Batman/Catwoman Finally Has a Release Date

After being pushed back nearly a year, DC’s Batman/Catwoman series finally has a release date. Fans can look forward to the first chapter of Tom King and Clay Mann’s latest collaboration on December 1, 2020.

Alongside this news, DC has revealed a trio of covers for Batwoman/Catwoman #1, including a new version of Mann’s previous teaser art recolored by Tomeu Morey and variant covers by Travis Charest and Jim Lee. Check out the slideshow gallery below to see all the art revealed so far:

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Batman/Catwoman is meant to be the final act in King’s long Batman saga, building on the fallout of 2019’s Batman #85 and the renewed romance between Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle. The series will explore several major twists in Batman’s life, including Catwoman’s pregnancy and the return of his former lover, Andrea Beaumont. That’s right, the Phantasm is finally making her DC Comics debut.

DC has shed more light on the plot of the series, revealing that it takes place across three time periods. A flashback storyline will shed more light on the early days of the Bat/Cat relationship and that eternal question – was it the street or the boat? The present-day storyline will explore the challenges facing the couple as they try to balance their costumed and personal lives and deal with the rise of the Phantasm. And finally, a flash-forward storyline will focus on an aging Selina as she mourns her late husband and hatches a revenge plot.

DC also teases Joker has a big part to play in the series. Bat-fans may remember that both Joker and Catwoman debuted in the pages of 1940’s Batman #1, making the Clown Prince of Crime the one villain whose relationship with Batman is as old as Catwoman’s. And just as Joker played a key role in convincing Selina to leave Bruce at the altar in Batman #50, he’s returning to sabotage his foe’s latest attempt at happiness.

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Batman/Catwoman is written by Tom King, drawn by Clay Mann, colored by Tomeu Morey, lettered by Clayton Cowles and edited by Jamie S. Rich and Brittany Holzherr. Both Mann and Charest will provide covers for each issues. This 12-issue limited series will be published under DC’s mature readers Black Label imprint. The series is expected to ship monthly beginning in December (a benefit of the long delay), though it’ll skip June 2021 in favor of a standalone issue dubbed Batman/Catwoman Special #1.

Batman/Catwoman was one of IGN’s picks for our most anticipated comics of 2020, and it’s good to know the series will just barely make it in that window. Unfortunately, things aren’t looking good on the Saga front…

Are you still excited for the final chapter of King’s epic Batman saga? Let us know in the comments below.

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Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

Microsoft Reportedly Wants to Buy Back Bungie, But They Couldn’t Agree on a Price

Update: Bungie CEO Pete Parsons has weighed in, simply saying that the reports are “false”:

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Microsoft has reportedly been in talks to reacquire Destiny developer Bungie, which recently negotiated independence from franchise publisher Activision.

The news is sourced from the GamesBeat podcast, where the hosts discuss the potential acquisition or a special partnership between Microsoft and Bungie. “I have heard they’ve had those talks, but like, the price is very high!” says Kinda Funny’s Imran Khan. “I’ve heard that they’ve fallen through repeatedly,” notes GamesBeat’s Jeffrey Grubb.

Eurogamer has also corroborated the story, citing its own sources and adding that they have been “driven on Bungie’s side by a desire to raise new funds for the studio, its projects and staff”, and that the two parties are yet to agree on a price.

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It’s unclear whether those talks are still open, or if the difference in pricing has led to the matter being closed. We’ve contacted Bungie and Microsoft for comment.

It’s an interesting proposition given Bungie’s relationship with Microsoft, who purchased the studio back in 2000, spawning many successful Halo games. Bungie later split from the Xbox crowd in 2007 before returning with Destiny in 2014 as part of a ten-year partnership with series publisher Activision. However, Activision and Bungie mutually parted ways early in 2019, with the developer maintaining the rights to Destiny.

It’s clear that Bungie is apparently prepared to drive a hard bargain if they were to get back into bed with Microsoft. Back in July, ex-Bungie board member Marty O’Donnell noted that Bungie almost went back to Microsoft after the separation, but the publisher would not let the studio retain the Destiny IP, so Bungie dealt with Activision instead.

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Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

AirPods Pro Are on Sale for The Lowest Price Ever

Over the past few months we’ve been seeing sale prices on Apple’s AirPods Pro inching downwards. The MSRP is $250, but right now Amazon has them at their lowest-ever price of $199. It’s unclear how long that deal will last, so grab ’em if you want them.

Note that Apple is hosting an event tomorrow, and rumor has it the company will announce new high-quality over-the-ear headphones. No new earbuds are expected to be announced.

Those who don’t need noise cancelling in their earbuds can also save on other AirPod models right now. Let’s take a look at all the best AirPod deals.

The Best AirPod Deals Available Now

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Those are the best prices on AirPods available right now. If they’re sold out or the prices change, try one of the other retailers listed below.

AirPods Pro Deals

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AirPods Pro are the cream of the crop when it comes to Apple’s earbud lineup. The standout feature is active noise cancelation, which shuts out the chaos of the world (this is particularly important if you have small children, trust me). They also come with three sizes of soft silicon tips so you can pick the ones that best fit your ears. The case is also compatible with Qi-certified wireless charging pads, so you don’t have to plug them in directly to juice them up.

AirPods with Wireless Charging Case Deals

airpods

Moving on down the line, AirPods with Wireless Charging Case are the souped-up version of standard AirPods. Like all AirPods, they can connect to any Bluetooth device, including Android phones. They work particularly well with Apple products, with snappy pairing, easy switching between devices, and a quick setup process. They also work with wireless charging pads.

AirPods with Charging Case Deals

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If you don’t care about wireless charging, you can save $30 by picking up the standard AirPods. They offer all the same features as the ones above, but you have to plug them in to charge them. Not a bad trade-off for saving $30, IMO.

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Chris Reed is IGN’s shopping and commerce editor. You can follow him on Twitter @_chrislreed.

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Twitch Plays Microsoft Flight Simulator Resulted In A Successful First Flight

Microsoft Flight Simulator is an intricate game of authentic aviation, one that challenges would-be pilots to take control of a number of aircraft and safely fly across the globe.

It’s an impressive feat for anyone to achieve, but such a task is even more astounding when handled by the Twitch community. No stranger to playing games as a collective after conquering Pokemon and Dark Souls, Twitch took on Microsoft Flight Simulator thanks to the efforts of Rami Ismail, formerly of Vlambeer.

While Twitch Plays Microsoft Flight Simulator did run into some initial technical difficulties, such as a Twitch member constantly powering down the engines before take-off, the group still managed to successfully fly a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner for an hour.

The flight departed from the Kosice International Airport in Slovakia and landed back there safe and sound. At one point, a barrel roll over the ocean was even achieved. If you’re interested, you can watch the full flight on Twitch.

The latest game in the Flight Simulator series has done well since release, becoming the biggest launch in the 38-year history of the series and also the biggest launch in Xbox Game Pass for PC history.

In our Microsoft Flight Simulator review, it earned 9/10, with critic Edmond Tran saying that the game is a “spectacular technical achievement and a deeply inspiring experience filled with glorious possibilities.”

Now Playing: Top New Video Games Out On Switch, PS4, Xbox One, And PC This Week — August 16-22, 2020

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More September Games For Xbox Game Pass: Night In The Woods, Destiny 2

Microsoft has announced a bevy of Game Pass news in recent weeks, including support for Android mobile devices and the slate of games for September. Today, however, the company indicated that some additional games will be coming to both the PC and console version of Xbox Game Pass over the coming days–along with a cloud gaming announcement–but some are exclusive to each platform, so check the list at the bottom for details.

These new games include Destiny 2’s Shadowkeep and Forsaken content packs–to go along with the anniversary of the game–which are coming September 22. (Destiny 2: Beyond Light, its next expansion, is also coming to Game Pass when it releases this November.) These packs feature the unique blend of PvP and cooperative action that makes Destiny such a popular game, all linked together by a steady drip-feed of loot. The long-awaited Halo 3: ODST comes to the Master Chief Collection on PC on September 22 as well, along with its highly-regarded multiplayer mode Firefight. That mode was previously missing on the Xbox One version, though the game has been available on that console for some time now.

The RTS Company of Heroes 2, the indie hit Night In The Woods, and the Left 4 Dead-like multiplayer slasher Warhammer: Vermintide 2 round-out the surprise additions. The announcement also notes that some other games were quietly added to the service since Microsoft’s last blog post, including the MMO Black Desert Online, the Stranger Things 3 video game, and Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics.

Microsoft recently announced that Xbox Game Pass for PC will soon receive a price hike, from the “beta” price of $5 to $10. Existing subscribers will only be billed $5 for September, with October marking the first $10 month. Xbox Game Pass on console remains $10 a month, or Ultimate–which includes the PC version and Xbox Live Gold–runs you $15 a month.

Some games are also leaving the Game Pass service, most notably Rocket League. However, Rocket League is expected to go free to play soon, so that will be less of a factor if you’re a true car-soccer fanatic.

Xbox Game Pass Games For Late September

Xbox Game Pass Leaving September 30

Now Playing: Microsoft’s Secret Weapon For Next-Gen Is Xbox Game Pass

Rami Malek’s Bond Villain Safin Is “Unsettling” In No Time To Die

A new video feature for the upcoming James Bond movie No Time to Die offers a deeper look at the mysterious Safin, the villain played by Rami Malek (Mr. Robot, Bohemian Rhapsody). In the just-released clip, director Cary Joji Fukunaga (True Detective, Maniac) and Malek share their thoughts about why Daniel Craig’s fifth and final turn as Bond is poised to have one of the series’ most compelling adversaries.

“What I really wanted from Safin was to make him unsettling,” says Malek. “Thinking of himself as heroic… James Bond has to adapt to him.”

In the clip, Safin seems to fashion himself a “tidier” and somehow more ethical agent for change than Bond, a character choice and plot dynamic that echoes 2012’s fantastic Skyfall. In Skyfall, Bond and his spy organization MI6 explore more introspective themes about what their careers and missions have made them complicit in on a global scale. Safin explains to an offscreen character that he “just wants to make the world a better place.”

“What he wants and what he’s willing to do, makes him a very frightening character,” adds Fukunaga. “Both personally to Bond, but also on a global level.”

Fukunaga collaborated on the script with Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Bridge (Fleabag, Killing Eve) has been credited as having a particular vision for Safin. In an Entertainment Weekly interview article published earlier this year, Malek said, “She had quite an impact on what I was doing… I’d have long long phone conversations with her, giving her context as to what we were essentially looking for in the scenes, and she would turn things over incredibly quickly. We know her as a very witty and funny writer, but she’s got a knack for drama and tension as well.”

No Time to Die is scheduled to hit theaters on November 20.

The Best GameStop Video Game Deals

For all its troubles, GameStop remains one of the best places to find deals on video games… provided you don’t mind buying used or refurbished. That’s not to say GameStop deals on new video games and hardware don’t exist, but if you want to maximize your savings, your best bet is to go with something pre-owned. GameStop often amplifies its deals on used games and hardware, and offers even better savings through its PowerUp Rewards program.

GameStop physical locations are still a great place to score bargains in-person, although 2020 has done its absolute best to ensure person-to-person interaction is next to impossible. The majority of video game deals at GameStop are applicable both in-store and online, though, so you don’t necessarily need to venture out to save.

GameStop also offers free shipping on orders over $35, which puts it on-par with its competitors. You also have the option to have your items shipped to your house or you can pick them up in person at your nearest location.

Best GameStop PlayStation Deals

The PS4, in spite of it being almost at the end of its lifecycle, is still sold out almost everywhere you look. Both the Slim and PS4 Pro consoles are nowhere to be found, a combination of 2020 supply chain issues and the upcoming release of the PS5. But while you can’t get your hands on a new PS4 or PS4 Pro at most places, GameStop almost always has used or refurbished models for sale.

Checking GameStop’s website will let you know if your nearest location has any for sale, so you don’t need to take your chances. GameStop will almost certainly start offering PS5 at a reduced price once they begin to trickle back into its system, but don’t count on that for a while. Still, if you’re after PlayStation deals, and don’t mind a used or refurb model, GameStop is second to none.

The deals below are on new games and hardware, but you can easily find links to used consoles at the GameStop website.

If you’re looking for more chances to save on PlayStation, check out our guide to all the best PS4 deals.

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Best GameStop Nintendo Switch Deals

Nintendo Switch is, in case you didn’t notice, massively popular. Nintendo doesn’t have any (announced) plans to replace it with something like a 4K Switch for the time being, and why would they? The thing practically sells itself. As such, it’s extremely hard to find, but GameStop will often have used consoles available for purchase. But even used and refurb Nintendo Switch consoles are hard to come by.

With its enormous popularity, the Nintendo Switch deals are pretty light, but often times GameStop will run custom bundles or have a limited-edition Nintendo Switch specific to GameStop. Keep checking back for deals when (and if) they come online.

Nintendo game deals, on the other hand, have defied expectations and actually exist now. I know, it’s hard to believe, but first-party Nintendo games routinely go on sale for less than MSRP, sometimes significantly less. Nintendo games earned a reputation for having immutable prices over the decades, but this generation Nintendo has decided to throw us all a bone and actually, meaningfully discount its own games pretty regularly.

Check out our round up of all best Nintendo Switch deals to score the absolute best possible price on a Nintendo Switch and its games.

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Best GameStop Xbox Deals

Things are starting to look up for Microsoft with the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, but the Xbox One line of consoles never reached the heights of its previous generation. However, in spite of its also-ran status for this generation, the Xbox One is still a great console with a fantastic library of games. And in spite of it being the runner-up to Sony, Xbox One consoles are still extremely difficult to find right now.

In fact, Microsoft said it’s no longer making the Xbox One X, its 4K Xbox One model. Production will continue on the Xbox One S, but when the next-gen Xbox comes out, I don’t imagine that will last very long. Why buy an Xbox One S when you could get a more powerful console for the same price?

Due to limited supply, Xbox console deals are not easy to come by, but again, GameStop has deals on used hardware. The real savings on Xbox comes by way of games and subscriptions. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, even when it’s not on sale, is far and away the best value in gaming. It offers access to over 100 games and Xbox Live Gold membership all for one price.

For the lowest Xbox prices, check out our guide to all the best Xbox deals.

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PS5 and Xbox Series X Preorders at GameStop

If you’re wondering: yes, GameStop will have the new consoles available for preorder. We know Xbox Series X preorders will be available beginning September 22, although we don’t know what time yet. The Xbox Series X will be $499 and the Xbox Series S will be $299. Both Xbox consoles release on November 10, 2020.

We don’t have price or know when PS5 preorders go live, but that info will be known soon… hopefully. In any case, both PS5 versions will be available to preorder from GameStop

Is GameStop PowerUp Rewards Worth It?

Yeah, actually. While GameStop offers free shipping on orders over $35, signing up for a PowerUp Rewards Pro account starts at $14.99 and gets you quite a few cost-saving benefits. Pro members get a $5 monthly reward certificate, as well as a $5 welcome just for signing up. You also get an extra 10% credit when you trade in games and hardware, as well as “Pro-only offers” to savings and events. If you’re the type of person who trades your games back in when you’re done with them, this is a great way to maximize your savings.

Pro members also get double the points earned as non-Pro members. As someone who shopped GameStop frequently (until my local store closed, RIP), those points came in handy and accumulated quickly. I used them to add even bigger discounts, renew my subscription to PowerUp Pro, and even got a sweet hat, back when they offered sweet hats.

Parks and Recreation Cast Reunites for Democratic Fundraiser

The Parks and Recreation cast are reuniting for the second time this year after coming together back in May for doing a fundraiser for Feeding America.

Unlike last time though, this won’t be an in-show episode as it’s being labeled a “Parks and Rec Townhall” where viewers and fans can ask the cast questions. The cause? Raising money for the Wisconsin Democratic Party.

Several of the show’s stars–including Amy Poehler, Adam Scott and Nick Offerman–will hold a virtual event which will be livestreamed on September 17 at 8 PM CT followed by the exclusive Q&A at 8:30 PM CT.

Also, Aubrey Plaza, Retta, Jim O’Heir, and series co-creator Michael Schur will also join in on the fundraiser, in addition to some surprise guests, but fans must make a donation of at least $1 to attend the event.

You can make your donation for your reservation at the official event link here. The cast’s previous reunion raised more than $2.8 million and drew over 3.6 million viewers back in May.

August 2020 NPD: Madden NFL 21 Tackles As Switch Continues Sales Streak

The NPD Group has released its US sales results for August 2020, which once again saw year-over-year growth and a number of new games hitting the top ten in sales figures.

Overall consumer spending in August 2020 hit $3.3 billion, representing a 37% year-over-year increase. Digital content, mobile spending, and subscription services had the largest growth. That brought year-to-date consumer spending up to $29.4 billion, which is 23% higher than the same period of time in 2019.

Hardware spending was up 37% year-over-year, while game content (like DLC and subscriptions) was up 37%, and accessories were up 42%.

Nintendo Switch set a new US August hardware sales record. That beat out the previous record set in 2008 by Nintendo Wii. NPD says that Switch unit sales more than doubled over the same period last year. That strength was reflected in software sales too, as nine of the top 20 are Switch exclusives, and that’s without counting digital sales for Switch games.

The top-selling game in August was Madden NFL 21, and this year’s entry in the annual football franchise is already #6 in the year-to-date charts. Its strong performance is no surprise, though, as NPD notes this is the 21st year in a row that a Madden NFL game has been the best-seller in its release month.

Check out the full results below. New releases are marked in bold.

August 2020 NPD Software Sales

  1. Madden NFL 21
  2. UFC 4
  3. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
  4. Ghost of Tsushima
  5. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
  6. Ring Fit Adventure
  7. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
  8. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
  9. Paper Mario: The Origami King
  10. Mortal Kombat 11
  11. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
  12. The Last of Us: Part 2
  13. Minecraft: PlayStation 4 Edition
  14. PGA Tour 2K21
  15. New Super Mario Bros. Deluxe
  16. Super Mario Party
  17. Rainbow Six Siege
  18. Super Mario Odyssey
  19. Final Fantasy VII Remake
  20. Luigi’s Mansion 3

Best Selling Games Year-to-Date

  1. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
  2. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
  3. The Last of Us: Part II
  4. Final Fantasy VII: Remake
  5. Ghost of Tsushima
  6. Madden NFL 21
  7. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
  8. MLB: The Show 20
  9. Mario Kart 8: Deluxe
  10. Mortal Kombat 11

Now Playing: Madden NFL 21 Video Review