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Xbox Is Testing Multiple New Features on Console and PC

Microsoft is testing multiple new features across its Xbox Insiders program for console and Windows 10 PCs, introducing new options that improve the experience for both platforms.

For consoles, Xbox is offering Xbox Insiders with Alpha Skip-Ahead ring that features a night mode, which adds more customization than ever for Xbox consoles. As reported by Tom Warren of The Verge, it will allow select Xbox Insider members to adjust the dimming levels or add an optional blue light filter, or switch the Xbox console into dark mode and disable HDR.

For Windows 10 PC owners with access to the Xbox Insiders program, Microsoft is introducing Xbox Cloud Gaming (aka xCloud) through the Xbox app starting today. Previously, Windows 10 devices owners had to access Xbox Cloud Gaming by heading to going to Xbox’s website through a browser to sign in and play the cloud gaming beta.

Xbox Insiders on Windows 10 can now launch the official Xbox app. By clicking on the Game Pass tab, a new “Cloud Gaming” section will appear, showcasing all the titles that support Xbox Cloud Gaming. If you do not have access to test this new feature, you will still need to head over to Xbox’s website and launch the service.

As with most Insider updates, the feature will be rolled out to those that signed up for the program on either or both platforms, with a full release to be announced later.

Several updates for the Xbox brand have rolled out within the last year, making some much-needed improvements. Last month, Microsoft announced an update that allowed parents and caregivers to set spending limits for their kids. Earlier this year, Microsoft rolled out an update to the Xbox dashboard, allowing Series X/S owners to increase download speeds by suspending games.

Taylor is the Associate Tech Editor at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

Apex Legends: Cross-Progression Scheduled For 2022

Seems like cross-progression support for Apex Legends is still a ways out at this point. Developer Respawn revealed that cross-progression is currently scheduled to go live in Apex Legends in 2022.

“Next year,” Respawn director of communication Ryan Rigney wrote in a Reddit AMA, in response to when players can expect to see cross-progression. “Cross-progression is gnarly as hell in terms of being a problem to solve.”

Now Playing: Apex Legends Emergence – Everything You Need To Know

“It’s not only that you have to solve the technical challenge of merging existing accounts, but there are also legal and contractual issues to navigate with purchasing on other platforms. Different regions have different laws. It’s a mess. But we’re working on it, and we’re committed to delivering it.”

Though cross-progression is still on the horizon, Apex Legends currently supports cross-play between Xbox One, PS4, PC, and Switch. The Xbox One and PS4 versions of the game can be played on the Xbox Series X|S and PS5 via backwards compatibility–Respawn is still working on current-gen versions of its battle royale game.

“I wish I had an update to share but we can’t say anything definitive at the moment–so can’t spoil anything here,” Rigney said in the same Reddit AMA. “Trust us though, [Xbox Series X|S and PS5 versions] are in the works and we’re excited about it too.”

Apex Legends Season 10: Emergence is in full swing. The new season introduced playable legend Seer, a stealth-driven recon character. Respawn has noted that the new character is a bit too strong, and plans to nerf Seer.

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Candyman’s Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Signs On For Warner Bros. Action Thriller By All

If you don’t know the name Yahya Abdul-Mateen II yet, you will before too long–he’s one of the busiest working actors around and he’s just signed on for a new action thriller called By All, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The story followed Abdul-Mateen as Donte, a man on the run from the law in “a world without police, where justice is crowd-sourced,” THR says. The timely subject matter reportedly attracted both the actor and studio to the project.

Now Playing: Candyman (2020) – Official Trailer

Juel Taylor and Tony Rettenmaier wrote the script and original short story for the film, and Steve Caple Jr., who directed Creed II, will direct.

Abdul-Mateen is currently shooting Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, stars in the upcoming Matrix 4, will feature in Mad Max prequel Furiosa, and action film Emergency Contact beside Dwayne Johnson. He also appeared in the first Aquaman film and HBO’s Watchmen. All of these, it’s worth noting, are Warner Bros. films. Abdul-Mateen has other, non-Warner projects on the horizon, like the upcoming horror remake, Candyman, but there’s no question that he’s in high demand at WB’s various studios.

The production schedule for By All is still under wraps, but Abdul-Mateen’s next project, Candyman, hits theaters later this month on August 27, 2021.

Jackass Forever: Bam Margera is Suing Paramount and Johnny Knoxville Over Firing

Bam Margera revealed he had been cut from Jackass Forever back in February and now he has filed a lawsuit against Paramount, Johnny Knoxville, and producer Spike Jonze for wrongful termination.

This news comes by way of Variety, which reports that the former Jackass TV series and movie star was fired for allegedly testing positive for Adderall, which violates the terms of a wellness agreement Margera signed with Jackass Forever producers. Margera claims in the lawsuit that he’s taken Adderall as a prescribed medicine for 10 years.

“Paramount’s inhumane treatment of Margera cannot be countenanced,” the lawsuit states, according to Variety. “Margera was made to endure psychological torture in the form of a sham Wellness Agreement, and then ultimately terminated for his protected class status due to his medical condition, and his complaints about Defendants’ discriminatory conduct towards him.”

The lawsuit states that Knoxville, Jonze, and Jackass Forever director Jeffrey Tremaine coerced Margera into signing a wellness agreement while the star was in rehab back in 2019. Margera’s lawsuit claims that he was told he would be excluded from Jackass Forever if he didn’t sign it.

It also states that Margera was coerced into signing it without the presence of his attorney, or the opportunity for legal to give the agreement a once-over before Margera signed it. This wellness agreement subjected Margera to routine drug and alcohol tests

There’s no official word from the defendant’s in the case, but Knoxvile did comment on Margera’s situation back in May.

“We tried to push that along,” Knoxville said at the time. “I think that’s all I really want to say about it. I don’t want to get into a public back-and-forth with Bam. I just want him to get better.”

For more about Jackass Forever, which is set to hit theater on October 22, read about how Knoxville says Jackass Forever will be his final Jackass film and then check out these images that reveal five new stunts in Jackass Forever. Watch the official Jackass Forever trailer after that.

Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.

Forza Horizon 5 Full Map And 2020 Toyota Supra Revealed

Forza Horizon 5 developers have shown new gameplay footage, including a brand new car and a full map reveal for the game. In a 30-minute livestream creative director Mike Brown and associate art director Conor Cross showed off some gameplay of some of the biomes in Mexico in Forza Horizon 5 and announced the 2020 Toyota Supra GR.

After showing off the real version of the 2020 Toyota Supra GR, Brown gave a quick overview of some of the body modifications players can make to the car, which he said will be given to players very early on in the game. After that, the developers took the Toyota Supra on a spin through a selection of Forza Horizon 5’s 11 biomes, showing off the Rocky Coast, Sandy Desert, and Living Desert all during the stormy Autumn season.

The team also showed off one of Forza Horizon 5’s races, the Mulegé Town Scramble, which has racers weaving in and out of buildings on dirt roads in a small, vibrant town. This race is part of the Wilds festival, one of six Horizon festivals in the game, focused on off-road, dirt racing.

The Forza Horizon 5 team also revealed the entire overworld map of the game, which is 50% larger than Forza Horizon 4’s map. The massive world also features one of the longest highways ever in the series, spanning nearly the entire map.

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Forza Horizon 5 is aiming to be the biggest and most diverse game in the series, covering a wide variety of biomes across Mexico. Forza Horizon 5 releases on November 9 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC and will be available on launch day as part of Xbox Game Pass.

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Disco Elysium – The Final Cut Collector’s Edition Is Available For Preorder

For those that enjoyed the chaos of Henry DuBois’ life and his adventure throughout the fictional city of Martinaise, Studio ZA/UM has something special in-store. The developer has partnered with iam8bit to release a collector’s edition of its unique, mystery-filled point-and-click adventure. Disco Elysium – The Final Cut Collector’s Edition is currently available for preorder and will set customers back $250.

The collector’s edition, which currently does not have a release date, includes some knick-knacks and art from the game. The entire package comes in a “Layers of the Id” premium box and includes a hardcover book that features unreleased art and stories from the game, along with an illustrated fabric map of the game’s setting, the town of Martinaise.

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An especially unique piece of art also comes with Disco Elysium – The Final Cut Collector’s Edition. Every order includes a hand-painted “Mind Totem” vinyl sculpture. It’s not clear how tall the sculpture is, but it seems to be roughly the same size as the game’s case.

Speaking of which, customers may want to consider that Disco Elysium – The Final Cut Collector’s Edition only comes with a physical PS5 version of the game. It’s housed in a slipcase and comes with a reversible cover.

Regardless of where they live customers can purchase Disco Elysium – The Final Cut Collector’s Edition. The bundle is region-free, so the game should work on any PS5 across the globe.

Disco Elysium – The Final Cut released this past March and added new quests, characters, and challenges to the game. The game can currently be purchased on PC, PS4, or PS5, with Studio ZA/UM saying that it has plans for ports to other platforms.

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Sony Completes Crunchyroll Acquisition Worth $1.175 Billion

Sony has announced that after months of negotiations, the acquisition of anime streaming service Crunchyroll is complete. The service joins fellow anime entertainment company Funimation as an official subsidiary of Sony.

The buyout is worth a whopping $1.175 billion, according to a press release. With its newfound resources, Crunchyroll can broaden its reach by distributing its content through various Sony channels like PlayStation. Similarly, Funimation will also take advantage of Sony’s deep resource bag. It remains unclear when the two anime streaming networks will ever merge.

Chairman, president, and CEO of Sony Group Corporation, Kenichiro Yoshida, said the company is excited to welcome Crunchyroll to Sony.

“Anime is a rapidly growing medium that enthralls and inspires emotion among audiences around the globe,” Yoshida said. “The alignment of Crunchyroll and Funimation will enable us to get even closer to the creators and fans who are the heart of the anime community. We look forward to delivering even more outstanding entertainment that fills the world with emotion through anime.”

Tony Vinciquerra, chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., said the buyout adds “tremendous value to Sony’s existing anime business,” reiterating that the company wants to create the ultimate anime experience.

“With the addition of Crunchyroll, we have an unprecedented opportunity to serve anime fans like never before and deliver the anime experience across any platform they choose, from theatrical, events, home entertainment, games, streaming, linear TV–everywhere and every way fans want to experience their anime,” Vinciquerra said. “Our goal is to create a unified anime subscription experience as soon as possible.”

While the goal for Sony seems to be to create a unified subscription experience, it remains to be seen how Crunchyroll’s acquisition impacts Funimation. With Sony now owning the two networks, though, competition amongst streaming services for where to watch anime is slowly dwindling. It’s possible that Crunchyroll could either be linked alongside Funimation or be folded with the business, making its offerings all Funimation all the time.

Forza Horizon 5’s Full Map Revealed

Playground Games has revealed the full map for its upcoming racing title, Forza Horizon 5, and as is tradition with the franchise, the map is massive.

Forza Horizon 5 was announced less than two month ago and since then, Playground Games and Microsoft have been quite generous in dolling out information for drivers excited to take to the streets and off-road paths of Mexico. Today, the studio revealed the entirety of Forza Horizon 5’s massive map on Twiter and well… it speaks for itself. Check it out for yourself:

As you can see on the map above, Forza Horizon 5 will see players driving through all sorts of biomes, named and unnamed locations, and more. Over on the Forza Horizon subreddit, fans are clearly excited about all that’s seemingly packed into this map.

“The racetrack at the festival is massive compared to FH4, looks awesome,” BoomBamCrash said. “And the airport at the very bottom in the jungle looks sick, and it looks like there might be a jump at the end of it.”

Reddit user Techophilia said they can’t wait to drive through this map and that it looks excellent. They specifically pointed out the highway, the volcano road, and the dunes on the western side of the map in their excitement. There are hundreds of other comments similar to these on the subreddit and there’s barely a comment void of excitement.

If this map reveal has you excited about Forza Horizon 5’s release on November 9 later this year, check out this stunning 4K Forza Horizon 5 release date trailer and then watch this developer gameplay walkthrough. Read this story about all 11 of the game’s biomes after that.

Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.

Steam Next Fest Demos Provided A Major Boost To Game Sales

Valve shared news of how it generated sales from their successful digital event with a reminder to developers and publishers to register their games since October’s Steam Next Fest is upon us.

With the absence of in-person game demos and events in 2020, Valve created the Steam Next Fest to offer multitudes of game demos for fans to download. Several developers used it as an opportunity to talk about their games via livestreams during the event. The Next Fest garnered hefty player participation that led to increased engagement and profit, according to Valve’s data.

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Last year, “The median game saw daily wishlist additions jump 421% during the fest, compared to the two weeks leading up to the event,” Valve explained. About a month after Next Fest, the rate of daily wishlist additions was still 15% higher than it was two weeks before the event.

Valve concluded that the median released game noticed an increase of 292% in turning the Next Fest wishlist additions into sales “compared to converting wishlist additions made in the two weeks leading to Next Fest.”

Earlier this year, Steam Next Fest June edition partnered with ID@Xbox Summer Game Fest Demo Event after E3 2021. Next Fest offered over 700 new demos for players to test out from the comfort of their homes. It included the 40 game demos from ID@Xbox such as Tunic, an isometric adventure game with an adorable fox protagonist, and Sable, a mesmerizing open-world game set in a Moebius art-inspired desert landscape.

The week-long Steam Next Fest October 2021 edition will run from October 1 to October 7.

PUBG: New State Gets Second Alpha Test In Asia, Middle East, Egypt, And Turkey

PUBG: New State, the futuristic counterpart to PUBG Mobile, is getting a second alpha test for iOS and Android. The second alpha test takes place August 27 through August 29 in Asia, the Middle East, Turkey, and Egypt.

Set in 2051, PUBG: New State is a free-to-play battle royale game, meant to bring a near future experience to mobile devices. The alpha takes place on the game’s only announced map, the 8×8 rundown Troi. PUBG: New State includes some features not currently in PUBG Mobile, like the ability to customize weapons during a match. It will also include multiple new futuristic vehicles.

Now Playing: PUBG: New State – Official Launch Teaser (46″ ver)

While the game does not have a set release date just yet, it is supposed to launch before the end of the year. Developer Krafton has announced that the game has over 25 million pre-registrations on the Google Play Store and that it will be available for pre-registration on the Apple App Store before the end of August.

Anyone interested in participating in the alpha can sign up on PUBG: New State’s official website. Regular PUBG Mobile is still kicking, with update 1.5 launching last month, adding the new Clan Clash mode and a drivable Tesla.

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