For today’s Cyber Week, here are some deals that would make great gifts. Some of these are Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals that have come back for a short time. Others are just really, really hard to find in stock. Check them out below.
______________________________ Eric Song is IGN’s deal curator and spends roughly 1/4 of his income on stuff he posts. Check out his latest Daily Deals Article and subscribe to his IGN Deals Newsletter.
House of X and its sister series Powers of X make up one of the biggest and most game-changing X-Men stories in years, and it’s only fitting those two stories are immortalized in action figure form. Hasbro has released new images of their upcoming House of X/Powers of X-inspired Marvel Legends series, along with a brand new movie-style Deadpool figure.
To find out which iconic X-Men characters made the cut and get a closer look at all these new Marvel Legends releases, check out the slideshow gallery below:
Unsurprisingly, Hasbro is focusing mainly on the big guns with this House of X/Powers of X wave, with new versions of familiar faces Professor X, Cyclops, Magneto, Jean Grey and Wolverine. There are a few brand new additions to the Marvel Legends line, however, including Moira MacTaggert (arguably the most important character in this new X-Men era) and Omega Sentinel. Most figures also include Build-a-Figure pieces to construct a Tri-Sentinel, which should pair nicely with the recent Marvel Legends Nimrod and Hasbro’s massive, crowdfunded Sentinel figure.
X-Men movie fans will also be happy to see a new Deadpool 2-inspired Deadpool figure. This figure offers an alternative for those who didn’t want to shell out extra for the previous Deadpool/Negasonic Teenage Warhead 2-pack. However, this figure isn’t identical to the previous release, as it features Wade’s dirty, battle-damaged look from later on in the sequel.
Two other figures round out this batch of Marvel Legends reveals. Walgreens will offer an exclusive Silver Surfer with Mjolnir figure, inspired by Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw’s Thanos Wins. And fresh off his role in the Marvel’s Avengers video game, M.O.D.O.K. isn’t getting an appropriately oversized Marvel Legends figure. M.O.D.O.K. was previously released as a Build-a-Figure back in the Toy Biz Marvel Legends days, but this new release will make it much cheaper and easier to add him to your collection.
If you’re not up-to-date on the X-Men franchise, watch our video recapping all the ways House of X and Powers of X changed the mutant status quo:
Warning: This article contains full spoilers for The Mandalorian: Season 2, Episode 6! Be sure to check out IGN’s review of “The Tragedy.”
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The Mandalorian is drawing closer to its Season 2 finale, and the big twists keep coming. Not only does “The Tragedy” pit Din Djarin against the tag-team combo of Boba Fett and Fennec Shand, it ends with poor Baby Yoda (or Grogu, as he’s now known) falling back into the Empire’s hands. Worse, this imprisonment shows us a darker side of Grogu, literally, as we learn The Child is capable of tapping into the Dark Side of the Force.
This is definitely a big deal for such a little character. Read on to learn what Baby Yoda’s Dark Side leanings tell us about his history and why “The Asset” is such a key part of Moff Gideon’s plans.
Only recently has The Mandalorian begun to shed light on Grogu’s 50-year history and his connection to the Jedi Order. As Ahsoka discovered in “The Jedi,” Grogu was a youngling at the Jedi Temple during the Clone Wars. While most of the younglings were slaughtered by Darth Vader and his troops, someone helped sneak Grogu out of the temple. We don’t know much else about the roughly 30 years that followed, other than that Grogu eked out a meager existence before being captured by the Empire and used as fodder for Moff Gideon’s Palpatine-cloning experiments.
However, “The Tragedy” offers more insight into Grogu’s true nature. We see him lash out with the Force and choke his two Stormtrooper captors, relying on a move used only by Dark Jedi like Darth Vader and Kylo Ren. Clearly, the Dark Side of the Force is strong with Baby Yoda, and that may explain his seemingly unique status among the Jedi. We’ve never seen Grogu in any other Clone Wars-era stories, and even Ahsoka seems surprised to learn of his existence. This suggests the Jedi did their best to hide him from the outside world. He’s clearly very powerful in the Force, given that he has the mind and body of a toddler yet can levitate massive objects and fight off adult attackers. But as Star Wars has so often shown, great power brings with it the potential for great darkness.
The Jedi may have feared Grogu’s potential for evil, especially if his existence was ever uncovered by someone like Count Dooku or Darth Sidious. That’s probably why he kept a low profile all those years, and that’s why his mysterious benefactor (Mace Windu? Yoda? Jocasta Nu?) helped him escape the Empire’s clutches during the Purge. But as Ahsoka hinted in “The Jedi,” life has been rough for Grogu ever since, and a harsh existence spent scrounging for food and being prodded in Imperial labs has probably done nothing to quell the darkness within.
Din Djarin’s goal leading into the events of “The Tragedy” is simple – travel to Tython, bring Grogu to the ruins of a Jedi temple and help his buddy reach out through the Force to find a teacher. While the Empire’s sudden intervention complicates things quite a bit, Din and Grogu seem to have succeeded. Grogu appears to have been successful in reaching out and contacting someone. Whomever that mystery person is, we probably won’t learn their identity until the very end of the season, assuming that reveal isn’t being saved for Season 3.
Whatever the case, the series may be building toward the introduction of a character who’s better qualified to train Grogu than Ahsoka. This character would have to be comfortable tutoring a pupil with heavy Dark Side leanings. Ahsoka herself seems unwilling to shoulder that burden, as she’s clearly still haunted by the shame of what her master became. And Luke Skywalker seems unlikely, if only because fans might be less than willing to accept an actor other than Mark Hamill in that iconic role.
There’s already some speculation online that Star Wars Rebels protagonist Ezra Bridger might be the teacher in question. The Mandalorian has already introduced several Rebels veterans and name-dropped Grand Admiral Thrawn, so why not bring Ezra into the fold, too? Given that his own Jedi training was fairly unorthodox, and that he’s shown an affinity for communing with other creatures through the Force, Ezra might be just the teacher Grogu needs.
However, it’s entirely likely this mystery teacher will be a brand new character. While The Mandalorian has shown us a number of familiar Star Wars faces, these characters only tend to hang around for an episode of two before parting ways with Din and venturing into whatever spinoff project Lucasfilm might have planned. If Grogu is going to have a teacher who becomes an ongoing part of the series, they’re probably more likely to be a new character without a lot of external baggage weighing them down. When and if Ezra returns, he’ll surely have problems of his own to deal with.
“The Siege” sheds some important light on what Moff Gideon is up to and why Grogu is so crucial to his plans. Gideon is trying (and currently failing) to create a new clone body for Emperor Palpatine. Dr. Pershing’s message to Gideon reveals that he and his fellow scientists haven’t cracked the secret of cloning bodies with high midichlorian counts. We even see a glimpse of what looks to be a discarded Snoke body in the Imperial facility – a failed prototype of what Palpatine will eventually use as a vessel to rule over the First Order.
Basically, even though Palpatine is clinging to life five years after his apparent death in Return of the Jedi, his minions haven’t figured out how to give him a clone body that can actually wield the Force. As we learned in the novelization of The Rise of Skywalker, this is actually the start of the origin story for Rey. Her father isn’t technically Palpatine’s son, but a clone with no Force abilities who escaped his “father’s” clutches.
Gideon needs The Child because he’s the only source of midichlorian-rich DNA the dying Empire still has. So far, none of Pershing’s experiments with Grogu have yielded the results they need. But Grogu’s flirtation with the Dark Side in “The Tragedy” may hold the key in that regard. Perhaps by torturing Grogu and pushing him deeper into Dark Side territory, Gideon can unlock the secret of creating Force-sensitive clones.
It’s probably safe to assume Team Mando will eventually rescue Grogu and Din will have that inevitable Beskar Spear vs. Darksaber duel with Gideon in the Season 2 finale. But even with the victory, Grogu’s recapture may be the pivotal moment where the key to Palpatine’s return is discovered and the Empire begins its transformation into the First Order. Din Djarin may well ride off into the sunset completely unaware he just set the wheels in motion for another Galactic Civil War. He’s kind of a goof like that.
The CW could soon be adding yet another DC series to its ever-growing superhero lineup. Deadline reports the network is developing an adaptation of Naomi, based on the 2019 limited series from writers Brian Michael Bendis and David F. Walker and artist Jamal Campbell.
Naomi is being developed by New Gods director/co-writer Ava DuVernay and former Arrow writer/co-executive producer Jill Blankenship. DuVernay and Blankenship are both writing and executive producing the new series. Naomi will be produced through DuVernay’s Array Filmworks in association with Warner Bros Television.
Naomi revolves around a new teen heroine named Naomi McDuffie (her surname being a tribute to the late Dwayne McDuffie). Her eponymous comic series explores her struggle to come to terms with her newfound powers and her unusual role in the DC Universe. The character has also gone on to play a recurring role in Bendis’ Young Justice comic.
The official logline for Naomi reads, “’Naomi’ follows a teen girl’s journey from her small northwestern town to the heights of the multiverse. When a supernatural event shakes her hometown to the core, Naomi sets out to uncover its origins, and what she discovers will challenge everything we believe about our heroes.”
Deadline doesn’t specify whether Naomi is meant to be part of the Arrowverse, but given Blankenship’s prior resume and the fact that the comic hinges on Naomi’s place within the larger DCU superhero community, it seems likely the series will take place in the same world as The Flash, Supergirl, Batwoman and the various other DC shows on The CW.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we get our entertainment, yesterday was the biggest bombshell yet as Warner Bros. announced that it will release its tentpole features like Dune and King Kong vs Godzilla on HBO Max and in theaters at the same time.
Cineworld previously criticized Universal Pictures for pushing ahead with a premium VOD rollout of Trolls World Tour amid the pandemic over the summer, but it exceeded expectations for the studio. Taking that into consideration and Warner Bros’ big moves next year, that seems to have shifted Cineworld’s stance on the subject.
The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Regal owner Cineworld Group has reacted to Warner Bros.’ move by looking beyond the pandemic to an eventual agreement with the Hollywood studios.
“Cineworld was aware of WB’s plan to release Wonder Woman directly to its streaming service, which has been announced at a time when our cinemas remain closed in the US (Regal) and UK (Cineworld),” a spokesperson said. “We believe that at such a time WB will look to reach an agreement about the proper window and terms that will work for both sides. Big movies are made for the big screen and we cannot wait to reopen our cinemas in Q1 in order to offer our customers, as always, the best place to watch a movie.”
Movie studios have had to adapt throughout the year including Disney releasing its initial spring release Mulan finally on Disney+–at a price–and Warner Bros. dropping Wonder Woman 1984 on HBO Max on Christmas. Utilizing streaming services has been the go-to plan for studios all year, and Warner Bros. dropping its releases next year seems to be the right call instead of constant delays (in most cases with most of the movie-based merchandise already hitting stores).
DC newcomer Naomi will be headed to the small screen in the near future. Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Emmy-winner Ava DuVernay is collaborating with Arrow executive producer Jill Blankenship to develop a CW show based on the DC character. If greenlit, that gives DuVernay three upcoming DC projects under her belt, including the New Gods and DMZ TV show, both already in production.
Naomi is one of the newer DC Comics characters as she made her debut only last year in Naomi: Season One. Created by Eisner winners Brian Michael Bendis and David F. Walker and illustrated by Jamal Campbell, Naomi’s story begins when a fight between Superman and Mongul crashes into her hometown. From there, she discovers a family secret as she realizes she is more than your average human.
Both CW’s Black Lightning and Supergirl will be wrapping up in 2021, it looks like the CW is betting on younger, newer characters as it gets together its superhero lineup going forward. The network is also working on a Wonder Girl series and a Black Lightning spin-off centered on Jordan Calloway’s Painkiller as well as continuing the Batwoman series with new lead Javicia Leslie.
DC has been doing a lot of reshuffling their movie schedule with Wonder Woman 1984 finally hitting theaters and HBO Max on Christmas day, and Black Adam finally going into production, but it’s been all quiet on the Apokolips front with any release of the New Gods or any new information.
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As we predicted in last year’s round-up for the most anticipated games of 2020, this year turned out to be an eventful time thanks to the launch of new hardware and some high-profile releases from developers like Nintendo, CD Projekt Red, Valve Software. Still, there were plenty of surprises in store for us throughout this year, and now that we’re now at its end, it’s time we look ahead to the games that will likely shape the year of gaming in 2021, which includes some titles that were supposed to release this year.
For our end of 2020 coverage, we want to look ahead to 2021 and its slate of games. Along with shouting out some games that you may already have on your radar, we also want to highlight others that may have gone dark for some time. These games include spotlights on games like Elden Ring, Dying Light 2, and Starfield. In addition to those games, we also include ones that have recently been revealed in 2020, planned to launch in 2021.
Cyberpunk 2077 (Next-Gen) — TBD 2021 / PS5, Xbox Series X/S
While players on PC, PS4, and Xbox One will have collectively sunk thousands of hours into CD Projekt RED’s Cyberpunk 2077 by the end of this year, console players will have to wait till early 2021 for the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S editions of the game. There’s already a lot of anticipation for the open-world sci-fi action-RPG, and with the release of the new editions of the game, players will be able to dive into the game looking even better with 4K and 60 frames-per-second. From the few gameplay videos we’ve seen, the now current-gen editions boast some significant visual and performance upgrades, and it might even entice veteran players to start a brand new adventure.
Deathloop — May 21, 2021 / PC, PS5
Coming from Arkane Studios, Deathloop is an immersive sim where you play as Colt, an assassin tasked with killing key targets on a mysterious island to break out of the time-loop that he’s trapped in. Every time you die, you’ll restart the day and have to begin the process again, but you’ll possess more knowledge on how best to accomplish your goals, even being able to strike down multiple targets at once. What makes this even more complicated is that you have an assassin on your tail as well–played by another player or AI–looking to stop you. Deathloop looks like a mix of Hitman and Dishonored, while also adding in the conceit of a time-travel murder mystery, and that has excited to see more. Currently, Deathloop is planned for release on May 21 on PC and PS5 as a timed console exclusive.
Dying Light 2 — TBD 2021 / PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
It’s been some time since we’ve last seen Techland’s Dying Light 2, and we’re still anticipating what’s to come with the follow-up to its previous open-world zombie-apocalypse game. The sequel takes place more than a decade after the original, and the world has fallen into ruin and entered a new dark-age filled with hostile factions and ravenous undead. The last time we saw footage of the game in action was during E3 2019, and the expanded parkour, combat, and increased focus on role-playing showed a lot of promise. Hopefully, 2021 will be the year that Techland’s follow-up will be revealed again and headed for release.
Elden Ring — TBD 2021 / PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
Since 2019, we haven’t seen or heard much about From Software’s next Soulslike game, Elden Ring. Though details are still scarce, we know that it’s in the vein of Dark Souls, taking place in a fractured, chaotic world–with lore written by Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin. Recently, we interviewed Xbox head Phil Spencer, who talked about his experience with the game, which gives us hope that it’s on the right track. Fans of the enduring Soulslike sub-genre have been eagerly anticipating new details on the game, but so far, all they have to work off is the initial trailer. We’re approaching two years since its debut, so perhaps 2021 will be the year for Elden Ring’s new debut.
The Elder Scrolls VI — TBD 2021 / PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
Bethesda Game Studios producer Todd Howard said after the reveal of The Elder Scrolls VI at E3 2018 that the game was still a long way out, and we haven’t seen or heard much about it since. The quick trailer we saw for TES VI featured sweeping shots of a landscape, far away from Skyrim’s icy tundra or the dense forests of Cyrodiil from Oblivion. Though all eyes are fixed on Starfield, Bethesda’s next game and a new IP that blends an RPG with interstellar space exploration, there’s still a lot of anticipation for The Elder Scrolls VI, and we might be able to see more of the game next year.
Everwild — TBD 2021 / PC, Xbox Series X/S
In recent years, developer Rare has seen something of a creative renaissance with the rising popularity of Sea of Thieves and its new updates. But with their new IP Everwild, revealed in 2019, the developer’s focus falls on exploring a world inspired by high-fantasy fiction. In a similar vein to Sea of Thieves, players can team up with others online or explore on their own in the world, where they’ll interact and tame wild creatures and expand their resources to explore the further reaches in the fantasy world. The debut trailer offered a brief glimpse of the characters you’ll encounter, and the wonderful-looking world you’ll be exploring, which has us optimistic that Rare will be able to keep its hot streak going with this one.
Fable — TBD 2021 / PC, Xbox Series X/S
The original Fable trilogy was a popular action-RPG series that showed that your actions, no matter how small, can indeed have harsh and unintended consequences. As one of Microsoft’s key first-party franchises, Fable garnered a faithful following within the Xbox community, and there’s been an outcry for a new entry for some time. After the unfortunate cancellation of the spin-off game Fable Legends, the series was effectively put on ice until a new entry was announced from Playground Games, the team behind the Forza Horizon series. With a new team behind it, the next major game in the series will be something of a fresh start. It’s been more than a decade since the last core Fable series entry, and the next game will be more of a return to the epic scale of the original trilogy. We’re still in the dark about what’s in store with this new entry, but we’re happy that the Fable series is still alive and kicking. Here’s hoping 2021 will be the time to reveal more of the plans for where the series is going next.
Far Cry 6 — March 2021 / PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
The Far Cry series is known for its towering and threatening villains, and the next game looks to have its most intimidating antagonist yet. In Far Cry 6, the fictional island country Yara is on the brink of revolution to overthrow menacing dictator Anton Castillo, portrayed by Giancarlo Esposito–who is channeling elements of his role as Gus Fring from Breaking Bad with his performance. Unlike previous entries that hinged on the “a fish out of water” conceit, Far Cry 6 has you play as a native of Yara, who must work with the rebels to dismantle the Castillo regime. The game was initially planned for a February 2021 release, but it’s been pushed back to March. Still, Far Cry 6 is one of the first major AAA games of the new year, and it’ll be exciting to see how much of an improvement the next game in the franchise will be on new current-gen hardware.
Final Fantasy XVI — TBD 2021 / PS5
One of the biggest surprise reveals of 2020 was Final Fantasy XVI. Coming to PS5 as a console exclusive, the next game in the long-running RPG series is developed by the same team behind the popular MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV. Given its surprisingly gruesome and melancholic debut trailer, it seems FFXVI’s main plot will venture into some dark territory that the franchise seldom sees. Coming off the heels of the fantastic Final Fantasy VII Remake, having another full-fledged game in the series is an exciting prospect, and we’re looking forward to hearing more of what’s to come with FFXVI in 2021.
Untitled God of War Sequel — TBD 2021 / PS5
2018’s God of War was a new beginning for the series, and in the two years since its release, the game has stood as one of the PS4’s crowning achievements. During the June PS5 reveal stream, Sony revealed a quick tease for the sequel, which closed out with a message stating that “Ragnarok is coming,” along with a 2021 release date. Though it’s since been referred to as God of War: Ragnarok by fans and press, the game does not have an official title yet. The term “Ragnarok” was heavily referenced throughout the previous game, meaning the Norse world’s end days. Given that the ending of God of War showed off Thor’s brief appearance, the sequel will likely be upping the stakes in some extraordinary ways–which will be no small feat.
Gotham Knights — TBD 2021 / PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
The next Batman game coming from WB Montreal moves away from the Batman Arkham games’ storyline for something new. In Gotham Knights, you play as the remaining defenders of Gotham City–Batgirl, Robin, Nightwing, and Red Hood–after the apparent death of Batman. While it takes some gameplay cues from the Batman Arkham series, Gotham Knights move closer to the realm of an action-RPG, focusing on building up your crew of crime fighters and decking them out with new gear. While on the surface, it looks like it’s moving into the same Destiny-like territory as Marvel’s Avengers, the core gameplay is still rooted in the classic Arkham-style gameplay, but with more of a focus on co-op play. Set for release sometime in 2021, we should expect to see more info on what’s to come with Gotham Knights in the months ahead.
Gran Turismo 7 — TBD 2021 / PS5
The Gran Turismo series still stands as one of Sony’s more iconic PlayStation franchises. From its earliest release on the PS1 to the release of GT6 on the PS4, the sim-racing franchise appealed to gearheads and casual racing fans alike. The series has made a name for itself by offering realistic vehicle performance, high-end customization, and numerous tracks on which to take each of its vast selection of cars out for a spin. The Gran Turismo series is widely regarded as the gold standard for sim-racing, and with Gran Turismo 7 planned for a 2021 release, we’re anxiously anticipating more details on how the racing series will fare on new hardware.
Halo Infinite — TBD 2021 / Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One
343 Industries’ Halo Infinite was originally planned as a launch title for the Xbox Series X/S, but it was pushed back to 2021 following the gameplay debut at the Xbox Games Showcase. As the latest entry in Microsoft’s flagship shooter franchise, Infinite is something of a return to the series’ roots, focusing on Master Chief and his battle across ancient ring worlds filled with hostile Covenant forces. The reasoning for the delay was to refine the quality of the game, which is still shaping up to be an ambitious step forward for the series. While the general response to the gameplay demo was a bit polarizing, there is still a lot of promise with Halo Infinite. The next showing for the game stands as an opportunity for Microsoft to exhibit its true scope and presentation, and we hope that it will prove to be a more show stopping reveal than it last.
Hitman 3 — January 20, 2021 / PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
The recent games in the Hitman franchise have been about expanding the scope of Agent 47’s campaign to take down the world’s worst villains and operatives who have a checkered past. With Hitman 3, IO Interactive continues the evolving, games-as-a-service approach by presenting the current Hitman trilogy’s most complete experience. Launching on January 20, 2021, Hitman 3 not only allows players who own Hitman 1 and 2 to import their maps into the third game, adding new gameplay innovations and visuals upgrades to past levels, but it also includes total virtual reality support for every mission–a first for the series. At launch next year, Hitman 3 will already be the most comprehensive game of the series, and it will continue to grow from there with new updates and levels.
Horizon: Forbidden West — TBD 2021 / PS4, PS5
One of the final games to be revealed during the PS5 reveal stream was Horizon: Forbidden West, the sequel to Guerrilla Games’ open-world post-apocalyptic game from 2017. In the a direct sequel, we find Aloy heading to the west coast to explore the ruins of what was once known as California to stop the spread of a deadly disease. While Forbidden West will also be available on PS4, the developers have stated that the sequel takes advantage of the PS5’s advanced processing and loading power to render more detailed environments and allow for even quicker fast-travel times. This will no doubt make the exploration of its visually stunning world all the more engaging. Currently, Horizon: Forbidden West is set to launch sometime in 2021.
Hogwarts Legacy — TBD 2021 / PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
The Harry Potter franchise has been a staple of the modern fantasy-fiction discourse since its debut in the late 1990s. Though the franchise has seen a whole set of tie-in experiences, they’ve always been connected to the live-action films. Hogwarts Legacy marks the first time for a game where players will be able to dive into the Wizarding World as an original character and start their academic career at the school for budding wizards. Though we’ve only seen the debut trailer, we know Hogwarts Legacy will have you explore a fully open-world Hogwarts and the surrounding environments, while interacting with students and professors. The game’s 2021 release window means we’ll likely be seeing more of this game sooner than we think.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 — TBD 2021 / Nintendo Switch
It’s been more than three years since the launch of The Legend of the Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and it’s still a regular topic in the discourse of open-world games. It represented a breakthrough for the Zelda franchise that not only turned the series into a proper open-world game, but managed to inspire other imitators that sought to blend its inspired immersive sim-style gameplay with the spirit of adventure. Last year, we saw a quick tease for the direct sequel to Breath of the Wild, which showed off Link and Princess Zelda exploring a dense underground cavern that hides a dark secret. Though we haven’t seen the game since its reveal at E3 2019, we’re still hoping that 2021 will be the year that Breath of the Wild 2 will have its re-reveal.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart — TBD 2021 / PS5
The Ratchet & Clank series has been a staple of the PlayStation brand since 2002, and it’s become one of developer Insomniac’s most iconic and long-running franchises. The next game in the series is Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, which brings the galaxy traveling duo and their arsenal of weapons into a new adventure revolving around inter-dimensional travel. During the reveal at the June PS5 online event, we got to some dimension-hopping come into play, which is a gameplay mechanic powered by the PS5’s advanced loading and processing capabilities. And with the tease of an alternate-dimension version of Ratchet, it looks as though there will be a lot more going on with the dimensional travel in this adventure that it appears.
Resident Evil 8: Village — TBD 2021 / PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
Resident Evil 7 was a fantastic fresh start for the franchise, which scaled back the over-the-top action of previous games, made the move to a more intimate and terrifying first-person perspective, and brought Resident Evil back to its roots as a survival horror game. If RE7 was drawing inspiration from the classic Resident Evil trilogy, then Resident Evil 8: Village looks to reflect its shift into heavily atmospheric action-horror, similar to that of Resident Evil 4. From the game’s reveal, we saw that returning protagonist Ethan finds himself in deep conflict with Chris Redfield, and he travels to an isolated European village in pursuit. But in typical RE fashion, the setting has its dark secrets and some unsettling horrors that lie within. Though we’ve only seen a little gameplay so far, RE8 looks to carry on with the same tone that its predecessor hit, while upping the stakes even more. We can’t wait to see more of the game, which is still on track for release sometime in 2021.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 — TBD 2021 / PC, Xbox Series X/S
Ninja Theory’s stunning narrative-based action game, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, is getting a sequel, and it’ll debut on Microsoft’s new Xbox Series X/S platforms. Though we are still in the dark about the story of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, the fantastic debut trailer revealed last year shows off the returning protagonist in a mysterious new land, filled with beings that look to be on the hunt for her. One of the most significant elements of the original game was its empathetic portrayal of characters struggling with mental illness. That internal struggle that Senua has looks to be the focal point in the sequel, and we hope that 2021 will have more to show from the sequel to Ninja Theory’s most impactful games.
Starfield — TBD 2021 / PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
While Bethesda Game Studios is commonly known for the modern Fallout series and The Elder Scrolls franchise, its next game is the anticipated and still-enigmatic new IP Starfield. Officially revealed during E3 2018, Starfield brings the familiar Bethesda-style RPG gameplay to deep-space, focusing on interstellar space travel. While the trailer was a great mood piece, not much else is known about the game. In the nearly three years since its debut, we feel that 2021 is the right time to re-debut the game, and with Microsoft now in the ownership of Bethesda, we might see the game on an even bigger stage for its next showing.
CD Projekt Red’s highly anticipated Cyberpunk 2077 may take up more storage space than originally thought, as it’s been revealed that the game has a 43GB update around launch.
CDPR public relations manager Fabian Mario Döhla replied to DreamcastGuy’s tweet, saying it’s an update but not the one that’s planned to drop on the day the game comes out.
“It’s an update but – fun twist – not the update we’ll have for launch,” Mario Döhla said, suggesting that Cyberpunk 2077 will receive a day-one update alongside the 43.5GB patch.
On PC, the game requires at least 70GB of storage space to install, though it’s unclear how much it takes to install on consoles. Back in August 2019, the European PlayStation Store purported that Cyberpunk 2077 needed at least 80GB. CDPR hasn’t commented on the game’s file size.
In the meantime, Cyberpunk 2077 can be preloaded on Xbox consoles–Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S–now, while PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 will be able to pre-install the game at midnight local time on December 8. PC owners can preload Cyberpunk 2077 on December 7. Cyberpunk 2077 can be preloaded whether users preordered it or opted for the physical disc.
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Whether you want to watch zombies being idols or yakuza being househusbands, there’s an anime for everyone in 2021.
2021 is right around the corner, and with it comes a year’s worth of brand-new anime. Quite a few anime have been announced already, ranging from entirely original ideas to manga, video game, and light novel-inspired stories. In the following article, we detail our 11 most anticipated anime for 2021.
It’s worth pointing out that none of these shows are for-sure confirmed for 2021. We’re also not saying that these will definitely be the best anime of 2021 once all is said and done. But each one of these anime are tentatively scheduled for next year, and each has managed to intrigue us. Hopefully, they all live up to expectations.
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The Promised Neverland Season 2
One of our favorite anime of 2019, The Promised Neverland isn’t your typical shonen anime, putting a heavier reliance on mind games than all-out brawls, leaning into horror, and featuring a female protagonist. But it’s because of all these differences that The Promised Neverland is so special.
In The Promised Neverland, Emma is one of the smartest kids at her orphanage, and although no one has chosen to adopt her yet, she thinks of the orphanage’s supervisor as her mother. But then Emma learns of a terrible secret connected to the orphanage, and “Mom” is in on it. With the help of her closest friends, Emma will need to trick her cunning caretaker and find a way to escape the only home she’s ever known. Season 1 of The Promised Neverland is available on Crunchyroll, Hulu, Funimation, and Hidive.
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Zombieland Saga: Revenge
One of our favorite anime of 2018, Zombieland Saga is a mixture of idol anime and zombie horror. This bizarre mixture of tropes produce some genuinely laugh-out-loud moments, but the anime isn’t all fun and games. It also explores more serious themes, such as struggling with transgender identity, depression, and social anxiety.
In Zombieland Saga, protagonist Sakura is killed by a passing truck on her first day of high school. 10 years later, she’s resurrected as a zombie alongside six other girls, and the eccentric necromancer responsible for their current predicament wants the seven to become an idol group. Zombieland Saga: Revenge is the name of the show’s second season, but other than the theme being that of, well, revenge, we don’t know that much about it. Season 1 of Zombieland Saga is available on Crunchyroll and Funimation.
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Horimiya
Based on the romantic comedy manga of the same name, Horimiya tends to lean more toward depicting the cute antics of two teenagers falling in love as opposed to the escalating drama of two problematic young adults as seen in other series. Which isn’t to say that Horimiya doesn’t have its stakes, but if you’re looking for another Domestic Girlfriend or Sing “Yesterday” For Me, then this series won’t give that to you.
In Horimiya, protagonist Hori presents herself as a fashionable, intelligent, and highly capable student, but at home she dresses plainly and lives a rather simple and boring life. Meanwhile, Miyamura, a boy in Hori’s class, is regarded by most of his peers as a loser and not one to take notice of, but outside of school, he wears piercings and rolls up his sleeves to reveal a liberal amount of tattoos–plus, once he styles his hair, he’s pretty hot. When Hori and Miyamura discover each other’s secret home lives, their pact to not tell their fellow students creates a bond between them that slowly blooms into something more.
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Dr. Stone: Stone Wars
One of our favorite anime of 2019, Dr. Stone is a lot like The Promised Neverland in that it’s a shonen anime that’s more concerned with its protagonists solving their problems with their brains as opposed to brawn. The first season of this anime is a bit of a slow burn, but this second season, Dr. Stone: Stone Wars, should punch up the pacing a little bit.
In Dr. Stone, a mysterious light emanates across the world, encasing all humans in stone. Protagonist Senku, an intelligent high school student with a gift for science, finally breaks free of the stone centuries later, and manages to find a way to do the same for his friends. Now stuck in a world resembling the Stone Age in terms of technology, Senku promises that he’ll use science to rebuild modern society within decades. Season 1 of Dr. Stone is available on Crunchyroll and Funimation.
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Princess Connect! Re:Dive Season 2
One of the most popular anime of 2020, Princess Connect! Re:Dive is returning for a second season in 2021. A comedy-based fantasy anime, Princess Connect gives off heavy Konosuba: God’s Blessing on this Wonderful World vibes–if Konosuba was reversed and was about an incompetant man and his party of dependable female companions.
In Princess Connect! Re:Dive, protagonist Yuuki falls from the sky and lands in a field, waking up with no memories of who he is or how he got there. But then he’s approached by Kokkoro, an elf that informs him that she’s his guide to the world. The two eventually meet and befriend swordswoman Pecorine and sorceress Karyl, and the four decide to set out on an adventure together in order to figure out what happened to Yuuki’s memories. Season 1 of Princess Connect! Re:Dive is available on Crunchyroll.
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The Way Of The Househusband
The Way of the Househusband is hilarious–much in the same way that Zombieland Saga is. But instead of being about zombies who are music idols, The Way of the Househusband is about a yakuza who takes care of all of the everyday tasks associated with owning a house.
In The Way of the Househusband, protagonist Tatsu is a powerful and feared yakuza boss who decides to retire from a life of crime in order to take care of the domestic tasks at home while his wife pursues her career as a designer. Tatsu, however, has been a yakuza for so long that it’s really all he knows how to be. So he tackles benign household tasks with the intensity of a crime boss.
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Laid-Back Camp Season 2
Another of our favorite anime of 2018, Laid-Back Camp is the perfect show for those looking to just unwind and relax. Laid-Back Camp carries viewers through its lackadaisical pacing with its rambunctious cast, all of whom spend most of the show doing normal, everyday tasks but with a dash of teenage antics and witty humor.
In Laid-Back Camp, protagonists Rin and Nadeshiko have a chance encounter during one of Rin’s solo camping trips. Discovering that she likes the idea of camping, Nadeshiko decides to join her high school’s camping club. While Nadeshiko makes new friends and enjoys group camping, Rin continues to camp solo. But the two remain in contact with one another, and as they become better friends, they try to push the boundaries of their own comfort level and embrace the other’s idea of the ideal camping experience. Season 1 of Laid-Back Camp is available on Crunchyroll.
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My Hero Academia Season 5
Given that My Hero Academia Season 2 was our favorite anime of 2017, the show’s third season was one of our favorite anime of 2018, and the fourth season was one of our favorite anime of 2019, you can probably guess why we’re so excited for Season 5. My Hero Academia is one of the most popular shonen anime out right now, crossing over into mainstream culture and attracting the attention of those who aren’t normally into anime.
In My Hero Academia, super powers–known as Quirks–are the norm, with most people born with some sort of special ability. Protagonist Izuku is one of the few born without a Quirk, but he still wants to be a hero like his idol, All Might. When Izuku manages to meet All Might, the young boy’s courage impresses the veteran hero, and All Might passes his Quirk onto Izuku. Izuku then enrolls in Japan’s most prestigious high school for wannabe superheroes, and begins his training to master one of the world’s most powerful Quirks. Seasons 1-4 of My Hero Academia are available on Crunchyroll and Funimation.
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2.43: Seiin High School Boys Volleyball Club
Don’t be sad that Haikyu: To The Top ends in 2020 and we now have to wait for who knows how long for Haikyu Season 5. 2021 seems to be giving us more volleyball boys to cheer for in 2.43: Seiin High School Boys Volleyball Club.
In 2.43: Seiin High School Boys’ Volleyball Club, childhood friends Kimichika and Yunii both play on the titular high school team. Yunii is a gifted volleyball player with a natural talent for the sport, but he easily falls victim to the pressure of not wanting to make mistakes–which, of course, only leads to mistakes. But Kimichika’s calm demeanor manages to pull out Yunii’s full potential, creating a powerhouse combo. Alongside their upperclassmen, the two boys aim to make their team the best in their prefecture.
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Beastars Season 2
The comparison has been made before but it’s worth repeating: Beastars is like a more adult-oriented version of Zootopia. This anime visually represents white people and femininity with herbivores and people of color and masculinity with predators to explore issues surrounding race, sexuality, persecution, and self-worth. It’s also incredibly horny.
In Beastars, protagonist Legosi is a wolf, whose monstrous appearance belies his rather gentle and caring nature. One day, Legosi meets a small rabbit, named Haru, who has a past of sleeping with different men in order to feel special. The two strike up an uneasy friendship, with Legosi’s romantic feelings for Haru at odds with his predatory instincts to eat her, and Haru’s fascination with Legosi contradicting her desire to flee whenever they’re together. At the same time, murders of herbivore students begin to spark feelings of mistrust towards the carnivores on campus. Season 1 of Beastars is available on Netflix.
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Princess Principal: Crown Handler
If you like the mystery and intrigue behind spy thrillers, but wish that they had a bit more cuteness to them, look no further than Princess Principal. Though most of the anime features bloody executions, gut-wrenching betrayals, and surprising revelations, there are also moments of just cute characters doing cute things. Crown Handler is a six-part film that acts as a sequel to the original series, which aired in 2017.
In Princess Principal, Ange and Dorothy are spies for the democratic-run Commonwealth, posing as students in order to infiltrate the monarch-run Kingdom in hopes of toppling the current leadership. They befriend and find allies in Princess Charlotte, who wants the crown, and Beatrice, a close friend of the princess. Chise, an exchange student from Japan sent to spy on both sides so that her country can take advantage of the conflict, joins their crew, and together the five undergo a series of espionage, sabotage, and assassination missions. Season 1 of Princess Principal is available on Hidive and Amazon Prime Video.
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Disclosure: ViacomCBS is GameSpot’s parent company
Though originally scheduled to arrive on December 10, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and Call of Duty: Warzone will now get Season One content on December 16. The new season will be the largest free content drop in any Black Ops game, and there will be plenty of new goodies to try out across both titles.
Zombies mode gets in on the fun, as well, with more modes and challenges, and a seasonal prestige system that is cross-title. This means your progress will likely carry over into the next Call of Duty game.
On the Warzone side, battle royale players get 30 weapons from Black Ops Cold War, including their different Blueprint versions, and a brand-new map and mode. There will also be some sort of new “Gulag experience,” so things could look a little different after you get knocked out of a match.
Beginning December 12 and running until the new season drops, you’ll be able to score double XP and weapon XP in Black Ops Cold War, and you can get two pre-season bundles for free by logging in between December 8 and December 15. They contain things like operator skins, weapons, reticles, and calling cards.
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