Monthly Archives: January 2021

Marvel’s WandaVision to Get 2 Episodes on Launch Day

Marvel's WandaVision will air two episodes when it premieres on Friday, January 15. Disney has said, "the first 2 episodes will premiere on Disney+ on Friday, January 15. Episode 3 will debut on Friday, January 22." We already know that Episode 1 will be based on '50s/'60s sitcoms, was filmed in black and white, and was even filmed in front of a live studio audience. It will also feature an original theme tune by Frozen songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. Where it goes from there is an interesting question, as the show will pay homage to multiple eras of US sitcoms throughout. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/22/wandavision-trailer-confirms-this-is-the-mcus-house-of-m"] We may well already have seen a clip from one of those two premiere episodes, after Elizabeth Olsen introduced a 45-second sequence on Jimmy Kimmel Live. That clip showed off a Bewitched-like black-and-white style, but hinted at possible darker goings-on in the background. WandaVision will centre on Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch (Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) - two super-powered beings living idealized suburban lives, who begin to suspect that everything is not as it seems. Bettany previously referred to WandaVision as the "oddest of all the Marvel endeavours so far," calling it a "super avant-garde and weird" project. We're expecting the show to draw on elements of the groundbreaking House of M comic book storyline, after some clues cspotted in previous trailers.

The 9-episode run will take in multiple sitcom styles, even nodding to modern mockumentary sitcoms like The Office. But fear not, the show also includes sequences akin to a "full-on action movie", according Monica Rambeau actress Teyonah Parris.

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WandaVision is both the first new MCU release since 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home, and the first of Marvel's slate of Disney+ TV series. For more about the studio's future projects and releases, read our breakdown of the biggest and most noteworthy developments in the MCU, on Disney+ and in Marvel's comics this year.

[poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Roku Acquires Quibi Library of 75-Plus Shows, Boosting Free Streaming Service

Roku has officially acquired Quibi's library of content, less than three months after the bite-sized entertainment streaming service shut down. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Roku has now bought exclusive global distribution rights to more than 75 short-form shows in an effort to expand the company's free-to-stream, ad-supported offering on The Roku Channel. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, however, a source familiar with the agreement was said to have valued the content library at "significantly less than $100 million." The Roku blog notes that the "quick bites and big stories made famous on Quibi" will be available to stream on The Roku Channel later this year, giving audiences access to "hundreds of hours of new content," which will be free to watch on the platform. The catalog includes everything from Sophie Turner's thriller Survive to Chrissy Teigen's courtroom comedy Chrissy's Court. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/08/quibi-review-2020"] In addition to the content that released on Quibi last year, Roku has acquired the rights to "more than a dozen shows" that never aired on the now-defunct platform, which will be available to viewers in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. for the first time. Those programs, per Variety, include Spielberg's After Dark, a horror series created by Steven Spielberg, and lso Slugfest, a docuseries from the Russo Brothers. "We are thrilled that these stories, from the surreal to the sublime, have found a new home on The Roku Channel," Quibi co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg said in a statement. When Quibi debuted back in April 2020, co-founder Jeffery Katzenberg told the Los Angeles Times he hoped the streamer would become "the third generation of film narrative," by combining the strengths of movies and episodic television into one cohesive force. The service launched with $2 billion in financial resources, however, the company was ultimately met with diminishing returns. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=quibis-movie-and-tv-shows-reviewed&captions=true"] After six months, Katzenberg and Quibi CEO Meg Whitman announced that the streamer was being shut down, shortly after news circulated about a potential buyout or merger. The two of them issued an official statement and apology regarding the closure of the platform, in which they extended their gratitude to the Quibi team for pouring their "blood, sweat, and tears" into the business. For more about Quibi and its offering, check out our review of the short-lived streaming service. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

What If the Y2K Bug Destroyed Civilization?

Thanks to the tireless efforts of countless scientists, programmers and other experts, the dreaded Y2K bug wound up being more a minor nuisance than the civilization-ending disaster some feared. But what if that weren't the case? What if the Y2K bug did, in fact, wreak havoc across the globe and bring humanity to its knees? That's the premise of the new Image Comics series Deep Beyond, a sci-fi horror saga set in an alternate world where the worst case scenario did come to pass. IGN can exclusively debut new interior art from Deep Beyond #1 ahead of its February release. Check out these pages in the slideshow gallery below: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=deep-beyond-1-exclusive-preview&captions=true"] In the world of Deep Beyond, the remnants of humanity cling to life years after the millennium bug decimated civilization, with a small band of scientists keeping the survivors from total annihilation. In this world, even greater horrors are waiting to finish off what's left of society, especially after a lone researcher is lost in the oceanic abyss. The series is a collaboration between co-writers Mirka Andolfo (Mercy) and David Goy, artist Andrea Broccardo (Star Wars: Doctor Aphra) and colorist Barbara Nosenzo (The Ballad of Halo Jones). “This comic book could appear a little different from what I've written before, but in fact, certain themes that are a constant of my whole production come back: contemporary social (or in this case environmental) issues without being preachy but always entertaining the reader, mixed with the right dose of humor to release the tensest and dramatic moments," Andolfo told IGN. "And the fact I have to write for an artist that will put my script to paper was an occasion to flex new creative muscles, so to speak. So a great experience that I think made me improve as a scriptwriter.” “The world we created in DEEP BEYOND is a devastated one, in which nature takes back its spaces, and it is about a planet at the same time different and tragically similar (potentially) to the one we know," said Goy. "The human race is the main protagonist but also a great menace for the planet, and this will show in unexpected ways.“ Broccardo added, "“After working on a globally known sci-fi scenario like Star Wars, it was a pleasure and an honor creating graphically a whole new world that was a little retro-futuristic, but also immensely plausible.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/04/what-to-expect-from-marvel-in-2021"] Deep Beyond will run for 12 issues, with the first chapter scheduled for release on February 3, 2021. For more promising new comics debuting this year, check out IGN's 21 most anticipated comics of 2021, find out more about DC's Future State crossover and learn what major plot twist will transform Daredevil this year. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

Prolific Video Game and Anime Voice Actor Brad Venable Dies, Aged 43

Brad Venable – who provided his voice acting talents to Devil May Cry 5, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, multiple anime series and more – has died aged 43. Multiple members of the voice acting community have today posted tributes to Venable, having been given permission to share the news by Venable's wife. No cause of death has been announced at time of publish. Among many other parts, Venable played V's familiar Griffon in Devil May Cry 5, as well as playing roles in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold Wars, the recent Demon's Souls remake, and Final Fantasy 7 Remake. He also played Daz in the English dub of Attack on Titan, and played roles in My Hero Academia, Hunter x Hunter, and Dragon Ball Super. IGN sends its condolences to Venable's family and friends. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Mid-Season Update Coming Next Week

Treyarch has confirmed that a mid-season update for Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War will arrive on Thursday, January 14, adding new maps and modes to the game's Multiplayer and Zombies modes. The January 7 Patch Notes update on the Treyarch blog confirms a few details about the mid-season Cold War content drop. One of the major introductions is a new Fireteam map called Sanatorium. This map will complement a new Fireteam mode called Dropkick, a 6 v 6 battle where players must "fight for control of the nuclear codes". [caption id="attachment_245944" align="aligncenter" width="720"]sanatorium The new Sanatorium map coming to Cold War on January 14.[/caption] Elsewhere, Zombies players can enjoy tweaks to the Cranked mode, where "every zombie killed resets the timer counting down to your demise". In the PlayStation exclusive Onslaught mode, the Black Ops 2 map Raid has been added to the pool, as well as new Dark Aether intel for players to collect as they fight the horde. In other Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War news, check out our article covering how the game was made from home during a pandemic. If you're still trying to tackle the easter egg in Die Maschine, check out our handy guide for a walkthrough of all the steps. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Mid-Season Update Coming Next Week

Treyarch has confirmed that a mid-season update for Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War will arrive on Thursday, January 14, adding new maps and modes to the game's Multiplayer and Zombies modes. The January 7 Patch Notes update on the Treyarch blog confirms a few details about the mid-season Cold War content drop. One of the major introductions is a new Fireteam map called Sanatorium. This map will complement a new Fireteam mode called Dropkick, a 6 v 6 battle where players must "fight for control of the nuclear codes". [caption id="attachment_245944" align="aligncenter" width="720"]sanatorium The new Sanatorium map coming to Cold War on January 14.[/caption] Elsewhere, Zombies players can enjoy tweaks to the Cranked mode, where "every zombie killed resets the timer counting down to your demise". In the PlayStation exclusive Onslaught mode, the Black Ops 2 map Raid has been added to the pool, as well as new Dark Aether intel for players to collect as they fight the horde. In other Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War news, check out our article covering how the game was made from home during a pandemic. If you're still trying to tackle the easter egg in Die Maschine, check out our handy guide for a walkthrough of all the steps. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

King of Fighters XV: First Gameplay, 6 Characters Revealed

SNK Corporation has formally revealed The King of Fighters XV by debuting gameplay and showing off six characters. The game will launch later this year. The announcement was initially postponed on Wednesday and suffered a brief delay. Characters shown off in a new trailer (below) include K', Kyo Kusanagi, Leona, Benimaru, Shun'ei and Mai Shiranui. Not much in the way of detail is added, but we get a good look at the game's visual style, which looks to be a little more stylised than KOF 14. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/08/the-king-of-fighters-xv-official-gameplay-reveal"] Following the reveal trailer, KOF XV Creative Director Eisuke Ogura and Producer Yasuyuki Oda revealed a little more about how the game will play when it launches in 2021. "We're focusing on keeping the series' staple of being fast-paced while also adding elements to make it more exciting," Ogura notes. The developers are currently "brushing up features and optimizing the game," but plan to ship in 2021. Another trailer for The King of Fighters XV will land next week to supplement the reveal. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=king-of-fighters-xv-6-screenshots&captions=true"] Today's trailer also included news on King of Fighters 14 Ultimate Edition - out now digitally - a new release for King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match on PS4, and then revealed Cham Cham and The Last Blade 2's Hibiki Tanake as DLC characters for the Samurai Shodown Season 3 Pass. Samurai Shodown will also receive a game reblance in March. KOF XV was announced during EVO 2019, and we got our first glimpse of the game back in December 2020, which revealed that in addition to the characters mentioned above, Benimaru would be playable. It's not clear what platforms the game will be available on just yet. Here's our review of King of Fighters 14, which debuted in 2016. We scored it an 8, noting its "dated graphics and dodgy netcode". [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

King of Fighters XV: First Gameplay, 6 Characters Revealed

SNK Corporation has formally revealed The King of Fighters XV by debuting gameplay and showing off six characters. The game will launch later this year. The announcement was initially postponed on Wednesday and suffered a brief delay. Characters shown off in a new trailer (below) include K', Kyo Kusanagi, Leona, Benimaru, Shun'ei and Mai Shiranui. Not much in the way of detail is added, but we get a good look at the game's visual style, which looks to be a little more stylised than KOF 14. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/08/the-king-of-fighters-xv-official-gameplay-reveal"] Following the reveal trailer, KOF XV Creative Director Eisuke Ogura and Producer Yasuyuki Oda revealed a little more about how the game will play when it launches in 2021. "We're focusing on keeping the series' staple of being fast-paced while also adding elements to make it more exciting," Ogura notes. The developers are currently "brushing up features and optimizing the game," but plan to ship in 2021. Another trailer for The King of Fighters XV will land next week to supplement the reveal. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=king-of-fighters-xv-6-screenshots&captions=true"] Today's trailer also included news on King of Fighters 14 Ultimate Edition - out now digitally - a new release for King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match on PS4, and then revealed Cham Cham and The Last Blade 2's Hibiki Tanake as DLC characters for the Samurai Shodown Season 3 Pass. Samurai Shodown will also receive a game reblance in March. KOF XV was announced during EVO 2019, and we got our first glimpse of the game back in December 2020, which revealed that in addition to the characters mentioned above, Benimaru would be playable. It's not clear what platforms the game will be available on just yet. Here's our review of King of Fighters 14, which debuted in 2016. We scored it an 8, noting its "dated graphics and dodgy netcode". [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

There Is No Microsoft/Duracell Deal Meaning Xbox Has to Use AA Batteries in Controllers

Amid new speculation caused by comments from a Duracell spokesperson, IGN understands that there is no deal forcing Xbox to use AA batteries in its controllers. Speaking to Stealth Optional, Duracell UK marketing manager Luke Anderson sparked speculation by saying, “There’s always been this partnership with Duracell and Xbox… It’s a constant agreement that Duracell and Microsoft have in place [...] [The deal is] for OEM to supply the battery product for the Xbox consoles and also the controllers’ battery. So that [deal is] going to go on for a while… it’s been going on for a while and I think it needs to go for a while [more].” Many took this to mean that the deal mentioned was the sole reason that Xbox uses AA batteries in its controllers, and some speculated that it could change that fact once the deal finishes. However, sources tell IGN that this is inaccurate. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/05/xbox-series-x-controller-review"] Duracell batteries are included with Xbox controllers, and Xbox has indeed been a part of Duracell OEM, a partnership program run by the battery manufacturer, but that appears to be a byproduct of Microsoft's decision to use AA batteries, rather than the cause of it. Contacted for comment, a Microsoft spokesperson said: “We intentionally offer consumers choice in their battery solutions for our standard Xbox Wireless Controllers. This includes the use of AA batteries from any brand, the Xbox Rechargeable Battery, charging solutions from our partners, or a USB-C cable, which can power the controller when plugged in to the console or PC.” That message echoes the words of, Xbox Series X designer Jason Ronald last year, when he explained why Xbox controllers still use AA batteries, saying that it was ultimately about flexibility for players. Neither Anderson nor Duracell OEM replied to a request for comment from IGN by time of publish. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

No, Xbox Doesn’t Have a Deal With Duracell Meaning It Has to Use AA Batteries in Controllers

Amid new speculation caused by comments from a Duracell spokesperson, IGN understands that there is no deal forcing Xbox to use AA batteries in its controllers. Speaking to Stealth Optional, Duracell UK marketing manager Luke Anderson sparked speculation by saying, “There’s always been this partnership with Duracell and Xbox… It’s a constant agreement that Duracell and Microsoft have in place [...] [The deal is] for OEM to supply the battery product for the Xbox consoles and also the controllers’ battery. So that [deal is] going to go on for a while… it’s been going on for a while and I think it needs to go for a while [more].” Many took this to mean that the deal mentioned was the sole reason that Xbox uses AA batteries in its controllers, and some speculated that it could change that fact once the deal finishes. However, sources tell IGN that this is inaccurate. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/05/xbox-series-x-controller-review"] Duracell batteries are included with Xbox controllers, and Xbox has indeed been a part of Duracell OEM, a partnership program run by the battery manufacturer, but that appears to be a byproduct of Microsoft's decision to use AA batteries, rather than the cause of it. Contacted for comment, a Microsoft spokesperson said: “We intentionally offer consumers choice in their battery solutions for our standard Xbox Wireless Controllers. This includes the use of AA batteries from any brand, the Xbox Rechargeable Battery, charging solutions from our partners, or a USB-C cable, which can power the controller when plugged in to the console or PC.” That message echoes the words of, Xbox Series X designer Jason Ronald last year, when he explained why Xbox controllers still use AA batteries, saying that it was ultimately about flexibility for players. Neither Anderson nor Duracell OEM replied to a request for comment from IGN by time of publish. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.