Roku has removed YouTube TV from its channel store. This follows Roku’s warning earlier this week that it would take YouTube’s streaming app down unless Google agreed to change aspects of its search functions and data use.
The two companies were negotiating a new contract, but have been unable to agree terms. Roku alleges that Google wants special treatment in Roku search results, as well as demanding extra access to Roku’s customer data and requesting new hardware requirements.
In a statement, Roku stated that it “always stand up for our users,” and that Google’s terms were unacceptable. “We cannot accept Google’s unfair and anticompetitive requirements that would allow for the manipulation of your search results, impact the usage of your data, and ultimately cost you more,” the company stated. “We remain committed to reaching a good-faith agreement with Google that preserves your access to YouTube TV, honors your desired search preferences, and protects your data.”
However, Roku stopped short of removing YouTube TV for existing subscribers. The company said “we will continue to offer existing users access to YouTube TV unless Google takes actions that require the full removal of the channel.” However, it warned users not to remove the app, as it is no longer available to download to Roku devices.
Google has not commented on Roku’s decision. However, earlier this week it stated that “Roku often engages in these types of tactics in their negotiations,” claiming that “we have made no requests to access user data or interfere with search results.”
Resident Evil Village kicks off a new month of gaming in May, bringing its trademark survival-horror atmosphere to new and old platforms. While the game likely won’t include any options for it to be less spooky, you can ease yourself into the upcoming terror with a slightly less-traumatizing puppet show.
As seen on the Japanese Resident Evil YouTube channel–where the franchise is known as Biohazard–the location of the game suddenly looks a whole lot less chilling when characters such as Lady Dimitrescu, Karl Heisenberg, Salvatore Moreau, and the animatronic Angie are transformed into hand puppets. And yes, Lady Dimitrescu is still the tallest out of all of them.
They’re cute and clumsy, and falling onto Karl’s chainsaw looks like it really hurts, judging by all the puppet blood that is spilled. The Resident Evil antagonists even have time to team up for an adorable musical number before the entire presentation ends with a brief financial slideshow.
Resident Evil Village launches on PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Stadia on May 7, and if you’re curious you can try out the game’s final demo for an hour from May 1 to May 9. According to an ESRB listing, the game won’t be pulling any punches as it has received an M for Mature rating for all of its intense violence, gore, and strong language.
With Disneyland and the neighboring Disney California Adventure theme parks finally set to reopen today after over a year of COVID-induced closure, we thought it’d be fun to assemble IGN’s biggest Disneyland superfans to rank our top 10 favorite rides across both parks. We took everything into consideration: present-day fun factor, nostalgic value, theming, and even how good the experience leading up to the ride itself is (here’s looking at you, Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye). Bottom line: the next time you head back to Disneyland and California Adventure, these are the top 10 attractions you shouldn’t miss.
10) Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
Every time I step into line for Star Tours and spot the audio-animatronic C-3P0 in the distance, I can’t help but recall one of my favorite quotes from the golden protocol droid and his squat friend in Force Awakens: “Oh, my dear friend. How I’ve missed you.” I grew up with this theme-park jaunt through the galaxies far far away, treasuring every dip and dive and jump to hyperspace. It practically grew up with me, as it debuted at Disneyland only three years after I was born and was a must-visit throughout my life. Its changes reflected my journey through the Star Wars universe in my youth and was the only immersive Star Wars experience available to me for the first 35 years of my life until Galaxy’s Edge opened in 2019. That said, Star Tours is a historical touchpoint that extends far beyond my own memories: it was one of the first seeds planted that later blossomed into Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm, it spans the eras before and after the hand-off, and it covers the entire Skywalker saga thanks to repeated updates that now allow you to experience one of dozens of different permutations every time you ride. There’s not another attraction on this planet that offers the variance and expanse of stories that the collective Star Tours rides across planets boast. Now that I have a daughter, it’s incredible to see her fall in love with Star Wars as I have, and she gets the same joy at five years old that I experience at 37. So I’m following Yoda’s advice – “The Force runs strong in your family. Pass on what you have learned.” – John Borba
9) The Incredicoaster
The Incredicoaster
I’ll be honest: I liked the Incredicoaster better when it was called California Screamin’ for one simple, admittedly petty reason: the lines to ride it were a lot shorter. Once The Incredibles theme was added, interest in this ride clearly spiked the next time I visited the park (and every time since). But no matter what name is on the marquee, it’s a phenomenal thrill ride. The new Incredibles theming is really well implemented, as you zoom around at superheroic speed trying to corral Jack-Jack. But while the story is fun, the thrill of the Incredicoaster has always been its high speed. It’s the fastest ride in either of Disney’s California parks, topping out at 55mph, which is most delightfully evident after rounding the corner past the introductory diorama, then stopping for a five-second countdown. You’re launched from a standstill like you’re taking off in a performance-model Tesla, and the ensuing couple of minutes is quite simply a blast – including the upside-down loop in the middle of the ride (fun fact: it’s also the only attraction at either of Disney’s California parks that puts you upside-down). The only downside is that its thrill is over all too quickly. – Ryan McCaffrey
8) Haunted Mansion
The Haunted Mansion
One of the most classic Disneyland attractions to this day, Haunted Mansion is still a marvel of the Disney Imagineers’ design capabilities. The mix of animatronics, projection work, and creative use of space makes Haunted Mansion a thrilling adventure even before you’re sitting in one of its cars. Striking a macabre, iconic look while you wait in line outside, Haunted Mansion opens up into its pre-ride show with a wonderful use of space, unsettling distortion of what you think you know, and a rush off to something much more mysterious than what waited outside the mansion’s doors. From the Hatbox Ghost to Madame Leota to a banquet hall of dancing ghouls to ghosts that sneak into your car as the ride ends, there’s no shortage of iconic moments. And that’s not even mentioning the elaborate and enchanting makeover the mansion receives for Christmas, with a Nightmare Before Christmas seasonal overhaul that practically becomes a new, but equally memorable (some would even say better!) ride. – Jonathon Dornbush
7) Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad sits somewhere comfortably in the middle of many of Disneyland’s classic rides and concepts. It’s a smaller-scale roller coaster ride with enough thrills to be fun if not daunting while telling a story of its own that is a delight to experience at any time of day or night. When the sun’s out, Big Thunder plays out like a frenetic ride through the Old West, past unexpected corners through exciting stretches and falls, and even into the mountains for a slow-burning fuse of a climb before the ride’s explosive end. And at night, it’s a dazzling, panoramic view of Disneyland lit up like the theme park of your dreams, from the austere Magic Castle to the naturalistic Batuu and more – it’s a delightful ride that acts as a theme park tour as a nice bonus. – Jonathon Dornbush
6) Radiator Springs Racers
Radiator Springs Racers, aka The Cars Ride
Most rides at Disneyland either fall into the category of either a thrill ride or a dark ride, but Radiator Springs Racers asks the all-important question: “Why not both?” The Cars ride begins with a leisurely stroll through the titular Radiator Springs, introducing you to its four-wheeled residents in fun and magical ways that make wonderful use of what are perhaps the most impressive animatronics in the whole park, and letting you experience first-hand some fun bits from the movie, like watching the cow-like tractors tip over after getting scared by Mater’s horn. But the best part is when you reach the starting line of the race, meet eye to eye with your competing passengers on the neighboring track, and hit the gas as you compete against them in a thrilling outdoor race that does a great job of scratching that thrill-seeking itch for those looking for something just a little more intense than your standard dark ride. It’s got great technology, excellent theming, solid thrills, and even a fun competitive aspect to it. Radiator Springs Racers checks all of the boxes – it’s no wonder the lines for it are always so long. – Mitchell Saltzman
5) Pirates of the Caribbean
Pirates of the Caribbean
Is there really a better way to capture that Disney magic than with the Pirates of the Caribbean ride? It may not be the most thrilling or highest-tech ride anymore (despite small updates over the years), but the all-time classic is both a literal and emotional roller coaster. Pair the serene boat ride (Pirates is also one of the longest-duration rides in either California park) with the charms of the ever-changing environments taking you through the swamps of the Blue Bayou, pirate battles at Isla Tesoro, post-battle plunders of a broken village as pirates sing jaunty tunes, and the ghostly underground caves filled with tantalizing booty in Dead Man’s Cove. There’s nothing quite like this timeless ride. It’s no wonder, in hindsight, that it inspired a multi-billion dollar film franchise. – Brian Malkiewicz
4) Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout
Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout
It’d be an understatement to say I was skeptical of the Guardians of the Galaxy ride when it converted from the beloved Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. How could Disney possibly mess with such an atmospheric classic? But somehow, Mission Breakout forged its own fun-loving identity and made this classic drop ride even more special. Don’t get me wrong, Tower of Terror was and will forever be amazing, but what Disney has been able to do with Mission Breakout is exceptional. From the wonderfully interactive lobby to the incredible Rocket animatronic, to the handful of different variations of the ride experience itself (note: if you ever have a chance to visit California Adventure during Halloween season, the Monsters After Dark version of the ride acts as a stellar sequel to Mission Breakout, story-wise, and swaps out ’70s classic rock for ’80s heavy metal). It’s truly joyous and, barring a surprise from the upcoming Spider-Man ride, will instantly become the best ride within the Avengers Campus section of the park when it gets folded into the new land this June. – Michael Huynh
3) Indiana Jones Adventure
Indiana Jones Adventure (The Temple of the Forbidden Eye)
Since its debut in 1995, I’ve made a point to visit The Indiana Jones Adventure multiple times on each trip to the mouse house. Every time I step up to the ropes, I feel excitement swell at the chance to plunge myself into an ancient Bengalese temple in search of the cap and whip that captivated me as a kid. I’ve found that the adventure within The Temple of the Forbidden Eye provides a unique and nostalgic experience from others within the park. From the incredibly immersive in-queue ambiance’s series of telegrams and newsreels to the blooming pyrotechnics and creepy lighting effects and dangerous environments of the ride itself, Indy’s Disneyland attraction puts me right in the action of the iconic pulpy environments – something I tried to recreate in my backyard a hundred times as a kid. But even my imagination never allowed me to come face-to-face with the audio-animatronic stand-in for Henry Jones Jr. The Indiana Jones Adventure is so immersive that I still feel like someday, if my entire car can avoid gazing into the eyes of the temple goddess Mara, something else will happen. After happily embarking upon this adventure what seems like hundreds of times throughout my life, I can honestly say that this ride certainly doesn’t belong in a museum. – John Borba
2) Space Mountain
Space Mountain
Some rides at Disneyland may offer a better-themed experience that tells a story or brings you into its world, and some rides may elicit bigger screams or offer bigger thrills. But few if any combine the two together quite as well as Space Mountain. The cornerstone of Tomorrowland sends riders off on a memorable thrill ride that makes exceptional use of both light and darkness, both to accentuate the feeling of speed and also to really sell the sensation of traveling through space. Add on top of that the excellent music, the fantastically themed queue line, and the voiceover that sets the tension as you climb up to the first drop while they countdown from 10, and you’ve got one of the best rides in both Disneyland and California Adventure – and in all of Disney history. – Mitchell Saltzman
1) Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Fun fact: every single IGN editor who participated in this feature ranked Disneyland’s newest e-ticket as their #1 ride. A few folks haven’t been on it yet (after all, it was only open in California for two months before the pandemic shut the park down), but let that sink in a moment: it didn’t just make everyone’s list, it topped EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON’S. LIST. We reviewed it when it opened and gave it a 9.5 out of 10. After riding it for the first time, the jaws of my entire extended family group – eight of us between the ages of 8 and 50 – were on the floor. And for good reason. Rise of the Resistance might be the Disney Imagineers’ greatest achievement yet. It combines cutting-edge holographics, motion simulation, and animatronics with a bewildering sense of scale to create a ride that’s both exciting and awe-inspiring – an instant classic. You really are in Star Wars. As a bonus, there are at least a few notable variations in the ride, so you might see some different stuff when you ride it again and again. I dare not say any more than that. In fact, I strongly advise you to go in blind if you can; it’s best experienced without knowing what to expect. But the bottom line is that Rise of the Resistance doesn’t just make up for the underwhelming Millenium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run that opened with Galaxy’s Edge, it is an instant inner-circle Disney Hall of Fame ride that will be beloved for generations to come. – Ryan McCaffrey
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Did any of your favorites not make our list? Splash Mountain narrowly missed our cut, as did Toy Story Midway Mania. Let us know in the comments below!
Capcom asked its developers to start work on Resident Evil Village six months before Resident Evil 7 was due for release – which left the team unsure about the direction they wanted to take, before the first-ever first-person Resident Evil game saw a positive reception.
Revealed in our IGN First feature about the making of and inspirations behind Village, director Morimasa Sato explains: “We were still busy developing Resident Evil 7, but my boss told me to start planning for the next entry in the series. At the time, we had no idea how users would react towards the new horror experience and characters of 7 yet.”
It’s not hugely unusual that a major series would see plans for a sequel put in place before the preceding game is released – but Resident Evil 7 was a major departure for the series, meaning Village’s developers were left waiting to see the reaction to it before fully committing to a straight sequel, rather than another reinvention.
“We had no idea how the change of perspective would be received, so at first we were quite worried. But when we released Resident Evil 7 about half a year after the development of Village started, it was received very well. This helped us decide to make Village a direct sequel,” Sato says.
That success meant Village moved forward as a first-person game and continued the story of RE7 protagonist Ethan Winters – but the team had already planned the addition of a village setting, inspired by Resident Evil 4. That mixture of old and new has led to Sato describe the game as the ‘offspring’ of RE4 and RE7, rather than a reboot of one, or a simple sequel to the other. It’s meant as a pure blend of the two.
Joe Skrebels is IGN’s Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected].
Another limited-time Max Raid event is now underway in Pokemon Sword and Shield. This weekend, all three regional variants of Meowth will be featured in Max Raid Battles across both games, and you’ll even have a chance to find Shiny Galarian Meowth.
Until May 2, Kantonian Meowth, Alolan Meowth, and Galarian Meowth will all appear in Max Raid dens more frequently than usual across the Wild Area, Isle of Armor, and Crown Tundra. Not only is this a good chance to catch Kantonian and Alolan Meowth, which don’t normally appear in Sword and Shield, but Gigantamax Meowth and Shiny Galarian Meowth will also be available in five-star Max Raids. Those two will be fairly rare, however, so you’ll need to check Raids often if you’re hoping to catch them.
Alolan, Kantonian, and Galarian Meowth
Gigantamax Meowth was initially only available as an early purchase bonus for those who picked up a copy of Sword or Shield shortly after their launch. It was brought back later as part of a Max Raid event, but it’s still among the rarest Gigantamax forms in the games. Like Gigantamax Pikachu and Eevee, however, Gigantamax Meowth is not able to evolve, but it knows an exclusive move called G-Max Gold Rush that confuses foes and nets you more money after the battle.
The Meowth Max Raid event runs until 4:59 PM PT / 7:59 PM ET / 11:59 PM UTC on May 2, giving you only a few days to catch the Pokemon. Before they can begin appearing in your game, you’ll need to refresh your Max Raid dens. You can do this either by connecting online via the Y-Comm, or by opening Mystery Gift from the menu screen and selecting Get the Wild Area News.
In other Pokemon news, the series’ latest spin-off game, New Pokemon Snap, is now available on Nintendo Switch. Later this year, the hybrid console is getting remakes of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, while a new Pokemon adventure set in ancient Sinnoh called Pokemon Legends: Arceus is slated to release in early 2022.
No Man’s Sky’s latest patch just went live, and it brings with it some welcome tweaks to the player experience. In the new hotfix, developer Hello Games incorporates a variety of changes, including stability improvements, bug fixes, and some minor UI updates.
Specifically, the patch aims to solve a number of issues introduced in No Man’s Sky‘s latest big update, titled Expeditions, which launched at the beginning of April. These include instances where the game would crash for players due to bugs in the profanity filter, creature navigation, the Nexus teleporter, and other situations.
Although players have generally enjoyed the Expeditions update, the No Man’s Sky subreddit nonetheless indicates that players have been frequently encountering problems. Hello Games has been asking for players to submit bug reports through its site, and the subreddit’s thread about issues in Expeditions has gathered several thousand comments.
Since Expeditions launched, players have been digging into the new seasonal multiplayer mode as well as some significant changes to space stations, exploration, and UI. This update is the latest in a series of sweeping gameplay changes that Hello Games has implemented since the game’s launch way back in 2016, which have included adding pets, retooling the opening of the game, and incorporating multiplayer.
People may have missed that Netflix is launching a new weekly anime series hosted by N-ko that will celebrate new shows and films that fans are anticipating!. One tiny catch: N-ko isn’t real, and the show won’t air on Netflix.
The show will air on Netflix’s anime YouTube channel and N-ko is a VTuber, an anime figure voiced by a real person. While the show will exist in part to remind anime fans about what’s coming to Netflix (like Yasuke), and convince them to either subscribe to the streaming service or prevent them from canceling, it’s so much more.
Whereas YouTube is a dumping ground for other entertainment and streaming companies, it’s an entirely new ecosystem for Netflix. The company uses a number of YouTube channels as primary entertainment sources. The N-ko Show will exist as its own primary entity on YouTube, ideally finding an audience within the booming VTuber space. While Netflix still exists as a competitor to Netflix, something CEO Reed Hastings pointed out in 2019, what if instead of trying to simply compete, Netflix used YouTube even more?
“We do wonder in the fullness of time, ‘Can we be as big as YouTube?’” Hastings told analysts during an earnings call in June 2019. “YouTube is seven times larger than us, roughly, in viewing hours, and a phenomenal service. Of course, it’s free. So the real question is, can we produce enough content that people are willing to pay for?”
Why not both? Being on YouTube and creatinh original, specific content tailor made for an entirely different audience can either go really, really well — or really, really poorly. Brands stepping into a creator-led space famously hasn’t always succeeded in the past. Like Steve Buscemi waltzing into a high school wearing a backwards cap and carrying a skateboard, brands stick out like a sore thumb. Netflix, it appears, is keenly aware of this divide.
Instead of making Netflix try to work on YouTube, the company is establishing its own YouTube presence that’s inline with the platform’s culture. The question remains — is it working?
Why is YouTube so important to Netflix?
Netflix has dozens of YouTube channels, all designed to accomplish different goals. There’s a Netflix account for each different country, tailoring regional content to subscribers in those locations. There are Netflix channels dedicated to film and genre entertainment for anyone looking to watch behind-the-scenes interviews with the cast of their favorite show or stay up to date with trailers. There are Netflix business accounts designed to highlight the company’s work culture. Netflix’s channels collectively boast tens of millions of subscribers.
These are inline with traditional brand usage on YouTube. It’s a place to promote, and companies don’t go out of their way to try and make the page anything more than simple promotion. Then, there are channels like Netflix Anime and Netflix Jr. The former is working with staff members to create a VTuber who can tap into a rapidly growing part of YouTube’s global culture; the latter, which has just under seven million subscribers, is creating constant livestreams and exclusive content for kids who spend more of their time on YouTube.
It’s a change in strategy, but more importantly, it’s a change in identity. There are a few core qualities that Netflix works hard to not lose sight of with every new strategic move. Much like how HBO “isn’t TV, it’s HBO,” Netflix isn’t your mom and dad’s television service, it’s a whole new world. Netflix has to remain:
Cool
Cheap
Hip
Intimate
As Netflix naturally moves further away from being the internet-first underdog and settles into its position as one of the world’s most successful and dominant entertainment companies, it gets harder to retain those qualities. The establishment is by proxy never cool; producing ridiculous levels of content and outbidding hungry competitors means the cost of the platform rises; courting every type of consumer takes out the hip value that more-online focused entrants like Twitch may have; and it’s harder to feel intimate when the platform has to appeal to as wide a consumer base as possible.
One platform that’s remained cool, cheap, hip, and intimate by design is YouTube. Sure, it belongs to one of the world’s most successful conglomerates, but it’s creator-led. YouTube still feels young because every new generation of teenagers over the last 15 years has thought of YouTube as theirs, reshaping the culture to make it feel new every few years. YouTube is a massive corporation that feels cool, cheap, hip, and intimate because it’s guided by the enthusiasm of its creators and their fans.
This is where Netflix comes in. Netflix is executing a strategy based on enthusiasm. They’re (Netflix would like you to think of the company as a person, not an it) just like you. They love anime and VTubers. They’re parents who also want a never ending livestream to put on for kids while working from home. They’re comedy nerds who want to make supercuts of Ali Wong’s best jokes. Netflix has done this for some time — including uploading full Dave Chappelle specials and episodes of Patriot Act to YouTube for free. It’s seemingly worked; now Netflix is just doing more.
And, if they just so happen to catch your eye with a new special you haven’t seen or an anime that you want to watch airing exclusively on Netflix, and that in turn gets you to continue streaming Netflix before bed or reactivate your account, it’s worked.
Take The N-ko Show. Between May and mid-July in 2018, the number of VTuber centric channels on YouTube doubled from 2,000 to 4,000, according to The Japan Times. That number has grown exponentially since then, and caught the attention of YouTube’s internal culture and insights team. YouTube’s team found that views on VTuber channels grew to over 1.5 billion views per month by October 2020, according to a paper published last year.
It’s becoming a big business. There’s also a direct overlap with VTuber viewers and anime fans. For Netflix, a company not shying away from its plans to increase the amount of anime that is distributed across the streaming service, it’s an obvious way to appeal to a demographic executives see as key. Relying on Netflix’s anime team, who are also VTuber fans, makes it feel even more authentic. Just look at the ratio of upvotes to dislikes on the announcement video.
“Whether you’re a lifelong fan like me or just discovering anime for the first time, anime connects people of different cultures and backgrounds,” Rob Pereyda, YouTube’s head of anime, wrote in a blog post. “A big part of being an anime fan is having a community to belong to where you can discuss favorite characters, recommend titles, and enjoy incredible stories together.”
Naturally, there’s a good chance this all blows up in Netflix’s symbolic face. YouTube creators and YouTube obsessives know good, authentic content from brands spewing ads under the guise of originals. There’s also, however, the chance that it could work. YouTube’s audience skews younger; they’re engaged with what they’re seeing, their appetite for more never goes away. Why try to compete with that audience when Netflix can court them?
Netflix has more than 206 million subscribers. Despite analyst concerns that it’s slowing down, the fact remains that it’s still growing. Netflix doesn’t need to sell people on the idea of its streaming service anymore. People know and understand what Netflix provides. What the company needs to do is connect. There’s arguably no better platform to showcase what Netflix can do, and no better site to connect with future subscribers of tomorrow, then on YouTube. A VTuber original YouTube series might just be the perfect swing.
The products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors. GameSpot may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.
The dead speak! You can get a replica prop lightsaber modeled after the Sith Lord’s at a significant savings, but only today.
May the 4th is coming, a date when we celebrate great Star Wars mainstays like the noble and heroic Jedi Knights. But what if you think Jedi suck? Then you may just be a more of a Sith person, and as such you might want to pick up a replica lightsaber of Emperor Palpatine, one of the most renown Sith to ever stage a galaxy-wide coup.
GameStop’s Deal of the Day features Emperor Palpatine’s Black Series Force FX Lightsaber, a prop replica modeled after the Darth Sidious lightsaber’s appearance in Star Wars Episode III: Attack of the Clones. The discount brings it down by just over 50%, but it’s only available for today.
The Force FX Elite combines LEDs and sound effects to create a realistic lightsaber effect, including progressive ignition. The Black Series replicas include a real metal hilt with a display stand and removable blade.
