Author: Trafficblast

In a press release that revealed Paolo Villanelli’s Bounty Hunter Ship Blueprint Variant Covers for the ongoing War of the Bounty Hunters comic event, it has seemingly been revealed that Boba Fett’s ship’s name has been changed from Slave I to Firespray.

As reported by GamingBible, the previously mentioned press release for these September 2021 comic issues described the variant covers that feature not only some of the greatest bounty hunters from that galaxy far, far away, but blueprints and images of their ships. In the list that shares which bounty hunters were chosen, the one that catches our eye is “Boba Fett and Firespray.”

Back in June 2021, a Star Wars LEGO set called “Boba Fett’s Starship” caused a bit of a stir as the bounty hunter’s iconic ship has always been known as Slave I. The move to change the name is most likely related to the term “slave” being associated with a Disney character, especially one who is set to have his own series on Disney+.

While Firespray may be a surprise name for some, it actually is in the model classification name of Slave I, which is Firespray-31-class patrol and attack craft. The reason many believe this to be Slave 1’s new name is that all the other bounty hunters are listed with the names of their ships and not their classifications;

• Bossk and The Hound’s Tooth
• Boba Fett and Firespray
• IG-88 and IG-2000
• Zuckuss and The Mist Hunter
• Valance Beilert and The Broken Wing
• Dengar and The Punishing One

The Firespray name may be making its official debut in comics this September, but it will be very interesting to see if it is called that in The Book of Boba Fett on Disney+, which is apparently taking a wait-and-see approach in regards to a second season.

For more, check out which major movie character Star Wars: War of the Bounty Hunters revealed in its pages and the exclusive first details on Star Wars: Crimson Reign – a new comic series that is set to feature Solo’s Qi’ra and continue the story that began in War of the Bounty Hunter.

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.

Horizon Zero Dawn’s Aloy will be available in Genshin Impact during the game’s “Floating World Under the Moonlight” update coming on September 1. Ahead of her debut, the team at Genshin Impact have been keen to show off some of her skills.

Genshin Impact’s Studio Technical Director shared further details about the Horizon-famed protagonist’s long-awaited arrival in the game through the PlayStation Blog. The Nora huntress will debut as a powerful, five-star cryo archer. During Genshin Impact’s Version 2.1 and 2.2 updates, players who have reached Adventure Rank 20 will receive the “Saviour From Another World” Aloy character and her four-star bow Predator when logging on to the game on either PS4 or PS5.

PlayStation’s official Twitter account showed off a short clip of Aloy in action to tide fans over in the week or so wait before her arrival. miHoYo explains that upon reaching Teyvat, Aloy acquired Cryo Vision, giving her a number of new powers which are shown off in the tweet below.

Aloy ventures to Genshin Impact on September 1. In-depth gameplay details on her “Frozen Wilds’ skill, Predator bow, and more: https://t.co/GKni7qyzGm pic.twitter.com/xmmKDJXdRL

— PlayStation (@PlayStation) August 20, 2021

Aloy will come to Genshin Impact with a number of skills that make her a force to be reckoned with. Her Elemental Burst, “Prophecies of Dawn” sees Aloy hurl a Power Cell filled with Cryo towards her foes, which she then detonates with an arrow in spectacular fashion, dealing AoE Cryo damage.

Aloy’s Elemental Skill, “Frozen Wilds” is not only a nice nod to the Horizon Zero Dawn DLC expansion but it’s useful in-game too. The skill sees Aloy throw a Cryo bomb that explodes on impact. After detonation, the bomb scatters into multiple Chillwater Bomblets that subsequently explode dealing additional Cryo damage, decreasing her opponent’s attack and gifting Aloy a Coil stack. Aloy’s unique Predator bow, meanwhile, comes with a number of additional bonuses including an overall increase of 66 to her attack and additional Cryo damage based features.

“We’ve been very excited to work with Genshin Impact, especially when we have fans of each other from both teams,” said Horizon Zero Dawn director Mathijs de Jonge in the Blog post. “Aloy is a proven agile hunter and warrior who never hesitates to fight for a cause. We can’t wait to see her teaming up with the Traveler who is also from another world to continue their adventure together in the Genshin Impact universe!”

Version 2.1 isn’t just about Aloy though. The update will also conclude the main storyline of the nation of Inazuma and introduce three new playable characters to the game: The Raiden Shogun, Sangonomiya Kokomi, and Kujou Sara. The upcoming chapter for the nation, “Omnipresence Over Mortals” will also add two new major islands to the game – Watatsumi Island and Seirai Island – as it looks to close off Inazuma’s narrative arc.

For more on Genshin Impact, make sure to check out this piece where we detail how the game’s plans to add its four remaining locations over the next few years. Alternatively, you can browse through our dedicated Genshin Impact page for the latest news, clips and trailers from across Teyvat.

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

Mike Richards has been fired as the host of Jeopardy just nine days after taking over as the host of the iconic quiz show.

As reported by Variety, Sony Pictures TV confirmed that Richards, who also serves as an executive producer on Jeopardy, would be stepping down from his role as co-host. The news of Richards’ departure came just one day after an investigation was called for by the Anti-Defamation League, following a report by The Ringer of offensive and sexist comments that Richards had made during his time on the Randumb Show podcast.

Speaking to Variety, Sony spoke about Richards’ decision to step down as a host on the show. The company said, “We were surprised this week to learn of Mike’s 2013/2014 podcast and the offensive language he used in the past. We have spoken with him about our concerns and our expectations moving forward.” The studio confirmed that they supported the former host’s decision to step down from the role before talking about their decision to keep him on as an executive producer on the show.

“Mike has been with us for the last two years and has led the ‘Jeopardy!’ team through the most challenging time the show has ever experienced. It is our hope that as EP he will continue to do so with professionalism and respect,” Sony said.

Jeopardy! is saddened to share that Alex Trebek passed away peacefully at home early this morning, surrounded by family and friends. Thank you, Alex. pic.twitter.com/Yk2a90CHIM

— Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) November 8, 2020

After the death of show host Alex Trebek in November 2020, Sony’s search for a long-term host on the show has been turbulent. The series has run with a number of guest stars over the past year the likes of which include Aaron Rodgers, Joe Buck, Mayim Bilak, and LeVar Burton.

Sony had finally announced last week that its solution in search of a new host would be to see Richards take up the mantle alongside co-host Mayim Bialik. The latter, known for her portrayal of Amy Farrah Fowler on The Big Bang Theory, became the first woman to serve as a permanent host for the show after her appointment.

I’m hosting @Jeopardy!

And #1 trending on Twitter!? What!?!?! pic.twitter.com/Pncg8cVkUd

— Mayim Bialik (@missmayim) August 11, 2021

It is now likely that Sony will set out in search again to find a replacement for Richards and a new co-host for Bialik. Perhaps an obvious choice for the candidacy could be in Star Trek’s LeVar Burton, who guest-hosted the show after weeks of fan campaigning.

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

If you want to start an exciting new career this year, consider AutoCAD programming. The coding behind the popular design software used by architects and engineers is essential to these industries, as well as many others the world over – and that means that the programming behind to build on and improve its plugins and applications is just as in-demand. In fact, CAD Programmers in the US can make a healthy $80k a year from the skill set.

It’s also a skill you don’t need to go to college to learn. Actually, with the advent of elearning, all you need is a high-quality course, and you can learn at your own pace from anywhere. One of the very best? The Learn AutoCAD Programming Certification Bundle, a complete bootcamp which we’ve found on sale today for just $29.99 – that’s a massive 98% off the regular price of $1600, for a very limited time only. Plus, with eight different courses included in this huge bundle, that works out to less than $4 a course. It doesn’t take much programming training to know that that is a winning calculation.

Over the course of 67 hours of practical training and intensive courses, you’ll learn everything you need to know about VBA, VB.NET, C#, AutoLISP, C#.NET programming, and more. By the end of it, you’ll be a certified AutoCAD programming wizard (that may not a technical job title, but it is true nonetheless).

Even if you’re a newcomer to these particular programming specialisms, courses like the 4.5/5 star AutoCAD VBA Programming – Beginner Course will set you up with a solid understanding of AutoCAD VBA concepts, so that by the end of the course, you’ll be able to develop you’re own small to medium complexity applications.

Your instructor for this bootcamp is Arnold Higuit, an accomplished Senior Software Developer, Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD), and a Microsoft Certified Applications Developer (MCAD) with extensive knowledge of different technology in a variety of industries – and who has an extremely high 4.4/5 instructor rating from his previous students.

Start your journey to becoming a certified AutoCAD Programmer today with The Learn AutoCAD Programming Certification Bundle, on sale now with 98% off, for $29.99 (regular price $1600).

Some apps make every day easier, some take your online experience to a new level – and some even change your life for good. If you’re ready to take your browsing experience – and career – up a gear, you need to see this bundle.

That’s because today, we’ve found The StackSkills, KeepSolid VPN Unlimited, & Sticky Password Lifetime Subscription Bundle of some of the very best services on the planet on sale for just $49.99. Not only is that a massive 97% discount off the regular price of $1893, but with three top-rated lifetime subscriptions included in this bundle, that works out to less than $17 per service. Now, just wait until you see what they do.

First, you’ll get a lifetime subscription to StackSkills Unlimited – one of the world’s leading online learning platforms, with thousands of beginner through to advanced courses available to learn at your own pace, from anywhere, on everything from blockchain to graphic design to iOS development and much more. Plus, at least 50 new courses are added every month, so whether you want to boost your resume, get an exciting new career, or start a lucrative side hustle, you’ll never have to pay for an online course again.

It’s no wonder the online learning hub has won an impressive 4.5/5 stars from users on Trustpilot and has been raved about in PC Mag, NBC News, and Engadget, to name a few.

Then, you’ll get a lifetime subscription to VPN Unlimited, allowing you to protect your private data from prying eyes, while enjoying totally unrestricted internet freedom, forever. That means bypassing region-blocked sites (ideal for streaming international TV and movies), as well as enjoying anonymous, safe browsing – even on public WiFi hotspots. Every internet user needs a solid VPN today and VPN Unlimited is one of the best in the business: that’s why it was named PC Mag’s Top VPN, Laptop Review Pro’s Best VPN for Laptop, and won the Editor’s Pick Award from Software Informer.

Finally, you’ll also get Sticky Password Premium for life – an award-winning password manager that will keep your accounts safe, while also meaning you don’t have to remember complicated passwords ever again. This smart tool creates strong, unique passwords, whenever you need them, on all of your devices – so all you ever need to remember is one master password for the manager. Its super strong features caused the tool to be named PCMag Editors’ Choice, with its critics writing, “Sticky Password Premium does everything you’d expect from a password manager and more. New biometric authentication and no‑cloud Wi‑Fi sync make it an even better choice.”

Ready to take your entire online experience to the next level? Get The StackSkills, KeepSolid VPN Unlimited, & Sticky Password Lifetime Subscription Bundle on sale with 97% off, for $49.99 today (regular price $1893).

Cardy and Matt are joined by friend of the podcast, Gamespot’s Lucy James, to discuss how they’re all faring breaking out of the puzzling time loop that is 12 Minutes. But don’t worry, this episode is far longer than just shy of a quarter of an hour. There’s also chat about the newly-revealed Call of Duty: Vanguard, and Cardy’s been playing Ghost of Tsushima again to explore the new island added as part of the Director’s Cut. Plus we have a quick look at what’s going on in Marvel’s new animated series, What If…?

As ever, there’s also a fun little break for a round of the Endless Search, as well as your feedback (which, predictably, is entirely British Sitcom Smash themed.)

Want to submit your own Endless Search, BSS character idea, or a bit of other nonsense? Feel free to get in touch with the podcast at: [email protected].

IGN UK Podcast #606: Lucy’s Unfortunate Train Ride and Other Stories

• IGN UK Podcast #605: Darth Maul + Rio Ferdinand = Darth Merkin’
• IGN UK Podcast #604: Welcome to British Sitcom Smash
• IGN UK Podcast #603: John Cena’s Jungle Ascent
• IGN UK Podcast #602: The Legend of Zelda – Tale of the Bush Fighter
• IGN UK Podcast #601: Whales are Scarier than Sharks

Video production is one of the best skills you can have today. Brands across the world in every industry need more video than ever before, while producing video also gives you access to awesome job opportunities and extremely lucrative freelance work. It’s not going anywhere, either: according to recent research, 99% of people who use video for marketing say they’ll continue using video in 2021. Hey, even IGN is hiring video producers right now, if that sounds like fun to you.

The other cool thing about video, whether you want to start an exciting new career in media production, or edit for your own Youtube channel, is that you don’t need an expensive college degree to do it. What matters is that you have the practical skills – and you can learn all the techniques, tips, and tricks you need to become a professional producer with an at-home bootcamp, like The 2021 Complete Video Production Super Bundle. Even better, today we’ve found this top-rated training on sale for just $34.99 (regular price $2000). With ten different courses included in this mega training bundle, that works out to less than $3.50 a course.

Over more than 44 hours of training, the courses in this bundle will set you up with the working skills you need in videography, cinematography, screenwriting, and more.

Even if you’re new to video, courses like the 4.5/5 rated The Complete Video Production Bootcamp are the perfect way to start, showing you how to make professional videos on any budget – whether you’re an aspiring Youtuber, filmmaker, or business owner.

What makes the courses in this bundle really special is that they are all taught by industry experts, like top-rated instructor and accomplished filmmaker, Phil Ebiner, who has shot and edited thousands of videos for TV, film festivals, and Youtube, and has earned an extremely high 4.6/5 instructor rating from his previous students, and the 4.1/5 rated Jonathan Levi, a full-time videographer and master of stunning aerial shots, who will teach you his specialist techniques for filming with drones in this bootcamp.

Take the first step to becoming a successful video producer today with The 2021 Complete Video Production Super Bundle, on sale right now for $34.99 (reg. $2000).

One of the many awesome things about working in tech is that there are tons of interesting (and high-paying) jobs you can do in the industry which don’t require an expensive college diploma. Instead, what really matters is that you have the skills to do the work. And, if you’re looking for an area of those in-demand skillsets to learn, product design might just be the perfect one for you: Especially since the average annual salary for a Product Designer in the US is over $110k.

So, where do you start learning those tech skills, without college? The answer is with a top-rated course of eBooks, which you can learn from at your own pace, and from anywhere. Even better, right now this Fundamentals of Product Design eBook Bundle by O’Reilly is on sale for just $19.99 – that’s an 88% discount off the regular price of $178. With five different eBooks included in this mega bundle, that works out to less than $4 a book.

This bundle of highly-rated ebooks will teach you all the basics you need to know to design and create successful products, including lessons on improving user experience, UX research, design fundamentals, and more.

For example, you’ll become a design decision-making pro with the 4.2/5 Amazon-rated book Designing with Data: Improving the User Experience with A/B Testing, which will show you how to create data-driven testing that will help you make successful decisions on everything from small site edits to large-scale UX concepts.

Then, in UX Research: Practical Techniques for Designing Better Products, which has an impressive 4.7/5 stars on Amazon from previous readers, you’ll learn all you need to know when it comes to common languages and tools which will help you carry out UX research in the most productive way possible.

Start your journey toward becoming a six-figure-earning Product Designer today with the Fundamentals of Product Design eBook Bundle by O’Reilly, on sale today with 88% off, for $19.99 (regular price $178).