Monthly Archives: March 2020
Rogue One w/ Writers Gary Whitta and Chris Weitz: Watch the Full Q&A Commentary
Here at IGN, we're always looking for new ways to bring our community together to embrace what we're most passionate about. That's why we're so excited to debut Watch From Home Theater, a new weekly live show we'll be hosting on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. E.T. to unite some of your favorite IGN personalities and special celebrity guests to have a digital movie night together with you.
We've assembled something pretty special for our fourth episode: a watch-along of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story with writers Gary Whitta and Chris Weitz! IGN fans consistently vote Rogue One as their favorite modern Star Wars movie, so we're really excited to get to welcome two of the men responsible for bringing it to life over to our corner of the Internet for a one-of-a-kind movie night.
You can watch the full watch-along episode below:
[youtube clip_id="1m1IX0k7Dak"]
We're also using this stream to drive awareness to Gary and Chris's charities of choice, so if you're looking to support some great causes, be sure to check them out below:
- Stack Up, a military charity supporting active and veteran service members from the US and allied nations by promoting positive mental health and combating veteran suicide through gaming and geek culture.
- International Rescue Committee, which responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and gain control of their future.
- Amazon Prime ($2.99 rental)
- Fandango Now ($2.99 SD rental, $3.99 HD rental)
- Google Play ($2.99 rental)
- iTunes ($2.99 rental)
- YouTube ($2.99 rental)
- Vudu ($3.99 rental)
Rogue One w/ Writers Gary Whitta and Chris Weitz: Watch the Full Q&A Commentary
Here at IGN, we're always looking for new ways to bring our community together to embrace what we're most passionate about. That's why we're so excited to debut Watch From Home Theater, a new weekly live show we'll be hosting on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. E.T. to unite some of your favorite IGN personalities and special celebrity guests to have a digital movie night together with you.
We've assembled something pretty special for our fourth episode: a watch-along of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story with writers Gary Whitta and Chris Weitz! IGN fans consistently vote Rogue One as their favorite modern Star Wars movie, so we're really excited to get to welcome two of the men responsible for bringing it to life over to our corner of the Internet for a one-of-a-kind movie night.
You can watch the full watch-along episode below:
[youtube clip_id="1m1IX0k7Dak"]
We're also using this stream to drive awareness to Gary and Chris's charities of choice, so if you're looking to support some great causes, be sure to check them out below:
- Stack Up, a military charity supporting active and veteran service members from the US and allied nations by promoting positive mental health and combating veteran suicide through gaming and geek culture.
- International Rescue Committee, which responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and gain control of their future.
- Amazon Prime ($2.99 rental)
- Fandango Now ($2.99 SD rental, $3.99 HD rental)
- Google Play ($2.99 rental)
- iTunes ($2.99 rental)
- YouTube ($2.99 rental)
- Vudu ($3.99 rental)
PS5, Xbox Series X Could Face Launch Shortages
Despite the various delays the movie and TV industries have seen in both major releases and production due to the novel coronavirus COVID-19, the gaming industry hasn’t shown much sign of slowing down just yet. In fact, one of this year’s biggest games, Cyberpunk 2077, is confirmed to still be on track for its September release date despite CD Projekt Red now working from home. All the same, one question has loomed over the industry given how massive of a year 2020 is meant to be — will the coronavirus impact the production of the next-gen consoles, and could the PS5 and Xbox Series X even be delayed beyond their planned holiday releases?
As far as any launch delays go, the answer remains as uncertain as the extent of COVID-19’s impact on the world, and given how far out these consoles are meant to launch. But with the recent Xbox Series X and PS5 tech reveals, both companies have not announced adjusted releases and seem bullish on hitting their holiday 2020 launches. However, as the reality of the coronavirus’ impact spreads across all industries and around the world, analysts have spoken to IGN about the possibility that the next generation could at the very least see shortages.
Six analysts and analyst firms spoke with IGN about the possibility of these consoles seeing possible delays.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/27/ps5-xbox-series-x-no-delay-concerns-yet-next-gen-console-watch"]
“At some point, if product is limited or price of components becomes too high, Sony and Microsoft will have to make a tough decision about whether to launch in very short supply or delay launch until the supply chain is comfortably running. We do not expect this decision to be made in the short-term.”
Echoing those sentiments, Wedbush Securities’ managing director of equity research, Michael Pachter, isn’t expecting a delay either.
“It’s highly likely that we will be well past the curve of the virus in most areas where manufacturing takes place by the time manufacturing must commence in June,” Pachter told IGN via email. “That suggests that both consoles will be in stock by November, so I don’t expect a delay in their respective launches.”
Spiketrap’s data, viewable in the graph above, saw only about 1,300 online engagements around the idea of a delay, specifically after DFC Intelligence’s thoughts on the possibility were first published. The relevant conversation has largely been around either COVID-19 or AMD, the manufacturers behind chipsets in both the PS5 and Xbox Series X. However, the conversation has remained minimal online, with only one day in March peaking above 300 engagements on the topic.
That said, we’d still like to hear from you all directly: are you concerned about console scarcity and possible delays? Specifically, would you be willing to purchase a re-sold console online if you can’t get one at launch, or would you be willing to wait for new consoles at a later date? Cast your vote in the poll below, which, as of press time, sees nearly 90% of voters willing to wait until consoles are available rather than buying a higher-priced resell on eBay or a similar site.
[poilib element="poll" parameters="id=0b3e594c-eec7-4b02-b6af-101b2b4c6b64"]
We discussed these analysts’ insights in the last episode of our weekly show Next-Gen Console Watch, which you can catch with new episodes on IGN on Fridays at 6 am PT and 9 am PT.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor, a panelist on Next-Gen Console Watch, and host of Podcast Beyond! Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.
Could Next-Gen Consoles Be Delayed to 2021?
Speaking to IGN via email, several analysts agreed on one thing — the coronavirus is likely to have some effect on the production of the new consoles, the extent of which remains unknown. DFC Intelligence noted that the sheer amount of uncertainty that hangs over this new console generation makes the short term ramifications hard to predict. “The current amount of uncertainty is unprecedented. We expect that demand will be greater than supply, probably by a significant margin. The only certainty is uncertainty and anyone who says otherwise has a crystal ball we don't have access to,” DFC said. The gaming industry overall has certainly seen the effects an increase in demand as countries adopt shelter-in-place orders. Steam just had its highest day of concurrent players ever — just around 20 million players online simultaneously. PlayStation, meanwhile, has decided to limit game download speeds in major markets like North America and Europe. It’s worth noting that Sony is also home to the fourth-best-selling home console of all time with 100 million PS4s in homes across the world. YouTube has adopted a similar policy to Sony’s, defaulting to standard quality playback worldwide for at least a month. Everyone’s feeling the strain on their networks as more people access online entertainment from their homes simultaneously across the globe.
“At some point, if product is limited or price of components becomes too high, Sony and Microsoft will have to make a tough decision about whether to launch in very short supply or delay launch until the supply chain is comfortably running. We do not expect this decision to be made in the short-term.”
Echoing those sentiments, Wedbush Securities’ managing director of equity research, Michael Pachter, isn’t expecting a delay either.
“It’s highly likely that we will be well past the curve of the virus in most areas where manufacturing takes place by the time manufacturing must commence in June,” Pachter told IGN via email. “That suggests that both consoles will be in stock by November, so I don’t expect a delay in their respective launches.”
A Delay May Not Be Likely, But What About Limited Availability?
Both Sony and Microsoft have recently issued comments around COVID-19’s impact on the production of their respective consoles, and neither indicates any need for long-term concern. Even retailers like Gamestop have said they see “no indication” of outright PS5 and Series X delays on the way. Despite reassurances from the companies themselves that all will be fine, the very uncertain nature COVID-19’s curve in each country across the world means so much is still up in the air. With the situations in majorly impacted regions like North America, China, and more changing by the day, many analysts do see at least some impact on the console launches — perhaps in the form of a constrained launch. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=9-sequels-that-would-make-ps5-a-force-to-reckon-with&captions=true"] In a statement provided to IGN that was also sent to Niko’s clients, senior Niko analyst Daniel Ahmad says he sees the situation as very dependent on the next few months. The company also noted that the reality of so many factories producing parts for these consoles means any definitive prognostication is unclear at this time. “The closure of factories since the Lunar New Year and the slow return to work for many will result in minor global console shortages in Q2 2020 and beyond. We do not expect significant shortages in Q2 as console sales are seasonal and most sell-through takes place towards the end of the year.” “If the coronavirus outbreak is contained within the next month or two then we would expect console manufacturers to be able to meet demand for the holiday quarter, both for current gen consoles and next gen console launches,” Niko’s statement reads. “If manufacturers are unable to operate at full capacity before the end of Q2 2020 we could see an impact on the launch of next gen console launches, with either limited supply or delayed releases becoming the likely outcomes.” [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=xbox-series-x-reveal-images&captions=true"] That’s ultimately the biggest factor in how launches might be impacted — when COVID-19 can be contained enough to allow production and work to resume at a normal pace. While the curve of China’s number of infected cases has flattened in comparison to other countries and, according to the New York Times, the nation claims to be significantly halting the spread of COVID-19, there are also serious concerns about its reported numbers. The Times reports that, as China is starting to lift lockdowns, its number of cases is reportedly not counting those testing positive for COVID-19 without symptoms, which could indicate a larger, undocumented spread. Meanwhile, Japan initially suspended the Olympic 2020 games, with the event now set to take place a year later in July 2021. And America has now become the country with the highest number of COVID-19 cases worldwide, with more than 86,000 confirmed cases. The Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluations predicts a continued rapid rise of cases in the US through at least May, with a peak in April, followed by a steady, smaller stream of new COVID-19 cases through to August, where its projections end. The range of manufacturing may not take place in the most impacted countries, but parent and wider companies themselves may still feel that impact. Head of Xbox Game Studios Matt Booty has said, “Each studio is facing unique challenges and constraints depending on its particular location, and many of our external development partners around the world are similarly affected.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/20/ps5-vs-xbox-series-x-full-spec-analysis-next-gen-console-watch"] Dr. Serkan Toto of Kantan Games, who had initially spoken to IGN about a possible console launch delay, saw the strong showings of Series X and PS5 tech as a relieving sign that both companies will push through to a holiday release. “I was skeptical about the PS5 release schedule because of Sony's silence at first,” Toto said. “But as Microsoft already reconfirmed ‘Holidays 2020’ as the launch date, there is no other way for Sony than to keep up. “They will not watch their top competitor gobble up holiday sales while they sit on the sidelines with the PS4.” Even if there are issues in manufacturing, Toto believes Microsoft will remain on course. “At least for Microsoft and at least for now, the coronavirus-related dents to the supply chain seem to be manageable as far as the next-gen roll-out goes,” he said.How Worried Are Consumers?
Speaking with IGN via email, Spiketrap, an analyst firm co-founded by former X-Play host Adam Sessler that tracks online social sentiment, took a snapshot of online discourse and found that, at least through the first few weeks of March, fans don’t seem particularly worried about console delays.
Spiketrap’s data, viewable in the graph above, saw only about 1,300 online engagements around the idea of a delay, specifically after DFC Intelligence’s thoughts on the possibility were first published. The relevant conversation has largely been around either COVID-19 or AMD, the manufacturers behind chipsets in both the PS5 and Xbox Series X. However, the conversation has remained minimal online, with only one day in March peaking above 300 engagements on the topic.
That said, we’d still like to hear from you all directly: are you concerned about console scarcity and possible delays? Specifically, would you be willing to purchase a re-sold console online if you can’t get one at launch, or would you be willing to wait for new consoles at a later date? Cast your vote in the poll below, which, as of press time, sees nearly 90% of voters willing to wait until consoles are available rather than buying a higher-priced resell on eBay or a similar site.
[poilib element="poll" parameters="id=0b3e594c-eec7-4b02-b6af-101b2b4c6b64"]
We discussed these analysts’ insights in the last episode of our weekly show Next-Gen Console Watch, which you can catch with new episodes on IGN on Fridays at 6 am PT and 9 am PT.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor, a panelist on Next-Gen Console Watch, and host of Podcast Beyond! Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.PS5, Xbox Series X Could Face Launch Shortages
Despite the various delays the movie and TV industries have seen in both major releases and production due to the novel coronavirus COVID-19, the gaming industry hasn’t shown much sign of slowing down just yet. In fact, one of this year’s biggest games, Cyberpunk 2077, is confirmed to still be on track for its September release date despite CD Projekt Red now working from home. All the same, one question has loomed over the industry given how massive of a year 2020 is meant to be — will the coronavirus impact the production of the next-gen consoles, and could the PS5 and Xbox Series X even be delayed beyond their planned holiday releases?
As far as any launch delays go, the answer remains as uncertain as the extent of COVID-19’s impact on the world, and given how far out these consoles are meant to launch. But with the recent Xbox Series X and PS5 tech reveals, both companies have not announced adjusted releases and seem bullish on hitting their holiday 2020 launches. However, as the reality of the coronavirus’ impact spreads across all industries and around the world, analysts have spoken to IGN about the possibility that the next generation could at the very least see shortages.
Six analysts and analyst firms spoke with IGN about the possibility of these consoles seeing possible delays.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/27/ps5-xbox-series-x-no-delay-concerns-yet-next-gen-console-watch"]
“At some point, if product is limited or price of components becomes too high, Sony and Microsoft will have to make a tough decision about whether to launch in very short supply or delay launch until the supply chain is comfortably running. We do not expect this decision to be made in the short-term.”
Echoing those sentiments, Wedbush Securities’ managing director of equity research, Michael Pachter, isn’t expecting a delay either.
“It’s highly likely that we will be well past the curve of the virus in most areas where manufacturing takes place by the time manufacturing must commence in June,” Pachter told IGN via email. “That suggests that both consoles will be in stock by November, so I don’t expect a delay in their respective launches.”
Spiketrap’s data, viewable in the graph above, saw only about 1,300 online engagements around the idea of a delay, specifically after DFC Intelligence’s thoughts on the possibility were first published. The relevant conversation has largely been around either COVID-19 or AMD, the manufacturers behind chipsets in both the PS5 and Xbox Series X. However, the conversation has remained minimal online, with only one day in March peaking above 300 engagements on the topic.
That said, we’d still like to hear from you all directly: are you concerned about console scarcity and possible delays? Specifically, would you be willing to purchase a re-sold console online if you can’t get one at launch, or would you be willing to wait for new consoles at a later date? Cast your vote in the poll below, which, as of press time, sees nearly 90% of voters willing to wait until consoles are available rather than buying a higher-priced resell on eBay or a similar site.
[poilib element="poll" parameters="id=0b3e594c-eec7-4b02-b6af-101b2b4c6b64"]
We discussed these analysts’ insights in the last episode of our weekly show Next-Gen Console Watch, which you can catch with new episodes on IGN on Fridays at 6 am PT and 9 am PT.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor, a panelist on Next-Gen Console Watch, and host of Podcast Beyond! Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.
Could Next-Gen Consoles Be Delayed to 2021?
Speaking to IGN via email, several analysts agreed on one thing — the coronavirus is likely to have some effect on the production of the new consoles, the extent of which remains unknown. DFC Intelligence noted that the sheer amount of uncertainty that hangs over this new console generation makes the short term ramifications hard to predict. “The current amount of uncertainty is unprecedented. We expect that demand will be greater than supply, probably by a significant margin. The only certainty is uncertainty and anyone who says otherwise has a crystal ball we don't have access to,” DFC said. The gaming industry overall has certainly seen the effects an increase in demand as countries adopt shelter-in-place orders. Steam just had its highest day of concurrent players ever — just around 20 million players online simultaneously. PlayStation, meanwhile, has decided to limit game download speeds in major markets like North America and Europe. It’s worth noting that Sony is also home to the fourth-best-selling home console of all time with 100 million PS4s in homes across the world. YouTube has adopted a similar policy to Sony’s, defaulting to standard quality playback worldwide for at least a month. Everyone’s feeling the strain on their networks as more people access online entertainment from their homes simultaneously across the globe.
“At some point, if product is limited or price of components becomes too high, Sony and Microsoft will have to make a tough decision about whether to launch in very short supply or delay launch until the supply chain is comfortably running. We do not expect this decision to be made in the short-term.”
Echoing those sentiments, Wedbush Securities’ managing director of equity research, Michael Pachter, isn’t expecting a delay either.
“It’s highly likely that we will be well past the curve of the virus in most areas where manufacturing takes place by the time manufacturing must commence in June,” Pachter told IGN via email. “That suggests that both consoles will be in stock by November, so I don’t expect a delay in their respective launches.”
A Delay May Not Be Likely, But What About Limited Availability?
Both Sony and Microsoft have recently issued comments around COVID-19’s impact on the production of their respective consoles, and neither indicates any need for long-term concern. Even retailers like Gamestop have said they see “no indication” of outright PS5 and Series X delays on the way. Despite reassurances from the companies themselves that all will be fine, the very uncertain nature COVID-19’s curve in each country across the world means so much is still up in the air. With the situations in majorly impacted regions like North America, China, and more changing by the day, many analysts do see at least some impact on the console launches — perhaps in the form of a constrained launch. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=9-sequels-that-would-make-ps5-a-force-to-reckon-with&captions=true"] In a statement provided to IGN that was also sent to Niko’s clients, senior Niko analyst Daniel Ahmad says he sees the situation as very dependent on the next few months. The company also noted that the reality of so many factories producing parts for these consoles means any definitive prognostication is unclear at this time. “The closure of factories since the Lunar New Year and the slow return to work for many will result in minor global console shortages in Q2 2020 and beyond. We do not expect significant shortages in Q2 as console sales are seasonal and most sell-through takes place towards the end of the year.” “If the coronavirus outbreak is contained within the next month or two then we would expect console manufacturers to be able to meet demand for the holiday quarter, both for current gen consoles and next gen console launches,” Niko’s statement reads. “If manufacturers are unable to operate at full capacity before the end of Q2 2020 we could see an impact on the launch of next gen console launches, with either limited supply or delayed releases becoming the likely outcomes.” [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=xbox-series-x-reveal-images&captions=true"] That’s ultimately the biggest factor in how launches might be impacted — when COVID-19 can be contained enough to allow production and work to resume at a normal pace. While the curve of China’s number of infected cases has flattened in comparison to other countries and, according to the New York Times, the nation claims to be significantly halting the spread of COVID-19, there are also serious concerns about its reported numbers. The Times reports that, as China is starting to lift lockdowns, its number of cases is reportedly not counting those testing positive for COVID-19 without symptoms, which could indicate a larger, undocumented spread. Meanwhile, Japan initially suspended the Olympic 2020 games, with the event now set to take place a year later in July 2021. And America has now become the country with the highest number of COVID-19 cases worldwide, with more than 86,000 confirmed cases. The Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluations predicts a continued rapid rise of cases in the US through at least May, with a peak in April, followed by a steady, smaller stream of new COVID-19 cases through to August, where its projections end. The range of manufacturing may not take place in the most impacted countries, but parent and wider companies themselves may still feel that impact. Head of Xbox Game Studios Matt Booty has said, “Each studio is facing unique challenges and constraints depending on its particular location, and many of our external development partners around the world are similarly affected.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/20/ps5-vs-xbox-series-x-full-spec-analysis-next-gen-console-watch"] Dr. Serkan Toto of Kantan Games, who had initially spoken to IGN about a possible console launch delay, saw the strong showings of Series X and PS5 tech as a relieving sign that both companies will push through to a holiday release. “I was skeptical about the PS5 release schedule because of Sony's silence at first,” Toto said. “But as Microsoft already reconfirmed ‘Holidays 2020’ as the launch date, there is no other way for Sony than to keep up. “They will not watch their top competitor gobble up holiday sales while they sit on the sidelines with the PS4.” Even if there are issues in manufacturing, Toto believes Microsoft will remain on course. “At least for Microsoft and at least for now, the coronavirus-related dents to the supply chain seem to be manageable as far as the next-gen roll-out goes,” he said.How Worried Are Consumers?
Speaking with IGN via email, Spiketrap, an analyst firm co-founded by former X-Play host Adam Sessler that tracks online social sentiment, took a snapshot of online discourse and found that, at least through the first few weeks of March, fans don’t seem particularly worried about console delays.
Spiketrap’s data, viewable in the graph above, saw only about 1,300 online engagements around the idea of a delay, specifically after DFC Intelligence’s thoughts on the possibility were first published. The relevant conversation has largely been around either COVID-19 or AMD, the manufacturers behind chipsets in both the PS5 and Xbox Series X. However, the conversation has remained minimal online, with only one day in March peaking above 300 engagements on the topic.
That said, we’d still like to hear from you all directly: are you concerned about console scarcity and possible delays? Specifically, would you be willing to purchase a re-sold console online if you can’t get one at launch, or would you be willing to wait for new consoles at a later date? Cast your vote in the poll below, which, as of press time, sees nearly 90% of voters willing to wait until consoles are available rather than buying a higher-priced resell on eBay or a similar site.
[poilib element="poll" parameters="id=0b3e594c-eec7-4b02-b6af-101b2b4c6b64"]
We discussed these analysts’ insights in the last episode of our weekly show Next-Gen Console Watch, which you can catch with new episodes on IGN on Fridays at 6 am PT and 9 am PT.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor, a panelist on Next-Gen Console Watch, and host of Podcast Beyond! Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.Batman v Superman: Snyder Discusses Martian Manhunter and Martha
Zack Snyder has joined a growing list of filmmakers and artists who have taken to social media to help entertain fans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Snyder marked the fourth anniversary of the release of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice by releasing a new director's commentary track for the Ultimate Cut of the divisive DC movie.
As spotted by The Hollywood Reporter, Snyder's live commentary track was released on the Vero app over the weekend. It sheds light on some of the lingering questions surrounding the film and what Snyder refers to as a five-movie story arc (which, of course, was cut short when Snyder left Justice League and was replaced by Joss Whedon). Read on for the most interesting revelations from this new commentary track.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-dceu-movie-review-score&captions=true"]
Martian Manhunter: Hiding In Plain Sight
One of the more noteworthy reveals came as Snyder confirmed Harry Lennix's character, Lt. General Calvin Swanwick, was intended to be Martian Manhunter in disguise. Though the reveal was being saved for a later movie, Snyder said it was planned as far back as Swanwick's first appearance in Man of Steel. Lennix himself was apparently aware of that twist and tailored his performance accordingly.Jimmy Olsen's Death
As for the controversial choice to kill off Michael Cassidy's Jimmy Olsen early in the film, Snyder argued for the importance of taking Superman's pal off the board early, saying all the deaths in his DC movies are meant to create lasting repercussions. Snyder hinted Jimmy's death would have affected future movies in a way that we don't see in the finished version of Justice League, creating a chain reaction of cause and effect. Snyder also revealed that he originally envisioned a much more in-depth action sequence when Superman arrives to rescue Lois in Africa.Wonder Woman's Past
In one of the more interesting behind-the-scenes DCEU tidbits, Snyder revealed 2017's Wonder Woman wasn't always intended to be set during World War I. While the idea that Gal Gadot's Diana was active long before Batman and Superman was always part of the plan, the filmmakers discussed anchoring her origin story in even older conflicts like the American Civil War or the Crimean War. Apparently there were other even other versions of the photo Ben Affleck's Bruce Wayne uncovers of Diana and her team, in case one of those other conflicts was used instead. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/19/the-batman-the-real-reason-ben-affleck-left"]Batman's Knightmare
Snyder also shed more light on the surreal "Knightmare" sequence, where Bruce dreams of a hellish future where Superman has become a servant of Apokolips. Snyder reiterated that this sequence was intended to set the stage for his two Justice League movies. At some point in this five-movie arc, Lois Lane would have been killed, dealing a crushing blow to Superman and making him vulnerable to Darkseid's influence. That's the catalyst for the dystopian world seen in this flash-forward/dream sequence. The reason Bruce sees Ezra Miller's Flash is that the future versions of Batman and Cyborg are trying to find the right point in time to send Barry back and prevent Lois' death. Barry's trip through time creates a rift which allows the world of the future to briefly bleed into the present. Fans would even have seen Barry use his Cosmic Treadmill while travelling through time.The Martha Controversy
Love it or hate it, Batman v Superman is arguably most remembered for the moment when the Dark Knight nearly kills the Man of Steel, only to be stopped dead in his tracks when he hears the name "Martha." Snyder defended this scene, arguing the point wasn't that Batman and Superman have mothers with the same name, but that hearing the name shocks Batman back into reality. It allows him to see Superman as a real person with a family and a life of his own, rather than a faceless monster to be defeated. Batman realizes in this scene that he's about to become every bit as evil as the man who killed his parents, but is instead able to pull himself from the brink and regain his own sense of humanity. This is embodied in the image of Batman's damaged helmet, which shows the man emerging from beneath the armor. For more on DC's abandoned movie plans, find out what Snyder has to say about the existence of the long-rumored "Snyder Cut" and the real reason Affleck dropped out of The Batman. Then see where Affleck falls in our ranking of all the movie Batmans. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=ranking-the-batman-movies&captions=true"] Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.Batman v Superman: Snyder Discusses Martian Manhunter and Martha
Zack Snyder has joined a growing list of filmmakers and artists who have taken to social media to help entertain fans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Snyder marked the fourth anniversary of the release of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice by releasing a new director's commentary track for the Ultimate Cut of the divisive DC movie.
As spotted by The Hollywood Reporter, Snyder's live commentary track was released on the Vero app over the weekend. It sheds light on some of the lingering questions surrounding the film and what Snyder refers to as a five-movie story arc (which, of course, was cut short when Snyder left Justice League and was replaced by Joss Whedon). Read on for the most interesting revelations from this new commentary track.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-dceu-movie-review-score&captions=true"]
Martian Manhunter: Hiding In Plain Sight
One of the more noteworthy reveals came as Snyder confirmed Harry Lennix's character, Lt. General Calvin Swanwick, was intended to be Martian Manhunter in disguise. Though the reveal was being saved for a later movie, Snyder said it was planned as far back as Swanwick's first appearance in Man of Steel. Lennix himself was apparently aware of that twist and tailored his performance accordingly.Jimmy Olsen's Death
As for the controversial choice to kill off Michael Cassidy's Jimmy Olsen early in the film, Snyder argued for the importance of taking Superman's pal off the board early, saying all the deaths in his DC movies are meant to create lasting repercussions. Snyder hinted Jimmy's death would have affected future movies in a way that we don't see in the finished version of Justice League, creating a chain reaction of cause and effect. Snyder also revealed that he originally envisioned a much more in-depth action sequence when Superman arrives to rescue Lois in Africa.Wonder Woman's Past
In one of the more interesting behind-the-scenes DCEU tidbits, Snyder revealed 2017's Wonder Woman wasn't always intended to be set during World War I. While the idea that Gal Gadot's Diana was active long before Batman and Superman was always part of the plan, the filmmakers discussed anchoring her origin story in even older conflicts like the American Civil War or the Crimean War. Apparently there were other even other versions of the photo Ben Affleck's Bruce Wayne uncovers of Diana and her team, in case one of those other conflicts was used instead. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/19/the-batman-the-real-reason-ben-affleck-left"]Batman's Knightmare
Snyder also shed more light on the surreal "Knightmare" sequence, where Bruce dreams of a hellish future where Superman has become a servant of Apokolips. Snyder reiterated that this sequence was intended to set the stage for his two Justice League movies. At some point in this five-movie arc, Lois Lane would have been killed, dealing a crushing blow to Superman and making him vulnerable to Darkseid's influence. That's the catalyst for the dystopian world seen in this flash-forward/dream sequence. The reason Bruce sees Ezra Miller's Flash is that the future versions of Batman and Cyborg are trying to find the right point in time to send Barry back and prevent Lois' death. Barry's trip through time creates a rift which allows the world of the future to briefly bleed into the present. Fans would even have seen Barry use his Cosmic Treadmill while travelling through time.The Martha Controversy
Love it or hate it, Batman v Superman is arguably most remembered for the moment when the Dark Knight nearly kills the Man of Steel, only to be stopped dead in his tracks when he hears the name "Martha." Snyder defended this scene, arguing the point wasn't that Batman and Superman have mothers with the same name, but that hearing the name shocks Batman back into reality. It allows him to see Superman as a real person with a family and a life of his own, rather than a faceless monster to be defeated. Batman realizes in this scene that he's about to become every bit as evil as the man who killed his parents, but is instead able to pull himself from the brink and regain his own sense of humanity. This is embodied in the image of Batman's damaged helmet, which shows the man emerging from beneath the armor. For more on DC's abandoned movie plans, find out what Snyder has to say about the existence of the long-rumored "Snyder Cut" and the real reason Affleck dropped out of The Batman. Then see where Affleck falls in our ranking of all the movie Batmans. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=ranking-the-batman-movies&captions=true"] Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.Artifact 2.0 Beta Gameplay Changes Detailed, Valve Will No Longer Sell Cards
With Half-Life: Alyx out the door, Valve is ready to talk about Artifact again, including details about the upcoming Beta 2.0. While details are still sparse, Valve revealed some key early details including how Artifact cards and packs will no longer be sold but instead earned through gameplay.
Despite a relatively positive reception upon launch, Artifact’s player count soon crumbled. One of the key complaints about Valve’s Dota 2 card game was around the controversial marketplace which attempted to digitize the card-buying experience.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-valve-game-review&captions=true"]
Valve soon announced there were “deep-rooted issues” with Artifact that required a drastic overhaul instead of incremental updates. Valve founder Gabe Newell even told IGN that Artifact was a “giant disappointment” for the company.
Another gameplay change coming to Artifact is giving players access to all three lanes at once. Like in Dota 2, Artifact utilizes a lane mechanic that’s reminiscent of the MOBA. However, players were only able to access one lane at a time. This will apparently no longer be the case.
There will also be a Hero Draft mode that will let players experiment with deck constructions without the pressure of having to worry about the ranked ladder.
Valve says invites will be prioritized to players who purchased the first Artifact, and selection into the Beta will then be given out randomly. Decks from the original version will no longer be valid due to some individual cards being either changed, removed, or brand new.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/11/28/artifact-launch-trailer"]
There will also be some kind of microtransaction for Artifact 2.0, but Valve says “none of them are cards/packs,” so it could be something related to cosmetics.
Valve recently released Half-Life: Alyx, a VR-prequel to Half-Life 2 that IGN awarded a perfect score, calling it a benchmark for VR gaming. Check out IGN’s full coverage, including an in-depth interview with Newell.
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Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.
Artifact 2.0 Beta Gameplay Changes Detailed, Valve Will No Longer Sell Cards
With Half-Life: Alyx out the door, Valve is ready to talk about Artifact again, including details about the upcoming Beta 2.0. While details are still sparse, Valve revealed some key early details including how Artifact cards and packs will no longer be sold but instead earned through gameplay.
Despite a relatively positive reception upon launch, Artifact’s player count soon crumbled. One of the key complaints about Valve’s Dota 2 card game was around the controversial marketplace which attempted to digitize the card-buying experience.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-valve-game-review&captions=true"]
Valve soon announced there were “deep-rooted issues” with Artifact that required a drastic overhaul instead of incremental updates. Valve founder Gabe Newell even told IGN that Artifact was a “giant disappointment” for the company.
Another gameplay change coming to Artifact is giving players access to all three lanes at once. Like in Dota 2, Artifact utilizes a lane mechanic that’s reminiscent of the MOBA. However, players were only able to access one lane at a time. This will apparently no longer be the case.
There will also be a Hero Draft mode that will let players experiment with deck constructions without the pressure of having to worry about the ranked ladder.
Valve says invites will be prioritized to players who purchased the first Artifact, and selection into the Beta will then be given out randomly. Decks from the original version will no longer be valid due to some individual cards being either changed, removed, or brand new.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/11/28/artifact-launch-trailer"]
There will also be some kind of microtransaction for Artifact 2.0, but Valve says “none of them are cards/packs,” so it could be something related to cosmetics.
Valve recently released Half-Life: Alyx, a VR-prequel to Half-Life 2 that IGN awarded a perfect score, calling it a benchmark for VR gaming. Check out IGN’s full coverage, including an in-depth interview with Newell.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.
Power Rangers Movie: Unofficial Concept Art Reveals Green Ranger Design
Even though the 2017 Power Rangers movie ended with a stinger that teased the introduction of Tommy Oliver, it never got a sequel and the Power Rangers franchise is moving on with another reboot, so we never got to see Tommy as the Green Ranger on the big screen. But that didn’t stop one of the prototype costume designers for the movie, Sanit Klamchanuan, from imagining what the Green Ranger might have looked like.
When a fan messaged Klamchanuan pointing out that it was the three-year anniversary of the movie and fans never got to see the Tommy as the Green Ranger, it inspired him to whip up a design for the fan-favorite character, which he posted on Instagram.
Take a look at Klamchanuan’s work-in-progress drawings and the final design below:
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=klamchanuans-unofficial-green-ranger-design&captions=true"]
This design is purely a fun exercise for Klamchanuan and is not official, but given that a sequel never materialized, this is likely as close as we’re going to get to seeing what the Green Ranger would look like in the organic, glowing armor style created for the movie. Rita Repulsa was depicted as a fallen Green Ranger in the film, so we were given an idea of what the Green Ranger would look like, but Klamchanuan’s design depicts Tommy in the armor and is a bit more in line with what fans know from the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series.
Klamchanuan explained to IGN that he made sure the Green Ranger design looked similar to the other rangers while incorporating the signature dragon elements.
“I took the elements of the Red Ranger as a base to build on, changing the shape of the helmet to add extra horns to give it a dragon look,” Klamchanuan said.
The Green Ranger is of course known for his signature gold chest shield, which Klamchanuan included in a more subtle way.
“With the gold chest shield, it was important to me not to go too over the top,” he said. “I wanted to have it there but make sure it didn’t overpower the green, so I used it more as a highlight.”
As for the Dragon Dagger, Klamchanuan had a bit of fun by giving it the ability to transform from a dagger into a full-sized sword, perfect for going blade-to-blade with the Red Ranger’s power sword. “And it would look badass!” he added.
What do you think of Klamchanuan’s design for the Green Ranger? What were your hopes for a sequel to the 2017 Power Rangers movie? Let us know in the comments.
If you're hankering for some Green Ranger-related material, you can always check out Jason David Frank reprising his iconic role as the evil, alternate reality version of Tommy Oliver in the trailer below:
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/03/23/jason-david-frank-is-lord-drakkon-in-live-action-power-rangers-shattered-grid-trailer"]
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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.
Power Rangers Movie: Unofficial Concept Art Reveals Green Ranger Design
Even though the 2017 Power Rangers movie ended with a stinger that teased the introduction of Tommy Oliver, it never got a sequel and the Power Rangers franchise is moving on with another reboot, so we never got to see Tommy as the Green Ranger on the big screen. But that didn’t stop the artist who designed the costumes for the movie, Sanit Klamchanuan, from imagining what the Green Ranger might have looked like.
When a fan messaged Klamchanuan pointing out that it was the three-year anniversary of the movie and fans never got to see the Tommy as the Green Ranger, it inspired him to whip up a design for the fan-favorite character, which he posted on Instagram.
Take a look at Klamchanuan’s work-in-progress drawings and the final design below:
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=klamchanuans-unofficial-green-ranger-design&captions=true"]
While this design is purely a fun exercise for Klamchanuan and is not official, he is the one who designed the organic, glowing Power Ranger armor seen in the 2017 film, so this is as close as we’re going to get to seeing what the Green Ranger would look like in that style. Rita Repulsa was depicted as a fallen Green Ranger in the film, so we were given an idea of what the Green Ranger would look like, but Klamchanuan’s design depicts Tommy in the armor and is a bit more in line with what fans know from the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series.
Klamchanuan explained to IGN that he made sure the Green Ranger design looked similar to the other rangers while incorporating the signature dragon elements.
“I took the elements of the Red Ranger as a base to build on, changing the shape of the helmet to add extra horns to give it a dragon look,” Klamchanuan said.
The Green Ranger is of course known for his signature gold chest shield, which Klamchanuan included in a more subtle way.
“With the gold chest shield, it was important to me not to go too over the top,” he said. “I wanted to have it there but make sure it didn’t overpower the green, so I used it more as a highlight.”
As for the Dragon Dagger, Klamchanuan had a bit of fun by giving it the ability to transform from a dagger into a full-sized sword, perfect for going blade-to-blade with the Red Ranger’s power sword. “And it would look badass!” he added.
What do you think of Klamchanuan’s design for the Green Ranger? What were your hopes for a sequel to the 2017 Power Rangers movie? Let us know in the comments.
If you're hankering for some Green Ranger-related material, you can always check out Jason David Frank reprising his iconic role as the evil, alternate reality version of Tommy Oliver in the trailer below:
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/03/23/jason-david-frank-is-lord-drakkon-in-live-action-power-rangers-shattered-grid-trailer"]
[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.