DC Comics writer Tom King recently wrapped up a years-long run on Batman’s solo title that put the spotlight on Bruce Wayne’s romance with the cat burglar who stole his heart, Selina Kyle aka Catwoman. But their story isn’t over yet. To cap off their love story, King is teaming with artist Clay Mann on a Batman/Catwoman mini-series, and thanks to a new tweet from King, it appears a third character will be joining them — their child. That’s right, Catwoman is pregnant.
The tweet simply shows a piece of art showing Batman and Catwoman standing atop a Gotham City gargoyle, like they do, but Catwoman is clearly showing a baby bump. The art could be from the upcoming Batman/Catwoman miniseries, but another option could be the Catwoman 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular, which features a short story by King and his frequent collaborator artist Mikel Janin. King tagged Janin in the tweet along with colorist Jordie Bellaire. IGN reached out to DC for clarification but they declined comment.
They should probably get down from there. (Image credit: DC Comics)
Mitch Gerads, the artist who drew the two-part romance arc “Rooftops” in King’s Batman series, replied to the image with one of his pages from Batman #15 showing a naked, post-coital Bruce and Selina cuddling on a rooftop, implying that was the moment of conception for the baby.
They definitely felt the love that night. (Art by Mitch Gerads. Image credit: DC Comics)
King’s Batman story features a flash-forward (seen in Batman Annual #2 and drawn by Janin) showing a possible future of an elderly Bruce and Selina raising their daughter Helena Wayne, so unless some unforeseen twist that changes that, we already know the happy couple is having a girl. A bit of trivia: Helena Wayne was the daughter of Bruce and Selina on Earth-2, and now it seems King is folding that into the main continuity.
Joshua is Senior Features Editor at IGN. If Pokemon, Green Lantern, or Game of Thrones are frequently used words in your vocabulary, you’ll want to follow him on Twitter @JoshuaYehl and IGN.
Sony Interactive Entertainment has filed a patent that may point to a new PSVR controller.
The patent, titled “Controller Device,” details a new design for a remote-like VR controller that shares some similarities with the current PlayStation Move controllers, but it also has its fair share of upgrades.
Like the PlayStation Move controller, which has been around since the PlayStation 3 era, the patent shows a controller with a wand-like shape, four small face buttons, a trigger on the back, and a larger center button.
The giant light ball is gone, and the patent describes finger-sensing technology that can detect contact from the user’s fingers. PC VR rigs have had similar technology for some time, but the original PS Move controllers currently used for PSVR lack this functionality.
The patent also shows a wrist strap, and some are speculating that the strap may be used to simulate grabbing objects in VR, which is a function seen in Valve’s Index VR controllers.
It remains to be seen if this patent will become a real product in the future. The PlayStation 5 is set to release this year, and Sony has confirmed that current PSVR hardware will be compatible with PS5.
Logan Plant is a news writer for IGN, and the Production Assistant for Nintendo Voice Chat, IGN’s weekly Nintendo show. You can find him on Twitter at @LoganJPlant.
Where would we be without electricity? Our gadgets would be useless. Civilization would crumble. Thankfully we live in a world with electricity that we can use to power our phones, tablets, Switches, and all the delightful technology that makes life so breezy. Today’s Amazon Deal of the Day is on Anker multi-port chargers and other charging accessories like power strips and cables. The only catch is that the deals vanish at midnight, so grab ’em while they’re on sale.
Sony won’t be attending E3 this year, and now it has confirmed that it will not make a scheduled appearance at this month’s PAX East event. On the PlayStation Blog, the company cited the coronavirus epidemic as the cause for the sudden cancellation.
SIE content communications manager Justin Massongill said that avoiding the event was the “safest option” in the face of the erratic nature of the coronavirus (officially called COVID-19). The virus has affected more than 75,000 people and the death toll has risen above a reported 2,000 cases.
“Update: Today, Sony Interactive Entertainment made the decision to cancel its participation at PAX East in Boston this year due to increasing concerns related to COVID-19 (also known as ‘novel coronavirus’),” Massongill said. “We felt this was the safest option as the situation is changing daily. We are disappointed to cancel our participation in this event, but the health and safety of our global workforce is our highest concern.”
The news comes a week after Sony announced its plans to attend PAX East with a bunch of new playable demos for upcoming games such as Doom Eternal, Nioh 2, Spelunky 2, and more. With Sony skipping the upcoming convention altogether, the company is also pulling these demo previews and some others, including the first public demo for Naughty Dog’s highly-anticipated The Last of Us Part 2.
If you dream of crane kicking anthropomorphic squirrels in the face, your wait is almost over: The open-world RPG Biomutant has entered the last stages of development, according to a tweet from developer Experiment 101.
Published by THQ Nordic, and first announced in late 2017, the martial arts RPG made a splash at industry trade shows like Gamescom with flashy trailers that show off its unique world and cartoonish combat. Still, as the tweet says, there is no release date to announce as of yet. The game’s Steam store page references a planned release window of 2020.
If you’re looking for more games starring bipedal mice, check out Ghost of a Tale, a stealthy adventure RPG. If eking out an existence in a mutated world is more your thing, Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden is an excellent tactical shooter with plenty of depth. In our review, David Wildgoose called it “a superb tactical combat campaign that you shouldn’t let sneak past.”
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Adding more features doesn’t automatically make a headset higher quality. Case in point, HyperX’s Cloud Alpha S is a PC-focused version of the very popular Cloud Alpha gaming headset which adds a few very welcome features, including 7.1 surround sound, per-can bass control switches, and a digital-to-audio controller with some quick audio mixing options. These enhancements will run you a little extra – $129 for the Cloud Alpha S versus $99 for the standard Alpha – but theoretically add some significant quality-of-life improvements for PC players, so it makes sense that HyperX would charge a little extra.
Sounds like a sure thing, right?
Well, not exactly. The Cloud Alpha S delivers the same strong, clear sound as the Cloud Alpha, making it a strong choice for a sub-$150 headset. But many of its new features – the stuff that’s meant to justify its higher price – don’t feel like the revelation you’d expect from a “more expensive Cloud Alpha.”
Design and Feature
The Cloud Alpha S is very much a riff on the Cloud Alpha, which means its fundamental structure and design are very similar in more ways than not. It has the same sturdy aluminum frame, though its an icy blue on the S. The faux leather covering on the top-band and stitching along the sides are also blue this time. Its mildly noise-cancelling ear cups are, again, made from the plush memory foam found in many HyperX headsets, which are very comfortable over long gameplay, movie, and listening sessions.
HyperX claims the leatherette in the Cloud Alpha S is “more breathable” than the original Alpha; I can’t really attest to that, but I will say that your ears still sweat a bit in a warm room. (I don’t hold against that against the designers, but let’s just say that HyperX has not solved the big-headphone-equals-hot-head conundrum.)
The detachable mic is also a holdover from the original Cloud Alpha. The wired boom mic has active noise-cancelling to keep shallow breaths and other outside noise out of other players’ ears. The mic is clear, but nothing to write home about, though I will I say it took less time than usual for me to position it than with many others I’ve used.
Across the board I’d say the similarities between the two headsets are undoubtedly a good thing. The Cloud Alpha is an incredibly comfortable and clear-sounding piece of audio gear, and the Cloud Alpha S follows suit.
HyperX’s 50mm drivers return, providing clear and solid sound across its range. The Cloud Alpha S retains the Cloud Alpha’s “dual-chamber” driver design, which allows the headset to keep bass from booming so loud it muddies other sounds. The Cloud Alpha S expands upon that system by adding a switch on each can that allows you to physically expand or restrict the amount of room the bass driver has to create sound. Across the board, mids and highs come in nice and clear, and having that added bit of control for the bass makes it easy to make spot changes to your sound as you switch from a bass-heavy shooter to something with a softer aural profile.
The biggest additions, feature-wise, all revolve around the Cloud Alpha S’ new mixer/remote. The USB-to-3.5mm controller allows you to switch on the headset’s 7.1 simulated surround sound, as well as toggle a couple of quick-and-dirty audio mixes to boost voice chat or game audio. (Also, as you might expect, it has volume controls and a mic mute button). The controller is detachable, and the headset works on consoles when you connect them directly using a 3.5mm jack, but the USB controller is what enables most of the new features, and why HyperX recommends the Cloud Alpha S specifically for PC.
Switching the surround sound on and off quickly shows that it can make a sizable difference in how games and other audio sounds, but only to a point. There is a loose suggestion that you are surrounded by sound, but it is a far cry from the positional audio found in higher-end headsets, such as HyperX’s own Cloud Orbit S.
Likewise, the game and chat mix buttons fall flat. They are no replacement for going into a game’s settings and changing its audio levels yourself. They can, however, be a useful emergency adjustment when you don’t have time to fix things mid-match.
Gaming
In general, the Cloud Alpha S is a solid headset for playing games, until you expect too much from it. Audio comes in clean and clear across lows, mids, and highs. I will say that in games with lots of explosions, like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, I found the base felt a bit muted, even with the bass switches fully open. The sound was nuanced and well-textured – you can hear the difference between a bullet whizzing past and pinging against a metal surface – but it didn’t have the oomph I wanted from a bass-forward soundscape.
As I mentioned above, the Cloud Alpha S’ surround sound has very clear limitations, especially when it comes to games. More often than not, you will not be able to point to which of the seven “speakers” a sound came from. This becomes a problem in multiplayer games where positional audio is important. You can tell left from right and vaguely ahead versus behind, but not always so quickly that you’ll turn and draw a weapon on instinct alone.
When playing games where audio was a quality-of-life feature, rather than a gameplay concern, I was far more pleased. In a game like The Outer Worlds, you can hear conversations going on around you as you walk by, and everything comes through crystal clear. The general sound quality is very high, especially at this price point.
This is realistically in line with other simulated surround sound products in sub-$200 headsets, but the fact that HyperX decided to design a new headset around this feature, and charge extra for it, led me to look for something more. Clearly, I didn’t find it.
Purchasing Guide
The HyperX Cloud Alpha S is available now for $129.99 at the HyperX store and at major retailers, including Amazon and Best Buy.
Today’s spotlight deals include $100 off a PS4 Pro, every Cowboy Bebop episode in HD for $5, 67% off the amazing Dropmix game, and 5TB of portable storage for under $100. There are also alot of preorders that went up today, including a new color for the Nintendo Switch Lite, the complete Star Wars Saga on Blu-ray and 4K, and Marvel’s Avengers Earth’s Mightiest Edition for both PS4 and Xbox on Amazon.
PS4 Pro 1TB Gaming Console for $299.98
Here’s another chance to score a PS4 Pro console at the same price as on Black Friday. This is brand new with a full 1-year Sony warranty. If you have a 4K TV with HDR or plan to purchase the PSVR headset, then this model is recommended over the PS4 Slim. Some of you might think with the new PlayStation coming out this year, why bother with this? Well unless you’re willing to pay $500 on a console, you’ll have to wait longer than that.
The newest color in the Nintendo Switch Lite lineup is available for preorder. It’s out on April 3. The Switch Lite is $100 less than the Switch and can play almost all of the same games.
Here’s your chance to score one of the best anime TV series ever at the lowest price ever. Cowboy Bebop only ran for one season, and all 26 episodes are available in glorious HD. Watch Amazon digital content practically anywhere including with the Movies Anywhere app.
This is an outstanding price considering the fact that the normal list price is $99.99. DropMix was developed by Hasbro with Harmonix, creators of Rock Band and Dance Central. You get 60 DropMix cards from various popular artists and tracks to create your own song mixes. We even reviewed it and called it “one of the most exciting games of recent years”.
This portable hard drive is compatible as external storage for your PC, PS4, or Xbox One. Portable drives are physically much smaller than their desktop hard drive siblings. However, they are just as fast and require no additional power other than the USB port. The only tradeoff is the higher cost per GB, but that point is moot with today’s deal.
Preorder Marvel’s Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Edition (Both PS4 and Xbox One Now on Amazon)
One of the most anticipated games of 2020 now has it’s most special edition up for preorder. Earth’s Mightiest Edition includes Marvel’s Avengers: Deluxe Edition with steelbook case, a full color 12” statue of Captain America, Hulk bobblehead, Mjolnir keychain, Black Widow’s belt buckle, Iron Man’s prototype armor blueprints, Kamala Khan’s honorary Avenger pin, and commemorative Avengers group photo. Pre-order to get 72-hour early access.
Preorder Star Wars The Skywalker Saga 9-Movie 18-Disc Blu-ray or 27-Disc 4K Collection
The 18-disc Blu-ray edition is up for preorder at Walmart and the 27-disc 4K edition is available at Best Buy. These are the first official sets that contain all nine of the Saga movies.
HP OMEN 15t Intel Core i7-9750H 6-Core 15.6″ 1080p 144Hz IPS RTX 2070 Laptop for $1160.99
The OMEN is HP’s premium line and build quality is superior to anything else you’d find at this price range. The base config is fine, but in my opinion this deal gets so much better if you upgrade to the GeForce RTX 2070.
Keep Your Gaming Station Clean: 675-Count (9 Packs) of Clorox Disinfecting Wipes for $18.32
To get this deal, you’ll need to add THREE of the 3-pack bundle and check out using Subscribe & Save. You’ll get automatic free shipping. The discount increases if you already have 4 or more items in your Subscribe & Save. These wipes will clean and sanitize your gunky keyboards, mice, laptops, headphones, mics, desktop surfaces, and more.
This one has been out of stock from nearly the beginning and bound to go out of stock again well before the September release date. This is easily one of the most anticipated games of 2019. The studio CD Projekt Red are the masterminds behind the incredible Witcher games and if you’re a huge fan like I am then you will most definitely be getting this game. The Collector’s Edition includes the game with steelbook case, 10″ statue of V in action, hardcover art book, metal pin set, metal keychain, patches, postcards, sticker set, DLC, and more.
Disney and Lucasfilm have officially announced the digital and home release dates for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
In the US, the digital version of The Rise of Skywalker will arrive first on March 17, with the 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD formats hitting shelves on March 31. In the UK, the digital edition will land in HD and 4K UHD on April 13, while fans who prefer physical releases will be able to pick up their copies on April 20.
The Rise of Skywalker release is set to be accompanied by, “over two hours of bonus material,” including a feature-length documentary titled, The Skywalker Legacy, which will go behind-the-scenes of Episode IX.
Other extras include storyboard-to-screen style featurettes that will dive into the making of Pasaana and the epic landspeeder chase, along with an exploration of the ship that connects Rey to the mystery of her missing parents and a closer look at new droid D-O. Plus, a conversation with Warwick Davis about his return as Wicket the Ewok, this time with his son, and a bonus creature feature that will reveal the puppetry, makeup, prosthetics and digital magic that helped to bring the galaxy’s menagerie of aliens to life.
In our review of The Rise of Skywalker, we concluded the film had been, “engineered to hit the viewer on multiple levels while struggling to settle 42 years’ worth of story elements,” which we suggested was “too much for any one film to handle.”
If you’re a gamer above a certain age, you’re probably well-familiar with the NES Zapper, the electric orange light gun that served as one of the most popular accessories for the original Nintendo Entertainment System. While you could use it to blow away bad guys in a variety of games, like Hogan’s Alley and Wild Gunman, it’s often associated with Duck Hunt, the bird-shooting game that starred one of video game’s most annoying canine companions.
Well, Japanese gamers looking to blast some ducks these days will need to fork up some serious cash for the privilege. According to a tweet by Kotaku features editor Chris Kohler, the humble Zapper has climbed in price in Japanese markets in recent months. For comparison, the cheapest orange Zapper in the image had a price of 6,000 yen (~$54), whereas Amazon postings for a US Zapper start around $15, including shipping. This can be attributed to two main factors: the Zapper never came out in Japan, since the Famicom had its own light gun that bore a strong resemblance to a real-life revolver; and the gun’s appearance as a weapon in Splatoon 2 has raised its profile significantly.
Thanks to its newfound worldwide popularity by appearing in Splatoon 2, the NES Zapper (unreleased in Japan) now sells for a bunch of money on Japanese sites, where it’s tagged with “N-Zap” and “Splatoon” pic.twitter.com/u4fBZMjpzB
This isn’t the first time that Nintendo has included the Zapper as a bit of nostalgic fan-service. The character Duck Hunt in Super Smash Bros. serves as an elaborate tribute to the light gun, complete with many references to characters from NES light gun games.
Here’s another chance to score a PS4 Pro console at the same price as on Black Friday. This is brand new with a full 1-year Sony warranty. If you have a 4K TV with HDR or plan to purchase the PSVR headset, then this model is recommended over the PS4 Slim. Some of you might think with the new PlayStation coming out this year, why bother with this? Well unless you’re willing to pay $500 on a console, you’ll have to wait longer than that.
The newest color in the Nintendo Switch Lite lineup is available for preorder. It’s out on April 3. The Switch Lite is $100 less than the Switch and can play almost all of the same games.
Here’s your chance to score one of the best anime TV series ever at the lowest price ever. Cowboy Bebop only ran for one season, and all 26 episodes are available in glorious HD. Watch Amazon digital content practically anywhere including with the Movies Anywhere app.
This is an outstanding price considering the fact that the normal list price is $99.99. DropMix was developed by Hasbro with Harmonix, creators of Rock Band and Dance Central. You get 60 DropMix cards from various popular artists and tracks to create your own song mixes. We even reviewed it and called it “one of the most exciting games of recent years”.
This portable hard drive is compatible as external storage for your PC, PS4, or Xbox One. Portable drives are physically much smaller than their desktop hard drive siblings. However, they are just as fast and require no additional power other than the USB port. The only tradeoff is the higher cost per GB, but that point is moot with today’s deal.
One of the most anticipated games of 2020 now has it’s most special edition up for preorder. Earth’s Mightiest Edition includes Marvel’s Avengers: Deluxe Edition with steelbook case, a full color 12” statue of Captain America, Hulk bobblehead, Mjolnir keychain, Black Widow’s belt buckle, Iron Man’s prototype armor blueprints, Kamala Khan’s honorary Avenger pin, and commemorative Avengers group photo. Pre-order to get 72-hour early access.
The 18-disc Blu-ray edition is up for preorder at Walmart and the 27-disc 4K edition is available at Best Buy. These are the first official sets that contain all nine of the Saga movies.
The OMEN is HP’s premium line and build quality is superior to anything else you’d find at this price range. The base config is fine, but in my opinion this deal gets so much better if you upgrade to the GeForce RTX 2070.
To get this deal, you’ll need to add THREE of the 3-pack bundle and check out using Subscribe & Save. You’ll get automatic free shipping. The discount increases if you already have 4 or more items in your Subscribe & Save. These wipes will clean and sanitize your gunky keyboards, mice, laptops, headphones, mics, desktop surfaces, and more.
This one has been out of stock from nearly the beginning and bound to go out of stock again well before the September release date. This is easily one of the most anticipated games of 2019. The studio CD Projekt Red are the masterminds behind the incredible Witcher games and if you’re a huge fan like I am then you will most definitely be getting this game. The Collector’s Edition includes the game with steelbook case, 10″ statue of V in action, hardcover art book, metal pin set, metal keychain, patches, postcards, sticker set, DLC, and more.