Month: February 2020

Fortnite: Epic and Analyst Argue Over ‘Dropping’ Earnings

Epic Games and industry analyst SuperData are squaring off after a report claimed Fortnite’s earnings had dropped to their lowest level since 2017.

It began when SuperData put out a monthly games industry earnings report for January 2020. The report placed Fortnite as the 7th highest earner on console, but outside of the top 10 on PC and mobile, and summed up the game’s performance by saying the game’s “earnings continued their gradual decline and hit their lowest level since November 2017.”

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/20/fortnite-chapter-2-season-2-top-secret-launch-trailer”]

Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, an Epic spokesperson subsequently called SuperData’s reports “wildly inaccurate”, although didn’t go so far as to point specifically at this latest one:

“SuperData does not and has not ever had access to Epic’s Fortnite revenue data, and SuperData’s reports do not accurately reflect Fortnite’s performance. We are disappointed that SuperData has repeatedly published wildly inaccurate reports about Fortnite based on what we believe is questionable methodology. While we do not and have not publicly shared revenue numbers for Fortnite, we will say that SuperData’s reports do not align with reality.”

This is particularly notable as it’s become increasingly rare to see Epic reach out to press about Fortnite, particularly around the hugely successful battle royale’s financial success.

SuperData, however, has hit back. The analyst told GI.biz that it stands by the results, and saying it has “a proven methodology and validation process”. Epic has yet to reply.

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/20/fortnite-chapter-2-season-2-new-battlepass-and-map-changes”]

It’s an unusual squabble to see occur so publicly, and draws attention to how secretive the games industry – most particularly its top earners – tend to be about financial matters. Much of the analysis of in-game earnings tends to come from educated guesswork by analysts – and it remains to be seen how accurate SuperData is in this instance.

Fortnite recently launched the second season of Chapter 2, and has added everything from Deadpool, to rickrolling, to mythic weapons. But is it all just a game? Ninja doesn’t think so, and the Internet and lots and lots of opinions about that.

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Day Of The Dead TV Show Coming To Syfy

If you love the undead returning to life, only to crave human flesh, and the hordes of other zombie movies and TV shows released in the last decade don’t do it for you, then you may be happy to learn that Syfy is making a new series. It’s based on George Romero’s 1985 movie Day of the Dead–and hopefully, the virus wasn’t created by space spores.

Syfy has ordered a 10-episode series, and the show will take place during the first 24 hours of the zombie apocalypse and revolved around six strangers trying to survive according to The Wrap. The team of Jed Elinoff (The Banana Splits Movie) and Scott Thomas (R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour) will serve as showrunners for the upcoming series.

The original Day of the Dead film takes place in a world where zombies have already taken over. A group of scientists and military officers live in an underground bunker. When the military finds out the scientists have been using undead soldiers for their experiments, the scientists are banished to the caves. Also, zombies are invading the bunker, and one of them knows how to use a gun.

In the 21st century, there has been a huge resurgence with the zombie genre. Beginning with The Walking Dead comic, the Dawn of the Dead remake, and 28 Days Later (technically not a zombie movie, but it’s all semantics anyway)–all releasing between 2003-04–these three huge franchises led to the popularization, once again, of the horror subgenre, which hadn’t been relevant since the late ’70s and early ’80s. From there, we got titles like Zombieland and AMC’s The Walking Dead TV series–and its numerous spinoffs, many of which have yet to debut. There are also plenty of great films that don’t get as much attention or aren’t as high profile as the previously mentioned ones like Train to Busan, One Cut of the Dead, and The Dead.

It does seem like the popularity around this genre is on the downswing though. There haven’t been many wildly-popular zombie movies or TV shows in years, aside from The Walking Dead. Hopefully, Syfy’s new series has a more interesting hook as production goes on other than “here’s what happens in the first 24 hours,” as it’s an angle we’ve seen numerous times already.

Syfy’s Day of the Dead series will debut sometime in 2021.

Now Playing: The Most Important Zombie Movies In History

Xbox One X Deals: Save on Console Bundles, Game Pass Ultimate, and More

Xbox Series X is coming out later this year, but with forwards compatibility, you can still pick up an Xbox One X and play games like Halo Infinite, even if you don’t pick up the new console right away.

Right now you can save big on Xbox One X console bundles, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Xbox Live Gold, and a bunch of Xbox One games at Walmart (all of which will work with the next generation of Xbox gaming).

Best Deal: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Bundle for $299

[poilib element=”commerceCta” json=”%7B%22image%22%3A%7B%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F02%2F28%2Fjedi1582899149179.jpeg%22%2C%22styleUrl%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F02%2F28%2Fjedi1582899149179_%7Bsize%7D.jpeg%22%2C%22id%22%3A%225e591fd1e4b0e6d43845ee1d%22%7D%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fr.zdbb.net%2Fu%2Fbf38%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Xbox%20One%20X%20Star%20Wars%20Jedi%3A%20Fallen%20Order%20Console%20Bundle%20(1TB)%22%2C%22store%22%3A%22Walmart%22%2C%22additionalInfo%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ourPick%22%3Afalse%7D”]

If you’ve been looking for some 3rd-person action set in the Star Wars universe, and you don’t have an Xbox One X yet, now is the time to strike.

This Xbox One X console bundle has 1TB of storage space and comes with Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Deluxe Edition, as well as one month of EA Access, Xbox Live, and Xbox Game Pass. It originally cost $499, but now you can save $200 and get it for $299 at Walmart with free 2-day delivery.

NBA 2K20 Bundle for $299

[poilib element=”commerceCta” json=”%7B%22image%22%3A%7B%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F02%2F28%2Fnba1582900021554.jpeg%22%2C%22styleUrl%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F02%2F28%2Fnba1582900021554_%7Bsize%7D.jpeg%22%2C%22id%22%3A%225e59233ae4b0e6d43845ee1e%22%7D%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fr.zdbb.net%2Fu%2Fbfdc%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Xbox%20One%20X%20NBA%202K20%20Console%20Bundle%20(1TB)%22%2C%22store%22%3A%22Amazon%22%2C%22additionalInfo%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ourPick%22%3Afalse%7D”]

  • Get it at Walmart for $299

If you prefer the court to fantastical worlds, this Xbox One X console bundle has 1TB of storage space and comes with NBA 2K20, as well as one month of Xbox Live and Xbox Game Pass.

It used to be $499, but now you can save $200 and pick it for $299 at Walmart with free 2-day delivery.

3 Months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $24.99

[poilib element=”commerceCta” json=”%7B%22image%22%3A%7B%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F02%2F28%2Fxboxgame1582900861381.jpg%22%2C%22styleUrl%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F02%2F28%2Fxboxgame1582900861381_%7Bsize%7D.jpg%22%2C%22id%22%3A%225e592681e4b035b46686e70f%22%7D%2C%22url%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Fr.zdbb.net%2Fu%2Fbp41%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Xbox%20Game%20Pass%20Ultimate%20(3%20Months)%22%2C%22store%22%3A%22Amazon%22%2C%22additionalInfo%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ourPick%22%3Afalse%7D”]

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the gift that keeps on giving. Gain access to over 100 games on both Xbox One consoles and Windows 10, as well as Xbox Live Gold for the duration.

This 3-Month package normally costs $44.99, but right now you can get it for $24.99 at Walmart or Amazon so you can try every first-party Xbox title, and a whole lot more, for a lot less than the normal asking price.

Other Xbox One Deals

[widget path=”ign/modules/recirc” parameters=”title=&type=articles&tags=us-shopping&count=3&columnCount=3&theme=article”]

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Brian Barnett writes news, features, wiki guides, deals posts, and much more for IGN. You can get your fix of Brian’s antics on Twitter and Instagram (@Ribnax).

Rockstar Games Website Could Be Teasing New Game

Let the conspiracy theories commence! Rockstar Games has updated its website with new artwork, and it could be the sign of a new project. That is, of course, unless it is a clever joke from the Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption developer.

On the official Rockstar Games website, hitting the tab in the corner will give you dropdown menu with sections on games, news, videos, and more. The background images that appear behind this information are new, however, and one of them is possibly hinting at a new game. The word “bullying” can be seen among several lines of text about “fighting the righteous” and “killing dreams.”

Rockstar website's new artwork
Rockstar website’s new artwork

It’s entirely possible the wording is a coincidence, but it could be hinting at a new Bully project. According to VGC, a sequel had been in the works but was canceled fairly early in development.

One of the other images that can pop up, discovered on Reddit, shows a gold humanoid and a glass of champagne. This has seemingly nothing to do with Bully, suggesting that there are multiple unannounced games coming, that Bully 2 will be really weird, or that Rockstar’s artists just had some fun with updating the website. There is a very high chance it is the latter option, but it’s fun to hope otherwise.

Rockstar Games continues updates for Grand Theft Auto Online and Red Dead Redemption 2. Earlier this month, longtime executive and writer Dan Houser announced his departure. Houser had written for some of the series’ biggest games, including Grand Theft Auto 5.

Now Playing: Rockstar Games Co-Founder Dan Houser Leaves The Company – GS News Update

GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.

Amazon Just Launched An Awesome Sale On Switch, PS4, And Xbox One Games

Amazon matches rival competitors’ sales so frequently that it would almost be a surprise at this point if it didn’t do it. Once again, a day after Target launched its Save 25% Sale, Amazon has kicked off its own very similar sale, offering awesome discounts on a bunch of popular Switch, PS4, and Xbox One games. Target’s sale is for in-store pickup orders only, so Amazon’s sale is better when it comes to convenience. Stock will also probably sell out pretty quickly for the best deals, so you’ll want to get your orders in as soon as possible.

For this sale, you have to check the coupon box to get the additional savings (25%). You’ll see the final price at checkout. Though Amazon doesn’t list end dates on its sales, it will probably run until Target’s promotion ends on March 1. Amazon’s sale doesn’t feature every game offered in Target’s sale, but it still boasts a ton of great deals.

Nintendo Switch users can pick up a pair of excellent RPGs for even more excellent prices. Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive drops to $37.49, which is an incredible price for a game that previously never went for under $50. Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is just $22.49 (was $50).

On PS4, you can grab some of 2019’s hits for super low prices. Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Master Edition is $30 (was $60), Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is $28.49 (was $40), and Metro Exodus is $15 (was $60). Death Stranding’s Collector’s Edition, which includes your own BB Pod, is on sale for $149.25 (was $200).

Meanwhile, Xbox One users can snag one of the best action games in recent memory, Devil May Cry 5, for just $15. There are a number of multi-platform deals as well. Borderlands 3 on PS4 and Xbox drops to $22.49 (was $60), and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is discounted to $40 (was $60).

Unfortunately, there isn’t a dedicated hub on Amazon for the sale, but you can check out the best deals below.

Best game deals at Amazon

Westworld S3 Premiere Runtime Revealed Alongside Character Posters

HBO has revealed that Westworld Season 3’s premiere episode will clock in at 1 hour and 8 minutes.

The announcement, shared via TVWeb, was accompanied by six all-new character posters for the forthcoming season, featuring Evan Rachel Wood’s Dolores, Aaron Paul’s Caleb, Ed Harris’ William, Jeffrey Wright’s Bernard, Tessa Thompson’s Charlotte, and Thandie Newton’s Maeve.

Check out the all-new character posters in our gallery below:

[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”albumSlug=westworld-season-3-character-posters&captions=true”]

HBO Asia released the posters on Twitter, where the images were published in pairs alongside three separate taglines: “The real gods are coming” (Dolores and Caleb), “Welcome to the end of the game” (William and Bernard), and “You’re not the only predator here” (Charlotte and Maeve).

In 2018, Westworld creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy discussed how this newest season will be a “radical shift” from what came before, which certainly appears to be true from all of the promotional material that we’ve seen so far.

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/07/21/how-leaving-westworld-changes-westworld-in-season-3-comic-con-2019″]

The series’ latest trailer revealed more about Aaron Paul’s mysterious character Caleb, who is the most significant new addition to the cast. The recent footage indicated that he would be drawn into Dolores’ war for freedom as she and her fellow androids venture outside of the titular theme park into the human world.

In addition to Paul, new cast members this season include A Black Lady Sketch Show’s Lena Waithe, Black Swan’s Vincent Cassel, We Are Who We Are’s Scott Mescudi, Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Marshawn Lynch, The Newsroom’s John Gallagher Jr., Stumptown’s Michael Ealy, and Sons of Anarchy’s Tommy Flanagan.

[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”albumSlug=westworld-season-3-teaser-trailer-gallery&captions=true”]

Westworld Season 3 is set to premiere on HBO on Sunday, March 15, 2020, at 9 pm ET/PT.

For more on the hit sci-fi drama, read about the three secret trailers that diehard fans found ahead of the third season, check out Westworld Awakening – a VR game where you play as a self-aware host, and find out why the Man in Black’s story is Westworld’s greatest tragedy.

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Monster Hunter Movie: Two Exclusive New Posters

The Monster Hunter movie has two new teaser posters, and we can exclusively reveal them on IGN.

The posters show stars Tony Jaa and Milla Jovovich respectively, each holding weaponry drawn from the game series. Jaa, who plays The Hunter, is holding the Great Hunter’s Bow, Jovovich (playing Lieutenant Artemis) totes a Great Sword, the Giant Jawblade. The desert setting they’re in is based on the look of Monster Hunter World’s Wildspire Wastes area.

[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”albumSlug=monster-hunter-movie-2-new-posters&captions=true”]

If you want one for yourself, and you find yourself in Boston, MA, both posters will be given out in miniature form at the Monster Hunter Festa event taking place at PAX East on Saturday, February 29.

Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson (Mortal Kombat, Resident Evil, Event Horizon), the movie will alter the normal Monster Hunter storyline somewhat for the big screen. Artemis and her unit of elite soldiers are transported from our world to one filled with monsters (largely drawn from the games), and need to partner with The Hunter to survive and find a way home.

Anderson has previously stated that all of Artemis’ costumes, weapons and equipment are based directly on the games – currently everything we’ve seen hews closest to Monster Hunter World (not a surprise, given that game’s huge success).

We’ve already put together a list of 12 details Monster Hunter fans will recognise based on what we’ve seen of the film.

[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”albumSlug=every-video-game-movie-in-development-almost&captions=true”]

The film will be rated PG-13, and arrives on September 4.

It’s far from the only movie based on a video game in development right now – we’ve got a huge list of projects in the works. It’s no surprise, given the fact that game movies are increasingly big business, and might actually be, you know, not terrible these days.

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Riot’s Unrevealed FPS Seems to Be Called Valorant

League of Legends developer Riot Games is working on an FPS codenamed Project A – but recent details suggest it will be titled Valorant. Now, a new screenshot of the game, and several of its characters, appears to have leaked.

Earlier this week, RespawnFirst pointed to a trademark for Valorant filed by Riot, as well as a Twitter account created at around the same time as the trademark, @PlayValorant. The account is followed by multiple pro gamers and FPS streamers despite being a next-to empty page.

Yesterday, a Project A fan account also posted what appears to be a leaked screenshot of the game featuring a character select screen for a character called Sage:

That screenshot, if legitimate, also appears to confrim characters called Viper and Brimstone, alongside a number of character portraits.

This design for Sage appears to match up with previously-shown Project A footage (below) of a character that uses a green orb to summon walls and resurrect teammates. Sage’s abilities shown in the image match with that footage, and place her as functioning something like Overwatch’s Mercy and Moira characters.

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/10/16/riot-games-project-a-announcement-trailer”]

Riot announced Project A – a PC hero shooter unconnected to the universe of League of Legends – at the end of last year. The game will be set on a near-future Earth, and will take the form of a 5v5 shooter with a search-and-destroy mode. Former Counter-Strike: Global Offensive pro HenryG said it felt most similar to CS:GO in action.

It’s not the only secretive game in development at Riot (which, for many years, only worked on League of Legends) – a long-rumoured fighting game, Project L is also in the works, alongside several others.

[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”albumSlug=riot-games-competitive-pc-shooter-codenamed-project-a-screenshots&captions=true”]

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Nintendo’s PAX East Animal Crossing Booth Is Amazing, Adorable

It’s PAX East time again, and while some big names pulled out over coronavirus concerns, there’s still an overwhelming number of games and sites to take in. Probably the most popular, based on early observations, is Nintendo’s incredible Animal Crossing booth.

Take a look at the PAX East Animal Crossing booth in the gallery below, although photos don’t really do it justice:

[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”albumSlug=pax-east-nintendo-animal-crossing-booth&captions=true”]

Not only is the booth a faithful recreation of the world of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, there are chances to get your photo take with Isabelle or Tom Nook, as well as other parts of the Animal Crossing experience, like fishing and bug catching.

Yesterday, PAX East’s first day, had both the line for game demos and the line for photos closed due to overwhelming demand from those in attendance. It’s easily the most popular booth at PAX East so far, but today is only the second day.

Gearbox had its main theater panel yesterday, showing off the new DLC Love, Guns and Tentacles, as well as a surprise appearance by Borderlands movie director Eli Roth, who said he dreams of casting real-life Borderlands cosplayers as psychos in the movie, and then killing them gruesomely (for the movie).