FIFA 21 Ultimate Team players with grand ambitions will want to find out how to make coins and save points so that they can maintain their real-world money and stop relying on packs with randomized prizes. In this guide, we're going to make the most of the transfer market and the in-game rewards to create an incredible winning eleven through frugality. The game mode’s goal is to create your Ultimate Team, so if you can only settle for the best players, you’re in for an expensive experience on the transfer market, where some top-flight footballers sell for millions of coins. If you don’t want to rely on paying for packs, but you want to be able to build a worthy ensemble of players, we’ve put together a guide with some useful tips for making coins and saving points in FIFA 21.

Complete your placements first to get an early cash boost

If we presume that you’ve just started playing Ultimate Team, then right at the start, the first thing you should do before you start building a team is hammer through your Division Rivals placement matches with your starting eleven. If you’re not so bothered about your rank and would entertain the challenge of climbing the leaderboard, just get them over with as soon as possible to get tens of thousands of coins or a good chunk of packs.

Stardew Valley, in its upcoming version 1.5 update, will add splitscreen co-op to both console and PC. Announced by Eric Barone, the creator of Stardew Valley, there will be up to 4-player splitscreen co-op on PC, but "on some other platforms it might be limited to 2." This update will also allow for players to move their bed, and Barone teased a peaceful scene on a beach with a player fishing and ducks hanging about. Online multiplayer was added to Stardew Valley beginning in 2018, and this new update will give players even more options to play one of our 11 Calming Games to Help You Relax together. Even though Barone is continuing to update Stardew Valley, which was originally released in 2016, he has begun teasing his next two games, which are still a bit of ways away.

A new tease may be hinting that Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege may be headed to Xbox Game Pass in the near future. Xbox Game Pass on Twitter posted a medieval-looking image with no caption, but the image itself appears to be a tease for an upcoming announcement for Rainbow Six Siege, as it contains six rainbows and a siege-style weapon attacking a castle. Ubisoft has already confirmed that Rainbow Six Siege would be headed over to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S with cross-generation multiplayer, so the timing of this reveal could be a good one with the consoles only a few weeks away. This move could also be one more step closer to Rainbow Six Siege becoming free-to-play which, according to game director Leroy Athanassoff, is something the development team seemingly would want at some point. Rainbow Six Siege making it to Xbox Game Pass would also bring Splinter Cell's Sam Fisher back to Microsoft's console, as he was recently added as an operator by the name Codename Zero. Rainbow Six Siege was released in 2015 and has been supported and improved a ton over the years.

Stop. Turnip time in ACNH.

Exploit enemy weaknesses and create masterful elemental combos in Genshin Impact.

While Destiny 2 will be able to take advantage of faster load times and cross-generation play when Xbox Series X/S and PS5 are released on November 10 and November 12, respectively, the next-gen optimized versions will not be ready until December 8, 2020. Bungie detailed all the features owners of these new systems can expect on December 8, including 4K for PS5 and Xbox Series X (1080p on Xbox Series S), 60FPS framerate, and a field of view slider. It was also reiterated that the next-gen upgrade for all consoles will be free. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/07/destiny-2-beyond-light-weapons-and-gear-trailer"] Bungie has also noted that this is the first time it is offering Field of View customization on consoles, and the goal is to enable a FOV range similar to that on PC. Also, while loading the game and inspecting character inventory will be much quicker, "some load times are dependent on networking and matchmaking. So, loading activities still takes time while you search for opponents." Additionally, Xbox Series X/S players will only be able to play with Xbox One players, while PS5 players will only be able to play with PS4 players. Destiny 2's latest expansion, Beyond Light, will be released on November 10, and is the first chapter in a new trilogy of expansion for Destiny 2 that will also include 2021's The Witch Queen and 2022's Lightfall. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=destiny-2-season-of-arrivals&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com. Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN.

Fans were able to vote on the next lightsaber they'd like to see made available for purchase at Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiquities in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Walt Disney World and Disneyland, and Cal Kestis' from Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order has been chosen as the winner. Cal's lightsaber won with 40.79% of the votes, beating out Qui-Gon Jinn (19.56%), Anakin Skywalker (12.37%), Lord Corvax (11.41%), Kanan Jarrus (9.85%), and Ezra Bridger (6.02%). Cal's lightsaber will be available later next year and will be the first lightsaber offered at Dok's to have originated from a video game, and joins other classic sabers inspired by such iconic heroes and villains as Luke Skywalker, Rey, Darth Vader, and more. While it may be a little while until you can purchase Cal's lightsaber, Ahsoka Tano's lightsabers from Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Count Dooku's curved handle will be available at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge this fall. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was released in 2019 and, in our review, we said "It’s been ages since we got a great single-player Star Wars action game, but Jedi: Fallen Order makes up for a lot of lost time. A strong cast sells a dark story while keeping things fun and loyal to Star Wars lore, and fast, challenging combat mixes with energetic platforming, decent puzzles, and diverse locations to explore for an all-around amazing game." [ignvideo url="https://ww

All your questions answered.

IGN Prime has partnered with developer GungHo Online Entertainment to unlock Volta-X, a free game for IGN prime members!

Xbox Game Pass is adding a trio of classic LucasArts adventure games: Grim Fandango Remastered, Day of the Tentacle Remastered, and Full Throttle Remastered. The titles will join Game Pass for Console, PC, and streaming on Android devices for Game Pass Ultimate subscribers on October 29th. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=25-games-that-still-deserve-a-sequel&captions=true"] Xbox’s Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb recently interviewed visionary developer Tim Shaffer who previously worked on all three games during his stint at LucasArts in the 1990s. Shaffer‘s Double Fine Productions was acquired by Microsoft in 2019. Although these titles were previously remastered, this is the first time they will be available on the Xbox family of consoles. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2015/09/29/legendary-designer-tim-schafer-on-the-challenge-of-remastering-his-classics"] Grim Fandango Remastered is often called one of the best games of all-time, winning several awards following its original 1998 launch (including Best Adventure Game from IGN PC).

We’re less than a month away from the next generation with PS5 but you may be able to get your hands on some accessories ahead of the consoles November 12th release date. Sony quietly updated the release dates for many of its PS5 accessories on the official PlayStation direct store with a new October 30th release, two weeks prior to when PS5 consoles will hit store shelves. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=ps5-games-coming-in-2020&captions=true"] The new release dates apply to the DualSense controller, Pulse 3D wireless headset, DualSense charging station, the updated HD camera, and media remote. Following the new date, some retailers such as Target have updated their listings and have begun informing customers who pre-ordered any PS5 accessories that the release dates have changed. IGN received an email from Target early this morning saying, “Thanks for your preorder.

Marvel’s Avengers was the best-selling game of September, a bright spot for Crystal Dynamics as it works to refine the post-launch experience. Other best-sellers for the month include Super Mario 3D All-Stars and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/01/marvels-avengers-kate-bishop-reveal-trailer"] Just today, Crystal Dynamics announced it will delay the Kate Bishop DLC and next-gen upgrades for Marvel’s Avengers as it works on additional fixes. However, Marvel’s Avengers seems to have had a successful launch, becoming the second best-selling superhero game in U.S. history after Insomniac’s Spider-Man. Super Mario 3D All-Stars was the second best-selling game in September and the 10th best-selling game of 2020. It generated the second-highest launch month for physical dollar sales of any 2020 release, behind only Animal Crossing: New Horizons. This was likely driven partially by the limited nature of the release, meant to celebrate Mario’s 35th anniversary. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvels-avengers-hero-challenge-cards-vendors-and-marketplace&captions=true"] Also on the top 10 sellers list is the Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1+2, which has the best launch month dollar sales of any Tony Hawk game in the franchise; and Crusader Kings 3 which is the best-selling release in the franchise history.

Sports video games are going through a tough transition. It’s a down year in terms of overall quality – who knows how much of that has to do with to ongoing COVID-19 concerns, the real seasons for most sports being thrown off by the pandemic, next-gen efforts taking focus off the current-gen versions, or perhaps just a general malaise that comes at the end of a console generation. However, NHL 21 has more working against it than most others in that regard: The next “real” NHL season won’t start until January 2021 and there is not going to be a next-gen version of NHL 21 this year that can give it a second wind like we’re promised for FIFA 21, Madden NFL 21, and NBA 2K21. The effect is that almost immediately after I booted it up for the first time it already felt outdated, even though I know it’s supposed to act as the version that will coincide with the next real NHL season.

Some of this is out of EA’s control: The Tampa Bay Lightning just hoisted the Stanley Cup on September 28, so it barely feels like there has been a chance to breathe between seasons. On top of that, the NHL Draft and NHL offseason have either just concluded or are still going strong. This means the NHL 21 rosters are already out of date, the real NHL schedule isn’t even finalized for next year so franchise mode games don’t feel as authentic by default, and we won’t see any of the new batch of NHL rookies before January due to NHL Players’ Association licensing issues (which is why no rookies are usually ever in the EA NHL games before they take the ice for their real NHL teams).

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/nhl-21-official-gameplay-trailer"]

There are a handful of characters you can romance in the early access version of Baldur's Gate 3.

Welcome back to Game Scoop!, IGN's weekly video game talk show. This week your Omega Cops -- Daemon Hatfield, Tina Amini, Sam Claiborn, and Justin Davis -- continue the Game of the Year Watch 2020 discussion with Hades, The Last of Us Part 2, Ghost of Tsushima, Animal Crossing, and more. There's also the PlayStation 5 UI to discuss, the Xbox Series launch lineup, D-pads, and more. This episode features music from Werewolf and Blaster Master on NES, and closes with a track from The Terminator on Sega Genesis. Watch the video above or hit the link below to your favorite podcast service. Listen on: Apple Podcasts YouTube Spotify Stitcher   Find previous episodes here!

Microsoft shocked the gaming world when it acquired Bethesda and parent company ZeniMax Media recently for a whopping $7.5B. However, the decision has left a lot of people curious about the future of Bethesda games on other platforms, notably Sony's upcoming PS5. Kotaku's Stephen Totilo interviewed Xbox's Phil Spencer to discuss a bit more about the deal and what implications it may have for players outside the Xbox ecosystem. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-xbox-one-first-party-review&captions=true"] “Is it possible to recoup a $7.5 billion investment if you don’t sell Elder Scrolls VI on the PlayStation?” asked Totilo. “Yes,” Spencer quickly replied. Then he paused. “I don’t want to be flip about that,” Spencer added. “This deal was not done to take games away from another player base like that. Nowhere in the documentation that we put together was: ‘How do we keep other players from playing these games?’ We want more people to be able to play games, not fewer people to be able to go play games." "When I think about where people are going to be playing and the number of devices that we had, and we have xCloud and PC and Game Pass and our console base, I don’t have to go ship those games on any other platform other than the platforms that we support in order to kind of make the deal work for us," Spencer continued. "Whatever that means.” [ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/15/xbox-series-x-the-final-preview] Bethesda is home to some of the biggest franchises in gaming including The Elder Scrolls and Fallout franchises, as well as DOOM, Wolfenstein, Dishonored, and more.

Sony showcased the PS5 user interface in a new walkthrough video that shows the next-gen PlayStation is in for a major revamp. While there are still plenty of questions left about the PS5 UI experience, we also learned about some major changes. Here’s our rundown of the biggest. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=ps5-ui-screenshots&captions=true"]

It’s Fast

Let’s start with the most obvious upgrade - PS5’s UI looks fast. The demonstration shows the console booting up from rest mode, and hopping from the dashboard view to in-game action to the new Activities feed looks snappy and responsive. There’s no slowdown or hitching while scrolling through the UI, icons don’t take much time to load in, and all other speed issues the PS4 interface seem to be gone. Jumping into a new game is immediately faster on the PS5 than it is on the PS4. Of course, there’s the question of whether or not having a bunch of applications running in the background affects this, but at least fresh out of the box, it looks fast as hell. Pending any firmware updates, I assume.

Control Center Activities Cards

Sony spent the most time talking about the PS5’s new Control Center view. On the PS4, pressing the DualShock 4’s PlayStation button kicks you back to the dashboard, while holding the button down for a bit brings up a shorthand version of the UI...

Ghost of Tsushima: Legends, the cooperative multiplayer mode launching today as a free update for GoT players, may be coming after the initial game's release, but some form of multiplayer has been part of the Tsushima vision since the start. Speaking to IGN ahead of Legends' launch, Sucker Punch's Darren Bridges, the lead on Legends, explained how, while the concept for Legends came some part into development, multiplayer was always considered a "pillar" of the game. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=ghost-of-tsushima-legends-and-version-11-new-game-screenshots&captions=true"] "From the very beginning when Nate [Fox] and the team pitched Ghost, we knew that we wanted cooperative multiplayer to be a pillar of the game," Bridges explained. "We probably spent six months to a year thinking about different ideas... and ultimately we came to Legends. We've been working on it really in parallel, both on the engine side and the content side from the beginning of the project." But of course, one major way in which Legends deviates from the core Tsushima experience is in its exploration of supernatural myth in a very real way that Jin Sakai's main story doesn't. "We at the studio like supernatural stuff, but Ghost of Tsushima from the beginning was a very grounded experience. That was a core thing that we wanted to get right. So when we batted around different ideas for multiplayer, Legends rose to the top, in part because it allowed us to connect to Jin's story without [the player] being exactly Jin," Bridges explained. "It allows us to also have the freedom to have cooperative abilities that players can use. We have supernatural elements that allow us to be more flexible with the fiction and the abilities and the techniques, all the way down to the cosmetics. And it allowed it to fit nicely in Jin's story because these are Legends, these aren't grounded.

Final Fantasy 16, Devil May Cry 5's Special Edition, and more join the ever increasing list of games coming to the PlayStation 5.

Blizzard has announced that it is ending development of paid-for content for StarCraft 2, a decade on from the game’s first launch. A blog post from the StarCraft 2 team explained that “for-purchase content”, such as Commanders and War Chests, will no longer be developed, but that the team will continue to support the game and its esports scene. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2010/07/26/starcraft-2-pc-starcraft-ii-campaign-overview"] “We’re going to continue supporting StarCraft 2 in the same manner as we have with our previous longstanding games, such as Brood War, focusing primarily on what our core and competitive communities care about most,” the post explains. “What this means is that we’re not going to be producing additional for-purchase content, such as Commanders and War Chests, but we will continue doing season rolls, and necessary balance fixes moving forward.” Blizzard will not release another update in 2020, making the August balance update the last of the year. However, the blog does emphasize that these balance updates will still be developed as needed in the future. The esports scene, maintained by Blizzard in partnership with ESL Gaming and GSL, will continue as normal. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-blizzard-game-review&captions=true"] Perhaps most exciting for StarCraft fans is the explanation as to why the team is winding down content development. “We know some of our players have been looking forward to some of the things we’re moving away from, but the good news is this change will free us up to think about what’s next, not just with regard to StarCraft II, but for the StarCraft universe as a whole,” said Blizzard. It’s impossible to know what Blizzard is planning for StarCraft, but the important thing is that the studio is thinking about the series’ future.

Analogue, the makers of high-end retro consoles, have announced their latest vehicle for nostalgia: The Duo. The Analogue Duo is a system that can play NEC's high energy video games. The All-in-one system is capable of playing nearly every NEC system and game formate including TurboGrafx-16, PC Engine, SuperGrafx, TurboGrafx CD. PC Engine CD-ROM2, and Super Arcade CD-Rom2 all at 1080p. The Analogue Duo has two drives for CD-ROMs and Hucards and TurboChips. There are also accessory ports that support controllers and original hardware from Analogue. The Duo also supports 2.4g and Bluetooth and will sync up with any wireless 8BitDo Bluetooth or 2.4g controller directly. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=analogue-duo-nec-system&captions=true"] As a bonus, Analogue also announced a new adapter for Analogue Pocket which supports TurboGrafx-16 cartridges. This will be released separately in 2021. Analogue is a hardware manufacturer founded in 2011 specializing in high-end retro consoles. Unlike emulators, Analgoue's systems can play retro games directly from the source and can usually upres the games for modern TVs. Analogue previously released the Analogue Nt and Super Nt for NES and SNES games as well as the Mega Sg for Sega systems. The most recent release was the Analogue Pocket which can play most handheld game cartridges. Analogue says the Duo will be released in limited quantities in 2021 for $199.99. Check out IGN's review of the Analogue Mega Sg for our take on Analogue's previous retro hardware. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics have delayed the next major updates for Marvel’s Avengers, pushing the next-gen versions into next year and delaying the addition of the game’s first DLC character, Kate Bishop. In a post on the Avengers blog, Crystal Dynamics’ studio head, Scot Amos, apologised for the “slight delay” to the Kate Bishop DLC, but explained that it is due to ensuring new content is given the time for extensive internal testing. “With this in mind, we’ve decided to push Kate Bishop’s Operation launch back a bit, out of October,” said Amos, but no new date was given for this first new character. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/01/marvels-avengers-kate-bishop-reveal-trailer"] Additionally, Amos explained that next-gen updates are being pushed back. “We’ve also made the decision to shift our PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S launch to next year to ensure that we give our team the time to deliver a next-gen experience showcasing all that this game is meant to be,” he said. While a next-gen version with optimised upgrades won’t arrive for a while, Amos does note that playing the current-gen versions on PS5 or Xbox Series consoles will benefit from improved frame rates and faster loading times. These are issues that Avengers on current-gen certainly suffers with, so there should be some noticeable benefit. Amos also confirmed that existing saves will transfer to next-gen consoles. In addition to detailing the delays, Amos also apologies for the troubles Avengers has suffered in its first months. “Marvel’s Avengers’ launch was not without turbulence, and we recognize that a number of issues detracted from your enjoyment of the game,” he said.

Cardy quizzes both Dale and Jesse about their recent experiences in the haunted houses of Phasmophobia and Bly Manor. There's also the new PS5 UI to talk about as the next-generation of consoles fast approach. There's a tightly contested new Endless Search to play as well as some of your feedback of which only some are sandwich-based. Remember, if you want to get in touch with the podcast, please do: ign_ukfeedback@ign.com.

IGN UK Podcast #561: Haunted Houses and Red Beef

[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=ign-uk-podcast-episode-500-photos&captions=true"]

• IGN UK Podcast #560: A Crispy Slice of Heaven
• IGN UK Podcast #559: The Manic Marsupial and Jesse's Voice Changer
• IGN UK Podcast #558: Hades and Ham Sandwiches
• IGN UK Podcast #557: PS5's Banquet of Delights
• IGN UK Podcast #556: Judging Tony Hawk's Tallywacker

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As a follow-up to 2018’s enjoyable stealth-based survival horror game Remothered: Tormented Fathers, Remothered: Broken Porcelain is both a sequel and a prequel – but that’s really just a polite way of saying I couldn’t make heads or tails of the chronology of its plot, and I’m not convinced its creators could either. Perhaps I was too distracted by its countless audio dropouts, freezes, broken controller inputs and baffling enemy behaviours to really be able to concentrate on straightening out the tangled threads of its nonlinear narrative. If nothing else, Remothered: Broken Porcelain is aptly named; like a shattered vase it lacks structure, each individual part is rough around the edges, and it’s not really worth the effort to try and piece them all together.

At the very least the setting is an appropriately haunting one. Ashmann Inn is an antiquated hotel situated in a secluded snowy mountain region highly reminiscent of Stephen King’s The Shining. Certainly during its opening moments I enjoyed the eerie ambience of its dimly lit hallways as I, controlling the young protagonist Jennifer, indulged in a deadly game of hide and seek with the murderous, mind-controlled hotel maid Andrea (seemingly modelled on Annie from Stephen King’s Misery).

Plus more multiplayer tips for combat and game settings.

Universal Studios Japan held a media-only opening ceremony today for its new Mario Cafe & Store, which will be open to the public from October 16. IGN Japan was present to share the following video and photos. Let’s-a go! [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2017/06/08/super-nintendo-world-japan-teaser-trailer"] The cafe is decorated with cute Mario motifs such as Warp Pipes, Question Blocks and Piranha Plants, and serves two different cream-filled pancake sandwiches – a red Mario hat topped with strawberries, and a green Luigi hat topped with grapes. The drinks menu includes sodas themed around Mario, Luigi and Peach, with moustaches or a crown attached to the straw for Instagram photo tomfoolery. A reusable Super Mushroom cup with strap and straw is also available to buy. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=universal-studios-japan-mario-cafe-grand-opening&captions=true"] The store is packed with dozens and dozens of exclusive merchandise items themed around the three characters – everything from clothing to jewelry to water bottles to souvenir snacks. Much of the merchandise is emblazoned with the phrase “Whose cap?” or “Whose crown?”, with motifs based on Mario, Luigi and Peach’s hats, moustaches, crown and silhouette. Strangely, their faces are not featured anywhere. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=universal-studios-japan-mario-merch&captions=true"] The cafe and store were originally intended as part of the Super Nintendo World area that was slated to open this summer, but has been pushed back to spring 2021 due to covid-19 countermeasures.

Age of Empires 3 is the weirdest of the old-school RTS series – a game that, back in 2005, radically departed from the others for a different feel. Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition gives it new life, changing some things that begged to be changed and bringing the production values up to a much higher standard. It's the Age of Empires update that will be least appreciated, but most needed, a remaster that adds new single-player missions and civilizations. It gives AoE 3's unique twists on the RTS a new life. It also serves as a pretty sharp reminder that this is the most obtuse game in the series, because most of its clever tricks aren't half as good as it thinks they are.

Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition edition upgrades graphics, colors, and textures across the board, all the way up to 4K resolutions. The remade Home City screens are characterful renditions of cities from Amsterdam to Tenochtitlan, with stops in Beijing and Berlin along the way. It ran pretty well on my AMD 8350 and GeForce GTX 1070 Ti, with occasional hitching on eight-player matches and a handful of isolated crashes. A surprising bonus is how the remastered soundtrack vastly improves the music, with richer bass filling out the horns and strings. In fact, after a few hours I realized that the Age of Empires 3 take on the main theme absolutely slaps. It's my new favorite from the series soundtracks.

The other sound effects and voice acting are improved but not up to the level you’d expect from any given modern game. There are two notable exceptions to that: A pre-Mass Effect fame Jennifer Hale as Lizzie in the campaign, and the redone or entirely new voice acting in campaign and historical scenarios. (Everyone other than whoever did Gustavus Adolphus. All due respect to the greatest of the Swedes, but he’s horrible.)

This week on Nintendo Voice Chat, we're talking all things Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit! Casey DeFreitas is out this week, but we still have a great episode for you to enjoy. Join Janet Garcia, Tom Marks, Brendan Graeber, and Mitchell Saltzman as they discuss the Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit review, Nintendo's decision to reduce the price of a single Joy-Con controller, and first impressions of Minecraft Steve in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Plus, we answer your questions on another round of Question Block. Timecodes!

• 00:00:00 Welcome!
• 00:01:50 Single Joy-Con price drop in Japan
• 00:09:50 Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit discussion
• 00:32:31 Impressions of Minecraft Steve in Smash
• 00:47:14 Games out this week
• 00:47:57 What we're playing
• 00:53:20 Question Block!

Games out this week:

• Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit - 10/16, $99.99
• Overwatch Game Trial - 10/13-10/20, Free for NSO members
• Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?! - 10/14, $19.99
• Shantae: Risk’s Revenge Director’s Cut - 10/15, $9.99
• Roki - 10/15, $19.99
• Alpaca Ball: Allstars - 10/15, $19.99
• The Jackbox Party Pack 7 - 10/15, $29.99

NVC is available on your preferred platform!

When it comes to investing in gaming accessories, few are as versatile as a good headset. It's maybe the only peripheral that has uses outside your computer or console, since there's no law requiring to use a gaming headset strictly for gaming. The Razer Kraken Pro V2 is as equally comfortable to use during gaming as it is while listening music on your smartphone, but it doesn't go the extra mile with features to make it stand-out from the crowd.

As far as headsets go, the Kraken Pro V2 is a step above Razer's Kraken Pro, with 50 mm audio drivers instead of 40 mm, and an aluminum unibody construction. Both the Pro and the Pro V2 have an inline volume and mute control and retractable mic. The Kraken Pro V2's improvements also bulk up its price tag to around $79 USD, making it something of a "premium" entry-level headset.  It's also compatible with PS4 and Xbox One, along with basically anything with a 3.5mm jack.

[caption id="attachment_1681449" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Razer Kraken Pro V2 Gaming Headset[/caption]

The round ear cushions are large and provide good over-ear coverage, and are swappable with a set of oval-shaped cushions. However, the oval-shaped cushions are sold separately. Generic ones are available on Amazon for as little as $5, but it would be nice if a pair of OEM cushions were included in the box.

Update: In an email sent out to PlayStation account holders, Sony confirmed that a brand new web and mobile PS Store experience is coming; and confirmed the changes revealed in the leaked email. Although originally reported as changes coming into effect on the web version fo the PS Store starting on October 19, Sony says instead these changes will take effect from October 21 - 26 on web, and October 28 on mobile. As per the leaked email, players will be unable to purchase PlayStation 3 games, PSP games, PlayStation Vita games, Apps, Themes, and Avatars from the web and mobile version the PlayStation Store. The Wishlist feature is also being removed. You'll still be able to purchase PS3, PSP, and Vita games directly from the PS Store app on a PS3, PSP, or Vita. And PS4 apps, themes, and avatars can still be downloaded from the same console. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Original Story: The PlayStation Store experience is about to receive an overhaul soon as Sony makes plans to limit what’s available to purchase on the web and mobile versions of its digital store. In an email sent to PlayStation development partners — which IGN has independently verified — Sony says that starting on October 19 for web and October 28 for mobile, certain digital products will no longer be available for purchase. This includes:

• PlayStation 3 games and add-ons
• PSP games and add-ons
• PlayStation Vita games and add-ons
• Apps
• Themes
• Avatars

  Sony is also doing away with the “Your Wishlist” feature and any games currently on the wishlist will be removed. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-playstation-5-games&captions=true"] Going forward, customers will still be able to purchase PS3, PSP, and Vita titles from the PlayStation store but only directly from the system.

Kinda Funny co-founder and IGN alum Greg Miller and screenwriter and Animal Talking's Gary Whitta have teamed up with United States Presidential candidate Joe Biden's campaign to show off the official Biden Island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Miller and Whitta will be the first to show off Biden Island tomorrow, October 16, at 11am PT/2pm ET/7pm BST on Twitch.TV/KindaFunnyGames, and the tour will take place live in-game. This showcase takes place only a little over two weeks away from the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election on November 3, 2020, and is another example of these campaigns adapting in a world still impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as taking advantage of current and popular forms of entertainment. Joe Biden's island is another example of celebrities making a home for themselves in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

From new skill trees and abilities to exploration and gear, Assassin's Creed Valhalla's changes to the series may be bigger than you think.

If there’s one thing you can’t take away from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s version of Steve from Minecraft, it’s how different he is. Steve and his cosmetically distinct but mechanically identical friends are among the most inventive fighters Ultimate has ever seen, and that’s saying a lot in a game with already wildly unique options like Olimar, Ice Climbers, Hero, and more. The way Minecraft’s mechanics have been incorporated into his moveset is simply incredible. He can craft, build, collect resources, and even upgrade his gear based on what he’s collected. But does that innovative yet faithful implementation actually make him fun to play? Well, that’s a tough question to answer.

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Steve is one of the most mechanics heavy characters Smash has ever seen.. To start, he requires collectable materials to utilize many of his best attacks, and to craft the weapons and tools that he uses to fight . Crafting materials can be gathered by holding B while on solid ground, and the materials that he gathers are actually affected by the type of ground he’s standing on. So mining on metal will net more iron ingots, while standing on sand will get you sand blocks. There will always be a chance that you’ll get more valuable resources like iron, gold, and diamonds no matter what, so you never have to worry about playing a level that doesn’t have a specific type of resource. Also, when you play on a battlefield or omega stage, those high value materials are dug up at a predetermined rate to eliminate the random chance of it all.

The Black Ops Cold War beta opens up to more players this weekend.

Fans have been eagerly awaiting a potential remaster of the Mass Effect Trilogy for what feels like forever, and it seems it may be closer than we think. As reported by Gematsu, the Game Rating and Administration Committee of Korea has rated an unannounced Mass Effect Legendary Edition. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-bioware-game-review&captions=true"] Just last month a Portuguese retailer listed the Mass Effect Trilogy for PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, but nothing has been announced since the listings went up. November 7 marks N7 Day, a day where BioWare celebrates the rich Mass Effect history with fans of the series.

This week in GTA Online, score massive bonuses in End to End Time Trial, Cypress Flats RC Time Trial, and Power Play, claim Prime Gaming login rewards, and more.

The latest episode of Cyberpunk 2077 Night City Wire revealed new details about the game’s vehicles and fashion styles, as well as the Stadia release date. Cyberpunk 2077 will feature a wide variety of vehicles that players can use to drive/ride around Night City, and they’re divided into five different categories: economy, executive, heavy duty, sport, and hypercars. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/15/cyberpunk-2077-vehicle-classes-trailer"] Economy rides are “utility and low-end clunkers”, and essentially the cheap junk cars of 2077. Executive cars are your higher-end models, with plush interiors and the latest tech. Heavy duty vehicles are trucks and tanks that can be used for brute force maneuvers and ramming. Sports are exactly what they sound like, and feature exchangeable parts for tuning. Hypercars, meanwhile, are Bugatti-style top-end beasts designed for luxury speed. Every car in Cyberpunk 2077 is unique, with fully rendered interiors, and can even vary in aesthetic depending on what area of the city you steal it from. Plus, in addition to the wide variety of original vehicles created for the universe, Night City also is home to some real-world cars, including Johnny Silverhand’s 1977 Porsche 911. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/15/keanu-reeves-helps-bring-motorcycles-to-life-in-night-city"] CD Projekt Red also confirmed that when cars are purchased from a fixer, they can be summoned in much the same way as Geralt can call for his horse Roach in The Witcher. Cars can be used for transportation as well as races, which take place both in off-road Badlands locations and on the streets of the inner-city. Apparently guns may be required during races, so they sound like violent affairs. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/15/cyberpunk-2077-the-styles-of-night-city-trailer"] Alongside cars and bikes, CDPR also showed off the fashion styles of Night City.

In true CD Projekt Red fashion, episode 4 of Night City Wire was announced last week, where the devs will share more updates and details about Cyberpunk 2077. For the fourth episode, the game's official Twitter account said it will, "go into details about the looks, sounds, and specs of #Cyberpunk2077 vehicles. As usual, you can expect new gameplay footage, announcements, and more!" A clip that was literally one-second long was shared as well, showing one of the vehicles spinning off in slow motion. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=updated-92-cyberpunk-2077-gameplay-details&captions=true"]

Night City Wire Episode 4 Start Time

Night City Wire episode 4 will take place on Thursday, October 15 and will start at 9 am PT, 12 pm ET, and 5 pm BST. If you’re watching from Australia, you can stay up late and tune in on Friday, October 16 at 2 am AEST. The episode is expected to be around 25 minutes long, similar to the previous three episodes.

How to Watch Night City Wire Episode 4

We'll be hosting the Cyberpunk 2077 livestream on our channels across a variety of platforms including YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, and Twitter.

After seven years, 2D, anime fighting game Phantom Breaker: Extra is getting a massive update. Titled, Phantom Breaker: Omnia, and it marks the fighting game’s debut in the west. Phantom Breaker is a fighting game series developed by Mages, the Japanese studio behind visual novels like Steins;Gate. Phantom Breaker is set in Tokyo when a mysterious man known as “Phantom” appears and grants “Fu-mension Artifacts” to fighters he manipulates into fighting one another. The winner of the Phantom's game will be granted a wish, but the use of the Fu-mension Artifacts threatens to destroy the very fabric of reality. Check out IGN's exclusive gameplay in the video below. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/15/phantom-breaker-omnia-full-gameplay-match"] Phantom Breaker: Omnia boasts a roster of 20 playable characters and guest characters, including Makise Kurisu from the Steins;Gate series. Mages is also introducing two brand new characters created for Omnia. The battle system lets fighters choose between three different fighting styles: Quick, Hard, and Omnia, each with a unique focus that changes how a character plays, and whether their moves focus on speed, power, or mechanics. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=phantom-breaker-omnia-screenshot-gallery&captions=true"] Phantom Breaker: Omnia will also support a complete English dub, or an option to choose the original Japanese audio. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/15/phantom-breaker-omnia-announcement-trailer"] New publisher Rocket Panda Games is handling bringing Phantom Breaker: Omnia to the west. It’s slated to be released in 2021 digitally for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC via Steam. A physical edition for PS4 and Switch is planned in partnership with Limited Run Games. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

The PS5 UI has been revealed by Sony. The news arrives as part of a PlayStation blog post, which digs into the new console's user experience and reveals a few new features coming to the PlayStation 5 when it launches next month. One of the highlights of the new system is the Control Center, which provides "immediate access to almost everything you need from the system," and can be summoned by pressing the PlayStation button on the new DualSense controller. From the Control Center you can see who is online, check the status of downloads, manage your controllers and more. A special 11-minute State of Play showcase launched alongside the blog post, providing an in-depth look at the PS5's UX, which was designed with 4K TVs in mind. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=ps5-ui-screenshots&captions=true"] There's also a brand new feature called Activities which lets players "discover new gameplay opportunities, go back to things you missed, jump directly into levels or challenges you want to play, and much more." Activity cards can be accessed directly from the control centre, and some can be viewed picture-in-picture, meaning you won't have to leave the game to see them. An example is shown from Sackboy: A Big Adventure, where the user can open up an activity card relating to a level in progress to see objectives they still need to complete. From this menu, they can also find out the estimated playtime necessary to complete the level.