Author: Trafficblast

New Halo Infinite Teaser Unveiled Ahead Of July Xbox Event

Ahead of next week’s Xbox Games Showcase, which will focus on Series X titles, the company has posted a new Halo Infinite teaser to its Twitter account.

The teaser sees a machine emblazoning the number “117” on the front of some green-colored armor. The number is a reference to John-117 (better known as Master Chief), the protagonist for the majority of the Halo franchise. Unfortunately, there’s nothing else to the teaser other than that “117” number.

The upcoming Xbox Games event, which takes place on July 23 at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET, will feature a detailed look at Halo Infinite. The Halo Infinite reveal during the livestream will focus exclusively on the game’s campaign, developer 343 Industries clarified in a blog post. Unfortunately, Xbox isn’t talking about Series X hardware during the broadcast, though the next-gen console is still slated to arrive this holiday season despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, with Halo Infinite being a launch title.

In other Halo Infinite news, a Mega Bloks set that seemingly contained a spoiler for the upcoming Halo entry has been debunked by 343 community director Brian Jarrard. According to Jarrard, any Halo Infinite product that comes out between now and when the game launches this holiday is simply “part of the road map.”

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Netflix Planning More TV Shows And Movies Than Ever In 2021, Even With COVID-19 Production Shutdowns

While most movies and TV shows have yet to go back into production due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Netflix isn’t planning on slowing down when it comes to releasing new content anytime soon. In its latest letter to shareholders, the streaming service claimed that it expects to not only keep releasing new TV shows and movies in 2021, but that it expects to release even more than it did in 2020.

However, viewers will see more content in the second half of year, rather than the first. The letter reads, “For 2021, based on our current plan, we expect the paused productions will lead to a more second half weighted content slate in terms of our big titles, although we anticipate the total number of originals for the full year will still be higher than 2020.”

That doesn’t include acquisitions, which Netflix also promised were coming. Among the films set to arrive on the service are titles like Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7. There’s also a Spongebob Squarepants film that will be available around the world on Netflix, though not in the United States or China.

As for when Netflix’s projects will be able to fully resume production, the streaming service revealed that’s currently underway. The second season of a Korean series is currently shooting in that country, while many other countries–including Germany, France, Spain, and Poland–are seeing productions resume. In the United States, Netflix has resumed production on two movies and two stop-motion animated projects in Oregon, while work in other states is expected to begin soon.

As for the rest of 2020, Netflix has plenty more to come. The most notable release is likely the upcoming second season of The Umbrella Academy.

Now Playing: Best Shows And Movies To Stream For June 2020 – Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, Disney+, Shudder

Netflix Reveals Its Most-Watched Content So Far In 2020

Netflix had a gigantic Q2 and first half of the year, with some 26 million new paid subscribers added. The uptick in subscribers was driven by the COVID-19 crisis that’s keeping people at home. But what are they watching? Netflix also released updated streaming numbers for its Q2 releases.

Even if the numbers are sort of whack–requiring only a small amount of watch time to count as a view–they still showcase which shows on Netflix claims are most popular.

Mindy Kaling’s coming-of-age series Never Have I Ever was a standout success–it was seen by 40 million households over its first four weeks. 40 million is also the number of homes that watched the new Steve Carrell comedy Space Force over that same period of time.

In terms of movies, the new Chris Hemsworth movie Extraction was Netflix’s biggest release of all time, with 99 million homes watching it over the first four weeks. 27 million homes worldwide watched Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods, while The Wrong Missy attracted 59 million homes to watch it over its first four weeks.

The animated movie The Willoughbys (38 million households over its first four weeks) was also a big success, Netflix said.

The streaming network also pointed out that some of its older titles from its newly released Black Lives Matter Collection–such as 13th, American Son, and Dear White People–saw increases in viewership.

Local language content, like Dark (Germany), Control Z (Mexico), Extracurricular (Korea), The Woods (Poland), and Blood & Water (South Africa), also “continue to be highly impactful,” Netflix said.

La Casa de Papel (Money Heist)’s Part 4 was released on April 3, and it was seen by 65 million homes worldwide over its first four weeks.

Some of Netflix’s upcoming content includes Season 2 of The Umbrella Academy, The Kissing Booth 2, Project Power, and Enola Holmes, all of which are due to release later in July.

Despite the impact of COVID-19 on Netflix’s ability to produce content, the network is planning to launch even more new content in 2021.

Black Adam Casts Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher in Shazam Spinoff

Noah Centineo has been cast as Atom Smasher in the upcoming DC movie, Black Adam.

Centineo, famous for his role as Peter in To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before and its subsequent sequel, will act alongside Dwayne Johnson in Black Adam as the DC hero, Atom Smasher, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

Centineo and Johnson will be directed by Jaume Collet-Serra. While this is Centineo’s first time working with the director, Collet-Serra previously directed Johnson in Disney’s The Jungle Cruise, due out next year.

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As for what to expect in terms of story, Black Adam’s villainous role in DC stories has evolved into something more anti-hero-like, although that take on the character isn’t confirmed.

Atom Smasher’s involvement in the story is an unknown, but it was recently reported that Black Adam will bring the Justice Society of America to the screen, a team that has counted Atom Smasher among its members. The hero, born Albert Rothstein, is known for changing their atomic makeup to change his size and strength. In the DC Comics, Adam and Rothstein eventually formed a bond after the former joined the JSA’s ranks.

We could be learning more at DC’s upcoming virtual DC FanDome event.

Noah Centineo in The Perfect Date. (Credit: Netflix)
Noah Centineo in The Perfect Date. (Credit: Netflix)

Black Adam has been gestating for a while with Johnson’s role in the DC universe going all the way back to 2003, when he was rumored to play Shazam, the hero counterpart to Black Adam’s villainous role in the comics. In 2007, he spoke with IGN about the role but that version of the movie didn’t go anywhere beyond 2009.

Fast forward to 2014 and Johnson began to talk more about Shazam. He announced later that year that he was no longer in talks to play Shazam but that instead, he would portray Black Adam. Shazam! and Black Adam were split into two separate movies, with Shazam! opening to strong reviews and box office in 2019. Late last year, Johnson announced on Instagram that Black Adam would be arriving to theaters on Dec. 22, 2021.

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Then the coronavirus struck and threw the entire film industry for a loop. As to when we can expect to see Johnson’s anti-hero and Centineo’s Atom Smasher in Collet-Serra’s Black Adam, a release date delay has not been made but at this point, it’s not out of the question. Johnson recently said Black Adam hopes to begin filming in August or September.

Beau Flynn of FlynnPictureCo. is producing Black Adam with Johnson and Dany and Hiram Garcia’s Seven Bucks Productions. Black Adam joins Shazam! as part of DC’s collaboration with New Line.

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Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.

Daily Deals: Save Big On a Ryzen 3900x, Samsung QLED TV Sale and More

Welcome to our Thursday Daily Deals. Today we have a nice mix of things, but kicking it off is the Ryzen 3900X, which is down to it’s lowest price yet. On top of that, you get Assassin’s Creed Valhalla with your purchase, a bundle we simply can’t resist. If you’re not looking for a CPU, then check out our deals on Samsung QLED TVs, SSDs, and plenty more.

App users: Don’t see the deals below? Click here.

Deals for July 16th

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More Video Game Deals

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Netflix Had A Massive First Half Of The Year

Netflix has had a massive first half to the year, despite facing increased competition from the likes of Disney+, HBO Max, and, uh, Quibi. The streaming service added 26 million subscribers during that period of time, the company announced as part of its latest earnings report. That far exceeds the new subscriber growth it saw during the same period of time last year, when it added just 12 million paying users–and it nearly matches the full-year total of 28 million for all of 2019.

“We live in uncertain times with restrictions on what we can do socially and many people are turning to entertainment for relaxation, connection, comfort and stimulation,” the company said as part of its quarterly earnings report. “In Q1 and Q2, we saw significant pull-forward of our underlying adoption leading to huge growth in the first half of this year.”

Netflix did note that this may lead to lower-than-expected growth in the second half of the year. It says that “growth is slowing as consumers get through the initial shock of Covid and social restrictions.”

The huge boost in subscribers accounts for the “small percentage” of accounts it canceled due to lack of use. Earlier this year, Netflix said it would automatically shut off inactive accounts to “save people some hard-earned cash.”

While the coronavirus has led to a spike in users, it has disrupted production on Netflix’s original content. Its release plans for original shows and movies slated for 2020 are “largely intact,” although next year will see original content shift toward releasing in the second half of the year. Despite that, Netflix says its full slate of original content for 2021 “will still be higher than 2020.”

What’s New To Disney+ In August 2020? X-Men, Fantastic Four, And The Muppets

In the upcoming month, the Disney+ streaming service is offering up plenty of your favorites. If you’re a fan of Marvel movies, there are a few coming, and if you love Muppets, there is a brand-new series to check out. The full list for what’s coming to Disney+ in August 2020 is below, and we have a few recommendations as well.

Most of the films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe are already on the streaming service. However, on Friday, August 14, Ant-Man and the Wasp lands on Disney+. The Ant-Man sequel sees a team-up between the titular characters as they take on a mysterious and intangible villain named Ghost. Also, Ant-Man’s story in Avengers: Endgame makes a bit more sense if you see Ant-Man and the Wasp.

The new Muppet series, Muppets Now, may debut at the end of July, but Episodes 2-5 will release in August. The group of lovable puppets has come together to engage in their regular antics. During August, there are episodes revolving around Pepe The King Prawn creating a new game show, Miss Piggy talking to celebrity guests, and Scooter losing sleep, desperately trying to stay awake. The series airs on Fridays.

Finally, there are a few other big-name movies coming. The video game adaptation of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time arrives on August 7. If you need more Marvel in your life, the first X-Men movie–which turns 20 this year–also arrives that day. Also, it’s the premiere of The One and Only Ivan on August 14, the Sam Rockwell movie which recently had its first trailer.

Below, you’ll find everything coming to Disney+ in August.

What’s coming to Disney+ in August 2020

Friday, August 7

  • Hidden Kingdoms of China
  • Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
  • Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge: Adventure Awaits
  • The Peanuts Movie
  • UFO Europe: The Untold Stories (S1)
  • X-Men
  • Howard Premiere
  • Muppets Now Episode 102 – “Fever Pitch”
  • One Day At Disney Episode 136 – “Ryan Meinerding: Marvel Studios Creative Director”
  • Disney Family Sundays Series Finale Episode 140 – “Goofy: Pencil Cup”
  • Pixar In Real Life Episode 110 – “WALL·E: BnL Pop-up Shop”

Friday, August 14

  • Alaska Animal Rescue (S1)
  • Ant-Man and the Wasp
  • India’s Wild Leopards
  • Jungle Animal Rescue (S1)
  • Nature Boom Time (S1)
  • Sam’s Zookeeper Challenge (S1)
  • Scuba Sam’s World (S1)
  • Spaced Out (S1)
  • T.O.T.S. (S1)
  • T.O.T.S. Calling all T.O.T.S. (S1)
  • The Greatest Showman
  • Wild Cats of India (S1)
  • Zombies 2
  • The One and Only Ivan Premiere
  • Muppets Now Episode 103 – “Getting Testy”
  • Magic Camp Premiere
  • One Day at Disney Episode 137 – “Pavan Komkai: Broadcast Engineer”
  • Weird But True! Season Premiere Episode 301- “Dinosaurs”
  • Weird But True! Episode 302 – “National Parks”

Friday, August 21

  • Back to the Titanic
  • Beauty and the Beast
  • Mars: One Day on the Red Planet
  • Muppets Now Episode 104 – “Sleep Mode”
  • One Day At Disney Episode 138 – “Heather Bartleson: Holiday Services”
  • Weird But True! Episode 302 – “National Parks”

Friday, August 28

  • Alice Through the Looking Glass
  • Fantastic Four
  • Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe Premiere
  • Muppets Now Episode 105 – “The I.T. Factor”
  • One Day At Disney Episode 139 – “Eric Baker: Imagineering Creative Director”
  • Weird But True! Episode 303 – “Farming”

Twitch Stops US Army From Using Fake Giveaways For Recruitment

Twitch has reportedly forced the US Army to stop presenting viewers with fake giveaways that give recruiters their contact information. A link would periodically appear in the U.S. Army’s Twitch chat that would advertise the chance to win an Xbox Elite Series 2 controller but would lead to a sign-up page with no information about the contest, according to The Nation.

A disclosure at the bottom states that a recruiter would contact those who filled out the form. People as young as 12 could fill out the form, although a notice given after the form is filled out states that recruiters cannot contact anyone under the age of 16.

Twitch has now taken steps to shut down the giveaways. It told Kotaku in a statement, “Per our Terms of Service, promotions on Twitch must comply with all applicable laws. This promotion did not comply with our Terms, and we have required them to remove it.”

GameSpot has reached out to the US Army for comment.

The Army, Navy, and Air Force all stream on Twitch under their esports teams, which also double as recruiters during streams. This has been the subject of controversy since anyone as young as 13 can sign-up for Twitch, allowing recruiters to interact with a young audience.

The US Army Twitch channel was recently criticized for banning users for mentioning US war crimes. Prior to that, people turned getting banned from the US Army esports Discord channel into a speed run.

This comes after Twitch has promised to take more aggressive action against streamers for violating its terms, including giving Dr Disrespect a permanent ban without publicly disclosing the reason. Twitch itself has been the subject of recent criticism for releasing a Black Lives Matter video featuring primarily white streamers and for saying that the G in LGBTQIA+ stood for “gamer.”

Tenet’s Release Date Might Be In Doubt (Again)

Director Christopher Nolan has long been an outspoken advocate for all films, its culture, and also the future of his upcoming new film Tenet. Nolan has steadfastly been pushing for Tenet to be released in theaters this summer and to be viewed by audiences first on the big screen, but the realities of COVID-19 have possibly pushed this release date further back and into the realm of wishful thinking. Although August 12 is still the current, expected, release date, Vulture is now reporting there is growing skepticism Tenet will be released this summer at all.

Citing a report from movie-industry analyst Eric Handler, Vulture is speculating that what could do Tenet in is a lack of theaters able to stay open amidst doubts over safety to see movies out in public–and the movie being pulled can only harm theaters further. An anonymous high-ranking executive told Vulture, “The theaters are going to lose the biggest if Tenet doesn’t come out next month… They’re going to spend $100 million on face masks and [disinfection] sprays. Then the theaters aren’t going to open in August? They’re most at risk.”

Further fanning the flames of uncertainty is the fact that industry pundits like Richard Rushfield, who runs the popular entertainment newsletter The Ankler, aren’t sure if movie theaters are even able to deliver pre-COVID audience numbers right now. “Between now and the end of the year, 50 percent loss is probably the best-case scenario.” Rushfield told Vulture. He estimated that 80 percent is a more likely, realistic number to expect.

Tenet was originally planned for release in theaters July 17, then July 31, and recently shifted to August 12. The movie, which was written and directed by Nolan, stars Robert Pattinson, John David Washington, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Martin Donovan, Kenneth Branagh, and Elizabeth Debicki, and Michael Caine. Despite all the attention the movie has garnered, and even a trailer being released, not much about its story or plot is yet known.

Square Enix Opens New “Action Game Brand”

Japanese video game giant Square Enix has established a brand-new studio of sorts that brings internal and external action game developers together under one umbrella.

That conglomerate is called Balan Company, an “action game brand” that will unveil its first project in the future–though when remains unclear. The group’s official website simply features a red curtain with a white top hat sitting on a stage. The text reads: “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the show of wonders brought to you by the Balan Company. We thank you for your patience while we make preparation for the grand opening.” Whatever is coming sounds like it may be extremely theatrical.

Square Enix has not publicly clarified what Balan Company is, but the studio did share a teaser for the group on its official Twitter account.

In other Square Enix news, the studio has announced that the beta for Marvel’s Avengers will kick-off this August. Those who pre-ordered the game on PlayStation 4 can access the beta starting on August 7. Xbox One players who pre-ordered Marvel’s Avengers will get into the beta on August 14. Conversely, everyone else will be able to participate in the game’s open beta on August 21 before it launches on September 7.