Monthly Archives: May 2021

Red Dead Online, FIFA 21, and More Arrive on Xbox Game Pass in May 2021

Xbox has announced that Red Dead Online, FIFA 21, Just Cause 4: Reloaded, Outlast, Psychonauts, Steep, Dragon Quest Builders 2, Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster, and Remnant: From the Ashes will all be joining Xbox Game Pass in May 2021. As detailed by Xbox Wire, Red Dead Online is the standalone version of the online game that was once only available to those who owned Red Dead Redemption 2. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/02/red-dead-online-standalone-launch-trailer"] While Red Dead Redemption 2 was removed from Xbox Game Pass in September 2020, Red Dead Online will give players the opportunity to go back to the end of the Wild West with their friends. It also joins Grand Theft Auto 5, which was re-added to Xbox Game Pass last month. The full list of games coming to Xbox Game Pass, and what platforms they will be available on, are as follows;
  • Dragon Quest Builders 2 (Console and PC) - May 4
  • FIFA 21 (Console and PC via EA Play) - May 6
  • Outlast 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC) - May 6
  • Steep (Cloud and Console) - May 6
  • Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster (Console and PC) - May 13
  • Just Cause 4: Reloaded (Cloud, Console, and PC) - May 13
  • Psychonauts (Cloud, Console, and PC) - May 13
  • Red Dead Online (Cloud and Console) - May 13
  • Remnant: From the Ashes (PC) - May 13
Dragon Quest Builders 2 arrives on Xbox for the first time on May 4 and will be available to all Xbox Game Pass subscribers. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/07/11/dragon-quest-builders-2-review"] For more on Red Dead Online, check out our review from 2019 and our Wiki which includes all the updates and tips on how to be the best outlaw you can be. As per usual, some games will also leave the Xbox Game Pass this month as well. On May 15 the following titles will leave Microsoft's video game subscription service.
  • Alan Wake (Console and PC)
  • Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2 (PC)
  • Dungeon of the Endless (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Final Fantasy IX (Console and PC)
  • Hotline Miami (PC)
  • Plebby Quest: The Crusades (PC)
[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.

Red Dead Online, FIFA 21, and More Arrive on Xbox Game Pass in May 2021

Xbox has announced that Red Dead Online, FIFA 21, Just Cause 4: Reloaded, Outlast, Psychonauts, Steep, Dragon Quest Builders 2, Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster, and Remnant: From the Ashes will all be joining Xbox Game Pass in May 2021. As detailed by Xbox Wire, Red Dead Online is the standalone version of the online game that was once only available to those who owned Red Dead Redemption 2. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/02/red-dead-online-standalone-launch-trailer"] While Red Dead Redemption 2 was removed from Xbox Game Pass in September 2020, Red Dead Online will give players the opportunity to go back to the end of the Wild West with their friends. It also joins Grand Theft Auto 5, which was re-added to Xbox Game Pass last month. The full list of games coming to Xbox Game Pass, and what platforms they will be available on, are as follows;
  • Dragon Quest Builders 2 (Console and PC) - May 4
  • FIFA 21 (Console and PC via EA Play) - May 6
  • Outlast 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC) - May 6
  • Steep (Cloud and Console) - May 6
  • Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster (Console and PC) - May 13
  • Just Cause 4: Reloaded (Cloud, Console, and PC) - May 13
  • Psychonauts (Cloud, Console, and PC) - May 13
  • Red Dead Online (Cloud and Console) - May 13
  • Remnant: From the Ashes (PC) - May 13
Dragon Quest Builders 2 arrives on Xbox for the first time on May 4 and will be available to all Xbox Game Pass subscribers. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/07/11/dragon-quest-builders-2-review"] For more on Red Dead Online, check out our review from 2019 and our Wiki which includes all the updates and tips on how to be the best outlaw you can be. As per usual, some games will also leave the Xbox Game Pass this month as well. On May 15 the following titles will leave Microsoft's video game subscription service.
  • Alan Wake (Console and PC)
  • Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2 (PC)
  • Dungeon of the Endless (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Final Fantasy IX (Console and PC)
  • Hotline Miami (PC)
  • Plebby Quest: The Crusades (PC)
[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.

Star Wars and Simpsons Crossover Short Joins Disney+ Star Wars Day Celebrations

Disney is set to celebrate Star Wars Day (May the 4th Be With You!) with a new Star Wars and The Simpsons crossover short called Maggie Simpson in 'The Force Awakens From Its Nap' on Disney+. The Simpsons short will be available to all Disney+ subscribers on May 4th alongside Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars Biomes, Star Wars Vehicle Flythroughs, and a fan art takeover of the streaming service, as reported by Variety. E0d8utUUcAQpzyq "In a daycare far, far away… but still in Springfield, Maggie is on an epic quest for her stolen pacifier," the official synopsis reads. "Her adventure brings her face-to-face with young Padawans, Sith Lords, familiar droids, Rebel scum, and an ultimate battle against the dark side, in this original short celebrating the Star Wars galaxy." Star Wars Biomes will let fans "take a virtual vacation" to such iconic Star Wars locations as Hoth, Tatooine, and Sorgan, Variety reports. Star Wars Vehicle Flythroughs will give an up-close-and-personal look at the interiors and exteriors of the Millennium Falcon and an Imperial Star Destroyer. Star Wars: Bad Batch's 70-minute premiere is, for many, the highlight of this year's Star Wars Day as it will act as a continuation of sorts to the Clone Wars series. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/03/30/star-wars-the-bad-batch-official-trailer-2"] [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.

Star Wars and Simpsons Crossover Short Joins Disney+ Star Wars Day Celebrations

Disney is set to celebrate Star Wars Day (May the 4th Be With You!) with a new Star Wars and The Simpsons crossover short called Maggie Simpson in 'The Force Awakens From Its Nap' on Disney+. The Simpsons short will be available to all Disney+ subscribers on May 4th alongside Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars Biomes, Star Wars Vehicle Flythroughs, and a fan art takeover of the streaming service, as reported by Variety. E0d8utUUcAQpzyq "In a daycare far, far away… but still in Springfield, Maggie is on an epic quest for her stolen pacifier," the official synopsis reads. "Her adventure brings her face-to-face with young Padawans, Sith Lords, familiar droids, Rebel scum, and an ultimate battle against the dark side, in this original short celebrating the Star Wars galaxy." Star Wars Biomes will let fans "take a virtual vacation" to such iconic Star Wars locations as Hoth, Tatooine, and Sorgan, Variety reports. Star Wars Vehicle Flythroughs will give an up-close-and-personal look at the interiors and exteriors of the Millennium Falcon and an Imperial Star Destroyer. Star Wars: Bad Batch's 70-minute premiere is, for many, the highlight of this year's Star Wars Day as it will act as a continuation of sorts to the Clone Wars series. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/03/30/star-wars-the-bad-batch-official-trailer-2"] [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.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, The Marvels Official Titles Announced

Marvel has revealed that the official titles for the sequels to Black Panther and Captain Marvel are Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and The Marvels. Revealed alongside a celebration of Marvel films and a tease of what's to come, Marvel also gave fans a glimpse of Eternals. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/05/03/marvel-studios-celebrates-the-movies-mcu-phase-4-featurette"] Marvel also highlighted the release dates for its upcoming films, except for Fantastic Four. The full list is as follows;
  • Black Widow - July 9, 2021
  • Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings - September 3, 2021
  • Eternals - November 5, 2021
  • Spider-Man: No Way Home - December 17, 2021
  • Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness - March 25, 2022
  • Thor: Love and Thunder - May 6, 2022
  • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - July 8, 2022
  • The Marvels - November 11, 2022
  • Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania - February 17, 2023
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 - May 5, 2023
  • Fantastic Four - TBA
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvels-eternals-images&captions=true"] Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will not recast the late Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa, but instead will "continue to explore the world of Wakanda and all of the rich and varied characters introduced in the first film." Ryan Coogler will be returning to direct and write the sequel, and Letitia Wright (Shuri), Lupita Nyong’o (Nakia), Winston Duke (M'Baku) and Angela Bassett (Ramonda) are all expected to reprise their roles as well. The Marvels will see Brie Larson returning as Captain Marvel and WandaVision's Teyonah Parris (Monica Rambeau) has also signed on board for the sequel. Velvet Buzzsaw's Zawe Ashton is set to play the villain. [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.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, The Marvels Official Titles Announced

Marvel has revealed that the official titles for the sequels to Black Panther and Captain Marvel are Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and The Marvels. Revealed alongside a celebration of Marvel films and a tease of what's to come, Marvel also gave fans a glimpse of Eternals. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/05/03/marvel-studios-celebrates-the-movies-mcu-phase-4-featurette"] Marvel also highlighted the release dates for its upcoming films, except for Fantastic Four. The full list is as follows;
  • Black Widow - July 9, 2021
  • Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings - September 3, 2021
  • Eternals - November 5, 2021
  • Spider-Man: No Way Home - December 17, 2021
  • Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness - March 25, 2022
  • Thor: Love and Thunder - May 6, 2022
  • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - July 8, 2022
  • The Marvels - November 11, 2022
  • Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania - February 17, 2023
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 - May 5, 2023
  • Fantastic Four - TBA
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvels-eternals-images&captions=true"] Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will not recast the late Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa, but instead will "continue to explore the world of Wakanda and all of the rich and varied characters introduced in the first film." Ryan Coogler will be returning to direct and write the sequel, and Letitia Wright (Shuri), Lupita Nyong’o (Nakia), Winston Duke (M'Baku) and Angela Bassett (Ramonda) are all expected to reprise their roles as well. The Marvels will see Brie Larson returning as Captain Marvel and WandaVision's Teyonah Parris (Monica Rambeau) has also signed on board for the sequel. Velvet Buzzsaw's Zawe Ashton is set to play the villain. [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.

Taika Waititi to Play Blackbeard in HBO Max’s Our Flag Means Death

Taika Waititi is set to become the legendary pirate Blackbeard in the upcoming HBO Max comedy series Our Flag Means Death. As reported by Variety, Waititi will be reunited with Rhys Darby - the series lead who is set to play Stede Bonnet. Darby starred in HBO's Flight of the Conchords and the What We Do in the Shadows film, while Waititi was the writer and director on the series and the star, co-writer, co-director, and producer on the film. [caption id="attachment_2508333" align="aligncenter" width="720"]Image Credit: Rachel Luna/Getty Images Image Credit: Rachel Luna/Getty Images[/caption] Waititi was already confirmed to executive produce and direct the pilot for Our Flag Means Death, which is "loosely based on the true adventures of Stede Bonnet (Darby), a pampered aristocrat who abandoned his life of privilege to become a pirate." “Our Blackbeard is a legend, a lover, a fighter, a tactical genius, a poetic soul, and quite possibly insane,” said series creator David Jenkins. “Only one man could play this role, and that is the great Taika Waititi. We’re thrilled beyond measure he’s decided to don the beard.” Waititi is also known for his work in the MCU for directing Thor: Ragnarok and the upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder. He won an Academy Award for best original screenplay for Jojo Rabbit, and also directed the season one finale of The Mandalorian and lent his voice to IG-11 in the Star Wars series. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2011/05/19/pirates-of-the-caribbean-on-stranger-tides-video-review"] Blackbeard was a notorious English pirate who was born around 1680 as Edward Teach. He was a fearsome raider who was known to light matches in his iconic beard to instill even more fear amongst all who saw him. He made quite a name for himself until he was ambushed in 1718 and quite literally lost his head. Since then, he has become one of the most popular pirate characters and has appeared in such films as Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. [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.

Taika Waititi to Play Blackbeard in HBO Max’s Our Flag Means Death

Taika Waititi is set to become the legendary pirate Blackbeard in the upcoming HBO Max comedy series Our Flag Means Death. As reported by Variety, Waititi will be reunited with Rhys Darby - the series lead who is set to play Stede Bonnet. Darby starred in HBO's Flight of the Conchrods and the What We Do in the Shadows film, while Waititi was the writer and director on the series and the star, co-writer, co-director, and producer on the film. [caption id="attachment_2508333" align="aligncenter" width="720"]Image Credit: Rachel Luna/Getty Images Image Credit: Rachel Luna/Getty Images[/caption] Waititi was already confirmed to executive produce and direct the pilot for Our Flag Means Death, which is "loosely based on the true adventures of Stede Bonnet (Darby), a pampered aristocrat who abandoned his life of privilege to become a pirate." “Our Blackbeard is a legend, a lover, a fighter, a tactical genius, a poetic soul, and quite possibly insane,” said series creator David Jenkins. “Only one man could play this role, and that is the great Taika Waititi. We’re thrilled beyond measure he’s decided to don the beard.” Waititi is also known for his work in the MCU for directing Thor: Ragnarok and the upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder. He won an Academy Award for best original screenplay for Jojo Rabbit, and also directed the season one finale of The Mandalorian and lent his voice to IG-11 in the Star Wars series. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2011/05/19/pirates-of-the-caribbean-on-stranger-tides-video-review"] Blackbeard was a notorious English pirate who was born around 1680 as Edward Teach. He was a fearsome raider who was known to light matches in his iconic beard to instill even more fear amongst all who saw him. He made quite a name for himself until he was ambushed in 1718 and quite literally lost his head. Since then, he has become one of the most popular pirate characters and has appeared in such films as Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. [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.

Here’s Roger Ebert Showing Off the Greatest Entertainment System of 1988

A fantastic video from 1988 has resurfaced that shows legendary American film critic Roger Ebert showing off the greatest entertainment system of 1988 - the LaserVision. Shared by Jeremy Herbert on Twitter, the late Roger Ebert appeared with Gene Siskel in a 1988 Holiday Gift Guide and he welcomed viewers to his basement entertainment center as part of one segment to show off his setup. While showing off his entertainment center, which he called "The Orson Welles Room," Ebert began by explaining that he had a 45" screen because the 50" screen would not fit down the stairs. He then proceeded to say how "anyone with any kind of large TV screen needs LaserVision in order to get a good picture on the screen because it gives you a lot more definition." The LaserVision, or LaserDisc, first arrived in the US in 1978 and was a home video format and the first commercial optical disc storage medium. LaserDisc was a big upgrade from VHS, offering 425 lines of resolution as opposed to VHS's 240 lines. LaserDisc also offered Digital Audio over Analog Audio. [caption id="attachment_2508324" align="aligncenter" width="720"]Image Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images Image Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images[/caption] LaserVision also had, by today's standard, giant optical discs that resembled the size and shape of vinyl records. Ebert even commented that they looked like "what they would eat off of in the spaceship in Close Encounters [of the Third Kind]." While it never quite reached the popularity of DVD in the US, it was popular in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia. It also laid the foundation for CD, DVD, and Blu-Ray. Roger Ebert was the first film critic to win the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism and worked for the Chicago Sun-Times from 1987 until his death in 2013 at the age of 70. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2013/04/05/roger-ebert-passes-away-at-age-70"] [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.

Here’s Roger Ebert Showing Off the Greatest Entertainment System of 1988

A fantastic video from 1988 has resurfaced that shows legendary American film critic Roger Ebert showing off the greatest entertainment system of 1988 - the LaserVision. Shared by Jeremy Herbert on Twitter, the late Roger Ebert appeared with Gene Siskel in a 1988 Holiday Gift Guide and he welcomed viewers to his basement entertainment center as part of one segment to show off his setup. While showing off his entertainment center, which he called "The Orson Welles Room," Ebert began by explaining that he had a 45" screen because the 50" screen would not fit down the stairs. He then proceeded to say how "anyone with any kind of large TV screen needs LaserVision in order to get a good picture on the screen because it gives you a lot more definition." The LaserVision, or LaserDisc, first arrived in the US in 1978 and was a home video format and the first commercial optical disc storage medium. LaserDisc was a big upgrade from VHS, offering 425 lines of resolution as opposed to VHS's 240 lines. LaserDisc also offered Digital Audio over Analog Audio. [caption id="attachment_2508324" align="aligncenter" width="720"]Image Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images Image Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images[/caption] LaserVision also had, by today's standard, giant optical discs that resembled the size and shape of vinyl records. Ebert even commented that they looked like "what they would eat off of in the spaceship in Close Encounters [of the Third Kind]." While it never quite reached the popularity of DVD in the US, it was popular in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia. It also laid the foundation for CD, DVD, and Blu-Ray. Roger Ebert was the first film critic to win the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism and worked for the Chicago Sun-Times from 1987 until his death in 2013 at the age of 70. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2013/04/05/roger-ebert-passes-away-at-age-70"] [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.