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EA Sports College Football Is Returning For The First Time Since 2013

Posted: 02 Feb 2021 09:28 AM PST

For the first time since 2013's NCAA Football 14, EA Sports is returning to College Football. Announced on Twitter via a small tease that "College Football is coming back," EA revealed it will be partnering with CLC - the nation's leading collegiate trademark licensing company - to become the exclusive developer of simulation college football video game experiences. Screenshot_2021-02-02 EA SPORTS on Twitter The EA Sports college football franchise garnered "tens of millions of sales" during its run from 2005 to 2014 and was a "top-five sports title in North America." EA Sports College Football will include "the rights to more than 100 institutions featuring logos, stadiums, uniforms, gameday traditions and more that fans have come to know and love." EA does note that "while this college game will not include student-athlete names, images and likenesses, EA SPORTS is continuing to watch those developments closely." No further information was given on the reboot of the franchise, but EA encourages fans to follow @EASPORTSCollege on Twitter for more updates in the future. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/08/13/ea-sports-boss-ncaa-lawsuit-ripped-heart-and-soul-out-of-studio-but-had-silver-lining-ign-unfiltered"] "We've heard from the millions of passionate fans requesting the return of college football video games," said Cam Weber, EA SPORTS EVP and GM. "We love the energy, tradition and pageantry of college football and I am beyond thrilled to say we are back in development. We have a lot of really exciting work ahead of us, and a great team that is eager to bring a new game to players in the next couple of years." In 2013, the NCAA decided not to renew the EA Sports contract over the ongoing legal issues regarding the use of player's names and likenesses in the game. EA struck a new three-year deal with the CLC to continue making college football games following its loss of the NCAA license, but many of the big conferences, including the SEC, decided against licensing their trademarks for use in EA Sports game, which contributed to the eventual cancellation. These legal disputes and a settlement ended up costing EA over $40 million. The settlement was in regards to former college athletes alleging that EA had used their likenesses (sizes, skin colors, home states, and jersey numbers), but not their names or permission. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2013/07/05/ncaa-football-14-one-hour-of-gameplay"] In our NCAA Football 14 review, which featured Michigan's Denard Robinson on the cover, we said "NCAA Football is hitting the glass ceiling of this console cycle. The gameplay itself is better and more refined each time the game is released, but when it's surrounded by dated visuals, dated audio, dated modes, what's a fan to do? There's a good football game here, but it's far from an impressive package." For more on the EA Sports College Football saga, check out our IGN Unfiltered episode with EA Sports EVP and GM Cam Weber on how the NCAA lawsuit ripped the "heart and soul" out of the studio, but how it also had a silver lining. [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 Legendary Edition Is Up for Preorder

Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:15 AM PST

Mass Effect Legendary Edition is set to release for PS4, Xbox One, and PC on May 14. BioWare says the game will also run on PS5 and Xbox Series X, with "targeted enhancements." Mass Effect Legendary Edition preorders are now available for all platforms (see it on Amazon). This new collection features the single-player content from all three games, plus all the DLC, promo weapons, armor, and packs made available since their original release. All content from all of the games will be fully remastered, with cleaner textures, faster frame rates, and 4K UHD optimization. If you're ready to lock in a copy of Mass Effect Legendary Edition for yourself, read on to see where it's available, what comes with it, and how much it costs.

Preorder Mass Effect Legendary Edition

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/02/mass-effect-legendary-edition-official-trailer"]

PS4 / PS5

Xbox One / Xbox Series X

PC

So far, no preorder bonuses, extras, or anything fancy has been announced to come alongside Mass Effect Legendary Edition. But just getting the full trilogy in 4K UHD should be good enough for many fans of the Commander Shepard saga. If BioWare announces any extra bells and whistles, we'll update this page here. BioWare announced Mass Effect Legendary Edition with a tweet and a blog post in November. In addition to the remastered Mass Effect trilogy, EA has also announced a new Mass Effect is in the works, though it's still early in production.

Mass Effect Legendary Cache

mass-effect-legendary-cache Releasing alongside the game is the Mass Effect Legendary Cache. It doesn't include the game, so it's meant to be a collectible supplement to it. And if you buy it at the Bioware Gear store, you get an additional exclusive art print. Here's what's included in all versions of it:
  • Mass Effect Legendary Edition Metal Game Case (Game not included)
  • Wearable N7 Helmet
  • Morality Spinner Pin
  • N7 Acceptance Letter
  • Canvas Art Print
  • Comes in a full color custom box featuring the game's key art

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"]

Red Dead Online: Claim a Special Gift Bundle, 2X Rewards for Head For The Hills, and More

Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:15 AM PST

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition First Impressions: Less Than a Remake, but Much More Than a Basic Remaster

Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:00 AM PST

When work was first getting underway on Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, the new remastered collection due in May, BioWare had a conversation with Epic, creators of the Unreal Engine that Mass Effect 1-3 were built on. The team wanted to know if it would be feasible to use Unreal Engine 4 for the remasters, in effect rebuilding Mass Effect on modern technology. The possibilities were tantalizing — Unreal Engine 4 is a substantial step up from its predecessor — but ultimately BioWare opted to stick with the Unreal Engine 3 that underpinned the trilogy from its debut in 2007. "[I]t very quickly became clear that level of jump would really change fundamentally what the series was; how it felt, how it played," Director Mac Walters told IGN. "A really crisp example of that would be if you look at the Kismit scripting language, it's a visual scripting language from [Unreal Engine 3], there's no real copy-paste for that to go into Unreal Engine 4, meaning that every moment, every scene… everything would have had to essentially be redone from scratch. We knew at that point that we'd really sort of start to take away the essence and spirit of what the trilogy was." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/02/mass-effect-legendary-edition-official-trailer"] BioWare's decision not to use Unreal Engine 4 is emblematic of its approach to Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, which aims to modernize the trilogy for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC without completely rebuilding it. It's a collection that definitely makes some measurable improvements to the original games, but fights to keep its ambitions restrained and practical. If there's one word to associate with Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, it would probably be "pragmatic" — a response, perhaps, to BioWare's recent history of having some of its wilder ambitions backfire spectacularly. [poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=Some%20substantial%20changes%20are%20coming%20to%20the%20trilogy%2C%20particularly%20the%20original%20game."] Still, while Mass Effect: Legendary Edition isn't quite the giant leap that fans might have hoped for — that will likely have to wait until the announced-but-still-untitled Mass Effect 4 is ready for release — it's also much more than your typical remaster. Some substantial changes are coming to the trilogy, particularly the original game, and they are changes that are in many instances long overdue.

Remaster vs. Remake

"The one thing you realize when you start to really dig into this is that there's so many quite complex interconnected systems," Lead Environmental Artist Kevin Meek tells IGN. Meek is further explaining BioWare's decision to stick with Unreal Engine 3 rather than move to the more modern and powerful Unreal Engine 4. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=mass-effect-legendary-edition-comparison-screenshots&captions=true"] If BioWare had opted to go with Unreal Engine 4, he says, the team would have had to completely remake elements like the conversation trees, a process that Meek describes as "death by a thousand cuts." Suffice it to say that recent experiences on that front have not been good for BioWare. A little less than two years ago — not long before work began on Mass Effect: Legendary Edition — BioWare released Anthem, a case study in a project's ambitions running wild. [poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=Project%20director%20Mac%20Walters%20likens%20it%20to%20restoring%20a%20beautiful%2C%20beloved%20car%20that%E2%80%99s%20been%20buried%20in%20concrete."] Adding to BioWare's determination to keep the project's ambitions firmly under control was the Mass Effect trilogy being somewhat unique from a technological standpoint, particularly the original game. Meek talks about how the original Mass Effect's big finale, in which Shepard fights across the exterior of the Citadel, would be a "significant undertaking" in Unreal Engine 4 or Frostbite. Much of the battle takes place in zero gravity, with Biotics being capable of flinging enemies into space as the whole level rotates at 90 degrees. "I think especially with Mass Effect 1, there's just this feeling that I think people were a little bit naive about it. It was the first time going into a new engine. A lot of the guys making these levels were relatively fresh out of school," Meek says. "Sometimes the stuff they were able to pull off was because they kind of didn't know any better, and just kind of went headstrong into something crazy. So taking the houseplans and completely rebuilding it again somewhere else, I think you end up losing a lot of that soul, that naivete that they might have had that made it so successful and gave it that atmosphere, that feeling." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=mass-effect-legendary-edition-screenshots&captions=true"] With a total remake out of the question, BioWare instead turned to enhancing what was already there. An A.I. up-res program was used to enhance the texture resolution by as much as 16 times, whereupon BioWare went through and touched up virtually every enemy, gun, and piece of armor across the first two games, and much of the third. The team also unified the customization options across all three games, including the updated version of female Shepard introduced in Mass Effect 3, while adding new skin and hair options. By BioWare standards, it's come together rather quickly, with Walters crediting former General Manager and Mass Effect 1 Project Director Casey Hudson — who returned for a second stint with BioWare before departing again late last year — with helping to push it over the finish line. But the challenges of updating it have proven interesting, to say the least. Walters likens it to restoring a beautiful, beloved car that's been buried in concrete, with the team constantly uncovering proprietary tools written specifically for one version of another. And with all three games being unified in one release, BioWare had to be careful about making wholesale changes to elements like animation, calling it a "house of cards that could affect every character across the game."

Rebuilding the Original Mass Effect

The somewhat ramshackle nature of the original trilogy's development is most evident in the original Mass Effect, which was first released on Xbox 360 all the way back in 2007. The original game was replete with bugs and framerate issues, and the human characters had glassy eyes that made them look like aliens. It was kind of miserable to play from a technical perspective even when it first came out, which was a big reason why the more polished sequel was so well received when it arrived a few years later. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2012/02/15/mass-effect-in-5-minutes"] If there was any one element that Mass Effect: Legendary Edition needed to get right, it was updating the original game, and it was to that task that BioWare devoted a large portion of its limited resources. Everything from the character models to stages like Eden Prime, which has gone from something akin to Star Trek's Planet Hell to more of a verdant forest planet, has received updates. That includes the gameplay, which has been the subject of so much controversy over the years. [poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=Pretty%20much%20everyone%20agrees%20that%20the%20first%20Mass%20Effect%20needs%20to%20be%20updated%2C%20but%20doing%20so%20in%20a%20way%20that%20doesn%E2%80%99t%20alienate%20one%20side%20or%20another%20is%20easier%20said%20than%20done."] It's been a trickier task than most would imagine. The first Mass Effect still has its share of fervent supporters who feel that the sequels dispensed with too many of the RPG elements, such as stats-based gunplay, that defined the original. Pretty much everyone agrees that the first Mass Effect needs to be updated, but doing so in a way that doesn't alienate one side or another is easier said than done. "With Mass Effect 1 gameplay we had people who said we should throw it out and bring in [Mass Effect: Andromeda] gameplay somehow, to people who said it was their favorite and we shouldn't touch it at all," Meek says. "What we've done is through a series of small changes is remove all that friction, where cameras will be tracking nicely behind you and interpolating your movement, or entering into cover a little bit easier. Being able to command your squadmates using your different keys where it needed to be. None of these move you too far away from the soul and what it was before, but it all starts to combine together to a point where going back to the original game to capture footage feels clunky, and hard to move around... it doesn't feel nice in comparison. I think if we had thrown out the system, we would have definitely lost a lot of people on the 'Mass Effect 1 is my favorite game' side." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/11/mass-effect-new-installment-announcement-trailer"] The changes are indeed numerous. Improvements include an auto-aim system, more consistent auto save points, and refinements to some of the more frustrating boss encounters, like the fight with Benezia. The infamous elevator rides, which could take more than a minute in the original game, now take fewer than 15 seconds and can be skipped to boot. The once clumsy inventory system is now more in line with that of the PC version, and according to Walters features additional improvements that are designed to smooth away the rough edges without "tearing the whole thing down." The gunplay, another point of contention in the original game, has similarly seen major changes. Class-based aim penalties have been removed, meaning that a Vanguard can now effectively carry a sniper rifle. You still can't train up weapons that aren't in your class, but "at least you won't feel completely useless," Walters says. "The old one I always complained about was that you lined up someone dead to rights with your sniper rifle and yet you still missed," an experience to which many Mass Effect fans can surely relate. [poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=If%20there%E2%80%99s%20any%20reason%20to%20pick%20up%20Mass%20Effect%3A%20Legendary%20Edition%2C%20it%20may%20be%20to%20experience%20the%20original%20game%20again%20with%20fresh%20eyes."] Don't worry though, the old aim cone is still there, it's just "more generous than it used to be," Walters says. "[I]t feels more like the aim expression is more tied to your ability, and less tied to some number you don't see in the background. But for the most part all of the stats, leveling up, and managing your squadmates, we've kept true to that." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=mass-effect-next-chapter-game-award-trailer-screenshots&captions=true"] If there's any reason to pick up Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, it may be to experience the original game again with fresh eyes. Certainly, this is the most attractive the original game has ever looked, running at up to 4K and 60fps with tonemapping, subsurface scattering, depth of field, bloom, and all manner of other enhancements. Even the clumsy Mako, so long the bane of major combat engagements, is getting updated physics, as well as improved controls. According to Walters, more than a few playtesters say that the original Mass Effect is now their favorite game. No more firing up the old Genesis Comic to roll up a new character and move straight to Mass Effect 2. But of course, you can do that as well in Legendary Edition, if that's what you really want.

The Problem of Multiplayer

On the flipside, the collection's one really glaring omission is Mass Effect 3's multiplayer, which remains popular with a small but dedicated group of fans. The original featured an extensive PvE mode in which up to four players could battle against waves of Reapers, Collectors, and other enemies. It included multiple character classes and races, and progress tied into the single-player campaign's "Galactic Readiness" rating. The decision to leave it out of the Legendary Edition was ultimately a matter of "knowing where to draw the line," Walters says. "It obviously had a lot of challenges. Everything from what you do with crossplay, because that's kind of an expectation now; what you do with people who are still playing multiplayer now — how do you honor that, how do you bring them in, can we somehow bridge that gap? And of course these aren't insurmountable challenges, there are things that we can do to fix that problem and get multiplayer in there. But when you look at the amount of effort that it was going to take to do that, it was easily commensurate if not greater than uplifting all of Mass Effect 1, and I think our focus was on the single-player experience." [poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=The%20collection%E2%80%99s%20one%20really%20glaring%20omission%20is%20Mass%20Effect%203%E2%80%99s%20multiplayer."] With the single-player comprising the bulk of the original trilogy's appeal, it's an understandable decision. Still, it's a shame given that Mass Effect 3's multiplayer is actually really good. The Legendary Edition was a great opportunity to bring the mode, which still holds up, back in a big way. Instead, it's apt to fade out of memory, an increasingly obscure footnote in the overall history of the series. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-mass-effect-review&captions=true"] But like the decision to use Unreal Engine 3 instead of Unreal Engine 4, it speaks to BioWare's priorities for the Legendary Edition. Multiplayer would have added a tremendous amount of weight to a project that the team wanted to be as lean and efficient as possible. It just wasn't going to fit.

Will Mass Effect Still Be Legendary?

If there's one thing that stands out about Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, it's how much care BioWare takes to set expectations for this collection. It's not a remake. It's not being remastered in Unreal Engine 4. It won't have multiplayer. It won't immediately be on Switch, nor will it be available natively on next-gen consoles ("I think it's just a bridge too far," Walter says of the latter). It will, to be clear, run in compatibility mode on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Asked why the team fought to keep the scope as narrow and defined as possible, Walters says, "I think it's kind of what Kevin was getting at before in asking where you draw the line. I could really imagine us trying to chase the magic the first game had. [...] Once you go beyond that, every question comes into play. If this scene is going to change anyway, why don't we change the dialogue? I never really liked that actor, why don't we get a different actor? At some point it's not what we had originally, and at that point you do lose the magic of the original, in my opinion." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=nzxt-mass-effect-h510i-limited-edition-case&captions=true"] Ultimately, the success of Mass Effect: Legendary Edition will largely depend on how the original game turns out. If BioWare manages to navigate the equivalent of the debris field from famous Mass Effect 2's Suicide Mission, the collection as a whole will probably be seen as a success. If it isn't up to snuff, the Legendary Edition's pragmatic approach will feel limited rather than smart. One way or another, Shepard's adventures have needed a modern update for a while now, and mods can only do so much. Mass Effect continues to be one of BioWare's most enduring works, and it deserves to be experienced and appreciated in 2021. In that at least, the release Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is extremely welcome, no matter how pragmatic it might be. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Kat Bailey is the former Editor-in-Chief of US Gamer and the creator of the Axe of the Blood God RPG podcast. Talk RPGs with her on Twitter at @The_Katbot and catch her on Twitch.

Why Mass Effect Legendary Edition Won't Come to PS5 and Xbox Series X

Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:00 AM PST

Though Mass Effect: Legendary Edition will be forward-compatible with PS5 and Xbox Series X when it launches this year, BioWare currently has no plans for a dedicated next-gen release or an eventual optimization patch. In an interview with IGN, director Mac Walters said that a full-on next-gen launch of the collection was "just a bridge too far." "To me if I'm buying a game on this next-generation of hardware, I expect a lot from it, and I think it's more than what we could have pushed [Unreal Engine 3] to do, and again more than we could've done with a true remaster," he said. "To me it would have felt a little disingenuous. I think it's better suited for the next Mass Effect." Walters also denied that BioWare was considering an eventual optimization patch instead -- at least not for the time being. However, he added that the game would experience some next-gen hardware perks for those playing on PS5 or Xbox Series X. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/30/mass-effect-legendary-edition-is-now-available-for-preorder"] "We'll wait and see," he said. "But we have some targeted unleashing of the game so that it will leverage a little bit more power of the next-gen series beyond just the faster load times you'd expect from SSD. There are some things that'll let you get to higher framerates, keep resolution higher, and stuff like that. So it should be a more optimized experience, but at this point nothing in the future." Today, BioWare also announced that Mass Effect: Legendary Edition will officially launch on May 14, 2021. The collection includes all single-player base content and DLC from the first three Mass Effect games, and will feature improved framerates and 4K Ultra HD optimization. Though it is officially launching on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, BioWare confirmed in its original announcement that it will be forward-compatible on next-gen consoles with some "targeted enhancements." You can pre-order Mass Effect: Legendary Edition using our pre-order guide. BioWare also announced a new Mass Effect game at last year's The Game Awards, which is currently in "early production." [poilib element="accentDivider"] Rebekah Valentine is a news reporter with IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.

Mass: Effect Legendary Edition May Release Date Announced

Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:00 AM PST

For those looking to re-experience the acclaimed trilogy or jump in for the first time, EA and BioWare have announced that the Mass Effect Legendary Edition collection will be available worldwide on May 14 for PC via Origin and Steam, PS4, and Xbox One. While there won't be specific next-gen versions available, the Legendary Edition will be available to play on PS5 and Xbox Series X and S via backward compatibility. EA has confirmed that the Legendary Edition includes the single-player content for Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3, along with more than 40 pieces of downloadable content, including story expansions, weapons, and armor packs, and all the content will be playable in 4K Ultra HD with HDR according to EA. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/30/mass-effect-legendary-edition-is-now-available-for-preorder"] The entire collection includes "remastered character models and tens of thousands of up-rezzed textures. Improvements to shaders and VFX, updated lighting and improved dynamic shadows, volumetrics and depth-of-field" according to the announcement, with pre-rendered cinematics also enhanced. Specifically for the original Mass Effect, EA announced it will have "comprehensive world-building enhancements with added detail and depth to locations like Eden Prime, Ilos and Feros," alongside improved interfaces and UI, plus a ton of quality of life additions. EA has also confirmed that the original Mass Effect's combat and exploration have been "modernized" with better aiming, squad controls and behavior, Mako handling, and cameras. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-mass-effect-review&captions=true"] Character creator options will work across all three games, and those creation options include "improved and expanded selection of hair, makeup, and skin tone options," with Female Shepard from ME3 becoming the default female Shepard option for all three games. For more on the Legendary Edition, find out why Mass Effect won't have dedicated PS5 and Xbox Series versions, and learn about how the devs are treating the canon ending of Mass Effect 3 in the Legendary Edition. The Legendary Edition previously went up for preorder early in January, following the Mass Effect trilogy's return announcement last November. And it's not the only project in the franchise in the works - alongside the Legendary Edition's announcement, BioWare confirmed a "veteran team" is working on a new Mass Effect, too. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor, host of Podcast Beyond!, and PlayStation lead. Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.

Mass Effect 3 Extended Cut Ending Is 'Part of the Canon' in Legendary Edition

Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:00 AM PST

When Mass Effect: Legendary Edition launches in May, it will include all of the content from the original Mass Effect Trilogy and its DLC -- including, BioWare confirmed, the Extended Cut's additional fourth ending. Speaking to IGN, project director Mac Walters said the decision stemmed from a desire to include as much of the DLC content as possible within the collection as if players had downloaded that content from the outset. "For the people who had an extended cut, that became the experience for them, and so that will be the experience for everyone who is playing the Legendary Edition as well," he said. "And ultimately...you finish a game and there are things you wish you had been able to do or things you want to add on, and to me that Extended Cut was that opportunity to add a little bit more love and a little bit more context around the ending. So to me that is part of the canon." Mass Effect 3's endings were famously controversial upon release, with director Casey Hudson defending the game at the time. The subsequent Expanded Cut was released to add more context to those endings: " It does not fundamentally change the endings," read a 2012 press release, "but rather it expands on the meaning of the original endings, and reveals greater detail on the impact of player decisions." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/02/mass-effect-legendary-edition-official-trailer"] Walters also confirmed to IGN that Mass Effect: Legendary Edition would not only include content added to the original games later via DLC, but would also include a few small, brand new tweaks to gameplay -- specifically to certain boss fights that were unnecessarily frustrating for players. As an example, Walters pointed to the fight against Asari Matriarch Benezia in Mass Effect 1. "A lot of people were very frustrated due to a number of things: there's the lack of cover in that fight so you're constantly getting flanked; her ability to almost immobilize you almost right off the bat," he said. "So tuning some of those. Not so much that the fight isn't still a hard fight -- it should be a hard fight -- but just so that you couldn't be knocked completely on your back right away. "And also, just on the frustration side of it, adding in discrete autosaves at certain points as well. I believe in that one specifically you had to backtrack quite a ways if you lost that fight, and now if you lose it first time, you just start over with the fight; you don't have to go through all the scenes. So things like that. And then it would vary depending on the boss fight what we would try to do, a lot of times it's around just making sure the player has enough cover and then tuning things accordingly." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/30/mass-effect-legendary-edition-is-now-available-for-preorder"] Today, BioWare announced that Mass Effect: Legendary Edition will launch on May 14, 2021 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and while it is forward-compatible with next-gen consoles, the studio also confirmed today it does not currently have plans for a dedicated next-gen release or optimization patch. Legendary Edition includes all single-player base and DLC content from the original Mass Effect trilogy, remastered with improvements such as better framerate and 4K Ultra HD optimization. It's available for pre-order now using our pre-order guide, and you can read our first impressions of the collection here. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Rebekah Valentine is a news reporter with IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.

Quantic Dream's David Cage Discusses New Montreal Studio and Unannounced Game

Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:00 AM PST

Quantic Dream, the studio behind AAA narrative adventures like Heavy Rain and Detroit: Become Human, has long been one of France's most famous video game developers. Now, they're expanding into North America with the announcement of a new studio in Montreal, Canada. Founded by David Cage in 1997, Quantic Dream has made a name for itself with story-driven, graphically sophisticated titles, most recently with Detroit: Become Human. For its Montreal studio, Square Enix Montreal founder and Eidos Montreal alumn Stéphane D'Astous has been tapped as General Manager for the new location. Yohan Cazaux, Project Lead Designer on Assassin's Creed Valhalla, will also join as Gameplay Director for a new, unannounced project in development at Quantic Dream. IGN spoke exclusively with Quantic Dream founder and CEO David Cage, Co-CEO Guillaume de Fondaumière, and D'Astous about the new Montreal location, Quantic Dream's goals for the location, and its future now that it is a third-party studio. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=quantic-dream-montreal&captions=true"]

The Relationship Between Quantic Dream Montreal and Paris

Quantic Dream games have been lauded for innovations in technology and visual storytelling. As such, there's often a long time between the release of Quantic Dream titles. Cage says that despite opening a new, "human-sized" studio, the goal isn't simply to make games faster: "With this opening, we are following a long-term vision to seek the best and most experienced talents having specific expertise, people who are passionate and want to work on innovative and ambitious AAA games. Our goal is not to expand, nor accelerate cadence and become a 'factory' with this new studio." D'Astous agreed, adding, "Time and schedule are obviously an important factor in developing AAA games, but please do not think by adding a second studio we will cut the dev phase in two. The ambition of our next game is great and we will release it when it is ready, as we have all other games that were released from Quantic Dream." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2017/12/09/detroit-become-human-gameplay-demo"] Rather than two studios, D'Astous says Montreal and Paris are "one unified body located in two regional hubs." As such, the two offices will collaborate on "the same new unannounced AAA title." "We have structured the relationship between the two entities so that they work together as one team with a distinctive core perimeter on both sides in order to build this project together," D'Astous says. Something that helped the process of collaboration — not just between Montreal and Paris, but all Quantic Dream developers — were the new COVID-19 protocols that allowed the studio to recruit new talent who didn't want to live in Paris but can still collaborate with the studio remotely.

Quantic Dream Goes Multi-Platform

In 2020, Quantic Dream announced that after 12 years the studio will no longer be make PlayStation exclusive games, instead returning to multi-platform development. Although developing for a single platform allowed the developers to focus on optimizing for one piece of hardware and controller, Cage says the studio's internal tools and pipelines were using their PC engine, so multi-platform development is not new. The challenge is actually in next-gen game development, which Cage says requires new pipelines and new tech. "This is the reason why we keep investing in our infrastructure… we are always looking for the best talent to reinforce our R&D department, which today is 60 staff strong. We also secured funding to compete with the best AAA studios in the world." As part of this commitment, Cage says Quantic Dream renewed its motion capture studio, added a 7.1 surround sound studio, and is building a high-end photogrammetry studio. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2016/03/01/heavy-rain-official-launch-trailer"] When asked what about next-gen tech Cage finds exciting to work with, he says that it's actually lighting which excited him the most. "As cinema showed, [lighting] is a language by itself. Hardware always had heavy constraints that altered the quality of real-time rendering, but it feels like the present generation of consoles will see a real gap in this area with new features like ray-tracing." Other focuses include improved AI, dynamic destruction, more interactive environments, and even increased crowd sizes. "We've reached a point where the limits will be the imagination of the developers," Cage says.

Quantic Dream's Unannounced AAA Game

But what about the new unannounced AAA game? Will it be a similar narrative-style game as past Quantic Dream games? Details are being kept hidden, but Cage tells IGN that he and the developers are interested in new genres and directions. "As a designer, my professional journey made me discover that I really enjoy telling interactive stories in which players are the heroes, that creating emotion in a game is something challenging and fascinating, that I love to create meaningful experiences questioning players' moral values... But I also believe that there are other ways of telling moving and emotional stories that we haven't tried out yet, and I am really interested in exploring new directions." At 51 years old, Cage says he is not at the stage in his career where he wants to "milk the cow, and just make more games in the style that we created in the past." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-quantic-dream-review&captions=true"] "Each game has its own language, its own voice, and repeating things that worked in the past is not necessarily a good recipe to move forward," says Cage. "You can expect a continuity in our intentions, but we also want to continue experimenting and trying new ideas. This is what our team really likes, and I think what our fans also expect from us." D'Astous says that with the studio's next game, "we hope, will demonstrate our ongoing pursuit to craft superior-quality and innovative games enjoyed by millions."

As a Third-Party Publisher

Quantic Dream also announced in 2019 that it will work as a publisher as well as a developer. Guillaume de Fondaumière says the Montreal location will help Quantic Dream set up a publishing presence in North America so that the studio can release both internal and third-party titles worldwide. "We are interested in publishing games in any genre, as long as they are original and creative, and that they stand out," says de Fondaumière. "We offer these studios funding and publishing capability, of course, but most importantly perhaps, also creative and development support, access to our infrastructure and expertise in different technical and artistic fields, and much more." Quantic Dream is already working with Jo-Mei studio on Sea of Solitude: The Director's Cut and Red Thread Games on Dustborn.

Fostering a Healthy Studio Culture

In 2018, investigative reports alleged that Quantic Dream's Paris office fostered a toxic corporate culture. One of the most damning allegations was from the studio's head of IT who filed a complaint that claimed photoshopped images of employees featuring racist, sexist, and homophobic elements were created by some staff and distributed around the office. After the matter was brought to a Parisian labor tribunal, the Paris Labor Court awarded the former employee €7,000 who was photoshopped doing a Nazi salute. In a statement, Quantic Dream said the fine was for a "security obligation," and not over any deterioration in working conditions for the employee. Though Le Monde quoted the judge in the tribunal chastising Quantic Dream's management for "remaining passive in the face of this more than questionable practice[.]" [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/01/15/quantic-dream-under-fire-over-inappropriate-studio-culture-ign-news"] When asked how Quantic Dream will foster a healthy work environment in its new studio, Cage first said that "all allegations about our studio have been indisputably proven wrong by verifiable facts, independent audits, the French Labor Court, state agencies, independent journalistic investigations, and by our employees themselves." Cage says Quantic Dream has built a diverse team who are also shareholders in the company, owning 10% of the capital – a benefit that will be extended to its Montreal employees. Nevertheless, Cage says that the employees at Quantic Dream have a variety of tools to build a healthy work environment. There are dedicated representatives who accept any issue anonymously, and there is a third-party anonymous investigation into the company every year. As for the new studio, Cage says there will be a dedicated human resource team "operating locally whose mission is to specifically ensure that any workplace issues that may arise are dealt with in a swift and professional manner." Management will also undergo harassment training in both Paris and Montreal "to be best prepared, to better know, to identify, and to best react to such incidents, if they ever were to happen at our studio." "We are very proud of our team spirit, our collaborators are very attached to the studio, its ambition, its projects, its culture of excellence through passion, and work through friendships," Cage says. "These are some of the values that we will share with our studio in Montreal." [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury and Amiibo Are Up for Preorder

Posted: 02 Feb 2021 07:50 AM PST

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury is coming to Nintendo Switch on February 12, 2021 (see it on Amazon). It includes the full original Wii U game from 2013, plus a new expansion called Bowser's Fury. Nintendo has released a two-minute trailer showing some of the new content added to this version of the game. In any case, it's up for preorder now. Also available for preorder are two new amiibo (Cat Mario and Cat Peach) and two older re-issued Super Smash Bros. amiibo (Bowser and Bowser Jr.). These unlock special activations when scanned in while playing the game.

Preorder Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury

mario As usual with Nintendo games, the standard edition is all that's available. No special editions or preorder bonuses have been announced. If they are in the future, I'll add them here. There are, however, some amiibo...

Preorder Cat Mario, Cat Peach, and More Amiibo

[poilib element="commerceDeal" parameters="slug=super-mario-3d-world-amiibo"] The Cat Mario amiibo lets you transform into the invincible white cat Mario. The Cat Peach amiibo drops a random power-up into the game. Nintendo hasn't yet announced what effect the Bowser or Bowser Jr. amiibo have in the game. The original Super Mario 3D World is a fantastic Mario game that, judging by Wii U sales figures, many Switch owners missed out on when it was first released. Up to four players can play simultaneously either online or locally. A power-up available in the game turns the characters into cats that can claw enemies and climb walls. You can read our 9.6/10 Super Mario 3D World review for more details on the game. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/13/super-mario-3d-world-bowsers-fury-overview-trailer"]

Other Preorder Guides

[poilib element="commerceDeal" parameters="slug=other-preorder-guides&type=list"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Chris Reed is IGN's shopping and commerce editor. 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"]

Destiny 2: Season of The Chosen Adds New Battlegrounds Mode

Posted: 02 Feb 2021 07:00 AM PST

Bungie has revealed Destiny 2 Season 13, the Season of the Chosen - and given us a look at what's coming. Launching on February 9 and running until May 11, Season of the Chosen will introduce new strikes, new gear, and an all-new mode called Battlegrounds. Battlegrounds is a three-player matchmade activity where players "will engage in ritual combat" against the warriors of the Cabal. Old and new strikes will also be peppered throughout Season 13, with Destiny strikes Devil's Lair and Fallen S.A.B.E.R. returning at the start of the season, and a new strike called Proving Grounds unlocking later, which will "determine the fate of the Last City." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/02/destiny-2-beyond-light-season-of-the-chosen-official-trailer"] Players who own the Destiny 2 Season Pass will unlock the Praefectus Armor Set and an Exotic bow called Ticcu's Divination, which launches Solar arrows that can track "several targets at once." Over 25 new weapons will also be added alongside the Season Pass additions. The story of Season 13 centres around a political feud between Empress Caiatl and Zavala. "With the Pyramids and Xivu Arath destabilizing the system, Empress Caiatl, leader of the Cabal and daughter of Calus, seeks an alliance. But when she demands more than Zavala can offer, negotiations collapse." Guardians will do battle with Caiatl's growing war council to stabilize the situation. In other Destiny 2 news, the community has raised concerns over Bungie's plans for PC and console crossplay. Bungie recently filed a lawsuit alongside Riot, targeting cheat-making companies allegedly creating software hacks for Destiny 2. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

FIFA 21 Coming to Stadia in March, EA Extends Exclusive UEFA License

Posted: 02 Feb 2021 06:08 AM PST

FIFA 21 is coming to Stadia in March, and EA has extended its exclusive license to UEFA content, including the Champions League and Europa League competitions. A press release from Electronic Arts reveals that FIFA 21 will come to Google Stadia on March 17, as part of EA's plan to make FIFA games accessible across more platforms. That comes alongside expanding release regions for FIFA Online 4 - a free-to-play, downloadable version of the core game currently only available in Asia. The company is also working on "multiple in-development mobile offerings" under the FIFA brand. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/06/fifa-21-review"] The news also included the announcement of a multiyear license extension brokered between UEFA and EA Sports which resecures FIFA's exclusive license to the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Super Cup tournaments in-game. EA first picked up the UEFA license in 2018, bringing to a close Pro Evolution Soccer's 10-year partnership with the organisation. According to EA, the FIFA franchise has now sold more than 325 million units over its lifetime. Check out our review of FIFA 21, which we scored a 7, calling it a "year of small improvements." You can also find out the six key differences seen in the FIFA 21 next-gen patch, which launched on PS5 and Xbox Series consoles in December. In other Google Stadia news, Google recently revealed that it is shutting down its internal game studios in Los Angeles and Montreal, impacting 150 employees. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Nintendo Reportedly Canceled a Zelda Netflix Series After It Leaked

Posted: 02 Feb 2021 06:07 AM PST

Nintendo reportedly scrapped a live-action Legend of Zelda series with Netflix after news of the project leaked and circulated online. As reported by Eurogamer, US comedian Adam Conover, who was working on a secret Star Fox claymation project around the same time, revealed that Nintendo canceled its proposed slate of video game adaptations with Netflix after someone from the company allegedly spread the word about the Zelda series. The Wall Street Journal shared details of the adaptation and Nintendo rescinded the show. "Suddenly there were reports Netflix wasn't going to do its Legend of Zelda anymore," Conover recently recalled, speaking on The Serf Times podcast. "I was like 'what happened?' And then I heard from my boss we weren't doing our Star Fox anymore. I was like 'what happened?' He was like, 'someone at Netflix leaked the Legend of Zelda thing.' They weren't supposed to talk about it, Nintendo freaked out... and they pulled the plug on everything, the entire programme to adapt these things." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2015/02/06/zelda-netflix-show-why-now-is-the-perfect-time"] News of the prospective live-action Legend of Zelda series with Netflix hit headlines back in 2015 when "a person familiar with the matter" reportedly told WSJ that the streamer had described the upcoming show as "Game of Thrones for a family audience," with a story that would follow Link's conquest to save Princess Zelda and the land of Hyrule. However, little more was said after that. In the years since then, video game adaptations have become big business on Netflix as the games market has experienced rapid growth, and interest in gaming has exploded even more so during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Netflix wants to be the service that players turn to when they need to take a break from gaming, and the streamer is making big moves to make it happen. For more on Tomb Raider, Assassin's Creed, and other video game projects, check out our slideshow below or click through to our article about why we think Netflix is the best place for video game adaptations. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-video-game-movie-in-development-almost&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

PlayStation Wrap Up Returns With Your 2020 PS5 and PS4 Gaming Stats

Posted: 02 Feb 2021 05:00 AM PST

The PlayStation Wrap Up, a breakdown of all the hours played, Trophies earned, and more, returns to deliver all your 2020 gaming stats, including any time your account has spent on PS5 so far. You can head to the official PlayStation Wrap Up site to get your breakdown of PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 games you've played. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-ps5-games&captions=true"] PS4 stats are the primary focus, with the number of games and hours played, your top played games, hours spent locally vs. online, your average playtime every day of the week, and more. The Wrap Up also includes some generalized stats pulling from all PS4 player data for games like The Last of Us Part 2, Ghost of Tsushima, and MLB: The Show 20. Additionally, PS5 owners will see some stats as well, like top game and hours spent with it, total hours played, and the number of PS5-specific trophies earned. Players can also grab a free dynamic PS4 theme in honor of the Wrap Up. To actually access the information as well, PlayStation requires players to have a registered PSN account, be 18 years or older, and have at least played on a PS4 for 10 hours during the last calendar year. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/22/the-state-of-playstation-studios-2021-update"] PlayStation's Wrap Up returns after previously offering players a look at Trophies, top games, and more for 2019. And while you're looking back at your PlayStation past, don't forget to look ahead to what's to come, including the current state of PlayStation studios and their active projects, the biggest games coming in 2021, and why PS5's 2021 lineup has us so excited. And for the latest on all things PlayStation, be sure to watch our weekly PlayStation show, Podcast Beyond! [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor, host of Podcast Beyond!, and PlayStation lead. Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.

Perfect Dark Design Director Leaves The Initiative

Posted: 02 Feb 2021 04:10 AM PST

The Design Director of Perfect Dark studio The Initiative has announced that he is leaving the project. The Initiative's Drew Murray revealed the news on Twitter (as spotted by VGC). Murray previously worked on Resistance, Ratchet & Clank and Sunset Overdrive at Insomniac Games before leaving in 2018 to help kickstart the Microsoft first-party studio. He is leaving to focus on his "life outside of work" and tweeted that the goodbye felt bittersweet after working with "such a talented and experienced team." "The team has the vision and talent to knock the game and franchise out of the park," Murray tweeted in regards to the future of the project, noting that the reveal trailer still gives him goosebumps. Interestingly, Murray points out that, when he joined The Initiative, he wasn't aware that the team would be working on a Perfect Dark game. Murray says that the silver lining of this is that he will get to experience Perfect Dark as a fan on launch day. The Perfect Dark reboot project was announced in December of 2020 during The Game Awards and is promising to deliver an "eco sci-fi" first-person shooter. You can learn more about the game in our coverage of its reveal. Santa Monica-based studio The Initiative was revealed by Microsoft in 2018 and famously described as looking for 'AAAA' standards in job listings. The development team is currently being led by Darrell Gallagher, a veteran of Rockstar Games, Crystal Dynamics and Activision where he worked on games such as GTA IV and Tomb Raider. God of War Lead Producer Brian Westergaard and Red Dead Redemption Lead Writer Christian Cantamessa are also working at The Initiative, most likely contributing to Perfect Dark. It's part of Microsoft's growing roster of studios following its recent acquisition of Zenimax Media. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Resident Evil Village Art Director Addresses Key Mystery: Lady Dimitrescu's Height

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 04:50 PM PST

When Capcom debuted the villain of Resident Evil Village, a downright towering vampire woman by the name of Lady Alcina Dimitrescu, they had to have known how, uh...eager the RE fanbase would be to know more about her, right? With her WNBA-shattering height and dominant personality, Lady Dimitrescu quickly became an internet phenomenon, and fans were most excited to learn exactly how tall she is.

Resident Evil fans finally have their answer. RE Village art director Tomonori Tanako released a statement thanking fans for their interest in Village and shed some light on the matter.

character_img-dimitrescu

"Most recently, Lady Dimitrescu and her daughters have received a fair amount of attention, far more than we anticipated" Tanako said. "It's great that they're able to take the spotlight as icons of Resident Evil Village. Lady Dimitrescu, especially, has received much fanfare both domestically and overseas, which has made all of us in the development team extremely happy. I hear her height is something of interest…."

"If you include her hat and high heels," Tanako continued, "[Lady Dimitrescu is] 2.9 meters (approximately 9'6") tall."

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/26/resident-evil-village-how-to-speedrun-the-ps5-demo-in-4-minutes"]

So there you have it. Capcom has finally released fans from horny jail and subsequently thrown them into the horny wine cellar. We look forward to repeatedly being captured by Resident Evil's big lady.

Just for the record, here are some things that Lady Dimitrescu is taller than: A Christmas tree, Andre the Giant, Shaq, a king size bed standing vertically, or most importantly, the actual tallest man or woman ever recorded.

Resident Evil Village is out on May 7, 2021. You can check out our Resident Evil Village pre-order guide to make sure you get the best possible deal on all the fancy collectibles. Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/human wine cask for IGN.

Judgment Coming to Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Stadia in April

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 03:00 PM PST

Judgment, the Yakuza spin-off, is coming to Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and Stadia on April 23. Originally a PS4 exclusive, the action game will come to new platforms with all of its DLC, "refined" visuals, 60 FPS performance, and improved loading times. It will be released at a $39.99 price point (UK and AU prices not available at time of writing). Sega confirmed to IGN that cross-buy will not be supported for PS4 and PS5, and we could not get an answer on whether progress can be carried over from the PS4 version to the PS5 version. Furthermore, RGG Studios says it does not have plans to release Judgement for PC at this time. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=judgment-next-gen-version-screenshots&captions=true"] Set in the same world as Yakuza, and in its familiar Kamurocho district, Judgment tells a very different story, with an almost entirely new cast of characters. Centred on lawyer-turned-private detective Takayuki Yagami, the game follows a muder mystery, alongside the Yakuza series' usual bizarre sidequests and activities. We awarded Judgment an 8.2/10 review back in 2019, calling it "a superficial detective experience, but an extremely good Yakuza one." [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.

MLB The Show 21 Is Up for Preorder

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 01:56 PM PST

MLB The Show 21 is heading to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S on April 20. You read that right, this year marks the first time the previously PlayStation-exclusive franchise is branching out and appearing on Xbox consoles as well. The game will be available in a standard edition and a collector's edition, but the collector's edition won't be announced until February 3. The standard edition is available for preorder now (see it at Best Buy). Note that, unlike many games released during this transition period between console generations, there is no upgrade path between previous-gen and next-gen consoles. Sony says to wait for details about the collector's edition to arrive on February 3 to learn more about it.

Preorder MLB The Show 21

mlb-the-show-21Best Buy PlayStation Store Microsoft Store You'll notice that the pricing is in line with that of Sony's previous cross-generation games: the PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game will cost $59.99, while the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions will cost $69.99

MLB The Show 21 Preorder Bonus

Preorder a digital copy of the game from the Microsoft Store or PlayStation Store, and you'll receive the following digital items: PS4 and Xbox One
  • 10 The Show Packs
PS5 and Xbox Series X|S
  • 10 The Show Packs
  • 5,000 Stubs

What's New in MLB The Show 21?

j[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/01/mlb-the-show-21-announcement-with-fernando-tatis-jr-trailer"] For starters, the cover athlete this time around is Fernando "El Nino" Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres. In addition to appearing on Xbox platforms for the first time, MLB The Show 21 will feature cross-platform multiplayer, so you can play against anyone, regardless of what console they're using. It also supports "cross progression," which lets you pick up where you left off on another platform, even if it's a different console generation. As for what new features MLB The Show 21 will have, we don't have much to go on. The game's official description says it will offer modes for players of all skill levels. It will include Road to the Show and Diamond Dynasty. You'll also be able to play as new Legends. The development team says additional information will be presented in six "Feature Premier" streams, the first of which will arrive in March. So stay tuned.

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"]

How Destruction AllStars' Delay Helped the Team Prep a PS Plus Launch

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 01:30 PM PST

Originally scheduled as a day-one PS5 launch exclusive, Lucid Games' Destruction AllStars was pushed into February for a planned debut as a PlayStation Plus game. And ss Lucid and Sony XDEV team members tell IGN, the delay was in part to properly allow for that PS Plus launch, with the added benefit of making some adjustments that might have needed to wait for post-launch updates. "It made sense [to delay and go to PS Plus] just as a predominantly online multiplayer game. It absolutely made sense to go out to that widest audience possible. And what better way to do that than to the PlayStation Plus audience," XDEV Senior Producer John MacLaughlin told IGN in an interview ahead of AllStars' launch. MacLaughlin also noted that the developers have taken that time to prep their backend and servers accordingly to handle the potentially larger audience. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/27/destruction-allstars-state-of-play-video"] And AllStars Game Director Colin Berry noted how the move was something the Lucid and XDEV teams were eager to pursue. When it became a reality, it meant the team could prep for a launch that gives this new franchise its "best possible chance to succeed." "It gives us the most people playing it, the most eyes on it, which means we get the most feedback, not just in terms of raw data and analytics, but we get feedback from the player saying, 'We love this character and we want more of this.' Or, 'We like this or this isn't quite working how we wanted because the balance of this.'" [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=destruction-allstars-game-modes-reveal&captions=true"] And that decision to delay to allow for a launch via PS Plus, which entitles all subscribers of the service to a copy of AllStars, makes a lot of sense when considering there are over 40 million PS Plus subscribers by Sony's last announced count, which gives this brand new franchise quite the built-in audience. But Berry also explained how the delay did give the team time to make adjustments that will benefit players as they jump right into the car combat action. "One of the main things that we polished in that time period was, um, the onboarding, the messaging of the game rules to people," Berry said. "We had a couple of systems in for the tutorial that were working, but we knew it wasn't quite right. We knew we had plans for post-launch, we'll do this and we'll do this. And then suddenly, we don't have to wait for post-launch now, let's get all that stuff in." Players will be able to see just what awaits them shortly, as Destruction AllStars will be available as a PS5 exclusive on February 2. For more on this week's PS5 exclusive release, check out the latest on Destruction AllStars' modes, currency, and more. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor, host of Podcast Beyond!, and PlayStation lead. Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.

Carrion: All Containment Unit Locations

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 01:25 PM PST

Google Stadia Is Shutting Down Internal Game Studios

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 12:30 PM PST

Google Stadia, the tech giant's video game streaming platform which launched in 2019, is shutting down its internal game development studios and refocusing on offering its tech platform to third-party publishers, the company announced Monday.

As first reported by Kotaku, Google will close its two Stadia Games & Entertainment studios located in Los Angeles and Montreal. The closure will impact approximately 150 employees, one source told Kotaku. Google says it will try to find new roles at the company for those impacted.

"With the recent successful launch of Cyberpunk 2077 on Stadia, gameplay on all types of devices, including iOS, growing our slate of YouTube integrations, and our global expansions, it's clear that Stadia's technology has been proven and works at scale," Google's vice president of Stadia and GM Phil Harrison said in a statement. "Having games streamed to any screen is the future of this industry, and we'll continue to invest in Stadia and its underlying platform to provide the best cloud gaming experience for our partners and the gaming community. This has been the vision of Stadia since the beginning."

Jade Raymond, the noted producer who helped bring Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed franchise to life, is also departing from her role as head of game development at Google.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/22/google-stadia-review"]

What does this mean for Stadia subscribers? Google states that players can still access their games on Stadia (or the $10-a-month Stadia Pro), and that third-party games will continue to release on the service. It's unclear how many third-party games Google plans on hosting on Stadia.

A key pillar of Google's new strategy is offering up Stadia's game streaming technology to other interested companies. Google's head of Stadia operations, Phil Harrison, will lead that initiative.

Google Stadia launched with some serious hype, but a rocky start plagued by technical issues and a thin library of games proved to be the service's downfall. Ironically, Cyberpunk 2077's Stadia version proved to be one of the more reliable platforms to play the notoriously buggy open-world RPG on.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/15/cyberpunk-2077-21-minutes-of-google-stadia-gameplay-1080p-settings"]

Google also undercut its own Stadia Pro subscription plan by eventually offering a free version of the service in April 2020. Though Google gradually chipped away at its list of missing features and conveniences, its distinct lack of first-party games proved to remain a concern. In IGN's own review, we saw absolutely no reason to subscribe to Stadia Pro while the free service remained equally viable. Stadia also saw stiff competition from Microsoft's XCloud service, which similarly streamed a wide variety of games to almost any device provided the internet connection was strong enough. A common concern among Stadia skeptics was whether or not Google would invest long enough in the service for it to realize its potential, a fear that seems justified now.

Despite Google's seemingly immense influence on the world of technology, the company appeared to lack the resources or ship any major game. One source familiar with Stadia's first-party work told Kotaku: "Google was a terrible place to make games. Imagine Amazon, but under-resourced."

[poilib element="accentDivider"] Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer for IGN.
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