Microsoft has made a habit of dropping Easter eggs in its remote streams during the coronavirus pandemic. So with the Bethesda-Xbox roundtable event celebrating the acquisition, surely we were going to be teased about the setting of Elder Scrolls VI, a Starfield-themed Xbox console, and the blood type of Doomguy, right? As it turns out, nope.
That may be in part because of the venue. Rather than a remote event in which we spied on the offices of various Xbox executives, this one was held at Bethesda headquarters. That office space has plenty of Bethesda decor, ranging from a life-sized Doom Slayer to Corvo’s mask from Dishonored, but none of that seems to be particularly new or unexpected.
An inside look at Bethesda HQPhil Spencer rocking a Skyrim shirt
The one remote call came from Xbox head of partnerships Sarah Bond, who joined in from Xbox headquarters in Redmond. Similarly, her background was adorned with framed art based on huge Xbox franchises like Halo and Minecraft, and less-huge Xbox franchises like State of Decay.
State of Decay roughly as important to Microsoft as Halo, judging by frame sizes
Again, there don’t appear to be any hidden clues or Easter eggs hidden back there, unless it’s the one picture obscured behind Bond’s head. It kind of feels like that would be cheating.
Todd Howard’s Indiana Jones fandom once even sparked (false) rumors that he was dropping clues before Bethesda announced its Indy game. As it turns out, he’s just a big fan of Indiana Jones, so the appearance was coincidental. But this time, he doesn’t seem to have revealed any such hidden interests.
Pictured: Todd Howard
Unless…
Computer, enhance.
Pictured: Todd Howard’s wrist
Okay, yeah, that isn’t anything and this is getting sad.
It looks like this time, at least, the event didn’t drop any teasers for things to come–unless Microsoft and Bethesda surprise us with an announcement in a few months and then we learn that the clues were hiding here all along. It’s not outside the realm of possibility, but it’s much less likely that they’re hiding unannounced projects now that we’re all looking for them.
Gaming monitors are typically used in conjunction with PCs, but they can also be a great option for consoles. With the release of the PS5 and Xbox Series X, there’s increased interest around not only 4K TVs but also monitors that take full advantage of the next-gen consoles’ power. The PS5 and Xbox Series X will work well on almost any quality screen, but you’ll need a monitor with HDMI 2.1 to take full advantage of the consoles’ capabilities and play games in 4K at 120fps. At the moment, there are no monitors on the market that boast HDMI 2.1 ports, but if you’re not looking to take advantage of 4K and 120Hz at the same time, you can save some money on a more affordable monitor. Before we get into our recommendations, here’s what you need to know about picking the best monitor for PS5 or Xbox Series X right now.
What is HDMI 2.1?
HDMI 2.1 is the latest HDMI spec that can transmit 48Gbps of information, which allows for a 4K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR. HDMI 2.1 also provides two benefits to gaming specifically. Variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low-latency mode (ALLM) offer a smooth, tearless image and virtually no lag between your inputs and the action. The PS5 and Xbox Series X both boast HDMI 2.1 and can display gameplay at 4K and 120Hz–the PS5, however, does not currently feature support for any adaptive sync, including VRR, FreeSync, and G-Sync.
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What is HDMI 2.1 And Is It Important To Have For Next Gen?
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Can I use the PS5 and Xbox Series X on my HDMI 2.0 monitor?
HDMI 2.1 is backwards compatible with HDMI 2.0 cables and devices, so you’re able to enjoy the PS5 and Xbox Series X on any HDMI-compatible screen you own. You won’t be able to take advantage of the consoles’ 4K and 120Hz capabilities or the other benefits HDMI 2.1 provides, but most games don’t run at 4K and 120Hz anyway, so you won’t be missing out on too much. And games that do support 4K and 120Hz (like Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War) offer other modes that are enjoyable on their own.
What is 120Hz?
This isn’t a new thing in the realm of PC gaming, but the PS5 and Xbox Series X mark the first time console gamers have been subjected to higher refresh rates. Most TVs and monitors feature 60Hz panels that can display up to 60fps. 120Hz panels can display up to 120fps and–when paired with adaptive sync tech like VRR, FreeSync, or G-Sync–provide an extremely smooth-looking image. This results in better-looking gameplay while also improving responsiveness and reaction time–a higher refresh rate can make it easier to react to enemies coming around corners or projectiles flying in your direction.
While no HDMI 2.1 monitors are currently on the market, that’s about to change. Brands are already starting to announce HDMI 2.1-capable 4K monitors, like the Acer Nitro XV282K KV (expected to launch in May) and the Asus ROG Swift PG32UQ (set to release by the end of March). In the meantime, however, you can make use of 120Hz gaming on the new consoles by lowering your resolution to 1080p–that way, you’ll have enough bandwidth to send through a 120Hz output. This story will be updated as monitors with HDMI 2.1 start to release, but in the meantime, check out some of the best Xbox Series X and PS5 monitor options currently available below.
LG makes some of the best displays on the market, and when it comes to 4K and 120Hz+ options, they can’t be beat. The 27-inch LG 27GN950-B provides gorgeous images on its 4K IPS panel, combining vibrant colors and a smooth, clear image to make it one of the best 4K gaming monitors out there today. It boasts a 144Hz refresh rate, HDR600, and FreeSync Premium with G-Sync compatibility. That’s paired with an ultra-thin bezel and RGB lighting on the back that can sync with your gameplay.
If you want to save a bit of money but still want 4K and a fast refresh rate, the Acer Predator XB273K is a solid choice. Its IPS panel boasts both 4K and a 120Hz refresh rate while also providing its users with HDR400 and FreeSync with G-Sync compatibility. It has excellent colors, a clean image, and a shade shield if you’re worried about your room’s lighting interfering with the screen. The Acer Predator XB273K is a quality monitor that doesn’t feel like too much of a step down from the LG 27GN950-B.
The LG CX OLED is our choice for best 4K TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X, but its 48-inch model also makes for an excellent PC gaming monitor. The LG CX features great gaming features, including FreeSync Premium, G-Sync compatibility, low-latency gaming modes, and more. It also boasts a gorgeous 4K 120Hz OLED panel backed up by four HDMI 2.1 ports. That makes it perfect for the PS5, Xbox Series X, RTX 30 series graphics cards, and all of their related features. OLED panels also provide the best colors out there today, especially in darker images–the blacks on the LG CX are about as perfect as it gets.
If you’re on a tight budget, there are still some solid 4K monitors at affordable prices. One of the best is the Asus TUF VG289Q. It’s a 28-inch monitor in the $400 price range that boasts a 4K IPS panel with a 60Hz refresh rate. That means you won’t be able to use 120Hz performance modes, but this monitor still packs an exceptional experience without the ultra-high refresh rate. In addition to 4K and 60Hz, it features HDR support and FreeSync, the latter of which works well with the Xbox Series X.
The Xbox Series S is a less powerful console that targets 1440p and 120Hz. That means you don’t need a 4K monitor to enjoy the best image it can provide. 1440p scales well to 4K, though if you want the best 1440p screen, the LG 32-inch 32GK650F-B gaming monitor balances performance and price exceptionally well. It features a 1440p resolution (2560×1440), a 144Hz refresh rate, and FreeSync support, all of which will pair very nicely with the Series S. It also has a thin bezel, giving it an attractive, sleek look. You get all this for $400–or less if it’s on sale–making this an excellent choice for those with the budget Xbox.
Xbox’s new FPS Boost feature is already available for a few games like Far Cry 4 and New Super Lucky’s Tale, but the company confirmed duing the Microsoft-Bethesda roundtable livestream that some titles in Bethesda’s catalog will also get access to the feature “soon.”
Microsoft general manager Aaron Greenberg said on the livestream that the teams at Xbox are “already working” on bringing the feature to Bethesda games. Greenberg didn’t specify which Bethesda games these would be, but he said the company will “announce [them] soon.”
“And the teams are already working on adding FPS Boost to a number of [Bethesda] titles soon,” Greenberg said. “I know we’re going to announce [them] soon. Not today, but soon.”
It’s unclear how “soon” Bethesda and Xbox plans to announce the games that will receive the FPS Boost feature, which almost doubles a game’s frame rate by using the more powerful CPU and GPU inside Xbox Series X|S consoles. The feature provides for a smoother gameplay experience, so it could be beneficial for titles like Fallout 4 and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
Both of the aforementioned games hit Xbox Game Pass on March 12, alongside 18 other Bethesda titles. This includes classics like Doom 1993 and newer games such as Rage 2.
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If you’ve ever wanted Halo socks or a Master Chief mug, Best Buy has you covered with a new Halo Infinite collector box full of themed merch. Available for $40, the Halo Infinite collector box contains a Master Chief art print, a tiny collectible Energy Sword, the aforementioned socks, and more. It releases March 28, but you can preorder it now.
The collector box’s full contents are a Master Chief art print, Halo hat, Master Chief mug, a phone holder, Master Chief and Warthog pins, UNSC socks, and the Energy Sword vinyl figure.
If you’re looking for more Halo Infinite merch, Best Buy has a number of cool options. Best Buy’s exclusive Master Chief Funko Pop has an awesome camo finish, while the 8-inch Master Chief figure can hold your phone and controller while you’re not using them. The best Halo figure, however, is definitely the Dark Horse Master Chief PVC statue. It features Chief in a strong, majestic pose as he holds the iconic assault rifle and surveys the area.
Halo Infinite is expected to release this fall, and if you want to be ready for its release, you can reserve your copy ahead of time. Check out our Halo Infinite preorder guide, which features a discounted bundle that comes with the aforementioned Dark Horse statue.
Can you play Roblox on PS4 or PS5? Sadly, the answer is no. Roblox is one of the most popular online game platforms out there, raking in 199 million monthly active users across all current platforms, but since its official launch in 2006, PlayStation users have been left out. The question then is will Roblox ever come to PS4 or PS5? Let’s explore which platforms Roblox is currently available on, and which platforms it might launch on in the future.
Will Roblox Come To PS4 Or PS5?
The answer is most likely yes. In a July 2016 stream on the Roblox Twitch channel, now-former social media manager Jack Hendrik gave what we believe was one of the last updates on whether or not Roblox is coming to PS4.
“Soon?” stated Hendrik. “It is in production, that has been confirmed. We are working on [Roblox] for PS4. I do not have a release date for you guys.”
Can You Play Roblox On PS4 Or PS5 Now?
Many other sites offer guides on how to play or how to get Roblox on PS4 and PS5 now. The fact is there is no way to play Roblox on PS4 or PS5. Navigating to the Roblox page via the PlayStation console’s browser, logging in, and attempting to access Roblox that way will not work. PS4 and PS5 do not currently support Roblox, so there’s no way to brute force it.
Can You Play Roblox On Xbox One Or Xbox Series X|S?
Yes, as far as consoles go, Roblox is available to play on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. You can access it from the Microsoft Store.
What Other Platforms Can You Play Roblox On?
Roblox is currently only available to play on PC, Mac, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and mobile platforms iOS and Android. You can also use your Oculus Rift headset to play Roblox VR games on Windows.
What Is Roblox?
Developed by Roblox Corporation, Roblox was first released on the web in beta in 2004 under a different name, DynaBlocks, before having its name changed to Roblox in 2005 and then officially launching on PC in 2006. It is immensely popular among young people, with over 36.2 million daily active users, 67% of which are under the age of 16–and it has only continued to explode in popularity over the course of the last year as the COVID-19 pandemic has kept its primary school-aged demographic at home with extra free time.
But breaking down what Roblox actually is for those unfamiliar with video games, like inquisitive parents or people who don’t play them, can be a challenge. Many fans would say that Roblox is not technically a video game at all, but a video game creation platform. It allows users to develop their own games using the Roblox Studio engine, which is powered by the programming language Lua. These games are then hosted on the Roblox platform and can be played by other Roblox users. Some of the most popular user-created games in Roblox, like MeepCity and Jailbreak, attract millions of players.
Bethesda Game Studios managing director Ashley Cheng has shared some high-level details on two of the company’s most-anticipated upcoming games: Starfield and The Elder Scrolls VI.
During the Bethesda-Microsoft briefing, Cheng said the team working on Starfield is uniquely positioned to succeed because the developers themselves have worked together for years on other open-world RPGs in the Elder Scrolls and Fallout franchises.
“Today, the team working on Starfield have all worked on several open-world RPGs together. This shared experience and chemistry doesn’t happen overnight. It takes a long time and it’s a lot of hard work,” Cheng said.
Cheng didn’t mention The Elder Scrolls VI by name, but the game’s logo flashed on screen when Cheng spoke about the upcoming games from Bethesda Game Studios.
“As we work on our next-generation of games, I can think of no better place to be than here at Xbox. No matter how crazy the idea, the team at Xbox always says yes, ‘Let’s try it.'”
Release dates for Starfield and The Elder Scrolls VI have not been announced yet, but Starfield will come first, and then The Elder Scrolls VI, according to the current schedule. They are presumably being developed for next-gen hardware and PC.
Also during the event, Cheng said Microsoft has “always been a great partner” for Bethesda Game Studios, going back to the days of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, which launched as an exclusive for Xbox.
“Xbox has been a great partner; always ready to help solve problems, like figuring out how to optimize performance and push the hardware as much as we can,” Cheng said.
The roundtable interview between Microsoft and Bethesda also offered some new insight on future games from Bethesda. Xbox boss Phil Spencer said games will release on any platform that has Xbox Game Pass, which cuts out PlayStation and other competing consoles, though arrangements that are already in place will remain intact, so Deathloop will still be a timed-exclusive on PS5.
Thundurus is back in Pokemon Go for a limited time. The Gen 5 Legendary is appearing in its Incarnate Forme once again until March 16, and this time, you’ll have a chance to encounter a Shiny version. If you’re looking to add the Legendary Pokemon to your collection, here are some tips to help you beat and catch Thundurus.
Thundurus Raid Schedule
Incarnate Forme Thundurus is appearing in five-star Raid Battles again from March 11-16, giving you only a few days to catch it. In order to participate in a Thundurus Raid, you’ll need to have either a standard Raid Pass to join the battle in-person, or a Remote Raid Pass to join remotely. Both are on sale in Pokemon Go‘s in-game shop, but Niantic is also giving away one Remote Raid Pass in its free weekly item bundles, which are available every Monday in March.
Incarnate Forme Thundurus
How To Catch Shiny Thundurus
As previously mentioned, Shiny Incarnate Forme Thundurus is also appearing in Raids until March 16. However, your odds of finding one are fairly slim, and there’s no way to tell if Thundurus is Shiny until you’ve already defeated it and made it to the catching phase. If you’re hoping to catch a Shiny version, your best bet is to participate in as many Thundurus Raids as you can before the Legendary leaves the game again.
Therian Forme Thundurus
Therian Forme Thundurus
Immediately after Incarnate Forme Thundurus leaves five-star Raids on March 16, Therian Forme Thundurus will appear until March 30. This will mark your first chance to catch this form of the Legendary in Pokemon Go. Therian Forme Tornadus will also make its debut in the game starting March 30, while Therian Forme Landorus will appear sometime in April.
Weaknesses And Counters
As an Electric/Flying Pokemon, Thundurus is only weak to Ice and Rock types, so your best bet is to use Pokemon of those types when battling it. Golem, Tyranitar, Rhyperior, Rampardos, and Regirock are among the best Rock types in the game and will be very effective against Thundurus, while Mamoswine, Glaceon, Weavile, Kyurem, and Galarian Darmanitan are great choices when it comes to Ice Pokemon.
Ground types are also good options to use when battling Thundurus. Although Ground attacks will only deal neutral damage to the Legendary because its Flying typing cancels out Electric’s weakness, Ground Pokemon will still be helpful because they’ll resist Thundurus’s Electric attacks. Golem, Rhyperior, and Mamoswine are especially great choices because they’re part-Ground and can still dish out super-effective damage with their Rock and Ice attacks, respectively.
Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous Season 3 will be released by Netflix on May 21. The first trailer for the new season of the animated Jurassic World spin-off series has also been revealed.
The trailer is short and doesn’t reveal too much about the plot for Season 3. However, it makes it clear that our young heroes will be facing a scary new dinosaur threat. It looks like something has escaped from a lab, and it possibly shoots fireballs. Check the trailer out below:
Camp Cretaceous takes place during the events of the first Jurassic World movie, and focuses on a group of kids who are trapped on Isla Nublar as hungry dinosaur roam the park. The voicecast includes Paul-Mike’l Williams (Westworld), Jenna Ortega (The Babysitter: Killer Queen), Ryan Potter (Big Hero 6), and Sean Giambrone (The Goldbergs).
Netflix and DreamWorks are churning out new seasons of Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous at rapid pace. Season 1 only premiered in September last year, while Season 2 arrived in January.
As for the film series, the next movie is Jurassic World: Dominion, which hits theaters in June 2022. As well as regular stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas-Howard, the film sees the return of the three main actors from the original Jurassic Park–Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, and Laura Dern. The film is directed by Colin Trevorrow, who also helmed Jurassic World.
Apple Studios has made another big play to help it get a bigger footing in the movie business as it looks to compete against Netflix, Disney+, and others. The company has signed a multi-year deal with Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment to make more movies that will be exclusive to Apple TV+, according to Deadline.
This is a “first-look” deal, meaning Apple gets first right of refusal before Grazer and Howard are allowed to shop their projects to different studios.
Imagine Entertainment is a juggernaut in the film industry, responsible for movies over multiple decades such as 8 Mile, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man, American Gangster, The Da Vinci Code, and many others. Most recently, Imagine closed a deal with Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell, and Joel Edgerton for the new movie Thirteen Lives about the Thai cave rescue in 2018.
Over 36 years since its founding, Imagine’s movies have collectively earned 43 Oscar nominations and 198 Emmy nominations. Howard and Grazer won Oscars for A Beautiful Mind in 2001.
The Exhibitor Relations Company, an analysis firm that “provides essential information and intelligence to the entertainment industry,” is reporting that the upcoming Mortal Kombat reboot movie has received an R rating for “strong bloody violence and language throughout, and some crude references.” By itself, this may not seem like major news, but as the recently tweeted insight also indicates–both 1995’s Mortal Kombat and 1997’s Mortal Kombat: Annihilation received PG-13 ratings. This new version is due both in theaters and HBO Max on April 16.
It’s about to get real… real violent. WB’s MORTAL KOMBAT reboot is rated R: strong bloody violence and language throughout, and some crude references. Finally, a rating worthy of multiple fatalities. FYI: the first two films were PG-13. pic.twitter.com/ZwP9twZ0kr
— Exhibitor Relations Co. (@ERCboxoffice) March 10, 2021
Those who have seen the recently released red-band trailer–which was a lot of people, as the promo was viewed more than 166 million times in its first week–likely won’t be shocked to hear what rating the film has earned. But more than any other well-publicized aspect of the movie that communicates what new approaches are being taken in adapting the franchise to a film in the 21st century, the R rating by itself may alone signal to fans this version is something different. We have a breakdown of how the 1995 original stacks up against the upcoming version–which also serves as a fun look at just how much CGI has improved in the last 26 years. While you’re at it, you should also absolutely check out our breakdown of the trailer, which is loaded with Easter eggs
Mortal Kombat is directed by Simon McQuoid and produced by Aquaman director James Wan. It was previously set to be released in January, but was moved back to April. As with all other Warner movies this year, it will be released in theaters and made available to HBO Max subscribers on the same day. Subsequently, it will then stay on HBO Max for one month before then being available on other on-demand streaming services.
This is the third live-action Mortal Kombat movie, so far. The first was released in 1995 and was directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, who would go on to make the Resident Evil series and also direct the recent Monster Hunter movie.
