Month: May 2020

Seth Rogen Movie Where He Falls Into A Vat Of Pickles And Wakes Up 100 Years Later Gets A Release Date

The Seth Rogen movie An American Pickle, in which the actor falls into a vat of pickles and wakes up 100 years later, now has a release date and a new distribution parter. The movie will premiere on August 6 through the new streaming service, HBO Max, according to Deadline.

An American Pickle was originally planned for a theatrical release from Sony Pictures, but HBO Max owner WarnerMedia bought it from Sony in the wake of mass theatre closures due to COVID-19.

The movie is adapted from the 2013 Simon Rich novella, Sell Out. The movie features Rogen as a man, Herschel, who immigrates to America in 1920 with the hope of finding the American dream. On one fateful day, he falls into a vat of pickles. He becomes preserved in the brine for 100 years, waking up in present-day Brooklyn without ageing at all. His immediate family is dead. His only friend in the world is his great-grandson Ben (played by Rogen as well), who is a computer coder with nothing in common with Herschel. You can bet a lot of silliness and hijinks will ensue.

Rogen shared the first image from An American Pickle on Twitter with an old-timey photo of himself as Herschel.

An American Pickle is directed by Rogen’s longtime collaborator, Brandon Trost, who is making his solo directorial debut with the film. He previously worked with Rogen on This Is the End, The Interview, and Neighbors.

Now Playing: Best Shows And Movies To Stream For May 2020 – Netflix, Hulu, Shudder, Amazon Prime Video

Valorant Devs Talk About Their Anti-Cheat Tools

This week’s dev blog post from the team behind Valorant talks about the development and implementation of the anti-cheat system.

The current anti-cheat system in Valorant consists of a kernel mode driver that loads during the boot system. This means that those who have downloaded Valorant will have the Vanguard system running in the background, even when not playing the game. It is possible to disable the Vanguard, but it will have to be turned back on in order to play.

The system was designed to weed out the cheaters using an AI that would investigate and monitor players, with the final decision coming from the anti-cheat team.

Following the massive wave of player bans issues recently, Paul Chamberlain, Valorant’s anti-cheat lead, comments in the blog post on how the team is listening to feedback.

“We’ve heard feedback from players that it felt like Vanguard was being overbearing in its approach to security so we’re taking another approach. As of last week, Vanguard’s compatibility with vulnerable software packages has been expanded. While a small number of drivers are still blocked, from now on almost all of the software that Vanguard was previously blocking will work properly on Vanguard protected computers.

In the future we’re going to prefer non-invasive solutions to security issues where possible, finding ways for Vanguard, Valorant and that one weird RGB driver to coexist. If we can’t find a way for them to all work together, we’ll disable the game rather than disable your other software. Only in the most egregious cases will we block any software from running on your computer.

We’re continuing to improve Vanguard and we need your feedback to make good decisions. So please let us know how you feel about our anti-cheat efforts and we’ll do our best to keep everyone (except cheaters) happy,” comments Chamberlain.

The blog post also touches on the element of peeker’s advantage and how ranked/competitive play will work going forward.

Valorant is set to officially launch this Summer on PC.

Now Playing: Let’s Play Valorant

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Xbox Boss On Impact Of COVID-19–“We’re Going To Be Fine”

Xbox boss Phil Spencer has again weighed in with his thoughts on how COVID-19 will impact the gaming industry. Speaking to Business Insider, Spencer said he expects the Xbox Series X to launch on schedule this year and most titles in the short term won’t be significantly affected. On a longer timeline, however, Spencer said there might be “some impact.”

“Through the summer, early fall? I feel pretty good about those games,” Spencer said. “Games that were targeting a year from now or beyond? There’ll be some impact, but they’ll be able to react.”

Spencer did not name any titles outright that he believes might be impacted. The Xbox Series X’s flagship launch title, Halo Infinite, remains on track to release this holiday with the console despite the development team at 343 Industries moving to a work-from-home structure.

One of the issues related to game development under lockdown is that teams cannot conduct motion-capture sessions. Spencer said motion-capture recordings have “basically stopped.”

In regards to the Xbox Series X hardware, Spencer said he and his teams are “obviously not traveling to China” to check in on the manufacturing process of the new machines. That being said, Spencer said he feels good about the progress being made on the consoles. In fact, Spencer pointed out that he is currently playing games on his Xbox Series X at home as part of the testing process.

The launch of the Xbox Series X might be different than previous new console releases, however. Spencer admitted that the kind of “pomp and circumstance” around new console launches might be impacted this year. For the launch of the Xbox One, Microsoft held global releases parties, but with the global lockdown situation being what it is, those may not happen this year. Microsoft recently stated that it would not hold any physical events until 2021, which would seemingly impact plans for an Xbox Series X launch party.

Overall, Spencer said he feels optimistic about the future of the games business. “I think we’re going to be–as an industry–we’re going to be fine,” he said.

Now Playing: First Look Xbox Series X – Full Presentation

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Panzer Dragoon Remake Patch 1.3 Brings Multiple Huge Improvements To Switch Game

Panzer Dragoon, the Switch remake of Sega’s 1995 classic, launched in March, but it was missing several features. Now, the game has received a new patch with update 1.3, which adds numerous new features and improvements. It’s a substantial update.

The patch is detailed in the video below, but the Panzer Dragoon Twitter account also listed out the improvements, which we’ve listed. The most exciting are the newly added Episode 0 (a sort-of endless mode), gyroscope controls, and a 60FPS “performance” mode.

Here’s everything in the patch:

NEW:

  • Episode 0
  • Super Weapon Mode
  • New gameplay options: rumble, classic reticle, auto-aim zoom, HUD toggle, performance mode (60FPS)
  • Cheatcodes in the main menu allowing the player to cheat in a campaign (god mode, infinite credits, super weapon mode)
  • Gyroscope controls

IMPROVEMENTS

  • SFX system and sounds rework
  • Multi-button fire (A and B)
  • Input lag removed from all actions
  • Camera rotation speed increased
  • Easier and more responsive targeting system
  • Full options access trough pause menu
  • Blue Dragon motion re-work
  • Start language based on console account language
  • New, reworked Pandora’s Box is now available after beating the game at any difficulty

You can also get a 20% discount on the game right now, as long as you own another game from the publisher. It’s not exactly a list of prestigious titles (I have over 150 games on my Switch and do not qualify for the discount), but owners of, say, Bad Dream: Coma or Thief Simulator are in luck.

Panzer Dragoon will also come to PC and Stadia at a later date.

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Apex Legends Season 5: Kings Canyon Map Comparison With Season 4

Kings Canyon is the original map for Apex Legends and it’s undergone quite a few transformations since the battle royale game released in February 2019. At the start of Season 2: Battle Charge, parts of Kings Canyon had to be rebuilt in the wake of leviathans and flyers invading the arena. That same season also saw Octane and Wraith’s town takeovers added to the map. Now, with the start of Season 5: Fortune’s Favor, the map has changed once more.

In the video above, we go over all the new changes to Kings Canyon that have now been made with the start of Season 5. New character Loba inadvertently destroyed a portion of Kings Canyon, removing Skull Town and Thunderdome–two of the most popular drop spots on the map. Several other smaller locales are just gone too.

Season 5 doesn’t just take locations away–brand-new landmarks have also been added. A huge bowl-like structure, Capacitor, has been placed where Wetlands once stood, for example, and Offshore Rig now connects this new location to both Relay and Swamps.

Several of Kings Canyon’s older locations have undergone minor transformations. For the most part, they still have the same layout but they’ve been altered cosmetically to reflect the passing of time. For instance, Season 1’s Shattered Forest (which became Nesting Grounds in Season 2) is now the Reclaimed Forest–and the once bombed-out locale has flourished with green trees and numerous shrubs.

If you want to see all the changes, you’ll have to watch the video. Other than these map changes and Loba, Season 5 adds a host of new content to Apex Legends as detailed in the Fortune’s Favor update patch notes. The new season also adds a brand-new battle pass and story-focused PvE Quests mode.

You Can Play Fallout 76 And The New Wastelanders Update For Free This Weekend

Fallout 76 has walked a rocky road since its 2018 release, and if you’re curious about the state of the game right now, this weekend is the perfect opportunity to jump in and find out. The official Fallout Twitter account has announced an upcoming free weekend, running from May 14, 12PM EDT until May 18, 12PM EDT (9AM PT).

You’ll be able to experience the base game, but also the content of the free Wastelanders update, which arrived in April. Has it improved the game? Yes, although it’s still not exactly a masterpiece. Still, if you think the game might appeal to you, now’s the time to find out.

This is also a double XP weekend for the game, so there’s a good chance that it’ll be heavily populated–and it’ll be a mix of players who have been around for a while and brand-new wastelanders. Unfortunately, though, you won’t be able to get a dog just yet–maybe they’ll arrive in time for the next free weekend.

While you’re playing Fallout 76, be on the look out for some of its wildest bugs.

Now Playing: Giving Fallout 76 Another Shot

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PGA Tour 2K21 Will Feature A Cover Athlete, But Who Will It Be?

It appears that 2K Sports’ new golf game, PGA Tour 2K21, will feature not only officially licensed PGA Tour courses, but players as well. The studio released a teaser on Twitter asking fans to guess who will be the first-ever cover athlete for the PGA Tour 2K series.

The tweet contains a silhouetted image of a golfer. The replies are flooded with people responding with who they think the athlete might be. My money is on Justin Thomas. Not only does his swing shape look the same, but the image in the teaser seems to show a golfer wearing a hoodie. Thomas is known for wearing hoodies on the course during competition; he’s sponsored by Ralph Lauren.

There is no confirmation that the silhouette in the teaser image is even the golfer that will be on the cover of PGA Tour 2K21, however. Whatever the case, this is a big deal for the golf series. The previous game, The Golf Club 2019 Featuring PGA Tour, did not feature any official player likenesses. That game also only had a few official PGA Tour courses, leading many players to call for the next game to incorporate more. It seems that might be happening with the new game, which rebrands the series as PGA Tour 2K.

We’ll know more soon, as 2K is planning to officially announce and show more of PGA Tour 2K21 on May 14.

The first teaser for PGA Tour 2K21 showed off the iconic 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass, but it remains to be seen what other courses–and golfers–might be featured in the title.

PGA Tour 2K21 is developed by HB Studios, which is the same developer that made The Golf Club series. There is no word yet on a list of supported platforms or a release date. The Golf Club 2019 Featuring the PGA Tour scored an 8/10 in GameSpot’s review.

The PGA Tour’s license with 2K appears to be non-exclusive, as EA–which used to publish the Tiger Woods PGA Tour series–maintains that it continues to have a relationship with the tour. Intriguingly, EA recently said it will revive one of its dormant sports game series, but right now, UFC seems more likely than PGA Tour.

Now Playing: Best Shows And Movies To Stream For May 2020 – Netflix, Hulu, Shudder, Amazon Prime Video

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We’re Stoked for Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater’s Return

BEYOND! On this week’s episode of IGN’s weekly PlayStation show Podcast Beyond!, host Jonathon Dornbush is joined by Brian Altano, Max Scoville, and Lucy O’Brien to talk about the biggest PlayStation news of the week, including the return of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, Unreal’s impressive Unreal Engine 5 PS5 tech demo, and much more.

Watch the latest episode of Podcast Beyond! below, and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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Be sure to read all of the first details about Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2, watch and learn more about the Unreal Engine 5 tech demo, and check out the latest on the PS5.

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Download or listen to the show on these platforms:

Podcast Beyond! is live every Wednesday. For the latest on PS5, check out the PS5 full specs list, why we’re excited about PS5’s 3D audio focus, an analysis of what teraflops really mean for the PS5 and Xbox Series X, and check out images of the allegedly PS5 dev kit and controller.

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Jonathon Dornbush is IGN’s Senior News Editor, host of Podcast Beyond!, and PlayStation lead. Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.

Here’s Where You Can Preorder Yakuza: Like a Dragon Right Now

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is slated to launch on PS4, Xbox One, and PC later this year; it will also be an Xbox Series X launch title. Like its many predecessors, it’s an action-RPG set in Japan’s criminal underworld. It that follows a low-ranking gang member named Ichiban Kasuga, a new protagonist for the series, who is released to find that his clan has been destroyed. As you can probably imagine, it’s time for revenge.

The game has a revamped combat system compared to previous entries. You control a team this time around, with turn-based beat-’em-up combat. It also offers 19 unique jobs to take on and 50 side quests, that will surely range from the serious to the downright ridiculous. Fans of the series would have it no other way. While we don’t have an exact release date yet, the game is already available to preorder at a number of retailers.

Where to Preorder Yakuza: Like a Dragon

yakuza-like-a-dragon-screenPS4

Xbox One / Xbox Series X

PC

Unlike many games these days, there’s only one edition of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, so you don’t have to worry about choosing which one to buy.

Note: The Xbox version of Yakuza: Like a Dragon supports Smart Delivery, so you only have to buy it once to play it on Xbox One and Xbox Series X. When you play it on Xbox Series X, you’ll be able to upgrade to the next-gen version at no additional cost. Even your save file will transfer to the new console.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon Preorder Bonus

Preorder Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and you’ll receive the Day One edition. Sega says it will offer details about what’s included in this edition at a later date, but it’s safe to assume you’ll get some kind of digital goodies for being an early buyer.

Other Preorder Guides

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Chris Reed is IGN’s shopping and commerce editor. You can follow him on Twitter @_chrislreed.

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AMC Buys Anne Rice Vampire And Witch Franchises For Movies And TV

AMC Networks is continuing to expand its place in the horror genre. It already airs The Walking Dead and vampire series NOS4A2 on AMC, plus it owns the horror streaming service Shudder. Now the studio has purchased the rights to works by Anne Rice, guaranteeing plenty of vampire and witch content for years to come.

As first reported by Variety, AMC has bought the rights to The Vampire Chronicles and The Lives of the Mayfair Witches series of novels from Rice. The properties will be developed into movies and TV shows to air on AMC’s own network and streaming services.

In a statement, Rice said, “It’s always been my dream to see the worlds of my two biggest series united under a single roof so that filmmakers could explore the expansive and interconnected universe of my vampires and witches. That dream is now a reality, and the result is one of the most significant and thrilling deals of my long career.”

For those unfamiliar, The Vampire Chronicles spans 13 novels, dating back to 1976’s Interview with the Vampire. That book, of course, was adapted into the 1994 movie starring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. The Lives of the Witches of Mayfair includes three novels, published between 1990 and 1994.

While Interview with the Vampire was a box office hit when it was released, this will be the first time these novels will be adapted for TV. At this point, though, no announcements about plans for upcoming movies or shows have been made.