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The future may well prove that OnLive was ahead of its time. Like Timothy Dalton’s serious Bond take before Daniel Craig, or Boss before House of Cards, OnLive may have been that necessary sacrificial trailblazer whose death leads to the next down-the-track leap.

For those unaware, OnLive was the first game-streaming service of note. It’s now gone the way of the dodo, but the idea was as straightforward then as it is today for surviving services: instant on. No need to physically own a game. No need for a high-end PC or the latest console. Just a compatible device and a high-speed internet connection.

The catch is that game-streaming services require adequate, stable bandwidth to be playable.

When OnLive fired all its employees in 2012, Australia’s average internet speed was an abysmal 4.2Mbps. It’s likely why OnLive and other still-alive services like Sony’s PlayStation Now or the online component of Nvidia’s GeForce Now never made it to Australian shores.

OnLive’s DNA may still live on, though, given that Sony bought the service before shuttering it. Sony will no doubt launch some kind of streaming service for PlayStation 5 – PlayStation Now branded or otherwise – and it certainly won’t be alone. EA also has an unnamed game-streaming service in the works. Microsoft has xCloud. But the current big name in what might become gaming’s next big thing is Google Stadia, which is due to launch in select countries this November.

The nitty-gritty of game streaming

The Stadia pitch is that you can open a Chrome tab or smartphone app to stream a game “instantly”. This means no download, no patching, just immediate access. This pitch, however, doesn’t extend to accessing a catalogue of games through a Netflix-style subscription – players must still purchase the vast majority of games on the service for full-price, to then be able to stream them.

Even so, the prospect of streaming high spec games to almost any screen (at some point in the future – the launch is more limited) is a major reason why companies are falling over themselves to be involved. Instead of there being millions of compatible gaming devices, the number stretches to potentially billions. Google, for instance, has showcased Stadia’s potential on older PC and Mac hardware, streaming Assassin’s Creed Odyssey to them from a specced-out gaming PC.

The point of this demonstration is simple: these older machines wouldn’t be able to install and run the game, let alone play it at max settings. This lack of the need for a dedicated gaming platform lowers the barrier of entry. Chuck in the possibility of streaming directly to compatible TVs, smartphones or tablets, and it’s easy to understand why game streaming is a big deal for those companies with budgets big enough to back the R&D.

In terms of the actual process of game streaming, the upload bandwidth requirements are less important than download because the main thing being transmitted from the player’s end is control inputs. The download bandwidth requirements, though, include all of the game video and audio, which scale upwards based on each incrementally increasing fidelity metric.

For Stadia, Google recommends a minimum download speed of 10Mbps for 720p gaming at 60 frames per second (fps) with stereo sound. Bump that up to 1080p/60fps with 5.1 surround sound (the max resolution for free Stadia users) and you need 20Mbps minimum. Jump up again to Stadia’s current maximum of 4K/60fps with 5.1 surround sound and you need at least 35Mbps of dedicated download bandwidth.

Google has also been talking up future leaps to 8K resolution and up to 120fps, which would likely translate to at least double the download bandwidth, unless bandwidth improvements can be made within the technology. Still, the prospect of a minimum of 70Mbps for fidelity lovers streaming in 8K is a giant bandwidth pill to swallow.

Consistency is important, too, as the real-time nature of gaming means that, unlike video, it can’t have breathing space in a buffer. The other challenge is data usage. Extrapolating Google’s minimum bandwidth estimates, 720p gaming uses approximately 4.5GB per hour of gaming, with Stadia’s 4K/60fps option stretching to a cap-destroying 15.75GB for every hour you play.

The need for speed

Australia isn’t on the initial launch roadmap for Google Stadia, though it may be one of the countries that Google targets from 2020 onwards. This is likely an infrastructure consideration, given we don’t have Google data centres (yet?), even if we do have a Google Cloud Platform.

Regardless of where you’re located, there are three key player-side considerations when it comes to any game-streaming service: download speed, latency and minimal (ideally zero) data loss. Conceptually, even these are problematic in Australia, especially when you account for the reality that no matter how fast the back-end architecture of a game-streaming service is, it’s at the mercy of a player’s internet connection.

According to the Speedtest global index, Australia’s fixed broadband average at the time of writing is 38.54Mbps (57th in the world), compared to 119.09Mbps in the USA (7th) and 61.02Mbps for the UK (41st). (The USA and the UK are two of 14 launch countries for Stadia.) While comfortably above the minimum (10Mbps) and 1080p (20Mbps) Stadia download requirements, Australia’s average fixed broadband speed is not comfortably above the 35Mbps needed for 4K game-streaming. It’s also worth considering that the internet’s busy period is 7pm to 11pm every night, where user demand slows things further. This means it’s possible that average would drop below the 35Mbps required to stream 4K Stadia games.

For comparison, Italy has the slowest average fixed broadband speed of the 14 Stadia launch countries, but that’s still 53.89Mbps: comfortably above the 35Mbps requirement.

Australia’s average fixed broadband speed should improve once the NBN rollout is completed and as more Australians connect to the new access network. Additionally, if NBN follows particular upgrade paths in the future, it should bring copper/fibre hybrid technologies closer to the current max consumer fibre speeds.

Australia’s mobile internet fares much better: we’re ranked fourth on the Speedtest global index with an average download speed of 63.2Mbps. That’s faster than the UK average for fixed broadband, but there’s a big catch. Australia doesn’t really have mobile plans with unlimited data at these speeds. We do have unlimited-data mobile plans, but they’re either fully or fine-print capped (once you reach your data cap) at a paltry 1.5Mbps.

With 5G on the way and as consumer data demands grow, that may change. But given that 5G depends on device compatibility and telcos treat data as though it’s as scarce as helium, this network upgrade isn’t likely to change much, at least not in the short-term.

Beyond the need for speed

The bigger catch of game streaming is latency, particularly for those living in regional locations in Australia. In these locations, the only internet options are satellite or fixed wireless, where the pings can be high (particularly for satellite) and reliability is impacted by total users and adverse weather.

Even fixed broadband internet users are at the mercy of server locations for a hypothetical Stadia rollout in Australia. If, like Microsoft’s Azure data centres, servers are only positioned on the east coast of Australia, those in the far west and north of our expansive country will have higher latency. To put that in context, there’s lower latency between the east coast of Australia and New Zealand than there is with Perth in Western Australia.

Put simply, the farther the distance, the higher the latency. The higher the latency, the more the real-time illusion of game-streaming is broken and input delays are more noticeable, among other detractors.

Data loss is the final concern, and while there are controllable factors within the home, loss can come down to external networks outside of the player’s control. By way of example, my Telstra cable connection was incredibly reliable for the first year (outside of the odd day-long outage). It’s now basically unusable for any live-streaming service because of data loss care of sporadic 10-second dropouts.

With the NBN arriving in my area next year and after a year of fighting, Telstra tossed my case in the ‘too hard’ basket and stopped trying to fix it. I was given bill credit for the lack of reliability but, honestly, I’d rather be paying full price for a consistent connection, especially because that all-important r-word is the first adjective in Telstra’s internet sales pitch.

Outside of these dropouts, my latency is an impressive 7ms with an above-spec 112Mbps download bandwidth. Incidentally, this bandwidth is fast enough to pass the Google Stadia bandwidth test with a big green tick.

What’s less viable for Stadia or a similar game-streaming service is my Optus phone internet. I get two bars of 4G reception in my area (10km from the Sydney CBD), and while that equates to a respectable 14ms latency, the download speed is around 35.5Mbps. It doesn’t help that it’s not the most reliable of connections. Additionally, while 60GB of data is adequate for my monthly needs, it would only allow for around 6.5 hours of 1080p streaming on Stadia’s 20Mbps recommendation.

Granted, my phone plan is more than a year old. With a top-tier plan today, I could score 200GB of data from Optus, which would allow for 22 hours of monthly game streaming (and nothing else) at the same resolution on Stadia. That’d cost $105 per month (excluding any handset repayments) on top of my home internet.

Cracking the latency code

The challenge of any form of wireless technology – Wi-Fi, mobile or otherwise – is that it includes inherent latency. It’s likely why the Google Stadia founder’s edition includes a Chromecast Ultra, the top-end gizmo that’s also best used with its included ethernet capability. The Stadia requirements list this particular Chromecast model as the minimum for using Stadia on a TV.

What Google has cleverly done is push Stadia wannabes towards its proprietary controller. At first glance, it looks like just another average controller. The cleverness comes from the inclusion of a link between controller and Stadia gaming server (via Wi-Fi), as opposed to being paired to the device displaying the screen. This has the potential for lower noticeable input delays.

Clever controller tech.

Users can opt for their own controller or keyboard/mouse combo, but this will introduce additional latency. Even though this ultimately amounts to milliseconds of latency, it can start to add up to noticeable delays between control input and onscreen responsiveness.

This was the case with my xCloud experience at E3, with an Xbox One controller connected via Bluetooth to a mobile phone that was streaming Resident Evil 7. While the major detractor was the screen darkness of this particular demo, the adequately lit areas showcased a noticeable delay between joystick camera movement and onscreen actuation.

Game-specific impressiveness

There is a chance these kinds of game-streaming input delays may be less noticeable to more casual players, for whom these types of technology may be more relevant than the dedicated gamer crowd who likely own their platform/s of choice. Mobile games are often designed with control limitations in mind, and the same logic may well prove true in terms of the type of game that’s best played via game streaming.

Competitive multiplayer shooters are out for now and, unsurprisingly, almost entirely absent from the list of Stadia launch titles (though Google notes there will be multiplayer games at launch). Doom and Doom Eternal are potential exceptions to this, but there’s more on them below. It’s not a stretch to imagine that other games like Cuphead and Dark Souls, which rely on immediately responsive control feedback, are going to be a challenge for game-streaming services because of the inherent latency.

It’s interesting that the rise of controllers like the Xbox Elite and Scuf, which champion the competitive advantages of lower latency, are on the rise alongside the birth of a gaming service that includes inherent latency. On top of this, Sony and Microsoft have talked about the high frame rate potential of the next-gen consoles, which is another step closer to lower latency (albeit perceived, in this instance).

Even TV manufacturers have included higher-refresh-rate ‘game modes’ for years, and newer-model teles offer 120Hz refresh rates and FreeSync support. In this respect, a new technology that inherently includes latency seems like a step in the wrong direction.

Devilish delights

While the bigger focus is on core game-streaming technologies like Stadia, Bethesda swooped into the race with a surprise announcement at E3 2019: Orion. Initially, it sounded as though Orion was another competing service. Instead, the pitch for the patented tech is as a Pied Piper-like middleware software solution to improve the hardware-focus of game-streaming services.

Orion is implemented at a game-engine level and is built to reduce two all-important factors: latency and bandwidth. These improvements are potentially significant, too, with the claim of latency reductions of up to 20 percent per frame and a 40 percent reduction in the required bandwidth.

According to the spiel, technically, Orion can be used on any game-streaming service, which means it’s there to complement the Stadias and xClouds of the gaming world, albeit with one big caveat: developers, publishers and streaming providers have to choose to use it.

If the theory is true in application, Orion has the potential to lower bandwidth requirements and data usage. The Orion official page even claims “imperceptible latency” in reference to “twitchy shooters”, on top of this huge-if-true statement: “a wider availability, making quality play available to players living far from data centers.”

Orion is likely why both Doom and Doom Eternal are the only fast-paced shooters among the launch titles; it’s a chance for Bethesda to showcase its tech. Both shooters have multiplayer but the higher PvP time-to-kill (TTK) makes them less in the vein of Counter-Strike and Rainbow Six Siege, and closer to the likes of Destiny 2. The extra survivability of a higher TTK shooter is better suited to the inherent latency of game-streaming services.

Game-streaming downsides

There are more game-streaming detractors outside of those previously mentioned. Interruptions in the connection, be it player or server side, result in choppier frame rates, graphical artefacting and input delays. Even a dip in connection speed can reduce resolution, introduce latency and equate to more noticeable on-screen compression.

At best, these are immersion tarnishes; at worst, tech destroyers. Google does note that Stadia will automatically adjust “to deliver the best possible visual quality at all times” during bandwidth fluctuations, but if that’s a fidelity-at-all-costs mentality, something has to give, and that may be responsiveness.

In terms of mobile devices, Stadia is curiously only limited to Google Pixel phones and Chrome OS tablets for the time being. Google has confirmed this will change, but it’s odd that other modern Android devices can’t also run the tech. Given that Stadia will be accessed via app, conceptually, it seems straightforward to lock out incompatible phones and tablets via Android OS version.

If a player’s connection drops out, the server will stay live for a few minutes. This means that even Google Pixel owners are at the mercy of internet coverage to ensure they can reconnect in time to resume or save their game. Australia, for instance, has great mobile coverage in cities, but in smaller city centres and in rural areas, the coverage starts to shrink and speeds slow.

Game access in general is also a big issue. The US$9.99 monthly fee for Stadia Pro grants access to a limited library of free games, discounts and 4K streaming, but you’re utterly dependent on an online connection to use Stadia, which means no form of offline gaming. The same is true of the free version of Stadia, and in both cases most of the games on the service cost full price to purchase. Google does note, though, that purchased games will be playable on Stadia even if they’re removed from the library.

It’s also worth flagging that older compatible devices will be at the mercy of their screen technology in terms of resolution (unless Stadia supports Xbox One X-like supersampling) and refresh rate, which may not be capable of frame rates beyond 60fps. Finally, unlike a service like Netflix, Stadia only allows for a single stream, albeit a single user can use this single session across unlimited compatible devices.

Perks of game streaming

It’s not all bad news, though. Stadia and other game-streaming services effectively eliminate piracy, which is great news for developers and publishers. Lower device requirements mean a lower initial barrier of entry to play games. Playing Stadia with a stable online connection is reportedly comparable to local game-streaming services, like Steam Link and GeForce Now.

On top of this, because the games are streamed and not installed, there’s no need to make space for increasingly growing game installs. Additionally, games are patched on the server side (at Google speeds for Stadia), meaning you don’t have to wait for patches to download before you’re ready to play. This, in particular, is a gaming-godsend for players who have limited gaming time that may be chewed up by waiting for patches.

There’s also the early pledge from Google that Stadia will support cross-platform multiplayer. This is, of course, reliant on other platforms coming to the party. Still, it’s a strong pro-player stance that sets an example for other parties to follow suit. Mind you, for that to work, latency really will have to be in line with other platforms.

Future potential

Stadia’s Director of Product Andrey Doronichev had this to say recently in a Reddit AMA: “To be clear, Stadia Pro is not ‘Netflix for Games’ like some people have mentioned, a closer comparison would be like Xbox Live Gold or Playstation Plus. The Pro subscribers get 4K/HDR streaming, 5.1 sound, exclusive discounts and access to some free games. Roughly one free game per month give or take. Starting with Destiny 2 (yay!).”

So… no broad catalogue, just a drip feed of free titles, with all others to be purchased at full price. That being the case, what is the use case for streaming that makes this worthwhile? If you don’t have a high-end gaming PC, a PS4 Pro or an Xbox One X maybe it makes sense. But if you don’t have that entry-level investment in gaming are you really interested enough to pay a monthly fee? If you do buy in, will you hog the bandwidth in your house to the point that a flatmate or partner may not be able to do what they want to do online?

Ultimately, services like Stadia need to prove that the many potential headaches associated with them – at least early on – are actually outweighed by the advantages. Would you, for instance, take instant-access gaming that’s potentially lower fidelity and higher latency every single time you want to use it over simply waiting for an install at the beginning and then having consistent, excellent performance from that point on? I think that trade-off would be much easier to sell if Stadia was indeed offering up a Netflix-style service, rich with content. The ability to browse through a large catalogue and try anything you like instantly would be pretty compelling. But that’s not what Stadia is going to be at launch.

Stadia and other streaming services really do feel like they raise more questions than they answer, so for now, perhaps it’s not such a bad thing that Australia isn’t part of the initial rollout. This vision of the future of gaming seems like it’s going to feel pretty inessential for some time to come. Mind you, it’d still be nice to have the internet to support it.

Nathan Lawrence is a freelance writer based in Sydney who writes about games and film, and is a shooter specialist. Say hey on Twitter.

Nintendo has announced that a 22-minute Super Smash Bros. Ultimate video presentation for the Hero from the Dragon Quest series on July 30 at 6am PT/9am ET/11am BST that will showcase the upcoming DLC fighter and reveal when he will be released.Announced by Nintendo Versus, the presentation will be led by Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director Mashiro Sakurai and will give us our best look at the collection of heroes from Dragon Quest’s rich history that will soon be joining the fight in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Nintendo Versus also announced that Version 4.0 will be arriving soon and will include fighter adjustments, but no further details were revealed.

The Hero from Dragon Quest was revealed at E3 2019 alongside Banjo-Kazooie and at least four heroes will be playable as alternate skins. The default hero will be the hero from Dragon Quest XI, which is releasing on the Nintendo Switch this September, and the heroes from Dragon Quest III, IV, and VIII were also revealed.

The Hero is a sword and shield style fighter and will also incorporate the series’ turn-based menus into combat. The Hero’s Final Smash will bring together all the Dragon Quest Heroes, in a very similar fashion to Mega Man’s Final Smash, and they will all combine for a powerful move.

The Hero from Dragon Quest will soon join Piranha Plant and Joker as DLC fighters that have been added to the massive roster of characters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate following its release last year.

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 who can’t wait to see what surprises are in store for this Tuesday. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst.

The internet has been buzzing ever since Marvel revealed what Phase 4 will bring to the MCU. After the dust settled at San Diego Comic Con, we polled the IGN community to see which additions you were most excited for, and the results are in.

#1 Favorite Marvel Movie Announcement at SDCC:

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Votes: 6,787/21,951

In the wake of Endgame, all eyes are on the Sorcerer Supreme, and over 6,700 votes brought Doctor Strange to the top of the “most anticipated” list.

There is a lot of promise in the name of the film, and we’ll just have to wait to find out exactly what Marvel has in store for everyone’s favorite surgeon-turned-superhero when the “Multiverse of Madness” hits theaters on May 7, 2021.

#2 Favorite Marvel Movie Announcement at SDCC:

Blade

Votes: 6,432/21,951

Perhaps the biggest surprise of San Diego Comic-Con was the return of Blade. When Mahershala Ali’s appearance heralded the return of the Daywalker, the crowd went wild, and the hype has barely died down since, as Blade ranked #2 as the IGN community’s favorite Marvel film announcement with over 6,400 votes.

Unfortunately, Blade won’t be part of Phase 4, so we’ll have to wait to find out when we’ll be able to see the vampire hunter on the big screen once again.

Marvel Phase 4: Official Lineup

#3 Favorite Marvel Movie Announcement at SDCC:

Thor: Love and Thunder

Votes: 6,257/21,951

Another momentous reveal which rocked the internet was Jane Foster’s return in Thor: Love and Thunder, this time taking up the mantle of the Goddes of Thunder, herself.

Claiming over 6,200 votes, Thor: Love and Thunder ranked at #3 on the list of Favorite Marvel Movie Announcements. Thor: Love and Thunder arrives in theaters on Nov. 5, 2021.

#4 Favorite Marvel Movie Announcement at SDCC:

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Votes: 977/21,951

While “The Mandarin” in Iron Man 3 might not have been all he seemed, legends spoke of a true Mandarin who was still out there. With the reveal of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Kevin Feige confirmed as much. Shang-Chi hasn’t been a Marvel mainstay, but the announcement was still the favorite for nearly 1,000 IGN community members.

The Mandarin will be played by Tony Leung, and we’ll have to wait until Feb. 12, 2021, to find out what sinister plans the villain has for Simu Liu’s incarnation of Shang-Chi. To learn all about Shang-Chi, be sure to check out our explainer.

#5 Favorite Marvel Movie Announcement at SDCC:

Eternals

Votes: 783/21,951

With big names like Kumail Nanjiani, Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Brian Tyree Henry, and more attached, it’s no surprise that nearly 800 IGN community members were excited about the announcement of the upcoming Eternals movie.

If you don’t know who the Eternals are, or why you should be excited, be sure to check out our Marvel’s Eternals Explained piece here. The Eternals hits theaters on Nov. 6, 2020.

#6 Favorite Marvel Movie Announcement at SDCC:

Black Widow

Votes: 715/21,951

Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow has been a big part of the MCU since her debut in Iron Man 2 way back in 2010. Marvel’s announcement that her long-teased solo film is coming to the big screen on May 1, 2020 comes in at #6 with over 700 votes.

Natasha Romanoff will have her work cut out for her, as the formidable Taskmaster has been revealed as the film’s villain. The Black Widow comes to theaters on May 1, 2020.

What About You?

What were your favorite movie announcements? What other announcements have you excited for Phase 4? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!

That may be all of the film announcements Marvel made, but there is a whole lot more news that came out of SDCC 2019. For more on Marvel’s television projects, check out everything Marvel Studios announced regarding Phase 4.

Brian Barnett writes news, features, wiki guides, and more for IGN. You can get your fix of Brian’s antics on Twitter (@Ribnax).

Quentin Tarantino’s new movie Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood is not only a work of historical fiction mixing real-life figures like Sharon Tate, Charles Manson, Bruce Lee, and Steve McQueen alongside the fictional co-leads played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt, it’s also one giant Easter egg to the filmmaker’s many cinematic and pop cultural influences (and even to his other films).With all that in mind, let’s break down the film’s twist ending, its many Easter eggs, and influences.

Needless to say then, be mindful of SPOILERS ahead for the film and for history (?!), starting with …

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Gallery

Ending Explained

Obviously, Sharon Tate and her friends didn’t escape the Manson family in real life. Tate, her three guests, and another friend were all killed. Their killers were caught and incarcerated.

As Tarantino has fashioned a work of historical fiction, he has — as he also did with Inglourious Basterds, where Hitler died before he really did — once again foisted a fantasy “Hollywood ending” onto a historical tragedy.

In doing so, Tarantino gives Sharon Tate the extended life and screen career reality denied her. And thanks to Rick and Cliff’s (and Brandy’s!) killing of the Manson family members, Tarantino also opens the door for Rick to enjoy a more fruitful second phase of his acting career than he’s so far had. It’s a true Hollywood ending for both the real and the fictional characters in Tarantino’s film.

Who Inspired Rick Dalton and Cliff Booth?

Tarantino recently revealed that Brad Pitt’s badass stuntman Cliff Booth is indeed inspired by a particularly dangerous old timey stuntman, who he wouldn’t name but who intimidated even other tough guys and stuntmen back in the day.

Cliff possibly murdering his wife on a boat and getting away with it echoes the rumors that have swirled around actor Robert Wagner and the death of his wife, screen star Natalie Wood, for the last few decades.

The relationship between actor Rick Dalton and his stunt double/best friend Cliff Booth is directly modeled on the friendship between Burt Reynolds and stuntman-turned-director Hal Needham, both of whom are now deceased. Like Rick, Burt Reynolds was a TV western actor who struggled to catch a break in films before becoming a sought-after big screen actor after starring in Deliverance. Reynolds was to have played George Spahn — the real-life elderly owner of the delaptated movie ranch where the Manson family resided — In OUATIH but passed away before shooting his scenes. (He was replaced by Bruce Dern.) Had he lived to film his role, Reynolds’ inclusion would have been a direct nod to his and Needham’s influence on the film.

Like Cliff, Needham, who directed Reynolds in Smokey and the Bandit, was a war veteran who became a stuntman and doubled for the star of a hugely popular TV western. In Cliff’s case, it was Bounty Law, starring Rick Dalton as Jake Cahill. Needham doubled for Richard Boone, who played the wandering gun-for-here Paladin on Have Gun, Will Travel.

One other inspiration for Rick might be Clint Eastwood, who found stardom on the small screen as Rowdy Yates on Rawhide before, several years later, finding big screen success thanks to starring in a series of classic spaghetti westerns from director Sergio Leone.

It should also be noted that one of the victims of the Manson family was Hollywood stuntman Donald Shea, which could speak to why Tarantino depicted a scene where stuntman Cliff becomes suspicious of the hippes his old pal George Spahn invited to live on his ranch.

All the Real People in It

Sharon Tate and the other targets of the Manson family — Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, and Wojciech Frykowski — depicted here are obviously all real people, as were Manson himself and his followers Tex Watson, Susan Atkins, and Patricia Krenwinkel, and Linda Kasabian, the latter of whom became a cooperating witness at trial but is shown in the movie as fleeing before the crimes begin. (Ditto Dakota Fanning as Manson follower Squeaky Fromme.) Obviously, the fates of all the aforementioned people differ greatly in real life than what transpired in the film.

Unless you’re brand new to the planet Earth, yes, Bruce Lee was a real guy, the greatest martial artist-star of his time (arguably, of all time). Lee is depicted in the film, by Mike Moh, during his time starring as Kato on The Green Hornet. And, yes, he really did train Sharon Tate in karate when she was co-starring in the Dean Martin spy spoof The Wrecking Crew.

Homeland’s Damian Lewis plays Steve McQueen in one scene set at the Playboy Mansion. McQueen, like Rick Dalton, began as the star of a TV western about a bounty hunter — Wanted: Dead or Alive —before he became a movie star and pop culture icon thanks to films like The Magnificent Seven, Bullitt, and The Great Escape, which Rick fantasizes about starring in instead of McQueen at one point.

Timothy Olyphant and the late Luke Perry also play real people in the movie. Yes, Lancer was a real TV series and the actors they play — James Stacey and Wayne Maunder — were real. The last shot we see of Olyphant in the film, driving off on his motorcycle, is also a harbinger of the tragic fate that lay in store for Stacey (he lost two limbs and his girlfriend was killed in a motorcycle accident when they were hit by a drunk driver).

Also real? The TV series The FBI that Rick films a guest spot on as the bad guy of the week.

The Mamas and Papas’ Michelle Phillips and Mama Cass pop up during the Playboy Mansion scene.

With his silver mane and oversized glasses, Al Pacino’s Marvin Schwarzs appears to be patterned after legendary Hollywood talent agent Lew Wasserman.

One of the spaghetti westerns Rick stars In is said to have been directed by Antonio Margheriti, a real-life filmmaker who Tarantino is a fan of … enough so that this isn’t his first mention in a Tarantino movie. Speaking of which …

Nods to Tarantino’s Other Movies

Antonio Margheriti is also the filmmaker whose name is used by Eli Roth’s character in Inglourious Basterds when they sneak into the Nazis’ film premiere.

Rick’s commercial for Red Apple cigarettes during the end credits is also a nod to the cigarette brand that has appeared in other Tarantino films such as Pulp Fiction and The Hateful Eight.

Tarantino vets Michael Madsen, Kurt Russell, Zoe Bell, and Bruce Dern all pop up in small roles here. Another Tarantino vet, Tim Roth, had his role in the film end up on the cutting room floor.

Let us know what you thought of Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood and its ending, Easter eggs, and many references in the comments below!

Nintendo has had a rough week, ever since a class action lawsuit was filed over issues with the Nintendo Switch’s

Joy-Con controllers experiencing drifting. Controller drift is when a joystick registers input when there is none. In the case of a shooter game, it might move the reticle when you’re trying to aim precisely. At first, Nintendo was fine with putting out a corporate-speak non-response, but things grew heated enough that Nintendo has finally agreed to repair any Joy-Cons for free and refund past repairs. So exactly how widespread was this Joy-Con drift issue? We asked the lovely IGN community to chime in with whether or not their Switch Joy-Cons experienced drift, and a whopping 26,000 of you responded.

11 Other Nintendo Switch Lite Color Options We’d Love To See

Has your Switch experienced Joy-Con drift?
Answer: No
Total Votes: 10283/26,000

The most common answer was that no, IGN community members hadn’t experienced Joy-Con drift issues, which we’re sure Nintendo is breathing a sigh of relief over. Not so fast, though, as you may be surprised to see how many people did have troubles.

Has your Switch experienced Joy-Con drift?
Answer: Yes
Total Votes: 9774/26,000

We’ve got to admit, every piece of hardware will inevitably run into some issues, but 9,774 people out of 26,000 feels like a considerable toll. Rounded up, that’s about 38% of Switch users, according to this data. We’re sure that’s 9,774 disgruntled customers Nintendo would rather satisfy, so here’s hoping that their promise to fix the issue for free is able to solve things for most customers.

Has your Switch experienced Joy-Con drift?
Answer: I don’t have a Switch
Total Votes: 5934/26,000

Concerns about broken controllers aside, you folks know you should totally buy a Switch, right? You can check out our list of the 25 best Switch games, or read up on the recently announced Nintendo Switch Lite and how it’s different than the regular Switch.

If you’ve experienced Joy-Con drift but don’t want to wait around for a class action lawsuit to resolve things or Nintendo to send you a repaired system, you can check out our guide on how to fix Joy-Con drift yourself.

Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer for IGN, and he just calls it “aim assist.” Drift with him on Twitter.

We bring you the best deals we’ve found today on video games, hardware, electronics, and a bunch of random stuff too. Updated 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Preorder Batman Beyond Complete Series Limited Edition for $89.30 Right Now

This is an awesome set: it has the full series, as well as the Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker movie, all on Blu-ray and all in high-definition. There’s also a metallic Funko Pop, lenticular art cards, and it all comes in a styling case.

Get the PlayStation 4 Slim Days of Play Special Edition Console for $249.99 (Normally $299.99) at Walmart

If you’re in the market for a PS4 Slim, there’s no better purchase than this special edition, 1TB model.

Get the Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia for 55% Off at Amazon

Are you a Zelda fan? Cause we sure are, and there is nothing we would like more than to dive into this awesome book while it’s 55% off.

Get the Legend of Zelda: Art & Artifacts Book for $22.28 at Amazon

Now that you’ve read everything there is to know, how about looking at all the cool art and items within the Zelda world? If that appeals to you, then make sure to snatch this deal while you can.

Get the Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia for only $22.64 at Amazon

Rounding off the Zelda list, this third book covers all the events that have transpired in Hyrule, breaking down the timeline of Zelda into one, somewhat understandable series of events.

Get 3 Free Months of Kindle Unlimited Membership (Was $9.99 Per Month)

You must be logged into your Amazon Prime membership account to see this deal. If you’re a regular digital ebook reader, this membership is highly recommended. Kindle Unlimited gives you access to over 1 million Kindle eBooks and over 20,000 digital comics. This deal is typically for new subscribers only, but there have been reports that it has worked for people who have previously subscribed but are not current members.

50% off RoboForm Everywhere Subscriptions (New Users Only)

This sponsored deal is brought to you by RoboForm.

If you’re still using the same password (or a variant of the same password) for every site you visit, you’re putting yourself at risk. With so many sites experiencing data breaches, it’s all but guaranteed that someone’s going to uncover your login info one day—and if you use the same credentials across multiple sites, those thieves could have access to a whole lot of your sensitive personal data. A good password manager can help protect you by randomly generating unique, strong passwords for each of your accounts, and automatically entering them for no-hassle logins. RoboForm Everywhere allows you to sync your password manager across all of your devices. You also get cloud backup, priority 24/7 support, web access, secured shared folder, and more.

Pick up a 55″ LG OLED C9 Series 4K Smart UHD TV for only $1549

If you’re looking for a 4K TV, we’ve got a deal for you. You can pick up a 55″ LG OLED C9 Series 4K Smart UHD TV for only $1549! Make sure you use the code “SAVE300” during checkout to get your extra discount!

Pick up Nier: Game of the YoRHa Edition for $24.99 at Amazon

Nier is an experience everyone should enjoy, so if you’ve held out this long and have a PS4, don’t pass up this amazing sale.

Get the Super Mario Encyclopedia: The Official Guide to the First 30 Years at Amazon for 57% Off

The red and blue plumber has been around for a long time, so if you want to recap on his journey so far, pick up this awesome, art packed book to learn everything there is to know about the story, world and art of Mario.

Preorder Darksiders Genesis Nephilim Edition at Amazon

If you’re a Darksiders fan, this bundle is for you. Throw down a preorder for the Nephilim edition and you’ll receive the premium box, an art book, official soundtrack, stickers, the Strife figurine and the Darksiders board game!

Preorder the Star Wars Black Series Boba Fett Premium Electronic Helmet at Walmart for $119.99

Did you want to be Boba Fett as a kid? Do you still? Then don’t you worry, the time for you to live out your dreams is now, as you can preorder this electronic helmet from Walmart and start your bounty hunting adventures.

Purchase Fire Emblem Three Houses Seasons of Warfare Edition for Switch for $99.99

The latest Fire Emblem title is out now, and the superior “Seasons of Warfare” Edition is in and out of stock. This edition includes the game, steelbook case, soundtrack, hardcover artbook, and 2020 calendar. Note: The Seasons of Warfare edition is rapidly coming in and out of stock, so check back often to see if it’s available.

Preorder Doom Eternal on PS4 for $49.94

The Doom hype is strong today, so if you feel the urge to preorder Eternal, the next game in the franchise, why not save a few dollars along the way!

Preorder Marvel’s Avengers for $49.94 at Amazon

Amazon is really getting ahead of the curve on this one! You can preorder Marvel’s Avengers, slated to come out next May, for only $49.94! Preordering now will also grant you future Beta access.

Pick up Serenity in 4K Blu-ray for $11.99 at Amazon

If you’re looking to pick up an excellent sci-fi classic, now’s your chance as Serenity is down to only $12.

Get the movie Us in 4K Blu-ray for $12.99 at Amazon

A movie from Jordan Peele, this can be yours for only $12.99. Do note that it’s currently out of stock but Amazon will honor the sale and delivery it to you when new stock arrives.

HP OMEN 15t Intel Core i7-9750H 6-Core 15.6″ 1080p 144Hz IPS RTX 1070 Laptop for $1399

This sponsored deal is brought to you by HP.

The OMEN is HP’s premium line and build quality is superior to anything else you’d find at this price range. The base config is fine, but in my opinion this deal gets so much better if you upgrade to the GeForce RTX 2070.

• Click Here
• Click on “Customize & Buy”
• Select Processor and Graphics – i7-9750H + RTX 2070 8GB (+$580)
• Select Display – 15.6″ FHD 144Hz IPS 1920×1080 (+$70)
• Price should show up as $1399.99

New Dell Back to School PC Deals with Gift Cards

Dell has kicked off some great Back to School deals on laptops and desktops. You’ll receive your gift card within a few weeks after your item ships and carries a 90-day expiration. It can be used on gaming consoles, video games, monitors, electronics, TVs, PCs, and more.

$400 Off ASUS ROG STRIX Intel Core i5-9300H 6-Core 15.6″ 1080p 120Hz IPS Laptop with 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD, and GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, Now $899

This laptop is completely decked out for under $1000. You get the newest 9th generation 6-core processor, a 1080p IPS display with 120Hz refresh rate, a whopping 512GB of fast SSD storage, and a GeForce GTX 1660 Ti video card that is faster than a GTX 1060.

Nintendo Switch and NBA 2K19 for $299 (Was $329)

A new Switch bundle has surfaced! If you’re a fan of sports games, you will enjoy the fact that you can buy a Switch and get a copy of the most popular sports game for free. NBA 2K20 isn’t out until September 6, so tide yourself over with this IGN rated 8.5/10 predecessor.

Preorder The Latest Joy-Con Colors for your Nintendo Switch

If you’re itching for a new way to spice up your Switch, then you can head over to Amazon and throw down a preorder for the newest colors to be added to the Joy-Con library.

Out August 2: 15% off Madden NFL 20 for PS4 or Xbox One, Now $50.94

The new 2020 iteration of the only NFL video game out there is available in less than 2 weeks. Both Amazon and Walmart are offering 15% off if you preorder it beforehand. For any of who play Madden NFL religiously, this is pretty much a no brainer. Madden NFL 19 scored an 8.9/10 and we expect another solid effort from EA.

$700 Off the OVERPOWERED Intel Core i7-8700 GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Desktop with 32GB RAM, 512GB SSD, 2TB HDD, and 2yr Warranty, Now $1499

You won’t find a PC with better specs under $1500, period. Along with one of the most powerful video cards available, you’re getting an Intel Core i7 6-core processor, more RAM than you will ever need, and ample amounts of both SSD and hard drive storage.

30% Off 55″ LG 55UK6090 4K Smart HDTV, $349.99

This is the lowest price we’ve ever seen for a big 55″ LG 4K TV. It even has Smart TV functionality and you get it delivered to your door for free.

50% Off 50″ Sceptre 1080p HDTV, Now $179.99

If you don’t need 4K or built-in Smart TV functionality, then this TV’s value can’t be beat. Let’s face it, even most of us who do own 4K TVs primarily watch 1080p or lower content. Also, you can always pick up an Amazon Fire TV Stick or Chromecast for a superior Smart TV experience than an integrated solution.
If you want to kick things up a notch, you can now grab the 55″ 4K model for just a few extra dollars.

Lowest Prices on LG OLED TVs at PCMag Shop

Use code “SAVE50”

PCMag Shop has some incredible prices on LG B8 OLED TVs and they come with full manufacturer’s warranties. LG OLED TVs are still considered the best TVs you can buy, with virtually perfect black levels, high contrast ratio, and wide color gamut, all of which measure up to best-in-class picture quality. The B8 is the “budget” model and the E8 is top of the line.

50% Off Bose SoundSport Wired In-Ear Headphones with Mic for Android or Apple, Now $49.95

These headphones retail for $99. This is your cheapest ticket to getting in on the signature Bose sound. The SoundSport features Bose TriPort technology, stay-fit ear hook design, sweat resistant finish, and inline mic and remote.

For under $700 you’re getting an Intel Core i7 6-core processor and GeForce GTX 1070 video card, which is more than capable of taking on all of your PUBG, Fortnite, or Apex Legends needs and then some. You also get free 2-day shipping.

$1,000 Off the HP Omen X Intel Core i7-7820HK GeForce GTX 1080 Slim Compact Desktop (Portable) with 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD, Now $1199.99

Search the model number (P1000-025se) and you can verify the specs, even at HP direct. In fact, although Walmart is the storefront, this desktop will be shipped from HP directly. This is a great price for a powerful desktop that’s compact enough to bring to your LAN party.

Grab the Whalen Payton 3-in-1 TV Stand for $99 (Normally $179) at Walmart

Everyone needs a good stand for their home, and this unit is perfect, particularly when it’s on sale! The center neck can hide cords, while the open design means it’s easy to access your devices while also allowing for plenty of ventilation for those hot electronics.

New Dell HDTV Deals with Gift Cards

Dell kicks off a new week of TV deals. You will find both value-minded and uber high end options available. Not only are these TVs marked down to the lowest current prices you’ll find anywhere, they all also include a gift card that can be used on almost anything at Dell.com, including consoles, monitors, VR headsets, games, video cards, and PCs. The gift card carries a 90-day expiration.

4K Smart HDTVs:

Premium 4K Smart HDTVs with True HDR:

The grand champion of the Fortnite

Congratulations @bugha! pic.twitter.com/nchRlL3wUC

— Fortnite Competitive (@FNCompetitive) July 28, 2019

Giersdorf is a player for the Sentinels group, and managed to careen past his 99 other opponents by a wide margin, earning a total of 59 points. The runner up, Psalm, scored 33 points by comparison over the finals’ six matches. The World Cup used a point-scoring system that encouraged players to not only place higher up in the ranking, but also eliminate opponents, as to discourage players from simply hiding until the end game.

“Words can’t even explain [how I feel] right now,” Giersdorf said from the Champion’s circle. “I’m just so happy. Everything I’ve done, the grind, it’s all paid off. It’s just insane.”

Notably, Bugha won by such a large spread that, unlike the duos finals on Saturday, there was almost no delay in calculating that he had won the overall tournament. Bugha’s aggression in the early matches put him at an advantage, allowing him to play more conservatively in later matches, entering match 6 with a 15-point lead.

You can see how the rest of the major contenders fared in the image below.

The Fortnite duos tournament held similarly charged energy, despite some controversy over a pair of known Fortnite cheaters being booed.

Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer for IGN, and he’s dropping into a nap.

The writers of DC’s upcoming New Gods film seem to be teasing the inclusion of iconic DC supervillain, Darkseid.In a post on Twitter, New Gods co-writer Tom King posed with fellow New Gods writer and director, Ava DuVernay, while wearing a “Darkseid Is” shirt. The post simply says, “Ava is,” making two references to the “Darkseid is” concept King spoke to IGN about in a recent interview.

Ava is. pic.twitter.com/OxtuXIm1WI

— Tom King (@TomKingTK) July 27, 2019

Darkseid is certainly the most well-known of the New Gods, so but does this mean the imposing New God will stop being a distant threat and finally grace the silver screen in the upcoming DC film? So far, those involved are staying tight-lipped, so we’ll have to wait to find out.

For more details on the New Gods film, be sure to read our interview with King, which covers the inspiration for the film. To learn more about The New Gods themselves, check out our comprehensive explainer.

DC Extended Universe: Every Upcoming Movie

Brian Barnett writes news, features, wiki guides, and more for IGN. You can get your fix of Brian’s antics on Twitter (@Ribnax).