biteho.com

Remedy Entertainment, the studio behind Control, Max Payne and Alan Wake, has signed two multi-platform publishing deals for next-gen games – and says both are set in the same franchise.

In a statement from the company, it was revealed that the unspecified publisher “will fully fund game development costs” and that Remedy will see a “50% share of the net revenue” from sales, whilst retaining the intellectual property of the aforementioned games.

The statement also went into some detail about the games that are part of this agreement. The first is a “AAA multi-platform game” which appears to be the unannounced third project alluded to in Remedy’s financial report, which we reported on earlier this year. According to the statement, this game is in pre-production right now. As for the second project, this is a “smaller-scale project set in the same franchise.”

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/08/26/control-review”]

With Remedy now in *ahem* control of the Alan Wake IP and actively teasing a crossover in Control’s upcoming DLC, could we be seeing more of Bright Falls in the future? Or could it return to Control and The Oldest House – after all, the developers think their latest game is “just the start” for the franchise.

Later in the statement, the strategy of the partnership is referred to as “creating and developing (Remedy’s) own IP’s into long-term franchises,” which would suggest that the studio is not quite ready to leave its compelling worlds behind.

Both games mentioned will launch on PC and next-generation consoles in “the next few years.” Remedy’s Control won our coveted Game of the Year prize last year, so make sure to check it out ahead of the studio’s forthcoming projects.

Control’s first expansion, The Foundation arrives today on PC and PS4, and we’ll have a review for you later today.

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

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

Less than a week after launch, one Half-Life: Alyx player has discovered a way to get the VR exclusive game working without the need for a headset.

Tyler McVicker, the person behind Valve News Network and well-known investigator of the developer’s games, held a livestream where he datamined Half-Life: Alyx. The stream shows him exploring environments using a floating camera, all without using any VR equipment. His key discovery, however, is the existence of a developer console command “vr_enable_fake_vr_test”, which when inputted causes Alyx’s hands to appear in the world, and allows weapons to be fired.

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/23/half-life-alyx-review”]

This is a very, very early step – the hands are awkwardly placed on screen, the guns fire despite being unloaded, and the camera still floats freely through walls and objects – but the existence of the console command suggests that Valve has a set of tools built into the game to allow the game to be played without a VR headset. It’s likely this has been included to allow developers to test certain elements of the game without strapping on a headset every time something has been tweaked.

This is very early days for non-VR modding potential, but the fake_vr_test command may make the journey easier for those who wish to embark upon it. Combined with the traditional FPS HUD that is used in Alyx’s spectator mode, there’s some groundwork for a proper non-VR mod.

Valve itself knows that a non-VR mod for Half-Life: Alyx is inevitable. Talking to Polygon, designer Robin Walker said “I know it’s going to happen.”

Walker says there are people at Valve concerned about a non-VR mod, but that he himself is not worried. “It will clearly demonstrate to people why we did this in VR,” he said. Basically, he believes Alyx won’t be as much fun as a traditional FPS.

“I think people will [after playing a non-VR mod] then hopefully have an even greater understanding of why we decided to build the product in VR than they do now,” he added.

[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”albumSlug=every-ign-valve-game-review&captions=true”]

For more Half-Life: Alyx, take a look at the Death Stranding Easter egg that’s been found in the game, and this math teacher who performed a lecture from inside the game. If you’re just about to play, here’s the things the game doesn’t tell you that you really should know, and if you’ve already finished then here’s our (spoiler filled) breakdown of the ending.

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

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

A hacker has reportedly stolen the Xbox Series X graphics source code and is holding it to ransom.

The news arrives through a blog post on the AMD website, where the hardware company explained the situation. “We were contacted by someone who claimed to have test files related to a subset of our current and future graphics products,” the statement reads.

According to a report from TorrentFreak, this stolen data was found in a hacked computer and includes source code for AMD’s Big Navi and Arden GPUs. The latter is rumoured to be the Xbox Series X 12 teraflop GPU.

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/16/xbox-series-x-full-specs-revealed-ign-news”]

Segments of code have been posted on GitHub, and subsequently removed. The hacker is asking for $100 million for the code and is threatening to dump the entirety of the stolen data if a buyer isn’t found.

The fact that AMD has issued a DMCA takedown notice on the repository where the data was being held would suggest that this is a legitimate breach. Later in the official statement, AMD made it clear that the stolen data “is not core to the competitiveness or security of our graphics products.”

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/16/xbox-series-x-loading-times-tech-demo”]

You can read the details of the DMCA request over on GitHub where it is noted that the data has been ‘forked’ (copied) to other repositories after the first set was taken down.

In lighter Xbox Series X news, the console’s full specifications were revealed earlier in the month. If you’d like to compare it to its main competition, the PS5, you can check out our Xbox Series X vs PS5 comparison chart here.

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

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

During today’s surprise Nintendo Direct Mini, it was revealed that King’s Bounty II is coming to the Nintendo Switch sometime in 2020. The upcoming turn-based RPG was previously announced for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, and is now making its way to Nintendo’s handheld hybrid, too.

Developed and published by 1C Entertainment, King’s Bounty II is the belated sequel to the original King’s Bounty, which was first released in 1990 for the Amiga, C64, and PC. The sequel blends classic turn-based combat with third-person, open-world exploration, ditching the familiar isometric experience for a more modern style of questing and NPC conversing. The combat sticks more closely to the series’ roots, offering strategic hex-based traversal, while also introducing a few contemporary touches with a renewed focus on the landscape of each battlefield.

You’ll choose from one of three characters at the game’s outset, each with their own unique story. These will change as you explore the realm, however, with your own choices and actions altering the course of the narrative as far-reaching consequences come back to haunt you. Each squad you lead into battle is made up of wholly unique units, too, each with their own skills and visual appearance. You’ll build armies of humans, elves, trolls, and other creatures, forming a growing bond as you fight side-by-side.

Other announcements from the Nintendo Direct Mini include a number of 2K compilations–namely Borderlands, BioShock, and XCOM–the next fighter reveal for Smash Bros, and details on the April update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Thursday’s surprise Nintendo Direct was an embarrassment of riches, bringing new trailers, out-of-nowhere game releases, news about Arms characters coming to Smash, and 2K bringing three of its biggest franchises to the Switch. Among the spoils was the brief announcement that Atlus’ cult favorite puzzle title, Catherine, will be headed to the Switch this July.

Catherine was originally released in 2013 for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PS Vita, with a PC port of that version released in 2019 as Catherine Classic. It’s a strange little puzzle/dating sim hybrid about a scuzzy slacker named Vincent who finds himself in a love triangle between his responsible, career- and family-minded girlfriend Katherine, and a blonde femme fatale named Catherine. All the while, men all over the city are dying in their sleep, shortly after experiencing the same strange lucid dream Vincent’s been having where they must complete a trap-laden sliding block puzzle that’s like Jenga meets the Hellraiser box.

The Switch version will be a port of the Full Body edition of the game that released on PS4 in 2019 (and on Vita in Japan), which included a new love interest–a piano player named Rin–several new endings, additional puzzle mechanics that weren’t in the original title, a new Safety difficulty, over 500 new stages in the game’s more arcade-like mode, the Tower of Babel, and a full-fledged competitive online multiplayer mode.

In our review, Edmond Tran wrote that Catherine: Full Body “tells a fascinating, personal tale. The nightmarish block puzzles are still weirdly intense and satisfying to surmount, and the Stray Sheep is still a wonderful bar to spend your nights in. Full Body does a great job in refining and refreshing the Persona studio’s fascinating foray into the social lives of adults, and Catherine continues to stand out as a game that feels both incredibly bizarre and authentically intimate.”

Catherine: Full Body is scheduled to hit the Switch on July 27, though, as Nintendo was quick to point out at the start of the Direct presentation, dates are very subject to change due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Fallout 76’s upcoming Wastelanders DLC has been delayed by a week.

Bethesda announced the Wastelanders DLC during their 2019 E3 conference, and called it the “biggest update yet” that will bring human NPCs with full dialogue trees, a new main quest, choice and consequence, and much more to Fallout 76.

The DLC initially received a release window of Fall 2019, but it slipped beyond that with a new release date of April 7. Now, it has been delayed just a week to April 14 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/25/how-coronavirus-is-impacting-the-games-industry”]

“Like others around the world, we’re dealing with the critical situation (COVID-19) that’s currently affecting so many of us and our communities,” a statement from Bethesda posted on Twitter reads. “For the safety of everyone, we have transitioned to remote work, and are limiting our in-person interactions.”

Bethesda says this shift to remote work and limited in-person interactions affected the company’s ability to do final testing on the Wastelanders update, which is why the release had been pushed back by a week. You can check out the full statement below.

Wastelanders Release Update pic.twitter.com/h5Rxn359r4

— Bethesda Game Studios (@BethesdaStudios) March 26, 2020

Bethesda is not the first company that has had its games affected by the ongoing COVID-19 virus. Capcom’s United Kingdom team announced today, March 26, that physical copies of Resident Evil 3 might ship late in Europe. Square Enix is dealing with a similar situation as the company warned a few weeks ago that physical copies of Final Fantasy 7 Remake might not arrive on time.

For something on the lighter side, art is imitating life in Fallout 76 as players are spending thousands of caps on single rolls of toilet paper in the game. Here are some ways you can help others and stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true”]

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.

Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane has shared a new podcast, hosted by Stewie Griffin and his martini-swilling sidekick Brian, in which the cartoon duo offer up advice and life hacks for getting through the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

MacFarlane, who provides the voices for the characters on the animated show, posted an audio clip from the fictional podcast on Instagram on Wednesday night, alongside an illustration of the two characters, both wearing protective face masks while recording the special episode from isolation.

Stewie introduces the podcast by reeling off a list of activities that the pair have been engaged in while being holed up in quarantine, including playing Trivial Pursuit, Candyland and Sorry! the board game.

“Our goal is to help remind everyone that we can get through this with cooperation and togetherness,” Brian explains before launching into a rendition of John Lennon’s Imagine, imitating a bunch of other celebrities who released their own version last week. However, Stewie abruptly interrupts his canine companion’s singing session, telling him it’s “unwelcome, even in a global pandemic.”

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/02/01/family-guys-10-best-episodes”]

Further on in the podcast, Brian addresses the topic of panic-buying, saying, “Hoarding helps no one, and actually hurts those among us who need the supplies the most,” while Stewie offers some life hacks on how to cope with toilet paper shortages, suggesting, “If you own a tie, you have toilet paper.”

The clip ends with the characters bickering over who offers the most up-to-date coronavirus guidelines, though it doesn’t take long for them to clear up their misunderstanding and settle on the World Health Organisation (WHO). Stewie and Brian then sign off by telling everyone to “stay home as directed by your local and state governments,” so “we can beat this thing and get back to life.”

[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”albumSlug=the-25-best-adult-cartoon-tv-series&captions=true”]

Seth MacFarlane joins a host of other celebrities who are spreading awareness about the pandemic while also offering some lighter entertainment options during these difficult times. Sir Patrick Stewart is currently reading daily sonnets for his fans and Jodie Whittaker recently shared an “emergency transmission” as Doctor Who.

For a list of recommendations on how best to help, and stay safe, during the Coronavirus pandemic, please read our resource guide.

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

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

Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics is coming to the Nintendo Switch on June 5, bringing a diverse collection of genre-spanning games to the console this summer. The upcoming game was announced during today’s surprise Direct Mini, which also featured a number of other reveals.

As the name implies, Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics features 51 games from across the world, including board games, card games, tabletop games, and many more. There are plenty of classics to play such as Chess, Texas Hold’em, and Backgammon, but also international hits like Mancala and Shogi, and you can choose to play each game either alone or with friends both locally and online.

Here’s the full list of all 51 games included in Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics:

1. Mancala
2. Hanafuda
3. Backgammon
4. Renegade
5. Checkers
6. President
7. Dominoes
8. Speed
9. Hare and Hounds
10. Blackjack
11. Four-in-a-Row
12. Chess
13. Shogi
14. Mini Shogi
15. Ludo
16. Riichi Mahjong
17. Sevens
18. Golf
19. Darts
20. Texas Hold’em
21. Nine Men’s Morris
22. Air Hockey
23. War
24. Carrom
25. Chinese Checkers
26. Yacht Dice
27. Takoyaki
28. Billiards
29. Hex
30. Spider Solitaire
31. Gomoku
32. Matching
33. Bowling
34. Shooting Gallery
35. Slot Cars
36. Dots and Boxes
37. Hit and Blow
38. Pig’s Tail
39. Mahjong Solitaire
40. Last Card
41. Fishing
42. Klondike Solitaire
43. Toy Tennis
44. Toy Soccer
45. Toy Curling
46. Toy Boxing
47. Toy Baseball
48. Battle Tanks
49. Team Tanks
50. Sliding Puzzle
51. 6-Ball Puzzle

The first Clubhouse Games was released for the Nintendo DS in 2006, featuring 42 games. It was awarded 8/10 in GameSpot’s review, with Frank Povo saying, “Some of the games included in the collection aren’t the best renditions, but there are plenty of them, especially when you consider how many games you get for the purchase price. On top of that, you can play against your friends, whether they’re in the same room or across town. It’s like having access to your grandparents’ game closet everywhere you go.”

Other announcements from the Nintendo Direct Mini include a number of 2K compilations–namely Borderlands, BioShock, and XCOM–the next fighter reveal for Smash Bros, and details on the April update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons.