Monday, November 30, 2020
AC Valhalla: How to Defeat the Daughters of Lerion
You Can Finally Transfer Nintendo Switch Screenshots Directly to a Computer
[poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.Ver. 11.0.0 (Released November 30, 2020) Nintendo Switch Online was added to the HOME Menu.
- Access all Nintendo Switch Online services, from getting the latest information to checking your membership status. *This feature is not available in some countries/regions.
A new feature that automatically downloads backed up save data was added to the Save Data Cloud.
- When using software with the same Nintendo Account linked to multiple systems, save data backed up from one console will automatically be downloaded to your other system(s).
- *To use this feature, it must be enabled under System Settings > Data Management > Save Data Cloud.
- *Save data will not be downloaded automatically unless save data for that software exists on the console. The first time only, users must download the save data manually.
- *A Nintendo Switch Online membership is required to use the Save Data Cloud service.
A new Trending feature was added to the User Page.
- Users can check what software their friends are playing or have started playing recently.
- Information will not be displayed for friends who have their online status set to display to no one.
Users can now transfer screenshots and videos from Album to their smart devices.
- Users can wirelessly connect their smart devices to Nintendo Switch to transfer the screenshots and videos saved within their Album.
- For screenshots, users can transfer a maximum of 10 screenshots and 1 video capture at once.
- *To connect, users must use their smart device to scan the QR Code displayed on the Nintendo Switch screen.
- For more information, please refer to the Nintendo Support website.
- *“QR Code” is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED.
A new Copy to a Computer via USB Connection feature was added under System Settings > Data Management > Manage Screenshots and Videos.
- Users can use a USB cable to connect Nintendo Switch to their computers to copy the screenshots and videos saved under Album.
- * A USB charging cable [model HAC-010] or a USB-IF certified USB cable that supports data transfer is required to connect to a computer.
- For more information, please refer to the Nintendo Support website.
- * Connection via the Nintendo Switch dock is not supported. Please connect the Nintendo Switch system directly to the computer.
Users can now select what download to prioritize when there are multiple downloads in progress.
- When there are multiple software, update data, or downloadable content downloads in progress, users can now select which they want to download first.
- You can set this under Download Options by selecting the icon for the software you want to download first on the HOME Menu.
User icons were added.
- 12 user icons that commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Super Mario Bros. series were added.
Users can now name preset button mappings with the Change Button Mapping feature. Brazilian Portuguese was added as a supported language.
- When users set their region to the Americas and their language to Português, the language used on the HOME Menu and in certain software will be displayed in Brazilian Portuguese.
Several issues were fixed, and usability and stability were improved.
Fortnite Galactus Event: When It Starts and What To Expect
What is The Fortnite Galactus Event?
The Fortnite Galactus event is a special, one-time-only event where players will (assumedly) battle Galactus. Epic hasn’t spilled the beans on just what that will actually entail. The only thing they’ve said is that players will be “joining the fight”. Will Fortnite players actually go toe-to-giant boot with Galactus though? We're not sure. What we do know is that this is supposed to be some sort of battle. Whether we afforded a front-row seat or actually get to participate in the fight is still up in the air. What we can say for certain is that Galactus will descend upon the island before all hell breaks loose.What Time is The Fortnite Galactus Event?
Fortnite's Galactus live event will take place tomorrow, December 1st, 2020 at 1 AM PST (4 PM EST) in-game. Similarly, to other live Fortnite events, players will want to log-in an hour early. There should be a prompt letting you know that the event is happening soon. That’s when you hit the battle royale launcher (you’ll wait at the menu screen until that point). Again, try to be early. The last thing you want is to be stuck waiting in a queue while everyone else is participating in the Galactus event.How to Watch The Fortnite Galactus Event?
The entire event will take place in-game. Hopefully, if you log-in early enough, you’ll be able to participate. Don’t worry if you can’t though. While this is a one-time occurrence – as opposed to say, the Travis Scott concert – it will be possible to catch a VoD of sorts. Epic will allow content creators to share highlights of the event via YouTube. That way, if you miss Galactus, you can live vicariously through their streams. Note: Be sure to check with Epic if you plan on monetizing the event. Only Support-A-Creator (SAC) members will be able to monetize by linking their YouTube and SAC accounts. Even then, they’ll only be able to do so for 90 days. Epic said that they won’t issue takedowns or anything. Still, it’s always better to be safe rather than sorry. As for the where (once things get going), I’d expect for Galactus to be seen regardless of your position on the map. He’s a giant God-like being after all. He’s going to be hard to miss. That said, he is rising out of the water near the west side of the map. You can’t go wrong by heading in that direction upon logging in.Fortnite Battle Bus Galactus Glitch
Another interesting development, besides the major event, is a Fortnite Bus glitch. Apparently, players can “hijack” the bus and ride it towards Galactus for…reasons. Discovered by YouTuber Glitch King, this glitch will give players the ability to take a closer look at a still submerged Galactus. To pull this off, you first have to make sure that the battle bus is headed in his direction. After that, you have to disconnect your internet a few seconds before you’d normally be kicked off the bus. If done correctly, you’ll continue to fly towards Galactus, eventually seeing what looks like purple energy waves. This glitch doesn’t tell us anything new about Galactus or the coming live event. It does, however, seem to tie into a cryptic tweet from Fortnite. Was Epic just being cheeky/celebrating the glitch? Most likely. Still, it’s always fun to speculate about these things; that’s what these vague announcements are made for.That’s all we know about the Fortnite Galactus Event (so far). Be sure to check back here for more as things progress.You do know how to drive the Battle Bus.. right?
Join the Fight on 12.1.20 4 PM ET pic.twitter.com/8K380f03P1 — Fortnite (@FortniteGame) November 28, 2020
AC Valhalla: How to Complete the Legendary Hunts
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Immortals Fenyx Rising Review
In Greek mythology, Icarus’s ambition led to his literal downfall when he flew too close to the sun and melted his wax wings. So yes, being overly ambitious does have its drawbacks, but so too does a lack of it. Immortals Fenyx Rising, for instance, offers a light and entertaining spin on Greek mythology that’s clearly inspired by a reverence for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Its setting, systems, and story are packed with references to iconic deities and legendary tales, but always with tongue planted firmly enough in cheek that it avoids coming off as self-important. All this flavour makes for a great set-up that’s complemented by fun combat, but the puzzle design across this colourful open world is disappointingly workmanlike. In a game about heavenly gods and fantastical monsters, the puzzles are far too grounded by earthly concerns.
Immortals’ most inventive touch is its storytelling. The journey of Fenyx, a mortal soldier shipwrecked on a mystical island, is presented as a tale told by an imprisoned Prometheus to Zeus, and the dynamic between the two is hilarious. The pair’s bantering narration interjects regularly throughout your roughly 30-hour adventure, helping to further the plot, provide mythological context, or simply crack jokes. And further on, Immortals does an effective job of balancing the focus on humour with story-driven character development.
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The overarching story revolves around the hulking monstrosity Typhon, once imprisoned by Zeus, now free and determined to destroy the Gods forever. Typhon also interjects regularly as you travel across the Golden Isle setting, as he’s none too happy that you’re helping out the four gods this beast has transformed – Aphrodite, Hephaistos, Ares and Athena. And when I say transformed, I'm not embellishing. The God of War, for instance, is now a rather handsome rooster. The emphasis here is very much on humour, while also giving us insight into the backstories of Aphrodite, Hephaistos, Ares, and Athena within the pantheon.
[poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=These%20iconic%20gods'%20stories%20are%20full%20of%20fun%20moments%20and%20amusing%20dialogue."]I really enjoyed seeing how the development team chose to play with each of these iconic gods, and their stories are full of fun moments and amusing dialogue. Each of the areas they’re based in also feels radically different. The green hills, lush forests, azure streams and picturesque islands of Aphrodite’s Valley of Eternal Spring couldn’t be more different from the scorched, arid terrain and towering fortifications of Ares’ War’s Den.
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Hermes – emissary of the gods and all-round trickster – is also great value, popping up unexpectedly during missions, and always available at the Hall of the Gods, Immortals’ hub for upgrades and crafting. These are by no means the only characters of myth and legend covered by Immortals. Many of the puzzles, whether they're about restoring a Constellation or completing a Fresco are also references to classic fables, alongside other nods throughout the world.[poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=The%20dynamic%20between%20Zeus%20and%20Promethus%20is%20hilarious."]
Obviously the more intimately you know these myths and mythical beings the more you’ll get out of the references and the ways in which Immortals deals with them. I enjoyed the fact that the lives of the Gods are basically presented as a cosmic soap opera, but at the same time, a lot of it washed over me as I’m just not familiar enough with the underlying mythology. It would have been nice if Immortals had some supplemental information for players like myself that could help fill in the gaps along the way.
The Gods are far from the only sources of humour in Immortals. Fenyx is treated quite playfully too, ensuring that even routine things like opening treasure chests or upgrading an attribute brought a smile to my face.
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Far Slight
The Golden Isle is a pretty alluring destination. Immortals’ painterly presentation can be quite striking as you gallop through lush meadows or take in the sights from a clifftop, while the day/night cycle ensures the tone of the landscape is always evolving. Fenyx is very capable within this world too; like Link in Breath of the Wild, he or she (you can choose) is able to climb basically any obstacle given enough stamina, then glide towards whatever destination you’ve picked out using the Wings of Daedalus.
Exploration, though, is where Immortals stumbles a bit relative to its obvious inspiration. Fenyx’s Far Sight ability diminishes the joy of discovery somewhat, reducing it to a mechanical process of climbing to a vista, scanning the world, and marking out collectables and challenges – whether they’re visible or not. This takes a lot of the mystery out of the world.[poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=Immortals%E2%80%99%20painterly%20presentation%20can%20be%20quite%20striking%20as%20you%20gallop%20through%20lush%20meadows%20or%20take%20in%20the%20sights%20from%20a%20clifftop..."]
It’s one thing, after all, to climb a peak and spot something in the distance, then drop a pin on it to remind yourself to go and see what it is. It’s quite another to be able to systematically work your way across the entire map waiting for controller vibrations, then mark exactly what’s in that spot – be it a treasure chest, Vault of Tartaros or one of the numerous challenge archetypes. Every time I used Far Sight I’d typically add ten or more new destinations on my map with next to no effort.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/7-things-to-know-about-immortals-fenyx-rising"]
To be honest, I’d much prefer not to know what’s in that deep chasm before I jump down to explore it. And likewise, I want to climb a craggy cliff jutting out of the sea just to see if there’s something up there, not because I know for a fact a shimmering nugget of Ambrosia is waiting.
[poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=The%20Golden%20Isle%20is%20fun%20to%20roam%20around%2C%20with%20plenty%20of%20optional%20combat%20and%20some%20truly%20impressive%20vistas."]Of course, I don’t have to use the functionality, but to me the fact that it’s included at all says that Immortals is more concerned with the destination than the journey, and that was largely borne out in my time with it. While Immortals does use a stamina system for gliding and climbing, my plentiful supply of easily crafted stamina potions ensured that I could still quite easily get to wherever I wanted. As such, the environment itself wasn’t much of a puzzle, which is a real shame for an open-world game.
Despite this, The Golden Isle is still fun to roam around, with basic collectables to gather and discover, plenty of optional combat, and some truly impressive vistas.
Old’s Cool?
Regardless, many of the destinations in Immortals aren’t what I’d describe as riveting once you reach them. It’s not that these challenges are bad – they just have no ambition whatsoever. That murky chasm I mentioned earlier? Turns out its deep secret was a puzzle where I had to shoot flaming arrows into three braziers to open a door. Then, 20 metres further along, I had to find three switches to open another door. Then a bit on from that, there was a puzzle where I had to find three weights to put on three pressure plates to open yet another door. I’m not even kidding.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/immortals-fenyx-rising-ps5-quality-vs-performance-mode-gameplay"]
A large percentage of the puzzles in Immortals revolve around cookie-cutter gameplay like this. Immortals is grounded in pushing, pulling, lifting, stacking and throwing blocks… most of the time to trigger switches on the ground. That school of puzzle design is so old-school it makes the Greek myths feel practically contemporary.
[poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=That%20school%20of%20puzzle%20design%20is%20so%20old-school%20it%20makes%20the%20Greek%20myths%20feel%20practically%20contemporary."]It’s not just blocks and crates, either. I also had more than my fill of puzzles where I had to roll balls through mazes, guide flaming arrows into braziers or find the missing object to put on a plinth. One moment it’s an apple, the next a cabbage, but functionally it’s all the same. The puzzles in this game, whether in the overworld or within the Vaults of Tartaros, really do feel like they’re all just variations on a handful of basic concepts over and over again.
[caption id="attachment_2445825" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Don't forget sliding block puzzles.[/caption]To be clear, none of these are badly designed, and I didn’t actively dislike doing them. I just wasn’t excited by them, nor did they really test me or surprise me. Less would most definitely have been more in Immortals. Coming back to that chasm again, imagine if instead of three obvious and functionally similar puzzles there was just one that really rewarded observation and understanding its systems? I’d much prefer one satisfying puzzle that demands invention and lateral thinking than three utterly bland solutions. Instead, it feels as though the puzzles are largely there to fill the map, not to engage us.
[poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=None%20of%20these%20puzzles%20are%20badly%20designed%2C%20I%20just%20wasn%E2%80%99t%20excited%20by%20them."]Immortals’ puzzles are ultimately a means to an end – they’re a source of gear and loot that can be used to gain more stamina, unlock new abilities, upgrade potions and so on. And in this capacity they at least help ensure Immortals’ fast-paced combat stays engaging throughout.
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Hammer Time
Combat is absolutely a strength in Immortals, and the world map is positively littered with foes to fight, so any time I felt like letting off steam, some stylish hacking, slashing and wielding the powers of the Gods was never far away. I loved swapping my armour and weapons around to use their perks, as well as unlocking new abilities to give me more options in combat.
[poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=Wielding%20the%20powers%20of%20the%20Gods%20was%20never%20far%20away."]Taking a look at the skill trees, I largely focused on upgrading Fenyx’s ability to dodge in the air and on the ground, and then follow-up attack out of dodges. As is the way in video games, dodging as an enemy attacks slows time, and I took advantage of that by extending her sword and axe combos too. Alternatively, I could have focused on counters out of parries, or running attacks, or ways to do damage while airborne. I could even have ignored the skills altogether and gone all in on the Godly Powers.
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Instead of doing that, I chose to complement my chosen skills by giving my bird sidekick Phosphoros the ability to swoop down to damage and stun a target repeatedly, which was great for big threats. I also upgraded Hephaistos’ Hammer to give it a shockwave for crowd control in addition to burst damage. Whatever way you like to fight, Immortals will likely have something for you.
[poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=Whatever%20way%20you%20like%20to%20fight%2C%20Immortals%20will%20likely%20have%20something%20for%20you."]And as you help out the Gods you’ll also unlock their Blessings, each of which is a unique perk. Aphrodite’s Embrace, for instance, is essentially Mipha’s Grace from Breath of the Wild, bringing you back after losing all your health. Not that you really need it outside boss battles – there’s almost no penalty for dying on normal difficulty.
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The combat is certainly fun, but it’s not particularly hard unless you decide to try and take on a legendary encounter before gearing up enough. For normal encounters it didn’t take me long to suss out each enemy’s attack patterns, as well as learning that if an enemy flashes red, I should get ready to dodge out of the way. Immortals has some good systems in place to help in combat too, such as icons showing when attacks are coming from off-screen. Again, get ready to dodge. Annoyingly, I found it impossible to consistently stay locked on to my priority target, so in the end opted not to use that functionality at all.
[poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=The%20combat%20is%20certainly%20fun%2C%20but%20it%E2%80%99s%20not%20particularly%20hard."]Fights could use a bit more variety, too. Sure, you’ll often be attacked by a motley assortment of enemies at once – a minotaur or cyclops here, a couple of ethereal soldiers there, a Gorgon slothing up behind, some Harpies in the sky, and so on. The problem is they don’t have a great deal of personality beyond their attacks, and aside from obvious counters like using heavy attacks against shielded enemies or aerial combos against flying creatures, you can use a pretty basic strategy against most foes – hit them until an attack is coming in then dodge. Rinse and repeat.
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Another element that makes the combat feel easier than it might otherwise have been is the fact that your health bar doesn’t really mean much. If you spend any time gathering collectable plants in the environment, you’ll always be able to cook up enough health, stamina, attack boost and defense boost potions that you can spend them very freely. Only Immortals’ final boss had me down to zero health potions and legitimately sweating. For everything else I was able to dose up as needed.
Even so, I’m not opposed to combat that isn’t overtly challenging if it’s still fun, and Immortals’ combat is very much that. Fenyx is responsive to control and felt more and more powerful as I progressed. And after clocking Immortals, I was pretty tempted to either go back to my pre-final boss save or to start a New Game+ and try to max out all Fenyx’s gear and abilities… but then I remembered the gameplay in between the combat and the exploration.
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Sunday, November 29, 2020
Japan's Super Nintendo World Theme Park Area Gets an Official Opening Date
Universal Studios Japan today announced that its long-awaited Super Nintendo World area will finally open to the public on February 4, 2021. IGN Japan was on hand for a sneak peek at one section of the new world; the very first time members of the press have been invited inside – check out our gallery below.
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Bowser’s Castle (or Koopa’s Castle in Japan) is an immense reconstruction of the iconic location from the games. Visitors will be able to climb a sweeping grand staircase, at the top of which is an imposing life-size bronze statue of Bowser himself. The scale is seriously impressive.
The walls of the castle’s corridors are lined with huge portrait paintings of Bowser, along with bright and colourful emblems from the Mario Kart games. Huge faux brass knockers adorn the doors, while Bowser’s face in menacing silhouette peers down from the top of the door frames.
We also saw where guests will line up for one of the park’s most anticipated new attractions, Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge, which promises to put visitors in the driving seat for a ride that includes AR and projection mapping effects to bring courses from the Mario Kart games to life. This is realized through a special headset styled on Mario’s hat with a built-in AR screen.
The attraction is the result of a six-year collaboration with the creative team at Nintendo, including input from Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto.[poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=Mario%20Kart%3A%20Koopa%E2%80%99s%20Challenge%20promises%20to%20put%20visitors%20in%20the%20driving%20seat%20for%20a%20ride%20that%20includes%20AR%20and%20projection%20mapping%20effects%20to%20bring%20courses%20from%20the%20Mario%20Kart%20games%20to%20life."]
Mario Kart Station is where visitors will board the ride. Each kart has four seats, with a steering wheel and AR headset for each rider. Warp Pipes hang down from the ceiling of the station departure hall, while chunky metal chains and massive gears decorate the room. The facade of a Lemmy’s Tire Service repair shop and other details can be seen above.
We also walked through a Trophy Room where guests can pose for photos alongside artefacts inspired by the games, including familiar trophies and one bearing the USJ logo, as well as a handwritten note from Bowser laying down a karting challenge.
Speaking to the assembled media, Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge attraction executive producer Thomas Geraghty showed off the new headset and Power Up Band. He noted that this will be the first ever Mario Kart theme park ride. “We will bring the story to life with Nintendo’s very compelling characters – Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach – and we will immerse our guests into the world of Nintendo with this augmented reality headset,” he said. “Guests will join their favourite characters immersed in augmented reality, steering their way through the Mushroom Kingdom, throwing shells at Koopalings, as they race to the finish.” He said that there will be win and lose states in the game, so victory is not guaranteed.
Geraghty said the headsets will be sanitised after every use, along with other social distancing measures.
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Super Nintendo World was originally intended to open ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics this summer, but this was postponed in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Even so, in October, a Mario-themed cafe and store opened inside USJ did open, separate from the Super Nintendo World area. The final area promises to include some pretty cool gamified elements, such as interactive attractions where visitors link their Power Up Bands to a mobile app to collect digital coins and unlock achievements.
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Universal Studios Japan is located in Osaka, Japan, and at the time of writing, Japan’s borders are closed to foreign tourists, though permanent foreign residents and business visitors from some countries are permitted to enter. The government is reportedly planning to fully reopen to tourists in spring 2021.
In addition to the USJ Super Nintendo World attraction, future locations are also being considered at other Universal Studios parks around the world.
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Daniel Robson is Chief Editor at IGN Japan – follow him on Twitter here!
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Brian Barnett writes wiki guides, deals posts, features, and much more for IGN. You can get your fix of Brian's antics on Twitter (@Ribnax).Saturday, November 28, 2020
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Cyberpunk 2077 PS4-PS5 and Xbox One-Xbox Series X/S Cross-Saves Detailed
Cyberpunk 2077 PS4-PS5 Cross-Save
As long as you are using the same PlayStation account, you will be able to pick up your game save on PS5 right where you've left on PS4. There are three different options to transfer your saves, and they are as follows;- Connect to your PlayStation Plus account and upload your saves
- Transfer your data via LAN cable or wireless connection (WiFi)
- Use a compatible storage device to copy and transfer your saves to the same PSN account on PlayStation 5.
Cyberpunk 2077 Xbox One-Xbox Series X/S Cross-Save
It's a bit easier on the Xbox side of things with cross-save, as Smart Delivery "allows you to continue playing the game on Xbox Series X/S from where you’ve left off on the Xbox One." As long as your are connected to the internet so your saved data can be uploaded to the cloud, your save will transfer seamlessly and will be ready when you start Cyberpunk 2077 on your new next-gen system. If you need another option, you can also "connect both your Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S to the same network and use the system network transfer option." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=new-cyberpunk-2077-gameplay-screenshots&captions=true"] Cyberpunk 2077 will be released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Google Stadia on December 10, 2020. It will be playable on both PS5 and Xbox Series X/S at launch as well, but the free, "more robust" next-gen versions won't be ready until 2021. For more, check out our final preview of Cyberpunk 2077 after playing over 16 hours and our breakdown of the all the story details you need to know to prepare for your adventure in Night City. [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. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.A Complete Guide to Spider-Man: Miles Morales
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Final Fantasy 14's Patch 5.4 Release Date, Raid, Trailer, and More Revealed
As revealed in Final Fantasy XIV's latest Letter from the Producer stream, the raid will be four parts and takes players back to the Cloud of Darkness from A Realm Reborn's alliance raid. A new dungeon - Matoya's Relict - is also being added and takes place in The Makers' Quarter, which was once home to the "finest crafters Eorzea had ever seen, but it has lain in forgotten ruin since the Sharlayan exodus." Patch 5.4, and the subsequent Patch 5.45, will also see updates to the Blue Mage, Chronicles of a New Era - The Sorrow of Werlyt, a New Trial and Large-scale battle, Ishgardian Restoration Updates, Triple Triad and Demon Mahjon updates, and so much more. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=final-fantasy-xiv-patch-54-futures-rewritten-screenshots&captions=true"] The team also announced the Final Fantasy XIV Announcement Showcase for February 5, 2021, at 5:30pm PT/8:30pm ET/1:30am GMT (2/6), and while it was only teased that the team will announce "cool things," many believe it could be the announcement of the next expansion. Final Fantasy XIV's third expansion - Shadowbringers - was announced in 2018 and was released on July 2, 2019. That was two years after Stormblood, which was two years after Heavensward. Assuming no further delays related to COVID-19 or otherwise occur, it would make sense that FFXIV's newest expansion's reveal should be imminent. Oh, and perhaps most importantly, Final Fantasy XIV is teaming up with Pusheen to offer animated iMessage stickers that will soon be available on Apple's App Store. I mean, these are just the best. [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. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.Ah we just can't get enough of the trailer, so here it is again!#FFXIV Patch 5.4—Futures Rewritten arrives on Tuesday, December 8! https://t.co/qcrLxpTyuk pic.twitter.com/9TyM64tVLC
— FINAL FANTASY XIV (@FF_XIV_EN) November 27, 2020
Hyrule Warriors: Find Over 60 Unlockable Outfits in Age of Calamity
SaGa Frontier Remastered Announced for Summer 2021
In our SaGa Frontier Review back in 1998, we said "In all fairness, SaGa Frontier has a great story, it's a little vague at first, but when all the scenarios begin to knit themselves together, the game starts to get really good. If you like role-playing games, and you're just itching for another Square RPG, SaGa Frontier is probably a safe purchase -- most Square games are. But if you get the chance, I'd rent it first." SaGa Frontier is the seventh game in the SaGa series, a series that began in 1989 with The Final Fantasy Legend. Nintendo is set to release the Collection of SaGa Final Fantasy Legend on December 15, 2020, and it will bring together the first three titles in the SaGa - The Final Fantasy Legend, Final Fantasy Legend II, and Final Fantasy Legend III. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/26/collection-of-saga-final-fantasy-legend-announcement-trailer"] [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. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.The 1998 classic is back: SaGa Frontier is being remastered with updated graphics, events, cutscenes, enhancements (and a new protagonist!) for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Steam, iOS, and Android - launching in Summer 2021 pic.twitter.com/3VsrEReHnA
— Square Enix (@SquareEnix) November 28, 2020
The Continuingly Confusing Case of the UK's Missing PS5s
There’s nothing more exciting than opening a brand new console on launch day.
Unless of course, yours turns out to be a bag of cat litter. Or a George Foreman grill, or tins of dog food, or bed sheets, or fitness equipment, or a Himalayan Salt Lamp.
For me, it was an air fryer that sat in my Amazon package, in place of the PS5 I’d ordered from Amazon months previously.
On launch day, excited my PS5 package had finally arrived after an unexpected delay, I hit record on my phone to capture its unboxing. But, after giving the driver the special password from Amazon to ensure a secure delivery, I discovered I had been sent a kitchen appliance instead. The anticlimax was captured on film.
I called Amazon immediately to tell customer service about my mysteriously replaced PS5. They said they would investigate, and that I would hear back in 24-48 hours. Baffled, I tweeted the recording I’d made – and it turned out I was very much not alone.Happy #PS5 day everyone. Tried to document our one’s unveiling, but Amazon have tricked us with an unsolicited air fryer instead (after giving delivery password). Anyone else had this problem today? pic.twitter.com/99IUSzSJUU
— Bex April May (@bexlectric) November 19, 2020
“Woke up excited for my #ps5 getting delivered......going to be going to bed having had to create a crime report to the police due to the delivery driver ‘misplacing’ it,” said one reply. “Went past my address but did not deliver it, then Amazon claimed it was lost,” said another. “This happened to me too. Marked as delivered with no sign of an attempted delivery. Truly ridiculous,” someone else tweeted.
A pattern quickly emerged. Across the UK, the same thing was happening: the originally scheduled PS5 delivery was being ‘missed’, marked as delivered when it hadn’t been, or delayed until much later. When it arrived, the package would contain something - but it wouldn't be a next-gen console.
There were too many stories of similar occurrences for this to be a coincidence. What was really happening here?
What follows is an investigation which took me from confusing Amazon customer service, all the way to the potential for nationwide organised crime. And I’ll warn you in advance, like a DualSense plugged into a non-brand kitchen appliance, it still doesn’t make any sense.
Consolation Prizes
Of more than 500 customers who replied to a poll I posted on Twitter, 52% of people missing their PS5 from Amazon never received anything, and 47% had received a random item in its place like I had.
This kind of thing might be occurring more often than we realise. Other Amazon customers contacted me to say the same thing had happened to them with other high value items, such as iPhones and hard drives. Usually, if an item goes missing, you’d expect the company to simply issue a replacement. But with PS5 launch day, and no more stock, the problem - and perhaps scam - has apparently happened en masse, and far more noticeably.
I mentioned earlier that my delivery had been unexpectedly delayed before the package arrived. For seven hours, my PS5 had been unaccounted for. So, what had happened to my console during that time, and where could it be now? Shortly after I shared the video of my package being opened, someone tweeted me something I hadn’t considered.
[poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=%22Amazon%20don't%20use%20clear%20plastic%20tape%2C%20so%20I%20suspect%20that%20%5Bit%5D%20has%20been%20opened%2C%20swapped%20and%20resealed%20in%20transit.%22"]
“@AmazonUK don't use clear plastic tape, so I suspect that [it] has been opened, swapped and resealed in transit,” replied Twitter user Alex Haines. Rushing to other Amazon packages I had, the difference was glaring. The familiar black ‘Prime’-branded reinforced tape was on all of them. But it wasn’t on what was supposed to be my PS5 delivery.
Other people noticed the same thing. Sam Felts told me, “I noticed the tape was just clear, not normal Amazon tape, and there was also a layer of tape underneath the one I opened that was already cut.”
Twitter users began speculating that this was evidence the boxes had been tampered with. They theorised our PS5s were being taken out of the package by someone in the supply chain, stolen, and replaced with random items.
With an RRP of £449 in the UK, the PS5 is clearly a high-value item. But given the demand and lack of stock anywhere, the consoles are being sold for more than double that on eBay right now. Could my PS5 have been stolen by someone in Amazon’s logistics chain only to be sold at an outrageous markup on the grey market? I browsed eBay listings, wondering if I was scrolling past my own console. Despite the fact that those who had preordered months ago couldn’t even get hold of their PS5, some sellers had procured plenty. It seems entirely possible that, if our Amazon-ordered consoles have been stolen, they could quite easily be being sold on.
The Method for Madness
The motivation seems clear enough, but how the swaps were taking place is less obvious. The general assumption from the many victims online was that this was an inside job. But where along the Amazon supply chain could that realistically be taking place?
Some speculated Amazon warehouse employees could be taking the consoles, and switching the contents before delivery (or never delivering them at all). However, one former Amazon employee, who had worked as security in an Amazon Fulfilment Centre, anonymously told me the security measures in the warehouse were so tight it simply isn’t possible for an employee to sneak an item the size of a PS5 out for themselves.
“The packing in the warehouse is entirely covered by line managers and CCTV,” the source told me. “All warehouse staff go through manned security checkpoints to exit the warehouse, and everyone, including management, is required to go through a turnstile with a Random Number Generator search function. One in 10 people are selected, and if they are, they have to submit to a metal detector and turn out their pockets.
“I once caught a guy trying to leave with a Micro SD card,” says the Amazon warehouse source, “No way could someone get a PS5 out that way.”
My source, who also worked at Amazon for the launch of Grand Theft Auto 5, told me the company even brought in extra security for the hugely anticipated game’s launch: “The HGV bringing the games to the warehouse had an escort, and there were extra cameras covering the pallets of games Although it’s more difficult for staff to walk out with a console than a game, I'd assume they'd also take extra precautions with such a high-profile item.”Hi @amazon @AmazonHelp can you explain why your courier has stolen my ps5? Parked outside my house for ten minutes going through his van before marking my order as delivered. Refused to check his van when confronted? #ps5 #stolenps5 #ps5preorderuk pic.twitter.com/HKmPIVjgeY
— George (@georgeh3nry) November 20, 2020
If the warehouse is ironclad, what about the Amazon delivery drivers? Many Amazon customers who hadn’t received their PS5 had reported delivery drivers parking outside their home but never delivering the item. I asked an Amazon driver contact – who also asked to remain anonymous – about what this could mean. Does a driver need to arrive at an address to mark a package as delivered, even if it isn’t?
“Yes, the driver needs to be in proximity of the address to mark them arriving and then delivering the item,” they tell me. “Amazon sends notifications automatically to the recipient. For example, ‘Parcel is 6 stops away’ or ‘Parcel has been delivered’. My assumption is the app is pinging the Amazon server the information to send on to the customer,” the source adds.
[poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=It%20was%20a%20nationwide%20network%20of%20criminals%2C%20working%20several%20delivery%20companies%2C%20and%20for%20a%20while%20they%20seemed%20to%20be%20quite%20successful."]
Almost everyone’s stories of missing PS5s from Amazon feature this detail – a driver being spotted in the vicinity of the address, at the marked delivery time, but the package not being delivered. Some have even recorded video of confrontations during this event. And some drivers have reportedly already been fired for it.
This could be a far more organised effort than simply rogue drivers, however. Another anonymous source, who had worked as a courier for a delivery firm not affiliated with Amazon, told me of a scam they had seen before, that they suspected could be at play here again.
“I'm going to assume this issue is a result of drivers being bribed,” they told me, “Our courier company had the contract from Apple to deliver iPads and iPhones. After a little while, one of our delivery drivers was approached outside our depot and offered cash for iPads.”
“It was a nationwide network of criminals, working several delivery companies, and for a while they seemed to be quite successful,” the source tells me.
Here’s how that scam worked: drivers were offered payment for the deliveries, and were met on the road, somewhere along their route, where a switch of packages took place, and the real, high value packages were given away.Opened my ps5 pre-order only to find out that there’s cat litter in there ffs @AmazonHelp @AmazonHelp pic.twitter.com/1DnaZaQkps
— Lad (@amarthegod) November 20, 2020
So could the swapping of PS5s for other items be the work of a criminal organisation and not the odd underpaid employee? Considering the spread of those affected (we’ve seen reports from up and down the UK), the similarities in cases, and even reports of similar scams reaching as far as the US and beyond, it suddenly seemed plausible.
I took this back to my Amazon driver source to get their opinion. “I didn't see any behaviour like this, and as a delivery partner it's foolish to even attempt this,” they told me, “Everything you do, from the route you take, to the parcels and the returns is tracked by an app. If you don't return the parcel then you probably will get marked down and lose the opportunity to work with Amazon again.”
[poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=There%20inothing%20to%20stop%20gangs%20waiting%20for%20delivery%20partners%20%E2%80%93%20and%20frankly%20nothing%20to%20protect%20you%2C%20as%20a%20delivery%20partner%2C%20if%20that%20happens."]
Though they added, “There is, however, nothing to stop gangs waiting for delivery partners outside the depots, or on the routes, and stealing packages from their vehicles – and frankly nothing to protect you, as a delivery partner, if that happens, other than calling the police and alerting driver support.”
At this point in my investigation, I must let you down with the news that I haven’t infiltrated the theoretical gang in question. But this got wilder than I’d ever considered going in. Wildest of all, the gang theory seems… credible. I can’t say for certain that this crime has taken place. But I know these hundreds of instances look too uniform in their systematic approach for it to be a total coincidence. But, of course, I can’t prove anything, because no one - particularly not Amazon - is giving real answers to this issue.
Feedback Loop
The allotted 48 hours of my first complaint to Amazon about the erroneous air fryer came and went, and I hadn’t heard anything from the company as I had been promised. Many others said the same – on November 23, four days since UK PS5 launch day, and two days since Amazon’s 48-hour investigation window should have closed, 63% of people missing their Amazon PS5 delivery from launch day told me on a Twitter poll they had not even had a refund confirmed yet, let alone received the console they had ordered.
I called Amazon again. After our joint hours of detective work it was time to compare notes.
“I'm not seeing whether there has been any update on it as yet,” said the Amazon customer service rep, when I asked them for the results of their investigation.
“Oh,” I told them, “I was told when we spoke a few days ago that Amazon was opening an investigation into what had happened?”
“I do see that the information was submitted to have an investigation done, but I'm not seeing that there have been any updates on the investigation,” the customer service agent clarified.
I had seen other users on Twitter discuss compensation they had been offered, with some even being offered up to £150 on top of the refund. With Amazon’s investigation apparently less fruitful than my own, I asked about that too.
The value of compensation for the preorder I set with Amazon months ago, all those lost hours with my PS5, and now, with no stocks left, no option of buying another? £5. Specifically, a £5 Amazon voucher. A cooler version of myself would have told Jeff Bezos where to stick it. But, to be fair, it was £5.Thanks @AmazonUK for sending me this instead of the ps5 I ordered. And then telling me sorry, we can't send you the item you actually ordered because we ran out. So you're gonna have to wait over 10 days for a refund. Absolute shambles pic.twitter.com/2slEFxKxlc
— Kirsty (@oopssimafan) November 20, 2020
Somehow, I should probably count myself fortunate – some victims of the delivery failure hadn’t been offered that. Some hadn’t even been offered a refund for their missing item when I spoke to them.
So here I am, with no PS5 (or even an air fryer - Amazon collected it), potentially even the victim of a highly organised nationwide gang, and with £5 in Amazon credit to my name.
On Twitter, other victims bemoaned the situation. People were being refunded against their will – we didn’t want refunds, or even generous £5 vouchers, if you can believe it. In fact, Amazon’s wildly random approach to these vouchers, varying from £5 to £150, has just made the whole affair more chaotic. What we wanted was a PS5 – or priority access to the next wave of PS5s to arrive.
[poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=I%20don%E2%80%99t%20want%20a%20refund%2C%20I%20want%20a%20guarantee%20on%20a%20unit%20from%20the%20next%20batch%20of%20stock."]
“I’m fuming with it all to be honest,” Paul Longworth tells me, another Amazon customer whose PS5 preorder never arrived, “I don’t want a refund, I want a guarantee on a unit from the next batch of stock… I now feel I’ve been closed down as they’ve issued me a refund without my consent.”
When I asked Amazon about how they were helping customers, an Amazon spokesperson said:
“We’re all about making our customers happy, and that hasn’t happened for a small proportion of these orders. We’re really sorry about that and are investigating exactly what’s happened. We’re reaching out to every customer who’s had a problem and made us aware so we can put it right. Anyone who has had an issue with any order can contact our customer services team for help.”
Sony was contacted for comment for this article too, but did not respond.
With seemingly no investigation work done, or specific answers given by Amazon, it feels like this potential scam is being left to disappear. Amazon still hasn’t spoken about why this happened, or discussed the idea of anything untoward happening on their end. In fact, as Longworth told me, the refund on his non-existent PS5 was labelled as a ‘customer return’. “It adds insult to injury,” he tells me.”
When Amazon sent me the instructions to return my unwanted air fryer, the email even called it a PS5. My eye twitched.
It leaves us PS5-less, preorder-less customers in the middle of the madness just as baffled and upset as when we first saw our cat food, or foot massagers. To be fair, I have at least learned there is no shortage of air fryers, if playing with low-fat chip recipes over the holidays is your idea of fun.
Then I received a new email from Amazon – apparently a blanket one, sent to everyone affected. It read, “We know how excited you were about your new PlayStation 5 order, and we're sorry that you haven’t received your item. We are continuing to investigate why the item was not delivered to you.” Before mentioning that a (non-refusable) £10 credit was now being added to our Amazon accounts.Hi @amazonuk, it's now been more than 48 hours and I haven't heard anything from you about this missing #PS5. Was promised would hear back in 24-48 hours while you conduct your investigation... #AmazonPS5Scam @AmazonHelp https://t.co/DohPlzfhrX
— Bex April May (@bexlectric) November 21, 2020
So perhaps Amazon is still investigating… or just watching Twitter’s detective work. I’ll be continuing to look into how this happened - because the letdown for those affected is not just that this happened at all, but that we still, after all this time and searching, don’t know exactly why.
If you have more information on the missing PS5s, or any information on how they may have been stolen, please get in touch with IGN’s Newstips email address - newstips@ign.com. You’ll be kept anonymous in any further reports.
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Bex April May is a freelance journalist. You can follow her (and get updates on the mystery) on Twitter.
Friday, November 27, 2020
Assassin's Creed Valhalla: See the Best Armor Sets to Unlock
Demon's Souls: Turn Boss Souls Into Powerful Weapons and Spells
Call of Duty: How to Unlock All 32 Dark Ops Challenges
Assassin's Creed Valhalla: See the Full Skill Tree and Best Skills to Pick
FFIV’s Cecil, Kain, and Rosa arrive. Relationship status: complicated
AC Valhalla: The 6 Best Abilities to Find and Unlock
Controversial Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Aiming to Acquire SNK
Thursday, November 26, 2020
Pokémon's 25th Anniversary Celebration Teased at Macy's Thanksgiving Parade
There is a good chance we won't have to wait too long to hear what The Pokemon Company has planned for 2021, as Pokemon Red and Green were released in Japan on February 27, 1996, and it has previously celebrated milestones based on the Japanese release. In 2016, The Pokemon Company celebrated Pokemon's 20th anniversary with the announcement of Pokemon Sun and Moon (On February 26, no less), Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow on 3DS' Virtual Console, a special 3DS bundle featuring cover plates of Charizard and Blastoise, a Super Bowl commercial, and much more. With Pokemon Sword and Shield's Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra DLC released, it may be time to hear about the next big Switch Pokemon title, whether it be a new generation or something similar to Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/17/new-pokemon-snap-official-switch-trailer"] We are also waiting to hear more of New Pokemon Snap and Pokemon Unite, the Co-op strategy game that closely resembles a MOBA like League of Legends or DOTA 2. How do you hope The Pokemon Company will celebrate Pokemon's 25th anniversary? Let us know in the comments below! [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. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.Did you catch 'em all? #MacysParade @pokemon pic.twitter.com/ck9UBZ9DE9
— Macy's (@Macys) November 26, 2020
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