John Boyega, known to many as Finn from the Star Wars sequel trilogy, is celebrating his birthday in style with a Naruto themed cake. Boyega shared a video of his birthday celebration on Twitter, a beaming smile on the noted anime-enthusiast's face as he showed off the multi-tiered Naruto cake. The cake features the colors and iconography of Naruto himself -- an orange, black, white and gray base topped with a smaller cake wrapped in his signature headband and a poof of yellow icing on top to evoke his blonde hair. Boyega celebrated his 28th birthday on March 17 and seems to be making the most it, despite having to spend it in quarantine. The Star Wars actor made headlines a few months ago for accidentally losing the script to The Rise of Skywalker, which wound up getting sold on eBay for $84. Boyega said he "got a call from every official" at Disney, but in the end, everything worked out okay. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-upcoming-star-wars-movie&captions=true"] With former Disney CEO Bob Iger announcing that the franchise would take a brief break from making movies after the Skywalker saga, it appears that The Rise of Skywalker will be the last Star Wars film for a while. However, there are still a lot of Star Wars TV shows planned for the coming months. While we wait for those, Disney has announced that the digital version of The Rise of Skywalker will be available a few days early, so those stuck at home can enjoy it. Further, the powerful mouse has also announced that Frozen 2 will be coming to Disney+ three months early. While you're enjoying these films, be sure to check out some easy tips to avoid spreading COVID-19 to others. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Andrew Smith is a freelance contributor with IGN. Follow him on Twitter @_andrewtsmith.

If you're looking for ways to connect with your friends without leaving the comfort of your couch, a handy Google Chrome extension called Netflix Party is making it easy to watch movies online together. Netflix Party isn't anything new — it's been around for years — but it feels more relevant now more than ever. By installing the extension to your Google Chrome web browser, you and your friends can stream a Netflix show or movie together at the same time. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-comedies-on-netflix-right-now&captions=true"] Once everyone has the extension installed, one person needs to start the viewing party. That person will pick a movie or show on Netflix and then click the NP extension button to the right of the address bar at the top of the browser. With the party started, the person running everything can send the unique URL to all of their friends and just like that, everyone's singing along to Toss a Coin to Your Witcher with Jaskier, watching the latest season of Netflix's Castlevania, or binging whatever else strikes your fancy. Once everyone's in the movie or show's stream, a chat box on the right side of the screen can be used to talk (or at least type) with fellow party members - basically, Netflix Party lets you talk to your friends during a movie without anyone actually having to talk during the movie. The person who started the party can either choose to limit control so that only they have the ability to pause, rewind or fast-forward, or this can be shared among every member of the group. When you exit the movie, the party will automatically end. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/10/01/10-best-netflix-anime-series"] While you can't watch them on Netflix Party, you can now rent new movies like The Invisible Man, The Hunt, and Emma online and on-demand after Universal opted to distribute its recent releases digitally following the temporary closure of movie theaters across the globe. Sony's Bloodshot will be available online from March 24. If you're wondering how to stay safe or find ways to help others during the coronavirus outbreak check out our resource guide. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes. 

Pixar's former president Edwin Catmull and founding employee Pat Hanrahan have been awarded the 2019 ACM A.M. Turing Award for their contributions to computer graphics. The award is handed out by the Association for Computing Machinery and is named after Alan Turing, a mathematician who developed code-breaking technology that assisted the British army in World War II. Turing Award recipients receive a $1 million prize, which Catmull and Hanrahan will split. Funds will be provided by Google. The press release states that Catmull and Hanrahan's influence on the computer graphics industry has impacted data center management and artificial intelligence. "CGI has transformed the way films are made and experienced, while also profoundly impacting the broader entertainment industry,” ACM President Cherri M. Pancake said in a statement. “...Catmull and Hanrahan’s contributions demonstrate that advances in one specialization of computing can have a significant influence on other areas of the field. For example, Hanrahan’s work with shading languages for GPUs, has led to their use as general-purpose computing engines for a wide range of areas, including my own specialization of high-performance computing." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/21/pixars-onward-review"] Catmull helped revolutionize computer imagery by introducing a way to display curved textures around 3D polygons in the 1970s while he was earning his PhD. After college, he founded the New York Institute of Technology Computer Graphics Lab, which is stated in the press release as one of the first computer graphics labs in the country. In 1979, George Lucas hired Catmull for LucasFilm. Steve Jobs eventually bought Catmull's division at Lucasfilm, renamed it Pixar, and made Catmull the president. Hanrahan is said to be one of the first hires at Pixar after working briefly in Catmull's New York Computer Graphics Lab. Hanrahan led projects at Pixar that led to breakthroughs in the lighting of textures in CGI environments. He helped develop 3D rendering software known as RenderMan, which was the engine that would prove powerful enough to make the first feature-length computer-generated movie, Toy Story. Even before Toy Story's release, Pixar would license the RenderMan system to be used on movies such as Terminator 2 and Jurassic Park, according to The New York Times. After Toy Story's release, Pixar continued to share the technology with the filmmakers working on the Star Wars prequels, the Lord of the Rings trilogy and Avatar. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-movies-on-disney&captions=true"] Catmull retired from Pixar in 2018, but stayed on as an adviser until July 2019, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The NY Times reports that Hanrahan left Pixar in 1989 to become a professor at Princeton and Stanford. He continues to teach computer graphics and electrical engineering at Stanford, according to an article from Stanford.edu. “The announcement came totally out of the blue and I am very proud to accept the Turing Award,” Hanrahan said, according to Stanford.edu. “It is a great honor, but I must give credit to a generation of computer graphics researchers and practitioners whose work and ideas influenced me over the years.” The press release states the award will be officially handed out at a ceremony on June 25. Pixar's Onward is currently in theaters, which IGN's critic, Kristy Puchko, praised in her review. However, given recent coronavirus-related movie theater closures, it may be best to watch another one of Pixar's movies or another Disney classic on Disney+. Here's our list of the best content available on Disney+. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Petey Oneto is a freelance writer for IGN.

Since we last dropped our new to Disney+ list, the streamer released Frozen 2 three months early along with a special message from newly-appointed Disney CEO, Bob Chapek. "Frozen 2 has captivated audiences around the world through its powerful themes of perseverance and the importance of family messages that are incredibly relevant during this time," Chapek said, "and we are pleased to be able to share this heartwarming story early with our Disney+ subscribers to enjoy at home on any device.” In April 2020, Disney Plus' lineup is a bit lackluster compared to previous months, with only a couple of notable titles like National Treasure starring Nicolas Cage and more Clone Wars episodes to keep you occupied. Check out the slideshow gallery below for a spotlight of some of the most notable April Disney+ offerings, followed by the full list: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=disney-plus-spotlight-april-2020&captions=true"][poilib element="accentDivider"]

Wednesday, April 1

• Doctor Doolittle

Friday, April 3

• A Tale of Two Critters
• In a Nutshell
• Don’s Fountain of Youth
• Don’s Fountain of Youth
• Donald’s Dog Laundry
• Double Dribble
• Dragon Around
• Elmer Elephant
• Fish Hooks (S1-3)
• How to Play Football
• Lambert, The Sheepish Lion
• On Ice
• Out of Scale
• Penguins
• Pluto’s Party
• Sea Scouts
• Sonny with a Chance (S1-3)
• The Boy Who Talked to Badgers
• The New Neighbor
• The Small One
• The Straight Story
• Life on the Edge: “Penguins Behind the Scenes”
• Dolphin Reef
• Diving with Dolphins: “Dolphin Reef Behind the Scenes”
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Episode 707 “Dangerous Debt”
• Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings: Episode 208 - “Marry ME”
• Shop Class: Episode 106 - “Downhill Derby”
• Disney Family Sundays: Episode 122 - “Minnie Mouse: Apron”
• One Day At Disney: Episode 118 - “Patti Murin: Frozen Musical, Broadway”
• Be Our Chef: Episode 102 - “Diagnosis: Delicious”

Friday, April 10

• Life Below Zero (S14)
• Paradise Island (S1)
• Playtime with Puppy Dog Pals (S1)
• Running Wild with Bear Grylls (S5)
• Tut’s Treasures: Hidden Secrets (S1)
• A Celebration of the Music from Coco
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Episode 708 “Together Again”
• Shop Class: Episode 107 - “Ready for Launch”
• Disney Family Sundays: Episode 119 - “Minnie Mouse: Kite”
• One Day At Disney: Episode 119 - “Francheska Roman: Candy Maker”
• Be Our Chef: Episode 103 - “Hidden Within”

Sunday, April 12

• PJ Masks (S3)

Friday, April 17

• Brain Games (S8)
• Let’s Stick Together
• Mickey and the Roadster Racers: Nutty Tales (S1-2)
• Pluto’s Purchase
• The Incredible Dr. Pol (S16)
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Episode 709 “Old Friends Not Forgotten”
• Shop Class: Episode 108 - “Build Your Own Adventure”
• Disney Family Sundays: Episode 124 - “Finding Nemo: Terrarium”
• One Day At Disney: Episode 120 - “Steve Sligh: Gold Oak Ranch Manager”
• Be Our Chef: Episode 104 - “Curiouser and Curiouser”

Sunday, April 19

• Just Roll with It (S1)

Monday, April 20

• Secrets of the Zoo: Tampa (S1)

Wednesday, April 22

• Fury Files
• Jane Goodall: The Hope

Thursday, April 23

• Disney Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure (S3)

Friday, April 24

• America’s Funniest Home Videos (S12-19, 23)
• Man in Space
• Mars and Beyond
• The Olympic Elk
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Episode 710 “The Phantom Apprentice”
• Disney Family Sundays: Episode 125 - “WALL•E: Recycling Container”
• One Day At Disney: Episode 121 - “Tia Kratter: Pixar University”
• Be Our Chef: Episode 105 - “Beyond the Reef”

Thursday, April 30

• National Treasure

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/17/star-wars-the-clone-wars-season-7-ahsoka-tano-official-tv-spot"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] David Griffin still watches DuckTales in his pajamas with cereal bowl in hand. He's also the TV Editor for IGN. Say hi on Twitter.

Now that we know the official specs of the Xbox Series X, it seems most of the mystery surrounding the next-gen box has been revealed. However, during Microsoft's Game Stack Live presentation, Twitter user @MasyerGaming spotted an S/PDIF optical audio output above the storage expansion port. IGN reached out to Microsoft to clarify if the final version of the console would include this optical audio port, to which it responded, "No. Xbox Series X will include ports for Networking (Ethernet), HDMI out, Seagate Storage Expansion Card and three USB 3.1 ports."

@JezCorden @DMC_Ryan @digitalfoundry can you find out if the Spdif is officially on the series x its on the console they have on game stack live today pic.twitter.com/4IaumEy2pF

— Gamers United 2020 (@MasyerGaming) March 18, 2020

Without an optical audio output, it seems audio will only be available through the HDMI port. HDMI has the benefit of carrying audio and video through a single cable, and we know that Xbox Series X will be utilizing the latest HDMI 2.1 standard. HDMI 2.1 has more bandwidth for information and can carry signals up to 8K as well as Dolby Atmos, simultaneously. Additionally, considering that HDMI has become the standard for most, it seems Microsoft has gone the convenience route with this decision as most modern sound equipment utilizes HDMI. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/16/microsoft-reveals-full-xbox-series-x-tech-specs"] Earlier today, Sony finally revealed what the architecture of the upcoming PS5 looks like. During the presentation, PlayStation's lead system architect Mark Cerny spoke at length about how PS5 will utilize the custom Tempest audio engine and will feature "3D audio" allowing for deeper, more immersive experiences. He also added that down the line Sony may look to create unique audio experiences that are tuned to an individual's ears. Wondering how Xbox Series X compares to PlayStation 5? Don't worry, we've got you covered. We've also compared the power between the two machines, and explain why more teraflops doesn't necessarily mean better performance. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=9-new-xbox-series-x-images&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matthew Adler is a News and Features writer for IGN. You can chat with him on Twitter or watch him stream on Twitch.

Sony Pictures and Columbia Pictures are making Vin Diesel's Bloodshot available On Demand on March 24 in response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Bloodshot was released in theaters on March 13, and due to COVID-19 causing theaters around the world to close or limit capacity, Bloodshot will be made available for $19.99 USD with all leading digital retailers. International digital sales dates will be revealed in "the days ahead with territory-specific COVID-19 impact considerations." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/11/bloodshot-review-ng"]

“Sony Pictures is firmly committed to theatrical exhibition and we support windowing,” said Tom Rothman, Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Motion Picture Group. “This is a unique and exceedingly rare circumstance where theaters have been required to close nationwide for the greater good and Bloodshot is abruptly unavailable in any medium. Audiences will now have the chance to own Bloodshot right away and see it at home, where we are all spending more time. We are confident that -- like other businesses hit hard by the virus -- movie theaters will bounce back strongly, and we will be there to support them.”

Bloodshot will be joining other such films as Universal's The Hunt, The Invisible Man, and Emma to become available On Demand months before originally scheduled. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true"] Besides theatrical releases, Disney decided to release Frozen 2 three months early on Disney+ and make Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker available digitally four days early. In our review of Bloodshot, we said it "is unapologetically a popcorn movie of the switch-off-your-brain-and-kick-back variety. Diesel and company soldier through a wonky plot to deliver glowers, superhero poses, and loads of action." If you want to know how to stay safe and help others during the coronavirus outbreak, please see our guide. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com. Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

This June Marvel Comics will be bringing the Infinity Stones back to the Marvel Universe -- but with a twist. The stones all disappeared at the end of 2018’s Infinity Wars storyline, and it was teased that the stones were essentially “reborn” in different people, granting them their respective powers. A new storyline titled Infinite Destinies will pick up on that thread by laying out who wound up with each stone’s powers and what will happen to them now that villainous forces are trying to collect the stones for themselves. The story will unfold across eight one-shot annuals that pair one of the new Infinity Stone-powered characters (like Amulet, Quantum, and Star) with a classic Marvel character (like Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor). “We’ve had a wave of incredible new characters over the last few years, and Infinite Destinies will shine a light on eight of them,” Editor Nick Lowe said in a Marvel press release. “We’ll discover new aspects of these heroes and villains in adventures with our the most archetypal Marvel heroes.” In addition to the main story, a chapter of a B-story titled ‘Super-Spy vs. Super-Spy’ will appear in the back of each annual. The story features Nick Fury as the Agent of Nothing and Phil Coulson as the Agent of Mephisto. Both characters have undergone some extreme changes over the past few years and now they’ll be meeting face-to-face for the first time since Coulson’s death. Check out the Infinite Destinies comic release schedule below: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=20-most-anticipated-comics-of-2020&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joshua is Senior Features Editor at IGN. If Pokemon, Green Lantern, or Game of Thrones are frequently used words in your vocabulary, you’ll want to follow him on Twitter @JoshuaYehl and IGN.

Seth Rogen got stoned and live-tweeted his first viewing of Cats, which is now available on digital, and his tweets have taken the social media landscape by storm. While Rogen isn't the first celeb to drag Cats on social media -- Westworld's Evan Rachel Wood dissed the film when it opened theatrically in December --the actor/producer's incredulous, absurd reactions to the widely maligned box office bomb turned out to be just the thing we didn't know we needed right now. Behold, in all its glory, the full thread: While Rogen's stoned live-tweeting of Cats became an immediate sensation, some on social want to see the Cats crew give Rogen a taste of his own medicine: But Seth Rogen's Cats tweets weren't the only observations during the film's digital release to shake Twitter to its core. Filmmaker Ben Mekler's tweets about Cats prompted screenwriter Jack Waz (Hulu's Howard the Duck) to make a startling claim about the film's initial visual effects (which were incomplete when the movie opened in December and prompted Universal to re-release it with "improved visual effects"). Waz alleges that he was told by a visual effects colleague that the anthropomorphic cats originally had exposed anuses -- yes, you read that right -- that were then digitally removed shortly before the film's December theatrical release. Universal had not responded to IGN's request for comment on these alleged buttholes at time of publish, but no need to fear, we're on the case. UPDATE: Melker has now posted the following exchange he had with a VFX artist who claims to have worked on Cats, who wanted to clarify the existence of these digitally removed buttholes: Waz's claim has since gone viral and spurred on demands to Release the Butthole Cut, a clear reference to the infamous Snyder Cut of Justice League: Even Seth Rogen joined the chorus calling for it: But not everyone watching Cats on digital was perplexed for the same reasons as Rogen or were clamoring for the Butthole Cut. Some viewers just couldn't get past the overall design of the humanoid cats themselves. IGN wasn't a fan of Cats, scoring it 4.5 out of 10 in our review of the theatrical release. However,, our review did cite the film's camp value and ludicrous turns by Judi Dench and Idris Elba as factors that "makes it ripe for ironic viewings." Clearly it is getting a new life on digital, but the movie is already reaching cult status: the Alamo Drafthouse, until recently, was still doing Rowdy Screenings of the film. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/18/cats-review"] Have you seen Cats? Will you watch it now that's it's on digital? Let us know in the comments!

The Xbox Series X was listed for a Thanksgiving 2020 release date, but Microsoft tells IGN that the system is still on track for Holiday 2020. An update to the official Xbox Series X website for the UK, India, and Australia listed that the Series X was now coming out in Thanksgiving 2020, up from its holiday 2020 release window. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=9-new-xbox-series-x-images&captions=true"] Microsoft has issued a slight denial and reaffirmed the holiday release window. "Xbox Series X will be available Holiday 2020 alongside Halo Infinite," said a Microsoft representative to IGN when we reached out for a statement. Geoff Keighley also tweeted that, according to his sources, the Xbox Series X release date is unchanged and that there will be no announcement today about the release date.

UPDATE: Sources tell me the Xbox Series X release date is unchanged and still "Holiday 2020." There is no announcement today about a release date.

— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) March 18, 2020

Xbox's Larry 'Major Nelson' Hryb also tweeted out that the website updates listing Thanksgiving 2020 are 'inaccurate'.

An Xbox product page in some regions inaccurately listed the launch date for Xbox Series X as Thanksgiving 2020. We are committed to launching Holiday 2020

— Larry Hryb (@majornelson) March 18, 2020

A Thanksgiving release date is much more specific than Holiday 2020, but it sounds like Xbox is not yet willing to narrow that release window and lock down the Series X release date. Microsoft did reveal the full Xbox Series X specs earlier this week, which was later followed by Sony revealing the PS5 specs. While we're starting to learn more and more about the next-gen consoles, a release date for both the Series X and PS5 remains unannounced. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.

If you're looking for something to do while you're holed up in your home practicing social distancing, head over to Steam right now for the Spring Game Festival. There are currently over 40 playable indie game demos that were to be featured at the 2020 Game Developers Conference, which was previously postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This is the second Game Festival featured on Steam, with the previous one taking place during last year's Game Awards. The titles included this time around would have been featured at the Indie MEGABOOTH, Day of the Devs, and The MIX during this year's GDC, which is now being hosted virtually. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=screens-coffee-talk&captions=true"] Currently, the demos available are:

• We should talk.
• Sons of Ra
• Backworlds
• Quench
• Going Under
• Superlivinal
• Mystic Pillars
• Evan's Remains
• Tunche
• Duster
• We Are The Caretakers
• HyperParasite
• Neon Noodles
• Hundred Days
• Filament
• Later Daters
• Pushy and Pully in Blockland
• Lord Winklebottom Investigates
• Heavenly Bodies
• Chicory: A Colorful Tale
• Spiritfarer
• Curious Expedition 2
• Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl
• Aeolis Tournament
• Operencia: The Stolen Sun
• Neverinth
• Divisadero
• Liberated
• Jack Axe
• Mighty Fight Federation
• Röki
• She Dreams Elsewhere
• When The Past Was Around
• Embr
• Hazel Sky
• Recompile
• Vigil: The Longest Night
• Rising Hell
• Haven
• Raji: An Ancient Epic
• A Space For The Unbound
• Eldest Souls
• Coffee Talk
• Garden Story
• KungFu Kickball
• Retrograde Arena
• Moncage
• EleMentals: Death Metal Death Match!
• Klang 2

[ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/08/23/15-minutes-of-spiritfarer-gameplay-gamescom-2019] Some of these titles are available to purchase immediately, while others won't be out until a later date. So, if there's something you enjoy, make sure to add it to your Steam wishlist! The Spring Game Festival is available for a limited time from March 18th at 10 AM PST to March 23rd at 10 AM PST. This is just one of the many changes we've seen in response the the COVID-19 pandemic with many companies having to change the way they make content available. For example, Universal recently announced that it will be distributing current theatrical releases on demand starting March 20th. We're keeping a close eye on everything impacted, including all movies and tv shows delayed due to the outbreak, and will continue updating you with any additional ways this impacts our society. We've also created a handy guide that explains how to help, and stay safe, during the COVID-19 pandemic. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matthew Adler is a News and Features writer for IGN who is furiously trying to get through his backlog of games and movies while he's stuck at home. You can keep him company on Twitter or watch him stream on Twitch.