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IGN Video Games

Halo Infinite Players Frustrated With Fracture: Tenrai Event's Gated Progression

Posted: 23 Nov 2021 08:01 PM PST

Halo Infinite's first event - Fracture: Tenrai - is giving Spartans around the world the chance to earn free rewards like the samurai-inspired Yoroi Armor Core. Unfortunately, many have already run into issues with its gated progression and padded event pass.

The Fracture: Tenrai Event Pass is free to all players and contains 30 tiers of rewards. Unlike Halo Infinite's premium Battle Pass that requires XP to level up, players can only progress through the event pass by completing specific event challenges. While there is nothing inherently wrong with that, some of the other factors surrounding it are causing frustration for certain players.

For one, the event pass can not be completed in this first week that ends on Monday, November 30, according to Halo marketing lead Noah Benesch. Instead, Fracture: Tenrai will return five more times throughout this first season to give players "plenty of opportunities to complete all 30 reward tiers." That is great for those who either don't have the time to dedicate a ton of time in one week to an event pass or may not even be available to play in a given week.

One of the biggest problems players have run into, however, is that the event pass appears to be padded with Challenge Swaps and XP Grants. So much so that only 10 of the 30 reward tiers are actual themed rewards.

"So there's 30 tiers, 10 of them being XP bonuses and 6 of them being challenge swaps," PN4R wrote on Reddit. "Out of the 14 tiers remaining which includes 'actual' content, 4 of them is a single emblem that you need to unlock 4 times to be able to use it everywhere.

"Out of the 10 remaining, you unlock 3 color palettes that are lock this specific armor [sp]. Out of the 7 remaining, you get 1 stupid callsign backdrop that most people will forget. So out of the 30 tiers for this event, you only get 6 armor parts, 2 of which are the same shoulder pad that you need to unlock 2 times for both shoulders. Meanwhile, 343 sells a 25$ armor set in the shop which actually looks pretty cool."

That armor set they spoke of is the Chonmage Armor Set, which is part of a bundle that can be bought with 2,000 in-game credits. As of this writing, that costs $17.99 USD. The shop also currently includes the Sentinel's Blades bundle that includes a Legendary Utility that can only be equipped on the samurai armor. Furthermore, you can't pay for tiers in the event pass, and you don't unlock the Yoroi Armor Core until level 5.

Compounding these issues is the fact that the event challenges are mixed in with standard challenges, so there may be times where you have to complete various standard ones to even get another event one.

Speaking of the event, it also comes with its own special mode - Fiesta - which is new to Halo Infinite but not to the franchise. In this mode, Spartans spawn with two random weapons and equipment, adding a bit of variety to the standard modes.

It's important to keep things in perspective, as Halo Infinite is a free-to-play game and this event pass costs you no extra to participate in. Sure, there are items locked in the shop that would be wonderful to be able to earn by simply playing through the event, but this is hardly the first game to do this. Although it is new to Halo, and it is a big change from the previous entries that were complete, paid packages.

To help ease players' woes, 343 Industries' community director Brian Jarrard has already responded to the outcry from these frustrated fans, saying they are "being heard loud and clear."

"Been traveling so slow to respond - but please know the constructive feedback is being heard loud and clear," Jarrard wrote. "Changes will take time and our priority this week is giving the team a much deserved break for the holiday after a long final stretch. Thank you for understanding."

It's also worth mentioning that Halo Infinite's multiplayer was not even set to be released until December 8 alongside its campaign. The team at 343 surprised fans during the celebration of Xbox and Halo's 20th anniversary by announcing that it would be available early.

This is the start of the future of Halo, and there will be bumps on the road. Luckily, 343 is committed to making this a game worthy of Master Chief, and it wants your constructive feedback to help make it so.

It has already proven it is ready to adapt, as it recently made changes to Halo Infinite's Battle Pass and promised that more changes will be on the way.

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.

Battlefield 2042 to Release First Major Fix Later This Week

Posted: 23 Nov 2021 04:25 PM PST

After a particularly difficult and divisive launch, EA and DICE are releasing a second update for Battlefield 2042 on November 25, followed by a "substantial" third update in early December, and a fourth update sometime before the holidays. The second and third updates aim to address various technical issues and gameplay balancing.

Here's what to expect in Update #2:

  • Improved soldier revives, fixing an issue with not being able to revive a teammate when they die close to a wall or object.
  • A "respawn protection system" that will address a bug that leaves players in a downed state for too long.
  • Re-enabling Battlefield Portal's UAV-1 interaction after adjusting its overpowered state.
  • Vehicle balancing for the LCAA Hovercraft and MD540 Nightbird.
  • Dispersion reduced across all weapon types excluding shotguns, resulting in more consistent bullet spread.
  • Additional "critical" changes to be detailed later.

Update #3 seems significantly larger in scope, and appears to address a common complaint that the transition from the end of a match to being booted back to the matchmaking menu was inconvenient. It also addresses common issues for player progression, rendering, and numerous balancing issues. The list is far too long to lay out here, but highlights include:

  • Improvements to the user interface, including weapon attachment management, collection screens, player card screen, end of round summary screen, and adding "new" markers so you can more easily find items.
  • "Improved the experience between EOR and the Main Menu"
  • Improved the reliability of matchmaking and reduced failed matchmaking
  • Introduction of weekly missions that reward cosmetic unlocks
  • Fixed multiple issues with water graphics and rendering, plus stuttering and visual flickering issues.
  • "Over 150" small changes across all maps
  • A more descriptive interaction system that replaces a generic "interact" prompt with something more specific, like "call elevator."
  • Reduced spread for weapons when ADS and moving, applied globally.
  • Improved accuracy for stationary weapon ADS. Bullet spread is also reduced when you use single fire or burst fire instead of automatic.
  • Added a new UI element that highlights teammates who can revive you when they're within 50 meters. Players who ping to signal they intend to revive you are also listed in a new UI element.
  • Improved bot behavior for reviving, helicopter piloting, and combat/game mode behaviors.
  • Audio mix improvements, including changes to enemies firing at a player.

Update #3 also includes balancing and technical changes for several specialists, gadgets, and melee combat. You can read the full patch notes here.

EA and DICE say they're also tracking issues related to servers and hardware. Chief among these are rare instances of servers not registering hit markers and rare instances of spawning without your intended loadout. On the hardware side, EA and DICE released a mandatory update for Xbox Series X/S players that addressed systems performing a power cycle during gameplay.

If it seems like an incredibly long list of fixes, that's because it is. The updates will hopefully address some of the most common technical and balancing complaints that have plagued Battlefield 2042 since launch, resulting in it becoming one of Steam's worst-reviewed games despite also being one of its most-played.

You can check out IGN's review of Battlefield 2042 for resident FPS wunderkind Stella Chung's opinion on what the new entry brings to the table and what's sorely missing.

Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/mobile blood bag for IGN.

Amazon Nears Deal to Make Mass Effect TV Series

Posted: 23 Nov 2021 03:29 PM PST

Amazon Studios is nearing a deal to develop a Mass Effect TV series based on BioWare's popular sci-fi RPG.

In a report about Amazon's success with the recent Wheel of Time adaptation, Deadline says Amazon is readying more adaptations for popular franchises, including Mass Effect. The report notes that the deal is nearing, meaning Amazon and EA haven't fully agreed to the project just yet.

There are no details on the story or whether or not this will be an original story set in the Mass Effect universe or a story related to the video game series.

Mass Effect is a massively popular RPG series created by BioWare. The sprawling sci-fi epic consists of many different alien races and civilizations reckoning with technology left behind by the ancient precursor civilization. The series consists of the core Mass Effect trilogy and a sequel series Mass Effect: Andromeda.

If Amazon makes a Mass Effect TV series, it will be the second video game adaptation in the works at the studio. Amazon previously announced it's making a Fallout TV show from the creators of Westworld Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy. Bethesda boss Todd Howard revealed in a recent AMA that work on the Fallout TV series is ongoing.

Elsewhere, HBO is adapting The Last of Us for TV while on the film side Sony is readying to release an Uncharted movie starring Tom Holland as Nathan Drake.

While there hasn't been a new Mass Effect game in years, EA recently released the Mass Effect Legendary Edition which remasters and collects all three Mass Effect games in a single package. And BioWare has been slowly teasing the next Mass Effect game currently in development.

Check out IGN's review of The Wheel of Time for Amazon's latest fantasy foray, or check out our coverage on Amazon's massive Lord of the Rings series.

Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.

Xbox Has Been Sending Xbox Anniversary Gift Packages to Random Fans

Posted: 23 Nov 2021 03:00 PM PST

To celebrate Xbox's 20th anniversary, Microsoft has been sending out free Xbox gift bundles to randomly selected people who have previously registered for Xbox Fanfest.

The bundle is called the Keepsake Kit, and it includes a Halo-themed Xbox Series X|S controller, a subscription to 12 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and a crystal plaque. The plaque also has the person's Xbox gamertag laser-etched on it.

A note was included in the bundle as well. It reads:

"As a think you for being a part of the 20 years of Xbox, we're gifting you this FanFast 20 Years of Xbox Keepsake Kit. This is a limited edition kit, created for randomly selected Xbox FanFest fans to commemorate our journey from past, present, and future as an Xbox community. We have included a "20 Years of Xbox" crystal. This is engraved with your gamertag. We extend our gratitude to you for being a part of the Xbox community, the reason for this journey"

The note also mentions that this is also the 20th anniversary of Halo and that people who received this celebration gift are the first to receive the Halo-themed Xbox controller.

Xbox has done plenty to celebrate its 20th anniversary already this year, such as holding a live stream event and releasing a new translucent controller. Xbox also partnered with Adidas to create branded sneakers, and earlier today launched a website featuring a museum catered to your own Xbox profile.

Xbox will cap off 2021 with the launch of Halo Infinite on December 8. The multiplayer beta is free-to-play and available now. Check out some of the cosmetics you can unlock during the game's Season 1 Battle Pass.

George Yang is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @yinyangfooey

Xbox Games With Gold for December 2021 Announced

Posted: 23 Nov 2021 12:17 PM PST

Microsoft has revealed its list of upcoming Games With Gold titles for December. The lineup includes The Escapists 2, Tropico 5: Penultimate Edition, Orcs Must Die! and Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet.

The Escapists 2 is developed by Mouldy Toof Studios and published by Team17 and builds upon its predecessor as you once again enter the life of an inmate motivated to escape from behind bars. Unlike the original Escapists, the sequel allows you to team up with a number of friends in multiplayer as you attempt to plot and break out of some of the toughest prisons in the world.

In contrast, Tropico 5 offers a very different gameplay experience in a construction and management simulator beginning in the early colonial period and spanning four different eras to move beyond the 21st century. The Penultimate Edition available through Games With Gold also comes with the Tropico 5's Hostile Takeover and The Big Cheese add-ons included.

Orcs Must Die! and Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet were originally launched on the Xbox 360 and are available this month through Backward Compatibility. Orcs Must Die! puts the player in the shoes of a powerful mage in a bid to defend twenty-four fortresses from a mob of beastly enemies through tower defense gameplay.

In Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet, players are tasked with exploring a bizarre world from the comfort of their flying saucer where gameplay revolves around battling outlandish creatures and solving puzzles. IGN reviewed Insanely Twister Shadow Planet upon release awarding it an 8/10 and stating that the game "leaves you wanting more."

The Escapists 2 will be available throughout the entire month of December while Tropico 5 will be free between December 16 and January 15. Meanwhile, Orcs Must Die! and Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet will share the Christmas period. The former is set to be available between December 1 and December 15, with Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet available from December 16 to the end of the month.

Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Might Tease Pokémon Legends: Arceus...With a Myth

Posted: 23 Nov 2021 12:08 PM PST

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are, largely, very faithful remakes of the original Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. But one somewhat-hidden bit of additional content might very well be teasing some lore for Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

If you recall the Canalave Library from the original games, it's full of books that relate to the myths and legends of the Sinnoh region. There are a number of tales referencing legendary Pokémon like Arceus, Uxie, Mesprit, Azelf, Giratina, Palkia, Dialga, and others. There are even a few strange stories that seem to confirm people, at least at one point, ate Pokémon, and another that implies Pokémon were once indistinguishable from humans.

For the most part, all of these texts are recreated in their original translations again in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, aside from one line in the "Sinnoh Myth" tale that appears to have been adjusted for clarity. However, there's an entirely new tale hidden on the second floor of the library that wasn't there in the original games.

Entitled "The Sea's Legend," the flavor text states that the book "was only recently discovered and its ancient letters were decoded." It reads as follows:

Once upon a time in the East Sea, there was a Pokémon known as the prince. A brave human asked Pokémon living in the sea to let them see the prince. Mantyke, Buizel, and a Quilfish with huge spikes acknowledged the human's bravery and joined them. Together, they set off in a boat over the sunset-streaked sea, sailing through the ocean gate stretched over the waves. News of this reached the ears of the prince, who went to meet the brave little party at the Seaside Hollow.

The story ends abruptly there, but it's entirely possible that this strange story — which does not appear to link to anything specific in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl — is teasing something about Pokémon Legends: Arceus. For one, there's no known location in the Pokémon games thus far called the Seaside Hollow, nor does it seem to correspond to anything currently in Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl.

As for the "prince," it's possible this could refer to Manaphy, who in the film Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea is known as the "prince of the sea." The plot of the film involves the heroes returning a Manaphy egg to a Sea Temple, where an item called the Sea Crown is kept. Typically, anime plots don't cross over much into the main games (Pokémon Yellow aside) but this could at least hint at who this mysterious "prince" might be. While Manaphy does appear in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, it's only as a Mystery Gift and without any plot tied to it or secret locations.

It's also worth noting that the review embargo for Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl explicitly forbade mentioning any of the contents of the books in the Canalave Library. Given that this is the only significant change to the books from the originals, it seems that this new book was at least an important enough addition or spoiler that Game Freak wanted to keep under wraps ahead of release.

We won't know exactly what this refers to until Pokémon Legends: Arceus drops next year on January 28, though we've already heard a number of tidbits about its new "noble" Pokémon, its Monster Hunter-like world, and some creepy looking "found footage" style teases. In the meantime, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are still worthy remakes for their faithful recreation of Sinnoh and a time when Pokémon was a bit more challenging.

Rebekah Valentine is a news reporter for IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.

PlayStation Sued By Former IT Analyst Alleging Gender Discrimination

Posted: 23 Nov 2021 11:16 AM PST

A former IT security analyst at Sony PlayStation has filed a lawsuit against the company on Monday, alleging gender discrimination and wrongful termination after speaking up "about discrimination against females" at the company.

Bloomberg reports that the former IT security analyst, named Emma Majo, is seeking to expand her lawsuit into a class action on behalf of women who've worked at Sony PlayStation in recent years.

The lawsuit charges that Sony "tolerates and cultivates a work environment that discriminates against female employees, including female employees and those who identify as female."

Majo also says that Sony discriminates against females and female-identifying employees in terms of compensation, promotions, and "subjects them to a work culture predominated by men." Majo similarly alleges that she was passed over for multiple promotions, was ignored by her manager, and that her employment was terminated after she submitted a gender bias complaint to Sony.

Adding to the mystery, the lawsuit claims that Majo received a letter stating that a certain department of Sony was being eliminated, and thus Majo's employment was being terminated, but Majo was not a member of that department.

The lawsuit was filed with California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), which submitted a similar lawsuit against Activion-Blizzard earlier this year.

Representatives from PlayStation did not immediately respond to IGN's request for a comment on the lawsuit.

The lawsuit joins the growing list of gender discrimination controversies and legal battles facing video game companies big and small, including Activision-Blizzard and its longtime CEO Bobby Kotick, Riot Games, and indie studios like Gone Home developer Fullbright.

You can read the full lawsuit here.

Joseph Knoop is a reporter/producer for IGN.

A Chrono Cross Remaster Is Reportedly On the Way

Posted: 23 Nov 2021 09:48 AM PST

Remember that "big remake" PlayStation was reportedly going to announce around this coming Christmas? Good news, JRPG fans: it might be beloved Square Enix classic Chrono Cross.

According Xbox Era's Nick Baker on a recent podcast, the reported "big remake" mentioned by folk singer Éabha McMahon on an Irish radio station back in October is indeed a remaster of the sequel/spin-off to Chrono Trigger from the original PlayStation era, and what's more, Baker's sources tell him that it will be "multi-platform" as opposed to PlayStation exclusive.

Notably, a Chrono Cross Remaster was also among the numerous titles listed in Nvidia's GeForce Now game leak back in September. Though that list has thus far been hit-or-miss as to accuracy and Nvidia has claimed the titles were "speculative," some of the games in that leak have turned out to be real, like the GTA Trilogy Remaster.

Chrono Cross itself is a beloved classic that IGN adored when it first released way back in 2000, though it's gotten mixed reception due to the strange space it occupies as a sort of alternative universe spin-off of Chrono Trigger rather than a direct sequel. Unlike its predecessor, though, Chrono Cross hasn't received any love via ports or new content on other platforms, meaning the only legitimate way to play it anymore is to own an original PlayStation or PS2 and have a physical copy of the game.

And while there have been plenty of whispers over the years of a Chrono sequel, none have yet emerged. For now, if you want to enjoy something like the Chrono games, you'll have to turn to projects made by some of the same team members, such as mobile games Another Eden or Fantasian.

Rebekah Valentine is a news reporter for IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.

Epic Games Acquires Rock Band Developer Harmonix

Posted: 23 Nov 2021 09:46 AM PST

Epic Games has announced that it has acquired rhythm game maker Harmonix, best known for titles like Rock Band and Dance Central.

In a press release, Epic announced that as it continues work on building the metaverse, it has enlisted Harmonix to "reimagine how music is experienced, created, and distributed." Harmonix will help develop "musical journeys and gameplay for Fortnite," while still working on Rock Band 4.

Harmonix offered more insight into its future in its community blog. The studio announced that it will continue its existing DLC plans and plans to release more tracks next year. Rock Band Rivals Seasons will also continue with plans for both Season 25 and 26.

The studio reiterated that it will next be working with Epic on creating musical journeys and gameplay for Fortnite. Sadly, Harmonix also says it does not plan to resume production on more Rock Band instruments, so expect them to still be rare commodities on the second-hand market.

Harmonix is the latest in a string of acquisitions for Epic Games. Alongside tech-focused ventures, Epic acquired Rocket League studio Psyonix and Fall Guys developer Mediatonic.

The most recent rhythm game from Harmonix is Fuser, a music festival game where players can create a custom DJ set to play in front of a virtual crowd. IGN reviewed Fuser and awarded it a 7 praising its core campaign but offered little outside of it.

Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.

Fortnite Updates: November 23 Patch Follows Up Naruto Release With Stealth-Themed Shadows Week

Posted: 23 Nov 2021 09:44 AM PST

The latest Fortnite Chapter 2, Season 8 update adds a new event called Strike from the Shadows Week. It also invites players to vote for one of two returning weapons: the Proximity Grenade Launcher or Flint-Knock Pistol.

Fortnite Update: November 23 Hotfix: Strike From the Shadows Week

Thanks to Naruto and Team 7 recently hitting the item shop, the island has been teeming with ninjas. Fortnite's latest update/event thematically encourages their presence by adding stealth-based combat. But not in the way most players would expect.

Strike from the Shadows Week is all about being sneaky. Starting today and running until 9AM ET on November 30th, an increased number of Shadow Stones and Shadow Floppers will be scattered all over the island. Once picked up, these items will turn you into a shadow, boosting your basic movement speed and jump high while also granting a dash-like ability. You won't be completely invisible in shadow form though and attacking will switch you back to normal. The idea is to use the increase in mobility to get the drop on rival players (as opposed to slowly stalking them while hidden).

Once you've spotted an enemy, change into a shadow and quickly move to a suitable vantage point. Then use a Paper Bomb Kunai – which has also increased in number – to blow your opponent to smithereens.

Fortnite: Proximity Grenade Launcher vs. Flint-Knock Pistol

This week's update also brings about a new fan vote. This time it's the Proximity Grenade Launcher vs. the Flint-Knock Pistol. The grenade launcher has always been a blast to use (heh) as its explosive ordnance can quickly destroy both structure and foe. That doesn't necessarily mean it's the best choice for players though. The Flint-Knock Pistol not only packs a punch, it helps in keeping enemies at a "safe" distance by sending the wielder flying backwards with every shot.

Players are encouraged to help Looper decide on which of these weapons to un-vault. This is done by funding a weapon's development using gold bars at Fortnite's Donation Stations. Whichever one hits 100% first will be unlocked and added to the island. Choose wisely!

And that's it for Fortnite's latest update. Be sure to check back here for more Fortnite Chapter 2, Season 8 patch notes!

Kenneth Seward Jr. is a freelance writer, editor, and illustrator who covers games, movies, and more. Follow him @kennyufg and on Twitch

Halo Director Discusses Extra Year of Development, the Bungie Days, and More! – IGN Unfiltered #62

Posted: 23 Nov 2021 09:00 AM PST

Welcome to IGN Unfiltered, our (somewhat) regularly occurring interview series where we sit down with the best, brightest, and most fascinating minds in the video game industry. (Catch up on the other 60 episodes here.) My guest this episode is Halo Infinite head of creative and longtime Bungie writer Joseph Staten. In this career-spanning interview, Staten discusses his unique path into the video game industry, the early days of Halo at Bungie, helping create Destiny, and how he's affected Halo Infinite since joining the team in 2020 just prior to the one-year delay.

Check out the full episode in the video above, but if you'd prefer to listen to the interview, here's an audio-only podcast download link (or you can listen via the IGN Unfiltered feed on your favorite podcast service). One way or the other I hope you'll check out the interview! And if you missed it, here's the previous Unfiltered episode from earlier this month, in which Bethesda Game Studios director Todd Howard discusses Skyrim's 10th anniversary, what's going on with Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6, and more:

Catch up on every episode of IGN Unfiltered here, including conversations with Bethesda game director Todd Howard, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, former PlayStation boss Jack Tretton, Journey creator Jenova Chen, Halo boss Bonnie Ross, and many more!

Ryan McCaffrey is IGN's executive editor of previews and host of both IGN's weekly Xbox show, Podcast Unlocked, as well as our monthly(-ish) interview show, IGN Unfiltered. He's a North Jersey guy, so it's "Taylor ham," not "pork roll." Debate it with him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan.

Resident Evil 4 VR is Getting The Mercenaries Mode in 2022

Posted: 23 Nov 2021 09:00 AM PST

The Mercenaries mode is coming to Resident Evil 4 VR in 2022.

As noted in an Oculus press release, the fan-favorite mode will arrive as a free update sometime next year. Prior to the announcement, the RE4 VR was the only version of Resident Evil 4 not to include The Mercenaries. The Mercenaries is an arcade-style mini-game that first appeared in Resident Evil 3, in which players are tasked with obtaining the highest score by killing as many enemies as possible before the timer runs out.

Alongside the inclusion of The Mercenaries mode, Oculus also announced that it plans to add additional mobility and comfort settings into Resident Evil 4 VR sometime next year. This includes hand-based steering, better left-handed controls, and the option to fine-tune the location of your chest and waist inventory slots.

Resident Evil 4 VR launched last month and it quickly became one of the most popular games for the Quest 2 headset. According to Oculus, based on gross sales in the first week since release, Resident Evil 4 VR has become "the fastest-selling app in the history of Quest."

The game has been met with critical acclaim and was nominated for "Best VR/AR Game" at the 2021 Game Awards. In my review of Resident Evil 4 VR, despite the fact the game lacked additional modes like Separate Ways, I noted that it offered a fresh take on one of the most ported entries in Capcom's popular survival horror series.

Taylor is the Associate Tech Editor at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster

Halo Infinite: Joseph Staten 'Proud' Of Xbox For Decision To Delay

Posted: 23 Nov 2021 09:00 AM PST

Halo Infinite's Joseph Staten has discussed the year-long delay to the game, saying that while it was "very, very hard", he is "so proud of the studio and Xbox" for make the decision to prioritise player experience over putting an unfinished game out.

With Halo Infinite's multiplayer is out in the wild, and apart from early criticisms of the game's Battle Pass system, the game is largely receiving praise from fans. While final verdicts on next month's campaign are still to come, the multiplayer's positive reception is the first step in what could be a huge redemption story for Halo Infinite.

After a reveal that left many fans underwhelmed and led to Craig the Brute's rise to internet stardom, Halo Infinite was delayed from its Holiday 2020 launch window all the way to Q4 2021. In hindsight, even Phil Spencer said he regrets how the reveal went down.

Now, we're learning even more about what was going on inside Xbox and developer 343 during the delay of Halo Infinite. Speaking on IGN Unfiltered, Halo veteran Joseph Staten went in-depth on his experience working on Infinite, from joining the project part way through development, to the tough decision to delay the game out of the Xbox Series X's launch window.

On a hot summer day in 2020, the internet was ablaze with negative reactions to Halo Infinite's big reveal. Staten, who is known for his work on Bungie's original Halo trilogy, wanted to see if he could help. He called Bonnie Ross, VP at Xbox Game Studios to see if he could help at all with the seemingly troubled development of Halo Infinite. Now, Staten says that was the start of a "brand new career."

Staten, who was instrumental in the success of Bungie's Halo games, was all of a sudden thrust into the role of Project Lead for Halo Infinite's campaign.

Inside 343's Decision to Delay Halo Infinite

In August 2020, shortly after Halo Infinite's big campaign debut, the news of the delay came out. Staten says there was a lot of stress and pressure involved with the delay, even though it ended up being the right choice.

"[There was] a huge amount of pressure to stay the course. I think a really wonderful example of Xbox leadership doing the right thing for our fans, doing the right thing [...] for players, even though it hurt them, Even though there were costs associated with that." Staten said. "It was 100% a player-first decision, and I'm so proud of the studio and Xbox for making that decision."

Staten says the campaign benefitted the most from the delay because it's the "largest Halo campaign we've ever made." The team was also grateful for more time to work on the multiplayer, Staten says the difference is that multiplayer, "doesn't have the same surface area as the campaign."

The team looked at 10 different main areas of the game they wanted to work on. Staten says two of the 10 areas were how to identify and find equipment easily, and how to use the grapple hook, which he calls the "fourth leg" of Halo combat, in addition to weapons, melee, and grenades.

Staten added that another main goal was to finish the game in a healthy way for the studio, to prepare them for moving onto supporting the live service aspect of Halo Infinite. Even though the game is coming out in full next month, not every feature will be there at launch. Fan-favorite modes like campaign co-op and Forge won't show up until May 2022 at the earliest.

Delaying Halo Infinite co-op was "very, very hard," according to Staten. He says the simple truth is that, "co-op wasn't ready," and 343 decided to prioritize effort in other areas, like making sure performance is stable on all platforms.

"If we don't maintain a high bar, if we don't commit ourselves to excellence and commit ourselves to every time we launch something to delighting our customers, living up to their expectations, ideally exceeding our expectations, I don't think we're doing this job right," Staten said.

For more on the development of Halo Infinite, check out the full interview with 343's Joseph Staten. And, be sure to check out our preview of Infinite's campaign.

Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN. You can find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.

Halo Infinite Lead Joseph Staten Reveals His Favorite Halo Game

Posted: 23 Nov 2021 09:00 AM PST

Ahead of the long-awaited launch of Halo Infinite's campaign, 343 Head of Creative Joseph Staten has revealed that his favorite Halo game is Halo 3: ODST.

Staten, who was instrumental in the success of Bungie's Halo games and joined Halo Infinite's development shortly after its delay in 2020, spoke to IGN for our Unfiltered interview series and shared why Halo 3: ODST meant so much to him.

"Halo 3: ODST is my favorite," Staten said. "And not just because I was helping to lead that project, but for me it was... any game developers that are watching will understand this. It was the game that we made in the most stable technology base that we'd ever had. You know, it was Halo 3 ODST. It was built in the Halo 3 engine, very few feature changes, so as almost entirely a content exercise.

"And we just had the flexibility to go in and create an experience, a story that didn't have to wait for the engineers to do all their hard work, rebuild tools and pipelines, implement big features. All of those things are wonderful part of game development, but it just makes things challenging. It extends your timeline."

He also discussed a bit more about its development and talked about how Bungie's studio head Harold Ryan and project lead Paul Bertone came to him and said they need this game to be finished in just six months, which is an incredibly short amount of time for a AAA game.

"So I believe the original charter for ODST was we needed it in six months," Staten continued. "Harold Ryan, our studio head at the time famously came to me, and Paul Bertone, the other project lead and said, 'We need it in six months. Something like Halo 3, but backwards at night.' And we're like, no, we're not gonna do a Halo 3 backwards at night, but we get what you're saying. It needs to be efficient, it needs to reuse assets. We need to be smart about the new things that we put in."

Luckily, that timeline was extended after Staten and the team proved how special this game could be. As it turned out, Halo 3: ODST was delivered in just about 18 months for its September 22, 2009, release date for Xbox 360.

"So we set up a prototype and people saw what we were going for and believed in it enough that they said, okay, well now you've got 12 months total," Staten said. "And it turns out at 12 months for a variety of reasons, we ended up actually getting closer to 18, and we were able to spend those last months just layering on as much polish as we possibly could.

"So for me, in terms of stable technology, just a really tight, cohesive, happy team, everybody marching forward with the same clear vision, it just a really wonderful game to work on. Very different than the vast majority of other games that I've worked on."

It was even more of a dream project for Staten as he got the chance to take risks again in a franchise that was so beloved and established. Furthermore, he got the chance to tell a noir detective story, something he had always wanted to do.

"It was an experimental game too in many ways," Staten says. "When you're working on a franchise like, it's challenging to innovate. It's very risky to try new things. We certainly are in Infinite, which is very exciting. But ODST was a noir detective story, the kind of that I had always wanted to write, and the fact that I was able to do it in Halo was pretty cool. I didn't think that was gonna happen in my career."

While we still have to wait until December 8 to see how truly innovative Halo Infinite's campaign ends up being, fans can jump into its free-to-play multiplayer right now.

If that wait is too tough and you need to learn more Halo Infinite's campaign, be sure to check out our four-hour hands-on preview of the story, the first Craig meme Easter Egg that's been found already, and how hidden audio logs will help tell the larger story of Zeta Halo.

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.

Xbox Launches a 20th Anniversary Site, Including a Museum Exhibit About You

Posted: 23 Nov 2021 07:57 AM PST

As part of Microsoft's celebrations surrounding the 20th anniversary of Xbox, the company has launched its own interactive museum. The online space features a number of information-filled exhibits and even one about you, and your Gamertag's history.

Launched by Microsoft on the Xbox website, the virtual treasure trove comes with a number of nifty features that you can use to brush up on your Xbox facts, relive moments of nostalgia from throughout various generations of the console's history, or find out more about your own journey with Xbox.

Upon loading the site, museum visitors are greeted by a coffee table-based hub packed with different Xbox memorabilia that each takes you to an iconic aspect of Xbox's twenty-year-long history. Via interactive links, users can move around and explore various areas set up to celebrate the studio's key console generations as well as an exhibit on the Halo franchise, and another on you as an Xbox player.

After logging into the site, you can find a range of information about your history personal history with Xbox displayed elegantly through your own curated museum exhibit. The display itself includes a range of information about your time with Xbox, such as data on the different console generations that you've owned, information about your most played games with Microsoft, your achievement history across that time, and more.

The launch of the Xbox museum features as just another way that Microsoft has been celebrating its trademark console series this year. Earlier in the year, Microsoft announced that it would be partnering with Adidas to create its own Xbox-inspired anniversary sneakers while further celebrations have also included the addition of over seventy games to the studio's backward compatibility service, an anniversary livestream, and insights into the birth of Xbox Game Pass.

Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

Get Deathloop for $25 this Black Friday (Save $35)

Posted: 23 Nov 2021 07:52 AM PST

The Black Friday deals are getting better by the day! Deathloop is now down to a whopping $25 on PS5 and PC. This is an incredible price on a title that was only released September this year.

Deathloop is one of the highest-rated titles of the year so far, which we gave a perfect 10/10 in our review. If you're into whacky first-person shooters and want a fun experience, then Deathloop is for you. Over at Amazon and for a limited time only, you can grab Deathloop for $25, saving a massive $35.

Deathloop takes the role of Colt, an assassin trapped in a time loop who is given the task to remove eight targets called the Visionaries across the island before midnight. If Colt keeps even one alive, it will reset the time loop and undo all of his work. By using a combination of parkour, guns, and gadgets, this first-person shooter teaches you how to tackle the Visionaries and other enemies before the time runs out.

More Black Friday Deals to Check Out

All the Best Black Friday Deals and Sales

Emma Partlow is a freelance writer and contributor for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @emmmzyne.

Halo Infinite Modders Are Already Unlocking (and Creating) New Vehicles

Posted: 23 Nov 2021 07:44 AM PST

Halo Infinite modders have begun adding previously unplayable vehicles, and even creating their own new ones.

While widespread modding is still fairly rare for the game, some players are beginning to tinker with the game's files. So far, that seems to have yielded the best results with vehicles, including those that can't be controlled in the release version of multiplayer.

Veteran Halo modder RejectedShotgun (via PC Gamer) has made the Pelican dropship fully flyable. And while he thinks it could still use a little work, the result is absolutely stunning. "The Halo Infinite Pelican is super detailed," he explained. "It has a ludicrous amount of detail – there is so much going on."

"Halo Infinite just recently dropped and luckily the game is similar enough to previous Halo's to be moddable," they explained in the video's description. "As the most important starter mod, I went ahead and did a flyable Pelican vehicle in multiplayer."

Longtime Halo modder Gamecheat13 has also managed to get the Phantom dropship working in-game, seemingly revealing that you can explore its interior in the new game.

Gamecheat13 has gone even further, creating their own Scorpion-Warthog hybrid, affectionately dubbed the Tank Hog. Combining a Scorpion tank's turret with the base Warthog, this weird tank/4x4 hybrid packs some hefty firepower.

This isn't the first time we've seen a Tank hog in action – this mod was earlier available in Halo: Reach, by changing the Warthog turret HLMG child object to combine the awesome firepower of the Scorpion tank with the versatility of the Warthog.

All of these mods are currently being developed in the Multiplayer version of Halo Infinite, with the main campaign due to launch on December 8. Whether or not 343 Industries will respond well to these mods remains to be seen, but the studio has previously encouraged modding in the Master Chief Collection – releasing extensive mod tools to the community.

343 Industries recently looked at Hallo Infinite's Battle Pass system after complaints that it was just too difficult. The studio responded swiftly and has since addressed this in a recent update.

Xbox Series X Black Friday Deals

Posted: 23 Nov 2021 07:15 AM PST

The wait is over, and the official Black Friday deals are here. Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Walmart, and more retailers have kicked off their best advertised deals for the holiday shopping season. And if you're looking to save some cash on Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S games or accessories, you've come to the right place. Tons of great stuff, from Xbox controllers to brand-new games, are on sale for the lowest prices we've ever seen.

We're tracking all the best Black Friday Xbox deals below. Anyone interested in non-Xbox-related deals can head over to our best Black Friday deals page. But for all things Xbox, let's get to it.

Best Black Friday Xbox Deals

These are our favorite Black Friday deals available right now. Check back often, because they'll change as deals expire and new deals come available

Xbox Black Friday Game Deals

Amazon

Walmart

GameStop

Best Buy

Microsoft Store (Digital Games)

Tons of terrific deals are available now, including up to over 50% off brand-new games. Call of Duty Vanguard just came out, but it's already 33% off. Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy was a largely overlooked game when it came out, despite that it's excellent. You can grab it for half price. Ditto Ubisoft's big fall releases Far Cry 6 and Riders Republic.

Now is also a great time to sweep up any older games you've missed out on. Tons of games are available for around the $20 range.

Xbox Accessory Deals

The best accessory deal available now is the Xbox Elite Series 2 controller on sale for $139.99. It's been flickering in and out of stock at Amazon, but it's currently available for that price at Walmart. Grab it if you want it.

Our deal coverage is much more extensive than just these Xbox deals. Be sure to take a look at our best Black Friday deals mega-post to find all the best deals across retailers on a wide variety of categories, ranging from PCs to gaming gear to workout equipment and more. And if you have a Switch, you'll want to take a look at the upcoming Nintendo Black Friday deals to expect as the big day approaches.

All the Best Black Friday Deals and Sales

Get Mass Effect: Legendary Edition for $25 This Black Friday (Save $35)

Posted: 23 Nov 2021 06:16 AM PST

The Black Friday deals are coming in thick and fast! Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is now just down to $25 on PS4 and Xbox. This is an excellent deal on one of the best sci-fi roleplaying games going (see here).

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition was one of the most anticipated remasters of this year, which we gave 8/10 in our review. This deal is worth checking out if you're after an engaging story to keep you busy over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Over at Walmart and for a limited time only, you can grab Mass Effect: Legendary Edition for $25, saving a massive $35.

Get Mass Effect: Legendary Edition for $25 at Walmart (Save $35)

Mass Effect follows the story of Commander Shepard, a soldier who assembles an impressive team of humans and aliens to combat the terrifying foe that resides beyond the Milky Way. Included in this stunning remaster is Mass Effect 1, Mass Effect 2, Mass Effect 3, and all the DLC to offer you a complete sci-fi experience.

More Black Friday Deals to Check Out

All the Best Black Friday Deals and Sales

Emma Partlow is a freelance writer and contributor for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @emmmzyne.

Get a Free £50 Gift Card with Oculus Quest 2 Purchases This Black Friday

Posted: 23 Nov 2021 05:52 AM PST

This is an absolutely incredible Black Friday deal. Now with all Oculus Quest 2 purchases, you can get a £50 gift card from qualifying retailers (see here). This includes the likes of Amazon, Currys, and Argos, making your Black Friday and Christmas shopping even more affordable.

We've all been wondering about Oculus Quest Black Friday deals, and this free £50 gift card offer is a supreme-combo, especially if you were already planning to do some Black Friday shopping.

Best Oculus Quest 2 Black Friday Deal in the UK

That means you can purchase the 128GB VR headset for £299, and get a £50 Amazon gift card to go towards all your other shopping this week and beyond. £50 gift cards are available on both the 128GB (£299) and 256GB (£399) models, making this one of the best deals of the year for bargain hunters.

VR is coming back in a big way recently, especially with the likes of Resident Evil 4 VR reviewing well. In my opinion, this is the perfect gift for a loved one, and you can either consider the Oculus costing £249, as you'll use the £50 at Amazon anyway. Or, use this as an excuse to go mad this Black Friday, it's up to you.

Editor's Note: Oculus Quest 2 is also on sale for Black Friday in the US.

More Black Friday Deals in the UK

While you're here, why not check out some more Black Friday deals in the UK. Guardians of the Galaxy has also dropped to £34.99, Far Cry 6 is now £39.99, and 12-Months of PlayStation Plus is now £32.99. We've also included some of our favourites below for your convenience.

Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.
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