Knives Out 2 Adds WandaVision’s Kathryn Hahn

The cast for Knives Out 2 continues to grow, as Deadline reports today that WandaVision star Kathryn Hahn has joined movie. Her casting follows the news that Dave Bautista, Janelle Monae, and Edward Norton had signed on for the sequel, which also brings back Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc.

There is no word yet on the plot for the sequel, but it will follow Blanc coming back to solve another mystery. This time, the story may take place overseas, as production will take place in Greece, beginning this summer.

As for Hahn, she’s been acting for decades and recently found a new level of success thanks to her role on WandaVision as Agatha. She’ll be seen next in the Apple TV show The Shrink Next Door alongside Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd.

Netflix acquired Knives Out 2 and 3 for a massive $469 million. As part of the deal, Craig, director Rian Johnson, and producer Ram Bergman will take home $100 million each.

There is no word yet on when Knives Out 2 will come out on Netflix, but it’s definitely going to be one of the streaming network’s most hyped films given the cast. Presumably even more cast members will be added if the film is similar to the first one in terms of size.

Stadia Is “Alive And Well” With Over 100 New Games Launching This Year, Google Says

Despite the closure of Stadia Games & Entertainment, Google’s internal development studio, the streaming service Google Stadia is “alive and well,” developer marketing lead Nate Ahearn said.

Ahearn told GamesIndustry.biz that Stadia is doing just fine in the face of all the turbulence. In fact, Ahearn called attention to recent game launches on the Stadia platform as evidence of its health.

Now Playing: The Rise And Fall Of Stadia Games And Entertainment

“We’re well on our way to over 100 new games launching on Stadia in 2021, and we’re continuing to make Stadia a great place to play games on devices you already own,” Ahearn said. “I’d tell any non-believers to take notice of how we’re continuing to put our words into action, as we grow the Stadia Makers program and partner with AAA studios like Capcom, EA, Square Enix, Ubisoft, and others.”

Google shuttered its internal game development studio Stadia Games & Entertainment earlier this year. 150 employees, including Assassin’s Creed producer Jade Raymond, were impacted by the sudden shuttering. Some found employment at Raymond’s new independent development house Haven Entertainment Studios, which is already hard at work on an original PlayStation IP. For others affected, however, the company said it would find roles for as much of the SG&E team as possible.

Now that Stadia Games & Entertainment has closed and Raymond has moved on to establish her own studio, Stadia’s product team is led by “long-time Googler and Stadia founder” Dov Zimring.

Stadia has seen some new games hit the platform recently like Resident Evil Village. This seemingly underscores a statement the company made in February that Stadia is primed to get 100 new games in 2021. Google also added a search bar to Stadia, a strange missing feature considering Google is a search bar company (as some were quick to point out online) and reports suggest it’s not that good.

Pokemon Sword And Shield 1.3.2 Patch Out Now, Fixes A Few Bugs

Pokemon Sword and Shield have received a new update. This patch brings the Switch games up to version 1.3.2, but it’s fairly minor as far as updates go, primarily resolving a handful of bugs and other issues.

According to the patch notes on Nintendo’s support website, the new patch fixes an issue that caused some Pokemon icons to display incorrectly during online and local battles. Beyond that, the update also resolves a handful of unspecified issues “to improve gameplay experience.” You can read the full patch notes below.

Now Playing: Pokemon – Official 25 Years Of Memories Trailer

While Pokemon Sword and Shield seldom receive patches, developer Game Freak still regularly holds in-game events in the titles. Most recently, the games hosted a “Meowth Festival” earlier this month that made all three regional variants of Meowth (as well as Gigantamax Meowth) more common in Max Raid Battles.

This year marks Pokemon’s 25th anniversary, and The Pokemon Company has a number of events and releases planned to commemorate the occasion. Earlier this year, the company hosted a virtual Post Malone concert, and Katy Perry is releasing a new song to celebrate the anniversary later today, May 13.

A few new Pokemon games are also on the horizon for Switch. Later this year, The Pokemon Company is releasing remakes of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl for the hybrid console, while a new title called Pokemon Legends: Arceus is slated the launch in early 2022. The latter is set in ancient Sinnoh and chronicles the creation of the region’s first Pokedex.

Pokemon Sword And Shield Ver. 1.3.2 Patch Notes

  • Fixed the issue where some Pokémon icons were not properly displaying during online or local wireless battles.
  • Several issues have been fixed to improve gameplay experience.

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Save $50 On Your HTC Vive Pro 2 Preorder Through The Month Of May

The HTC Vive Pro 2 was announced earlier this week, but if you’re already sold on what sounds like a significant upgrade to the already fantastic VR headset you can save some money on a preorder throughout the month of May. HTC is offering $50 off a Vive Pro 2 preorder if you sign up for its newsletter, while also throwing in a two-month subscription to Viveport Infinity for good measure. This offer is only valid until May 31, so you’ll have to act fast.

$749 (was $799)

The HTC Vive Pro 2 is an all-encompassing upgrade to the company’s flagship VR headset. The resolution on both eyes has been increased to 2448 × 2448, for a total 5K resolution across both. That will make details even sharper in all titles, which is important given how close the screen is to your eyes. Additionally, the headset will now feature an adjustable interpupillary distance mechanism, which will let you fine-tune the seperation between your pupils for the most comfortable fit.

The Vive Pro 2 comes with the same ergonomic design as the previous headset, with significant padding all around that will help you play for hours without strain. The adjustable fit allows for glasses, too, so you don’t have to worry about getting prescription lens replacements as well. Of course, the headset also includes integrated headphones, which is always a nice touch. The Vive Pro 2 will be compatible with previous SteamVR tracking stations if you already have them, otherwise you will need to invest in those and Vive controllers for the full experience.

The HTC Vive Pro 2 is being sold as a standalone headset for now during this promotional period, however, so it’s being marketed squarely at existing Vive owners for the time being. A full bundle including controllers and tracking stations is expected to release on June 4 alongside the standalone headset.

WoW Shadowlands Players Could Level In Torghast In A Future Patch, But Not 9.1

World of Warcraft: Shadowlands’ standout feature, the rogue-like inspired tower of Torghast, could become a way to level new characters in the future, according to a recent interview with WoW lead game designer Morgan Day.

In an interview with Twitch streamer Sloot (via Wowhead), when asked if players would ever be able to level their “alts” (or additional characters aside from a player’s main) in Torghast, Day said he “loved the idea.”

Now Playing: World of Warcraft: Shadowlands: Chains of Domination Trailer | BlizzCon 2021

“I don’t think it’s something we will do for 9.1, but it feels like a great addition for one of the .5 updates,” Day said.

The ability to level in Torghast is a frequent request of the community, as players are essentially forced to play the rogue-like dungeon to acquire a currency known as Soul Ash, which is used to create the game’s powerful Legendary gear. Allowing players to level new characters while also earning Soul Ash would be a powerful two-for-one combo which would improve the alt leveling experience.

As it currently exists, Torghast cannot be accessed until characters have reached level 60 and joined a covenant. Allowing alts to level in Torghast would require Blizzard to open up the activity for players earlier in the leveling process. Blizzard made it so Torghast layer progress became account-wide earlier this year, another alt-friendly move for players who enjoy playing multiple characters.

Shadowlands’ first major patch, Chains of Domination, is being tested on the game’s public test realm but does not currently have a release date. When it does officially arrive, it will be the first significant content patch since the launch of Shadowlands on November 23, 2020.

In the meantime, Blizzard will be rereleasing the game’s second expansion, The Burning Crusade, as part of its WoW Classic experience. World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade launches June 1.

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Friends Reunion Gets First Trailer, Arrives On HBO Max On May 27

The highly anticipated and pandemic-delayed Friends reunion will finally air on HBO Max on May 27, according to a release. While many aspects of the special, including its format, are still largely a mystery, it has been revealed it will feature a wide variety of guest stars.

As written, the release indicates additional special guests may still be announced, but in addition to the original Friends cast, the reunion will also feature David Beckham, Justin Bieber, BTS, James Corden, Cindy Crawford, Cara Delevingne, Lady Gaga, Elliott Gould, Kit Harington, Larry Hankin, Mindy Kaling, Thomas Lennon, Christina Pickles, Tom Selleck, James Michael Tyler, Maggie Wheeler, Reese Witherspoon, and Malala Yousafzai. Check out the recently released official trailer for the special below.

Cast member Lisa Kudrow said back in January that despite delays related to COVID-19, by then portions of the special had already been filmed: “There’s different facets to it, and we already shot packages of things. I pre-shot something for it already so we’re definitely doing it because I already shot a little something.”

All that’s known is that the reunion special for one of the most beloved TV shows ever is not a Friends reboot, and it will not feature the actors in character. The special will instead be a reunion for the actors, who have not gotten together for a TV special since 2004, when Friends went off the air. The special was filmed on the same soundstage on the Warner Bros. lot as the original series.

WarnerMedia recently revealed that across HBO Max and HBO, both services have grown to have 44.2 million subscribers over the first quarter of 2021. The Friends reunion will likely inspire further growth, alongside HBO Max’s recent stunning announcement that it is becoming the new home for Warrior, the recently canceled fan-favorite Cinemax series based on an original concept and treatment by martial artist Bruce Lee. If you’re thinking of signing up for HBO Max, check out our lists of 22 movies and franchises to watch on the service, plus 17 of the best horror movies to watch there as well.

Rambo And Die Hard DLC Confirmed For Call Of Duty: Warzone, Black Ops Cold War, And Mobile

Following earlier teasers, Activision has now formally announced the ’80s Action Heroes DLC is coming to Call of Duty: Warzone, Black Ops Cold War, and CoD: Mobile this month. This includes new content for Sylvester Stallone’s Rambo and John McClane from Die Hard, according to the teaser.

All of this will apparently come to these games, or at least begin to, as part of an update on May 20. The teaser below shows Stallone’s Rambo and Nakatomi Plaza from Die Hard. Beyond the (presumed) new Rambo and McClane skins, there is no word on what else might be in the new DLC. It seems likely that Rambo’s famous compound bow and explosive arrows will be included, as a teaser video suggested.

Given that the May 20 date is approaching, we should learn more about the ’80s Action Heroes content soon, so keep checking back with GameSpot for the latest.

Warzone has Operators based on real-life soldiers, but Rambo and McClane would be the first licensed characters to come to the game. Epic’s Fortnite has been adding licensed characters for a long time already, and now it seems Activision is getting involved.

The ’80s Action Heroes DLC might not be the only new content coming to Black Ops Cold War and Warzone on May 20, as Activision is teasing something new for Zombies, too.

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Ghostrunner Sequel In Development For PS5, Xbox Series X, And PC

Publisher 505 Games has announced that a sequel to Ghostrunner is in development for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. The upcoming title does not have a release window yet, but 505 confirmed that One More Level, the studio behind the original game, is developing Ghostrunner 2.

In a press release, 505 announced it is doubling its investment for the sequel and contributing an “initial budget” of €5 million (about $6 million USD) for its development. “Ghostrunner is a brand with great potential, capable of contributing for a long time to the 505 Games product portfolio,” the publisher said.

Now Playing: Ghostrunner – Official Gameplay Trailer

“We are particularly excited about the future release of Ghostrunner 2. Together with One More Level, we have created a thrilling and engaging video game,” Raffaele Galante, co-CEO of 505’s parent company, Digital Bros., said in the press release.

The original Ghostrunner launched in October 2020 and has been a big commercial success for 505 Games, selling more than 600,000 copies across PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch. The game is slated to release on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S by the end of this year.

Ghostrunner has also earned positive reviews from critics. GameSpot scored it a 7/10 and called it a “a hard-charging parkour climb” in our Ghostrunner review. “When Ghostrunner rips, it really rips. Wall-running, jumping, sliding, and cutting through enemies as you go is empowering and impressive,” critic Mike Epstein wrote.

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PSA: Mass Effect Legendary Edition Won’t Be On Game Pass

If you hoped EA and Xbox’s recent partnership on Game Pass meant you might be able to play Mass Effect Legendary Edition on the subscription service, we have some bad news. An EA community manager has confirmed that the only subscription service it’s available on is EA Play Pro.

If you’re a Game Pass Ultimate subscriber, you’ve instead automatically got a basic EA Play membership, which gets you a 10% discount on games in addition to access to the EA Play game library. You can of course still purchase Mass Effect Legendary Edition on the usual digital or retail storefronts.

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Keep in mind that EA Play Pro is also a PC-exclusive membership, so if you’ve only got consoles around the house, you’re similarly out of luck. EA Play Pro is available for $15 a month, which gets you access to all the latest EA PC games at launch.

Still, it’s possible that Mass Effect Legendary Edition may come to Game Pass in the future. FIFA 21 similarly debuted on EA Play Pro, but landed on Game Pass a mere six months later. That’ll depend entirely on EA’s plans for the remastered trilogy, though.

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“[Mass Effect Legendary Edition coming to Game Pass is] certainly a possibility, though I’m not aware of any current plans or a timeframe for anything beyond EA Play Pro access at this point,” EA said.

Still on the fence about whether or not to pick up the Mass Effect remaster? You might have to stay there a little while longer for IGN’s review. EA provided review codes on Monday, so reviews editor Dan Stapleton is still cracking through the massive RPG franchise, just not at the expense of his *checks notes* family? You can check out his very, very early off-the-cuff impressions in the link above.

In the meantime, check out the 10 biggest changes in Mass Effect Legendary Edition, or what comes in each pre-order edition.

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Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer for IGN.

Marvel’s Shang-Chi And Ryan Reynold’s Free Guy Will Have 45-Day Exclusive Theatrical Window

During the Disney second quarter 2021 financial results call, Disney CEO Bob Chapek announced that Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and the upcoming action-comedy Free Guy starring Ryan Reynolds will have a 45-day exclusive theatrical window.

Much like Warner Bros. deal with Cineworld, these two high-profile movies under the Walt Disney Company umbrella will be exclusive to theaters for 45 days, but it is unclear where the films will head after that. Traditionally, theatrical releases had a 90-day exclusive window, something many movie studios have moved away from during the pandemic.

These films could jump right to streaming services with Shang-Chi landing on Disney+–possibly under Premier Access–and Free Guy on Hulu. Or both films could land on a transactional video on demand (TVOD) service like Google Play, Vudu, or more. As of this writing, the post-theatrical release plan is unknown.

Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings follows the titular character–played by Simu Liu–a man living in San Francisco with a dark family history. His father is a powerful villain who wants Shang-Chi to join the criminal life, which he rejects. The film also stars Awkwafina and is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. The first trailer for the MCU movie arrived in April, and it releases in theaters on September 3.

Free Guy stars Ryan Reynolds as an NPC in a violent video game who becomes aware of the world around him and breaks free of his NPC life. The movie is directed by Shawn Levy (Stranger Things), and the first trailer arrived in December 2019. Because of the pandemic, it was pushed back numerous times, and will finally arrive in theaters on August 13.

Over the past year, Disney+ grew its subscriber base from 33.5 million to 103.6 million. While Disney Parks saw losses during the COVID-19 pandemic, the parent company’s streaming services all saw growth during this time. Additionally, Disney+ continued to pump out original TV shows like Season 2 of The Mandalorian, WandaVision, and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, along with movies like Pixar’s Soul.

Disney’s upcoming movie Jungle Cruise, which stars Dwayne Johnson, was recently revealed to be getting a Disney+ Premier Access release simultaneously with a theatrical one.