Fortnite is back with a new season, the first since Chapter 2 began last October. The new Chapter 2 Season 2 (C2S2) update has rolled out on PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and mobile devices, offering a new spy theme, map changes, and more. It includes a new Battle Pass as well for 950 V-Bucks (roughly $10 USD), complete with 100 levels of rewards to unlock. Those include weapon skins, emotes, back bling, and character skins.

On the whole, you can collect almost 100 pieces of new gear, and while you’re at it, earn up to 1,500 V-Bucks–plenty to buy your way into the next season’s Battle Pass. Some standout skins include a musclebound cat named Meowscles, a shape-shifting Maya variation, golden-armed Midas, and others. A trailer for the battle pass also revealed that we can expect to see Deadpool join the lineup this season, though it’s unclear exactly when.

With the spy theme, players are able to pick sides between the Ghost and Shadow factions. Those choices will result in different challenge missions and rewards. The map has also changed to add a luxury yacht, volcano hideout, and mansion.

Browse all the new cosmetics below for some extra motivation to earn all the new cosmetic items.

ViacomCBS has announced plans to launch a new House of Brands-style streaming service that will build upon CBS All Access by providing content from both sides of the recent merger.

During a Q4 earnings conference call on Thursday, ViacomCBS revealed their plans to expand their digital inventory and tailor offerings to meet customers needs, as the company looks to “accelerate momentum in streaming.”

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What Content Will Be Available on the New Service?

The service will expand on the CBS All Access library to introduce fresh content from Viacom brands, including Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, and Paramount Network, as part of a new product, which ViacomCBS is referring to as “House of Brands.”

The expanded platform will boast a variety of content for subscribers, as it looks to add “the company’s scaled assets in film and TV” to reaffirm and expand “the value of entertainment, news and sports – through on-demand and live experiences – for audiences around the world.”

The House of Brands-style service is expected to launch with 30,000 episodes of television and 1,000 movies on the platform.

When Will the Service Launch and How Much Will It Cost?

Speaking on the call, ViacomCBS CEO Bob Bakish confirmed that the new offering will have a soft launch later this year.

While he didn’t reveal the pricing structure for the evolved service, Bakish explained that the company wanted to introduce a “broad pay” service built on the foundation of CBS All Access to complement Pluto TV, their free ad-supported streaming service, and Showtime, which is considered to be their premium product.

As a reference point, CBS All Access currently costs $5.99/month with ads and $9.99/month without ads.

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Are you interested in subscribing to the new service? Let us know in the comments below. Then head on over to IGN’s State of Streaming hub for more on what to expect in 2020, including a review of Disney Plus, a look at NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming service, and a breakdown of which companies are currently winning the streaming wars.

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

Tiger Electronics has been defunct for years, but the brand is being revived by Hasbro for a new line of LCD video game systems. For ’90s kids with fond experiences with the original systems, it should bring back a rush of memories.

Coming this fall for $15 each, the Tiger Electronics LCD Video Games line will consist of four titles: Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Transformers Generation 2, and Marvel X-Men Project X.

As with the original versions, the games feature screens with pre-drawn backgrounds and elements like heroes and bosses that light up to simulate movement. It’s not the most advanced system today, but the colorful shells and charming sound effects have a retro appeal.

“Each game will bring gamers and die-hard retro fans back to the ’90s with the design and technology created with the original game unit in mind,” Hasbro added in a press release.

All of the games require two AA batteries to play, and they feature multiple stages filled with obstacles and enemies. With the recent release of Sonic the Hedgehog in theaters, the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 game is sure to be popular, and a Little Mermaid live-action remake is currently in the works.

In its heyday, Tiger Electronics produced a ton of LCD games, many of which were simplified versions of console and arcade titles. They included Battletoads, Castlevania 2: Simon’s Quest, and Ecco the Dolphin, along with several based on cartoons and movies.

During its Animal Crossing-focused Direct, Nintendo once again confirmed that the upcoming New Horizons will not make use of Nintendo Switch Online’s cloud save backup function, but NSO subscribers will have a way to recover their save data should something unfortunate happen to their system. However, this feature comes with one notable caveat.

In fine print during the presentation, Nintendo specifies that you will only be able to recover your Animal Crossing: New Horizons save data one time should your Switch get lost or damaged. As previously mentioned, this service will only be offered to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, and it won’t be available until sometime after the game launches.

This isn’t the only unusual save data restriction New Horizons imposes on players. Nintendo recently confirmed that only one island can exist per Nintendo Switch console–so if another player who shares your system would like to start their own island, they’ll need their own Switch and game. Additionally, you will not be able to transfer your New Horizons save data from one Switch system to another.

We learned a lot of other details about New Horizons during the Animal Crossing Direct. Nintendo showcased a variety of quality-of-life improvements, as well as some new and returning characters you’ll meet in the game. New Horizons also lets you change your island’s terrain for the first time in the series, and it’ll make use of both the Nintendo Switch Online smartphone app and the Animal Crossing Amiibo figures and cards.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons releases worldwide on March 20. You can see what pre-order bonuses are available for the title in our Animal Crossing: New Horizons pre-order guide. For more on the game, be sure to check out our roundup of everything we know about New Horizons.

All of the Animal Crossing games are filled with a collection of adorable anthropomorphic animals (save for Mr. Resetti–he can go to hell). In the February 2020 Nintendo Direct, we see that Animal Crossing: New Horizons is no different, featuring a motley crew of faces, some old and some brand-new.

Long-time fans will recognize the Museum (traditionally run by Blathers and Celeste), Nook’s Cranny (traditionally run by Tom Nook or his children), and Able Sisters (traditionally run by Mabel, Sable, and Label)–all hallmark stores of the Animal Crossing franchise. Animal Crossing: New Leaf’s Campground (overseen by Harvey) makes a return too.

Isabelle will return from her summons to rumble in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate to join your fledgling town as well. Once you upgrade your Resident Services tent into a full-fledged Town Hall, it appears Isabelle will move in to offer you the same services she did in New Leaf.

The Direct also showcased Saharah. Since her role in every game changes, it’s not immediately apparent what services she provides in New Horizons (though she always has something to do with rare carpets and wallpapers). Kicks, who shined shoes in Animal Crossing: City Folk and sold footwear in New Leaf, can be seen as well. The two Dodos that operate the airport and fly the private plane are named Orville and Wilbur, an homage to the Wright Brothers.

The Direct also revealed brand-new characters: Daisy Mae, C.J., and Flick. Daisy Mae is a turnip seller like Joan, while C.J. seems to represent the Fishing Tourney and Flick seems to handle the Bug-Off (Joan is mysteriously absent).

Nintendo revealed a ton of new information about Animal Crossing: New Horizons during the game’s dedicated Direct presentation. On top of showing off a variety of welcome quality-of-life improvements, the company confirmed New Horizons will have Amiibo support. Here’s how it’ll work.

New Horizons will be compatible with both the Animal Crossing Amiibo figures as well as the Amiibo cards. By scanning an Amiibo, you can invite that character to your island’s campground. You can also take photos with them in a new photoshoot mode called Photopia.

There are currently 16 different Animal Crossing Amiibo figures, many of which can still be found for cheaper than their release price. Given that New Horizons is one of the most anticipated Switch games of the year, you’ll probably want to snap up some of these Amiibo while you can, in case their price increases closer to the game’s launch. We’ve rounded up where you can snag each Amiibo figure–as well as some other great Animal Crossing-themed gear–in our Animal Crossing accessory guide.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons arrives on Nintendo Switch on March 20. Many retailers are offering their own unique pre-order bonuses for the title, such as the adorable bell bag at Best Buy. You can learn more in our Animal Crossing: New Horizons pre-order guide. The game is also available to pre-order digitally on the Switch Eshop and is eligible for the Switch voucher program (if you have any game vouchers remaining).

Like all good entrepreneurs, The Nook empire is diversifying in Animal Crossing: New Horizons – by spinning up a new business venture: island getaways. In my time with New Horizons (the first 30 minutes) gameplay doesn’t stray far from what makes Animal Crossing so charmingly addictive a few key updates aim to make it the most customizable entry in the series.

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The Animal Crossing Nintendo Direct showed massive potential for the newfound deserted island to grow into a proper village, and I got to see what it’s like from its meager beginnings. Granted, one half-hour isn’t enough time to get a true sense of New Horizons’ day-to-day gameplay, but I did get to see some of its new systems. If you’d like to keep your character’s island arrival a surprise, stop here and instead go check out the wrap-up article of the Animal Crossing Nintendo Direct and our interview with Animal Crossing developers at E3 2019.

Preparing for Island Living

Move over Rover and Kapp’n, Timmy and Tommy Nook are open for business. These two cute twin tanuki set you up for your new adventure by checking your information at an airline counter. Before you’re able to board your flight, Timmy and Tommy check your name, allow you to customize your character through simple menus rather than have it determined by a quiz (hurray!), and choose your island design from one of four layouts. A representative from Nintendo said additional character customization options unlock as you play too.

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With the bulk of the customization done, Timmy and Tommy have one final question: what’s the one thing you’d bring with you to a deserted island? I was asked to choose between a sleeping bag, a lamp, some food, or something to kill time. I like wandering around at night so I chose the lamp. Timmy reassured me that Nook Inc. would provide all essentials despite my choice, and the Nintendo rep said my answer wouldn’t do anything directly but didn’t elaborate on the possibilities. With the profile complete, my character was taken to the deserted island.

This introduction is a mild departure from previous Animal Crossings where you arrive by train, taxi, or bus and set up your profile along the way before arriving in an established but fledgling town. In New Horizons, however, they’re not kidding when they say you’re going to a deserted island – save for Tom Nook’s tent and the tiny airport, nothing else is built. Knowing how I’ll eventually be able to manipulate the terrain, place items outside, and customize even more made this airport scene an exciting introduction.

Once the plane touched down, I was greeted by Tom Nook and made excited introductions with my first two island friends, Hamlet and Hazel – it’s not every day you get to start a new life on a deserted island! Tom walked us through the Resident Services tent that houses a crafting workbench, an item shop, the recycling box, and the latest automatic bell dispenser, and then instructed us to find a spot on the island to claim as our own. I chose to set up my tent in a strategic spot behind Resident Services, though I was told I could move my tent later.

A New Debt to Pay

Sadly, you can’t vote your new neighbors off the island if you’re not pleased with them, but at least you can choose where they’ll set up camp. Once I was all settled I found my neighbors and was able to decide whether or not I liked their pitch for their new home. You’ll have the option to let them settle there, tell them to find another spot, or choose a spot for them yourself. When setting up your tent and theirs, you’ll be able to “imagine,” or preview, what the tent will look like in that location, which was helpful. I appreciate having more of a hand in designing my island right from the start, and it was nice that Hamlet and Hazel appreciated my input.

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With our homes settled, Tom Nook requested I gather sticks for a fire, and some peaches, my island’s randomly chosen native fruit. The actual collection process is the same as it’s always been and I wasn’t given access to tools, so my actions during the first day were limited. But eventually, the day came to a close and when my character awoke New Horizons had synced to real-time (it runs on its own time for the first tutorial day) and saddled me with a massive 49,800 bell debt. We may be in a new kind of environment, but this is the same old Tom Nook.

Fortunately, Tom did offer to let me pay off my initial charge for the island getaway package with a new kind of currency called Nook Miles. These miles are earned by completing objectives, like “Angling for Perfection,” a challenge that requires you to catch 10 fish. I didn’t get to explore exactly how much you can earn from each completed objective, but I know I’ll be putting my first 5,000 miles toward paying my debt and save my bells for an eventual house upgrade. And Nintendo confirmed that you can only pay off your debt with Nook Miles the first time, so don’t get used to that convenience.

Quick Crafts

Unfortunately, my time with New Horizons was coming to an end, so I ran straight for the Resident Services tent to test out the new crafting system. Here, Tom Nook hosts DIY classes, and he just so happened to have time to teach me how to craft items through recipes. I downloaded the DIY Recipes app for my NookPhone – a handy smartphone equipped with a camera, a rescue service to get you out of tough spots, a Nook Miles tracker, and other apps – that let me save the recipe for a flimsy fishing rod.

These DIY recipes can be earned in a variety of ways – you might receive one in the mail and islanders can gift them to you. I hunted down the five tree-sticks needed to make the fishing rod, crafted it with the press of a button, and was ready to fish – and I would have if my time hadn’t run out. Crafting seems like a fun way to build items that would otherwise take from my precious bell-debt fund, though items like the flimsy fishing rod and others will be available for purchase.

There are still tons of features I’m excited to fully get my hands on: Customizing crafted items, making paths, exploring truly deserted islands through Nook’s travel service, and pretty much everything announced in the Animal Crossing Nintendo Direct (you can read our summary of the biggest announcements here if you haven’t already!). New Horizons doesn’t seem like it’ll be a major departure from what we know and love about Animal Crossing, but it sure does seem to have plenty of quality-of-life improvements and better customization options that’ll likely keep it as engaging as ever.

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Miranda Sanchez is an executive editor at IGN. She hopes Roscoe and Goldie settle on her island sooner than later. You can chat with her about video games and anime on Twitter.

As part of its Animal Crossing-focused Direct, Nintendo has detailed plans for how it intends to support the upcoming Switch entry, New Horizons. As revealed during the Nintendo Direct, Animal Crossing: New Horizons will have multiple free updates post-launch.

The first of these free updates arrives on March 20–the game’s release day–and will introduce Bunny Day. From that point on, holidays and events that aren’t already in the game will be introduced as they come up in the real-life calendar. This gradual rollout means that the system clock and other exploits can’t be manipulated to do some virtual time-travelling and see events before Nintendo intends them to be available.

The Animal Crossing franchise delivers what many treat as lifestyle experiences. Each game invites players to check in day after day to do small tasks, chat with friends in the world, progress in developing their place in the town, and customize their living spaces. As such, events are a big part in keeping the games fresh, and it looks like Nintendo has grand designs on making sure players are always entertained and excited about what’s happening.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons launches on March 20 and, ahead of that, Nintendo is releasing a special Animal Crossing-themed Switch console on March 13. The system features pastel green and blue Joy-Cons and a white dock, which has Tom Nook and his nephews on an island adorned on it.

During the Direct, Nintendo also revealed that New Horizons will let you change your island’s terrain and the game uses the Switch Online app in clever ways.

During its Animal Crossing: New Horizons Direct, Nintendo revealed new construction features to help you customize your island. As shown during the presentation, the Nook Phone–an in-game smartphone with a variety of helpful apps–includes an unlockable “Island Designer” app that allows you to mold your island to your liking.

The most drastic feature is the ability to change your island’s terrain, a first for the series. In past Animal Crossing games, you’d have to reset the game if you didn’t like your town’s layout at the start. Like previous games, New Horizons gives you a choice of four island layouts at the beginning–but even if you like your layout to begin with, you can now alter it over time and as your needs or aesthetics change.

This includes adding or deleting cliffs, adding or removing water features, and even adding slopes to aid in island navigation. You do all this in real-time via the Island Designer mode rather than scheduling construction somewhere and then waiting for it to finish, though it appears you can still pay to construct bridges like you could in New Leaf. You can also pay to build staircases around town, a brand-new feature that should also help you get up cliffs with ease.

Another major addition in this realm is veritable pathways. Making paths around your town was an arduous process in past Animal Crossing games, to say the least–you’d either have to run over the same patch of grass over and over or place path-pattern tiles one by one on the ground. Now, you can lay out paths of various types, from dirt to stone, via the Island Designer app via what looks like a much easier, smoother process.

Based on the Direct, it seems New Horizons is making town-building and customization breezier than ever–you can even control where villagers put their houses so they don’t ruin your whole vibe.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons launches on March 20. Ahead of that, Nintendo is releasing a special Animal Crossing-themed Switch console on March 13 that includes a white dock with Tom Nook, Timmy, and Tommy on it as well as pastel blue and green Joy-Cons.

Nintendo shared a wealth of new details about Animal Crossing: New Horizons during its Animal Crossing Direct broadcast. As we recently learned through the company’s website, New Horizons will support the rarely used Nintendo Switch Online smartphone app, and now we know exactly how it’ll be used.

Shortly after New Horizons launches, the title will get its own game-specific service in the NSO app called Nook Link. Among other things, you can use this feature to scan QR codes of patterns designed in the series’ 3DS games, New Leaf and Happy Home Designer, letting you import those patterns into New Horizons easily.

Nook Link also lets you communicate with other players when playing. Not only can you voice chat through the app, as you can with a handful of other Switch games, but you are also able to type out text messages. These messages will then be displayed in the game as a speech bubble above your character’s head.

Nintendo hasn’t specified when the Nook Link service will go live, only noting that it will roll out “soon after” New Horizons launches next month. To use the app (as well as New Horizons’ other online features), you’ll need to have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. Individual memberships cost $4 for one month, $8 for three months, and $20 for a year. Nintendo also offers an annual Family Plan that costs $35 and covers up to eight Nintendo Account holders across multiple systems.

New Horizons launches exclusively for Switch on March 20. There’s still time to pre-order the game, and a handful of retailers are offering their own unique pre-order incentives, such as the adorable bell bag bundle available at Best Buy. You can learn more in our Animal Crossing: New Horizons pre-order guide.