No New Comics Are Shipping Out After This Week

The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on all areas of the entertainment industry, and comics is no exception. Diamond Comic Distributors, which is the main distributor for most major US publishers (including both Marvel and DC), has announced plans to stop shipping new comic book deliveries to stores as of the week of April 1.

Effectively, this means comic shops will stop receiving new books for the foreseeable future. Diamond’s sister company Alliance Game Distributors is adopting a similar policy, with both its distribution centers shutting down indefinitely on Tuesday, March 24.

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“Our publishing partners are also faced with numerous issues in their supply chain, working with creators, printers, and increasing uncertainty when it comes to the production and delivery of products for us to distribute,” said Diamond’s Chairman and CEO Steve Geppi in a statement. “Our freight networks are feeling the strain and are already experiencing delays, while our distribution centers in New York, California, and Pennsylvania were all closed late last week. Our own home office in Maryland instituted a work from home policy, and experts say that we can expect further closures. Therefore, my only logical conclusion is to cease the distribution of new weekly product until there is greater clarity on the progress made toward stemming the spread of this disease.”

This announcement comes shortly after word that Free Comic Book Day 2020 has been postponed until the summer.

This is dire news for an industry already hit hard by COVID-19. Many shops have shifted to curbside and home delivery options in order to safely fulfill orders, while publishers like BOOM! Studios and IDW Publishing have begun offering full returnability on new releases and other incentives designed to lessen the financial strain on comic shops in an uncertain market. But with this shipping moratorium, shops remaining open during the pandemic will have to rely on existing stock and non-Diamond-distributed products for sources of revenue. As Geppi notes in his statement, Diamond is only cutting off shipments of books with an on-sale date of April 1 or later, meaning shops will theoretically have the ability to restock older releases and evergreen graphic novels, at least as long as Diamond still has available stock and the means to ship it.

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Perhaps the biggest question now is whether publishers will continue to make new books available digitally through services like Comixology, or if new comic book releases will simply stop entirely come April 1. Diamond doesn’t handle digital distribution, so this is likely a decision that will have to be made individually by each publisher. Marvel and DC both have a number of high-profile comic book crossovers planned for spring and summer 2020, including Marvel’s Avengers/Fantastic Four crossover Empyre and DC’s Dark Nights: Metal sequel Death Metal. It remains to be seen whether these and other major books will be delayed or published solely in digital form for the time being.

IGN has reached out to both Marvel and DC for comment but did not hear back by time of publish. We’ll keep you updated as we learn more.

Be sure to check out IGN’s guide for staying safe and helping out during the pandemic.

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

Westworld Live Ratings Drop Further For Season 3 Episode 2

Westworld’s live viewership numbers are on a sharp decline. As the season 3 premiere posted the series’ worst figures ever, episode 2 has beaten it once again, posting the lowest viewership for the show yet.

According to Showbuzz Daily, Westworld finished 44th for cable originals on Sunday, March 22, managing a viewership of 780,000, finishing below the season 10 finale for Curb Your Enthusiasm, a show with a much lower budget. The top show of the night was AMC’s The Walking Dead.

These are, it’s worth noting, just the live numbers, so it’s not necessarily all doom and gloom. HBO Now viewers, and those who choose to wait a while, do not factor into this figure. But it’s still pretty clear that Westworld’s popularity has dropped.

Fans who did tune in, at least, were treated to an extremely metatextual reference to Game of Thrones, with showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss popping up as themselves in a twin cameo.

Westworld airs on HBO Sunday at 9 PM, Reviews for the season so far have been positive, if not effusively so.

Now Playing: Westworld Season 3 Episode 2 “The Winter Line” Breakdown

The Dishonored Tabletop RPG Now Available Digitally

Modiphius has just released Dishonored: the Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook, which is now available as a digital edition PDF for £15 (approx. $17.71). While the physical edition is only available for pre-order on the site for the end of June, the PDF is available immediately on purchase.

Dishonored: The Roleplaying Game delves into the Empire of the Isles, a place filled with occult lore, intrigue, and drama. This core book contains all the rules and background information needed to start off your group’s adventure into the Arkane whalepunk universe. It even contains a mini-campaign, The Oil Trail, for the city of Dunwall that can be used for your own party.

The book was designed in collaboration with Dishonored director Harvey Smith, along with a diverse selection of writers and artists, many of which were involved in the games as well.

Enemy types from Dishonored: The Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook
Enemy types from Dishonored: The Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook

The game will come in a deluxe, 300 page hardcover book, and there will be custom dice and cards available too.

If you would like to get the PDF edition now, but down the line want to purchase the physical edition, just email [email protected] who will provide you with a discount code to redeem for the printed purchase.

 Dishonored: The Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook has all the resources for character creation
Dishonored: The Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook has all the resources for character creation

Now is the perfect time to move your tabletop group online. With more RPG’s having downloadable PDFs to use, players can tune into games from the safety of their own homes and enjoy the co-operative nature of a role play game with friends.

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Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris Trailer Released

As Sword Art Online anime fans probably know, the most recent season of SAO takes place in a completely different kind of virtual world, one that has no connection to the previous MMO games. Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris follows the anime’s progression into a whole new virtual world, a world where the AI are actually living beings with their own personalities and history.

Anime characters Renly, Sheyta, and Sortiliena are all available as playable characters which can be recruited into your party. Hersyrain is an all-new character not from the anime that has been added to the game. New enemies, the Black Knight, Kayode, and the Mysterious Giant are also featured in the trailer as foes to vanquish. Team up to defeat your enemies and build bonds with your party members--you can even date them in game.

Free updates to Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris will follow after the game’s release, with more chances to earn SAO coins and CUBES. Monthly Raids and Daily Quests can be completed in exchange for tickets that can be traded for CUBES. CUBES enable players to randomly win in-game prizes such as costumes, accessories, weapon skins, and more. Players can also purchase CUBES with SAO coins or just buy the in-game prizes individually.

Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris is now available for pre-order on Xbox One and Steam. The standard edition includes the base game and four Design Contest costumes. The deluxe edition pre-order includes the base game, the four Design Contest costumes, the Premium Pass, Premium Pass Bonus Costume, and 200 SAO Coins. The four Design Contest costumes are also available for purchase separately on the Playstation Store, Microsoft Store, and on Steam from May 22 to June 22.

Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris is set to launch in the US on May 22 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

Now Playing: Sword Art Online Alicization Lycoris – Preview Gameplay

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Nintendo Donates Thousands Of Respirator Masks Amid COVID-19 Crisis

Nintendo of America has made a major donation to its local area to help out during the COVID-19 crisis. The company has donated more than 9,500 N95 particulate respirator masks to North Bend, Washington, which is where the company is headquartered in North America.

In a statement, North Bend said Nintendo originally bought the masks for its own emergency preparedness measures, but the company decided to give them to the public during this time of crisis. The masks will be distributed to address “immediate needs.”

“This crisis is unprecedented. The safety and security of community members is paramount in our daily mission,” the local government said. “The communities served by City of North Bend and Eastside Fire & Rescue deeply appreciate the generous donation from Nintendo.”

Other gaming companies and personalities are getting involved as well with charitable donations. For example, Tyler Blevins AKA Ninja, recently donated $150,000 to help with relief efforts.

Now Playing: The Biggest Games To Play In 2020 And Beyond

Every Episode of Samurai Jack is Free on Adult Swim’s Website

Every episode of Samurai Jack is now available for free on Adult Swim’s website.

There’s no need for an account of any kind. Just go to Adult Swim’s Samurai Jack page and click on any episode from the show’s five seasons. A 15- or 30-second ad will play before the episode with one 90-second ad break in the middle of the episode.

Adult Swim made the announcement on its social media pages Tuesday afternoon. The company didn’t say if the show will only be available for a limited time or if this is a permanent gift. It’s not available in all countries, however.

Samurai Jack features Phil LaMarr as the titular character who is sent from feudal Japan to the distant future by an evil shape-shifting demon named Aku. The series was created by Genndy Tartakovsky, who also created Dexter’s Laboratory.

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The series ran from 2001 to 2004 on Cartoon Network before it was resurrected on Adult Swim for a final season in 2017. LaMarr returned to voice Jack, but the voice actor for Aku, Mako, sadly passed away in 2006 and was replaced.

The series has spunoff into numerous comic books and even a couple of video games: Samurai Jack: The Amulet of Time for Game Boy Advance and Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku for GameCube and PS2.

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A new video game, Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time, will release summer 2020 for PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One.

Tartakovsky has since gone on to direct the Hotel Transylvania movies and a new TV series for Adult Swim called Primal. It aired in 2019 and was one of the most critically-acclaimed TV seasons of the year. It’s worth mentioning that every episode of that series is free as well on Adult Swim’s Primal website.

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Petey Oneto is a freelance writer for IGN who still can’t believe that Phil LaMarr is in Pulp Fiction.

The Crew 2 Is Getting 20 New Cars And Live Summits In Latest Free Update

The Crew 2 is getting another major update, and it’s due March 25 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. The update, named Inner Drive, will introduce 20 new cars to the game, including the Koenigsegg Jesko (2020) and the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 (2020). It won’t cost you a thing, either.

On top of this, the update adds 15 new Live Summit events, with a new one debuting each week. A heap of vanity items and avatars have been added too, and new hobbies are coming soon.

More cars are coming on April 8, too. They include the Ferrari Enzo Ferrari (2002), Lamborghini Diablo GT (1999), and Proto Alpha Mark X (2020).

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The vanity items coming include some options that have not featured in the game previously, such as custom nitro, horns, window tints, and 2D emotes. Here’s every vanity item that players will get when they download the update:

  • 11 Custom Nitros
  • 17 Horns
  • 6 Window Tints
  • 23 2D Emotes
  • 4 Smokes
  • 12 Tires
  • 12 Underglows
  • 10 2D Emotes
  • 10 Horns

The update weighs in at 10GB on all systems, and will download automatically. It’s also making various fixes and improvements across the board, meaning that The Crew 2 will be in better shape than ever.

The Crew 2 scored 8/10 in its original 2018 review, written before its numerous free updates. Edmond Tran praised the game for its “player-friendly features, freedom of movement, and its willingness to bend the rules in order to make things exciting and varied for an accessible, American-themed thrillride.”

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Warhammer: Vermintide 2 Enchanter’s Lair Map Out Now On PC

Fatshark, the developer and publisher of Warhammer: Vermintide 2, have announced the release of the next map update as a part of the Curse of Drachenfels storyline. This map is available right now and will automatically be downloaded on steam for users who have Vermintide 2 already installed.

Inside the Enchanter's Lair
Inside the Enchanter’s Lair

After making your way through the previous two maps, Old Haunts and Blood In Darkness, the party has finally reached the Castle Drachenfels where the Enchanter is waiting. Inside the Enchanter’s Lair it seems that the enemy is ready and waiting for you, so beware.

The Enchanter’s Lair is the third map in the Curse of the Drachenfels campaign, which is part of the Season 2 content roll out. The first and second Season content is free for all owners of Vermintide 2 owners and includes Daily and Weekly Quests for players to earn Shillings. This currency can be spent on cosmetics in-game. Shopkeeper Lohner has more cosmetics for players to purchase in the Emporium of Wonders.

The multi-million selling game, Warhammer 2: Vermintide 2 is currently 75% off on steam.

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Red Dead Redemption 2 Online Has Moonshiner XP Bonuses And Discounts This Week

Red Dead Redemption 2 has outlined the bonuses and discounts for Red Dead Online this week, and anyone looking to tackle the Moonshiner missions will be rewarded handsomely. Rockstar has announced that from March 24 to 30 players will receive a 50% Role XP Boost on every Moonshiner activity, including sell, bootlegger, and story missions.

You’ll need to be Trader Rank 5 or have completed a Trader sell mission before jumping into the Moonshiner specialist role, but if you’ve done that you’re good to go. You’ll also receive a 10 gold bar discount on all Moonshine shacks this week, so it’s a great time to make some headway on the Moonshiner role.

On top of this, there’s a 40% discount available on all roadster horses and the same discount for band expansions. Furthermore, players who manage to fill all seven Outfit Slots this week will get a free off-hand holster, and they’ll be able to choose from any below rank 70. You can also get a bonus of RDO$100 by completing three role challenges for any role.

The Last Stand Showdown series will also run during this time. It’s a new variant on Last Stand, where players spawn next to a random weapon and then fight to be the last player still alive. The maps for this series are Annesburg Mine, Armadillo, and Cemetery.

Finally, various rank rewards are active from now until June 1. Every ten levels up to Rank 60 you’ll earn new bonuses, including discounts and new items. Twitch Prime users can also get a Collector’s Bag, a Polished Copper Moonshine Still Upgrade, and 5 Moonshiner Role Ranks, while PlayStation Plus subscribers will be given three free Ability Cards.

Rockstar has promised that online events in both Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto V will continue amid the COVID-19 pandemic, even though the teams at Rockstar are now working remotely.

Now Playing: Red Dead Redemption 2 – PC Launch Trailer

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