Business is booming for Xbox. Microsoft has reported earnings for its Fiscal Year 2021 Q2, and included in the report are some new numbers that speak to how Microsoft’s gaming division–like other gaming publishers–is riding high right now due in part increased spending on games due to COVID-19.
This is the first earnings release from Microsoft since it launched the Xbox Series X|S consoles in November. The release of those systems helped overall Xbox hardware sales jump by 86%.
Hardware revenue could have been higher were it not for product shortages. Analyst Daniel Ahmad said he believes the Xbox Series X|S consoles did not move as many units right away than the Xbox One did over the same timeframe. “This has been reflected in global sell-through data, too. Mainly due to production it seems,” he wrote.
One thing that can be inferred from the figures, which isn’t really surprising, is that Xbox didn’t ship as many Series X|S consoles as they did Xbox One’s in the same timeframe. This has been reflected in global sell through data too. Mainly due to production it seems.
Content and services revenue, meanwhile, rose by 40%. This uptick was driven in part by third-party game sales (Microsoft gets a cut of every game sold on Xbox), Game Pass subscriptions, and first-party game sales.
In total, Xbox revenue rose by 51% for the period compared to the same quarter last year.
Microsoft did not share any specific sales numbers for its Xbox consoles–which is not out of the ordinary, as Microsoft no longer does this–nor did the company provide any updates on Xbox Game Pass subscribers or Xbox Live users. Again, this is standard practice for Microsoft, which historically keeps these figures hidden in its earnings reports.
Microsoft is a gigantic company, one of the biggest on the planet, and across all business units, Microsoft pulled in $43.1 billion in revenue for the period (+17%) and posted a profit of $15.5 billion (+33%). As people on social media are pointing out, profit of $15.5 billion is enough to pay the $7.5 billion acquisition of ZeniMax two times over.
Of course, the business of an acquisition is more complicated than dollars alone and Microsoft isn’t just walking into the bank and withdrawing $7.5 billion to acquire ZeniMax. But in terms of dollars alone, $15.5 billion would cover the $7.5 billion acquisition of ZeniMax twice.
Serial, the hit podcast devoted to thoroughly telling a single true-crime story each season, will have its third season adapted into a limited series for HBO according to The Hollywood Reporter. The series doesn’t yet have a name, but host Sarah Koenig will executive produce alongside professional basketball player LeBron James via his production company SpringHill Entertainment.
The podcast’s third season, which first aired in 2018, explores the criminal justice system in Cleveland. (James was born in Akron, Ohio and has family ties to the state.) The untitled drama will reportedly “follow a young cop and the man he’s accused of beating” while illuminating “the flawed inner-workings of a middle-American courthouse and how the system impacts everyone it touches, from cops, lawyers, and citizens accused of and victimized by crimes.”
Writer-director Shola Amoo (The Last Tree, A Moving Image) will write the script. Former Cinemax president and head of HBO miniseries Kary Antholis will executive produce. No casting announcements have yet been made.
Serial’s wildly popular first season from 2014 was also adapted for TV in the 2019 HBO documentary, The Case Against Adnan Syed. Both versions dove into the story of the case against Adnan Syed, who was convinced of the murder of Hae Min Lee–of which he has to this day maintained his innocence.
The murder mystery in Hitman 3‘s second mission, set in Dartmoor, England, is a standout portion of the game. If you solve the mystery, it gives you some unique opportunities to deal with Alexa Carlisle, your assassination target during the mission. It can also help you get ahold of the Arthur Edwards file you’re searching for, which is your second objective in Dartmoor.
There are multiple ways to “solve” the mystery, however, depending on what information you uncover in Thornbridge Manor. You can find the actual culprit and turn them in to Alexa, or provide other solutions, including framing someone who’s not responsible. To get those solutions, however, you need to have enough evidence to back up your theory and give a convincing speech when you report your findings. That means finding lots of clues. To solve the murder mystery, you’ll need to knock out the private detective who arrives at Thornbridge at the same time Agent 47 does, and steal his clothes to make your disguise.
We’ve run down all three possible solutions to the murder mystery plot, how to earn them, and what opportunities they provide for you in the guide below. Be sure to check out the rest of our Hitman 3 guide coverage, as well as our full review. And if you need more help in Dartmoor, check out our complete guide for finding all the murder mystery clues, and our guide for finding all the mansion’s hidden rooms.
The most straightforward solution to the case is the one provided by the Means, Motive and Opportunity Story Mission, but you’ll still need to uncover a lot of clues to access it. Here’s everything you need to do.
Search Zachary’s Room
In all cases, you need the evidence found in Zachary’s room to kick off your investigation.
There are six clues to find in Zachary’s room. Note that some clues have to be scanned with your camera; if you’re having trouble locating them, look for the Camera icon on your map or minimap.
Zachary Carlisle’s Body (Camera Scan)
Nightstand Whiskey Bottle (Camera Scan) — right side of the bed when standing at the foot.
Zachary’s laptop — near the window to the left of Zachary’s bed
Suicide Note (Camera Scan) — on the table under a window to the left of Zachary’s bed
Hidden Room — pull the interactive book on the bookshelf on the wall, to the right of Zachary’s bed
Mansion floor plan — inside the hidden room near the two-way mirror
Search Emma And Gregory’s Room
In order to figure out the true murderer, you need the most clues of any of the possible solutions.
On the second floor, find the room that Emma and Gregory are staying in near the Library. If you don’t have a key, you can get in by climbing out the window in the bathroom and shimmying around the outside of the building to reach the room’s balcony. Inside, you need to locate four clues:
Bulldog cane — beside the fireplace, right next to the door (take this item with you, as you’ll need it later)
Greenhouse keychain — right next to the folding screen beside the fireplace, on the side closest to the bed
Muddy Shoes (Camera Scan) — to the left of the fireplace
Letter from Emma’s Mother — on the nightstand on the right side of the bed
Check The Sitting Room Terrace
The footprints can be easy to miss, but they’re right outside a window near the sitting room.
Head outside, just north of the sitting room, and check the stairs. With your camera, you’ll find some muddy footprints you can scan with your camera.
Search The Greenhouse
Now head outside to the north of the manor, to the greenhouse at the back of the grounds. Without the key, you’ll need another way to get in; either wait for Emma to head out to the greenhouse after the family meeting and let her open the door for you, or grab the crowbar from behind the greenhouse and use that to pop open the door.
Inside, you need to check for two clues, although you’ll unlock one just by looking around.
Broken Lab Equipment
Poison Dosage Table (Camera Scan) — on the table beside the lab equipment
Accuse The Murderer
If you’ve found everything you need for this solution, Diana Burnwood will tell you over the radio that you’ve got enough evidence. Find Fernsby to present your discoveries to Alexa Carlisle. Accuse the real murderer to complete the A Matter of Justice Challenge. You can ask for the Arthur Edwards file as payment; afterward, Alexa will head out to the balcony, where you can easily shove her off. If you don’t, she’ll continue to go about her business throughout the mansion, so you can follow her and pick her off somewhere else.
Blame The Butler
It’s possible to frame someone else for the murder if you find the right clues. You can determine that Fernsby didn’t do it, but with the right information, you can convince Alexa that he’s responsible.
Search Zachary’s Room
For this solution, you need information about both Zachary and Fernsby in order to concoct a story that makes sense. You’ll need the six clues listed above to advance.
Search Fernsby’s Office
Next, you’ll need dirt on Fernsby, but getting into his office requires either a tool or a key. The easiest way in is to grab the crowbar from behind the greenhouse, as mentioned in the last solution. There’s no one near enough to his office that you’ll be heard breaking in. You need three clues from the room (and you can find the Thornbridge Master Key inside as well):
Fernsby’s List — on the desk
Zachary’s Half-Burned Diary — in the fireplace
Mr. Fernsby’s Pills — on the windowsill
With this information, you should be able to accuse Fernsby of murdering Zachary, unlocking the A Matter of Loyalty Challenge. Completing the mystery with this solution can get you the Arthur Edwards file as a reward, while also giving you a special opportunity to complete your assassination–by letting the real murderer do it for you.
Another Death in the Family
To complete the Another Death in the Family Challenge, head into the Greenhouse. Find a wrench (there’s one in the garden near the fountain) and use it to repair the Poison-Making Equipment you find there. That’ll give the real murderer the opportunity to make more poison to use on Alexa. From here, all you have to do is sit back and wait for the murderer to strike again.
Claim Zachary Committed Suicide
The third and final solution to the mystery has you implicating Zachary in his own death. To do this, you have to find some extra bits of information that are off the beaten path. However, this path has the added benefit of making eliminating Alexa Carlisle very easy.
Search Zachary’s Room
As always, you’ll need the info from Zachary’s room in order to get the investigation going.
Search Fernsby’s Office
Next, you’ll need the burned journal from Fernsby’s fireplace, which, paired with the suicide note, starts to give you some plausible evidence for Zachary’s suicide.
Search Emma and Gregory’s Room
You need just one item from Emma and Gregory’s room–the English bulldog cane. You’ll find it leaning up against the fireplace.
Find The Letter In The Library Hidden Room
Finally, head to the second story of the Library with the cane in-hand in the corner of the room nearest Emma and Gregory’s room, you’ll find a small switch on the floor. Use the cane on it to activate a hidden door that leads into another secret room. Inside, grab Montgomery’s Long-Lost Letter off a stack of books. That should be enough evidence for the suicide theory.
Another Suicide
Return to Fernsby and set up your meeting with Alexa Carlisle. If you tell her that Zachary committed suicide, she’ll become despondent about the whole situation. This presents you with a unique kill. Once you have your payment from Alexa, she’ll head out to the balcony and take care of your contract herself. At that point, you’re free to exit the mission.
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The Spy Kids movie franchise, which is about kids who are spies, is returning with a reboot. According to Deadline, Skydance Media has optioned the rights to bring back the Spy Kids franchise with the franchise’s original writer-director-creator, Robert Rodriguez.
According to the report, Rodriguez will write and direct a new Spy Kids movie. Skydance Media is working with Spy Kids rights-holder Spyglass on the reimagination of the series.
Rodriguez has remained busy and in-demand. In addition to a sequel to his sci-fi movie Alita: Battle Angel, Rodriguez was behind the popular Netflix movie We Can Be Heroes. He’s lined up to direct the Star Wars spin-off TV show The Book of Boba Fett next for Christmas 2021
The Spy Kids film franchise debuted in 2001, with sequels released in 2002 and 2003. The franchise took a break after that, but returned in 2011 with Spy Kids: All the Time in the World, which features a new cast. Together, the movies have pulled in more than $550 million at the global box office.
There is no word yet on the cast or story for the next Spy Kids movie, but again, I would imagine it will involve kids who are spies.
Ahead of Apex Legends Season 8: Mayhem’s debut on February 2, Respawn has dropped a brand-new trailer to show fans what they can expect.
The trailer focuses mostly on Apex’s newest legend: Walter Fitzroy, AKA Fuse. He’s an Australian hot head with an eyepatch and a penchant for breaking the rules. According to the trailer he was “born into a world ruled by chaos, and he thrived in the mayhem.” It seems that’s only going to continue as the The Champion of Salvo enters the ring. With his penchant for explosions, chaos, and Aussie accent, he’s a bit reminiscent of Overwatch’s Junkrat, though their playstyles look to be completely different.
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Apex Legends Season 8 – Official Mayhem Gameplay Trailer
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Season 8 will also be introducing a new battle pass, a new weapon, and gold magazines in an attempt to continue expanding Apex’s lore and meta. The new addition to your artillery in The Outlands is the 30-30 Repeater lever-action rifle, which looks like it can either fire of a series of weaker shots, or be slowly charged for a more powerful blast.
To check out Fuse and all the other changes coming to Apex, login for Season 8 and see if you can win the fight for fame and glory in The Outlands.
Life simulator The Sims 4 has received the new $10 Paranormal Stuff Pack for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S that adds another vocation, a new home for the Sims to live in, and various roommates all centered around the occult.
The pack is available to purchase from Microsoft, Origin, PlayStation, and Steam stores. Of course, players will need the base Sims 4 game to access the Paranormal Stuff content. Below is a rundown of everything players need to know about The Sim 4’s latest DLC offering.
The Sims 4: Paranormal Stuff Pack Release Date, Trailer
The Paranormal Stuff Pack is available now for everyone to purchase. It retails for $10 USD on the Microsoft, Origin, PlayStation, and Steam stores, though those with active EA Play memberships can save 10% on the expansion, as well as all other The Sims 4 content. Developer Maxis and publisher EA shared a reveal trailer showcasing what players can expect from the Paranormal Stuff Pack, which includes new gameplay mechanics and items.
The Sims 4: Paranormal Stuff Pack Items
While what exactly is stuffed inside the Paranormal Stuff Pack hasn’t been specified, the above reveal trailer suggests that the expansion will contain the usual fare like accessories and clothing. On top of these, however, players can also build haunted houses and interact with the various ghostly apparitions that roam the halls of the newly constructed homes.
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The Sims 4: Paranormal Stuff Pack New Vocation, Gameplay Mechanics
The pack also introduces the Paranormal Investigator vocation, which lets players turn into a medium to communicate with the troubled apparations. There is also the new séance gameplay mechanic players can take advantage of to talk to spirits. In doing so, players can meet a variety of ghosts, from Claude René Duplantier Guidry to Bonehilda the skeletal maid.
The Paranormal Stuff Pack joins a long list of The Sims 4 expansions, including a big December update that added more skin tones and other customization items geared toward better representation for darker skin.
Kevin Hart has officially joined the cast of the Borderlands movie.
Hart has been cast as Roland, a character from the first two Borderlands games and The Pre-Sequel. The press release announcing Hart’s casting only references that Roland is an “ex-soldier turned mercenary” which lines up with the character’s backstory in the game.
In the games, Roland was honorably discharged from the military unit, Crimson Lance, and turned to a life of loot-hunting with the help of shotguns, turrets, and assault rifles.
Hart will star in the movie with Cate Blanchett as the thief-siren Lilith. The movie will be directed by Hostel director, Eli Roth. Gearbox founder Randy Pitchford is an executive producer on the movie.
“I’m thrilled to be working with Kevin,” Roth said in a press release. “Borderlands is a different kind of role for him, and we are excited to thrill audiences with a side of Kevin they’ve never seen before. He’s going to be an amazing Roland.”
Hart is best known for his stand-up comedy, but has led the box office with multiple action-comedy movies over the past decade, including the Jumanji movies. Hart also appeared in the Ride Along franchise with Ice Cube and Central Intelligence with Dwayne Johnson.
The Borderlands movie will be written by Craig Mazin, who recently wrote HBO’s critically-acclaimed Chernobyl miniseries. Mazin is currently developing a Last of Us miniseries for HBO as well.
The press release also announces the Borderlands franchise has surpassed 66 million units sold worldwide. Borderlands 2 is the biggest game in the franchise with 24 million copies sold. The most recent title, 2019’s Borderlands 3, has sold over 11 million units.
Petey Oneto is a freelance writer for IGN. If Claptrap is in this movie, then I’ll go see one of the other dozen video game movies that will be in theaters.
The upcoming Lord of the Rings game that focuses on Gollum has been delayed to 2022. The game was previously planned to release in 2021, but the delay came as part of the announcement that French publisher Nacon had signed on to co-publish the game with developer Daedalic Entertainment.
“The two companies decided to join forces to ensure that the game will meet the expectations of fans of The Lord of the Rings and fully leverage the power of the new generation of consoles,” Nacon said in a press release.
The Gollum game is described as a “story-driven action adventure” title that focuses on Gollum’s journey as a creature who is obsessed with the One Ring. Players will apparently get to decide if Gollum’s evil side will come out or if he can retain the sense of goodness he had as Smeagol.
Daedalic and Nacon are working together with Middle-earth Enterprises on the new Gollum video game, which is in the works for PS5, Xbox Series X, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
The delay of the Gollum project is just the latest such delay for a major licensed property. The new open-world Harry Potter RPG, Hogwarts Legacy, has also been pushed to 2022.
A huge Anglo-Saxon burial site in Northamptonshire in the United Kingdom was recently discovered and archaeologists unearthed over 3000 pieces of jewellery, weapons, and more.
There are about 154 burials at this site and these burials and the nearly 3000 objects found within the span of them date back to around 1,500 years ago, according to LiveScience. These burials and objects were spread across a 15-hectare site that includes a 4000-year-old Bronze Age burial site as well. Seven different structures – three burial mounds and four other buildings – were discovered at this Bronze Age site.
“The Overstone Leys site contains by far the biggest Anglo-Saxon cemetery ever found in Northamptonshire,” Project Manager at Museum of London Archaeology, Simon Markus, said in a MOLA release about the discovery. “It is rare to find both an Anglo-Saxon settlement and a cemetery in a single excavation. The excavations will help us understand the way people lived in both the Anglo-Saxon period, around 1,500 years ago as well as the Bronze Age, nearly 4,000 years ago.”
Markus said the human remains, objects, and buildings found at the site will help them learn more about the Anglo-Saxon and Bronze Age diets, health, origins, and day-to-day life of the people that lived during that period of history.
Fifteen rings, 150 brooches, 2,000 beads, 75 wrist clasps, 15 chatelaines, 40 knives, 25 spears, 15 shield bosses, and an assortment of other things like cosmetic kits and bone combs were unearthed at the site, according to the MOLA. The archaeologists also uncovered Anglo-Saxon textiles preserved after becoming mineralized by being buried next to a metal brooch.
Sophia the Robot and three other models from Hanson Robotics will go into mass production this year and are expected to begin rolling out of factories in the first half of 2021.
This news comes by way of a new report from Reuters after a tour through Hanson Robotics’ Hong Kong factory conducted by Sophia the Robot, whom you might recognize as the viral robot from years ago that was granted citizenship in Saudi Arabia back in 2017. Hanson Robotics believes now to be a better time than ever to roll out these robots as they can help not only the healthcare sectors of the world, but the retail and airline industries as well.
“Social robots like me can take care of the sick or elderly,” Sophia said during the tour, according to Reuters. “I can help communicate, give therapy and provide social stimulation, even in difficult situations.”
Hanson Robotics founder and chief executive, David Hanson, said the company is planning to sell thousands of robots of many different sizes in 2021, although he didn’t give an exact number as to how many. He did say that four models, including Sophia, will roll out to the public this year.
Reuters noted that according to the International Federation of Robots, worldwide sales of professional-service robots jumped up 32% to $11.2 billion from 2018 to 2019. Those numbers have likely risen during the current COVID-19 pandemic as robots are seen around the world helping in the healthcare sector and Hanson said he believes that in a world of COVID-19, more automation is needed to keep people safe.
One of the robots Hanson Robotics is launching this year, Grace, has been created specifically for the healthcare sector.
“Sophia and Hanson robots are unique by being so human-like,” Hanson said. “That can be so useful during these times where people are terribly lonely and socially isolated.”
That speaks to the larger mission of Hanson Robotics. The company’s “About” page says its, “innovations in AI research and development, robotics engineering, experiential design, storytelling and material science bring robots to life as engaging characters, useful products, and as evolving AI.”
