Call of Duty: Modern Warfare‘s Season 3 update is coming soon, and with it comes more Trials that you can complete to earn even more XP to help you rank up faster.
There are four new Trials in the Season 3 update, each of which pays out a whopping 10,000 XP if you can reach the 3-star ranking. Complete them all and you can earn 40,000 extra XP.
As announced on the Activision blog, the trials take place on a variety of maps, including Vacant, Hackney Yard, Piccadilly, Docks, Stack, and Euphrates Bridge, among others. As always, the challenges are varied. For example, Shooting Range requires you to locate and kill all targets as fast as you can and using as little ammo as possible. The Marksman challenge, meanwhile, asks you to take down enemies at range against the clock. You can see a full rundown of the four new Trials below.
Modern Warfare Season 3 Trials
Gun Course – Played on Vacant in two variations (with or without Smoke), make your way through the course as fast as possible while clearing all enemy targets and avoiding civilian casualties
Risky Parkour – Available on three stages, each with a unique course (Hackney Yard, Piccadilly, Gun Runner), move through each checkpoint and finish the course as fast as possible. Beware of the heavy toxic gas on low ground.
Shooting Range – Available on Docks (rifles) and Stack (shotgun), locate and shoot all targets in the area, quickly, while conserving ammunition.
Marksman Challenge – Playable on Euphrates Bridge in two variations (sniper rifle and handgun), engage waves of long-distance targets and beat the clock. Missed shots burn time.
This review contains spoilers for the series finale of Schitt’s Creek, titled “Happy Ending.”
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There is no better and no worse time for Schitt’s Creek to be ending. Given the current state of the world – and the seemingly constant cloud of anxiety we’re all living under – the final season of this wholesome Canadian comedy has been a balm to soothe even the most cynical soul, and while the show couldn’t possibly be going out on any more of a high, there’s no denying what a void it will leave as Johnny and Moira Rose drive off into the sunset, leaving the titular town and its eccentric characters in the rearview mirror.
The benefit of the show ending on its own terms is that co-creators and stars Daniel and Eugene Levy have been able to craft a meticulous and prolonged farewell over the course of Season 6, bringing the series full circle and allowing the Roses to bloom (sorry) into the people they always had the potential to be, while still keeping them unabashedly true to themselves.
The previous 13 episodes have cemented the character development we’ve been watching in our core four over the past six years, tying up the loose ends of Moira’s career resurgence, Alexis’ struggle for independence, Johnny’s shift in priorities, and David’s fear of commitment, to allow the series finale to serve as pure fan-service in the best way – a celebration of the bonds these people have forged, whether they’re family by blood or by choice.
While Schitt’s Creek has continually broken new ground in its portrayal of queer relationships, its true power is in treating the remarkable as unremarkable – so although there’s something undeniably powerful about the series culminating in David and Patrick’s wedding, to anyone who has watched and loved the show, really, they’re just David and Patrick, two humans we love and root for, so why shouldn’t they get the happiest of happy endings (complete with a literal happy ending) for the series finale?
Like any sitcom couple, their wedding day is beset by complications, but everything turns out just fine in the end, thank goodness, capped off with another welcome musical interlude or three (complete with callbacks to two of the show’s best needle drops – the Season 2 finale’s Rose family dance party to “Precious Love,” and Noah Reid’s game-changing serenade of “Simply the Best,” plus a nod to David and Patrick’s Mariah Carey-inspired “I love yous”) and a typically bonkers Moira Rose performance from the unparalleled Catherine O’Hara.
Schitt’s Creek has always felt like a rare comedic gem because of the empathy it has for its characters, even at their most ridiculous – the characterization is every bit as important as the punchlines, evoking the same good-hearted spirit as Parks and Recreation – and in the finale more than ever, I’m struck by how much I just enjoy spending time with these people, who somehow never manage to be grating, even when they’re at their most self-centered. (Watching the post-finale documentary special, Best Wishes, Warmest Regards, it’s obvious that the cast feels the same – it’s easy to imagine just how many of those tears in the finale were real.)
You can’t help but wish for a supersized, hourlong finale to try to prolong the inevitable – to luxuriate in the absurdity of these characters for just a little longer – but in truth, the last three episodes have felt like a cohesive closing arc, only separated by the necessity of a weekly rollout. For those who will binge the entire season, it’s likely that this will feel like a perfectly formed send-off, so it seems silly to nitpick the finale for feeling too brief, too quick to leave us – but that doesn’t alter the bittersweet feeling that lingers as the credits roll, knowing that this is the last time we’re all going to be here like this, able to pop in and say hey to one of the most dysfunctional and lovable families to ever grace our screens. In the immortal words of Tina Turner, Schitt’s Creek was simply the best, and we were lucky that we got to visit, even if the stay was shorter than we might’ve wanted.
Quibi, or “Quick Bites,” is the newest challenger to enter the great streaming war against rivals Netflix, Amazon, Disney+, Hulu, Apple TV+, and the upcoming HBO Max and NBCUniversal Peacock services. But where those aforementioned companies offer more traditional TV and movie viewing experiences, Quibi charts its own course with a mobile-only streaming platform that features videos with runtimes of ten minutes or less.
Co-founded by former DreamWorks Animation boss Jeffrey Katzenberg and tech executive Meg Whitman, Quibi will be home to 175 original programs in its first year of operation. Katzenberg told the Los Angeles Times that he hopes Quibi will be “the third generation of film narrative,” by combining the strengths of movies and episodic television into one cohesive force. The service was initially intended to provide entertainment for subscribers who commute to work via public transportation or want to watch something quick during a lunch break. However, with the current state of our world forcing many people to stay at home with ample amounts of time to binge, Quibi’s original plan could be in jeopardy.
So, with an already crowded market of streaming services vying for your attention (and money), does Quibi offer enough at launch to stand apart?
Check out the gallery below to see what we thought of Quibi’s movies and TV shows at launch:
Quibi’s video streaming platform is split into three categories: “Movies in Chapters,” long-form narratives split into 10-minute episodes; “Unscripted and Docs,” reality TV shows and docuseries; and “Daily Essentials,” news shows from outlets like NBC, ESPN, and the BBC. While the streamer has a long way to go before it catches up with Netflix and Disney+ in terms of the size of its library, Quibi launched with over 25 titles that each offered three episodes, with new installments released daily. Compared to Apple TV+’s meager debut, which included just a handful of shows, Quibi gets a gold star here for offering a variety of content to new subscribers.
Starting with Quibi’s “Movies in Chapters,” the initial titles appear impressive at first, especially with star-studded casts that include Sophie Turner, Liam Hemsworth, and Christoph Waltz, among other recognizable Hollywood names. However, although Quibi excels in its ability to acquire star power, the stories in which they are featured lack the creative punch needed to stand out.
Take Most Dangerous Game, for example, where Waltz and Hemsworth go head-to-head in an action-thriller where humans hunt other humans for sport. It’s a by-the-numbers story that’s light on the action for the first few episodes. If anything, Quibi’s short-form approach to storytelling doesn’t allow the viewer to really get into the narrative because, after seven or eight minutes, the episode (sorry, chapter) is over.
While other titles like When the Streetlights Go On and Flipped are worth checking out if you decide to sign up, Quibi’s “shorter is better” model still doesn’t make sense if you look at the streaming landscape as a whole. If the recent release of Netflix’s popular Tiger King documentary has taught us anything, it’s that viewers are game to sit through several hours of content if they deem it to be entertaining… shorter isn’t always sweeter.
Then there’s the way the shows and movies are formatted for mobile viewing. One of the most baffling aspects of Quibi is its choice to opt for a mobile-only streaming service. Amazon, Netflix, and Disney+ (among others) offer mobile streaming options as well, but also allow their content to be watched on your desktop or TV, if you don’t want to squint at your phone. Quibi also films its content in both vertical and horizontal formats, which is a purposeful departure from its rivals. So, if you’re watching Most Dangerous Game in vertical mode on your phone, the image fills the screen, offering you a different aspect ratio. In horizontal mode, you get a more cinematic look, with a widescreen perspective that shows you more detail (and characters) in each frame. The Movies in Chapters definitely look better this way, since most prestigious TV shows these days are shot more like films. Maybe it’s just me, but the vertical option makes many of the productions look cheap.
Where Quibi excels is in its docuseries and daily news shows. One of the standouts is LeBron James’ I Promise, which centers on a school in Akron, Ohio founded by James where at-risk youths are given a chance to flourish in a nourishing academic environment. It’s a heartwarming look at how the public school system in America could change for the better. Generally, the quality of the docuseries is due to the subject matter and not the shortened running time. And there are still some duds in the bunch, like Will Arnett’s Memory Hole and the underwhelming revival of MTV’s iconic prank show, Punk’d.
Quibi’s User Interface
Photo courtesy of Quibi
While we do have gripes with the fact that Quibi is only offered via a mobile app, its UI is butter smooth, with no noticeable lag while switching between horizontal and vertical viewing modes. The Quibi app is currently available to download on both Android and Apple devices. And like many of its streaming counterparts, the service allows subscribers to download movies and shows for offline viewing. Depending on your phone’s specifications (and Wifi connection), many of the shows are presented in 4K with crisp video and audio quality.
Quibi also comes fully equipped with a handy “continue watching” option so you can pick up a show where you left off. This might sound like a resounding “duh,” but Disney+ launched with a bug-filled version that caused the company to remove this particular feature in order to work out the kinks. Another convenient (if not expected) feature lets you follow shows if you click the bookmark icon, which notifies you when a new episode is available to stream.
If you find yourself unable to decide what to watch, Quibi offers “More to Explore” buckets, which highlight programs that will make you “Laugh out Loud” or “Be Inspired.” There’s also a “Coming Soon” section that gives you a sneak peek of upcoming series like Dummy, starring Anna Kendrick. As far as the “streaming functionality basics” go, Quibi checks all of the boxes so the UI doesn’t get in the way of your viewing experience.
Quibi’s Price
Photo courtesy of Quibi
Quibi currently offers a 90-day free trial for new subscribers, which is a pretty good deal considering the platform launches with over 25 titles. At $4.99 per month (with ads) Quibi is on the cheaper end compared to Netflix and Amazon’s $12.99 price plan. But unlike Netflix, Quibi doesn’t charge extra for 4K content, which is a plus. It’s just a shame there’s no smart TV or set-top box app you can download to enjoy all of that 4K beauty on a big screen.
Quibi offers a better value than Apple TV+ (also $4.99), promising to deliver 175 new shows in its first year. Apple, on the other hand, is still lagging behind most of the competition in terms of its library. Disney+, at $6.99 with a digital catalog of over 500 titles, is hard to ignore at this price point if you’re looking to just add one new service, but it’s important to keep in mind that (so far), Disney+ isn’t offering TV-MA content. So if you’re looking for more R-rated fare, Quibi might be worth a try, especially with that 90-day free trial.
Microsoft and Turn 10 have announced that Forza Street will be released for free simultaneously on iOS and Android devices on May 5. Pre-registration will remain limited to Android devices with Google Play and Galaxy Store access.
Players who download and play the game in the first month after release will get a Founders Pack, which includes the 2017 Ford GT and some in-game currency and credits to spend. This reward will be available in the message center, ready to be spent on collecting and upgrading cars.
The mobile title is designed to be played anywhere at any time, with car-lovers as the designated target. Races are much shorter than in the main Forza titles, with some races and story-driven modes lasting just under a minute. The emphasis will remain on the cars themselves, with collecting and upgrading your cars as the main focus of the app. The game is not as meticulous a simulation, or as serious a racer, as the mainline Forza series–in fact, you don’t actually steer the cars in Street.
Xbox Live users can start building their collection now on Windows 10, with all progress carrying over to the app on release.
Netflix has launched a batch of updated and improved parental controls, allowing more granular control of the content displayed to kids and the ability to lock adult profiles with PINs. Other changes include the ability to see a child’s viewing history and the option to disable autoplay on TV shows in kids’ profiles.
Netflix has outlined the updates in a new blog post, attributing the changes to feedback received from members.
Lock your kids out of your profiles with PINs.
“Choice and control have always been important for our members, especially parents,” wrote Netflix’s Kids Product Manager, Michelle Parsons. “We hope that these additional controls will help parents make the right choices for their families.”
Content can be filtered by rating, and the filters are built using the ratings systems relevant to the country you’re accessing Netflix from.
Australian settings pictured, but the ratings slider will be bespoke to your region.
Additionally, individual shows and movies can be hidden entirely from particular profiles simply by adding the titles to a block list from a simple dropdown menu search.
Well, he shouldn’t have bitten the mailman.
The new controls are live now and can be accessed via the control settings in the desktop and mobile Netflix apps.
Looking for quality Netflix content to watch while you’re trapped at home? Check out IGN’s list of the best Netflix Original movies.
Luke is Games Editor at IGN’s Sydney office and his dog doesn’t really have a Netflix profile. You can find him on Twitter every few days @MrLukeReilly.
The Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (CERO), which is responsible for the age rating of games in Japan, has suspended all operations for the rest of the month. As reported by Japanese site Automaton, the organization will be closed until at least May 7, with Tokyo having declared a state of emergency amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CERO offices are located in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo.
Games require a CERO rating to release in Japan, meaning that this very well might cause delays for game releases in the country. According to Dr Serkan Toto on Twitter, it is not possible for employees to review footage from home as reviewers always conduct their reviews in-office; it’s likely that a work-from-home solution could not be implemented before the state of emergency was declared.
On the official CERO page, they say:
“Since reviewers visit our office to conduct review, it is not possible for our staff and reviewer to work from home.” https://t.co/KNMDeHXKBm
— Dr. Serkan Toto / Kantan Games Inc. (@serkantoto) April 7, 2020
It’s possible that this will have an impact on games targeting release in Japan in the coming months, including major titles like Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (May 29), Ghost of Tsushima (June 26), and Minecraft Dungeons (May 26). The specific impact of this closure might take a while to become apparent, but it’s very likely that we will see further delays, at least in Japan.
Big rewards for Daily Challenges and a double XP event are now available for all crackshots and jockeys this week in Red Dead Online. Additionally, any player who logs on before April 14 will earn 5 Gold Bars just for playing. There’s plenty of rewards and XP this week regardless of how you play.
Red Dead Online is running an all new Daily Challenge multiplier, where players who complete a Daily Challenge three days in a row will be rewarded. The reward includes 10 Special Health Cures, 10 Special Miracle Tonics, 10 Special Snake Oils, and 20 Incendiary Buckshot Slugs. These gifts will arrive at the Post Office or in your Camp Lockbox within 48 hours of completion.
Players who enjoy Showdown Modes and Races will be pleased to hear that both modes will be running a double XP event for the entire week. Any XP earned from either event will be doubled, making this a great opportunity to try out the Races or Showdown modes if you haven’t already.
As always, there are some big discounts on in-game purchases, with the Wheeler, Rawson & Co. catalogue taking 70% off select items. Rifles, pistols, and pamphlets are currently 40% off. Ponchos, shirts, and all items included in the Wilderness Outfitters store (except for the Butcher’s Table) are 50% off. Off-hand holsters, gun belts, draft horses, war horses, pants, and gloves are all a whopping 70% off this week. Now is a great time to get that war horse or pair of pants you’ve been saving up for.
A portion of all online purchases this month and all of May will be going towards COVID-19 relief thanks to Rockstar and Take-Two. This includes purchases made in Red Dead Online and GTA Online. During this time, Rockstar has promised that online events in both Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto V will continue amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with teams at Rockstar now working remotely.
Red Dead Online is available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC for those who own Red Dead Redemption 2. A current PlayStation Plus subscription or an Xbox Gold subscription are needed to play online on PS4 or Xbox One.
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The big new Season 3 update for Modern Warfare and the battle royale game Warzone will introduce a new way to customize things to your liking on the battlefield.
Specifically, the Season 3 patch adds vehicle skins. You can add these skins to any vehicle in the Warzone map, Verdansk, and they’ll be automatically applied when you start driving whatever vehicle you might come across in the map, including ATVs, helicopters, and more.
The Activision blog post announcing the new vehicle customization system did not mention how you can unlock the new skins, but it it will presumably be through gameplay or microtransactions.
Borderlands 3 has added a new arcade machine to Sanctuary III, and playing it has benefits to the world of science. In the corner of Doctor Tannis’ infirmary, you’ll find Borderlands Science, a game designed to help real-world scientists organize data.
Borderlands Science, introduced in the trailer below, is a block-shifting puzzle game that involves mapping and comparing microbes, a task that even the most complex supercomputer is not as good at as human players. Completing these puzzles will earn you in-game currency, and you can continue playing each puzzle for a high score after it is finished.
The puzzle game was developed in conjunction with McGill University, Massively Multiplayer Online Science, and The Microsetta Initiative.
The benefits of this game are shown off in the video below, hosted by PhD scientist and actor Mayim Bialik (The Big Bang Theory). As she explains, the Microseta Initiative has collected microbes from human feces, which is what players will be organizing.
Playing this game will help the scientists spot computer errors in their sequences, helping scientists compare the data and learn more about the human gut, and the data will ultimately be used to combat various diseases. It looks like good fun, alongside all the benefits to the science community it offers.
Borderlands 3 recently explained with the Guns, Love, And Tentacles DLC, which increased the game’s level cap. It’s available on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Stadia.
