Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings film series is packed with many beloved scenes, but one stands above all for the director, and it’s not a scene he directed.
Sitting down with The Lord of the Rings super-fan Stephen Colbert, Jackson said one of the scenes that best captures the spirit of the project is one that came in late and was not originally planned. In The Two Towers, Jackson wanted to properly introduce Gollum, but the director remarked that he didn’t have a sequence that effectively demonstrated Gollum’s two-persons-in-one existence as Gollum and Smeagol. “We knew we needed it, but we had no time to shoot it,” Jackson said.
So Jackson turned to his partner in real life and on The Lord of the Rings, screenwriter Fran Walsh, to write and direct a scene that showcased Gollum’s identity. The scene from The Two Towers shows Gollum grappling with his pained existence, bouncing back and forth between what he wants and what the seduction of the One Ring is compelling him to do.
Jackson remarked that this scene, which you can re-watch below, has since become pretty famous, and it’s not hard to see why. “That was a late thought, because we thought we really needed it to sell it to the audience, who this guy is,” Jackson said of Gollum. The scene was also reportedly filmed on a budget, as Jackson said it only required a small crew, and they didn’t even need Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) for the sequence because the two are shown laying down sleeping far away from the camera. The scene does include a close-up of Wood and Astin, but this was presumably shot on a different day.
Walsh was nominated for six Academy awards for the Lord of the Rings series, and won three for The Return of the King.
While the Lord of the Rings movie series is over, Amazon is currently filming a big-budget TV show in New Zealand, and the production recently welcomed 20 new cast members. Outside of TV, there are multiple new Lord of the Rings video games in the works, including a game centered around Gollum.
Genshin Impact‘s big 1.2 update is arriving on December 23, bringing with it a huge new area, a host of new rewards and content, and some well-overdue quality-of-life updates. The update will bring two new 5-star characters across two banners–first, the sword-wielding Geo alchemist Albedo, and later in January the Cryo archer Ganyu.
Developer Mihoyo has now revealed the event banner for Albedo, showing that 4-star characters Bennett, Fischl and Sucrose will all be easier to obtain while wishing on the “Secretum Secretorum.” The new main character Albedo is a Geo sword user who seems to be designed for a support role.
Albedo’s story quest “Princeps Cretaceus Chapter” will launch at the same time as his banner and will be a pre-requisite for the Dragonspine-centered The Chalk Prince and the Dragon event. Accordingly, the story quest will temporarily be available to all players above AR20 without the need for a story key. After the event, the level requirement will be raised to AR40 and a story key will be required.
The event itself comes with some good news from Mihoyo–entering the event’s challenges will no longer require any of your precious original resin. All players can get the event-exclusive sword Festering Desire for free by participating. Like the previous Unreconciled Stars event, The Chalk Prince and the Dragon will have its own unique in-game currency and event shop to unlock rewards including primogems. The event will take place in four acts that will unlock between December 23 and December 31.
The new Dragonspine area also has a lot of new content that players will want to take part in even after the event is finished–including new daily commissions and world quests. One world quest will unlock a new recipe for Goulash, which will reduce the new temperature debuff Sheer Cold being introduced with Dragonspine. There are also new bosses in the area, as well as a new domain that will award the new cryo Blizzard Strayer and hydro Heart of Depth elemental artifact sets.
In quality-of-life updates, players will find they can now private message with friends and assign them nicknames. You’ll also be able to repeat a domain without exiting it after a successful clear, and co-op hosts will be able to end a session without kicking individual players. Mihoyo is also adding a handy new reward of one Acquaint Fate for every character ascension at level 20, 50, or 70, which can be redeemed for characters who have reached those levels prior to the update.
The new update also adds a bonus for returned players, so anyone who hasn’t logged in for over two weeks can jump back into the game for exclusive daily quests and bonuses.
Check out the full patch notes below for even more additions and changes. The 1.2 update will land on December 23, and players on PC can begin preloading the patch now from the game launcher. The game will go offline during the update, though players will get precious primogems in compensation for the downtime.
〓Update Time〓
Begins at 2020-12-23 06:00:00 (GMT+8) and will take about 5 hours
(Precise times are subject to change. Players may also experience disruption outside of this period.)
〓How to Update Game〓
PC: Close the game, re-open the launcher, and click Update.
iOS: Go to the App Store and tap Update.
Android: Open the game and follow the prompts to complete the update. (Or go to the Google Play Store and tap Update.)
PS4: Highlight Genshin Impact on the PS4 Home Screen > press the OPTIONS button > select Check for Update.
If you encounter any issues while installing the update, please contact Customer Service and we will help you solve your issue as soon as possible.
〓Compensation〓
Primogems ×300
(We will give a compensation of 60 Primogems for each hour the servers are down. If servers go back online sooner than scheduled, we will still give out the full compensation above.)
〓Eligibility〓
All Travelers who have reached Adventure Rank 5 or above by 2020-12-23 06:00:00 (GMT+8),
We will issue compensation to all Travelers via in-game mail within 5 hours from the end of maintenance. Please log in to receive the mail by 2020-12-26 11:00:00 (GMT+8). The mail will be valid for 30 days, so don’t forget to claim the compensation before it expires.
〓Update Details〓
I. New Areas
New Area: Dragonspine
◇ New Area – Dragonspine: Travelers will be able to put their adventuring skills to the test in the Subzero Climate of the all-new Dragonspine area. Here, Travelers will discover a whole new exploration experience, filled with various puzzles as well as new quests and mechanisms awaiting at every turn.
◇ New Mechanics – Subzero Climate: Characters in Subzero Climate in Dragonspine will continuously accumulate Sheer Cold. When Sheer Cold reaches its limit, they will start losing HP.
New Feature of Dragonspine – Frostbearing Tree
◇ The ancient tree that should have slumbered forever under the ice and snow has sprouted scarlet sprouts anew. Offer the Crimson Agates scattered all over Dragonspine to this tree, and you may obtain just rewards in return…
◆ Level up the Frostbearing Tree to obtain rewards that include Acquaint Fate, Intertwined Fate, a wind glider, Weapon blueprints, and Gadget blueprints.
New Domain of Dragonspine – Peak in Vindagnyr
◆ Challenge the Domain to earn artifacts from the Blizzard Strayer, Heart of Depth, and other sets.
II. New Characters
5-Star Character “Kreideprinz” Albedo (Geo)
◇ Vision: Geo
◇ Weapon: Sword
◇ A genius known as the Kreideprinz, he is the Chief Alchemist and Captain of the Investigation Team of the Knights of Favonius.
5-Star Character “Plenilune Gaze” Ganyu (Cryo)
◇ Vision: Cryo
◇ Weapon: Bow
◇ The secretary at Yuehai Pavilion. The blood of the qilin, an illuminated beast, flows within her veins.
◆ Take part in the event “The Chalk Prince and the Dragon” to claim the event-exclusive weapon Festering Desire (Sword).
◆ Explore the Dragonspine area and complete the corresponding quests to obtain the weapons Snow-Tombed Starsilver (Claymore) and Dragonspine Spear (Polearm) and their forging methods; make an offerings to the Frostbearing Tree to obtain the forging blueprint for Frostbearer (Catalyst).
◇ New Artifact Sets: Blizzard Strayer and Heart of Depth
◆ Challenge the brand new Domain of Blessing “Peak of Vindagnyr” in Dragonspine and obtain the artifact sets above.
IV. New Events (Version 1.2 Events No Longer Require Original Resin)
Version Main Event — “The Chalk Prince and the Dragon”
◆ Event Duration: After the Version 1.2 update – 2021-01-05 03:59:59 (Server time)
◆Event Rules: Original Resin is not required to enter this event. During the event, Travelers can obtain the 4-star sword Festering Desire for free. Complete various quests in Dragonspine to obtain Essences, which can be used to redeem items in the Event Shop.
◆ More events are coming soon. Stay tuned!
V. New Systems
“Stellar Reunion” Returnee Event: Return to Teyvat and obtain the sword Prototype Rancour!
After the Version 1.2 update, Travelers who meet the Returnee Eligibility conditions can activate the “Stellar Reunion” returnee event for the opportunity to get the 4-star weapon Prototype Rancour (Sword), Primogems, Fragile Resin, and other rewards.
◆Event Duration
For 14 days after the “Stellar Reunion” event is activated.
◆Returnee Eligibility
Must meet the following conditions:
-Adventure Rank 10 or above.
-At least 14 days since last game login.
-Over 45 days since last activating the “Stellar Reunion” event.
◆Event Details
The “Stellar Reunion” event comprises four parts:
● “Reunion Rewards”: During the event, returning Travelers can claim Primogems, Fragile Resin, and other rewards. Rewards can only be claimed once.
● “Passage of Time” Login Rewards: During the event, log in daily to claim Primogems, Fragile Resin, Hero’s Wit, Mystic Enhancement Ore, and other rewards.
● “Homeward Path” Quest Rewards: During the event, complete designated quests each day to claim rewards and accumulate points. When your accumulated points reach a designated value, you can claim the bonus reward Prototype Rancour (Sword). This bonus reward can only be claimed once! The quest list refreshes every day at 4:00 AM. Remember to claim your rewards in time!
● “Reunion Blessing” Double Drops: Returning Travelers receive three extra opportunities each day to gain double drops. These can be used to obtain double the rewards from Petrified Trees in Domains, Blossoms of Wealth, and Blossoms of Revelation using Original Resin. The amount of double drop opportunities refreshes every day at 4:00 AM. Remember to use the opportunities in time!
● After the event ends, event progress will be cleared and any unclaimed rewards will be lost. Remember to claim your rewards in time!
※ The refresh times above are based on the time of the server you play on.
VI. New Quests
1. New Story Quests
After the Version 1.2 update，Albedo’s Story Quest “Princeps Cretaceus Chapter: Act I” will be available.
◆ Ganyu’s Story Quest “Sinae Unicornis Chapter: Act I” will also become available at a later date.
2. New World Quests
◆ New World Quests in Dragonspine: “In the Mountains,” “The Festering Fang,” “The Great Mountain Survey,” “A Land Entombed,” “Lost in the Snow,” and “Ah, Fresh Meat!”
*By finishing “Ah, Fresh Meat!”, Travelers can obtain the recipe for Goulash. Eating this hearty dish slightly reduces the rate of Sheer Cold accumulation for all party members for a duration of time.
◆ New World Quest: “Return of the Jade Chamber?”
*The Story Quest “Fishing for Jade” will also become available at a later date.
3. New Commission Quests
◆ New Commission Quests in Dragonspine: “Floral Fresh,” “Fresh Flora,” “Emergency Supplies,” “Only Half-Frozen,” and “Eat It While It’s Hot”
2. New Animals: Snowboar, Cryo Crystalfly, and Snow Fox
3. New Recipes: Universal Peace, Jueyun Guoba, Sunshine Sprat, and Goulash
4. New Harvestable Resources and Materials: Starsilver and Chilled Meat
5. New Achievements “Challenger – Series III,” “Visitors on the Icy Mountain,” and more
6. New Namecard Styles: “Achievement: Challenger III,” “Achievement: Snowy Summit,” “Ganyu: Qilin,” “Albedo: Sun Blossom,” “Travel Notes: Chalk,” “Frostbearing: Ancient Tree,” and “Celebration: Hypostasis”
7. Spiral Abyss:
◆ Floor 9: Characters on the field will continuously accumulate Sheer Cold and will continually lose HP after Sheer Cold reaches its limit. There will also be a Ruin Brazier on the field. While the Ruin Brazier is activated, getting close to it will reduce Sheer Cold. Enemies will attack the Ruin Brazier on the field to stop it. After having stopped for a period of time, the Ruin Brazier will restart automatically.
◆ Floor 10: Characters on the field will continuously accumulate Sheer Cold and will continually lose HP after Sheer Cold reaches its limit. There will be a Warming Seelie on the field that will help reduce Sheer Cold for the surrounding characters.
◆ Floor 11: Your character will be periodically be inflicted with Engulfing Storm, which continuously drains your Elemental Energy until the inflicted Electro is removed. All party members deal increased Cryo DMG.
◆ Floor 12: All party members deal increased Geo DMG.
• System
1. Adds private chats with friends.
2. Adds function to edit friends’ names.
3. New Gadget: Kamera – When equipped, Travelers can take snapshots. Obtained via the World Quest “Snapshots.”
4. Adds camera height adjustment function and character expressions to the photo-taking system.
5. Adds Travel Log to the Archive system: Stories of all the completed Archon Quests and Story Quests can be reviewed in the Travel Log.
6. Adds character portraits to the Character Archive system.
7. Adds trackable map pins function to the Map.
8. Adds the option to repeat a Domain challenge from inside the Domain.
9. New character ascension reward: Travelers will be rewarded with 1 Acquaint Fate each time their character completes an ascension at Lv. 20, 50, or 70.
10. Adds element tutorial stage “Elemental Trial” to the domain “Temple of the Lion.” After completing the trial, Travelers can claim Weapon Enhancement Materials and Character EXP Materials.
11. Adds the new functions BP Animation Skip, Quest Story Auto-Play, and NPC Dialogue Auto-Play.
12. Adds new controller customization option in the Paimon Menu > Settings > Controls > Vibration.
13. Adds new weapon details display to the weapon event wish on the Wish screen. Travelers can view details about the 4-star and 5-star weapons with drop-rate boosts.
14. Adds a new BP Weekly Mission: Complete the Golden House challenge.
VIII. Adjustments & Optimizations
• System
1. Optimizes the Paimon’s Bargains page in the Shop: “Purchase with Primogems” has been moved to the last tab.
2. Optimizes the Domain and Ley Line Outcrop rewards system: Dropped items are directly added to the Inventory.
3. Optimizes Co-Op Mode:
◆ The host can disband the Co-Op team.
◆ In Co-Op Domains, guests and the host can both quit the Co-Op anytime without affecting other Travelers in the game.
• Other
1. Adjusted the order of voice-over entries in character profiles. (Only the displayed order was affected, not the unlock status.)
2. Standardizes the description of infusion effects for some characters or mechanics. (Actual effects remain unchanged.)
Within 5s of recasting Stellar Restoration while a Lightning Stiletto is present, Keqing’s Normal, Charged and Plunging Attacks are converted to Electro DMG.
New Description:
After recasting Stellar Restoration while a Lightning Stiletto is present, Keqing’s weapon gains an Electro Infusion for 5s.
◆ Diluc’s Elemental Burst “Dawn”
Original Description:
Releases intense flames to knock nearby opponents back, dealing Pyro DMG. The flames then converge into the weapon, summoning a Phoenix that flies forward and deals massive Pyro DMG to all opponents in its path. The Phoenix explodes upon reaching its destination, causing a large amount of AoE Pyro DMG.
The searing flames that run down his blade cause Diluc’s Normal, Charged and Plunging Attacks to deal Pyro DMG.
New Description:
Releases intense flames to knock nearby opponents back, dealing Pyro DMG. The flames then converge into the weapon, summoning a Phoenix that flies forward and deals massive Pyro DMG to all opponents in its path. The Phoenix explodes upon reaching its destination, causing a large amount of AoE Pyro DMG.
The searing flames that run down his blade cause it to be infused with Pyro.
Chongyun strikes the ground with his greatsword, causing a Cryo explosion in a circular AoE in front of him that deals Cryo DMG.
After a short delay, the cold air created by the Cryo explosion will coalesce into a Chonghua Frost Field, within which all DMG done through Normal, Charged and Plunging Attacks by Sword, Greatsword and Polearm wielding Characters will be converted to Cryo DMG.
New Description:
Chongyun strikes the ground with his greatsword, causing a Cryo explosion in a circular AoE in front of him that deals Cryo DMG.
After a short delay, the cold air created by the Cryo explosion will coalesce into a Chonghua Frost Field, within which all Sword, Claymore and Polearm-wielding characters’ weapons will be infused with Cryo.
◆ Bennett’s Lv. 6 Constellation “Fire Ventures with Me”
Original Description:
Sword, Claymore, or Polearm-wielding characters inside Fantastic Voyage’s radius gain a 15% Pyro DMG Bonus. Normal, Charged, and Plunging Attacks now do Pyro DMG.
New Description:
Sword, Claymore, or Polearm-wielding characters inside Fantastic Voyage’s radius gain a 15% Pyro DMG Bonus and their weapons are infused with Pyro.
…In this Stance, Tartaglia’s Normal and Charged Attacks change as follows:…
New Description:
…Tartaglia’s Normal and Charged Attacks are converted to Hydro DMG that cannot be overridden by any other elemental infusion and change as follows:…
3. Updates the description of Ningguang’s Passive Talent “Trove of Marvelous Treasures” by adding Starsilver to the list of displayed ore veins. The new description reads: “Displays the location of nearby ore veins (Iron Ore, White Iron Ore, Crystal Ore, Magical Crystal Ore, and Starsilver) on the mini-map.”
4. Adjusts the Exploration Progress for “Galesong Hill,” “Windwail Highland,” “Bishui Plains,” and “Lisha.” Travelers that already had a certain amount of Exploration Progress at these locations will obtain a slight increase in their Exploration Progress. Those who have already reached 100% in Exploration Progress will not be affected.
5. Adjusts the daily rotation criteria of Domain of Forgery and Domain of Mastery: From Monday to Saturday, rewards will not change, and dropped items will rotate among the three types each day. On Sundays, the drop type will no longer be random. Instead, all three types of drops will now be available for Travelers to select for their challenges. (For example, in the Domain of Mastery “Forsaken Rift,” Monday and Thursday drops will be Talent Level-Up Materials of the Freedom type. On Tuesdays and Fridays, Resistance-type materials will be dropped. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, Ballad-type materials will be dropped. On Sundays, Travelers can select which of the three types of materials will be dropped during the challenges.)
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Destiny 2‘s big Beyond Light update may have started the process of retiring much of the game’s old content, but Bungie is also bringing back some old favorites–starting with the original Destiny raid, Vault of Glass. In a new interview with Polygon, assistant game director Joe Blackburn has explained how he’s working to make sure the new version of Vault of Glass plays just how you remember, despite the differences between Destiny and the current version of Destiny 2.
Blackburn said that the goal of the re-release is to make running Vault of Glass in Destiny 2 feel the same as it did when players got into it for the very first time. He explains why this means that some tweaks are necessary, rather than including the original version of the raid as a straight port.
“The guardians have become significantly stronger in this amount of time,” Blackburn explains, saying that the raid team went back into the original raid to see how it played, before deciding that “we would smoke this with Destiny 2 weapons and armor mods.”
With so many new weapons, Exotics, Supers, and gameplay changes implemented in the three years the Destiny sequel has been out–not to mention three years of the original Destiny before that–a vanilla Destiny raid would be likely to bore current Destiny 2 players.
“We definitely are going to make changes to make it feel challenging, like it felt before,” Blackburn promised. “But we don’t want to go too far, and make it feel like it’s a different raid.”
Vault of Glass has previously been given a facelift for the penultimate Destiny patch, though Blackburn says that players should expect more dramatic changes from this update. “There were some slight mechanical tweaks, there were some slight sandbox tweaks, but it was like, ‘Oh, yeah, this is still the Oracles encounter, this is still the Templar encounter.'”
The challenge for Blackburn’s team lies in changing the raid enough to keep it exciting, while still having it feel like the original Vault of Glass in the end–but players can rest assured that Bungie intends to do right by the original raid. Blackburn also confirmed that original Vault of Glass loot will be available from the raid, with those weapons being redesigned according to a similar ethos. But again, Bungie wants to ensure those guns still feel similar to how they used to.
Vault of Glass will be added to Destiny 2 at some point in 2021, though Bungie hasn’t specified when. Players can also look forward to transmog, which will finally be added to the game along with Season 14.
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Steam runs a number of big seasonal sales each year, but it has revealed that the most recent–the Autumn Sale that coincided with the Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend–was its biggest yet. The sale drew in new users to Steam, as well as a huge number of returning players.
While the sale exceeded previous events according to a number of benchmarks Steam tracks, the one it chose to highlight was a record amount of revenue going back to developers and publishers. The blog post says that, while it’s difficult to quantify how many games are finding success on Steam, the data shows that there are more games than ever grossing at least $10,000, all the way up to $1,000,000.
Valve also reveals that just under a million players spent money on Steam for the first time during the Autumn Sale–which isn’t too surprising in a year that has seen rapid increases in the number of people gaming on all devices, due to the pandemic keeping them inside. The peak number of concurrent players logging on for the sale also increased by around 7 million when compared to last year’s Autumn Sale.
Steam attributes some of the sale’s success to factors beyond its control, listing “the ongoing quarantine, new games finding success, older games finding fresh momentum,” among its reasons–the latter clearly a call out to this year’s surprise revival of 2018 game Among Us. While Cyberpunk 2077‘s release has been controversial due to a plethora of bugs and invitations to refund the game, it’s likely the newest CDPR game has still driven a lot of success for Steam.
Steam’s next big event is its Winter Sale, which is expected to begin on December 22 to coincide with the final round of voting in the Steam Awards.
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It’s December, and the final PPV of the year, TLC is here. WWE wants to take the year out with a bang, and that means matches filled with tables, ladders, and chairs–and maybe even a little fire for some reason.. Some of the biggest rivalries from the latter half of this year are coming to a head, and many of these will continue to January’s PPV Royal Rumble.
The Thunderdome has moved to a new location, and TLC will take place at Tropicana Field in Tampa, Florida. That’s right. It’s a WWE PPV in the middle of a baseball stadium. However, since you can’t attend the show in person, you’ll have to watch it the old fashion way–through the WWE Network.
How to watch:
If you’re looking to watch WWE’s TLC PPV, you’re going to have to sign up for the WWE Network, which costs $10 a month. The streaming service no longer offers one month for free, but it is well worth the price of admission, as there is plenty of other content to keep you entertained, like old episodes of Raw, Smackdown, WCW Nitro, PPVs, and original content. There is also a free tier, which you can use to watch the Kickoff Show of the PPV, but not the main card.
Below, you’ll find the up-to-date match card for the event. Obviously, the card is subject to change–like how Lana was removed pretty late from the Women’s Tag Team Championship match, and her replacement still hasn’t been named. There are seven cards booked, and you’ll want to keep your eye on the Firefly Inferno Match as WWE has been doing a great job this year with cinematic battles.
Match card:
Drew McIntyre (c) vs. AJ Styles – TLC match for the WWE Championship
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Kevin Owens – TLC match for the Universal Championship
“The Fiend” Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton – Firefly Inferno Match
Sasha Banks (c) vs. Carmella – Smackdown Women’s Championship
Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Asuka & ??? – Women’s Tag Team Championship
The New Day (c) vs. The Hurt Business – Raw Tag Team Championship
Big E, Daniel Bryan, Otis, & Chad Gable vs. Sami Zayn, King Corbin, Cesaro, & Shinsuke Nakamura [KICKOFF SHOW]
As the night moves forward, you’ll find the updated results from every match, along with important notes in case you aren’t watching. While you wait, why not listen to the latest episode of Wrestle Buddies, GameSpot’s wrestling podcast where Mat Elfring and Chris E. Hayner talk about that time Luke Gallows pretended to be Kane?
Kickoff Show
Kickoff show notes will pop up if there are any changes to the match card. The one Kickoff Show match will happen at the latter part of the one-hour-long pre-show.
Wonder Woman 1984’s international theatrical debut was not as successful as planned, opening to only $18.8 million in China and a total of $38.5 million overseas.
As reported by THR, Wonder Woman 1984 didn’t even place 1st in China during its opening weekend, losing out to The Rescue’s $35 million.
For comparison, 2017’s Wonder Woman opened to $38 million in China before earning a total of $90.5 million. At this pace, it could be a tough road for the sequel to recoup its $200 million budget. Box office analysts anticipate Wonder Woman 1984 will make around $40 million in its theatrical run in China.
This result is “particularly disappointing since China is known for its affinity for superhero movies and was expected to be the title’s largest theatrical market.”
As Variety notes, Wonder Woman 1984 “pulled in $3.6 million in Taiwan, $2 million in Thailand, $1.7 million in Brazil, and $1.6 million in Mexico and Japan.”
In our review of Wonder Woman 1984, we said it “is a film with a heart full of hope and love; a nostalgic look back to a beloved time that provides escapism from an exceptionally difficult year.”
In North America, Monster Hunter was released and earned only $2.2 million in its debut. It’s obviously important to take into consideration that less than 37% of theaters are open and certain cities have closed them completely for the time being due to the rise in COVID-19 cases.
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Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.
The PUBG Mobile development team has been on a roll with its anti-cheat actions, as it has banned more than 2 million people over the course of a week. Dubbed the “Ban Pan,” the latest anti-cheating report for the game says that nearly a third of all banned players had modified their character model, while about 15% of players were using aim hacks.
From December 11th-17th, 2,127,454 accounts have been permanently suspended from accessing our game, out of which these are the majority of the reasons:
The accounts banned as part of the mass action are permanently suspended from using the game. Other reasons for the bans include x-ray vision hacks, speed hacks, and hacks that modify an area of damage. All of them threaten to undermine the competitive nature of a game that game that has more than 50 million daily users. That means the banned total equals roughly 4% of the total daily number, though the game has been downloaded more than 600 million times to date.
PUBG Mobile’s success is even more crucial right now, as Fortnite is–at least temporarily–not available on iOS. That doesn’t mean the game faces no competition on the platform, as Call of Duty Mobile continues to get updates for standard multiplayer as well as battle royale content.
The biggest recent patch for PUBG Mobile came in November, adding crossover content from Metro Exodus. The update included a new underground environment that looks similar to the subway system from the game series, and there is even a railcar vehicle as well as mutant monsters plagued by the irradiated post-apocalyptic air. Other players seem like the least of your concerns.
2020 was a big year for PlayStation. As Sony prepared to launch the PS5 and usher in a new generation, developers were preparing to say goodbye to the last one with swan song games that pushed the PS4 hardware to its limit, and others transitioned to the PS5 with next-gen upgrades.
That made this an especially strong year for PS4 games, as exclusives like Ghost of Tsushima and The Last of Us Part II showed off what the hardware can do. Meanwhile, some games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Watch Dogs Legion crossed between generations. And the PS5 itself got some of its own highly-regarded exclusives like Astro’s Playroom and Demon’s Souls.
We’ve compiled a list of the best-reviewed PlayStation games in 2020 below. For more of the year’s best, be sure to check out our Best Games of 2020 and familiarize yourself with GameSpot’s top 10 nominees.
“But ultimately, the biggest problem with 13 Sentinels is that a chunk of the game is merely good while the majority of it is outstanding. The stories of these kids and their giant robots absolutely consumed me during my playtime, and even now, I’m ruminating over certain plot points, events, and relationships, wondering if I should go back through the archives to see what I’ve missed. I don’t think I’ll forget my time in the 13 Sentinels world, and I doubt you will, either.” –Heidi Kemps, Freelance Reviewer
“Despite its strong connection to past games, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is more than capable of standing on its own. It takes a little while to build momentum, but when it hits its stride, Valhalla is a confident Assassin’s Creed title that takes a few narrative risks which, as a whole, pay off. Eivor is a good hero with an identity that drives the mystery behind the main narrative, and she shines in the self-contained arc structure of Valhalla’s story. The supporting cast may not shine as brightly, but it’s easy to forgive that when exploring England and discovering new nuggets of worldbuilding is so rewarding.” — Jordan Ramee, Editor
“Still, Amnesia: Rebirth feels like the culmination of Frictional Games horror titles up to this point. It refines the ideas and mechanics that have been central to the developer’s games since Penumbra: Overture in 2007, it hones in on effective scares while avoiding the frustrations of failure, and it tightens the focus on character-driven storytelling. Rebirth is an unsettling, strange, tragic story that deepens the Amnesia mythos in a lot of cool ways, while managing to be just as creepy and frightening as its beloved predecessor.” — Phil Hornshaw, Editor
“The best and worst thing I can say about Astro’s Playroom is that its role as a demonstration feels a bit wasteful. It’s a wondrous little dream world, and I would have loved to spend more time touring it. But that, in itself, is a tremendous achievement. Astro’s Playroom, a game that makes no attempt to hide the fact that it is an excuse to show you what a gamepad can do, conjures a world that you will want to see and explore. More than that, its surprisingly delightful celebration of PlayStation and its video games is a great way to kick off a console generation.” — Mike Epstein, Freelance Reviewer
“And yet, like so many challenging score chases, Bloodroots is still incredibly satisfying when you’re eventually successful. At its highest heights, you’ll find your way around, bouncing from weapon to weapon, kill to kill, to string together a perfect run. Better yet, there are so many ways to approach each area that, no matter how well you do, you can always do it better, faster, crazier. Even when playing Bloodroots is painful–like throw your controller so hard it bounces off the ground, hits you in the head, then breaks your TV painful–there’s always a wildly fun run within reach.” — Mike Epstein, Freelance Reviewer
“That Easter egg owes both its story justification and its level of meta weirdness to Hachi, which is really what sets Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 apart. It’s still a classic Castlevania homage at heart, but it has an eccentricity that feels right at home alongside the giant kitty-cats of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. When a game seems to be having this much fun at its own expense, it’s hard not to join in.” — Steve Watts, Associate Editor
“Unsurprisingly, Bugsnax’ best qualities are its cleverness and charm. The surprise and delight you feel when you see a Bugsnak wiggling around or watch someone eat one and change their arm into food never goes away. That alone would make Bugsnax worth your time, but creative puzzles and thoughtful story give it the body and depth to make a Snak feel more like a meal.” — Mike Epstein, Freelance Reviewer
“Even more so than playing the N.Sane Trilogy, which literally remade the original Crash games from my youth, playing Crash 4 felt like getting back in touch with the series. It’s an injection of new ideas into now-classic gameplay that surprises and delights, even as it feels like a homecoming. Truly, games like this are why we come running back to long-dormant franchises with open arms.” — Mike Epstein, Freelance Reviewer
“Quirks aside, Bluepoint’s remake is an unmitigated success. It is a technical tour de force and a true showpiece for the PS5 and the power of Sony’s next-generation console. But, more importantly, it’s also a creative marvel coming from a studio that is clearly showing the world it has its own voice. Bluepoint has taken From Software’s original game and expressed it in a richer and fuller way, and in doing so given me something I thought was impossible: the opportunity to relive the experience of falling in love with Souls games for the first time.” — Tamoor Hussain, Managing Editor
“Desperados 3 is a superb package. It’s a clever, cunning game of stealth and tactical thinking that, thanks to a generous quick-save system and wealth of informative visual cues, entices you to tinker with all the toys it has on offer and fully explore the possibility spaces of its elaborate levels. There’s no need for a do-over here; Desperados 3 is a dead-eye shot on the very first try.” — David Wildgoose, Freelance Reviewer
“Beyond Light might not be the biggest expansion, but it does feel like we’ve entered a new chapter in the game’s life, with new priorities and an approach that makes the game more resonant in a way that goes beyond satisfying shooting. On the whole, Destiny 2 might be more of the same than it is different, but what’s the same about it–like its phenomenal raids and tight, satisfying gameplay–is still largely pretty great, and what’s different is mostly making the game all the more worthwhile.” — Phil Hornshaw
“Though it can take a bit to get the hang of it, the intricacies of Doom Eternal’s combat, combined with its enhanced mobility and option-heavy level design, create a ton of white-knuckle moments that elevate everything that made Doom 2016 work so well. Its combat is just as quick and chaotic, but requires you to constantly analyze everything that’s happening in order to come out victorious. Once you get the hang of the rhythm of Doom Eternal, it’ll make you feel like a demon-slaying savant.” — Phil Hornshaw, Editor
“Dreams was in early access for less than a year, but the small community it’s built since then has already created some stunning projects that exhibit imagination, innovation, and artistry. Now that the full game is out in the wild, it’s going to be fascinating to see how the community continues to grow and what creations arise from that growth. Media Molecule has devised something really special with Dreams, placing a hefty toolset in players’ hands where the only limitations are your skills, imagination, and time. There’s nothing else quite like it, and it feels like a culmination of everything the studio has been working towards since the first LittleBigPlanet. The presentation is too charming, the tutorials too informative, active, and engaging, while playing and finding other people’s creations is a breeze. Dreams is a refined constructor for building a wide variety of games, and a community-centric showcase where others can play them. It’s a stunning achievement that encourages limitless creative expression, a place where people can come together, collaborate, and explore each other’s imaginations. It’s a tool for the fools who dream, and one of the most innovative releases in years.” — Richard Wakeling, Freelance Reviewer
“Career mode is still a mixed bag, then, but it’s reassuring that EA has made some additional moves to try and freshen it up. If you do grow tired of simming through training sessions and managing sharpness, FIFA 21 is still chock full of other stuff to do, whether you want to head to the streets of Paris to show off your skills, hop into Ultimate Team with a friend, or play through a season on Pro Clubs. This is a substantial package that’s propped up by exciting gameplay that puts the onus squarely on attacking football. There are moments of frustration on defense when the balance doesn’t feel quite right, but then you’ll go down the other end and score a Puskás Award contender that makes you forget why you were mad in the first place.” — Richard Wakeling, Freelance Reviewer
“Regardless of your history with the original game, Final Fantasy VII Remake is an astounding achievement. 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.” — Tamoor Hussain, Managing Editor
“The game doesn’t so much resolve all the seething tensions and unfulfilled promises seen prior, but demands that you shoulder some of the weight of remembering and honoring what you’ve seen and heard. The overall point of the game is that not everyone’s life will be paid off in a way that provides catharsis, or comfort, or satisfaction. Sometimes it just ends, sometimes it keeps going whether we’re there to see it or not, and sometimes it’s just disappointment. Conway has debts to pay, and there is a chance he drops dead working to pay them back. That is as American as it gets in the 21st century. What Act V does, though, is give everyone one last chance to rail against that fact, mourn it, continue to have hopes regardless which, too, is what it is to live here. Kentucky Route Zero has been priming us for seven years to recognize that life isn’t fair, though we’d gain so much if it was, and sometimes we’re lucky enough to make it as fair as it can be. But just as often, we’re not. Kentucky Route Zero is ultimately a story about America’s ghosts, literal and metaphorical. It’s a story about entire ways of life coming to one singular place to die quietly, hopefully with dignity. In all of its oddity, it never backs down from the fact that all that is now dead will stay dead, and for those who have settled in along the Zero, that includes the American dream.” — Justin Clark, Freelance Reviewer
“But when The Last Campfire captivates–which it does so often–it’s difficult not to sink into its breezy pacing and satisfying puzzle-solving. It never overstays its welcome or stretches puzzle ideas beyond their limits, letting each one leave an impression despite their brevity. The Last Campfire’s narrative contextualizes each of these with small anecdotes, letting your imagination fill in the blanks of its world between worlds to the backdrop of its colorful imagery. It’s a consistently relaxing and pleasant experience.” — Alessandro Barbosa, Freelance Reviewer
“By the time I finished The Last of Us Part II, I wasn’t sure if I liked it. It’s a hard game to stomach, in part because so much of who Ellie is and what she does is beyond your control. She is deeply complicated and flawed, and her selfishness hurts a lot of people. At times, the pain you inflict feels so senseless that it can leave you numb. It’s all messy and bleak and made me profoundly sad for myriad reasons, but the more I reflect on it, the more I appreciate the story and characters at its core. I wanted almost none of it to happen the way it did, and that’s what’s both beautiful and devastating about it.” — Kallie Plagge, Reviews Editor
“MLB The Show 20 doesn’t make any large strides forward, choosing instead to focus on refining areas that needed improvement from last year. This results in a game that feels more balanced in terms of variety across an assortment of game modes, while the action on the diamond has been tightened up with rewarding consistency and added dynamism that maintains the series’ lofty standards. It’s the ideal foundation to build upon as the PlayStation 5 looms on the horizon, and with the baseball season suspended for the foreseeable future, MLB 20 goes some way to filling an empty space in our pursuit for escapism.” — Richard Wakeling, Freelance Reviewer
“Still, Mortal Shell succeeds more often than not at capturing the specific feelings intrinsic to Souls-like games. The twists it adds to From-inspired mechanics do well to help this sort of game become more approachable than most, while maintaining the same air of mystery and foreboding that makes the genre itself so intriguing. Mortal Shell makes for a strong introduction to Souls-likes, a demonstration for new players of what so many have found so interesting about From Software’s games and those like them. But Mortal Shell is also a lovingly crafted, weird, and deceptively deep game in its own right that rewards you for wandering its twisted paths and challenging its deadliest foes.” — Phil Hornshaw, Editor
“NHL 21 is a fantastic ice hockey game that pushes the series forward with an enjoyable, engaging story mode in Be A Pro and a flashy, arcade-style way to play with HUT Rush. The new skill moves are a welcome addition to the mix to give players new ways to be slippery and keep defenders guessing, but the best part of NHL 21 is its solid foundation thanks to its excellent controls and presentation package that is getting even closer to mirroring a TV broadcast.” — Eddie Makuch, Associate Editor
“At times, I wondered if maybe some of these bosses should be a little shorter, as there were many bosses where I felt I had mastered their patterns but couldn’t finish because they landed a single one-hit-kill late in the fight. Ultimately, that excruciating difficulty and the feeling it evokes are baked into Nioh’s DNA, though, and its boss fights remain compelling even as they vex and frustrate. Though it sometimes feels like a curse as you play, it is a testament that Nioh 2 successfully grabs and holds your complete attention so close for so long.” — Mike Epstein, Freelance Reviewer
“Despite those unfortunate technical issues, Othercide is still a great tactics game. The variety of classes and abilities make for a wide range of strategies, but no matter your team composition, the Daughters work together beautifully to take down their enemies. Boss fights are by far the most memorable and really showcase the reaction and combo system, but they also feed into the game’s unique and engrossing story. While Othercide’s maps and missions leave something to be desired, it’s still a blast to cut your way through hordes of Others and pull off deadly combos that look cool as hell. With an exceptional story, atmospheric horror visuals, and tense, rewarding combat, Othercide offers a challenge you’ll want to rise to, again and again.” — Jenae Sitzes, Commerce Editor
“As P5R comes to a close, it tries to ease you into its end with heartfelt scenes, some new and some familiar. But in doing so, it only makes it harder to say goodbye again. Persona 5 Royal is many things: a collection of small inspiring stories, an ambitious harrowing journey with some good friends, a stunning visual and auditory experience, a resounding call to action. By refining what was already great and building on its best qualities with a brilliant new story arc, Persona 5 Royal asserts itself as an unforgettable and empowering RPG that should be recognized as one of the best games of our time.” — Michael Higham, Associate Editor
“PGA Tour 2K21 improves on the mostly stellar foundation of The Golf Club series, offering the most realistic and pure golf experience in a game to date. There are still some minor annoyances that can temporarily take you out of the experience, but it offers a closer approximation of the actual PGA Tour schedule and a relaxing, streamlined approach to MyPlayer. For the most part, PGA Tour 2K21 admirably captures the peculiar magic of the game of golf.” — Steven Petite, Associate Commerce Editor
“Risk of Rain 2 is lo-fi beats to relax to with the bass boosted until the subwoofers catch fire. And explode. And bleed? What begins as a chill loot-shooty time quickly escalates to a frantic fight for your life where everything is burning and there’s a big red target on your back. The lack of any strategic layer between the action did leave me feeling burned out. But the additive nature of the game’s builds give Risk of Rain 2 the feeling of a pebble skittering along a rocky cliff. When the avalanche begins, enemies would be well advised to get out of your way.” — Andrew King, Freelance Reviewer
“At least, that seems to be the case right now. The original Spelunky’s proc-gen depths hid secrets that took time for its avid community to discover, so it’s possible that Spelunky 2 has secrets of its own that I have yet to find, and they could push the game in a different direction from its predecessor. Spelunky 2 is a successful evolution of what made the original Spelunky work; the tight controls, impressive use of procedural generation, expressive art style, and interesting stage themes are better than ever here. But the more notable changes in how we play and talk about this game will likely happen in the coming months as players discover the heart of the game in the deep, dark depths we aren’t yet even aware exist.” — Andrew King, Freelance Reviewer
“Spiritfarer is somehow a game with no risk but all reward. There’s no death, no pain, no rush on any task, and yet I don’t think I’ve ever felt this complete. You’re allowed to totally take your time, play on your own terms, and even though your tasks are easy, they are incredibly fulfilling. If the game had kept giving me quests, I feel as if I would have kept doing them for eternity, just because I wanted to. All of Spiritfarer’s novel mechanical variations kept potentially repetitive actions from ever growing old. Its gleeful little islands got more exciting to explore as new platforming abilities were unlocked. The characters, even small ones with funny little quips of dialogue that you encounter, were friends that I cherished. I absolutely adored existing in Spiritfarer’s beautifully animated, compassionate world so much that it genuinely came to feel like home.” — Hope Corrigan, Freelance Reviewer
“All in all, though, Streets of Rage 4 is an admirable comeback for this long-dormant series. It looks great, sounds great, and plays very well. Even if the experience is relatively short, it’s the sort of game you and your buddies can easily enjoy playing and re-playing. If you’re craving some classic brawling action with a modern edge, these rage-filled streets are calling your name.” — Heidi Kemps, Freelance Reviewer
“Superliminal is a great puzzle experience, full of smart ideas that are richly realized. The game’s playful use of the first-person camera and clever perspective manipulation puzzles take video game tropes and mechanics most players will be familiar with and wring something truly fresh out of them. Superliminal achieves its clear central aim–it offers up some genuinely fresh perspectives on what first-person puzzle games can do.” — James O’Connor, Freelance Reviewer
“Through the Darkest of Times paints what feels like an accurate portrait of life in Nazi Germany. Cherry-picking major events, like the Reichstag Fire or the opening ceremony of the Olympics, it convincingly places you at the scene, putting you in the shoes of a regular German trying to come to grips with how one person–or even five people–can respond in the presence of evil. It depicts everyday life, and everyday people, both those seduced by ideology and those finding the strength to rally against it. I’m not sure it offers any answers–indeed, I suspect my frustrations with futility were intentional. One person alone can’t change the world. But that’s no reason not to fight for it.” — David Wildgoose, Freelance Reviewer
“Because it nails so much about that original Tony Hawk experience, it’s really hard to be mad at Pro Skater 1 + 2 for any of its downsides. The load times aren’t enough to keep you away from the plethora of satisfying combos, and the lack of level goals for every skater isn’t enough to keep you from jumping back in with a new character. Playing through the newly remade levels is immensely enjoyable, and that on its own is enough to call Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 a success. However, smart additions and an engaging challenge system make it an experience that’s more than just a brief skate through Tony Hawk’s past.” — Mat Paget, Tech Commerce Editor
“Watch Dogs: Legion is an anti-fascist game, and it’s admirable that it sticks to that message and sees it through to a satisfying and affirming conclusion. It also bolsters the franchise’s clever hacking gameplay to offer more creativity than ever. One of Legion’s more profound messages is about what it means to be a true Londoner, and by the game’s end, you’ll have a DedSec crew made of wildly diverse and disparate citizens from unique cultural, ethnic, and economic backgrounds–all united in their goal to restore their home. If anything, that’s as powerful a message for the game as you can get.” — Alessandro Fillari, Editor
