If you boot up Apex Legends, you might notice that prior to character selection, you’ll see a loading screen where Caustic is overlooking a place on Kings Canyon. If you head to that location, you’ll find a cool map change, which may hint that a Caustic town takeover will be coming soon.
The location in question is between Crash Site and Artillery, as noted by FrozenFroh on Twitter. The currently empty location previously sparked a comment from Caustic, who was fascinated by the toxic changes to the lakes after the fuel from the crashed ship leaked into the water. Now there’s a giant gas canister there.
Next to the canister is a tablet, implied to be the one that Caustic was holding in the aforementioned loading screen. Interacting with it allows you to hear a recorded message left by Caustic.
“The erupted gas pocket and fuel have combined to create a gargantuan supply of toxin,” Caustic says, “If there was a way to refine it, I could mold it into something spectacular.”
Small, legend-focused map changes like these typically tease and precede the addition of brand-new town takeovers, which are map landmarks that are themed around a specific character. Kings Canyon currently supports four: Gauntlet, Labs, Map Room, and Mirage Voyage. Fans are speculating that this latest map change may be hinting at the addition of a Caustic-themed town takeover.
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Year 2 Of Apex Legends: Highs, Lows, And Biggest Changes
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In the midst of its transformative second year, Apex Legends started hosting limited-time events back-to-back. As soon as one ends, another usually begins. After being extended by a week, the Anniversary Collection event will now end on March 2. It stands to reason that a new event will begin immediately after, with Caustic’s town takeover added to Kings Canyon as part of the event. Nothing has been confirmed yet though, so we’ll have to wait and see.
Character themes do a lot of heavy lifting, whether it’s Danny Elfman’s dark Batman theme, the mournful Binary Sunset from Star Wars, or a classic sitcom intro, they tell us a lot about a character in just a few seconds. One of the best and funniest character tracks, which debuted in WandaVision Episode 7 last week, is now available on Spotify.
Spoilers follow for WandaVision Episode 7.
While Wanda’s emotional arc is certainly about her coping with the death of her robot boyfriend, Vision, there’s more going on behind the scenes. It turns out that one Agatha Harkness has been pulling strings behind the scenes all along.
The track, titled “Agatha All Along” was written by Kristen-Anderson Lopez and Robert Lopez, and sung by actress Kathryn Hahn, who plays Agatha on the show, and has a distinctively Munsters/spooky surf guitar sound to it.
Agatha began her run on WandaVision as Agnes, the nosy neighbor that had way too much personality to be just a neighbor. Episode 7, “Breaking the Fourth Wall,” brought Wanda’s world in the 2000s with an Office-style theme song and “confessional cam” moments for Wanda and Vision. As Wanda explored her increasingly unstable home, though, she finally discovered that, along with everything going inside her head, her neighbor Agnes is a powerful sorceress named Agatha Harkness.
In the comics, Agatha is sometimes friend, sometimes enemy for the powerful Wanda Maximoff. She has trained Wanda in using her Chaos Magic, and is the one who reveals to Wanda that her seemingly impossible children (robots can’t have babies, after all) are left-over soul fragments from Mephisto, Marvel’s Satan-equivalent. Wanda and Agatha’s track record in the comics could point us toward what happens in the final two episodes of WandaVision. Until then, we’ll have to listen to this absolute banger of a song over and over. WandaVision Episode 8 hits Disney+ this Friday, February 26.
A new Fortnite hotfix has vaulted one weapon and unvaulted another, as well as removing the Machine Pistol, which seems to have been mistakenly released into the Unvaulted LTM. The update shelved the popular Flint-Knock Pistol, but brings back the Hand Cannon in its place.
A new Hotfix is live! đ«The Flint-Knock heads back to the vault, but something handy took its place this week. đNew LTM later this week: Comeback Squads. Every life your loot gets better, but you have limited respawns! pic.twitter.com/W7DJD1yInf
First introduced in March 2019, the Flint-Knock was reintroduced in a February 16 patch, enjoying just one week back in the game before being vaulted again. The newly returning Hand Cannon is even older, returning from its initial run in February 2018. The weapon changes were announced in a tweet, along with an upcoming LTM called Comeback Squads. The new mode is a high risk, high reward situation, where your loot gets better every time you die, but you only have limited lives to spend.
The Machine Pistol update was picked up by Redditors on the Fortnite Battle Royale subreddit, who picked up that the fabled weapon was available in the Unvaulted LTM barely 10 hours before it was then quietly moved back to the vault.
The Machine Pistol, previously known as the Submachine Gun, was one of the first weapons to be vaulted after appearing in Seasons 1 and 2, though it seems to have been further developed since then. A version of the weapon with new stats and a new model was briefly leaked at the start of Season X, but was quickly removed again–as seems to have happened again here.
One Redditor managed to catch a snapshot of the weapon’s stats before it was removed from the game again. The post that announced the Machine Pistol’s speedy removal from the game also indicated that the Witch’s Broom had also been removed from Unvaulted, but it appears that the seasonal item is still available to find in the LTM.
Update (2/23/21) – Zendaya has shared her “title announcement” on Instagram, revealing it to be Spider-Man: Home Slice. She also wrote, “So excited to announce the new Spider-Man title. So proud of this one…FOS is back!” (Click right to see the logo!)
Original story follows.
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Spider-Man 3 actors Tom Holland and Jacob Batalon are both teasing the name of the upcoming sequel to Spider-Man: Far From Home.
Tom Holland, Spider-Man himself, started this game on Instagram by saying “So excited to announce the new Spider-Man title. Can’t wait for you to see what we have been up to. Love from Atlanta.” The post also shared what looks to be an image from the upcoming film and a logo that revealed a title of Spider-Man: Phone Home. (Click right to see the logo!)
As the entire internet celebrated this new name, Jacob Batalon, who plays Ned Leeds, shared his own post with another image and a different title – Spider-Man: Home-Wrecker. He also wrote “We’re so excited to share the TITLE of our new movie!! Swipe right for the big reveal!!! Also, enjoy this exclusive still from the movie, just an extra gift from us.”
The two actors are clearly playing into the first two films containing the word home in them – Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far From Home – and it’s important to note that while both stars included an image with Zendaya in it, she has yet to post her take on what this title may be.
Persona 5 Strikers has finally launched worldwide for PlayStation 4, PC, and Switch, and you probably know by now that it’s a sorta-sequel spinoff that continues the timeline of Persona 5. But with the original RPG not being available on non-PlayStation platforms, the question of whether or not newcomers can still enjoy Strikers is a pertinent one. And the simple answer is: Yes, but your mileage will vary.
In my Persona 5 Strikers review, I praised the game’s action-RPG combat mechanics, excellent soundtrack, and new characters, among other things. And the fact that I got to see my old friends, the Phantom Thieves, again as they go on a summer vacation to enjoy life and save the world one more time was a real treat. The opening hours do spend time plainly re-establishing the personality traits of its returning cast, but of course, it’s not the same as seeing them grow into who they are in their 100-hour journey prior. So if you want to have a really deep bond with the cast, I’d recommend playing Royal first.
Nevertheless, the charisma of the Phantom Thieves shines through in how they express themselves and fight in the Metaverse, the alternate dimension where all the battles take place. If they don’t make a strong impression on you when meeting them in their normal lives, they’re sure to win you over with the way they stylishly tear through demonic adversaries. Their personas, special attacks, and unique animations in Strikers really embody the Phantom Thieves’ fighting spirit, and that alone says a lot about who they are.
When I take a step back and think about Strikers’ callbacks to the original story of Persona 5, they help provide context for who the characters are, why they carry a specific demeanor, and draw parallels between the two games. Other than taking place a few months after the end of Persona 5, very few story-critical things in Strikers are a direct continuation of previous storylines. There is no “the story so far” kind of recap, but that also wouldn’t be entirely necessary.
Every characters style and swagger in combat is an expression of who they are.
Knowing Persona 5’s story is not imperative to understanding the events of Strikers, as most of the major story beats early on harken back to what a particular character experienced in that game. However, having a frame of reference and context certainly enriches the characterization. For example, Ann deeply sympathizes with the first villain because they faced similar struggles–you then come to understand that a few important factors in life led them down very different paths. It’s a narrative device that’s used with Yusuke and Haru in a similar fashion. While this historical context doesn’t obscure the story’s events to the point they lose all impact, you won’t get the full connection and may be left wondering why the Phantom Thieves act or feel a certain way.
As you get further into Strikers, it starts to take on a direction of its own. That can mostly be attributed to the characters Sophia and Zenkichi, who make their debut in this game. As their stories come into clearer focus in the second half, the Phantom Thieves become more of a lens to perceive these characters and a vehicle to help them grow, and many of the overarching messages would still come through. There is a late-game dungeon that spells out a decent chunk of what happens in some of Persona 5’s concluding hours, but so much happens in the original game that it’s more about the journey than the destination.
Zenkichi is a great character who newcomers and long-time fans get to know.
Another question is if you need to play Persona 5 Royal (the definitive version that features exclusive story content). I mean, you should; it’s one of the few games that has earned a coveted 10/10 from GameSpot. However, Strikers doesn’t pull anything directly from Royal. There are a few lines of dialogue that could be perceived as allusions to what transpired in Royal’s story content, but even that’s debatable. As long as you finished the original version of Persona 5, you’ll be set going into Strikers story-wise.
Given the relatively light reliance on knowing exactly what happened in the original RPG, Persona 5 Strikers just might be what draws you into the series, and it could be your next favorite thing.
At the end of the day, Persona 5 (and Royal, in particular) is one of the best games of the previous generation. But given the necessary time investment, it’s still a lot to ask to play it just so you can check out Strikers. Instead, you can think of Strikers as a more streamlined experience of what a Persona game can offer while being meaty enough to hold its own in its 40-ish hour runtime. The exceptional combat system, premise of going on a road trip across Japan, and incredible soundtrack are reason enough to jump in. As to whether or not you need to play the original RPG before giving Strikers a shot, I’d say it’s a strong recommendation that you do, but not a necessity.
Admittedly, I’ve played some games within a series out of order and came away hooked enough to seek out previous entries. I can see a scenario where you play Strikers and come away with a strong curiosity for where these characters came from and how the Phantom Thieves came to be. Given the relatively light reliance on knowing exactly what happened in the original RPG, Persona 5 Strikers just might be what draws you into the series, and it could be your next favorite thing. I’d go as far to say that there is no wrong way to go about it.
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The first Iron Banner event of Destiny 2‘s Season of the Chosen has arrived, and with it comes the Saladin’s Gauntlet quest. This season-long quest gives you the opportunity to earn a bunch of key gear from the competitive multiplayer event, including armor. The Season of the Chosen also adds The Time-Worn Spire, a Legendary Destiny 1 pulse rifle, and Multimach CCX, a submachine gun, that you can earn for participating in the event.
Here’s everything you need to do to complete Saladin’s Gauntlet, unlock the Season of the Chosen’s Iron Banner armor, and add the new gun to your collection.
Saladin’s Gauntlet Quest
Step 1: Smelting Pot
Kill 30 Guardians
Capture 10 zones
Get 5 Solar or Arc ability final blows
Each step of the Saladin’s Gauntlet quest has multiple objectives that will stack up over time. The first step requires you to equip either your Solar or Arc subclass and then to nab ability final blows with those elements–so Super kills, melee ability kills, and grenade kills will count. The good news is that you only need five such kills to advance.
Step 2: Sounding Bell
Get 10 Power weapon kills
Complete 6 Iron Banner matches
Capture 20 zones
The second step isn’t too difficult, although the Power weapon kills might be a stumbling block. You’ll need to grab Heavy ammo during matches, so make sure you’re keeping an eye on its timer and sticking nearby to snag it when it’s available. Meanwhile, the 20 zones you’re charged with capturing will stack with the 10 you captured for the last objective, making this one a little easier to complete than it sounds. The six total matches you need to play should also stack with whatever matches you completed during step one.
Step 3: Live Fire
Get 20 submachine gun kills
Kill 100 Guardians
Capture 30 zones
As mentioned, your kills and captured zones from previous steps should continue to stack with this one, cutting down on the amount of grinding you’ll have to do to complete it. If you’re looking for a good submachine gun for this step, try something like The Huckleberry, which reloads part of its magazine every time you rack up a kill and can keep you battling for longer.
Step 4: Steady Drums
Get 20 pulse rifle kills
Capture 40 zones
Get 15 Super final blows
Switch to a pulse rifle for step four–mainstays like Vigilance Wing and Graviton Lance are great for this step, as are newer favorites like Stars in Shadow and No Time To Explain. As for the Super requirement, it’s a good idea to adjust your loadout to favor Insight to try to rack up Supers as fast as you can. You’ll also want to go with something that gets kills fast, so you might want to stay away from Stasis subclasses, since your frozen kills can sometimes get stolen by other players.
With the other four steps complete, return to Lord Saladin in the Tower to complete the quest for the season.
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Could Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson become president of the United States of America one day? Honestly, at this point, anything seems possible. Currently, the WWE wrestler-turned-action movie icon stars on NBC’s Young Rock, which is about his childhood, though through the framing device of Johnson being interviewed while actually running for president. That’s fictional for now. However, WWE legend The Undertaker sounds like he wishes it were really happening.
In an interview with TMZ Sports, The Undertaker–who officially retired from the squared circle in late 2020–supported the idea of Johnson seeking the office of president. “That man works his tail off and he dives in wholeheartedly in everything that he does and if he gets his mindset that he wants to make a run at politics, ya know what? I think he’ll do it,” The Undertaker said.
What’s more, the former leader of the Ministry of Darkness and the self-proclaimed American Badass thinks Johnson would be a good fit for the job. “He’s so charming, he’s so witty, I think he can be the uniter that people are looking for,” The Undertaker continued, adding, “I don’t know man, there’s so many possibilities and if that’s what he chooses to do, I’ll support wholeheartedly in his efforts to do so.” That’s a nice thing for him to say, considering in the past The Rock–in the name of pro wrestling–told the Undertaker he had Mickey Mouse tattoos and a 33-pound head.
Would The Rock run, though? The actor has been asked the question many times, while he’s never committed one way or the other, he says he would “consider a presidential run in the future if that’s what the people wanted.” As always, The Rock is the People’s Champion. Now he just needs to enlist vice presidential candidate Mick Foley, so the Rock ‘n Sock Connection can stand tall one more time.
Alternatively, he can just keep making movies and documenting his over-the-top workout schedule and cheat meals on Instagram.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is almost 10 years old, originally launching for Nintendo Wii in November 2011. The game was released five years after the last home console entry, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, and we wouldnât get the next home console release, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, for almost six years–though we did get some other Zelda games along the way like A Link Between Worlds, so it wasnât completely empty.
The Wii is an SD console with games outputting at 480p, so despite the PS3 and Xbox 360 being around and HD being a thing in 2011, Skyward Sword was only ever seen in SD before now. Youâll also notice in this comparison video that the Switch version is running a lot more smoothly in comparison to the original Wii version. On Wii, Skyward Sword runs at 30fps while the Switch version looks to be running at 60fps.
The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess both got the HD treatment back on Wii U, so it was only a matter of time for Skyward Sword to get the same treatment. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD releases on Nintendo Switch on July 16 with newly added button controls as the original version only had motion controls.
TV writers are usually working on the season that’s currently airing or, at most, the upcoming season. But Rick and Morty flouts convention left and right, and so, too, do its writers. The Rick and Morty writers’ room is now working on Season 7, before even Season 5 has debuted.
Writer Alex Reubens, who also put in time on Rick and Morty creator Dan Harmon’s NBC show Community, revealed the news with a cheeky post to Twitter asking, “Am I allowed to say we started writing Rick and Morty Season 7? (if not we didn’t and I’m not).”
Way back in October 2020, Dan Harmon confirmed at Paleyfest NY that the writing team was “more on schedule than we’ve ever been,” with the team “very late into the process of writing Season 6.” At the same time, Harmon said he was reviewing animatics for Season 5 episodes.
Am I allowed to say we started writing Rick and Morty Season 7? (If not we didnât and Iâm not)
“If we simply just keep writing in real time as fast as we can write…that puts us years ahead of the air date of the most recent episode. The last thing we’d want to do in an environment like that is have a plan. We are the plan because we are the future. We’re the guys who wrote the stuff that they’re now drawing, so we make a tremendous effort to stay in the moment and never box ourselves in,” Harmon said at the time. With the words for Rick and Morty Season 6 in the can, Harmon seems to be making good on this promise.
While the writers’ room is way ahead of schedule, neither Adult Swim nor Dan Harmon have revealed a premiere date for Rick and Morty Season 5 just yet. In the meantime, we can look forward to the new show Harmon has in the works for Fox, which will be set in ancient Greece.
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