Monthly Archives: January 2020

The Walking Dead: World Beyond Coming to AMC in April 2020

AMC has announced that The Walking Dead: World Beyond will premiere on Sunday, April 12 at 10 PM ET right after the Season 10 finale of The Walking Dead. Further, new episodes will be airing the following Sunday at 9 PM ET. This series will be the third installment in AMC's The Walking Dead franchise and will be the second spinoff series, with Fear the Walking Dead being the first. World Beyond will be "delving into a new mythology and story that follows the first generation raised in a surviving civilization of the post-apocalyptic world," says AMC. At the Television Critics Association's winter press tour in Pasadena, it was revealed that The Walking Dead: World Beyond will get two seasons to wrap up its story. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-walking-dead-world-beyond-season-1-gallery&captions=true"] World Beyond will follow two sisters and two friends as they leave a place of comfort and begin to explore the post-apocalyptic world around them. The show will be "a tale of growing up and transformation" for the group of friends as they learn more about themselves, each other, and the world around them. You can check out the first official trailer below. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/25/the-walking-dead-world-beyond-trailer"] The series was first announced in April 2019 and in the following months, AMC shared that Alexa Mansour, Nicolas Cantu, and Hal Cumpston would be joining the cast. In late 2019, AMC gave the show its official title and shared the first poster of the new series. Co-created by Scott Gimple, The Walking Dead's Matt Negrete will serve as the Showrunner for the series, along with Executive Producers Gimple, Negrete, Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, David Alpert and Brian Bockrath. In the meantime, be sure to check out IGN's midseason review of The Walking Dead and a hidden holiday Easter Egg found in one of the latest episodes. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Andrew Smith is a freelance contributor with IGN. Follow him on Twitter @_andrewtsmith.

Watchmen Season 2 Unlikely to Happen Without Damon Lindelof

HBO is unlikely to move ahead with the second season of their critically acclaimed comic book show Watchmen unless series creator Damon Lindelof is involved -- something Lindelof has repeatedly stressed he's not interested in doing. "It would be hard to imagine doing it without Damon involved in some way," HBO programming president Casey Bloys conceded in an interview Wednesday with USA Today. Lindelof said in December, "I’ve consistently believed and still believe that these nine episodes are a complete story with a beginning, middle, and end. I have to acknowledge that not everyone’s going to see it that way, and I definitely don’t dispute any opinion that’s sort of like there should be more. I just don’t feel compelled to continue the story without a reason to do so. That reason should be a creative reason, idea-driven, and I don’t have any ideas for subsequent seasons of Watchmen currently." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=watchmen-all-the-comic-book-references-in-the-hbo-series&captions=true"] Still, Lindelof left the door open at the time to a possible second season, saying that if the right idea struck him then "I would definitely be inclined to pursue it. There is no guarantee of if and when that’ll happen.” Bloys left the ball in Lindelof's court, telling USA Today: "It's really in Damon’s thinking about what he wants to do. If there's an idea that excited him about another season, another installment, maybe like a Fargo, True Detective (anthology) take on it, or if he wants to do something different altogether. We’re very proud of Watchmen, but what I’m most interested in [is] what Damon wants to do." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/17/damon-lindelof-reacts-to-watchmen-being-named-igns-tv-series-of-the-year"] IGN named Watchmen the best TV show of 2019, an accolade Damon Lindelof called "an incredible gift." We also cited Watchmen as one of the best TV shows of the decade. For more on Watchmen, check out Regina King's emotional explanation of the ending, our spoiler-free review of Season 1, and get the answers to 10 burning questions we had about the show.

Peacock: NBCUniversal Reveals Pricing & Release Date

NBCUniversal's Peacock streaming service finally has a release date. As revealed at the company's investor meeting, Peacock will debut on Wednesday, April 15, with both ad-supported and paid subscription versions. There is one significant catch, however. Peacock will initially only be available to subscribers of Comcast's Xfinity X1 service and owners of Comcast Flex devices, with a wider release to follow on July 15, 2020, timed to the start of the Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

How Much Will Peacock Cost?

Subscribers will have several options. A completely free version dubbed "Peacock Free" will offer roughly 7500 hours of streaming shows and movies, news and live TV content. A more robust version known as "Peacock Premium" will debut with twice as much content, at 15,000 hours. The ad-supported version of Peacock Premium will be free for Comcast customers and $5 a month for everyone else. The ad-free version of Peacock Premium will cost an extra $5 a month. NBC has hinted at future promotional partnerships that may also lower the cost for subscribers. With a price that ranges between free and $10 per month, Peacock is priced fairly aggressively. For comparison, Netflix's cheapest subscription tier is $7 per month, as is Disney+. Meanwhile, WarnerMedia's upcoming HBO Max service will run $15 per month when it launches in May 2020. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=everything-coming-to-nbcuniversals-peacock&captions=true"]

Law & Order on Peacock

In addition to MacGruber and five other new series announced earlier today, Peacock will become the exclusive streaming home for Dick Wolf's production company Wolf Entertainment. That means Peacock will be home to the massively popular Law & Order and its various spinoffs. That also includes Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Chicago Fire, Chicago PD and Chicago Med. Additionally, we learned new episodes of both The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers will premiere early on Peacock, three hours before they air on NBC. Upcoming Universal films like Fast & Furious 9 and Jurassic World 3 will also be timed exclusives on Peacock following their theatrical runs. “This is a very exciting time for our company, as we chart the future of entertainment,” said Steve Burke, Chairman of NBCUniversal. “We have one of the most enviable collections of media brands and the strongest ad sales track record in the business. Capitalizing on these key strengths, we are taking a unique approach to streaming that brings value to customers, advertisers and shareholders.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/09/18/battlestar-galactic-reboot-coming-to-nbcs-peacock"] Will you be subscribing to Peacock? Let us know in the comments below. Then check out IGN's State of Streaming hub for more on what to expect in 2020, including a review of Disney Plus and a breakdown of which companies are currently winning the streaming wars. [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.

Netflix Will Spend Over $17 Billion on Content in 2020

Netflix is expected to spend $17.3 billion on new content in 2020, up from $15.3 billion last year. This spending projection comes from a Wall Street firm's forecast, as reported by Variety. BMO Capital Markets also claims Netflix's spending on new streaming content will increase to over $26 billion by 2028. “We continue to believe the ‘streaming wars’ narrative is false and there will be multiple winners in global streaming,” said BMO’s Dan Salmon. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=netflix-spotlight-january-2020&captions=true"] Netflix’s fourth-quarter 2019 earnings report is scheduled for release Jan. 21. The streamer is expected to have “a solid quarter,” according to a financial analyst sourced in Variety's report. To get a sense of what Netflix is getting for all that money they're shelling out on content, check out everything that's new to Netflix this monthour review of Dracula and our explainer on its divisive ending. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/27/the-witcher-season-1-review"] Dracula joins The Witcher as one of Netflix's most talked-about new shows. Be sure to find out what we thought of The Witcher, Season 1 and check out the showrunner's response to the timeline backlash and the fan campaign to get Mark Hamill cast as Vesemir in Season 2. For more Netflix content, discover what the 10 best-reviewed shows on Netflix were in 2019, learn what the best horror films and action movies are on the service right now, and watch the new trailer for Bojack Horseman's final season.

Cyberpunk Is ‘Complete and Playable’ Ahead of Delay

Earlier today, CD Projekt Red delayed the release of Cyberpunk 2077 from April to September 17, 2020. In addition to the delay, the game developer made a statement on Twitter saying the game is "complete and playable, but there's still work to be done." Even though the studio says the game is in a finished state, it was still delayed so the team can try and achieve that next level of polish. CD Projekt Red says they hope that taking this extra time can make the game the best it can be. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/08/27/cyberpunk-2077-gameplay-demo"] Games are often delayed for being incomplete or unplayable in parts, but that supposedly isn't the case with Cyberpunk 2077. This is an interesting reminder that sometimes games are delayed because the development team isn't fully satisfied, even if the game is technically "finished." Along with the delay, CD Projekt Red also said that Cyberpunk 2077's multiplayer mode likely won't be available until after 2021. The studio announced the mode last September. The April release date for Cyberpunk 2077 was originally announced at E3 2019, along with the reveal that Keanu Reeves would star in the game. We also got a look at a hands-off demo at E3, where we learned more about combat, leveling, and more. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/13/cyberpunk-2077-soundtrack-reveal"] We've seen similar delays before, when development teams want to spend more time making a game perfect. Nintendo delayed The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (known at the time as Zelda Wii U) because the team discovered "several new possibilities" for the game. The extra time paid off, as it ended up winning IGN's Game of the Year award in 2017. Last fall, Naughty Dog delayed The Last of Us Part II just weeks after announcing its release date in order to bring the entire game up to "the level of polish" the studio aims for. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, CD Projekt Red's last major outing, contained a number of glitches and bugs throughout the experience. The game won IGN's Game of the Year award in 2015, despite those minor issues. It's possible the studio will use these next few months to try and fix as many of these small problems as they can. Now, we'll have to wait until September to meet Keanu Reeves in CD Projekt Red's next big adventure. Until then, here are some games to hold you over while you wait for Cyberpunk 2077. You can also check out everything else we know about Cyberpunk 2077. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=7-cyberpunk-games-to-play-while-youre-waiting-for-cyberpunk-2077&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Logan Plant is a news writer for IGN, and the Production Assistant for Nintendo Voice Chat, IGN's weekly Nintendo show. You can find him on Twitter at @LoganJPlant.

Don’t Expect Cyberpunk 2077 Multiplayer Until After 2021

On the heels of today’s news that Cyberpunk 2077 has been delayed to September, CD Projekt Red’s leadership also confirmed that the planned multiplayer should not be expected until after 2021. Following today’s announcement that Cyberpunk 2077 was delayed from its original April release to September 17, CD Projekt Red held a press conference to discuss the delay and answer questions from investors. During this time, an investor asked whether the planned multiplayer could be expected in 2021. To which CD Projekt says the mode should not be expected for a couple of years. You can hear the response starting at the 6:30 minute mark. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-2020-video-game-release&captions=true"] “Given the expected release of Cyberpunk 2077 in September, and speaking of a series of events we expect to occur after that date, 2021 appears unlikely as a release date for the Cyberpunk multiplayer,” says Michał Nowakowski, CD Projekt’s Member of the Board and SVP of Business Development. Nowakowski also confirmed that the “triple-A” title CD Projekt Red is developing in parallel to Cyberpunk 2077 is the Cyberpunk multiplayer. Players have wondered about Cyberpunk 2077’s multiplayer since it was revealed at E3, and while CD Projekt Red said it was exploring the mode, the studio officially confirmed multiplayer in September 2019. It also confirmed Cyberpunk 2077 multiplayer wouldn't be available at launch but we've finally received confirmation it likely won't be ready for another couple years. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/08/27/cyberpunk-2077-gameplay-demo"] CD Projekt Red is also planning a series of single-player DLC content for Cyberpunk 2077, but give the post-2021 launch year for Cyberpunk multiplayer it sounds like CD Projekt Red is planning a long tail for its upcoming sci-fi RPG. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN. You can reach him on Twitter.

MacGruber: Will Forte’s Action Hero Returns on NBCUniversal’s Peacock

Fans of Will Forte's goofy action hero MacGruber can take heart, as Forte is finally set to reprise the role for a new series on NBCUniversal's Peacock streaming service. The MacGruber series is one of six new Peacock-exclusive projects announced today, hours ahead of NBCUniversal's investor meeting. Per The Hollywood Reporter, the lineup also includes new comedies produced by Mindy Kaling and Amy Poehler, as well as an animated series based on the podcast/graphic novel series The Adventure Zone. You can check out our slideshow gallery below for more on these six new projects, as well as all the other new and existing shows coming to Peacock: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=everything-coming-to-nbcuniversals-peacock&captions=true"] MacGruber originally debuted as a recurring character on Saturday Night Live before spinning out into a 2010 feature film starring Forte, Kristen Wiig, Ryan Phillippe, Maya Rudolph and Val Kilmer. Check out our review of MacGruber to see how it stacks up against other SNL offshoots. We're expecting to learn much more about Peacock during the investor meeting this afternoon, including a firm release date and price point. Check back with IGN for more details as they're revealed. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/01/16/snowpiercer-tv-series-gets-release-date"] Until then, check out IGN's State of Streaming hub for more on what to expect in 2020, including a review of Disney Plus and a breakdown of which companies are currently winning the streaming wars. [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.

Horizon Zero Dawn Is Coming to PC, Reports Say

According to sources familiar with Sony’s plans, Horizon Zero Dawn will be coming to the PC sometime in the future. Kotaku is reporting that three people familiar with Sony’s plans that the PlayStation 4 exclusive from Guerrilla Games will be coming to the PC. This is not an official announcement, and the sources spoke anonymously because they were not allowed to divulge this information. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=igns-top-25-playstation-4-games&captions=true"] This would be the first Sony exclusive game by a first-party Sony Worldwide Studios to come to the PC. This is not the first Sony exclusive to be coming to PC, however, as Quantic Dreams’ games are on the PC and Death Stranding will be coming to PC later this year. Horizon Zero Dawn was released on the PlayStation 4 in 2017. Guerrilla Games’ original IP is an open-world adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic world where humans live in a technologically-advanced, but primal, world overrun by robotic dinosaurs. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2017/02/20/horizon-zero-dawn-review"] Kotaku is reporting that Horizon Zero Dawn will be on both Steam and the Epic Games Store, though this is not finalized. The PC port is also expected to push the limits of the game beyond what was capable on the PS4. IGN has reached out to Sony, but haven’t heard back in time of publishing this story. Read IGN's Horizon Zero Dawn review here. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN. You can reach him on Twitter.

Cyberpunk 2077 Release Date Delayed

Cyberpunk 2077 has been delayed from its April release to September 17, 2020, CD Projekt Red announced. CD Projekt Red published the following notice on its official Twitter account confirming the postponed launch of their upcoming sci-fi role-playing game. "Cyberpunk 2077 won't make the April release window and we're moving the launch date to September 17, 2020," the company wrote. "We are currently at a stage where the game is complete and playable, but there's still work to be done. Night City is massive - full of stories, content, and places to visit, but due to the sheer scale and complexity of it all, we need more time to finish playtesting, fixing and polishing." CD Projekt Red did say that it wants Cyberpunk 2077 to be a "crowning achievement for this generation," meaning the studio still intends to release Cyberpunk 2077 for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-2020-video-game-release&captions=true"] Cyberpunk 2077 is a sci-fi first-person RPG based on the popular Cyberpunk tabletop RPG. Players will assume the role of V as they navigate the underground politics of Night City and maneuver between various criminal factions. This is the third major delay for a video game title originally slated for Q1 2020. Square Enix announced earlier this week that Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Crystal Dynamic's Avengers game would both be delayed. But while Final Fantasy 7 Remake was only delayed for a month, Avengers was delayed further back to September. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/08/27/cyberpunk-2077-gameplay-demo"] While the wait for Cyberpunk 2077 will be longer, you can still check out IGN's Cyberpunk 2077 preview for more coverage. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN. You can reach him on Twitter.