The last week of September sees a few more TV shows, Original series, and movies added to Netflix. There are a few noticeable titles being added, but there isn't as much as the first three weeks of September. If nothing tickles your fancy, then you only have to wait a week for October's add-ons.
Fans of The Walking Dead can finally watch Season 8 on Netflix. First debuting on October 22, 2017, The Walking Dead: Season 8 continues the escalating conflict between series protagonist Rick Grimes--now leading the group of survivors in Alexandria--and another group, called the Saviors, who force other communities to pay tribute to them. Andrew Lincoln reprises his role as Rick, and Jeffrey Dead Morgan plays Negan, the dangerous leader of the Saviors. Season 8 marks the last full season of The Walking Dead that Lincoln will be a part of as he's scheduled to leave the show in Season 9.
On September 25, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl comes to Netflix. Don't worry, this is the first film in the franchise--the one that most fans agree to be the best. The movie stars Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, and features equally magnetic performances from Geoffrey Rush as Captain Hector Barbossa, Orlando Bloom as Will Turner, and Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann. Even if the follow-up films weren't as universally loved, The Curse of the Black Pearl is still regarded as a modern-day classic for its goofy humor, charming cast of characters, and well-written story about pirates struggling to remain relevant in the face of well-armed trading companies.
You can check out our full list of series, Originals, and movies coming to Netflix in September if you need to catch up on previous weeks. Below, we've outlined everything coming to the streaming service this week.
Netflix U.S. Releases (September 23 - September 29)
September 23
The Walking Dead: Season 8
September 25
A Wrinkle in Time
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
September 26
Norsemen: Season 2
The Hurricane Heist
September 28
Chef's Table: Volume 5
El Marginal: Season 2
Forest of Piano
Hold the Dark
Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father: Season 2
Lessons From A School Shooting: Notes from Dunblane
Season 6 of Fortnite is almost upon us. After much speculation--and a rather bizarre turn of events related to the mysterious purple cube that has been rolling around the island--Epic has finally confirmed when the new season of its massively popular battle royale game will begin, and it's very soon.
The developer announced on Twitter that Season 6 will begin this coming Thursday, September 27. [Update: Following the release date, we have our next bit of info regarding the new season: a teaser image showing what appears to be a llama skin that might become available. You can check it out below.]
It was presumed that the season would begin sometime this week, as the official Fortnite website stated that Season 5 officially wraps up on September 25, and Epic typically kicks off a new season shortly after the previous one ends. This, however, is the first time the developer has confirmed when Season 6 will start, although it hasn't shared any additional details beyond that. Just what Season 6's theme will be, or what kind of comet/rift-style event will kick it off, is still anyone's guess.
That also makes this your last opportunity to complete any remaining challenges and unlock the rest of Season 5's Battle Pass rewards. If you need help finishing up any challenges, you can find tips for each weekly set of missions in our complete Fortnite Season 5 challenge roundup. We've also put together a gallery of all the Season 5 rewards gallery so you can see what you can unlock.
We don't yet know what to expect from Season 6, but some strange events have been unfolding in the game ahead of it. Back in August, a lightning bolts struck the desert and left a mysterious purple cube in its wake, which fans had begun affectionately referring to as "Kevin." The cube would react differently depending on how players interacted with it; standing close to it would rejuvenate players' shields, but striking it would cause them to launch backward and take damage.
Soon after it materialized, the cube began slowly rolling around Fortnite's map. It was unclear what its destination was, but last week, the cube plunged into Loot Lake and melted, much to the surprise of fans. Not only did it turn the water purple, but now the entire lake has effectively become a giant trampoline, boasting the same bouncy property the cube had. It's unclear how this all relates to Season 6, but we won't have to wait much longer to find out.
Season 6 of Epic's phenomenally popular battle royale game, Fortnite, is just around the corner. The new season kicks off on PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and mobile later this week, but in the meantime, the studio has begun dropping teaser images to usher in its impending arrival.
As it did in the run up to Season 5, it appears Epic will share a series of teaser images leading up to the start of Season 6. The company tweeted the first one out on Monday, which presumably shows off a new DJ llama skin you'll be able to get your hands on during Season 6. "All great parties need a DJ," the tweet reads. It should be noted that Fortnite's Battle Royale mode celebrates the first anniversary of its release very soon.
Epic hasn't shared many details yet on what to expect from Season 6. The developer recently confirmed the new season officially begins on Thursday, September 27, but we don't know much about it beyond that. One thing that is safe to assume, however, is that Epic will offer another new Battle Pass when the season does kick off. The developer has released a new Battle Pass at the start of every season thus far; these could be purchased for 950 V-Bucks and leveled up as you completed weekly challenges to acquire new cosmetics and other rewards.
Some strange things have also been happening in the game itself that signal some sort of major changes in store for Season 6. Last month, a purple cube materialized on the island after the desert was struck by a lightning bolt that emerged from the giant rift in the sky. The rift has since closed, and the cube began slowly rolling around the island until it made its way to Loot Lake and plunged in, turning the lake purple and bouncy.
It's unclear what any of this means for the future of Fortnite, but every lingering question should be answered when Season 6 begins this Thursday. In the meantime, it's your last chance to unlock any remaining Season 5 rewards. That season ends on Tuesday, September 25, so you have until then to complete Season 5 challenges. If you need help finishing them up, you can find tips for all 10 weeks in our Season 5 challenges roundup.
If you've paid even a little attention to Destiny 2: Forsaken, you probably know that it's the death of your pal Cayde-6 that kicks off the expansion's events. Early in the Forsaken campaign, you'll find Cayde's Will sitting in the Pursuits tab of your inventory. It's this item that guides you through the steps required to find and repair the Exo hunter's exotic hand canon, Ace of Spades.
The Ace of Spades is a powerful weapon that can bring down hordes of enemies in PvE and deliver tons of damage to opponents in the Crucible. It's definitely worth getting, even though completing the quest steps is no easy task. Here's a rundown of how to complete each step.
1. Finish the Forsaken Campaign
The first thing you need to do is to get the Ace of Spades from Uldren Sov, the person responsible for Cayde's death. To do that, you simply have to finish the Forsaken campaign.
2. Bring the Gun to Banshee-44
If only getting the Ace of Spades were as easy as finishing the campaign. But this is Destiny 2, a game that's all about the grind. The weapon isn't in workable condition when you retrieve it from Sov, so now you have to go about fixing it. The first step toward doing that is bringing the broken weapon to Banshee-44, the gunsmith in the Tower.
3. Kill 5 Invaders with a Hand Canon in Gambit
You'll need to run some errands before Banshee can fix up the Ace of Spaces, starting with killing five invaders with a hand canon in Gambit mode. You'll want to be careful, because the step's in-game wording has been causing confusion since the expansion landed. To complete this quest step, you have to play Gambit mode and wait for invaders to come over to your side. When they do, you need to use a hand canon to get the killing shot on them. If you invade the other side and get hand canon kills, they won't count toward completing this step in Cayde's Will.
This step is a tough for a number of reasons. For one thing, invaders have an extra layer of shielding, so they require more hits than usual before they die. Invaders also tend to enter your side when they have their super charged or are loaded up with power weapon ammo, making them formidable foes.
The best way to complete this step is to play with a group of people who are willing to help you get your invader kills. They can help whittle down invaders' health, and then hand off the final blow to you and your hand canon. If you're playing solo, you can try using more powerful weapons to cut down an invader's health before switching to a hand canon for the last few shots. Alternately, you can equip hand canons in both your primary and secondary weapon slots so you can switch when you run out of bullets. Really, it takes luck, patience, and skill to complete this step.
4. Kill 250 Enemies in Strikes Using a Hand Canon
This step is pretty straightforward. Just hop into any Strike in the game and use a Hand Canon to blast through all enemies you encounter. You'll probably have to play through a few Strikes to complete this step, but it doesn't require much in the way of skill.
5. Get 25 Precision Hand Canon Kills in the Crucible
And now we come to another challenging step in the quest to complete Cayde's Will. For this one, you can play any Crucible matches you want. All you have to do is get precision kills using a hand canon. That means you'll have to aim carefully to make sure you're getting headshots, because body-shot kills don't count here.
I found Rumble to be a good Crucible mode for this step, because it's a free-for-all. With no teammates to worry about, every player you encounter is a potential notch toward completing this step. So aim for the head, get the kill, wash, rinse, and repeat.
6. Find Cayde's Personal Stashes
Before he died, Cayde hid some stashes all around the solar system. You'll need to travel to Io, Nessus, Tangled Shore, and EDZ to collect all four. The problem is, they're pretty well hidden. Here's the general idea where you'll find them.
Io -- Land in the Lost Oasis and make your way into the Wraith Mines.
Nessus -- Land in Exodus Black and head to the Sunken Cavern.
EDZ -- Land in the Sunken Isles and go to Legion's Anchor.
Tangled Shore -- Drop in at Thieves' Landing and travel to Hellrise Canyon.
If you're having trouble finding any of the stashes, it helps to watch a YouTube guide like the one above for exact directions.
7. Complete the "Ace in the Hole" Mission
The final step is to head to Titan to complete a new mission called "Ace in the Hole." The enemy encounters in the mission aren't too difficult, but you will need to find 10 chests Cayde has hidden in the environment. Thankfully, you'll get a "Cayde's Stash Nearby" notification on the left side of your screen anytime you're near an unopened chest. Find them all, and you can breathe a sigh of relief. The grind is over.
8. Visit Banshee-44 at the Tower
Once you've finished the mission, head back to the Tower and talk to Banshee-44. All of your hard work pays off as he hands you a shiny, like-new Ace of Spades hand canon. And if you pre-ordered the game, you should have Cayde's Stash, which includes a nice red-and-black ornament for the weapon.
Telltale announced majority layoffs recently, throwing the fate of several of its series into question. Some reports indicated that The Walking Dead, its longest-running series in the current process of releasing its final season, wouldn't ever be complete. In a letter, that series' thanks fans for their support and laments we may not ever see the end of the story.
Melissa Hutchison is the voice of Clementine, who went from a young girl in the first season to the main protagonist and caretaker in her own right.
"To my knowledge, they will release Episode 2 and that will be it," said Hutchison in a statement on Twitter. "It hurts me that you, the fans, will not get to see Clem's journey through to the end. Telltale games will always be the best narrative, story-driven game company ever. No closing of doors will ever take that away."
In the latest developments, Telltale has said it will give an update on its upcoming roadmap in the coming weeks, but all indications are that most projects have been put on the shelf. The timing is particularly poor for The Walking Dead, which was critically acclaimed in its first season and helped define Telltale as a narrative powerhouse. This final season is in the midst of release, with the second episode coming this week, but we may not see any more after that--which could leave Clementine's story without a proper conclusion.
We've reached the second half of September, which means anyone with an active Xbox Live Gold subscription can download two new games for free. The titles in question are the Xbox One game Livelock and the Xbox 360 game Sega Vintage Collection: Monster World. Both are playable on Xbox One.
Livelock is a top-down shooter that takes place after humanity and the rest of the organic life on Earth has been wiped out. The game puts you in the shoes of a robot fighting off hordes of enemies, with the goal of bringing life back to the planet. You can play it alone or with up to two friends in co-op mode. It's available for free between now and October 15.
Sega Vintage Collection: Monster World contains ports of the Monster World/Wonder Boy series of RPGs from the 1980s and '90s. It comes with Wonder Boy in Monster Land, Wonder Boy in Monster World, and Monster World IV. When this collection launched in 2012, it was the first time Monster World IV had made its way to the US. It's available for free between now and September 30.
If you haven't grabbed it yet, Xbox Live Gold subscribers can still download Prison Architect for free through the end of the month. But now that September 15 has come and gone, two September Games with Gold have gone back to their regular prices: For Honor and Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars.
Microsoft hasn't announced the Games with Gold for October, but we expect news to that effect to arrive in the coming weeks.
Games With Gold: September 2018
Xbox One
Prison Architect (September 1-30)
For Honor (August 16-September 15)
Livelock (September 16-October 15)
Xbox 360
Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars (September 1-15)
Sega Vintage Collection: Monster World (September 16-30)
GameStop refreshes its weekly selection of gaming deals each Wednesday. This week's sale is now live, bringing players some nice discounts to consider as we move inexorably toward the deluge of games releasing this fall. Let's take a look at what kind of money GameStop shoppers can save this week.
Sony just announced the PlayStation Classic, a miniature version of the original PlayStation console that comes with 20 PS1 games pre-loaded. If it's as popular as the NES and SNES Classics were when they launched, it may be hard to find as its December 3 release date approaches. You can pre-order one now at GameStop while supplies last.
As usual, a number of trade-in and pre-owned deals are available this week as well. Trade in any game on this list toward a new game, and you'll get $20 credit guaranteed. You can also buy a pre-owned Xbox One and two games under $15 for just $210, or get the same deal for a PS4 for $270.
You'll find more discounted games in the list below, and you can view the full GameStop ad here.
Rockstar has shared the first details regarding Red Dead Redemption 2's online mode, named simply Red Dead Online. As was the case with Grand Theft Auto V's online component, GTA Online, Red Dead Online will not launch alongside the game itself; instead, it will debut sometime in November 2018--one month after Redemption 2 itself releases--and will start as a public beta. Anyone who owns a copy of RDR2 will have free access to Red Dead Online; there's no indication the multiplayer mode will be made available separately.
"Using the gameplay of the upcoming Red Dead Redemption 2 as a foundation, Red Dead Online will be ready to be explored alone or with friends, and will also feature constant updates and adjustments to grow and evolve this experience for all players," the announcement states.
But in a moment of expectations-setting, the announcement also warns that players who hop on immediately are likely to experience some growing pains. Specifically, the studio says it expects turbulence at launch, and to work with the community to overcome "teething problems" and develop Red Dead Online over time.
That roadmap makes it sound very similar to Grand Theft Online, which was fairly rough when it first launched a few weeks after the launch of Grand Theft Auto V. Rockstar has been treating it as a live service since then, though, and has continuously added new features, modes, and cosmetic items over the course of years. Red Dead Online is likely to get a similar treatment given the phenomenal long-term success of GTA V.
(Spoilers ahead for both the game and Avengers: Infinity War.) If you're still a little raw after the brutal ending of Avengers: Infinity War, then seeing this suit in action in the PS4-exclusive Spider-Man title may either make you very happy (yay this costume is great and I can pretend everything is OK with Peter Parker) or very, very sad (oh god it just reminds me of that last scene with Tony Stark MY FEELINGS). Either way, the Iron Spider suit stands as one of the most visually striking in the game, and it makes swinging through the skyscrapers of New York just that little bit cooler.
Unsurprisingly, this suit's power mimics the one seen in the movie, and sprouts four mechanical arms from Spidey's back when activated. Within the game, these arms add extra power to Spidey's attacks, allowing you to bust through even the strongest enemies' defenses (including shielded foes and those pesky brutes), as well as hit multiple enemies at once. When you're surrounded and need a quick way to land some hits regardless of the enemy types around you, this suit's Iron Arms power is a lifesaver.
The Iron Spider Suit unlocks about two-thirds of the way into the game, and when looking at the suits list, it's the 17th you'll have access to. The first thing you'll need to do to nab the Iron Spider is reach level 31. After that, you'll need to have four crime tokens accumulated, as well as three base tokens and three challenge ones. Once you have those, then Stark's hopefully-not-final creation for young Peter Parker is yours for the taking.
It's safe to say Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the most-anticipated games of the year. If you're planning to buy it and you've been meaning to pick up a PS4 Pro, you can do both at once with the Red Dead Redemption 2 PS4 Pro Bundle. And if you do, you'll save $60, because the bundle effectively makes the game free. The Red Dead Redemption 2 PS4 Pro Bundle launches on October 26 and retails for $400. We have all the information that you need to pre-order it below.
The bundle comes with a 1 TB black PlayStation 4 console, a DualShock 4 controller, and a physical copy of Red Dead Redemption 2. If you play it hooked up to a 4K HDR television, the game will display with enhanced graphics and a wider range of color. The graphics will even look better on non-4K HD TV, as long as you turn on Supersampling Mode in the PS4 Pro's settings.
Here's where you can pre-order the Red Dead Redemption 2 PS4 Pro Bundle right now.
The only potential drawback is that this bundle doesn't include any of the special editions of the game. For more information about pricing and what comes with the numerous editions, visit our Red Dead Redemption 2 pre-order guide.
Set in 1899, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a prequel to the original Red Dead Redemption. Instead of focusing on John Marston, the previous game's protagonist, it follows Arthur Morgan, another member of the Van Der Linde gang as they go on a cross-country crime spree with the law nipping at their heels.
Overwatch is preparing to release another major patch with various balance changes, but the most serious reworking is coming to the engineer Torbjorn. In a video detailing the changes, game director Jeff Kaplan said the team is aiming to make his functionality less narrow and situational.
When the changes go live, Torb will no longer have armor packs or use the scrap system at all. Instead, his secondary ability will change to "Overload," which will look a lot like what you currently may recognize as his Ultimate ability. It will give him a speed bonus, damage resistance, and firing rate increase.
Meanwhile his Ultimate ability will change as well. It's still called Molten Core, but instead he will shoot out pools of liquid magma. Those pools of hot metal can do area-of-effect damage, and will do extra damage against armored opponents. Finally, his turrets will no longer have build levels. Instead, they'll be permanently set at the second level, with a short build time. Torbjorn will also be able to toss his turrets into hard-to-reach places.
"The goal of all of these changes is to make Torb a more acceptable pick on both attack and defense and less map or role-dependent than he was previously," Kaplan said.
If you haven't jumped aboard Overwatch yet, Humble Bundle is offering it as part of this month's subscription, through October 5. You could get the game as well as some other goodies for just $12.
A new month is now upon us, and The Pokemon Company is continuing its Year of Legendary Pokemon campaign with another pair of free Legendaries for Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. During September, players will be able to claim one of the two Eon Pokemon from Ruby and Sapphire, Latios and Latias, but as usual, the way to get your hands on them will vary by region. [Update: The Latios/Latias distribution is set to end later this week, on September 29, making this your last opportunity to pick the Legendaries up.]
Once again, those who live in the US will need to go to a participating retailer to pick up a free download code for the Legendaries. This time, the code will be distributed at Best Buy stores around the country from September 2-29. Players in Europe and Australia, meanwhile, will be able to download the Legendaries directly from the Nintendo Network between September 1-23.
As usual, the Pokemon you receive will depend on which version you're playing. You can claim the Legendaries in any seventh-generation Pokemon game, but there's an added incentive to redeem them in the Ultra titles; not only will the Legendaries come at higher levels and know different moves, they'll be equipped with a Gold Bottle Cap, a rare item that can be exchanged to Hyper Train a Pokemon. You can see their movesets and other details below.
Pokemon Ultra Sun
Latias -- Level 100 (w/Gold Bottle Cap)
Mist Ball
Psychic
Draco Meteor
Tailwind
Pokemon Sun
Latias -- Level 60
Mist Ball
Dragon Pulse
Psycho Shift
Wish
Pokemon Ultra Moon
Latios -- Level 100 (w/Gold Bottle Cap)
Luster Purge
Psychic
Draco Meteor
Tailwind
Pokemon Moon
Latios -- Level 60
Luster Purge
Dragon Pulse
Psycho Shift
Dragon Breath
To get the Legendary, select Mystery Gift from the main menu and choose the option to receive your gift with a code/password. Enter the download code you picked up and the Pokemon will be downloaded into your game. (Players in Europe and Australia, meanwhile, will simply need to select the option to receive their gift via the internet.) Once those steps have been completed, you'll be able to pick your Legendary up from the deliveryman waiting inside any Pokemon Center around Alola.
You also still have time to redeem your download code for August's free Legendaries, Groudon and Kyogre. If you still haven't picked one up, however, you're out of luck, as codes for the Ruby and Sapphire cover monsters were only being given away from GameStop stores until August 26. You can see all of the other free Pokemon available for Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon right now in our roundup.
Latios and Latias aren't the only Legendary Pokemon players can pick up for free this month. To celebrate the release of the newest Pokemon TCG expansion, Dragon Majesty, The Pokemon Company has announced it is giving away a free Poipole in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon--but as usual, the way to claim it will vary by region.
Originally unveiled under the codename UB Adhesive, Poipole is one of the new Ultra Beasts introduced in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, meaning you'll need to own one of those two versions to receive it. What makes this particular Poipole special is that it's a Shiny; unlike most of the ones you're likely to encounter in the game, this one is white and gold rather than the usual purple.
In the US, the Shiny Poipole will be given away as a download code at GameStop stores from September 17 - October 7. In the UK, players will be able to pick up a code for the Pokemon at Smyths stores from September 17 - October 15. Poipole will be distributed throughout the rest of Europe in the September Pokemon Trainer Club newsletter.
Unlike most of the other Legendary Pokemon given away this year, this Poipole comes at level 40 and isn't carrying any held items. It also knows the moves Venom Drench, Nasty Plot, Poison Jab, and Dragon Pulse. It needs to know the latter move and level up in order to evolve into the Poison/Dragon Pokemon Naganadel.
The aforementioned Latios and Latias are this month's free gifts as part of the ongoing Year of Legendary Pokemon promotion. The pair are claimable in any seventh-generation Pokemon game, although the one you receive will depend on which version you own. You can read how to get them here. You can also see the other freebies available now in our roundup of all the free Pokemon for Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
Nintendo's online subscription service for Switch has arrived, and along with online play and cloud save backups, one of the benefits it provides is access to NES - Nintendo Switch Online, a library of classic NES games exclusively for subscribers. There are 20 titles available in the library right now, with more to come every month, and they all feature modern amenities such as save states, HD resolution, and even online play. If you're interested in trying out the latter, however, it may not be readily apparent how exactly to play NES games online with a friend.
If you subscribe to the Nintendo Switch Online service, you'll be able to download the NES app from the Switch Eshop or Nintendo's website for free. You'll have unlimited access to this app for as long as your remain a subscriber, and the NES games can be played offline for up to seven days, but you'll need to "check in" periodically to verify that you still have an active subscription.
Once you've installed the NES app, you'll be able to play any of the included NES games either solo or with another player. Many of the titles in the initial lineup feature a dedicated two-player mode, but some, such as The Legend of Zelda, only support one player; in these games, you and your friend will be able to share the same screen and switch between who is controlling the game at any time.
To set up an online session, you'll first need to select the Play Online option from the left sidebar. Once you've chosen that, you'll see the screen below, which displays a box of the players on your friends list who are playing the app online. Chances are the box will say it is unable to find a friend's game session; if so, select the Play While You Wait option beneath the box, and one of your friends will then be able to join you.
The user hosting the session will choose which games are played. If you select one that features a two-player mode, such as Dr. Mario or Super Mario Bros. 3, simply select that option and you'll play together just as you would locally. In any game, you can also move the right control stick on the Switch Pro Controller (or the right Joy-Con's control stick if you're playing with a Joy-Con Grip) to bring up a hand cursor, which you can use to point things out to the other player or applaud by pressing the stick in.
Another benefit Nintendo Switch Online subscribers receive is access to special offers, such as a set of NES-style Joy-Con controllers that only members can purchase. The controllers can only be used to play the aforementioned NES games and don't work in handheld mode, but they can be slotted into the sides of the console to recharge, just as regular Joy-Cons. Each set comes with two controllers and costs $60; if you're a subscriber, you can pre-order the NES Joy-Cons now.
Nintendo is offering Switch Online subscriptions in three increments: one month (US $4 / £3.49 / AU $6), three months (US $8 / £7 / AU $12), and 12 months (US $20 / £18 / AU $30). You also have the option to sign up for an annual Family Play, which costs US $35 / £31.49 / AU $55 and can be shared with seven other Nintendo Account holders. If you're on the fence about subscribing, Nintendo is offering a seven-day free trial of the service, but you'll need to opt out of automatic renewals, otherwise it'll become a one-month subscription.
Rockstar revealed some new information about Red Dead Redemption 2 today, with a focus on the wide variety of wildlife to hunt and horses to ride. Telling isn't quite as effective as showing, though, so the studio was sure to release a new batch of screenshots as well.
This set of screens shows off Arthur hunting and fishing, finding a trapper at a trading post, strapping a kill onto his horse, and tracking a wounded animal through a snowbank. Plus we get some nice new views of Arthur with his horse, as well as wild horses that you can break and tame to become your own.
The hunting, crafting, and horse taming systems all sound pretty detailed, given the details accompanying the announcement. You'll have to be careful how you track animals and even which weapon you use to maximize the value of the pelt and meat. Not all animal interactions are violent, though; keeping your horse fed and groomed will increase its stats.
If you don't have a console to play RDR2 on yet, Sony announced a new PS4 Pro bundle that includes the standard version of the game as a freebie. For more details check out our pre-order guide.
We're weeks away from the launch of Red Dead Redemption 2, and Rockstar is ramping up with a steady stream of new details. Today the studio outlined the wide variety of fauna to be found in the Old West, which can be hunted, skinned, and sold in your spare time between missions.
The official blog shows several species, including deer, coyotes, wolves, vultures, eagles, alligators, bears, fish, gila monsters, and various horses. Hunting and fishing will provide you with food, crafting materials, and income. Your choice of weapon will impact the value of the meat or pelt, with the bow being your best bet for a clean kill. You can then skin and butcher the animal yourself or take it with you. If you leave an animal out for too long scavengers will come to take your kill before you can use it.
To get around, you'll rely on your own animal companion, a trusty horse. There are 19 breeds of horse in all, and they can be captured and broken or bought from stables. Keeping your horse groomed and fed will contribute to its ratings for attributes like stamina and handling. Horses also have 59 different styles of coat, and you can customize your saddles, horns, stirrups, and spurs.
Rockstar and Sony also announced a special PS4 Pro bundle that includes Red Dead Redemption 2, essentially at no additional charge. For more details check out our pre-order guide.
A new week means a new sale on video games at Best Buy. This week's discounts offer a wide range of savings on everything from hardware and services to games and pre-orders. We have all the details you need below, so take a look and start saving some cash.
The hardware discounts aren't so hot this week (see below), but lots of games have gotten appealing price drops. With football back in full swing, now is a great time to save $20 and pick up Madden NFL 19 for just $40. The unique racing game Onrush is on sale for $45, and Switch owners can grab Fire Emblem Warriors for $50.
Anyone looking to upgrade their console situation might want to place a pre-order for the just-announced Red Dead Redemption 2 PS4 Pro Bundle. It comes with a black 1 TB PS4 Pro, a wireless DualShock 4 controller, and a physical copy of Red Dead Redemption 2. The price is $400, which effectively saves you the $60 the game would otherwise cost.
The rest of the hardware deals aren't exactly door-busters, but you can save a whole $3 on a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, bringing it down to $67. PS4 owners can get a slightly better deal by saving $5 on a DualShock 4 controller for a total of $60. And if you buy an Xbox One, you get $10 off select controllers. On the other hand, Kingdom Hearts fans get a decent break this week, with 40% off select collectibles.
More video game discounts are listed below, or you can click over to Best Buy's weekly ad to find even more savings. Just make sure to finalize your purchases by September 30, when a new set of discounts will become available.
The follow-up to Rockstar Games' classic western game Red Dead Redemption is fast approaching. Set 12 years before the events of the original game, Red Dead Redemption 2 will explore an expansive region of the American wilderness, with Dutch Van der Linde's gang on the run from lawmen during the last years of the wild west. Experiencing Rockstar's take on the open-world western from a new perspective, you'll uncover the history of the Van Der Linde gang, which has a young John Marston in its thralls.
We got the opportunity to play Red Dead Redemption 2, and suffice to say, it's shaping up to be one of the most detailed open world games we've ever played. You can find out more in our preview below where you can read about our experiences completing story missions and exploring the game's world. There's also plenty of details below on the game's narrative and all of its trailers. With its release date of October 26 approaching, we're beginning to learn a lot more about the base game, as well as its Red Dead Online mode.
Set 12 years before the main events of the original game, the prequel focuses on the outlaw life of the Van der Linde gang, led by Red Dead Redemption's main antagonists. After a robbery in Blackwater (one of the original game's major towns) goes bad--the gang finds themselves on the run. Dutch, his right-hand man Arthur Morgan, and several members of the gang have to contend with a life on-the-run while confrontations with rival gangs and the law make their situation grow more desperate.
Rockstar also released a description of the plot:
America, 1899. The end of the wild west era has begun as lawmen hunt down the last remaining outlaw gangs. Those who will not surrender or succumb are killed. After a robbery goes badly wrong in the western town of Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee. With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America in order to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him.
The First Reveal
Debuting on October 20, 2016, the first trailer for Red Dead Redemption 2 was a bit of a mood piece that showcased many locales in the game, while also portraying the somber tone of the main narrative. In this trailer, we saw several towns and locales, many of which are teeming with life and activity--such as ranchers rustling up some cattle, huntsmen bringing back their haul, and a group of citizens hanging out in the general store.
Who Are We Playing As?
Though the central character of Red Dead Redemption, John Marston, plays some role in the story--the main protagonist of the prequel is Arthur Morgan. As Dutch's right-hand man and enforcer for the gang, he'll handle much of the daily duties of keeping the gang in-check--which includes a young and less-experienced John Marston. When it comes to keeping the gang and its community afloat, Morgan is quite handy with picking up various jobs to ensure everyone is well fed and in good spirits. But as the story progresses, he'll begin to question his own resolve for Dutch's way of life, and whether he still has a place in the gang.
The Second Trailer
On September 28, 2017, the second trailer for Red Dead Redemption 2 debuted. In the new footage, we got to see more of Arthur Morgan and how ruthless he can be while on the job. During some of the story cutscenes, Morgan will use coercion and physical threats to collect money and information, all for the "benefit" of the community. For more info on this particular trailer, check out our detailed breakdown.
Who's In Dutch's Gang?
In Red Dead Redemption 2, we'll see Dutch's gang and its key players in their prime. While the original game had John hunt down and kill the remaining members of the gang, we'll see many of the familiar faces in relatively happier times. From the most recent trailer, we see Dutch Van der Linde, Arthur Morgan, Bill Williamson, Javier Esquela, Sadie Adler, Charles Smith, Micah Bell, Hosea Matthews, and of course John Marston in the roster. We'll also interact with other characters who would have a key role in the gang and in the lives of both Arthur Morgan and John Marston.
The Third Trailer
In the new footage released on May 2, we saw a deeper look into the game's narrative and how the gang functions. Along with the familiar activities like hunting, heists, and side-quests with the region's citizens, rob trains and banks, and take in shows at theaters. For the most part, the trailer focuses on the many connections you'll have with the members of the gang, as well as how your choices will affect them. For more info on the third trailer, check out our detailed breakdown.
First Gameplay Trailer
On August 9, Rockstar unveiled Red Dead Redemption 2's first gameplay trailer. The new footage revealed that the core mechanics from the original game were still intact, but almost everything had received a facelift. Wildlife is smarter and lives within its own ecosystem. Arthur Morgan can interact with the people around him in ways John Marston never could.
What's New In Red Dead Redemption 2?
While the sequel is largely in the same vein as its predecessor, focusing on exploration, hunting, shoot-outs, heists, and other side-activities where you'll interact with a number of unique characters--Red Dead Redemption 2 features a far more expansive world to dive into. We got our first good look at this world and how we'll be playing through in Read Dead Redemption 2's first gameplay trailer below.
The honor system from the original game makes a return, but now with far more detailed tracking. Along with the average citizen, members of your community will react to how well or how poorly you treat them. As the lead enforcer, Morgan will have to handle a ton of responsibilities, such as resource gathering, procuring funds, and making sure everyone in the community is happy.
There are a ton of new mechanics in Red Dead Redemption 2. For details on every new feature in the game so far, check out our comprehensive list of all the new features we've discovered so far.
How It Plays: Our In-Depth Preview
We recently got a hands-on with a near final-build of Red Dead Redemption 2. It plays much like its predecessor, but with a bevy of new features and systems that enhance its storytelling, combat, and overall progression. We got to experience two story missions, as well as a chance to goof around freely in the open world. There's a lot to unpack about how the upcoming sequel looks and feels, so be sure to read our in-depth preview detailing our impressions about how it plays.
How Will Online Multiplayer Work?
Currently, Rockstar hasn't shared any info on how the online play will function. The original Red Dead Redemption featured online free-for-all and team deathmatch style gameplay in the open world, along with several co-op themed missions. While it's safe to assume that these sorts of missions will return, another long-lingering rumor is the appearance of a battle royale mode. Rockstar has recently confirmed that a public beta for the online mode is scheduled for a month after the game's launch.
How Can I Play RDR2? When Is Its Release Date?
Red Dead Redemption 2 is set for release on October 26 for PS4 and Xbox One. There are also plans for a collector's edition of the game called the Special Edition. Priced at $80, the package includes a copy of the game along with special missions, weapons and a physical map of the game world for players to own. There are also two additional packs for Red Dead Redemption 2 for premium prices, The Ultimate Edition and The Collector's Box--both priced at $100. While The Ultimate Edition has all items from the special edition--including additional DLC items to acquire--The Collector's Box does not include any digital items. Instead, it offers special playing cards, artwork, a bandit's bandana, a physical map of the game world, and a collector's coin in the set.
Though the original Red Dead Redemption never found its way to the PC, there's been some rumors that its sequel might. A mention of Red Dead Redemption 2's appearance on PC found its way online, but it has since been scrubbed.
PS4 Pro Bundle
Although the system itself doesn't sport a unique design, there will be a Red Dead Redemption 2 PS4 Pro bundle. Priced at $400 in the US, you're essentially getting a copy of the game for free. However, this doesn't include any of the aforementioned special editions; it's just a standard edition version of the game. The bundle is available for pre-order now.
When Red Dead Redemption 2 debuted, Sony touted PS4-exclusive content and promised we would hear "more details soon." A year later and even having gotten hands-on with the PlayStation 4 version of the game, we still have no idea what it is. [Update: The exclusives remain unclear, but we do know there will be a RDR2-themed PS4 Pro bundle.]
"We are pleased to announce that PS4 players get first access to earn select online content in the vast open world of Red Dead Redemption 2," said a post on the PlayStation Blog. "Check back on PlayStation Blog for more details soon and for all of the latest information on Red Dead Redemption 2."
This is noted "online content" specifically, so it would make sense for it to be tied to the recently revealed Red Dead Online multiplayer mode, which will launch roughly a month after single-player game. It stands to reason that any announcement would have to wait for Rockstar to take the wraps off of Red Dead Online, but now that it has, we can likely expect more firm details on the exclusive content to be on the way as well. With the game fast approaching, this could help fans determine which version to pre-order.
Are you running out of things to watch on Amazon Prime? We're approaching October, but September has brought with it a large batch of new TV shows, movies, and Prime Originals for you to binge in your free time this week and beyond. Here is what you have to look forward to throughout the rest of the month, as well as what's already landed on the streaming service.
For new movies coming to the service that you may have missed in theaters, September 29 marks the arrival of the horror movie Jigsaw, which is part of the gruesome Saw franchise. There is also Escape Plan 2--which wasn't in theaters--and while the movie's focus isn't on Sylvester Stallone as much as we'd thought it would be, it's still a solid action movie.
If you're looking something from the past, Amazon has a ton of movies you'll want to rewatch including Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II, arriving on September 1. If you're getting ready a bit early for Halloween, there a few horror movies as well, including Pumpkinhead, Poltergeist II, the original The Amityville Horror, and the 1989 Adam Sandler movie Going Overboard, which may be the scariest of them all. Check out the complete list of everything coming to Amazon Prime in September below.
Everything Coming To Amazon Prime In September 2018
September 1
Asylum, Season 1
The Blue Rose, Season 1
The Broker's Man, Seasons 1-2
The Field of Blood, Seasons 1-2
Golden, Season 1
The Kevin Bishop Show, Season 2
London Irish, Season 1
The Palace, Season 1
Parents, Season 1
Rocket's Island, Seasons 1-3
Sam's Game, Season 1
Texas Rising, Season 1
The Triangle, Season 1
Trust, Season 1
Westside, Seasons 1-3
Wild at Heart, Seasons 1-8
1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992)
A Field in England (2013)
A Good Woman (2006)
A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004)
A Murder of Crows (1999)
A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures (2010)
A Turtle's Tale 2: Sammy's Escape from Paradise (2012)
All You Can Eat Buddha (2017)
Bandits (2001)
Beowulf (2007)
Big Top Pee-wee (1988)
Blow Out (1981)
Bolero (1984)
Can't Stand Losing You: Surviving the Police (2012)
We're now in the final days of Fortnite Season 5, which means a whole new season and other big changes are just around the corner for the popular battle royale game. (Already, we've seen the cube meet its end.) That also means this is your last opportunity to complete Season 5 challenges and unlock any remaining Battle Pass rewards if you still haven't on PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and mobile. [Update: Season 6 officially begins on September 27, but there are just hours left to complete Season 5 challenges.]
As it has done in previous seasons, Epic released 10 weekly batches of challenges for players to complete throughout Season 5. For this season, the tasks were divided up into two categories--Free and Battle Pass--so even those who haven't purchased a Battle Pass, which was typically the only way to gain access to the challenges, could be able to complete some and earn rewards.
Season 5 is slated to run until September 25, meaning you have until then to finish up any remaining challenges. If you need help getting them done--or would just like some pointers on how to clear them as quickly as possible--we've assembled guides for each weekly set of missions in our complete Fortnite Season 5 challenge roundup. You can also see all of the items and cosmetics you can earn by completing the challenges in our Season 5 rewards gallery.
Week 10's challenges arrived on September 13, and as usual, they featured a mix of straightforward tasks (like dealing damage to opponents and consuming enough apples or mushrooms) as well as some slightly more involved ones. One of the trickier challenges has you searching for Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces in basements; we've put together a guide of their locations here. You can see the full list of Week 10 challenges below.
Epic recently rolled out Fortnite's 5.40 content update, which introduced another new weapon to the game's ever expanding arsenal: the Suppressed Assault Rifle, a new gun that lets you take out other players stealthily. The update also moved the Drum Gun into the vault.
Season 5 of Fortnite: Battle Royale on PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android is very nearly over. Season 6 is right around the corner, but this current season brought with it a selection of fresh challenges to complete on a weekly basis, as well as a variety of Battle Pass rewards to unlock for your efforts. This time, however, Epic has made a few tweaks to the way certain Battle Pass challenges operate, including the introduction of free challenges for all players. Before the season ends and previous challenges are no longer available, we've got details on all of the ones available so far through Week 10, and exactly how to get them all done.
Once again, players who purchase the Season 5 Battle Pass will get a set of objectives to complete every week, which in turn will go toward leveling the Battle Pass up and unlocking new rewards. Unlike past seasons, however, weekly challenges are now divided into two categories, Free (which are available to all Fortnite players) and Battle Pass (which are reserved for those who've purchased the Pass). That means that even if you haven't bought the Battle Pass, you'll still be able to complete certain objectives and earn rewards.
If you do decide to pick up the Battle Pass partway through the season, you'll be also able to retroactively unlock any premium rewards you've earned based on the tier that you've already reached. However, one of the advantages of purchasing the Battle Pass early is bonus XP, which is awarded for playing in general and for playing in a party with friends. Since leveling up with XP translates into Battle Stars, you'll want to grab the Battle Pass as soon as you can and take advantage of these bonuses.
There are two other types of challenges to complete this season as well: Road Trip and Drift. The former are much like the Blockbuster challenges from Season 4; when you complete all of the challenges in a given week, you'll receive a special loading screen that points to the location of a hidden Battle Star. Drift challenges, on the other hand, task you with gaining a certain amount of XP. There are five Drift challenges to complete in total in Season 5, each of which reward you with a new style option for the Drift skin. If you manage to complete four out of the five Drift challenges, you'll also unlock the Rift Edge, an alternative for the pickaxe.
You'll find a complete list of all Season 5 challenges available so far below, along with links to our maps and guides that will help you complete them all. You can see all of the new skins, cosmetics, emotes, sprays, and other items to unlock this season in our gallery of Fortnite Season 5 Battle Pass rewards.
Fortnite: Battle Royale Season 5 Challenges
Road Trip
Complete all challenges from any week -- loading screen
Complete all challenges from any 2 different weeks -- loading screen
Complete all challenges from any 3 different weeks -- loading screen
Complete all challenges from any 4 different weeks -- loading screen
Complete all challenges from any 5 different weeks -- loading screen
Complete all challenges from any 6 different weeks -- loading screen
Complete all challenges from any 7 different weeks -- loading screen
Reward: Legendary skin (Enforcer) and Back Bling (Subjugator)
Bungie has updated Destiny 2 with the new hotfix 2.0.3.1 patch. The update primarily addresses several of the bugs that have plagued the game since the release of the Forsaken expansion, but also lowers the difficulty curve of certain quests.
Perhaps the most noticeable change to the game is the update made to Gambit, specifically the Cayde's Will quest. Previously, one of the steps for completing the mission and unlocking Cayde's trademark hand cannon Ace of Spades required you to kill invading players with hand cannons. Thanks to the hotfix, you can now kill invading players or general enemies to complete the quest, which is both easier and faster. Rejoin functionality has also been turned off in Gambit.
Hotfix 2.0.3.1 also updates Heroic adventures, the Dreaming City, and weapons and items. The full patch notes can be found on Bungie's main website, but we've outlined the highlights below. If you're looking for something new to do in-game, you can hit up Xur.
Destiny 2 Hotfix 2.0.3.1 Patch Notes
Heroic Adventures
Fixed an issue where Barons were providing Legendary rewards outside of Heroic adventures
Barons in Heroic adventures now reward one guaranteed Legendary per day
Subsequent kills grant Legendary rewards at a reduced rate
Dreaming City
The Offering to the Oracle now sorts to the Pursuits bucket, rather than Consumables
Removed the weekly bounty that required players to redeem an Offering for the Oracle
The Dreaming City weekly challenge now requires only two weekly bounty completions
Fixed an issue where some enemies would improperly spawn chests after being killed
Players can no longer obtain Dreaming City rewards when repeating the Awakening mission
Fixed an issue where Telesto could be used to accelerate progression of objectives in the Blind Well
Weapons/Items
Fixed an issue where players can get stuck with the Origin Story or the Last Dance weapons if they use the character level boost after obtaining them in Homecoming
Fixed an issue where BrayTech Legendary Scout Rifle dismantled into Mod Components
Destiny 2 is available on Xbox One, PS4, and PC. Despite the bugs, we're currently enjoying our time playing through the Forsaken expansion. In our in-progress Destiny 2: Forsaken review, we gave the DLC an 8/10. We'll be updating our review after playing through Forsaken's new Last Wish Raid.
Activision has confirmed that the post-launch DLC for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 will be coming to PS4 first before also launching on Xbox One and PC. That's no surprise, as the PS4 has received early access to DLC expansions on every Call of Duty game since Activision first partnered up with PlayStation for 2015's Call of Duty: Black Ops 3. However, this time the PS4 has a much shorter exclusivity window.
For Black Ops 4, Activision has announced that the PS4 will only have a one week head start on the Xbox One and PC when it comes to playable post-launch content. This includes all seasonal events, as well as new specialists and maps for multiplayer. The Nuketown multiplayer map will come to all platforms in November, followed by new specialists in December. Past Call of Duty games have given the PS4 two to four weeks exclusivity on certain updates. With that window shortening so dramatically, it suddenly doesn't hurt as much to be pre-ordering Black Ops 4 on Xbox One and PC.
Prior to Black Ops 4's launch launch, Treyarch released a beta for the game's battle royale Blackout mode. The Blackout beta offered player limit counts of 80, 88, and 100, but Treyarch hasn't announced which number will be used for the final game. The beta offered several different types of modifiers as well, such as only close range weapons and a rapidly closing border circle, which taught us just how different Blackout is from other battle royale games like PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and Fortnite.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 launches on October 12 for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. If you pre-order the Deluxe or Digital Deluxe editions of the game, you can get a head start on multiplayer with in-game Call of Duty points.
We've reached the weekend, which for Destiny 2 players means another appearance by Xur. Coinciding with Iron Banner and a Crucible event that rewards bonus Valor, the mysterious merchant has popped up again with a slate of Exotic items for sale--although, once again, none of it comes from the new Forsaken DLC. Here's where to find Xur and what Exotic weapon and armor he's selling.
For this latest appearance, Xur has returned to Nessus. If you've visited him there before, you'll know where to go--he's located in Watcher's Grave. Spawn in at the local landing zone and simply make your way straight toward a giant tree. Walk near the base of it and you'll find a branch you can jump up, and you can make your way to Xur.
In typical fashion, he has a single Exotic weapon and one piece of armor for each class. The weapon is the hand cannon Crimson, which features the Banned Weapon perk, causing it to fire a three-round burst. It also has Cruel Remedy, which heals you when you get a kill with it and refills the magazine if you pull off a precision kill. It's stored in the primary weapon slot and is a nice addition to your arsenal.
On the armor side, Hunters get the annoyingly named St0mp-EE5 leg armor (buffing sprints, slides, and jumps). Titans get Khepri's Horn helmet (kills with solar damage recharge your barricade class ability, which when first deployed causes a blast of solar damage). And Warlocks get the Verity's Brow helmet (speeds up the recharge on grenades when killing enemies with an energy weapon). The full lineup of gear and prices follows below.
Crimson (Exotic Hand Cannon) -- 29 Legendary Shards
St0mp-EE5 (Exotic Hunter Leg Armor) -- 23 Legendary Shards
Also back after disappearing briefly is the Fated Engram. While expensive, this guarantees you a Year 1 Exotic that you don't already own.
There's a lot happening in Destiny 2 right now. The Raid went live last week, and the first completion of it unlocked new content, including a Gambit map and a Strike. There still seems to be more change to come, but we do know a new Crucible mode called Breakthrough is coming next week. And, as noted above, the first post-Forsaken Iron Banner is ongoing, offering players a competitive PvP playlist where your Power level matters.
If you're wondering, we'll go ahead and say it: The Predator does not have a post-credits scene. So once the credits roll, feel free to leave the theater. Of course, you should also stay to see the hundreds of people who helped bring the movie to life. Still, there's plenty to talk about with regards to the end of the film and we're going to dig into it. If you've seen The Predator or simply don't care about being spoiled, carry on. Otherwise, turn away now.
The Predator spoilers below!
If you weren't expecting all kinds of death in The Predator, you've clearly never seen a movie in this franchise. In the end, practically everyone was viciously murdered by the massive Super Predator, including Will Traeger (Sterling K. Brown), along with Nebraska (Trevante Rhodes) and the rest of the self-proclaimed "loonies." In fact, the only three left standing were our hero Quinn McKenna (Boyd Holbrook), his son Rory (Jacob Tremblay), and the exposition-dispensing biologist Casey Bracket (Olivia Munn).
As it turns out, that Super Predator was on Earth to kill the regular Predator who had come here to give us a weapon to stave off a Predator invasion. That shouldn't matter, since Traeger was convinced we'll all be dead from global warming in two generations anyway, but here we are. Meanwhile, the Super Predator just wanted to harvest the best human DNA it could find in an effort to integrate it into its own species. Naturally, that DNA could only be found in Rory, seemingly because he figured out how to make Predator technology work.
In the end, McKenna kills the Super Predator by shooting him in the head repeatedly--even though he's mostly bulletproof throughout the movie--and what's left of the heroes go home victorious. Of course, it doesn't end there.
Cut to some period of time later and Quinn finds himself back at the top secret lab where the regular Predator was being studied before the chaos began. Now, for some reason, his incredibly young child is working as a government scientist at the lab. His mother, Yvonne Strahovsky's underused character Emily, is nowhere in sight. It really gives the impression that this poor kid has terrible parents.
It's also revealed that said lab is in possession of a pod left behind by the regular Predator--the weapon it was bringing to help save the Earth. What could it be? A Xenomorph? A solution for global warming? Cake? No, it's none of those things. Instead, it's essentially an Iron Man suit that looks like a Predator. It's dubbed the Predator Killer and is clearly a means of telling the audience that director Shane Black really wants a sequel to this film.
Almost immediately, Quinn calls dibs on the tech and makes a joke about whether it comes in his size. That's the end of the movie, closing on something of a cliffhanger, but not really. Viewers aren't shown any kind of further invasion by the Predator species or any immediate danger they could pose. Instead, we get a shot of the suit that Quinn covets. Honestly, we hope his kid ends up wearing it should get a follow-up.
The first trailer for Captain Marvel has finally arrived after what seems like forever. At long last, Marvel Cinematic Universe fans have gotten a look at Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) in action as the superhero--along with a peek at the aliens she'll be fighting.
For who that don't follow the comics closely, though, you might be wondering what kind of powers Captain Marvel has. As can be seen in the opening seconds of the trailer, she is clearly impervious to most damage. Falling from space through a Blockbuster Video would kill any normal human.
In the comics, Carol has not only superhuman durability, but the strength and stamina to match--think Captain America, but even more powerful. As for weaponry, she has the ability to fire photon blasts from her hands, which can be seen in the trailer. She's also capable of absorbing massive amounts of energy.
One power from the comics not seen in the trailer is flight. Given that Carol Danvers was a highly-regarded pilot before becoming Captain Marvel, there's something wonderful about flight being one of her powers. Since the movie has given her a similar backstory, chances are that particular power will be on display in the film.
Whatever the case, it's clear that Captain Marvel is one of the most exciting additions to the MCU yet. It's no wonder she's who Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) paged at the end of Avengers: Infinity War.
The latest trailer for Bumblebee has arrived. The movie is the first spin-off from the Transformers series, and it focuses on the early adventures of the much-loved Volkswagen Beetle Autobot. It stars Hailee Steinfeld and WWE star John Cena and hits theaters in December.
The new trailer is a lot more plot-focused than the previous teaser, released back in June. It's set in California in the 1980s, with Steinfeld playing a young woman who finds Bumblebee in a trash heap. The pair start to bond, but of course there is in danger in shape of Decepticons, who are looking to destroy Bumblebee. Along the way we see appearances from other classic Transformers--all in their original '80s designs--plus Cena as a gruff Government agent. Check it out above.
Bumblebee also stars Jorge Lendeborg (Spider-Man: Homecoming), Jason Drucker (Diary of Wimpy Kid), Ricardo Hoyos (The Belko Experiment), and Gracie Dzienny (Chasing Life). It's directed by Travis Knight, who previously helmed the Oscar-nominated animated movie Kubo And The Two Strings. It is released on December 21.
In terms of other Transformers movies, the future of the franchise remains uncertain. When Bumblebee was first announced, it was supposed to be the first in an ongoing spin-off universe of Transformers movies. However, last year's Transformers: The Last Knight was a financial disappointment compared to the previous four films. As a result, the Transformers movie originally scheduled for 2019 was removed entirely from Paramount's schedules.
This follows the rumors back in February this year that Habsro, the toy manufacturer which owns the rights to Transformers, is planning to reboot the whole franchise. It was also reported that a new agreement with Paramount means that Hasbro will have greater control over the property, including greenlighting movie projects.
When Han joins the Empire early on in Solo: A Star Wars Story, he wants to be a pilot. However, the next time we see the titular hero, he's on the mud planet Mimban, and why he's not flying ships is only mentioned in passing. In the home release of the new Star Wars film, a deleted scene plays out why Han is covered in mud.
It opens with Han flying a TIE Heavy Starfighter, heading back to an Imperial command ship. His ship is damaged, and he manages to stumble back to command through the bay. Han then appears before a tribunal where he explains that if he went on his own to attack a headhunter that brought him down--instead of following orders--the headhunter would be dead. The Commodore, and the rest of the tribunal, finds him guilty of disobeying a direct order, and Han is signed to the infantry, where he'll be shipped out to Mimban.
There's a gag dropped at the end when Han asks when he'll be flying again, and the Commodore says Han will be flying again in no time. Then it cuts to Han on Mimban, getting blown away by an explosion. The scene wasn't completely necessary for the film, as Han mentioning in passing he was kicked out of the Imperial Navy was more than enough info, but this was a nice, quick deleted scene.
While Solo was a very fine film with plenty of great moments--like Donald Glover's portrayal of Lando--it wasn't a huge commercial success like previous Star Wars movies. And there's no specific way to pinpoint why it did poorly, many speculate its failure was a combination of releasing it at the tail-end of blockbuster season--after Avengers: Infinity War and Deadpool 2 had everyone at the theater--along with poor marketing. Additionally, news of behind-the-scenes drama, and breaking the December release schedule Lucasfilm has followed with the new films may have helped contribute to its financial failure.
Director Ron Howard spoke up about the film's lack of success a month after its release. "I'm proud of [Solo] and the cast and crew worked hard to give fans a fun new addition," Howard wrote. "As a director I feel badly when people who I believe (and exit polls show) will very likely enjoy a movie... don't see it on a big screen with great sound."
Solo: A Star Wars Story is available digitally now and will find its 4K/Blu-ray/DVD home release on September 25, and both the digital and physical releases of the film contain some fun special features.
The latest movie in the Conjuring horror universe, The Nun, explores the origins of the demon Valak--or at least, how it entered our world from Hell in the series' history. Taking place years before The Conjuring 1 and 2, it's definitely a prequel, although there are only two characters in The Nun who appeared in the later movies as well. One of those is obviously Valak, the Nun itself, the terrifying Sunday school demon who's terrorized the Warrens now across multiple films. The other is a spoiler.
The Nun spoilers below!
Ready?
At the very end of The Nun, audiences learn that Jonas Bloquet's character, Frenchie, is actually named Maurice--and he's the same man who appeared in a brief scene in the original Conjuring movie, when Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) played a recording of an exorcism they'd performed on him. Unsurprisingly, The Nun's heroes hadn't actually vanquished Valak by its end, and Frenchie walked away from the monastery with a soul-sucking passenger on board his body. Years after The Nun, but before The Conjuring, the Warrens will exorcise this demon--killing Frenchie in the process, and freeing Valak to set its sights on Lorraine.
The Nun's director, Corin Hardy, told GameSpot it was important that the movie connect to the larger Conjuring universe in meaningful ways.
"It was always sort of laid out in the script, and I wanted to make sure that we honored the mythologies and the other movies in the Conjuring world," he said. "There's some subtle connections and some visual connections...and there's some significant ones. It's obviously a movie that takes place 20 years before the first Conjuring, so a lot can happen between then."
The Nun pulls kind of a weird move when it opens and concludes with existing clips from previous Conjuring movies. At the beginning, it shows several shots of Lorraine Warren doing battle with the Nun, which Hardy said was meant to bring audiences up to speed--even if it sort of blew the reveal.
"It was certainly debated, for sure," he said. "Of course I'm really conscious of wanting to protect the monster and only reveal it in certain ways. Then equally, you've got an audience out there who's generally seen The Conjuring 2 and has come to see that Nun...We're making the movie, obviously, for the fans of The Conjuring, as well as a new audience who has not seen any Conjuring movies or Annabelle movies. You can watch this and then you can go and watch that, or you've already seen all of them and watch this. So it's sort of a balancing act."
"I think we're just sort of reminding you briefly of the existence of this character from The Conjuring 2, and hinting that you're gonna be able to figure out during this movie where, how the demon man came to be, how Valak came into the world of the Warrens in both The Conjuring 2 and The Conjuring," he said.
One question many Conjuring fans have is how involved James Wan is in the series. Wan directed The Conjuring and wrote and directed The Conjuring 2, and now produces every movie in the series (including the Annabelle films). When it comes to the spin-offs, is he pulling the strings behind the scenes like Marvel Cinematic Universe boss Kevin Feige? Or does he take a more hands on approach with movies like The Nun?
"He's the creator of these stories, and he was super collaborative," Hardy said. "It wasn't like he sat down and then discussed a series of instructions and rules. I think it was very much more sort of driven by the passion of horror. When you meet someone who is into the same music as you, you kind of have a little bit of an unspoken relationship. You're on the same page. Both James, [Annabelle, Annabelle: Creation, and The Nun writer] Gary Dauberman, and myself, we all love horror movies."
As for future Conjuring movies, including the planned Conjuring 3 and The Crooked Man, Hardy said he didn't include too many hints for what's coming in The Nun, although he said "there certainly could be" clues that fans have yet to notice. But there was almost a much more direct reference to The Crooked Man, another avatar of Valak who first appeared in The Conjuring 2 and is now set to get its own spin-off. "I did toy with putting the Crooked Man in one of the tombs or trying to have the little wind up box or something," Hardy said. "But it felt a little strange in this one."
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