Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is officially open at Disneyland in Anaheim (Florida’s Disney World has to wait until August 29), and although all the action takes place on a brand new planet, Batuu, the experience will still have plenty of connections to the wider Star Wars universe – including movies and TV shows that haven’t been released yet.
While many aspects of the Disney theme parks are frozen in time – Tomorrowland is a decidedly retro take on the future (when it opened in 1955, it was intended to be a take on a possible future we’d see in 1986) – Galaxy’s Edge is designed to be a living, evolving entity, much like the Star Wars franchise itself.
This is a (mostly) spoiler-free review of the first two episodes of DC Universe’s Swamp Thing. Episode 1 premiered on Friday, May 31, while episode 2, “Worlds Apart,” drops on Friday, June 7. Also learn about the history and origin of Swamp Thing here.
DC Universe’s Swamp Thing makes a formidable debut, with its Southern Gothic charm, grotesque visuals, and engaging storyline centered on a small Louisiana town with a past shrouded in mystery. But it’s the stellar world building that really makes the series stand out from other DC live-action shows. Swamp Thing’s richly-layered world is headed up by Battlestar Galactica alum Mark Verheiden and IT screenwriter Gary Dauberman, who take on co-showrunner duties. Add in executive producer James Wan (The Conjuring) and director Len Wiseman (Underworld franchise) and you have the Hollywood recipe for a really good horror series.
One of the most eagerly anticipated games of E3 2019 is Square Enix’s Avengers title. It should come as no surprise that there’s a great deal of excitement surrounding the game; not only has Marvel just wrapped up one of the most exciting movie events of the last decade with Avengers: Endgame, but it also scored a win in the video game space. Marvel’s Spider-Man, which was developed by Insomniac Games and launched as a PlayStation 4 exclusive in 2018, received widespread critical acclaim for its storytelling and gameplay. Things are looking good for Marvel right now, which could bode well for the Avengers game.
The game was originally announced in January 2017 as “The Avengers Project.” Crystal Dynamics and Eidos Montreal, the teams behind Tomb Raider and Deus Ex, respectively, were attached as developers. Since then, a new teaser has been released and it indicates that the game is called “Marvel’s Avengers.” Aside from the new name, Square Enix, Marvel, Crystal Dynamics, and Eidos Montreal have played their cards very close to their chests. We’re hoping they go big at E3 and, ahead of the event, we’ve put together a breakdown of everything we know and what we want to see. Take a look below.
Marvel’s Avengers is the first chapter in a multi-game partnership between the comic book titan and Square Enix. The initial trailer confirmed that the world it is set in hasn’t been too kind to superheroes–perhaps they’ve even been demonized. “They say the time of heroes is over,” a narrator says in the original teaser trailer. “That if you’re different, you’re dangerous. But I know the truth. The world will always need heroes. We just need to reassemble.”
The use of ‘reassemble” is important, as the original video then shows Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, Captain America’s shield, and Iron Man’s repulsor-equipped hand armor, though they’ve seen much better days. The implication is that the Avengers have been scattered, maybe even defeated. That means the player could play some part in the team’s re-emergence in a time of need.
Square Enix has said Avengers “is being designed for gamers worldwide and will be packed with all the characters, environments, and iconic moments that have thrilled longtime fans of the franchise.”
Square Enix also indicated that Avengers is being developed with long-term play in mind, saying it will feature “a completely original story” and “will introduce a universe gamers can play in for years to come.”
Since the game’s initial reveal, it has come to light that Shaun Escayg, the creative director and writer of Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, is serving as the creative director on Avengers. Stephen Barry, who was director of product development at Visceral Games, where he worked on titles like the Dead Space series, joined the development effort as director of production.
What’s Confirmed For E3
Square Enix is hosting its E3 2019 press conference on June 10 at 6 PM PT. As revealed on Twitter, Avengers will be part of its presentation, though it didn’t provide any indication of what we’ll see. Leaks, however, have given us a glimpse into not only what we could see at E3, but what the game is.
Details on the game leaked via the E3 Coliseum website, and although the information has been removed now, the cat is out of the bag. The description for a segment focused on the Avengers game indicated it will feature both solo and co-op play, and offer players the ability to customize their characters.
“Embrace your powers and join key members of the development team at Crystal Dynamics and the creative team at Marvel Games as they talk exclusively about the upcoming Marvel’s Avengers,” the description read. “This is the defining Avengers gaming experience: an epic action-adventure that combines cinematic storytelling with continuous single-player and co-operative gameplay. Moderated by Andrea Rene, assemble in teams up to four players, master extraordinary abilities, customize your heroes to fit your playstyle, and combine powers to defend an ever-expanding world under constant threat.”
What We Hope To See At E3
Given that we’ve seen no gameplay of Avengers thus far, we’d like to see Square Enix go in-depth and show us exactly what playing the game actually involves. There are big questions around whether the game will allow players to take control of one of the core members of the Avengers team or cast them as a newcomer that fights alongside the iconic Marvel squad. If it’s the former, Square Enix will need to delve into how it’s realizing the unique powers and abilities of the superheroes in gameplay, and how the game is designed to make that feel satisfying. If it’s the latter, we want to know how we’ll be able to shape our own hero.
Both Square Enix and Marvel have hinted at aspects of the game’s story, such as the Avengers being in disarray and the world becoming hostile to heroes. The leak also states that it all takes place in an “ever-expanding world under constant threat.” We’re getting a games-as-a-service vibe from this setup, and we’d like to see how the developers plan to keep us coming back time after time. More importantly, how are they achieving this without diluting the hero fantasy experience that many come to superhero games like this for?
Indulging our own fantasies briefly, we’d like to hear about what involvement Marvel has in crafting the experience. All the best superhero games have had key creatives with a proven track record involved to some degree, whether that’s Paul Dini, Jim Lee, and Geoff Johns for Rocksteady’s various Batman Arkham games, or Dan Slott for Insomniac’s Spider-Man. It would be good to know if Marvel’s own talent is being leveraged or at the very least what Square Enix’s developers are drawing influence from. It’d be pretty cool if Jonathan Hickman or Mark Millar walked out on stage and confirmed they’re lending their talents to the project–though perhaps that’s asking a bit too much.
Warning: Full spoilers follow for Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
Godzilla has been terrorizing/protecting the human world for 65 years, and in the newest entry to the franchise, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, the monstrous reptilian opened the door to a whole world of “Titans,” while also paving the way for 2020’s epic monster mash, Godzilla vs. Kong.
Since 2014’s Godzilla, Legendary has been building out its so-called MonsterVerse. Kong: Skull Island followed, and now things have crescendoed in the most recent monster-filled flick that features Godzilla alongside some of the most iconic Kaiju from Toho’s catalog, including King Ghidorah, Mothra, and Rodan. And yet, despite all of those Titans appearing, there was one whose absence was notable… but just because Kong didn’t co-star in King of the Monsters, it doesn’t mean he wasn’t alluded to.
Welcome to IGN’s Daily Deals, your source for the best deals on the stuff you actually want to buy. If you buy something through this post, IGN may get a share of the sale. For more, read our Terms of Use.
We bring you the best deals we’ve found today on video games, hardware, electronics, and a bunch of random stuff too.Check them out here or like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to get the latest deals.
Fans of Deadwood were no doubt pleased that the acclaimed series, which was canceled back in 2006, finally received a proper inclusion in the form of a two-hour feature film that debuted on HBO this weekend. While the show took plenty of creative license with the facts of the Wild West town’s history, it never deviated too far from established events, such as a character based on an actual person dying before they did in real life. That is until Deadwood: The Movie.
In the film, both Charlie Utter and, apparently, Al Swearengen die decades before the real men did. While Utter’s historical counterpart is believed to have moved to Panama and died there sometime in the early 1900s, the Deadwood character is killed in 1889 by agents of George Hearst, a murder that triggers the main plot of the flm.
For a second year, Square Enix is hosting its own E3 press conference. In Sony’s absence–as the company chose to withdraw its traditional press conference from E3 2019–Square Enix is taking the final slot on Monday, June 10. The publisher hasn’t revealed every game it plans on showcasing this year, only teasing that it will be “another exciting lineup of titles.”
However, we do know of a few Square Enix games confirmed for E3 this year, so it stands to reason that they will be shown off during the company’s press conference. Those list of games can be found below.
What Time Does Square Enix’s Press Conference Livestream Start?
Square Enix has scheduled its E3 2019 press conference for Monday, June 10. If you’re in the US, you can watch the conference’s livestream at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET. Unfortunately, if you’re in the UK, you’ll have to stay up fairly late to watch the stream because that translates to 2 AM BST the following day, June 11. Australian folks get to watch the stream in the middle of the day, at 11 AM AEST on June 11.
How To Watch
Square Enix’s E3 presentation will be broadcast live from the company’s website, as well as several social media channels. We’ll be streaming it too. Below, we’ve outlined the list of places you’ll be able to find Square Enix’s E3 presentation.
Where To Watch The Square Enix E3 2019 Press Conference
What To Expect
Square Enix has confirmed only one game for its E3 press conference: Dying Light 2. However, a couple of Square Enix games have already been confirmed to appear at E3, so it’s plausible we see most (if not all) during the company’s press conference. Of the games confirmed, Marvel’s Avengers is most likely the heavy hitter. Aside from some leaked details, there’s been very little news about the game since its announcement trailer, which was released in January 2017. Square Enix has confirmed its superhero game will be at E3, and the leaks imply we’ll see both single- and multiplayer gameplay during the show.
Of course, Marvel’s Avengers could be easily upstaged by Final Fantasy VII, the remake of the 1997 RPG of the same name. Square Enix has not confirmed the long-awaited remake will be at E3, but the latest PlayStation State of Play did tease more news about the game would be coming in June 2019. We assume that means E3, but, once again, it hasn’t been confirmed.
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint is the follow-up to 2017’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands, though developer Ubisoft is taking a different approach this time around. Breakpoint will have a darker tone, the developer says, in its new fictional New Zealand-esque setting, Aurora.
Aurora is home to Skell Technology, a corporation specializing in AI drone tech. When communication with the company ceases, you’re sent to the archipelago to investigate. When you arrive, however, you find yourself not in the role of the hunter, but the hunted.
Throughout Breakpoint, you’ll encounter a paramilitary group known as the Wolves, who Ubisoft says are just as skilled on the battlefield as the Ghosts. Because of this, the game places a greater emphasis on stealth. You’ll be able to employ drones and hide the bodies of any enemies you kill. Similarly, you can avoid detection by crouching in foliage or covering yourself with mud. The game also features some survival elements; any injuries you sustain need to be treated, and you need to maintain your weapons. Ghost Recon Breakpoint launches for PS4, Xbox One, and PC on October 4.
It’s been almost four years since the release of Halo 5: Guardians in 2015, so Halo fans are understandably eager to learn more about Halo Infinite. Thankfully, it’s expected that Microsoft is going to showcase the Xbox One and PC game during the Xbox E3 2019 briefing on June 10.
Besides Minecraft, Halo is arguably Microsoft’s biggest and best-known franchise. It has millions of dedicated fans and it is steeped in history and evolution. But it isn’t a stretch to say it’s fallen out of prominence and mindshare in the gaming world.
Franchises like Call of Duty and Battlefield, along with newcomers Fortnite and Apex Legends, generate consistent buzz. Halo, on the other hand, is currently most prominently represented by Halo: The Master Chief Collection, a game that sputtered at launch and has left a sour taste in the mouths of many. Microsoft’s commitment to supporting and improving upon the franchise’s “black eye,” as 343 has called it, has been impressive to see, but fans are interested in what’s next for the series.
Ahead of E3 2019, we’re looking back at what we know so far about Halo Infinite and examining what the game must do to reinvigorate the franchise. If there is anything that Halo’s campaigns have taught us over the years, it’s that you should never bet against Master Chief.
As fans may recall, Halo 5 split up time between Master Chief and a new character named Agent Locke (voiced nicely by Mike Colter). Instead of splintering off to tell the stories of different side characters, re-focusing on Master Chief with Halo Infinite could be what the franchise needs to get back on track. Ross has described Halo Infinite as a “spiritual reboot” of the franchise. That wording suggests Halo Infinite could be akin to 2018’s God of War. That game didn’t tell an origin story for Kratos but it managed to retain the franchise’s core tenets while also going deeper or wider in some brand-new narrative and gameplay areas.
The Halo universe is a sprawling, rich tapestry on which to tell all kinds of different stories, and 343 needs to weave something unique and compelling with Halo Infinite after Halo 5’s meandering and incoherent narrative. Microsoft no longer numbers its mainline Halo games, but even so, the company tells fans to think of Halo Infinite as Halo 6. That’s important because at one point Microsoft said Halo 4,5, and 6 were part of the Reclaimer Trilogy. It’s easier to understand why Halo 5’s story was such a letdown because it had the tough task of being a bridge story that was actually good. However, Microsoft later canceled its plans for a strictly defined three-game trilogy. Now, the company wants fans to think of Master Chief’s story as an ongoing “saga” that is not limited to any specific number of games. This gives Microsoft the freedom to redeem itself and, ahem, reclaim its former glory with a story that puts the focus back on Master Chief in new and interesting ways.
Surprise Us With New Multiplayer Innovations
Halo 5 pushed the Halo multiplayer scene forward with its ambitious MOBA-style Warzone mode. Halo’s multiplayer battlefield had never been so expansive, multi-layered, and engaging. It was a genuinely exciting and fresh take on the familiar Halo multiplayer formula. It felt like a bonafide strong step forward for the series, which has always been renowned for its multiplayer in particular. Microsoft needs to deliver a similarly novel multiplayer experience with Halo Infinite.
There has been much discussion about Halo Infinite mimicing Call of Duty and Battlefield with a battle royale mode of its own, but 343 has said that may not happen (even if the game’s engine is technically capable of delivering it). This may be for the best, as it would be more exciting to see Halo Infinite blaze its own trail rather than follow in the footsteps and trace the formula of an already-saturated battle royale market.
Warzone was fantastic, but it always felt to me like more of a foundation or canvas that could support something bigger and more exciting. In addition to whatever advancements Microsoft makes with Halo 5 in terms of a large-scale multiplayer experience, the game would also do well to ensure the hardcore Team Arena fans are satisfied as well.
Halo 5’s Team Arena also pushed things forward with a multitude of new abilities and weaponry, while the simple addition of clambering really changed how you could move around the map. The white-knuckle, fast-paced action of Halo Arena is where the series shines the brightest. Halo Infinite needs to keep this trend going and deliver something that pro players (Halo has a big competitive gaming scene) and the average player will enjoy in similar measure.
Show Off What The Slipspace Engine Can Do
The first trailer for Halo Infinite that was released at E3 2018 was actually for the game’s engine, Slipspace, not the game itself. Slipspace is Halo’s next-generation engine, and it was reportedly developed at no small expense. According to one Microsoft insider, careers will be made or broken based on the success of Halo Infinite due in part to its reported $500 million budget spanning game development and engine costs. For its part, Microsoft declined to comment on the reports of Halo Infinite’s budget. Whatever the case, a new game engine can unlock new gameplay opportunities, and it’s exciting to think about what a new set of development tools might allow 343 to do in terms of gameplay and Halo Infinite’s overall depth and fidelity. The Slipspace engine trailer showed off a sprawling landscape that invites players to imagine what could be possible. At E3, Microsoft needs to answer that question.
Tap To Unmute
Xbox On Halo Infinite, Exclusive Games, And New Consoles | E3 2018
Want us to remember this setting for all your devices?
For the first time since 2004’s Halo 2, the mainline Halo series is returning to PC with Halo Infinite. This is a big deal because it opens up the Halo franchise to a much wider audience, including those who have never played Halo before (and people who will inevitably double-dip). Fans have been calling on Microsoft to bring Halo back to PC for years now, so it’s good to see Microsoft listen to that feedback and take action. Microsoft is already laying the groundwork with Halo: The Master Chief Collection coming to PC beginning this month with Halo: Reach, and it’ll have a multitude of PC features like custom frame rates, FOV slider, button-mapping, and more. But Halo Infinite will be the first main series game on PC in more than 15 years, and Microsoft needs to make sure it’s a best-in-class, native PC game that doesn’t feel like a port.
Showcase Forge’s Next Evolution
Halo’s Forge mode is a treat, and it’s gotten bigger and better with each new Halo game. Already a robust map and mode-making tool, Forge could up the ante further in Halo Infinite with a tool suite and functionality that allows creative people to do even more. Halo 5’s Forge mode led to creations developed with a level of sophistication and depth that few could have imagined. I was never creative or capable enough to make the most out of Forge’s toolset, but I appreciated the community’s creations and I spent my fair share of time playing Halo: Beer Pong and Toilet Bowl Zombies. Forge was never better than it was in Halo 5, but the game doesn’t make it exactly easy to find custom game modes and maps, and the matchmaking system for custom games left a lot to be desired. Forge could help Halo Infinite become a truly “infinite” game with endless gameplay opportunities, but it needs better, more user-friendly systems and functionality to truly shine.
Split-Screen Is Back, And That’s Good News
It seems like a simple thing, but Halo Infinite bringing back local split-screen is incredibly significant. Split-screen is one of the core pillars of Halo. Some of my fondest childhood memories are playing Halo with my friends and siblings after school. I am not alone in my appreciation for local split-screen; just look at the reaction to Halo 5’s decision to drop the feature. Microsoft was roundly criticized. Microsoft’s data may have indeed shown that fewer and fewer people play local co-op, but removing the feature entirely from Halo 5 was a bad look all the same.
Split-screen always needed to return in Halo Infinite, and I’m happy it is. It may not be a feature that people make use of as often as they once did, but having the option to play split-screen is essential.
Have A Responsible Microtransaction Plan
Halo Infinite is a big new AAA game, so it comes as no surprise that it will have microtransactions. Microsoft confirmed as much a long time ago. Given that Halo 5’s microtransactions proved to be so lucrative, it is no surprise the business practice is coming back for the new game. For Halo Infinite, Microsoft needs to communicate a microtransaction solution that doesn’t come across as aggressive or anywhere near what could be considered pay-to-win. Microsoft would have surely seen what happened with Star Wars: Battlefront II and other recent examples of microtransactions gone wrong. Microsoft would do well to get ahead of the discussion and explain clearly and upfront how Halo Infinite will handle microtransactions. Until they do, fans may assume the worst. If Halo Infinite’s microtransaction plan edges too close to “icky,” fans can and should be encouraged to voice their concerns and leave feedback with Microsoft.
Use Halo Infinite To Show Off The Power Of The Next Xbox
With 2001’s Halo: Combat Evolved, Microsoft took a bold risk and demonstrated how well an FPS could work on console. It was a tremendous success. Halo played a pivotal role in getting Microsoft’s fledgling Xbox business off the ground, and the Halo series has pushed every new Xbox console since, the latest example being Halo 5’s massive-scale MOBA-style Warzone mode. With Microsoft also expected to announce a next-generation console (or two) at E3 this year, Microsoft again has the chance to showcase the next evolution of what Halo can be. With a name like “Infinite,” Microsoft needs to deliver something special. To sell a new console, Microsoft needs to demonstrate the hardware’s new and impressive capabilities. Combining that announcement with a technical showcase of Halo Infinite could be a jaw-dropper at E3.
