IGN.com - Daily Fix (Video)

On today's IGN The Fix: Games, With the team behind Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales taking up the Wolverine mantle, many fans were concerned about the length and scope of the game. Brian Horton, creative director at Insomniac Games, took to Twitter to clarify just what tone and scale we could expect when Marvel's Wolverine hits PlayStation 5. Volition has released further details about what fans can expect from the Saints Row reboot's characters and customization options - and why we've seen so little of the classic purple color scheme so far. In an update post published to the official Saints Row website, Volition addressed a number of questions raised by the community surrounding what new characters the reboot would bring with it, what details the developer could share on how customization in the game would work, and why the trailer showed a distinct lack of Saints Row purple. Carnage is joining Fortnite's Battle Pass as part of its brand new Chapter 2, Season 8, which launches today. The addition of the Marvel villain's character skin is just one of a number of changes making their way to the Battle Royale as players set out to face a brand new threat attempting to bring about the destruction of the island. Stella has all that in your Daily Fix!

On today's IGN The Fix: Games, Insomniac Games revealed that Marvel's Spider-Man 2 will be arriving on PS5 in 2023, and its first gameplay trailer revealed that both Peter Parker and Miles Morales will be facing off against Venom. Alongside returning voice actors Yuri Lowenthal (Peter Parker) and Nadji Jeter (Miles Morales, it was also confirmed that Candyman's Tony Todd will voice Venom. While it was just a brief glimpse, Insomniac Games also announced it is working on Marvel's Wolverine for PS5. This new game is being directed by Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales' Brian Horton and Cameron Christian, and Insomniac's goal is to "not only respect the DNA of what makes the character so popular but also look for opportunities to make it feel fresh and truly reflect the Insomniac spirit." We finally got our first look at the upcoming sequel to 2018's God of War, officially titled God of War: Ragnarok, during Sony's PlayStation Showcase. Those with a keen eye may have spotted a familiar character teased in the trailer wielding a mighty hammer. It was confirmed shortly after the showcase that it was, in fact, Thor who could be seen for a brief moment in the trailer. Now, we've gotten a full-body reveal of the Norse God himself and he looks very different than many of us are used to. We've finally got another look at Metroid Dread. This gameplay overview trailer shows us how Samus' abilities work, provides us with another look at the E.M.M.I robots, and gives us a peek at some exciting new Metroid Dread gameplay. Metroid Dread will be released on Nintendo Switch on October 8, 2021. Seth has all that in your Daily Fix!

The Matrix Resurrections trailer just dropped and it has a lot of Matrix fans asking questions about Laurence Fishburne’s Morpheus? The events that took place in the MMORPG video game, The Matrix Online, might just explain what happened to Laurence Fishburne’s Morpheus. If we consider The Matrix Online a canonical continuation of the films, this might explain why we no longer see Laurence Fishburne’s version of Morpheus in the Matrix Resurrections trailer. The Matrix explained within The Matrix Online, Morpheus faces a certain fate that would make it unlikely for Laurence Fishburne Morpheus to return. In this video, we’ll discuss the Matrix Online Morpheus scene in detail and how it could potentially lead to Laurence Fishburne not being in the Matrix 4. The Matrix video games, both the Matrix Online and Matrix Path of Neo, are part of the Matrix story and the Matrix extended universe. The #TheMatrixResurrections movie drops December 22nd. #TheMatrix In other news, there’s a firmware update coming to an Xbox One controller near you that’ll give you next-gen features. Microsoft announced in a blog post that they’re testing a new firmware update for Bluetooth-enabled Xbox One controllers, Xbox Elite 2, and Xbox Adaptive controllers that’ll give them all kinds of cool features that were previously only available on Xbox Series X and S controllers. And finally, LEGO revealed this cool foldout playset that’s in the form of the iconic Question Mark block. When you open it, you get a gander at Peach's Castle, Bob-omb Battlefield, Cool Cool Mountain, and Lethal Lava Land. #IGN

On today's IGN The Fix: Games, Sony has acquired UK developer Firesprite, marking the third studio acquisition from Sony this year alone. As noted on the PlayStation Blog, Firesprite has worked closely with Sony, creating several titles together. Most notably, the developer helped to create The Playroom and The Playroom VR. Firesprite is also the developer behind The Persistence, a horror shooter originally released on the PS4 as a PSVR title before becoming a non-VR version on PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC two years later. It's been one year since Marvel's Avengers hit the scene, and developer Crystal Dynamics released a new road map for the rest of 2021. With details for the first raid, a power level cap increase, and, of course, confirming again that Spider-Man is slated to come to PlayStation later this year. In an extensive new blog, Crystal Dynamics looks back at the year, including all the ups and downs, as well as looks towards the future providing a glimpse at some upcoming content. Diablo 2: Resurrected won't feature ultrawide monitor support when it launches on September 23 due to the discovery that the wider screens break AI mechanics within the original game. Following the technical beta for Diablo 2: Resurrected, developer Vicarious Visions and Blizzard Entertainment took to updating fans on a number of in-game features that the team has revisited. Stella has all that in your Daily Fix!

On today's IGN The Fix: Games, Remedy has announced a full remaster of its cult-classic Alan Wake, due to arrive this fall on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC (via Epic Games Store). Perhaps more excitingly, it opens the door more than ever for Alan Wake 2 to come down the line. After a leak last week, Remedy and publisher Epic announced that Alan Wake Remastered would come with both of the game's expansions, allow for 4K resolution, and will include a new commentary from creative director Sam Lake. No official release date has been announced, but the previous retailer leaks have pointed to October 5. PlayStation boss Jim Ryan announced in an updated PlayStation Blog post that Horizon: Forbidden West will offer a PS4-PS5 upgrade path. Players that purchase the game on PS4 will also get a PS5 version at no extra cost. Ryan also announced that moving forward, all first-party PlayStation exclusives that are cross-gen will offer a $10 digital upgrade path, regardless of whether or not you purchase the game digitally or physically on PS4. The PS4-PS5 upgrade path will also include the upcoming sequel to God of War and Gran Turismo 7. Legendary game designer Hideo Kojima seems to be teasing the new Matrix movie on Twitter, but it's not entirely clear why. 18 years have passed since the release of Matrix Revolutions, the series' last installment. However, with the franchise set to revive itself with the release of The Matrix Resurrections in theatres and on HBO Max this December 22, fans are currently scouring the internet for new content about the film. Brian has all that in your Daily Fix!

In today's Daily Fix, Sony has finally announced a Summer Showcase to flaunt their upcoming releases. They had a few smaller events throughout the summer, but nothing on the level of an E3 or gamescom presentation. While this isn't affiliated with either of those events, we can treat it on the same level, as Sony will be showing off upcoming 2021 titles and beyond. We'll very likely get more Horizon Forbidden West, but maybe also some God of War: Ragnarok? The Last of Us Part 2 multiplayer? Something else? Unfortunately we're not getting any PSVR 2 news, so don't hold your breath for that. And speaking of Horizon, Sony also revealed all the different editions Horizon Forbidden West will be available in. Yes, there's a basic one that's just the game, but if you've got the credits, you can go all out and get the one with the fancy statues. But before you whip out your wallet, just know that the cheapest PS4 standard and special editions will NOT come with a PS5 upgrade. Only the more expensive digital deluxe, collector's, and Regalla editions will have the upgrade. And no, you can't pay a small fee and buy the upgrade later, a lá Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut. So just be warned that if you buy a standard copy of Forbidden West for PS4, and you end up with a PS5 down the road, you won't get the enhanced PS5 version of the game unless you buy a new PS5 copy. But, yes, the PS4 version is backward compatible with the PS5. So there's that. And today's episode is brought to you by NHTSA!

In today's Daily Fix, Sony reveals the free PlayStation Plus games for September! They include 2018's Hitman 2, Overcooked: All You Can Eat, and Predator: Hunting Grounds. Hitman 2 is the second game in the World of Assassination trilogy, and is the first game in the franchise to feature co-op. Speaking of co-op, grab some friends and get cooking with Overcooked: All You Can Eat. The game includes Overcooked 1 and 2, and both those games' additional DLC. Pro tip: designate your roles among the players early on, or else you'll just yell at each other over some unwashed dishes. And finally there's Predator: Hunting Grounds, a co-op shooter that has you either hunting a Predator, or playing as one and stalking your friends. And if you're on Twitch today, you might notice a distinct lack of streamers. The Twitch community has organized a day-long boycott of the platform to protest a lack of tools to combat abuse on the platform. Hate raids on marginalized streamers have gotten out of control recently, and streamers Rek It Raven, LuciaEverBlack, and Shineypen got the hashtag #ADayOffTwitch trending. Here's hoping Twitch will provide those tools soon. What free September PlayStation Plus game are you looking forward to? Let us know in the comments. Unofficial suggestion from us here at The Daily Fix is Overcooked, especially if you can get some friends in the same room.

In today's Daily Fix, CD Projekt have hired a few prominent Cyberpunk 2077 modders to work on "various projects related to the Cyberpunk 2077 backend and the game's modding support." Cyberpunk has gotten some significant updates and patches since it's much-maligned launch last year. If you somehow forgot, the game was in such a bad way on the PlayStation side, that Sony pulled the game from the PS Store for 6 months. The console version of the game has largely improved since then, and the PC version remains the best way to experience it (provided you have the right rig), but this news that modders are working on the game in an official capacity is welcoming. Here's to hoping that CDPR is listening to what fans want in the game and are working toward more active engagement with the community. In other news, David Brevik, the game designer who basically co-created the Diablo franchise, has no plans to play the upcoming Diablo 2: Resurrected. The game is a remaster of Brevik's Diablo 2, but while you'd think the original designer would be curious how a remaster of his game would look and play, Brevik is staying far away from Diablo and Blizzard Entertainment. Blizzard is currently mired in a lawsuit filed by the State of California, alleging sexual harassment and other violations at the Blizzard workplace. Many other stories from current and former employees have since surfaced, leading to a walkout demonstration by employees and many other resignations. And in more lighthearted news, Twitter user Siberian_644 used a Google Algorithm to recreate Street Fighter characters in a more photo realistic manner...and they look...great? Really you should take a look for yourself. It's your Daily Fix!

In today's Daily Fix, China is preparing to combat gaming addiction by severely restricting when kids can play games. According to the Wall Street Journal, new regulations set to go into effect in September will limit kids' gaming time to just three hours a week. Chinese gaming giants Tencent and NetEase are already working on ways to implement the restrictions, possibly through a real-name verification system. Children under the age of 18 will only be allowed one hour of play time—8pm to 9pm—Friday through Sunday and public holidays. China enforced a similar system on the mobile game Honor of Kings in 2018. No other details have yet been provided, such as if these restrictions will apply to foreign-made games or if the rules will be enforced in territories like Hong Kong. And speaking of NetEase, the company is looking to poach Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi away from Sega. Nagoshi would form a brand new team at NetEase and would work on new games. Currently, Nagoshi's latest Yakuza title is the spin-off "Lost Judgment," set for release on September 24, 2021. Finally, if you were disappointed in a lack of Halo Infinite at gamescom, well it was kind of intentional. 343 Industries' Joseph Staten revealed, via GameSpot, that the team is hard at working getting the campaign ready for launch later this year, and a gamescom demo or presentation would've been a distraction. Probably for the best, as the fans would probably want to have a polished game at launch over a short presentation at gamescom. Were you disappointed in Halo not being part of gamescom? And for the gaming parents out there, what kind of limits do you set on your kids' gaming time? Let us know in the comments!

On today's IGN The Fix: Games, Saints Row developer Volition has stated that it is "not backing down on this game" after a portion of the series' fanbase expressed disappointment with the direction of the newly-announced reboot. The official Saints Row Twitter account has been responding to numerous critical messages since the reveal of the reboot at Gamescom's Opening Night Live. Replying to a user who said that they felt "like I wasted my time defending you guys," the official account said "We are not backing down on this game. We get it, it's new and it's a shock reaction to a reboot like no other." When Elden Ring was first announced, one of the biggest surprises was how it's a collaboration between FromSoftware and A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin. Since then, more information about the collaboration has come to light and while Martin was responsible for creating the overall world and mythos of Elden Ring, the in-game text is directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki. Nickelodeon All-Stars Brawl, the Smash Bros-like crossover fighting game developed by Ludosity and Fair Play Labs, has announced two new characters in the form of CatDog and April O'Neil. Following her Gamescom 2021 Opening Night reveal as a playable character in TMNT: Shredders Revenge, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle jumpsuit-wearing news reporter April O'Neil was announced to be joining the roster of characters set to battle it out in Nickelodeon's All-Stars Brawl. O'Neil's reveal trailer saw her back in her iconic yellow look as she showed off an impressive move that features acrobatic flips and split kicks alongside a weaponized microphone. Kim has all that in your Daily Fix!

On today's IGN The Fix: Games, Microsoft has announced that the Games with Gold for September 2021 include Warhammer: Chaosbane, Mulaka, Zone of the Enders HD Collection, and Samurai Shodown II. As detailed on Xbox Wire, all Xbox Live Gold members and those with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will be able to play these games as soon as they are available, beginning with Warhammer: Chaosbane and Zone of the Enders HD Collection on September 1. Celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in a new interactive experience presented by TIME Studios in Fortnite. March Through Time will take players to D.C. 63, a reimagined Washington, DC. Travel to the Lincoln Memorial and the United States National Mall, where Dr. King gave his iconic 17 minute speech for Civil Rights. The experience also includes museum-inspired points of interest, and cooperative mini-game quests. Completing the challenges related to Dr. King and the Civil Rights movement will unlock a D.C. 63 spray for your Locker. Raven Software has announced that it has rolled out another mass banning wave across Call of Duty: Warzone. The studio says that its latest attempt to combat cheaters in the game has resulted in the removal of over 100,000 accounts in a single day. Confirming the news on Twitter, the studio says that it has removed over 100,000 accounts, specifically targeting "repeat offenders and cheat providers at the source". Kim has all that in your Daily Fix!

On today's IGN The Fix: Games, Halo Infinite has a final release date, confirmed after leaks earlier today: December 8. Announced during the Gamescom Xbox Stream 2021, we saw a brand new story trailer for Halo Infinite's first free-to-play multiplayer season, featuring a new character, Commander Laurette Agryna, and her history with the Spartans. Commander Agryna is responsible for training new Spartan recruits at the Academy in Halo Infinite, which serves as the hub for the game's multiplayer campaign and integrates it into the main story. The California Department of Fair Employment & Housing [DFEH] updated its lawsuit against Activision Blizzard today, adding temp workers to the original complaint while accusing the publisher of withholding key documents. Axios was the first to report on the updated lawsuit. One of the key passages says that "documents and records have not been maintained as required by law" and that "documents related to investigations and complaints were shredded by human resource personnel and emails are deleted 30 days after an employee's separation." It seems that Nintendo won't be the only game developer with a theme park, as Ubisoft plans to open one of their own. While the plans aren't new, first appearing in 2015, Ubisoft has recently partnered with Storyland Studios to create attractions at the park. Two of these include VR experiences based on the Assassin's Creed and Prince of Persia franchises. Imagine diving from a church steeple in VR! Kim has all that in your Daily Fix!

On today's IGN The Fix: Games, Cloud gaming is coming to Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One this holiday, allowing Game Pass Ultimate subscribers to stream over 100 games on their consoles without needing to download them - including playing next-gen games on last-gen hardware. Announced during the Gamescom Xbox Stream 2021, the move is a huge step further towards making Xbox games available on almost any device, allowing all compatible Game Pass games to be streamed without downloading or waiting for installs. Xbox points out that this is a useful way to try games before committing to downloading them or to jump straight into multiplayer games with friends without causing the whole party to wait. During Microsoft's Gamescom 2021 Xbox showcase, Humble Games announced a robust lineup of 10 games coming to Xbox Game Pass on day one. These indie titles join an already packed roster of games and span many genres. Some of the games include Archvale, Chinatown Detective Agency, Dodgeball Academia, Next Space Rebels, and Signalis. In a hilariously dark, perfectly Kojima way, the Games Industry legend celebrated his 58th birthday with a solemn vow. Hideo Kojima tweeted about his age and "declining" body but reassured fans that his creativity is as sharp as it's ever been. The Death Stranding and Metal Gear creator also promised to continue creating as long as his brain will allow. Kim has all that in your Daily Fix!

Happy Monday! On today's IGN The Fix: Games, A lifelong fan of The Simpsons: Hit and Run has taken to remaking the game in Unreal Engine 5 and Joe McGinn, the lead designer on the original title, is impressed by the feat. Reuben Ward, an Unreal developer, has seen recent success on his YouTube channel after remaking games in Unreal Engine 5. Following a polished-up version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, the developer's latest project features a shiny new remake of The Simpsons: Hit and Run. Activision has announced that all PS5 and PS4 players will be able to participate in the Call of Duty: Vanguard Alpha on August 27 and try out the brand-new Champion Hill game mode. As revealed on PlayStation.Blog, the Alpha will run from 10am PT/1pm ET/6pm BST on August 27 through 10am PT/1pm ET/6pm BST on August 29. Activision Blizzard is currently facing serious ongoing allegations of harassment and mistreatment of marginalized workers. To learn more, please visit our timeline as well as our in-depth report on the subject. In a new developer deep-dive for Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Eidos-Montreal senior audio director, Steve Szczepkowski revealed just how integral music is incorporated into Guardians of the Galaxy. Rather than just a soundtrack, music will also factor into combat as well as Star-Lord's backstory. In a twist on Peter Quill's backstory, Eidos-Montreal revealed that the name Star-Lord is taken from Peter's favorite band growing up, and not some name he picked up because it sounds cool. Kim has all that in your Daily Fix!

On today's IGN The Fix: Games, 343 Industries has announced that it is delaying campaign co-op and Forge for Halo Infinite until after launch as the developers focus on getting the single-player campaign and multiplayer done in time for its holiday release. In an August video update from the official Halo YouTube channel, Halo Infinite head of creative Joseph Staten confirmed that neither campaign co-op nor Forge will be in Halo Infinite at launch. 343 confirmed that Halo Infinite is "100 percent committed" to release the anticipated shooter this holiday. A new tease appears to confirm that a Saints Row reboot/new entry will be revealed next week at Gamescom 2021. The Game Awards and Gamescom Opening Night Live's Geoff Keighley shared this tease on Twitter, confirming that the team behind the show is "'Bossing' it with our announcements this year". As if there was any doubt that this was for Saints Row, the Tweet also includes a link that takes users to SaintsRow.com, which has been updated to include the same "Rebooting" image. Black Myth: Wukong - the gorgeous upcoming Soulslike based on Journey to the West - is now being developed on Unreal Engine 5, with support from Epic Games and Nvidia. You can see how it looks in a brand new trailer. After being announced and showing off Black Myth: Wukong as an Unreal Engine 4 game, developer Game Science made the switch to Unreal Engine 5 this year. Both Epic Games and Nvidia are providing support with that switch, and the game will support 4K resolution at 60 frames per second, raytracing, and Nvidia DLSS upon launch. Stella has all that in your Daily Fix!