Author: trafficblast

Dust off those Phase One Blu-rays for a rewatch because Marvel’s upcoming The Falcon and Winter Soldier Disney+ series is due to bring back some of the MCU’s earliest characters.

The Falcon and Winter Soldier is a six-episode Disney+ series centered around the titular characters, and it’s already known that it’s bringing back some of the characters we’ve already seen in the MCU, like Daniel Bruhl’s villainous Zemo and Emily Van Camp’s Sharon Carter from Captain America: Civil War. But according to the show’s writer, audiences can expect the return of some other MCU characters, namely those from the earlier movies.

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“There are characters from the earliest of the Marvel movies that are coming back,” series writer Derek Kolstad said on the Script Apart Podcast. “They’re layering them in and reinventing them in such a way that it’s going to, kind of, shift the storytelling structure, which is f**king awesome.”

Kolstad wouldn’t go as far as to actually namedrop who these early characters are, but our eyes are set on Phase One of the MCU. It wouldn’t be too unusual, given another Disney+ Marvel series, WandaVision, has already confirmed the return of Kat Dennings’ Phase One character, Darcy Lewis.

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Kolstad added that the team is close to finishing up production after a COVID-19-related delay earlier this year. “They got hit by Covid and they’re finishing up finally, but that’s going to be f**king cool. I’m very honored and I’m proud at what that came to be.”

It’s unknown at this time when we’ll all get a look at who these early MCU characters are in the show as The Falcon and Winter Soldier doesn’t currently have a release date after it was delayed beyond its original August release date. Check out Anthony Mackie’s new Falcon costume in the meantime and then read Mackie’s thoughts on how evolved these characters are in the series.

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Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes. 

Michael Keaton has responded to reports that he is preparing to reprise his role as Batman in The Flash, opposite Ezra Miller’s Barry Allen.

During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Kimmel asked Keaton if he could verify the rumours that he would be suiting up to play Batman in 2022’s The Flash, however, Keaton said that he “couldn’t confirm anything” on that front. He later added: “We’re having discussions, as they say. We’re talking about it. We’ll see if it happens.”

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With Ben Affleck’s Batman already confirmed to have a “very substantial part” in The Flash, Keaton went on to joke that all “127” previous “Batmen” will be making an appearance in the DCEU movie before then declaring himself to be the best Dark Knight of the lot.

Keaton previously played Bruce Wayne and his alter ego in 1989’s Batman and 1992’s Batman Returns, both directed by Tim Burton. At one point both Burton and Keaton were expected to return for a third movie, but both dropped out and Val Kilmer took over the Batman role in 1995’s Batman Forever. Keaton previously voiced an interest in returning to the role, but only if Burton directs – a stance that he appears to have since changed his mind on.

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Andy Muschietti (Stephen King’s It) is set to direct the long-gestating Flash movie. In January, Muschietti reiterated that the movie will be offering its own take on the iconic Flashpoint storyline, which previously inspired elements of The Flash TV series and 2013’s Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox. The Flash is currently scheduled to open on November 4, 2022.

For more, find out how Michael Keaton’s Batman could completely change the DCEU and read why we think Michael Keaton is still the best live-action Batman of them all.

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Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge will arrive exclusively for Oculus Quest on November 19, and a new trailer has shown us what we’ll be doing in the VR game.

Revealed on the Star Wars website, the VR experience will have players meet C-3PO, R2-D2 and a Frank Oz-voiced Yoda, and is described as “a whole new way to explore the world of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort, and discover what exactly happens past the boundaries of Black Spire Outpost.”

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Director Jose Perez III explains that the game will be anthological, and take place across multiple eras of the Star Wars canon. Part I of that story will involve you playing a Droid Repair Technician, visiting the cantina, performing repairs, and getting into blaster fights. Other parts are more secretive, but we know Yoda will appear in a standalone Tale, and that we’ll be getting to grips with lightsabers at a Jedi Temple.

Perez adds that the idea is to offer experiences different to those you’d get by visiting the real-life Galaxy’s Edge attraction, “like building a lightsaber or going to Oga’s Cantina. We’re trying to build out stories that are on the outskirts, that bleed in and expand that world. For me, it’s really exciting to hang out in Seezelslak’s Cantina and look out the window, see the Falcon, and know that I’m going to be able to go back there at some point, but right now I’ve got another job to do.”

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First announced in May, the new game comes from the same studio that created the Vader Immortal VR series. We thought that series did “a fine job of letting you bask in Star Wars surroundings and the impressive presence of Darth Vader himself,” even though it did end with a “dull thud.”

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Joe Skrebels is IGN’s Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

I guess everyone just decided Black Friday was too far away and started dropping prices early. Best Buy is having a 60-Hour Amazon Sale, which is strange for a couple reasons. Firstly, it’s Best Buy. Secondly, not everything on sale is an Amazon product like I was initially expecting. That’s fine though, because Best Buy has some great deals on 4KTVs with Alexa capabilities, which makes them Amazon-adjacent enough to be included. There are also deals on Ring, Fire, and Echo products, too, but the 4KTV deals are the headliners.

Samsung 4KTV  Deals

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Hisense 4KTV Deals

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Toshiba Fire TV Deals

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Insignia 4KTV and HDTV Deals

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It feels like 240Hz gaming monitors just came into being, but manufacturers are already cranking refresh rates higher. Asus’ ROG Swift PG259QN crams a ridiculous 360Hz refresh rate into an IPS panel for serious esports enthusiasts that refuse to make sacrifices. We ran it through some testing to see how it performed.

Asus ROG Swift PG259QN – Design and Features

At $700, the PG259QN isn’t cheap, though its design isn’t quite as high-end feeling as some of Asus’ other ROG displays. It contains the same grey-and-copper swirled base, albeit without the extra embellishments and light-up logo found on the company’s top-tier monitors. It’s distinctly a gaming monitor, though, and the backside contains an etched circuit board pattern alongside a large ROG logo that reflects customizable, Aura Sync-compatible RGB lighting off your wall. The stand contains a built-in cable management hole, and is height, swivel, and tilt adjustable, which means you can get it set up just right for ideal ergonomics.

The frameless, 24.5-inch panel is small by today’s standards, but typical for the esports crowd it’s aiming for. The smaller monitor makes it easier to see everything on screen without darting your eyes around, and the lower resolution ensures your graphics card can pump out as many frames as possible – a must if you’re aiming for 360Hz. Unlike many other esports panels, though, the PG259QN is an IPS display, which means it provides much better color accuracy and viewing angles than its TN brethren, while still keeping a quick response time. (Asus claims 1ms, but these values can be fudged in so many ways they’re mostly meaningless – we’ll talk more about the response time in the testing section below).

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G-Sync allows you to play games without any screen tearing, which is always welcome, and the 395 nit brightness is very close to Asus’ quoted 400 nits. The monitor is also advertised as HDR10-capable, though with 400 nits of brightness, no wide color gamut, and no local dimming, it’s not really what anyone would consider HDR – that basically means it’s capable of receiving an HDR signal. IO is decent but not extraordinary, with one HDMI 2.0 port and one DisplayPort 1.4 port, alongside a 3.5mm speaker or headphone jack and two USB 3.0 ports.

Asus ROG Swift PG259QN – Testing

To test a monitor’s performance, I run it through a DisplayCal verification using an X-Rite i1Display Pro, and a few by-eye tests with Lagom’s LCD test patterns. The PG259QN covers 95.4% of the sRGB color space and 68.0% of the DCI-P3 color space – not really enough to consider it a wide gamut monitor, but more than good enough for your typical web browsing and esports gaming. It also means that, unlike wide gamut monitors with their often over-saturated colors, the PG259QN is actually very color-accurate in its default state, despite not looking as vibrant as its wide gamut competition.

During measurement, a deltaE value determines how far off a color appears from its target – almost every deltaE value came in under 1, with only a few slightly over. That’s considered imperceptible, and it’s pretty shocking to see something this accurate from the factory. Only the target white point received a more noticeable deltaE value of 3.73, but that’s still unlikely to make a difference to most people.

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The monitor’s sRGB mode had a slightly more accurate white point at 3.22 if you’re doing color-sensitive work, but otherwise is less customizable than other modes, so you probably wouldn’t want to use it for gaming. In its default Racing mode, the contrast ratio measured 1076:1, which is about what I’d hope for from an IPS display – blacks won’t be as deep as its VA brethren, but a worthy sacrifice for IPS’ better colors and response time.

Speaking of black levels, I found the darkest two squares in Lagom’s black saturation test pattern were just barely indistinguishable from reference black, as it should be. Hardcore gamers may want to turn Asus’ Dark Boost mode up to reveal that shadow detail a little more, though, lest hiding enemies get the better of you. White saturation was on point as well, there was no visible banding in gradients, and the IPS panel provided solid viewing angles all the way around.

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Most impressive, though, was the response time. Lagom’s response time test produces a number of squares that quickly flip between two shades – the longer that transition takes, the more flickering you’ll see in those squares, which means you’re likely to experience ghosting in games. On super-fast panels like this, it also means the transitions may take too long to keep up with that 360Hz refresh rate, and you’re not getting a true 360Hz experience. Thankfully, the PG259QN has a stellar response time, producing almost no flickering in any of the squares on the default overdrive mode and barely any ghosting to speak of in Blur Busters’ UFO Test.

The monitor has three overdrive modes: Off, Normal, and Extreme. Off produces just a bit of motion blur, while the default Normal mode produces just a bit of overshoot, and Extreme produces more noticeable overshoot artifacts that I’d recommend avoiding. For the best experience, I recommend Normal, as I find its artifacts are barely noticeable and it contains barely any motion blur. You can turn on the Ultra Low Motion Blur (ULMB) backlight strobing feature to make motion even clearer, but it only works at 144hz and 240Hz with G-Sync off.

The PG259QN provides the same FPS, RTS, Cinema, and other modes you see on other displays, along with a crosshair and variable backlight modes. I recommend avoiding most of these and sticking with the default Racing mode, or – better yet – try the G-Sync Esports Mode. This disables variable backlight, cranks up Dark Boost, and turns down the gamma for what Nvidia says are the ideal settings for esports games. For some reason, it’s also the most customizable mode, allowing you to fine-tune the colors to your liking, so even if you prefer things like Dark Boost off, the G-Sync Esports Mode is probably the one to go with since you can tweak those settings back to their more accurate levels.

Asus ROG Swift PG259QN – Gaming

I’ve reviewed a few high-refresh displays over the past year, but I’m still wowed by the smooth, virtually blur-free motion that a good display can provide. The PG259QN may not be large or high-res, and it definitely feels cramped on the desktop, but that’s not really what you’re buying this monitor for. You’re buying it for fast-paced gaming, which – for lack of a better metaphor – is smoother than sledding down a hill with a greased-up toboggan.

The absurdly fast refresh rate made for extremely clear motion in games like Overwatch, and – while I couldn’t always get it up to 360 frames per second – non-esports games like Doom Eternal. That super-fast response time is downright dreamy even when you aren’t hitting the maximum refresh rate, and it gives you a feeling of control over your character that’s hard to match on slower, blurrier displays.

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The real question, though, is whether 360Hz actually makes a big enough difference to be worth the increase in price over a similar 240Hz monitor. Switching back and forth between both, I was skeptical I’d be able to tell the difference if I didn’t have that FPS counter in the corner, so I enlisted my wife for a little ABX testing: she’d switch Overwatch’s settings between 240Hz and 360Hz at random, then I’d move the mouse around and guess which refresh rate I thought she’d selected.

We did 12 trials, and if I’m being honest, I felt like I was guessing, but I got every trial correct except for one. That’s a statistically significant result, meaning the difference between 240Hz and 360Hz is, in fact, noticeable – but my lack of confidence in my own answers is enough to suggest that it’s extremely subtle. Many gamers probably won’t notice, and those who do will still find it an incredibly minor improvement.

It’s also pretty tough to get things running that smoothly, even in esports games. You’ll need a near-top-end graphics card to push out enough frames to make 360Hz worthwhile at 1080p. My overclocked Ryzen 2600 and Nvidia 2060 Super were able to hit 360 frames per second in the Overwatch practice range on the lowest graphical settings, but once you introduce other players into the mix, I found I stayed closer to 240 frames per second. Easier-to-run games like CS:GO were easier to get in the 300s – and for non-esports games, you can forget about getting framerates that high on most cards, even at 1080p with low settings. So make sure you have hardware with enough power (or factor new hardware into your budget) before you buy a monitor this fast.

Asus ROG Swift PG259QN – Purchasing Guide

The Asus ROG Swift PG259QN is available for $699 from online retailers like Amazon, Newegg, and Best Buy.

Anyone looking to add player two, or anyone who wants to add a splash of color to their gaming setup, can save some cash right now. Amazon has the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, as well as various color combinations of Joy-Cons, on sale for $10 off. It’s unclear how long the deal will last, though, so grab ’em if you want ’em.

Nintendo Switch Controller Deals

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Joy-Con typically sell for $79.99, which is more than most other controllers. They have added functionality beyond what you’d get in an Xbox or PlayStation controller, but it’s a steep price for sure. So if you can pick up a pair for $10 off, you might as well.

The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller sports an MSRP of $69.99, but it’s also on sale for $10 off right now, bringing it down to a more palatable price of $59. I absolutely love the Pro Controller personally. It feels terrific in your hands, and the batter life is no joke. It lasts an incredibly long time on a single charge.

Another thing going for the Pro controller is that it has a plus-shaped D-pad, which I find a lot more comfortable than the split D-pad on Joy-Con. It’s particularly useful when playing 2D games, like the NES and SNES titles you get access to with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.

Then again, buying a pair of Joy-Con effectively gets you two controllers you can use to play couch co-op in many games. Also, the color combinations look pretty great. Either way you go, you might as well buy now while they’re $10 off. For more discounts on all things Nintendo, check out our Daily Deals post, which has offers like Pokemon Sword/Shield for $39.99.

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Chris Reed is IGN’s shopping and commerce editor. You can follow him on Twitter @_chrislreed.

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With every new game and every expansion, Pokemon continues to make it easier for players to do what they love: from building competitive teams to befriending their companions. And with new landscapes and stories to explore, Pokemon Sword and Shield’s Crown Tundra offers more of the good stuff while leaning into some welcome nostalgia with returning favorites and new takes on iconic legendaries.

Dynamax Adventure Your Way to a Dream Team

Pokemon Sword and Shield made it easier to craft your Pokemon team with nature-changing mints readily available if you had the skills to earn the necessary Battle Points. Crown Tundra builds on this with Dynamax Adventures which give you the chance to add Legendary Pokemon to your team. Additionally, you can potentially nab useful items as victory rewards, such as Bottle Caps, Dynamax Candy, Armorite Ore, and the new Ability Patch – which lets you change a Pokemon’s Ability to its species’ Hidden Ability if it has one.

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Explore these max lairs with up to thrree others, with each of you choosing just one Pokemon to borrow for the quest. Thanks to this rental system, the barrier of entry is practically non-existent but that doesn’t mean success is guaranteed.

One of the most compelling elements is the fact that you’re presented with a series of pathways to choose from. This added player autonomy is a welcomed addition to the random nature of raids. Each pathway allows you to battle a different type of Pokemon (ex. Poison vs Flying) so you’ll need to be strategic about which challenge is best for your team.

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Once you’ve defeated a Pokemon in battle you can catch it and choose to swap it with your current Pokemon or leave it behind and keep rolling with the one you brought to the battle. But the catch is your current Pokemon’s HP and status effects carry over after the fight, so a new one in better shape could definitely be worthwhile.

Each adventure takes you through four total battles and by the end you’ll get to choose one Pokemon you’ve defeated to add to your team permanently. Of course, most folks will likely pick whatever glorious legendary is waiting for them at the end, but still, it’s nice to have options.

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To offset this challenge, there are NPC trainers along the way that provide a helping hand by lending you a different Pokemon, giving you a held item, or healing up your team for the battles ahead. Of course, this aid comes in the form of a dice roll to keep things interesting. And if four Pokemon are knocked out you’ll have to start from the beginning.

Becoming a Pokemon Star

Finishing all the stories in the base game and both DLC packs gives you the chance to participate in the Galarian Star Tournament multibattles. And you’ll get to partner with other NPC trainers you’ve met to face off against the best in Galar.

Apparently the NPC trainers you choose to team up with can reveal a whole new side to familiar friends and foes that you didn’t see before. Hopefully, those mysterious variations end up being meaningful or interesting and not something so subtle that it goes unnoticed entirely. Overall, the Galarian Star Tournament is definitely here for those players who are hungry for more ways to battle once the story is over.

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More Stories to Discover

The wild area was one of the most exciting additions to Pokemon but its scale and scope weren’t quite as grand as I’d originally envisioned. Thankfully each expansion has also meant more areas to explore. And with that comes more stories to uncover. Without any spoilers, I can say I’m interested in seeing the ominous wonder of the Crown Tundra unfold.

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With Isle of Armor being a fairly short experience, I imagine Crown Tundra’s campaign will be comparable in length (though I wasn’t given a specific estimation). While there are some promising elements from what I’ve seen of Crown Tundra and more to do for those already invested, the DLC may fail to demand the attention of lapsed players unless they have very specific goals for their Pokedex or competitive teams.

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Janet Garcia is IGN’s associate guides editor. You can follow her on Twitter @Gameonysus.

We’re all looking to get a piece of the next-gen pie, some are even quite desperate in fact, and we don’t blame you. But, we do hope you’re not this desperate. UK retailer Currys PC World currently has the Xbox Series X listed for an eye-watering £2449. That’s right, almost two-and-a-half-thousand of the Queen’s finest pound sterling, and about $3,200 USD at the time of writing.

But why, you might be asking, is a major British retailer deliberately selling the console at such a ridiculous price? Rather strangely, this surprise price tag is just another part of the retailer’s preorder process.

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According to Nick Hayden, Head of Gaming at Currys PC World, the “unique pricing strategy” has been put in place to prioritize those who have already preordered the console. Every customer who has managed to secure a preorder has been supplied a code that will effectively discount the listing by £2000, back down to the expected £449.

Those who had preordered an Xbox Series X (or PS5) with Currys were already required to put down a £5 deposit and this current situation is, presumably, a way for the retailer to give everyone an option to pay the full price for the console now, or when it ships in November.

In case you were wondering, those in the UK can actually go through to the order page and attempt to buy the console for the full £2449, seriously. However, before any gamers with more money than sense jump the gun, Currys does have a failsafe in place, as all orders that are placed without the special promotional code will be canceled. Which, to be quite frank, is a very good thing.

The codes were actually only valid up until October 18, 2020, so now the page is just sitting idle with a big fat price tag attached to it. There’s a very good chance that the console will drop back down in price soon to allow others to preorder, or simply just buy it on release day.

If you want any updates on Xbox Series X preorders, we’ve actually got a dedicated update page. We’d also recommend following @IGNDeals or @IGNUKDeals for live preorder updates on both the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

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Robert Anderson is a Commerce Writer for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21

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