Razer’s New Wolverine V2 Chroma Controller Is Built For Competitive Gaming

Razer has unveiled the Wolverine V2 Chroma, a new Xbox and PC controller that focuses on customization, ergonomics, and competitive performance. The Wolverine V2 Chroma joins an already solid lineup of premium Xbox controllers (Elite Series 2, Scuff Instinct Pro), and it’s quite possibly the most impressive of the bunch in multiple ways. The Wolverine V2 Chroma is available to purchase now for $150 on Razer’s website. It will also be sold at select major retailers.

The Wolverine V2 Chroma has an L-shaped fulcrum design that makes it more natural to hold than previous Wolverine controllers. The front and back of the handles feature a textured rubber grip. Overall, this shape makes it feel a tad more comfortable than the conventional Xbox controller shape, especially when it comes to accessing the additional triggers and bumpers.

The Wolverine V2 Chroma is a wired controller for competitive gamers.
The Wolverine V2 Chroma is a wired controller for competitive gamers.

While the Elite Series 2 and Scuff Instinct Pro each have four back paddles, the Wolverine V2 Chroma has four in addition to a pair of extra bumpers next to the triggers on top. Razer also retooled the design of the back panel triggers, placing them in the center of the controller in an ideal position for your middle fingers to access. These aren’t traditional paddles; they are built-in buttons that have the same great feel as the standard triggers.

Razer created a dedicated app for the Wolverine V2 Chroma that can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store on Xbox and PC. The app allows you to remap inputs and save profiles.

Equipped with Mecha-Tactile face buttons and D-pad, the Wolverine V2 Chroma is comparable to clicking a mouse. The Mecha-Tactile buttons have quicker actuation than standard console controllers, which make the V2 Chroma a more suitable option for competitive gaming.

Four of the multi-function buttons are located on the back of the controller.
Four of the multi-function buttons are located on the back of the controller.

The Wolverine V2 Chroma also has trigger stop switches to reduce the length of RT and LT pulls. While the controller comes fitted with thumbsticks that resemble the Xbox Wireless Controller, you can swap them out with the included dome-shaped and taller sticks. The controller has all of the other menu buttons you’d find on official first-party controllers, including the new Share button.

I’ve been using the Wolverine V2 Chroma for the past few days and have come away mightily impressed. If it were wireless, it would likely become my main Xbox controller. Once again, this Wolverine controller is wired, though it does connect via a detachable (and appropriately lengthy) USB-C cable. Razer told me it chose to go with a wired design for competitive performance (response times). That said, the option to use this controller wirelessly would be nice for those who aren’t concerned (or wouldn’t even notice) the response time differences.

If you’re looking for a new Xbox gamepad and play a lot of competitive multiplayer, the Wolverine V2 Chroma is an excellent option and will soon join our list of the best Xbox Series X controllers. It’s also the ideal choice for those who are used to gaming on PC. It bridges the gap between mouse and keyboard gaming and controller gaming better than any other gamepad out there.

Red Dead Online’s Latest Update Gives Collectors The Big Bucks

Red Dead Online’s focus has officially shifted away from any content involving its Blood Money expansion to more run-of-the-mill activities. It’s a stance that’s reflected perfectly in this week’s Red Dead Online weekly update, which gives a suite of bonuses to players completing Collector role activities. However, there are also some extra rewards in store for players looking to finally wrap up the game’s story missions.

This week’s Red Dead Online weekly update was shared via the Rockstar Newswire, and you can find the most important details down below.

Collect ’em all

Collectors can earn twice the cash from selling collector sets this week.
Collectors can earn twice the cash from selling collector sets this week.

Red Dead Online is all about the Collectors this week, with double the rewards for any and all Collector’s Set sales. With some sets coming in at $300 as their base selling price, players can easily earn well over $600 by getting together the right collections. Simply collecting items will also give players a bit of a bonus, with twice the usual XP being paid out.

Collectors will also receive a free Collector’s Map just for logging in this week, along with an offer for 40% off a novice or promising Collector role item and a reward for 2000 club XP for completing a weekly collection list.

The fat of the land

A Land of Opportunities missions are paying out twice the cash this week in Red Dead Online.
A Land of Opportunities missions are paying out twice the cash this week in Red Dead Online.

Players who haven’t finished Red Dead Online’s A Land of Opportunities line of missions yet will have the perfect reason to this week. Completing any mission in the storyline will net players twice the cash they’d usually get. While these missions don’t historically pay out too much, they’re a great starting point for new players, and with double the rewards, they can even look forward to a good amount of money to start with.

Similarly, one of Red Dead Online’s multiplayer modes is also paying out more, albeit it’s only twice the XP. Fans of Hardcore Gun Rush can look forward to the bonus experience whether they win or lose.

Discounts on Collector gear

This week’s discounts are for the Collectors and those aspiring to join the role. Along with a discount on getting into the profession, players can look forward to additional deals on Collector gear, cosmetics, and more. A full list of this week’s deals is down below.

  • Collector’s Bag – 5 Gold Bars off
  • Collector’s Maps – 40% off
  • Pennington Field Shove – 40% off
  • Metal Detector – 40% off
  • Collector Role Outfits – 30% off
  • Rafferty Eyepatch – 30% off
  • Criollo Horses – 30% off
  • Pistols – 40% off
  • Double Bandoliers – 30% off

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Pokemon’s 25th Anniversary Album Adds New Songs, Including One From Lil Yachty

As part of the 25th anniversary celebrations for the Pokemon series, a new music album is on the way with the some big-name artists. Pokemon 25: The Album is launching October 15 from Capitol Records and Universal Music Group, featuring songs by Katy Perry, Lil Yachty, J Balvin, and Cyn. Post Malone’s cover of the Hootie and the Blowfish song “Only Wanna Be With You,” which he performed during the PS25 Music virtual concert back in February, is also featured on the album.

Everyone who preorders the album gets six songs right away, including “Electric” by Katy Perry, “Got ‘Em” by Vince Staples, “Wonderful” by Cyn, “Take It Home” by Mabel,” “Game Girl” by Louane, and the aforementioned “Only Wanna Be With You” Cover from Post Malone.

Pokemon 25: The Album releases in October
Pokemon 25: The Album releases in October

Lil Yachty, who is releasing a new track titled “Believing” for this album, said he has been a longtime Pokemon fan and jumped at the chance to be involved. “I hope it inspires my fans to chase their dreams,” he said of “Believing.”

As you would expect, The Pokemon Company is going big to celebrate the franchise’s 25th anniversary. In addition to the album, there are Pokemon-branded Oreos in stores now, a new Pokemon animated film for Netflix in October, and an eight-episode animated series focusing on different regions of the Pokemon universe that is airing now.

Pokemon 25: The Album Tracklist

  1. Katy Perry — Electric
  2. Jax Jones — Phases (with Sinead Harnett)
  3. Mabel — Take It Home
  4. Lil Yachty — Believing
  5. J Balvin — Ten Cuidado
  6. Cyn — Wonderful
  7. Vince Staples — Got ‘Em
  8. Louane — Game Girl
  9. Tierra Whack — Art Show
  10. Post Malone — Only Wanna Be With You (Pokemon 25 Version)
  11. Yaffle — Reconnect (feat. Daichi Yamamoto & AAAMYYY)*
  12. Mabel — Take It Home (ZHU Remix)*
  13. Cyn — Wonderful (ZHU Remix)*
  14. Vince Staples — Got ’Em (ZHU Remix)*

*Digital album only

Windows 10 Xbox App Now Lets You Stream Console Games from Console or the Cloud

Microsoft has rolled out a new update for the PC Xbox app, allowing Windows 10 PC owners to stream console games from either your Xbox console or through Xbox Cloud Gaming (aka xCloud).

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers in 22 countries can now use the Xbox app on Windows 10 to access xCloud. A new “Cloud Gaming” section will appear by clicking on the Game Pass tab, showcasing all the titles that support Xbox Cloud Gaming. Previously, Windows 10 PC owners had to access Xbox Cloud Gaming by going to Xbox’s website through a browser, signing in, and playing the cloud gaming beta.

The new update also allows you to stream games from your Xbox Series X, Series S, or Xbox One onto your Windows 10 PC via Xbox remote play. This is the first time Microsoft has enabled Xbox remote play on Windows 10 PC for owners of either Xbox Series console. Microsoft also made some changes to remote play, such as the option to stream games at 1080 up to 60 frames per second and the ability to select Xbox 360 and original Xbox games.

The update to the Windows 10 Xbox app comes as no surprise from Microsoft as the company moves more and more in the direction of letting users play Xbox games on almost any device. In late August, during Gamescom 2021, the company announced that the Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One are getting cloud gaming this holiday season. Microsoft is also planning to extend the Xbox One’s lifespan by bringing Series X/S exclusives to the older hardware through the cloud.

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

Marvel’s Wolverine Will Be Full-Sized And Mature In Tone

Insomniac has carved out a space for itself in the industry with two excellent Spider-Man games, an upcoming third entry starring Marvel’s wallcrawlers, and a future game based on the most violent member of the X-Men, Wolverine. While that game starring Canada’s finest export won’t be out for a few more years, Insomniac is confirming that it’ll be a full game with a mature tone.

Asked on Twitter if Marvel’s Wolverine will be a full-size game similar in scope to Marvel’s Spider-Man or if it’ll lean closer to the more compact size of the recent Spider-Man: Miles Morales game, creative director Brian Horton responded with a precise and brief tweet:

Now Playing: Marvel’s Wolverine | PlayStation Showcase 2021

A Wolverine game that shies away from mature themes wouldn’t do the mutant any justice, but that’s a theme that Insomniac applied to its Spider-Man games through the stories that it told. 2018’s Spider-Man mixed in some surprisingly emotional moments between its action sequences, while Miles Morales had his own set of complex situations to navigate while working to keep New York City safe.

Considering the rich history behind Logan from long before he even established his Wolverine persona, it’s easy to see just how much nuanced and emotional material Insomniac has to draw from for a game that can easily be more than just a violent brawler starring a hero with built-in forearm dinner knives.

It has been a long time since Logan headlined his own game, with the last notable instance being an official tie-in to X-Men Origins: Wolverine, a fun game based on a terrible film.

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Fortnite Season 8: IO Outposts And IO Guard Locations

In Fortnite Season 8, the Imagined Order (IO) has been usurped by the mysterious cubes, but you can still find IO guards and new IO outposts on the island in a few specific places. This is crucial information for several quests in Charlotte’s questline, as she is investigating the IO all season long. Here’s where to find IO guards and IO outposts.

Fortnite Season 8 IO Guard Locations

Though all but one dish station was left untouched by the Mothership crash, the IO has abandoned its monitoring stations in favor of new outposts. They still want to have a presence on the island, but it seems they no longer need their satellite dishes as all current threats are at ground level.

You’ll find a pair of IO guards at every IO outpost–provided other players didn’t get there first–and we’ve found several of these outposts across the island so far. It’s possible the IO will continue to expand their presence as the season and storyline go on in Fortnite Season 8, but for now, here’s where you can find IO outposts:

Fortnite Season 8 IO guard locations and all IO outposts
Fortnite Season 8 IO guard locations and all IO outposts

From the left, they are:

  • On a road southwest of Holly Hedges
  • Just west of Apres Ski
  • East of Pleasant Park along the river
  • On a hill southeast of the central Aftermath
  • On the east coast between Steamy Stacks and Dirty Docks

While these small outposts will offer IO guards to take down, a speedy IO car, and a few chests, they don’t seem to offer IO tech weapons. However, those weapons are still on the map this season. You’ll find them by returning to any IO dish station and opening IO chests. If you want a Pulse Rifle, Recon Scanner, or Rail Gun, they’re now much rarer, but still obtainable at the dish stations first seen in Season 7.

These outposts aren't as fancy as the dish stations, but they're the only places you'll find IO guards.
These outposts aren’t as fancy as the dish stations, but they’re the only places you’ll find IO guards.

There’s more to learn about the new season. Be sure to catch the details on the Fortnite Season 8 battle pass, the Fortnite season 8 map changes, and the new Fortnite Season 8 weapons.

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These Perfect PS5 M.2 SSDs Are On Sale in the UK

Have you heard the news? The long-awaited PS5 M.2 SSD update is launching on September 15, which makes this the perfect time to invest in some expandable storage for your console. To make things a little easier for you, we’ve listed all the perfect M.2 SSDs available and on sale right now in the UK.

PS5 M.2 SSDs On Sale in the UK (With Heatsink)

PS5 M.2 SSDs On Sale in the UK (Without Heatsink)

Compatible M.2 2280 SSD Heatsinks

You’ll need a heatsink if your SSD doesn’t come with one, here are some good PS5 compatible options from Amazon.

Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.

After Criticizing HBO Max, Christopher Nolan Ditches Warner Bros. For Universal With Next Movie

After acclaimed director Christopher Nolan blasted WarnerMedia for its decision to release its 2021 slate on HBO Max simultaneously with theaters, many wondered if Nolan would stick with the studio for his next project. Now we know he will not.

Nolan’s next movie, a World War II film about J. Robert Oppenheimer and the creation of the atom bomb, will be made for Fast & Furious studio Universal, according to Deadline.

Universal has greenlit the film, and it will start production in the first quarter of 2022, the report said. It’s not a total surprise that Nolan is ending his relationship with WarnerMedia, as it was previously reported that he was shopping his next movie around to multiple studios.

It’s an end of an era for Nolan, who made his biggest and most successful films–Inception, the Batman trilogy, Interstellar, and Dunkirk–with Warner Bros. Nolan’s latest movie, Tenet, released in the middle of the pandemic–in theaters exclusively.

Netflix boss Scott Stuber previously said he would do everything in his power to convince Nolan to make his next movie with the streaming giant, but that’s not happening. Deadline said Universal, MGM, and Sony were the real contenders, with Universal winning out.

Nolan strongly criticized WarnerMedia’s decision to release the studio’s 2021 theatrical films day and date on HBO Max, and specifically for how the movie giant apparently did not give a heads up to directors and talent. Recently, it was reported by the Wall Street Journal that WarnerMedia paid stars and talent $200 million to make up for shifting movies to HBO Max. For what it’s worth, this strategy will not continue in 2022, as WarnerMedia has signed 45-day exclusive windows with multiple movie chains in the US.

Dying Light 2 Delayed to Early Next Year

Techland, the developer behind Dying Light 2, has announced an update on the development process for the game – which has been delayed until February 4, 2022.

The studio shared a statement surrounding Dying Light 2: Stay Human on the game’s official Twitter account and pointed toward the ambitious nature of the project as one of the main reasons for its delay.

“The team is steadily progressing with the production and the game is nearing the finish line,” said Techland CEO Pawel Marchewka. “It is by far the biggest and the most ambitious project we’ve ever done. Unfortunately, we’ve realized for us to bring the game to the level we envision, we need more time to polish and optimize it,” he continued before announcing that the team had decided to move the game’s official release date back to February.

This isn’t the first time that Techland has announced a delay for the zombie survival game. With an initial release date of Spring 2020, the studio announced in January of last year that it was delaying the game indefinitely. Earlier this year, a subsequent report surrounding the title’s delayed development suggested that a toxic working environment at the studio had been one of the factors that had hindered the project. The game’s December 2021 release date was then later announced in May alongside the title’s new name, Dying Light 2: Stay Human.

Elsewhere in the statement, Marchewka apologized for the title’s most recent delay. “We are sorry to keep you all waiting a little longer, but we want the game to meet your highest expectations on release and we don’t want to compromise on this,” he said.

The CEO then went on to confirm that content creators will still be getting their hands on both PC and console versions of the game next month – meaning that fans won’t need to wait too long before they can see more of what the title has to offer. He then finished by explaining that the company is gearing up towards sharing some further details about Dying Light 2: Stay Human later this month.

Techland’s announcement of Dying Light 2 at E3 2018 revealed a number of exciting features in the game. The developer said that the survival title will present players with meaningful choices that come with real consequences and that you’ll only see 50% of the game’s full content in a single playthrough. More recently, further gameplay has shown off how the game’s parkour elements, both in its use during combat and as a tool to traverse the title’s rugged environment.

For more on Dying Light 2, make sure to check out the game’s official Welcome to Villedor gameplay trailer below.

Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

Netflix’s Maya and the Three: Exclusive Clip and Release Date Reveal

Netflix has announced the release date for its upcoming animated series, Maya and the Three, which is set to premiere globally on Friday, October 22, 2021.

IGN can exclusively reveal a clip featuring Zoe Saldaña’s Maya, which you can watch in the video below, or at the top of the page. Here’s how director, executive producer, and co-writer Jorge R. Gutiérrez describes the scene:

“This clip is from the first time our Eagle Warrior Princess Maya (Zoe Saldaña) faces Acat (Chelsea Rendon), the goddess of tattoos, in our epic fantasy world. Inspiration for this fight came from everything like Street Fighter 2, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Kill Bill, Ninja Scroll, and a chola fight I saw in Tijuana.”

Gutiérrez went on to talk about what inspired him to create the series. “Maya and the Three was very much inspired by the warrior women in my life (my wife, sister, and mother) and my love of fantasy films, books, and video games,” Gutiérrez told IGN. “I always dreamt that if the camera went a bit more south they would eventually get to people that looked like us. Our event series is all these fantasy dreams coming true for me.”

Here’s how Netflix describes Maya and the Three: “In a fantastical world, where magic turns the world and four kingdoms rule the lands, a brave and rebellious warrior princess named Maya is about to celebrate her fifteenth birthday and coronation. But everything changes when the gods of the underworld arrive and announce that Maya’s life is forfeit to the God of War — a price she must pay for her family’s secret past. If Maya refuses, the whole world will suffer the gods’ vengeance.”

Be sure to stream Maya and the Three when it debuts on Netflix on October 22, 2021. And for more Netflix, check out everything new to Netflix in September, our review of Lucifer Season 6, and the biggest fall TV titles dropping later this year.

David Griffin is the TV Streaming Editor for IGN. Say hi on Twitter.