The next generation is just around the corner, and we’ve had our hands on the new Xbox Series X and Series S for a while now. The new consoles from Microsoft are relatively understated, with black and white boxes that look simple and clean. But how do they compare to prior Xboxes? Time to do science!
We took the Xbox Series X and Series S and stacked them up against every prior Xbox, from the original Xbox all the way to the Xbox One X. In fact, thanks to the relatively squared edges in every generation of Xbox, we were also able to literally stack them against each other, making a gigantic Xbox sandwich. It’s a sight to behold, but we don’t recommend taking a bite. Check out the full console size comparison.
Among Us has never been more immersive. One player has created a mod that emulates the popular deception game in the free-to-play MMO VRChat.
VRChat, much like Roblox or Fortnite’s Creative mode, lets players design their own game modes and characters. A modder named Jar recreated Among Us in VR so that crew mates can have a more intimate murder experience.
The VR version of the game has tasks, vents, emergency meetings, and most of what makes Among Us enjoyable. It’s fan-made–so it can be janky from time to time–but it gets the job done.
October’s free Sea of Thieves update, Fate of the Damned, is now live. The Halloween-themed update introduces a wealth of new content to Rare’s shared-world pirate game, including some ghoulish new Voyages to undertake, as well as pets, cosmetics, and other rewards to earn.
Chief among the new content are the aforementioned Voyages, which will send you in search of Larinna’s missing Bilge Rat crew. As Rare warns, however, “an advancing threat spreads across the seas,” and you’ll have to contend with the Shadows of Fate as you explore the world.
There are also new challenges to complete and rewards to earn as part of the Fate of the Damned event. Rare says that additional challenges will be rolled out as the event rolls on, and new rewards will be made available, including the Soulflame weapons and lantern.
The Fate of the Damned update has arrived… ☠ Fate of the Damned Voyages 📅 Weekly Challenges 👻 Soulflame Gear 🎃 Spooky Taverns 📔 In-game Events Menu 🦴 Skeleton Pets and fresh Emporium stock 🏴☠️ And more! Explore the eerie adventures that await: https://t.co/co8sYXtAb0pic.twitter.com/KdkfEEeGX5
On top of that, the update introduces two new types of pets to go along with last year’s skeleton bird and marmoset: a skeleton cat and skeleton dog. You can acquire them from the Pirate Emporium. The Soulflame Ship Set has also been added to the Emporium, as have other cosmetics like new facepaints and the free Lantern Dance Emote.
Beyond that, the Fate of the Damned update also makes a variety of other changes and improvements, including fixing a number of bugs in the game. You can read the patch notes for the update below.
Fate Of The Damned Release Notes
Gameplay Improvements
Mysterious Notes
When waking up at the start of a session, players may now find Mysterious Notes left beside them. Follow these notes to be directed to the various activities across the Sea of Thieves with each new content update.
When collecting a Mysterious Note, a pop-up will now appear as the note is added to your inventory. All Mysterious Notes collected can be browsed within a new section in the Quest Radial.
In-Game Event Tracking
The in-game menu now contains an Events tab, showcasing the current events taking place across the Sea of Thieves and tracking your progress through them.
Flameheart’s Range
When a Flameheart Ghost Ship encounter is active, the area in which music and menacing remarks from Flameheart can be heard around the islands has been reduced.
Ashen Lords Balancing
Ashen Lords now have reduced health.
Cashing in an Ashen Winds Skull is now worth double the gold.
When defeating an Ashen Lord, players will be guaranteed a Chest of Rage and a Ritual Skull as rewards, with all rewards gained from this encounter increased in value.
Emergent Captain Balancing
Skeleton Captains, Key Masters and Guardians that appear emergently on islands have been reduced in difficulty.
Updates
Oh Gourd!
With the Festival of the Damned season in full swing, Outposts are decorated with pumpkins in celebration of the ne’er-forgotten soul of the Ferryman.
Skipping the Intro Cutscene
Players can now opt to skip the front end intro animation by enabling ‘Auto-skip Intro Animatic’ in Video Settings.
Shark Hunter Ship Set
The previously unavailable Cannons, Capstan, Figurehead, Flag and Wheel are now purchasable for gold at any Outpost shipwright.
Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S Optimisations
Sea of Thieves has been optimised in preparation for the next generation of Xbox consoles with Series S and Series X.
Accessibility
Auto-Move Accessibility
Players can now bind a key to ‘Auto Move’, allowing their pirate to move forward in that direction until stopped.
‘Auto Move’ functions as expected while traversing land or swimming, but also applies forward motion to actions such as raising the capstan and climbing ladders. While players will still need to interact with these items to begin, the use of ‘Auto Move’ can remove the need for a held action during the interaction.
Narrate Emotes
When ‘Let Games Read to Me’ is enabled, emotes performed by other pirates will now be narrated and described to the player.
Hiding emotes that hide the player’s gamertag will not be narrated.
Fixed Issues
Gameplay
When performing an emote, you should now consistently perform that action for any players observing you.
When a Megalodon appears alongside a Sloop, it should now circle the ship and more frequently find opportunities to attack while the ship is moving.
Reaper’s Chests earned from the Fort of the Damned should now have a Reaper’s Beacon.
Ashen Artifacts dropped by Ashen Skeletons now provide Emissary Grade progression when taken.
Firebombs should now deal consistent damage to animals.
When a player has acquired the maximum number of food items, the number shown should now be marked in red.
After lighting all the Flame of Fate beacons at the Fort of the Damned, Graymarrow should climb out of the ground instead of appearing from nowhere.
There is now a loading screen while going through the Pirate Legend Hideout waterfall entrance.
When at Ancient Spire Outpost, players should now safely teleport to the intended location.
The Legendary Skeleton Exploder Commendation should now be visible to players in their reputation page under Gunpowder Skeletons in the Bilge Rats tab.
The Commendation counters shown on the reputation pages now more accurately represent players’ progress with a Trading Company.
Quickly pressing the primary use button/key while holding a pet should no longer disable the ‘give pet’ animation.
The ‘Drop Capstan’ tutorial prompt now resets properly if the player’s ship sinks while on-screen within the radius of the Maiden Voyage island.
When playing with Korean language settings, players are once again able to offer their soul to the Ferryman to skip the revival duration.
Ancient Treasure Vaults
The Ancient Vault Key will now disappear once the Vault is complete.
If an Ancient Vault is active, that Vault will no longer be selected for use in another crew’s Tall Tale.
If an Ancient Vault becomes active, other crews will be notified that the Vault is unavailable when approaching the door.
Rowboats should no longer clip through the Ancient Vault door.
It should now be less likely for players to have more than one torn map piece per island.
Tall Tales
‘Heart of Fire’ – The lever in Stitcher Jim’s Hideout now works repeatedly as intended.
‘Heart of Fire’ – Dying and then being revived in lava now properly kills the revived player again.
‘Heart of Fire’ – This Tall Tale no longer shows as ‘New’ in the Tall Tales tab.
Pirate Emporium
Switching currency should now properly update the price in the item preview window.
Environment
Emergent locations on Discovery Ridge for animal crates and Gunpowder Barrels have been updated to ensure they can be reached by players.
When engaging the Skeleton Fort on Sailor’s Knot Stronghold, upon reaching the Skeleton Lord players should no longer become stuck in the Fort wall during combat.
The rocks near Dagger Tooth Outpost now have appropriate collisions.
Players can no longer get stuck in the Pirate Legend Hideout and appear in the sea near the Sea Dogs’ Arena.
Players should no longer be safe teleported when moving around the Vault entrances.
The walls of the tunnel outside the Vault on Mermaid’s Hideaway should be visible at all times.
The corrupt textures in the Kraken’s Fall Vault have been removed.
The dust/rock VFX will no longer be floating near the Kraken’s Fall Vault rock door.
Players should no longer be able to dig the ground inside the weapon and equipment shops on Outposts.
There is no longer a hole in the western rock outcrop on Shores of Gold.
The skull lamp at Marauder’s Arch should now be attached to a post and no longer floating in mid-air.
Visual and Audio
When following an ‘X Marks the Spot’ Map, the ‘thunk’ sound can now be heard upon digging at the right location.
When the Ashen Curse is equipped, it should now appear while on the Ferry of the Damned.
The Hunter Figurehead, Crab Figurehead and Parrot Figurehead now have the correct icons when viewed in the Ship Customisation Chest.
Players should now be able to scroll down to the last option on the Video Settings page.
The Arena
The last crew to vote for the migration after the contest will no longer be stuck on the ‘recording results’ message and instead migrate as intended.
Custom Servers
Steam players should now be able to join an active custom server after receiving an invite.
Players should no longer be able to browse the store at North Star Seapost while on a Custom Server.
Players should no longer be able to browse Larinna’s Black Market while on a Custom Server.
Steam
Players who unlocked incorrect achievements on Steam before June 3rd 2020 will now have the incorrect achievements removed upon next login (but if the achievement was legitimately earned since then it will stay).
Players who have not had their Xbox achievements carried over to Steam will find their achievements correctly synchronised when logging in following the Fate of the Damned update.
When attempting to join a game without an invite on Steam, players will now be shown the correct notification message.
Performance and Stability
Improvements to server performance reducing latency, lag spikes, ‘rubberbanding’ and server correction during gameplay.
Improved client stability when loading into The Arena tavern upon selecting Duo Sloop Open Crew.
Improved client stability when idling on the Ferry of the Damned for an extended duration.
Improved server stability when progressing through Tall Tales.
Improved Xbox loading times from when a player sets sail on the front end to when they arrive in the world.
Improved and optimised client performance.
Optimised a range of islands across The Devil’s Roar to improve client performance.
Camera movement should now feel smoother when using the mouse and keyboard on Xbox consoles.
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News Reporter, Editor – IGN’s news team is looking for a new content creator to help us not just research, write, and edit the stories we already specialize in, but share stories our readers and viewers haven’t yet discovered themselves. Based in either the UK or US, you’ll be working with the executive editor of news, the news team, and a pool of freelancers, you’d be reporting on day-to-day breaking stories (across gaming, movies, TV, tech, comics, and science) and pitching thoughtful follow-ups. Your work could span anything from investigative reports and op-eds to community deep-dives and video breakdowns. While you’d be based within the news team, your work will cross over with features, previews, and more – you’ll become a major part of not just how we tell stories, but how we create them. We have offices in both the UK (London) and the US (Los Angeles, San Francisco), so you will need to apply to whichever is nearest: More info and application (US). More info and application (UK).
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As the days until the launch of the PlayStation 5 continue to pass on by, Sony is preparing for its big console launch by releasing a new PlayStation app for iOS and Android.
The new app is a much-needed redesign of the current version, bringing a native PS Store, party chat, and an updated user-interface into the fold. It also lays the foundation for upcoming PlayStation 5 features, such as the ability to remotely download games, manage console storage, and boot up the console with your smartphone.
The PlayStation app also incorporates functionality that was previously hosted by a separate PlayStation messaging app. This means you can receive messages from friends on the same app where you manage your console, making it a little easier to keep track of everything. The current PS Messages app is no longer available as a result.
The new PlayStation app is up for download on Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store. It requires at least iOS 12.2 or Android 6.0. Microsoft also recently launched an update for its Xbox app, similarly preparing for the launch of the Xbox Series X and Series S while adding remote-play support for Xbox One consoles.
How Does The Xbox Series X and Series S Size Compare To Older Models?
The launch of the Xbox Series X and Series S are fast approaching. With only a couple of weeks left before Microsoft’s new consoles hit retailers, the next-gen excitement is palpable. Microsoft sent us both the Xbox Series X and Series S to put through their paces ahead of the systems’ launches on November 10. And to help you plan your shelf space, we’re lending a hand by showing you just how big both models are in comparison with your current or past Xboxes.
We’ve placed the Xbox Series X and Series S next to just about every version of Xbox so far, from the OG original to the 360 and Xbox One with their respective hardware revisions. We also checked them out standing vertically, just in case that helps you visualize them sitting snugly under your television. These are standard retail models.
Developer Neon Giant has also shared a new video that showcases the development and highlights a few features coming to The Ascent when it is released on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, and PC in 2021. It will also be available for Xbox Game Pass subscribers at launch.
The Ascent has you taking on the role of an indentured worker who will dive deep into ‘The Ascent Group’ arcology, a self-contained corporate-run metropolis stretches high into the sky and is filled with “creatures from all over the galaxy.”
It’s an adventure that can be played solo or with up to four players in co-op modes and is targeting 60 fps and full 4K support on Xbox Series X alongside “amazing gameplay performance for the new generation of console players.”
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Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.
It’s safe to say IDW Publishing’s new miniseries The Last Ronin is among the most hotly anticipated comics of 2020. Not only does this series reveal the bleak future of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles universe, a la The Dark Knight Returns, it’s the first collaboration in years from original TMNT creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird.
Just how dark do things get for the Heroes in a Half-Shell? Which TMNT icons are still left standing in this totalitarian future? Read on to learn more about the surprising twists in store, but beware of full spoilers for Last Ronin #1 ahead!
The Last Ronin #1 slowly gives readers a sense of how the world of TMNT has evolved over the course of several decades. And it’s not good, to put it mildly. Decades into the future, New York City has become a totalitarian sci-fi hellscape straight out of Akira or Blade Runner. Outside the city’s walls is a radioactive wasteland. Inside, New York’s citizens are dominated by the Foot Clan, which has only grown more powerful since the days of Shredder. The new Foot Clan leader rules with an iron fist, relying on an army of cyborg soldiers and Stockman Tech creations to ensure the wealthy elite are never threatened by the 99%.
Art by Kevin Eastman & Esau & Isaac Escorza/ (Image Credit: IDW)
Who is this new Foot Clan leader? None other than Oroku Hiroto, grandson to the original Shredder. As we learn, Hiroto is the bastard son of Shredder’s daughter Karai. Somehow he’s succeeded where his grandfather failed, killing three of the four Turtles and extending his clan’s grip over the entire city. Issue #1 shows the last surviving Turtle infiltrating the city and trying to assassinate Hiroto, only to be severely wounded and forced to retreat to the sewers. Unlike Shredder, Hiroto seems content to let his minions do the heavy lifting. We also learn Hiroto is keeping his mother preserved in cryogenic sleep
Who Is the Last Ronin?
It’s easy to forget that IDW never actually revealed the identity of the series’ main protagonist prior to the release of The Last Ronin #1. This grizzled character has abandoned his original bandana in favor of an all-black look and wields all four trademark TMNT weapons. Between his grim demeanor and the fact that he seems to favor a katana in most of the numerous variant covers for issue #1, it’s a logical assumption Leonardo is the one trying to avenge his fallen brothers. But that assumption is wrong, as we learn on the final page of issue #1.
Nope, this isn’t actually Leonardo. Art by InHyuk Lee. (Image Credit: IDW)
It’s actually Michelangelo who outlived his brothers and now yearns to restore his family’s honor. Clearly, his days as the family’s designated Party Dude are long behind him. Michelangelo appears to be haunted by the ghosts of his brothers, as several scenes feature him conversing with characters who linger just off-panel. After failing to kill Hiroto, Michelangelo returns to the sewers and attempts to commit seppuku with the broken remnant of Leonardo’s sword, only to pass out before he can do the deed.
After a brief hallucination where he’s reunited with his fallen brothers in their old home, Michelangelo awakens to find another familiar face. April O’Neil has also survived, even if she doesn’t look to be in much better shape than Mikey. But the good news is that our hero has at least one ally in his war with the Foot Clan. Will we see other TMNT favorites pop up over the course of the series, like Alopex or Casey Jones. Is the new female Turtle Jennika part of this alternate future universe? We’ll have to wait and see in future chapters.
If you’ve been waiting for the price to drop on LG’s fantastic OLED TVs during Black Friday, your wait is finally over. Prices have dropped starting today and Best Buy is, in my opinion, the best place to get an OLED TV. In other deal news, there are three big games coming out very soon and all have been discounted by 17%: Watch Dogs Legion (out tomorrow), Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla (out November 10), and Cyberpunk 2077 (out December 10).
LG CX Series 65″ 4K OLED TV for $1849.99
Best Buy is the only vendor that offers an extended warranty with OLED burn-in protection!
LG’s CX series OLED is the best TV you can get right now. No traditional LCD backlit TV compares in image quality (even, IMO, the QLED TVs). Best Buy’s Black Friday pricing for these TVs has started today for the 55″, 65″, and 77″ models, and it has never been cheaper. Best Buy is the best place to purchase a TV for one big reason: they are the only reputable vendor that offers an extended warranty with OLED burn-in protection. The cost of a 2yr extended protection costs $170 for the 55″, $230 for the 65″ and $400 for the 77″ models. In addition, the return policy has also been extended to January 16.
______________________________ Eric Song is IGN’s deal curator and spends roughly 1/4 of his income on stuff he posts. Check out his latest Daily Deals Article and subscribe to his IGN Deals Newsletter.
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