• Cancelled Batman Game Concept Art Includes a Bearded Bruce Wayne

    There's no better way to spruce up your aging superhero than by giving him a salt-and-pepper beard. That's my philosophy anyway, and apparently, the concept artist for a cancelled Batman game agrees.

    Goran Bukvic, a freelance concept artist in the video game and film industry, revealed a batch of concept art for what was supposed to be a new Batman game. He also revealed the concept art of a more high-tech Batsuit that bears some resemblance to the Batman Beyond suit.

    Bukvic's credits include work on Gears 4 and 5, Halo 4, Tomb Raider, and films like Jurassic World 2 and Guardians of the Galaxy.

    On his ArtStation, Bukvic notes the Batman concept art was done for a canceled game "a long time ago." On his LinkedIn, Bukvic lists a canceled game called "Batman: The Dark Knight" among his many credits, plus stints at Warner Bros. Montreal in 2015 and 2016.

    Bukvic may be describing the canceled 2006 PS3/Xbox 360 game by the same name. That game was being published by EA and developed by Pandemic Studios (Star Wars: Battlefront, Destroy All Humans) as a tie-in to Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight film, with development beginning before filming had begun.

    It's also possible that the concept art could come from Bukvic's time at Warner Bros, which acquired the Batman video game license from EA. Bukvic worked from April to September 2015 on an unannounced game, and then returned from June 2016 to October 2016 to work on character designs for an "unannounced AAA title."

    That timeline matches up with the rumored canceled Arkham Knight sequel. Previous leaks indicated that players would fill the shoes of Damian Wayne taking over for an aging Bruce Wayne. Interestingly, one of the tidbits of leaked info was that a new Batcycle would be a drivable vehicle, and Bukvic's art includes a sleek motorcycle that certainly fits the bill.

    It's unlikely we'll see Bukvic's art come to life in WB Montreal's next Batman project, Gotham Knights, which is currently scheduled to release sometime in 2022. The official pitch for Gotham Knights is that Batman's proteges (including Nightwing, Batgirl, Robin, and Red Hood) come together to defeat the Illuminati-like Court of Owls following Batman's supposed death. As we all know, comic book heroes tend to not stay dead, so perhaps there'll be room for a bearded bat in the end.

    Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/batfan for IGN.

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    Tiny Tina’s Dragon Keep DLC Gets Surprise Standalone Release on Xbox Series X|S and PS5

    Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep, one of Borderlands 2's best expansions, is getting a surprise standalone release on modern consoles. The game is available today for $9.99 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, as well as PS5 and Xbox Series X|S through backward compatibility. It's also free on the Epic Games Store until next Tuesday, November 16.

    Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep: A Wonderlands One-Shot Adventure stars Ashly Burch's Tiny Tina in her first main appearance. In the game, she is the Bunker Master in a game of “Bunkers and Badasses”, in an imaginary world inspired by all the tropes and characteristics seen in tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons.

    In our original Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep review, we called the expansion "amazing", saying it was, "an example of how DLC can match, and in some ways surpass the quality of the original release." We also ranked the Tiny Tina expansion as the best Borderlands DLC of all time.

    The Tiny Tina DLC is coming just a few months ahead of Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, which is coming to last-gen consoles as well as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on March 25, 2022. Revealed at E3 2021, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands is a Borderlands spin-off with a D&D twist, which seems to pick up right where the DLC left off nearly a decade ago.

    We recently got a look at some of the new classes coming to Tiny TIna's Wonderlands, including the "Stabbomancer" and "Brr-Zerker" classes. You can also check out our details on weapons, loot, magic, and enemies.

    Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN. You can find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.

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    Among Us Announce Major Updates After Direct-Style Presentation: Roles and New Cosmetics

    Among Us just got one of its biggest updates yet, adding new roles and abilities as well as setting the stage for players to earn new and exclusive cosmetics.

    As revealed in a Direct-style “Emergency Metting” presentation, Among Us developer Inner Sloth revealed a massive new “Roles & Cosmicube” update that's available now.

    The biggest addition with the update is four brand new Roles which give players unique abilities that add new layers to the core murder mechanic. Check out a rundown of the new roles below.

    • Scientist: The Scientist can access a portable vitals panel to check on the status of the crew. The portable vitals panel has to be charged, so they will receive a unique task to refill the battery.
    • Engineer: The engineer can use vents to move around quicker, and also catch venting imposters in the act. However, Engineers can’t stay in a vent forever.
    • Guardian Angel: The Guardian Angels is the ghost of the first dead Crewmate who can temporarily shield and protect other living Crewmates. If timed properly, the Guardian Angel can prevent Imposters from killing a victim.
    • Shapeshifter: This imposter role lets a player change their appearance and disguise themselves as other Crewmates. If done properly, the Shapeshifter can frame another Crewmate for a crime they didn’t commit. But the disguise doesn’t last forever.

    Another new addition with the update is an expanded cosmetic and customization offering. Firstly, visors and special nameplates will be added so you can personalize your Crewmate further.

    Currently, cosmetics can only be purchased with real money. Going forward, Among Us will add a new currency called Beans that can be earned through gameplay. Beans can be exchanged for new cosmetics in the Shop.

    Among Us is also adding a new Battle Pass-style progression system called Cosmicubes. These Cosmicubes can be purchased from the Shop or given out to players during promotions. When a specific Cosmicube is activated, players can earn rewards unique to that Cosmicube by playing Among Us.

    There are multiple paths in a Cosmicube meaning there are different ways players can spend their Pods for different rewards. Players can own multiple Cosmicubes at once, but only one can be activated at a time.

    Real money can still be used to purchase a new currency called Stars, which are Among Us’ new premium currency. Between Stars, Beans, and Cosmicubes, there are numerous new ways for players to purchase or earn cosmetics.

    The roles should add a new layer to Among Us’ popular Imposter gameplay, while new cosmetic offerings inch Among Us closer to games like Fortnite which feature unique ongoing rewards and collaborations. As one of the most popular games currently running, Among Us is showing everyone that it’s taking the ongoing service seriously.

    Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.

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    Tom Holland Says Spider-Man: No Way Home Is ‘Brutal’, ‘Dark’, and ‘Sad’

    Spider-Man star Tom Holland says Spider-Man: No Way Home is dark and sad, which is very unlike the other solo Spidey films he's starred in to this point. In an interview with Total Film, Holland spoke about the differences between the upcoming film and the other two entries in the Homecoming trilogy.

    "What people will be really surprised about is that it’s not fun, this film," Holland said. "It’s dark and it’s sad, and it’s going to be really affecting. You’re going to see characters that you love go through things that you would never wish for them to go through. And I was just really excited to kind of lean into that side of Peter Parker."

    Holland went on to say Peter feels like he's "met his match" in this film, which is a part of the character Holland hasn't had to tackle until this project.

    Previously, Holland has said the cast and crew are treating No Way Home as the "end of a franchise", meaning that future appearances of these characters would look very different than the three movies they've made so far.

    Along with the apparent tonal shift, Spider-Man: No Way Home is setting itself up to be a huge Marvel event. The newest Spider-Man poster shows off a new look at the return of one classic Spidey villain, while a magazine reveal may have confirmed even more Spider-Man villains for the movie. And if you're trying to avoid all details for the movie, be careful, because two images that appear to show major spoilers are floating across social media.

    If you still need to prepare for No Way Home, check out our ranking of every Spider-Man movie. Or, if you want to binge the essential MCU movies, check out our crash course in all things MCU.

    Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN. You can find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.

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    Best Dungeons and Dragons Gifts

    Dungeons and Dragons continues to grow in popularity, which means a thoughtful D&D item could be a great gift for someone on your shopping list. If you think a family member or friend would like to try the game, there are plenty of Dungeons and Dragons books, guides, and manuals to shop for this holiday season. Or, if you're shopping for someone who's already into D&D, you can look into Dungeons and Dragons games like Monopoly and Clue, or toys and accessories like Dungeons and Dragons Funko Pops, dice, mugs, and more.

    The Top 3 Must-Have Dungeons and Dragons Gifts

    For someone who wants to get started in the world of D&D, there are a few things they'll definitely need. From dice, to the Dungeons and Dragons starter set, to the main D&D rulebook, these must-have Dungeons and Dragons gifts are a great way to get someone started.

    Best Dungeon and Dragons Books Gifts

    Books are key to the Dungeon and Dragons experience. This selection of books will help players of all skill levels enhance their D&D games. From the player's handbook to the dungeon master's guide, there's something for every type of D&D player and fan.

    Best Dungeons and Dragons Games Gifts

    When the D&D player in your life wants to try out a different game, there are plenty of D&D-themed board games and card games to pick from. Check out our selection of the best Dungeons and Dragons games, including Clue, Monopoly, and more.

    Best Dungeons and Dragons Gear Gifts

    You may be shopping for a Dungeons and Dragons fan who wants to show their passion for the game with accessories, gear, and collectables. If so, check out our picks for the best D&D mugs, journals, dice sets, plushes, and more.

    Best Dungeons and Dragons Clothes Gifts

    Every D&D player needs something to wear while embarking on their latest campaign with friends. Here are our picks for the best D&D socks, t-shirts, hoodies, and bags.

    Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN. You can find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.

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