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A group of archivists that have been working to preserve every version of Minecraft ever released have finally found an early alpha version of the game that was thought to be completely lost.

The elusive version of Minecraft – Alpha 1.1.1, which was available for just over three hours on September 18, 2010 – was discovered by Twitter user @Lunasorcery on a hard drive that contained backups from an old laptop.

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As reported by Kotaku, Luna detailed the find in a Twitter thread, in which she explained that a member of the Minecraft preservation community recently contacted her after they discovered she had posted a tweet about a new Minecraft update back on September 18, 2010. Due to the date of the tweet, the person wondered if she had downloaded the update within the three hour window Alpha 1.1.1 was available.

Luckily, Luna had a USB hard drive back-up of the laptop she had been playing Minecraft on 11 years ago. And, even more luckily, it had the files for Minecraft Alpha 1.1.1. Luna posted the files to the Omniarchive Discord server, the place where the Minecraft preservation community gathers. They were able to verify that the files were legitimately Alpha 1.1.1, and that – remarkably – Luna had downloaded it just under 90 seconds before the version was replaced by Alpha 1.1.2.

So I posted in the Omniarchive server, and it would be an understatement to say that a few people noticed.

Just from the reactions, the reality of how big a find this is starts to set in. I literally start shaking. pic.twitter.com/cAg8vgu2ox

— Luna 🏳️‍🌈 (@lunasorcery) June 26, 2021

Alpha 1.1.1 has been considered a Holy Grail by the Minecraft community for years due to the way it was released. Minecraft updates in the game’s early years were dropped with no warning, usually on Fridays. However, Alpha 1.1.1 was dropped on a Saturday, which earned it its nickname “Seecret Saturday 1”. This update added fishing rods and sneaking, but had a bug that would make the screen go completely grey. As such, it was quickly replaced by Alpha 1.1.2 just over three hours later. Because this version was launched on an unexpected Saturday and only existed for three hours, the community had believed the chances of finding someone who had downloaded it and still had it was incredibly slim, and so assumed it was lost forever. Luna’s find has therefore been a massive breakthrough for Minecraft preservation.

In other Minecraft news, a popular Minecraft speedrunner has admitted to using mods to achieve his runs, and new DLC adds Sonic the Hedgehog to Minecraft.

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Matt Purslow is IGN’s UK News and Entertainment Writer.

The new mid-season trailer for Loki has been released. The Disney+ Marvel is now halfway through its six episode run, with Episode 4 set to arrive this week.

While the trailer mostly contains footage from the first three episodes, it does give us an idea of what to expect from the rest. Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino) end up back in the hands of the Time Variance Authority–and Loki isn’t happy about the fact they are taking her apprehension a lot more seriously than his. There are also some intriguing shots of Loki back in what appears to be Asgard wearing his familiar suit. Check it out below:

This video follows the teaser that was released last week that focused on Sylvie and featured interviews with Hiddleston and Di Martino. Sylvie was introduced at the end of Episode 2–for more, check out GameSpot’s Mason Downey on who this latest addition to the MCU might be.

Episode 3 contained several key moments, including the confirmation that Loki is bisexual, during an exchange about lovers with Sylvie. In addition, the episode revealed where TVA agents really come from. For more Loki coverage on GameSpot, check out our guide to all the Episode 3 Easter Eggs and references you may have missed.

While Loki will soon be over, there are plenty of other Disney+ Marvel shows on the way, including She-Hulk, Moon Knight, Hawkeye, Ms. Marvel, and Echo.

There is a difference between drawing and drawing well. Many of us like to sketch and may have shown a talent for it, but that’s as far as most of us have taken it. To really learn to draw well, you’ve got to do just that. You have to study, which requires time, dedication, and the right instruction. Finding that instruction has never been easier than with this course bundle.

The Pencil Kings Ultimate Character Drawing and Design Course Bundle has everything even someone who has never picked up a pencil needs to start creating their very own life-like characters. Best of all, this collection of courses, lectures, and valuable insights is currently only $35, on sale from $180 (that’s a savings of 80%).

Students rated The Pencil Kings Ultimate Character Drawing and Design Course Bundle 4/5 stars, and new subscribers will get a deep well of insights into the techniques needed to pull characters from their imagination and transfer them to paper. Students will learn the fundamentals of gesture drawing, how to nail human (and human-like) anatomy, style distortion, character design, and distortion. They will also learn how to create fun iconic characters like a sci-fi explorer or Wild West hero.

The courses are offered by Pencil Kings. Pencil Kings is an online school with the mission of “cutting through the noise of art education.” Simply put, their aim is to deliver quality art education without all the stuff students lament about art school. Purchasers of this bundle get a lifetime subscription to the revolutionary e-art school that is Pencil Kings.

Whether you’re looking to pick up a new hobby or potentially break into the art scene with your own creations, this bundle has what you need to start your journey to more realistic sketches. Valued at $180, the Pencil Kings Ultimate Character Drawing & Design Course Bundle is on sale for $35.

Price subject to change

This content is from our partner StackCommerce. GameSpot may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.

IGN can exclusively announce that Nier Reincarnation, the mobile Nier spin-off from creator Yoko Taro, will be released on July 28.

A free download with in-app purchases, Nier Reincarnation is an action-RPG starring a Girl in White who wakes up in a realm called the Cage. This girl is aided by a ghost named Mama and two venture into this world trying to regain the girl’s memories.

You can check out an exclusive new trailer for the game below:

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The game is rewarding its future players for pre-registering on the App Store and Google Play. Over 300,000 people have already pre-registered, meaning all players will start the game with Gems (the game’s currency) which can be spent to get in-game Summons. For every 100,000 more pre-registrations ahead of launch, Square Enix will increase the rewards players begin with.

Nier Reincarnation has been worked on by major parts of the mainline Nier team, including creative director Yoko Taro, composer Keiichi Okabe, and producer Yosuke Saito. We’ve previously shown off 9 minutes of gameplay, which gives you a sense of the game’s vibe.

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Mads Mikkelsen is taking over for Johnny Depp in the role of Gellert Grindelwald in the next Fantastic Beasts movie, and now the Hannibal actor has spoken about the change. He told The Sunday Times that he wishes he could have spoken to Depp, but it didn’t work out. The actor also discussed how he put his own stamp on the character.

“I mean, obviously, they were going to do the film, and obviously he was not involved any more,” Mikkelsen said of Depp (via EW). “But I didn’t have a dog in that fight. And I don’t know what happened [in his private life], and I don’t know if it was fair, him losing the job, but I just knew that the show was going on, and I would’ve loved to have talked to him about it if I had the chance, but I just don’t know him in that sense.”

Mikkelsen said the producers were “obviously in a hurry” to find a replacement for Depp. Mikkelssen read the script and “loved” it, so he was quick to say yes, though he acknowledged that it’s a thorny situation. “I know it was controversial for many people, but that’s just the way it plays out once in a while,” he said.

Depp resigned from Fantastic Beasts 3 amid his messy lawsuit with Amber Heard. The Oscar-nominated actor is said to have been paid an eight-figure fee ($10 million or more) as part of his exit package after reportedly filming just one scene for the forthcoming magical movie.

Grindelwald is not the first character from the Harry Potter universe to be replaced with a new actor. Richard Harris played Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter movies until he passed away. Michael Gambon portrayed the wizard in the remaining films.

Also in the interview, Mikkelsen said he plans to make his own mark on Grindelwald instead of attempting to copy what Depp did.

“I didn’t want to copy what Johnny had done. I think he’s a masterful actor, so copying him would’ve been creative suicide,” he said. “I had to figure out something that was definitely my own, and yet also act as a bridge to what he had done. My take is different, and the look is a little different, but we’ll have to wait for the film’s release [next year] to find out.”

Fantastic Beasts 3, which doesn’t have an official subtitle yet, releases in July 2022. As for Mikkelsen, he’s staying busy and is currently filming Indiana Jones 5 alongside Harrison Ford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

Mikkelsen recently starred in the Oscar-winning Danish movie Another Round, which is now getting an English remake with Leonardo DiCaprio.

Vin Diesel’s most iconic role may be that of committed family man and car enthusiast Dominic Toretto, but the actor’s multiple turns as the hardened prison-break expert Richard B. Riddick are a close second. Diesel hasn’t just starred as Riddick in a trilogy of films, he also voiced the iconic sci-fi anti-hero in the well-received Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay and Assault on Dark Athena. When talking to GamesRadar about Fast 9 and the current state of Riddick 4: Furya, Diesel mentioned that he would like to take advantage of the gaming space to create a new chapter in the saga of Riddick.

“We did have great success with Escape From Butcher Bay,” Diesel said. “It feels like an eternity ago now. But, I imagine that we would take advantage of the gaming space and add an extra chapter, but definitely, the [movie’s] script is already written. So it’s safe to say that we are moving towards filming the fourth chapter of Riddick.”

This isn’t the first time that Diesel has mentioned plans for a new Riddick game, as back in 2013 he mentioned that Payday studio Starbreeze was working on a new chapter. Nothing has happened since then, and for fans of the series, 2009’s Assault on Dark Athena still remains the most recent fix for Furyan-related adventures.

Diesel’s a busy actor right now, as he’ll be filming the sequel to F9 in January. The film has been a smash hit at the box office, taking in over $70 million at US cinemas alone during its opening weekend. Fast 9 reviews have been positive, and with the long-running film series quickly approaching the finish line, Diesel could finally have the time to live out a dream that he has been “dying” to get off the ground: appear in a musical.

For more on Fast 9, don’t forget to check out our breakdown on what the film’s post-credits scene could mean for Fast 10.

Apple TV+ has announced that its adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s Foundation will officially premiere on September 24, 2021.

Alongside the premiere date, it also unveiled a brand new teaser for the series that stars Jared Harris, Lee Pace, Lou Llobell, and Leah Harvey. For those unaware, Foundation is set to tell the story of “four crucial individuals transcending space and time as they overcome deadly crises, shifting loyalties, and complicated relationships that will ultimately determine the fate of humanity.”

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“When revolutionary Dr. Hari Seldon predicts the impending fall of the Empire, he and a band of loyal followers venture to the far reaches of the galaxy to establish The Foundation in an attempt to rebuild and preserve the future of civilization,” The official description reads. “Enraged by Hari’s claims, the ruling Cleons — a long line of emperor clones — fear their grasp on the galaxy may be weakening as they’re forced to reckon with the potential reality of losing their legacy forever.”

Foundation’s showrunner and executive producer is Batman Begins and Man of Steel’s David S. Goyer, and the show is produced by Skydance Television with Robyn Asimov, Josh Friedman, Cameron Welsh, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Bill Bost also serving as executive producers. 

“In the decades since the ‘Foundation’ series first saw print, Asimov’s prophetic science-fiction work has never been more relevant than it is now,” said Goyer. “Growing up, I devoured ‘Foundation’ and dreamed of one day seeing it on screen – but a feature film didn’t seem big enough to embrace the ambition. Thanks to the broader landscape of streaming and a valuable partnership with Apple and Skydance, we are able to bring the series to the screen in a way that truly does it justice. ‘Foundation’ has always been at the top of my bucket list and I’m honored I get to play a part in finally bringing it to life. Whether you’re a fan of the novels or simply someone craving a mind-blowing epic, I’m excited to share with you what we’ve created.”

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On September 24, the first three episodes of Foundation will be released, and one new episode will debut each Friday during the show’s 10-episode first season.

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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.

Fast and Furious star Vin Diesel revealed that the final installments of the franchise will start filming next year and will be a two-parter.

Diesel, who plays lead character Dominic Toretto in the franchise told Regal Cinemas that the end of the saga is approaching and filming will start relatively soon. “I’m doing Fast 10 Part 1 and Part 2, the finale of the saga, in January.”

Fast and Furious 9 recently made $70 million in North America during its opening weekend, which’s not only a box office record for the pandemic but actually, since 2019. F9 has the biggest start for a movie since 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. So splitting up the final chapter of this franchise makes sense monetarily and something big tentpole franchises have done for over a decade now since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Filming for F9 took place in 2019 and the movie’s release date was delayed for more than a whole year due to COVID-19 as theaters closed nationwide and Hollywood productions shut down across the board. A release date or story details for Fast and Furious 10 has not been announced (maybe this is where we get that musical), but in the meantime, you can head over to our review for Fast 9.

Fast and Furious 9 is in US theaters now and hits UK theaters on July 8.

Apple’s new sci-fi TV show Foundation now has its first trailer, and it offers a glimpse into the intrigue and mysteries that await viewers. The show is led by David Goyer, who wrote The Dark Knight films.

Foundation, which is based on the Isaac Asimov’s novel series, follows a group of exiles who attempt to “save humanity and rebuild civilization amid the fall of the Galactic Empire.”

Jared Harris (Mr. Deeds, Chernobyl) stars as Dr. Hari Seldon, while Lee Pace (Guardians of the Galaxy, The Hobbit) plays Brother Day. The series also stars Lou Llobell, Leah Harvey, Laura Birn, Terrence Mann, Cassian Bilton, and Alfred Enoch.

Foundation’s showrunner is David Goyer, who previously wrote Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight movies and Call of Duty: Black Ops.

Foundation premieres September 24 on Apple TV+. It’s just the latest big show coming to the service this year, following Ted Lasso Season 2 (July 23) and then The Morning Show Season 2 (July 17).

IGN can reveal that Grime – the bizarre, punishing action-RPG in which you play a stony body with a black hole for a head – will be released on August 2 for PC (via Epic Games Store, Steam, GOG, and Humble) and Stadia.

The grim-weird 2D adventure fuses action gameplay with RPG mechanics, including a very cool risk-reward system that sees you using a parry ability to absorb enemies’ powers to install as part of your own character’s build. You can check out a new trailer below:

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Along the way, you’ll upgrade stats, as well as equip mutating living weapons to fight your way through a labyrinthine world. All of that work will help you fight against enormous boss characters, who in turn offer new abilities that let you travel to new places on the game’s twisting map.

We’ve previously shown off Grime during our Awesome Indies event for Gamescom, and saw its introduction at this year’s Guerrilla collective – it’s more… sensual than you might have imagined.

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