Month: July 2019

On Friday at QuakeCon, Bethesda and id Software treated fans to a surprise announcement that all three original Doom games are now available on Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One. Unfortunately, the positive reception to the new ports was dampened a little bit when it became apparent that players were required to create and login into a Bethesda.net account to play them. After a day’s worth of outcry, Bethesda has confirmed it is working on a way to make the login optional for all players.

“The BethesdaNet login requirement was included for the Slayers Club, to reward members for playing the classic DOOM

games,” Bethesda told IGN in a statement. “The login should be optional, and we are working on changing the requirement to optional now. We will update everyone when a fix is ready.”

Doom and Doom II both required players to login just once before accessing the games, but Doom III required players to login each time in order to unlock all features and content.

The Slayers Club is Bethesda and id’s official fanclub for the Doom franchise. Members earn points that lets them unlock skins for the Doom Slayer and demons in the Doom games, as well as merch coupons.

E3 2019 Screenshots – Doom Eternal

The reaction to the Bethesda.net login requirement led some fans to mock it by photoshopping similar text over unrelated games, like Mortal Kombat, Castlevania, and Kirby’s Adventure.

woah that’s great!!! pic.twitter.com/zdkPqnGcnE

— harry ciphers or whatever (@smudgebap) July 27, 2019

pic.twitter.com/qwvHtZ7foG

— Ch073n (@ch073n) July 27, 2019

Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer for IGN, but he will be worse. Login with him on Twitter.

There were almost too many earth-shattering announcements from Marvel’s panel at San Diego Comic-Con, but one in particular rocked all nine realms. Love and Thunder, the fourth movie worthy of the title of Thor, is not only bringing back Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, and director Taika Waititi, but also Natalie Portman. And this time, she’ll be wielding the title and hammer of the Mighty Thor.When Waititi introduced Portman and she took the stage, he mentioned the comic book storyline he’d been reading while Thor: Ragnarok was in production: the Jason Aaron run of Thor. Comic fans familiar with Jane Foster knew immediately what that meant for Portman’s character, but do you? Here’s the rundown on who Jane Foster is in the comics, why she takes up the hammer, what happened to Thor, and what else we might see in Thor: Love and Thunder.

(Note: In the comics and in this article, Thor, son of Odin, is referred to as Odinson for clarity.)

Marvel Phase 4: Official Lineup

How Did Jane Foster Become Thor?

Jane Foster has been part of the Thor comic books since the 1960s. In her original incarnation, Jane was a nurse who later became a doctor, and she worked with Dr. Donald Blake—Thor’s mortal form. She’s been Thor’s longtime love interest, but over the years the pair have had an on-again, off-again relationship similar to the one we see in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Jane remained a steadfast ally of both Thor and other Marvel superheroes through it all. In Thor: God of Thunder #12, Jane was diagnosed with breast cancer, and started treatment.

During the 2014 event storyline Original Sin, Nick Fury whispered something he learned from the Watcher in Thor Odinson’s ear. Years would go by in the real world before what Fury said to him was revealed, but the effect was immediately devastating and long-lasting. Odinson dropped the hammer, unable to pick it up again, no matter how hard he tried. Thor was no longer worthy. As Frost Giants unleashed a ferocious attack on Earth, a dark figure bent down and picked up the hammer as it called to her—a woman, and the only name she would give was Thor, Goddess of Thunder.

Thor’s face was masked, her identity hidden from all, even Odin, but we learn in time that it’s Jane Foster who has been deemed worthy to wield the hammer.

Should She Be Worthy?

As Thor, Jane had the same superhuman strength, speed, endurance, flight, and lightning powers as Odinson. When she first picked up the hammer, she didn’t quite know how to use those powers, although her years with Odinson gave her a few clues. As she flew to Earth to find the Frost Giants after she transformed into Thor, she felt Mjolnir guide her both in flight and in battle.

Her connection to the hammer only grew stronger with time. The Goddess of Thunder was able to change Mjolnir’s direction mid-throw, an ability that not even Odinson had, something he noted himself in their first battle together. He understood then that the hammer chose a new Thor, a worthy hero, and trusted its judgement.

Marvel Phase 4 Comic Con Panel

Foster Faces Her Foes

Like Odinson, Jane found herself embroiled in momentous battles rather quickly. Her first time swinging the hammer was against Malekith the Dark Elf and the Frost Giants, followed soon after by the Absorbing Man, Titania, and The Destroyer from Asgard.

Every time Jane picked up the hammer of Thor, however, the transformation purged the chemotherapy treatment—a “poison”—from her body, leaving her human self wracked with untreated cancer. Her biggest enemy would prove to be time as her human body continued to fail.

Thor would go on to play a role in the Secret Wars (2015), battle a power-hungry Odin one-on-one, join the Avengers, and team up with Doctor Strange, until she ran out of time. One more transformation into Thor would kill her, Strange warned her. But when a foe appeared that only she could defeat, Jane completed that final transformation, and died a true hero. She was resurrected by the combined power of the All-Father and Odinson, who was once again worthy to wield the power of Thor.

The Goddess of Thunder in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

With just a movie title and a quick tease in the Comic-Con panel, there’s not much to go on to speculate what that comic book history might mean for Natalie Portman’s incarnation of Thor. Whether Jane will be stricken with cancer, or if Hemsworth’s Thor is suddenly deemed unworthy (which seems unlikely given his story in Avengers: Endgame), are both complete mysteries for now. But no matter the reason Portman picks up the hammer in Thor: Love and Thunder, she will be worthy.

Kelly Knox is a freelance writer who also contributes to StarWars.com, Marvel.com, Nerdist, and more. Follow her on Twitter at @kelly_knox to talk Star Wars, Dungeons & Dragons, comics, and more.

Horror puzzle-platformer Darq will launch for Steam on August 15.First-time, one-man developer Unfold Games made waves by turning down 12 publishers to make the game himself, and a Reddit post about that situation became one of the most upvoted posts in the site’s history. Darq is also one of the most wishlisted games on Steam.

Darq – New Screenshots

The game centres around Lloyd, a boy trapped inside his own nightmare, but who uses lucid dreaming to force his way out.

That involves perspective and gravity puzzling, as well as a healthy amount of terrified running away from horrifying threats.

The launch version of the game will include full controller support, trading cards, achievements, cloud saves, and will support 19 languages. A simultaneous release is hopeful but unconfirmed for GOG, and console versions are also planned for a future release.

Joe Skrebels is IGN’s UK Deputy Editor, and he can’t think of many Lloyds in games. Follow him on Twitter.

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for the latest deals and follow our very own IGN UK Deals Amazon storefront for IGN’s curated lists of best games, tech and accessories.

The Best Mobile Phone Contract Deal on the S10+

Carphone Warehouse has just released one of the best contract deals I’ve ever seen on the Samsung Galaxy S10+. Get 60GB data on the EE network, plus unlimited minutes and texts, all for just £49 per month and an upfront cost of £44.99.

IGN Exclusive VPN Deal: Stream and Watch US Netflix or Amazon Prime Video Content from the UK

This IGN exclusive VPN deal makes PureVPN one of the cheapest VPNs on the market that has compatibility with streaming US Netflix and US Amazon Prime Video content from the UK. Amazon Prime Video comes free with a Prime membership and Netflix is a subscription we’re sure most of you already have – all you have to do is select ‘Stream Mode’, then connect to a United States server to get access to a much bigger range of movies and TV shows that the US have over the UK. Also remember that you are able to stream Amazon Prime Video and Netflix from Amazon’s Fire TV Stick, and you can also install PureVPN on them too.

When you think about all the extra content you’re getting by just paying an extra £2.35 per month on top of your current monthly payments towards Amazon Prime or Netflix, it’s definitely worth it. That’s not to mention all the other benefits you’re getting from a VPN, such as remaining anonymous online – PureVPN allows its users to utilize a single account on up to 5 devices simultaneously from the same country. With PureVPN, all your devices are completely protected.

40% off Creative Cloud All Apps (Annual Commitment)

You can get the most out of Adobe Creative Cloud with this fantastic offer, as you will gain access to the entire collection of 20+ creative desktop and mobile apps, including Photoshop CC, Illustrator CC and Adobe XD CC. In addition you’ll get 100GB of cloud storage, Adobe Portfolio, Adobe Fonts, and Adobe Spark with premium features, and more.

Nintendo Switch (Neon Red/Neon Blue) + £30 Nintendo eShop Voucher

The best deal for Nintendo Switch standalone I’ve seen so far. It’s down to only £279.99, and it comes with £30 Nintendo eShop voucher. It’s available in both colour variants, Neon Red/Neon Blue and Grey.

54% off Arlo Wireless Home Security Camera System

With this HD smart home security camera you can get exactly the shot you need – inside or out, and it is also completely wireless. Get Arlo Wireless home security camera syste for just under £94.

IGN Exclusive: £75 off Casper Mattresses, Including the New Hybrid

A great mattress requires a bigger investment, and it’s so important to chose the right one for a good night’s sleep. Casper is one of the leading mattress brands, and they offer a 100-night risk-free trial, which means if you are unhappy with your purchase, you will get a full refund.

The great news is you can also save £75 off any Casper mattress with promotional code IGN75, which can get you a Casper Hybrid Mattress in King size for just £825.

Try Audible Free for 30 Days (With Any Audiobook of Your Choice)

Love books? With Audible it’s easy to tune into Audiobooks wherever you are. By streaming or downloading books onto the free Audible app you will be able enjoy your favourite titles on the go, in your car or even at the gym. If you’re interested, new customers can try an Audible membership free for the first 30 days including any Audiobook of choice, saving you £7.99 but only for the first month. The monthly plan thereafter will cost you £7.99/month but you are able to cancel before the 30 days is up to not pay anything.

IGN Exclusive: Save 50% off Kaspersky Total Security

Get extra security when shopping or banking online with Kaspersky’s Total Security antivirus, which lets you to connect via Virtual Private Network (VPN) technology, keeps your passwords safe with Kaspersky Password Manager and it’s designed to help you look out for your kids online and beyond.

IGN readers can enjoy saving £20 off this security package with our exclusive discount. The offer expires on 29th July, 2019, so grab it while it lasts.

Black Friday in July at Dell

Dell continue their Black Friday in July sale by bringing the prices down on the most popular PCs, laptops, monitors and more. Check the full list of products here, or take a took at our favourites below.

Spend £4.95 on Gillette’s Subscription Service and Receive a £10 Myprotein Voucher

You can save up to £10 when you subscribe to Gillette razors. You can select a starter kit of your choice from the list below from just £4.95, and then choose your subscription frequency and receive replacement blades from just £8.29 (every 4th refill is free). You can cancel at any time.

3 Months of Kindle Unlimited for FREE

If you own a Kindle, this is a perfect deal for someone who wants to get access to an enormous library of eBooks, comics, magazines and more. To be exact, over 1 million Kindle eBooks and over 20,000 digital comics are available, and it all can be accessed with a Kindle Unlimited membership. This deal is rare, and is usually only available during Amazon Prime Day or Black Friday.

Save up to 55% off Optimum Nutrition, BSN & Nutramino

Today Only: Save up to 25% off Fans

Keep cool in this hot weather with one of the fans that are on sale at Amazon and save up to 25% off the list price. Click here to see all products on offer, or check out our hand-picked deals below.

Logitech Z906 Stereo Speakers under £160

Sometimes you don’t want to limit yourself to a pair of headphones. You want to fill a room with sound. That’s where the Z906 5.1 comes in. Get it cheaper at Amazon with today’s offer, which will save you around £200.

£200 off Oral-B Genius 9000 CrossAction Electric Toothbrush

Oral-B Genius 9000 electric toothbrush offers the first Oral-B intelligent brushing system with new Gum Guard technology to help you brush like your dentist recommends. Get it cheaper and save a whopping £200.

E3: Preorder Cyberpunk 2077 for under £35

Based on renowned pen-and-paper-RPG designer Mike Pondsmith’s Cyberpunk system, Cyberpunk 2077 provides freedom of action and diversity in gameplay thanks to the sandbox nature of the game and mechanics. It has been officially announced at E3 that Cyberpunk 2077 will be released on 16th April, 2020, and the game will be available on most of the major platforms, including PS4. Xbox One and PC. You can preorder this game from just £34.99 at GAME via Quidco, or if you prefer going through other retailers, we have compiled the list below.

£15 off at GAME via Quidco:

Over £200 off Microsoft 13.5-inch Touchscreen Surface Laptop

Microsoft 14.5-Inch Surface touchscreen laptop is slim but powerful, running on 5th gen Intel Core M processor and you get to enjoy up to 11 hours of battery life for work or play. Amazon offers the best deal I’ve ever seen for this laptop, priced at just £617.99.

Linksys VELOP Intelligent Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi System under £165

Velop with Intelligent MeshTM Technology is an award-winning family mesh Wi-Fi system created to work seamlessly together.

Follow IGN UK Deals Amazon Storefront to View IGN’s Best Products for 2019

Visit and follow IGN UK Deals Amazon Storefront to find product lists and get weekly updates for all the best games, tech and accessories all in one place, curated by IGN Editors and updated regularly.

Amazon has announced the creative team for their big-budget Lord of the Rings TV show.In addition to previously announced showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, director and executive producer J.A. Bayona (The Orphanage, Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom), and executive producer Belén Atienza, the Lord of the Rings series has added executive producers Lindsey Weber (10 Cloverfield Lane), Bruce Richmond (Game of Thrones), Gene Kelly (Boardwalk Empire) and Sharon Tal Yguado.

The show has also firmed up its writers room with writer/executive producer Gennifer Hutchison (Breaking Bad); writer/executive producer Jason Cahill (The Sopranos) writer/executive producer Justin Doble (Stranger Things); consulting producers Bryan Cogman (Game of Thrones) and Stephany Folsom (Toy Story 4); producer Ron Ames (The Aviator); writer/co-producer Helen Shang (Hannibal), and writing consultant Glenise Mullins.

Kate Hawley (Suicide Squad) has also joined the series as costume designer, in addition to Star Wars: The Last Jedi’s production designer Rick Heinrichs, visual effects supervisor Jason Smith (The Revenant), Tolkien scholar Tom Shippey; and renowned illustrator/concept artist John Howe.

“This team is our Fellowship – assembled from around the world, all walking the road together to try and accomplish something far greater than any of us could on our own,” said McKay and Payne in a statement. “We feel humbled and extremely lucky to be surrounded by such inspiring and talented women and men.”

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“As our journey into Middle-earth begins, we are in excellent hands with J.D. and Patrick at the helm, with this incredible team of talent that they’ve assembled,” said Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios. “The depth and breadth of the experience of this writing and production team is truly awesome, with a real respect for and knowledge of Tolkien lore. We’re so happy to have them on board and to see this exciting series start to come to life.”

No cast for Amazon’s Lord of the Rings has been announced yet, but Markella Kavenagh has reportedly been tapped for a mystery role.

Despite rumors and theories the series might focus on a young Aragorn, the Lord of the Rings TV show’s story will take place in the Second Age, but the plot itself is still under wraps. Here’s all Amazon will say about it so far: “Set in Middle-earth, the television adaptation will explore new storylines preceding J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring.”

Amazon Game Studios is also developing a Lord of the Rings MMORPG that is separate from the plot of the TV show.

When looking at Tamarin‘s debut trailer, fans of classic 3D platformers from the Nintendo 64 will know the type of game they’re in for. Coming from Chameleon Games, the self-published throwback platformer is a tribute made in collaboration with former developers from Rare. Aiming to recapture the same stylings of games from yesteryear, Tamarin channels the same vibe found from games like Donkey Kong Country 64 and Jet Force Gemini, the latter of which showed somewhat of a darker edge to Rare’s 3D action-platformers.

Taking on the role of the titular Tamarin, a new-world monkey that resembles a squirrel, you’re tasked with defending your home from bug-like invaders seeking to take the land for themselves. This conceit entails exploring different levels and areas of your homeland, while also utilizing weapons acquired from the invaders to fight back. While this concept seems to be treading on well-worn ground, that’s a part of the appeal that game director Omar Sawi is going for.

We recently had the chance to speak with the development team working on this throwback 3D platformer. During our chat, Sawi talked about his collaboration with former Rare level designer Richard Vaucher and lead composer David Wise, and how it pushed them to approach this throwback a bit differently.

“So yeah, I started the game and what I wanted was for it to not be too much in one box,” said Sawi. “Rare had these games that were very cute and charming. Yet some other platformers and shooters they made felt different. Tamarin is trying to capture a bit of that spirit. We’re trying to have something that doesn’t necessarily cater just to kids, but also has a wider appeal and has a bit of an edge to it.”

In recent years, there have been several games that have sought to emulate the same style and atmosphere from classic Rare games. These games include 2017’s A Hat in Time and Yooka-Laylee–the latter of which was developed by Playtonic Games, a collective of former Rare developers. Whether it’s the upbeat musical tracks or the somewhat self-aware humor, these games often try to evoke nostalgia for an era that reveled in exploring a colorful world filled with knick-knacks and other collectibles. And Tamarin is no exception.

Wise, who’s worked on games like the original Battletoads and the Donkey Kong Country series, is also responsible for one of the most iconic themes of the Super Nintendo music library: Donkey Kong Country 2’s Stickerbrush Symphony. While working on Tamarin, Wise spent time revisiting themes from Rare’s earlier years and has a particular view on why people still have an attachment for these this style of games.

“There are certainly still people that like the kind of nostalgia element to it,” Wise said. “It can remind them of when they were a bit younger, and jumping back into games like that. Hopefully, Tamarin can take it a little bit further, as it’s revisiting the genre and stretching it a bit more. I think there’s a lot to be said for that kind of thing at the moment. Again, there are only so many styles of game. So it’s nice to jump in and jump out of different styles and different genres. I’d say both myself and [Banjo-Kazooie composer] Grant Kirkhope are very fortunate in the fact that we’ve made a lot of games. We’ve been making music for so long; it’s almost like we’ve set the expectations for the genre [of platformers]. Fortunately, a lot of people look to our style of music to evoke a kind of video game feel, which has worked out quite well for us over the years.”

Former Rare level designer Richard Vaucher also chimed in, adding that there’s an appealing quality to the setting of Tamarin. A clear focus the developers had when making Tamarin was that they wanted to keep things interesting for players looking for a more familiar experience.

“With Tamarin, we’re mixing different kinds of Rare games,” Vaucher said. “It’s adding a bit of variety to that familiar experience, and not just sticking to one type of game in terms of style. I guess for my part; it’s mostly about the visuals, or like players discovering the new environments, and seeing what they think of the animations of the main character. But in my view, it’s about the exploration [of that world]. I’m quite excited to see what players make of it, like discovering the new levels and seeing what’s there.”

Set for release this year, Tamarin wears its influences on its sleeve, trying to emulate what classic Rare did best during the SNES and Nintendo 64 eras. We’re still in the dark about how much variety is to be had in Tamarin’s adventure. However, it does look to keep its focus on bringing back that particular charm from yesteryear. Considering how much Rare’s imprint on the platforming genre has endured over the years, perhaps there’s still room for more experimentation with this particular genre.

Today we’re giving away One Piece: World Seeker for PS4. To enter into this sweepstake, fill out the form below. You must be at least 13 years old and a legal U.S. resident to enter. Today’s sweepstake will end at 11:59 p.m. PDT. Entries entered after this time will not be considered.

To use the entry form, you will need to sign into a Google account; this is to ensure one entry per person. Please enter your IGN username and an email address so we can contact you if you’ve won. Don’t worry, we won’t sell your information. Winners must respond within 72 hours. If you can’t see the embedded form, go here.

Play as Luffy and discover an all-new island and story in One Piece: World Seeker. Use Luffy’s Gum-Gum powers to swing, jump, bound and stretch all over the new island to uncover new sights and defeat enemies. And of course, all of your favorite One Piece characters make their own appearances too!

Don’t have a PS4? Check back tomorrow to enter for a chance to win a copy of One Piece: World Seeker for Xbox One.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal US residents in the 50 U.S. & DC. 13+. Void where prohibited. See Official Rules here. For more, check out our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Thank you to the Bandai Namco Entertainment team for providing today’s game!

UPDATE (7/27/19) – Nintendo had confirmed to USgamer that it will be re-recording and replacing the lines for Fire Emblem: Three Houses

‘ male protagonist Byleth following the allegations of abuse.”After assessing the situation, we decided to re-record the character’s voiceovers in Fire Emblem: Three Houses and Fire Emblem Heroes with another actor. The new voiceovers will be included in a future patch,” Nintendo of America says.

Original story from July 26, 2019, follows.

Chris Niosi, the voice actor of the male protagonist Byleth in Fire Emblem: Three Houses and Fire Emblem Heroes, has been replaced in Heroes following allegations of abuse that have recently surfaced.

As reported by USgamer, Niosi still remains the voice of Byleth in Fire Emblem: Three Houses for the Nintendo Switch as of this writing, but Zach Aguilar has replaced him in Fire Emblem: Heroes.

We have reached out to Nintendo as it has yet to comment or confirm that this was the cause of the change, but this move does follow a Twitter thread and Tumblr post that allege that Niosi has, among other things, been abusive and has broken many Non-disclosure agreements in the past.

Niosi has responded and apologized on his own Tumblr, and it remains to be seen if Aguilar or another actor will replace him in Three Houses in a post-launch patch.

This isn’t the only high-profile game to see a voice actor change, as Judgment’s Kyohei Hamura voice actor, Pierre Taki, was replaced following an indictment of drug use.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses released on the Nintendo Switch today, July 26, and in our review we said that it “offers an incredible amount of choice, and a story that deserves to be viewed from more than one angle.”

Every IGN Fire Emblem Review Ever

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

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN who really wishes people would just be better. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst.

We bring you the best deals we’ve found today on video games, hardware, electronics, and a bunch of random stuff too. Updated 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Preorder Batman Beyond Complete Series Limited Edition for $89.30 Right Now

Originally priced at $99, this set was $118 this morning and then the deals gods opened up their arms and sprinkled an additional savings down on us. This is an awesome set: it has the full series, as well as the Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker movie, all on Blu-ray and all in high-definition. There’s also a metallic Funko Pop, lenticular art cards, and it all comes in a styling case.

Preorder Darksiders Genesis Nephilim Edition at Amazon

If you’re a Darksiders fan, this bundle is for you. Throw down a preorder for the Nephilim edition and you’ll receive the premium box, an art book, official soundtrack, stickers, the Strife figurine and the Darksiders board game!

Buy Fallout 76 or The Last of Us: Remastered for $15 and Get $15 in Amazon Credit

All Amazon Prime members can sign up for Twitch Prime for free. Now until July 26, Twitch members get a $15 Amazon Credit when you buy Fallout 76 or The Last of Us Remastered, which drops to $14.99 in cart. You’re essentially getting either game for free.

Preorder the Star Wars Black Series Boba Fett Premium Electronic Helmet at Walmart for $119.99

Did you want to be Boba Fett as a kid? Do you still? Then don’t you worry, the time for you to live out your dreams is now, as you can preorder this electronic helmet from Walmart and start your bounty hunting adventures.

Get 3 Free Months of Kindle Unlimited Membership (Was $9.99 Per Month)

You must be logged into your Amazon Prime membership account to see this deal. If you’re a regular digital ebook reader, this membership is highly recommended. Kindle Unlimited gives you access to over 1 million Kindle eBooks and over 20,000 digital comics. This deal is typically for new subscribers only, but there have been reports that it has worked for people who have previously subscribed but are not current members.

Grab the Logitech C920 Webcam for 60% off ($39.99)

Are you looking for a new webcam, or maybe starting out your budding streaming career? Well, the C920 is as solid an option as you can find, and now it’s 60% off!

Preorder Marvel’s Avengers for $49.94 at Amazon

Amazon is really getting ahead of the curve on this one! You can preorder Marvel’s Avengers, slated to come out next May, for only $49.94! Preordering now will also grant you future Beta access.

Purchase Fire Emblem Three Houses Seasons of Warfare Edition for Switch for $99.99

The latest Fire Emblem title is out now, and the superior “Seasons of Warfare” Edition is in and out of stock. This edition includes the game, steelbook case, soundtrack, hardcover artbook, and 2020 calendar. Note: The Seasons of Warfare edition is rapidly coming in and out of stock, so check back often to see if it’s available.

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This sponsored deal is brought to you by RoboForm.

If you’re still using the same password (or a variant of the same password) for every site you visit, you’re putting yourself at risk. With so many sites experiencing data breaches, it’s all but guaranteed that someone’s going to uncover your login info one day—and if you use the same credentials across multiple sites, those thieves could have access to a whole lot of your sensitive personal data. A good password manager can help protect you by randomly generating unique, strong passwords for each of your accounts, and automatically entering them for no-hassle logins. RoboForm Everywhere allows you to sync your password manager across all of your devices. You also get cloud backup, priority 24/7 support, web access, secured shared folder, and more.

Preorder Doom Eternal on PS4 for $49.94

The Doom hype is strong today, so if you feel the urge to preorder Eternal, the next game in the franchise, why not save a few dollars along the way!

HP OMEN 15t Intel Core i7-9750H 6-Core 15.6″ 1080p 144Hz IPS RTX 1070 Laptop for $1399

This sponsored deal is brought to you by HP.

The OMEN is HP’s premium line and build quality is superior to anything else you’d find at this price range. The base config is fine, but in my opinion this deal gets so much better if you upgrade to the GeForce RTX 2070.

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Nintendo Switch and Your Choice of Mario, Zelda, or Splatoon Game for $329 (Originally $374)

This deal is actually better than Amazon’s Prime Day deal. You’re getting the Switch console for $299 and a AAA title for $30. Choose from Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Splatoon 2, or Super Mario Party.

Grab Shadow of the Tomb Raider for $18.74 at Amazon

Shadow of the Tomb Raider is another currently being super discounted at Amazon. Use the coupon code listed on the page to bring the total price down to the lowest it’s ever been for this product.

Grab Devil May Cry 5 for $29.99 (50% off) at Amazon

Devil May Cry 5 is the best in the franchise, and now you can get it for half price. Click to activate the coupon when you buy it on Amazon to receive the game at the lowest price it’s ever been.

Pick up Resident Evil 2 for $29.99 (50% off) at Amazon

Continuing the trend with Amazon and cheap games, you can grab Resident Evil 2 for 50% off, so long as you activate the coupon code listed on the store page.

New Dell Back to School PC Deals with Gift Cards

Dell has kicked off some great Back to School deals on laptops and desktops. You’ll receive your gift card within a few weeks after your item ships and carries a 90-day expiration. It can be used on gaming consoles, video games, monitors, electronics, TVs, PCs, and more.

$400 Off ASUS ROG STRIX Intel Core i5-9300H 6-Core 15.6″ 1080p 120Hz IPS Laptop with 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD, and GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, Now $899

This laptop is completely decked out for under $1000. You get the newest 9th generation 6-core processor, a 1080p IPS display with 120Hz refresh rate, a whopping 512GB of fast SSD storage, and a GeForce GTX 1660 Ti video card that is faster than a GTX 1060.

Nintendo Switch and NBA 2K19 for $299 (Was $329)

A new Switch bundle has surfaced! If you’re a fan of sports games, you will enjoy the fact that you can buy a Switch and get a copy of the most popular sports game for free. NBA 2K20 isn’t out until September 6, so tide yourself over with this IGN rated 8.5/10 predecessor.

Preorder The Latest Joy-Con Colors for your Nintendo Switch

If you’re itching for a new way to spice up your Switch, then you can head over to Amazon and throw down a preorder for the newest colors to be added to the Joy-Con library.

Out August 2: 15% off Madden NFL 20 for PS4 or Xbox One, Now $50.94

The new 2020 iteration of the only NFL video game out there is available in less than 2 weeks. Both Amazon and Walmart are offering 15% off if you preorder it beforehand. For any of who play Madden NFL religiously, this is pretty much a no brainer. Madden NFL 19 scored an 8.9/10 and we expect another solid effort from EA.

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Quentin Tarantino’s new movie Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood is not only a work of historical fiction mixing real-life figures like Sharon Tate, Charles Manson, Bruce Lee, and Steve McQueen alongside the fictional co-leads played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt, it’s also one giant Easter egg to the filmmaker’s many cinematic and pop cultural influences (and even to his other films).With all that in mind, let’s break down the film’s twist ending, its many Easter eggs, and influences.

Needless to say then, be mindful of SPOILERS ahead for the film and for history (?!), starting with …

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Gallery

Ending Explained

Obviously, Sharon Tate and her friends didn’t escape the Manson family in real life. Tate, her three guests, and another friend were all killed. Their killers were caught and incarcerated.

As Tarantino has fashioned a work of historical fiction, he has — as he also did with Inglourious Basterds, where Hitler died before he really did — once again foisted a fantasy “Hollywood ending” onto a historical tragedy.

In doing so, Tarantino gives Sharon Tate the extended life and screen career reality denied her. And thanks to Rick and Cliff’s (and Brandy’s!) killing of the Manson family members, Tarantino also opens the door for Rick to enjoy a more fruitful second phase of his acting career than he’s so far had. It’s a true Hollywood ending for both the real and the fictional characters in Tarantino’s film.

Who Inspired Rick Dalton and Cliff Booth?

Tarantino recently revealed that Brad Pitt’s badass stuntman Cliff Booth is indeed inspired by a particularly dangerous old timey stuntman, who he wouldn’t name but who intimidated even other tough guys and stuntmen back in the day.

Cliff possibly murdering his wife on a boat and getting away with it echoes the rumors that have swirled around actor Robert Wagner and the death of his wife, screen star Natalie Wood, for the last few decades.

The relationship between actor Rick Dalton and his stunt double/best friend Cliff Booth is directly modeled on the friendship between Burt Reynolds and stuntman-turned-director Hal Needham, both of whom are now deceased. Like Rick, Burt Reynolds was a TV western actor who struggled to catch a break in films before becoming a sought-after big screen actor after starring in Deliverance. Reynolds was to have played George Spahn — the real-life elderly owner of the delaptated movie ranch where the Manson family resided — In OUATIH but passed away before shooting his scenes. (He was replaced by Bruce Dern.) Had he lived to film his role, Reynolds’ inclusion would have been a direct nod to his and Needham’s influence on the film.

Like Cliff, Needham, who directed Reynolds in Smokey and the Bandit, was a war veteran who became a stuntman and doubled for the star of a hugely popular TV western. In Cliff’s case, it was Bounty Law, starring Rick Dalton as Jake Cahill. Needham doubled for Richard Boone, who played the wandering gun-for-here Paladin on Have Gun, Will Travel.

One other inspiration for Rick might be Clint Eastwood, who found stardom on the small screen as Rowdy Yates on Rawhide before, several years later, finding big screen success thanks to starring in a series of classic spaghetti westerns from director Sergio Leone.

It should also be noted that one of the victims of the Manson family was Hollywood stuntman Donald Shea, which could speak to why Tarantino depicted a scene where stuntman Cliff becomes suspicious of the hippes his old pal George Spahn invited to live on his ranch.

All the Real People in It

Sharon Tate and the other targets of the Manson family — Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, and Wojciech Frykowski — depicted here are obviously all real people, as were Manson himself and his followers Tex Watson, Susan Atkins, and Patricia Krenwinkel, and Linda Kasabian, the latter of whom became a cooperating witness at trial but is shown in the movie as fleeing before the crimes begin. (Ditto Dakota Fanning as Manson follower Squeaky Fromme.) Obviously, the fates of all the aforementioned people differ greatly in real life than what transpired in the film.

Unless you’re brand new to the planet Earth, yes, Bruce Lee was a real guy, the greatest martial artist-star of his time (arguably, of all time). Lee is depicted in the film, by Mike Moh, during his time starring as Kato on The Green Hornet. And, yes, he really did train Sharon Tate in karate when she was co-starring in the Dean Martin spy spoof The Wrecking Crew.

Homeland’s Damian Lewis plays Steve McQueen in one scene set at the Playboy Mansion. McQueen, like Rick Dalton, began as the star of a TV western about a bounty hunter — Wanted: Dead or Alive —before he became a movie star and pop culture icon thanks to films like The Magnificent Seven, Bullitt, and The Great Escape, which Rick fantasizes about starring in instead of McQueen at one point.

Timothy Olyphant and the late Luke Perry also play real people in the movie. Yes, Lancer was a real TV series and the actors they play — James Stacey and Wayne Maunder — were real. The last shot we see of Olyphant in the film, driving off on his motorcycle, is also a harbinger of the tragic fate that lay in store for Stacey (he lost two limbs and his girlfriend was killed in a motorcycle accident when they were hit by a drunk driver).

Also real? The TV series The FBI that Rick films a guest spot on as the bad guy of the week.

The Mamas and Papas’ Michelle Phillips and Mama Cass pop up during the Playboy Mansion scene.

With his silver mane and oversized glasses, Al Pacino’s Marvin Schwarzs appears to be patterned after legendary Hollywood talent agent Lew Wasserman.

One of the spaghetti westerns Rick stars In is said to have been directed by Antonio Margheriti, a real-life filmmaker who Tarantino is a fan of … enough so that this isn’t his first mention in a Tarantino movie. Speaking of which …

Nods to Tarantino’s Other Movies

Antonio Margheriti is also the filmmaker whose name is used by Eli Roth’s character in Inglourious Basterds when they sneak into the Nazis’ film premiere.

Rick’s commercial for Red Apple cigarettes during the end credits is also a nod to the cigarette brand that has appeared in other Tarantino films such as Pulp Fiction and The Hateful Eight.

Tarantino vets Michael Madsen, Kurt Russell, Zoe Bell, and Bruce Dern all pop up in small roles here. Another Tarantino vet, Tim Roth, had his role in the film end up on the cutting room floor.

Let us know what you thought of Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood and its ending, Easter eggs, and many references in the comments below!