As rumors suggest that Xbox Scarlett is now one console instead of two, we discuss what that means for Xbox heading into the next generation. Plus: Alan Wake 2 is a lot more possible now than it was last week, EA executives forego their bonuses, the co-creator of Dead Space is making a narrative-driven game for PUBG Corp, and more!
Subscribe on any of your favorite podcast feeds, or grab an MP3 download of this week’s episode. For more awesome content, check out this month’s episode of IGN Unfiltered, featuring a career-spanning interview with Bethesda creative force Todd Howard, who discusses next-gen consoles, Starfield, Elder Scrolls 6, Fallout games past and present, and his origins with a Terminator first-person shooter:
Spider-Man: Far From Home released on Tuesday in the US and Canada, a date that Sony chose to have the superhero movie release just ahead of the 4th of July holiday.
The superhero movie is doing exceptionally well, as estimates for its Tuesday, July 2, opening see it making between $40 million and $48 million, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
That would be a new record for biggest Tuesday ever domestically, beating out The Amazing Spider-Man which made $35 million back on Tuesday, July 3, 2012.
For the six-day period covering Tuesday-Sunday, Far From Home is tracking to make $150 million or more in the US and Canada. The movie has some extra push behind it, as it connects directly to the box office smash Avengers: Endgame, while it also represents the final movie in the MCU Phase 3.
Writer and director Ari Aster has quickly become one of the foremost auteurs working in the horror genre today, and his latest film, Midsommar, cements that rise to prominence. Hereditary was no fluke–Aster is very, very good at making cerebral, tense, terrifying horror movies.
Midsommar is another film filled with daring creative choices, one of which is apparent to anyone who’s watched one of the movie’s trailers: It’s set almost entirely in daylight.
This is a unique choice for a genre that so ubiquitously relies on darkness as a tool to create scares. The fear of what you can’t see–of the unknown–is prevalent throughout horror movies, and setting movies at night, in dark dungeons, or in otherwise unlit circumstances is the easiest and most common way films tap into that fear. Daytime in horror films is usually when things like the basic premise are established–like during a horror movie’s opening scenes–or when the threat is finally over, like when characters re-emerge back into the sunlight at the end.
The fact that Midsommar manages to be tense and horrifying without the use of that common tool is remarkable. But the movie’s lack of darkness is not a gimmick–it’s a deliberate feature, one that Aster said he never felt hindered by.
“I don’t feel that lighting is my primary tool to create a mood or atmosphere or a feeling of dread,” Aster told GameSpot. “It wasn’t really a hurdle for me. I don’t know why.”
Midsommar’s constant beating sunlight in fact frequently adds to the movie’s sense of unease and unreality, as Sweden’s very real “midnight sun” makes it difficult for the characters (and by extension, the audience) to determine what time it is at any given point, not to mention how many days have passed in the nine-day festival taking place throughout the film. As a viewer, you might start wondering about fundamental questions of time and place, and even whether something supernatural is going on in the remote Swedish village the characters are visiting–all of which adds to a pervasive feeling of anxiety throughout the movie.
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Midsommar – Official Teaser Trailer
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“For me it was enough to have this dynamic between these characters that was always unsettled, and if that carries into every scene, then no matter whether it’s blistering daylight or utter darkness, there’s still that tension,” Aster said. “So I don’t know. If anything, I tasked myself with forgetting about that and just doing my best to tell the story.”
Shooting in broad daylight did present other challenges inherent to the craft of filmmaking. “You’re beholden to weather every day, and you’re chasing the sun, which is a huge, huge nightmare for continuity,” Aster explained. “I would say primarily, there’s just the logistical nightmares that one deals with whenever you’re shooting outside.
“We shot for three days outside in Hereditary, and those were without fail the hardest and most painful days. On this one, it was every day, which was–I’m not desperate to make another movie outside for a while. I’d love to just stay on a stage for the next couple of movies.”
Gunbreaker has a fairly intricate attack rotation that’s pretty fun to execute. It goes like this: Keen Edge, Brutal Shell, Solid Barrel, then gain one cartridge in your Powder Gauge. With just one cartridge, you can then execute a more powerful combo: Gnashing Fang, Savage Claw, Wicked Talon. The second combo is also subject to cooldown, so when it’s not available, just use the strong standalone attack Burst Strike.
There are also other attacks like Danger Zone (which lives on its own cooldown) and Sonic Break (which does damage-over-time)–you should use these when available.
Like all Tanks, Gunbreaker’s main goal is to pull enmity (or aggro) and keep enemies away from all other party members–for this, you’ll need to have the ability Royal Guard active. To pull extra enmity, you have Provoke, and to divert it to another tank when you’re in trouble with 8-player raid parties, you have Shirk.
The DC movie universe seems to be thriving once more, following the box office success of Aquaman and Shazam and with highly anticipated movies such as Joker and Birds of Prey set for the release over the next year. One project that hasn’t had much luck getting to the screen however is the Flash movie. It has now been reported that It director Andy Muschietti might soon be attached to the movie.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Muschietti is in talks to helm the Flash film. If the deal goes through, his filmmaking partner and sister, Barbara Muschietti, will produce. The site states that an offer has not yet been made by Warner to Muschietti, but that will happen soon.
The Flash will star Ezra Miller, who previously played the character in the 2017 flop Justice League. However, THR states that Warner will not use the script that Miller wrote with comic book veteran Grant Morrison. Instead the studio is looking to hire Christina Hodson, the in-demand writer who wrote the script for last year’s Transformer spin-off Bumblebee and the upcoming DC female superhero team-up Birds of Prey.
In related news, Muschietti’s horror sequel It: Chapter 2 hits theaters in September. Check the latest trailer out here. He has also been attached to adaptations of two separate classic anime titles over the past couple of years–Attack on Titan and Robotech–but there has been no further news about these projects.
San Diego Comic-Con can be overwhelming. It’s not only the biggest pop culture convention in the world, it’s also packed to the absolute brim with panels, events, activations–you name it–for just about every major franchise under the sun. Sorting it all out to find what’s happening with for your favorite shows, movies, games, and comics can be a nightmare. But never fear, the team here at GameSpot is comprised of SDCC veterans who are happy to help!
So, if you’re a Marvel fan who is San Diego bound this week, you’re in luck. We’ve combed through all the announcements and schedules that have been made available so far to sort everything out into a nice, easy to read list to help you plan your week-long Marvel-focused extravaganza.
Keep checking back for updates to this list as more panels and events are confirmed before the show!
Thursday
Marvel Games, Hall H, 1:30 PM. “Get an inside look at the latest and greatest from Marvel Games! Attendees will see exciting new content from Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order, Marvel’s Iron Man VR, and Marvel’s Avengers, with many unannounced surprises and panel exclusives. Host Greg Miller (of KindaFunny.com) will be joined by Bill Rosemann (VP & Creative Director, Marvel Games) and other special guests from titles throughout the Marvel Games family!”
Marvel’s Agents of Shield, Hall H, 3:30 PM “The cast and producers of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will return to San Diego Comic-Con in epic fashion as they take over Hall H for the first time ever! Be the first to hear the scoop about the show-stopping conclusion for season six and what awaits in season seven of Marvel’s flagship television show. With your favorite stars in attendance, including Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Chloe Bennet, Elizabeth Henstridge, Iain De Caestecker, Henry Simmons, Natalia Cordova-Buckley, and Jeff Ward, along with executive producers Maurissa Tancharoen, Jed Whedon, Jeff Bell, and Jeph Loeb, this is a must-see panel to celebrate seven seasons with the world’s greatest fans! This action-packed series from Marvel Television and ABC Studios airs Fridays at 8/7c on ABC. *Please note: talent is subject to change.”
Friday
A Conversation With The Russo Brothers, Hall H, 11:00 AM “For the Russo Brothers, Avengers: Endgame was the culmination of an unprecedented four-film, seven-year journey through the Marvel Cinematic Universe that has included some of the most iconic experiences in modern cinema. Come hear directors Joe and Anthony Russo reflect on Endgame and their epic road to it as they segue into life beyond Marvel with their new company, AGBO, which happens to include an exciting array of new and old creative friends. This new independent studio develops and finances filmed projects in any medium while keeping creative control within the hands of artists. This discussion will be moderated by Collider’s Editor-in-Chief Steven Weintraub.” (Note: this is not an “official” Marvel panel.)
A Conversation With Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, Hall H, 12:00 PM* “The two writers — who also wrote Captain America: The First Avenger, Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Thor: The Dark World for Marvel Studios — are set to appear Friday, July 19, on a morning panel moderated by Jeff Goldsmith, publisher of Backstory Magazine and host of The Q&A With Jeff Goldsmith podcast.” (Note: official panel time and description not yet confirmed, announcement via THR.)
Marvel Comics #1000 Revealed: A This Week In Marvel Special Event, Room 5AB, 12:30 PM “Marvel’s flagship podcast comes to Comic-Con loaded with secrets, giveaways, reveals, news, guests, and more! And, if you think you’ve got the stuff and want some swag, you can challenge the Marvel crew in a special House of Ideas Throwdown! Join host Ryan Penagos (aka Agent M, VP & Creative Exec, Marvel) along with CB Cebulski (Marvel Comics Editor in Chief) and an array of Marvel creators as they dig into Marvel Comics #1,000, one of the biggest Marvel Comics projects ever assembled, and celebrate Marvel’s 80th Anniversary!”
Marvel Comics: Spider-Man, Room 5AB, 1:30 PM “Get caught in Spider-Man’s tangled web along with Executive Editor Nick Lowe, Assistant Editor Kathleen Wisneski, as well as writers Nick Spencer (Amazing Spider-Man), Seanan McGuire (Ghost-Spider), and Frank Tieri (Absolute Carnage vs. Deadpool, Absolute Carnage: Lethal Protectors) to find out what’s on the horizon for all of your wall-crawling favorites! Spider-Man’s mysterious new foe sets his plan into motion! Ghost-Spider joins the Marvel Universe! And New York experiences Absolute Carnage! PLUS – Don’t miss an exclusive giveaway variant comic of Spider-Man: City At War #5! The stunning rendering by Skan depicts an homage to the classic Amazing Spider-Man #3 cover by Steve Ditko! “
Marvel’s Agents of Shield Signing Event, Marvel Booth #2329, 3:30 PM. Please note this is a ticketed autograph signing event. You will need to get a ticket to participate. They’re distributed via first-come-first-served lottery on Friday morning when the exhibit hall opens.
Marvel Animation Celebrates Marvel’s 80th Anniversary, Room 6A, 3:30 PM “Join Cort Lane (SVP, Animation and Family Entertainment), Kalia Ramirez (Director, Family Entertainment – Development & Partnerships), writers Mark Hoffmeier (Spider-Man: The Animated Series) and Marty Isenberg (X-Men: The Animated Series), and fan-favorite voice actors Josh Keaton (Spectacular Spider-Man, Marvel’s Avengers Assemble) and Jennifer Hale (Wolverine & the X-Men, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy) as they take a journey through highlights of over five decades of Marvel cartoons. Including behind-the-scenes dish on the making of classic shows, a run-down of all ten of Spider-Man’s series, and a 10th anniversary retrospective of Marvel’s Animation division, this is a panel you don’t want to miss! Plus a special in-memoriam look at Stan Lee’s greatest animation moments.”
Saturday
Women of Marvel: 10 Years and 200 Episodes, Room 5AB, 10:00 AM “Celebrate ten years of Women of Marvel panels and 200 podcast episodes! Join hosts Sana Amanat (VP of Content & Character Development, Marvel) and Judy Stephens (Producer, Marvel) and special guests to talk 80 years of Marvel history, what it’s like working as a woman in comics, and the future of the industry.”
Marvel Comics: Next Big Thing, Room 6A, 1:45 PM “Legendary writer Jonathan Hickman is joined by Editor in Chief C.B. Cebulski and other Mighty Marvel Guests to bring you all the latest and greatest news straight from the House of Ideas! Learn what comes next for the X-Men after the senses-shattering revelations of the House of X and Powers of X!! Plus, stick around for a few things we can’t even hint at yet!”
Marvel Comics: Marvel Fanfare with C.B. Cebulski, Room 6A, 3:00 PM “This is your chance to meet the head of editorial at Marvel! In an exclusive and intimate panel experience, Editor in Chief C.B. Cebulski, along with superstar talents including Rob Liefeld and Skottie Young, will talk about anything and everything involved with Marvel Comics. What secrets are held in the House of X? Can Venom prove himself a true hero in Absolute Carnage? When is Dazzler’s next album coming out? What were C.B., Rob and Skottie’s favorite Marvel characters as kids, and how do they feel about those characters now? Ask these questions and more in the Q&A! Plus, don’t miss an exclusive giveaway variant of Silver Surfer Black #2, Giuseppe Camuncoli’s take on Carnage soaring the spaceways on Silver Surfer’s board!”
Sunday
Making Comics The Marvel Way, Room 5AB, 11:15 AM “A slew of Mighty Marvel guests take you behind-the-scenes and show you how a Marvel comic book is made! Learn about every aspect of production including writing, penciling, inking, coloring, editing, and more – with creators on hand to offer personal insights and anecdotes. If you’re interested in the ins-and-outs of the comic book industry, this is the one panel you can’t miss!”
Season 2 of Apex Legends is now officially underway on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and a lot has changed in Respawn’s battle royale game. Not only is there a new playable character, the science genius Wattson, there’s a new Battle Pass to purchase, which means a load of new rewards to unlock.
Unlike Season 1’s Battle Pass, Season 2’s works much more like Fortnite‘s Battle Pass, offering a regular stream of challenges to complete as the season progresses. Clearing these tasks will help level your Battle Pass up, which in turn will allow you to unlock this season’s new skins, emotes, loading screens, and other cosmetic rewards.
While the general gist of the Battle Pass is similar to Fortnite, the new Season 2 challenges will work a little differently. Like in Epic’s battle royale game, Apex Legends Battle Pass holders will have access to seven new challenges each week. However, three of these tasks will raise your Battle Pass by one full level when completed. On top of that, there will be three recurring challenges every week, as well as three random challenges (pulled from a pool of 200) to complete each day.
Season 2’s first weekly set of challenges is now live, and they’re all fairly self-explanatory, so you should be able to complete them with a little persistence. The three that will level your Battle Pass up once completed ask you to deal 7,500 damage with assault rifles and finish in the top three using either Bloodhound, Lifeline, or Wraith. There’s also a multi-step challenge that begins by having you to land in Relay. The remaining challenges run the gamut from getting 35 knockdowns to looting five care packages; you can see the full list below.
That isn’t all that’s new in Season 2 of Apex Legends. The game’s map, Kings Canyon, has also undergone some changes, and Titanfall 2’s L-Star has been added as a Legendary Gold energy-based weapon. The more competitive Ranked Leagues are also now available. You can read more about Apex Legends Season 2 in our roundup.
Apex Legends Season 2, Week 1 Challenges
Land in Relay (step 1 of 4) — +1 BP Level
Deal 7,500 damage with assault rifles — +1 BP Level
Finish in the top 3 as Bloodhound, Lifeline, or Wraith — +1 BP Level
