Monthly Archives: August 2019
Bond 25: Everything We Know About No Time to Die (So Far)
Although the 25th movie in the James Bond film franchise has been filming since April, we only learned what its official title is on Tuesday.
As with all Bond films, there have been lots of rumors swirling about the movie, as well as plenty of hard news.
So let’s break down everything we do know so far about the next James Bond movie, starting with ...
The Title
The official title for Bond 25 is No Time to Die. It was revealed via the official Bond social media accounts on August 20, 2019.
The Release Date
No Time to Die will be released globally from April 3, 2020 in the U.K. through Universal Pictures International and in the U.S on April 8, from MGM via their United Artists Releasing banner.
How Submarines Are Invading World of Warships
Like the greatest naval commanders throughout history, World of Warships developer Lesta Studio is all about the numbers. In the four years since it first exited its open beta harbour and entered the waters of full release, the free-to-play World of Warships has accumulated over 30 million registered users, with a combined total of over 130 million ships acquired, more than 180 billion in-game kilometres travelled, and some 612 billion shots fired. (“Some of them actually hit their targets, and some of them actually sank their targets as well,” jokes global executive producer Artur Plociennik.)
This obsession with data and statistical analysis is why, despite the protests of a small but vocal crowd on the World of Warships official forum and subreddit, Lesta Studio is set to launch submarines into the game late in 2019. Buoyed by the success of 2018’s Halloween event, Terror of the Deep, which saw submarines introduced for a limited time in a PvE scenario mode, and backed up by the raw metrics that proved just how engaged the audience was with the new submersible vessels, Lesta Studio is confident that the time is right for submarines to become the fifth class in World of Warships.
Leaving Netflix in Sept: The Dark Knight, A Clockwork Orange, and More
Netflix's official Last Call list for September is out, running down all the titles leaving the site throughout the month.
The first three Fast and Furious flicks are waving bye bye as well as the first two Christopher Nolan Caped Crusader capers, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Plus, A Clockwork Orange, The Hangover, Emma, Ghost Ship, Magic Mike, and Miami Vice. Disney fare like Pocahontas and Mulan is also taking a powder.
On the TV front, bid farewell to Californication, Parenthood, and the first five seasons of Portlandia.
Here's the full Last Call list for September:
Leaving 9/1/19
2 Fast 2 Furious
A Clockwork Orange
Angels & Demons
Iceborne Lets You Boost Through Monster Hunter: World Fast
Starting Monster Hunter: World now with massive expansion Iceborne on the horizon may seem intimidating, but additional changes and features coming with updates will help players get through the base game fast. Some of these were just revealed, like the Guardian Armor set and Helper Hunter incentives, alongside the newest trailer.
We talked to executive director and art director Kaname Fujioka, producer Ryozo Tsujimoto, and director Daisuke Ichihara about how the Iceborne expansion and accompanying updates will change the experience for new-comers to World, and they offered a lot of insight.
"If you currently have World and you're thinking, 'I don't want to buy the expansion because I'm not done with World yet,' well, there's a bunch of balance updates and content that's being added into World with Iceborne," said producer Ryozo Tsujimoto.
Need for Speed Heat Feels like the Series’ Greatest Hits
On paper, 2017’s Need For Speed Payback looked great. The promise of a truly open-world game with encouragement for exploration and discovery seemed like a solid step forward for series. The problem was the execution as a whole felt flat. No single element was truly its headline act, and it arrived with no real personality of its own.
From what little I’ve played of Need For Speed Heat, it appears Ghost Games’ goal was to remedy that flat feeling by creating a new take on the series that draws from Need for Speed’s biggest past successes. Unfortunately, I’m not sure if they’ve achieved it.
During my brief hands-on time, I was able to sample two races: one set during the day and another at night. Unfortunately, the day race (named Speed Hunter Showdowns) feels like a very standard racing affair and extremely similar to the last few Need For Speed games. It’s high-speed, beautiful (if a little uninspired; shipping docks are always an eyesore) and features intense car jostling. The evening race is where Heat shines a little brighter, truly leaning into an ‘80s neon-lite Miami vibe. The setting is a new location called Palm City, and although there is a real place called that, it’s definitely a fictional Miami much like Payback’s Fortune Valley was Ghost Game’s ode to Las Vegas.
Cyberpunk 2077 Preorder Guide: Everything You Need to Know
Cyberpunk 2077 is set for release on April 16, 2020, on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Google Stadia. At Gamescom, developer CD Projekt Red announced that the title will be coming to Google's new streaming platform upon release next year. This is a big move for the Stadia, as it continues to add even more AAA titles to its lineup of games.
Cyberpunk 2077 is made by the creators of the Witcher series and is a gritty open-world shooter set in Night City. CD Projekt Red has said that the game's cybernetic body modification lets you outfit your character with a wide range of skills that lead to a variety of play styles. It will even feature Keanu Reeves in a major role as Johnny Silverhand.
Batman Suffers a Shocking Loss at the Hands of Bane
Batman #77 continues the "City of Bane" storyline where Bane enacts his master plan to take over Gotham City, but a shocking twist sees Batman suffer a major loss.
Warning: this article contains full spoilers for Batman #77!
As readers recently learned, Bane has spent the entire series plotting against Batman, with everything from Batman's failed wedding to Catwoman to the shooting of Dick Grayson designed to push Batman over the edge and alienate him from his loved ones. With that plan complete, "City of Bane" ushers in a dark new status quo for Gotham City. Bane rules the city with the help of Flashpoint Batman Thomas Wayne, Gotham Girl and an army of mind-controlled villains. Halfway across the world, an exiled Batman is nearly at death's door, with only his ex-fiancee to rely on for help.
Intel Brings Six-Core Processors to Ultrabooks
Intel may have just introduced its 10nm Ice Lake processors, but the company isn’t saying goodbye to its 14nm process anytime soon as it has just announced new 10th Generation Comet Lake CPUs.
Before we all collectively groan at yet another batch of 14nm chips from Intel, Comet Lake is notably bringing hexa-core power to a U-series chip for the first time. And from what MSI has told us, these typically power-efficient chips will be able to rival an Intel 9th Generation H-series CPU in processing power.
Death Stranding: Exclusive Gamescom Trailer Reveals Norman Reedus’ Main Mission
There's an extra Death Stranding trailer being shown at Gamescom, and we've just seen it. Strap in.
Currently only being shown to those attending the Death Stranding booth at the German show, the trailer - called 'Briefing' - is a story cutscene, seemingly from the earlier parts of the game, and it contextualises much of what we've seen in previous trailers, particularly about what Norman Reedus' Sam is aiming for in the game.
Featuring Norman Reedus' Sam, Lindsay Wagner's Amelie, and Tommie Earl Jenkins' Die-Hardman, the trailer takes place in what seems to be the Oval Office, and features the two latter characters attempting to convince Sam to join their cause - to reconnect the fractured cities of the UCA (or United Cities of America).
Joker Director Is Down for a Sequel if Joaquin Phoenix Returns
Joker director Todd Phillips has revealed he would consider working on a sequel to the upcoming origin movie, but only if Joaquin Phoenix reprises his role as the titular character.
In an interview with Total Film, Phillips suggested there could be potential for a Joker sequel, though it would be dependent on a few conditions, chief among them being that Phoenix steps into the shoes of the Clown Prince of Crime once again.
"One thing I will tell you: I would do anything with Joaquin, any day of the week," Phillips said. "There's nobody like him. If he was willing to do it, and if people show up to this movie, and Warners came to us and said, 'You know what? If you guys could think of something…' Well, I have a feeling that he and I could think of something pretty cool."