Author: Trafficblast

An artist that worked on the Elden Ring teaser trailer has posted concept art made for it – and made very clear that he has no intimate knowledge of the game. Of course, this being Elden Ring, the community has gone wild with delight nonetheless. It’s been genuinely lovely.

Posted on his Artstation account, Gabriel Björk Stiernström showed off several concept pieces, along with observations about why they weren’t eventually used in the game’s E3 announcement trailer. On the Elden Ring subreddit, Stiernström posted a statement to contextualise the work – and cool any speculation about potential new details hidden in the art. He ends that statement by saying, “You can read into the concept art as much as you like, but I really have no knowledge of the game.”

The images include various takes on the hammering scene we see in the trailer – including a version of the scene covered in tree roots that was described as “too much Dark Souls” – different takes on the scepter and dais being used in that scene, and an ‘exploration concept’ for what the final hit effect could look like (below).

Stiernström explained the process of his work at Digic Pictures, the company tasked with helping to create the hammering scene in the E3 teaser, saying “I had no idea what I was working on”.

“Most of these were made for internal discussion at Digic Pictures between the Art Director, Director, Producer and Leads,” Stiernström continues. “When they were happy with something they would then share those concepts with the client. In the end FromSoftware would more or less provide us with most of the concept art in any case.

“I received a brief for each task, but ideas change during production and so does the brief. What you do today is irrelevant tomorrow. Sometimes a brief is very clear and other times it’s open for interpretations. We try to provide our expertise regarding how we can convey the clients wanted mood and style through lighting, animation, composition, camera angles, focal lengths, colors etc.”

Famously, with so little to go on since that teaser arrived, the Elden Ring community is incredibly hungry for new details, even creating an entire lore for the game themselves as they wait. So, while it might not be the actual Elden Ring, this art is about as close as we’ve come to official images since that trailer. As you can imagine, it’s gone down well among fans, with many thanking Stiernström for the post, calling the artist a hero, and praising the art itself.

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Of course, others took this as an opportunity to make self-deprecating jokes at the expense of the community, with memes galore appearing shortly after the post.

And, of course, there were still those that, despite Stiernström’s caveats, went looking for information. GoatKiddclxvi wrote, “Roots everywhere! Indeed, the scene takes place in a tree! Man this is nuts, thank you very much”, to which ForeverEqual replied, “That was I first noticed as well. This pretty much confirms the tree theory!” (That theory being that the game draws inspiration from Yggdrasil, the world tree of Norse folklore).

Others have taken the unexpected post to mean that internal NDAs around the game are coming to an end, meaning they may get more news in the near future. LentStories wrote “The fact that he has this posted on his official portfolio makes me think he isn’t doing this without some kind of permission; either an NDA ending, or direct permission from Fromsoft. Both give me some degree of hope for further news.”

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Most strikingly, the overriding response, across all the posts I’ve read, has been one of positivity. It’s genuinely a joy to read through the Elden Ring subreddit today, as people celebrate something new to pore over, and build it into the self-reflexive lore the community’s built. If this is the response to concept art for a trailer, I can’t wait to visit after FromSoftware finally reveals more.

So, what do we actually know about Elden Ring? We know it’s an open world Soulslike from Dark Souls creator Hidetaka Miyazaki and Game of Thrones writer George R.R. Martin. Miyazaki says it’s an evolution of Dark Souls, and we know that head of Xbox Phil Spencer has played it. Aside from that, it’s very much a blank page. Here’s hoping 2021 is when it’s filled in.

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Joe Skrebels is IGN’s Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected]

After years of rumors and fans clamoring for it, BioWare announced a remastered edition of the Mass Effect Trilogy during last year’s N7 Day celebration. Mass Effect: Legendary edition is set to release this spring for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Though an exact release date hasn’t been revealed, recent retailer listings have suggested that the remaster could arrive March 12. Regardless of whether that turns out to be true or not, it’s clear fans won’t have to wait much longer to replay the beloved role-playing series with performance and visual upgrades. If you already know you’re going to dive back into the saga at launch, you can preorder Mass Effect: Legendary edition now.

The console versions of Mass Effect: Legendary edition come with free upgrades to PS5 and Xbox Series X. While BioWare hasn’t shown off any gameplay of the collection since announcing it on N7 Day, the studio has promised updated textures, shaders, and technical enhancements. Mass Effect: Legendary edition will include all three single-player campaigns as well as every piece of DLC. At this time, it’s unclear if the multiplayer mode from Mass Effect 3 will be featured in the collection, but the wording of BioWare’s blog post suggests it won’t be included.

Mass Effect: Legendary edition will surely help fans endure the wait for the next mainline Mass Effect game. Announced during The Game Awards 2020 with a brief teaser trailer, the new entry in the series doesn’t have a title just yet. No release window has been revealed, but BioWare is also working on Anthem and Dragon Age 4, so it’s unlikely it’ll release anytime soon.

Epic has expanded its Fortnite legal battle with Apple and Google to the United Kingdom, now asking an antitrust tribunal to rule against the hardware and software giant as well.

Bloomberg reports that in its latest filing, Epic said that Apple has abused its “dominant position” and that its removal of Fortnite from the App Store was unlawful. The complaint was similar to another one filed the same day against Google. The Fortnite developer raised its legal challenge to the Competition Appeal Tribunal, a public body that oversees antitrust law.

Though the legal challenges have been ongoing in the States, this is the first time Epic has made a move to bring Fortnite back to the British App Store.

The court battle began when Epic issued an update to Fortnite offering in-app purchases that circumvented Apple and Google’s guidelines to give them a percentage of profits generated from IAPs. Apple and Google subsequently pulled Fortnite from their stores.

Epic has argued that Apple and Google are monopolies in the mobile space, operating closed app ecosystems and requiring developers to pay a share. It has also argued that the policy is arbitrary, as some services like Netflix are allowed to offer subscriptions that never go through Apple, even though the app is available on Apple devices. There’s some indication in the legal filings that Epic would like to open its own competing app marketplace.

Though Epic has filed legal challenges against Google as well, most of its public-facing statements have been aimed squarely at Apple–from a parody 1984 video it had ready to go when Apple took action to offering a not-too-subtle jab at Apple CEO Tim Cook. The hearings are scheduled to begin in July.

The movie gives what fans want right from the beginning: Sub-Zero vs. Scorpion. Only it’s when they were known as Bi-Han and Hanzo.

The opening sequence finishes with “a pretty nasty hand-to-hand combat” … “really elemental and really brutal.” https://t.co/4DjBOL5Q33 pic.twitter.com/NyS5vtlbfG

— Nick Romano (@NickARomano) January 15, 2021

Cardy, Matt and Joe have all seen the first 3 episodes of WandaVision and are very much liking what they’ve seen so far. They also discuss what they’d like to see from the recently announced Indiana Jones and Star Wars games as well as talk about their time with Persona 5 Strikers, Grindstone and The Last Campfire. Plus the Endless Search makes its long-awaited return.

Remember, if you want to get in touch with the podcast, please do: [email protected].

IGN UK Podcast #575: WandaVision is Wonderful Television

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• IGN UK Podcast #574: The Big 2021 Games Preview
• IGN UK Podcast #573: Forgotten Gems of the Generation
• IGN UK Podcast #572: The Sandwich Special
• IGN UK Podcast #571: The Alternative Games Awards 2020
• IGN UK Podcast #570: Cyberpunk Impressions Plus The Game Awards, Marvel and Star Wars (A Lot)

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This story contains potential spoilers for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

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Images of what appear to be an upcoming action figure based on a character from Disney+ show The Falcon and The Winter Soldier may have revealed a significant plot detail.

The figure, if genuine, does spoil what could be a major moment for the show, so we advise not reading ahead should you wish to remain in the dark.

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The new photos, which were posted to Twitter by account BRMarvelNews, show a Hasbro action figure of Sam Wilson dressed in a Captain America costume. The name badge on the toy’s packaging reads Captain America rather than Wilson’s more familiar superhero title, The Falcon. In addition, the packaging features an image of actor Anthony Mackie as Wilson dressed in the Captain America costume.

O uniforme do novo Capitão América!!

Um vazamento da linha de brinquedos de “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier” mostra o novo uniforme do Sam Wilson. pic.twitter.com/KAVkDKdQr7

— Marvel News (@BRMarvelNews) January 15, 2021

The costume itself is almost a 1:1 recreation of Sam Wilson’s Captain America costume from the Marvel comics, as debuted in All-New Captain America #1, published in November 2014. Wilson was granted the mantle of Captain America after Steve Rogers handed him the shield in Captain America Vol.7 #25. During the storyline of that era, Steve Rogers had been aged beyond his fighting prime, something that may have influenced the scene in Avengers: Endgame where aged Cap passes the shield to the Falcon.

For more, check out what to expect from the MCU in 2021, as well as the cast and characters from The Falcon and The Winter Soldier revealed so far. And if you have Disney+, be sure to read our review of WandaVision’s season premiere.

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

It’s been a long time coming, but Persona 5 Strikers is finally launching in the West on February 20, and a new trailer shows just how chaotic its musou-inspired fights can get.

In the vein of Dynasty Warrior titles, Persona 5 Strikers will load the screen with enemies for you to mow down, tying Persona 5’s RPG systems to the hack and slash action. That includes the game’s signature All-Out attacks, which let each of your party’s members team-up to unleash a devastating attack. That, and they just look incredibly stylish doing it, too.

In GameSpot’s Persona 5 Strikers hands-on preview, editor Michael Higham found comfort in revisiting the likable cast of characters, while also experiencing a game without the time-sensitive stresses from the RPG.

“To be clear, it can still be quite the challenge to make it to new checkpoints to progress within a dungeon, since the focus shifts to overcoming some difficult battles in between. That’s enough to encourage you to swap party members and get the most out of each character. The fact that this cast is more than just Joker really comes through in Strikers, too.”

Persona 5 Strikers launches on February 20 for PS4 (and PS5 through backwards compatibility), Nintendo Switch, and PC.

New details and first-look images have been released for the upcoming Mortal Kombat movie, which will debut in theaters and on HBO Max in April.

Entertainment Weekly has offered fans a closer look at the R-rated movie, which features a cast of ferocious fighters, including Mehcad Brooks as Jackson “Jax” Briggs, Chin Han as Shang Tsung, Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion, Joe Taslim as Sub-Zero, Tadanobu Asano as Raiden, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Sisi Stringer as Mileena, Josh Lawson as Kano, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Max Huang as Lung Lao Max, and Lewis Tan as an all-new character.

In the Mortal Kombat movie reboot, Tan will be portraying Cole Young, a “washed-up MMA fighter” who bears a birthmark in the shape of the Mortal Kombat symbol on his chest. This mysterious marking propels him onto a journey with Sonya Blade, who leads him to the temple of a thunderous Elder God known as Lord Raiden, where he comes into contact with a group of highly-skilled fighters.

“When we first meet Cole, he’s in a really bad spot,” Tan told the outlet. “He’s down on his luck. He’s kind of a washed-up MMA fighter who used to be a champion, who used to believe in himself, who used to have a lot of hope in his career. And it’s all gone down the drain. It’s a very interesting place for a hero to start, and I think that, along the journey of Mortal Kombat and Cole discovering where he comes from, you’re introduced to all these other iconic characters and elements that everybody loves so dearly.”

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At the temple, Cole and the others will spend their time training for “a high-stakes tournament to defeat the invading enemies from Outerworld,” which will eventually lead to plenty of fights and, for the first time, fatalities. Director Simon McQuoid jokingly told stunt coordinator Kyle Gardiner to craft “the best fight sequences ever done in a movie ever,” which spawned some blood-splattered action scenes.

“It’s amount of blood, it’s amount of red, it’s interpretation of how you go about it,” McQuoid explained, speaking about the execution of the fight scenes. “We had a lot of discussions about getting the balance right so there was gore and there was blood and there were fatalities. And there is gore, blood, and fatalities.”

“There are some crazy fatalities,” added Tan, who performed his own stunts on set. “We’ve picked a couple of iconic ones. There’s a lot of really cool signature moves that you’ll see, a lot of Easter eggs that we snuck into the film, but there are some really badass fatalities that I can’t wait to see on the big screen. They’re brutal, man. They, they don’t hold back.”

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Warner Bros. will release the new James Wan-produced live-action adaptation of Mortal Kombat to theaters and HBO Max simultaneously on April 16, 2021. The movie’s distribution plan was reconsidered due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has impacted several studios and their release calendars over the past year.

For more Mortal Kombat action, check out our deep-dive into the history of its bizarre movie and TV adaptations and read more about how the upcoming movie will be grounded in realism.

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

Persona 5 Strikers may be the closest thing to a Persona 5-2 we will ever get, and though the Koei Tecmo co-developed follow-up eschews the turn-based battles of the acclaimed original RPG for something more akin to the Dynasty Warriors series, my experience with the opening hours of Strikers promises a worthy follow-up for the Phantom Thieves of Hearts.

It’s one that retains all the style, character, and deep lore of the original that has this returning fan thrilled to see more adventures of Joker, Morgana, and the gang, even as I grapple with just how many new options the real-time action throws your way right from the start.

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As a returning fan, so much of the thrill of Strikers is getting to experience an all-new story with the returning cast, so rather than focus on the story beats of the opening six or so hours I played in Shibuya, I’ll limit myself to saying P5S hits the ground running. You could technically jump into Strikers without playing P5, which many players may be doing given that Strikers is coming to the Nintendo Switch and PC in addition to the PS4. But to do so would mean missing out on so much backstory, lore, and a deeper understanding of the main ensemble’s relationships… plus a fantastic 100-plus hour RPG. It is technically possible with this story focused on a new set of problems within the same world, but I think it would be a disservice to try to make sense of everything as you go. And rather than offer much recap, Strikers wonderfully lets the entire main cast hang out and battle together from the jump, and it’s a joy to see their personalities intersect, alongside newcomers like the mysterious Sophie and the detective Zenkichi. There’s no cliched resetting of powers or removing available party members to start things off on a less powerful note.

But other than that, don’t expect to hear more about the story from me – much like Persona 5, some of the series’ greatest joys are meant to be discovered on your own, and I would never steal that as easily as the Phantom Thieves steal hearts.

Instead, the most obvious change I want to talk about is the shift to a more Musou-style, real-time battle system as opposed to the acclaimed turn-based RPG stylings of Persona 5. Coming much more from the Persona side than from the Dynasty Warriors side of this unlikely marriage, Strikers most immediately impressed me by how well it translates the tenets of P5’s battle system into a different form and remains so fun and engaging.

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This is in part due to Strikers’ combat not being completely real-time. Sure, you’re running around a battlefield, hitting enemies with basic, special, and ranged gun attacks, but this is still a Persona game, and at any point you can summon your chosen character’s Persona to use their abilities mid-battle. Doing so pauses the chaos temporarily, allowing you to swing your character around (without moving from that spot), choose your target area and skill, and unleash your attacks at will. That simple ability to pause battle and use your powerful moves that also drain your SP gauge is so well implemented because these elemental-based attacks are often the key to winning a battle when used well.

But the action never penalizes you for stopping to take a moment to think. And Strikers, at large, is quite forgiving. While you can bring various items into battle to heal, refill your SP, or nullify status effects, I often found myself running out of SP quite quickly. Strikers does run on a calendar system similar to Persona 5, but it moves forward in time based on story beats, rather than your actions, so you can hop out of Strikers’ Jails – a new twist on P5’s Palace dungeons – back into the real world to refill your stamina and health, and again into the metaverse without precious time elapsing. Strikers overall strips away the focus of having to really manage your time and make tough choices about whether you’re hanging out with a friend, working a job, or infiltrating the metaverse. That’s definitely a core aspect lost in translation, but given Strikers’ overall structure, I wasn’t necessarily missing out on having to make those tough calls here.

And being able to hop out and then back into the Jails is especially helpful because, while Strikers’ general battles are relatively easy, the mid- and end-boss battles are surprisingly squishy, with plenty of health and defenses that require a ton of SP-powered attacks to break through and ensure victory. I certainly enjoyed these larger-scale battles, but don’t expect to simply button mash your way through them.

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But in any battle, Strikers offers a lot of freedom and options, which is both a blessing and a curse, even as a seasoned Persona 5 player. Every one of the Phantom Thieves from P5 is available from the jump, plus new character Sophie. With a party max of four, you can mix and match depending on Persona elemental powers, personality, or special attack variances, which differ between each character. It’s wonderful to have so much variety from the start, rather than the developers implementing any sort of cliched beat that would have removed teammates or powers, but because of that, you essentially get a quick tutorial screen and then are thrown right back into battle any time you choose to play as a character for the first time.

This leads to a lot of experimentation with how those special moves can really make a difference – and I found they could when, say, using Ann’s special to imbue fire in her attacks is necessary because of the elemental advantage versus amusingly turning Morgana into a bus – but it’s definitely a bit like being thrown into the deep end. And that’s on top of all the other little bells and whistles present in the battle system, from ambushes to give you a head start as you jump into battle, to environmental attacks using objects around you, to all-out attacks and showtime moves to hit scores of enemies, and more.

There’s A LOT – and it’s all present largely at the start. I loved discovering how each aspect worked and how best to use them in battle, but I’d totally admit even after six or seven hours of playing I was still wondering if I was using every move in my arsenal to the best of my ability, or if I was missing something, and that led to a couple battles of trial-and-error guesswork.

Luckily, that worry aside didn’t prevent me from exploring every nook and cranny of the first Jail Strikers offers, which, like Persona 5’s palaces, has treasures to pick up, hidden chests, and a host of environmental puzzles. The bright, carnival-esque aesthetic led to fascinating discoveries as I explored more of the world, and coupled with the fantastic returning and new musical tracks the action always maintained an exciting pace. I’m eagerly excited to jump into the next Jail and see where these new mysteries, new abilities, and the same classic team take me. Persona 5 Strikers smartly melds a lot of the systems, characters, and sheer style of Persona 5 onto a new mechanical template, but doesn’t lose out on any of the charm and delight inherent in the original. Strikers may not have been the Persona 5 sequel I expected, but it’s certainly one I can’t wait to keep playing.

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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.