Monthly Archives: December 2016
Yooka-Laylee Gets Release Date
Playtonic has announced that Yooka-Laylee will be released on April 11, 2017 - but it won't be coming to Wii U anymore.
Following a recent delay, the date for the Banjo-Kazooie spiritual successor was set in a new trailer (below).
However, in an FAQ posted to the developer's site, Playtonic explains that it has "unfortunately encountered unforeseen technical issues that mean it will be impossible for us to release the game on Wii U as initially planned.
"We can however confirm the exciting news that we are now working very closely with Nintendo to look to bring Yooka-Laylee to the upcoming Nintendo Switch. We’re looking forward to exploring the opportunity and will have more details to share early next year."
Marco Polo Cancelled By Netflix
Netflix has cancelled Marco Polo after two seasons, making it the first Netflix original scripted series to not be renewed for a third season.
The decision to not renew Marco Polo was a mutual one between Netflix and producer The Weinstein Co., according to The Hollywood Reporter. Both seasons of the drama cost Netflix a combined $200 million.
"We want to thank and are grateful to our partners on Marco Polo," Netflix original content VP Cindy Holland said in a statement. "From the actors, whose performances were enthralling and top-notch; to the committed producers, including John Fusco, Dan Minahan, Patrick Macmanus, and their crew, who poured their hearts into the series; and of course Harvey, David, and our friends at TWC, who were great collaborators from start to finish."
Free Street Fighter V Tournament at the Sydney Opera House This Weekend
“Australia’s largest Street Fighter tournament” will take place at the Sydney Opera House this weekend as part of BINGEFEST, the Opera House’s new 24-hour festival.
The Opera House has partnered with fighting game community OzHadou for the event.
Casual stations will be available throughout the whole event (Saturday December 17 to Sunday December 18, 11:30pm to 11:30pm) and there will be a double elimination Street Fighter V tournament on the Sunday afternoon.
Entry for both the 24 hour Street Fighter binge and the tournament itself is free. Those interested in the latter can register in the Joan Sutherland Theatre Northern Foyer on Sunday December 18 between 9am and 4pm. The tournament will commence at 4pm.
Report: Porsche/EA Exclusivity Deal Is Over
It’s understood that, from around the turn of the century, the license to feature Porsches in video games has belonged exclusively to EA. Since 2000’s Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed (released as Need for Speed: Porsche 2000 in PAL territories) EA’s driving franchises were just about the only place you’d find Porsches (exceptions, like Microsoft’s Forza and PGR series, featured Porsches as the result of sub-licence granted via EA).
In news that ought to please racing fans that deal is reportedly set to expire at the end of the year. According to German website SpeedManiacs.com (and translated by GTPlanet) Porsche’s manager of branded entertainment Sebastian Hornung has confirmed that the license with EA “runs out this year, because together they arrived at the realisation that the current situation was not desirable anymore.”
This $220 Jyn Erso Action Figure Is Crazy Detailed
Sideshow and Hot Toys have given us an up-close look at their sixth scale Jyn Erso figure, and it's ridiculously detailed.
The figure, announced last week, comes in two versions. The regular version features "a newly developed head sculpt", layered costume, blaster pistol, fighting baton, E-11 blaster rifle, and figure stand. The deluxe version comes with a second costume: a poncho with bandolier, breathing mask, hat with goggles, quadnoculars, and additional blaster parts for Jyn’s blaster. The figures will retail at $219.99USD and $249.99USD respectively. Check out both in the slideshows below.
Aquaman Casts Watchmen Actor Wilson as Villain
Patrick Wilson (Fargo) has reportedly been cast as the villainous Ocean Master in the Aquaman movie.
According to Deadline, Wilson will play Aquaman's human half-brother Orm Curry, a hi-tech pirate who also caused natural disasters. He wears a special suit that allows him to breathe underwater.
If the report pans out then Aquaman will reunite Wilson with his Insidious and The Conjuring director James Wan.
Patrick Wilson in Insidious: Chapter 2.
Spider-Man: Homecoming and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Costumes Detailed in New Figures
Hasbro released images from its Legends Series of figures showcasing toys from the upcoming Spider-Man: Homecoming and Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 films.
The 6-inch figures give us a first look at some of the characters and costumes from the upcoming film. Several characters from Guardians are featured in the slideshow below, and there's a look at the awesome Vulture figure from Spider-Man: Homecoming from three separate angles.
The Build-a-Figure toy for the Guardians of the Galaxy line is Nova Corps member Titus, the white tiger with a sweet arm cannon.
Hasbro said the wings on the Vulture figure have 12-points of articulation. The Vulture reveal follows the first Spider-Man: Homecoming trailer, which dropped on December 8.
Play Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Free Later This Week
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare's three modes will all be free to try out for Xbox One and PS4 players starting on December 15 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT/6 p.m. GMT/December 16 4 a.m. AET and ending on December 20 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT/6 p.m. GMT/December 21 4 a.m. AET.
Players will have access to the game's first two single-player campaign levels, “Rising Threat” and “Black Sky," as well as multiplayer with a level cap of 15 and Zombies in Spaceland with a level cap of 3. All progress gained during the free trial event will carry over if you choose to purchase the game.
PlayStation Plus is required on PS4 to play the multiplayer and zombie portions of the free trial, while Xbox Live Gold is needed for all game modes on Xbox One. Since the free trial is a full game download with restricted access, you'll need 60GB free to download on either platform.
Man in the High Castle: What You Need to Know for Season 2
Amazon's mesmerizing, and traumatizing, alternate history series, The Man in the High Castle, returns for a ten-episode second season on Friday, December 16th.
Based on the award-winning novel by science fiction legend Philip K. Dick, the series is set in a world where the Axis Powers were triumphant in World War II and America is geographically divided up by its conquerers, Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan.
With an unsettlingly unique premise and a lot of moving parts, The Man in the High Castle is a complex, rewarding watch, and things are only going to intensify in Season 2. Here's everything we currently know about the second season, including new characters, new pairings, and -- yes -- even the mysterious Man in the High Castle himself.
Netflix Unveils Trailer, Surprise Premiere Date for The OA
Netflix's next original series, a mind-bender called The OA, is set to premiere this Friday, December 16.
Along with the surprise global release date, Netflix also released a trailer for the mysterious series. Starring co-creator Brit Marling, The OA follows a blind woman who's been missing for seven years and returns home with her vision somehow intact.
Marling stars with Emory Cohen (Brooklyn), Scott Wilson (The Walking Dead), Phyllis Smith (The Office) and Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter) in The QA. The other co-creator, Zal Batmanglij, directs all eight episodes of the series.
Brad Pitt is one of the executive producers on the Netflix series.
The show joins Netflix's constantly growing roster of original movies and programs, including Marvel's Luke Cage, which has been renewed for a second season.