Bob Iger Explains Why He Stepped Down As Disney CEO

In what was quite a shock on Tuesday evening, Disney CEO Bob Iger stepped down from his position at the company. He will be replaced by Disney’s Parks, Experiences and Products chairman Bob Chapek, and the transition will be effective immediately, while Iger finishes out his contract as executive chairman of Disney until December 31, 2021.

During an investor call, Iger spoke about why he’s leaving his post, which began when he followed in the footsteps of Michael Eisner in 2005. “As you know, we recently acquired 20th Century Fox, closing the deals sometime in 2019,” Iger explained during the call. “The company’s gotten larger and more complex in the past 12 months. I should be spending as much time as possible on the creative side of our businesses… With everything falling into place, the time seemed right.”

Between the 20th Century Fox buyout, the majority shareholder purchase of Hulu, as well as the launches for ESPN+ and Disney+ streaming services, 2018 and 2019 were immense years for Disney as a company. Iger’s tenure with Disney comes to an end in 2021, and the former Disney CEO stated that there is a lot he wanted to accomplish at the company. In order to do so, he wanted to turn day-to-day operation over to Chapek, so Iger can be free to work on the creative side of things.

Chapek has some big shoes to fill, and he is only the seventh CEO in the company’s almost 100-year history.

“With the successful launch of Disney’s direct-to-consumer businesses and the integration of Twenty-First Century Fox well underway, I believe this is the optimal time to transition to a new CEO,” Iger said in a press release. “I have the utmost confidence in Bob and look forward to working closely with him over the next 22 months as he assumes this new role and delves deeper into Disney’s multifaceted global businesses and operations, while I continue to focus on the Company’s creative endeavors.”

Some Of The Best VR Games Are Bundled For Cheap Ahead Of Half-Life: Alyx

We’re still a month away from the release of Half-Life: Alyx, so if you want something to fill your time until then, Humble has a fantastic bundle chock-full of VR’s best games. Like all of the company’s bundles, you can get more games at different payment tiers and choose where your money goes: to the game developers, charity, and/or Humble itself. Superhot VR and Moss headline the bundle, though you’ll need to pay $15 USD to get both of those games. The best part is that all of these games are redeemable on Steam and compatible with most VR headsets.

The first payment tier starts at $1 and gets you Cosmic Trip and Smashbox Arena, both of which have “Very Positive” user reviews on Steam. The next tier is to pay more than the average amount that users are donating–at the time of publishing, that’s $14.28. That gets you Gorn, Budget Cuts, and Space Pirate Trainer. All three of these games are excellent. Gorn and Space Pirate Trainer have an “Overwhelmingly Positive” user rating on Steam, while Budget Cuts has a “Mostly Positive” rating.

And lastly, there’s the highest payment tier of $15. This gets you two of the best VR games out there today: Superhot VR and Moss. Superhot VR is my personal favourite, as the slow-motion world that only moves when you move makes you feel like John Wick. In Moss, you help a brave little mouse named Quill on her adventure by solving puzzles and fighting enemies.

The Humble VR Bundle is available until March 3. The great thing about Humble Bundle is that you can pay $1 for the first two games now, and if you decide you want more, you can upgrade your donation later. If you still don’t have a VR headset to call your own, then be sure to check out our guide to the best VR headsets for 2020, which goes in-depth on all of their features and Half-Life: Alyx compatibility.

Pay $1 or more to unlock:

  • Cosmic Trip
    • Includes soundtrack
  • Smashbox Arena

Pay more than the average to unlock ($14.28 at time of publishing):

  • Budget Cuts
  • Gorn
    • Includes soundtrack
  • Space Pirate Trainer
    • Includes soundtrack

Pay $15 or more to unlock:

  • Superhot VR
  • Moss

Now Playing: Superhot – VR Reveal Gameplay Trailer

Jurassic World 3 Reveals Full Title

Jurassic World 3’s title has officially been revealed as Jurassic World: Dominion.

The film’s director, Colin Trevorrow, announced the news on his Twitter and Instagram pages on Tuesday. He posted a picture of the movie’s clapboard with the caption “Day One #JurassicWorld.”

Jurassic World: Dominion is set for release on June 11, 2021, which is the 28th anniversary of the original Jurassic Park.

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Plot details have not been released, and all that’s known at this time is there will be no hybrid dinosaurs in the film.

A short film directed by Trevorrow was released in September that takes place after the events of Fallen Kingdom, and gives a glimpse into how humans are reacting to dinosaurs in their society.

The film will act as a Jurassic Park reunion, with Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, and Laura Dern coming together for their first movie since the original Jurassic Park. Not only that, but Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard will re-team with Jurassic World stars Jake Johnson and Omar Sy, both of whom did not make it into the sequel. Fallen Kingdom stars Justice Smith and Daniella Pineda will return as well.

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The title announcement comes a couple of days after Trevorrow shared a picture of a baby dinosaur animatronic on social media. IGN also recently got a peak at some new Jurassic World toys at the recent New York Toy Fair.

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Petey Oneto is a freelance writer for IGN who really hopes this movie is good.

Bob Iger Steps Down as Disney CEO Effective Immediately

Bob Iger, who served as CEO of The Walt Disney Company since 2005 and oversaw some of the company’s biggest acquisitions like Marvel and Lucasfilm, has stepped down from his executive role effective immediately. Replacing Iger is Bob Chapek, the former Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products.

Iger was originally set to retire in the summer of 2018, but the Board of Directors extended Iger’s contract until 2019 to oversee the acquisition of Fox and the launch of Disney+. That contract was extended even further until 2021, though as evidenced by today’s news, Iger will not be serving the full extension as CEO.

In a press release sent out today the Walt Disney Company Board of Directors announced that Chapek will step up into the CEO role starting today. Iger will remain with the company as Executive Chairman until December 31, 2021.

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“With the successful launch of Disney’s direct-to-consumer businesses and the integration of Twenty-First Century Fox well underway, I believe this is the optimal time to transition to a new CEO,” Iger said in a statement. “I have the utmost confidence in Bob and look forward to working closely with him over the next 22 months as he assumes this new role and delves deeper into Disney’s multifaceted global business and operations, while I continue to focus on the Company’s creative endeavors.”

Chapek has been with the Disney company for nearly three decades serving as the head of its Parks, Experiences, and Products since 2018 and as Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts since 2015. Chapek oversaw the opening of Shanghai Disney Resort, doubling the Disney Cruise Line fleet, and overseeing Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

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Iger, who served as CEO of Disney since 2005, has defined his tenure with expansive growth for the company. Iger oversaw the 2006 acquisition of Pixar for $7.4 billion, the 2009 acquisition of Marvel for $4 billion, the 2012 acquisition of Lucasfilm for $4.06 billion, and the $71.3 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox in 2019.

Iger also saw the launch of Disney’s direct-to-consumer streaming service called Disney+ which the company plans to use as the one-stop destination for all things Disney. For everything else, Disney also acquired a controlling stake in Hulu where it plans to host content from other businesses like 20th Century Studios which was formerly Fox.

During a conference call, Iger announced that as Chairman he will be ensuring a smooth transition while still overseeing some of the company’s creative endeavors.

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Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN. You can reach him on Twitter.

Bob Iger Steps Down From His Role As Disney CEO

The keys to Disney are getting turned over from one Bob to another, as current CEO Bob Iger is stepping down from his role and will be replaced fellow Bob and Disney employee: Bob Chapek.

Chapek was Disney’s Parks, Experiences and Products chairman before being named its CEO. The transition is effective immediately, while Iger remains as executive chairman until December 31, 2021.

“With the successful launch of Disney’s direct-to-consumer businesses and the integration of Twenty-First Century Fox well underway, I believe this is the optimal time to transition to a new CEO,” Iger said in a press release. “I have the utmost confidence in Bob and look forward to working closely with him over the next 22 months as he assumes this new role and delves deeper into Disney’s multifaceted global businesses and operations, while I continue to focus on the Company’s creative endeavors.”

Chapek is Disney’s seventh CEO over its nearly 100-year history.

Iger has done a lot to set Disney up for success during his time as CEO, including the acquisitions of Marvel, Pixar, Lucasfilm, and Fox. Disney+ has also been a boon for the company, with the streaming service reaching 28.6 million subscribers as of early February 2020. The company also launched ESPN+, the streaming service dedicated to all things sports, as part of a bundle with Disney+ and Hulu.

Now Playing: Best Things To Stream For February 2020 – Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Shudder

Fire Emblem: Three Houses Is $45 In Rare Deal, Its Cheapest Price Yet (Nintendo Switch)

Fire Emblem: Three Houses wasn’t just one of the best Nintendo Switch releases of last year; it also made our list of the top 10 games of 2019. The Japanese tactics game expanded on the popular series in fresh and surprising ways while delivering a fantastic story with four different available routes (and this time, Nintendo didn’t make players pay for different versions as it did with Fire Emblem Fates). Unlike some Nintendo Switch releases where fans have complained about an unwavering $60 price tag given the amount of content included (the Link’s Awakening remake, Pokemon Sword and Shield, etc.), Fire Emblem: Three Houses feels worth every penny. That’s why it’s even more exciting to see the game on sale for just $45 right now at Amazon and Best Buy, a rare deal for any first-party Nintendo game.

In Fire Emblem: Three Houses, your character is a mercenary and professor at Garreg Mach Monastery, where you’ll choose between three houses of students to train and lead on the battlefield. The game is split between time in the monastery, where you can freely explore, build relationships with students, and take part in various activities; classroom instruction, where you can set goals for your students and develop certain strengths; and battles, which follow the same turn-based format on a grid-like map. For longtime fans, Fire Emblem: Three Houses feels both comfortably familiar and wonderfully new, and if you’re new to the series, this is an excellent entry to start with. I’m currently on my third playthrough with over 150 hours sunk into this game, and I’ve still got another full route to play through after this one.

While certainly not necessary to enjoy the game, Fire Emblem: Three Houses also has a hefty expansion pass available for $25 that unlocks additional outfits, items, challenges, and, most recently, a brand-new side story that unlocks a new area below the monastery and introduces four new recruitable characters from the secret Ashen Wolves house. It might be worth trying out the game first before buying the expansion pass right away, but if you do fall in love with Fire Emblem: Three Houses, you’ll definitely get your money’s worth out of the expansion content. The new side story just released this month, so there’s no better time to dive into Fire Emblem: Three Houses if it’s been in your backlog since last year.

Now Playing: Fire Emblem: Three Houses | Best Games Of 2019

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The Office Reunion Is Happening, In A New Kids Book

The hugely popular TV comedy The Office finished its run after eight seasons–taking place over nine years–ending in 2013, but a new young generation of fans will soon be able to enjoy the antics of Michael Scott and his colleagues. There’s one difference however–it isn’t a new show, but a kids book titled The Office: A Day at Dunder Mifflin Elementary.,

The book is written by Robb Pearlman and illustrated by Melanie Demmer and is aimed at early elementary school-aged children. Instead of working at Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, Michael is a student at the school of the title, where he studies in Ms. Levinson’s class. He’s got “World’s Best Line Leader” printed on his water bottle and hangs out with his little buddies, who have familiar names likes Jim, Pam, Phyllis, Kevin, Oscar, and Angela.

The Office: A Day at Dunder Mifflin Elementary
The Office: A Day at Dunder Mifflin Elementary

According to Mashable, the book is packed with Office references and Easter eggs, meaning that Office-loving parents reading the book to their kids will get plenty out of it too. It won’t be published until October, but it can be pre-ordered here.

The Office is currently available to stream on Netflix, but in 2021 will move to NBC’s upcoming platform Peacock. In addition, it has been reported that NBC is looking to reboot the show. This week, actor John Krasinski, who played Jim, has stated that he would “absolutely love to do” an Office reunion.

Pokemon Go’s Pokemon Day Event Now Live, Brings Back Armored Mewtwo, Clone Pokemon, And More

February 27 is Pokemon Day, the anniversary of the series’ debut in Japan, and Pokemon Go is kicking off the festivities a little early with a new event. The Pokemon Day celebration is now live in Niantic’s hit mobile game, bringing back party hat-wearing Pokemon, a special Legendary, and more.

Throughout the event, you’ll be able to find party hat-wearing versions of Pikachu and Eevee in the wild. You’ll also be able to hatch party hat Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle from 7 km eggs or encounter them in one-star Raids. Moreover, there’s a chance any of these Pokemon could be Shiny.

Those aren’t the only festive monster you’ll be able to encounter during the Pokemon Day event. On Sunday, March 1, Niantic will hold a special Raid Day featuring party hat-wearing versions of Nidorino and Gengar, the two Pokemon that famously battled during Pokemon Red and Green‘s opening movie. From 2-5 PM local time, you’ll be able to encounter the monsters in Raids, and these may likewise be Shiny.

On top of that, Armored Mewtwo has also returned to the game to tie in with the upcoming Netflix release of Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution. The Legendary Pokemon will appear in five-star Raids throughout the event, and this time it’ll know the Psychic-type Charged attack Psystrike.

To go along with Armored Mewtwo, Clone Pokemon have also made their debut in Pokemon Go. You can encounter Clone versions of Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise in four-star Raids, while Clone Pikachu may photobomb any Go Snapshots you take during the event.

The Pokemon Day celebration runs until 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET on March 2. You can read more details about the event on the official Pokemon Go website.

Now Playing: Pokemon Home Cost & Features Announced – GS News Update

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Another WWE Superstar Suspended For Wellness Policy Violation

Raw superstar Samoa Joe is the second WWE wrestler as of late to receive a 30-day suspension for violating the company’s wellness policy. Joe’s suspension began on February 24, hence why he wasn’t on television for that night’s episode of Raw.

WWE revealed the news in a tweet that’s pretty cut and dry about said suspension. There is no more information available. In fact, the announcement on WWE’s website says the exact same thing as the tweet.

At the end of January, Andrade was also suspended for his first violation of the company’s wellness policy as well. He is currently the United States Champion, and WWE did not strip him of his title. PW Insider (via Ringside News) reported that Andrade was in Winnepeg recently, speculating that he’ll be travelling to Saudi Arabia to appear on Super Showdown on February 27.

According to insider Hugo Savinovich, if a wrestler doesn’t or can’t show up to a testing facility, they automatically fail. Reportedly, Andrade’s suspension was a complicated matter as he didn’t take the test, so he failed (via Ringside News). The same thing happened recently with Primo Colon, who was in Puerto Rico during his time to get tested, and he couldn’t get to a facility–so he failed–and he was suspended.

As for Samoa Joe’s situation, there’s no information aside from the news WWE released. Joe will not be involved in Super Showdown nor will he be available for the Elimination Chamber PPV on Sunday, March 8. Joe’s suspension will be lifted in time for this year’s Wrestlemania, which takes place in Tampa on Sunday, April 5.

Mass Effect Comes To Minecraft, Here’s Everything In The Pack

A Mass Effect mash-up pack is coming to Minecraft. Players can take control of 36 unique skins, including iconic Mass Effect characters like Commander Shephard, Liara, Illusive Man, and Garrus. The pack also contains unique locations like the Mars Base Camp, custom-made game textures, Mass Effect-themed menus, and a Mass Effect 3 soundtrack compilation.

Longtime Minecraft fans may know that this isn’t the first time a Mass Effect pack has made its appearance in the game. The discontinued legacy console edition received a similar pack back in 2014, but the Bedrock edition has not received it until now. Time will only tell if Minecraft will continue to release past packs from legacy console editions.

Minecraft also recently went through a big update on February 14 called the “Nether Update.” New crafting materials like an ore called Ancient Debris, wood materials, soul soil, and more blocks were added. Additionally, three new biomes–Crimson Forest, Soulsand Valley, and the Warped Forest–opened up for exploration and provide Netherite and new types of vegetation for players.

At the 2020 Toy Fair, new Minecraft figures by Mattel were also revealed, including a Redstone Monstrosity with spring-loaded arms from Minecraft Dungeons. Boost Minis from Minecraft Earth also will be for sale, and they can be scanned for in-game perks. Check out GameSpot’s full coverage of Mattel’s Minecraft toys.

Now Playing: Minecraft Earth: Official Reveal Trailer

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