The XAGs, which were launched in January 2020, have new improvements that make them both easier to understand and implement for game developers. These improvements include adjusting the language to make it clearer to grasp, adding “scoping questions” to help developers identify specific elements, and updating goals to make them easier to understand.
Xbox is also bolstering its partnership with the Gaming & Disability Community to ensure that disabled gamers have their voices heard and limitations respected. The company is including gamers with disabilities in the accessibility testing programs. This collaboration will see games tested against the XAGs by members of the disabled games community to request and suggest more ways video games can be accessible to the 61 million people with disabilities. This initiative is an “industry-first, platform-provided” program, Xbox said in a news release.
This comes two years after the Xbox Adaptive Controller, which has been a success for Microsoft by letting gamers with disabilities create setups geared toward their capabilities.
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With the series following a Japan-inspired theme for the first time in over 10 years, the monsters in Monster Hunter Rise are something else. Director Yasunori Ichinose explains how the art team was inspired by ghosts and spirits of Japanese folklore, or yokai, for the design of Rise’s new monsters. Furthermore, The Rampage – a catastrophic event in which a horde of monsters attack Rise’s hub Kamura Village – was inspired by Hyakki Yako, an ancient Japanese myth often translated as “night parade of one hundred demons.”
“Hyakki Yako portrays countless yokai parading at night. We wanted to recreate that image in the world of Monster Hunter,” Ichinose says.
See all the comparisons between monsters and yokai in the slide-show above with additional concept art and explanations!
To give The Rampage an authentic feel that actually resembles Hyakki Yako’s parade of ghosts, Ichinose and his team sought inspiration from yokai as well as other Japanese legendary creatures and stories for Rise’s new monsters. Ichinose gave us a thorough explanation of how seven of these monsters came to be.
Magnamalo
“Magnamalo will be Rise’s main monster, and is Kamura Village’s biggest threat together with The Rampage,” says Ichinose. “The main inspiration for Magnamalo came from samurai armor. While not a yokai per se, an armored samurai ghost is a well-known image, and we took this as the base for Magnamalo’s design.”
Ichinose further explains that hitodama, or balls of fire that float around at night, are often associated with armored samurai ghosts, as they are said to be the souls of the dead.
“That’s why Magnamalo emits a gas from his body that looks like onibi (ghost light),” explains Ichinose. Apart from the obvious Japanese inspirations, Ichinose says that Magnamalo’s design was also inspired by tigers that inhabit other Asian countries.
Aknosom
The Aknosom was designed as a combination between a crane and kasa-obake, a well-known yokai that is shaped like an umbrella. Kasa-obake have appeared in other video games such as Nioh, Yo-kai Watch 2 and Pocky & Rocky as well.
“When a crane stands on one foot, it looks just like an umbrella, which is why we chose to combine them together,” says Ichinose. “When it closes its wings, its patterns resemble an umbrella with a long tongue, which is a hallmark of kasa-obake’s feisty attitude.”
Tetranadon
The Tetranadon was based on kappa, one of the most common yokai in Japanese folklore, with many legends and stories that have spread throughout the country. A kappa is a green creature that is often depicted as a mix between a young boy and a turtle. While Tetranadon’s design obviously does not resemble a young boy, you can definitely notice its turtle heritage.
“We looked at creatures that live near water. Turtles, crocodiles… even platypuses!” Ichinose recalls.
Another renowned characteristic of kappa is the dish-shaped depression on top of their head, which can be seen on Tetranadon’s head as well, giving it a slightly more cute look than your average Monster Hunter creature.
“Legends say that kappa enjoy sumo wrestling, which is why Tetranadon uses famous sumo wrestling attacks like open-hand strikes, or tsuppari,” Ichinose adds.
Great Izuchi
The Great Izuchi was inspired by kamaitachi, one of the sneakiest yokai. The kamaitachi is a weasel-like creature that attacks people in the midst of a whirlwind, but it attacks so fast that its victims don’t even notice.
“The kamaitachi work together in a group of three, which is why the Great Izuchi has two regular Izuchi help out,” Ichinose explains.
The kamaitachi strikes with either its scythe-shaped tail or its hands, which is why it should be no surprise that the Great Izuchi’s tail has the shape of a giant scythe as well.
“To make the design match Monster Hunter’s world, we made the Izuchi raptor-type creatures,” Ichinose adds.
Somnacanth
“While mermaids are commonly known as aquatic creatures with the upper body of a young beautiful woman, Japanese folklore has its own type of mermaids with the upper body of a devil instead,” Ichinose says.
The Somnacanth is a mixture between Western and Japanese mermaids. While its appearance is as menacing as any monster in the series, the Somnacanth swims in style and has a mesmerizing singing voice. Ichinose says that the team looked at sea otters for Somnacanth’s way of swimming.
“Western mermaids are known to lead people astray with their beauty, and we wanted to add a similar aspect to Somnacanth’s identity. Leading the player astray is a bit difficult to interpret as a gameplay mechanic, so we chose to give Somnacanth the ability to put the player to sleep instead,” Ichinose explains.
Bishaten
The Bishaten was inspired by tengu, another staple creature in Japanese folklore. The tengu shares similarities with Western devils, and is said to lure people to the evil path. Its most common appearance sports a red face and long nose, but there are many different sorts of tengu. Ichinose tells us that Bishaten was inspired by the most common image of a tengu, as well as the karasu-tengu, which has a sharp nose and looks like a crow.
“While Bishaten’s skeleton is close to that of a monkey, its tail is the shape of the fan a tengu often holds in his hands. It throws items at the hunter such as persimmon fruit, which shows that it is a monster of high intelligence,” Ichinose says.
Another feature of the Bishaten is that it shows a wide variety of facial expressions, Ichinose tells us.
Goss Harag
Namahage photo: Nakashi / Wikimedia Commons
For Goss Harag the team referenced namahage, a beast that appears at a traditional festival in certain areas of Akita Prefecture in Japan. At this event, men dressed as demon-like beings in straw capes with either red or blue ogre masks and (fake) knives go door-to-door to frighten children that have misbehaved.
“When we were thinking of monsters that inhabit the Frost Islands, namahage came to mind, as Akita is a very cold and snowy area in the northeast of Japan,” Ichinose tells us.
With a huge ice blade attached to his right hand, the Goss Harag will surely give Monster Hunter Rise players a good scare!
When Monster Hunter Rise releases on March 26 for the Nintendo Switch, it will be the first game in the series with a Japan-inspired theme in more than a decade.
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd, the 2010 PSP title that never made it to the West, is the only other Monster Hunter title with a Japan-inspired setting. It’s no coincidence that both games were directed by the same person, Yasunori Ichinose.
“Personally, I’ve always been fond of Japanese settings. Since quite some time has passed since Portable 3rd, with Rise it felt like the right timing to reintroduce a Japanese themed world, with other Asian influences as well,” Ichinose tells IGN.
When asked if there are any connections between Portable 3rd and Rise, Ichinose hints at an interesting link between the village hubs of each game.
[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2010/03/16/monster-hunter-freedom-3-sony-psp-trailer-first-look-trailer”] See Monster Hunter Portable 3rd’s Japanese-inspired Yukumo Village in the video above.
While Rise’s Kamura Village is a completely new location, Portable 3rd’s Yukumo Village has also appeared in Monster Hunter Generations and Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, and has been mentioned in other titles such as Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate and Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate as well, which makes it a familiar location for Western fans of the series, too.
“While the geographical location of Kamura Village and the maps you will be exploring is never explicitly mentioned in the game, you might notice some aspects that indicate that it could be close to Yukumo Village,” Ichinose says.
Interestingly, one of the least Asian-looking maps actually shows the closest connection. Ichinose says that Flooded Forest – a map with temple ruins that feel more inspired by South American culture – could indicate a geographical relation to Yukumo Village.
“Portable 3rd had a map with the same name, so players might notice that Yukumo Village could be a nearby location.”
Yukumo Village is famous for its hot springs, and Ichinose recalls developing Portable 3rd while dreaming of soaking in one. For Kamura Village, they couldn’t repeat the same setting, which is why the team decided to go for a village inspired by ninja culture instead.
“While there’s no stealth gameplay involved, you could say that the Wirebug – which allows you to swing around and wall-run – shares similarities with ninja-like action,” he explains. “Thanks to manga and other works of fiction, ninja have become a popular icon in the West as well, and we thought it would be an interesting source of inspiration.”
But while a hot spring resort and a ninja community are drastically different settings, further hints can be found that suggest a close relation, both culturally and geographically.
“While it’s not mentioned in the game, Kamura Village uses the same alphabet as can be seen in Yukumo Village, which shows that they share cultural similarities and are likely not too far away from each other,” Ichinose says.
Judging by the way Ichinose phrases these comments, it doesn’t seem likely that Yukumo Village makes an actual appearance or even that it will be mentioned in the game, but hints like these might be enough for some interesting fan theories.
The latest movie in the Paranormal Activity series has been announced. This will be the seventh film in the hugely successful found footage horror franchise, and it’s set to arrive in 2022.
The series kicked off in 2009 with Paranormal Activity. The film was directed by Oren Peli, a software developer with no prior filmmaking experience, who had a great idea that was relatively easy to execute and set about making it in his own home. The movie focused on a young couple who experience strange, scary noises in their house, so set up video cameras to record overnight to find out what is causing them. It was shot in 2007 and took two years to reach theaters, but was a huge success when it finally did, with audiences flocking to see this scary and intense found footage experience. The tiny $15,000 production budget and $193 million worldwide gross helped make it one of one of the most profitable films of all time.
A sequel quickly followed, and soon Paranormal Activity had become an entire franchise. To date there have been six movies, and while budgets have grown a little, they have all proved highly successful. None of the films have deviated far from the formula–Paranormal Activity 3 was a prequel, the fifth movie, 2014’s Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones, introduced a cult aspect, and there is a vague connected mythology that has developed across the series. But for the most part the films have just attempted to replicate what made the first film so popular, with varying degrees of success. There was even a Japanese spin-off titled Paranormal Activity 2: Tokyo Night, which was released in 2010.
It’s been five years since the last movie, but there’s another entry on the way. Paranormal Activity 7 was first announced in 2019, with a 2021 release date. However, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed production, and the movie will now shoot this year ahead of a 2022 release. It’s early days, but here’s everything we know so far about the next Paranormal Activity film.
When will Paranormal Activity 7 be released?
Paranormal Activity 7 is scheduled for release on March 4, 2022.
What’s the title?
The movie doesn’t have an official title yet.
Who’s the director?
Will Eubank will direct the movie. This will be Eubank’s second horror film, following 2020’s aquatic monster movie Underwater, which starred Kristen Stewart. Prior to that, Eubank helmed two indie sci-fi movies–Love (2011) and The Signal (2014).
Who’s the writer?
Paranormal Activity 7 will be written by Christopher Landon, who has been heavily involved in the franchise since the second movie, which he co-wrote. Landon was the sole writer on parts 3 and 4, and he wrote and directed the fifth movie, The Marked Ones. Away from Paranormal Activity, Landon wrote and directed the two Happy Death Day films, as well as last year’s body swap slasher Freaky.
Who’s the producer?
Paranormal Activity will be produced by Jason Blum and his company Blumhouse Productions. Blum has been involved with the series since the very start. The success of the first movie helped establish Blumhouse as one of the most successful independent production companies in Hollywood, and it has continued to release popular horror movies made on modest budgets ever since, including the Purge and Insidious films, and 2018’s Halloween reboot.
Is there any footage or images?
The movie has yet to start production, so there’s no images or footage so far.
What’s the story?
No plot details have been revealed yet, and we don’t know if the movie will be a complete reboot or a continuation of any of the existing stories. However, Landon teased the movie on Twitter, stating, “no one could possibly guess what new, crazy nightmares [Eubank] and I are cooking up. Expect the unexpected.” In addition, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that it will continue the found footage format of the previous movies.
Though the PlayStation 5’s time in the spotlight has only just begun, there are already plenty of great games for the next-gen platform. From launch titles that showed off the power and innovation of the new Sony console to beloved favorites from last generation reborn with technical improvements, the PS5 is building an impressive library out of the gate. With the price of some games increasing this generation, making an informed decision about your game purchases is all the more important to your wallet. To help you enjoy the best of what the PS5 has to offer right now, we’ve rounded up the best PS5 games so far. We’ll continue to update this list as more games are released for PS5.
As you’ll notice, not every game on this list was developed specifically for PS5. Only Demon’s Souls and Astro’s Playroom are PS5 exclusives, and a bunch of the titles we chose originally appeared on PS4. For the purposes of this list, we’ve included native PS5 games as well as top-notch PS4 games that received noticeable overhauls via next-gen upgrades.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is the latest in the Assassin’s Creed saga, and it was released alongside the PS5 and runs in dynamic 4K resolution at 60fps. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla sends players to the ninth century to step into the shoes of a Viking named Eivor. As expected, Valhalla has a truly massive open world that’s littered with activities. The world-building is a step above what we’ve seen in recent entries, and combat encourages experimentation, allowing you to tackle situations as you see fit. Where Valhalla really shines is in its characterization of both Eivor and Layla, the present-day protagonist. Each character is wonderfully written, and the time-jumping storylines gel more so than in recent memory. Valhalla ties together a bunch of loose threads that were left hanging in the overarching story, making it one of the strongest entries in the series from both a narrative and gameplay perspective.
Astro’s Playroom may be preloaded on every PS5 console, but it’s also genuinely one of the best platformers in recent years. It’s one of the rare 3D platformers that captures a distinct charm and sense of magic as much as Super Mario. Astro’s Playroom brilliantly introduces PS5 owners to the DualSense and its myriad of new features. Throughout its more than 20 vibrant and colorful levels scattered across six worlds, Astro’s Playroom makes great use of the DualSense’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, which truly immerse you further into the game. It’s also an ode to PlayStation history, with Easter Eggs from the games (and tech) that’ve made the platform iconic through the years. Astro’s Playroom is a simply delightful platformer that would be worth the full price of admission, and it’s certainly the game you should play first on PS5 to marvel at the innovation.
While Control was a great game when it launched in 2019, it had some issues with performance on PS4, especially on base models. With the power of the PS5, Control runs amazingly well. The particle physics really pop in 4K, and the performance is silky smooth. The Ultimate edition comes with both of Control’s expansions, which expand on a story that’s full of surprises and gripping performances. In Control, you play as Jesse Faden, the new director of the Federal Bureau of Control, a secretive agency that investigates supernatural events. Control’s combat is thrilling, with a great mix of standard third-person gunplay and abilities that ooze with style. The story is thought-provoking and, at times, mind-bending. It’s also elevated by a foreboding atmosphere and beautiful art style. If you missed out on Control the first time around, you can now play it in its ideal form on PS5.
Demon’s Souls kicked off this generation in style by showing what the PS5 can do. Bluepoint Games’ remake of the 2009 action-RPG that ushered in the iconic Souls series runs like a dream. This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise considering Bluepoint also developed the gorgeous Shadow of the Colossus remake. That said, remaking a game with such a devoted following is risky, but thankfully, Bluepoint remained faithful to the original while drastically overhauling the visuals and overall presentation. The result is a great game made even better. Demon’s Souls’ haunting environment and dangers that lurk within are all the more present with the absurd level of detail on display here.
With Bungie planning to support sci-fi epic Destiny 2 until at least 2022, it’s not too late to jump into the online shooter. Destiny 2 looks incredible in 4K on PS5, and thankfully, loading times are greatly reduced. Plus, Destiny 2 is free to download, allowing you to play the main campaign, first two expansions, and other Year 1 content without spending a dime. Destiny 2 offers a staggering amount of variety whether you want to play solo or alongside friends, and the Crucible offers a fun competitive multiplayer experience when you’re looking to take a break from the space exploration grind. If you like what you play, you’ll want to check out the three subsequent expansions–including last year’s Beyond Light—which add a bunch of new missions and lore to the Destiny universe.
A fast-paced action game with stylish combat is the perfect candidate for a PS5 upgrade. Enter Devil May Cry 5 Special edition, the definitive console version of Capcom’s 2019 action game. DMC 5 Special edition is impressive from a technical perspective and offers three different graphics and performance settings that offer different combinations of improvements such as ray-tracing, 4K resolution, or even gameplay at up to 120fps. It also comes with the Vergil DLC, which lets you play through the game as Dante’s twin brother. Two new modes are included as well: Turbo and Legendary Dark Knight. Turbo speeds the game up, while Legendary Dark Knight adds more enemies to the fight. Overall, the technical improvements and new content make DMC 5 Special Edition worth playing even if you already beat the original on PS4. It’s one of the best action games in recent years and includes one of the deepest combo systems ever in the genre.
Ghost of Tsushima was the last major exclusive to release on PS4 and made the most of the hardware since it already looked incredible and ran extremely well. The free PS5 upgrade makes the details of Tsushima’s lush open world even more rich and expressive. If you missed out on Ghost of Tsushima at the end of the PS4’s lifecycle, the upgrade, which supports gameplay at 60fps and 4K resolution, makes it look and feel like a native PS5 game. You play as Jin Sakai, a samurai who barely staves off a violent death and sets off on an adventure to thwart the first Mongol invasion of Japan. Ghost of Tsushima has great, fluid combat and well-integrated stealth mechanics. The open-world quest structure does feel fairly familiar, but all of the other aspects make it worth the occasional repetition. Outside of the campaign, there’s a surprisingly awesome co-op multiplayer mode dubbed Legends that adds numerous new layers to an already-great game.
One of the most stunning PS4 games is even prettier on PS5. The recently released PS5 update adds a performance mode with 4K resolution that runs at 60fps. While God of War didn’t necessarily need an update–it’s an awesome game regardless–the higher resolution and framerate make the environments more gorgeous and the combat more fluid. God of War is one of the best PlayStation exclusives in a long time already, so it’s definitely worth revisiting or playing for the first time on PS5. God of War elevates the series to new heights thanks to a more cohesive, personal story about fathers and sons and methodical combat that still retains all the style the franchise is known for. Action game aficionados shouldn’t miss out on God of War.
IO Interactive’s Hitman reboot trilogy has proven to be one of the most inventive and interesting stealth-action series ever made. Hitman 3 caps off the World of Assassination trilogy on an all-time high note for the franchise as a whole. The hallmark of the trilogy has been player choice in intricate sandbox-style levels, and that is readily on display in Hitman 3, giving players a dizzying number of ways to tackle objectives as Agent 47. Brilliant level design is complemented by lively characters who draw you into this mesmerizing and often absurd world. Hitman 3 also places a greater emphasis on its story, which trickles down to the atmosphere to create a campaign that feels more consequential. If you haven’t played the previous two games, we’d recommend picking those up, too. Every level from the first two games can be imported into Hitman 3 with visual and gameplay enhancements.
The Ultimate Launch edition of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales comes with the remaster of one of the best PS4 games and its impressive follow-up. The remastered version of Marvel’s Spider-Man runs wonderfully on PS5 and makes use of the powerful hardware to offer several modes that boost frame rate and visual quality. Marvel’s Spider-Man also tells a heartwarming and grounded story filled with adept characterization and superb pacing. Even if you already played the original on PS4, the remastered version is worth running through again.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a more compact experience (think: Uncharted: Lost Legacy), but it uses the strong foundation of its predecessor well. Miles’ coming-of-age story is a joy to watch unfold, and the story has plenty of twists of turns. Together, these two games make quite the duo and should be in every PS5 library.
Though we’re still very early in the PS5’s lifecycle, Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate currently takes the crown as the best fighting game that offers a next-gen console experience. Upgraded to 4K resolution with visual enhancements and decreased load times, this really is the “ultimate” way to play NetherRealm’s latest fighter. All PS4 versions of MK11 come with a free upgrade to PS5, but we’re shouting out the Ultimate edition here. It comes with both Kombat packs, adding 12 DLC fighters to an already expansive roster, and the Aftermath expansion, which features new story content. Mortal Kombat 11 is a great fighting game to play whether you’re a casual fan or know every fatality by heart. It has a wide variety of game modes and online content that will help keep the game ticking until the next NetherRealm fighting game arrives.
No game had a better comeback story last generation than No Man’s Sky, the ambitious space-exploration sim from Hello Games that originally launched in 2016. Over the past four-plus years, Hello Games has changed the narrative from unfulfilled promises to exceeding expectations. From adding a bevy of new features like base-building and space fleet management to introducing entirely new ways to play thanks to multiplayer, No Man’s Sky has become a wonderful experience. On PS5, No Man’s Sky runs in 4K at 60fps, has more detailed planets, and features better lighting and shadows. For a game that focuses on exploration and discovery, No Man’s Sky’s visual and technical improvements make it an even worthier voyage across space.
Few first-person shooters remain relevant for even a year after its release, but Rainbow Six Siege has managed to steadily build its popularity for nearly seven years. Siege is one of the best tactical shooters ever made thanks to brilliantly designed maps, distinct operators, superb gunplay, and heaps of depth that helps it feel fresh even after all this time. On PS5, Rainbow Six Siege has a performance mode (120fps and dynamic 4K) and resolution mode (60fps and native 4K). Siege looks better than ever on console, and the PS5’s DualSense controller also adds to impactful gunplay with its haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.
Team Ninja’s Nioh series may have flown under the radar since its debut in 2017, but Dark Souls fans and those who like tough challenges in general shouldn’t miss out. Team Ninja remastered Nioh and its 2019 sequel for PS5 and compiled them in The Nioh Collection, a package with more than 100 hours of thrilling action-RPG combat and world-building. Both games are set during the Sengoku period in Japan, but they have different protagonists. Filled with demanding combat, daunting bosses, and a wide mix of weapons with unique traits, the Nioh franchise is quietly a powerhouse within the genre. Both games look great on PS5, and the collection comes with every piece of DLC, which only adds even more solid content to the already lengthy mainline adventures.
DC Comics is expanding on two of the most iconic superhero movie universes of all time in 2021. Today the publisher announced Superman ’78 and Batman ’89, which chronicle the further adventures of Christopher Reeve’s Superman and Michael Keaton’s Batman.
Both titles are similar to DC’s previous Batman ’66 and Wonder Woman ’77 comics, in that they’re both digital-first titles set in these cinematic universes and featuring the likenesses of the actors involved.
Art by Joe Quinones. (Image Credit: DC)
Fittingly, Batman ’89 is drawn by Dial H artist Joe Quinones, who famously pitched DC on a potential Batman ’89 comic several years ago. DC didn’t approve the pitch at the time, though Quinones posted art on his website giving fans a taste of what he envisioned for the series. Now those plans are coming to fruition, and Quinones is even collaborating with Batman screenwriter Sam Hamm on the new series.
Batman ’89 looks to be ignoring both Batman Forever and Batman & Robin, instead presenting an alternate continuation of Batman Returns more in line with director Tim Burton’s vision. The series will not only pay off on Returns’ final shot by bringing back Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman, it’ll also revive abandoned Batman Returns plot threads by introducing “a new Robin” (presumably Marlon Wayans’ Dick Grayson) and showing the Billy Dee Williams version of Harvey Dent becoming Two-Face.
Update: Quinones has posted some Batman ’89 concept art on his Twitter account, giving fans a better idea of the new characters appearing in the series. Detective Harvey Bullock will be making his debut, along with a new version of the Joker modeled after the late musician Prince and what looks to be the Dee Dees from Batman Beyond. Batman himself will sport a redesigned Batsuit that combines the classic 1989 suit with elements of Batman: The Animated Series. We’ll also see a civilian costume for Bruce inspired by the Bruce Wayne action figure from Kenner’s Batman Returns line.
This concept art also shows Bruce with graying temples, suggesting the book is set years after the events of Batman Returns but before Bruce has grown too old to continue his war on crime.
Superman ’78, meanwhile, is a collaboration between Hawkman writer Robert Venditti and Batman ’66 artist Wilfredo Torres. This series is set fairly early in the Man of Steel’s costumed career, before Lois Lane uncovers Clark’s secret. Superman ’78 explores how the citizens of Metropolis come to grips with the discovery that a man can fly. It’s unknown whether the series will introduce new takes on familiar Superman villains.
Art by Wilfredo Torres. (Image Credit: DC)
Both Batman ’89 and Superman ’78 will run for 12 digital chapters. The first six chapters of both series will launch on July 27, with new chapters following once a week for the next six weeks. Print issues collecting two chapters each will be published between August and October 2021, with hardcover collections to follow in October for Batman ’89 and November for Superman ’78.
The timing of the Batman ’89 announcement is intriguing, given that Keaton is reportedly preparing to reprise the Batman role in the upcoming Flash movie. Could this series help fill in some of the missing gaps in the Batman ’89 timeline? Assuming the book is successful, we can only hope DC will announce a follow-up project that more directly sets the stage for the older Bruce Wayne of The Flash.
If you weren’t able to score a deal on an OLED TV for Black Friday, you have another chance today. Amazon is offering the best price on the 55″ (most popular) model thanks to a $50 instant coupon. The PS5 Pulse 3D headset is also still available on Amazon, although the ship date is getting pushed farther and farther back. These deals and more below.
55″ LG CX 4K OLED Smart TV for $1349.99
Get this TV for the same price that we saw on Black Friday. This is one of the very best TVs you can get in terms of image quality; in fact, CES has showed us that its closest competitor (Micro LED) won’t be at a reasonable price point in the near future. LG OLED TVs have gone through several generations and it’s a well oiled beast compared to the newer releases from Sony or Vizio. It also supports HDMI 2.1, perfect for hooking up your RTX 30 series PC or your PlayStation 5 console. I’ve been using my LG CX OLED as a computer monitor and I absolutely love it.
______________________________ Eric Song is IGN’s deal curator and spends roughly 1/4 of his income on stuff he posts. Check out his latest Daily Deals Article and subscribe to his IGN Deals Newsletter.
The Razer Huntsman is among the best gaming keyboard options out there, but depending on the model you want, it can be quite expensive. However, the smaller versions are quite affordable, and right now, you can get the Razer Huntsman Mini gaming keyboard for $100, down from its regular price of $120. That might not seem like much of a discount, but this is the first markdown we’ve seen for the 60% keyboard. It’s unclear how long this deal will be available for.
The Razer Huntsman Mini gaming keyboard features Razer’s excellent clicky optical switches, which provide faster actuation than regular mechanical keys thanks to the optical laser in each switch. The keys are housed by an aluminum frame, making the tiny keyboard feel sturdy and well-built.
The Huntsman Mini is also customizable with Razer’s Synapse software. This includes creating and mapping macros as well as tweaking its Chroma RGB lighting. One thing to note about the Huntsman Mini is that it doesn’t feature function keys or dedicated media buttons. You’ll have to use the Fn key in tandem with specific keys to utilize those actions–these secondary inputs are printed on the bottom of each keycap.
If you’re interested in a bigger keyboard that has a lot more utility and features, check out our Razer Huntsman V2 Analog gaming keyboard review. In addition to being a full-sized keyboard, that model boasts analog input, dedicated media buttons, and a lot more–though for a much higher price, of course.
Pokemon Go‘s next Community Day is set for March 6, developer Niantic has announced. The featured Pokemon for this event will be Fletchling, and there will be a new Special Research story and various other in-game bonuses.
Throughout March’s Community Day, Fletchling will appear in the wild much more frequently than usual, giving you more chances to catch it and stock up on Fletchling Candy. You’ll also have your first chance to catch a Shiny Fletchling during the event.
As usual, you’ll also be able to get a special event-exclusive move during March’s Community Day. If you can evolve Fletchinder–Fletchling’s evolved form–into Talonflame up to two hours after the event ends, it’ll automatically know the Fire-type attack Incinerate.
On top of that, Niantic will offer another paid Special Research story during March’s Community Day. This one is called The Bravest Bird, and tickets to gain access to it will cost $1 USD. A special Community Day item bundle will also be on sale in Pokemon Go’s item shop during the event. The bundle will cost 1,280 PokeCoins and include the following:
50 Ultra Balls
5 Lucky Eggs
1 Poffin
1 Elite Fast TM
Finally, a couple of in-game bonuses will be active during March’s Community Day. First, you’ll receive triple the normal amount of XP for catching Pokemon. As usual, any Incense that you use during the event will also remain active for three hours rather than the usual 60 minutes.
March’s Community Day runs from 11 AM to 5 PM local time. You can read more about the event on the official Pokemon Go blog.
In the meantime, Pokemon Go’s Valentine’s Day event is underway until February 18, and it introduces the Gen 5 Pokemon Munna and Musharna to the game. Latios and Latias are also back in five-star Raids until February 20. That’s also the date that Niantic will hold its big Pokemon Go Tour: Kanto event.
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Civilization 6 will be getting its next free community update on February 25 at 11 AM PT/ 2 PM ET/ 7 PM GMT.
Each of these community updates brings a new feature along with it. For February, we’re getting the Barbarian Clans game mode. Playing this way will completely change how you’re used to interacting with the Barbarians in Civ 6. Instead of the standard kill-or-be-killed setup, this mode introduces six Barbarian clans that can be found living on or near different map conditions, with each specializing in a different unit type. Each turn, the Barbarians will accumulate progress towards becoming a city-state; it’s your call if you want to help or hinder them in that endeavor.
Destroying a clan will wipe it off the map completely, while choosing to raid one will allow you to earn gold and decrease some of that clan’s progress. To stop clans from attacking your cities, you can bribe them or hire them to add their strongest unit to your army. Barbarian clans can also abduct your units, and you’ll need to pay a ransom to get them back. To really get your Machiavelli on, you can Incite different clans by paying them to attack other enemy cities for you. Exchanging gold in this way will also allow a barbarian clan to gain progress towards becoming a city-state.
Another change coming with the February update is the addition of the Leader Selection Pool. This will allow players to customize which leaders can be used in a game. With this feature, you have complete control over which leaders you’ll be faced with, in case you dislike certain ones or want to practice against them.
Like past updates, the February one is also bringing balance changes and tweaks to the game’s AI. Certain governments have had their policy slots shifted to reflect how those governments would actually run more accurately. Additionally, some Natural Wonders have been rebalanced and both air units and combat have had their AIs adjusted.
If you have the game’s Frontier Pass, you can enjoy both the monthly free updates and DLCs as they come out.
