Monthly Archives: October 2019
‘Boycott Blizzard’ Reactions Intensify as Senators Weigh in, Fans Protest
Update 10/9:
Public reaction against Blizzard is steadily intensifying after the company banned Hearthstone player Ng Wai "blitzchung" Chung for voicing support for the Hong Kong liberation movement. Blizzard banned blitzchung from Hearthstone esports for a year, and revoked his tournament prize money.
Overwatch fans have begun making the character Mei a symbol of the Hong Kong liberation movement, and collegiate Hearthstone players openly protested Blizzard's decision during a Hearthstone championship livestream. A prominent Hearthstone caster has also stepped down from casting the Grandmasters finals at BlizzCon.
Fans turn Overwatch hero Mei into protest symbol
The Matrix 4 Casts Aquaman Star in Lead Role
The cast of Matrix 4 has a new star. Actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who played Black Manta in 2018’s Aquaman, is set to star alongside returning actors Keanu Reeves and Carrie Ann-Moss, according to Variety.
Variety’s sources report that Abdul-Mateen and other actors met with director Lana Wachowski over the past week, with Abdul-Mateen emerging as the director’s final choice.
Check out our super fast rundown of the entire Matrix trilogy:
Abdul-Mateen also previously starred in Jordan Peele’s Us as main character Adelaide’s father, in Baywatch as a police officer that rebuffs Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s actions, and as W.D. Wheeler in Hugh Jackman’s The Greatest Showman. Abdul-Mateen also had starring or minor roles in Black Mirror’s “Striking Vipers” episode, The Get Down, The Handmaid’s Tale, and in the upcoming Watchmen HBO series. Abdul-Mateen is also slated to play Candyman in the 2020 Jordan Peele adaptation.
Oxenfree Creator Explains How Xbox Game Pass Works for Developers
With the emergence of subscription gaming services like Xbox Game Pass, it’s an interesting time to be a gamer and a game developer. With more and more games of all shapes and sizes landing on subscription services, it makes one wonder what benefits developers are seeing that we average players might not.
On this month’s episode of IGN Unfiltered, Oxenfree and Afterparty developer Sean Krankel explains what makes it so tantalizing for indie developers to make the transition to Xbox Game Pass.
David Harbour Calls Stranger Things Creators to Find Out About Hopper
SPOILERS AHEAD for Stranger Things Season 3
David Harbour discussed his character's ambiguous Stranger Things fate when he appeared as a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers earlier this week.
With a little encouragement from Meyers, Harbour unlocked his curiosity door and his phone to FaceTime the Duffer Brothers live on the show to ask outright whether his character, Chief Jim Hopper, is alive or dead following the heart-wrenching ending of Stranger Things 3.
Unlike Blizzard, Epic Games Won’t Ban Players For Political Speech
Fortnite developer and publisher Epic Games has spoken up following Blizzard's ban of a professional Hearthstone player who supported the Hong Kong protesters, stating that it will not follow suit and will not punish its players for political speech.
Speaking to The Verge, an Epic Games spokesperson said "Epic supports everyone’s right to express their views on politics and human rights. We wouldn’t ban or punish a Fortnite player or content creator for speaking on these topics."
This comment from Epic Games is interesting because Chinese-owned Tencent owns a 40% stake in Epic Games. This, according to Epic Games founder and CEO Tim Sweeney, has no impact on the company's decisions.
The Best Robot Vacuum Deals Right Now
It’s time to let the robots do the work. Once you’re used to that idea, you should consider robot vacuum cleaners. These innovative devices continue to drop in price, so it could be the perfect time to hoover up a hot deal.
Removing the need to constantly vacuum is an exciting prospect but no matter how much hassle it could save in the long run, nobody wants to pay through the roof for a new device. Thankfully, not all robot vacuums cost the earth.
These are the best robot vacuum deals in 2019.
iRobot Roomba
If you don't want to pay over a grand for a decent robot vacuum then the iRobot Roomba is your best bet, and an excellent middle ground option.
Red Dead Redemption 2 PC Specs, 4K Screens, and More Revealed
As previously announced, Red Dead Redemption 2 is finally coming to the PC on November 5, and Rockstar revealed the PC specs for the game. It will be available on all major PC launchers including Epic Games Store, GOG, and Rockstar’s own launcher. Red Dead Redemption 2 will also be coming to Steam, but in December.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is now available for pre-purchase on the Rockstar Games Launcher. Although the long-awaited PC port isn’t coming until November 5, pre-purchasing now will also net you two free Rockstar Games on PC.
Division 2 Pentagon Content Will Be Released Next Week
The Division 2’s Title Update 6 will be released on October 15, according to Ubisoft. This update will add Episode 2 – Pentagon: The Last Castle, as well s a new Conflict PvP mode.
Episode 2 will be available early for any player with the Year 1 season pass or a UPlay+ account, while everyone else will have to wait until October 22. The changes and gameplay updates will be available for everyone on October 15.
The second episode pits Division Agents against Black Tusk forces as the two factions race to discover the secrets inside the Pentagon. There will be two new main missions inside the Pentagon and the DARPA Research Labs.
There will also be a new “Technician” specialization that will be immediately available for Year 1 pass holders and UPlay+ subscribers. Non subscribers or pass holders will be able to unlock the Technician after completing a series of objectives.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Spec Ops Mode Detailed
Activision has detailed the contents of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare's Special Ops, which is coming back after being absent since Modern Warfare 2, and provides a story that picks up where the main campaign ends.
Up to four players can play Special Ops together when the mode launches alongside the full game on October 25. According to an official blog post, players battle against an "evil" that has overtaken the Eastern Hemisphere. The main objective is to "stop and sever a global terror organization’s access to weapons, funds, intelligence, and hardware."
Watch Call of Duty: Modern Warfare's multiplayer trailer in the video above.
This Is Marvel’s New Status Quo for the X-Men
With the release of Powers of X #6, Marvel has officially cemented its new status quo for the X-Men franchise. And it's a doozy. Powers of X and its sister series House of X have completely changed the way we look at the X-Men and their place in the Marvel Universe.
From a brand new mutant nation to an X-Man with the power to change history itself, here are the biggest changes these two comics have made to X-Men continuity.
Warning: this article contains spoilers for all 12 issues of House of X and Powers of X!
The New Mutant Nation
The mutant race has been on the brink of extinction more than once in the Marvel Universe. In order to protect their people from future mutant genocides, Professor Xavier and Magneto have joined forces to establish a new mutant nation on the living island of Krakoa. Every mutant, be they hero, villain or free agent, is welcome on Krakoa. This isn't the first time mutants have tried (and failed) to create a country of their own, but Xavier and Magneto have taken certain steps to ensure Krakoa will thrive where others have fallen.