IGN UK Podcast #562: Juicy Tsushima Legends

It’s been a fine week for free updates to already great games. Ghost of Tsushima has added Legends so Cardy and Matt can be samurai together before joining Joe over in Verdansk to party with zombies, Billy the Puppet, Leatherface and all the other horror lads in Warzone. As well as that we tell you why you should be watching Taskmaster and The Trial of the Chicago 7 and reading/watching Dune if you’ve never got round to that.

There’s another new Endless Search format as well as more soundtrack and sandwich feedback.

Remember, if you want to get in touch with the podcast, please do: [email protected].

IGN UK Podcast #562: Juicy Tsushima Legends

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How To Access The Crown Tundra DLC In Pokemon Sword And Shield

Pokemon Sword and Shield‘s Crown Tundra expansion has finally arrived. Like The Isle of Armor expansion, this DLC introduces a wealth of additional Pokemon and content to the games, including a brand-new area to explore: the eponymous Crown Tundra, an arctic region featuring its own storyline, cast, and wild Pokemon to catch.

As was the case with the Isle of Armor, the Crown Tundra is separate from Galar proper. You don’t need to clear the main storyline in Sword and Shield to be able to access it, but you will need to speak to a certain character to reach the new area and content. Here’s how to access the Crown Tundra.

How To Access The Crown Tundra

If you already own the Pokemon Sword or Shield Expansion Pass, fire up your copy of the game after installing the latest update and you’ll see a notification that you’ve received the Crown Pass. As you had to do to access the Isle of Armor, you’ll need to return to Wedgehurst Station and show the Crown Pass to the attendant near the gate to take a train to the Crown Tundra. Once you’ve visited the tundra the first time, you’ll be able to fast travel back to it from anywhere in Galar.

How To Purchase The Crown Tundra

Of course, before you can access the Crown Tundra and its new content, you’ll need to purchase the DLC. It’s bundled together along with The Isle of Armor in Sword and Shield’s Expansion Pass, which can be downloaded from the Switch eShop for $30 USD.

If you’ve yet to pick up the DLC, be aware that each version has its own corresponding Expansion Pass; if you have Pokemon Sword, for instance, you’ll need to specifically purchase the Pokemon Sword Expansion Pass. The underlying story and content is the same between both versions, but there are a handful of version-exclusive Pokemon in each game.

Now Playing: Pokemon Sword & Shield DLC, EA Play On Game Pass, & Torchlight 3 Release Date | Save State

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Flight Simulator Files Suggest Microsoft Has Discussed VR on Xbox Series X & S

Files found in Microsoft Flight Simulator’s PC release suggest that Microsoft has investigated the potential of VR on Xbox Series X & S.

As spotted by WindowsCentral, Flight Sim forum user Cygnifick posted a series of filename strings that refer to the codename of the Xbox Series range, Scarlett.

Strings such as “Scarlett_VR” and “EDITION_Scarlett PublishedPackages_Scarlett.xml” suggest that Microsoft has, at the very least, been considering the implementation of VR on its next-gen consoles the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, for use with Microsoft Flight Simulator. It’s nothing concrete – perhaps Microsoft is testing the functionality internally.

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Microsoft Flight Simulator is coming to the Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S in 2021, but Microsoft hasn’t said anything about VR support for its next-gen console range, which is why these strings are so interesting.

Microsoft Flight Simulator is already available on PC as of writing, with VR support on the way via the HP Reverb G2 “later this fall,” according to an Xbox blog post published in July. Compatibility with other HMDs will arrive later down the line. You can sign up for the VR Closed Beta on the Flight Simulator website here.

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

These Metal Gear Solid Air Jordans Are One Of A Kind

Metal Gear Solid left behind a lasting impression on many people who experienced the game when it first launched in 1998. Hideo Kojima’s critically acclaimed game has been celebrated since then with official merchandise and fan art, and now a stylish pair of Air Jordans are part of that long list of tributes.

Kong: Skull Island director Jordan Vogt-Roberts commissioned artist Bud Sanfillipo to customize a pair of shoes to celebrate Metal Gear Solid’s 22nd Anniversary. Sanfillipo was tasked with recreating the signature art style of series artist Yoji Shinkawa.

The end result is a pair of shoes that would leave any Genome soldier curious about who was leaving behind a stylish pair of footprints.

Vogt-Roberts has been working on a live-action Metal Gear Solid feature film since 2014: a project that he wants to keep as faithful to the source material as possible.

“I was able to say, ‘Let’s really think about whether we’re making the truest, most balls-to-the-wall Metal Gear version of this–the most Kojima version of this,” Vogt-Roberts said in a 2017 interview. “And even if that means we make it for a little bit less money, let’s make the version of this that’s true to what it is, fully committed to what Kojima’s voice is.'”

If you’re feeling nostalgic, Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance have recently resurfaced on PC via GOG, albeit as straight ports of the original games that were released many years ago.

Now Playing: Metal Gear Solid On PC, Pokemon Trademarks, & New Kirby Game On Switch | Save State

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Blade Runner: Enhanced Edition Delayed Following Technical Issues

The remastered Blade Runner adventure game was previously scheduled to release later this year, but with “later this year” quickly coming, developer Nightdive Studios isn’t ready to launch the game. In fact, it has run into technical issues that have delayed it to an unspecified future date.

Speaking to Eurogamer, Nightdive CEO Steven Kick blamed the delay on problems related to “old technology” and said the studio has not been able to locate the original source code or assets for the game. The source code was apparently lost decades ago after original studio Westwood was purchased by EA, and Nightdive has the more difficult task of reverse-engineering code in order to get Blade Runner: Enhanced Edition remastered.

To get the game running on all platforms, Nightdive is using its own engine and with code work apparently nearing completion, most efforts are on visual updates now. Kick added in the interview that the frame rate will likely be lowered to 30 FPS with a film grain placed over it in order to better achieve a cinematic style. Given the neo-noir nature of the original movie, this makes sense.

While Blade Runner: Enhanced Edition is still in the works, it could be a very long time, if ever, before we see another film. 2017’s Blade Runner 2049 was critically acclaimed but failed to break even at the box office. That hasn’t slowed down director Denis Villeneuve, who is currently working on Dune.

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Netflix Signs Attack On Titan, Legend Of Korra, And Devilman Crybaby Studios To New Deals

Anime has been a large part of Netflix’s library for several years, and the streaming giant has plans for more of this content now that it has signed new deals with Japan’s NAZ, Science SARU, and MAPPA studio, as well as Korea’s Studio Mir.

NAZ has adapted light novels such as Infinite Dendogram into an anime series, Science SARU animated Devilman Crybaby, and MAPPA studio has produced a varied selection of series ranging from boxing anime Hajime no Ippo: Rising to the grim fantasy of Attack on Titan: The Final Season.

Studio Mir has been responsible for several American animated series, including The Legend of Korra, Voltron: Legendary Defender, and more recently Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts. The Korean studio is also currently working on a Witcher animated film titled The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf.

Netflix has focused heavily on animation recently, recruiting several other animation studios to create new content. Production I.G, bones is working on Godzilla Singular Point, which has been described as a new original story starring Japan’s famous Kaiju and the people who live alongside it.

Castlevania studio Sublimation recently produced a Dragon’s Dogma anime and Kill la Kill’s Studio Trigger is working on a Cyberpunk 2077 tie-in anime for 2022 titled Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.

Battlestar Galactica Movie Will Be Written, Produced by X-Men Veteran

X-Men’s Simon Kinberg has signed on to write and produce Universal’s long-gestating Battlestar Galactica movie.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Kinberg, who has been shepherding X-Men stories to the screen since 2006’s The Last Stand, is on board to write a new script for the upcoming feature adaptation of the Battlestar Galactica sci-fi franchise. Kinberg is also set to produce the movie with Dylan Clark, who has already been attached to the project for some time.

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“Battlestar Galactica is one of the holy grails in science fiction, and I couldn’t be more excited about bringing something new to the franchise, while honoring what’s made it so iconic and enduring,” Kinberg said in a statement. “I’m so grateful that Dylan [Clark] and my partners at Universal have trusted me with this incredible universe.”

Over the years, Kinberg has become well-known for his work on the X-Men film franchise, though he has also penned scripts for such films as Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Sherlock Holmes. He made his feature film directorial debut with X-Men: Dark Phoenix last year, and also recently served as one of the producers on The New Mutants, which is coming to Blu-ray and Digital HD on November 17.

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The Battlestar Galactica movie reboot has been in the works for quite some time now, with Brian Singer initially attached to direct the film when Syfy’s BSG TV series was drawing to a close in 2009. Ultimately, Singer left the project, and the studio decided to take the film in a different direction with a completely new production crew. Jack Paglen and Lisa Joy were both previously assigned to scriptwriting duties.

The feature film adaptation of Battlestar Galactica is not connected to the new BSG TV series, which is currently in development for NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming service. However, it has been confirmed that this new series, which is being executive produced by Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail, will be taking place in the “same universe” as the original cult favourite TV series.

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

Fortnite Champ Bugha And Five Below Release New Line Of Gaming Gear

Gaming is expensive, whether you play on PC or are looking to pick up one of the new consoles this holiday season. Especially for kids without a source of income, it can make you feel left out of the fun, but Five Below and Fortnite champion Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf have partnered on a new line of products that aim to help fix that.

Seven exclusive gaming items are now available in over 1,000 stores as well as the Five Below website. They include:

  • LED gaming headset with boom mic
  • LED gaming headset stand with USB ports
  • LED gaming keyboard
  • LED gaming microphone
  • LED gaming mouse
  • LED gaming mousepad
  • LED gaming speakers & subwoofer set

That is a lot of LED. Despite the name of the store, these items aren’t actually $5 each. No, you’ll be paying the high, high price of $10 for them. For that little cash, you’re not going to get the same quality as you would from brands like Razer or Logitech, but it’s still everything you need to get started with playing games on a PC–minus the actual PC and games–and you’ll be able to chat with your friends while doing it.

The mouse even comes with seven keys so can set it up for your favorite games, and with multiple microphone options, you’ll be better equipped if you want to start streaming. Because they’re so cheap, it won’t be a huge loss if you do decide to replace them with something better later on.

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Here’s How Long You Have Left To Check Out Quibi

Quibi is shutting down, having been around for about as long as it takes to speak the following three sentences: “wait, what’s Quibi? Oh, that sounds dumb. Wait, it has a Reno 911 reboot?” If you’d like to check that Reno 911 reboot out, there’s still time–but not a lot of it.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the streaming provider’s customer service page within the app had updated with an expected shutdown date. The app is likely to go down “on or around Dec. 1,” meaning that it’ll be gone before the end of 2020.

In some countries (such as Australia), Quibi has a free tier that’s ad-supported, so you can jump right in. If you’re in the US, Quibi is $5 a month.

Thankfully, not having much time is no problem with Quibi, since each episode is 10 minutes long or shorter.

Quibi struggled to have any real impact on customers, who didn’t, it turns out, want to watch a remake of The Fugitive broken down into small installments. The service also allowed every show to be watched in horizonal or vertical format, which is an interesting feature.

If you end up checking out Quibi as it fades away, give Flipped a watch–it was the standout show at launch.

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Star Wars: Liam Neeson Says Disney Hasn’t Approached Him About Playing Qui-Gon Jinn Again

If an actor has ever starred in a Marvel, DC, or Star Wars film, it’s only a matter of time before people start asking when they’ll play that character again. Liam Neeson has played countless memorable roles over the years, but for many, he’s Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn before he’s Ra’s Al Ghul, Rob Roy, or the guy in Taken. But Disney hasn’t yet approached Neeson about reprising the role, the actor said in an interview with Collider.

Neeson said that while he’s done the voice of Jinn a few times since filming Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, there hasn’t yet been any talk of donning the Jedi robes again.

“On film, I haven’t been approached, no,” Neeson said. “I haven’t really been following them, to be honest. I don’t know if they’ve come to an end. I heard they did a film of Harrison [Ford]’s character, Han Solo, and that there was a bit of trouble with that. What do you think? Are Star Wars fans finished with it? Neeson did acknowledge, though, that Disney+ opens up new possibilities for something like this.

Unlike with so many other times an actor is asked about reprising a role like this, though, there’s good cause behind it. The Star Wars universe of movies, shows, and comic books have explored the timeline from the Old Republic to the New Republic for a long time now. Ewan McGregor will once again play Obi-Wan Kenobi in the upcoming eponymous Disney+ series, which is currently set for a 2022 premiere date. The major difference here is that McGregor played a younger version of a character who died in his 60s, and is just now approaching that age himself; Neeson is 20 years older than his long-dead Jedi Master character. The de-aging technologies seen in movies like Captain Marvel and the Irishman could go a long way here, but it makes the whole scenario a lot less likely than that of Obi-Wan. The next big Star Wars release is Season 2 of The Mandalorian, which is starting on Disney+ on October 30.

Now Playing: Star Wars Obi-Wan Kenobi Movie Timeline And Director Reportedly Revealed – GameSpot Universe News Update