By Meg Downey on Jul 17, 2018 12:01 am
How will Captain Marvel relate to Infinity War?
With Ant-Man and the Wasp in theaters, the countdown to Captain Marvel has officially begun. We have a ways to go--it's coming out March 8th, 2019--but we've still got a pretty good idea of exactly what we should be expecting from the MCU's very first female-focused solo film. We're keeping a running list of every Captain Marvel related announcement, confirmation, and plot detail as they trickle in over the next eight months, so keep checking back for updates.
1. It's set in the '90s
One of the first pieces of Captain Marvel news we got was its time period: the 1990s, a "previously unexplored" era of MCU history. This means that not only is this movie the MCU's first prequel since Captain America: The First Avenger, it also means that Carol has, in theory, been active and out there somewhere in the galaxy this entire time. Wonder why the Guardians of the Galaxy never encountered her?
2. Lee Pace will return as Ronan
The MCU doesn't have the best track record with returning villains--in fact, Ronan of Guardians of the Galaxy fame making his triumphant return to the screen is actually an MCU first. Thus far, the only recycled baddies, or anti-heroes, appearing in the Marvel roster are fan favorites like Loki, Bucky Barnes, and, briefly, Red Skull. In all likelihood, Captain Marvel is taking place well before Ronan went totally off the deep end as an Accuser, so we're probably going to see a completely different side of him this time around. But try not to get too attached--we all know where he ended up.
3. Skrulls are coming to the MCU
Last year, shortly after Comic-Con, Marvel Studios head honcho Kevin Feige confirmed that Captain Marvel will introduce Skrulls into the MCU. An alien race capable of virtually limitless shape shifting, the Skrulls have been in an intergalactic conflict with another alien race, the Kree, for centuries. What exactly does that mean for the MCU going forward? Well, famously, Skrulls are master imposters--their comic book storylines generally emphasize the idea that close friends, teammates, and even arch enemies can be replaced by Skrulls for years at a time before anyone is any the wiser. By introducing the Skrulls to the live action universe retroactively, thanks to Captain Marvel's '90s setting--well, that's when things start to get really interesting. If Skrulls have really been here all this time, who knows who they've already replaced?
4. Carol's in the Air Force
In keeping with her comic book origins, set photos and interviews have confirmed that Brie Larson's Carol Danvers will be a member of the US Air Force. Brie Larson apparently trained with airmen for eight months to prepare for the role, and the Air Force was regularly consulted on Carol's character development--specifically whether or not it was possible for someone so young to have risen through the ranks as high as Carol will, apparently, have by the start of the film.
5. Nick Fury is back (and has known about Carol for some time)
In the Infinity War post credits, we got our first ever onscreen confirmation that Carol is definitely a part of the greater MCU at the hands of Nick Fury, who, moments before crumbling to dust, sent her a message on what looked like a futuristic beeper. This, of course, means that Nick has actually known about Carol's existence for some time. Thankfully, we're likely going to get a look at just why Nick decided to keep this one to himself on screen: Fury is confirmed to appear in the film as his younger, two-eyed self.
6. It's an origin story
It's been a while since we've had a proper solo origin story in the MCU, but Carol's getting the full treatment. Not only is Captain Marvel set in the past, it's positioned to detail out exactly how Carol got her powers, why she left Earth, and, presumably, how S.H.I.E.L.D was involved.
7. Jude Law will play Mar-Vell
The original Captain Marvel will be making his on screen debut right alongside Carol. Undercover Kree soldier Mar-Vell will be played by Jude Law. In the comics, Mar-Vell is one of the first Kree to be stationed on Earth. He adopts the alter ego of scientist Walter Lawson and begins to assess whether or not humans are a threat to the empire, but winds up falling in love with humanity and defecting. Mar-Vell's description for the movie cites him as the person who mentors Carol in her new powers and abilities.
8. Phil Coulson is back
Fan favorite S.H.I.E.L.D agent Phil Coulson is coming back thanks to Captain Marvel's retroactive setting. His actual involvement in the story is yet to be determined, but it's been confirmed that actor Clark Gregg will be digitally de-aged for the entirety of his screen time--however long that actually is.
9. We're meeting Minn-Erva
Mar-Vell isn't the only Kree entering the MCU for the first time. Kree geneticist Minn-Erva will be making her live action debut played by Gemma Chan. In the comics, Minn-Erva was one of the people sent to observe Mar-Vell during his time on Earth and a scientist with a slightly dubious ethical compass. Her obsession with genetic advancement even leads her to attempt to lure Mar-Vell into a romantic relationship based on her hypothesis that their offspring would be genetically superior.
10. Carol has a pet cat
Samuel L. Jackson posted a photo on Instagram of the Captain Marvel cast and crew shirts which feature a design apparently highlighting the involvement of Carol's comic book pet cat, Chewie. In the comics, Chewie is actually a cat-like alien called a Flerken that can fly, teleport, and shoot giant gross tentacles out of its mouth. (No, really.) Whether or not those particular qualities will be making the jump to live action remains to be seen, but even if he's just a normal cat this time around, he'll probably be pretty cute.
11. Captain Marvel is the strongest hero in the MCU
In an interview with Vulture, Kevin Feige casually called out Carol as the strongest superhero in the MCU, which is pretty major considering both the Hulk and Thor have been battling over that unofficial mantle for the last several movies. Unfortunately, relative strength is always great, but probably won't get us very far when it comes to going up against Thanos and the Infinity Gauntlet. Punching things is likely not the solution to returning half the universe to life. Still, it definitely can't hurt to have a brand new powerhouse in the Avengers corner.
12. Ben Mendelsohn is playing...someone
Ben Mendelsohn has been cast in a role that's still shrouded in mystery, but speculation has been leaning toward the Star Wars and Ready Player One alum to be making his MCU debut as Yon-Rogg, a Kree defector who took up the supervillain name Magnitron. Yon-Rogg has a deep beef with Mar-Vell that more frequently than not ends with Yon trying to get Mar-Vell killed--sometimes in ways that wind up pulling Carol directly into the crossfire.
13. Lashana Lynch is Monica Rambeau (Maybe)
There may actually be a third Captain Marvel in the mix for this movie. Lashana Lynch has been cast as a yet unconfirmed role that fans are speculating might be Monica Rambeau, another adopter of the Captain Marvel mantle who was empowered by extra dimensional energy. Monica adopted the name Captain Marvel in the '80s and then went on to use the names Photon, Pulsar, and Spectrum.
14. Filming has officially wrapped
On July 8th, Brie Larson took to Twitter to announce that Captain Marvel had wrapped filming. This likely means it'll be another several months before we see a trailer--but a teaser might be coming relatively soon. This also means the handful of set photos we've seen have likely been a mix between actual Captain Marvel scenes and moments from Avengers 4.
By Mat Elfring on Jul 16, 2018 09:28 pm
Big E Threw Killian Dain Into Some Stairs
On Sunday, July 15, WWE held its yearly over-the-top PPV, Extreme Rules in Pittsburgh, PA. Because of the nature of the event--which is extreme--a variety of weapons were used by wrestlers during the show, and it was completely legal. Over the course of the evening, plenty of different items were used as weapons, and GameSpot kept track of them all. From the Kickoff Show to the Main Event, we're checking out every item used as a weapon during the PPV. However, this was a tamer Extreme Rules than ones from the past. There was only one extreme rules match for the Raw Women's Championship. Aside from that, there was a steel cage match and a tables match, but the rest of the event was pretty low-key compared to ones in the past. While we expected the evening to be filled with chair shots and powerbombs onto stairs, there was only a dozen or so moments when things got really extreme. If you're looking for more on Extreme Rules, check out the full results for the evening and find out if our predictions were correct. Additionally, WWE mentioned Hulk Hogan was at the show that evening, but he never showed up on camera. However, Ronda Rousey was on camera during the PPV, a little too much.
Eric Young Puts Kofi Kingston Through A Table
Carmella Shoves Asuka Into The Shark Cage
Strowman Runs Into The Cage
Kevin Owens Gets Sent Into The Cage Wall
Strowman Bashes Owens' Head With The Cage Door
Kevin Owens Goes Through A Table, From The Top Of The Cage
Alexa Bliss Hits Nia Jax With A Kendo Stick
Jax Throws Bliss Onto A Garbage Can
Bliss Hits Jax With A Garbage Can Lid
Mickie James Hits Jax With A Kendo Stick
Bliss Hits Jax With A Chair, Then DDTs Jax Onto It
By Mat Elfring on Jul 16, 2018 09:21 pm
When someone famous attends a WWE event, especially a PPV, production has a tendency to cut back to that person time and time again. Hulk Hogan may not have been shown during Extreme Rules 2018, despite WWE allowing him back into the Hall of Fame, but this habit was amply demonstrated during Wrestlemania 34 when John Cena was in the audience, and the camera panned back to him 15 times over the course of the evening. It tends to become distracting, but at the same time, it's actually pretty fun waiting to see how long before WWE production decides its audience needs to see that celebrity again. If you've been keeping up with WWE's Raw programming, then you're well aware of the current situation with Ronda Rousey, but let's recap just to be safe. On an episode of Raw, Rousey put Raw Women's Champion Alexa Bliss through a table during a segment on the show. Additionally, she beat up Kurt Angle and a bunch of referees, and her punishment was a 30-day suspension. She will be able to compete at Summerslam, but not at Extreme Rules. Over the past few weeks, Rousey made it clear she would be attending Extreme Rules, but as a fan in the audience. Now that Extreme Rules is over--you can get a complete recap of the night here--we're remembering every moment from the evening when the camera decided to cut to Rousey in the audience. It happened more than we expected, and here's every time it happened during the PPV.
Ronda Rousey Walking To Concessions To Buy A Hulk Hogan Shirt
Ronda Debating On Switching Seats To The Upper-Deck Section
Ronda Ordering Some Laffy Taffy
Ronda Discussing Her Favorite Dragonball Character (Goku)
Ronda Applauding The Hard-Working Ring Crew
Ronda Applauding The Dancing Dogs Halftime Show
Ronda Applauding... Just Because
Ronda Forgot Why She's Applauding
Why Was She Applauding? She Stares Into The Abyss
She's Lost. Who Is She? Where Is She?
Ronda Searches Her Soul For Answers
It May Seem Like She's Paying Attention, But She's Lost In Her Own Thoughts
What Is Life? What Gives Us Meaning?
Gummy Bears Give Us Meaning! Ronda Is Back!
But At What Cost?
There's A Weight On Her Soul
How Long Can She Bare It?
Ronda Leaves To Search For Answers
By Array on Jul 16, 2018 05:49 pm
We're now more than halfway through 2018, and the year has already seen some great TV shows, including Westworld, Altered Carbon, The End of the F***ing World, Black Lightning, Everything Sucks, and the return of Jessica Jones and Iron Fist. But there's loads more to come. While fans will have to wait until 2019 before we get more Stranger Things and Game of Thrones, there are still a ton of small screen goodies worth getting excited about. There's the return of some of 2017's best shows (Mindhunter, Ozark, Black Mirror), more offerings from Marvel and DC, some lavish reworkings of classic sci-fi and horror properties, and a handful of intriguing new titles. So here's the biggest TV shows to watch over the rest of the year...
Castle Rock
Hulu, July 25 The Stephen King renaissance has shown no sign of slowing down and with Castle Rock, Hulu's aiming to bring the author's story universe to the small-screen. The program's cast features names like Sissy Spacek, Bill Skarsgard, and Melanie Lynskey. But what makes Castle Rock so special is the connected nature of the anthology series itself. Fans should expect to see familiar stories, characters, and themes that originated in the author's previous works. There may be a decent wait before Pennywise the Dancing Clown returns to the big-screen, but that's okay. We're about to head back into Shawshank Prison, and that's pretty dang cool.
Orange is the New Black Season 6
Netflix, July 27 One of the longest-running shows on Netflix, the sixth season of the women's prison-set drama returns next month. Season 5 was the hardest-hitting to date, with the shocking death of Pousey leading to the inmates rioting and seizing control of the prison. It all ended with the main characters being separated and sent to different prisons, so where this leaves the show remains to be seen. But it continues to be one of the best written and acted series around, so expectations are high for the next batch of episodes.
Better Call Saul, Season 4
AMC, August 6 Better Call Saul began life as a spin-off prequel of Breaking Bad but has become a great show in its own right. The series is slowly heading to the point at which we first meet Jimmy McGill in Breaking Bad--he's now using the name Saul Goodman, and an increasing number of characters from the original show have made appearance over the past two seasons. But ultimately, Better Call Saul is about the bitter rivalry between two brothers, namely Jimmy, played by Bob Odenkirk, and Michael McKeen's Chuck. There's no premiere date yet, but production started in January, so expect it before the end of the year.
Jack Ryan
Amazon, August 31 Tom Clancy's CIA analyst Jack Ryan has been portrayed by almost as many actors as James Bond, in a much shorter space of time; John Krasinski will be the fifth star to play the character since 1990. According to director Daniel Sackheim, this new 10-part TV adaptation of Clancy's best-selling spy novels will take Harrison Ford's more down-to-earth interpretation as the basis for the character, rather than the more heroic version played by Ben Affleck and Chris Pine. And of course, Krasinski is now the director and star of one of the year's biggest movies--A Quiet Place--ensuring that Jack Ryan will get plenty of attention when it premieres in August.
The Purge
Syfy, September 4 The Purge is one of the most successful horror franchises of recent years--the three movies to date have made more than $319 million worldwide on modest budgets, and the fourth movie is set to hit theatres in July. But if that weren't enough, there's also a 10-episode TV show on the way. It's being produced for Syfy and will be overseen by franchise creator James DeMonaco, who also wrote and directed the first three films. It's set once more in a dystopian future where the annual Purge allows citizens to get all their violent, criminal impulses out, and according to early reports, will focus on a Marine who returns home to protect his sister on Purge Night. There's no premiere date yet, but it was recently announced The People v. O. J. Simpson director Anthony Hemingway will helm the first episode, so there's a good chance we might see it before the year is out.
Star Wars Resistance
Disney XD, October The hugely popular Star Wars Rebels ended back in March, but fans of Disney's animated Star Wars output won't have long to wait for the next series. Star Wars Resistance has been created by Dave Filoni, the man behind both Rebels and The Clone Wars, so we know it's in good hands. This show is set before the events of the 2015 movie, The Force Awakens, and will focus on a young pilot named Kazuda Xiono, who is recruited by the Resistance and tasked with a top-secret mission to spy on the growing threat of the First Order. As well as a host of new characters, fans can expect appearances from some of the recent Star Wars movie cast members, such as Oscar Isaac (as Poe Dameron) and Gwendoline Christie (as Captain Phasma), plus droid favorite BB-8.
The Walking Dead Season 9
AMC, October 31 While much has been written about The Walking Dead's falling ratings, it remains a hugely popular show, so don't expect it to go anywhere any time soon. The zombie drama returns later this year for its ninth season under new showrunner Angela Kang. Her predecessor Scott Gimple remains involved as AMC's chief content officer, and last month, he told Variety that Season 9 would see the show "evolve in a huge way." Could this mean the two-year time jump that occurred at the same point in the comic books? We'll find out in the fall.
Doctor Who Season 11
BBC, October It's always exciting when a new actor takes on the role as the iconic Timelord, but the debut of the thirteenth doctor this October is a really big deal. Jodie Whittaker replaces Peter Capaldi and is the first woman to play the Doctor. Whittaker had a brief appearance at the end of the recent Christmas Special, but fans will have to wait until October to see how her portrayal differs from previous incarnations. There's a new showrunner too, as Broadchurch's Chris Chibnall succeeds Steven Moffat. Finally, the Doctor's assistant is to be played by comedian Bradley Walsh.
The Conners
ABC, Fall The massive success of ABC's Roseanne revival was quickly overshadowed by the actions of its famous star, when a racist tweet by Roseanne Barr's led the network to cancel plans for Season 2. But last week, it was confirmed that the cast (minus Barr) will return for a spin-off show The Conners. Season 1 will premiere in the fall, taking Roseanne's 8 PM Thursday slot, and will run to 10 episodes. It's currently unknown how the show will address Barr's absence, but fans of this much-loved working classic sitcom family will have much to look forward to when Sara Gilbert, John Goodman, Laurie Metcalfe, and company return to screens.
Legends Of Tomorrow, Season 4
The CW, Fall The CW's roster of DC shows continues to go from strength to strength. Its most addition was the hugely entertaining Black Lightning, while Arrow, The Flash, and Supergirl all remain extremely popular. Season 4 of Legends Of Tomorrow arrives in the Fall, and with Netflix's Defenders proving to be a boring disappointment, it remains the one TV superhero team-up to watch. Focusing on heroes such as White Canary, Atom, Heat Wave, Vixen, and Steel, this year the team will be join by John Constantine, who is played once more by Matt Ryan. Ryan previously played the character in the now-cancelled show Constantine, as well as in episodes of Arrow and last year's animated movie Justice League Dark. In short, he's really good at playing one of DC's coolest, edgiest heroes, and is a welcome addition to Legends of Tomorrow.
Nightflyers
Syfy Long before he created the world of Game of Thrones, author George RR Martin wrote the short novel Nightflyers, a sci-fi horror story about a group of scientists who embark on a mission into deepest space to make contact with alien life. The story was adapted into a movie in 1987 and has now been turned into a new TV show by SyFy. This is one of the network's biggest productions to date, and the first trailer suggests that it will be as much a horror story as a space adventure. Boardwalk Empire's Gretchen Mol stars.
Maniac
Netflix Maniac will probably be one of the weirder series of the year. Given the names attached, though, the show comes with huge buzz. Cary Fukunaga helms the dark comedy, which stars Emma Stone, Jonah Hill, and Justin Theroux. The story centers on a patient living in a psychiatric hospital who escapes reality by living his life inside a fantasy world maintained solely inside his own mind. It sounds bonkers, but if Fukunaga brings the same sensibilities he brought to True Detective, the network may have a winner on its hands.
Titans
DC Universe While the quality of DC's movie output has been variable (to say the least), its roster of TV shows remains remarkably consistent. Titans is the latest addition. A live-action version of the Teen Titans, it's been in development since 2014, but shifting channels and cancelled pilots has meant very slow progress to the screen. But it is finally set to premiere in 2018, on DC's new digital service. Australian actor Brenton Thwaites (Gods of Egypt, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) plays Dick Grayson/Robin, leading a team of young superheroes that includes Starfire, Raven, and Beast Boy.
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Netflix The Coen Brothers are coming to TV. That sentence alone should get people excited. The duo--who brought classics like Fargo, The Big Lebowski, and No Country for Old Men to the big screen--will both write and direct a new western anthology series for Netflix. The six episode program will star Tim Blake Nelson, with each episode following a different character and story. Not much else has been announced regarding the series, but that's fine. The Coen Brothers are coming to TV and that's pretty awesome.
The Umbrella Academy
Netflix A comic book property outside of Marvel's purview is on its way to Netflix. The Umbrella Academy comes from the mind of My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way. The series tells the story of some not-pregnant women who suddenly give birth to a bunch of superpowered babies. Taking place in an alternate timeline--one where JFK is still very much alive--the story follows seven kids as they undergo training to save the world. Ellen Page has been tapped to star in the program, and Way will serve as producer.
Picnic at Hanging Rock
Amazon The classic 1975 movie Picnic at Hanging Rock is one of the most distinctive movies of that decade; it's a haunting, dreamlike drama about the mysterious disappearance of a group of Australian schoolgirls while on a trip to the Outback in 1900. Amazon is bringing a new version to the small screen later this year, and the first trailer suggests it will expand on the story of the original while keeping its super-creepy vibe. It stars Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell from Game of Thrones) as the school's headmistress, and the cast also features Orange is the New Black's Yael Stone and Samara Weaving, who starred in last year's Netflix horror comedy The Babysitter.
Ozark, Season 2
Netflix When Ozark premiered last year, many compared it to Breaking Bad, both in terms of its plot (an ordinary family man who chooses a life of crime) and its mix of violent thrills and dark humor. But the show quickly grew into its own thing and emerged as one of 2017's most enjoyable original series. Season 2 already has a teaser and has been shooting since last fall, so there's a good chance of it arriving in 2018. Jason Bateman returns as money-laundering dad Marty Byrde, with Laura Linney as his estranged but equally duplicitous wife Wendy. As Bateman says: "It's a good escalation of everything as far: danger, the business challenges, and--domestically--our relationship."
Castlevania, Season 2
Netflix Season 1 of Netflix's animated gothic fantasy Castlevania premiered in 2017 and has became one of the streaming service's most acclaimed new shows. Season 2 of the video game adaptation was initially rumored for this summer, but last week, writer Warren Ellis confirmed that while the show does yet have a set release date, it would appear "sometime later this year" and will run for eight episodes. Not only that, but actor Richard Armitage has also revealed that a third season is in the works.
New Warriors
TBC While the Marvel Cinematic Universe is highly focused and tightly controlled, the same can't be said for its TV counterparts. Shows like Daredevil, Luke Cage, Runaways, Agents of SHIELD, and Cloak and Dagger are all technically part of the MCU too, but you'd hardly know it from the wildly different tones, styles, and general lack of references to each other. But many of these shows are great (let's forgot Inhumans ever happened), and they will soon be joined New Warriors. The offbeat superhero team includes Squirrel Girl, Mister Immortal, Speedball, and Microbe, and it's been described as much more of a comedy than other Marvel shows. New Warriors was originally set to premiere this year on Freeform, but despite the fact that the pilot reportedly test very well the network dropped in due to "programming issues." It's currently being shopped around other networks by ABC, so hopefully, we'll see it soon.
The Haunting of Hill House
Netflix Mike Flanagan (Oculus, Gerald's Game) is one of the best horror directors working today, and 2018 will see him turn his talents to TV. Produced by Steven Spielberg's Amblin TV, this is an adaptation of Shirley Jackson's 1959 novel, which was also turned into the classic 1963 movie The Haunting (the less said about the 1999 remake the better). Annabeth Gish (Sons of Anarchy, The West Wing) stars as Mrs. Dudley, the caretaker of a haunted estate, with roles for Timothy Hutton (All the Money in the World) and Gerald's Game's Carla Gugino. Flanagan has written and directed the whole 10-part series, and this could be one of the year's great horror shows.
Luther, Series 5
BBC Fans of Luther were both excited and dismayed when the series returned for a two-episode fourth season in 2015. With a busy actor like Idris Elba playing the title role, sometimes schedules can be tight. That said, it looks like Elba has donned his signature tweed coat for another go-round as brilliant detective John Luther. We don't know what sort of gruesome crimes he will be investigating, but one thing is for certain: Idris Elba is at his best when the world is at its worst. Right now, John Luther is the hero we need and deserve.
The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Netflix Channeling the success of Riverdale, another Archie Comics story was in the works at The CW. But due to their concern of having too many witch shows--the network's Charmed reboot is still on the horizon--the untitled Sabrina the Teenage Witch series was handed over to Netflix. The series will explore the origins of the half-witch, half-mortal as she battles the evil forces that threaten her friends and family. Tonally, Deadline describes the series as being "in the vein of Rosemary's Baby and The Exorcist."
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance
Netflix It's been more than a year since this prequel to Jim Henson's classic '80s fantasy movie The Dark Crystal was first announced via this teaser, and while Netflix rarely announces release dates very far in advance, there's a good chance we might see it in 2018. We know that the show will consist of 10 episodes and will be overseen by Louis Leterrier, who is best known for directing Now You See Me and Marvel's The Incredible Hulk. While the original 1982 movie was only moderately successful at the time, it has gained a considerable cult following over the years, and with Netflix's deep pockets we can expect something lavish and highly imaginative.
Mindhunter Season 2
Netflix This is another Netflix show without a confirmed release date, but star Jonathan Groff has said that the second season of the period crime thriller is to start shooting early this year, so a late 2018 premiere is possible. The first season of Mindhunter showed that producer David Fincher was just at home with small-screen serial killer thrills as he is in movies such as Zodiac and Seven. The balance between a seriously dark crime procedural and a beautifully performed, character-driven drama was exceptional, so hopes are extremely high for Season 2.
Black Mirror, Season 5
Netflix Netflix has confirmed that Charlie Brooker's hugely acclaimed sci-fi anthology series will return for a fifth season. While the streaming giant is yet to announce a release date, the previous two seasons arrived a year apart, so there's good chance we might see Black Mirror Season 5 before the end of the year. Season 4 was the strongest season to date, so expect the next one to deliver more disturbing but darkly funny predictions about the way technology continues to shape our lives. Can't wait.
By Tamoor Hussain on Jul 16, 2018 03:18 pm
The much-anticipated launch of Season 5 of Fortnite: Battle Royale has arrived. This brings a ton of new content to PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile, and among the highlights is a new Battle Pass that consists of challenges and a variety of rewards to earn. These primarily come in the form of cosmetics, ranging from Outfits (what Fortnite calls skins skins) and Back Bling to Gliders and Contrails (the trail you leave behind you while skydiving). This means it's time to start the unlock grind all over for hardcore players, but is it worth the time and effort? We'll let you decide for yourself. Above, you can take a look at all of the skins, bling, trails, and gliders that have been added in the 5.0 update. This way, you see everything that's available this season and decide whether you want them enough to purchase the Battle Pass and invest the many hours it takes to unlock everything. If you're new to Fortnite (where have you been?) and are unfamiliar with how the Battle Pass works, here's what you need to know courtesy of developer Epic Games: "Play to level up your Battle Pass. The more you play, the more rewards you earn. Level up faster by completing Weekly Challenges. Earn up to 100 rewards worth over 25,000 V-Bucks (typically takes 75 to 150 hours of play). You can purchase the Battle Pass anytime during the season for 950 V-Bucks." So, to get the rewards, all you've got to do is buy a Battle Pass in-game and then play as much as you can. If you're interested in these rewards, you're better off buying the Battle Pass soon, as you'll receive XP bonuses that will speed up your progression throughout the season. As mentioned above, you can also boost the process by doing weekly challenges, which net you bonus Battle Stars. The first week of Season 5's challenges are up, and you can find a guide on where to find the Risky Reel treasure map and where to search floating lightning bolts. These items featured in this gallery are just a few of the unlocks available in the Battle Pass, there's also sprays, emotes, and more. You can see everything in the Fortnite Season 5 Battle Pass here. Free V-Bucks are among the rewards, and it's possible to more than make back the cost of the Battle Pass if you play enough. Those can then be spent on the skins and cosmetics that are regularly sold through Fortnite's in-game store or saved for the Season 6 Battle Pass that we'll likely be seeing in September. Finally, the 5.0 patch that ushered in the new season introduces new gameplay mechanics, changes some of the map, and makes a number of tweaks to the way the game plays and performs, so make sure to read the full Fortnite Season 5 update patch notes. You'll find a new, golf kart-style vehicle that lets you drive around with a full squad, while the map adjustments see a number of significant changes; most notably, there's a huge desert area that replaces Moisty Mire.
By Kallie Plagge on Jul 16, 2018 12:38 am
Looking To The Dark Future
After a long wait, we learned a lot more about Cyberpunk 2077 at E3 2018. Developer CD Projekt Red showed off a trailer during Microsoft's press conference as well as a behind-closed-doors demo that has not been released publicly. We now have a better idea of what 2077's setting, Night City, is like and how combat will work, plus a little bit about cybernetic enhancements and romantic relationships. But there's still a lot we don't know, and that means our imaginations have been running wild. We've put together a wishlist of things we'd love to see in Cyberpunk 2077, from character classes to cool clothes. This includes elements from Cyberpunk 2020, the pen-and-paper RPG 2077 is based on--creator Mike Pondsmith is working closely with CDPR on 2077--as well as our more general RPG hopes and dreams. If you aren't familiar with Cyberpunk 2077, it's a first-person game with some shooting mechanics, but it's not a shooter--it's an RPG through and through with a focus on dynamic decision-making and robust questlines. You create your own character, a mercenary named V. You can select their gender and ethnic background as well as their backstory, including what brought them to Night City or if they're a local. According to associate design director Kyle Rowley, "The things you define in your life path, in your backstory, can modify or unlock things as you're playing through the game." For more on Cyberpunk 2077, be sure to check out our roundup of everything we know so far. You can also read up on the districts of Night City and why 2077 is an even more ambitious game than you might realize. This is just a start, so be sure to let us know in the comments what else you want to see!
A Variety Of Ways To Tackle Each Mission
CD Projekt Red has said that there will be multiple ways to approach each mission, but we have to emphasize how much we want that flexibility. We want to be able to talk ourselves out of a situation, provided we have the skill, or find a way to handle things non-violently. And those decisions need to carry weight. From what we know so far, it sounds like that's the case.
Adapt Cyberpunk 2020's Character Classes
Pen-and-paper RPG Cyberpunk 2020 has nine basic character classes. According to CD Projekt Red, you won't be selecting a class during character creation, since that doesn't allow for flexibility as you play. We're hoping that whatever customization options there are (like a skill tree) will really capture the spirit of Cyberpunk 2020's classes, like the rebellious Rockerboys and the Mad Max-esque Nomads, and give you the freedom to craft the exact class you want to play.
A Romance System With Depth And Variety
We know that there's romance and sex in Cyberpunk 2077, and while that's not new for an RPG, we're hoping that it's more nuanced. Rather than just picking the "right" dialogue options to seduce someone, we want something more emergent, complete with the possibility of being rejected. Not everyone needs to be into you, and the ones who are should feel that way for a reason beyond you saying all the right things.
Tons Of Cosmetic Options
As the Cyberpunk 2020 manual says, "It doesn't matter how well you do something, as long as you look good doing it." Style is a huge deal in the world of Cyberpunk, and we want to see a near-overwhelming number of options when it comes to looking cool as hell. Yes, it's a first-person game, but it's really the principle of the thing. You don't have to always be looking at your character to appreciate a sweet leather jacket.
Customize Your Apartment (Or Even Get A New Place)
In the behind-closed-doors demo at E3 2018, we got a look at the protagonist's apartment. We want to be able to decorate it however we see fit--and set it up with some cool tech--or even buy a new property, like in GTA Online. Maybe you want to live large, or maybe you just want to live above a ramen shop and lay low.
A Game-Within-A-Game (Netrunner, Perhaps?)
The Witcher 3 had Gwent. The Cyberpunk universe has Netrunner, a now out-of-print collectible card game designed by the creator of Magic: The Gathering. Cyberpunk 2077 could give Netrunner a second life in-game, and just like Gwent in The Witcher 3, it could be more than just a brief distraction in between quests. We'd also be open to something besides a CCG--the "streetslang" in Cyberpunk lore is a mix of major languages, so an amalgamation of classic games from different countries isn't a big stretch.
And A Variety Of Side Activities
Cyberpunk 2077 will have romance (and casual flings), so it's not unreasonable to hope for a substantial nightlife. We want dive bars, clubs, and perhaps some shadier or more dangerous places to really fit the "dark future" setting. Maybe you can go to an NPC Rockerboy's concert. Maybe you can smoke a cigarette to increase your Cool stat...and probably drain your health. The possibilities are endless.
Take Us To The Moon
In the E3 2018 trailer, we saw a scene with passengers aboard a shuttle of some sort, apparently above Earth's atmosphere. There are two lunar colonies in Cyberpunk 2020, and considering there are two open world areas in The Witcher 3, it would make sense (and be really, really cool) if you could go to the moon in addition to Night City in Cyberpunk 2077.
Subvert Cyberpunk Genre Tropes
Although Cyberpunk 2077 is based on a tabletop RPG that is, in turn, based on the pillars of the cyberpunk genre--like Blade Runner--we hope that it will subvert some of the genre's more tired tropes. Many cyberpunk stories have examined the humanity of AI, for example, while glossing over topics like consent and sex work. CD Projekt Red has certainly proven its ability to tell a variety of meaningful stories across RPG quest lines, and it has the opportunity to move the genre forward with 2077.
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