capcom preferring that the remake takes inspiration from Resident Evil 4, but introduces new elements and features. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/resident-evil-4-is-pretty-much-perfect-but-heres-how-capcom-could-remake-it"] The latter approach was taken in both the Resident Evil 2 and 3 remakes, with varying levels of fan response. M-Two is said to have wanted to stick to the Resi 4 formula due to backlash against Resident Evil 3's changes, which saw portions of the original game entirely removed. The Resident Evil 4 remake has been rumoured for some time, with this year's huge leaks of apparent internal Capcom documents pointing to a Q4 2022 release date. It feels like a likely prospect, not least after the new Resident Evil 3 included a specific reference to the sequel. Resi 4's director, Shinji Mikami told IGN that, "As long as [a remake] turns out good I have no issues with it." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-resident-evil-game-review-ever&captions=true"] [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.

Xbox Games With Gold for February 2021 Announced

Posted: 22 Jan 2021 09:08 AM PST

Microsoft has announced that the Games with Gold for February 2021 are Gears 5, the remastered version of Resident Evil, Dandara: Trials of Fear, Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb, and Lost Planet 2. Announced on Xbox Wire, Gears 5, Resident Evil, and Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb will become available for those with Xbox Live Gold on February 1, 2021. Dandara: Trials of Fear and Lost Planet 2 will become available on February 16. Gears 5, which will be available until February 28, is the latest entry in the Gears of War franchise and has been fully optimized for Xbox Series X/S. In our Gears 5 review, we said "No matter which mode you approach it from, Gears 5 is an incredibly fun and polished game." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/09/13/gears-5-final-review"] Resident Evil, which will be available until February 28, is a remaster of the original Resident Evil from 1996. This news also follows yesterday's Resident Evil Showcase that announced the release date of Resident Evil Village, a playable demo called Maiden, and much more. In our Resident Evil review, we said "Resident Evil does a good job of updating the look and feel of a classic survival horror game for a new audience." Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb, which will be available until February 15, was released on the original Xbox in 2003. In this adventure, Indy must take on Nazis and the Asian underworld to track down the Heart of the Dragon before it falls to those with ill intent. This also follows the reveal that MachineGames is working on a new Indiana Jones game with Bethesda Game Studios director Todd Howard as an executive producer. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/12/indiana-jones-bethesda-game-official-teaser"] In our Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb review, we said "While there are plenty of better games on the PC, none give you your recommended daily allowance of Indy quite like this one. Fans of the film will definitely be able to overlook the minor (but recurring) failings." Dandara: Trials of Fear Edition, which will be available until March 15, is a metroidvania-style platformer that follows a group of unique characters in the world of Salt. It also features a handcrafted pixel art style. Lost Planet 2, which will be available until February 28, is the sequel to the 2006 title from Capcom that takes players to a frozen planet that's being torn apart from the ongoing battle for thermal energy. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2010/05/07/lost-planet-2-video-review-lost-planet-2-video-review"] In our Lost Planet 2 review, we said "Lost Planet 2 plays like it was never put in front of a member of its intended audience at some point during its development... A little "why?" may have taken this game in a different, more compelling direction." There is still time to redeem January 2021's Games with Gold, including Little Nightmares, Dead Rising, and Breakdown, so don't miss out! In addition to this announcement, Microsoft has also announced that it is increasing the price of Xbox Live Gold. Luckily, if you are an existing 6-month or 12-month member, the price is not changing yet and will renew at the value before the update. [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.

Mass Effect 2 Developers Cut Jack's Same-Sex Romance, Seemingly in Part Due to Fox News

Posted: 22 Jan 2021 06:41 AM PST

According to one of the game's writers, the Mass Effect 2 character Jack was originally written as pansexual, but her romance options were apparently changed late in development to only allow for a heterosexual romance, seemingly because of critical response to the first game's sex scenes, and a Fox News panel on Mass Effect. In an interview with The Gamer, Jack's lead writer, Brian Kindegran, said that the character was "essentially pansexual for most of the development of that romance." There are references in Mass Effect 2's dialogue to Jack's interest in men and women, which is why many fans have since wondered why Jack was only romanceable by a male Commander Shepard. Explaining the reasoning behind the change, Kindegran pointed to criticism from media outlets in the US: "Mass Effect had been pretty heavily and really unfairly criticized in the US by Fox News," Kindegran told The Gamer, referring to a 2007 panel about the use of sex scenes in the first game." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2011/03/30/mass-effect-2-arrival-video-review"] "The development team of Mass Effect 2 was a pretty progressive, open-minded team, but I think there was a concern at pretty high levels that if Mass Effect, which only had one gay relationship, Liara - which on paper was technically not a gay relationship because she was from a mono-gendered species - I think there was a concern that if that had drawn fire, that Mass Effect 2 had to be a little bit careful." Kindegran didn't agree with the change, but told The Gamer that it was done in an attempt to "minimize the amount of critique that would be directed towards the community by outlets like Fox News again." "It wasn't like some anti-gay person high up on the Mass Effect 2 team saying, 'we're not going to have that'." Instead, it had to do with the firestorm of controversy that Mass Effect had received back in 2007," Kindegran added. Changes to Jack's romance options apparently came late in the game's development due to the controversy, when the development team were told to "focus the relationships on a more traditional kind of vector." In other Mass Effect news, check out this concept art for the next Mass Effect game, which featured in the book 'Bioware: Stories and Secrets from 25 Years of Game Development. You'll be able to return to the original Mass Effect Trilogy in the upcoming Legendary Edition, which you can preorder now, ahead of its rumoured March 12 release date. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Nuts Review

Posted: 22 Jan 2021 06:00 AM PST

What are all of these squirrels up to? This is the question I asked myself for three hours straight as I played through Nuts, a peculiar puzzler adventure. It tells a tightly written tale that reaches a satisfying conclusion without ever taking too many risks on a storytelling or gameplay level. It's short but sweet, and like its furry stars stashes its most fruitful moments away until the end, just before becoming tired. As a rookie rodent researcher at Viago University, you've been assigned the role of keeping an eye on the squirrel inhabitants of Melmoth Forest, an atmospheric setting that is tranquil to the point of being eerie. To begin with, you must find and follow a single squirrel to its stash of nuts. Sounds simple enough! The problem is that these critters only make their movements at night, so you'll need the assistance of your surveillance equipment. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/nuts-official-trailer"] You'll position up to three cameras during the day so you can keep track of a squirrel and follow them through the trees. Then, once you're happy with where your cameras are placed, you head back to your office/caravan to hit record on your VCR. Positioning these cameras is amixture of methodical planning and trial and error which offers a level of risk/reward if you try to second guess where the squirrel is going. Being bold with your placement can mean completing certain tasks quickly if you get lucky, on the other hand, get too smart for your own good and it could be backtracking your steps to the start which is never fun. You'll then time travel to the evening where you scrub through your recorded camera feeds to spot the squirrel's next movements and start to piece the puzzle together. Once found, you'll switch back to daytime once more and reposition your cameras to follow them further on their trail. Conveniently, these squirrels follow the same route each night, so from here on it's a rinse-and-repeat scenario over multiple day/night cycles until you've found the end of that particular squirrel's journey. [poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=By%20its%20final%20chapter%20I%20was%20left%20wanting%20more%20variation."] This gadgetry forms the vast majority of Nuts' gameplay, and while it's a smart mechanic, it never really develops much beyond that. Sure, your objectives alter slightly from chapter to chapter, but you'll essentially be doing the same things you were doing in the beginning as you are at the very end. Although I enjoyed the flow of methodical and relatively unchallenging puzzles, by its final chapter I was left wanting more variation. The disappointing lack in gameplay evolution is highlighted further when compared to what Nuts does so well. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=nuts-screenshots&captions=true"] Chief among these is its sense of style. Reminiscent (to an extent) of the stunning Return of the Obra Dinn, through a combination of post-processing and edge-detection techniques its a visually striking game that uses colour minimalistically. Rarely are more than two or three colours used in each of the handful of locations, and yet it's done to eye-catching often unnatural results; A burning orange sky may pierce through purple-shaded trees, for example. This often leads to warm, inviting woodland to explore during the day that evokes a sense of genuine calm, but at night a quick palette swap can lead to the same forest giving off an underlying, powerful sense of dread. Key to this tonal shift is the audio design: at night the soothing sounds of the forest and relaxing music are replaced by near silence apart from the odd rustle of leaves. Alongside small environmental touches like half-eaten apples littered around your caravan, Nuts does a great job of making it feel like the squirrels aren't the only ones being watched all the time. [poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=Nuts%20does%20a%20great%20job%20of%20making%20it%20feel%20like%20the%20squirrels%20aren%E2%80%99t%20the%20only%20ones%20being%20watched%20all%20the%20time."] It never veers into straight-up horror though, opting more for a tale of intrigue and mystery. Of course, that mystery all stems from the squirrels themselves and the reason you're spying on them in the first place. You're doing this to aid the Viago University in their research efforts and are regularly contacted over the phone by Nina who essentially acts as your quest giver. She's very well performed and is key to helping you find out about the history of the forest, what's going on currently, and why the squirrels are so important. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/nuts-guerrilla-collective-trailer"] Tonally, it's not a million miles away from Firewatch, and indeed wouldn't feel completely out of place as one of Stories Untold's excellent chapters. I don't want to give too much away about Nuts' story as much of the joy is found in uncovering it for yourself. Suffice to say it's a neatly told tale that didn't quite go where I thought it would, or become quite as bizarre as I'd imagined it might. It's well-written, though, and always had me eager to solve the next puzzle in order to gain a new breadcrumb of information. [poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=It%E2%80%99s%20a%20neatly%20told%20tale%20that%20didn%E2%80%99t%20quite%20go%20where%20I%20thought%20it%20would."] It's hard to avoid the ecological message woven throughout regarding the effects of our imprint on the planet. It's a truly global sentiment created by a broadly international development team: coded in Iceland, written in Denmark, drawn to life in Canada, and sound designed in Germany, it's a testament of what can be made when working remotely, and at a time when spending time outdoors has come at a premium, strolling around a lush forest in search of squirrels seems a great way to escape to me.  

Sea of Thieves: Season One Begins Next Week

Posted: 22 Jan 2021 03:21 AM PST

Cyberpunk 2077: Johnny Silverhand Concept Art Reveals What He May Have Looked Like Pre-Keanu Reeves

Posted: 22 Jan 2021 03:06 AM PST

CD Projekt Red concept art has revealed what Cyberpunk 2077's Johnny Silverhand character may have looked like, prior to Keanu Reeves taking on the role. As spotted by AltChar, concepts found on CD Projekt Red Senior Concept Artist and Coordinator Lea Leonowicz' ArtStation profile provide a glimpse at Johnny Silverhand without Keanu Reeves' likeness. [caption id="attachment_2464136" align="alignnone" width="3426"]'Cyberpunk 2077 Johnny Silverhand Concept Art', posted with permission of Lea Leonowicz. 'Cyberpunk 2077 Johnny Silverhand Concept Art', posted with permission of Lea Leonowicz.[/caption] This version of Silverhand looks a little younger than the Johnny we see in the game, lacking the facial hair and featuring a more toned physique. The character still has his trademark cybernetic arm, and many of the outfits shown are very similar, including Silverhand's shiny pants, red sunglasses and Samurai tanktop. One piece from the 'First Sketches' concept art is a little bit more glam rock than the rest, showing a vision of Johnny wearing a bandana and an oversized jumper. One cool detail that didn't make the final game was a spiked bracelet around the wrist of Silverhand's robot arm. Very Brutal Legend. [caption id="attachment_2464137" align="alignnone" width="1417"]'Johnny Silverhand scene Cyberpunk 2077', posted with permission of Lea Leonowicz. 'Johnny Silverhand scene Cyberpunk 2077', posted with permission of Lea Leonowicz.[/caption] There's also another piece of concept art of Silverhand within a scene, using dual pistols to defend himself in a gunfight. It's a good look at the creative process behind the character, and potentially, a vision of what Silverhand could have looked like if CD Projekt Red chose not to hire Keanu Reeves for the role. In other Cyberpunk 2077 news, here's our performance review of the game as of the 1.06 patch. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/cyberpunk-2077s-current-state-before-patch-11-patch-106-performance-review"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Playdead's Next Game Is A Multi-Platform '3rd-Person Science Fiction Adventure'

Posted: 22 Jan 2021 02:39 AM PST

Some details have been revealed about the new project coming from the creators of Limbo and Inside. Playdead's currently untitled project will be a "3rd-person science fiction adventure set in a remote corner of the universe," according to the job listings page on the studio's website. Within the Technical Director listing the 'Who We Are' section is slightly altered, adding that the game is being "built for multiple platforms on Unreal Engine." The openings also mention Playdead's company culture, noting that the studio's approach to development "does not include crunching towards arbitrary deadlines." Some new art from the game has also been found in the listings, which you can see in the gallery below. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=playdeads-next-game-9-pieces-of-art&captions=true"] It also notes that the game will be published by Epic Games, which we've known since March of 2020, when it was revealed that the publisher would be responsible for publishing the next games from gen Design (The Last Guardian), Playdead and Remedy Entertainment via its Epic Games Publishing division. The game was first teased back in March 2018, via postcards given out at the Game Developer's Conference. We still don't have a name or a release window for the game, but as the studio gears up for development, we'll be sure to let you know if we hear anything more. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2016/06/28/inside-review"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Switch Joy-Con Drift: Nintendo Now Facing Potential Legal Trouble in Canada, US, and Across Europe

Posted: 22 Jan 2021 02:33 AM PST

Nintendo is the subject of yet another class-action lawsuit over its Switch console's ongoing Joy-Con drift issues, this time in Canada. It means Nintendo is now facing down potential legal trouble in Canada, the US, and across Europe. Québec-based law firm Lambert Avocat filed an application to bring a class action suit against Nintendo on January 15, seeking to "obtain a compensation for all Québec consumers who bought the Nintendo Switch™ and Nintendo Switch™ Lite gaming systems, as well as Joy-Con™ and Nintendo Switch Pro controllers." The firm says that drift - which sees Joy-Cons registering analog stick movement, even if they're not being touched - represents "an important, serious and hidden defect" that was not properly revealed by Nintendo. Lambert Avocat is now asking Québec residents to register as part of the suit on its website. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/11/joy-con-drift-is-still-a-huge-problem-3-years-later"] The issue of Joy-Con drift has been rearing its head since the Switch's release in 2017 – last year, we called it a disaster for the Nintendo. It's become a widespread enough issue that Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa formally apologised for the problem. This latest class action suit is just one of a slew of potential issues for the company surrounding the defect. Nintendo is facing down at least four drift cases in the US, with class action suits in Illinois, California, and two in Washington. Two of those suits are now in arbitration, with a judge in the earlier Washington case refusing Nintendo's request to dismiss it. In Europe, Nintendo is being sued by a French consumer organisation because of potential planned obsolescence, compounded by Nintendo's ongoing repairs of Joy-Cons while not providing a more permanent fix. That was followed by a joint investigation by 9 organisations based in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Greece, Norway, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia. The findings of that investigation could lead to further action. At a smaller scale, in the UK, a single customer recently took Nintendo to small claims court and won back the cost of their defective Joy-Cons, and their legal fees. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=a-history-of-nintendo-hardware-1977-to-now&captions=true"] Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser recently said that Nintendo is 'focusing' on existing Switch models, rather than the much-rumoured Switch Pro model. Bowser addressed Joy-Con drift in that discussion, but made no promises about a more permanent solution to the ongoing issue, saying, "We're always looking at what is being sent in and for what reasons, and understanding that better. And without going into any details, it always gives us an opportunity to make improvements as we go forward." While not 100% effective, we have a guide on how to fix Joy-Con drift in some situations, as well as a list of known Switch and Joy-Con problems that could help you diagnose problems. [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.

How to Complete the Resident Evil Village Maiden Demo

Posted: 21 Jan 2021 09:30 PM PST

Fortnite Adds Sarah Connor and T-800 Terminator Skins

Posted: 21 Jan 2021 04:59 PM PST

The newest skins joining Fortnite's growing roster of pop culture hunters now include Sarah Connor and the T-800 from the Terminator franchise. The accompanying skin, back bling, and pickaxe are available now in the Fortnite Item Shop. Sarah Connor was teased earlier on in the season, but now it's official. As with other special skins from this season, Sarah Connor's outfit will come with two variants, a T-800 Endoskeleton Arm Back Bling and Combat Knife. The T-800 skin comes with a built-in Emote, HK Sky Net Uplink Back Bling, and Techno-Grip Axe. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/21/fortnite-teases-terminator-skins-for-season-5"] The theme for the current season of Fortnite revolves around the multiverse's greatest hunters. It's a bit nebulous, but it's a theme that has allowed Fortnite to add skins from God of War, Predator, Halo, The Mandalorian, and now The Terminator. Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 5, named "Zero Point" includes a new map, a quest and bounty system, and the aforementioned bevy of pop culture skins. The season is hot off the heels of the Nexus War season which was entirely Marvel-inspired. [caption id="attachment_2464008" align="alignnone" width="1920"]Source: Epic Games Source: Epic Games[/caption] For more, check out IGN's Fortnite guide for tips and tricks and details on how to unlock some of this season's unique offerings like the Predator challenge and Razor Crest from The Mandalorian. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

Resident Evil Village: Here's What Comes in Each Edition

Posted: 21 Jan 2021 04:09 PM PST

Resident Evil Village is set to release for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on May 7, 2021. If you buy the PS4 or Xbox One version, the next-gen upgrade is free within the same console family. You can preorder the game now. Resident Evil Village is a sequel to Resident Evil 7. Once again, you play as Ethan Winters, a poor unfortunate soul who arrives at a castle to rescue his daughter only to find a new group of vicious, supernatural characters who are eager to torture and kill him. This includes the tall vampire lady who became a meme the moment she made her debut, as well as her daughters, who are apparently made of bugs that can... go under your skin? Like RE7, Village is a first-person shooter, but this time they've added a blocking mechanic that will play a key role in combat. They've also added crafting and an RE4-like inventory system. PlayStation 5 owners can download a demo now, and a different demo is planned later for the previous-gen consoles.

Preorder Resident Evil Village (Standard Edition)

revillPS4 (includes free PS5 upgrade)

PS5

Xbox One / Series X

The standard edition of Resident Evil Village comes with the game itself, along with the preorder bonus detailed below.

Resident Evil Village Deluxe Edition

resident-evil-village-deluxe-editionPS4 (includes free PS5 upgrade)

PS5

Xbox One / Series X

The deluxe edition comes with the game itself, plus the Trauma pack, which following in-game items:
  • Mr. Everywhere
  • Safe Room Music
  • Found Footage RE7 Filter
  • Save Device
  • Albert01Chris
  • The Tragedy of Ethan Winters
  • Max Difficulty

Resident Evil Village Collector's Edition

resident-evil-village-collectors-edition The collector's edition is available at GameStop and comes with all the digital items from the deluxe edition, as well as the following items:
  • Chris Redfield figure
  • Artbook
  • Poster
  • Box and steelbook case
  • Trauma pack (see deluxe edition above for contents)

Resident Evil Village & Resident Evil 7 Complete Bundle

resident-evil-bundle If you missed Resident Evil 7 and want to play both games, you can buy the digital-only Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil 7 Complete bundle. While on PlayStation you get instant access to Resident Evil 7 Gold Edition (and Village once it comes out), on Xbox you don't get RE7 early (you have to wait for May 7 to play both games. It's also worth noting that Resident Evil 7 is available in the PlayStation Plus Collection and on Xbox Game Pass.

Resident Evil Village Preorder Bonus

resident-evil-village-preorder-bonusPreorder any version of the game, and you'll get the following in-game items:
  • Mr. Racoon Weapon Charm
  • Survival Resource Pack
If you place a preorder from the PlayStation Store, you'll receive the Resident Evil Village soundtrack along with the game.

Other Preorder Guides

[poilib element="commerceDeal" parameters="slug=other-preorder-guides&type=list"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert at IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @_chrislreed. [widget path="ign/modules/recirc" parameters="title=&type=articles%2Cvideos&tags=us-shopping&count=3&columnCount=3&theme=article"]

What to Expect From Star Wars in 2021

Posted: 21 Jan 2021 04:00 PM PST

With so many Star Wars movies, TV series, comics, novels, and video games in the works, it's safe to say there's never been a better time to be obsessed with that galaxy far, far away. But to paraphrase Master Yoda, patience we must have. Many of these projects are still years down the road. So what can Star Wars fans actually look forward to in 2021? From new series like The Book of Boba Fett to ambitious publishing projects like The High Republic and games like LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, here's everything Star Wars fans can look forward to over the next 12 months. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-upcoming-star-wars-movie&captions=true"]

Star Wars Shows on Disney Plus

If you're hungry for new Star Wars content (and after the Season 2 finale of The Mandalorian, who isn't?), you'll want to keep a close eye on Disney+ throughout 2021. We can look forward to three new Star Wars shows to debut on the streamer this year, two of them animated and one live-action.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/10/star-wars-the-bad-batch-official-sizzle-reel-trailer"] Most likely, Star Wars: The Bad Batch will be the first of these to materialize. This animated follow-up to Star Wars: The Clone Wars is set shortly after the events of Episode III and follows the titular team of elite Clonetroopers as they seek out a new destiny following the end of the war and the rise of the Empire. We don't know much else about the plot yet, though the first teaser trailer confirms the team will run into future Grand Moff Tarkin during the course of the series. It also remains to be seen if The Bad Batch is a limited series or if Lucasfilm is producing multiple seasons.

Star Wars: Visions

The other big animated Star Wars project for 2021 is Star Wars: Visions. This series features 10 short episodes allowing various Japanese anime directors an opportunity to play in the Star Wars sandbox.

The Book of Boba Fett

On the live-action front, there's both good news and bad news. We probably won't be getting a third season of The Mandalorian in 2021. However, we are getting the first Mandalorian spinoff in the form of The Book of Boba Fett, which features Boba and his new right-hand woman Fennec Shand as they take control of the late Jabba's criminal empire. Look for that series to debut in December. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/18/star-wars-the-book-of-boba-fett-what-could-it-be-spoilers"]

More Disney+ Series to Come

2021 may be lighter on the Star Wars TV front than fans are hoping, but we should at least see new glimpses of other live-action projects in the pipeline. With Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, The Acolyte, Lando, Ahsoka and Rangers of the New Republic all in active development at Disney+, the stream of new Star Wars content will continue to grow in the years ahead. We're hoping to see trailers and other teases for at least some of these projects before the year is through.

Star Wars Movie News

Don't expect Star Wars to return to the big screen in 2021. Or in 2022, for that matter. Between Disney pumping the brakes on new theatrical releases and the effects of the pandemic on Hollywood, we're in the midst of a Star Wars movie drought that won't end until Patty Jenkins' Rogue Squadron movie arrives in December 2023. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/15/star-wars-rogue-squadron-movie-is-not-a-video-game-adaptation-ign-now"] But while 2021 won't bring with it any new Star Wars movies, we are hoping to get a better idea of Disney's future release plans. As it is, Rogue Squadron is the only upcoming Star Wars movie where we have any concrete information. Despite Disney blocking out December 2025 and 2027 release dates for two other films, we have no idea what those movies will be about or who's directing them. Is Lucasfilm still planning an Old Republic-themed series of movies, which is reportedly what directors David Benioff and DB Weiss were developing before they left the project? Is Rian Johnson's Star Wars trilogy still happening? What is Kevin Feige's mysterious Star Wars movie about? There's no Star Wars Celebration event planned for 2021, sadly, but we're still hoping to get some news and plot details about Disney's upcoming Star Wars movie lineup.

New Star Wars Games

2021 could either turn out to be a great year for Star Wars gamers or a fairly underwhelming one. Apart from the news that all future Star Wars games will be united under the Lucasfilm Games banner, we have few firm details on what the future holds for Star Wars gaming. But with EA no longer holding exclusive rights to the franchise, we have to assume the pace of new games will only increase from here.

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is the one video game release confirmed for 2021 (Spring 2021, to be specific). Not just a remaster of previous LEGO Star Wars games, this sequel gives all nine movies the blocky treatment and promises to build on a familiar formula in fun and unexpected ways. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/27/lego-star-wars-the-skywalker-saga-gameplay-trailer"]

Star Wars Battlefront 3

Electronic Arts has been putting out one major Star Wars release each holiday season for the past few years. Hopefully, that trend will continue and LEGO Star Wars won't be the only new game on offer. With Star Wars Battlefront II turning four years old this year, and with the trickle of new content for that online shooter having all but completely dried up now, we're hopeful a full-fledged sequel is planned for a November or December release. If so, fans can probably expect to see the next chapter in the saga of Iden Versio and Inferno Squad, along with a variety of multiplayer modes iterating and improving upon what we saw in the first two games.

The KOTOR Remake

We're also keeping our fingers crossed EA will finally confirm those rumors about a remake of Knights of the Old Republic. It's probably too much to hope that such a remake would actually see release this year (especially with EA prepping a remastered Mass Effect Trilogy), but it is worth remembering the original KOTOR was first revealed at E3 2001. What better way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of that announcement than finally showing off the remake? [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/13/kotor-3-why-it-should-happen-now"]

Jedi Fallen Order 2

Finally, we know Jedi: Fallen Order is meant to kick off a new franchise. We don't expect to see the next entry in this action RPG series to hit consoles in 2021, but hopefully, we'll at least get our first glimpse of Fallen Order 2 at E3 or another event.

Kicking Off The High Republic

Publishing is one area where the Star Wars franchise is coming into the new year with blasters firing. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/27/star-wars-the-high-republic-explained"]

What Is the High Republic?

January 5 marks the official beginning of The High Republic, a multi-pronged publishing initiative aimed at shedding light on a previously unknown portion of the Star Wars timeline. Set roughly 200 years before Episode I, The High Republic explores a period when the Jedi are still at the height of their power and the Republic hasn't yet collapsed into tyranny. The High Republic initiative officially begins in writer Charles Soule's novel Star Wars: The High Republic - Light of the Jedi, which introduces an ensemble cast of heroes and villains and a devastating hyperspace accident that forms the crux of the entire High Republic crossover event. From there, this status quo is fleshed out in other projects like Claudia Gray's YA novel Star Wars: The High Republic - Into the Dark and Marvel's ongoing High Republic comic. These various books aren't telling a single, chronological story, but simply using the new setting and characters to add new layers to the Star Wars mythos. And with multiple new waves of books and comics in the works and even a TV tie-in in the form of Star Wars: The Acolyte, the High Republic era is one fans will become very familiar with in the years ahead.

Other Star Wars Books

If you prefer your Star Wars books to stick closer to the era of the movies, fear not. There's plenty more to come this year. Marvel's monthly Star Wars and Darth Vader comics will continue filling in the year-long gap between The Empire Strikes back and Return of the Jedi, showing us how Luke Skywalker became a full-fledged Jedi Knight and what Vader knew about his master's plans for the Final Order. Lucas Books will also publish the second volume in Timothy Zahn's Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy of novels, as we learn more about Thrawn's life before joining the Empire, and the final volume in Alexander Freed's Alphabet Squadron trilogy. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=star-wars-how-marvel-continues-the-story-of-the-empire-strikes-back&captions=true"]

The Mandalorian Tie-Ins

And these are just the projects we know about. We can only assume there will be other exciting announcements in 2021, including the first comics and novels to spin out of The Mandalorian Lucasfilm previously teased in 2020. We can only hope these new stories will flesh out the respective back-stories of characters like Din Djarin and Cara Dune. What do you most hope to see out of Star Wars in 2021? Let us know by voting in the poll below: [poilib element="poll" parameters="id=4efcd536-adb8-4aab-9c2b-ab72846c1f51"] [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.

Every IGN Resident Evil Review

Posted: 21 Jan 2021 03:40 PM PST

If you're excited about today's Resident Evil Village news, or wondering why everyone else seems to be, it's a great time to peruse our slideshow of Every IGN Resident Evil Review Ever. They range from 2016's predictably terrible Umbrella Corps spinoff to the series high of Resident Evil 4 back in 2005, with tons of good and bad in between. Some have stood the test of time while others didn't hold up past our first impressions, but it's a list that shows why this horror series maintains such a strong grip on gamers' minds to this day. Now that you know what we thought of them at the time they came out, give us your opinion: Which ones stick out in your mind as the most terrifyingly great and the most terrifyingly worst? [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-resident-evil-game-review-ever&captions=true"] [poilib element="poll" parameters="id=86468387-ee39-40b6-a0c3-383fccb1e2f3"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Dan Stapleton is IGN's Reviews Editor. You can follow him on Twitter to hear gaming rants and lots of random Simpsons references.

Is a Switch Pro Coming in 2021? - NVC 544

Posted: 21 Jan 2021 03:00 PM PST

Welcome to NVC, Super Ninfriendos! This week, Seth Macy is joined by Brian Altano, special guest Lily Zaldivar, and… wait for it… Casey DeFreitas! Join the panel as they react to what industry analysts are saying about the likelihood of a new Switch model in 2021. Plus, hear about the extremely limited gold Monster Hunter Rise amiibo, a big name retiring from Nintendo, and a whole lot more. This episode marks the peaceful transfer of power from permanent temporary host Seth Macy, back to NVC host Casey DeFreitas, who we're thrilled to have back. Please, go congratulate @sethmacy on Twitter on his great run!

NVC is available on your preferred platform!

You can also Download NVC 544 Directly Here

You can listen to NVC on your preferred platform every Thursday at 3pm PT/6pm ET. Have a question for Question Block? Write to us at nvc@ign.com and we may pick your question! Also, make sure to join the Nintendo Voice Chat Podcast Forums on Facebook. We're all pretty active there and often pull Question Block questions and comments straight from the community.

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Logan Plant is the Production Assistant for NVC. You can find him on Twitter at @LoganJPlant.

Every Announcement From Today's Resident Evil Showcase

Posted: 21 Jan 2021 02:29 PM PST

Capcom's first Resident Evil showcase of 2021 covered a slew of upcoming projects in the long-running franchise, from the next major installment with Resident Evil Village, to a new multiplayer experience and one of the upcoming RE films. Here's a breakdown of everything announced, revealed, and shown during the showcase, including new gameplay, details, and more.

Resident Evil Village Release Date, Demo Details

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/21/resident-evil-village-story-trailer"] One of the biggest announcements of the showcase, Capcom confirmed Resident Evil Village will be coming to PS5, Xbox Series X, PC, PS4, and Xbox One on May 7, 2021. Additionally, there will be a demo later this spring for all platforms, but PS5 owners can get exclusive access today to the new "Maiden" demo. You can find out all about Resident Evil Village's release plans, including special edition details, as part of our coverage of the show. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=resident-evil-8-village-showcase-screenshots&captions=true"]

Resident Evil Village Gameplay

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/21/resident-evil-village-5-minute-gameplay-reveal"] Capcom centered much of the showcase around a new look at Resident Evil Village (aka Resident Evil 8)'s gameplay. First-person combat returns as players once again take on the role of Ethan Winters, but Capcom has introduced new melee elements like blocking and counters to the mix. We also learned more about the environments, characters, and more about this new adventure, so be sure to read our detailed breakdown of RE: Village's new gameplay, including its similarities to Resident Evil 4.

Resident Evil Re:Verse Announced

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/21/re-verse-resident-evil-village-multiplayer-reveal"] But Village wasn't the only Resident Evil game on display. Campcom producer Tsuyoshi Kanda announced Resident Evil RE:Verse, a multiplayer experience that will be free to anybody who purchases Village. RE:Verse will have beta tests for RE Ambassadors soon, but be sure to check out some of the initial playable character reveals, gameplay, and more of RE:Verse from the show. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=resident-evil-reverse-announcement-screenshots&captions=true"]

Resident Evil and The Division 2 Crossover

Resident Evil, The Division Crossover Ubisoft made a surprise cameo on the Resident Evil stream, with The Division 2 developer Massive confirming a crossover event that will bring RE-themed earnable items to the Ubisoft shooter for a limited time. Players just have to log in to the event in February, from Feb. 2 - 15 to earn the Leon Kennedy RPD Outfit.

Resident Evil Netflix Movie Tease

Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness Resident Evil has long extended beyond games, and there are plenty of other projects in the pipeline. Capcom teased one of those during the showcase, the previously announced Netflix animated movie, Infinite Darkness. Not much is known, but we did get to see some footage of the film, which is set to hit the streaming service sometime in 2021. Of course, Capcom is also working on a Resident Evil TV series with Netflix, which will tell a brand new story in the universe. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Be sure to stay tuned to IGN for more coverage of the entire Resident Evil universe as Village, RE:Verse, Infinite Darkness and more approach.

New Resident Evil Village Gameplay Details Revealed

Posted: 21 Jan 2021 01:53 PM PST

We got our best look at Resident Evil Village — or Resident Evil 8 if you prefer — today during Capcom's livestream reveal event. Here is a breakdown of all the new features, gameplay, and story elements we learned from the nearly 30-minute event. When the rumors began to go around that Resident Evil Village would be more supernatural, featuring enemies like werewolves, vampires (including a popular tall woman we now know is named Lady Dimitrescu), and witches, the internet became abuzz. Those rumors were confirmed during the official Resident Evil Village reveal last year, but that was only scratched the surface.

It's still first-person, but combat has evolved.

Resident Evil Village is a sequel to Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. Ethan Winters once again steps up to the main character role and he's searching for a loved one, again. But this time it's not his wife, but rather his kidnapped daughter. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/21/resident-evil-village-5-minute-gameplay-reveal"] As with Resident Evil 7, Village takes the first-person perspective once again, but Capcom producer Pete Fabiano says there are some new melee elements this time around. A big focus appears to be blocking and counters. During a fight against vampiric goons in a dungeon, Ethan can be seen blocking their attacks before kicking one in the chest. Ethan appears to have learned a few moves since the events of Resident Evil 7. Resident Evil games now firmly seesaw between more action-heavy games and survival-heavy games, and Resident Evil Village is seemingly going for something more bombastic than in Resident Evil 7. Melee attacks aside, enemies seem to attack in hordes now which should hopefully mean Ethan is loaded up with some extra firepower to take on the bigger numbers. So perhaps that's an indication this entry will be a little more combat-heavy. Especially since the enemies are now bigger and more varied.

A spooky village, sound familiar?

The five-minute gameplay video reveals a variety of locations from the village itself, leading up to the castle interiors, to down below in what looks like catacombs or a dungeon. But fans may recall this is not the first time Resident Evil took place in a spooky village and castle. I've been talking around it, but let's face it, there are some serious similarities between Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil 4. Melee-enhanced combat, varied enemy hordes, a vaguely European village in the middle of nowhere? And the similarities don't end there. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=resident-evil-8-village-showcase-screenshots&captions=true"]

What are you buying, Stranger?

Ethan's inventory system for Resident Evil Village gets an upgrade this time around in the form of a, that's right, attache case. The same item management system from Resident Evil 4. This time, Ethan can use the attache case to store weapons and items, but also craft new weapons or upgrades. And helping Ethan with items is a merchant. He's not the same one from Resident Evil 4, instead, he's a new character called "The Duke." You'll be able to buy and sell weapons from the Duke, but I'm sure he'll have more unique wares as the game progresses. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/16/resident-evil-8-village-gameplay-trailer"] Despite the similarities to Resident Evil 4 in some very specific ways, Resident Evil Village is still a departure for the series into new territory. While Capcom has flirted with supernatural elements in the past, this is a full-blown supernatural horror utilizing classic gothic horror elements like werewolves and vampires. And we'll hopefully find out, even more, when Resident Evil Village is released on May 7. Check out the full release details here, including pre-order info that leaked earlier, info about a PS5-exclusive demo; as well as other news from today's reveal from the RE:Verse multiplayer mode, to IGN's full round-up. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

Resident Evil Village RE:Verse Multiplayer Announced

Posted: 21 Jan 2021 01:46 PM PST

As part of Capcom's Resident Evil Village reveal, Capcom producer Tsuyoshi Kanda revealed that as part of Resident Evil's 25th Anniversary, a special multiplayer game called Resident Evil RE:Verse that will be free for anybody who purchases Resident Evil Village. RE:Verse is a competitive multiplayer mode where up to four players will play as one of several iconic Resident Evil characters. While the full roster hasn't been revealed, the trailer shows protagonists like Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Leon Kennedy, and Claire Valentine; as well as enemies like Nemesis and even Jack Baker from Resident Evil 7. Other characters shown include HUNK and Ada Wong, though who knows how many more characters will be available when RE: Verse is released. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/21/re-verse-resident-evil-village-multiplayer-reveal"] Beta tests for select Resident Evil Ambassadors are set to begin soon, so if you're part of the program and have been chosen to test the beta expect invites in the future. Capcom has dabbled with Resident Evil multiplayer in the past. Most recently with the release of Resident Evil 3 Remake, when Capcom released a special game called Resident Evil Resistance. While Resistance is an asymmetrical multiplayer game that pit four players against a mastermind, RE:Verse on the surface appears more straightforward and combat-based. But we'll have more once we get some hands-on time with RE:Verse ourselves. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=resident-evil-reverse-announcement-screenshots&captions=true"] For more from today's livestream including Resident Evil Village release date news, pre-orders, and an in-depth gameplay dive. Or check out IGN's full round-up. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

Resident Evil Village Release Date, Exclusive PS5 Demo Revealed

Posted: 21 Jan 2021 01:40 PM PST

During Capcom's official Resident Evil Village showcase, the developer made a series of announcements, including an official release date, a new PlayStation-exclusive demo, and expanding the line of launch consoles to include the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Resident Evil Village will officially be released on May 7, with pre-orders starting today. When Capcom first announced Resident Evil Village, previously referred to as Resident Evil 8, the company only announced that it will be released on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC. Now, Capcom has announced that alongside next-gen systems, Resident Evil Village will be released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on the same day as PS5 and Series X. Something Capcom previously said it was looking into, but could not confirm. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/21/resident-evil-village-story-trailer"] Furthermore, the PS4 owners will receive a free digital upgrade to the PS5 version, and Xbox Smart Delivery will automatically upgrade the Xbox One version for the Series X. As per usual, Capcom announced multiple versions of Resident Evil Village, starting at a standard edition all the way to a Collector's Edition complete with collector's box and Chris statue. These Resident Evil Village pre-order details leaked earlier, but are now official. Current PS5 owners will also be able to try out an exclusive Resident Evil Village demo today. Producer Pete Fabiano says that the demo is not a slice of the final game, but instead a wholly unique experience. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=resident-evil-8-village-showcase-screenshots&captions=true"] Instead of playing as Resident Evil 7 and Village protagonist Ethan Winters, players will take control of a character called the "Maiden." Fabiano says the demo doesn't have combat, but like Resident Evil 7: Beginning Hour, the events of the demo will likely tie into the events of Resident Evil Village in some way. The Maiden demo is exclusive to the PS5, and Fabiano says a different demo will be released for other consoles at a later date sometime in the spring. For more on today's Resident Evil Village reveal, check out our extensive list of new gameplay details, more about the upcoming multiplayer mode, and our full round-up. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

Apple's VR Headset Is Reportedly Ultra Expensive and Niche

Posted: 21 Jan 2021 12:18 PM PST

Apple is hard at work on its first VR headset, but according to reports this initial product offering will be intentionally high-end and niche to pave the way for a more consumer-friendly AR headset down the line. In a report by Bloomberg, sources close to the matter say that Apple's first VR headset — meant for activities like gaming, videos, and communicating — will be available as early as 2022. And it won't be cheap. This first VR headset will likely be more expensive than rival VR headsets and may only sell "one headset per day per retail store." This strategy is apparently intentional as Apple continues to work on a more consumer-facing AR glasses-type product. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/26/more-evidence-of-apple-vr-appears-crosswalk-bowling-game-being-tested"] As for the VR headset itself, this product is reportedly set to include Apple's most advanced chip and will feature higher resolution than headsets from Oculus or HTC. The power of this headset also requires a built-in fan, a design choice Apple typically tries to avoid. According to sources, versions of Apple's VR headset with its processor and fan led to a device that was too heavy and large raising concerns over "neck strain." Current designs have shrunk the size and utilize a fabric exterior to reduce the overall weight. It will also be a standalone device like the Oculus Quest. Apple has streamlined its headset to be much closer to the face, which shrinks the size of the device but removes the space needed for users who wear glasses with VR headsets. One solution Apple is said to be working on is developing a system where owners can insert custom prescription lenses into the VR headset. However, prescription lenses will open Apple up to additional government regulations. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=oculus-quest-2&captions=true"] The VR headset will feature many of the same features as competitor hardware, but also some AR features as well. The development of AR glasses is early but is reportedly Apple's main goal as the company sees AR as a more mainstream product versus VR. However, releasing a VR headset early will prime customers for what to expect when Apple eventually releases an AR headset, with a planned announcement reportedly targeting 2023. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.
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