Box Office: How Much Did The New Mutants Bring In?

The New Mutants, which was already a long-delayed film before the pandemic pushed almost every movie’s release date back, is expected to pull in an estimated $8 million plus in its debut weekend after opening in 2,412 theaters which are operating on restricted/limited auditorium capacity.

Per THR, The New Mutants, from director Josh Boone, is one of the first movies to release in theaters nationwide following the shut down last March.

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/28/the-new-mutants-smile-clip”]

Based on Friday’s haul of $3.1 million, analysts say the final X-Men universe installment — which stars Anya Taylor-Joy as Magik, Maisie Williams as Wolfsbane, and Stranger Things’ Charlie Heaton as Cannonball — will earn close to $8 million.

In related news, Orion Pictures’ Bill and Ted Face the Music, playing in 1,007 theaters while also releasing on PVOD, pulled in $400,000 on Friday and is projected to make a strong $1.07 million showing.

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/18/the-new-mutants-so-am-i-clip”]

IGN’s review of The New Mutants called it an “entertaining, if at times formulaic small-scale genre movie” that didn’t deserve to be shelved for years.

Before movie hit theaters, New Mutants co-creator Bob McLeod took to Facebook and slammed the movie’s whitewashing and misspelling of his name

Check out the 7 best New Mutants comics worth binging and then watch one of the movie’s latest trailers released during the official ComicCon@Home panel with director Josh Boone.

[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”albumSlug=x-men-movie-continuity-errors&captions=true”]
[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

Gamescom 2020: The Biggest News, Best Trailers, and Coolest Gameplay

Gamescom has officially arrived and, from August 27-30, there will be a ton of incredible announcements, trailers, and gameplay videos from some of the most anticipated upcoming games.

It can be a lot to keep track of, so we’ve gathered the best parts of gamescom 2020, and we will be updating this article throughout the weekend!

Biggest gamescom 2020 Announcements

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart Confirmed for PS5 “Launch Window” Alongside Gameplay Trailer

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/27/ratchet-clank-rift-apart-ps5-gameplay-trailer”]

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart for PS5 got an extended, uncut look, and developed Insomniac Games confirmed that it will be a “launch window” game for the PlayStation 5.

The demo, which you can see above, showed the traditional third-person Ratchet and Clank gameplay with the new rift shifting feature following an encounter with the one and only Dr. Nefarious.

Dragon Age 4 First Look and Behind-The-Scenes Trailer

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/27/dragon-age-4-behind-the-scenes-teaser”]

Dragon Age 4 received a first-look trailer with behind-the-scenes footage featuring its developers from BioWare. The team also shared concept art, in-development footage, and showed the return of Solas from Dragon Age: Inquisition.

We were also briefly introduced to Bellaria and Davrin, who will be played by Jee Young Han and Ike Amadi, respectively.

Sea of Thieves Adds Dog Companions and a New Permanent Voyage

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/28/the-state-of-sea-of-thieves-next-year-will-be-the-biggest-one-yet”]

Sea of Thieves is getting dogs, need we say more? These adorable companions “can be pet, show affection, and generally appear as a cute friend, they’re also inclined to, well, take care of business. So watch where you step.”

There will also be a new permanent Voyage type that is being added for Gold Hoarders, but more info about it will arrive for it closer to launch.

World of Warcraft: Shadowlands to be Released on October 27

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/27/world-of-warcraft-shadowlands-gameplay-trailer”]

Alongside the reveal of the World of Warcraft animated short Afterlives: Bastion, it was revealed that World of Warcraft: Shadowlands will be released on October 27, 2020.

We were also treated to a new gameplay video, which you can see above.

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Delayed to Spring 2021, PS5 and Xbox Series X Versions Confirmed

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/27/lego-star-wars-the-skywalker-saga-gameplay-trailer”]

The good news is that we got a brand new gameplay trailer for LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, which was also confirmed to be coming to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

The less good news is that it has been delayed to Spring 2021. However, considering this ambitious game looks to retell the entire Skywalker Saga, we think they should take all the time they need to make it as perfect as it can be.

Free-to-Play Action-RPG Genshin Impact Arrives on PS4, PC, and Mobile Next Month

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/28/genshin-impact-gorgeous-anime-inspired-free-to-play-rpg-trailer”]

Genshin Impact, which takes inspiration from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, will be released on PS4, PC, iOS, and Android on September 28, 2020.

Genshin Impact’s PS4’s release date was confirmed today at gamescom 2020 alongside a brand new look at beautiful game in action.

Summoner’s War: Sky Arena Getting Street Fighter Crossover

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/29/summoners-war-x-street-fighter-5-crossover-event-trailer”]

Summoner’s War: Sky Arena will have a crossover even with Street Figther 5 and will see Ryu, Ken, M. Bison, Chun-Li, and Dhalsim join the turn-based strategy game on August 31, 2020.

Co-Op Adventure RPG Haven Will Be a Launch Title for Xbox Series X

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/29/haven-10-minutes-of-4k-gameplay-running-on-xbox-series-x”]

Haven, the co-op adventure RPG, will officially be coming to Xbox Series X as a launch title. Haven follows the story of two lovers, Yu and Kay, as they work on restoring a forgotten planet.

Haven will also be releasesd on Xbox One, PC, Switch, PS5, and PS4.

Drake Hollow, the Village-Building Action Game, Is Available Now

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/28/raise-plant-monsters-build-a-base-and-defend-it-with-others-in-drake-hollow”]

Drake Hollow was surprise dropped today and is available for PC and Xbox One. Players can team up with their friends to protect a village of vegetables, the titular drakes, from the evil beasts in The Hollow.

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown DLC Brings Back Three Fan-Favorite Aircraft

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/29/ace-combat-7-celebrates-its-25th-anniversary-with-new-dlc”]

In celebration of the series’ 25th anniversary, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown is getting new DLC that includes over 30 cosmetics and brings back three fan-favorite planes: the ASF-X, CFA-44, and XFA-27.

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Best Trailers at gamescom 2020

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Trailer Revealed

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/27/call-of-duty-black-ops-cold-war-perseus-briefing-cinematic”]

We got to see an extended version of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’s Perseus Briefing Cinematic that was also featured in the latest Call of Duty’s reveal.

This new look features returning characters Frank Woods, Alex Mason, Jason Hudson, and even President Ronald Reagan.

Fall Guys Season 2 Announced with Sneak Peek Trailer

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/27/fall-guys-season-2-sneak-peek-trailer”]

Mediatonic gave Fall Guys fans around the world a glimpse at the chaos that will arrive with Season 2, which will feature a medieval theme, new rounds, new costumes, and more.

Solasta: Crown of the Magister Brings a Dungeons & Dragons-Inspired CRPG to Steam Early Access This Fall

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/27/solasta-crown-of-the-magister-trailer-pits-you-against-deadly-dd-enemies”]

Solasta: Crown of the Magister is a classical CRPG that uses Dungeons & Dragons’ SRD 5.1 Ruleset. Players will be able to create their own party of adventures (including rolling for stats) and take them through the shattered world of Solasta.

Those interested can also download a demo starting today!

The Sims 4: Journey Batuu is a Star Wars Expansion Inspired by Galaxy’s Edge

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/27/the-sims-4-star-wars-journey-to-batuu-gameplay-trailer”]

The Sims 4: Journey to Batuu is inspired by Galaxy’s Edge at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland and will be available on September 8, 2020.

The first-look trailer showed off many locales from Galaxy’s Edge, familiar characters like Rey and Kylo Ren, lightsabers, and much more.

Humble 2021 Sizzle Reel Includes Midnight Express, Bushiden, The Wild at Heart, and More

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/28/humble-2021-sizzle-reel-includes-midnight-fight-express-bushiden-the-wild-at-heart-and-more”]

Humble showcased six games that will be released in 2021, including Midnight Fight Express, Bushiden, The Wild at Heart, Totemic, Unsighted, and Project Wingman.

Pharaoh: A New Era is a Remake of the Classic 1999 Ancient Egypt City-Building Game

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/27/build-your-empire-in-pharaoh-a-new-era-announcement-trailer”]

Dotemu will be bringing a full remake of Pharoah, the ancient Egypt city-building game, to PC in 2021.

While we didn’t get to see much gameplay of the updated version, a beautiful 2D animated trailer showed the rise of one of the most impressive civilizations in history, and set the tone for what players can expect next year.

Save the Post Office as an Adorable Kiwi Bird Duo in KeyWe

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/28/save-the-post-office-as-an-adorable-kiwi-bird-duo-in-keywe”]

Fans of Overcooked should take notice of KeyWe, a game all about saving a post office as two adorable Kiwi birds named Jeff and Debra. Teamwork is vital in this game, and this new trailer gives a glimpse of the fun players can have in 2021 when KeyWe is released.

Unknown 9: Awakening was a Mysterious, New IP Revealed at One Night Live

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/27/unknown-9-awakening-cinematic-trailer”]

Unknown 9: Awakening received a somewhat cryptic reveal, but it is being billed as a “storyworld” that will encompass books, comics, podcast, and games all set within a universe based on the real world, but built around “historical mythology and conspiracy theories, and filled with shadow organizations trying to uncover or protect dangerous knowledge.”

8-Bit Adventures 2 Trailer Delivers More Classic JRPG Charm

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/30/8-bit-adventures-2-trailer-delivers-more-classic-jrpg-charm”]

Return to a time of strategic turn-based battles, deep party customization, and a large fantastical world 8-Bit Adventures 2, a love-letter to NES, SNES, and PS1-era JRPGS.

F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch Gets a New Trailer

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/29/devs-explain-fist-forged-in-shadow-torch-metroidvania-gameplay”]

F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch’s latest trailer shows off a range of gameplay from a mid-game level, and has a focus on the variety of enemies and different weapon types players can utilize in this metroidvania.

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Coolest Gameplay Videos of gamescom 2020

Star Wars: Squadrons’ Campaign Gameplay Shown Alongside Film Character Reveals

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/27/star-wars-squadrons-single-player-preview”]

Star Wars: Squadrons’ campaign got the spotlight during Gamescom: One Night Live, and it was revealed that such classic film characters as Princess Leia and Wedge Antilles will make an appearance.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 & 2’s gamescom 2020 Dev Interview Featured a New Look at Downhill Jam

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/28/tony-hawks-pro-skater-12-developer-interview-whats-new-and-whats-unchanged”]

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 & 2 fans were treated to a dev interview with Vicarious Visions’ Andy Gentile as he showed off a variety of skaters going for high scores on the updated version of the Downhill Jam level.

The Outer Worlds: Peril on Gorgon DLC Gets New Gameplay

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/30/reunite-with-parvati-and-felix-in-this-the-outer-worlds-peril-on-gorgon-dlc-gameplay”]

The Outer Worlds: Peril on Gorgon DLC has gotten new gameplay, and it shows off new characters, locations and weapons. This new new look takes place at the Sprat Shack and the Gorgon Overlands.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time’s Flashback Levels Revealed

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/28/crash-bandicoot-4-its-about-time-offers-punishing-nitro-crate-filled-playgrounds-for-completionists”]

IGN had the chance to interview Toys for Bob’s Lou Studdert as he showed off some of the tough, throwback levels players can unlock in Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time by finding VHS tapes.

Wonder Boy – Asha in Monster World Gameplay Revealed

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/29/wonder-boy-asha-in-monster-world-trailer-the-colorful-90s-platformer-gets-a-remaster”]

After a teaser earlier this week, Wonder Boy – Asha in Monster World has been fully revealed with a glimpse at first gameplay of this remake of 1994’s Wonder Boy IV.

Borderlands 3: Psycho Krieg and the Fantastic Fustercluck DLC Gameplay Revealed

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/29/borderlands-3-psycho-krieg-and-the-fantastic-fustercluck-dlc-gameplay-explores-the-warped-memories-of-a-psychos-brain”]

Borderlands 3’s next major DLC, Psycho Krieg and the Fantastic Fustercluck, will be released on September 10, 2020, and lead writer Connor Thomas Cleary walks us through gameplay of all the fustercluck in action.

WWE 2K Battleground Fatal 4-Way with Austin Creed Let’s Play

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/29/wwe-2k-battlegrounds-fatal-4-way-with-austin-creed-lets-play”]

WWE Superstar Xavier Woods battles against the IGN ‘Let’s Play’ crew in WWE 2K Battlegrounds, an arcade-style, over-the-top wrestling game.

Scarlet Nexus First-Look Preview and Gameplay Footage

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/28/scarlet-nexus-the-first-preview”]

Scarlet Nexus is a stylish, flashy, and edgy action-RPG and it got a 16-minute gameplay demo for gamescom 2020.

Scarlet Nexus’ world takes place in the “near future..but in an alternative reality where people discovered substances in the brain and developed their society greatly on that.”

Doom Eternal The Ancient Gods: Part One Gameplay and Release Date Revealed

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/27/doom-eternal-the-ancient-gods-part-one-official-trailer”]

Doom Eternal’s first proper expansion, The Ancient Gods: Part 1, will be released on October 20, 2020, and we got a glimpse of new gameplay and some intimidating opponents.

On Day 3 of gamescom 2020, Doom Eternal Director Hugo Martin also revealed a ton of new details on the upcoming campaign DLC, The Ancient Gods Part 1, in the below trailer breakdown.

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/29/doom-eternal-the-ancient-gods-part-1-trailer-breakdown-with-hugo-martin”]

Little Nightmares 2 Hands-On Preview: A Friend in the Darkness

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/28/little-nightmares-2-hands-on-preview”]

Little Nightmares 2 received a new gameplay trailer during Opening Night Live at gamescom 2020, and we also had a chance to try the game for ourselves.

Destiny 2: Beyond Light’s New Element Stasis Shown

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/27/destiny-2-beyond-light-gameplay-trailer-gamescom”]

Destiny 2: Beyond Light made an appearance at Gamescom: Opening Night Live, and Stasis was the star. This new gameplay video showed off how each class will use the new Stasis abilities, which involve freezing enemies, shattering enemies, creating obstacles, and much more.

Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond Story Trailer Revealed

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/27/medal-of-honor-above-and-beyond-vr-story-trailer”]

Respawn Entertainment will be bringing back the Medal of Honor franchise this Holiday in VR, and a new story trailer was revealed during Gamescom: One Night Live.

Set during World War 2, Above and Beyond will put players in the shoes of the OSS as they must survive through historic events.

Ghostrunner Gameplay: 2 Minutes of Neo-Lit, Nimble Slashing

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/29/ghostrunner-gameplay-2-minutes-of-neon-lit-nimble-slashing”]

This new footage of the upcoming Ghostrunner showcased the fleet-footed protagonist wall-running, sliding, and slinging through the futuristic cyberpunk city, all while slicing up any foes who come in their way.

The Last Spell is a Fast-Paced Tactical RPG with Rogue-Lite Mechanics

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/29/the-last-spell-is-a-fast-paced-tactical-rpg-with-rogue-lite-mechanics-developer-commentary-gameplay”]

The Last Spell is a combination of turn-based strategy gameplay with roguelite mechanics that has players defending a city from hordes of enemies that spawn each night.

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

If you want to check out absolutely everything we showed, wrote about, and played for Gamescom 2020, head over to our hub page for much, much more. And if you want to check out the schedule for the full event, we’ve got that too.

Additionally, Gamescom’s long weekend kicked off with Gamescom: Opening Night Live, and we’ve gathered everything announced and revealed in one place. 

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected].

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Netflix’s Heist Comedy Great Pretender Should Be Your Next Binge

This is a spoiler-free recommendation piece for the first 14 episodes of Netflix’s Great Pretender, which are now streaming. We’ll have a full review once the whole season has debuted.

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Contrary to whatever Rick Sanchez might have you believe, heist stories rock. From Stanley Kubrick’s The Killing to Michael Mann’s Heat, not to mention Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Trilogy and 1969’s The Italian Job, the heist film is a celebrated fixture of action cinema for a reason. And that’s to say nothing of the notoriously good heist stories that the medium of anime has to offer in the form of Baccano! or Lupin the Third.

Netflix’s Great Pretender, the latest anime production from WIT Studio (Vinland Saga, Attack on Titan), director Hiro Kaburagi (91 Days, Speed Grapher), and screenwriter Ryota Kosawa, is a heist comedy tour-de-force with intriguing characters, beautiful vistas, and a scintillating, jazz-infused score.

[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”albumSlug=netflixs-great-pretender&captions=true”]

Great Pretender follows Makoto Edamura, a former straight-arrow turned con man who fancies himself as “Japan’s greatest swindler.” His low-level grifts soon catch the attention of the enigmatic, charismatic, and incorrigible gentleman thief Laurent Thierry who quickly takes a shine to the young Edamura. Their fates are quickly intertwined as Edamura is unwittingly coaxed into Thierry’s crew in their ongoing campaign to ingratiate themselves into the lives of the rich and infamous before taking them for all they’re worth. Aided by Laurent’s longtime associates Abby and Cynthia, Edamura grows as both a thief and as a person as he embarks on a whirlwind tour of international theft and fortune to ensnare the criminal elite.

Though Great Pretender might be Kosawa’s first time at bat when it comes to writing the scenario for an anime production, he’s anything but a rookie when it comes to the fine art of crafting a tight, serialized crime narrative. Known for his work on such live-action shows as AIBOU: Tokyo Detective Duo, Legal High, and last year’s The Confidence Man, Kosawa’s an old hand when it comes to guileful protagonists and sleight-of-hand storytelling. Each of the three arcs throughout the initial 14 episodes of the series released on Netflix is divided into three “cases,” each devoted to the con of one unscrupulous target or another in an exotic location. From the seething underbelly of Los Angeles to the verdant futurism of Singapore to the architectural beauty of London, Great Pretender is a show that knows that half of the appeal of watching someone pull off the perfect heist is watching them do it in a beautiful locale.

[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”albumSlug=the-best-anime-series-on-netflix-right-now&captions=true”]

Speaking of which, the background art in this series is so drop-dead gorgeous it all but warrants its own starring role in the show’s opening credits. Studio Bamboo and Suuuu, each of whom who have produced backgrounds for shows like Vinland Saga, Eden of the East, and Devilman Crybaby, knock it out of the park with Great Pretender, creating highly-stylized background with bright, cel-shaded color palettes rife with eye-catching details that’ll likely have viewers clamoring for new desktop wallpapers at the end of every episode.

Speaking of the end— and matter of fact, beginning— of every episode, the music in this show is absolutely dynamite. Every episode is capped off by Freddie Mercury’s rousing cover of The Platters’ “Great Pretender,” complemented by a whimsical accompanying animation directed by Kaburagi himself. Composer Yutaka Yamada’s opening theme “G.P.” is a jazzy, big band ensemble piece that wouldn’t feel out of place in an episode of Cowboy Bebop, accompanied by a stunning opening title sequence directed by Kotomi Deai (Michiko & Hatchin) that feels reminiscent of legendary graphic designer Saul Bass’ work on Alfred Hitchcock’s North By Northwest or Olivier Kuntzel and Florence Deygas’ animation for Steven Spielberg’s Catch Me If You Can. The show’s production as a whole is a stone-cold stunner from top to bottom, from the sound design of the series’ score to the savvy means by which the show itself navigates the boundaries and affordances of language and dialect with its voice-acting and dubbing, to say nothing of Yoshiyuki Sadamoto’s (Neon Genesis Evangelion) expert character designs.

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/04/05/netflixs-cowboy-bebop-live-action-cast-revealed-ign-now”]

What really drives the show’s persistent appeal is the strength of its characters, though. Each of the series’ four protagonists are complex human beings in their own right, with complicated pasts, relatable challenges, and lingering traumas that make their experiences believable and lived-in. Each case unfolds the histories of its main characters in one way or another, through Edamura, Abby, and finally Cynthia. The only one whose past is left unexplored for the most part is Monsieur Thierry himself, a character who, despite his affable disposition, hints at darker and seedier motivations behind his seemingly altruistic brand of thievery. With only the initial fourteen of the series’ twenty-three total episodes to go on, it appears that Great Pretender’s latter half will be devoted if not entirely, then predominantly to shedding more light on this conspicuously darkened corner of the series’ leading quartet.

Great Pretender is one of this year’s certified anime gems, an original series that boasts a level of polish, personality, and panache in terms of its production and presentation that’s frankly stunning to witness first-hand. It’s easily one of the best new anime to come out this year, not to mention one of the prettiest to look out, and a venerable addition to that coveted canon of anime shows you can confidently recommend to that one friend of yours that just doesn’t get anime. For the wealth of enjoyment you can get from watching this series compared to the time spent watching it, Great Pretender is a total steal in every sense of the word.

Summoner’s War: Sky Arena Getting Street Fighter Crossover

Summoner’s War: Sky Arena is beginning a crossover event to bring Street Fighter 5 characters into the mobile game from August 31, and we have a new trailer.

Announced at Gamescom 2020, the crossover will bring Ryu, Ken, M. Bison, Chun-Li, and Dhalsim to the turn-based strategy game – check out a trailer below:

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/30/summoners-war-x-street-fighter-5-crossover-event-trailer”]

Playing in the event between August 31 and November 1 will net you Ken for free.

Make sure to check out our full gamescom schedule to find out what else is on the way and our roundup of gamescom 2020 highlights.

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Joe Skrebels is IGN’s Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected].

Cyberpunk Slash-Fest Ghostrunner Prepares For Private Beta, And You Can Register Now

The slick cyberpunk action game Ghostrunner is due to hit PS4, Xbox One, and PC later this year, and a new trailer has been released in time for the virtual Gamescom celebration. If you’re looking to get your hands on the game prior to launch, beta registration has opened up, as well.

In the 30-second trailer released for Gamescom, we see Ghostrunner’s lightning-fast action and combat on full display. Characters are killed with just one hit, making every battle a test of precision and reflexes. You’re capable of dodging bullets, as well, and your impressive parkour moves keep everything moving at a rapid pace.

All of these moves need to be used fully in order to climb the game’s Dharma Tower, which is “humanity’s last shelter” following an apocalyptic event. In classic cyberpunk fashion, a powerful baddie holding all the cards awaits you. It looks like an extremely fast and fluid take on Dishonored, replacing the supernatural powers for high-tech weapons and style.

In order to register for the Ghostrunner private beta, you must fill out this form and join the game’s official Discord server. The beta is taking place in the middle of September and requires you to be at least 18 years old. While the game is coming to consoles at launch later this year, the beta will only be available on Steam.

Ghostrunner is developed by several studios, including veterans 3D Realms as well as One More Level and All in! Games. More details on the game will be available on September 15.

Now Playing: Ghostrunner – Gamescom 2020 Trailer

GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.

Black Panther Director Pens Touching Tribute to Chadwick Boseman

The death of actor Chadwick Boseman from cancer, at age 43, has shocked both friends and fans alike and had many who worked with Boseman, including the community of the MCU, sharing their condolences and loving thoughts on social media.

This includes Black Panther director Ryan Coogler, who wrote a heartfelt letter to the stalwart star of his movie, mentioning at the beginning of the tribute that watching Boseman’s scenes in a then-unfinished cut of Captain America: Civil War was the moment he decided to direct Black Panther.

Here is the full statement from Ryan Coogler:

Before sharing my thoughts on the passing of the great Chadwick Boseman, I first offer my condolences to his family who meant so very much to him. To his wife, Simone, especially.

I inherited Marvel and the Russo Brothers’ casting choice of T’Challa. It is something that I will forever be grateful for. The first time I saw Chad’s performance as T’Challa, it was in an unfinished cut of “Captain America: Civil War.” I was deciding whether or not directing “Black Panther” was the right choice for me. I’ll never forget, sitting in an editorial suite on the Disney Lot and watching his scenes. His first with Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, then, with the South African cinema titan, John Kani as T’Challa’s father, King T’Chaka. It was at that moment I knew I wanted to make this movie. After Scarlett’s character leaves them, Chad and John began conversing in a language I had never heard before. It sounded familiar, full of the same clicks and smacks that young black children would make in the States. The same clicks that we would often be chided for being disrespectful or improper. But, it had a musicality to it that felt ancient, powerful, and African.

In my meeting after watching the film, I asked Nate Moore, one of the producers of the film, about the language. “Did you guys make it up?” Nate replied, “that’s Xhosa, John Kani’s native language. He and Chad decided to do the scene like that on set, and we rolled with it.” I thought to myself. “He just learned lines in another language, that day?” I couldn’t conceive how difficult that must have been, and even though I hadn’t met Chad, I was already in awe of his capacity as actor.

I learned later that there was much conversation over how T’Challa would sound in the film. The decision to have Xhosa be the official language of Wakanda was solidified by Chad, a native of South Carolina, because he was able to learn his lines in Xhosa, there on the spot. He also advocated for his character to speak with an African accent, so that he could present T’Challa to audiences as an African king, whose dialect had not been conquered by the West.

I finally met Chad in person in early 2016, once I signed onto the film. He snuck past journalists that were congregated for a press junket I was doing for “Creed,” and met with me in the green room. We talked about our lives, my time playing football in college, and his time at Howard studying to be a director, about our collective vision for T’Challa and Wakanda. We spoke about the irony of how his former Howard classmate Ta-Nehisi Coates was writing T’Challa’s current arc with Marvel Comics. And how Chad knew Howard student Prince Jones, who’s murder by a police officer inspired Coates’ memoir Between The World and Me.

I noticed then that Chad was an anomaly. He was calm. Assured. Constantly studying. But also kind, comforting, had the warmest laugh in the world, and eyes that seen much beyond his years, but could still sparkle like a child seeing something for the first time.

That was the first of many conversations. He was a special person. We would often speak about heritage and what it means to be African. When preparing for the film, he would ponder every decision, every choice, not just for how it would reflect on himself, but how those choices could reverberate. “They not ready for this, what we are doing…” “This is Star Wars, this is Lord of the Rings, but for us… and bigger!” He would say this to me while we were struggling to finish a dramatic scene, stretching into double overtime. Or while he was covered in body paint, doing his own stunts. Or crashing into frigid water, and foam landing pads. I would nod and smile, but I didn’t believe him. I had no idea if the film would work. I wasn’t sure I knew what I was doing. But I look back and realize that Chad knew something we all didn’t. He was playing the long game. All while putting in the work. And work he did.

He would come to auditions for supporting roles, which is not common for lead actors in big budget movies. He was there for several M’Baku auditions. In Winston Duke’s, he turned a chemistry read into a wrestling match. Winston broke his bracelet. In Letitia Wright’s audition for Shuri, she pierced his royal poise with her signature humor, and would bring about a smile to T’Challa’s face that was 100% Chad.

While filming the movie, we would meet at the office or at my rental home in Atlanta, to discuss lines and different ways to add depth to each scene. We talked costumes, military practices. He said to me “Wakandans have to dance during the coronations. If they just stand there with spears, what separates them from Romans?” In early drafts of the script. Eric Killmonger’s character would ask T’Challa to be buried in Wakanda. Chad challenged that and asked, “What if Killmonger asked to be buried somewhere else?”

Chad deeply valued his privacy, and I wasn’t privy to the details of his illness. After his family released their statement, I realized that he was living with his illness the entire time I knew him. Because he was a caretaker, a leader, and a man of faith, dignity and pride, he shielded his collaborators from his suffering. He lived a beautiful life. And he made great art. Day after day, year after year. That was who he was. He was an epic firework display. I will tell stories about being there for some of the brilliant sparks till the end of my days. What an incredible mark he’s left for us.

I haven’t grieved a loss this acute before. I spent the last year preparing, imagining and writing words for him to say, that we weren’t destined to see. It leaves me broken knowing that I won’t be able to watch another close-up of him in the monitor again or walk up to him and ask for another take.

It hurts more to know that we can’t have another conversation, or Facetime, or text message exchange. He would send vegetarian recipes and eating regimens for my family and me to follow during the pandemic. He would check in on me and my loved ones, even as he dealt with the scourge of cancer.

In African cultures we often refer to loved ones that have passed on as ancestors. Sometimes you are genetically related. Sometimes you are not. I had the privilege of directing scenes of Chad’s character, T’Challa, communicating with the ancestors of Wakanda. We were in Atlanta, in an abandoned warehouse, with bluescreens, and massive movie lights, but Chad’s performance made it feel real. I think it was because from the time that I met him, the ancestors spoke through him. It’s no secret to me now how he was able to skillfully portray some of our most notable ones. I had no doubt that he would live on and continue to bless us with more. But it is with a heavy heart and a sense of deep gratitude to have ever been in his presence, that I have to reckon with the fact that Chad is an ancestor now. And I know that he will watch over us, until we meet again.

[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”albumSlug=black-panther-easter-eggs-and-references&captions=true”]

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

Daily Deals: Buy an Intel CPU, Receive Marvel’s Avengers for Free, Save on Razer PC Accessories and More

It’s Sunday, and with it, another round of deals for you to check out. PC tech is the name of the game this weekend, as there are tons of deals on Intel CPUs, Razer and Dell accessories, as well as savings on portable solar panels and headphones. Of course, we still have our great list of games available as well, and a few more unique options for those looking to improve their sleeping and cleaning routines.

Deals for August 30

[poilib element=”commerceDeal” parameters=”slug=weekend-deals-aug-30″]

More Video Game Deals

[poilib element=”commerceDeal” parameters=”slug=daily-deals-games-roundup”]