Peaky Blinders: Mastermind, A Game Based On The Hit TV Show, Is Coming This Summer

Don your Newsboy Cap and sharpen up on your Brummie accent because there’s a Peaky Blinders game on the way. Publisher Curve Digital has announced Peaky Blinders: Mastermind, a puzzle-adventure game based on the popular TV show about gangsters in early 20th century Birmingham, England. It’s coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC sometime this summer.

Developed by FuturLab–a British studio known for creating Velocity 2X–Peaky Blinders: Mastermind is set right before the first season of the BBC show. You’ll join the Shelby family criminal organisation, as the game taps into Tommy’s penchant for planning complex scenarios in his head: forming strategies and taking control of key members of the Shelby family in the thick of the action.

“There’s a point in the show where Tommy Shelby explains he has no concern for the past, nor the future; all he cares about is a crucial moment he recalls the soldier’s minute,” explains James Marsden, game director at FuturLab. “We designed our game around that idea, allowing the player to plan actions backward and forward in time, choreographing an ensemble cast of characters to synchronise their actions during these crucial moments. The player gets to feel like the smart and sophisticated leader that Tommy is, so we think becoming the mastermind will resonate with fans of the show and gamers alike.”

You’ll be able to rewind each character’s path in order to achieve perfect coordination as you solve increasingly complex puzzles using tactics and stealth. “We were floored by James and Kirsty’s original idea for a Peaky Blinders game,” says Simon Byron, Publishing Director at Curve Digital. “At its heart, Peaky Blinders is a story about a family, and capturing the ability to control the Shelbys simultaneously across the game’s narrative is such a smart way to bring the show to life.

“The mechanic they’ve created to allow players to directly control Tommy, Arthur, Polly, John, Ada, and Finn across one looping timeline opens up unique gameplay possibilities, stylishly brought to life in FuturLab’s trademark gorgeous art style. It’s a game that almost defies categorization–part action, part puzzle, part adventure, but all inventive.”

Each playable character has unique skills.
Each playable character has unique skills.
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The involvement of those behind the show has been key in the game’s development as well. “Peaky Blinders has become more than a TV show, it has become a worldwide phenomenon,” says Steven Knight, the show’s creator and writer. “With the launch of the Peaky Blinders: Mastermind game we are inviting you to enter that world and take part in it, live in it and take your place beside the Shelby family as they fight for their very survival. You’re going to have to be as smart as Tommy, as tough as Arthur, as ruthless as Polly. Good luck and remember, you really are a Peaky Blinder now.”

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Gran Turismo Sport Update Adds A Brand-New Sports Car

A Gran Turismo Sport update, which will be available today on PlayStation 4 at 11 PM PT (2 AM ET / 6 AM GMT on April 23), will add a brand-new car from Toyota.

The Toyota GR Supra RZ ’20 (N300), dubbed the “new evolution of Toyota’s flagship sports car,” is GT Sport’s newest set of wheels thanks to patch 1.57. Developer Polyphony Digital took to the PlayStation Blog to go over its specs, saying it “was developed for not only real motorsports but also with competition in Gran Turismo Sport in mind.”

According to Polyphony Digital, the Toyota GR Supra features an inline six-cylinder engine and rear-wheel drive for maximum acceleration and traction. It’s also “optimally balanced with a 50:50 weight distribution and a low center of gravity,” houses “twin-scroll turbo” power in its engine, and has quick handling to “achieve an ideal sports car.” Check out some official screens below.

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Gran Turismo Sport launched on PlayStation 4 in October 2017. The PlayStation 4 exclusive was met with generally favorable reviews, with our own Gran Turismo Sport review awarding the game an 8/10. In July 2019, Polyphony Digital CEO Kazunori Yamauchi said the studio is “obviously” working on the next Gran Turismo game. “I think the next title that we’re going to create will be a combination of the past, present, and future–a complete form of Gran Turismo,” Yamauchi said.

Now Playing: Gran Turismo Sport – Gameplay Trailer

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New To Amazon Prime Video For May 2020: Movies, TV, And Originals (US)

During the month of May, Amazon Prime Video is delivering more movies, TV shows, and original programming than you can handle, with most of its content arriving on May 1. From movies you love to TV shows you want to catch up on to brand-new original programming, Amazon has a lot in store, and you can check out the streaming service’s releases for the month of May below, along with a few recommendations.

Prime Video has a few originals of note, but the most interesting has to be Upload, from Greg Daniels–known for his work on The Office and Parks and Recreation. The sci-fi comedy series follows Nathan Brown (Robbie Amell) who lands himself in the hospital after a life-altering car accident. Quickly, he makes the decision to have his consciousness uploaded to a computer, where he will spend his afterlife. The series looks pretty funny–from what we can see in the trailer below–and an entertaining satire on technology.

If you missed out on the Elton John biopic/musical, Rocketman, you’re in luck because it’s coming to Prime Video on May 22. Starring Taron Egerton as the famed performer, the movie covers John’s lifetime as a performer and co-writer alongside lifelong friend and collaborator Bernie Taupin (Jamie Bell).

In GameSpot’s review of Rocketman, Tony Wilson said, “Rocketman is a stellar experience, marrying Elton John’s real life with beautifully executed musical numbers to elevate itself beyond a standard biopic. Each song is packed with flashy costumes and fun choreography that feel more like one of Elton’s concerts than a movie being projected onto a screen. While it might stumble in introducing some of his vices, its tender moments of him embracing who he is and living his best life are absolutely heartwarming. It’s a wonderful tribute to one of music’s most important figures.”

Below, you’ll find everything coming to Amazon Prime Video in May, and for more streaming news, check out everything coming to Disney+, Netflix, and Hulu for the month of May.

And speaking of things you should be watching, consider listening to GameSpot’s weekly TV series and movies-focused podcast, You Should Be Watching. With new episodes premiering every Wednesday, you can watch a video version of the podcast over on GameSpot Universe or listen to audio versions on Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, and Apple Podcasts.

New to Amazon in May:

May 1

  • 10 Fingers of Steel (1973)
  • A Cadaver Christmas (2011)
  • Assassination Tango (2003)
  • Best of Shaolin Kung Fu (1977)
  • Who Saw Her Die? (1980)
  • Crooked Hearts (1991)
  • Escape From Alcatraz (1979)
  • Eurocrime! The Italian Cop And Gangster Films That Ruled The ’70s (2014)
  • Fearless Young Boxer (1979)
  • Five Fingers of Steel (1982)
  • Friday The 13th Part III (1982)
  • Friday the 13th Part IV: The Final Chapter (1982)
  • Gloria (2014)
  • Green Dragon Inn (1977)
  • House Of D (2005)
  • Torso (1973)
  • I Hate Tom Petty (2013)
  • Indie Film Artists: The DMV Truth (2016)
  • Inferno (1980)
  • Night Train Murders (1975)
  • Seven Deaths In The Cat’s Eye (1973)
  • The Blood Spattered Bride (1972)
  • Lakeboat (2000)
  • Daughters of Darkness (1971)
  • Pathology (2008)
  • Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown (1977)
  • Shaolin Kung Fu Mystagouge (1977)
  • Some Kind Of Hero (1982)
  • Sprung (1997)
  • The Final Countdown (1980)
  • The Whistle Blower (1987)
  • Walking Tall (1973)
  • Upload: Season 1 – Amazon Original series
  • A House Divided: Season 1 (Urban Movie Channel)
  • African Hunters: Season 1 (Smithsonian Channel Plus)
  • Bonanza: Season 1 (Best Western Ever)
  • Born to Explore: Season 1 (PBS Living)
  • Boss: Season 1 (STARZ)
  • Engine Masters: Season 1 (MotorTrend)
  • Good Karma Hospital: Season 1 (Acorn TV)
  • In The Cut: Season 1 (Brown Sugar)
  • Inspector Lewis: Season 1 (PBS Masterpiece)
  • Pinkalicious: Season 1 (PBS Kids)
  • Rosehaven: Season 1 (Sundance Now)
  • Seaside Hotel: Season 1 (PBS Masterpiece)
  • The Lucy Show: Season 1 (Best TV Ever)

May 3

  • The Durrells: Season 4

May 7

  • The Hustle (2019)

May 8

  • The Goldfinch – Amazon Original movie (2020)
  • Shubh Mangal Zyada Savdhan (2017)
  • Jimmy O. Yang: Good Deal – Amazon Original special

May 10

  • Jack And Jill (2011)

May 11

  • Alias: Seasons 1-5

May 15

  • Seberg – Amazon Original movie (2020)
  • The Last Narc: Season 1 – Amazon Original series

May 17

  • Poldark: Season 5

May 19

  • Like Crazy (2011)
  • Trial By Fire (2019)

May 22

  • Rocketman (2019)
  • Homecoming: Season 2 – Amazon Original series

May 23

  • Come To Daddy (2020)

May 25

  • The Tracker (2019)

May 29

  • The Vast Of Night – Amazon Original movie (2020)

Tetris 99’s Next Event Is A Ring Fit Crossover

The Switch exercise game Ring Fit Adventure may be in short supply everywhere, but you can soon get a small taste of it in Tetris 99. The game will be the theme of Tetris 99’s next Maximus Cup event, which kicks off this Friday, April 24, at 12 AM PT.

Like previous Maximus Cups, this week’s event is a point-based challenge. Each time you play Tetris 99 online during the event, you’ll earn points depending on how well you place. If you can amass 100 points by the end of the event, you’ll unlock a new in-game theme based on Ring Fit Adventure.

The Ring Fit Maximus Cup runs until 11:59 PM PT on April 27. You can read more about the event on the official Tetris 99 website.

Nintendo has been holding Maximus Cup events in Tetris 99 on a near monthly basis, although this marks the first one since this past January. The events are often crossovers with other games; previous Maximus Cups have featured themes based on Pokemon Sword and Shield, Luigi’s Mansion 3, and Fire Emblem: Three Houses, among others.

As for Ring Fit, the game recently received a free update that added a new rhythm mode featuring music from a variety of other Nintendo Switch games, including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, and Splatoon 2. As previously mentioned, however, Ring Fit Adventure has become a hot item since the COVID-19 pandemic began, selling out at many retailers online–just as the console itself, which remains hard to find.

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Play Madden 20 For Free On PS4, Xbox One This Week

At the same time the NFL Draft is happening, EA has announced that a free trial period for Madden NFL 20 will take place from April 23-26 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

There are some requirements in order to play Madden 20’s free demo this weekend. In addition to a “persistent internet connection,” you will also need both an EA account and a “premium console” (PS Plus or Xbox Live Gold) subscription, as well as agree to two policy forms. Other than this, you can download and play Madden 20 starting on April 23 at 12:01 AM PT / 3:01 AM ET / 7:01 AM GMT through April 26 at 11:59 PM PT (2:59 AM ET / 6:59 AM GMT on April 27).

This year’s NFL Draft will take place between April 23-25. You can check out GameSpot sister site CBS Sports for the latest updates on player trades, official statistics, and more.

Madden 20 is currently on sale on both PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The game is 60 percent off on the PlayStation Store (down from $60 to $24), while the Microsoft Store has it for 67 percent off ($19.79 instead of $60).

In other Madden news, the cover for Madden 21 has been revealed and it features Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. EA has not provided any other information about the upcoming sports title.

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Another Star Wars TV Series Is Coming To Disney+ – Report

While Star Wars: The Clones Wars comes to an end soon, a new Disney+ original series in a galaxy far, far away is coming together. However, details about the new show are a bit scarce.

Leslye Headland will serve as showrunner and writer for the unnamed Star Wars series, according to Variety‘s sources. The series will take place in a different timeline than fans have seen before and will be a female-centric show. At the time of this writing, that’s all Variety’s sources have revealed.

Headland is primarily known as the co-creator, writer, and showrunner of Netflix’s Russian Doll. Additionally, she was one of the writers for FX’s Terriers.

This may be one of many Star Wars shows headed to the streaming service. Most recently, a third season of The Mandalorian was reported to be in pre-production.–with Season 2 arriving this fall. Additionally, we’re just weeks away from the behind-the-scenes docuseries on Mandalorian Season 1 arriving.

While the Obi-Wan TV show has been delayed with filming beginning in January 2021, the show recently got a new writer. The upcoming series will be directed by Deborah Chow, who helmed some of the best episodes of Mandalorian Season 1. Ewan McGregor will reprise his role as the titular Jedi master.

Also, there is still the Rogue One spin-off TV show coming to Disney+. Diego Luna will reprise his role as Cassian Andor. Taking place before the events of the movie–for obvious reasons–the show will also feature Alan Tudyk coming back to play K-2SO and more recently, Stellan Skarsgard and Kyle Soller have been reported to be in talks to join the series.

And speaking of things you should be watching, consider listening to GameSpot’s weekly TV series and movies-focused podcast, You Should Be Watching. With new episodes premiering every Wednesday, you can watch a video version of the podcast over on GameSpot Universe or listen to audio versions on Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, and Apple Podcasts.

Pokemon Go Buddy Event Now Live, And It Features Two Rare Region-Exclusive Pokemon

Pokemon Go‘s Buddy Up event is now underway. The event runs until 10 PM local time on April 27 and brings out a variety of rare Pokemon, including two region exclusives.

Throughout the Buddy Up event, you’re more likely to find Pokemon like Alolan Meowth, Chansey, Eevee, Feebas, Lillipup, and Joltik in the wild and in eggs. The Gen 5 Pokemon Woobat, which was previously available as February’s Research Breakthrough reward, will also appear in the wild for the first time, and you can receive special event-exclusive Field Research tasks from PokeStops.

In addition to the aforementioned Pokemon, the Buddy Up event also brings out Volbeat and Illumise. This is notable because each of these monsters is normally exclusive to certain regions; Volbeat can typically only be found in Europe, Asia, and Oceania, while Illumise only appears in the Americas and Africa. Throughout the Buddy Up event, however, both Pokemon will be available around the world, and if you’re lucky enough, you’ll be able to encounter their Shiny forms.

Rounding out the Buddy Up event are a variety of in-game bonuses. Throughout the event, your buddy Pokemon will bring you gifts more often, and it’ll take half the normal amount of distance to earn buddy candy and hearts. You’ll also earn twice the usual amount of Stardust for evolving Pokemon, whether or not it’s set as your buddy. You can read more details about the event on the official Pokemon Go website.

Just before the Buddy Up event ends, Niantic will also host Pokemon Go’s Abra Community Day. That event was originally scheduled to occur back in March before being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will now take place this Saturday, April 25, and run for six hours instead of the usual three.

Pokemon Go’s latest Legendary, Landorus, will also be available in the game a little longer. The Legendary was originally scheduled to leave the game on April 21, but it will now appear in Raids until April 28. If you need help catching one, be sure to check out our Landorus Raid guide.

Now Playing: Pokemon GO – GO Battle League Dev Insights

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It Seems Like Nook’s Cranny Is Closed For Everyone In Animal Crossing Today

Animal Crossing: New Horizons might primarily be a game you play solo or with a small group of people, but one of the fun things about it is the sense of community that surrounds it. Some of that stems from the use of a real-time clock; for better or worse, we all played through Bunny Day together, experienced the first fishing tournament at the same time, and will get to check out the Nature Day stuff soon. While those were events pre-scheduled for certain days, it seems like a lot of people are now going through the same experience despite it not being tied to a specific date: Nook’s Cranny is temporarily closed for upgrades.

Like so many other elements of New Horizons, the precise upgrade requirements aren’t made clear in the game. Similar to the founding of the Able Sisters store, it’s something that seemingly just happens, unless you’re paying close attention to your actions and cross-referencing with guides or the experiences of other players. Upgrading Nook’s Cranny has proven a much longer-term project than in previous games, and with the game recently passing the one-month mark since its release, many players are checking off one of the apparent requirements for the upgrade. That seems to involve having 30 days pass after you first opened Nook’s Cranny.

This has thrown a wrench into the turnip market for some; as part of the upgrade, Nook’s Cranny becomes unavailable for a day. That means depriving you of two precious chances to check turnip prices for a spike. Unless you’re truly min/maxing, that’s ultimately not the end of the world, particularly since you still can travel to someone else’s island if they have a good price and their store is open. Anecdotally at least, it does seem like a lot of people are in the process of upgrading Nook’s Cranny today, which means those who share their prices with friends are missing out on a bunch of potential opportunities for a spike. As a result, this might drive awareness to some of the websites that have emerged, such as one that lets you find strangers’ islands where you can sell turnips at high prices.

In the meantime, I’m left twiddling my thumbs and wondering what would have been for sale. It’s short-term pain for a long-term gain, as the upgraded Nook’s Cranny will have a broader selection of items, but what if today was the day with that fireplace I want? The impending closure of the store also sent me scrambling yesterday, as I had to ensure that none of the villagers on my island or my wife’s were having a birthday. I like to wrap up their gifts and am fresh out of wrapping paper, but more importantly, I needed to secure a potential present because I’m a bad neighbor and friend who buys gifts at the last possible moment. Sorry, Stu, but looks like you’re getting a pair of shoes you can’t seem to wear.

The brief time I’ve spent playing the game today is reminiscent of playing late at night: There’s little urgency to grab things like shells, and there’s lots of chucking items into massive piles in front of Nook’s Cranny to sell tomorrow. The overnight drop box is unavailable during Nook’s Cranny’s upgrade, but like hell I’m taking 80 cents on the dollar for anything, anyway. (Here’s hoping Nintendo plans to reintroduce the ability to shift the store’s hours to stay open later.) So much of the game revolves around the store–fish and bugs are piling up with no immediate use, and I’m forced to put my loan repayment (and thus my next home upgrade) on hold for a day. I’m trying not to fret, because I’m continuing to fight my urge to rush everything along as quickly as possible, but today is serving as a reminder that the Nook family rules all.

Have you upgraded Nook’s Cranny yet, and if so, how is the store’s closure impacting the way you play? Let us know in the comments below.

Now Playing: Animal Crossing: New Horizons – April Update Trailer

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The Best (And Most Disgusting) Murder Sculptures In Hannibal

The Best (And Most Disgusting) Murder Sculptures In Hannibal – GameSpot

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Disclosure: ViacomCBS is GameSpot’s parent company


PUBG: Performance, Content, And Balance Plans For Console In 2020

In a lengthy blog post about the state of Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds on consoles, developer PUBG Crop. has pinpointed several areas that the studio is focusing on throughout the rest of development in 2020.

The post is split into four sections, including comments on performance fixes, gameplay balances, security updates, and the gap between content on PC versus consoles. In terms of performance, the post acknowledges progress made in 2019 on improving texture pop-ins and overall stability, continuing on to say that the focus in 2020 is to continue addressing memory issues causing crashes and widespread hitching. PUBG Corp. also acknowledges the request for a higher frame rate, especially on more powerful consoles, but that the studio is committed to fixing existing issues before potentially moving forward with that.

The post also mentions that content between PC and console versions of PUBG is now down to a two-week delay for the most part, but that the studio is working towards release parity in the near future. The team is also looking into introducing more options for custom matches, but is currently weighing those up against potential performance impacts they might have. An Observer Mode is also being planned for consoles this year, allowing smaller tournaments to set up viewing streams from within the game.

In terms of balancing, the post notes that recoil on all weapons on console is already 50% less than it is on PC, but that the team is looking at splitting weapon data further to finely tune individual weapons more accurately. Hitboxes and speed calculations on vehicles are also being looked at, after console players reported that even slow-moving vehicles were doing more damage than expected. The team is also looking into community suggestions around the M249, with a balance change coming in Update 7.1 as an interim fix for its popularity.

PUBG Corp. mentions that PUBG has been the victim of intense DDoS attacks since November last year, and that a lot of work has gone into improving server infrastructure and security to mitigate their effects going forward. While the studio concedes that ruling them out entirely seems impossible, the post talks about their improvements positively without giving away details that PUBG Corp. worries might be used to evade their measures.

The post closes with PUBG Corp. committing to being more open about updates, and communicating potential changes more frequently so that it can address community concerns in a timelier manner. This has already started with a similarly large update to the state of the game on PC, and the recent release of the 7.1 update earlier this month. You can read the full blog post on PUBG’s official website for the entire rundown.

Now Playing: The Most Influential Games Of The 21 Century Video: PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds

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