- SHOW INFORMATION:
- Show Notes for June 21, 2019
- Show Title: Surprise Mechanics
- Credits
- Executive Producers: None
- Hosted By: Matt Fugitive, John Rythone, Feyd2Black Mike
- Special Thanks to the following:
- Video Game-O-Rama
- EA defends its loot box systems to Parliament, calling them ''surprise mechanics''
- During a session with the UK Parliament's Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport Committee, EA says that its randomized purchases are not loot boxes, but rather ''surprise mechanics.''
- Representatives from EA and Fortnite met with the committee Wednesday to discuss the implementation of loot boxes in games, such as Battlefront 2 and Fortnite. During the meeting, EA's VP of legal and government affairs Kerry Hopkins said:
- ''We do agree with the UK gambling commission, the Australian gambling commission, and many other gambling commissions that they aren't gambling, and we also disagree that there's evidence that shows it leads to gambling. Instead, we think it's like many other products that people enjoy in a healthy way, and like the element of surprise.''
- Hopkins said that the company's randomised purchases aren't loot boxes, but rather ''surprise mechanics.'' In the case of EA's FIFA Ultimate Team, these ''surprise mechanics'' take the form of FIFA points that can be used to buy player packs. The game came under fire in Belgium this year, though, because players could use real currency to purchase FIFA points, a system the country decided was in violation of its law.
- Subscribe to the VG247 newsletter Get all the best bits of VG247 delivered to your inbox every Friday!Whether it's a loot box or not, Hopkins defended the system to the committee comparing these systems to the mechanics of surprise toys, which have been around ''for years, whether it's Kinder Eggs, or Hatchimals, or LOL Surprise.''
- Loot box systems and their similarities to gambling have become an industry-wide and international discussion in the past two years, especially since EA's Battlefront 2 launch nightmare. Last year, the UK's Gambling Commission took the stance that loot boxes are a gateway drug to proper gambling issues, and the Royal Family called for games like Fortnite to be banned.
- You can watch the committee's entire session here.
- Cyberpunk 2077 won't let you drive flying cars | PC Gamer
- Cyberpunk 2077 will let you drive a bunch of different vehicles as you cruise around Night City, but tragically flying cars won't be among them. The sci-fi staple is very much present in CD Projekt Red's dystopian sprawl, and the very first vehicle we see in the original gameplay reveal is a flying ambulance, but we won't be getting behind their wheels.
- This doesn't mean you won't ever find yourself soaring through Night City's skyways, but you won't be in control when that happens. "There are flying vehicles that are like the story elements, and so there will be moments when V is in the flying vehicle, but they're always story-focused," lead quest designer Pawel Sasko told VG24/7.
- Flying cars are present, then, but if you want to get around the city, you'll have to find cars and motorbikes on the ground. From what we've seen so far, they're still pretty stylish ways to get around, and Night City looks like an interesting place to drive around.
- Expect boats, too. But you won't be in control of them, either. They're involved in the story, however, and there will be some water-related sections where V will have to swim. I don't get the feeling the Night City has the cleanest water, unfortunately.
- "You can swim, but I would like not to disclose anything," said Sasko. "We had some quests in The Witcher that were focused around water and doing stuff around the water, and we have something here as well."
- You'll be able to see more of the game when the Cyberpunk 2077 E3 gameplay demo is made public.
- Nintendo's mobile Dr. Mario World cures your iOS, Android ills on July 10 - CNET
- The doctor is a-coming to mobile devices on July 10.
- Nintendo Nintendo's mustachioed mascot brings his medical knowledge to iOS and Android in Dr. Mario World on July 10, and you can register for virus-killing puzzler now.
- In this match-three puzzler, you use colored capsules to kill corresponding viruses. Nintendo posted a video showing how it plays.
- The video also reveals how the game's microtransactions work.You can use diamonds to continue gameplay, get items and restore stamina. A pack of 20 costs $2, and they're available in various increments up to 1,050 for $70.
- Apparently fungi and dinosaurs can get medical licenses in the Mushroom Kingdom, because the video also shows the other doctors you can add to your roster using in-game coins or diamonds -- Dr. Peach, Dr. Luigi, Dr. Toad, Dr Yoshi and Dr. Bowser. As you'd expect, each has different abilities.
- "Over 200 stages across many different worlds will be available at launch, with new doctors, stages and worlds continuing to be added to Dr. Mario World on a regular basis after launch," Nintendo wrote in its emailed release.
- Now playing: Watch this: Nintendo's E3 2019 Direct, T-Mobile and Sprint merger...
- "Dr. Mario World can also be played together with friends and family around the world. Players can earn and receive stamina-giving hearts from friends and use the hearts to play Stage Mode. In Versus Mode, players can turn up the intensity by challenging others online to a one-on-one showdown in real-time."
- Mario and friends won't just be in the doctor's office this summer -- Mario Kart Tour is due out sometime in the coming months as well. If you need a Nintendo fix on mobile now, you can try out Dragalia Lost, Super Mario Run, Fire Emblem Heroes and Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp.
- Nintendo Switch owners can play the original NES Dr. Mario as part of its $20-a-year subscription service, and he's playable in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
- First published at 4:03 a.m. PT.Updated at 4:52 a.m. PT: Adds more detail.
- Atari introduces throwback console with classic games, joystick upgrade [Video]
- Atari CEO Fred Chesnais tells FOX Business' Stuart Varney that the latest console will give gamers access to the classics, movies and music, targeting a broader audience.
- Rumour: World of Warcraft is getting a level cap reduction | PC Gamer
- Every time World of Warcraft gets an expansion, Blizzard bumps up the level cap. Where there were once only 60, there are now 120, and while Blizzard has dramatically sped up the levelling process, it's still a daunting number. It also looks like it might be getting reduced.
- Game director Ion Hazzikostas has previously floated the idea of a 'level squish', reducing the cap to something more manageable, back in March. With 120 levels, Blizzard can't dole out meaningful rewards with every ding, but with a lower number each new level could bring with it cool new additions to the class.
- While changes to the level cap'--as well broader changes to the levelling experience and what levels actually mean'--are being considered, Hazzikostas didn't indicate that Blizzard had come to a decision or when any changes might appear. According to a survey, however, a "level squish" is on its way.
- Reddit user Nivens posted screencaps of an alleged World of Warcraft survey with questions specifically relating to the reduced level cap, worded in a way that suggests that it's already been settled on, but not when it might happen. Blizzard asked:
- Are you aware that the maximum level of 120 will be reduced in the future (ie Level Squish)? The "Level Squish" will reduce the total number of levels required to access the most current game content. The new level cap will be dramatically lower than the current level cap of 120. How much would you like or dislike a reduction in character levels?While we don't know what the new level cap will be, "dramatically lower" suggests that it's not just going to shave off 10 or 20. The original level cap of 60 also seems unlikely, though you will be able to return to that era when World of Warcraft Classic launches in August.
- Given that there hasn't been any kind of announcement, the wording of the survey is a bit unusual. I reached out to Blizzard to confirm if it was sending out this survey and what its level cap plans were, but it has nothing to say about it at this time.
- Rythone's Console Rundown
- Report - New Nintendo Switch Models Are Now In Production - GameSpot
- Report - New Nintendo Switch Models Are Now In ProductionNintendo moves production to Southeast Asia as its updated Switch models reportedly move forward.By Eddie Makuch on June 19, 2019 at 11:08AM PDTIt's been more than two years since the launch of the Nintendo Switch, and the company has yet to publicly discuss plans for new revisions of the hardware. We know from previous reports that two new Nintendo Switch models could be on the way, possibly as soon as this year. Earlier this year, Nintendo said it would not announce the new systems during E3, and that indeed turned out to be the case, with last week's Nintendo Direct focusing exclusively on software. But a new report from The Wall Street Journal published during E3 2019 reveals some new details these rumored new Switch models.
- Specifically, the report states that Nintendo has decided to move the manufacturing of the new consoles to Southeast Asia instead of China. This is a result of concerns about potential United States tariffs on electronics made in China. As we reported previously, President Trump's proposed import tax rate of 25 percent would impact video game consoles, as well as smartphones and computers. In theory, this could lead to price increases on game consoles--from Nintendo, as well as Microsoft and Sony--as companies pass on the cost to consumers.
- The alternative would be to absorb the cost themselves, which is obviously not a welcome concept for companies. Game consoles are not historically where the money is made in the games business. Oftentimes, systems are sold at a loss or with very thin margins, with profits instead coming from software and services. Those margins do improve over time, but a 25% tariff would nonetheless be unwelcome.
- Should the 25 percent tariff go into effect for Switch consoles shipped into the United States, that would impact how much money Nintendo--and other companies--make on console sales. Nintendo has been the outlier in this area, however, as the company maintained from day one of Switch sales in 2017 that it makes money on each console sold.
- If the 25 percent tariff goes into effect, that could cut into the Switch's profit profile, which is likely why Nintendo has elected to move production of the console outside of China.
- According to WSJ's report, Nintendo has already moved production of the existing Switch model, as well as the two new rumored ones, to Southeast Asia. Regarding the new systems, one is said to have a similar form factor to the existing model but feature better components, with the other expected to have a different look and lower specs that make it less expensive. Given the systems are now reportedly in production, they could release soon, WSJ said. A WSJ report earlier this year said a new Switch could release by the end of June, but there's been no indication of that happening. With the end of the month in sight, that possibility seems exceedingly unlikely.
- Nintendo declined to comment on the report when approached by WSJ.
- It's unclear when Nintendo may announce the new Switch models, if they are indeed real. With no new hardware to discuss during its Direct conference this week, Nintendo made a series of software announcements, including The Witcher 3 for Nintendo Switch and a sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
- Nintendo has a long history of offering revised models of its gaming hardware, particularly on the handheld side. The rumored new systems would not be a new generation of Switch hardware, but merely enhanced or refined versions of what's already on the market.
- Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
- Xbox Project Scarlett Revealed: Specs, Features and More
- A new console generation is looming, and the next Xbox is near. Microsoft's Project Scarlett will arrive in holiday 2020, promising four times the power of the Xbox One X complete with a slew of exciting features like ray tracing, 8K resolution and a lightning-fast SSD.
- Here's everything we know so far.
- Latest Xbox Scarlett News and Rumors (June 2019)At E3 2019, Microsoft officially took the lid of Project Scarlett, a next-generation console slated to provide four times the power as the Xbox One X when it arrives in late 2020.We spoke to Xbox's Mike Ybarra and Jason Ronald for a deeper dive on Scarlett, including how it will enhance existing Xbox One games and how long the project has been in development.Xbox Scarlett release date: when is the next Xbox coming out?Project Scarlett is due for a Holiday 2020 release. No word on pricing yet, but given its specs, we expect it to go for a pretty penny.
- Here's a quick explainer on what you need to know about Scarlett:
- Project Scarlett specsProject Scarlett will feature a custom AMD Zen 2 processor that promises four times the power of the Xbox One X. Other features include ray tracing support, up to 120fps gameplay, 8K resolution, GGDR6 memory and variable refresh rate support. The system will also have a custom SSD that promises a 40x performance increase and virtually no load times.
- What games will launch with Xbox Scarlett? The highly anticipated Halo Infinite will launch alongside Project Scarlett. We don't know much else about the launch lineup, but the system will support all existing Xbox One games,, including the vast library of backward compatible Xbox and Xbox 360 titles.
- Will streaming be a big part of the next Xbox?The cloud seems like it will play a major role not just for Scarlett, but for the Xbox ecosystem as a whole. Project xCloud will let you stream games like Halo 5: Guardians and Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice from Microsoft's data centers to your smartphone or tablet. But Xbox's Console Streaming service will let you use your console as the data center and stream any of your own games, which leads us to believe this feature will extend to Scarlett.
- Be sure to follow our E3 2019 news hub all week long for the biggest reveals and impressions out of Los Angeles.
- PlayStation 5: everything we know about Sony's next console - The Verge
- The successor to the PS4 is just around the corner
- Verge Staff Image credit: Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
- Share Tweet Share Share PlayStation 5: everything we know about Sony's next console
- Details are finally starting to emerge about the PlayStation 5, Sony's unimaginatively named successor to the PlayStation 4. The next-generation console is expected to offer a huge leap in power over Sony's existing machines. It will have a new eight-core AMD CPU based on AMD's new 7nm Zen 2 architecture, and a custom GPU based on its new Radeon Navi hardware. These chips will bring a host of benefits, including support for up to 8K graphics, ray tracing, and 3D audio. Sony is also promising faster load times thanks to a built-in SSD, and that the console will be compatible with your existing PS4 library of games. Here's everything we know so far about Sony's fifth-generation PlayStation.
- Everything We Know About Stadia: Price, Release Date, Games, Tech Specs, Requirements - IGN
- Check out Stadia's price, release window, technical specifications and more.
- By Colin Stevens During the pre-E3 2019 Google Stadia Connect event, Google revealed more information about the streaming platform's release window, requirements, price and more - but Google has also revealed a lot about Stadia in the past.
- We've collected all of that information to tell you everything we know about Google Stadia.
- Google Stadia Release Date Window Google Stadia doesn't have a set release date, but we do know that it's set to arrive in November 2019.
- The only way to access Stadia at launch is by purchasing the Google Stadia Founder's Edition, which includes a limited-edition Night Blue Google Stadia Controller, a Chromecast Ultra, a three month Stadia Pro subscription, and a 3-month Buddy Pass to give to a friend.
- Stadia will be available this year in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland. Google plans to add more regions in 2020.
- Google Stadia Price The Google Stadia Founder's Edition costs $129.99 (which includes a Chromecast Ultra that runs for $69.99 on its on) but this will only last users three months with the included subscription. Additional Google Stadia Controllers will cost $69 on their own.
- Beyond that, Google is offering the Stadia Pro subscription for $9.99 a month, which gives players access to the cloud gaming service, free games, and the ability to play games at up to 4K/60 fps/HDR with 5.1 surround sound - given the user has fast enough internet speed to run it.
- Stadia Base, which isn't coming until 2020 and won't give gamers these extra goodies, will be available to consumers for free given they have the equipment necessary to play its games (see below).
- Google Stadia Pro vs. Google Stadia Base The aforementioned Google Stadia Pro, which costs $9.99 a month, will let users gain unique perks through a monthly subscription. Base, on the other hand, is just that: basic.
- Free to access basic Google Stadia services Purchase games through the Google Store Max resolution 1080p/60fps/Stereo (20-35mpbs) Google Stadia Pro:
- $9.99 a month All Stadia Base benefits Stream in up to 4K/60fps/HDR with 5.1 Surround Sound (35mbps) Access to select free games (as long as the subscription service is active) Exclusive discounts on games Limited time access to Destiny 2 and its expansions Google Stadia Internet Speed Requirements During today's presentation, Google provided a chart that shows the range of resolutions and internet speeds Stadia will support, which can be seen below.
- The general required internet speeds for Google Stadia are as follows:
- 10Mbps - 720p, 60 fps, Stereo 20Mbps - 1080p, 60 fps, 5.1 Surround Sound 35Mbps - 4K, 60 fps, 5.1 Surround Sound The recommended minimum starts at 10Mbps, which should give users 720p resolution at 60fps and basic stereo. Around 20Mbps, users can reach 1080p resolution at 60 fps and 5.1 surround sound. The best quality users can get out of Stadia Pro will be with an internet connection at 35 Mbps, which will give users 4K resolution at 60fps, and 5.1 surround sound. Stadia intends to support 8K resolution in the future.
- Google Stadia Hardware Requirements Since Google Stadia is a streaming service, users won't need a decked-out PC to run games at high settings. They will, however, need the above-mentioned internet speeds, a compatible controller, and one of the following supported devices:
- Desktop Computer or Laptop (via Chrome browser) Mac - Requires macOS X 10.9 and higher PC - Requires Windows 7 and higher TV - Requires Google Chromecast, HDMI Port Tablet - Requires Google Chrome Phone - Google Pixel 3, Google Pixel 3a Supported at Launch with plans to expand to other phones over time) Google Stadia Technical Specifications During Google Stadia's March 2019 reveal event, Google revealed Stadia's technical specifications for the cloud servers that run these games remotely.
- At launch, Google Stadia will use:
- A custom 2.7 GHz hyperthreaded x86 CPU with AVX 2 SIMD A custom AMD GPU capable of 10.7 teraflops 16GB of RAM with up to 484GB/s transfer speeds SSD cloud storage. Google Stadia features a custom 2.7 GHz hyperthreaded x86 CPU with AVX 2 SIMD. It also boasts a custom AMD GPU that's capable of 10.7 teraflops of power using HBM2 memory and 56 compute units. For memory, it has 16GB of RAM with up to 484GB/s transfer speeds and 9.5MB of L2+L3 cache. On top of all of this, it includes SSD cloud storage.
- You can see how Google Stadia's launch specs compare to PS4 Pro and Xbox One, and how they compare to what we know about the PS5 and Project Scarlet's specs. Expect Google to improve these Stadia specs as time goes on.
- Google Stadia Controller The Google Stadia Founder's Edition includes a limited-edition Night Blue Google Stadia Controller, but customers can also purchase additional controllers for $69 a pop. These will initially come in three colors: Just Black, Clearly White, and Wasabi. We didn't play games with it, but we did get to go hands-on with Google Stadia's controller earlier this year.
- The Stadia controller features a capture button, a Google Assistant button, standard face buttons and parallel control sticks, a 3.5mm headset jack, a USB-C port to charge its internal Li-lon battery and facilitate wired gameplay and accessories.
- While the Stadia Controller will likely be the best way to play Stadia games, it isn't the only way: HID class USB controllers are also compatible with the service, but won't include all of the bells and whistles the Stadia Controller offers.
- Google Stadia Games At this point, Google has announced over 20 publisher and developer partners who plan on bringing their games to Stadia. The launch-window games coming to Stadia include (with currently unreleased games in bold):
- Assassin's Creed Odyssey Baldur's Gate 3 Borderlands 3 Darksiders Genesis Destiny 2 Doom 2016 Doom Eternal Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Farming Simulator 19 Final Fantasy XV Football Manager Get Packed GRID Gylt Just Dance Metro Exodus Mortal Kombat 11 NBA 2K Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid Rage 2 Samurai Shodown The Elder Scrolls Online Thumper Tomb Raider Definitive Edition Shadow of the Tomb Raider Rise of the Tomb Raider Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint Tom Clancy's The Division 2 Trials Rising The Crew 2 Wolfenstein: Youngblood The confirmed publishers bringing games to Stadia include:
- Bandai Namco Bethesda Bungie Capcom Coatsink Codemasters Deep Silver Drool Electronic Arts Giants Software Larian Studios nWay Games Rockstar Sega SNK Square Enix 2K Tequila Works Warner Bros THQ Ubisoft On top of these, Q-games is working on an untitled game that utilizes Google Stadia game state sharing.
- And, for a limited time, Stadia Pro will give players full access to Destiny 2, its previously released add-ons, the new Shadowkeep expansion and an annual pass. Players can even transfer their Destiny 2 Guardian from their PC and Xbox One games.
- Google Stadia Gameplay IGN had the chance to go hands-on with Stadia back in March, where we streamed Assassins Creed Odyssey (essentially the same experience as playing it on Google Stadia's proof-of-concept Project Stream). With Odyssey, we didn't notice any input lag, though graphically intense moments like destroying an enemy ship seemed to make the stream dip in quality.
- We also played 2016's Doom on Stadia, which produced a bit more lag than Odyssey. This was most noticeable when using a mouse and keyboard, but also occurred when using a gamepad.
- Google Stadia Special Features Google Stadia will feature game state sharing, which allows players to share specific points in a game with others. This means players can create a save spot in a game, generate a link, and share it with others who can pick up exactly where the initial player left off. The title Q-Games is developing uses game state sharing as a focal point, saying it will "replicate the exact same scenario" for other players.
- Stadia can also utilize Google Assistant with the touch of a button, providing game help to players stuck in a game. This was initially demonstrated by showing someone stuck on a particularly difficult tomb in Rise of the Tomb Raider. Google Stadia Announcement Google Stadia was announced on March 19, 2019. It was at this time we learned how the streaming platform would work, saw its controller, and found out about its technical specifications. Here, Google emphasized that Stadia is meant to be played across a wide variety of devices with few technical requirements getting in the way of playing games.
- At this point, we didn't have a release window, price, a comprehensive list of games, or information on how its subscription structure would work.
- Sony and Microsoft React to Stadia While Stadia executive Phil Harrison has gone on record saying first-party games and studios are ''fundamental of being in the game platform business,'' we know that the recently revealed Baldur's Gate 3 won't be exclusive to Stadia. Harrison also discussed if he sees PlayStation and Xbox as Stadia's competitors.
- To this point, Microsoft's Xbox division chief marketing officer Mike Nichols argued that Stadia lacks the content necessary to flourish in the industry, saying "Emerging competitors like Google have a cloud infrastructure, a community with YouTube, but they don't have the content.''
- When asked if PS5 will by Sony's last console due to emerging streaming services like Stadia, President and CEO of Sony's PlayStation division Jim Ryan said "Who knows how it might evolve? Hybrid models between console and some sort of cloud model? Possibly that. I just don't know. And if I did know, I wouldn't tell you.''
- In May, Sony and Microsoft signed a memorandum of understanding that established both companies will explore "joint development of future cloud solutions in Microsoft Azure to support their respective game and content-streaming services.'' Words from Ryan suggest this memorandum may be in response to emerging competitors like Google Stadia.
- Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.
- Colin Stevens is a news writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.
- Das Mouse Haus
- Disney reveals future of Marvel, Star Wars, and Avatar releases post-Fox purchase - The Verge
- Disney's slate of upcoming live-action and animated films following its acquisition of 21st Century Fox is just as enormous as one might expect.
- Over the course of the next eight years, Disney will release close to 65 films from its various divisions: Marvel Studios, Pixar, Lucasfilm, Disney Animation, Disney Originals and, of course, Fox. The last movie on Disney's slate is Avatar 5, the final film in James Cameron's sprawling epic franchise based on the world he first introduced in 2009's Avatar.
- Most of the films that appear on the slate, which can be seen in the tweet above, are already announced, but there are a couple of surprises. Lucasfilm will return with live-action Star Wars movies in 2022. Disney CEO Bob Iger recently told investors Disney was going to slow down on production of Star Wars films following Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which comes out this December. On the Marvel side, only two new films will be released next year '-- a surprise considering Marvel generally aims for three movies a year. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 being pushed back may explain why there's an absent film, though.
- The company's slate also highlights some contributions from 21st Century Fox's studios, including a new untitled Kingsman movie in 2020 and confirmation that The New Mutants, the troubled X-Men property, is still set to be released on April 3, 2020. Avatar 2 will also be released in 2021, according to this list. Based on the way the films are laid out, Disney plans to use the Avatar films and future Star Wars installments intermittently as big holiday movies every December.
- The slate does an excellent job of reiterating just how big Disney's catalogue of films is following the Fox acquisition, and just how much of the calendar year the studio will control at the box office going forward. The next big movie set to be released by Disney is Guy Ritchie's live-action Aladdin, which will be released on May 24.
- Pop Culture Vacination
- Our first glimpse of the Monster Hunter film surprisingly isn't terrible | PC Gamer
- The first on-set photographs of the upcoming Monster Hunter movie were alarming. They showed actors in modern military fatigues with guns and armoured vehicles. There was no sign of any absurdly oversized swords, or any monsters to hunt, and it seemed as though this would be an unfaithful knock-off.
- It turns out those pictures showed the team of soldiers before they fall through a portal into the big monster dimension. The leaked teaser snippet above, via EG, is much more promising. It has Diablos emerging angrily from below the sand, as he does. There's an enormous bow and a fiery hammer, and is that Rathalos at the very end? They even got Handler right.
- I hope the movie leans in even more and commits to Monster Hunter's silliness. If the filmmakers have passed on the opportunity to include an extended Palico cooking montage then I will be sorely disappointed.
- Monster Hunter is out on September 4 2020.
- THE HUNGER GAMES Prequel Novel and Movie Are Coming - Nerdist
- THE HUNGER GAMES Prequel Novel and Movie Are Coming
- The odds were always in favor of there being a prequel to The Hunger Games. Suzanne Collins' first book spent more than five years on the New York Times bestseller list, and all three novels in the franchise have sold over 100 million copies each. Oh, and they also led to four movies that made nearly $3 billion at the worldwide box office. It's hard to have that kind of success without volunteering as tribute once again, so it's no surprise a new prequel book has been announced, and that there is already talk of turning it into a movie.
- Scholastic Publishing announced (in news we first heard at Deadline) that Suzanne Collins' ''Untitled Panem Novel'' will hit bookshelves next year, May 19, 2020. The book (obviously not the final title) ''will revisit the world of Panem sixty-four years before the events of The Hunger Games, on the morning of the reaping of the Tenth Hunger Games.'' In the book's announcement, Collins gave some insight into what the novel will be about:
- ''With this book, I wanted to explore the state of nature, who we are, and what we perceive is required for our survival. The reconstruction period ten years after the war, commonly referred to as the Dark Days'--as the country of Panem struggles back to its feet'--provides fertile ground for characters to grapple with these questions and thereby define their views of humanity.''
- As dark as the original novels about a child-on-child murder contest are, a prequel set so soon after the failed rebellion that led to the creation of the Hunger Games could prove even more sinister, especially when we know the games will continue for another 65 years after.
- Should make for a hell of a big screen adaptation, which already feels like a certainty to follow. Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chairman Joe Drake told Deadline they have already been ''communicating with [Collins] during the writing process,'' and that Lionsgate, which produced the first four films in the franchise, is looking ''forward to continuing to work closely with her on the movie.''
- And we know whether its in book or ticket sales, the odds will forever be in The Hunger Games prequels favor.
- Signs of the End Times
- Pluto TV brings free streaming network to Comcast's Xfinity X1 cable boxes - CNET
- Pluto TV, which offers free streaming TV, is now available on Comcast X1 cable boxes.
- Pluto TV Pluto TV, the free streaming service found on Samsung, Sony and Vizio TVs, is expanding. In a new partnership announced Thursday, the service will now be available on Comcast's Xfinity X1 cable box.
- The streaming service was already available on the cable provider's Xfinity Flex , a $5-per-month streaming box that doesn't include a cable subscription.
- The now Viacom-owned Pluto TV offers over 130 "channels" on its free service, though unlike rival streaming TV services such as Sling TV, DirecTV Now and YouTube TV it lacks many traditional live television channels such as ESPN or CNN as well as broadcast channels ABC, NBC, Fox and CBS.
- As one of the largest cable providers in the US with just under 21 million residential cable subscribers, however, the addition of Comcast could be a boon for getting the streaming service in front of more eyeballs.
- "The launch of Pluto TV on Xfinity X1 is a pivotal moment for Pluto TV, expanding our reach to a whole new audience in search of free streaming entertainment," Tom Ryan, CEO and co-founder of Pluto TV, said in a statement.
- QUICK SHOTS
- Animal Crossing New Horizons has autosave, so Resetti's out of a job - VG247
- By James O'Connor,Monday, 17 June 2019 01:16 GMT
- Everyone's favourite terse, annoying mole, Animal Crossing's Mr Resetti, needs to find a new job.
- In previous Animal Crossing games, Mr Resetti would appear and berate any player who dared to turn off their console without saving first '' this violates the spirit and permanence of Animal Crossing, after all. His lectures could be irritating, but a part of us always loved him as a part of the Animal Crossing ecosystem.
- But Animal Crossing New Horizons will have autosave, so you don't need to return your character to bed at the end of every session. This means that Resetti is out of a job, and will, by the sound of it, take on a different role in the game, now no longer able to perform the role assigned to him by nominative determinism.
- Subscribe to the VG247 newsletter Get all the best bits of VG247 delivered to your inbox every Friday!In an interview with Mashable, project lead Aya Kyogoku has spoken about Resetti's need for a new role. ''I think this will be a positive thing for the player, because in New Horizons you can stop playing in the middle of your game and it'll still save,'' they said.
- ''But unfortunately because there's no necessity to reset the game or reset button on the Switch, Mr. Resetti had a hard time. He was laid off from his position'...We also believe that Mr. Resetti is looking for a new job after his layoff. So please look forward to that.''
- Maybe Resetti will be taking a long-earned break on your new island home.
- The Internet started a petition to add a ''You're Breathtaking'' achievement to Cyberpunk 2077
- By Hunter Wolfe,Wednesday, 19 June 2019 18:19 GMT
- The Internet's boyfriend, Keanu Reeves, reminded us all that we're breathtaking during his cameo appearance representing Cyberpunk 2077 at E3. Now, the Internet wants to return the favor by memorializing Keanu's lovely validation with an in-game achievement.
- There's a petition on Change.org to add a ''You're Breathtaking'' achievement for reaching 100 percent completion in Cyberpunk 2077. Nearly 18,000 people have already signed the petition within its first 24 hours, so it's safe to assume the movement will easily exceed the 25,000 signatures it's requested.
- Editor's Note: I may, myself, have signed the petition. No bias here.
- Keanu Reeves revealed during the Xbox briefing that he plays a major role in CD Projekt Red's upcoming sci-fi RPG by the name of Johnny Silverhand, a digital ghost that haunts the player throughout the game. In interviews, Reeves has suggested that Silverhand may have his own agenda. Before he was a ghost, Silverhand was a rockstar in Cyberpunk's world (and Reeves hints that he may have recorded music for the role), so perhaps Silverhand wants a body again?
- Subscribe to the VG247 newsletter Get all the best bits of VG247 delivered to your inbox every Friday!There's been a crazy amount of Cyberpunk news since E3, so we've rounded it all up in one place for your convenience: take a gander.
- Square Enix's ethics department requested Tifa's body be toned down in Final Fantasy 7 Remake
- By Hunter Wolfe,Wednesday, 19 June 2019 15:36 GMT
- Square Enix's ethics department told the Final Fantasy 7 Remake development team to tone down Tifa's chest so it would ''not get unnatural during all the intense action.''
- The latest issue of Weekly Famitsu, translated by Gematsu, divulged a few new details about the upcoming Final Fantasy 7 Remake, including changes to Tifa Lockhart's character design. The team wanted Tifa to look athletic, so they slimmed her down, gave her abs, and put her in fitted clothes.
- We got our first look at the redesign at E3 with the gorgeous trailer below:
- Subscribe to the VG247 newsletter Get all the best bits of VG247 delivered to your inbox every Friday!Tifa's design is a lot more proportionate and respectful now than her previous incarnation in 1997, in which a character literally refers to her as ''Boobs.''
- The interview also confirmed that Cloud's famous cross-dressing quest at the Honey Bee Inn will return in the remake. The developers say they've made the quest more modern, and that they have considered how those scenes may not have aged well.
- We got to play Final Fantasy 7 Remake at E3. Here are our impressions of our hands-on with the Boss Scorpion fight, and here's everything we learned about the game during the conference. The first episode of the multi-part remake launches March 3, 2020 for PS4.
- PS4 Deal: Get A Year Of PlayStation Plus For $40
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- Now Playing: Free PS4 PlayStation Plus Games For June 2019 Revealed
- PlayStation Plus is a necessity for many PS4 gamers as the annual membership grants access to online multiplayer as well as even bigger discounts on PS4 games. The subscription also nets members two free PS4 games every month (June's freebies are quite good), as well as early access to certain demos and beta periods for games, exclusive content, and more. The 12-month membership generally sells for $60 a year, but right now, you can get a year of PS Plus for only $40 using promo code EMCTBVT44 at Newegg, a full 33% off the normal price. The membership is already discounted to $50, and the promo code will slash another $10 off.
- GET 12 MONTHS OF PS PLUS FOR $40 >>
- After entering the promo code at checkout and purchasing, you'll receive the membership code via email. The great thing is that you can stack PS Plus memberships, so even if you already renewed recently or don't need to renew for a while, you can still take advantage of this deal, and the additional 12 months will just be added to your account.
- This month, PS Plus members can download Borderlands: The Handsome Collection and Sonic Mania at no cost on PS4. Claiming these and other PS Plus games allows you to play them for free as long as you have an active PS Plus membership. Some great games are also marked down in the PlayStation Store right now with even steeper discounts for PS Plus members, including Persona 5 for $14, Persona 4 Golden for $10, Shenmue I & II for $18, and Sonic Adventure 2 for $3.74. If you're a Monster Hunter World fan, the Iceborne beta is kicking off this Friday, June 21 with exclusive early access for PS Plus members.
- Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
- Someone Turned Mario Into A Battle Royale, And It's The Best Thing
- Language & region English (United States)
- Starlink: Battle for Atlas Starter Packs are only £12 on all formats
- By James Pickard,Friday, 21 June 2019 15:38 GMT
- The Starlink: Battle for Atlas Starter Packs on all formats have been reduced to clear at Amazon and Argos.
- If you take a trip over there right now you can find Ubisoft's toys-to-life space adventure on PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch for just £12.
- Of all of them, that's a particularly good price on the Switch release as that's the version that includes the exclusive Fox McCloud pilot figure and Arwing ship model. The rest of Team Star Fox also join him in the game as part of a series of add-on missions that only feature in the Switch version.
- Sadly, it hasn't been that easy of a journey for Starlink: Battle for Atlas. Sales apparently fell below expectations according to Ubisoft, something that probably wasn't helped as it launched at a time when the toys-to-life craze appeared to be calming.
- Subscribe to the VG247 newsletter Get all the best bits of VG247 delivered to your inbox every Friday!Ubisoft is continuing to support the game with more digital extras. The chance of any more physical goodies, though, has been ruled out entirely.
- By searching for other Starlink tat at Argos, you can find all sorts of other ships and pilots in a clearance sale too!
- For many more gaming offers do head on over to Jelly Deals. There are a great many gaming, tech and gadgetry bargains '' including a guide to the best Nintendo Switch SD cards and best power banks in 2019.
- END OF SHOW MIX
- Yoko Great Gig - The No Agenda Show
