Avatar & Korra Tabletop RPG Crowdfunds $1 Million in a Day

An officially licensed tabletop RPG set in the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra has crowdfunded over $1 million in just one day.

Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game, a tabletop RPG from Magpie Games, launched on Kickstarter on August 3 with a crowdfunding target of $50,000. Upon going live, the project became fully funded in just 16 minutes with subsequent donations continuing to break through a number of Magpie Games’ stretch targets across the day.

After reaching their initial funding goal, Magpie Games thanked fans for their enthusiasm towards the game. The company said in an update post on Kickstarter, “Avatar Legends: The RPG  is fully funded at $50,000! That’s absolutely incredible! We’re so grateful for the excitement and support you’ve all shown us and all your love for the Avatar Legends world!”

At the time of writing, the game has raised over $1.3 Million in funds, meaning that a number of additional features will be added at launch. Stretch goals that have been reached include a velvet dice bag, various PDF playbooks, a saddle-stitched softback adventure booklet, a range of additional NPCs, and more for those who have contributed to specific pledge targets on Kickstarter.

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So what is Avatar Legends: The RPG? Magpie Games says that the game is a “heroic fantasy game set in the universe of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra in which you and your friends take on the role of young heroes from across the Four Nations who have joined together to make the world a better place.” The game is stated to be for players of all ages who want to experience the world of Avatar and Korra “beyond the scope of the existing stories”.

In terms of gameplay, Magpie Games has said that the RPG is all about balance. “Your hero fights for balance in the world, but also wrestles with maintaining balance within while trying to achieve the goals they’ve set for themselves,” explains the company. “The villains of Avatar Legends: The RPG are never simply monsters, never mere antagonists who must be struck down by blasts of fire; they are instead people with their own desires, personal struggles, and goals, no matter how misguided.”

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Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game is set to remain on Kickstarter until September 3. For more on Avatar: The Last Airbender you can check the news about the planned universe of multiple series and movies. Similarly, you can read more about Avatar Legends: The RPG, and the Avatar game being made in Dreams.

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Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

Stranger Things Season 4 Director On Why It’s Taking So Long

A fourth season of Netflix’s popular sci-fi show Stranger Things is in the works, but since it’s been more than two years now since the release of Season 3, some are wondering what’s causing the holdup? Director and producer Shawn Levy told Collider that Season 4 has taken longer than expected due in part to the pandemic and the team’s bigger creative ambitions.

“As much as it pains our viewers that it will have been so long, trust me, it pains [creators Matt and Ross Duffer], and I more,” Levy said. “It is a kind of perfect storm combination of COVID shutdown, slower pace of filming in COVID protocols and health protocols, which are necessary, and coincidentally we chose Season 4 to be by far–and I mean, by far, far, far–the most ambitious of the seasons.”

Season 4 goes bigger with its scale by extending beyond Hawkins. There was a teaser that showed David Harbour’s Hopper character in Lithuania, while other elements of the show will take place outside of its normal setting, Levy said.

“So you kind of know we’ve got some action in Hawkins, we’ve got some action apparently in Russia, and we have an entire storyline set elsewhere that will soon come to light,” he teased. “So this is the first season where we have this sprawling geography, multiple location shoots, and we’re doing it all against a backdrop of a world that has made filming slower longer in delay. So that’s why it’s taking so long.”

Winona Ryder, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, and Joe Keery are all returning for Season 4, while there are plenty of newcomers, too.

Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Hotel Pricing Released, And It’s Expensive

Disney wants to take parkgoers on a journey into the Star Wars Universe with its new Galactic Starcruiser resort at Disney World. The pricing was recently revealed for the park, and while it costs quite a bit for a two night experience, you’re getting a lot for the price.

Opening in spring 2022, the immersive two-night experience takes guests on board a space ship in the Star Wars Universe where they’ll live out their own Star Wars story. Pricing is based on the number of guests per cabin. For two guests, it will cost $4,809 for the total voyage–which is $1,209 per guest per night. It does get cheaper per person, per night the more people you have. Having four guests–three adults and one child–will cost $6,000 for the voyage, $749 per guest per night. The Disney World site has a breakdown of it all.

Aside from a bed to sleep in, the package also includes two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners, and one quick-service meal per guest. Meals are inspired by Star Wars and look pretty interesting. It also includes entry to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where you can visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

The above pricing is only for a standard cabin, though. There are also other suites that can fit more people, have an extra bathroom, or a larger living space: Galaxy Class Suite and Grand Captain Suite. Pricing for these suites has yet to be revealed, but information about the suites is available on Disney World’s site.

Additionally, a new video for the park has been released, giving you a better idea what to expect, as the majority of the images for the park are artistic renderings. Disney parks are now open. Back in June, Disney lifted its mask rule for those who were vaccinated under the honor system. However, with COVID-19 cases in Florida surging, Disney has gone back on the rule, stating that guests must wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status.

Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reboot Gets New Showrunners, Taking ‘Different Creative Direction’

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reboot has lost another showrunner and added two more, with T.J. Brady and Rasheed Newson ready to sit on their thrones as the… latest showrunning pair.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Peacock’s dramatic reimagining of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air got flipped-turned upside down following significant changes internally. Brady and Newson have now been brought in as the new showrunners, replacing Chris Collins, who departed in December, and his successor Diana Houston, who has also exited the series.

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The Will Smith-produced series is said to be going in a “slightly different creative direction,” with Peacock reportedly now looking for a “broad-skewing network-style show” in contrast to the “edgy, premium series” Collins had wanted to deliver. The producers were apparently happy with the material but ultimately decided to employ a different approach.

The new Fresh Prince of Bel-Air series is now expected to premiere next year, having landed a two-season order in September. Brady and Newson are bringing their dramatic take of the 90s sitcom to the screen, together with executive producer Malcolm Spellman, who crafted and served as head writer on Disney+’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Original series creators Andy and Susan Borowitz are producing the series alongside Will Smith, Quincy Jones, and Benny Medina. Morgan Cooper, who achieved Internet fame in March 2019 with his unlicensed faux-trailer for a proposed Fresh Prince reboot, also remains on board as a writer, director, and co-executive producer.

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No cast members have been announced, and it’s unclear if any of the actors from the original series will return. Smith has remained close with his Fresh Prince co-stars and recently reunited with them in honor of the show’s 30th anniversary. The unscripted special celebrated the sitcom, with behind-the-scenes footage and discussions about its cultural impact.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ran for six seasons on NBC between 1990 and 1996. The series starred Smith as a fictionalized version of himself, following his character’s struggles from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. The show also starred James Avery, Janet Hubert-Whitten/Daphne Maxwell Reid, and Alfonso Ribeiro, amongst others.

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Adele Ankers is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser First Look Video, Pricing, Dining, and More Revealed

Alongside revealing the first commercial for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, Disney has shared new details on pricing, food, and so much more for this 2-night adventure at Walt Disney World Resort.

As shared on Disney Parks Blog, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is set to open in Spring 2022 at Walt Disney World and will take guests to a galaxy far, far away for two nights of Star Wars immersion unlike any other. The video, which you can see below, shows a bit of what visitors will be able to expect, including a look at the cabins, the first-of-its-kind lightsaber, aliens, what you will see outside each window, how you may be recruited by the Resistance, and much more.

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Pricing and Cabin Options

Disney also shared Sample Standard Cabin Rates for this stay aboard the Halcyon – the ship that is the star of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. A standard cabin can sleep up to four or five passengers and includes a Queen bed, 2 berths (bunk beds), and a wall pull-down bed. Each room will also come with a pullout table, TV, window into space, mini fridge, hair dryer, safe, phone, and bath products.

The pricing breakdown for a Standard Cabin is as follows;

  • Two guests per cabin
    • $1,209 per guest per night or $4,809 total
  • Three guests per cabin (two adults, one child)
    • $889 per guest per night or $5,299 total
  • Four guests per cabin (three adults, one child)
    • $749 per guest per night or $5,999 total

This pricing also includes entry to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Galaxy’s Edge on day one of your journey, two breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals per guest, one quick-service meal, valet parking, an exclusive Galactic Starcruiser MagicBand, and more.

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There will also be Galaxy Class Suites which can sleep four and include a sitting area, double vanity bathroom, bar area, two windows into space, and a “few extra Star Wars surprises. For those looking for the ultimate experience, a Grand Captain Suite is available and can sleep eight passengers, features a post living space and seating area, a second bathroom, three windows with views into space, and more surprises.

There are 100 cabins aboard Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, and each one is “radiating an atmosphere of elegance, style, comfort, and exclusivity.

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Food and Dining Experiences

Food and dining experiences aboard Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will also feel like they are pulled straight from that galaxy far, far away, and there will be quick ways to get food or more immersive ones. On the first night of your adventure, the Crown of Corellia Dining Room will transform into a table-service supper club with a “special musical appearance by a galactic superstar.”

The second night, The Taste Around the Galaxy will showcase courses inspired from locations and planets from Star Wars. This meal will include a presentation of what you are being served, an appetizer, choice of entrée, and dessert.

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Breakfast and Lunch will also take place in the Crown of Corellia Dining Room and will feature “colorful fare from all over the galaxy” alongside “familiar favorites from your home planet.” For those worried, there will be plenty of fresh brewed coffee and Bubo Wamba Family Farms Blue Milk to go around.

For those looking for a more social/bar experience, the Sublight Lounge will be the place to visit. It is the “perfect place to sip a beverage and relax—perhaps while conspiring with a charming smuggler or playing a casual game of holo-sabacc.”

Furthermore, guests will be able to arrange to sit at the Captain’s Table for a special dining experience that includes extra courses the Captain loves and a prime spot in the center of the Crown of Corellia Dining Room.

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Sample Itinerary, Lightsaber and Bridge Training, and More Highlights

The adventure aboard Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is much more than just a standard two-night stay at a hotel, as it is meant to allow you to live your own Star Wars story. In Disney’s own words, it is “part live immersive theater, part themed environment, part culinary extravaganza, part real-life role-playing game—and yet so much more.”

Guests will also be able to choose to join the First Order of the Resistance, to strike a bargain with a gang of smugglers, or simply “sip a cocktail and watch it all from a safe distance.”

During your journey, you will run into new and familiar characters like Rey, Kylo Ren, and Chewbacca, and you’ll even be able to assist some of them on missions. The Star Wars: Datapad experience that is featured in the Play Disney Parks app will include your personalized itinerary of events and activities, but will also include a way to communicate with the crew and others, make choices, receive communications, and it may also be your way to be “invited to secret meetings and adventures.”

Much like Luke did in Star Wars: A New Hope, guests will be able to become Jedi and wield a lightsaber while facing off against a remote training device. Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will also be the first place fans can see Disney’s realistic, retractable lightsaber.

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Bridge training will give passengers a chance to learn all about the bridge of the Halcyon, and the crew will teach you how to help with navigation, power, defense, and other critical systems that will keep everyone safe. This will come in handy when “unforeseen galactic entanglements” occur.

As previously mentioned, your journey will take you to the Black Spire Outpost on Batuu a.k.a. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and you will even get to ride both Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. Furthermore, the events on the ship and the rides will both help tell the full story of this Star Wars adventure.

Disney has also shared a sample itinerary for the two-night adventure aboard Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, and it includes everything from Sabacc lessons to Dinner featuring Live Music to an Outer Rim Regalia to a Droid Racing competition.

There will also be “unexpected story moments” that will have guests choosing between, for example, proving your mettle to join an elite smuggling ring or hiding a stowaway to help the resistance.

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Unlike Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Galactic Starcruiser invites and encourages guests to dress up the part. Do you want to dress in full Jedi garb during your adventure or wear your Coruscant best? The choice is yours.

As previously mentioned, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will officially open at Walt Disney World Resort in Spring 2022.

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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.

Hallmark’s 2021 Christmas Ornaments Include A Light-Up SNES That Plays Super Mario Music

It’s hard to believe, but it’s already August, which means the holiday season is fast approaching. In keeping with tradition, Hallmark has released its lineup of 2021 Christmas ornaments, and you can already buy some of them at Amazon if you just can’t wait until your tree is actually up. Hallmark’s ornaments always include some gaming- and pop culture-themed bobbles, and this year, there’s a particularly neat ornament available: a miniature Nintendo SNES that actually lights up and plays music from Super Mario World. It’s easiest the coolest item in the Hallmark 2021 lineup, and as such, it keeps going in and out of stock online. As of publish, it’s currently out of stock again, but we expect it’ll keep popping up over the next few months. Check out the video of it in action below.

The SNES isn’t the only new Hallmark ornament from Nintendo–the 2021 offerings also include a caped Mario, Donkey Kong driving a kart, and Charizard as well as ornaments from other franchises like Kingdom Hearts and Fortnite. Most of the offerings will be available in October. Here’s a look at more of Hallmark’s gaming ornaments available in 2021, with links for the ones available to order now. You can also check out more of what’s available now at Amazon, including my personal favorite: Baby Yoda perched on a Stormtrooper helmet.

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Hallmark 2021 gaming ornaments

Available October 16:

PS5 No Longer Being Sold At A Loss, At Least Not The Main Model

The PlayStation 5’s $500 disc-based edition is no longer being sold at a loss. Sony CFO Hiroki Totoki confirmed this during the company’s earnings briefing on Wednesday, according to Bloomberg.

The $400 digital edition is still being sold for less than what it costs to manufacture, Sony said, but the losses on that machine are being offset by more margin-rich hardware like peripherals and the PS4. Despite its age, the PS4 shipped another 500,000 units during the April-June period.

Overall, while Sony’s video game division posted a modest 2% increase in sales, total operating profit took a substantial hit during the latest quarter. Sony said this was due in part to a decrease in sales of non-first-party games and DLC, as well as losses due to the PS5. Sony said it was taking a loss on the PS5 due to a “strategic price points” to help the system move units.

Losing money on game consoles is common near the start of a platform’s lifecycle, but it’s not true for every system. Nintendo’s wildly popular Switch console was sold for a profit from the start. Microsoft has never offered specifics about the profit profile of its new Xbox consoles, but Xbox boss Phil Spencer has said the real money in gaming comes from software and services.

Sony’s earnings report also brought news about PS5 shipment figures and PlayStation Plus subscriber numbers, while the company also said it has secured enough components to reach its PS5 sales targets. Additionally, PlayStation Now is continuing to grow.

Dell UltraSharp Webcam Review

For years, the Logitech Brio has reigned supreme as the best webcam to buy if you wanted 4K image quality. That wasn’t because it was particularly special but more due to lack of competition. Well, a contender has finally arisen in the form of the Dell UltraSharp webcam. Sporting a 4K image sensor (or 1080p60), HDR, and Sony’s new STARVIS image sensor for improved low light performance, it’s packed with features but comes in at a pricey $199.99. I’ve spent two weeks pitting it against the biggest competing webcams to find out just how well it stacks up. 

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Dell UltraSharp Webcam – Design and Features

The Dell UltraSharp isn’t your average webcam, and that starts with design. While most webcams try to be small and unassuming, the UltraSharp throws those design conventions out the window. Instead of the usual box or oval shape we’ve come to expect, the UltraSharp is a 3.5-inch metal cylinder and feels impressively robust. Even though the camera has a depth that triples competing webcams like the Logitech Brio, the actual footprint feels small due to a front element that’s only a hair over 1.6 inches in diameter.

That added depth is put to good use. If you’ll forgive the pun, the Dell UltraSharp is cutting edge in every way that counts. Inside its tubular shell, it uses Sony’s new 4K STARVIS CMOS sensor, technology that saw its debut in consumer webcams with the Razer Kiyo Pro. STARVIS technology first became popular in security cameras, allowing business owners to monitor dark rooms in full color. Here, that’s applied to make sure your streams and conference calls stay reasonably clear, even in poorly lit rooms.

This effort is enhanced further with the camera’s HDR capture abilities. With HDR enabled, the camera captures multiple images for every frame of video at different exposure settings, blending these into one in real time. The result is more consistent exposure in all different types of lighting, which preserves detail that most webcams would simply lose. This technique also allows the camera to capture a wider range of color for your viewers. 

The optics on the UltraSharp are impressive. It uses a multi-element front lens to cut down on aberrations and keep the image crisp. It features a wide field of view that maxes out at 90 degrees, though manages to do so with less image warping than either the Logitech Brio or the Razer Kiyo Pro. This can be stepped down to 78 degrees to match the Logitech C920 or even 65 degrees if you’re keen on focusing on your face. 

When it comes to resolution, the Dell UltraSharp is able to capture up to 4K at 30 FPS or either 1080p or 720p at 60 FPS. Each resolution is also able to record at 24 FPS, which is popular for cinematic recordings. There isn’t a dramatic difference in performance between these modes, so jumping to 4K won’t suddenly make autofocus unusable or automatic exposure and white balance go awry. 

The construction of the Ultrasharp is equally high-spec. The metal exterior adds a layer of durability other webcams lack. It also allowed Dell to use magnets in the camera’s design. There’s a removable webcam cover that simply snaps into place (but has a soft-touch back to protect the lens). On the bottom of the camera are two slots, one for the USB Type-C connection and the other to mount it to the two included stands, again using magnets to hold it securely within the slot. It features the usual collapsible bracket to mount on the top of a monitor as well as a stud to connect to the mounting plate of a normal tripod. The only downside to the metal construction is that the chassis becomes one big heatsink and becomes very warm to the touch.

There is one odd omission in this otherwise full-featured package: there’s no included microphone. Embedded webcam mics are rarely great, but they’re a genuinely useful feature for users who spend time on video calls and don’t want to invest in a headset. Since this camera isn’t explicitly marketed for gaming, it’s absence is even more glaring.

Dell UltraSharp Webcam – Software

The Dell UltraSharp can be used in all major streaming and video conferencing tools, but you’ll need to download the Dell Peripheral Manager to access all of its features. Getting started is easy, as the software walks you through some basic preferences and a selection of picture presets (Smooth, Vibrant, Warm, and Default). Depending on the look you’re going for, you can stop there, but it’s worth taking the extra time to go through the advanced options it offers to choose your resolution and other important settings. 

The software is broken into four tabs. The first revisits the presets from setup, but making any changes of your own reverts your camera to the Default preset so you’ll always start from the same baseline. The Camera Control tab allows you to change the field of view, dial in your own manual focus setting, and adjust the level of digital zoom. You can also set your preference between Exposure and Frame Rate priority, though I would recommend leaving this on Exposure as I’ll explain in the Performance section.

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This tab is also where you’ll find some of the camera’s “smart” features. Similar to Nvidia Broadcast, Dell’s Peripheral Manager has an auto-framing feature that will crop the scene to keep your face centered in the shot. It works reasonably well but would sometimes lose me if I moved too far to the end of the scene. This tab also allows you to set up Windows Hello for biometric login and added security for your device. 

The next tab, Color and Image, is where you’ll customize the look of your shot. There are toggles to turn on HDR and Auto White Balance and sliders for Brightness, Sharpness, Contrast, and Saturation. If you notice lights flickering in your shot, there’s also a 50Hz or 60Hz anti-flicker option. Conspicuously absent is an exposure setting, though this can be accessed in the Video Configuration device options in OBS. 

Lastly, the Capture tab is where you’ll set your preferred resolution and frame rate. These settings are very straightforward. Changing the camera’s resolution on this tab isn’t possible when streaming to other apps and causes a brief disruption when changed, so be sure to set these ahead of time.

Dell UltraSharp Webcam – Performance

Ultimately, the UltraSharp will live or die based on its image quality. I tested the camera against its three biggest competitors to see how it compared: the Logitech Brio, the Razer Kiyo Pro, and the Logitech StreamCam. Only the Brio supports 4K but both the Brio and Kiyo Pro feature HDR. The Kiyo Pro draws another connection with its own Sony STARVIS CMOS sensor. Only the Logitech StreamCam stands apart as a fairly basic 1080p webcam, albeit with pretty good image quality and some neat features like image stabilization and vertical video. Since it’s not competing in the same space, I’ve limited comparisons to the video portion of this review.

Testing the cameras on default settings with HDR enabled (minus the StreamCam), the Dell UltraSharp was easily the most accurate but had the darkest picture overall. Tweaking settings, I was able to brighten the picture and enhance its detail, but was never able to achieve the same exposure the other cameras delivered. Still, the UltraSharp can deliver an outstanding picture, particularly if you take the time to adjust its advanced settings.

The HDR implementation is great. Even without the fine detail of 4K, it’s easy to see that the UltraSharp offers the best dynamic range of the three HDR-enabled cameras. The stitching on my shirt, the retained detail in shadows, and improved color accuracy all demonstrate the improvements it offers over the competition. 

When the lights go down, STARVIS steps in to fill the void. In low light with only the monitor and a lamp behind my PC, the UltraSharp did a good job of retaining color accuracy and detail. It began showing minor graininess before the Kiyo Pro but presented a nicer image overall. With the lights off and only the glow of my monitor to work with, it became quite grainy and struggled with white balance. Both STARVIS cameras were sensitive enough that, depending on what was glowing from my monitor, my skin could look downright orange. The Brio, on the other hand, was more resilient but also had more noise. Still, not many people use a webcam in the dark, so it’s a bit of an unrealistic stress test to begin with. 

At 4K, the UltraSharp doesn’t offer the same level of fine detail as the Logitech Brio. This is especially visible when looking at fine details like hair and eyes. This is also visible when holding objects up to the webcam for close-ups. While that’s disappointing, it’s not as clear of a loss as it might seem. While the Logitech Brio can offer more detail, it rarely ever achieves it due to its terrible auto-focus system. The UltraSharp, on the other hand, reliably found my face and locked on within a few seconds, even in low light. While it’s possible to lock the focus of the Brio, that’s not a good solution if you need to move or want to hold something up to the camera. The UltraSharp may not offer the same level of fine detail, but it’s a more accurate, more reliable camera overall.

Jason Momoa Basically Already Wants a ‘Villeneuve Cut’ of Dune

Jason Momoa has said that he wants to see a six-hour version of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, stating that he’d like a TV series-style cut that presents “Denis’s whole vision.”

Talking to The New York Times, Momoa – who plays Duncan Idaho in Dune – said, “It was a cool movie. You know what they need to do? They need to make the four-to-six hour version of the first half. It’s like, ‘Let’s watch the four-to-five-hour movie like a TV show; I can choose when I want to watch the whole thing.’ I want to see Denis’s whole vision. I don’t want it to be trimmed.”

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This movie, which covers the first half of the original novel’s storyline, has a theatrical runtime of 2 hours and 35 minutes. But Momoa is pretty clear in this interview; over two hours isn’t enough. He’d like to see a much longer version containing all the ideas that the director had. A ‘Villeneuve Cut’, if you will. This is perhaps not a surprising opinion; Momoa was a supporter of the 4-hour ‘Snyder Cut’ of Justice League, after all.

It’s important to note that it does not appear that Momoa is suggesting that such a cut exists and is being rejected in favour of a shorter version. Most movies enter the editing process with much more material than will be used for the final version. But in the case of Dune, it’s not surprising to hear that Momoa believes all the unused footage could be put together into a multi-hour cut. The book is dense with detail, after all.

For more on Dune, check out our look at the first minutes of the movie, as well as our breakdown of who’s who in the trailer. The movie will release October 22 in cinemas and on HBO Max.

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Matt Purslow is IGN’s UK News and Entertainment Writer.

The Ascent Had Record Sales Success Despite Launching On Game Pass

Publisher Curve has announced that The Ascent earned more than $5 million in sales on its opening weekend. Developed by the Swedish indie studio Neon Giant, The Ascent launched on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S, with the game also being available as part of the Game Pass subscription service on PC, console, and cloud.

Curve added that The Ascent rose to the top of Steam’s global charts, while coverage of the game on YouTube and Twitch generated more than 10 million views.

Now Playing: The Ascent Video Review

“The Ascent is the first game out of Curve where our new team has been able to substantially make their mark, working closely with the developer and our platform partners,” Curve CEO John Clark said in a press statement. “This success is the result of a genuine team effort throughout the company, the arrival of new leadership and talent, and is truly reflective of our new approach of being developer and player-focused in all that we do.”

Curve added that positive word-of-mouth from gamers interested in the title–which blends cyberpunk themes with twin-stick shooter action and RPG elements–helped build awareness in the run-up to The Ascent‘s launch weekend. It’s also possible that launching on Game Pass in fact helped sales, despite conventional thinking that might suggest otherwise.

While the game has received plenty of positive critical reception, its grand design has been missing ray-tracing and DLSS features on the PC Game Pass version, which Neon Giant says that it currently working to fix alongside other lingering bugs.

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