Month: November 2020

Borderlands 3 — Arms Race Mode And New Legendary Gun Gameplay

On November 10, Borderlands 3 will see the beginning of its year 2 content with the Designer’s Cut update. In addition to a suite of new skill-trees and abilities for each of the vault hunters, the upcoming update also has a new mode called Arms Race. In the player hub Sanctuary 3, players will reunite with Borderlands 2 heroes Axton and Salvador, who now host a new competition where vault hunters get dropped into a battle zone filled with new enemies, bosses, and some fresh loot.

We had the chance to get some early hands-on time with Arms Race, and we got to see how much it only changes the flow of Borderlands 3 and how it leans even further into the core gunplay of the game. In this video, we show off an entire match with Zane as he drops into the new map called Stormblind Complex, a former Dahl weapons factory turned into the battlezone for Arms Race. Much like the flow of a battle royale game, you’re dropped into a random section of the map and have to arm yourself with whatever gear you can find. In addition to coming into Arms Race without weapons or shields, your vault hunter will also have their action-skills and perks disabled–meaning that your survival all depends on quick reflexes and the loot you can find.

While it leans heavily into the tropes of a battle royale game, Arms Race is not a competitive mode. While you can play co-op with other players, you won’t be fighting against other players. Instead, you’ll be facing off against mercenaries, AI robots, and other badass enemies lurking around the map. But like games like Warzone or Fortnite, there’s also an element of danger with the environment. Surrounding the Stormblind Complex is a massive snowstorm, and getting anywhere within it will hurt your vault hunter, resulting in death if they stay out for too long. The reward for taking part in Arms Race is the exclusive gear you can find, which you will have to extract to keep in your permanent inventory. One of the cool guns we found was a Torgue flamethrower weapon called the Hotfoot Teddy, which deals impressive damage to a cluster of enemies.

In addition to the gameplay for Arms Race, we also have footage for all the new skills and abilities for Moze, Fl4K, Zane, and Amara on GameSpot. Be sure to check back with us for more information on what’s to come with the Designer’s Cut update.

Borderlands 3’s Arms Race Mode Pays Homage To Battle Royale Games

The next big update coming to Borderlands 3 is the Designer’s Cut, which launches on November 10. As the start of the game’s second year of content, it introduces a whole suite of changes, upgrades, and a new mode for players to dive into and experiment with. Previously, we’ve shown off one facet of the Designer’s Cut update in the form of the new skill trees and abilities for each of the vault hunters. However, the other significant addition coming is Arms Race, which adds in a new way to play the looter-shooter.

We had the chance to get some early hands-on time with Arms Race, and experienced how much it changes the flow of Borderlands 3 and how it leans even further into the core gunplay of the game. To start the quest to play Arms Race, you’ll need to access the player hub, Sanctuary 3. While exploring the main hall, players will get a message from returning Borderlands 2 vault hunters Axton and Salvador, who now host a new competition where players get dropped into a battle zone filled with new enemies, bosses, and some fresh loot.

The new map is on Pandora, set in a place called the Stormblind Complex. Formerly a Dahl weapons factory, it’s been turned into a large battle zone filled with treasure caches for Arms Race. You’re dropped into a random section of the map, and much like in a battle royale game, you have to arm yourself with whatever gear you can find. In addition to coming into Arms Race without weapons or shields, your vault hunter will also have their action-skills and perks disabled–meaning that your survival all depends on quick reflexes and the loot you can find.

Arms Race’s core loop is all about arming yourself with new gear, exploring the facility to find the valuable treasure chests, and eventually taking on the boss located at the center of the map. You are free to take him on early, but with only the starting gear you can scrounge up, you likely won’t stand a chance. Though it does lean heavily into the tropes of a battle royale game, Arms Race is not a competitive mode. You can play co-op with other players, but you won’t be fighting against other players. Instead, you’ll be facing off against mercenaries, AI robots, and other badass enemies lurking around the map. But like games such as Call of Duty: Warzone or Fortnite, there’s also an element of danger with the environment. Surrounding the Stormblind Complex is a massive snowstorm, and getting anywhere within it will hurt your vault hunter, resulting in death if they stay out for too long.

Interestingly, Arms Race feels like a traditional battle royale game with some influences from The Division’s Dark Zone, which gives it a sense that you’re behind enemy lines where one death will spell the end of your run. The reward for taking part in Arms Race is the exclusive gear you can find, which you will have to extract to keep in your permanent inventory. One of the cool guns we found was a Torgue flamethrower weapon called the Hotfoot Teddy, which deals impressive damage to a cluster of enemies.

Launching next week on November 10, alongside the next-gen edition of the game on Xbox Series X / Series S (with the PS5 release on November 12), Borderlands 3 is in for some big changes in its second year. In addition to the gameplay for Arms Race, we also have footage for all the new skills and abilities for Moze and Zane, along with Amara and Fl4k on GameSpot. We also have features on our look back on the first year of Borderlands 3, and a full interview with Randy Pitchford about the history of the franchise.

Now Playing: Borderlands 3 — Arms Race Mode And New Legendary Gun Gameplay

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How EA Games Use PS5 And Xbox Series X/S: Apex, Star Wars: Squadrons, And More

Electronic Arts has outlined the various ways in which its marquee titles take advantage of the power of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/Series S consoles, which arrive very soon. These games primarily will primarily rely on backwards compatibility, at least at first, rather than getting native next-gen versions.

Perhaps the most interesting case is Star Wars: Squadrons, which has two dedicated settings to choose from: one focused on visual fidelity and the other on performance. However, this feature is apparently only available on Xbox platforms, while PS5 users are only getting “improved lighting.” Read on to get the scoop on how EA’s major games make the most of the next-gen consoles.

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Madden NFL 21 And FIFA 21

The next-gen editions of Madden NFL 21 land FIFA 21 launch on December 4, so they won’t be available at launch, but it will arrive not long after. (The current-gen versions should be playable through backwards compatibility.) EA boasts that the next-gen versions of the games will “deliver their most immersive and authentic experiences yet” on the new consoles. More details about the specific ways in which the games leverage the power of the consoles will be announced later in November.

Anyone who has already bought Madden NFL 21 or FIFA 21 for a current-gen console can upgrade to the next-gen edition for free until Madden NFL 22 and FIFA 21 arrive in 2021. progress from Madden 21’s Ultimate Team, The Yard, and Franchise modes move with you to next-gen, while Ultimate Team and Volta Football content in FIFA 21 will also transfer.

Star Wars: Squadrons

On Xbox Series X or S, players can choose from two different options within the game, one of which offers better visual quality and the other favoring performance. The improved visual quality option brings the game up to 1400p at 60FPS on Xbox Series S and up to 4K at 60 FPS on Xbox Series X. In the performance move, the game runs at up to 1440p at 120FPS on Series S and up to 4K at 120 FPS on Series X. The developers have also introduced a Variable Refresh Rate option for displays that support it.

On PS5, players can expect improved lighting and the same resolution and frame rate on PS4 Pro. (According to Digital Foundry‘s findings at the game’s launch, that means it’ll run between 1440p and 1800p at 60 FPS.) The press release did not say if the PS5 edition will offer the visual quality/performance options that Xbox users are getting.

Regardless, there will also be cross-gen cross-play, so everyone on Xbox One, PS4, PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5 can play together.

Apex Legends

Apex Legends, the battle royale game from the developers of Titanfall will offer a resolution increase up to 1440p. More “formal enhancements” are planned for 2021, but they were not disclosed.

Apex Legends will also support cross-gen cross-play, just like Star Wars Squadrons. In this situation, people on PC (Origin and Steam), Xbox One, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5 can play together.

The Sims 4

The massively popular The Sims 4 is also getting improvements on next-gen, with EA promises faster loading times and smoother frame rates. The game’s 10th expansion, Snowy Escape, will be available on November 13 for the next-gen platforms (and previous-gen and PC). Additionally, all previously released expansion packs will be available on next-gen platforms.

Other Sports Games

In addition to the dedicated new versions of FIFA 21 and Madden NFL 21 headed to next-gen, the current-gen editions of those games–along with UFC 4 and NHL 21–will be playable on next-gen platforms through backwards compatibility. On Xbox Series X, all four titles will run as if they were on an Xbox One X, EA said. For those on Xbox Series S, these games will run with a similar experience to Xbox One S. On PS5, the games will offer the same experience as they do on PS4 Pro. On all three platforms, players can expect faster load times and better frame rates, although specific figures were not shared.

Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered

Finally, the remastered version of Criterion’s 2010 racing game Need for Speed Hot Pursuit launches on November 6 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and it will also be playable on Xbox Series X/S and PS5 when those consoles release. As with the aforementioned sports games, backwards compatibility functions similarly: The Xbox Series X version runs as if it were on Xbox One X (with that platform’s enhancements), while the Series S version uses the Xbox One S version. The PS5 version will run as if it were on PS4 Pro.

Crash Bandicoot Gear Comes To Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 + 2, And It’s All Free

Two of Activision’s most popular franchises are coming together for the first time. The publisher has announced a new crossover event of sorts that sees Crash Bandicoot-themed gear come to Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2.

On November 6, new Bandicoot-themed gear is coming to the skateboarding game. Everyone who already purchased the skateboarding game will get 13 new Crash items for the Create-A-Skater mode. This includes nine shirts, three hats, and one skateboard deck. You can see a few of these in the images below.

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November 6 also marks the launch of the Birdman Pack, which will benefit Tony Hawk’s The Skatepark Project charity–this was formerly known as the Tony Hawk Foundation. The DLC bundle comes with new boards from Birdhouse and Powell-Peralta, along with a new TSP deck made specifically for this campaign. The items, of which there are 10 in all, can be used in the Create-A-Skater mode.

The bundle costs $5 and all proceeds will go to The Skatepark Project, which helps build public skateparks for kids. The charity drive ends on December 31, 2021, or when it reaches $500,000.

The November 6 update for Pro Skater 1 + 2 also introduces new challenges for multiplayer, Create-A-Park, and Combo Practice, while the multiplayer playlists are being updated for “better randomization” of parks and scores for Jams and Competitive modes.

Finally, a new feature called Solo Tours is being added to Pro Skater 1 + 2. “Players will be able to replay Tours mode with individual skaters allowing them to max out stats with each of their favorite pros. At the start of each Solo Tour, all Goals and Medals will be reset, while current Tours mode will move to Crew Tours so previous progress will not be lost,” Activision said.

In other news about Crash, you can check out GameSpot’s interview with Crash Bandicoot 4 composer Walter Mair, where he talks about making music for the iconic series.

Now Playing: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 Video Review

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Zac Efron To Star In Movie About A Big Piece Of Metal

Zac Efron is continuing to stack up new projects at a steady clip. The latest movie on the horizon from the former High School Musical star is Gold, a survival thriller “about two strangers who stumble across the biggest gold nugget ever found” in the Australian wilderness. Based on the description, “nugget” may downplay its heft, as a major part of their struggle is just figuring out a way to excavate it and bring it topside.

News of the movie comes from The Hollywood Reporter, who also indicates that Anthony Hayes (War Machine, Animal Kingdom) will both co-star and direct the film. Hayes also co-wrote the script with Polly Smyth (Crawlspace, Killer Elite).

“This is an exciting, gripping and timely tale about greed, humanity, who we are, what we’ve done to the world and where we are heading if we aren’t careful,” said Hayes. “To have Zac Efron as my main man on this film is an absolute gift and to see what he is creating already is like nothing we’ve seen from him before. I can’t wait to deliver this bold, visceral, and cinematic film to audiences all around the world.”

Efron has also been cast in a reboot of the 1987 comedy Three Men and a Baby, hopefully growing a mustache and taking over the Tom Selleck role. The actor has also been tapped to star in Firestarter, a new adaptation of the 1981 Stephen King novel.

Fortnite Could Be Playable on iOS Again Through Nvidia GeForce Now

Fortnite could be playable again on iOS through a reported upcoming version of cloud streaming service, Nvidia GeForce Now, which would allow Epic Games to bypass the iOS App Store on iPhones.

Nvidia GeForce Now is a cloud streaming service that allows users to play their games wherever they have internet access. It’s already available on PC, Android, and Mac. According to the BBC, a new version that runs on the Safari browser is expected to launch before the winter holidays, which could offer an avenue for iPhone users to play Fortnite on their phones once again. Nvidia has yet to comment on the report.

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Because Nvidia GeForce Now would go through Apple’s web browser, Safari, instead of through its iOS App Store, the 30% commission cut Apple charges for software on its App Store would be a moot point. It’s this 30% commission cut that saw Epic and Apple clash over the iOS version of Fortnite to begin with. Epic decided to bypass this cut by altering the price of Fortnite V-Bucks in a new direct payment system in response to Apple’s “exorbitant” App Store fees earlier this year.

This eventually turned into a legal battle that later made its way in-game as an event for all players. As of today, Fortnite is not available on iOS. Epic has been working to get its 116 million iOS players back into Fortnite and Nvidia GeForce Now might be the solution.

This is all theory as of right now as neither Epic nor Nvidia have commented on the possibility, but there’s no reason why Fortnite wouldn’t be playable through the service. As with any cloud gaming, there is the possibility of lag, which in a game like Fortnite, could be problematic.

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Using the service to play Fortnite on iPhones could be free as Nvidia GeForce Now offers a basic tier of service for free. This is limited to one-hour sessions though, which could present another hurdle for iPhone players. For now, however, it’s a waiting game.

During that wait, check out this Fortnite vs. Apple parody ad created by Epic and then then read about how Epic might be weaponizing Fortnite fans against Apple. If you’re not familiar with the Epic vs. Apple court case, catch up on one of the latest rulings where a judge said Apple doesn’t need to put Fortnite back on the App Store for now.

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Wesley Leblanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes. 

LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special Includes LEGO Baby Yoda, Mando & More

Lucasfilm has released a brand new trailer and poster for the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, coming to Disney+ on November 17.

The new trailer offers fans a sneak peek at the animated special, which features multiple characters from different timelines meeting for the first time in what promises to be an exciting Star Wars mashup. The clips reveal Rey and the rest of the heroes preparing for Life Day by kitting out the Millennium Falcon with a whole load of festive food and decorations, which receive a Wookie roar of approval from Chewbacca. Before long, however, Rey is hurled into a cross-timeline adventure that sees her come into contact with The Mandalorian, Baby Yoda, and many other iconic heroes and villains across the galaxy.

Check out the action-packed new trailer below:

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Together with the exciting new trailer, Disney released a colourful new poster for the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, featuring a row of Porgs admiring the LEGO Millennium Falcon, which is decked out with holiday lights and surrounded by the special’s star-studded cast of characters, including the likes of Rey, Kylo Ren, Poe, Finn, and Rose Tico, who is said to have a “really prominent role throughout the story.”

Image credit: Disney Plus
Image credit: Disney Plus

The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special is a production of Atomic Cartoons, the LEGO Group, and Lucasfilm. It is directed by Ken Cunningham and written by David Shayne, who is also co-executive producer. James Waugh, Josh Rimes, Jason Cosler, Jacqui Lopez, Jill Wilfert, and Keith Malone are attached as additional executive producers on the project.

The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special hits Disney+ on November 17, the same day that the original Star Wars holiday special aired on CBS in 1978.

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

IGN’s Next-Gen Console Launch Coverage Schedule

It’s finally time! With the launch of the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, we are going to have loads of content coming out over the next few weeks to satisfy all your next-gen needs. To give you a good sense of what’s on the horizon, we decided to create a schedule that we’ll update with all of our biggest next-gen content. From previews and unboxings to reviews and features, we have a ton of coverage planned that we’re super excited to share with you, and this schedule will be the convenient and easy guide to it all. We hope so, anyway!

IGN’s Next-Gen Console Launch Coverage Schedule

Our next-gen launch content started at the end of October with our Xbox Series X and PS5 console unboxings. You can expect plenty of in-depth features, guides, next-gen console, game and hardware reviews, and livestreams beginning November 5th and continuing full force ahead. Here is our current next-gen consoles launch schedule so far:

Thursday, November 5

6 am PT:

7 am PT:

9 am PT:

  • Xbox Series X: Live Showcase & AMA – Unlocked (live stream)

11 am PT:

  • Xbox Series X Review AMA with Ryan McCaffrey on IGN’s Twitter

3 pm PT:

  • Xbox Series X Review Q&A with Ryan McCaffrey on IGN’s Instagram

Friday, November 6

We will share our next-gen review plans for Friday as soon as we are able.

Monday, November 9

6 am PT:

  • Bugsnax Review

Wednesday, November 11

9 am PT:

  • The Best Last-Gen Games to Play on Xbox Series X and PS5

Thursday, November 12

9:30 am PT:

  • Things PS5 Does Great (and Things That Should be Fixed)

Friday, November 13

9 am PT:

  • PS5 vs Xbox: Which Does What Best
  • PS5 vs. Xbox: Overall Graphics and Performance Comparison

Monday, November 16

10 am PT:

  • New IGN show premiere – Review Crew: Assassin’s Creed

Tuesday, November 17

12:30 pm PT:

  • How Do PS5 & XSX Handle User Privacy?

Wednesday, November 18

9 am PT:

  • What the Xbox Series X Does Great (and What It Should Fix)

11:30 am PT:

  • PS5 vs. Xbox: Which Has Better Streaming Video Apps?

Thursday, November 19

5 pm PT:

  • IGN Friendsgiving: Among Us Charity Stream with Special Guests

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Next-Gen Console and Video Game Release Date Schedule

If you’re wondering when to expect the Xbox Series X/S and PS5 launch or which games are due to come out before, during, and following this console launch, we’ve got you covered. From indie gems like Bugsnax and expansions like Destiny 2’s Beyond Light to massively anticipated titles like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Cyberpunk 2077, here is our next-gen console and video game release date schedule:

November 6

  • Dirt 5

November 13

  • Yakuza: Like a Dragon

November 10

  • Xbox Series X
  • Xbox Series S
  • Xbox Series X/S Controller
  • Destiny 2: Beyond Light
  • Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

November 12

  • PlayStation 5
  • PlayStation 5 Digital Edition
  • DualSense 5 Controller
  • Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
  • Astro’s Playroom
  • Bugsnax
  • Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition
  • Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered
  • Sackboy: A Big Adventure
  • Demon’s Souls Remake
  • The Pathless
  • Godfall
  • Super Mario Bros. Game and Watch

November 13

  • Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory
  • Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War Single-Player
  • Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War Multiplayer
  • Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War Zombies

November 20

  • Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity

December 3

  • Immortals: Fenyx Rising

December 4

  • Madden 21 (next gen port)
  • FIFA 21 (next gen port)

December 8

  • Destiny 2 (next gen port)

December 10

  • Cyberpunk 2077

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Xbox Series X/S Quick Resume Works Even If You Unplug the Console

Xbox Series X’s Quick Resume feature, which is also available on the Xbox Series S, is arguably its most ‘magical’ new offering. It allows you to quickly swap between multiple games without booting them up fresh, and resume playing from where you left off. It’s perfect for getting a few rounds of Halo in with your friends between longer stretches of a big campaign game, without losing progress. The best bit, though? Quick Resume remembers where you were even if you unplug the console.

So how do you use it? Quick Resume doesn’t require any set up. It’s part of the default feature set of the Xbox Series X|S, and works from the moment you open a game. To ‘engage’ Quick Resume, simply stop playing a game and head back to the Dashboard. Boot up a second game, play around with that for a while, and then re-open your previous game. A ‘Quick Resume’ logo will appear in the upper-right corner of the screen as the game loads, which takes around five or so seconds. You’ll then find yourself in exactly the same spot as you were when you left the game. Recent games primed for Quick Resume can be identified in the Guide Menu by a small icon next to the game name.

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You can have multiple games ‘stacked’ in Quick Resume, but there is a limit. While Microsoft has not revealed an upper limit, I find that the system caps out at five games, with the game I haven’t played in the longest time being the one that has to boot from scratch again. It may be that this limit depends on the games being stacked, though.

Most impressive, though, is Quick Resume’s ability to activate after the Xbox has been fully shut down and unplugged or turned off at the power outlet. As an example anecdote, I was able to Quick Resume a game of Gears Tactics that I hadn’t touched for several days, during which the console was fully powered down and unplugged multiple times.

Also anecdotally, the system hasn’t been 100% reliable, with a couple of games during testing eventually resetting after a full unplugged power down, but as my testing has been conducted pre-release there may still be kinks in the system that will be ironed out before retail launch. For the most part, though, Quick Resume after unplugging has worked as intended, and it’s as impressive (and witchcraft-like) as it sounds.

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Our testing has also shown us exactly how the Xbox Series controller’s new Share button works, and that the Xbox Series S will have 364GB of usable storage space.

We’ve reviewed both new Xbox consoles today. We awarded Xbox Series X an 8/10 review, calling it “a quiet, compact, laser-targeted games machine that should make 4K/60fps gaming the wonderful new norm, but it currently lacks must-play games.” Series S got a 7/10 review, saying it “could shine as a second console, but it’s hard to recommend as your primary gaming platform due to its 1440p resolution and claustrophobic storage capacity.”

The Xbox Series X and S are coming on November 10. Xbox Series X retails at $499 USD / £449 / $749 AUD, while Xbox Series S comes in at $299 USD / £249.99 / $499 AUD. Xbox Series X and S are currently sold out ahead of launch but, with more units promised, keep an eye on our Xbox Series preorders page – and if you want to know everything about the consoles before you nab one, we have our Xbox Series X and S guide.

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Matt Purslow is IGN’s UK News and Entertainment Writer.