Author: Trafficblast

ComiXology is offering free access to the first entry of several essential titles from its DC collection. There are up to 34 different comics to choose from, including access to titles such as Batman: The Long Halloween, Doomsday Clock, Flashpoint, Harleen, and much more.

Yes, it is just the first issue of each title available, but this shouldn’t put you off what is a great chance to check out some of the most essential DC reading available. If you were unsure about a comic or graphic novel series before, here presents an opportunity to test the waters. We’ve also rounded up all 34 of the comics available, which you can check out right here:

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• Free DC First Issues at ComiXology (34 Available)

Free Online Graphic Novels and Comics

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• Get a 60-Day Free Trial to ComiXology

These free comics are seemingly tasters for all the content available on ComiXology, which hosts over 20,000 digital comics, graphic novels, and manga from DC, Marvel, Image, Dark Horse, and more.

If you are interested in reading more than just the first issue of comics such as Batman: Year One, Kingdom Come, and Dark Nights Metal, you should check out ComiXology’s Unlimited subscription. There are even other non-superhero titles such as Darth Vader, Stranger Things, and Attack on Titan ready to read. If you’re an avid comic reader, there is a free 60-day trial available which includes access to all the comics mentioned, or you might even want to consider continuing afterwards since it’s only $5.99/month.

ComiXology is owned by Amazon, so you can even use your Amazon details to sign in, giving you one less password to keep track of. If you’re not interested in picking up the full subscription once your trial expires, simply remember to cancel before your first bill. It couldn’t get more risk-free.

We’ve even got some great suggestions for you to get started with if you’re looking for the 25 best comic series to binge on ComiXology while you enjoy your free trial.

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Robert Anderson is a commerce writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @robertliam21

Death Stranding’s PC release has been delayed to July 14 due to a temporary closure of Kojima Productions.

Following the temporary closure of KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS, we have had to delay the PC launch of DEATH STRANDING to July 14, 2020, to allow more development time amidst the current work-from-home orders in place. Thank you all for your patience and continued support!#keeponkeepingon pic.twitter.com/euOmebcdQj

— KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS (Eng) (@KojiPro2015_EN) April 21, 2020

Kojima Productions previously had to cancel its appearance at GDC due to the Coronavirus and started enacting safeguarding precautions in late March when one of its employees tested positive for COVID-19. This led to a temporary closure of the studio.

In the statement posted to Twitter, Kojima Productions notes that the delay has been actioned “to allow more development time amidst the current work-from-home orders in place.” The company thanked fans for their patience and support.

Death Stranding’s PC release was initially set for June 2, the date being revealed back in early March. The game will feature an official crossover with Valve’s Half-Life series, with Sam able to wear a Headcrab hat, don a head valve and wear Alyx’s gravity gloves from last month’s Half-Life: Alyx. It will also include the full photo mode added to the PS4 version.

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For more on Death Stranding, check out our review of the game, which we called “a fascinating world of supernatural sci-fi.” In other news, Kojima recently revealed a collaborative jacket with German Techwear house Acronym, which sold out almost immediately after retailing for close to $2000.

Here are some ways to help others and stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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DC’s Digital First program is set to expand its slate of comic books with a variety of titles released digitally seven days a week.

DC Comics announced the expansion of its digital publishing program in a recent press release, outlining the plan to give comic book readers daily and weekly access to stories that have never been made available on digital platforms before.

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The first wave of titles released as part of the new expansion will be Superman: The Man of Tomorrow, Batman: Gotham Nights, Wonder Woman: Agent of Peace, Aquaman: Deep Dives, Flash: Fastest Man Alive, Swamp Thing: New Roots and DC Super Hero Girls: Infinite Frenemies, with each debuting online for the first time, having previously been exclusive to DC Giants anthologies.

“Comic book fans want more access to content than ever before,” Chief creative officer and publisher Jim Lee said in a statement. “This strategy is intended to get daily content to fans immediately, and also to ensure that when comic shops open back up for business, they will have new content and product that their customers will want. In the meantime, we will have properly stoked and protected the demand for comics, keeping fans interested in our characters and stories.

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“I really want to stress that regularly scheduled and solicited print comics, traditionally available on Wednesdays, will continue to be available day-and-date digitally on Tuesdays moving forward,” Lee added. “On the other hand, DC Digital First comics will be released seven days a week, with a strikingly different trade dress that will distinguish these titles from physical versions.”

In addition to the new batch of content joining its Digital First catalog, DC has launched DC Essential Reads, a free digital promotion offering first issues of Watchmen, Batman: Hush, The Sandman, Dark Nights: Metal, Doomsday Clock, Crisis on Infinite Earths, Mister Miracle, and more iconic editions from the DC library, on a variety of digital platforms until June 8.

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This news comes shortly after DC Comics announced that it would be shipping a limited selection of new comics to stores starting April 28 after an initial slowdown at the start of the month when Diamond Comic Distributors stated it would stop shipping deliveries of new books to stores as of April 1 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over time, the pandemic has caused multiple delays and shutdowns across the entertainment industry, but we remain hopeful that some of 2020’s biggest comic book projects will get back on track. DC is currently preparing for two major Joker-centric stories; Joker War will chronicle what may be the final confrontation between Batman and Joker, while the long-awaited Three Jokers will finally address one of the biggest mysteries in the DC Universe.

For a list of recommendations on how best to help, and stay safe, during the coronavirus pandemic, please read our resource guide.

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

Nintendo will attempt to boost output of Switch units in response to a growing demand for the console under current remote conditions.

According to a report from the Nikkei Asian Review, in which both Nintendo and Switch parts suppliers are spoken to, Nintendo plans to produce “10% more units of the Switch series in 2020,” having produced 20 million consoles in 2019.

There is currently a widespread shortage of Nintendo Switch consoles at retail, which is a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on the supply chain. Stock scarcity is being further exacerbated by a group of resellers who are buying up fresh stock to mark up the price and make a profit.

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Nintendo has asked its suppliers and assembly contacts to “prepare for additional production in the April-June quarter” to make up for the shortage. However, a Nintendo representative said that, despite calls for increased production, “the outlook remains uncertain, and we can’t forecast exactly how many Switches can be supplied.”

Parts suppliers have reportedly received orders up to 50% larger than their expected output, and Nintendo is reportedly ordering from a wider range of companies to avoid any potential bottlenecks. An industry source tells Nikkei that, “There are signs procurement is being moved forward to deal with the disruptions in the supply chains.”

With the gaming market booming and Nintendo riding high after the success of last month’s Animal Crossing, this shortage comes at an unfortunate time for the company, but hopefully its stock can be replenished, and something can be done about the rampant reselling affecting the market at present. For more on the Nintendo Switch, check out our coverage of last week’s update that finally allows players to remap their Joy-Con controllers.

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Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Borderlands 3 is all about the loot hunt, and even after you’ve finished the main campaign and all the released DLC, you can still keep searching for better gear. That post-game content is driven largely by Mayhem mode, which lets you up the difficulty for better loot rolls. Gearbox has been teasing some revisions with “Mayhem 2.0,” and with that update just around the corner the studio has explained what we can expect.

The update is coming on April 23 and adds a number of modifiers to the various Mayhem levels. Those modifiers are rated by difficulty level, from Easy to Very Hard. Easy modifiers might actually make the game easier by adding wacky effects like big heads on enemies or dramatically increased weapon damage paired with increased recoil. Medium modifiers make things more challenging, like requiring you to be constantly on the move or suffer chip-damage. A Hard modifier might spawn healing drones for your enemies.

Those modifiers are selected at random when you turn on Mayhem mode, but they’ll be matched to your Mayhem level according to a formula. If you select Mayhem Level 1, for example, you’ll always get one Easy modifier. If you select Mayhem 2, you’ll get one easy and one medium modifier. By the time you reach Mayhem Level 10, you’ll get one of each. Gearbox shared a table that shows the modifiers by difficulty level, included below.

In addition to the modifiers, enemy health, shield, and armor stats will increase with each Mayhem level, and you’ll find better and better loot. There will also be eight new Legendary weapons you can only find by playing specific bosses on Mayhem level 6 or higher.

Finally, the update comes with a quality-of-life change. You’ll be able to access your Mayhem level from your regular ECHO device menu, rather than having to go back to Sanctuary.

Mayhem Level	Modifier 1	Modifier 2	Modifier 3	Modifier 4
1	EASY
2	EASY	MEDIUM
3	EASY	MEDIUM	MEDIUM
4	EASY	HARD
5	EASY	MEDIUM	HARD
6	EASY	MEDIUM	MEDIUM	HARD
7	EASY	HARD	HARD
8	EASY	VERY HARD
9	EASY	MEDIUM	VERY HARD
10	EASY	MEDIUM	HARD	VERY HARD

The April 23 update that adds the Mayhem revisions will also include the Revenge of the Cartels event. Two currently ongoing live events add more loot drops and increase cash. And all of this is in addition to the regular stream of DLC expansions, the latest of which was the Lovecraft-themed Guns, Love, And Tentacles.

March 2020 was a record-breaking month for both Nintendo Switch and Animal Crossing: New Horizons, with Animal Crossing achieving the third highest launch month physical dollar and unit sales of any Nintendo published game and passing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare as the best-selling game of the month.

As revealed by NPD’s video game analyst Mat Piscatella, Animal Crossing: New Horizons sits only behind Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the highest launch month physical software sales. Launch month sales of New Horizons have exceeded the lifetime sales of all other Animal Crossing titles, which makes this newest entry the best-selling game in franchise history.

The Nintendo Switch set a new all-time record for hardware unit sales in a March month, besting the previous high that Nintendo has held since the launch of the Switch in March 2017. Switch has also generated the highest Q1 unit sales for any hardware platform since the Nintendo DS in Q1 2010, a number that also had to deal with Switch shortages around the world.

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Hardware sales are up 63% from March 2019 and have reached $461 million. Nintendo Switch sales have more than doubled and PlayStation 4 and Xbox One both saw more than a 25% rise. Q1 2020 hardware spending is up 2% from Q1 2019 and is at $773 million.

As for March as a whole, spending across video game hardware, software, accessories, and game cards totaled $1.6 billion, which is a 35% increase over March 2019. The $1.6 billion milestone is the highest earned in a March month since March 2008’s $1.8 billion. However, year-to-date sales total $3.0 billion, which is a 4% decline compared to last year.

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After Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, MLB: The Show 20, Resident Evil 3, and NBA 2K20 round out the top 5 best-selling games of March 2020. The full list is as follows:

March 2020’s Best-Selling Games

1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
2. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
3. MLB: The Show 20
4. Resident Evil 3
5. NBA 2K20
6. Doom Eternal
7. Persona 5: Royal
8. Grand Theft Auto V
9. Borderlands 3
10. Mario Kart 8: Deluxe
11. Nioh 2
12. Red Dead Redemption II
13. FIFA 20
14. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
15. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX
16. Madden NFL 20
17. Just Dance 2020
18. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
19. Mortal Kombat 11
20. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2: Remastered

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Some important notes on the above games include MLB The Show instantly becoming the 5th best-selling game of 2020 and fastest-selling game in MLB The Show franchise history, a number that may have been bolstered by the delay of the MLB season to to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is now the best-selling game of 2020 and March sales of Call of Duty franchise titles are the highest they have been since March 2010.

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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.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake is an anticipated return to one of Square Enix’s most beloved properties, and it’s showing in the sales figures. The company announced that in just the first three days (having launched on April 10), the game sold 3.5 million copies.

The official FF7 Remake Twitter announced the sales figure with a thank you to fans. That figure includes copies both shipped and sold digitally, so it may not be sell-through to consumers. But several more days have passed since the initial launch weekend, so the tally is likely even higher by now.

It’s an impressive figure made more so by the fact that the game launched on only one platform, the PlayStation 4. It has a one-year exclusivity window on PS4, so it’s expected to come to other platforms on or after April 10, 2021. No platforms have been announced, so it could come to PC, Xbox One, or next-gen platforms. This is just the first part of the full FF7 story, and a release date hasn’t been announced for Part 2.

“Regardless of your history with the original game, Final Fantasy VII Remake is an astounding achievement,” Tamoor Hussain wrote in GameSpot’s review, which earned a rare 10/10. The wait for its release was a long one, but in gameplay, story, characters, and music, it delivers–the wait was worth it. For first-time players, it’s an opportunity to understand why Final Fantasy VII is held in such high regard. It’s the chance to experience a multifaceted story that grapples with complex subject matter, be in the company of memorable characters, and be moved by their plight. For returning fans, this isn’t the Final Fantasy VII your mind remembers, it’s the one your heart always knew it to be.”

For more on FF7 Remake, check out our full listing of guides and walkthroughs. and check out some cool Easter eggs in the video above.