In case you didn't hear, James Gunn's The Suicide Squad didn't have a great opening weekend at the box office.

It opened to $26.5 million, under the industry expectations that predicted that it would pull in around $30 million. For a movie that cost $185 million to produce, and at least tens of millions more to market, that doesn’t look good on the surface. Some analysts called it a disaster; are movie theaters dead? Can a DC movie succeed without Batman or Superman? Are people over Harley Quinn?

Well, not so fast. Sure, $26.5 million for a movie this big would be pretty abysmal in Normal Times, but we’re far from those, and now, the measure of whether or not a film is successful goes far beyond the box office horse race. One of the major reasons that The Suicide Squad failed to pull in the numbers of a movie like F9, which grossed $70 million in its opening weekend, is the same reason it might not be such a flop: it opened day-and-date on HBO Max for free to subscribers.

So maybe Warner Bros. just shot itself in the foot by making The Suicide Squad so readily available online, right? Not exactly. When HBO Max launched in May 2020, it entered a streaming fray that’s more competitive than ever, with Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Disney+, Paramount+, Peacock, and more all competing for consumers’ hard-earned cash. Even with WB’s extensive library, making a streaming service indispensable in an environment that’s this jam-packed with options is no small task.

So Warner Bros. gave HBO Max something that no other streaming service had: it announced that all of its 2021 theatrical releases would arrive on HBO Max on the same day they hit theaters. The unprecedented move rocked the industry, spurring backlash from theater owners, filmmakers, production companies, and entertainment guilds alike — but it’s hard to deny that getting Wonder Woman 1984, Mortal Kombat, Godzilla vs. Kong, In the Heights, The Suicide Squad, Dune, and a lot more for free on the day the movie hits theaters makes that $10 or $15/month subscription cost a heck of a lot more justifiable.

It’s hard to quantify just how much that affected consumers’ decisions to subscribe (and stay subscribed) to HBO Max, but the streamer’s numbers have risen since. HBO and HBO Max ended Q2 of 2021 with a combined 67.5 million subscribers globally, up 12 million over last year. Though those numbers should be taken with a grain of salt, as they don’t make the distinction between HBO and HBO Max, HBO Max’s direct-to-consumer revenue did increase 39% year-over-year, bringing in $2 billion for Q2. Even for a behemoth like WB, that’s not chump change.

There’s no way that Warner Bros. didn’t plan to take a hit at the box office when the studio made that decision, but that added value to its streaming service is pretty priceless. The Suicide Squad’s been compared to movies like Black Widow, which made $80 million at the domestic box office in its opening weekend — but that movie wasn’t offered to subscribers for free, instead being offered on Disney Premier Access for $30. Oh, and not to mention, movies whose openings out-performed The Suicide Squad, like Black Widow, F9, and A Quiet Place Part II, didn’t open as the resurging COVID-19 pandemic spawned new mask mandates. It’s impossible to say for sure, but if The Suicide Squad was released a couple of months ago, the conversation might be very different. Simply put, there were a lot of reasons to just stay at home and watch James Gunn’s latest.

And, from what Warner Bros. is saying, a lot of people did just that. HBO Max reported that, without revealing specific numbers, The Suicide Squad had the second-most-viewed premiere on the streaming platform (with the #1 spot reportedly going to Mortal Kombat). There’s no way to know how many of those viewers would’ve otherwise bought a ticket at the theater, but there’s also no denying that it’s an important factor, in addition to the unfortunate timing with the Delta variant.

There are other factors at play here, too. It’s certainly possible that general audiences are getting DC-fatigue, as the similarly Harley-fronted Birds of Prey earned a disappointing $201.8 million worldwide, and we don’t even have a clue what the numbers for Zach Snyder’s Justice League look like (or how much money it might’ve lost WB). Plus, it had an R-rating, and lacked a bankable star like Will Smith, in addition to the lingering negative aftertaste from the poorly received 2016 movie. The Suicide Squad was always going to be a risk, pandemic or not.

The sad reality is that we don’t yet know when things will be back to “normal," or when people will feel comfortable heading to the theaters for good again. The recovery of the box office has no doubt been rockier than many analysts hoped it would be by this time in the year. What we do know is that consumers are getting used to seeing movies where and when they want them, and the dominance of streaming in the entertainment landscape isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. By meeting the audience where they want to be met — you know, in the safety of their own living rooms — Warner Bros. is taking a bet on a longer game, but it’s one that’s in line with the trends of the industry.

Basically, don’t call this strategy a suicide mission just yet.

Marvel's What If…? originally had a Spider-Man plotline too dark for the show's PG-13 rating.

The pitch wasn't given the green light as a result, according to What If writer A.C. Bradley, who related the story on The Post Credit Podcast. More specifically, the episode was set to feature some Spider-Man-related body horror that would have been too much for the show's PG-13 rating.

"There were a couple of episodes that were just a little too dark," Bradley said. "There was a an original What If run where Spider-Man turns into a real spider, and that was just too dark and too body horror for their PG-13 (rating)."

It seems Marvel dodged a Rated-R bullet shaped like a spider, as well as an arachnophobia warning, by giving What If a no to that idea. Still, it's hard not to wonder what exactly this episode would have been about. Was it more like a "what if Spider-Man turned into an actual Spider" kind of episode, or more of a "Doc Ock turns Spider-Man into an actual spider with his limbs" kind of episode?

Regardless of the direction, it sounds like it was too dark for Marvel, so we'll likely never see what Spider-Man turning into a real spider in an MCU property looks like. In the end, i's not surprising that Marvel is sticking so rigidly to its PG-13 rating. After all, it's made the studio billions while similar R-rated superhero movies have consistently made less than their PG-13 counterparts.

This potential Spider-Man storyline isn't the only What If plotline rejected by Marvel. One storyline was rejected because it's already half of the plot of Guardians of the Galaxy 3. Meanwhile, a Star Wars-What If crossover was rejected too for more obvious reasons.

For more about Marvel's What If…?, read about how Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa will be in four episodes of the first season and then read about how the series will show the more roguish, flirty side of Boseman's T'Challa. Check out this story about how Peggy Carter's Captain Britain will appear in every season of Marvel's What If…? after that and then read about how the series' Star-Lord alters the MCU.

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

Gamescom 2021 is officially a wrap and what an virtual gaming event it was. In case you missed it we've rounded up all the big announcements including a brand new Saints Row game, release dates for games like Halo Infinite and Horizon Zero Dawn: Forbidden West, a preview and new details for Elden Ring, and an XCOM-style Marvel game. And that's all just the tip of the iceberg for an exceedingly exciting Gamescom. See below for even more Gamescom news announcements and highlights below from this year. If there's anything and everything you wanted to know about Gamescom 2021, you've come to the right place.

When is Gamescom 2021?

Gamescom 2021 will take place from Wednesday, August 25 to Friday, August 27.

Gamescom 2021 Schedule

• Xbox Stream – Tuesday, August 24 at 10am – 12pm PT
• Gamescom Day 1 – Wednesday, August 25 at 10:30am – 3pm PT
• Gamescom Opening Night Live! Pre-Show – Wednesday, August 25 at 10:30am PT
• Gamescom Opening Night Live Aftershow – Wednesday, August 25 at 1:00pm PT
• Gamescom: Opening Night Live – Wednesday, August 25 at 11am PT
• Gamescom Day 2 – Thursday, August 26 at 10am – 4pm PT
• Dying 2 Know Gamescom Edition – Thursday, August 26 at 11:00am PT
• Awesome Indies – Thursday, August 26 at 11:30am – 1pm PT
• Future Games Show at Gamescom – Thursday, August 26 at 1PM PT
• Gamescom Day 3 – Friday, August 27 at 10am – 3pm PT
• Gamescom Wrap-up Show – Friday, August 27 at 2:30pm PT

How to watch Gamescom 2021

Like last year, Gamescom 2021 will be an online-only event. Gamescom 2021 was originally announced as a hybrid digital and physical event earlier in the year. However, the event organizer Koelnmesse later announced it would be all-digital after all. IGN will be carrying all of Gamescom so you can catch all the events, showcases, and announcements right on our homepage.

Here’s the full list of places you can watch the Gamescom 2021 Streams:

• IGN.com (homepage)
• IGN's Twitter
• IGN's Twitch Channel
• IGN's YouTube Channel
• IGN's iOS App
• IGN's Android App
• IGN's Xbox One App
• Roku
• IGN App for Android TV
• IGN App for Amazon Fire TV
• Apple TV
• IGN1 on Samsung TV Plus
• Pluto TV

Biggest Gamescom 2021 Announcements So Far

Gamescom 2021 is might be over but check out all the exciting announcements Opening Night Live and Gamescom 2021 Xbox Stream below. Plus there were even more big reveals throughout the week, which we've collated for your reading pleasure. We've been updating this section each day, to ensure you don't miss a thing.

Halo Infinite Release Date Revealed Alongside New Multiplayer Trailer

Halo Infinite's campaign and multiplayer will officially be released on December 8, 2021. The release date was revealed alongside a multiplayer trailer focused on Commander Laurette Agryna, who will be one of the main characters featured in the first season of Halo Infinite's multiplayer.

Alongside revealing the launch date, Microsoft also confirmed that there will be both a special Halo Infinite Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 and a limited-edition Halo Infinite Xbox Series X that will be released in celebration of Halo's 20th anniversary.

Elden Ring: The First Preview and New Details Revealed

Not only did we get our first 15-minute hands-off preview of Elden Ring, but we learned how the game's new summoning mechanic won't make the game easier, how the in-game text is being written by Miyazaki and not George R.R. Martin, and how Elden Ring's lore will be discovered by interactive with important NPCs.

We've also broken down everything we've learned from that 15-minute preview in one video that you can check out here.

Marvel's Midnight Suns, Firaxis' Marvel XCOM Game, Officially Announced

Marvel's Midnight Suns is a new strategy game from Firaxis Games that looks to be a superpowered version of the studio's XCOM franchise. While the game will feature customizable superheroes, it will also feature iconic Marvel characters like Iron Man, Wolverine, Captain America, Captain Marvel, and more.

The game is set to be released in March 2022 and the first gameplay will be revealed on September 1, 2021.

Marvel's Midnight Suns: Dev Explains Comics & Characters That Inspired the Game

While we still have yet to see gameplay of Marvel's Midnight Suns, the game's creative director Jake Solomon spoke to IGN about which comic books and characters inspired the game, including Rise of the Midnight Sons, Ghost Rider & Blaze: Spirits of Vengence, and characters like Nico from the Runaways and Robbie Reyes' Ghost Rider.

Saints Row Reboot Arriving in February 2022

A brand-new Saints Row will be released on February 25, 2022, for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC and the first trailer gives fans a look at the new city of Santo Ileso, which appears to take inspiration from the American Southwest. There are three main gangs in this new reboot of Saints Row and Opening Night Live also shared the first glimpse of gameplay footage.

We also got a behind-closed-doors look at Saints Row gameplay and it looks to take a similar tone to Saints Row 3 as opposed to the GTA-like first two entries and "over-the-top ridiculousness of the most recent two."

New Saints Row Gameplay Shows Off Laser Gun Battles and ‘Keep It Strange’ Motto

Following its official reveal, Volition and Deep Silver have shown off new gameplay of the new Saints Row that highlights the game's mix of both wild and grounded natures.

Horizon Forbidden West Confirmed to Have a 2022 Release Date

The game has been delayed out of 2021, but Guerrilla Games revealed fans won't have to wait too long as Horizon Forbidden West will be released on PS5 and PS4 on February 18, 2022.

To help with the wait, Guerrilla Games has released a 60 FPS patch for Horizon Zero Dawn on PS5.

Extended Look of Call of Duty: Vanguard Campaign Revealed

Opening Night Live gave us a brand-new look at Call of Duty: Vanguard's campaign and Polina – one of its main characters.

Deathloop: The Final Preview

The PlayStation 5 and PC exclusive Deathloop is set to arrive on September 14, and we were able to play the first six or so hours of the game so we can share our final impressions before launch day.

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Gets a New Gameplay Trailer and a Spring 2022 Release Window

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga got a brand-new gameplay trailer and a Spring 2022 release window. This follows the game's delay from Spring 2021, and this extra time will surely give TT Games a chance to make a game worthy of that galaxy far, far away.

Death Stranding: Director's Cut Shows Off Its New Items, Features, and Missions (Including a Jetpack)

Death Stranding: Director's Cut will be released on September 24 and this latest trailer showed off some of the new items, features, and missions players can look forward to when they jump back into the game that was first released in 2019.

Forza Horizon 5 Begins With You Helidropping Into a Volcano

Forza Horizon 5's showcase introduction was revealed at Gamescom 2021 and it all begins with players helidropping into the game's Gran Caldera volcano with the 2021 Ford Bronco Badlands. The rest of the intro features other cars like the Mercedes AMG-1, a dust storm, a jungle filled with flamingos, and much more.

Forza Horizon 5's Events Lab Mode Is So Open the Developers Are Nervous About It

We were able to speak to Forza Horizon 5's creative director Mike Brown about not only how this latest entry is pushing tech and features forward, but about how its Event Lab mode is so open that it's making the team nervous as they can't truly predict what players might think up with it.

Metroid Dread – Official Trailer 2

While not technically a part of Gamescom, Nintendo decided to reveal a brand-new look at the upcoming Metroid Dread ahead of its release date on October 8, 2021.

Giants Uprising's Cinematic Trailer Is Incredible

Giants Uprising's cinematic trailer has taken the internet by storm with its impressive visuals and action. In this game, you are a giant who has been newly freed from enslavement at the hands of humans, and your goal is to get revenge on those who wronged you. A demo is available now on Steam and the game will enter Steam Early Access on November 2, 2021.

Dying Light 2 Gets a New Gameplay Trailer

2021, got a brand-new gameplay trailer that showcased a ton of in-game footage and first-person parkour action. We get a glimpse of some of the different factions players will be facing off against, a grappling hook that will help with traversing around the city, and a new move involving using enemies to help cushion your fall. You will be able to vault off enemies and use different attacks while protecting yourself from taking damage from a big fall.

Techland also revealed that Dying Light: Platinum Edition will be headed to Nintendo Switch later this year and will contain "over 100 hours of gameplay for a single playthrough."

JETT: The Far Shore Captures the Wonder of Exploration

JETT: The Far Shore will be released for PS5, PS4, and PC on October 5, and we were able to spend a few hours with the PC build of the newest game from Sword and Sorcery developers Superbrothers.

Xbox Cloud Gaming Coming to Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One in Holiday 2021

Xbox Cloud Gaming will arrive on Xbox Series X/S and Xbox in Holiday 2021 for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers and will allow for users to play 100+ games from the cloud on their consoles. Microsoft is also targeting to have these games reach 1080p/60 FPS.

April O'Neil is a Playable Character in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge

The microphone-wielding journalist April O'Neil will be one of the playable characters in the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge.

Nickelodeon's Smash Bros-Alike Adds April O'Neil and CatDog

If that wasn't enough April O'Neil for you, it was also announced that O'Neil and CatDog are the latest fighters in Nickelodeon All-Stars Brawl.

Amazon's New World Open Beta Announced, Post-Launch Plans Teased

Amazon's upcoming MMO New World will get an open beta from September 9-12 ahead of its September 28 release date.

Ghostrunner: Wave Mode, Assist Mode, and New DLC Get Release Date

Ghostrunner's Wave Mode and Assist Mode will officially arrive on August 31 alongside a pack of neon-themed cosmetics. For those unfamiliar, Wave Mode is a roguelike-take on Ghostrunner that has players attempting too get through 20 waves of enemies using randomized upgrades. Assist Mode, on the other hand, will make the game easier for those who just want to experience the story and the game's world.

Soulstice: Developers Break Down the First Exclusive Gameplay

Soulstice is a hack-and-slash adventure game featuring a superhuman and her ghost sister. IGN got a sneak peek at the first-ever exclusive gameplay and a full breakdown from the game's director Fabio Pagetti and producer Samuele Perseo.

Blasphemous Sequel Coming in 2023, New DLC Revealed

The dark fantasy action-platformer Blasphemous is not only getting a story-concluding update in Wounds of Eventide later this year, but it will also get a full-fledged sequel in 2023.

Small Soldiers-Inspired Shooter Hypercharge: Unboxed to Get a Campaign Mode

Hypercharge: Unboxed takes clear inspiration from Small Soldiers and has players become action figures fighting battles in arenas that take place in a normal house setting. The game will be getting a PvE campaign mode that adds a bit of story to the shooter gameplay.

Stylish Shooter Severed Steel Gets September Release Date

The stylish first-person shooter Severed Steel will not only be released on PC on September 17, but it will also come to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch before the end of 2021. Taking inspirations from games like Mirror's Edge and Black, the action in Severed Steel consists of wall-running, diving, sliding, flipping, and using bullet-time to traverse a fully destructible environment to take out enemies.

The Waylanders, a Celtic Myth-Inspired RPG, Gets a November Release Date

The party-based RPG The Waylanders is inspired by Celtic myth and legend and will be released on November 16, 2021. The Waylanders was released in Steam Early Access in 2020 and the full game promises a 40-hour adventure.

Dream Cycle: Lara Croft Creator's New Game Features Over 10,000 Different Levels

Toby Gard, the creator of Tomb Raider's Lara Croft, is leading the charge on a new game called Dream Cycle that is described as a "psychedelic adventure where players can slash, shoot, and loot their way through over 10,000 very mysterious and crazy worlds."

Gamescom 2021 Full Schedule

So far Gamescom looks like a jampacked show with many game studios and publishers in attendance for its virtual gaming conference. On top of that, there's a long list of indie studios including Akupara Games, Draw Distance, and Numskull Games just to name a few. Here's a list of the big everything you'll be able to see at the show so far.

Wednesday, August 25

10:30am PDT / 7:30pm CEST — Gamescom Opening Night Live! Pre-Show

Be sure to tune in early to catch exciting reveals and teases before the big show kicks off!

11:00am PDT / 8:00pm CEST — Gamescom Opening Night Live

Geoff Keighley’s Opening Night Live is one of gaming’s biggest events of the year loaded with exclusive reveals of world class titles and IGN will be on hand directly after the showcase for a closer look at the biggest announcements and in-depth analysis of the best reveals of the night.

1:00pm PDT / 10:00pm CEST — Gamescom Opening Night Live Aftershow

Stick around after the show for the Gamescom ONL Aftershow so you don’t miss any of the exciting reveals, deeper dives, gameplay, and developer interviews covering the most exciting announcements from Opening Night Live.

Thursday August 26

10:00am PDT / 7:00pm CEST — Gamescom Studio

IGN’s cast of expert hosts bring you the best of what this year’s digital Gamescom has to offer. Gamescom Studio Live from LA offers first looks at gameplay, developer interviews, and expert analysis of the biggest news and events with access you won't find anywhere else. This year’s coverage is hosted from IGN’s brand new state-of-the-art studio allowing for real time connections to developers, influencers, and fans.

• Vizor Games — Blood of Heroes Exclusive Trailer and Developer Interview
• Passion Republic Games – GigaBash Official Trailer

10:30am PDT / 7:30pm CEST

• Unannounced Developer Interview
• Unannounced Developer Interview

11:00am PDT / 8:00pm CEST

Techland – Dying Light 2 Stay Human — Dying 2 Know Gamescom Edition

11:30am – 1pm PDT / 8:30pm CEST – 10:00pm CEST: Awesome Indies

Gamescom: Awesome Indies will focus on hotly awaited indie titles, hosted once again by IGN’s own Michael Swaim, who will present all the exclusive reveals, comedy bits, and other surprises direct from Venice Beach. Don’t miss all the fun featuring over 40 games from the indie scene, including:

Announcements and Reveals

• Big Sugar – Exclusive Unannounced Game Reveal
• Team17 – Exclusive Reveal
• Goblinz Studio – Exclusive Unannounced Game Reveal
• Batterystaple Games – Exclusive 30XX Reveal
• Digerati – Exclusive Unannounced Game Reveal
• Mechanistry – Exclusive Timberborn Reveal
• VestGames – Eville Showcase and Ghost Gameplay Reveal
• Goblinz Publishing – Exclusive Unannounced Game Reveal
• Gato Salvaje Studio – Exclusive The Waylanders Release Date Reveal
• Townscaper – Secret Townscaper Announcement

Deep Dives and Walkthroughs

• Hooded Horse and Stutter Fox Studios – Falling Frontier Exclusive Developer Overview
• Frontier Developments – FAR: Changing Tides Developer Deep Dive
• Soda Den & Crytivo – Roots of Pacha Gameplay Walkthrough

Trailer Premieres

• Draw Distance – Serial Cleaners Full Characters Reveal Trailer
• Modern Wolf – Cantata Exclusive Gameplay Trailer
• Whisper Interactive – Squadron 51 Official Trailer Reveal
• ZelArt and HypeTrain Digital – There is No Light Exclusive Release Trailer Reveal
• Catchweight Studio – CONSCRIPT Exclusive Extended Trailer
• Hatinh Interactive – Exclusive Tandem A Tale of Shadows Gamescom Trailer
• Whisper Interactive – tERRORbane Official Trailer Reveal
• You Suck at Parking – Exclusive Gameplay Trailer
• Klabater – The Amazing American Circus Exclusive Trailer
• Tentworks Interactive – City Block Builder Trailer
• Flazm and META Publishing – Time Loader Exclusive Trailer Reveal
• Rock&Bushes – Jupiter Moons: Mecha Gameplay Trailer
• Proxy Studios – ZEPHON Exclusive Teaser Trailer
• Serenity Forge – Gameplay Trailer for Arcadian Atlas
• Koch Media – Exclusive Dice Legacy Launch Trailer
• Redhill Games – Nine to Five Exclusive Announcement Trailer
• Eremite Games – Against the Storm Official Release Date Trailer
• Big Pants – Endlight Exclusive Trailer
• Goblinz Publishing – Diluvian Winds Gameplay Trailer
• Vixa Games – The Crackpet Show Gameplay Trailer
• eBrain Studio and Yooreka Studio – Loopmancer Gameplay Trailer
• Young Wolf Interactive – Nura's Wish Gameplay Trailer

1:00pm PDT / 10:00pm CEST — Gamescom Studio

• OverBorder Studio and Team17 – Thymesia Exclusive Release Date Reveal
• Prehistoric Kingdom – Beta Announcement Trailer
• Elysium Game Studio – Exclusive Shadow of Conspiracy Section 2 Gameplay Reveal Trailer
• Pixile and Modus Games — Super Animal Royale Deep Dive
• Unannounced Game Developer Walkthrough

1:30pm PDT / 10:30pm CEST

• 505 Games and Kunos Simulazioni – Exclusive Reveal
• Koch Media – The Last Oricru World Premier Trailer
• Toukana Interactive and Dorfromantik – Exclusive Creative Mode Reveal
• Reply Game Studios and Modus Games – Soulstice Developer Interview

2:00pm PDT / 11:00pm CEST

• META Publishing and Owlcat Games – Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous Exclusive Trailer Reveal
• Toplitz Productions and Rendercube – Medieval Dynasty Developer Walkthrough
• OTA IMON Studios – Wolfstride Gameplay Walkthrough
• Creative Assembly – Mythos – A Total War Saga: Troy Trailer and Developer Interview

2:30pm PDT / 11:30pm CEST

• Weird Beluga Studio – Clid The Snail Release Trailer

3:30pm PDT / 12:30am CEST August 27th — Next-Gen Console Watch Live

Join Game Scoop!’s Daemon Hatfield, Beyond!’s Jonathon Dornbush, and Unlocked’s Ryan McCaffrey as they dive into all the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S announcements coming out of Gamescom 2021.

Friday, August 27

10:00am PDT / 7:00pm CEST — Game Scoop! Live

IGN’s Tina Amini, Kat Bailey, Samuel Claiborn, and host Daemon Hatfield give you the scoop on all the breaking news from Gamescom 2021!

11:00am PDT / 8:00pm CEST — Gamescom Studio

• Bloober Team and Koch Media – The Medium Exclusive PS5 Trailer
• Digital Cybercherries – Exclusive Hypercharge: Unboxed Campaign Teaser Reveal
• Digerati – Exclusive Severed Steel PC Release Date Announcement
• Code Three Fifty One – Project Haven Exclusive Gameplay Trailer
• Gamious – Lake Game Director Commentary

11:30am PDT / 8:30pm CEST

• Ratloop Games, Frontier Foundry, and Corey Kasperski – Lemnis Gate Exclusive Reveal and Gameplay Deep Dive
• Nekki – Spine Trailer Reveal
• 2P Games – DYING: 1983 Official Gameplay Trailer
• Dreamplant & All in! Games – Arboria Official Trailer
• One More Level and 505 Games – Exclusive Ghostrunner DLC Trailer
• The Farm 51 and All in! Games – Chernobylite “Tatyana Wedding Vows” Trailer
• Jutsu Games and Modus Games – Rustler Overview Trailer

12:00pm PDT / 9:00pm CEST — Beyond! Live

IGN's weekly PlayStation show, Podcast Beyond!, will be covering some of the biggest reveals and deep dives from the show. PlayStation may not have its own showcase, and whether or not they make a surprise appearance throughout the show, host Jonathon Dornbush, Brian Altano, Lucy O'Brien, and Max Scoville will discuss any major third-party reveals of upcoming PS4 and PS5 games, our favorite games from the show, and more.

1:00pm / 10:00pm CEST — Gamescom Studio

• Lost Pilgrims Studio – Vagrus The Riven Realms Exclusive Trailer And Launch Date Reveal
• Freedom Games – Airborne Kingdom Exclusive Console Release Date Reveal
• ROTU Entertainment – Rhythm of the Universe: IONIA Exclusive Trailer, Release Date Reveal
• Foxy Voxel – Going Medieval Upcoming Features Exclusive Sneak Peek
• IllFonic – Arcadegeddon Gameplay Developer Walkthrough

1:30pm PDT / 10:30pm CEST

• Manticore Games – Core Exclusive Game Reveal and Gameplay Trailer
• Dark Deity – Exclusive Reveal Trailer
• Sindex – SciGirl: The Internship Gameplay Reveal
• Green Man Gaming Publishing and Erik Rempen – Exclusive Kainga: Seeds of Civilization Gameplay Walkthrough

2:00pm PDT / 11:00pm CEST

• Enlightened Robot Entertainment – Naser: Son of Man Trailer
• Headup Games – Headup Games Showcase
• 505 Games – Grow: Song of the Evertree First Look

2:30pm PDT / 11:30pm CEST — Gamescom Wrap-up Show

Join us as we look back at the biggest moments from Gamescom 2021! Covering our favorite announcements, trailers, gameplay, and developer deep dives while we wrap up another great year for the biggest games show in the world!

Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected].

Kevin Lee is IGN's SEO Updates Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam

Microsoft is testing multiple new features across its Xbox Insiders program for console and Windows 10 PCs, introducing new options that improve the experience for both platforms.

For consoles, Xbox is offering Xbox Insiders with Alpha Skip-Ahead ring now have the option to enable night mode. As reported by Tom Warren of The Verge, it will allow select Xbox Insider members to adjust the dimming levels or add an optional blue light filter, or switch the Xbox console into dark mode and disable HDR.

✨ Xbox has a new night mode feature ✨ It will dim your screen, controller LED, and even the console power button. Full details (and video!) here: https://t.co/CgbE5J8mVW pic.twitter.com/qyXeyD32PX

— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) August 6, 2021

For Windows 10 PC owners with access to the Xbox Insiders program, Microsoft is introducing Xbox Cloud Gaming (aka xCloud) through the Xbox app starting today. Previously, Windows 10 devices owners had to access Xbox Cloud Gaming by heading to going to Xbox's website through a browser to sign in and play the cloud gaming beta.

Xbox Insiders on Windows 10 can now launch the official Xbox app. By clicking on the Game Pass tab, a new "Cloud Gaming" section will appear, showcasing all the titles that support Xbox Cloud Gaming. If you do not have access to test this new feature, you will still need to head over to Xbox's website and launch the service.

As with most Insider updates, the feature will be rolled out to those that signed up for the program on either or both platforms, with a full release to be announced later.

Several updates for the Xbox brand have rolled out within the last year, making some much-needed improvements. Last month, Microsoft announced an update that allowed parents and caregivers to set spending limits for their kids. Earlier this year, Microsoft rolled out an update to the Xbox dashboard, allowing Series X/S owners to increase download speeds by suspending games.

Taylor is the Associate Tech Editor at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

Bam Margera revealed he had been cut from Jackass Forever back in February and now he has filed a lawsuit against Paramount, Johnny Knoxville, and producer Spike Jonze for wrongful termination.

This news comes by way of Variety, which reports that the former Jackass TV series and movie star was fired for allegedly testing positive for Adderall, which violates the terms of a wellness agreement Margera signed with Jackass Forever producers. Margera claims in the lawsuit that he's taken Adderall as a prescribed medicine for 10 years.

"Paramount's inhumane treatment of Margera cannot be countenanced," the lawsuit states, according to Variety. "Margera was made to endure psychological torture in the form of a sham Wellness Agreement, and then ultimately terminated for his protected class status due to his medical condition, and his complaints about Defendants' discriminatory conduct towards him."

The lawsuit states that Knoxville, Jonze, and Jackass Forever director Jeffrey Tremaine coerced Margera into signing a wellness agreement while the star was in rehab back in 2019. Margera's lawsuit claims that he was told he would be excluded from Jackass Forever if he didn't sign it.

It also states that Margera was coerced into signing it without the presence of his attorney, or the opportunity for legal to give the agreement a once-over before Margera signed it. This wellness agreement subjected Margera to routine drug and alcohol tests

There's no official word from the defendant's in the case, but Knoxvile did comment on Margera's situation back in May.

"We tried to push that along," Knoxville said at the time. "I think that's all I really want to say about it. I don't want to get into a public back-and-forth with Bam. I just want him to get better."

For more about Jackass Forever, which is set to hit theater on October 22, read about how Knoxville says Jackass Forever will be his final Jackass film and then check out these images that reveal five new stunts in Jackass Forever. Watch the official Jackass Forever trailer after that.

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