Month: August 2021

Someone’s Making Google Street View for Zelda: Breath of the Wild

A computer science student and software developer has created their own take on Google Maps, except that it’s for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Zelda Breath of The Wild Street View is the project of Nassim (who goes by the Twitter handle @LabNassim), and has its own dedicated site where fans of the game can take in various scenic views handpicked from Breath of the Wild’s stunning landscapes. Upon entering the website, you’re greeted with a vibrant map of Hyrule decorated with Google Maps-style pinpoint cursors.

In a similar vein to Google’s own software, clicking on a pin transports you to a first-person perspective view of the scenic location, in which you can control a 360-degree panoramic camera. Amongst other in-game areas, fans of the game can find panoramas for Whistling Hill, the Torrin Wetlands, Gut Check Rock, and Eldin’s Great Skeleton.

Currently, the westernmost portion of the map appears to contain more viewable locations than that of the east. To remedy this, the site includes a link where players can submit their own locations and screenshots for approval. If anyone would like to submit some stunning landscape shots of the Tanagar Canyon, that’d be most appreciated!

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In other Breath of the Wild related news, it was recently reported that the community had finally managed to open the last of the game’s thought to be impossible to reach chests.

For more on Breath of the Wild, you can read up on the game’s sequel Breath of the Wild 2 and what we currently know about the upcoming title. And if you’d like to recap the story so far, you can check out the video below:

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Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN who often jumps into BotW just for the game’s stunning landscape. You can follow him on Twitter.

Street Fighter 5’s Last DLC Character Is ‘Key’ to the Future of the Series

Street Fighter V’s final DLC fighter is an entirely new character who will be “key” to the future of the series.

Revealed by Director Takayuki Nakayama at the Street Fighter V Summer Update 2021, Luke specialises in moving fast and hitting hard. He will be added into the game in November 2021 and can be acquired through either the Character Pass or the Premium Pass.

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Luke will be the fifth character to be added to the game as part of Season 5, and will bring the roster of characters to a final count of 45. A tweet from the Street Fighter Twitter account said that Luke is “a key player in the future of Street Fighter”, while Capcom added in a press release that the new character will “help expand the world of Street Fighter and provide fans with a glimpse into the future”.

Two other characters were also shared during the digital Summer Update event. Oro, the wandering hermit, who first appeared back in Street Fighter III will return to the series, turtle in hand. Oro is set to retain a portion of his moves from Street Fighter III, however the character will also come with some newly learned tricks up his sleeve too.

Alongside Oro, Akira Kazama will finally be making her long-awaited Street Figher debut. Kazama was first introduced into the Rival Schools series in 1997 where she originally donned a motorcycle helmet and biker gear. Arriving to the series in trademark style, Kazama will be both dangerous up close and at range. Capcom has said that she will bring a variety of new moves to her playstyle, ready to strike anyone who comes before her. Oro and Kazama, along with a new map titled Rival Riverside, will be available in-game on August 16.

In other Street Fighter V news, it was recently officially announced that two fighters, Cammy and Guile, are officially joining Fortnite. The pair will be the latest characters to join the Battle Royale since Ryu and Chun-Li’s arrival in February 2021.

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

PlayStation Helped Sony Beat Its Record Q1 Profits

Sony has broken its own financial first quarter profit records, with its Game & Network Services division (driven by PlayStation sales) also breaking its own revenue records for the same period.

Announced in Sony’s Q1 financial earnings report, the company’s operating profit rose to approximately $2.57 billion USD – a 26% rise year-on-year, and a record for the quarter. That rise has been driven by increased demand for games and home entertainment during COVID-19 restrictions across the world.

A major part of that profit stems from the company’s Game & Network Services division, which itself broke records in Q1. The division comfortably saw the highest revenue for Sony in Q1, bringing in approximately $5.6 billion – itself a first-quarter record for Game & Network Services.

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While revenue and unit sales for gaming hardware dipped slightly from the last two quarters – PlayStation 5 moved 2.3 million units in Q1 – game software sales rose slightly from last quarter, with 63.6 million games sold, 10.5 million of which were first-party exclusives. 71% of games sold were done so digitally, continuing the steady domination of digital gaming over physical formats.

It marks a period of continuing success for Sony’s gaming unit, which has seen PS5 sell 10 million units (outpacing the incredibly successful PS4) and become the fastest selling console in US history. Seemingly the only thing holding the console back right now is the global semiconductor shortage, which could drag on for years longer.

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Avatar & Korra Tabletop RPG Crowdfunds $1 Million in a Day

An officially licensed tabletop RPG set in the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra has crowdfunded over $1 million in just one day.

Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game, a tabletop RPG from Magpie Games, launched on Kickstarter on August 3 with a crowdfunding target of $50,000. Upon going live, the project became fully funded in just 16 minutes with subsequent donations continuing to break through a number of Magpie Games’ stretch targets across the day.

After reaching their initial funding goal, Magpie Games thanked fans for their enthusiasm towards the game. The company said in an update post on Kickstarter, “Avatar Legends: The RPG  is fully funded at $50,000! That’s absolutely incredible! We’re so grateful for the excitement and support you’ve all shown us and all your love for the Avatar Legends world!”

At the time of writing, the game has raised over $1.3 Million in funds, meaning that a number of additional features will be added at launch. Stretch goals that have been reached include a velvet dice bag, various PDF playbooks, a saddle-stitched softback adventure booklet, a range of additional NPCs, and more for those who have contributed to specific pledge targets on Kickstarter.

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So what is Avatar Legends: The RPG? Magpie Games says that the game is a “heroic fantasy game set in the universe of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra in which you and your friends take on the role of young heroes from across the Four Nations who have joined together to make the world a better place.” The game is stated to be for players of all ages who want to experience the world of Avatar and Korra “beyond the scope of the existing stories”.

In terms of gameplay, Magpie Games has said that the RPG is all about balance. “Your hero fights for balance in the world, but also wrestles with maintaining balance within while trying to achieve the goals they’ve set for themselves,” explains the company. “The villains of Avatar Legends: The RPG are never simply monsters, never mere antagonists who must be struck down by blasts of fire; they are instead people with their own desires, personal struggles, and goals, no matter how misguided.”

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Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game is set to remain on Kickstarter until September 3. For more on Avatar: The Last Airbender you can check the news about the planned universe of multiple series and movies. Similarly, you can read more about Avatar Legends: The RPG, and the Avatar game being made in Dreams.

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

Stranger Things Season 4 Director On Why It’s Taking So Long

A fourth season of Netflix’s popular sci-fi show Stranger Things is in the works, but since it’s been more than two years now since the release of Season 3, some are wondering what’s causing the holdup? Director and producer Shawn Levy told Collider that Season 4 has taken longer than expected due in part to the pandemic and the team’s bigger creative ambitions.

“As much as it pains our viewers that it will have been so long, trust me, it pains [creators Matt and Ross Duffer], and I more,” Levy said. “It is a kind of perfect storm combination of COVID shutdown, slower pace of filming in COVID protocols and health protocols, which are necessary, and coincidentally we chose Season 4 to be by far–and I mean, by far, far, far–the most ambitious of the seasons.”

Season 4 goes bigger with its scale by extending beyond Hawkins. There was a teaser that showed David Harbour’s Hopper character in Lithuania, while other elements of the show will take place outside of its normal setting, Levy said.

“So you kind of know we’ve got some action in Hawkins, we’ve got some action apparently in Russia, and we have an entire storyline set elsewhere that will soon come to light,” he teased. “So this is the first season where we have this sprawling geography, multiple location shoots, and we’re doing it all against a backdrop of a world that has made filming slower longer in delay. So that’s why it’s taking so long.”

Winona Ryder, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, and Joe Keery are all returning for Season 4, while there are plenty of newcomers, too.

Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Hotel Pricing Released, And It’s Expensive

Disney wants to take parkgoers on a journey into the Star Wars Universe with its new Galactic Starcruiser resort at Disney World. The pricing was recently revealed for the park, and while it costs quite a bit for a two night experience, you’re getting a lot for the price.

Opening in spring 2022, the immersive two-night experience takes guests on board a space ship in the Star Wars Universe where they’ll live out their own Star Wars story. Pricing is based on the number of guests per cabin. For two guests, it will cost $4,809 for the total voyage–which is $1,209 per guest per night. It does get cheaper per person, per night the more people you have. Having four guests–three adults and one child–will cost $6,000 for the voyage, $749 per guest per night. The Disney World site has a breakdown of it all.

Aside from a bed to sleep in, the package also includes two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners, and one quick-service meal per guest. Meals are inspired by Star Wars and look pretty interesting. It also includes entry to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where you can visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

The above pricing is only for a standard cabin, though. There are also other suites that can fit more people, have an extra bathroom, or a larger living space: Galaxy Class Suite and Grand Captain Suite. Pricing for these suites has yet to be revealed, but information about the suites is available on Disney World’s site.

Additionally, a new video for the park has been released, giving you a better idea what to expect, as the majority of the images for the park are artistic renderings. Disney parks are now open. Back in June, Disney lifted its mask rule for those who were vaccinated under the honor system. However, with COVID-19 cases in Florida surging, Disney has gone back on the rule, stating that guests must wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status.

Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reboot Gets New Showrunners, Taking ‘Different Creative Direction’

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reboot has lost another showrunner and added two more, with T.J. Brady and Rasheed Newson ready to sit on their thrones as the… latest showrunning pair.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Peacock’s dramatic reimagining of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air got flipped-turned upside down following significant changes internally. Brady and Newson have now been brought in as the new showrunners, replacing Chris Collins, who departed in December, and his successor Diana Houston, who has also exited the series.

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The Will Smith-produced series is said to be going in a “slightly different creative direction,” with Peacock reportedly now looking for a “broad-skewing network-style show” in contrast to the “edgy, premium series” Collins had wanted to deliver. The producers were apparently happy with the material but ultimately decided to employ a different approach.

The new Fresh Prince of Bel-Air series is now expected to premiere next year, having landed a two-season order in September. Brady and Newson are bringing their dramatic take of the 90s sitcom to the screen, together with executive producer Malcolm Spellman, who crafted and served as head writer on Disney+’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Original series creators Andy and Susan Borowitz are producing the series alongside Will Smith, Quincy Jones, and Benny Medina. Morgan Cooper, who achieved Internet fame in March 2019 with his unlicensed faux-trailer for a proposed Fresh Prince reboot, also remains on board as a writer, director, and co-executive producer.

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No cast members have been announced, and it’s unclear if any of the actors from the original series will return. Smith has remained close with his Fresh Prince co-stars and recently reunited with them in honor of the show’s 30th anniversary. The unscripted special celebrated the sitcom, with behind-the-scenes footage and discussions about its cultural impact.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ran for six seasons on NBC between 1990 and 1996. The series starred Smith as a fictionalized version of himself, following his character’s struggles from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. The show also starred James Avery, Janet Hubert-Whitten/Daphne Maxwell Reid, and Alfonso Ribeiro, amongst others.

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Adele Ankers is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser First Look Video, Pricing, Dining, and More Revealed

Alongside revealing the first commercial for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, Disney has shared new details on pricing, food, and so much more for this 2-night adventure at Walt Disney World Resort.

As shared on Disney Parks Blog, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is set to open in Spring 2022 at Walt Disney World and will take guests to a galaxy far, far away for two nights of Star Wars immersion unlike any other. The video, which you can see below, shows a bit of what visitors will be able to expect, including a look at the cabins, the first-of-its-kind lightsaber, aliens, what you will see outside each window, how you may be recruited by the Resistance, and much more.

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Pricing and Cabin Options

Disney also shared Sample Standard Cabin Rates for this stay aboard the Halcyon – the ship that is the star of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. A standard cabin can sleep up to four or five passengers and includes a Queen bed, 2 berths (bunk beds), and a wall pull-down bed. Each room will also come with a pullout table, TV, window into space, mini fridge, hair dryer, safe, phone, and bath products.

The pricing breakdown for a Standard Cabin is as follows;

  • Two guests per cabin
    • $1,209 per guest per night or $4,809 total
  • Three guests per cabin (two adults, one child)
    • $889 per guest per night or $5,299 total
  • Four guests per cabin (three adults, one child)
    • $749 per guest per night or $5,999 total

This pricing also includes entry to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Galaxy’s Edge on day one of your journey, two breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals per guest, one quick-service meal, valet parking, an exclusive Galactic Starcruiser MagicBand, and more.

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There will also be Galaxy Class Suites which can sleep four and include a sitting area, double vanity bathroom, bar area, two windows into space, and a “few extra Star Wars surprises. For those looking for the ultimate experience, a Grand Captain Suite is available and can sleep eight passengers, features a post living space and seating area, a second bathroom, three windows with views into space, and more surprises.

There are 100 cabins aboard Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, and each one is “radiating an atmosphere of elegance, style, comfort, and exclusivity.

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Food and Dining Experiences

Food and dining experiences aboard Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will also feel like they are pulled straight from that galaxy far, far away, and there will be quick ways to get food or more immersive ones. On the first night of your adventure, the Crown of Corellia Dining Room will transform into a table-service supper club with a “special musical appearance by a galactic superstar.”

The second night, The Taste Around the Galaxy will showcase courses inspired from locations and planets from Star Wars. This meal will include a presentation of what you are being served, an appetizer, choice of entrée, and dessert.

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Breakfast and Lunch will also take place in the Crown of Corellia Dining Room and will feature “colorful fare from all over the galaxy” alongside “familiar favorites from your home planet.” For those worried, there will be plenty of fresh brewed coffee and Bubo Wamba Family Farms Blue Milk to go around.

For those looking for a more social/bar experience, the Sublight Lounge will be the place to visit. It is the “perfect place to sip a beverage and relax—perhaps while conspiring with a charming smuggler or playing a casual game of holo-sabacc.”

Furthermore, guests will be able to arrange to sit at the Captain’s Table for a special dining experience that includes extra courses the Captain loves and a prime spot in the center of the Crown of Corellia Dining Room.

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Sample Itinerary, Lightsaber and Bridge Training, and More Highlights

The adventure aboard Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is much more than just a standard two-night stay at a hotel, as it is meant to allow you to live your own Star Wars story. In Disney’s own words, it is “part live immersive theater, part themed environment, part culinary extravaganza, part real-life role-playing game—and yet so much more.”

Guests will also be able to choose to join the First Order of the Resistance, to strike a bargain with a gang of smugglers, or simply “sip a cocktail and watch it all from a safe distance.”

During your journey, you will run into new and familiar characters like Rey, Kylo Ren, and Chewbacca, and you’ll even be able to assist some of them on missions. The Star Wars: Datapad experience that is featured in the Play Disney Parks app will include your personalized itinerary of events and activities, but will also include a way to communicate with the crew and others, make choices, receive communications, and it may also be your way to be “invited to secret meetings and adventures.”

Much like Luke did in Star Wars: A New Hope, guests will be able to become Jedi and wield a lightsaber while facing off against a remote training device. Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will also be the first place fans can see Disney’s realistic, retractable lightsaber.

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Bridge training will give passengers a chance to learn all about the bridge of the Halcyon, and the crew will teach you how to help with navigation, power, defense, and other critical systems that will keep everyone safe. This will come in handy when “unforeseen galactic entanglements” occur.

As previously mentioned, your journey will take you to the Black Spire Outpost on Batuu a.k.a. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and you will even get to ride both Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. Furthermore, the events on the ship and the rides will both help tell the full story of this Star Wars adventure.

Disney has also shared a sample itinerary for the two-night adventure aboard Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, and it includes everything from Sabacc lessons to Dinner featuring Live Music to an Outer Rim Regalia to a Droid Racing competition.

There will also be “unexpected story moments” that will have guests choosing between, for example, proving your mettle to join an elite smuggling ring or hiding a stowaway to help the resistance.

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Unlike Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Galactic Starcruiser invites and encourages guests to dress up the part. Do you want to dress in full Jedi garb during your adventure or wear your Coruscant best? The choice is yours.

As previously mentioned, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will officially open at Walt Disney World Resort in Spring 2022.

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Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected].

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Hallmark’s 2021 Christmas Ornaments Include A Light-Up SNES That Plays Super Mario Music

It’s hard to believe, but it’s already August, which means the holiday season is fast approaching. In keeping with tradition, Hallmark has released its lineup of 2021 Christmas ornaments, and you can already buy some of them at Amazon if you just can’t wait until your tree is actually up. Hallmark’s ornaments always include some gaming- and pop culture-themed bobbles, and this year, there’s a particularly neat ornament available: a miniature Nintendo SNES that actually lights up and plays music from Super Mario World. It’s easiest the coolest item in the Hallmark 2021 lineup, and as such, it keeps going in and out of stock online. As of publish, it’s currently out of stock again, but we expect it’ll keep popping up over the next few months. Check out the video of it in action below.

The SNES isn’t the only new Hallmark ornament from Nintendo–the 2021 offerings also include a caped Mario, Donkey Kong driving a kart, and Charizard as well as ornaments from other franchises like Kingdom Hearts and Fortnite. Most of the offerings will be available in October. Here’s a look at more of Hallmark’s gaming ornaments available in 2021, with links for the ones available to order now. You can also check out more of what’s available now at Amazon, including my personal favorite: Baby Yoda perched on a Stormtrooper helmet.

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Hallmark 2021 gaming ornaments

Available October 16:

PS5 No Longer Being Sold At A Loss, At Least Not The Main Model

The PlayStation 5’s $500 disc-based edition is no longer being sold at a loss. Sony CFO Hiroki Totoki confirmed this during the company’s earnings briefing on Wednesday, according to Bloomberg.

The $400 digital edition is still being sold for less than what it costs to manufacture, Sony said, but the losses on that machine are being offset by more margin-rich hardware like peripherals and the PS4. Despite its age, the PS4 shipped another 500,000 units during the April-June period.

Overall, while Sony’s video game division posted a modest 2% increase in sales, total operating profit took a substantial hit during the latest quarter. Sony said this was due in part to a decrease in sales of non-first-party games and DLC, as well as losses due to the PS5. Sony said it was taking a loss on the PS5 due to a “strategic price points” to help the system move units.

Losing money on game consoles is common near the start of a platform’s lifecycle, but it’s not true for every system. Nintendo’s wildly popular Switch console was sold for a profit from the start. Microsoft has never offered specifics about the profit profile of its new Xbox consoles, but Xbox boss Phil Spencer has said the real money in gaming comes from software and services.

Sony’s earnings report also brought news about PS5 shipment figures and PlayStation Plus subscriber numbers, while the company also said it has secured enough components to reach its PS5 sales targets. Additionally, PlayStation Now is continuing to grow.