Month: January 2021

There Will Be More Avengers Movies “At Some Point,” Says Feige

Although a team-up Avengers film isn’t in the cards for Marvel’s Phase 4, Marvel Studios President says that there will eventually be another Avengers film that will bring the MCU’s heroes together on another mission.

IGN spoke with Feige during the WandaVision press junket and asked the MCU boss if we’ll ever see another Avengers film following the events of Avengers: Endgame which shook up the status of the MCU considerably.

“I would have to think so. I would have to say yes, at some point,” Feige answered. He also jokes, “It’s a good title. Could use that.”

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Marvel’s Phase 4 is looking incredibly stacked. Starting with Black Widow, there are 11 films slated to be a part of Phase 4, not to mention several TV series premiering on Disney+ that will intersect with the MCU.

However, when IGN spoke with Feige in 2019, the Marvel president said there won’t be an Avengers film in Phase 4.

“We had a movie this year called Avengers: Endgame, and it is very much an ending, as you saw, to so many of those characters,” he said. “So Phase 4 is about beginnings, and Phase 4 is about learning new things about characters you already think you know, like Black Widow; meeting incredible new characters like The Eternals and Shang-Chi[.]”

This makes sense given that in Phase 4 alone, the MCU will introduce new heroes like Shang-Chi, the Eternals, Fantastic Four; and from the TV side Ms. Marvel, Kate Bishop, She-Hulk, Moon Knight, and Ironheart.

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The crop of young heroes suggests that Marvel has the pieces to put together a Young Avengers, or an obviously new version of the Avengers with different heroes.

For more from IGN’s interview with Feige, check out details about the upcoming She-Hulk series on Disney+. Feige also revealed separately that Deadpool 3 will be in the MCU with an R-rating. Marvel’s WandaVision premieres on January 15 on Disney+ with two episodes to start.

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Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

CD Projekt Could Be Fined If Cyberpunk 2077 Isn’t Improved In Upcoming Patches

Cyberpunk 2077‘s launch has been anything but smooth, and now Poland’s Office of Competition and Consumer Protection has begun investigating its developer, CD Projekt Red. As reported by Polish business newspaper Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, the consumer protection office will monitor the company’s progress on upcoming patches that are meant to improve Cyberpunk 2077 on console after its rocky start.

“We are asking the company for explanation regarding problems with the game and actions taken by them,” the office said, as translated by IGN. “We will check how the developer is working on patches or solving issues preventing playing on various consoles, but also what steps [the company] is planning to take regarding people [who requested refunds] and are not happy with their purchase because they can’t play the game on owned hardware, despite assurances by the producer.”

According to the report, the investigating office will give CDPR time to offer an explanation. After that, it’s reported that CDPR could be fined up to 10% of income for the latest financial year. The report also said, via IGN, that the office could request CDPR to offer “digital bonuses” to those who bought Cyberpunk 2077 on PS4/Xbox One as a means of recompense.

It has been a rough couple of weeks for the studio ever since Cyberpunk 2077 launched to mixed reviews and reception. The game is all but unplayable on last-gen consoles, it was taken off the PlayStation Store as irate consumers demanded refunds, and talk of a court case from disgruntled investors is also looming over the studio as investors feel that they’ve been misled about the state of Cyberpunk 2077 before it launched.

In spite of all the negativity for the current state of Cyberpunk 2077, it has proven to be profitable for CD Projekt Red and an announcement for free DLC may be revealed soon.

Now Playing: Cyberpunk 2077 – Best Bugs And Glitches

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LG Teases New Rollable Phone At CES 2021

LG took to the virtual stage during CES 2021 to unveil a swath of new products, including gaming monitors and OLED TVs. Tucked into the end of the company’s approximately 30-minute livestream was an official albeit brief look at the LG Rollable phone.

“Brief” is an understatement. LG wrapped up its CES 2021 presentation with someone holding a phone with a screen that slowly collapses on itself. Once the movement is done, the device’s display cuts to black and the text “More to Explore” pops up above the phone’s name–LG Rollable–in white. This all occurs in a 10-second sequence before the broadcast ends.

According to GameSpot sister site CNET, the LG Rollable is slated to launch this year. However, LG hasn’t outlined a price point or announced a release date for the phone yet.

The LG Rollable looks like every other smartphone: rectangular and flat. However, there’s one key difference that sets the LG Rollable apart: Like the company’s LG Rollable TVs, the phone has a screen that expands and collapses, extending the display area by elongating the screen.

While this is the first official look at the device, it isn’t the first tease of it. The company had shared a short clip of the phone from a side view expanding out and sliding back into itself in September 2020. Very little information about the device was known then, and the same is true now. However, it seems LG plans to reveal more about the Rollable phone later this year.

From Dusk Til Dawn: All The Easter Eggs In The Horror Schlock Classic

Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez delivered a blood soaked film with a horrifying twist.

Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez delivered a blood soaked film with a horrifying twist.

In 1997, filmmakers Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez collaborated on From Dusk Til Dawn, a horror action movie giddy on its own excess. Tarantino wrote the screenplay and co-starred; Rodriguez directed it. Both men were at their creative peaks–Tarantino coming off the success of Pulp Fiction (1994), Rodriguez coming off the success of Desperado (1995).

In the years since, Tarantino and Rodriguez have collaborated several times: Kill Bill Vol. 2, Four Rooms, Sin City, and the 2007 double feature Grindhouse. From Dusk Til Dawn remains the best output of that partnership. It combines both of their strengths: Tarantino’s trademark dialogue, and Rodriguez’s action-oriented camera work, which emphasizes every gunshot and vampire bite to perfection.

Here are 31 Easter eggs and details you may have missed in From Dusk Til Dawn. Several of these entries were from the DVD commentary track, featuring both Rodriguez and Tarantino. And if you liked this gallery, you might also like our Easter Egg Roundups for Pulp Fiction, Django Unchained, Kill Bill Vol. 1, and Kill Bill Vol. 2.

LG Reveals New Super-Lightweight Laptops With 11th Gen Intel Processors

LG has announced the next series of Gram laptops at CES. There will be five new models that feature a new design and some internal upgrades. The Gram 14, 16, and 17 are clamshell models, while the Gram 2-in-1 14 and 16 are convertibles.

“Synonymous with unprecedented portability and first-class performance, the LG Gram brand continues to raise the bar for the ultra-lightweight and slim laptop market,” LG senior vice president Jang Ik-hwan said in a statement. “With sleeker, more refined designs and 16:10 aspect ratio displays while maintaining their light weight, our latest LG Gram lineup gives consumers the ability to enjoy better productivity and more immersive viewing experiences wherever they go.”

While changes are coming, the features Gram laptops are known for are sticking around. They’re called Grams because they’re notoriously lightweight, and the new models follow suit; the Gram 14 is 2.2 pounds, the 16 is 2.62 pounds, and the 17 is 2.98 pounds (the same weight as its predecessor).

Gram laptops are 17 inches, and the new ones will be moving forward with the 17’s 16:10 display, which offers more vertical space on the laptop than a 16:9 display. Additionally, LG has said that the new clamshell Grams have a “four-sided slim bezel design” which achieves a screen-to-body ratio of 90%. The keyboards and touchpads on these laptops have also been enlarged to help with comfort and efficiency.

Each model of the 2021 Grams will have an Intel 11th-Gen processor and can have either Iris Xe graphics or UHD graphics. All models are also certified through Intel’s Evo program, which certifies that the laptop’s battery has at least nine hours of life, can quickly wake from sleep mode, and more. LG claims users could see up to 19.5 hours of battery life from the Gram 16, 16 2-in-1, and 17, so the range of life will presumably be somewhere between nine and 19.5 hours.

Pricing and availability for the 2021 Gram models has yet to be announced.

Panasonic Announces New TV At CES 2021 With AI That Gives You Best Picture/Sound

CES 2021 is officially underway, and while the show might look different this year with its online-only setup, it’s still bringing lots of news. Technology giant Panasonic has announced a new TV set as part of the show, and it’s powered by AI that may make your life easier.

Panasonic’s flagship OLED TV for 2021 is the JZ2000, which will be available in 55-inch and 65-inch sizes. The new model is billed as having low latency and support for HDMI 2.1 variable refresh rate and high frame rate. Inside the TV is a new AI processor that can automatically detect what you’re watching or playing and select settings that is best for it.

“Perfect for audiences and gamers who prefer a frictionless experience, the JZ2000 eliminates the guesswork of finding ideal settings for a variety of content,” Panasonic said in its announcement. “It features a new AI-driven processor that automatically identifies and optimizes the content being played for ideal picture and sound so audiences always enjoy a high-quality experience without having to adjust settings manually.”

As an example, Panasonic said the new JZ2000 TV can detect, say, a football game and adjust the picture accordingly to help accentuate things like the grass on the field or how players look. The AI system will also give you a sound setting that feels like you’re in the stadium, Panasonic said.

The new set also said side- and upward-firing built-in speakers, with Dolby Atmos support, while the OLED panel itself is said to offer “significantly better peak and average brightness levels.”

“The JZ2000 is a symbol of what we at Panasonic want to achieve,” Panasonic boss Yasushi Murayama said in a statement. “Building on the superb accuracy which makes Panasonic’s TVs ideal for watching films, we are further improving the experience in other areas such as gaming too. Through the use of AI, we want our viewers enjoy the best picture and sound settings automatically. Our aim is simply to support our customers to really, truly experience their favorite contents. Whether they are into films, games, sports, or something else, we want them to enjoy heightened visual and aural experiences which leave them feeling happy and satisfied.”

For gaming specifically, the AI processor inside the TV promises to “significantly” reduce latency, which is how long it takes after pressing a button to when you see the action on the screen. The new JZ2000 TV has a “Game Mode Extreme” architecture, which delivers the following:

  • Low latency
  • Support for HDMI 2.1 variable refresh rate (VRR) and high frame rate (HFR)
  • A dedicated picture mode for gaming (“game mode”)
  • Support for HDMI Signal Power Link, which will improve the experience and ease of using Panasonic TVs with CEC non-supported devices like old Set Top Boxes or PCs

What’s more, the JZ2000 TV comes with Panasonic’s newest TV OS, My Home Screen 6.0. This includes a new “My Scenery” option that gives you a variety of photos to help you calm down after a stressful day or just enjoy a nice image in the background of your room. The OS also lets you connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. Panasonic said this might be useful if two people want to watch TV or a movie with Bluetooth headphones late at night and not disturb anyone else in the house. The OS also includes an updated menu and some voice controls.

Panasonic did not announce a price or a release date for the new JZ2000 TV.

For lots more on CES 2021, keep checking back with GameSpot and sister site CNET all week long. GameSpot’s Lucy James and others will discuss the future of video games during a panel on January 12, so check back soon for that!

Gotham PD HBO Max Series Recruits New Showrunner

Joe Barton will be stepping in as the new showrunner on HBO Max’s upcoming The Batman series, replacing Boardwalk Empire’s Terrence Winter, who quit the show back in November. It was revealed that Winter’s vision for the planned TV spin-off from Matt Reeves’ upcoming movie The Batman “did not match what Reeves and other producers had in mind.” Barton getting the gig was reported by Variety.

Barton is best known for creating the Tokyo and London crime drama Giri/Haji for Netflix. (The show’s name translates to Duty/Shame.) Previously, he has also worked on the AMC sci-fi show Humans, and the BBC drama Troy: Fall of a City. Barton had not yet provided a comment for the media.

HBO Max announced the Gotham City TV show last summer. Adapted from the comics series with the same name, the series will focus on the corrupt police department in Gotham City, which butts heads with Batman.

During DC FanDome in August, Reeves revealed the spin-off will be set a year before the movie, during Batman’s first 12 months in Gotham. “The idea is we go back to year one,” he said. “Year one is the first appearance of this masked vigilante that starts to unsettle the city, and you start to see the story through the point of view of these corrupt cops and one in particular. The story is actually a battle for his soul.”

For more, check out GameSpot’s guides to every upcoming DC movie and TV show we know about to date.

Now Playing: The Batman Teaser Trailer Breakdown: 22 Things You May Have Missed

She-Hulk: Feige Reveals Length and Episode Count for the Disney+ Series

Marvel’s Kevin Feige has revealed the length and episode count of the upcoming She-Hulk series on Disney Plus. In an interview with IGN, Feige confirmed Marvel’s She-Hulk will consist of ten half-hour episodes.

That puts She-Hulk above fellow Marvel series like WandaVision (nine episodes) and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (six episodes). However, Feige told IGN most of these MCU series are designed to clock in around the six hour mark in total length, and the material dictates the exact format and episode count.

“It’s about six hours of content,” said Feige. “Sometimes that’ll be six episodes, sometimes that’ll be nine episodes, in the case of WandaVision. Sometimes that’ll be 10 episodes. You basically have 10 half-hour episodes, which is what She-Hulk … will be.”

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Feige noted one of the main benefits of Disney+ is that things like syndicated reruns and commercial breaks aren’t a factor, allowing teams to focus on telling the best possible stories.

“It all varies based on the story that we’re telling and only based on the story that we’re telling,” said Feige. “A lot of the reasons for… other things are the rules of, you need this many commercial breaks, you need this many episodes in a season, you need this many episodes to be able to resell it in syndication. There are lots of non-creative reasons for the way a story would be told.”

Feige continued, “Now, there are ways to make all of that work. None of that was a factor when it comes to streaming [on] Disney+, so we got to just say basically, ‘Here’s what we’re thinking, here’s how we’d like to do it.'”

Marvel’s She-Hulk stars Orphan Black’s Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer Walters, a lawyer who gains incredible strength after receiving a blood transfusion from her cousin, Bruce Banner. Mark Ruffalo will reprise his role as Hulk in the series. Feige confirmed Maslany and Ruffalo’s casting during Disney’s Investor Day press event in December, while also confirming Tim Roth’s Abomination will finally return to the MCU.

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In other MCU news, Feige also confirmed an R-rated Deadpool 3 will be part of the MCU and Marvel’s Secret Invasion won’t have an Avengers: Endgame-size cast.

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Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

BioWare Producer Shows Off New Dragon Age 4 Concept Art

BioWare has been in fairly dire straits for a while now, after the very public failure of their online shooter Anthem and the departure of several key staff, including general manager Casey Hudson. That said, the developer is still working on a new Dragon Age game–which is seemingly titled simply Dragon Age–and a producer at the company shared some concept art to indicate that it’s still in the pipe.

Dragon Age is one of the most-acclaimed fantasy RPG series of all time, with legions of fans baying for any update on the game. Another BioWare staffer provided a similar update on the game’s development six months ago. However, BioWare courted a certain degree of controversy when they announced a new Mass Effect game at The Game Awards.

While many would be happy to play a new Mass Effect, fans can’t help but wonder how the studio can work on new games in their two most beloved franchises when they’re still ostensibly working on a “reboot” for Anthem that they’ve termed Anthem Next. Last year, producer Christian Dailey indicated that a “small team” is working on the project, and that it would end up being a “long process.” Another update showed how the game’s Javelins will change in the Next update.

Whether or not that means that Dragon Age will emerge before Anthem Next is anyone’s guess. One thing’s for sure: BioWare may very well be one of the most beloved developers in video games, but things are very much up in the air for the studio at the moment.

Now Playing: Dragon Age Trailer | Game Awards 2020

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Secret Invasion Series Won’t Have an Endgame-Sized Cast

Secret Invasion is one of many Marvel series in the works at Disney+. But if you’re confused why Marvel Studios would opt for the small-screen treatment rather than tackling Secret Invasion as a blockbuster movie, don’t be. Kevin Feige hints the series will be a much more intimate story than its comic book inspiration.

In an interview with ComicBook.com, Feige said the Secret Invasion series won’t have a massive ensemble cast a la Avengers: Endgame, but will instead highlight Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury and Ben Mendelsohn’s Talos as the two characters investigate a cosmic conspiracy.

“Well, there were more characters in the Secret Invasion comic series than there were in Endgame so, no,” Feige said. “It’s not that but it very much is a showcase for Sam Jackson and Ben Mendelsohn and tapping into the paranoia elements of the Secret Invasion comic series that was great with the twists and turns that that took. So, that’s certainly our focus more than, ‘Can we cram in more characters than Endgame like publishing?'”

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The original Secret Invasion comic was published in 2008 and dealt with a vast conspiracy involving Skrull double agents using their shape-shifting powers to impersonate various heroes and villains and pave the way for the Skrull Empire to take over the planet. By the end of the series, nearly every active Avenger and X-Man – along with a great many villains – join forces to beat back the Skrull invaders. Clearly, the live-action series won’t be following that same road map.

It also makes sense the Disney Plus series would carve its own path, given that the MCU’s Skrulls have thus far been painted in a more heroic light than their comic book counterparts. 2019’s Captain Marvel revealed Fury has been working directly with the Skrulls to defend Earth, with the fruits of those labors being revealed in a post-credits scene in Spider-Man: Far From Home. It remains to be seen if the Skrulls are even meant to be the antagonists of Secret Invasion, or if the MCU will flip the script by having the Kree or another alien race attempt a hostile takeover of Earth instead.

Feige officially confirmed the Secret Invasion series in December 2020 as part of Disney’s Investors Day press event, alongside numerous other MCU announcements. That news included confirmation that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will connect to Spider-Man 3, The Falcon and the Winter Solder’s release date, and Ms. Marvel and Monica Rambeau joining the cast of Captain Marvel 2.

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Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.