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Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord is finally available on PC via Steam Early Access. But players hoping to check out TaleWorlds Entertainment’s siege-action strategy RPG on consoles will have to wait.

“Sorry, but we have been saying in dev blogs and interviews for years that [console versions] will come further down the road, as PCs are our primary platform,” developer TaleWorlds Entertainment explained in a Tweet response to one user who asked whether a console version of the Mount and Blade 2 early access was coming.

Sorry, but we have been saying in dev blogs and interviews for years that consoles will come further down the road, as PCs are our primary platform.

— Mount & Blade (@Mount_and_Blade) March 30, 2020

Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord is a prequel to 2010’s Mount and Blade: Warband. Set in the waning days of the Calradic Empire, Players control warriors from European-inspired tribes as they engage in siege warfare with rival factions.

Players can utilize strategy elements and control large armies and siege weapons, but can also engage in 1-on-1 combat, which puts players in the heart of the action during warfare.

Mount and Blade 2 has been in development since 2012, but TaleWorlds delivered weekly developer blog updates since 2017 and rarely mentioned anything about a console version of Bannerlord. It should also be noted that it took six years for Mount and Blade: Warband to be ported from PC to the PS4 and Xbox One.

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IGN will continue to cover Mount and Blade 2, so check back for more updates on Bannerlord soon.

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Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.

The BFG is easily one of the most recognizable video game weapons of all time. The iconic firearm was born to eviscerate monsters and demons in id Software’s seminal first-person shooter, Doom. The gun was there for the formative years of the genre itself and has remained a mainstay, whether in follow-up Doom games, other id Software titles, or games in the genre as a whole.

But the Big F**king Gun actually has a rather unexpected history, having been based on a toy that was purchased from Toys’R’Us.

How did a kid’s toy blaster become one of the most devastating virtual weapons of all time? The latest episode of Loadout delves into just that question. Join Dave as he recounts the history of the BFG and explores its cultural impact in games, movies, and beyond.

If you haven’t already, make sure to watch the other episodes of Loadout available on GameSpot’s YouTube channel. There are videos dedicated to the silencer, nuclear bomb, revolver, and more.

Of course, the BFG makes its return in the latest entry in the Doom series. In GameSpot’s Doom Eternal review, Phil Hornshaw said, “Though it can take a bit to get the hang of it, the intricacies of Doom Eternal’s combat, combined with its enhanced mobility and option-heavy level design, create a ton of white-knuckle moments that elevate everything that made Doom 2016 work so well.

“Its combat is just as quick and chaotic, but requires you to constantly analyze everything that’s happening in order to come out victorious. Once you get the hang of the rhythm of Doom Eternal, it’ll make you feel like a demon-slaying savant.”

The console port of Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy is being invaded by veteran PC players.

The news arrives thanks to a report from PCGamer, which details the “accidental crossplay” which has led to PC players facing off against those using Nintendo Switch or PlayStation 4 controls in Jedi Academy’s multiplayer mode.

Forums and social media platforms are amok with players complaining about PC veterans arriving in their multiplayer lobbies and wiping the floor with the inexperienced and more casual players on console, who don’t have the added benefit of a pinpoint mouse and keyboard setup.

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As noted by user Max Payment on ResetERA, it looks like PC players are finding console server IPs on the console versions of the game, and then jumping onto their PC version and connecting to that IP. This effectively bypasses the assumed restrictions and jumps straight into open console multiplayer matches, allowing PC fans who have been playing since the game originally launched back in 2003 to wreak havoc. It’s a jerry-rigged crossplay solution!

Many fans have voiced their concerns on Twitter, with some responding to a tweet from Aspyr Media – the developer behind the console port – asking the studio to fix the server vulnerabilities.

One reply from Twitter user JediKnightHub reads “I think we’d all rather you patch out the IP address being displayed, change the IPs, and do all you can from PC players from entering the servers… please look into it, It’s ruining the experience for the new console players.”

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As ever, the wisdom of Obi-Wan Kenobi rings true for those affected by this crisis – “If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.” Although gaining that power is significantly harder when your opponent uses a mouse and keyboard and has been playing for 17 years.

In other Star Wars news, check out our article about why you should check out The Skywalker Legacy, a documentary about the making of The Rise of Skywalker. 

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

A nimble modder has grafted parts of Half-Life 2’s opening into Half-Life: Alyx’s Source 2 engine.

Vect0R has recreated the moment that Gordon Freeman walks out into the City 17 courtyard at the start of Half-Life 2 in VR with Source 2, the engine that powers Half-Life: Alyx. The location is eerily quiet save for a few roaming Combine, with Wallace Breen’s looming face yet to be implemented, but features better lighting than the original version, which released on the first Source engine in 2004.

Instead of being planted to the ground, the player uses the VR control scheme from Half-Life: Alyx, including her pistol which must have the slider manually pulled back to reload. This quickly turns the courtyard into a shooting gallery.

The modder started work on the reimagining on March 24th but had been planning the project since January. Vect0R doesn’t plan on sharing it for public use just yet and created it to serve as a showcase for what could be done.

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“I took the original map file and converted to Source 2 format and added to Half-Life: Alyx,” said Vect0R in the description of his YouTube video. They also mention that they were limited by the fact that Valve’s Source 2 SDK isn’t public just yet.

It’s a seriously impressive sight to behold and is clearly just the start for Source 2 tinkering off the back of Half-Life: Alyx. Who’s to say that we couldn’t see a full remake of Half-Life 2 within Alyx’s upgraded Source 2 engine, thanks to the hard work of modders like Vect0R? We do live in a post-Black Mesa world, after all.

For more on Half-Life: Alyx, check out this teacher who delivered a lesson on Angle Vocabulary using in-game markers and windows!

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Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN who would play the hell out of Half-Life 2 in VR using Alyx’s control scheme. Follow him on Twitter.

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War will reportedly serve as the conclusion of the Justice League animated shared universe, originally launched by Jay Oliva’s Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox in 2013.

According to ComicBook.com, Justice League Dark: Apokolips War will end the current run in the DC Animated Movie Universe, as the 15th and final film in the continuity, which includes sequels to The Flashpoint Paradox, Son of Batman, and Justice League Dark. However, Warner Bros. Animation will continue to produce animated DC Comics movies, though it’s not clear whether they will be independent stories or the start of a new continuity.

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Directed by Matt Peters and Christina Sotta, Justice League Dark: Apokolips War boasts the largest superhero cast in the history of DC Universe Movies with dozens of characters spotlighted in a grand ensemble of talent reprising their renowned roles from the six-year story continuum.

Among those reprising their animated characters are Matt Ryan, Jerry O’Connell, and Taissa Farmiga, who anchor the cast as Constantine, Superman and Raven, respectively. This assemble will lead the heroes into humanity’s final attack against the film’s key villain, Darkseid, who will once again be voiced by Tony Todd.

Alongside that trio are the long-running core of Justice League voices, comprising of Jason O’Mara as Batman, Rosario Dawson as Wonder Woman, Shemar Moore as Cyborg, and Christopher Gorham as The Flash, as well as many other returning Justice League Dark and DC voice cast members.

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The movie has been rated R for “bloody violence, language, and some sexual references” and will serve as the direct sequel to 2017’s Justice League Dark.

In our review of Justice League Dark, we praised the film for its execution of “the magical team-up concept,” saying it “delivers a satisfying supernatural adventure” that “does justice to the main cast of characters by telling their tragic origin stories and showing off their quirky personalities.”

Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, DC, and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Justice League Dark: Apokolips War debuts on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital in spring 2020.

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

Copies of Final Fantasy 7 Remake will ship early to Australia and Europe, Square Enix has announced.

The news was revealed in a tweet from the official Final Fantasy 7 Remake account, which contained a formal message from Yoshinori Kitase and Tetsuya Nomura, two of the Remake project’s lead developers.

“Our highest priority is that all of you, including those who live in countries currently facing the biggest disruption, can play the game at launch, so we made the decision to ship the game earlier than usual to Europe and Australia,” the statement reads.

An important message from the #FinalFantasy VII Remake development team. #FF7R pic.twitter.com/UwBMNaIaXX

— FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE (@finalfantasyvii) March 30, 2020

This means that those of you in Europe and Australia waiting for your copy of Final Fantasy 7 Remake may receive the game earlier than the street date of April 10th, 2020.

The decision wasn’t taken lightly, and – as you may have surmised – it was made in response to “disruption to distribution channels caused by the spread of the COVID-19 virus.”

The coronavirus pandemic has strained the global supply chain and estimates for delivery are becoming more haywire, which is why Square Enix has decided to send the game out now so it can meet the demand at launch.

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As for fans in the Americas and other Western regions, Square Enix is optimistic that the game will arrive by launch day, though due to the “challenging situation” the company cannot provide data for every country and retailer.

To round off the statement, Kitase and Nomura asked fans not to spoil the game if they receive their copy early. “There are potential spoilers that have been out there for over two decades as the original Final Fantasy VII was released in 1997… but Final Fantasy VII Remake is a new game that still has many surprises for everyone,” the statement reads.

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The developers asked for the support of the community that surrounds the game to ensure that nobody falls foul of stray spoilers. Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s street date was already broken this week, with fans posting pictures of their early copies of the games to Reddit. This is your fair warning – if you want to avoid Remake spoilers, go dark now! For more news on Final Fantasy 7 Remake, read our report on how the remake will show a different side to Cloud Strife. [poilib element=”accentDivider”]

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

The Xbox Series X hasn’t broken the ‘pizza box’ style console form factor just to stand out from the crowd. The new, tall design is actually fundamental to delivering the extra power of the console.

In a new report from Eurogamer’s Digital Foundry, Microsoft explains that the tall dimensions of the Xbox Series X, likened by many online to a fridge, are actually dictated by several factors. One of the most important of these is airflow; powerful components need to get very hot, and so dispelling air upwards is vital.

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“The ODD [optical disc drive] sets one dimension, the volume of the heat sink sets the other dimension,” explained Chris Kujawski, principal designer at Microsoft. “The height is set by airflow and throughout this kind of complex negotiation of figuring out how this stuff comes together, we landed on a square form factor which we love.”

The tall case has a powerful fan at the top, which reportedly helps draw 70% more airflow through the console than the previous generation Xbox. The heatsink attached to the main board inside also achieves 20% more airflow.

Further contributing to the design is that instead of one large rectangular board, the motherboard has been split into two and mounted either side of a metal chassis block that helps cool the hottest components in the console. This split also helps keep the footprint of the console smaller despite the added height.

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The Xbox Series X is still slated for a Holiday 2020 release, and there are no delay concerns yet. It will sport a slightly redesigned controller and that all important 12 teraflops GPU.

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Matt Purslow is IGN’s UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter. 

The Final Fantasy 7 Remake isn’t set to launch until April 10, but Australian and European players may find the game ahead of time. Square Enix has opted to ship the game to both regions early in order to offset any disruptions caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In a statement on its official Twitter account, the Final Fantasy 7 Remake team said it wants to ensure everyone can play the game at the same time. This includes areas facing the most disruption, such as Europe and Australia. Shipping the game earlier could result in those regions playing it before everyone else, so the team asked that players do not spoil its story.

“We know there are potential spoilers that have been out there for over two decades as the original Final Fantasy 7 was released in 1997. But Final Fantasy 7 Remake is a new game that still has many surprises for everyone,” the team continued. “All our fans and players deserve to experience the game for themselves, and we ask for the support of our dedicated community around the world to ensure that.”

Square Enix added that its “highest priority” is making sure everyone can play the game at launch.

“As a result, there is a greater chance that some of you in there regions will now get a copy of the game prior to the worldwide release date of April 10.”

Copies have already made it into the wild, with players finding the game’s Deluxe Edition and showing off its contents on Reddit. Fortunately, the entirety of the game can’t be spoiled through early copies, as Square Enix is developing Final Fantasy 7 Remake as a multi-part title. Digital copies should also arrive at launch, and Square Enix has been actively communicating with players regarding potential changes.

The game launching in April only contains the story up through the Midgar area. It’s available exclusively for PS4 and you can check out GameSpot’s pre-order guide to learn where to purchase.

In celebration of Super Mario Bros.’ 35th anniversary, Nintendo is said to be planning a big celebration that will include “plans to re-release most of Super Mario’s 35-year back catalogue this year.”

As reported by VGC, multiple sources have confirmed this news that also states a new installment in the Paper Mario series will be arriving on Nintendo Switch in 2020.

These games are set to be revealed alongside new details on both the Super Nintendo World theme park and the animated Super Mario movie, projects that Nintendo is working on Universal with.

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One part of the celebration, according to VGC, was the special interactive LEGO Mario set that slightly blurs the line between a toy and a video game.

The Super Mario…party was set to be revealed during E3 2020, which has since been canceled. Nintendo is now said to be reviewing its plans and deciding how it will hold the event in response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

Eurogamer has also confirmed parts of VGC’s report, and its sources have indicated that Super Mario Galaxy is “indeed one of the games being readied for a remaster, alongside a couple of other 3D Mario favourites.”

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Eurogamer also states that new Paper Mario is in fact “in the works” and that a deluxe edition of the Wii U’s Super Mario 3D World will arrive on Switch with “an array of new levels.”

Gematsu has also “heard similar reports,” and adds in that Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine will also be brought to Nintendo Switch.

If these reports are accurate, and assuming the games will not be delayed due to COVID-19 or other factors, Nintendo Switch owners will be able to look forward to the following Mario titles in 2020:

• Super Mario 64 (N64 – 1996)
• Super Mario Sunshine (Gamecube – 2002)
• Super Mario Galaxy (Wii – 2007)
• Super Mario 3D World (Wii U – 2013)
• A new Paper Mario game
• Other “3D Mario” titles

These games would help fill a year that will, according to Nintendo, not include a new Switch model and it will only help further push the success of the Switch, which has recently crossed the 50 million units sold milestone.

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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.