Author: Trafficblast

Every Netflix TV Show Canceled In 2021 (So Far)

Saying goodbye to anything can be very difficult, but letting your favorite TV show go–especially when it doesn’t get a proper ending–can be downright devastating. Each year dozens of TV shows are canceled by networks and streaming services and 2021 is no different. When it comes to public outcry, though, Netflix stands out in particular.

Once upon a time, Netflix was very careful when it came to dropping the ax on its shows. In recent years, though, the number of shows cut by the streaming service has been growing bigger and bigger. In fact, in 2020, there were shows previously renewed that the streaming service canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thus far, in 2021, Netflix’s cancellations aren’t coming as quickly as they did last year. However, a number of comedies on the service have fallen by the wayside. There are also a few higher-concept shows and even what was at one point a highly-anticipated superhero series that weren’t able to gain enough popularity to stick around.

Take a look below at every show Netflix has canceled in 2021, so far.

New Lord Of The Rings Audiobook Features Incredible Performance By Andy Serkis

A new unabridged audiobook version of the legendary fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings is coming, and it’s read by none other than Andy Serkis.

Having recently worked with HarperCollins on The Hobbit, Serkis–who played Gollum in Peter Jackson’s film series–is coming back for The Lord of the Rings. The audiobook is slated for release in September, and it will be released in three parts: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. You can watch a trailer for the book below, which shows Serkis reading several Gollum lines and proving that he absolutely hasn’t lost his skill for embodying the character.

“I would consider myself someone who likes a challenge… Walking back into Middle-earth over 20 years after my first life-changing adventure there, and experiencing it all over again (this time for many weeks alone in a sound booth) has brought in equal measures of pure joy, sheer madness, immense pleasure, and a level of psychological and physical fatigue I have never quite experienced the like of before,” Serkis said of his work on the book (via TheBookSeller).

He added: “I actually feel like I have lived through Tolkien’s saga, and felt his profound understanding of and connection to nature, love, war, truth, hatred and altruism. Each day I genuinely went through ups and downs, often coinciding with the progress of the ring-bearer and his companions.”

In 2020, Serkis took part in a marathon read of The Hobbit, sitting down for 12 hours to read the book and raise money for COVID-19 relief efforts. After this, he partnered with HarperCollins for an official audiobook version of The Hobbit.

In other Lord of the Rings news, Daedalic Entertainment just released new images of its The Lord of the Rings: Gollum video game, revealing new character shots of Gandalf, the Mouth of Sauron, and Thranduil.

Additionally, Warner Bros. is fast-tracking a new Lord of the Rings animated movie, while Amazon has responded to reports about the stunts on its Lord of the Rings TV show set.

Cheating In PS5 And Xbox Series X Games Might Get Worse, Thanks To This Machine-Learning Tool

A new cheat engine that uses machine-learning can work on consoles, including Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. The anti-cheat watch group ACPD posted its findings on the new tool on Twitter, explaining how it will be difficult for developers to detect.

The tool seems to use a visual feed provided by a capture card (ones like Elgato and AverMedia make) to a PC, which is then analyzed using machine-learning to determine targets. All the player needs to do is aim in the general direction of a foe online, with the tool then figuring out precise aiming and even taking the required shots for the kill. The tool can be configured in a bunch of way, with the video demonstrating how a cheater can increase or decrease the field of view the tool uses to grab targets.

Tools like this are not uncommon on PC, but it’s not something that should be familiar to console players. The closed ecosystems of consoles have made cheating far more challenging, but since this tool only needs a visual feed of what is happening, it will be very difficult for either Sony or Microsoft to prevent. ACPD says it isn’t impossible, but that developers will equally struggle to find a widespread solution to this problem.

Cheating engines like this are especially popular in big online shooters, such as Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone. In April, a developer on Warzone said cheaters were ruining his life’s work, while also eating up resources that could be going towards making the game better.

New CoD Black Ops: Cold War Zombies Map Gets Trailer Tomorrow, Looks Like A Zombie City

Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War is growing its zombies mode with yet another map. For now, we don’t know much about the new map, titled Mauer Der Toten, but that’s going to change tomorrow. In a tweet, developer Treyarch Studios shared a small clip of the new map and announced that a full gameplay trailer would drop July 8.

The snippet, a four-second long clip, leaves a whole lot for imagination. Its first shot is of a large switch being flipped, and the second shows a seemingly underground concrete structure covered in gore. What appears to be a jugger-nog machine is shown, but it looks to be covered in some kind of mold.

Afterward, the clip transitions to a scene showing a destroyed city, offering the best look at what the map might be. The closest part of the shot shows a wrecked city block, with vehicles, including tanks, abandoned in the streets, and buildings missing chunks or spewing fire. Far off in the distance though, things don’t seem so bad. Larger, more modern buildings tower into the sky, filled with light-filled windows. Over there, it doesn’t look like the zombie apocalypse has hit just yet.

It’s impossible to say exactly where this map might be, but from the city shot and the map’s name, which translates to Wall of The Dead, it’s possible to hazard a guess. It seems like Mauer Der Toten will bring the zombie apocalypse to Berlin, Germany, during the Cold War. The “wall” referenced in the map’s name might not be a literal wall of zombies, and instead could be a reference to the Berlin Wall, which didn’t come down until 1989. Of course, this is all speculation and we’ll find out when the gameplay trailer launches tomorrow.

As for the still churning zombies storyline that Treyarch is putting together, it’s not clear what players should expect next. According to a post from the Call of Duty blog, Mauer Der Toten takes “after the events of ‘Operation Excision’ in Outbreak.”

If Call of Duty’s competitive scene is more your thing, the Call of Duty League recently announced that its next tournament, Major V, will be live. The Major V tournament will take place in Esports Stadium Arlington in Texas and run from July 29 to August 1.

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House of the Dragon: The Entire Cast of the Game of Thrones Prequel (So Far)

The world of Westeros is set to expand with HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel series, House of the Dragon, opening its doors to a new cast of characters in 2022.

In the lead-up to the show’s release, HBO has been teasing fans with casting news and character descriptions for those featured in House of the Dragon’s 10-episode first season, which is based on George R.R. Martin’s novel Fire & Blood. The new series takes place 300 years before the events of Game of Thrones and is expected to tell the story of House Targaryen.

House Targaryen is responsible for giving us the Mother of Dragons herself, Daenerys Targaryen, and now there is a new lineup of characters emerging, ready to breathe fresh life into the onscreen Game of Thrones universe. Keep reading for our comprehensive rundown of who’s playing who in HBO’s House of the Dragon – and we’ll keep this article updated with every new casting announcement.

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Milly Alcock as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (Younger Version)

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Milly Alcock has landed a recurring role on the series, playing a young version of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, the king’s first-born child. She is described as being “of pure Valyrian blood” and “a dragonrider,” as is typical for the people native to the Valyrian Peninsula. Her character bio suggests that “many would say that Rhaenyra was born with everything… but she was not born a man.”

Emily Carey as Alicent Hightower (Younger Version)

Emily Carey is set to star opposite Alcock in a recurring role as Alicent Hightower, per THR. Carey will portray a younger version of her character, who is described as “the daughter of Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, and the most comely woman in the Seven Kingdoms. She was raised in the Red Keep, close to the king and his innermost circle; she possesses both a courtly grace and a keen political acumen.”

Paddy Considine as King Viserys Targaryen

Paddy Considine will step up to play King Viserys Targaryen, the fifth Targaryan king on the Iron Throne “chosen by the lords of Westeros to succeed the Old King, Jaehaerys Targaryen, at the Great Council at Harrenhal.” He is described as “a warm, kind, and decent man” who “only wishes to carry forward his grandfather’s legacy,” however, HBO warns that “good men do not necessarily make for great kings.”

Emma D’Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (Elder Version)

Emma D’Arcy will transform into Targaryen royalty, as she poses as the elder version of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. The first images from the set of House of the Dragon spotlighted her as one of the key cast members pictured alongside Matt Smith’s Prince Daemon Targaryen at an undisclosed beach location.

Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower (Elder Version)

Olivia Cooke has signed on to star as the elder version of Alicent Hightower. Collider notes that the relationship between Rhaenyra and Alicent sours to the point that they “become fierce rivals” in Fire & Blood, “both vying for the honor of claiming the throne for themselves and their own heirs.”

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Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen

Matt Smith, who is perhaps best known for his time as the eleventh doctor on Doctor Who, will star as Prince Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon. Daemon is the “younger brother to King Viserys and heir to the throne,” described by HBO as “a peerless warrior and a dragonrider who possesses the true blood of the dragon. But it is said that whenever a Targaryen is born, the gods toss a coin in the air…”

Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon (AKA The Sea Snake)

Steve Toussaint has boarded onto the project to play Lord Corlys Velaryon, AKA The Sea Snake, a character known across the land for being “the most famed nautical adventurer in the history of Westeros.” As the lord of House Velaryon, a Valyrian bloodline as old as House Targaryen, he is said to have “built his house into a powerful seat that is even richer than the Lannisters and that claims the largest navy in the world.”

Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower

Rhys Ifans will take on the role of Otto Hightower, the father of Alicent, and the Hand of the King who “loyally and faithfully serves both his king and his realm.” According to his character description, Ser Otto is loyal to the king and his realm, but the Hand believes that the greatest threat to both is the King’s brother, Daemon, who is the current heir to the throne.

Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys Velaryon

Eve Best will play dragonrider Princess Rhaenys Velaryon, the wife of Toussaint’s Lord Corlys Velaryon. She is defined as “The Queen Who Never Was” because she was “passed over as heir to the throne at the Great Council” because “the realm favored her cousin, Viserys, simply for being male.”

Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria

Sonoya Mizuno has signed on as Mysaria, also known as Lady Misery, a character with a difficult journey, having arrived in “Westeros with nothing” and been “sold more times than she can recall.” However, instead of wilting, Mysaria rises “to become the most trusted — and most unlikely — ally of Prince Daemon Targaryen, the heir to the throne.”

Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole

Fabien Frankel has been cast as Ser Criston Cole, a character of Dornish descent. He is “the common-born son of the steward to the Lord of Blackhaven,” though “he has no claim to land or titles; all he has to his name is his honor and his preternatural skill with a sword.” Writing on Not a Blog, George RR Martin described Criston as “a breaker of hearts and a maker of kings” who’s “cheered by the commons and beloved of the ladies.”

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Keep checking back here for more House of the Dragon casting updates.

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Adele Ankers is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.

Final Fantasy Face-Off: Best Party Member – The Winner Revealed

Last week, we asked YOU to help us decide which Final Fantasy party member is the very best. And now, after more than 3.2 million 1v1 battles with matchups like Cloud vs. Vivi and Yuna vs. Squall, the ultimate winner has been chosen.

So, who claimed the top spot in the battle of the greatest Final Fantasy party member ever? Drumroll please…

With an 87.8% win percentage, Final Fantasy VII’s Tifa Lockhart claimed the top prize by securing victory in 52,887 of the 60,259 battles she was in.

While some may have expected Cloud Strife to take the top spot (he was #2, losing by only 0.4%!), Tifa was one of the most popular party members in both the original and Final Fantasy VII Remake, the latter of which was recently released to great praise.

Final Fantasy VII’s popularity was clearly seen in this Face-Off, as Aerith took spot #3, Barret took spot #6, Red XIII took spot #8, and Vincent Valentine secured spot #9. In fact, every Final Fantasy VII party member made it into the top 25, except for Cait Sith at #45 and Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade – EPISODE INTERmission’s Sonon Kusakabe at #85.

Rounding out the top 10 were Final Fantasy IX’s Vivi Ornitier at #4, and Final Fantasy X’s Auron at #5, Yuna at #7, and Tidus at #10 (which is quite fitting!).

Taking last place, with a win percentage of only 13.3%, was Final Fantasy IV: The After Years’ Calca. She beat out Final Fantast IV: The After Years’ Luca by 1.5% to secure the bottom spot. Unfortunately for The After Years’ fans, nine of the bottom 10 characters were from this sequel – Brina (#106), Tsukinowa (#105), Gekkou (#104), Harley (#103), Leonara (#102), Ursula (#101), and Izayoi (#100).

The only non-The After Years character to make the bottom 10 was Final Fantasy II’s Guy.

Are you wondering where your favorite Final Fantasy party member landed, like maybe Final Fantasy IV’s Kain Highwind? (He took spot #18!) For all the rankings, you can check out the full list of where all 108 Final Fantasy party members who competed in this Face-Off ended up.

For more Final Fantasy, check out our ranking of the Final Fantasy games, our review of the Yuffie-centric Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade – EPISODE INTERmission and details on the world, heroes, and story of Final Fantasy 16.

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Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Loki Episode 5: 11 Easter Eggs And References You Might Have Missed

Take a journey into mystery this week on Loki with all the time-traveling Easter eggs you've come to expect.

Take a journey into mystery this week on Loki with all the time-traveling Easter eggs you’ve come to expect.

Welcome to the void at the end of time, home of–well, a whole bunch of stuff, including a gang of Loki variants you may or may not recognize and even some nods to real life history. In this episode of Loki, we get one step closer to solving the mystery of the TVA, but not without running into some potentially catastrophic dangers first.

Thankfully, Loki (that is, our Loki) isn’t on his own–and not all of the Loki variants in the void are inherently evil. After teaming up with the little rag-tag crew that we saw in the post-credits of last week’s episode, Loki quickly hatches a number of truly terrible plans. It’s not until Sylvie finally arrives (and finds Mobius) that things really begin to get going. The scheme is simple–Sylvie is going to “enchant” the giant smoke-based creature that roves the Void like a shark and use that magic to escape to whatever exists beyond, where she assumes she’ll find the person responsible for the TVA.

Of course, the void itself is littered with Easter eggs, references, and nods to both the MCU and Marvel comics, so we went on a little scavenger hunt to help you notice them all.

HBO’s The Last Of Us Series Has 10 Episodes In Season 1

Filming on HBO’s The Last of Us TV series is currently underway in Canada, and now a few more details about the project have come to light from writer Craig Mazin. He revealed this on a Scriptnotes podcast, also confirming that season 1 has five different directors.

Mazin–who previously worked with HBO on the acclaimed Chernobyl mini-series–said the writing for the first three-to-four episodes is “kinda done” (via Collider).

The Last of Us received a straight-to-series order, which means HBO is not filming a pilot episode and is instead launching directly into the series. The same was true for Chernobyl, and Mazin acknowledged that this presents some potential issues, one being that the production team isn’t able to “retool” what they otherwise could have if it was a pilot.

HBO’s Game of Thrones famously filmed a disaster of a pilot episode that featured a different actress as Daenerys and other big changes. The Sons of Anarchy spin-off Mayans MC also re-shot its pilot and made casting changes after the first pilot filmed.

Mazin also said on the podcast that The Last of Us series has “budget challenges,” but overall, he believes the finances are where it ought to be. “We have the budget to make an excellent show, and so we shall,” he said.

In terms of the five directors for season 1, we currently know that Kantemir Balagov (Beanpole) is directing the season premiere, while celebrated directors Jasmila Zbanic and Ali Abbasi have been tapped to direct episodes, leaving two more directors to be named later.

Neil Druckmann, the writer and director of the original video game, is developing The Last of Us TV show alongside Mazin. As for Mazin, he’s also writing the star-studded Borderlands movie and a new Pirates of the Caribbean film.

Pedro Pascal plays Joel in The Last of Us, while Bella Ramsey is lined up to play Ellie. Diego Luna plays Tommy, and he recently shared what looks like the first set photo from the production.

As for the game series, Naughty Dog might make The Last of Us 3, or potentially a new IP, as its next game. On the more immediate horizon, Naughty Dog is developing a standalone Last of Us multiplayer game. In other news, a recent report said Naughty Dog is also working on a Last of Us remake for PS5.

Nintendo Marketing Manager Says New Switch OLED Isn’t For Everyone

A Nintendo employee says Switch owners don’t need to upgrade to the new OLED model if they have no interest in the bigger, more vibrant 7-inch screen.

Following the announcement of the Nintendo Switch OLED model, manager of product marketing JC Rodrigo was asked on Twitter if this upcoming console refresh will run any better than the current models available on the market. Rodrigo reiterated performance is not what the OLED system is for and said Switch owners can ultimately “stick with the current one if you’re not digging the screen.”

Rodrigo’s comment makes sense. The Switch OLED model is ostensibly a mid-cycle refresh, not the upgraded version that’s been reported and rumored to feature 4K output and better performance. In fact, Nintendo told VGC that the OLED model has “no major internal changes” over the current one. When reached for comment, Nintendo told us that the OLED model also uses the same Joy-Cons.

Further, it remains unclear if there even is an upgraded Nintendo Switch in the works. The company continues to deny whether a “Nintendo Switch Pro” will launch this year. Though president Shuntaro Furukawa said the company is always developing new hardware, it won’t comment on the rumors.

In short, the Switch OLED model isn’t for everyone. In fact, based on Rodrigo’s statement, this console refresh might cater to a specific audience: those uninterested in the Nintendo Switch Lite. And multiple analysts say a mid-cycle refresh should be expected from Nintendo at this time.

Contrast Rodrigo’s statement with what former Microsoft president Don Mattrick said during E3 in June 2013. In response to the Xbox One’s “always-on” internet connection requirement, Mattrick told fans in an interview with Geoff Keighley to stick with the Xbox 360 if internet wasn’t available.

The Xbox One’s strict limitations would’ve bifurcated the audience and meant that those without a stable internet connection had to forgo Xbox One exclusives and entire functions. Nintendo, with the Switch OLED, isn’t splitting the install base. Regular Switch owners and those who opt for the OLED version won’t get different games–they will just look a little better on the bigger screen.

The Nintendo Switch OLED model launches on October 8 for $350.

Tencent Games Is Using Facial Recognition To Limit Minors’ Game Time In China

Tencent Games has rolled out a new initiative in China that forces players to submit to a digital face scan to verify they aren’t minors. This is the company’s effort to comply with the Chinese government in its bid to curb video game addiction among minors.

The software makes use of AI to determine if players are attempting to trick the system, forcing players offline if they either fail or reject the request for the scan. This applies to all Tencent’s games between the hours of 10 PM and 8 AM. The use of AI will allow the system to detect players using tricks to circumvent the check, while continually learning from fraudulent attempts that were successful.

The measure, called “Midnight Patrol,” is another system that Tencent has implemented since Chinese authorities drafted a bill of requirements aimed at curbing video game addiction among Chinese minors. This included the requirement to have games use real names for account creation, so that play time and spending could be monitored and restricted for players under the age of 18. These requirements were put in place after gaming-related incidents sparked the authorities’ interest, according to Sixth Tone.

Tencent is the largest publisher for games in China, accounting for 55% of gaming market share in the first-half of 2020. It also produces the country’s most popular mobile game, Honor of Kings (a MOBA inspired by League of Legends), which was the highest-grossing mobile game in 2019 and 2020. It was the game called out specifically by Chen Lina, an accounting executive in eastern Jiangsu Province, who praised the new facial-scanning technology.

Tencent is a big player internationally, too. The company owns Riot Games, makers of League of Legends and Valorant, as well as Klei, the creators of Don’t Starve. It also holds stakes in numerous development studios, with investments into Remedy Games, Dontnod, and Bohemia in 2021 alone. It’s also not the only company clamping down on minors and video games, with Minecraft receiving an above-18 age restriction in South Korea.