Category: Games

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Netflix’s Cobra Kai Leads Nielsen’s Streaming Top 10

Netflix‘s Cobra Kai was the runaway title on Nielsen’s latest weekly list of top 10 streaming shows in terms of minutes watched. For the week between August 31 and September 6, Nielsen–the information, data, and measurement firm synonymous with TV ratings–clocked the series set in The Karate Kid universe as logging 2,171 million minutes across 20 episodes. In the second spot is another Netflix series: Lucifer with 1,415 million minutes.

Nielsen’s expansion into measuring viewing habits on streaming shows is a new, and very recent development: Back in late August, Fox Sports executive Michael Mulvihill tweeted about the “significance” of the move, also signaling “the first time TV viewing outside the home will be fully integrated into Nielsen’s national TV ratings.”

In addition to whatever perceptions there might be about Nielsen lagging behind the times, it’s worth noting that the list is still catching up with the landscape–even though ratings take a while to be released to reflect that. When the list first premiered in early September, Nielsen was only measuring programs on Netflix and Amazon. Since then, both Disney+ and Hulu have been added, and we can expect to see more streaming services included in the future.

The current list is definitely Netflix-heavy: The sole exceptions are Amazon’s The Boys in at No. 3 with 891 million minutes, and Disney+’s Mulan in at No. 10 with 525 million minutes. The ever-enduring comfort-food workplace comedy The Office, which is still on Netflix, landed in fourth place with 891 million minutes.

Dead By Daylight Cross-Progression Is “Closer Than Ever” To Launching

Developer Behaviour Interactive has provided an update on cross-progression for Dead By Daylight, saying the feature is “closer than ever” to launching.

While an exact release date for cross-progression has not been announced, the studio did confirm that the feature will make its way to Google Stadia and PC via Steam.

“The other important feature we have been working on for the past month is cross-progression,” the studio said in a Dead By Daylight update blog post. “In the past couple of months, we have continued developing the cross-progression feature for Steam and Stadia. We are working hard on the final details and we are closer than ever to making it available for all on these two platforms.”

When cross-progression does become available, players can transfer their data between Stadia and Steam through a new website Behaviour developed specifically for the feature. Everything from character progress to purchased or unlocked add-on content will carry over between the two platforms.

Behaviour clarified in a separate blog post that cross-progression is not planned for PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, saying that while it will continue working on it, there’s no guarantee the feature will make its way to other platforms.

“As of today, we cannot make Cross-Progression available on other platforms and we have no guarantee that it will happen. However, we know that this is a community wish, and we will keep trying to make it happen.”

Still, the studio did confirm that cross-progression will come to Nintendo Switch, allowing players to transfer data between all three platforms whenever they want. A release date for cross-progression for Switch has not been announced, but the feature will be coming “in the near future.”

In August, Behaviour released a Dead By Daylight update that made cross-play available on all platforms. Cross-progression is the latest feature the studio is working on for the asymmetrical horror game. The studio also confirmed that Dead by Daylight will launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/Series X

Now Playing: Top New Video Game Releases On Switch, PS4, Xbox One, And PC This Month — October 2020

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FIFA 21 Loot Box Ad Pulled From Kids Magazine

EA has pulled an ad promoting FIFA microtransactions from a UK magazine aimed at children, following a backlash. The company issued a mea culpa statement regarding the ad, saying it “appeared in environments it shouldn’t have.”

Eurogamer reports that ads for FIFA Ultimate Team appeared in the Smyth’s toy shop magazine. FUT is a big money-maker for EA, thanks to the sale of FIFA Points that are used to buy randomized packs. The loot box mechanic has drawn comparisons to gambling as the microtransaction practice has been under added scrutiny, so marketing it towards children was criticized especially sharply. Some fans called for a boycott.

EA issued a statement to Eurogamer saying it is reviewing all future media placements and apologizing for the ad appearing in the magazine.

“We take very seriously the responsibilities we have when marketing EA games and experiences in channels seen by children,” the company stated. “In spite of this, we’re aware that advertising for FIFA Points has appeared in environments it shouldn’t have. We have been working diligently with Smyths to ensure this advertisement is not distributed in any remaining copies of their 2020 catalogue. We have also undertaken an immediate review of all future media placements and are working to ensure each of our marketing efforts better reflects the responsibility we take for the experience of our younger players.”

EA has been in hot water over microtransactions before. Its loot boxes in Star Wars Battlefront 2 led to a flurry of criticism, and helped spark lawmakers in several countries to look into the practice. While lawmakers have proposed various solutions, the ESRB stepped in with a change to its game labels to note when a game has microtransactions.

This comes just ahead of the October 9 release of FIFA 21, but an early access period has already begun for users of EA Play. For more details, read our FIFA 21 preorder guide.

Now Playing: FIFA 21 – Best Goals From The Closed Beta

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Disney+ Adds The Mandalorian Season 2, X2: X-Men United, And More In October 2020

October has arrived. That means, most likely, that you’ll be streaming all kinds of scary movies and TV shows for the next month. After all, Netflix is finally giving us The Haunting of Bly Manor soon. There’s plenty of non-horror content to check out this month, though, and some of the most anticipated titles are coming to Disney+.

Of course, the biggest thing in October is the debut of The Mandalorian Season 2. The live-action Star Wars series coming back means we’re going to get even more Baby Yoda. Honestly, that’s something we all need in 2020. This season will also see a new character introduced that’s played by none other than WWE superstar Sasha Banks, who can be seen in a trailer for the series.

Another exciting arrival on Disney+ this month is X2: X-Men United. The X-Men sequel first released in 2003, and joins a number of other films in the franchise that are already available on the platform. Interestingly, though, there are still a number of X-Men titles missing. You won’t be able to watch X-Men: The Last Stand, X-Men: First Class, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Dark Phoenix, or either of the Deadpool films.

You can check out the full list of everything coming to Disney+ in October below. Also make sure to keep an eye on what’s coming to Netflix, Prime Video, and Shudder.

October 1

  • Maleficent

October 2

  • Beverly Hills Chihuahua
  • Cheaper by the Dozen 2
  • Mr. Holland’s Opus
  • Secrets of the Zoo: Down Under Season 1
  • The Simpsons Season 31
  • Zenimation Extended Edition
  • Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Season 1, Episode 2
  • Weird But True Season 3, Episode 8

October 9

  • The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
  • Oil Spill of the Century
  • Wild Portugal
  • X2: X-Men United
  • The Right Stuff Season 1, Episodes 1 and 2
  • Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Season 1, Episode 3
  • Weird But True Season 3, Episode 9

October 16

  • Disney Junior the Rocketeer Season 1
  • Drain Season 3
  • Lost on Everest
  • Marvel’s Iron Man & Captain America: Heroes United
  • Clouds
  • The Right Stuff Season 1, Episode 3
  • Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Season 1, Episode 4
  • Meet the Chimps
  • Weird but True Season 3, Episode 10

October 23

  • Gathering Storm Season 1
  • India from Above Season 1
  • Marvel Super Hero Adventures (Shorts) Season 4
  • Pompeii: Secrets of the Dead
  • Ultimate Viking Sword
  • The Right Stuff Season 1, Episode 4
  • Weird but True Season 3, Episode 11
  • Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Season 1, Episode 5
  • Once Upon a Snowman
  • The Big Fib Season 1, Episodes 16-30

October 30

  • Disney the Owl House Season 1
  • The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
  • X-Ray Earth Season 1
  • The Mandalorian, “Chapter 9”
  • Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Season 1, Episode 9
  • The Right Stuff Season 1, Episode 5
  • Weird but True Season 3, Episode 12

Now Playing: Baby Yoda’s Best Moments In The Mandalorian

Overcooked 2 Gets New Kitchens And Recipes In Free Moon Harvest Festival DLC

If you’ve been craving some chaotic kitchen antics, developer Ghost Town Games has served up a free content update for Overcooked 2 which is out now on all platforms.

The Moon Harvest Festival update brings with it new kitchens, recipes, and ridiculous dangers to avoid as you try cook up a storm in its highly impractical spaces. This time, kitchens are afloat on majestic-looking ponds, with lily pads connecting sectors of the kitchen. In true Overcook fashion, these lily pads sink after being stood on, forcing you to be both quick and strategic when moving around the new kitchen.

The update includes a new recipe for mooncakes, too, which look to come in three delicious-looking variations. There’s also just a nice ambience to the ensuing chaos, with a large koi sculpture flanking your stoves and fireworks lighting up the sky above. When you’re not trying to put out fires, it’s a pleasing scene to take in.

The Moon Harvest Festival DLC is out now for Overcooked 2, which you can purchase on Xbox One, PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch. In our Overcooked 2 review, critic Kallie Plagge praised the game’s subtle gameplay tweaks and expanded stages, writing, “It’s a strong foundation, and with the right friends, Overcooked 2 is one of the best couch co-op games around.”

Now Playing: Overcooked! 2 – Moon Harvest Free Update Trailer

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Jamie Foxx May Make Shocking Return As Electro In Next Spider-Man Movie

Jamie Foxx first appeared as the villain Electro in 2014’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2, which starred Andrew Garfield as the web-slinger. Not, though, he is currently in talks to reprise the role for the next Tom Holland Spider-Man movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Yes, we’re shocked too. Get it? Shocked?

The next Spider-Man movie, which does not have an official title yet, will be a joint Sony Pictures and Marvel Entertainment movie, just like Homecoming and Far From Home. Foxx is reportedly in final negotiations to reprise the role in the movie which will hit theaters on November 5, 2021. Jon Watts will return to direct the third movie.

Foxx’s electric-powered villain jumping from Marc Webb’s Amazing Spider-Man 2 over to Watts’ latest MCU Spider-Man trilogy isn’t unfathomable. In Spider-Man: Far From Home, JK Simmons appeared as J. Jonah Jameson–a character he made famous in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy.

But is this the same Max Dillon/Electro we saw in Amazing Spider-Man 2 or does it even really matter? Does Tom Holland’s Spider-Man somehow exist in a corner of the multiverse where it’s a mish mash of various Spider-Man films from the past? If that’s the case, can we get John Mulaney popping up as Spider-Ham in the film? Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal will be producing the film, which will begin filming this fall.

Little is known about the next MCU Spider-Man movie. Holland, Zendaya, Marisa Tomei, and others from the previous movies are expected to return. The journey to get a third Spider-Man movie has been a bizarre one. In August 2019, a dispute between Sony and Marvel led Sony to pull the web-slinger from MCU movies. A month later, the two came to an agreement for a third Spider-Man film.

Meanwhile, Sony is building its own universe, which includes a newly-revealed movie, Morbius, Venom 2, Spider-Woman, Kraven the Hunter, and Silk. And let’s not forget that there is still a Into the Spider-Verse sequel coming in 2022 too.

Turn Your Xbox Controller Into A Flight Stick With This Simple 3D Printed Mod

With the launch of Microsoft Flight Simulator a few weeks ago and the upcoming release of Star Wars: Squadrons, it’s a bit difficult right now to find a dedicated HOTAS (hands on throttle-and-stick) setup. Even if you do find one, they’re usually an expensive investment for a slight curiosity, which might make this 3D-printed alternative more alluring.

Granted you still need a 3D printer (or a generous friend with one) but if you already have that then this Xbox One controller conversion won’t cost you more than $10. The two printable components let you add both a flight stick and thrust throttle to your controller. The prints themselves seem easy enough to assemble, too, snapping together in place and connecting sturdily to the controller.

Creator Akaki Kuumeri has shared the plans for the mod on Thingiverse, along with additional prints that let you expand to more advanced setups from this simple base. With just the flight stick and thrust, you might have some trouble playing a dogfighting game like Star Wars: Squadrons, as you won’t have dedicated buttons for weapons. But if you’re just looking for a cheap way to make your Flight Simulator time feel more immersive, this is it.

If you happen to have a HOTAS and even a VR headset, then you’re set for one of the most immersive ways to play Star Wars: Squadrons when it launches tomorrow, October 2. But even if you’re just planning to play with a controller, the interstellar dogfights feel great. In our Star Wars: Squadrons review impressions, critic Edmond Tran writes, “…as my experience stands right now, the campaign of Star Wars: Squadrons is a solid showcase of setpieces that conveys what’s possible with the game’s engaging flight combat mechanics.”

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AEW’s Kenny Omega, Remembering Wrestlemania X8, And More | Wrestle Buddies Episode 22

This week on Wrestle Buddies, GameSpot’s professional wrestling podcast, Chris E. Hayner and Mat Elfring welcome two different guests to cover a wide range of topics. From video games and action figures, to old, old wrestling pay-per-views and blow-up dolls, we cover a lot of ground this week.

First, All Elite Wrestling star and executive vice president Kenny Omega joins the show to talk about AW’s new line of action figures. Which toy is his favorite? How did these figures come to be? Kenny dishes on it all. He also gives us an update on the AEW video game we’re all waiting for, and lets us know whether or not blow-up doll wrestler Yoshihiko could wind be labeled All Elite one day.

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Then, virtual reality talk show host and Mat’s friend Thom Clancy steps onto the soapbox to share some of his favorite wrestling memories. It turns out, he was at WrestleMania X8 in 2002–the show that featured Hulk Hogan vs. The Rock. That’s not the bout he was most excited for, though.

All that plus we answer your questions! New episodes of Wrestle Buddies are released every Thursday on the podcast platform or app of your choice, including Spotify, Stitcher, and Apple Podcasts.

Star Wars: Squadrons Multiplayer Killing Spree With An A-Wing

Star Wars: Squadrons

Coming Oct 2, 2020

unreleased

  • PC
  • PlayStation 4
  • Xbox One

Master the art of starfighter combat in the authentic piloting experience Star Wars: Squadrons. Buckle up and feel the adrenaline of first-person multiplayer space dogfights alongside your squadron. Pilots who enlist will step into the cockpits of starfighters from both the New Republic and Imperial fleets and fight in strategic 5 vs. 5 space battles. Modify your starfighter and adjust the composition of your squadron to suit varying playstyles and crush the opposition. Pilots will triumph as a team and complete tactical objectives across known and never-before-seen battlefields, including the gas giant of Yavin Prime and the shattered moon of Galitan.

Star Wars: Squadrons – Single Player Impressions

Star Wars: Squadrons

Coming Oct 2, 2020

unreleased

  • PC
  • PlayStation 4
  • Xbox One

Master the art of starfighter combat in the authentic piloting experience Star Wars: Squadrons. Buckle up and feel the adrenaline of first-person multiplayer space dogfights alongside your squadron. Pilots who enlist will step into the cockpits of starfighters from both the New Republic and Imperial fleets and fight in strategic 5 vs. 5 space battles. Modify your starfighter and adjust the composition of your squadron to suit varying playstyles and crush the opposition. Pilots will triumph as a team and complete tactical objectives across known and never-before-seen battlefields, including the gas giant of Yavin Prime and the shattered moon of Galitan.