Author: Trafficblast

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The Snyder Cut is no longer simply a fan campaign, but an inevitability. Set to come out in 2021, the 2017 theatrical film has transformed into a 4-part miniseries that will air stream on HBO Max. As director Zack Snyder hypes the film, other members of the cast and crew are helping him get the word out. Hot on the heels of Snyder’s new trailer, we have some behind-the-scenes stills courtesy Justice League cinematographer Fabian Wagner’s Instagram.

The first shot features Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman looking at a mural of villain Darkseid while holding a torch. She’s also wearing some comfy-looking boots, but we’re going to guess that those probably won’t make it into the final shot. The photo is presumably from the same scene we saw in Snyder’s DC FanDome teaser back in June.

Another shot from Wagner gives us a look at Diane Lane as Martha Kent. Wagner calls the photo a “cheeky snapshot of the beautiful Diane Lane.” Wagner calls her lovely to work with and says he “can’t wait to see that scene.” This scene appears to be something new for Snyder’s version of the film.

Along with those shots, Wagner dropped some costume tests for Flash, Aquaman, and Wonder Woman, as well as some cast and crew shots. There’s also a short of Henry Cavill in a robe.

Along with the newly-released trailer, Snyder gave an interview to ScreenCrush, where he said that his ideal release for his Zack Snyder’s Justice League would be a black-and-white IMAX version.

“That, to me, is the most fan-centric, most pure, most Justice League experience. Because that’s how I lived with the movie for two years, in black and white… when I do the live-stream of the trailer, Steph and I colored a black-and-white version of the trailer,” Snyder said.

Along with that new scene of Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Snyder is doing reshoots that include adding Jared Leto’s Joker to the film and working with the crew of Fantastic Beasts 3 to shoot footage of actor Ezra Miller for his role as Flash in Justice League.

Zack Snyder’s four-part Justice League film hits HBO Max sometime next year, but neither Snyder nor Warner Bros. have offered anything more specific.

GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.

GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.

There are so many great deals on video games and movies during Black Friday 2020, but to get the most out of that media, you’ll want a 4K TV to display them. With the launch of the PS5 and Xbox Series X and the closure of movie theatres, there’s never been a better time to invest in your home entertainment setup. Retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, and Target all have discounts on select 4K TV models, so you have a lot to choose from. That’s why we’ve collected all of the best Black Friday 4K TV deals this year and compiled them below. Keep in mind some deals won’t be live until next week.

If you’re looking for more Black Friday deals, check out all of the Black Friday ads released so far. They’ll give you a good idea of what to expect during the big sale week. There will be some fantastic PS5 and PS4 game deals as well as Xbox Series X and Xbox One game deals. And if you’re looking to snag a new console, Walmart has revealed a time and date for its next PS5 and Xbox Series X restocks. See our full roundup of the best Black Friday 2020 gaming deals for an overview of all the best offers.

$478 (was $650)

Vizio makes excellent budget 4K TVs, and this one is definitely worth keeping an eye on. Walmart plans to put this 70-inch Vizio 4K TV on sale starting November 25 at 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET, and we expect it’ll sell out fast. For $478, you’re getting a huge TV from a company that’s known for quality. It features Dolby Vision HDR in addition to a ton of different built-in streaming services.

$1,000 (was $1,400)

The Sony X900H is one of the cheaper TVs you can get with HDMI 2.1. It features four HDMI 2.1 ports that the PS5, Xbox Series X, and RTX 30 series graphics cards will be able to take advantage of. If you’re looking for a more affordable option, the Sony X900H is a fantastic TV. You’ll have to wait until November 22 to snag this excellent TV for $1,000.

$1,050 (was $1,300)

Samsung’s Q80T 4K TV is a great display that features HDMI 2.1. However, it’s only available through one of its ports. It features four HDMI ports in total, 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+ support. This TV’s Black Friday price is available now.

$650 (was $850)

LG makes fantastic displays, whether it’s a TV or a monitor, and while this UN6970 series 4K TV isn’t OLED, it can still produce a beautiful picture. This 4K TV features a 75-inch screen, a refresh rate of 60Hz, and support for HDR10. It also features three HDMI ports–more than enough for two game consoles and a streaming device. This LG 4K TV goes on sale for $650 on November 22.

$498 (was $650)

Samsung’s Q60T series doesn’t boast HDMI 2.1, but it’s still a great TV. Clocking in at a 60Hz refresh rate, it boasts HDR10+ support, a QLED-lit display, and three HDMI ports. Best of all, this deal is live now, so you don’t have to wait until Black Friday to snag it.

$398 for 58-inch | $478 for 65-inch

Walmart also has a couple of deals on very affordable TVs. Samsung’s TU7000 series see two discounts on its 58-inch and 65-inch models. These TVs support 4K and HDR with a 60Hz refresh rate, and while they may not be the best TVs on the market, they’re hard to beat at their sale prices. Both Black Friday deals are available now.

$630 (was $800)

Sony has always made great TVs, and if you want to pick up an excellent 4K display during Black Friday, then the X750H is worth taking a look at. This 4K TV has a 60Hz refresh rate and features a thin bezel, three HDMI ports, and support for HDR10. Its Black Friday price is also available now.

One of retailer GameStop’s biggest private investors has called on the company to make significant changes, and close stores, to help turn things around. The plan also includes a recommendation to scale down or close GameStop’s businesses in Europe and Australia.

Through his venture capital firm RC Ventures, Chewy Inc. co-founder Ryan Cohen holds a 9.8 percent stake in GameStop’s shares, making him one of the biggest investors. Cohen said in a letter that his attempts to discuss changes with management privately “yielded little progress,” he’s now reaching out to the board of directors to try to stir things up.

In the letter obtained by The Wall Street Journal, Cohen said GameStop “lacks the mindset, resources, and plan needed to become a dominant sector player.” Cohen called out GameStop for its “apparent unwillingness to pivot with urgency and grow with gamers.”

Stockholder value has plummeted in recent years, Cohen pointed out, adding that GameStop’s stock remains one of the most shorted stocks out there, “which speaks volumes about investors’ lack of confidence in the current leadership team’s approach.”

In Cohen’s eyes, GameStop has also failed to keep up with major changes in gaming in recent years, including the transition from physical hardware to streaming, the growth in mobile, and a change in buying behavior away from “mass retailers.”

GameStop has posted revenue declines and income losses in recent quarters, Cohen said, pointing out that this is particularly a problem because the gaming business across the industry is experiencing growth currently during the pandemic. GameStop may see an uptick in sales coming up thanks to the launch of the PS5 and Xbox Series X, and the enduring popularity of the Nintendo Switch, but Cohen said, “the next console cycle’s temporary sales bump is not a justification for complacency and glacial transformation.”

So what does Cohen want to do to turn things around? He said he’s confident that GameStop can evolve its business and become a market-leader again. To get there, Cohen said to the board that he advises that GameStop should close more stores.

“Now is the time to identify duplicative, underperforming stores and plan to forgo lease renewals,” he said.

For what it’s worth, GameStop has already closed nearly 400 stores in 2020 alone, and more closures are planned for the future.

Cohen also said GameStop should look to sell or “streamline” the company’s “non-core” operations in Europe and Australia to “reduce losses and potentially generate cash.” GameStop owns the EB Games stores in Australia.

“While the Australian market has shown signs of life, it is not nearly big or strong enough to offset the losses linked to the Company’s hundreds of stores across European nations,” Cohen said.

“Taken together, these factors can fuel the necessary investments that GameStop could be making to delight and retain gamers well into the future,” Cohen said. “Taking the right steps in 2020 and 2021 can enable GameStop to own a bigger share of the market when estimated industry sales explode to more than $200 billion per year in 2023.”

GameStop can use some of the freed up cash from these initiatives to help pay for various other, more profitable endeavors like upgrading the company’s e-commerce offerings. In turn, this could help “provide for greater revenue capture across larger gaming catalogs, digital content and community experiences, online trade-ins, streaming services, and esports.”

In closing, Cohen said he hasn’t supplied a strict or detailed “turnaround plan” in this notice because that job should be done by GameStop’s board of directors and the company’s CEO, George Sherman.

“In this spirit, we urge you to quickly provide stockholders with a credible and publicly-available roadmap for cost containment, prioritizing profitable retail locations and geographic markets, and building the e-commerce ecosystem gamers deserve,” Cohen said.

Cohen also said he is not seeking a seat on GameStop’s board of directors, and he concluded his note with one further jab at the company.

“Please be advised that RC Ventures is not interested in receiving a lone seat on GameStop’s ten-member Board. It is not enticing to become an isolated stockholder advocate on a Board that has overlooked years of digital revenue opportunities and presided over massive value destruction without assuming full accountability,” he said. “We want GameStop’s leaders to do their jobs and implement a strategy for bringing the Company into the 21st century.”

A spokesperson for GameStop told The Wall Street Journal that it has a goal of creating plan to benefit shareholders. The spokesperson also noted that it has invited Cohen to join the board of directors multiple times, but he turned it down every time.

Former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime sits on the GameStop board of directors. Other notable members include PetSmart CEO James Symancyk, Washington Wizards co-owner Raul Fernandez, and former Crocs executive vice president Carrie Teffner.

It was recently reported that Sony considered releasing some of its PlayStation 5 games for more than $70, but this is a bunch of baloney, according to PlayStation’s top executive. Jim Ryan told The Telegraph, “I can say that that report that we were considering higher prices for first party games is categorically false.”

One of the marquee PS5 launch titles, the Demon’s Souls remake, carries a price tag of $70 USD, which is $10 more than most current-generation games. Ryan defended the higher price point, telling The Telegraph that he believes it is a fair price.

“Yes, yes, I do. If you measure the hours of entertainment provided by a video game, such as Demon’s Souls compared to any other form of entertainment, I think that’s a very straightforward comparison to draw,” he said.

Ryan was asked outright if some of Sony’s future PS5 projects would also cost $70 USD, like the next game from Uncharted and Last of Us developer Naughty Dog. However, Ryan said it’s too early to discuss what might happen down the road.

“I’m not making any predictions about anything that might or might not happen in the future. I’m saying that the reports about discussions that we considered higher pricing for first party games in this launch window were categorically false,” he said.

While some major games have raised prices to $70 for next-gen, including Demon’s Souls, NBA 2K21, Godfall, and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, it remains to be seen if others will follow suit to make $70 the new norm.

For what it’s worth, the original Bloomberg report that said Sony considered raising prices beyond $70 did not offer much in the way of specifics. The report only stated, “At one point, Sony discussed going even higher before settling on $70,” and the quote was attributed to no one.

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick defended NBA 2K21’s $70 price point by saying, “The bottom line is that we haven’t seen a front-line price increase for nearly 15 years, and production costs have gone up 200 to 300%.”

Before that, former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden remarked that the cost of developing games has increased by 10 times, and all the while, the price of new games has stayed steady at $60 USD. “If you don’t have elasticity on the price-point, but you have huge volatility on the cost line, the model becomes more difficult. I think this generation is going to see those two imperatives collide,” Layden said of the new generation of consoles.

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