Month: March 2021

There is a frightening scene at the beginning of The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring where Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin hide by the Road as Black Riders pursue them. In taking refuge in a burrow, they escaped the sight of the Riders, but they also opened themselves up to creepy-crawly creatures that called the cranny home.

Dominic Monaghan, who played Merry, has now revealed that the scene was a little scarier than some might have imagined. A real spider crawled over his shoulder, the actor said in an Instagram Q&A with his followers. And it wasn’t just any spider. It was a Huntsman.

These spiders, which live in New Zealand and many other places around the world, are known for their size and speed. The one that crawled on Monaghan’s shoulder was not as massive as the nightmare-inducing one recently spotted in Australia, but it’s still spooky.

Monaghan said on Instagram that the spider was only on him “briefly.” He added that the spider was friendly. As it happens, Huntsman spiders are not known to be dangerous to humans like other spiders can be, but they are terror-inducing for their size and swiftness.

In the scene, Monaghan and the next closest person to him and the spider–Sean Astin–do appear shocked at the sight of the spider, even though they presumably knew what was about to happen. The scene also features worms and some kind of centipede coming out of the woodwork and the ground. It’s a stomach-turning, nerve-wracking scene, and the live insects used during it do a good job at grounding the scene in reality.

The Lord of the Rings series has a more famous spider than this Huntsman. Shelob the spider appears in Return of the King, and she is perhaps the scariest of them all. Shelob was created digitally for Return of the King, which is great news because can you even imagine if a spider that big actually existed?

The Fellowship of the Ring celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. The wider Lord of the Rings series remains popular, as a new illustrated edition of the novel is coming this year, while Amazon continues to film its new TV show. A Lord of the Rings video game focused on Gollum is also in the works, and we recently got a first look at the gameplay.

April is around the corner and that means another batch of free games for Stadia Pro subscribers. This round includes the precursor to an upcoming horror game, a big JRPG, a cute puzzler, and a certain someone who lives in a pineapple under the sea.

Starting in April you can claim Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, which had been previously announced alongside word that Resident Evil Village is coming to the service at launch. This is your chance to catch up with the latest RE lore before Village releases in May. Pre-ordering Village on Stadia will also get you a free Stadia Premiere Edition, which includes a Chromecast and Stadia controller.

Stadia Pro members will also get Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA, SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated, and Pikuniku. Stadia Pro members can also claim a free two-week trial of Elder Scrolls Online, from March 31 through April 13.

All Stadia users, Pro or no, can try a Hitman “Free Starter Pack” to get your feet wet in the world of assassination. The pack includes the Hitman tutorial mission and the Nightcall mission from Hitman 2. From March 30 to April 5 you can also try Hitman 3‘s Dubai location for free.

The announcement also noted that March 31 is your last chance to claim this month’s games: SteamWorld Quest, SteamWorld Dig 2, Superhot Mind Control Delete, F1 2020, and Hotline Miami.

Google recently shut down Stadia internal development, but it’s still continuing on as a platform holder for third-parties. It also may get increased functionality, with reports that touch controls appear to be on the way.

Actor Sylvester Stallone has written a treatment for a Rocky Balboa TV show. The actor revealed this on Instagram, saying he woke up on Monday morning and decided to write a treatment for a Rocky prequel TV show, and then he went fishing.

The show would be 10 episodes, as Stallone envisions it. He said it would “really get to the heart of the characters in their younger years.” Stallone went on to say he believes the Rocky show could work at a streaming company.

Based on what he’s written in the treatment–which is the Hollywood term for a pitch document–Stallone said the Rocky show might take place in the 1960s when Rocky was a 17-year-old. Amid the major events of the time–like the Civil Rights movement, the Moon landing, and Vietnam War–Robert “Rocky” Balboa was living a normal, plain life, Stallone wrote.

The document doesn’t get into the specifics of storylines or anything like that, but many might agree that learning more about a young Rocky could be an interesting story to tell.

To clear his head, Stallone went fishing after putting pen to paper on the Rocky script. “Talk about extremes!” he said. “Keep punching, my friends.”

While we wait for more news on the Rocky TV show, should it materialize, Stallone is keeping busy with film projects. His latest is The Suicide Squad, in which voices King Shark.

Spider-Man: Miles Morales developer Insomniac Games has revealed a brand-new suit for PS4 and PS5 players to equip, which is included in an update that is out now.

The Advanced Tech Suit equips Miles with an incredibly shiny and futuristic look, like that of Peter Parker’s in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The colors represent the familiar black and red stylings of Miles’ signature look, while also looking like it could have come out of a Tony Stark lab. Check it out below.

Gallery

The new suit comes to the game alongside a new update, which Insomniac says addresses some lingering issues across both platforms. Exclusive to PS5 players, however, is a new graphical feature that will allow for accurate muscle deformation of specific suits. The exact ones weren’t shared, which might give you an excuse to try out even more of your favorites beyond the new Advanced Tech Suit to see it in action.

Spider-Man: Miles Morales launched with the PS5 back in November, acting as a follow-up to 2018’s Spider-Man on PS4. It follows Miles Morales after the events of the first game, this time during a winter in New York that sees Peter Parker on a leave of absence. To find out more about the game, check out our Spider-Man: Miles Morales review, and keep an eye on our PS5 stock alerts if you’re still trying to pick up Sony’s latest console.

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Nintendo has rolled out its latest update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons‘ companion service, NookLink. As previously announced, this update adds a new feature to the smartphone app: the ability to earn Nook Points, which can then be redeemed for exclusive items.

Following the update, you can now receive 10 Nook Points each day by opening the app daily and tapping on the new Nook Points icon. These points can be redeemed within the app for a handful of brand-new items, which you will then receive in your game. The items include photos of Tom Nook, Isabelle, and Timmy and Tommy, as well as a Nook Link doorplate and poster. The full list of items and how much Nook Points each costs can be seen below:

• Nook Inc. poster – 10 Nook Points
• Nook Inc. doorplate – 40 Nook Points
• Aloha-edition carrying case – 60 Nook Points
• Timmy and Tommy’s photo – 100 Nook Points
• Tom Nook’s photo – 100 Nook Points
• Isabelle’s photo – 100 Nook Points

On top of that, Katrina the fortune-teller will impart some “words of wisdom” each day you claim Nook Points. Katrina herself has yet to make an appearance in New Horizons, so this currently the only way to receive one of her famously profound fortunes.

NookLink is a service within the Nintendo Switch Online smartphone app. To use the app, you’ll need to have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. In addition to NookLink, the NSO app features companion services for Splatoon 2 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

In other Animal Crossing news, eggs have started appearing in the game once again ahead of Bunny Day, which falls on April 4 this year. Fortunately, the eggs won’t be around for nearly as long this time. Nook’s Cranny is also selling a few brand-new Bunny Day items each day leading up to the holiday, while whoopee cushions are available to order from Nook Shopping until April Fool’s Day.

The Animal Crossing Sanrio Amiibo cards also recently launched in the US. These cards can be scanned in the game to unlock Sanrio-inspired villagers and items. Unfortunately, the cards are available exclusively at Target, and their rollout was a mess.

GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.

GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.

The latest update for Red Dead Online has arrived, revealing that it’s a good time to earn extra rewards if you’ve chosen a career as a Bounty Hunter, Naturalist, or a Collector in the harsh frontier of Red Dead Redemption 2‘s multiplayer spin-off. Developer Rockstar Games has detailed all of this week’s updates and more in a new blog post that you can read highlights of below.

Naturalist bonuses

Naturalists can grab triple the usual cash and experience points rewards for selling Black-Tailed Jackrabbit samples this week.

Bounty Hunter bonuses

Bounty Hunters can earn a 50% bonus on cash payouts for all bounties, including Legendary and Infamous villains. All licensed Bounty Hunters above Rank 5 will also receive an offer for 50% off the Navy Revolver.

Collector bonuses

Collectors with sharp eyes will receive an extra 50% cash bonus on top of the usual payout for completing the Weekly Egg Hunt Collection. Simply bring duck, heron, or goose eggs to Madam Nazar for the extra rewards. Collectors who take part in the Condor Egg Free Roam Event will receive a discount for 40% off a novice or Promising Collector Item of their choice.

Time-limited clothing

Gallery

You can’t explore the old west without looking the part, and this week’s Wheeler, Rawson & Co. Catalogue includes the return of a selection of clothing that will only be available for the next two weeks:

• Hopeman Vest
• Cardozo Vest
• Leavitt Jacket
• Lister Hat
• Manteca Hat
• Covington Hat
• Menasco Hat
• Owanjila Hat
• Bowyer Boots

Discounts

The Bounty Hunter License and the Collector’s Bag, which allows players to pursue those career paths, will be available this week with the price reduced by five gold bars. A 40% discount on Refined Binoculars, the Collector’s Saddle Bag, and all Collector’s maps are some of the other discounts you can grab for a limited time.

• Bounty Hunter License – Price reduced by five gold bars
• Collector’s Bag – Price reduced by five gold bars
• Bounty Hunter Outfits – 40%
• Collector Outfits – 40%
• Refined Binoculars – 40%
• Collector’s Saddle Bag – 40%
• Collector’s maps – 40%
• Bounty Wagon – 40%

Prime Gaming Benefits

Rockstar announced that everyone who connects their Rockstar Games Social Club account to Prime Gaming will be able to start a career as a Bounty Hunter and outfit their wagon with a new livery:

• A free Bounty Hunter License
• An award for the Trimmed Amethyst Bounty Wagon Livery

Players who connect to Prime Gaming before April 12 will receive an offer for 30% off select multi-class horses, an offer for 30% off select horse care pamphlets from the Fence, and an additional offer for 40% off any saddle.

Red Dead Redemption 2 has one of Rockstar’s biggest critical and commercial hits since it launched in 2018, selling more than 36 million copies so far. Red Dead Online, which was introduced not long after the game debuted, has also proven to be successful as player numbers have continued to rise since the multiplayer component became a standalone offering.

Now Playing: Firearms Expert Reacts To Red Dead Redemption 2’s Guns

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April is nearly upon us, and that means Xbox Live Gold subscribers, including Game Pass Ultimate members, are getting a new batch of free games very soon. Microsoft has now announced the full lineup, and they include Vikings: Wolves of Midgard and Truck Racing Championship for newer titles. Additionally, games that released on the Xbox 360, including Dark Void and Hard Corps: Uprising, are on the way.

Vikings: Wolves of Midgard, which was originally released in 2017, takes players to the mythological world of Midgard, where they fight against Jotan and other creatures of Ragnarok. The other current-gen freebie, Truck Racing Championship, came out in 2019. Like its name suggests, it is a big-rig racing game featuring 45 vehicles and 14 circuits.

April’s other free Games With Gold titles include Dark Void, an Xbox 360 game that originally released in 2010. Players can fight against hostile aliens on the ground or in the air with a special jetpack feature. The fourth and final freebie for April is Hard Corps: Uprising, the 2011 run-and-gun action game set in the Contra universe.

Given the month of March is about to end, now is a good time to pick up the remaining Games with Gold titles for March before they expire. As announced previously, these include Warface: Breakout and Port Royale 3, which leave the program on March 31. You have a little longer to claim VALA: Vicious Attack Llama Apocalypse, which will remain free until April 15.

Free Games With Gold For April 2021

• Vikings: Wolves of Midgard — April 1-30
• Dark Voice — April 1-15
• Truck Racing Championship — April 16-May 15
• Hard Corps: Uprising — April 16-30

For more games to play on Xbox One or Xbox Series X this month, check out our guides to the best Xbox One games of all time and the best Xbox Series X games available so far. Plus, Game Pass subscribers should check out the best games available with Xbox Game Pass right now.

Since Warframe’s debut in 2013, the community surrounding the free-to-play online game has grown significantly across PC and consoles. With the concept being about playing as “space ninjas” exploring a strange universe filled with open worlds to explore and ancient loot to uncover, there have undoubtedly been some lingering questions from fans. These include the fate of key characters, how to unlock some of the more high-end Frames, and just where the hell you can find some of the rare crafting materials. With this in mind, we spoke with the one person at developer Digital Extremes who has been at the forefront of answering all of the internet’s most asked questions about Warframe, and that’s “Space Mom” herself, Rebecca Ford.

Along with being the voice of the in-game character Lotus, who serves as the guide for all active Tenno, Ford is also Digital Extreme’s Live Operations and Community Director and is the most knowledgeable Warframe player on the internet. When she isn’t playing Warframe on livestreams, she’s answering the community’s burning questions and keeping fans up to date on the latest of what’s happening with the game.

In this latest video, GameSpot spoke with Ford about the growing scope of Warframe and how the community has reacted to the latest updates. In addition to explaining what some of the top-tier Frames are, what’s new with the Railjack, and just what the deal is with characters like Clem, she also gave a brief update on the current state of things with the anticipated expansion The Duvari Paradox, first announced back in 2019.

For more on Warframe, check out our latest update for our Warframe review, which includes impressions on the PS5 edition of the game.

Much like last year’s show, the 2021 edition of Summer Games Done Quick will be an online-only event that will be held from July 4-11.

An annual week-long showcase where the goal is to complete games as quickly and as skillfully as possible, SGDQ also uses its platform to raise money for charities around the world, which has included Doctors Without Borders, Prevent Cancer Foundation, Direct Relief, AbleGamers, Malala Fund, and the Organization for Autism Research over the years. Since starting in 2010, $31 million has been raised for these organizations.

This year’s event will be broadcast live on Games Done Quick’s official Twitch channel, with additional details on charity beneficiaries, the full games list, and the schedule being announced at a later date.

Last year’s show was postponed from its usual July slot to August last year due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, with SGDQ’s organizers ultimately opting for a safer online approach instead.

Speedrunner submissions for SGDQ 2021 Online will open on the GDQ website from March 31 and will close on April 11.