Author: Trafficblast

Following last week’s update to the game’s PC version, PlayStation and Xbox players will receive update 13.1 of PUBG Battlegrounds later tonight. The hyper-realistic battle royale title’s latest update introduced a myriad of changes, including adjustments to its latest map and dynamic crash landings.

The update is set to go live tonight during a scheduled maintenance period. PUBG Battlegrounds will be updated from 9 PM PT / 12 AM ET to 3:30 AM PT / 6:30 AM ET, so players may not be able to queue up for a game for most of tonight.

Once everything is updated though, players should notice some differences once they get into a match. For instance, more players will be able to get Care Package airdrops each match. Instead of one large crate landing on the battlefield, players will find a single standard care package and between five and 15 smaller care packages.

Players may also notice that the plane ride ferrying them to the battlefield isn’t that smooth anymore. Emergency landings, caused by the plane’s engines blowing up, make the landing plane move faster and gradually get lower on the map. Players can still jump out whenever they want, but if they stay in the plane until it crashes into the map, they’ll lose half of their health.

Over on Taego, things are looking a bit better, with a new secret room being added that players can use to change the course of their game. The secret room can be opened up by picking up a hidden key, granting access to loot that won’t be found anywhere else on the map. While secret rooms are scattered across maps, keys are much less common.

A full list of patch notes for PUBG Battlegrounds’ 13.1 update on consoles can be found on the game’s website. And if you’re wondering why we’re calling the game “PUBG Battlegrounds,” it’s not by choice. As of July, the game’s name was changed to reflect PUBG becoming a larger brand.

Star Trek: Lower Decks season two premieres Aug. 12 on Paramount+. Below is a spoiler-free review of the first five episodes.

When Star Trek: Lower Decks dropped last year, there was no question that the series was lovingly brought to life by people who know their Trek inside and out. Where it faltered was thinking hyper-fast delivery and overly busy episodes was a fun, sustainable watch. Gratefully, creator Mike McMahan (Solar Opposites) allowed the show to mellow out by the end of its first season, giving us a lot more depth for both the stories and characters who live and work in the bowels of the U.S.S. Cerritos. In season two, Lower Decks continues that balanced groove with even more confidence in mixing comedy with away mission hijinks and character progression.

In particular, Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome) is more fun to be around this season because she’s not just dragging crewmates Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid), D’Vana Tendi (Noël Wells), and Sam Rutherford (Eugene Cordero) into an endless string of ill-considered adventures. She’s still a purposefully rebellious screw-up who leaps before thinking, but the new episodes also give us more quiet moments where she reveals what her abrasive walls are really all about.

Speaking of Boimler, the season opens with Mariner stewing with mighty resentment after he abruptly left to accept a promotion on Captain William Riker’s (Jonathan Frakes) U.S.S. Titan. How he’s doing in his new gig, and the physical and emotional hole he left behind is played to great effect in the first half of the season. It says a lot about the writing maturity of the series to have choices like the one he made have real stakes, and then play out as such when many comedies would just blow past anything that messy.

But a big benefit of Boimler’s absence is that it leaves a lot of room for Tendi and Rutherford to get fleshed out with storylines that focus more on their vulnerabilities. Rutherford struggles with the repercussions of his cyborg implant and the ghost of his former self, while Tendi’s need to please is challenged on all fronts. Plus, the season’s early Boimler vacuum allows the unhealthy mother/daughter work dynamic between Mariner and Captain Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) to be addressed in the season premiere for the disaster it’s become.

When Boimler does return, it proves how far this ensemble has come in truly endearing itself to us. Still a big ball of anxiety, he clearly tames Mariner’s boundless energy and impulsiveness. And he’s also the perfect nerd compliment to good kids Tendi and Rutherford. Together, they tease, challenge and better one another, which makes even their dumbest screw-ups fun to watch. They’re also true believers in the goals of the Federation, which is endearing, hopeful and would certainly make Gene Roddenberry proud.

As for this season’s overall story scope, in the five episodes provided, Lower Decks remains a standalone adventure show that isn’t shy about mining a tremendous amount of Original Trek and The Next Generation Trek mythology to build episodes around. Whether it’s featuring very familiar races or creatures, or even namechecking characters like Data, Thomas Riker, and Gary Mitchell, the season is packed with callbacks, deep cuts, and visual references galore. And frankly, it’s too much at times. Every episode is so densely packed with nostalgia hat tips, there’s almost no story real estate to create original Lower Decks mythology. But when Lower Decks does venture into making its own lore, like episode five’s hilarious replicating race, the Dooplers, it proves the show is more than capable of adding plenty to the Trek pantheon. Hopefully, the third season (or the latter half of the second) is where McMahan and his writers gift themselves, and us, with more of what we haven’t seen before.

Three years since Netflix first announced its plans for a live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender, the streaming giant has finally revealed the core cast and creative team that will bring Nickelodeon’s acclaimed animated series to life.

Check out the gallery below, or read on to find out who’s portraying Avatar’s most iconic characters.

Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender Cast

• Gordon Cormier (The Stand, Lost in Space) as Aang: A fearless and fun-loving twelve-year-old who just happens to be the Avatar, master of all four elements, and the keeper of balance and peace in the world. An airbending prodigy, Aang is a reluctant hero, struggling to deal with the burden of his duties while still holding on to his adventurous and playful nature.
• Kiawentiio (Anne with an E) as Katara: A determined and hopeful waterbender, the last in her small village. Though only fourteen, she’s already endured great personal tragedy, which has held her back from rising to her true potential, though it’s never dimmed her warm and caring spirit.
• Ian Ousley (Physical, 13 Reasons Why) as Sokka: Katara’s sardonic and resourceful 16-year-old brother. Outwardly confident, even brash, he takes his responsibility as the leader of his tribe seriously, despite his inner doubts over his warrior skills… doubts that he masks with his wit and deadpan sense of humor.
• Dallas Liu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) as Zuko: A skilled firebender and the intense and guarded Crown Prince of the Fire Nation. Currently roaming the world in exile, he’s on an obsessive quest to capture the Avatar because he believes that is the only way to reclaim his life and live up to the demands of his cruel and controlling father, the Fire Lord.

With Avatar: The Last Airbender creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko no longer involved in the Netflix series due to creative differences, Albert Kim (Sleepy Hollow, Nikita) will serve as showrunner and executive producer, alongside executive producers Dan Lin (The Lego Movie), Lindsey Liberatore (Walker), and Michael Goi (Swamp Thing).

In a Netflix blog post, Kim talked about the importance of authenticity:

“We’ll be expanding and growing the world, and there will be surprises for existing fans and those new to the tale,” Kim explained. “But throughout this process, our byword has been ‘authenticity.’ To the story. To the characters. To the cultural influences. Authenticity is what keeps us going, both in front of the camera and behind it, which is why we’ve assembled a team unlike any seen before — a group of talented and passionate artists who are working around the clock to bring this rich and incredibly beautiful world to life.”

What do you think of the casting announcement? Let us know in the comments. And for more Avatar, watch the OG Korra and Zuko voice actors answer our biggest what-if questions and learn how the Avatar Legends tabletop RPG reached $1 million in a day.

David Griffin is the TV Streaming Editor for IGN. Say hi on Twitter.

We all know that a new Call of Duty game will drop this year, as they do every year, and it looks like more details on the next installment have been leaked via the latest Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War update.

The news comes by the way of Charlie Intel, which says the leak – seemingly confirming the reported title of Call of Duty: Vanguard – was discovered in the latest Season 5 update for Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, including artwork, the game logo, and perhaps most interestingly for fans, mention of an Open Beta. Fans quickly discovered the leaked material through datamining the game files for the latest update.

Call Of Duty: Vanguard. Image officiel ! (Via @Cheezburgerboyz) pic.twitter.com/eAFlHxfQLA

— RDPGKellyTV (@rdpgkellytv) August 12, 2021

Vanguard does indeed look like another World War 2-inspired setting, given the clothing and guns the characters are using. This seems to confirm the report from earlier this year, which countered ideas that the game would be set in an alternate timeline in which WW2 hadn’t ended. Once leaked, the images quickly began to make the rounds on social media, particularly Twitter, though Activision has been quick to begin taking down many of the leaked images from websites.

The leaks suggest the game will receive three editions, similar to those Black Ops Cold War received: Standard, Cross-Gen, and Ultimate. A screenshot detailing an Early Access Open Beta was also discovered, likely available for players that pre-order the game.

Activision has yet to comment on the leak, but if the game is scheduled to launch this year, it’s likely to not be too long before an official announcement is made. The company is currently embroiled in a lawsuit regarding multiple acts of sexual misconduct, harassment, and misogyny, which has led to staff walkouts and some senior staff leaving the company.

Liam Wiseman is a Freelance News Writer for IGN.

The world of Fortnite Marvel skins is, like the game itself, ever-expanding. It’s to be expected given that Fortnite and Marvel represent two of the biggest brands in video games and movies respectively. There have already been dozens of Marvel-themed in-game outfits, or “skins,” as well as boss battles, easter eggs, and so much more.

Most excitingly, we’ve apparently only seen the tip of the iceberg with regard to the collaboration potential between Fortnite and Marvel Comics. According to Epic Games chief creative officer Donald Mustard, the Fortnite and Marvel crossovers will continue long into the future, and 2020’s all-Marvel Fortnite Season 4 was just the first major wave of this elongated rollout.

Call it what you’d like–the metaverse, brand synergy, or just clever advertising for whichever major Marvel vehicle is hitting theaters or Disney+ at any given time, but there are no brakes on this ride. Not even Spider-Man could stop this train.

Speaking to the hosts of the This Week In Marvel podcast back in 2020, Mustard said the roadmap is planned for ahead for Fortnite and Marvel: “This is just the start. This is the start of lots of stuff we have planned for many years in this Marvel integration. Like, this is not the end. This is the beginning.”

Since then, we’ve seen even more collaborations between the two mega-brands that have included things like Guardians of the Galaxy’s Gamora, the god of mischief, Loki, featured in the Fortnite Crew subscription, and the Mad Titan himself, Thanos, return to the game for the first time in three years.

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While the list below will be updated whenever more Marvel heroes and villains debut in Epic’s platform of the century, note that a few characters remain painfully off the list to this day. Most wanted of all is Spider-Man, who is likely planned for some time in the future and will be given a red carpet rollout, no doubt. Other major characters like The Incredible Hulk, Miss Marvel, and Dr. Strange haven’t been revealed yet either, while Drax is the last Guardian to not yet appear in Fortnite.

For now, take in this nonetheless massive list of Marvel icons already in Fortnite, and be on the lookout for the next time they hit the rotating, limited-time Item Shop. We’ve listed the characters in chronological order starting with the newest skins at the top.

Every Fortnite Marvel Skin So Far

• Gamora
• Loki^
• Thanos
• Ant-Man
• Venom
• Black Widow
• Ghost Rider
• Daredevil
• Blade
• Silver Surfer
• Captain Marvel
• Black Panther
• Taskmaster
• Wolverine*
• Iron Man*
• Thor*
• Storm*
• Mystique*
• She-Hulk*
• Groot*
• Rocket Raccoon* (back bling only)
• Doctor Doom*
• Captain America
• Psylocke
• Domino
• Cable
• Ravenpool**
• Cuddlepool**
• Deadpool*
• Star-Lord

^ part of a previous Fortnite Crew Pack, no longer available for purchase

* part of a previous battle pass, no longer available for purchase

** Fortnite original character

If you’ve been wondering what the story is at the heart of Shin Megami Tensei V is, the latest trailer from the Atlus-developed game has plenty of exposition to share. Like previous games in the series, Shin Megami Tensei V focuses on a protagonist who has to battle numerous demons, having somehow been transported to an alternate dimension version where Tokyo has been overrun by the forces of the underworld.

On the verge of being killed by the demonic forces, the nameless protagonist merges with a powerful being to become a Nahobino, an entity that is neither human nor a demon. You can see the story unfold in the trailer below:

Returning gameplay elements include the ability to fuse with demons, along with new gameplay mechanics such as the Press Turn Battle System that allows players to pinpoint enemy weaknesses and perform risky consecutive actions. Atlus has also teased that the story will be filled with tragedy based on the choices that players make as they gain the power to survive the Da’at wastelands.

If you’re in Japan, the game has some colorful accessories to grab such as a protective cover and an adorable carrying case for Switch and 3DS games.

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Shin Megami Tensei V launches on 12 November as a Nintendo Switch exclusive.

Here’s something unexpected and cool: Games industry veteran Cory Davis (Spec Ops: The Line, Condemned, F.E.A.R.) has started a new game studio with Robin Finck, the longtime guitarist of Nine Inch Nails and former member of Guns ‘N Roses. The new Los Angeles-based studio is called Eyes Out, and its first game has an eye-catching description.

The game is described as a “single-player immersive cosmic horror game with strong environmental storytelling elements.” No other details are available just yet, but the studio says fans can look forward to more information in the months ahead.

“The team is made up of passionate world-builders and storytellers who believe in the powerful synesthesia that emerges from music, narrative, and interactive experiences,” according to a news release from Eyes Out.

Davis was the creative director and designer on Spec Ops: The Line, and went on to co-found the independent studio Tangent Games, the independent studio behind Here They Lie.

Davis met Finck–who is considered by many to be one of the greatest guitar players of all time and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020–when he came to his studio to play an early version of Here They Lie.

“As a fan of his work, I was super eager to get his impressions. We dug in; our conversations began with music, distortion pedals, and amp feedback but quickly led us down the rabbit hole into discussions on the meaning of existence, and the power of games as a storytelling medium,” Davis told GameSpot. “Soon we began collaborating on music for prototypes I had in development, but I found that our sessions constantly drove us to a unique space–one that began to set the tone not just for the sound and music, but for the world, visuals, and gameplay. Robin is such an open, honest, and fearless creator. A philosopher, artist, poet, musician, and explorer. Robin pushes me beyond the boundaries of my ability and perspective, into the unknown–something I’ve been seeking after in a collaborator for as long as I can remember.”

As for Finck, this is not his first video game. The musician previously wrote music for the games Observation and NOCT. He spoke to GameSpot about what he learned on those projects and how this will shape his work on the new game from Eyes Out.

“I’ve learned that concept should be the first and last say, and that all else should serve to support it. I’ve learned it is more valuable to ask ‘Why’ than to ask ‘How.’ A solid design document can be a much-welcomed light through the inevitable fog. Our deep-dive script of backstory and reference would be 18 inches off the desk were it ever printed. It’s important to invest valuable effort in crafting the details that support, and will ultimately direct, those design decisions across multiple departments at an early stage.

“It’s a fun and inspired time in the process where everything is possible. There should come a point, after all the splatter has stopped writhing on the wall, that some ideas become probable, and as designers we recognize them and empower them to become reliable and executable. And I’ve learned that lively collaboration among kindred spirits is invaluable.”

Regarding his partnership with Davis, Finck said he is a “true visionary leader.”

“Cory is at once present and in front of us and cares about your cat, and at the same time out in space walking among giants, able to convey the depths of astral horseplay. And all of it, every bit of it, is real. He’s a true visionary leader. He’s capable and dedicated and open to forces unspeakable. And he’s in the editor all the livelong day.”

Davis and Finck are writing the music together for Eyes Out’s first game. While you might have certain ideas in mind based on Finck’s body of work thus far, the musician isn’t ready to talk specifics about what the two are cooking up. But he did stress that the music will be “evil.”

“Cory and I work in tandem on music. We’re itching and scratching to tell you about it and even more so to share it with you. What I can tell you now is that it is evil. Much more to come,” he said.

Audio design is often seen as an under-appreciated element of video games. Great audio in a game can really elevate the experience, especially so in the context of a horror game like Eyes Out is making. The developers have teased that audio will play a key role in the title–and of course it would, given that Finck is attached to it. Davis spoke about why he believes audio is the “most foundational and powerful aspect of all immersive experiences.”

“Both a physical, present element adding character, style, believability, and uniqueness to the world, as well as subconsciously preparing and guiding us through emotional and even challenging experiences,” he said. “Audio also creates a zone for mystery and self-interpretation, inviting us to leave behind our inhibitions–to be entirely present in the other-world that is unfolding. It’s so exciting to be developing a new world in the horror space now with all of the new possibilities at our fingertips. Audio and music connect directly to our narrative and gameplay through the usage of generative, quantized, real-time world-warping techniques and a wide range of style bringing the world to life.”

“We’re shoving hard the divide between diegetic and non-diegetic audio, and really listening for new ways to reveal and express story through sound.” — Finck

As for Finck, he said teased that audio will play a significant role in how the new game’s story plays out, which is exciting to think about, even if he’s not giving away any concrete information yet. He told us more about how he thinks about audio design shaping the style and feel of a piece of entertainment.

“I love the subtlety and nuance of a quiet space. The opportunity that comes from a well set silence. And then exaggerating its dissolution. I like how John Carpenter would give sharp aural focus to a diegetic sound that only later would be revealed visibly,” he said. “Like hearing the incessant click of a petrol meter, before understanding what is the cause of this sound, instills this tension and breadth of environment unseen. We’re shoving hard the divide between diegetic and non-diegetic audio, and really listening for new ways to reveal and express story through sound. It’s a significant narrative component. We probably shouldn’t tell you why just yet. There is much to unfold here.”

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While the Eyes Out team isn’t ready to full reveal its first game yet, it certainly has our attention. Davis said he’s putting together a team of “passionate story-tellers and world-builders” who are looking to create something unique and special.

“We can’t wait to pull back the curtain and show you what we’ve been cooking up. Focused on creating depth and pushing the boundaries of the genre in this new game universe that we will return to again and again,” he said.