A new Xbox Game Pass / Falcon and the Winter Soldier commercial uses Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson and the MCU's "blip" to sell viewers on Game Pass. The commercial features Sam going into a store that only sells Xbox games and telling the Microsoft employee that he missed 5 years of his life, including his nephews growing up. Sam says he has a lot to catch up on and asks the store employee for help. But that's not just any long-haired, geeky Microsoft employee, it's Aaron from Captain America: The Winter Soldier, who points to an Xbox Series X and S on display. A montage ensues of Xbox games with an announcer talking about discovering new games on the service. Actor DC Pierson returns to play Aaron in his second MCU appearance. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/03/09/xbox-the-falcon-and-the-winter-soldier-what-did-i-miss-trailer"] A debate ensued on Twitter, if you can believe it, about whether that was actually Aaron from Winter Soldier. Pierson replied to a thread of tweets confirming that it's him. The official Xbox Twitter account chimed in by saying, "Aaron is definitely employee of the month."

Aaron is definitely employee of the month

— Xbox (@Xbox) March 9, 2021

In The Winter Soldier, Aaron was an Apple Store employee. Now that Microsoft has shut down all but four Microsoft stores, maybe Sam can get Aaron a job working for the Avengers. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvels-the-falcon-and-the-winter-soldier-character-posters&captions=true"] The Falcon and the Winter Soldier debuts March 19 on Disney+. Four character posters were released, and producer Kevin Feige recently spoke about how the series will explore Falcon taking over as Captain America. Feige also provided updates on She-Hulk, Moon Knight, and more. As for Game Pass, it was announced that Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda has gone through, which means there will be new Bethesda games on Game Pass by the end of the week. This comes after Microsoft put games like Dirt 5 and Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire on Game Pass at the end of February. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Petey Oneto is a freelance writer for IGN.

If you've ever wondered what Spider-Man would look like as a 100-foot-tall Japanese mecha, Mondo has the answer. The company is kicking off a new line of Marvel Mecha figures that reimagine iconic Marvel heroes as giant kaiju-battling robots, and Spidey is first in line., IGN can exclusively offer a closer look at the first two figures in the Marvel Mecha series, a traditional red and blue version of Spider-Man and a limited black costume variant. Click through the slideshow gallery below to see both figures: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvel-mecha-spider-man-figures-coming-from-mondo&captions=true"] Both versions of the Spider-Man figure measure in at 10 inches tall and have 30 points of articulation. The figures include a number of accessories like swords, web shields and other webbing effects. These figures were designed in-house at Mondo by Remy Paul and sculpted by Jay Kushwara. Mondo is also teasing at least two more figures in the series, with both Black Panther and Captain America next in line for the Marvel Mecha treatment. While they aren't based on any existing Marvel Comics storylines, there is a mythology fueling the Marvel Mecha line. Mondo's Tim Wiesch developed a storyline for the series and is writing a series of mini manga comics that will accompany each release (sort of like the classic Masters of the Universe figures). Here's Mondo's official summary of that story:

Late in the early 23rd Century mankind took its first real steps onto the galactic stage. A new Plasma Engine technology had made the exploration of the furthermost limits of the Milky Way achievable within an incredibly short amount of time. And explore they did. Within the span of just two generations humankind would call hundreds of planets home. To protect all of these new expeditions, the Governments of Earth created an elite space fighting force known as MECHA where only the best of the best are given the opportunity to pilot the most incredible force in the galaxy. But in those outer reaches of space, an unknown terror was emerging. Merchant vessels and military ships alike were found abandoned or, even worse, with no survivors throughout the galaxy in a rapidly accelerating pattern. Across all known space the Mecha are on high alert but without concrete evidence of what they should be looking for very little has been done to protect the space travelers. That is about to change…

Both figures are available to preorder now through Mondo's website. The red and blue figure is priced at $160 and the symbiote variant is priced at $170. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/21/spawn-creator-todd-mcfarlane-on-remastering-a-beloved-90s-action-figure"] In other recent toy news, Hasbro teased a series of vintage-style Star Wars: The Black Series figures to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lucasfilm, while Spawn creator is teasing a followup to his massively successful Spawn figure Kickstarter. [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.

If you've ever wondered what Spider-Man would look like as a 100-foot-tall Japanese mecha, Mondo has the answer. The company is kicking off a new line of Marvel Mecha figures that reimagine iconic Marvel heroes as giant kaiju-battling robots, and Spidey is first in line., IGN can exclusively offer a closer look at the first two figures in the Marvel Mecha series, a traditional red and blue version of Spider-Man and a limited black costume variant. Click through the slideshow gallery below to see both figures: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvel-mecha-spider-man-figures-coming-from-mondo&captions=true"] Both versions of the Spider-Man figure measure in at 10 inches tall and have 30 points of articulation. The figures include a number of accessories like swords, web shields and other webbing effects. These figures were designed in-house at Mondo by Remy Paul and sculpted by Jay Kushwara. Mondo is also teasing at least two more figures in the series, with both Black Panther and Captain America next in line for the Marvel Mecha treatment. While they aren't based on any existing Marvel Comics storylines, there is a mythology fueling the Marvel Mecha line. Mondo's Tim Wiesch developed a storyline for the series and is writing a series of mini manga comics that will accompany each release (sort of like the classic Masters of the Universe figures). Here's Mondo's official summary of that story:

Late in the early 23rd Century mankind took its first real steps onto the galactic stage. A new Plasma Engine technology had made the exploration of the furthermost limits of the Milky Way achievable within an incredibly short amount of time. And explore they did. Within the span of just two generations humankind would call hundreds of planets home. To protect all of these new expeditions, the Governments of Earth created an elite space fighting force known as MECHA where only the best of the best are given the opportunity to pilot the most incredible force in the galaxy. But in those outer reaches of space, an unknown terror was emerging. Merchant vessels and military ships alike were found abandoned or, even worse, with no survivors throughout the galaxy in a rapidly accelerating pattern. Across all known space the Mecha are on high alert but without concrete evidence of what they should be looking for very little has been done to protect the space travelers. That is about to change…

Both figures are available to preorder now through Mondo's website. The red and blue figure is priced at $160 and the symbiote variant is priced at $170. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/21/spawn-creator-todd-mcfarlane-on-remastering-a-beloved-90s-action-figure"] In other recent toy news, Hasbro teased a series of vintage-style Star Wars: The Black Series figures to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lucasfilm, while Spawn creator is teasing a followup to his massively successful Spawn figure Kickstarter. [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.

The live-action Powerpuff Girls series at The CW has found its three leads with Chloe Bennet, Dove Cameron, and Yana Perrault playing the superpowered sisters. According to Variety, Bennet has been cast as Blossom, Cameron as Bubbles, and Perrault as Buttercup. Bennet and Cameron both previously appeared on ABC’s Agents of Shield together. The live-action Powerpuff Girls is set years after the events of the children’s cartoon. The three Powerpuff Girls are now “disillusioned twenty-something-year-olds” who resent they lost their childhoods to crime-fighting, and have to learn to work together again in the face of a new threat. [caption id="attachment_2484407" align="alignnone" width="594"] Source: Chloe Bennet has been cast as Blossom. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)[/caption] In the cartoons, Blossom was the de facto leader of the Powerpuff Girls. According to Variety’s synopsis, Blossom holds several advanced degrees, but is suffering from repressed superhero trauma leading her to live life as an anxious recluse. She hopes to regain her role as a leader in the series. Meanwhile, Bubbles is still the same sparkling character as she was in the past, but is now interested in recapturing her fame by saving the world. And Buttercup in the series has spent most of her life living anonymously and trying to leave behind her past. [caption id="attachment_2484410" align="alignnone" width="594"] Dove Cameron will play Bubbles. Source: (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)[/caption] In both Bubbles and Buttercup’s case, their outward personas hide secret depths that may seem opposite to how they appear on the surface. [caption id="attachment_2484411" align="alignnone" width="414"] Yana Perrault will play Buttercup. Source: (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)[/caption] Bennet is known for playing Daisy “Skye” Johnson on Agents of SHIELD for seven seasons. While Cameron was seen on Disney Channel shows like the “Descendants.” Perrault is known for her musical roles including the Alanis Morissette musical “Jagged Little Pill.” Diablo Cody and Heather Regnier are writing the pilot, and Greg Berlanti, David Madden, and Sarah Schecter are on board as producers. The last time the Powerpuff Girls were on TV was in a 2016 animated reboot for Cartoon Network. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is News Editor at IGN.

The live-action Powerpuff Girls series at The CW has found its three leads with Chloe Bennet, Dove Cameron, and Yana Perrault playing the superpowered sisters. According to Variety, Bennet has been cast as Blossom, Cameron as Bubbles, and Perrault as Buttercup. Bennet and Cameron both previously appeared on ABC’s Agents of Shield together. The live-action Powerpuff Girls is set years after the events of the children’s cartoon. The three Powerpuff Girls are now “disillusioned twenty-something-year-olds” who resent they lost their childhoods to crime-fighting, and have to learn to work together again in the face of a new threat. [caption id="attachment_2484407" align="alignnone" width="594"] Source: Chloe Bennet has been cast as Blossom. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)[/caption] In the cartoons, Blossom was the de facto leader of the Powerpuff Girls. According to Variety’s synopsis, Blossom holds several advanced degrees, but is suffering from repressed superhero trauma leading her to live life as an anxious recluse. She hopes to regain her role as a leader in the series. Meanwhile, Bubbles is still the same sparkling character as she was in the past, but is now interested in recapturing her fame by saving the world. And Buttercup in the series has spent most of her life living anonymously and trying to leave behind her past. [caption id="attachment_2484410" align="alignnone" width="594"] Dove Cameron will play Bubbles. Source: (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)[/caption] In both Bubbles and Buttercup’s case, their outward personas hide secret depths that may seem opposite to how they appear on the surface. [caption id="attachment_2484411" align="alignnone" width="414"] Yana Perrault will play Buttercup. Source: (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)[/caption] Bennet is known for playing Daisy “Skye” Johnson on Agents of SHIELD for seven seasons. While Cameron was seen on Disney Channel shows like the “Descendants.” Perrault is known for her musical roles including the Alanis Morissette musical “Jagged Little Pill.” Diablo Cody and Heather Regnier are writing the pilot, and Greg Berlanti, David Madden, and Sarah Schecter are on board as producers. The last time the Powerpuff Girls were on TV was in a 2016 animated reboot for Cartoon Network. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is News Editor at IGN.

This week in Red Dead Online, claim tons of Bounty Hunter-specific bonuses, login bonuses, Outlaw Pass No. 4 bonuses, and much more.

This week in Red Dead Online, claim tons of Bounty Hunter-specific bonuses, login bonuses, Outlaw Pass No. 4 bonuses, and much more.

MCU boss Kevin Feige has revealed that The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, the next Marvel Disney+ show, will explore what it means for Sam Wilson to take over shield duties from Steve Rogers. In a chat with Variety, Feige said “What is he going to do with that shield? I think there are a lot of expectations and presumptions about — you get handed an icon, you become that icon. Is that easy? Spoiler alert, it is not.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/07/marvels-falcon-and-the-winter-soldier-official-trailer"] Wilson was handed Captain America’s shield at the end of Avengers: Endgame in a ‘passing the torch’ moment. This effectively puts Wilson on track to transform into the next incarnation of America’s heroic patriot, much like the character did in the Marvel comics a few years ago. As part of the show, Feige wants to explore that, particularly in relation to race. “What does it really mean for somebody to step into those shoes? And not just somebody, but a Black man in the present day,” he said. “That’s what Mackie and our head writer Malcom Spellman and all of us didn’t want to shy away from.” Feige notes in the interview that star Anthony Mackie had “closer to six seconds” of screentime in Avengers: Endgame, and so the longform format of a TV show will help dig into his background and personality. “He’s a man, and he’s an African American man,” said Feige, emphasising that he’s not a thunder god or king. “He’s got experience in the military, he’s got experience doing grief counseling with soldiers with PTSD. That’s how Steve Rogers initially developed this friendship with him. What’s so great about the move to Disney Plus long form is that we get to see much more of these characters.” [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvels-the-falcon-and-the-winter-soldier-character-posters&captions=true"] “We want to know more about this guy being thrown into this situation and handling it spectacularly well considering he’s just a man,” he added. “That’s what the show is about. This man, this Black man in particular, in the Marvel version of the world outside our window.” For more on The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, take a look at our explainer of who the new character U.S. Agent is, as well as why Civil War villain Baron Zemo has returned to the MCU. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. 

MCU boss Kevin Feige has revealed that The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, the next Marvel Disney+ show, will explore what it means for Sam Wilson to take over shield duties from Steve Rogers. In a chat with Variety, Feige said “What is he going to do with that shield? I think there are a lot of expectations and presumptions about — you get handed an icon, you become that icon. Is that easy? Spoiler alert, it is not.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/07/marvels-falcon-and-the-winter-soldier-official-trailer"] Wilson was handed Captain America’s shield at the end of Avengers: Endgame in a ‘passing the torch’ moment. This effectively puts Wilson on track to transform into the next incarnation of America’s heroic patriot, much like the character did in the Marvel comics a few years ago. As part of the show, Feige wants to explore that, particularly in relation to race. “What does it really mean for somebody to step into those shoes? And not just somebody, but a Black man in the present day,” he said. “That’s what Mackie and our head writer Malcom Spellman and all of us didn’t want to shy away from.” Feige notes in the interview that star Anthony Mackie had “closer to six seconds” of screentime in Avengers: Endgame, and so the longform format of a TV show will help dig into his background and personality. “He’s a man, and he’s an African American man,” said Feige, emphasising that he’s not a thunder god or king. “He’s got experience in the military, he’s got experience doing grief counseling with soldiers with PTSD. That’s how Steve Rogers initially developed this friendship with him. What’s so great about the move to Disney Plus long form is that we get to see much more of these characters.” [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvels-the-falcon-and-the-winter-soldier-character-posters&captions=true"] “We want to know more about this guy being thrown into this situation and handling it spectacularly well considering he’s just a man,” he added. “That’s what the show is about. This man, this Black man in particular, in the Marvel version of the world outside our window.” For more on The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, take a look at our explainer of who the new character U.S. Agent is, as well as why Civil War villain Baron Zemo has returned to the MCU. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. 

The Count of Monte Cristo is one of the most iconic and most adapted novels ever published. But it's safe to say you've never seen a version of that story like the one in Count. This upcoming graphic novel from writer/artist Ibraim Moustafa (James Bond: Origin) retains the basic elements of a wrongfully imprisoned man embarking on a quest for vengeance, but transforms it into a futuristic science fiction epic. With publisher Humanoids set to release Count on Tuesday, March 16, IGN can exclusively reveal several pages from the new graphic novel. Click through the slideshow gallery below to get a taste of just how dramatically Moustafa has changed a familiar tale: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=count-graphic-novel-preview&captions=true"] The titular protagonist in Count is Redxan Sahmud. As in the Alexandre Dumas story, Redxan is framed and wrongfully imprisoned, only to escape and luck into a newfound fortune and a helper robot named Aru. Redxan assumes a new identity and infiltrates high society, oping to punish those responsible for his imprisonment. But as he moves deeper into his plot, Redxan finds himself torn between his thirst for vengeance and his desire to help others like him. "I love stories about justice and retribution, and The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas is the classic tale in the genre, with timeless themes throughout," Moustafa told IGN. "The original, taking place in 19th century France, is an amazing tale that was ripe for retelling in a more timeless, action-infused setting." Moustafa continued, "Taking the broad strokes from the original, I set out to reimagine the world of the story, and extrapolate on the more contemporary stakes surrounding the themes of class struggle, and justice for the people. COUNT is the story of a man who was wronged by the system, who finds himself in a position to do something about it. He has to decide if his own thirst for revenge is more important than the good of the people." “Ibrahim Moustafa’s COUNT is phenomenal,” said Publisher Mark Waid in a statement. “Ibrahim has taken a classic text and brought a modern sensibility to it, with widescreen storytelling and clever reinvention. This book is a signpost for the kind of graphic novels that we'll be publishing in the months and years to come.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/04/what-to-expect-from-marvel-in-2021"] Humanoids has also released a video trailer for Count on YouTube. Count is the first in a three-book deal between Moustafa and Humanoids. The other two projects will be announced at a later date. In other comic book news, we spoke with the creative team behind Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point to learn how the Dark Knight is helping to expand the Fortnite multiverse. You can also check out our exclusive previews of God of War: Fallen God #1 and Wonder Woman: Earth One Vol. 3. [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.