Max is really showing out right now, guys. A highlight reel of upcoming shows gave fans a glimpse into the studio's next couple of years, including a small but mighty look at the highly-anticipated The Batman series, The Penguin, starring Colin Farrell.

The Penguin gets some serious airtime towards the end of the two-minute sneak peek, though not before he gives a grimy smirk in the first few seconds. “The world ain’t built for guys like us,” he laments while loading something sinister into the trunk of a car alongside another man. “You ain’t seen what I can do.”

It’s only a few collective seconds of footage, but it certainly gives a compelling framework for what the show is going to give us. Plus, Farrell’s insane makeup for the villainous role is so exciting to see.

The best is yet to come.

New originals, returning series, and more are coming soon to Max, The One to Watch. pic.twitter.com/Rnfp7gpvAe

— Max (@StreamOnMax) December 6, 2023

Max also showed off a ton of footage from other series on next year’s docket, both sneak peeks of completely new projects and new seasons of existing favorites. They debuted footage from the upcoming seasons of True Detective with Jodie Foster, the Game of Thrones spin-off House of the Dragon, the acclaimed adaptation The Last of Us, and even some insightful and spooky footage from the It spin-off series Welcome To Derry.

There were even shorter glimpses of more projects, including a new Pretty Little Liars spin-off, a new season of Industry, and a new series called The Regime starring Kate Winslet.

As for The Penguin, the series is reportedly set to arrive on the small screen in the fall of next year. It’s a spin-off series of Matt Reeves’ The Batman that centers on Oswald Cobblepot’s rise to power in Gotham’s criminal ecosystem.

The show stars Farrell, reprising his part from the film, alongside Cristin Milioti, Clancy Brown, and Michael Zegen. Lauren LeFranc created the show and will serve as showrunner, with DC Studios producing.

Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.

A new trailer for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s upcoming expansion The Hidden Treasures of Area Zero: The Indigo Disk was unveiled today ahead of its December 14, 2023 launch.

While we already knew about the new legendary Pokémon Terapagos, it looks as though some fan-favourite legendaries are coming along for the ride. That’s right — it looks as though Ho-Oh, Lugia, Kyogre, Groudon, Solgaleo, and Lunala will be heading to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

In fact, it looks as though many of Pokémon’s legendary creatures will be back, including the original legendary birds as well as Entei, Suicine, and Raikou.

“After completing the main story of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero Part 2: The Indigo Disk, trainers can meet a curious character named Snacksworth at Blueberry Academy,” The Pokémon Company said.

“By completing Blueberry Quests (BBQs) in the Terarium, Trainers can earn snacks from Snacksworth that will allow them to encounter certain Legendary Pokémon from throughout the series back in the Paldea region. He’ll also share his extensive knowledge about these Pokémon with trainers — as well as tall tales of his own heroic encounters with them.”

There’s also an interesting new Synchro mode that allows you to play as your favourite Pokémon.

“Once players progress far enough in their adventure in The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero Part 2: The Indigo Disk, they’ll be able to use a device called the Synchro Machine to see the world through the eyes of their Pokémon,” The Pokémon Company added.

Of course, that’s not all – we’ll also see the return of all previous starter Pokémon, which will be obtainable in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

IGN’s Pokémon Scarlet & Violet review gave it 6/10 and said: “The bold new ideas of Scarlet and Violet are fantastic, if unrefined – a belief I also held about Pokémon Legends: Arceus. But in both cases, so many of the pillars holding up those shining concepts – visual quality, open-world details, customization, and technical soundness – are seemingly unfinished or actively crumbling.”

Want to read more about Pokémon? Check out how to play the Pokémon games in chronological order and find out more about this NSFW Pokémon plush.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

IGN can exclusively debut a gallery of new images (see below) from the adult animated musical comedy Hazbin Hotel, which launches on Prime Video on January 19, 2024. Based on creator Vivienne Medrano’s pilot of the same name, which has amassed over 92 million views on YouTube since its release in 2019, Hazbin Hotel follows Charlie Morningstar, the princess of Hell, who seeks to rehabilitate demons to reduce the underworld’s overpopulation. The series’ blend of Broadway-style songs, princess themes, and animation can’t help but bring to mind Disney Princesses and that studio’s legacy of animated fairy tales – an association Medrano is fine with some viewers making.

“When I was conceptualizing it, that was kind of something that I wanted to faintly lean into,” Medrano told IGN over Zoom this week. “What if there was a Disney princess in Hell kind of thing, if that was her kingdom? That was definitely one of the prompts in the initial formulating of how I wanted her character to be. … It's just such a perfect vehicle because it's such a classic, understood, animated realm. So that was definitely a factor for sure.”

The Disney parody angle is evident in the “Happy Day in Hell” musical sequence released at this past New York Comic Con, which Medrano confirms is a tongue-in-cheek homage to, among other classic Disney tunes, the song “Belle” from Beauty and the Beast.

“I wanted it to be a mix of an opening song, ‘getting to know the world’ and the ‘what I want’ song, which is what ‘Belle’ is. It's one of the few Disney songs that does kind of both things,” Medrano explained. “That's kind of the perfect base for what we want with this song, to have it be kind of a mix of she's introducing us to a world, but also telling us what she wants at the same time, which is the classic princess ‘I want’ song, which is in every Disney Princess movie.”

Erika Henningsen, who voices Charlie in Season One, credits songwriters Sam Haft and Andrew Underberg for capturing the spirit of classic Disney animation songs even as they put a wicked spin on them.

“I think they're really good at pastiche, they understand style so well. And my favorite thing is they wrote the style differently for every single person,” Henningsen told IGN via Zoom. “So the way I sound is I'm sort of a rebel Disney princess who is going to drop an F-bomb in the middle of the most delightful melody you've ever heard.”

While Hazbin Hotel both embraces and mocks its Disney influences, there’s one misconception that Medrano wanted to clear up. Some fans believe the Radio Demon, aka Alastor, was inspired by The Princess and the Frog’s antagonist Dr. Facilier. (This notion isn’t helped by the fact that Keith David, who voiced Facilier, is also a member of the Hazbin Hotel voice cast.)

But Medrano explained that Alastor’s creation predates that 2009 film. “No. There was no influence there, but I think the reason there's an association is that when I created Alastor, he was a very kind of hoodoo voodoo-influenced character, and I still want him to have a lot of New Orleans influence. That's where he lived and died as a person. Obviously, Princess and the Frog is set there and Dr. Facilier has that entire thing going on, so I think that's where the association came from. But that movie came out way, way after I'd made Alastor. He's existed since I was in middle school, which is kind of insane that he's made it to being in an actual animated series. He was a character I doodled in my early school years.”

Check out IGN’s exclusive photo gallery below featuring shots of popular characters like Alastor (Amir Talai), Charlie Morningstar (Erika Henningsen), Vaggie (Stephanie Beatriz), Angel Dust (Blake Roman), Sir Pentious (Alex Brightman), Lucifer Morningstar (Jeremy Jordan), and Husk (Keith David):

In addition to Erika Henningsen and Keith David, Hazbin Hotel’s ensemble voice cast also includes Stephanie Beatriz, Alex Brightman, Kimiko Glenn, Blake Roman, Amir Talai, Christian Borle, and Joel Perez. Recently announced guest stars include Darren Criss, Jeremy Jordan, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Patina Miller, and Jessica Vosk.

Hazbin Hotel is produced by A24 and FOX Entertainment’s Bento Box Entertainment. Joel Kuwahara and Dana Tafoya-Cameron, and Scott Greenberg (Season One) also serve as executive producers.

For more adult animation coverage, read IGN’s picks for the 100 best TV shows of all time.

LEGO Fortnite is out now and it’s a brand new survival crafting game built in the world of Fortnite in LEGO style. Everything in the game is procedurally generated for each world you create and it’s even built in Unreal Engine 5 using Chaos physics and destruction to break LEGO bricks apart just like in real life.

This play experience is a new long term partnership between Epic Games and the LEGO Group that is speciailzing in a new open world game to let players of all ages build their own worlds with LEGO bricks digitally.

Niels B Christiansen, CEO of The LEGO Group, said, "Our partnership with Epic Games is

focused on developing digital play experiences that are designed to be fun and safe, and have

the potential to bridge the worlds of physical and digital play to inspire kids. Together with Epic

Games, we are building digital worlds designed with kids in mind from the outset - we hope

other creators and brands are inspired to do the same."

Turning over to gameplay, here's everything you need to know before diving into the survival crafting game, LEGO Fortnite.

Creating a World

In LEGO Fortnite, you can invite up to 8 friends total for each world. You can choose between creating a sandbox world (where you don’t have to farm for resources or worry about survival mechanics) or survival (where you have to manage your character and find resources).

If you share the world’s key with your friends, they can access it even when you’re offline. You can also have multiple worlds created at once. There are over 1,200 existing Fortnite skins that will become LEGO-ified when you select one to enter LEGO Fortnite with100 special emotes for LEGO.

How to Survive

When you drop into your new procedurally generated world, you’ll have to pick up some rocks and wood so you can get your first crafting recipes. You’ll have a helpful NPC to give you tips if you want when starting out as well.

Keep an eye on your status as you explore though, since you’ll need to eat regularly to maintain hunger and make fires if you get cold and alternatively cool off if you’re overheated.

The mechanics in LEGO Fortnite work similarly to Fortnite Battle Royale with sprinting being attached to an energy meter. Don’t try and swim with a depleted energy bar because you will drown and get thrown back to shore. There’s a new dodge mechanic that lets you get a little more reactive in fights as well.

You can go out and collect berries, gather wood, and even fight NPCs camped up around the world to get weapons, food, and other various items when you kill them. If you die adventuring, don’t worry, your backpack will be marked on the map and you’ll respawn at your specified respawn location. If you die getting to your backpack, you’ll be able to get both of them when you’re back since backpacks don’t expire and will stay on the map.

If you need crafting materials from animals or food items, being kinder to animals gives you better loot than just killing them outright. You can pet animals to get items like milk from cows, eggs from chickens, and wool from lambs. You can kill them to get meat but you’ll get more from keeping them around alive..

Also, you can collect fertilizer from all animals. The fertilizer can be used to farm with!. You can plant various seeds to get different types of crops that you can then cook and eat. You can eat food to heal and even get special status effects that’ll keep you surviving longer in harsher conditions – so food is extremely important to focus on when playing LEGO Fortnite.

There are caves to explore that are basically small to large dungeons that can contain rare resources, but be cautious, as those caves will usually contain some high-threat monsters.. Make sure to craft weapons like shortswords, longswords, bows, and shields to help keep you safe against enemies.

Instead of gaining armor or health through traditional leveling, you’ll instead craft different charms to increase your stats. For example, crafting the Health charm, you guessed it, boosts your max health.

Building

The building in LEGO Fortnite is completely different from the normal modes. The new physics lets you build LEGO creations just like in the real world so you can build things by using whole blueprints or piece by piece.

Along with creating various buildings and homes, you can also decorate your home and surroundings with decorations that make things feel more cozy.

You can build an entire Village system and upgrade it to get NPCs to come live with you and help you build, forage, cook, and do other tasks around the Village. Upgrading your village gets you more NPC living capacities, perks, and new recipes for builds and furniture.

The things you can create in LEGO Fortnite feel almost limitless. Once you unlock more resources and process those materials, you can build vehicles like cars, boats, airships, and you can even make an entire railroad system. Anything that you can build in real life with LEGOs you can in the game.

LEGO Fortnite is available to play for free on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC today. For more in-depth tips and tricks for LEGO Fortnite, be sure to check out our IGN Guides page for the most up to date information.

Stella is a Video Producer, Host, and Editor at IGN. Her gameplay focus is on competitive FPS games and she's previously reviewed Apex Legends, Hyper Scape, Halo Infinite Multiplayer, and Battlefield 2042. She regularly hosts and shoutcasts competitive Apex Legends and Halo Infinite tournaments when she isn't streaming on her Twitch channel after work outs. You can follow her on Twitter @ParallaxStella.

Deadpool 3 star Ryan Reynolds has dropped his own hilarious ‘leak’ from the set. The actor posted an image from the set of the upcoming Deadpool sequel on X/Twitter that showed himself and Hugh Jackman having a pleasant chat with a Predator.

“Deadpool began with a leak,” he said, referencing the initial leak back in 2016 that hyped up the canned movie enough for 20th Century Fox to take the plunge.

“So I’m joining in. But please don’t overuse the phrase, ‘Deadpool leaks’ because it might screw up search results if anyone is looking for Deadpool leaks or Deadpool spoilers or perhaps, Deadpool scoops.”

Deadpool began with a leak. So I’m joining in. But PLEASE don’t overuse the phrase, “Deadpool Leaks” because it might screw up search results if anyone is looking for Deadpool leaks or Deadpool spoilers or perhaps, Deadpool Scoops. #DeadpoolLeaks #DeadpoolSpoiler #DeadpoolScoop pic.twitter.com/yxZN8MslLn

— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) December 7, 2023

Obviously, this isn’t real. It’s just Reynolds poking fun at the recent leaks with a fun, doctored image. Even better, he followed it up with one showing him taking a bad of cash from Disney.

It’s no secret that Deadpool 3 has been the focus of plenty of leaked spoilers during its filming in the UK, with set pics hinting at the film’s plot as well as which Marvel characters may appear in the film.

Just yesterday, Reynolds himself addressed the set leaks, urging fans and websites to stop spreading spoilers while the film is still in production.

#DeadpoolLeaks pic.twitter.com/gnoALTZ7Lw

— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) December 7, 2023

“Here’s hoping some of the websites and social channels hold back showing images before they’re ready,” he said. “The film is built for audience joy – and our highest hope is to preserve as much of that magic as possible for the finished film and the big screen. Part of the reason people post spoilers is because they’re excited. I realise these aren’t real world issues and it’s firmly in the ‘good problems’ bucket. I love making this movie.”

He also seems to love poking fun at the leakers, hilariously teasing a non-existent Quibi easter egg.

#DeadpoolSpoilers pic.twitter.com/cWeTi8ErNP

— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) December 7, 2023

IGN’s Deadpool 2 review gave it 7.8/10 and said: “Deadpool 2 eventually draws its disparate elements together, gains momentum, and pushes towards something more closely resembling a traditional finale. In keeping with the rest of the movie, it’s still fairly small-scale and character-focused, and surprisingly, it’s emotionally effective too. Despite the character’s trademark flippancy, there’s a real unexpected warmth to Deadpool 2. Not only does the sequel explore this flawed character, it firmly establishes him as a loveable and effective hero.”

Want to read more about Deadpool 3? Check out which Daredevil character is returning in Deadpool 3 as well as why Logan director James Mangold isn’t thrilled at Wolverine’s return.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

The Alone in the Dark reboot is delayed from January 16 to March 20, 2024, publisher THQ Nordic has announced, citing the well-being of its developer.

In a statement, THQ Nordic said hitting the planned January release date would have put developer Pieces Interactive under immense stress during the holiday period.

“The year is coming to an end, and the Christmas holidays are upon us,” the publisher said. “However, until today, it didn't seem that way for Pieces Interactive, the team developing our upcoming survival-horror game, Alone in the Dark. With our initially planned release date in January 2024, the Christmas season would have been filled with stress and anything but a jolly time for them.

“Therefore, THQ Nordic and Pieces Interactive have decided to give Alone in the Dark a new release date: March 20, 2024.

“The well-being of the teams is a top priority, and both companies want to avoid any potential crunch over the Christmas holidays. Furthermore, THQ Nordic and Pieces Interactive want to ensure that the game not only meets but exceeds the expectations of the community, especially with the outstanding performances of Hollywood stars David and Jodie as the main protagonists.

“We understand that many people are eagerly awaiting the release, but your patience will be rewarded. We are thrilled to scare the living daylights out of you on March 20, 2024.”

This isn't the first time THQ Nordic has delayed Alone in the Dark. In September, the publisher delayed the reboot from October 25, 2023 to January 16, 2024 in a bid to avoid heavy hitters such as Insomniac’s PlayStation 5 exclusive Spider-Man 2.

Alone in the Dark will release for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S when it eventually comes out. In IGN’s Alone in the Dark preview, we said: “In all, the team and motivation seem right to deliver an exciting take on a classic of horror gaming. I'm looking forward to learning more about Alone in the Dark as we get closer to release, and you can bet I'm downloading the free prologue Grace in the Dark right now.”

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

IGN Roundtable is a brand new initiative we're starting that brings together the best and brightest in the worlds gaming, film, TV, and pop culture to talk about what’s really on their minds. From the state of the industry to inspirations, you never know what’s going to happen at these one-of-a-kind chats between legends.

To kick things off, we're proud to announce our first IGN Roundtable will take place on December 7, right before The Game Awards, and will feature devs from Alan Wake 2 and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 talking about some of the greatest stories to ever hit the digital screen and whatever else they want to speak to each other about.

Instead of having a host, these devs will have the chance to have a conversation with each other and talk about what it really takes to make some of the best games of the year.

This will be a great chance to learn more about not only the creatives behind some of your favorite games, but also a chance to hear the perspective on some of the biggest topics inside the gaming industry and beyond!

We will be releasing the first part of the chat on December 7, and the second and final parts will follow on December 11 and December 13.

This is only the beginning, and we can't wait to reveal what else we have planned for IGN Roundtable in the future.

As we previously mentioned, the first part of our IGN Roundtable will arrive just before The Game Awards, where Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and Alan Wake 2 are both up for Game of the Year. To learn more about one of the biggest nights in the world of gaming, be sure to check out our guide that will tell you how you can watch The Game Awards and what you can expect from the show that promises incredible reveals, recognition of our favorite games and creators, and musical performances.

You can also check out more about these Game of the Year contenders before the roundtable by checking our our Marvel's Spider-Man 2 review and Alan Wake 2 review. In addition, be sure to look at why having Alan Wake 2 helps with the pain of not having Silent Hills and how Remedy created Alan Wake 2's horrifying game over screen.

In the world of Spider-Man, read up on the 10 things we learned from our big Spider-Man 2 postmortem and why we think Spider-Man is now the only true Arkham successor.

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Godzilla Minus One is extending its U.S. theatrical run, giving people more time to schedule a date to see the legendary kaiju on the big screen.

The official X/Twitter account for Toho's Godzilla Minus One announced that the King of Monsters would be running rampant in select theaters for a little longer, with the film's limited run now being extended to include over 2,500 locations in the U.S. and Canada starting December 8 through to (at least) December 14.

#GodzillaMinusOne isn’t going anywhere! In fact, the film will be playing on EVEN MORE North American screens this coming weekend—increasing to over 2,500 locations in the US & Canada starting December 8.
As long as people are attending, showtimes will continue. So get your… pic.twitter.com/Ny0lFWw0O2

— GODZILLA.OFFICIAL (@Godzilla_Toho) December 6, 2023

Godzilla Minus One is the first live-action Godzilla movie from Japanese production and distribution company Toho since 2016. It takes Godzilla back to the character's post-WWII origin as the monster strikes out on a roaring rampage of destruction and devastation in Japan, plunging the country from "zero to minus."

The romp-and-stomp movie, written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki, premiered in Japan on November 3 — exactly one year from when Toho first announced the feature — and received a theatrical release in the United States on December 1, with many moviegoers heralding it as one of the best Godzilla entries in years.

Godzilla Minus One grossed over $11 million during its U.S. debut over the weekend, giving it the all-time highest opening for a live-action Japanese movie in U.S. theaters. The latest Godzilla film also surpassed $34.6 million at the worldwide box office alongside widespread critcial acclaim, with Rotten Tomatoes scores exceeding 90%.

IGN's review of Godzilla Minus One awarded the film 8 out of 10 stars, feeling that it's "even bigger than its title character" and more "hopeful" than Shin Godzilla with extra "swell, in the score and on the heart strings; less terror and more pride, even (or perhaps especially) while evoking a vulnerable period in Japan's history."

Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on X @AdeleAnkers.

Grand Theft Auto 6 has finally been revealed and looks set to feature dual protagonists, Lucia and Jason, but Cyberpunk 2077 fans think the latter looks rather familiar.

Like the rest of the internet, Cyberpunk 2077 players were talking about the GTA 6 trailer (which was due to premiere on December 5 but was posted on December 4 following a leak) online, with several players flagging that Jason looks a lot like the male V.

"I can't wait for the scene in GTA 6 when Jason will leave Lucia, change his name to Vincent, and go to Night City," said Argeras on X/Twitter, shared on Reddit. They added a still of Jason from the GTA 6 trailer alongside the original Cyberpunk 2077 cover art featuring male V, with many users in the comments noticing similarities between the two.

"Guess this is what he was up to in Atlanta," joked PrinceGaffgar, referencing the opening of Cyberpunk 2077 when V explained how they just returned from Atlanta, Georgia. Though GTA 6 might not feature Georgia exactly, it does at least focus on a fictional version of its neighbouring state, Florida, called Leonida.

"Jason from the GTA 6 trailer kinda looks like V from the Cyberpunk CGI trailer," noted makavelinow in another post. "They wanna be them so bad," posted JustaNormalpersonig, with photos of the criminal couple Jason and Lucia next to male V and one of his potential romantic interests in Cyberpunk 2077, Panam Palmer.

Jason isn't the only character attracting the attention of fans though, as the internet has otherwise grown obsessed with Lucia.

The GTA 6 trailer — which reintroduces fans to Rockstar's take on Miami, Vice City — has already broken records, and dwarfed the likes of Cyberpunk 2077's reveal trailer in terms of views. Lasting 90 seconds, the trailer featured a ton of intricate details (here are 99 things IGN spotted) and plenty of references to wild and wacky real life events too.

While the game was revealed alongside a 2025 release date for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S, PC players were left frustrated, though not necessarily surprised, that their platform was left off the list.

They weren't the ones a little peeved though, as several developers from Rockstar itself took to social media to express their frustration at the trailer leaking early. In fact, the entire industry shared their disappointment that the exciting moment was dampened. Several streamers were also hit with content strikes and takedowns in the wake of the leak.

And while most of those 101 million viewers likely cannot wait for Grand Theft Auto 6, some will seemingly never be satisfied. Why? GTA 7 was trending online as soon as the trailer dropped.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Here’s a blast from the past: PSone game Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace looks set to hit PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 via the PlayStation Plus Classics catalog.

Gematsu spotted a rating for the 1999 adventure in Taiwan, which includes a launch on PS4 and PS5.

Disney continues to carry the PlayStation Plus Classics lineup on its back—STAR WARS Episode I: The Phantom Menace (PS1) has been rated for PS5 and PS4 in Taiwan.

Please follow and visit https://t.co/cVnrA6wA1m for all your video game news, thanks. <3 pic.twitter.com/oBwFWMXIAb

— Gematsu (@gematsu) December 7, 2023

A number of old Disney games have hit the PS Plus Classics lineup in recent months, including PSP game Up. Last month, IGN reported on the Taiwan ratings board listing Disney/Pixar Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (PS1), Thrillville: Off the Rails (PSP), and Thrillville (PSP) all for PS4 and PS5. Now we can add Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace to the list.

Sony has yet to announce the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for December, but it won’t be far off.

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace was developed by and published by LucasArts as an adaptation of the film. It includes a number of familiar settings and characters from Episode I. We weren’t particularly impressed, however, with our Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace review returning a 6.2.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Six years after it came out, Kingdom Come: Deliverance launches on Nintendo Switch early 2024, publisher Plaion has announced.

The Switch version is ported by Sabre Interactive in collaboration with original developer Warhorse Studios, and is dubbed the The Royal Edition. Expect a physical release as well as a digital launch on the Nintendo eShop.

The Royal Edition includes the base game as well as all the DLCs: Treasures of the Past, From the Ashes, The Amorous Adventures of Bold Sir Hans Capon, Band of Bastard, and A Woman's Lot.

IGN’s Kingdom Come: Deliverance review returned an 8/10. We said: “Kingdom Come: Deliverance is an RPG that does the medieval era right with a refreshingly small-scale story and strong realistic combat.”

Here’s the official blurb on the Switch version:

“As Kingdom Come: Deliverance graces the Nintendo Switch, it invites players to embark on an unforgettable journey through a historically rich and visually stunning world. Whether on the bus, at home, or during a lunch break, dive into the medieval realm and shape the fate of Bohemia wherever you go.”

Developer Warhorse has remained tight-lipped about its next project, but given the success of Kingdom Come: Deliverance it seems likely it will get a sequel at some point.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

The highly anticipated LEGO Fortnite has received its first gameplay trailer alongside its launch today, December 7.

The trailer, below, reveals how the brick-building gameplay blends with Fortnite's battle royale. The trailer didn't show any player versus player action though, instead focusing on the building, survival, and cooperative elements.

The mode appears to be exactly what it says on the tin: Fortnite gameplay in a LEGO style. LEGO minifigure skins explore the Fortnite map, destroying trees and boulders to gain resources to then build as normal, except in the style of LEGO bricks.

Building takes on a more permanent role in the mode, however, with various intricate and extravagant models being shown off in the trailer. Survival elements featured too, as players will seemingly be left bricking it as night falls and all sorts of spooky beasties appear.

Wolves, skeletons, and angry dragon-looking bosses all appear in the trailer, all made up of LEGO bricks. Even Fortnite's iconic loot llama makes an appearance in the LEGO style.

The gameplay trailer blurb offers more details: "Explore vast, open worlds where the magic of LEGO building and Fortnite collide. ​​​​Collect food and resources, craft items​, build shelter and battle enemies solo or​ team up​ with up to seven friends.

"​Get creative in building and ​customizing​​​ your ultimate home base​ using LEGO elements collected from the world around you​, then recruit villagers to gather materials and help survive the night. Gear up and drop into deep caves in search of rare resources and hidden areas.

"Find the ultimate survival crafting LEGO adventure in Fortnite! The journey is only just beginning with new world building, gameplay features, and more LEGO Style Outfits arriving in updates starting early 2024."

Regular Fortnite has otherwise just switched to Chapter 5 Season 1, which has a lot to prove given the popularity of its predecessor, the OG Update, which saw 44.7 million players log on in a single day in what Epic Games described as "the biggest day in Fortnite's history".

It will also follow a wave of controversy as Epic Games implemented then disabled age restricted cosmetics, with players criticising it as one of the "worst updates" in Fortnite history.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

The second season of HBO's The Last of Us will debut on Max in 2025, with production on the new batch of episodes set to start early next year.

Max confirmed the release window for The Last of Us Season 2 in its "One to Watch" trailer, which showcases new originals, returning series, and more on its upcoming streaming slate. The Last of Us appeared in its 2025 section alongside several other titles, including The White Lotus and Euphoria, giving fans reason to celebrate.

The best is yet to come.

New originals, returning series, and more are coming soon to Max, The One to Watch. pic.twitter.com/Rnfp7gpvAe

— Max (@StreamOnMax) December 6, 2023

Showrunner Craig Mazin previously revealed in conversation with Variety that production on Season 2 of The Last of Us will start on February 12, 2024 - more than a year after HBO handed out a second season renewal to the post-apocalyptic drama, which stars Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller and Bella Ramsey as Ellie Williams.

The dual strikes of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) brought most of Hollywood's productions to a standstill this year. However, Mazin confirmed that he had finished writing the first episode of the sophomore season of The Last of Us right before screenwriters downed tools.

The writers' strike ended in September after nearly five months, while the actors strike came to a close on November 9, allowing all those involved in film and TV to resume work. Mazin remained hopeful that he could stick to a 2025 release date for The Last of Us, but there had been no official word on where it was upto.

Mazin has also said he is open to making spin-offs but has already teased that Part II will take "more than a season's worth of television", implying they will split the sequel into two or more seasons, which will be a big difference from the show's hugely successful first season that told the entire story of the original game.

The forthcoming chapter will apparently feature content from The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered's Lost Levels as well as moments that will be "radically different" from the game. It's hard to predict how the second season will play out, but IGN has had a go at plotting a rough outline of what might occur in the next run of episodes.

Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on X @AdeleAnkers.

Nintendo has cancelled Nintendo Live 2024 Tokyo and postponed other Japanese esports events after persistent threats were made to both staff and spectators.

A Japanese press release, shared by reliable translator Genki on X/Twitter, revealed the "all ages celebration of Nintendo fun", which took place in the United States for the first time in 2023, has been cancelled and its main esports tournaments postponed.

Nintendo said its employees have received relentless threats which have also recently targeted spectators, attendees, and staff at Nintendo Live 2024, forcing the cancellation in the interest of safety. It was due to take place from January 20 to 21.

Nintendo Live 2024 Tokyo has been cancelled due to threats received at Nintendo

- Threats made against Nintendo staff and spectators
- Event was due to take place at Tokyo Big Sight in Jan 2024
- Splatoon & Mario Kart tournaments have been postponedhttps://t.co/Wjjng4qPuA pic.twitter.com/fp8CRlxtO7

— Genki✨ (@Genki_JPN) December 7, 2023

The Splatoon Koshien 2023 National Finals, which was due to take place in December 2023, has also been postponed. The events scheduled for Nintendo Live 2024 — the Splatoon 3 World Championship 2024, the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Online Challenge Final Stage, and the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe World Championship 2024 — have obviously been postponed too, all to an undetermined date.

Nintendo apologised for any inconvenience caused and thanked fans for their understanding.

The 2023 event, which took place in September in Seattle, Washington featured myriad fan-centric celebrations including opportunities to play incoming Switch games, complete in tournaments, take photos with characters, watch live stage performances, and more.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

CD Projekt Red are tugging at heartstrings again after including a devastating reference to hit anime Cyberpunk: Edgerunners in Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.1.

Fans were very excited over the long requested romantic partner hangouts being added to Cyberpunk 2077 (and are obviously still obsessed with them), but CD Projekt Red targeted them right in the feels with the mission name connected to these meets.

As outlined in IGN's Cyberpunk 2077 Guide, which details how to trigger the romantic encounters and what they entail, beginning one will start a Main Job called "I Really Want to Stay At Your House". This is a reference to the song by Rosa Walton and Hallie Coggins, that's been in Cyberpunk 2077 from the start but greatly grew in popularity after the release of Cyberpunk: Edgeunners in September 2022.

While we won't spoil what happens in Cyberpunk: Edgeunners, the song appears at some particularly emotional moments.

I Really Want to Stay At Your House also appears as one of the songs players can dance to with their partners. "I realise it's the name of the gig but did they have to use that song," said ZawanShin87 on Reddit. "I couldn't even enjoy Judy's dancing because I was laughing and crying."

Another user, IGR777, shared a similar sentiment. "Nice name. Totally didn't bring back depressing memories," they said. "I have no reason to leave my apartment anymore," added Lord9witdafye in another post. "Done with all that merc s**t choom, gonna elope with Panam."

Update 2.1 adds a lot more than this, of course, as CD Projekt Red also brought the long-requested metro system, new motorbike mechanics, and much more. It even added the infamous sad Keanu Reeves meme.

The full patch notes were shared ahead of its release on December 5, the same day the Ultimate Edition of Cyberpunk 2077 was released. This will be the final big update in Cyberpunk 2077's long and troubled history, though comes after CD Projekt Red won back the love of its fans following the game's messy launch.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Mahershala Ali is feeling confident about the direction of the long-awaited Blade movie after previous reports suggested he almost left his leading role altogether.

While it’s clear the Marvel Cinematic Universe has recently had trouble pinning down release dates, a Variety report from last month suggested that Blade was dealing with more than director and writer troubles. In addition to going through at least five writers and two directors, the film had reportedly been struggling to pin a direction for its story.

Ali allegedly nearly left Blade altogether due to the issues with its script. Then, MCU mastermind Kevin Feige brought in Logan writer Michael Green to start over with a reported budget of less than $100 million.

An update on Ali’s feelings about the project’s status arrived in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly.

“We’re working on it. That’s the best I could tell you,” Ali said. “I’m really encouraged with the direction of the project. I think we’ll be back at it relatively soon.”

More than six years removed from the MCU Blade movie’s reveal, any drop of optimism from Ali should come as a relief for fans. Whether or not the film has finally found its footing with director Yann Demange remains to be seen, but things at least seem to be moving in a bright direction for the Daywalker for now.

“I’m sincerely encouraged in terms of where things are at and who’s on board and who’s leading the way as far as the writing of the script and the directing and all that,” Ali added. “So that’s the extent of what I can tell you.”

The project was originally announced in July 2019 and, following some delays, is now expected to premiere on November 7, 2025. That’s just one month shy of two years away, so plenty could change between now and then. Still, Ali’s optimism will hopefully lead to more positive updates as we wait for the R-rated MCU movie.

Image credit: Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Netflix

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.

Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.

Norman Lear, the legendary writer and producer behind such sitcoms as All in the Family, Maude, Sanford and Son, One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, and Good Times, died on Tuesday, December 5, at the age of 101, leading to an outpouring of tributes those within and outside of the entertainment industry.

While Lear worked as a comedy writer in the '50s and '60s, he truly broke out in the '70s when he developed CBS' All in the Family, based on the British sitcom Till Death to Us Part. It would set a precedent for Lear; not only did his shows earn laughs, but they were also bold enough to tackle fraught subjects that others wouldn't at the time. All in the Family took on issues like racism, feminism, fertility and miscarriage struggles, and much more, all while touching on headlines of the time like the Vietnam War.

All in the Family ran for nine seasons from 1971-1979 before continuing as a continuation, Archie Bunker's Place, from 1979-1983. It also, of course, inspired a number of spinoffs, including Maude (from which Good Times would spin off) and The Jeffersons.

Lear was particularly prolific during this time, also developing Sanford and Son for NBC (1972-77) and One Day at a Time (1975-84) for CBS, both of which would also become ratings hits and TV classics.

And while he no doubt shaped primetime sitcoms of the '70s, his work wasn't limited to TV, either. Lear also executive produced films like The Princess Bride and Fried Green Tomatoes, and his screenplay for Divorce American Style earned him an Oscar nomination.

CBS itself, which was home to most of Lear's sitcoms, was among the first in the industry to pay tribute to Lear with a statement, writing:

Norman Lear’s profound influence on television will never be forgotten. He was a creative icon whose comedic and courageous perspective on the America he loved had an immeasurable impact on our network, our viewers and television overall.

His funny, realistic and fearless approach to storytelling rang true in his sharp writing and rich characters. He redefined the sitcom by introducing topics that had previously been avoided, including race, poverty and sexism. And he did it all with wit and heart, making it relatable to millions of Americans.

Norman’s broad impact on our industry is surpassed only by his personal influence on the lives of the innumerable people he touched at every level of our business. He also remained a passionate advocate for equality and justice throughout his remarkable life.

We extend our deepest condolences to Norman’s beloved family. His legacy will forever touch the medium we all love.

Also, in an unprecedented move, CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox, and The CW will all simulcast an on-air in memoriam card tonight at 8:00 PM, ET/PT in tribute of Lear.

Tributes were quick to pour out on social media, with various celebrities and filmmakers coming out to share their words of remembrance.

"His shows shaped my childhood and getting to know him was one of my greatest honors," Jennifer Aniston wrote on her Instagram, in part. "He made such a difference. A huge impact on television and humanity. He was able to tackle and discuss heated political conversations during difficult and charged times and we were able to laugh and learn."

"Goodnight Norman. Love you," wrote Jon Stewart on X/Twitter. "Thanks for raising me."

Goodnight Norman. Love you. Thanks for raising me.

— Jon Stewart (@jonstewart) December 6, 2023

"What an amazing life that has given so much to us all," said Billy Crystal. "He used laughter as a way to look at ourselves. A blessing to have been his friend for almost 50 yrs."

We have lost a giant..a man of great humor and dignity. What an amazing life that has given so much to us all. He used laughter as a way to look at ourselves. A blessing to have been his friend for almost 50 yrs. pic.twitter.com/qlH339kD22

— Billy Crystal (@BillyCrystal) December 6, 2023

Jimmy Kimmel, who worked with Lear on a number of projects over the years, paid tribute in the following statement to THR:

“It is obviously silly to want more time with a person who outlived a whole century but losing Norman Lear, even at 101 years old, feels unfair. His bravery, integrity and unmatched moral compass were equaled by his kindness, empathy, and wit. Norman was very proud of the fact that the so-called Reverend Jerry Falwell dubbed him, ‘The number one enemy of the American family.’ The opposite was true. More than anyone before him, Norman used situation comedy to shine a light on prejudice, intolerance, and inequality. He created families that mirrored ours, showing us a world in which Archie Bunker and Michael Stivic could learn to not only co-exist, but to love one another. As a young man, Technical Sergeant Lear flew 52 combat missions over Nazi Germany. He continued to fight for freedom all the way to the end of his life on earth. Even at 101, Norman cared as much about the future, our children, and planet as anyone I have ever known. He was a great American, a hero in every way and so funny, smart, and lovely man you almost couldn’t believe it. The privilege of working alongside Norman and the opportunity he gave me and my wife to get to know him and his beautiful family has been among the great honors and pleasures of my life. We were all very lucky to have him.”

In a statement provided to Deadline, George Clooney wrote, “It’s hard to reconcile that at 101 years old, Norman Lear is gone too soon. The entire world of reason just lost its greatest advocate and our family lost a dear friend. A giant walked in his shoes.”

Lear's frequent collaborator Rob Reiner wrote on X/Twitter, "I loved Norman Lear with all my heart. He was my second father. Sending my love to Lyn and the whole Lear family."

I loved Norman Lear with all my heart. He was my second father. Sending my love to Lyn and the whole Lear family.

— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) December 6, 2023

Tyler Perry shared on Instagram a sweet story of getting to meet Lear, also writing, "A hero and someone who inspired me to try and bring as much laughter to the world as he bought to the little boy that I was. You sir are truly one of one! I’m so glad we were on the planet at the same time."

Per Deadline, Jane Fonda wrote in a statement, "Today is a very sad day. Norman Lear, a man who meant a lot to many on a personal level and who changed the face and soul of American comedy, has passed. My heart is heavy. I loved Norman."

You can see even more tributes to the TV icon from people like Mark Hamill, Shonda Rhimes, Stephen King, and more below.

R.i.p. Norman Lear. A master of story telling and a healer through his shows! He is what all of showbiz should be aspiring to. He is the consummate creative producer we have long abandoned in the industry. pic.twitter.com/svGWzG1CMj

— John Leguizamo (@JohnLeguizamo) December 6, 2023

I met Norman Lear in his 90s--a smart, good-humored man, full of laughter and anecdote. Without him, there would have been no STAND BY ME. Do yourself a favor and check out this nice little video.https://t.co/ThRPfNEvHe

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) December 6, 2023

He changed television forever with just one show.
Just the beginning of a legacy that will last FOREVER.

Thank you Norman Lear. 🙏 https://t.co/crbLcLxwh1

— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) December 6, 2023

Farewell to the incomparable Norman Lear, a trailblazer who challenged norms and shifted the paradigm through the laughter and lessons you've shared. It was an honor to be a small part of your impact and to witness it in my lifetime. To a legacy and life well-lived, thank you… pic.twitter.com/lL5LCZgfb4

— Wanda Sykes (@iamwandasykes) December 6, 2023

I had the pleasure of spending time with this giant at his home in the Palisades several times. The words “legend” and “icon” get thrown around too much, but this guy was both. RIP, Norman Lear pic.twitter.com/pMpL3Ek8OK

— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) December 6, 2023

RIP to the kind, funny trailblazer Norman Lear. The Platonic ideal of a life well-lived. pic.twitter.com/HiPQR75YqK

— Christopher Miller (@chrizmillr) December 6, 2023

RIP to Norman Lear
I wax 16 when @robreiner and @TheNormanLear gave me my break in the biz - and treated me like a son - looked after me in such a kind loving way. that only in retrospect could I fully appreciate what great caring humans they are
Norman made you feel like a…

— John Cusack (@johncusack) December 6, 2023

Thumbnail credit: Bob Riha Jr/Getty Images

Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she's not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.

The second season of House of the Dragon is a little ways away, but George R.R. Martin has shared some insight on the first two episodes, teasing that they're, unsurprisingly, "very dark."

Martin revealed in a new blog post that House of The Dragon co-creator Ryan Condal gave him a sneak preview of the first two episodes of House of the Dragon Season 2. While he did not go into spoilers, he had plenty of adjectives to describe what he witnessed in those first two episodes.

"Of course, I am hardly objective when talking about anything based on my own work… but I have to say, I thought both episodes were just great. (And they are not even finished yet)," Martin explained. "Dark, mind you. Very dark. They may make you cry. (I did not cry myself, but one of my friends did). Powerful, emotional, gut-wrenching, heart rending. Just the sort of thing I like."

That, as noted, shouldn't be a huge shock to those who've read the Fire & Blood book on which the Game of Thrones spinoff is based, of even those who watched Season 1 of the series. We finally got the first trailer for the highly anticipated second season this past weekend, which teases the bloody Targaryen civil war that will be the center focus of the upcoming season.

"After 10 episodes, House Of The Dragon has officially emerged as a worthy successor to Game Of Thrones," we wrote in our review of House of the Dragon Season 1.

House of the Dragon season 2 is out sometime next year. For more, check out our piece on how the prequel stacks up against Game of Thrones so far.

Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

After being seemingly referenced in this week’s Grand Theft Auto 6 first trailer, Lawrence Sullivan – aka “Florida Joker” – has responded, telling Rockstar “we gotta talk.”

Apparently the Florida Joker that Rockstar parodied in the GTAVI trailer has reacted on TikTok

“GTA, we gotta talk” pic.twitter.com/mm5LefHXUH

— Ben (@videotechuk_) December 6, 2023

GTA 6 takes place in the state of Leonida, which is basically Rockstar’s version of Florida, and fans quickly noticed a number of real-life, Florida-related references in just the brief 90-second trailer. Among them was what very much seemed to be a reference to Sullivan, a tattoo model who garnered plenty of online attention after his mugshot went viral in 2017. Obviously, he earned the nickname “Florida Joker” due to his green hair and face tattoos.

The GTA version, seen in a quick shot of news footage, is a tad bit different – purple hair instead of green, some different face tattoos – but the similarities are certainly hard to ignore, which Sullivan didn’t. He acknowledged the GTA 6 video in a TikTok posted on Tuesday.

THEY GOT FLORIDA JOKER IN GTA 6 pic.twitter.com/7VL35JfKQS

— Born to Tweet, Forced to Post (@The_Cultist_) December 4, 2023

“You know they got that character with the face tattoos, you know who they got that inspired by? By me,” he said. “Just look me up, Florida Joker. You know what I’m talking about.”

“GTA, we gotta talk,” he concluded.

It’s unclear if Sullivan has had any communication with Rockstar (IGN has reached out to him for further comment), but he wouldn’t be the first person to call out GTA for seemingly including their likeness in a game. Perhaps most famously, Lindsay Lohan filed a lawsuit in 2013 against Take-Two for what she claimed was unauthorized use of her likeness for a minor character in GTA 5. The suit, however, was eventually dismissed.

Sullivan’s response is only the latest development in what’s been a whirlwind since the leak, and then the official launch, of the wildly anticipated GTA 6 trailer. In the past few days, it’s been breaking YouTube viewership records and spurring a number of fan theories as fans eagerly await its 2025 release.

Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she's not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.

Last year’s addictive monster-slaying game, Vampire Survivors, is collaborating with Among Us for a new DLC called Emergency Meeting that is set to drop on December 18, 2023.

Developer Poncle announced the latest addition to its indie hit as part of today’s Day of the Devs presentation, revealing the new content with a trailer. It’s a pretty meaty video that debuts new animation that features bosses and imposters alike, and if you stay tuned to the end, you’ll even catch a glimpse of some Crewmate gameplay.

PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X | S players can expect Vampire Survivors: Emergency Meeting to drop on that December 18 date. However, Nintendo Switch and mobile will have to wait a bit longer. Poncle apologizes for the delay and only promises to release the other versions “soon.”

The team shared more about the indie meet-up project in an FAQ on its website. As might’ve noticed in the trailer, Vampire Survivors: Emergency Meeting adds nine characters, 15 weapons, 20 in-game unlocks, and of course, a new stage based on the world of Among Us. Moreover, Poncle promises to include “a ton of references and elements” from the party game property, adding that players unfamiliar with it can still have a good time regardless.

“No realm or plane of reality is off limits in the universe of Vampire Survivors, so for this one we're off to the Polus Replica,” Poncle describes. “How did the cast of Vampire Survivors get there? That's not the question, but we can assure you the gravity is fine, nobody will float off, and the prefab structures are perfectly safe. We can't make any promises to prevent sabotage or suspect goings on during gameplay, however.”

Crossover events like Vampire Survivors: Emergency Meeting can provide interesting opportunities to blend popular franchises together. However, the fun sometimes comes at a price.

“When entering licensing territory, all businesses, especially large ones, have different guidelines and conditions to follow in order to make a collaboration happen,” Poncle says. “This means that in most cases collab DLCs will be more expensive than normal.”

However, the Vampire Survivors team adds that they’re working on more for the future, too: “We are also trying to be cheeky and find ways to make certain collabs to be available to everyone for free though, finger crossed we manage to get there!”

While there are no new achievements in Vampire Survivors: Emergency Meeting, there will be six new music tracks to jam to.

“We're friends with the wonderful Among Us developers, Innersloth, we had a little chat about the concept of doing a collaborative DLC, did a bunch of paperwork, then a bunch of development work, and the rest is history that you'll be able to play soon.”

In our Vampire Survivors 1.0 review, we praised Poncle’s concoction of simplistic gameplay and smorgasbord of tools, adding that it managed to suck away “over a hundred hours” of our time. More recently players were treated to update 1.8, which add more roguelike content to keep monster hunters coming back.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.

Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.