First announced back in 2018, Amazon’s Invincible animated series has announced another round of additions to an already star-studded cast, THR reports. The series is based on Image Comics’ Invincible series by The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman. Like his famous zombie franchise, Invincible will be targeted at adults, with the animated show taking on a dramatic tone borrowed from the comics.
The Walking Dead’s Steven Yeun will lead the voice cast as the titular hero, also known as teenager Mark Grayson. Yeun will now been joined by his fellow Walking Dead alum Khary Payton, who will play Black Samson, a member of the Guardians of the Globe–Invincible’s answer to the Avengers-esque supergroup. Zachary Quinto has also signed on to play Robot, one of the lead character’s allies.
Already announced cast members include J.K. Simmons as Invincible’s father Nolan Grayson, Sandra Oh as mother Debbie Grayson, and Zazie Beetz as love interest Amber Bennett. Other voice actors include Mark Hamill, Gillian Jacobs, Grey Griffin, Jason Mantzoukas, and Seth Rogen, who is also on board to write, direct and produce together with Evan Goldberg. Creator Robert Kirkman is on board with the adaptation as executive producer.
The series is kicking off with eight hour-long episodes, and though Amazon hasn’t yet announced a release date, it’s expected to drop on Amazon Prime Video sometime in 2020.
A Nintendo Direct Mini will air later today, showcasing titles from non-Nintendo developers and publishers. It will go live at 7am Pacific / 10am Eastern / 3pm UK / midnight AEST, and should last roughly 10 minutes.
The Nintendo Direct Mini July Showcase was revealed on Twitter by the Nintendo of America account, and it apparently the first in a series of broadcasts to come. Today’s show will “share a few updates on a small group of previously-announced Nintendo Switch games.” According to Nintendo Japan, the Direct Mini will run for 10 minutes.
On 7/20 we’ll debut the first #NintendoDirect Mini: Partner Showcase, a series focused on titles from our development & publishing partners. We’ll share a few updates on a small group of previously-announced #NintendoSwitch games. Check out the full video release at 7am PT. pic.twitter.com/GbEbxVL6fD
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) July 20, 2020
Per previous showcases, you’ll most likely be able to catch it on Nintendo’s official YouTube account. The Twitter account behind HiRez Studios’ upcoming team-based multiplayer shooter Rogue Company quoted Nintendo’s tweet with some cryptic wording, suggesting the game may appear during the show. A few games that may well qualify for this direct include Bayonetta 3 and Shin Megami Tensei V – which are developed by Nintendo’s partners, and are yet to be revealed in any great depth.
Visitors to the newly re-opened Disney World will no longer be allowed to wander the parks maskless with the excuse of food or drink, thanks to new rules banning eating or drinking while walking. While the rule change didn’t merit an announcement from the entertainment giant, the change to Disney World’s face mask policy was picked up by Disney fan blogs, and reported by Variety.
Guests at the park are still allowed to remove their masks for the purpose of eating or drinking, but the rule change now specifies that they remain stationary and socially distanced from other patrons while doing so.
“Face coverings are required for all guests (ages 2 and up) and cast members. Please bring your own face coverings and wear them at all times, except when dining or swimming,” read the guidelines on Disney World’s website. “You may remove your face covering while actively eating or drinking, but you should be stationary and maintain appropriate physical distancing.”
It seems too many patrons were using the excuse of eating or drinking to avoid wearing a mask since the park re-opened on July 11, warranting the new addition to the rules.
Despite the new guidelines on mask-wearing, physical distancing and increased cleaning procedures, experts have slammed the decision to re-open Disney World in Florida, a current hotspot for COVID-19. The number of new daily cases detected in the state has fluctuated between 10,000 and 15,000 since Disney World opened on the 11th, with almost 5000 deaths now recorded in Florida.
Unlike some pre-shows that don’t have much news, this one will be different, according to Xbox marketing boss Aaron Greenberg. “Trust me you don’t want to miss this pre-show,” Greenberg said on Twitter. “We have been working with and our partners on some exciting reveals!”
Greenberg did not offer any further teases about what to expect. GameSpot will be reporting for the entirety of the event, so keep checking back with us for the latest.
Greenberg has also clarified that the July 23 event will focus exclusively on games. The executive said he’s seen some “wild expectations” for what people think Microsoft will show.
“No business, devices, or similar news, just games. A whole show about hour-long focused on games. Hope you enjoy it!” he said.
Greenberg is likely referring to the long-running rumors that Microsoft is working on an all-digital next-generation Xbox. If Microsoft is, it won’t be announced until a later date. More recently, rumors sparked that Microsoft is going to further integrate Xbox Live and Xbox Game Pass, but as Greenberg says, this July 23 event will focus only on games, not the business models surrounding them.
The Chris Hemsworth action movie Extraction ranks No. 1–it was seen by 99 million households worldwide over its first four weeks. The movie was written by Avengers’ veterans Joe and Anthony Russo, and it was directed by stunts expert Sam Hargrave.
Following at No. 2 is the 2018 Sandra Bullock movie Bird Box, which was seen by 89 million homes in its first four weeks. After that, the Mark Wahlberg movie Spenser Confidential ranks No. 3 (85 million views over its first 28 days), with 6 Underground (83 million) and Murder Mystery (73 million) rounding out the top five.
Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman was No. 7 with 64 million homes watching it over its first four weeks. The movie picked up 10 Oscar nominations last year, but it did not win any.
THE OLD GUARD is breaking records! The Charlize Theron blockbuster is already among the top 10 most popular Netflix films ever — and Gina Prince-Bythewood is the first Black female director on the list.
Even if the numbers are sort of whack–requiring only a small amount of watch time to count as a view–they showcase which shows on Netflix claims are most popular.
New Releases is here to highlight some of the top new games launching each week, and this episode features some indies you shouldn’t let slip under your radar, like the 8-bit Panzer Paladin, the bloody Carrion, and the snow-covered Roki. Nintendo Switch also proves its power with Crysis Remastered, and Dying Light gets its new Hellraid DLC.
Panzer Paladin — July 21
Available on: PC, Switch
This platformer puts you in control of Flame. The little pilot can take on the game’s 17 stages himself or hop into his mech suit to really bring the heat. While in the suit, you can steal weapons from enemies and turn them against your foes, or snap the weapons in half to unleash powerful magic. There are more than 100 of them to wield.
More Coverage:
Crysis Remastered — July 23
Available on: Switch
Crysis Remastered
Crysis was once the benchmark title for top-of-the-line PCs, and after a delay, the remaster is coming first to Switch. As you explore its open world, you can wield all sorts of weapons as you battle enemy soldiers and aliens–some firefights even happen in zero gravity. Your super-powered suit lets you bring the pain with a variety of powers, too.
More Coverage:
Carrion — July 23
Available on: Xbox One, PC, Switch
Carrion
Carrion is being called a “reverse horror game” because you actually play as the monster. Your goal is to escape the facility where you’ve been tortured by scientists and guards, and you’ll get your revenge as you grow in size and gain new powers. Xbox Game Pass subscribers can jump in on day one.
More Coverage:
Dying Light: Hellraid — July 23
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Dying Light: Hellraid
Hellraid was once a totally separate game from developer Techland, but it was put on hold. A few years later, the studio has revived the game as DLC for Dying Light. You can leave Dying Light’s city streets behind as you step into a tower filled with medieval monsters. As you take runs through the tower, you’ll rank up and earn new weapons–and those weapons can be taken back into the main game too.
More Coverage:
Roki — July 23
Available on: PC, Switch
Roki
Roki is based on Scandinavian folklore, so expect to encounter a few different monsters on your journey. Protagonist Tove goes into the wilderness to find her missing family, and her quest will include exploration and puzzle-solving. Her handy journal will help you keep track of where you’ve been and the loot you’ve collected.
July isn’t over just yet. Next week, New Releases will wrap the month up with some chances to revisit games you might’ve missed the first time around: the Destroy All Humans remake and the Xbox One release of Yakuza Kiwami 2.
PGA Tour 2K21 is releasing August 21, and it’ll contain some audio lines that players will hear once and then never again. The commentary team of Luke Elvy and Rich Beem recorded some lines while “in full flight” that won’t repeat after you hear them the first time.
This news comes via a tweet by John McCarthy, the senior audio designer at developer HB-Studios, which previous developed The Golf Club series. He says that he’s been going over the commentary, and found a “classic” that he had forgotten about.
Oh man…. We’ve got some bits of commentary in @PGATOUR2K that will only play once EVER and you wont hear it again. Just got a classic from @Luke_Elvy and @beemerpga that I had forgotten about. Can’t wait for people to hear these two in full flight 😂😂😂
What exactly this means isn’t clear, but judging from the tweet, they’ll likely be strange, funny lines. McCarthy gave one example to Elvy when he asked what he was referring to, discussing an “aside” that will make its way into the final game.
definitely used Rich’s aside where he talks about his aunt and uncle’s pet store in Arizona in the middle of the course intro 😂👌
We also know that these two commentators will also make fun of you if you make a bad shot, which should be interesting.
The EA-produced PGA Tour series also had some strange, self-referential commentary–one of the commentators in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 would sometimes explicitly reference the fact that you were playing a video game, rather than real golf.
NHL 21 was nowhere to be seen at EA Play Live in June, but it seems the game may finally be getting close to its proper reveal. The game’s community manager said in a July 17-dated tweet that a an “update” on NHL 21 is coming sometime this week.
EA not announcing NHL 21 at EA Play was no surprise given that the company historically focuses on FIFA and Madden in June before announcing the year’s new NHL game later on.
The real-world NHL season will resume on August 1, and hockey fans are in for a treat. Instead of playing out the rest of the regular season, the NHL is picking up with the playoffs. An expanded roster of 24 teams will compete, and there will be five or six games per day at the beginning.
NHL 21 is expected to release on PS4 and Xbox One, while the game will also presumably be playable on PS5 and Xbox Series X through backwards compatibility. EA’s Madden NFL 21 has a “Dual Entitlement” program where you can receive a free upgrade to the PS5/Xbox Series X edition of the game, but no such program has been announced for NHL 21 as of yet.
Jurassic World: Domination has returned to filming, after the shoot stopped in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The UK set, which has had over $5 million spent on making it safe, is now housing actors Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Pratt, and a returning trio from the original. And now we have photos showing that filming has started–and Howard is amassing bruises.
Howard, who has played the character Claire in the last two Jurassic World movies, posted a “Throwback Thursday” photo of herself and co-star Chris Pratt, both of whom have been isolating together in the UK for weeks ahead of the shoot.
Pratt prompted Howard, via Twitter, to post photos of some of the bruises she’s gotten doing stunt work. It’s unclear whether these are also “throwback” photos, but the tweet text indicates pretty clearly that she’s performing own stunts again right now.
Howard has previously talked about the precautions being taken on set to ensure that everyone is safe from the pandemic. “We would never go back to work if we didn’t feel safe,” she said in June. “And, you know, we’re taking it a day at a time and I’m very grateful to have a job.”
After drip-feeding the initial Madden NFL 21 player ratings–including all five 99-rated players–EA Sports has now released the player ratings for every single athlete in the game.
You can search through this database on EA’s website to see how your favorite players stack up against the competition. There are more than 2,300 entries on the site, and there are filters for team, position, division, and more. The widget also lets you compare player ratings on the fly.
As usual, these are the “launch” ratings, and these numbers will change regularly throughout the season depending on how the players perform on the field.
There is a new level of uncertainty around the NFL this year due to COVID-19. With just weeks to go before the NFL pre-season is set to kick off in August, the NFL and the players’ union have not agreed to a return-to-work plan that includes new health and safety measures. Despite that, the 2020-2021 NFL season is expected to begin in early September.
Madden NFL 21’s five 99-rated players include Aaron Donald, Christian McCaffrey, Michael Thomas, Patrick Mahomes, and Stephon Gilmore.
In other news, EA Sports has confirmed that it’s making a last-minute change to Madden NFL 21 to remove the Washington Redskins after the real-world sports team dropped the name that was widely criticized for being racist. The game will be updated with a generic Washington team and logo until the actual sports group decides on and announces a new name.
Madden NFL 21 is coming on August 28 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. It will also be coming to the next-gen PS5 and Xbox Series X, with free upgrades for current-gen owners through EA’s Dual Entitlement program. For more details, check out our Madden NFL 21 pre-order guide.
