Filmmaker Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream, Pi) has set The Whale, his next movie, with independent studio and film distributor A24. Deadline first reported the partnership, which is the first collaboration between Aronofsky and A24. Given A24’s track record with movies like VVitch, Hereditary, and The Light House, this should prove to be a good fit for Aronofsky.
Given Aronofsky’s tendency to work on heavier–or at least pretty dark–film, it’s no shock to learn that The Whale is not exactly going to be a pick-me-up. Playwright Samuel D. Hunter (Greater Clements) will write a script adapting his critically acclaimed 2012 play of the same name into a movie–the story is being described as being about a 600-pound recluse who hides away from the world to eat himself to death. Aronofsky will direct, and Brendan Fraser (The Mummy) is set to star.
“Adapting my play into a screenplay has been a real labor of love for me,” said Hunter, via Deadline. “This story is deeply personal and I’m very thankful it will have the chance to reach a wider audience. I’ve been a fan of Darren’s ever since I saw Requiem for a Dream when I was a college freshman writing my first plays, and I’m so grateful that he’s bringing his singular talent and vision to this film.”
This is Aronofsky’s first film since his 2017 film, Mother.
The Mandalorian is the first thing you unlock when you purchase the Fortnite Season 5 battle pass, but there is a lot more you’ll need to find in order to complete the Star Wars skin. The bounty hunter has pieces of Beskar Armor that can be equipped–each tied to an individual quest that you’ll unlock as you level up the battle pass.
A fully decked out Mandalorian skin.
The first challenge is unlocked as soon as you purchase the battle pass, while others are unlocked when you get to a specific tier. Here’s a map of all the locations you’ll need to visit to finish the 4 location-based Beskar challenges:
Fortnite Beskar Armor Locations
Here’s a list of all challenges and how to complete them with ease.
Visit the Razor Crest
This is the first challenge you’ll need to complete after purchasing the battle pass. You need to visit the Razor Crest, the Mandalorian’s ship, and find a small collectable item there. The piece of Beskar is a small, rectangular object that sticks out of the ground. You’ll see it glowing and a button prompt will pop up once you’re close enough to it.
The Razor Crest.
Check the map above for the specific location of this Beskar piece.
Find Beskar Steel Deep in the Belly of the Shark
This challenge will send you to the top left corner of the map, just above Coral Castle. There is an island with a giant Shark-shaped rock that used to be a secret base in a previous season. Here’s what it looks like when you’re gliding towards it:
Find Beskar Steel Deep in the Belly of the Shark.
The piece of armor is located within the shark in an abandoned vault. Head through the mouth when gliding in and the turn left. You’ll see a large vault door that you can walk through among the rubble. The piece of armor will be on a shelf inside the vault.
Find Beskar Steel Where the Earth Meets the Sky
This Beskar quest sends you to the highest point on the map. It’s the snowy mountain peak just south of Catty Corner and east of Misty Meadows. The Beskar piece is located at the very top. See the image below for reference. The map at the top of this guide shows the exact location as well.
Beskar Steel Where the Earth Meets the Sky Location.
Complete a Bounty
This is a simple challenge. You’ll need to find one of the many NPCs on the map and get a bounty contract from them. Then you’ll need to find the target and eliminate them. Bounties can be started by talking to NPCs at Dirty Docks, Steamy Stacks, Retail Row, Lazy Lake, Misty Meadows, and many other spots around the map. The menu will look like this:
Only some NPCs give out bounties.
Earn Weapon Specialist Accolades
Special weapon accolades are earned by dealing enough damage with each weapon type. Pistols and SMGs require players to deal 150 damage while assault rifles and shotguns require 250 damage. This challenge can be completed while playing normally. It’s best to land in a named location, quickly search for a gun, and then immediately search for other players.
Complete a Legendary Quest
Epic Games is adding one legendary quest per week alongside other weekly challenges. They come in multiple stages and give players a high number of experience points. For example, Week 6’s legendary challenge tasked players with landing headshots. They’d get 55,000 experience points for every 20 noggin hits. Finish one of those legendary challenges once you unlock this Beskar quest to get another piece of armor.
Defeat Ruckus
Ruckus is an NPC that roams the factory in between Misty Meadows and Slurpy Swamp. He’s hard to miss once you’re near the building. He carries a heavy assault rifle and an RPG, so be careful when you’re approaching him as he will attack on sight. He also has a ton of armor. Kill him in order to unlock a piece of Beskar armor.
He moves between the first floor, second floor, and outside areas so he could be in a different spot each time you visit his location. Check the map at the top of this guide for the exact location of Ruckus.
This is Ruckus.
Collect 500 Gold Bars
Gold Bars are a new currency for Season 5. They can be found in couches, safes, washing machines, and some beds after being broken down with a harvesting tool. They are also rewards for completing NPC quests like bounties and are dropped by enemy players when eliminated. You’ll need to collect 500 in order to complete this challenge.
Fortnite gold bars.
These are all the Beskar quests that unlock as you level up the battle pass. Finishing them all will net you a shiny and new Beskar armor set for your Mandalorian skin.
Some players believe that other Mandalorian gear, like a harvesting tool, will come later in the season. The Mandalorian came with a special glider and a Grogu back bling is unlocked at tier 100, so it makes sense that a Star Wars-themed pickaxe would come at some point. The battle pass includes some mystery rewards–one of them could be the bounty hunter’s special weapon. We’ll know more as Season 5 progresses.
You won’t be able to unlock these pieces of Beskar armor once Season 5 ends–so be sure to jump on these quests as soon as you unlock them.
Intel has announced its first trio of 11th Gen H-Series processors meant for the next generation of gaming laptops.
Starting with the Intel Core i7-11375H Special Edition, it’s a 4-core, 8-thread processor with a maximum single-core boost of 5GHz. Intel claims to outperform its competitors, including the AMD Ryzen 4800HS and 4900H, by 30% in single-threaded performance.
Following that is the Intel Core i7-11370H, which is also a 4-core, 8-thread processor that hits a slightly slower 4.8GHz Turbo Boost clock. Lastly, there’s the more mid-range Intel Core i5-11300H CPU that surprisingly still offers as many cores and threads, and a still quick 4.4GHz speed.
Intel also teased even more 11th Gen H-series processors that will come later this quarter including an 8-core, 16-thread chip. It promises an up to 5 GHz boost clock, 20 lanes of PCIe 4.0 for fastest storage and discrete graphics, and Intel Killer Wi-fi 6E (Gig+) wireless.
Whereas in years past the Intel made a big splash by introducing its first octa-core CPUs or hitting 5GHz for the first time, this year’s crop of mobile processors brings some more humble, but important platform improvements to portable PC gaming.
Firstly, the new 11th Gen H-Series processors add PCIe 4.0 support for the faster RTX 3000 Series graphics we’re bound to see on upcoming gaming laptops. The new CPUs also enable faster DDR4 3200MHz and DDR4x 4266MHz memory.
On the connectivity end, the 11th Gen H-series adds support for Thunderbolt 4 ports. Users can even expect faster wireless with the new Wi-Fi 6E for gig+ connections.
Desktop processors
Intel didn’t quite fully announce its desktop CPUs today, but Team Blue is giving us a preview of what we can expect from its 11th Gen Core S-series Rocket Lake-S chips.
One of the first chips from the line we can expect is the Intel Core i9-11900K. This chip features 8 cores, 16 threads, 20 CPU-based PCIe 4.0 lanes, native 3,200MHz memory support, and new Intel UHD graphics.
These processors jump to a new Intel 500 chipset, but they’ll be backward compatible with Intel 400 chipset motherboards. You will need a new motherboard if you want to take advantage of the added support for x8 DMI and USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20G).
More generally, this new 11th Gen architecture promises to deliver a 19% IPC improvement and 50% better integrated graphics performance.
Of course, we’re all much more interested in hearing about when Intel will finally introduce its first 10nm desktop processors. Well, we got a tease that Alder Lake will arrive in the second half of 2021.
Alder Lake will be the first Intel desktop CPU featuring high-performance and high-efficiency cores built on a 10nm process.
While it wasn’t originally supposed to be this way, Disney+’s WandaVision is the first entry in Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With the COVID-19-related delays of the movies Black Widow and Eternals, as well as Disney+ original series Falcon and the Winter Soldier, the pseudo sitcom about Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) is introducing the next chapter in Marvel Studios’ epic story. What’s more, it’s also the first new Marvel Studios project released in well over a year.
That means a lot of fans are looking to the new series to give them some idea about what to expect from the upcoming slew of Marvel movies and TV shows. So, as the first entry in this new phase, what does WandaVision have to say about what’s to come? Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige was asked that very question during a press conference for WandaVision.
“I hope it says get ready for the new and the different,” he said. “I hope all of our movies have said that one after the other over the years. But certainly, the Disney+ opportunities [have] allowed us to expand creatively what we do.”
Based on the first reactions to WandaVision, “new and different” certainly seems to apply to WandaVision. We also know it will have an impact on at least some of the Phase 4 movies on the way. The series introduces an adult version of Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), the character first introduced in Captain Marvel who will also appear in that film’s sequel. And, of course, the events of WandaVision lead directly into Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. From there, we know it’s been reported that Doctor Strange star Benedict Cumberbatch will appear in the next Spider-Man film.
That said, the tone of WandaVision isn’t likely to inform the future of the MCU in a major way. While the series isn’t simply a sitcom with Marvel characters in it, a majority of the series will play out that way, if the trailers are any indication. Yet Marvel Studios isn’t about to turn its franchise into a series of comedies.
However, Feige said himself that the Disney+ shows are allowing Marvel Studios to “expand creatively on what we do.” If this show’s legacy is that it helped steer the MCU into the unknown, leading to Marvel taking more chances with the types of stories it likes to tell–tonally and otherwise–it’s hard to argue that it would be a success. It would also mean exciting things are ahead for the large number of Marvel movies and TV shows that have been announced.
The first two episodes of WandaVision premiere Friday, January 15, on Disney+.
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Warning: Spoilers for Hitman 3’s locations and when you visit them in-game follow.
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IO Interactive has unveiled all locations Agent 47 will be traveling to in Hitman 3.
Hitman 3 arrives in just a handful of days on January 20 and until now, we had only known about a few of the locales the hitman will be visiting this time around. IO Interactive revealed that along side the locations we had already known about —Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Dartmoor in the United Kingdom, and Chongqing in China — Agent 47 will be heading to Berlin, Germany, Mendoza, Argentina, and the Carpathian Mountains of Romania.
“Agent 47’s adventure will take him around the world to six unique locations across three continents, where he’ll take on the most important contracts of his entire career,” IO Interactive’s blog post about the locations reads. “Each location has been crafted to deliver a unique and memorable gameplay experience, from the game’s first mission at the tallest building in the world through to the dramatic epilogue that concludes the trilogy in style with a narrative-focused finale.”
IO Interactive also wrote a bit about each location and its place in the story of Hitman 3. The game starts in Dubai with Agent 47 just outside the world’s tallest building and following the events of this location, the hitman heads to Dartmoor in the United Kingdom where he’s tasked with taking out a target and potentially solving a murder mystery.
From the United Kingdom, Agent 47 will head to Berlin, Germany, which IO Interactive says is the mid-way point of the game, followed by Chongqing, China. Hitman 3’s penultimate mission takes place in a vineyard in the sloping hills of Mendoza, Argentina, and the game’s epilogue and final mission in the World of Assassination trilogy takes place in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania.
CES is raging right now, and though the event is virtual this year, it’s bringing a wide variety of new product announcements from big tech companies. Now, Western Digital has revealed a fresh line of portable solid-state drives, and they’re bigger than ever before, though they’ve got a price tag to match.
WD’s new portable SSDs will now max out at 4 TB, which is double the size of the previous max for flash-memory based SSDs. If you aren’t familiar, solid-state drives are smaller and faster than traditional hard drives, though they typically cost more for the same amount of space. The 4 TB portable SSD will start at $700 for the 1050 megabyte per second read speed, while the faster 2000 megabyte per second model will cost $900. No word yet on international pricing.
If you’re planning on using these drives on your Xbox Series X / Series S or PS5, they should work, though they don’t match the Xbox’s dedicated Velocity Architecture expansion port. WD has yet to make a drive that uses that architecture, and only the Seagate Expansion Card uses it, and it’s around $220 for 1 TB.
Microsoft’s Xbox cloud gaming service (Project xCloud) officially launched last September, allowing you to play Xbox games on the go using an Android phone or tablet. Now, Otterbox has unveiled a new line of mobile gaming accessories aimed at keeping your phone and controller damage-free. Announced during CES 2021, the new Otterbox mobile gaming line features an Xbox controller shell, a carrying case, a mobile gaming clip, and more. As you’ll see, the new products aren’t exactly cheap, but their prices are in line with what Otterbox usually sells its cases, screen protectors, and other accessories for–you’re paying for top-notch durability here.
The following mobile accessories release in mid-February, and preorders will open on January 25.
Easy Grip Controller Shell | $40
Otterbox Easy Grip Controller Shell
While there are many controllers that work well for Xbox cloud gaming, the best mobile controller to use is the official Xbox wireless controller, which xCloud’s games are designed for. The new Otterbox Easy Grip Controller Shell offers durable protection for the Xbox wireless controller, protecting it against any drops or scrapes. The most appealing feature is the grip pads on the side of the shell, which help you maintain a comfortable grip while gaming.
Of course, any Xbox gamer could use this shell, even if you’re sitting at home playing on Xbox Series X|S. The shell would also make the new Xbox wireless controller, which is a tad smaller than the old model, a little bigger, a nice perk for those with large hands. The Easy Grip Controller Shell will be available in three different colors: black, black/gray, and purple.
Easy Grip Gaming Case | $55
Otterbox Easy Grip Gaming Case
Otterbox is known primarily for its sturdy phone cases, so it makes sense that the new mobile gaming line includes a phone case designed for gamers. The Easy Grip Gaming Case is notable for its anti-slip design that expels heat, keeping your hands cool and comfortable. As of right now, it’s compatible with iPhone 12/12 Pro, 12 Pro Max, 12 Mini, 11, 11 Pro Max, and SE (2nd gen)/7/8, with Android compatibility coming soon. Note that xCloud is currently only available on Android phones, with iOS functionality coming sometime this spring.
Mobile Gaming Clip | $30
Otterbox Mobile Gaming Clip
If you play games with xCloud, you’re most likely going to want a mobile gaming clip, which attaches to your controller and holds your phone in place. The Otterbox mobile gaming clip is designed for the Xbox wireless controller and grips it securely for hours of gaming. The angle can easily be adjusted with one hand while you play, and when you need to store your setup, the clip collapses flat to your controller for easy transport.
Gaming Carry Case | $45
Otterbox Gaming Carry Case
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Probably the niftiest new product in the line, the Otterbox Gaming Carry Case isn’t your average travel case–it’s designed with xCloud users in mind. Not only does it offer durable protection and room to fit both your controller and mobile clip; it also has a screen stand for your phone with several different angles available. There’s also a slot for a charging cable to pass through and connect to a portable power bank while you game.
Gaming Glass Privacy Guard | $50
Otterbox Gaming Glass Privacy Guard
If you’ve ever been on a plane or train and felt that uncomfortable feeling of someone looking over your shoulder at your phone, you’ll get why Otterbox is offering the Gaming Glass Privacy Guard as part of its mobile gaming line. The privacy guard is a screen protector that blocks the view of anyone looking at your screen from the side without obstructing any clarity on your end. Of course, you’ll still get the perk of it protecting your screen from any scratches and resisting shatter as well.
Identical twins don’t always have identical DNA, according to a new study.
Identical twins differ by 5.2 genetic changes on average, according to a new January 7 report in Nature Genetics, as reported by Science News. This study goes contrary to the belief that identical twins are identical in genetics, which was often the basis for the idea that differences in health between twins is a result of their environment. This new study shows that genetics might have more to do with that than previously believed.
“Imagine you have identical twins who are reared apart,” DeCode Genetics CEO and founder, and study co-author, Kari Stefansson, told CNN. “If one of them developed autism, the classic interpretation is that it is down to environmental factors. But our work shows that before you conclude that it’s caused by the environment, you have to sequence the genome of the twins to know what could account for the autism.”
Stefansson said this “mutation divergence” could be the cause of “devastating childhood illnesses” such as epilepsy and metabolic disorders. She also said a large percentage of “such horrific syndromes of very early childhood are down to genome mutations.”
Identical twins, which are also known as monozygotic twins because they come from a single fertilized egg as noted by Science News, are often studied to determine the origin of specific traits, diseases, or conditions, be it the result of genetics or the result of their environment. This study in particular looked at 381 pairs of identical twins and determined that 38 of the pairs had identical genetics, but that most pairs had some differences in DNA that arose very early in their development.
Thirty nine of the pairs had over 100 changes between the twins and the study suggests that these DNA differences occur when the embryo splits to form two in early development or shortly after the embryo splits. It suggests that this embryo split isn’t as clean or neat as previously thought, which results in the DNA changes seen.
Some twins arise when a single cell or small group of cells split off of the embryo, Science News notes, and it’s the number of cells that a twin originates from that can determine the genetic differences between it and its other twin. The more uneven splits of the embryo that occur, the larger the number of genetic differences between twins.
“This is an extraordinary, exciting, and insightful effort to pinpoint early cellular mechanisms that explain genetic differences between MZ (monozygotic) twins,” California State University, Fullerton, psychology professor, Nancy Segal, told CNN. “It is well known that MZ co-twins do not show perfect resemblance and that some dissimilarities may reflect genetic differences. The present study offers new information as to the source of the MZ co-twin differences.”
Although a team-up Avengers film isn’t in the cards for Marvel’s Phase 4, Marvel Studios President says that there will eventually be another Avengers film that will bring the MCU’s heroes together on another mission.
IGN spoke with Feige during the WandaVision press junket and asked the MCU boss if we’ll ever see another Avengers film following the events of Avengers: Endgame which shook up the status of the MCU considerably.
“I would have to think so. I would have to say yes, at some point,” Feige answered. He also jokes, “It’s a good title. Could use that.”
Marvel’s Phase 4 is looking incredibly stacked. Starting with Black Widow, there are 11 films slated to be a part of Phase 4, not to mention several TV series premiering on Disney+ that will intersect with the MCU.
“We had a movie this year called Avengers: Endgame, and it is very much an ending, as you saw, to so many of those characters,” he said. “So Phase 4 is about beginnings, and Phase 4 is about learning new things about characters you already think you know, like Black Widow; meeting incredible new characters like The Eternals and Shang-Chi[.]”
This makes sense given that in Phase 4 alone, the MCU will introduce new heroes like Shang-Chi, the Eternals, Fantastic Four; and from the TV side Ms. Marvel, Kate Bishop, She-Hulk, Moon Knight, and Ironheart.
The crop of young heroes suggests that Marvel has the pieces to put together a Young Avengers, or an obviously new version of the Avengers with different heroes.
For more from IGN’s interview with Feige, check out details about the upcoming She-Hulk series on Disney+. Feige also revealed separately that Deadpool 3 will be in the MCU with an R-rating. Marvel’s WandaVision premieres on January 15 on Disney+ with two episodes to start.