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Category: IGN

  • FFVII Remake Demo Walkthrough, Tips, and Secret Ending

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  • Mario Kart Tour Gets Online Multiplayer on March 8

    Multiplayer functionality is coming to Mario Kart Tour on Sunday, March 8.

    Nintendo announced on Twitter that the update will go live at 8 p.m. Pacific / 11 p.m. Eastern. That’s 3 a.m. UK time and 2 p.m. in Sydney on Monday, March 9.

    Mario Kart Tour’s multiplayer mode will let players compete against seven other players, including in-game friends, nearby players, or people from around the world.

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    There are three different ways to race against other players in Mario Kart Tour. Playing with friends or local players allows you to choose your own rules, while playing online in Standard Races will let you compete in 100cc races to improve your profile’s letter grade ranking.

    The final mode is Gold Races, which is exclusive for Mario Kart Tour Gold Pass subscribers. This mode features competitive races in the 150cc and 200cc categories.

    As for course selection, the online mode will include three courses from a featured cup in the current tour. The selected cup will rotate every 15 minutes, regardless of your chosen rule set.

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    In IGN’s Mario Kart Tour review, we called the game “okay”, saying, “Nintendo continues to struggle with how to comfortably monetize a mobile game without hamstringing its gameplay.” At the time of its release, the game received criticism for having an online subscription service that’s more expensive than Nintendo Switch Online.

    There was some positive reception, however, as the game took home the D.I.C.E. award for Racing Game of the Year. If you want to hop into Mario Kart Tour when the multiplayer launches, check out 10 things Mario Kart Tour doesn’t tell you.

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    Logan Plant is a news writer for IGN, and the Production Assistant for Nintendo Voice Chat, IGN’s weekly Nintendo show. You can find him on Twitter at @LoganJPlant.

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  • Everything We Know About The Xbox Series X

    Everything We Know About The Xbox Series X

    2/24 Update: Added details about ray tracing, teraflops, “Quick Resume,” and “Smart Delivery.”

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    At The Game Awards 2019, Microsoft’s next-gen console finally earned its official name: The Xbox Series X. Initially revealed at the E3 2019 press conference as Project Scarlett, specifics about the console have been scarce. Microsoft has given us some concrete details to focus on, however, including some specs, a release window, a major launch title, and more.

    Xbox Series X Price: How Much Will it Cost?

    There’s been no official word from Microsoft on how much the Xbox Series X will cost. However, we estimate it could cost between $450-600 based on the hardware alone.

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    Xbox Series X Release Date: When Does it Come Out?

    During Microsoft’s E3 2019 press conference, the company revealed the Xbox Series X is set to launch in Holiday 2020.

    This partially lines up with previous reports that suggested “multiple pieces of hardware” would be released in 2020, and another report that specifically said Xbox’s Project Scarlett would be released by Holiday 2020.

    With E3 2020 just a few months away, some are hoping that we will be given some news on the Xbox Series X release date. Earlier this year, Sony announced that it would not be attending the show, but Microsoft has confirmed that the Xbox team is “hard at work on E3” prep.

    With Sony absent, Phil Spencer and his team will definitely be the main focus of the show, however, it remains to be seen if that means we hear any announcements about an Xbox Series X release date or price.

    Xbox Series X Specs: What Hardware Does it Have?

    As part of the initial Project Scarlett announcement video, those involved in the creation of the new console said it will be four times more powerful than the Xbox One X, which is capable of 8K output, 120 frames per second, variable refresh rates and real-time “next-gen ray tracing.”

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    Spencer later clarified that the Xbox Series X would feature DirectX raytracing, which will allow for more realistic environments, with “accurate reflections and realistic acoustics.”
    A new generation SSD is being used as virtual RAM, allegedly offering over 40 times performance increases from the current generation. Xbox Series X will also leverage high-bandwidth GDDR 6 SDRAM.

    AMD and Microsoft co-engineered and designed a custom processor for the Xbox Series X. This processor leverages AMD’s latest Zen 2 and Navi technology. It was clear before E3 2019 that AMD would be designing the next Xbox’s processor, as Spencer briefly discussed a partnership with AMD during a keynote address at CES 2019. Spencer teased the new Xbox Series X processor on Twitter earlier this year when he changed his profile picture to an image of the chip. The new processor, which looks very similar to that of the Xbox One X reads “8K” and “Project Scarlett.”

    Xbox Series X Features

    The same team that worked on the Xbox One X is working on the Xbox Series X and they are prioritizing reduced load times. Xbox head Phil Spencer is a longtime advocate for framerate over resolution, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Xbox Series X team is paying close attention to better framerates.

    In February 2020, Phil Spencer posted on the Xbox blog, detailing some features coming to the Xbox Series X. A “Quick Resume” feature will allow players to load “suspended state” games almost instantly and let you quickly navigate through multiple games without having to endure enormous load times.

    It was also confirmed that the Xbox Series X will have 12 teraflops of GPU power, which is four times more than the Xbox One and twice as much as the Xbox One X. For those not familiar with the term, a teraflop is a measure of how many complex calculations a machine can handle every second. Essentially, it allows for higher-quality graphical output.

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    At EA’s Q3 2020 investors call, CFO Blake Jorgensen told investors that the power behind the new generation of consoles would “blow people’s mind.”

    “The power of the new consoles is gonna be substantially greater than existing consoles,” said Jorgensen during the call. “We can do a lot more [with PS5 and Xbox Series X]. Things we’re doing will blow people’s minds.”

    It sounds like Microsoft’s next-gen console is going to be pretty powerful. We actually broke down how the Xbox Series X compares to PCs.

    Xbox Series X Design and Images: What Does it Look Like?

    At The Game Awards 2019, we were given our first look at the Xbox Series X. Standing vertically in what looks to be a matte black finish, Microsoft’s fourth-generation console features a power button with the signature Xbox insignia at the top that lights up white when pressed on. There’s metal mesh across the top of the console that gets backlit with an Xbox green glow as well.

    In an interview with GameSpot, it was confirmed the Xbox Series X will support discs and is “roughly as wide as an Xbox One controller”. Phil Spencer also told GameSpot that the Xbox Series X was “designed to be as quiet as possible”, sporting a large fan designed to push out “high volumes of air” from the top and keep the console cool.

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    Earlier this year, images of the Xbox Series X were reportedly leaked on Twitter. At the time of writing, it’s still unclear if this is a real prototype, or simply an incredibly detailed mockup. Either way, the reported leak offers fans a potential closer look at the front and back of the console.

    A lot of fans have taken note of an unknown port located between the HDMI and digital audio port on the back of the “leaked” Xbox Series X image. Microsoft insider blog Thurrott is reporting that the unknown port will be used for expandable storage. At the time of writing, the purpose of the port has not been confirmed by Microsoft.

    Xbox Series X Games: What Are the Confirmed and Rumored Titles?

    So far, we know of seven titles that will be making its way to the Xbox Series X, along with two unannounced AAA games. Perhaps the biggest title of them all is Halo Infinite, which is the only confirmed Xbox Series X launch title.

    Confirmed Xbox Series X Games:

    • Halo Infinite
    • Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
    • The Lord of the Rings: Gollum
    • Watch Dogs Legion
    • Rainbow Six Quarantine
    • Gods and Monsters
    • Battlefield 6
    • 2 Unannounced AAA Games

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    Reports dating as far back as February 2019 suggested Halo Infinite would be coming to Project Scarlett as a launch title, though these reports claimed Halo Infinite would be released on Xbox One as well. On top of this, a poll from GDC 2019 revealed about 18% of developers were working on next-gen games.

    During its E3 2018 press conference, Bethesda suggested its upcoming game Starfield would be coming to the next console generation, and that The Elder Scrolls VI would launch after that. However, in March 2019, Bethesda confirmed it would not be discussing Starfield or The Elder Scrolls VI at E3 2019, but with E3 2020 just around the corner, we might get some news.

    Microsoft has been accumulating studios, perhaps in anticipation of the future console generation. Microsoft announced it had acquired five studios (Ninja Theory, Undead Labs, Compulsion Games, Playground Games) and founded a new Santa Monica studio during E3 2018.

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    Revealed during X018, an additional two studios (Obsidian Entertainment and inXile Entertainment) joined the Xbox family. During Microsoft’s E3 2019 press conference, Double Fine Productions was officially added to that stable.

    Make sure to check out our list of confirmed and rumored games for the Xbox Series X.

    Xbox Series X Backwards Compatibility and Smart Delivery

    Microsoft has confirmed that the Xbox Series X will support backwards compatibility with all Xbox One titles day one. Further, all of the original Xbox and Xbox 360 titles that are available on the Xbox One will also be available at launch. We estimate that there will be around 575 backwards compatible games on the Xbox Series X at launch.

    Phil Spencer also said Microsoft aims to support a “Play Anywhere” scheme, wanting to provide the option for gamers to connect across devices and across platforms, suggesting potential cross-generation play.

    Additionally, the Xbox Series X will feature “Smart Delivery” which will give players easy access to all digitally purchased games across all devices, meaning it doesn’t have to be purchased twice. This feature will be available for all exclusive Xbox Game Studio titles, including Halo Infinite, as well as any third-party developers that decide to opt in. Cyberpunk 2077 is one game already confirmed for smart delivery.

    Project xCloud

    Just before officially announcing Project Scarlett, Microsoft announced that its game streaming platform Project xCloud is coming in October 2019. Xbox head Phil Spencer also announced Console Streaming, which turns an Xbox One into a personal Xbox server for free. It’s likely this feature and Project xCloud will find its way to the Xbox Series X in the future.

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    Last year, we went hands-on with Project xCloud and found that so far, it seems like a pretty good service. Be sure to check out our Project xCloud review if you want to hear more about it.

    There were some recent rumors about Project xCloud exclusive games, but Microsoft has since clarified its original comments, saying that it has “no plans for cloud-exclusive content at this time.”

    Xbox Series X: What Happened to Lockhart and Anaconda?

    In December 2018, reports suggested the two devices that make up Project Scarlett are referred to within Microsoft by two codenames: Lockhart and Anaconda. Again, it’s unclear if Project Scarlett still consists of multiple pieces of hardware.

    These two separate Xbox SKUs would theoretically have a similar dynamic to Xbox One S and Xbox One X. Lockhart was rumored to be a more affordable, baseline model that made the technology more accessible to a larger group of consumers.

    This could potentially be the streaming-centric device hinted at in earlier rumors. The report suggested Lockhart was comparable to, or just a bit more powerful than, the Xbox One X.
    Anaconda, on the other hand, would be a decidedly more powerful piece of hardware that would cost more for consumers willing to shell out the money for extra horsepower. It would reportedly provide a “cutting-edge console gaming experience.” It was also suggested the Anaconda could potentially act as a dev kit.

    If the rumors are to be believed, the Xbox Series X is likely the console nicknamed Anaconda, while the Lockhart console is yet to be announced by Microsoft. However, it’s currently still unclear if Microsoft will have more than one console at launch.

    Xbox Series X Controller vs Xbox One Controller

    The Xbox Series X controller looks very similar to that of the Xbox One and was partially inspired by the Elite Series 2 controller. Notable new features with the new Series X controller are a Share button and a hybrid d-pad similar to the Elite Series 2.

    In the Xbox Series X announcement post from Microsoft, the company noted that the controllers “size and shape have been refined to accommodate an even wider range of people.”
    Further, the new controller will be compatible with the Xbox One and Windows 10 PC’s and will be included with every Xbox Series X purchase.

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    Colin Stevens is a news writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

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  • Deal Alert: 25% Off Fire Emblem Three Houses for Switch

    Deal Alert: 25% Off Fire Emblem Three Houses for Switch

    The Nintendo Switch was the best selling console of 2019 and we’re not surprised at all. The Switch was released nearly 3 years again and still no other console is able to match the Switch’s versatility. In addition, the already stellar gaming library has been bolstered with several high quality games in 2019, including Pokemon Sword and Shield, Super Mario Maker 2, Link’s Awakening, Ring Fit, and much more. With increased pressure from Sony and Microsoft, Nintendo is likely to be more aggressive with deals and promotions during 2020. Check here for all the best deals on Nintendo Switch consoles, accessories, and games.

    25% Off Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Now $44.99

    At 25% off, Fire Emblem Three Houses is now at the lowest price we’ve seen. This is the best tactical strategy game out for the Nintendo Switch. We scored it an “Amazing” 9.5/10. Brendan Graeber writes “Fire Emblem: Three Houses offers an incredible amount of choice, and a story that deserves to be viewed from more than one angle.”

    Today Only: 512GB Micro SDXC Memory Card (Perfect for Nintendo Switch) for $69.99

    The Nintendo Switch comes preinstalled with only 32GB of storage. To put that in perspective, Breath of the Wild alone will take up 40% of your storage capacity. I’d recommend you get  at least a 128GB card if you want to store as many smaller digital titles as you want, and the larger 400GB card if you plan to download bigger titles.

    HP U3 Micro SDXC Card:

    SanDisk Ultra U1 Micro SDXC Card:

    Samsung EVO Select  U3Micro SDXC Card:

    Preorder Nintendo Switch Lite: Coral Edition

    The newest color in the Nintendo Switch Lite lineup is available for preorder. It’s out on April 3. The Switch Lite is $100 less than the Switch and can play almost all of the same games.

    Nintendo Switch V2 for $299.99

    switchcomparisonThere are currently no Nintendo Switch console deals right now, but the least we can do is make sure you get the V2 model. The version 2 model boasts about 2 more hours of battery life, which is certainly not insignificant. It raises the battery expectancy from 2.5-7 hours to 4.5-9 hours. It might be confusing to some people because many stores still sell the older model alongside the new one. The easiest way to tell if you’re getting the V2 model is the packaging. The new V2 model has a new box with a predominantly Mario red color.

    Anker PowerCore Essential 20,000mAh USB PD Power Bank for the Nintendo Switch for $34.99

    Clip $5 Coupon and Use Coupon Code: “A1281369”

    This 20,000mAh power bank will work well with your Switch for these reasons:

    • It supports USB-PD (Power Delivery) charging up to 18W, equal to the official charger
    • Thanks to the full 18W of charging output, it can fully recharge a dead Switch in 3.5 hours
    • The Switch has a battery capacity of about 4500mAh, so you could fully charge it 6 times
    • USB-PD power banks can charge the Switch even while you’re playing a game

    Anker also makes the only official power bank for the Nintendo Switch. This model is very similar to that power bank minus the Switch logo and only 1/3 the price.

    20% Off SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless Headset (First Truly Wireless Headset for the Switch), Now $79.99

    If you’re a Nintendo Switch gamer who’s been aching for a wireless audio solution for your gaming system, salvation is here. The Arctis 1 is compatible with practically any system, from your PS4 and Xbox One to your Switch and smartphone. We reviewed the Arctis 1 and called it out as the best wireless headphones under $100. Starting today it’s 20% off at Amazon.

    Out 3/13: Animal Crossing Aloha Edition Carrying Case & Screen Protector

    Best Buy is currently the only vendor that has the official Animal Crossing Aloha Edition case for the Nintendo Switch available for preorder (Walmart had it but it’s sold now). A Switch Lite variant is available as well. A screen protector is also included.

    Out 3/20: Preorder Animal Crossing for Switch, Get $10 in Best Buy Credit

    This is the only deal available right now for preordering the hottest Switch game of 2020 so far. You’ll need a MyBestBuy membership to get this free credit, but it’s free to sign up.

    Celeste for Nintendo Switch for $6.79

    This game normally sells for $19.99. I thought I was getting a great deal at $9.99, but technically this deal is even 32% cheaper than that. I’m generally not a very big platformer fan and yet I loved this game enough to die 6,899 times in order to get all the strawberries in the game (I’m not a very skilled gamer). In fact I’ve racked more hours on this game than any other Switch indie game in my library. Get it now before the price goes back up.

    Nintendo Switch Video Game Deals

    Nintendo Switch Pro Controller for $59

    The price of the Switch Pro hasn’t changed since Black Friday, but this deal won’t last forever. This is easily the best wireless controller for the Switch console (and quite possibly the best controller, period). Apart from the Joy-Cons, this is the only controller that supports rumble and amiibo NFC functionality. Definitely get this if you prefer the traditional gamepad layout or you use the Switch in docked mode often.

    A Great Value Power Bank for the Nintendo Switch

    Here’s another great USB PD power bank option for your Switch.

    Refurbished SNES and NES Classic at Nintendo

    Nintendo direct is selling refurbished SNES and NES Classic Edition consoles at a discount. The SNES Classic is currently selling for $69.99 (MSRP $80) and the NES Classic is $49.99 (MSRP $60). Since these systems are sold out everywhere else, this is easily the best way to obtain one without paying scalpers’ prices. Despite the fact that they are refurbished, Nintendo is offering a full 1-year warranty, same as new. Nintendo explicitly states “We think you will find the standards for Authentic Nintendo Refurbished Products are VERY high.”

    $50 Nintendo eShop Gift Card for $44.99

    You’re basically getting 10% off all of your digital game purchases from the Nintendo eShop up to $50. You’ll need to be a Costco member to get this deal.

    Popular Switch Accessories

    • Nintendo Switch 1 Year Online Membership for $19.99 (Amazon)
    • Nintendo Joy-Con Pairs Starting at $68 (Amazon)
    • amFilm 2-Pack Tempered Glass Screen Protector for $7.99 (Amazon)
    • Orzly Molded EVA Hard Shell Carry Case for $13.99 (Amazon)
    • AmazonBasics EVA Hard Shell Carry Case for $15.99 (Amazon)
    • RDS Ballistic Nylon Hard Shell Carry Case for $17.69 (Amazon)
    • iVoler Complete System Carry Case for $33.99 (Amazon)
    • PowerA Joy-Con Comfort Grips for $9.88 (Amazon)
    • AmazonBasics Storage Case for 24 Switch Games for $8.99 (Amazon)
    • YCCTEAM AC Adapter Charger for $18.51 (Amazon)
    • 8Bitdo Sn30 Pro+ Bluetooth Gamepad for $48.31 (Amazon)
    • HORI Split Pad Pro Controller for $49.99 (Amazon)

    The Most Popular Nintendo Switch Video Games

    • Animal Crossing: New Horizons + $10 Credit for $59.99 (Best Buy)
    • Arms for $50.99 (Amazon)
    • Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze for $51.76 (Amazon)
    • Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age for $49.99 (Amazon)
    • Fire Emblem: Three Houses for $44.99 (Amazon)
    • Kirby Star Allies for $49.99 (Amazon)
    • Hyrule Warriors Definitive Edition for $44.97 (Amazon)
    • Luigi’s Mansion 3 for $49.94 (Walmart)
    • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for $49.94 (Amazon)
    • Mario Tennis Aces for $47.94 (Amazon)
    • New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe for $49.94 (Amazon)
    • Octopath Traveler for $49.92 (Amazon)
    • Pokemon Sword for $49.49 (Amazon)
    • Pokemon Shield for $59.99 (Amazon)
    • Ring Fit Adventure for $79.99 (Amazon)
    • Splatoon 2 for $49.99 (Amazon)
    • Super Mario Maker 2 $49.94 (Amazon)
    • Super Mario Odyssey for $57.21 (Amazon)
    • Super Mario Party $49.99 (Amazon)
    • Super Smash Bros Ultimate for $59.88 (Amazon)
    • Yoshi’s Crafted World for $49.99 (Amazon)
    • Zelda: Breath of the Wild $49.49 (Amazon)
    • Zelda: Link’s Awakening for $49.49 (Amazon)

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    Eric Song is IGN’s deal curator and spends 25% of his pay on stuff he posts.

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  • Co-op Aliens Game Cancelled After Disney-Fox Merger

    A co-op Aliens game in pre-production was cancelled after Disney acquired 20th Century Fox.

    3D Realms vice president Frederik Schreiber (via VG247) posted about the game on Twitter in response to a tweet from Cliff Bleszinski where he also revealed his former studio Boss Key Productions was potentially going to make an Aliens game.

    Yup. Game was called Aliens: Hadleys Hope. We went quite far into pre-production before the Disney/Fox acquisition, and then we had to cancel it, and move on with something else.

    Maybe some day! I bet yours was very different than ours? pic.twitter.com/brpq4FgwWT

    — Frederik Schreiber (@Freschism) February 11, 2020

    Schreiber reveals the game was to be titled Aliens: Hadley’s Hope and would take place on a planet with numerous Alien Queens which could only be defeated after a few successful rounds of PvE against her protectors.

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    It boasted the use of teamwork and tactics where colonists and marines would fight together to defeat the Aliens and complete other objectives, like egg hunts, to unlock extra lore and loot.

    Last year marked the 40th anniversary for the Alien franchise, which the studio marked by partnering with amateur filmmakers for six original short films. 2019 also brought us the mobile game Alien: Blackout and the Alien: Isolation digital series, which expanded on the 2014 game.

    [poilib element=”accentDivider”]Hope Corrigan is an Australian freelance writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

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  • Here Are all the Animal Crossing: New Horizon Multiplayer Details

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  • What’s New in MLB The Show 20

    Arguably the best time to play an annually released sports game is at the end of a console generation. Because at that point, if things have gone well (and they have for MLB The Show), the development team has the game looking and playing well already and can focus on sanding the edges. That is my first impression of MLB The Show 20. Gameplay designer Ramone Russell made the first of his annual trips to IGN to show off the latest version of the long-running PlayStation baseball sim, which will soon be coming to Xbox and Nintendo Switch as well.

    In the video above, Russell walks me through some of those key tweaks the Sony San Diego development team is making to this year’s game, including rare “perfect/perfect” throws and hits. Below you can see our review of last year’s (excellent) edition:

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    MLB The Show 20 will be released on March 17 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 4 Pro. We’ll have more preview coverage prior to the launch, so keep checking back!

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    Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s Executive Editor of Previews and resident Arizona Diamondbacks fan. Follow him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan, catch him on Unlocked, and drop-ship him Taylor Ham sandwiches from New Jersey whenever possible.

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  • Kojima Productions Launches Collab to Raise Money for Australian Bushfires

    If you’ve been keeping up with the news, you’re likely well aware that Australia is suffering from a massive breakout of bushfires, which are devastating the country’s land, animals, and citizens. Many have stepped up to offer aide, including numerous celebrities who are making donations to fund relief efforts and put a spotlight on this crisis so that others will do the same. We’ve assembled a list of various public figures and game development studios who have contributed and where they pledged their money, and we’ve provided instructions on how to get involved yourself.

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    Chris Hemsworth

    Known for his role as Thor in the MCU, Hemsworth and his family announced on Instagram that they would be donating $1 million to help fight the Australian bushfires. “As you’re well aware, the bushfires in Australia have caused massive devastation and they continue to burn,” said Hemsworth, an Australian native. “I’m going to put forth a million dollars and I was hoping that all of you could contribute in any way, shape or form… dig deep, lots of love.”

    Dacre Montgomery

    Stranger Things star and Australian native Dacre Montogmery took to Twitter to announce a GoFundMe aimed at fighting the Australian bushfires, which has raised over $354,000 at the time or writing. “As you’re sitting there watching this video on your phone, I want to ask you for your help,” Montgomery said. “Australia is in dire need of your help… we’ve lost an area the size of Belgium to wildfires — we need your help.”

    Ellen DeGeneres

    Talk show host and popular comedian Ellen Degeneres announced on Twitter that she has donated an undisclosed amount to three different organizations that are helping to fight the Australian bushfires and encouraged her fans to do the same. “It’s almost impossible to understand the size and destruction of the fires in Australia,” says DeGeneres. “Here are three organizations I’ve already donated to. I hope you’ll donate, too.”

    Elton John

    The Grammy award winning singer, Elton John, recently pledged $1 million to the Australian Bush Funds during his Farewell Yellowbrick Road Tour which happened to be in Australia at the time. Announced at his concert and reposted later on Twitter, John said, “You should all be in awe of the work that the firefighters are doing… there are people out there who have lost their lives trying to save homes.” John continues, “As I said earlier, this is a magnificent country that I have been coming to since 1971, I love it here so much. To see what is happening here breaks my heart.”

    Gordon Ramsay

    Known by many for his brutal food reviews, the Food Network Chef Gordon Ramsay has announced on Instagram he will be auctioning off an exclusive lunch to the highest bidder, which will be donated to the Australian wildfire fund. He recently followed up his initial announcements, sharing that he would be adding another seat to the lunch, which earned $100,000 in bids. “Thank you to everyone who bid… the Aussie spirit that I’ve seen firsthand the past few days is so inspiring,” Ramsay said.

    Leonardo DiCaprio

    Leonardo DiCaprio’s organization, Earth Alliance, recently announced that it would be donating $3 million to help provide aid and support to those fighting the bushfires in Australia. Earth Alliance aims to “help address the urgent threats to our planet’s life support systems,” and was founded by Leonardo DiCaprio, Laurene Powell Jobs, and Brian Sheth. In addition to his organization’s donations, DiCaprio recently saved a drowning man just outside of St. Barts.

    Rebel Wilson

    The Pitch Perfect star and comedian Rebel Wilson auctioned off an exclusive lunch in her home to two fans who donated $100,000 to the Australian wildfire fund. Wilson told bidders that they’d “be the first ones to christen my new dining table,” which was enough to quickly earn two separate $50,000 bids.

    Russell Crowe

    Russell Crowe, who recently won a Golden Globe for his performance in The Loudest Voice, announced that he would be donating $105,000 to help fight the wildfires in Australia. Crowe took to Instagram to share that he would be delivering 19 different checks, totaling $105,000 that would go towards various wildfire relief funds. Crowe also elected to stay home with his family in Australia instead of attending the Golden Globes. His acceptance speech was given by Jennifer Anniston and can be viewed on YouTube.

    Bethesda

    Bethesda has announced that it will be donating all of the proceeds from a limited-edition Fallout shirt to help fight the fires in Australia. The exclusive t-shirt is available in the Bethesda Gear Store and features the Vault Boy holding a koala in his arms on the front and a Salvation Army heartbeat emblem on the back. All of the proceeds from the shirt will be going directly to the Salvation Army Australia to help fight the fires.

    Bungie

    During the January 9 This Week at Bungie update, developers announced that it would be selling a limited edition Destiny 2 t-shirt, with half of the proceeds going to WIRES and the other half going to the New South Wales Rural Fire Service. For those that would like to help, shirts will be available for pre-order from January 16 through February 18. Further, those who order a short will receive a code for the Star Light, Star Bright emblem.

    “Time and time again, you have been Guardians to others in their greatest time of need,” said Christine Edwards, senior Foundation manager at Bungie. “Over the past two decades, the Bungie community has been an amazing force for good in our world by raising millions of dollars to assist those in distress.”

    Infinity Ward

    The developers behind Call of Duty: Modern Warfare announced on Twitter that it will be releasing a new in-game pack, aptly named “The Outback Relief Pack,” with all proceeds going to help fight the wildfires. Those who purchase the pack will get the “Bushranger” operator skin, a legendary blueprint for Sniper Rifle Charlie weapon, a koala-shaped charm, a new finishing move, and a couple of other cosmetic add-ons like a sticker and calling card. Buyers also get a free battle pass tier skip.

    The Outback Relief Pack was available for purchase until January 31 and raised over $1.6 million for relief funds. “From everyone at Infinity Ward, Call of Duty, and Activision, thank you for your consideration,” the companies said. “Our hearts go out to all of those who have been affected.”

    Kojima Productions

    Death Stranding developer, Kojima Productions, has announced it will donate all funds received from a special “Connect for Australia” t-shirt toward saving animals affected by the Australian bushfires. The shirt can be purchased on the Kojima Productions website for $25, with all proceeds going directly to the Australian branch of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).

    The front of the shirt shows an outline of Australia, with blue lines connecting the country together – playing off the connection theme in Death Stranding. If you’re not interested in the shirt, you can buy a special Death Stranding PS4 avatar for $1, which will also be donated to the RSPCA.

    Sony

    Sony Foundation Australia has announced that it will be donating $200,000 to the Gaming4Life charity stream to help raise money for the Australian bushfires. In addition to the monetary donation, PlayStation team members will appear on various Gaming4Life streams during the month of February to continue to raise money for the wildfire relief fund.

    Former President of Sony Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida and Insomniac Games Founder Ted Price are among those who will be participating. The full schedule of appearances can be located on the PlayStation blog.

    Ubisoft Australia

    Ubisoft Australia announced on Twitter that it will be donating $30,000 to Red Cross Australia to help fight the fires that are currently devastating its country. Developers shared that they elected to do a direct donation in lieu of making some type of in-game items because that “takes considerable development time and we feel immediate action is required.” The developers are also encouraging everyone to help out in any way that they can.

    Warframe

    The developers of Warframe, the popular free-to-play online shooter, announced that it will be donating $30,000 to the Australian wildfire relief fund. “Our hearts go out to those affected by the Australia wildfires,” said developers on Twitter. Further, developers are also giving all Tenno a free Yooka Floof that can be displayed in-game to help raise awareness for the fires and will serve as a symbol of hope and compassion.

    Ali-A

    Popular YouTuber and Fortnite streamer Ali-A recently hosted a Fortnite charity stream where he pledged to donate $1 for every piece of wood that he collected in his stream along with all of the money earned from that video, to help fight the Australian bushfires. By the time the stream was over, Ali-A had collected almost 5,000 pieces of wood — equaling a $5,000 donation. He is also encouraging his viewers to share his video on social media, as all earnings from the video will be donated to help fight the bushfires.

    Lachlan and Ninja

    Lachlan, an Australian YouTuber, also hosted a Fortnite charity stream, in which he pledged to donate $500 to the Australian wildfire fund for every campfire win during his stream. While it was going on, Tyler “Ninja” Blevins casually donated $30,000 to support his fellow streamer and help provide aid to those in Australia. By the end, Lachlan finished with a total donation amount of $34,849.04, with some help from Ninja, which more than tripled his $10,000 donation goal.

    LazarBeam

    Joining in with others, the popular YouTuber, LazarBeam, hosted a Fortnite charity stream to help raise money for the fires in Australia. He capped off his six hour stream by raising a total of $100,000 to help fight the Australian bushfires and provide aid for those on the ground. The streamer, who will be appearing in an upcoming Ryan Reynolds comedy, took to Twitter to celebrate the accomplishment and announce that he would be taking a nice long post-stream nap.

    Loserfruit and Fasffy

    Popular Twitch streamers Loserfrut and Fasffy recently held a 24-hour Twitch stream to raise money for the Australian bushfires. With an initial goal of $15K AUD, the two streamers hit their exceed this in just 52 minutes and ended up raising a total of over $318,000 AUD, which equals around $220,000 USD. “The stream over the weekend really highlights the power of influencers and their ability to mobilize their audiences to make a real impact,” said Grace Watkins, the co-founder of Click Management, the company which manages Loserfruit.

    Where to Donate for Australian Bushfires Relief

    If you would like to help join these celebrities and game developers in donating to the Australian bushfire fund, you can do so through the Australian Red Cross. By donating through this link, you can ensure that your funds will go directly to the men and women who are hard at work on the ground in Australia fighting the fires day in and day out. Every dollar you are able to donate will help go towards ending the awful tragedy in Australia.

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  • Key Teamwork Tips for Apex Legends

    Key Teamwork Tips for Apex Legends

    I’ve been playing Apex Legends regularly since it was released early last year, and while I fall more on the casual side of the player spectrum, I play enough to feel like I have some teamwork tips that are worth sharing.

    Before we go any further, this advice is for people that a) aren’t playing with friends and b) aren’t using voice chat. This is primarily how I play (via matchmaking, no voice) and I’ve definitely found that it’s very possible – and a lot of fun – to leverage the in-game systems to greatly aid both communication and strategy. So if that’s how you play, read on.

    Pay attention to squad requests

    This one tip can be divided into two sides. As much as you should pay attention to incoming requests from your squad, you should also become familiar with making your own requests. On the off chance you are unfamiliar with this system, it’s very simple: in addition to pinging things in the world, you can also ping from your inventory.

    Let’s say you have just picked up the Peacekeeper shotgun. If you’re familiar with this weapon, you’ll know that you can fit various attachments to it (including a shotgun bolt, a hop up, and a scope). You can ask your teammates to keep a look out for these attachments by hovering your cursor over their placeholder icons in the inventory and pressing the ping button. Your character will then verbally ask for that item, and the specific request will pop up in the chat/event log on the top-right of the screen. This is just one example, of course – by placing your cursor over various parts of the inventory you can request different things, like a body shield, helmet, backpack, health, shields… and so on.

    The big advantage, of course, is that if you request something, your squad is more likely to keep an eye out for that item. They can then ping the item if they find it for you. And vice versa – you should always pay close attention to squad requests and take extra care when you’re item-hunting to alert squad mates to items they’re specifically looking for.

    At a high level, the strategic benefits are obvious. For one thing, different players may prefer – and be extra skilled with – various weapon/attachment combinations. The faster a team can establish the load out they prefer, the more effective they’re likely to be in the match.

    I’d argue that there’s also a kind of “soft benefit” here: if you are genuinely helpful to your squad (by demonstrating that you’re paying attention to their needs), then you’re more likely to be trusted, and more likely to be assisted in return. In my view, this makes the overall match a whole lot more fun. When I am in a squad that is effectively requesting-and-responding through a match, it feels more satisfying, constructive, and enjoyable.

    Teamwork makes the dream work.
    Teamwork makes the dream work.

    Guide squad mates toward generic upgrades

    The previous tip is based around making and responding to specific requests. But this isn’t the only way in which you should be thinking about your squad and how you can support them through a match, especially in terms of equipment.

    When you start every match, you all start with nothing – this is a Battle Royale game, after all. And – depending where you land on the map – your chances of immediately coming across high-tier gear is pretty low. Of course, you can improve your chances by landing in a known high-tier area or you can land in one of the spots designated on the map with a blue shaft of light (which indicates high-gear loot placement; these locations can change dynamically with each new match). But regardless, chances are that your squad is going to be looking to acquire improved gear throughout the game.

    There are some obvious things you can do here. For one thing, pay attention to the little squad tags on the bottom left of the screen. There, you’ll see each squad member’s health and shield bars (more on that in a moment). Make sure to pay attention to the shield bars, especially the colour – if there are no shield bars, it means that squad member doesn’t have a body shield. So, in that scenario, you’ll want to ping any body shields you come across to help rectify that situation. But even when everyone in the squad has shields, they might all be level 1 (indicated by two white bars). If you come across anything higher-level than this (blue = level 2, purple = level 3, and gold = level 4) then you’ll want to ping these to help your squad mates find them.

    Although you can apply this principle to almost any kind of equipment, it’s always useful to help your squad improve their armour as quickly as possible. But this concept also dovetails with the idea of paying attention to squad requests: if someone is requesting a shotgun bolt (so you know they’re using a shotgun), you’ll always want to alert them to higher-level shotgun bolts where possible. The same rule applies to any item that you know is important to your squad mates (everything from scopes to stocks, for instance).

    Keep an eye (and ear) on your squad’s status

    This is so easy to do, but so powerful. Don’t ignore your squad, even if they aren’t specifically requesting something. You’ll always see their status tags on the bottom left of the screen. No matter where your attention is at a given time, it’s easy to keep your squad mates’ status in mind because those tags are always in your peripheral vision.

    As mentioned above, the status tags show player health and shields status. If you see that a squad member’s health is low for a while – and they aren’t healing – then they might require a healing item like a syringe or med kit. Make sure to offer it to them (either ping one you find, or if you have spares, drop it on the ground and ping it for them). This doesn’t take much effort, but it’s a kind gesture that demonstrates care for your team, and that is just strategically smart anyway.

    The status tags are also useful because you’ll be able to see when squad mates are firing their weapon and when they are actually taking fire themselves. If you see that a squad member is taking fire (indicated by their tag flashing), you’ll want to immediately look for them either in the world or on the mini-map. Your immediate priority in this scenario is to understand where the attacking squad is located, so that you can respond appropriately.

    So, the status tags tell you a lot about what’s going on at a glance. I think they’re such a great example of clever UI design – these tiny tags communicate so much within such a small space. They’re incredibly convenient. But remember, too, that the characters in the game often communicate verbally even when you aren’t pinging stuff – they’ll often yell out when they’re under fire, or they’ll call out when they shoot down an item bot, or when they use their special ability. All of these cues are vitally important to pay attention to as a way of giving you real-time information about what’s happening on the battlefield.

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    Let your squad know what you’re doing

    Almost everything I’m recommending here involves the use of the ping system. So, it’s probably worth mentioning at this point that you don’t want to abuse that system – don’t randomly ping stuff that isn’t useful, and don’t repeatedly ping the same thing over and over again. It’s annoying, and it communicates to your team that you’re impatient, impertinent and potentially untrustworthy. Don’t do it.

    With that public service announcement out of the way, you might be wondering what I mean by “let your squad know what you’re doing”. Well, bear in mind that there are plenty of cases where you aren’t always in close proximity to your squad. There are a million reasons why this might happen – maybe you split from the squad after leaving the jump ship because you want to land in a different (but hopefully relatively close) location. Or maybe you’re exploring and you want to make a dash towards some storage containers away from your squad to hunt for equipment.

    Splitting up from your squad is fine, and it’s sometimes actually desirable for tactical reasons. But – and we’ve all been here – you’ll sometimes play a match with a total hero who won’t pay any attention to the other two squad members, who won’t suggest (or respond to) waypoints, and who will somehow end up on the other side of the map pursuing their own agenda. Hopefully these folks will disappear from the multiplayer if a single player mode is permanently introduced, but I digress.

    The bottom line is (aside from not behaving like a lone wolf in a game that relies on multiplayer cooperation), it’s always courteous – and sometimes strategically helpful – to let your squad know when you’re taking a little detour. When you bring up the ping wheel, you can suggest waypoints for the whole squad to follow. But you can also indicate a “solo” waypoint: it’s the equivalent of calling out “Hey everyone, I’m not leaving you, I’m just checking out this area over here.” You can ping a location-based waypoint, but you can also ping a loot-based waypoint (the equivalent of “Hey everyone, I’m checking for loot in this location.”) Helpfully, your character will verbally call out a version of each of these phrases where relevant.

    Let fallen squad members know you haven’t forgotten them

    No matter how great you are at Apex Legends, it’s more likely than not that you and members of your squad will succumb to death at some stage. One of the great design elements in Apex Legends is that death is a multi-stage process; and it’s possible to come back from the brink, even when the odds seem hopeless. Apex Legends provides unprecedented space for epic comebacks, which is a huge part of the fun.

    When you’re downed by an enemy, you essentially bleed out for a short period of time. During this period you can slowly crawl around, but you can’t attack or really do much of anything (although you can ping, which is awesome, because you can at least communicate enemy locations to the living members of the squad). The other people on your squad can heal you during this period, too. But if help doesn’t arrive before you’ve bled out, you’ll die, and you’ll leave a death box in place of your corpse (containing all of the items you had on you when you died). What’s awesome here, though, is that death will trigger another timer – your squad will have a period of time to pick up your banner from your death box, and take it to a respawn beacon to bring you back into the action (if they fail to do this in time, you’ll be permanently dead, as the respawn window will have timed out).[poilib element=”quoteBox” parameters=”excerpt=If%20a%20squad%20member%20dies…%20you%20should%20ping%20their%20death%20box.%20This%20will%20let%20everyone%20know%20that%20you%E2%80%99ve%20acknowledged%20their%20death%2C%20and%20that%20you%20plan%20to%20retrieve%20their%20banner.”]

    I’ve noticed an increasing trend (which I’m going to specifically touch on in a moment), and it’s worrying: more and more players who die will disconnect from the game well before their respawn timer is up. Aside from this likely being due to sheer impatience in some cases, I think it’s also at least possible that players may sometimes think their squad is ignoring their death box – therefore, they don’t see a reason to stick around and wait.

    So, my advice here is really simple, but important: if a squad member dies and their respawn timer starts up, you should ping their death box. This will let everyone know that you’ve acknowledged their death, and that you plan to retrieve their banner. It’s often really not advisable to pick up a banner immediately upon death unless it’s convenient – this is because one or more enemy squads are likely nearby, and the death box itself can become a trap if you aren’t careful (as a clever squad will keep it in their crosshairs, ready to take out helpful folks trying to resurrect squad mates).

    It’s also advisable – once you’ve picked up the banner – to ping the respawn beacon that you plan to use. Again, it’s sometimes not practical to use the nearest beacon (maybe it’s about to be outside the circle, or there are enemies nearby, etc…). But it does indicate to your fallen comrade (who is likely spectating the match at this point) that you do plan to respawn them, and they just need to wait a little longer for that.

    Don’t you dare disconnect early

    Okay, I have to admit it, this is my single biggest pet peeve with Apex Legends. It’s also a trend that I’m noticing more and more recently – again, it’s just anecdotal, but I’m personally seeing more and more cases of folks disconnecting from the game early.

    What I’ve noticed is that players mostly disconnect after they’ve died and are waiting for other players to pick up their banner. It’s worth pointing out that the two relevant timers (bleeding out/knocked down and respawn) are each 90 seconds. So once you’ve actually died, your team has 90 seconds to pick up your banner.

    By disconnecting before the respawn timer is up, you’re essentially throwing your hands up in the air and storming out of the room. You are prioritising your own impatience over and above your team. And it also eliminates the possibility of a last-minute comeback for the team, which can be incredibly exciting!

    I don’t have much more to say about this one. In my mind, you should never deliberately disconnect from a match early (the only exception, perhaps, is if you end up in a squad that is verbally abusing you over voice – I’ve experienced that very rarely, but it can happen, and in those cases it’s reasonable to pull the plug). But in general, don’t do this.

    [ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/01/30/apex-legends-season-4-revenant-abilities-loba-theories-explained”]

    As always, there are a million more tips for Apex Legends. Although there are numerous specifics in this piece, I think the overall message is clear: Apex Legends is a team-based experience. And thanks to the wonderful tools Respawn have included in the game, you don’t need to use a mic to communicate effectively with your team. In fact, the in-game tools provide valuable audiovisual indicators that can provide very specific information to everyone.

    No matter what, I think it’s always important to be courteous and helpful to your squad mates. This isn’t just for the sake of being nice, either (although that’s never a bad thing); on a practical level, your squad will always have a better chance of success if it is working together. And I believe the game itself really shines when a squad is communicating and operating as a team.

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    James Burns is a former contributor to numerous Australian gaming magazines. He is now Editor in Chief of Super Jump, and you can find him on Twitter here.

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  • Warcraft 3: Blizzard Issues First Dev Update on Reforged

    Blizzard has finally issued a statement since launch responding to early complaints about the recently released Warcraft 3: Reforged. The developer says it will address several issues in future updates, some arriving as early this week, but other elements of the game like the cutscenes will remain as-is.

    “First off, we want to say we’re sorry to those of you who didn’t have the experience you wanted, and we’d like to share our plans for what’s coming next,” Blizzard says in its first developer update for Warcraft 3: Reforged since launch.

    [ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/01/29/warcraft-3-reforged-blizzcon-2018-vs-launch-2020-comparison”]

    The forum post from Warcraft community manager Randy “Kaivax” Jordan goes into detail about some of the ways Blizzard will update Warcraft 3: Reforged. First, there will be a patch later this week that will fix, among other things, the bug causing colors and shading issues in Classic Mode. The patch will also address portrait animations, audio bugs, UI fixes, and more.

    However, in regards to the controversial animated cutscenes, or lack thereof, Blizzard says that it wanted to keep the cutscenes true to the original game.

    “[T]he main takeaway is the campaigns tell one of the classic stories in Warcraft history, and want to preserve the true spirit of Warcraft 3 and allow players to relive these unforgettable moments as they are (albeit rebuilt with new animations and the higher fidelity art).”

    So it appears that Blizzard doesn’t have plans at this stage to change how the cutscenes are presented, though they did receive visual improvements thanks to the remaster efforts.

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    Elsewhere in the blog post, Blizzard says it’s still working on standing up features like leaderboards and clans which are coming in a major patch at an unannounced date. Unfortunately, that means that the lack of these features will continue to impact all Warcraft 3 players, even those who haven’t purchased Reforged.

    Warcraft 3: Reforged players soon expressed displeasure with the launch version of the classic strategy RPG after it was discovered that key features were missing, along with some launch-day connectivity issues.

    A previously demoed cutscene animation was ultimately cut from the final version of the game, and network features weren’t present during the launch. Blizzard addressed these complaints in today’s blog post, but it will still be some time and additional patches for some of the issues to be addressed, if at all.

    IGN is currently working on a review for Warcraft 3: Reforged so keep an eye out for that to be published soon.

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    Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN. You can reach him on Twitter.

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