PS5 Comes With a (Literally) Game-Changing Feature for People Who Invert Y-Axis

For most of my life, every time I’ve started a new game, the first thing I’ve had to do is make sure the Y-axis is inverted. I don’t know why my brain likes to push down to look up, it just does, and it causes a consistent burst of faff before I can get to any shiny new game I’ve bought. PS5 may, finally, have gone some way towards fixing that issue.

The solution comes in the form of PlayStation 5’s Game Presets menu, a settings option that allows you to choose your preferred experience in PS5 games from a number of categories, which is then applied as best as possible to every game you play. That menu includes game difficulties, subtitles, performance vs. resolution modes, and preferred audio languages – all options regularly fiddled with before play can really begin.

But the option I truly love is being able to choose to invert the Y-axis in both first person and third person viewpoints automatically. So far I’ve used it to fix Astro’s Playroom, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and Demon’s Souls, and I’ve been delighted every time I confirm it’s worked again.

To be fair, I actually only discovered the menu when I realised Astro’s Playroom doesn’t actually include a Y-axis preference option, which briefly made me absolutely furious until I was told about the beautiful Elysian Fields of Game Presets. In hindsight, it feels like another one of Astro’s attempts to teach me a little something about my new console (although I’m not convinced it’s an intentional one in this case).

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As covered in our PS5 guide, the menu is found in Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Game Presets, and will attempt to apply all of your choices as accurately as possible, depending on the game in question. If you find your choices aren’t working out for you, Game Presets will only attempt to change the settings when you first start the game, so you can tinker with them and not have them switch back by accident.

It may sound like a small thing – mainly because it is a small thing – but after years of low-level annoyance at starting every game with a boring trudge to the options menu, it’s genuinely refreshing to see a little bit of thinking applied to how to stop that. I’m sure the same will go for many fellow inverters, not to mention subtitlers, language changers, hard moders, and other similarly inconvenienced players. Forget haptic feedback, this is my next-gen.

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Joe Skrebels is IGN’s Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected].

American Horror Story Spin-Off Releases First Poster

This week continues to get better and better for American Horror Story fans–Season 9 will be coming to Netflix this Friday (the 13th, scary!), and series co-creator Ryan Murphy (Glee, Ratched) has finally unveiled the first poster and a tiny bit more information on the long-discussed American Horror Story spin-off. Check out the tweeted image below, which helps set the tone for what to expect.

In a tweet immediately following the above image, Murphy says the spin-off will comprise “16 one-hour standalone episodes delving into horror myths, legends, and lore.” He also teased that “many” of these episodes will feature familiar faces from the AHS series, and that more information is coming soon. Earlier this week, Season 10 of the main series stepped into the spotlight in a similar fashion, also releasing a new poster, but was likewise light on any expected release date.

According to The Wrap back in May, Season 10 is expected sometime in 2021. That month, there was an American Horror Story cast Zoom call where Murphy said in an Instagram post documenting it that cast members reminisced with one another–though he also mentioned the spin-off, which will consist of “one-hour contained episodes” and “other stuff [he] cannot print.” But there might be a clue in this post of who’s pictured–maybe some of these actors will be reprising their roles in the spin-off?

It would likely be wise to get used to this slow trickle of new information and more teases about AHS in the future, and at least for a few more years. Spin-off aside, earlier this year FX has renewed the show up until Season 13.

Xbox Congratulates Sony On PS5 Launch

The new generation has arrived, with the Xbox Series X and Series S having launched earlier this week, and the PlayStation 5 launching today. Microsoft and Sony are professional rivals, but both companies have given each other a friendly message of solidarity upon the launch of their new consoles. Today was Xbox’s turn to give kudos to PlayStation.

In a series of two threaded messages on Twitter, the official Xbox social media account said congratulations to PlayStation. It went a little more heartfelt with a second message, saying “Generation after generation, it’s been a pleasure to game alongside you.”

For the Xbox launch on November 10, Sony similarly congratulated Microsoft, with a cheeky message using a Friendship finisher from Mortal Kombat 11.

PlayStation 5 consoles are shipping out to those who preordered, but new stock is also available for launch day in some stores. If you’re picking up a PS5, check out the confirmed launch games, and don’t forget to claim your free Bugsnax if you’re a PS Plus member. And be sure to check out our reviews of the new PS5 and Xbox Series X / Series S.

Fallout 76 “Steel Dawn” Trailer Drops Release Date

Fallout 76 is getting ready to introduce one of the most iconic pieces of series lore next month. The Steel Dawn update adds a new questline that will introduce the Brotherhood of Steel, the techno-religious military that has appeared throughout the series. A new trailer promises the update is coming on December 1.

In Steel Dawn, you’ll meet Paladin Leila Rahmani, who has moved her troops from California to establish a foothold in Appalachia. You can choose to work with or against the new Brotherhood faction, and either way, you can unlock Brotherhood weapons and armor.

The game started laying the groundwork for this over the summer, with a Brotherhood of Steel themed community event that gave away some cosmetic items. Those included a beret, camp banner, Brotherhood Collectitron station, and more. The Brotherhood is a well-known part of Fallout fiction, especially notable for their hulking power armor.

Fallout 76 had a rocky start, and a recent Wastelanders update aimed to make it function more like a traditional Fallout game. GameSpot’s Fallout 76: Wastelanders review found it to be an improvement, but still held back by some of its enduring issues.

Steel Dawn will be free for all Fallout 76 players, which includes Xbox Game Pass subscribers.

Now Playing: Giving Fallout 76 Another Shot

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FIFA 21 Patch Will Let You Set Limits On FIFA Points Spending

EA’s FIFA series has been in the spotlight recently over its controversial FIFA Ultimate Team mode and the potential impact that this has on its younger audience, with government and lobby groups comparing it to a form of gambling. In a big change for the annual soccer franchise, an upcoming patch will allow parents to control several aspects of FIFA 21.

As reported by Eurogamer, you’ll be able to limit how many matches can be played in the game, monitor playing time, and limit how many FIFA Points can be purchased and spent. EA won’t be able to tell you how much you’ve spent in terms of real-world money, as the details of these transactions from Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo aren’t shared with the publisher.

FIFA Points are the in-game currency that is acquired from the relevant platform provider in exchange for real-world cash and are used to buy FIFA Ultimate Team packs. Each FUT pack contains random soccer players with varying degrees of rarity and skill.

The higher the rarity, the more sought-after these athletes are by players who seek to create the ultimate team for online play. This has led to concern over the years that FIFA games were grooming younger players with pay-to-win mechanics that encouraged gambling for better FUT packs.

“Play should always be fun, so we’re amping up the information and tools to help you play on your terms,” EA said in a blog post. “Back in June, we rolled out the Positive Play Charter – an updated set of community guidelines designed to make our games and services more inclusive, safe, balanced and fair. This is another step we’re taking to make play more positive.”

EA has made a number of changes to FUT over the years, such as actually showing how shockingly low your chances are at scoring a rare player in FIFA 19, and still insists that FIFA loot boxes do not violate gambling laws.

Several countries haven’t agreed with EA though, with the Netherlands fining the company €10 million in October and ordering EA to change the way that FIFA 19, FIFA 20, and FIFA 21 work within that country.

Belgium also took EA to task in 2019, eventually forcing the company to stop selling FIFA points within its borders.

Now Playing: FIFA 21 Video Review

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Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Doubles Launch Player-Count Compared To Odyssey

With the Xbox Series X/S and PS5 available now, players certainly have no shortage of new games to play. Despite such a huge offering, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla has actually managed to smash its player-engagement count from 2018’s Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.

According to Ubisoft, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla had double the active players on launch day compared to Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and Ubisoft anticipates its player-count will grow even more as players get the new consoles and purchase the game alongside them. It’s also seeing similar success for streamers and content creators.

“A testament to Assassin’s Creed Valhalla delivering on players’ expectations for its fascinating world and immersive narrative, the game has reached high levels of viewership and engagement on Twitch and YouTube that surpass any Ubisoft game launch to date,” the publisher added.

Firm numbers were not provided as part of the announcement, nor were sales figures.

We were certainly impressed with the game, and associate editor Jordan Ramée gave it an 8/10 in GameSpot’s Assassin’s Creed Valhalla review. He was particularly fond of how it connected to the series’ meta-narrative, as well as the hero and choice in combat. Protagonist Eivor can be either male or female, depending on your preference, and they can dual-wield shields, for some reason.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is available now for Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, PS4, PS5, PC, Stadia, and Amazon Luna. Through the revamped Ubisoft Connect system, you can even transfer your game saves from Xbox to PlayStation or vice versa if you’re switching for the next generation. If you purchase the Xbox One or PS4 version of the game, you can also upgrade to the Xbox Series X/S or PS5 version for free. In case you haven’t gotten a new console yet, check out our PS5 order guide for some help.

Now Playing: 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Playing Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

PS5 – Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold War “Fracture Jaw” Gameplay

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War has a number of flashback missions. In this 4K gameplay, players head to Vietnam to take part in a helicopter assault on an enemy village. We get to meet younger versions of some of the game’s main characters, including CIA officers Russell Adler and Lawrence Sims as they discover the Russian superspy Perseus.

When looking at how Cold War looks on PS5, this level has a wide range of terrain, including a muddy American base, the jungle from the air, rivers, and town. This level also shows air-to-ground transitions. On PlayStation 5, Call of Duty enhancements can include 4K, high dynamic range, and ray-tracing.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War releases on November 13 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Campaign Timeline

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War takes place between the original Black Ops 1 and its sequel, Black Ops II–releasing in 2010 and 2012, respectively. Given that it’s been a while, we feel a refresher on the Black Ops characters and plot points is in order.

In the video above, we go over where we left off with central characters like Alex Mason, Frank Woods, and Jason Hudson, as well as which villains are still alive and what story cliffhangers are worth keeping in mind. If you haven’t played the first Black Ops, the game involves a lot of twisting plot points, including an attempt to assassinate Fidel Castro, a brainwashing program that has to do with mysterious numbers, chemical weapons, and betrayals.

Black Ops Cold War picks up 13 years after Black Ops with Russian spy Perseus infiltrating the United States nuclear weapons program. A new cast of operatives–Russell Adler and Lawrence Sims from the CIA, Eleazar from Mossad, and Helen Park from MI6–are trying to stop Perseus. The campaign bounces back and forth between the present day (1980s Europe) and flashbacks to the past, which take place in Vietnam.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War releases on November 13 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

Xbox Series X/S Had Biggest Launch In Xbox History

The Xbox Series X and Series S didn’t end up launching with Halo Infinite, but the two consoles are still off to a huge start. According to head of Xbox Phil Spencer, more units were sold in the first 24 hours than in any other Xbox console launch.

As analyst Daniel Ahmad pointed out, this means the systems sold more than 1 million units, but it’s not clear what the exact figures were.

Spencer said the two systems were also sold in more countries than ever before, with Microsoft shiting to a simultaneous launch instead of a staggered launch like it did with the Xbox One. More consoles will be available “as quickly as possible,” so there’s a chance you could still receive one by Christmas–or give it as a gift.

Aside from it being impressive to break a sales record during a pandemic, the Xbox Series X and Series S also managed to do so when a competitor, the PS5, launched just two days later. In 2005, the Xbox 360 launched as the sole next-generation console that year, with the PS3 and Wii not arriving until 2006.

If you’re still looking to track down an Xbox Series X, you can check out our Xbox Series X order guide to help. You can also read our full Xbox Series X review and Xbox Series S review to help you decide which one is worth getting.

Now Playing: Xbox Series X Unboxing

Some Xbox Series X Systems Reportedly Have Disk Drive Issues

It’s almost inevitable that the launch period of a new console will come with a handful of unforeseen issues, and the Xbox Series X is no different. However a number of reported issues with the Series X’s disk drive are frustrating players–especially considering one of the big reasons for the $200 price increase from the Series S is the inclusion of a disk drive.

While Microsoft hasn’t said anything officially about any of the reported issues, and didn’t send a comment for Polygon’s report on the issues, users on Twitter and Reddit have posted videos of their disk drive problems.

One of the main disk drive issues appears to involve disks getting stuck halfway or not being accepted into the console. Sometimes this is accompanied by a loud clicking or clunking noise from the disk drive’s motor.

A thread on Reddit shows a number of users with the same problem, with some reporting that they needed to use a small amount (or sometimes quite a lot) of brute force to get the disk past the sticking point, due to the seal being new and still quite stiff. For the record, we don’t recommend brute-forcing your console without getting in touch with Xbox Support first.

Other videos show the Xbox Series X taking the disk but failing to load it, or making a loud noise while games are installing, but not at other times.

A now-deleted tweet that gained a lot of traction showed an Xbox Series X making concerning noises after a disk had been loaded, but an update tweeted from the same account said that the issue was confirmed to be with the specific disk used, and not the console.

Another loud ticking or clinking noise some have attributed to the disk drive is most likely a problem with the fan instead, as one user posted a video showing the diskless Xbox Series S making the same noise.

Another Reddit thread includes a video of a console with the same problem, though the user updated to say they had fixed the problem themselves, after opening up the console and finding that the fan was impacting on a cable that wasn’t sitting in the right place. Again, we don’t recommend trying to fix your console yourself, as it can void the warranty.

As with any new tech launch on this scale, it’s inevitable that some devices will be broken on arrival, whether due to factory faults or damage during shipping. As more people get their hands on the new Xbox, we’ll find out whether the new console has any recurring faults on a scale large enough to cause Microsoft to address it publicly–beyond a tweet reminding customers of the best way to get in touch with Xbox Support.

Microsoft was forced to comment on one supposed issue after a number of people posted videos with smoke coming out of the top of the Xbox Series X–their response was not to acknowledge a fault, but to ask people not to blow vape smoke into their consoles.