It's almost June, and that means a wave of new content is coming to Netflix in the upcoming month. From movies that hit theaters earlier in the year to brand-new Netflix originals, there is plenty of content coming to the service next month.
The final season of any Netflix/Marvel joint venture hits the streaming service in the upcoming month. Season 3 of Jessica Jones is set to debut on Netflix sometime in June. However, no specific release date has been announced. There will be no more Marvel TV series on Netflix, as Marvel is moving its properties to the new streaming service, Disney+ later this year.
The most-anticipated release this month is Season 5 of Black Mirror on June 5. The last release of the series, a choose your own adventure-style episode called Bandersnatch, actually delayed Season 5 of the hit show. This season will only contain three episodes,--Striking Vipers, Smithereens, and Rachel, Jack And Ashley, Too--but it's looking like it will be an exciting one--also, super-depressing.
As usual, there are plenty of movies coming to the service in June, including Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, which arrive on June 1. And while Disney is pulling its content this fall, there are still a few things coming, like on June 15 when Ralph Breaks the Internet arrives.
But Netflix is also giving content the boot in June, so you have a limited amount of time to watch some movies. On June 1, Stargate, Doom, and the Kill Bill movies exit Netflix, so watch them before they leave. On June 5, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 leaves, so it'll be your last chance to check that one out as well.
Below, you'll find the full list of everything coming and going from Netflix in June. For more on streaming services, check out the June releases list for Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.
Coming To Netflix In June
No Date
Marvel's Jessica Jones: Season 3 -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Trinkets -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Avail. 6/1/19
Arthdal Chronicles -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Oh, Ramona! -- NETFLIX FILM
50/50
A.I. Artificial Intelligence
Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
Batman Begins
Cabaret
Carrie
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Dynasty: Season 2
Good Night, and Good Luck
Gran Torino
Life in the Doghouse
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
Magic Mike
Network
Platoon
Prosecuting Evil: The Extraordinary World Of Ben Ferencz
Satan & Adam
Small Soldiers
The Dark Knight
The Phantom of the Opera
The Space Between Us
What a Girl Wants
Avail. 6/3/19
Documentary Now!: Season 3
Malibu Rescue: The Series -- NETFLIX FAMILY
Avail. 6/4/19
Miranda Sings Live…Your Welcome -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Avail. 6/5/19
A Silent Voice
Black Mirror: Season 5 -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Dr. Seuss' The Grinch
Avail. 6/6/19
Alles ist gut -- NETFLIX FILM
Todos lo saben
Avail. 6/7/19
3%: Season 3 -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Belmonte
The Black Godfather -- NETFLIX FILM
The Chef Show -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Designated Survivor: Season 3 -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Elisa & Marcela -- NETFLIX FILM
I Am Mother -- NETFLIX FILM
Pachamama -- NETFLIX FAMILY
Rock My Heart -- NETFLIX FILM
Super Monsters Monster Pets -- NETFLIX FAMILY
Tales of the City -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Avail. 6/8/19
Berlin, I Love You
Avail. 6/11/19
Disney's Ralph Breaks the Internet
Avail. 6/12/19
Jo Koy: Comin' In Hot -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese -- NETFLIX FILM
Avail. 6/13/19
The 3rd Eye 2 -- NETFLIX FILM
Jinn -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Kakegurui xx -- NETFLIX ANIME
Avail. 6/14/19
Aggretsuko: Season 2 -- NETFLIX ANIME
The Alcàsser Murders -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Awake: The Million Dollar Game -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Charité at War -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Cinderella Pop -- NETFLIX FILM
Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce: Season 5
Leila -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Life Overtakes Me -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Marlon: Season 2
Murder Mystery -- NETFLIX FILM
Unité 42 -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Avail. 6/15/19
Grey's Anatomy: Season 15
Avail. 6/16/19
Cop Car
Avail. 6/17/19
The Missing: Season 3 -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Avail. 6/18/19
Adam Devine: Best Time of Our Lives -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Big Kill
Avail. 6/19/19
Beats -- NETFLIX FILM
The Edge of Democracy -- NETFLIX FILM
Avail. 6/20/19
Le Chant du Loup -- NETFLIX FILM
Avail. 6/21/19
Ad Vitam -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Bolívar -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
The Casketeers: Season 2 -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
The Confession Tapes: Season 2 -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Dark: Season 2 -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
The End of Evangelion
EVANGELION: DEATH (TRUE)²
Girls Incarcerated: Season 2 -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
GO! Live Your Way: Season 2 -- NETFLIX FAMILY
Jaoon Kahan Bata Ae Dil -- NETFLIX FILM
La misma sangre -- NETFLIX FILM
Mr. Iglesias -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Shooter: Season 3
Avail. 6/24/19
Forest of Piano: Season 2 -- NETFLIX ANIME
Avail. 6/25/19
Mike Epps: Only One Mike -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Avail. 6/26/19
The Golem
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
The Zookeeper
Avail. 6/27/19
Answer for Heaven -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Avail. 6/28/19
20th Century Women
7SEEDS -- NETFLIX ANIME
Dope: Season 3 -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Exhibit A -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Instant Hotel: Season 2 -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Motown Magic: Season 2 -- NETFLIX FAMILY
Paquita Salas: Season 3 -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
The Chosen One -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Avail. 6/29/19
Scare Tactics: Seasons 4 & 5
Avail. 6/30/19
Madam Secretary: Season 5
Leaving Netflix In June
Leaving 6/1/19
An Extremely Goofy Movie
Apollo 13
Cold in July
Disney's 101 Dalmatians
Disney's The Fox and the Hound 2
Disney's The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story
Doom
Freddy vs. Jason
Friday the 13th
Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves
I Am Legend
In the Army Now
Inspector Gadget 2
Jason X
Kill Bill: Vol. 1
Kill Bill: Vol. 2
Legally Blonde
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde
My Bloody Valentine
Playing It Cool
Pretty in Pink
Reindeer Games
Stargate
Terminator Salvation
The Bone Collector
The Constant Gardener
Leaving 6/4/19
District 9
Leaving 6/5/19
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Leaving 6/6/19
The Soloist
Leaving 6/14/19
Grand Designs: Australia: Season 4
I Own Australia's Best Home: Season 1
I Own Britain's Best Home: Season 1
Mother
Leaving 6/15/19
Apocalypse Now
Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things
The PlayStation Store's Totally Digital Sale continues this week with markdowns on PS4 games like Dead Cells, Dragon Ball FighterZ, and Superhot VR. Plus, more game deals have been added, including a batch of over 200 titles that PS Plus members can get twice the discount on. There's also a new Warner Bros. sale with markdowns across franchises like Batman: Arkham, Lego, Hitman, and Mortal Kombat.
The Warner Bros. sale is also worth checking out for its deals on Batman: Arkham games and Lego titles. You can get the entire Batman: Arkham collection for $30, which includes the definitive versions of all three games, plus all DLC. Injustice 2's Legendary Edition is marked down to $24 from $60, and Mad Max is only $7. Meanwhile, the Lego games are all available for $8, except for Lego: Marvel Super Heroes 2's Deluxe Edition, which is $14. These deals end May 28 at 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET.
See some of the best game deals below, and browse the full offering of deals at the PlayStation Store. Plus, don't forget to check out the deals posted last week as part of the Totally Digital Sale--those discounts will also expire May 28.
With the approach of E3 2019, the rumor mill is abuzz with the possible announcements, trailers, and reveals that will come out of the show. Quite a few aren't very likely--they're more pipe dreams than anything really. However, some of the rumors carry some weight to them. Of everything rumored to come out of E3 2019, the reveals listed below are (in our opinion) the most likely to carry some semblance of truth.
Remember, nothing detailed in this article has been confirmed (yet). It's a collection of speculations based off of small tidbits of information, leaked details, and investigative reports. That said, if our collection of E3 2018 rumors is any indication, some speculations can turn out to be fact. Last year, rumors that E3 2018 would see the announcement of Hitman 2 and Assassin's Creed Odyssey ultimately turned out to be true. Prior to E3, there was also speculation that CD Projekt Red would show off Cyberpunk 2077 (and boy did they) and that Bethesda would announce something Fallout related (and we got Fallout 76).
More leaks and rumors are bound to pop up the closer we get to E3 2019, so continue to check back on this article as we get closer to June. We'll continue to update the following list of rumors as they come up (provided there's weight behind them).
Infinity Ward's Call Of Duty 2019 Is Revealed To Be Modern Warfare 4
Traditionally, Activision reveals the name of its new Call of Duty games in May, but the month is already almost over and there's no planned announcement in sight. That hasn't stopped fan speculation though, and rumors are pointing to the new Call of Duty game being Modern Warfare 4. Whatever the game is, it's been confirmed to appear at E3 2019, and it's already playable.
Following the established rotation, Infinity Ward has been confirmed as the developer for Call of Duty 2019. Other than revealing Call of Duty will include a traditional single-player campaign and co-op gameplay in a "huge expansive multiplayer world," Infinity Ward hasn't announced any concrete details about the game. However, several teases and tweets from the developer's staff have hinted towards Infinity Ward working on a game related to its popular Modern Warfare series.
Microsoft Unveils At Least One Of Its Next-Gen Xbox Consoles
Microsoft is rumored to be working on two next-gen Xbox consoles, and it's possible at least one is being announced at E3 this year. The first, codenamed Lockhart, is supposedly the budget-oriented, standard edition of the console. Meanwhile, the second, codenamed Anaconda, is the high-powered version--equivalent to Xbox One's more powerful One S and One X variations.
Microsoft is already expected to discuss its plans for next-gen at E3 2019, but it's unclear if the company is planning something as big as a full reveal (complete with price points, launch titles, and features) or smaller teases of what's to come. There's been speculation that the next-gen Xbox consoles will be geared towards wider audiences with a lower price of entry, and include new technology in line with Microsoft's focus on selling games as opposed to hardware. This would fall in line with what Phil Spencer told GeekWire in regards to consoles.
"That is not where you make money," Spencer said. "The business inside of games is really selling games, and selling access to games and content in means like that is the fundamental business. So if you open it up, the more often people can play, the more they're enjoying the art form. It increases the size of the business."
Though it's still speculation, Microsoft's next-gen Xbox consoles are expected to release no earlier than Fall 2020.
From Software Teases The First Of Its Two Upcoming Games
This theory largely rides on whether A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin is actually working with From Software. The novelist has already confirmed he's been consulted on some game that's being made by a Japanese developer but hasn't revealed which one. Rumors popped up in March that the developer in question is Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice creator From Software. Gematsu has since reported that someone "familiar with ongoings at From Software" has confirmed the rumors to be true, but neither Martin nor From Software have made an official statement.
Regardless, the rumors go on to say that, whatever the game is, it will feature various kingdoms to explore and that killing the rulers of each kingdom will allow you to unlock powerful abilities. Gematsu's source (which the outlet has stated they have not been able to verify) has added that the game is internally known at From Software as "GR," has been in development for three years, and contains a world and story that's a collaborative effort between Martin and Dark Souls III and Bloodborne director Hidetaka Miyazaki. The game is also supposedly scheduled to be revealed at E3 2019 during Microsoft's press conference.
Even if the source hasn't been verified, it all sounds fairly plausible. Especially since, back in January 2019, Miyazaki announced From Software was already working on two games, both of which would come out after Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and be similar in scope and tone to From Software's Soulsborne titles. Both Miyazaki and Martin are known for their intricate dark fantasies, so a partnership between the two is very believable. With Sekiro only a few months old, though, it doesn't seem likely From Software would announce another new game for 2019 (even if it has been in development for three years). Seeing a trailer at E3 teasing a TBA 2020-2021 release seems a bit more plausible. We'd happily love to be wrong though.
Microsoft Brings Back The Fable Series With A Brand-New Game
Speculations about a fourth Fable game have been circulating the internet for years, but a new rumor published by an alleged industry insider has revealed Microsoft is finally set to tease a new title for the series during the company's E3 press conference. Between the rumors that Microsoft is revealing a new console, a new From Software game, and now a new Fable, it certainly seems like Xbox boss Phil Spencer is keeping his promise the company would "go big" at E3 this year.
The industry insider, whose whole report can be read on NeoGAF, writes, "Some speculate it's actually Fable IV, but the reality is that it's a new beginning for the Fable franchise. This game started development in late 2017 and has been in development now for little over two years now. It is a next-gen game only and you will most likely not see it until 2021 at retail at the earliest. You will see a glimpse of a small teaser trailer most likely at this year's E3 and in 2020 you will see much more of the game."
Petri executive editor Brad Sams, who's well-known for his track record in reliably breaking Microsoft news, has confirmed on Twitter that he's heard a new Fable game is in the works. He doesn't know if Microsoft plans on revealing the game during E3 2019, but thinks it's "highly plausible."
If the full NeoGAF report is to be believed, we'll see quite a few other Xbox console exclusives at E3 2019, including previously announced Gears 5 and Ori and the Will of the Wisps. Perhaps more importantly, the report suggests Microsoft is ready to start revealing the games being made by all the studios it acquired in 2018--starting with Ninja Theory, which is supposedly going to announce a sci-fi game scheduled for 2020 called Bleeding Edge.
Nintendo Announces A New Switch Prior To Or Just After The Show
Nintendo has already confirmed it won't be announcing a new Switch iteration during E3, but that doesn't mean the company won't reveal its existence in the weeks prior to the show or immediately after. Sure it's no longer an E3 announcement at that point, but we're including it in this list anyway since we imagine the reveal is happening close to the dates of the show.
Unlike Sony's PS4 and Microsoft's Xbox One, the Nintendo Switch is still relatively young and nowhere near the end of its lifecycle. That hasn't quelled the rumors of new iterations of the Switch, consoles that would be similar to the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X. Nintendo has a long history of making multiple versions of its hardware. That history is mostly handhelds, like the DS and 3DS, but Nintendo has made multiple iterations of its consoles too.
Seeing as it's been two years since the Switch's release, it stands to reason that Nintendo has a new iteration (or two) of its latest console in the works. This past March, The Wall Street Journal reported two new Switch models would release by the end of 2019. The first would be a cheaper, pared-down version while the second would be an enhanced variation aimed at more "avid" players.
Nintendo has neither confirmed nor denied the rumors. But there's enough there to believe the pared-down Switch is coming this year, and empty spaces surrounding E3 present the perfect opportunity for an announcement--especially if the console does release in June. Nintendo has already confirmed it's holding its annual E3 Direct this year. The video presentation will feature quite a few games, but will most likely focus on Pokemon Sword / Shield and Animal Crossing, both scheduled for Switch releases in 2019.
Pokemon Go's May Community Day may have just ended, but Niantic has already announced the first details for next month's event. June's Community Day is scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 8, and this time, the featured Pokemon will be another fan-favorite from Ruby and Sapphire: Slakoth.
Throughout the event, the adorable sloth Pokemon will appear in the wild more frequently than it normally does, giving you plenty of opportunities to catch it and stock up on Slakoth candy. On top of that, you'll have your first chance to encounter a Shiny Slakoth, and any Slaking that you evolve up to an hour after the Community Day ends will learn an event-exclusive move, although Niantic hasn't revealed what that will be just yet.
In addition to increased Slakoth spawns, you'll be able to take advantage of a few other bonuses during June's Community Day. As usual, any Lure module you use will remain active for three hours rather than their usual 30 minutes. On top of that, Eggs will hatch at a quarter of the distance they typically require, which will come in handy if you're trying to hatch some of the new Gen 4 Pokemon that were recently added to the game.
Continuing the trend of the past few Community Days, June's event will run from 3-6 PM local time. Previously, Niantic would hold Community Days during specific windows of time for each region, but this makes it much easier to remember when the event is happening in your area. You can read more details about June's Community Day on the official Pokemon website.
In the meantime, Pokemon Go is in the midst of an Extraordinary Raid Week event. From now until May 28, new Pokemon, such as Bronzor and Clamperl, will appear as Raid bosses. You'll also have a chance to encounter Shiny versions of Bronzor and Lapras, and you'll earn twice the usual amount of Stardust and XP for participating in Raids. In addition to the event, Niantic recently introduced new items that let you evolve Eevee into Glaceon and Leafeon.
GOG is the PC game platform you might know and love for its anti-DRM stance. It's a consumer-friendly policy that's the exception to the rule, and while it may also eat into GOG's marketability as a distribution platform in the eyes of AAA publishers, it sends a clear and positive message to consumers.
GOG's goodwill towards its customers got its foot in the door, but the pressures of competition from the likes of the Epic Store and Steam are no doubt hurdles to overcome. The trick to getting over these obstacles and ensuring growth for GOG may lie in the upcoming launch of GOG Galaxy 2.0, which doesn't merely overhaul the look of the platform's desktop client but expands its functionality in a bid to offer even more services and conveniences to users.
In a recent meeting with GOG's managing director Piotr Karwowski, and SVP of business development Oleg Klapovskiy, I got the first taste of their vision for GOG Galaxy 2.0: "All your friends and games in one place." What this means is a few things, including collating all of your digital PC games, across all platforms and services, and making them easy to launch and install directly from Galaxy.
Though you obviously can't launch PS4 or Xbox One games from the app, you can add your PS4 and Xbox One games to your index to use Galaxy as a general purpose library management tool--which includes the auto-population of cover art and basic meta info for each game you add.
These are handy additions with arguably modest benefits that have been offered by other apps in the past, but what really makes the pitch for GOG Galaxy 2.0 attractive is that it aims to connect you and all of your friends, across all consoles and PC platforms, to create an all-encompassing gaming portal. Their ambitious approach goes beyond collections, accounting for gameplay data, achievements, and direct messaging. GOG Galaxy 2.0 can even find friends on one service, and if they are also a Galaxy user, help you connect on services where the friendship hasn't yet been established.
Throughout my demo, GOG Galaxy 2.0 looked both orderly and attractive. The inviting user interface made looking at arrays of data and comparison points a relatively painless process, and it was surprising how many useful modules could fit on a single screen. Users will also be able to get into the weeds and alter the look and feel of their interface by configuring existing pages and menus, as well as create new menus with custom logic and layouts to suit their organizational and analytic needs.
Piotr and Oleg aren't shying away from the challenges in front of them. It's one thing to create an elaborate tool for PC games, and it's an entirely different beast to bring the traditional walled gardens of consoles into the mix. GOG has access to Microsoft's API already and is aiming to support all platforms including PlayStation 4 and Switch. That being said, part of my live demo included a look at Piotr's entry for the PS4 exclusive God of War. This included a detailed record of trophies, both locked and unlocked, and their logos and descriptions. These unofficial integrations and plugins are possible due to Galaxy 2.0's open-ended nature, which allows for user-made extensions.
All of the data that goes into your GOG Galaxy 2.0 library and profile will live on GOG's servers, which means that you get the convenience of portability, but also that GOG will potentially know a lot about you and your gaming habits. Piotr was very adamant that GOG is not in the business of selling data. He also stressed that users can both deactivate their profiles and strip their info from servers whenever they so choose. Where there would normally be ground for heavy skepticism against other companies, GOG's promise feels genuine in light of its consumer-friendly reputation.
When asked to explain how GOG Galaxy 2.0 makes business sense for GOG, Oleg and Piotr simply stated that their hope is that users who use the app will also take advantage of the built-in store. Though I'm sure there's more thought put into the design and integration of features in order to drive sales of games on GOG, you can't argue with the fact that much of what GOG Galaxy 2.0 offers to consumers bears no connection to sales nor advertising. It's not a work of charity, to be certain, but as GOG has proven in the past, showing customers that your platform is built to make their hobby a markedly better experience can be reason enough for loyalty to set in, and sales to follow.
GOG's promises seem to come from the right place, and more importantly, most of them are proven to be achievable today. Anyone who wants to give the GOG Galaxy 2.0 a shot can volunteer for the upcoming closed beta launching soon, over at http://www.gogalaxy.com/.
The hugely anticipated Star Wars: Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker is set to feature a variety of new characters alongside the series' regular cast. One villainous group that has been teased since 2015's The Force Awakens is the Knights of Ren. It has now been confirmed that they will appear in The Rise of Skywalker, which is directed by JJ Abrams.
The news comes via an article published by Vanity Fair about the making of the new Star Wars movie. In one of the various behind-the-scenes images we see a group of masked characters standing in the desert with stunt coordinator Eunice Huthart. The caption reads: "J.J. Abrams, alongside Stunt Coordinator Eunice Huthart, directs the Knights of Ren; elite fearsome enforcers of Kylo Ren's dark will." Check the image out below:
The Knight of Ren did feature in The Force Awakens, during one of Rey's visions on the planet Takodana. But that scene was short, dark, and set in the pouring rain--this new image gives us a much better idea of what to expect. According to Lucasfilm's creative art manager Phil Szostak, the look of the Knights in The Force Awakens was based on rejected designs for Kylo Ren, and you can certainly see how their appearance influenced Kylo's.
While the Vanity Fair article doesn't provide any further details about how the Knights of Ren will feature in The Rise of Skywalker, we do know more about some of the other new characters. Keri Russell will play a masked villain named Zorri Bliss, Richard E. Grant is First Order leader Allegiant General Pryde, and Naomi Ackie plays Jannah, who is pictured riding a creature called an Orbak.
Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters on December 19. It stars Daisy Ridley as Rey, Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, John Boyega as Finn, Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron, Kelly Marie Tran as Rose Tico, Lupita Nyong'o as Maz Kanata, Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux, Mark Hamill as Luke, and Billy Dee Williams as Lando. For more, check out the movie's first trailer and everything we know about Star Wars Episode IX.
Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker isn't the only new Star Wars release that fans have to look forward to this year. It has also been confirmed that the live-action TV show The Mandalorian will be available on the streaming service Disney+ when it launches on November 12.
Stephen King's classic horror novel, Pet Sematary, had another big-screen adaptation earlier this year, and in June, it will be available to own. Details for the home release were recently revealed, and there are a few special features on both the digital and physical copies of the movie.
On June 25, Pet Sematary will get a digital release on storefronts like iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, and more. The film will see its 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD release a couple weeks later on July 9. The home releases will contain over 90 minutes of special features.
There are deleted and extended scenes as well as an alternate ending to the film. The home release also contains numerous featurettes about putting the film together and talking about the themes of Pet Sematary and bringing the novel back to the big screen. There are also three videos with the "Night Terrors" label, but there are no indicators as to what those special features are about.
If you're looking to pre-order the movie, digitally or physically, here are some places to pick it up.
Below, you'll find all the special features solicited for the upcoming June and July home release for Pet Sematary. All these special features are available in all formats for the movie: Digital, 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD.
Pet Sematary Special Features
Alternate Ending
Deleted and Extended Scenes
Night Terrors: Family Haunting Visions (Louis, Rachel, and Ellie)
The Tale of Timmy Baterman
Beyond the Deadfall
Chapter One: Resurrection – Directors, screenwriters and cast discuss bringing this classic back to life
Chapter Two: The Final Resting Place—A deeper look into finding the right location for the terror to unfold
Chapter Three: The Road to Sorrow— Inside the film's tragic themes and creating the iconic cat "Church"
Chapter Four: Death Comes home—Unearth the creepy elements behind the climax and final scenes of the film
Some links to supporting retailers are automatically made into affiliate links, and GameSpot may receive a small share of those sales.
By Anonymous on May 22, 2019 08:30 pm Born from the modding community, League Of Legends quickly grew into an esports behemoth, overshawdowing the efforts of heavyweights like Blizzard and Valve.
It's been four long years since Square Enix announced it was going to remake Final Fantasy 7. Since that E3 2015 reveal, we've only been privy to brief glimpses of gameplay, the most substantial of which is the recent trailer (seen above) revealed during Sony's May 9 State of Play stream. At the end of that trailer, the words "more to come in June" appeared onscreen. Is Final Fantasy 7 confirmed to be at E3? Not yet, but the insinuation that it will make an appearance during Square Enix's E3 broadcast is hard to ignore.
Assuming that Final Fantasy 7 will be featured during that livestream and that it might also be on the show floor, we've put our heads together and come up with a list of topics and details we hope to learn more about. But before diving into that, let's revisit what we already know about the highly anticipated remake.
What We Know So Far
Broadly speaking, we know that the remake will be a complete overhaul of the 1997 game. It's being recreated from the ground up to tell roughly the same story, featuring the same locations and characters, but it will be presented in a modern fashion, as a third-person game with a free roaming camera and real-time combat, similar to Final Fantasy 15.
The trailers released thus far primarily focused on Midgar, the city run by the nefarious power company, Shinra Corporation. With the recent trailer taken into account, we've now seen familiar sights like the slums, the subway system, and the inside of the reactors that line the edge of the city.
Needless to say, the modern look of the Final Fantasy 7 remake looks a lot different than the 1997 original. Every environment and character has been recreated to modern standards, which in the years prior to the remake's announcement was cited by developers as a task too hard to accomplish given the scale of the game. This is likely the reason why the remake in progress will come in multiple episodes--the number of which is still a closely guarded secret--rather than as one big release.
Lastly, we know many of the lead creatives behind the remake, and their names will look familiar to fans of the original, and Final Fantasy at large. Yoshinori Kitase, the director and co-writer of the original Final Fantasy 7, will sit in the producer's chair this time around, leaving the directorial duties split between series veterans Naoki Hamaguchi and Tetsuya Nomura. Nomura will also lead the art and design teams. Kitase's former writing partner Kazushige Nojima is back to pen the story once more, and last but not least, Final Fantasy's legendary maestro Nobuo Uematsu is reprising his role as the composer for the remake's new soundtrack.
What's Confirmed For E3?
Nothing! All we can say for certain is that Final Fantasy 7 fans can try to attend a concert before the convention in LA on Sunday, June 9. We also know that something will be said during the month of June and that Square Enix will have a broadcast filled with announcements during the show, but there's been no confirmation that the June tease and the E3 presentation are connected. If they aren't, we'll be as shocked as you.
What We Hope To See At E3
Given that Midgar has been the focal point of every trailer shown so far, it would be great to see a bit more of the world beyond the city. Final Fantasy 7's massive world map is (or at least was) home to a wide variety of natural environments and locales like towns and villages, all of which were important pieces of the overall experience and identity of the world, and which yet remain a mystery so far as the remake is concerned.
There are also numerous characters that have yet to make an appearance, so fingers crossed that we get to see the likes of Cait Sith and Vincent, and maybe even the ghastly remains of Jenova. More than just see what they look like, it would also be nice to get a sense of what they will sound like, especially given the divided opinions on Barrett's voice after the most recent trailer.
Square Enix would also do well to dive into combat a bit more, to explain how the skill-giving Materia will work and how their behaviors may have changed following the shift from turn-based to real-time combat. You also can't talk about Final Fantasy 7's combat without mentioning summons, the show-stopping and combat-halting spells that call forth punishing mythical beasts and spirits to pummel your enemies. Perhaps we can look to Final Fantasy 15 to imagine how these might work, but it would be better if Square Enix could just show us during E3 to dispel rumors and speculation altogether.
While there are a ton of questions to be answered when it comes to gameplay and the translation of old mechanics into modern systems, most people just want to know one thing: when will Final Fantasy 7 Remake be released? Second to that: how many episodes are Square Enix planning to make?
Truth be told, if all we got was a release date, I feel like most people would be satisfied. After all, Final Fantasy 7 may be the most requested video game remake of all time, and to reveal too many of its distinguishing features could ruin some of the surprises that await fans returning to the game more than 20 years after its release.
Join GameSpot as we celebrate gaming history and give recognition to the most influential games of the 21st century. These aren't the best games, and they aren't necessarily games that you need to rush out and play today, but there's no question that they left an indelible impact on game developers, players, and in some cases, society at large.
League of Legends exploded onto the scene in 2009 as the start-up brainchild of Marc Merrill and Brandon Beck, poised to disrupt an esports market that would end up being helmed by two heavyweights--Dota 2 and StarCraft. The idea that a bunch of enthusiastic DOTA fans were responsible for what is now the game's biggest competition may come as a surprise to the uninitiated, but the humble beginnings of League of Legends can be traced all the way through to two college roommates essentially wanting to turn a Warcraft III mod into a standalone title.
Now, League of Legends is synonymous with esports and the MOBA genre. While companies like Valve and Blizzard were forces to be reckoned with in the pre-2010 era, there's now no question that Riot Games and its lone video game are essentially household names. Whether it's a new champion, a new in-game event, or Mid-Season Invitational which drew 19.8 million concurrent viewers last year, everyone who has even a passing interest in the game stops and stares.
The 2019 Mid-Season Invitational
Starcraft is often credited with the birth of esports but Riot Games were instrumental in ensuring that there was an appeal to translate to a mainstream audience. We're talking merchandising, booking out stadium shows, international gauntlets and tournaments pitting fan-favorite players against each other. We're talking sponsorships outside of the tech sphere, ranging from underwear to energy drinks. By drawing on the cult of personality that the League of Legends esports scene has built around some of its top players, Riot Games and the teams fielding these players have brought a whole new audience to the MOBA genre that other competitors have been unable to capitalize on.
Riot Games stepped onto the competitive esports scene around the time that Starcraft II was gaining momentum. However, where Starcraft II had to deal with a tiered release date in terms of the content like its various campaigns and the gradual integration of multiplayer accessibility, League of Legends exited a relatively short beta period with all guns blazing. And, unlike the model that was being relied on by Valve and Blizzard at the time, where second-party tournaments were the name of the game, League of Legends had its competitive esports nature in-built when it came to everything from matchmaking to the evolving meta that was governing the title.
League of Legends had its competitive esports nature in-built when it came to everything from matchmaking to the evolving meta that was governing the title.
Upon release, the title was praised by critics for its game design ethos and characters, which are now features of League that have taken on a life of their own in the form of ore codexes of a density that rivals established MMOs, cosmetic lines with accompanying music videos and original songs, and engaging in-game events created both for home enjoyment and for the spectator stage.
Outside of gaming, the fact that a MOBA has garnered Emmy nominations is impressive in itself. League of Legends has been nominated for mainstream accolades not necessarily for triumphs of design that are part of the gameplay mechanics, but for the wealth of creative material built by Riot Games around its existing product. From anime-inspired trailers to K-pop crossovers, League of Legends has consistently had its finger on the pulse of what's hot (and selling like hotcakes), and it's managed to execute on concepts like through said Emmy-nominated multimedia projects which have served to expand the title's reach beyond the gaming sphere.
The League of Legends K-pop group, K/DA
In general, League of Legends has spawned a wave of competitors since it cemented itself on the MOBA scene. Arena of Valor is one such title that comes to mind, which ironically was fronted at the time by Tencent, who is now the majority shareholder in Riot Games. Mobile MOBAs featuring bad rip-offs of League characters were a dime a dozen on any online store, some more shameless than others. However, all these imitations really served to do was cement League's status as the superior product. There was absolutely no way for these other titles to execute on player-centric initiatives the way that Riot's product had: technical limitations aside, League of Legends was already more than just a video game at that point. It was an entire brand, from international tournaments to in-jokes to larger-than-life media personalities whose own identities were intrinsically associated with the game as a product.
Arguably, a lot of League of Legends' success came from them having the distance to observe their competitors before essentially pivoting away from what they were doing. Riot Games' original ethos with its title, which has persevered to this day, is a focus on player and community feedback. League was both competitive and casual play rolled into one, with Riot heading up every aspect of the commercial and competitive sides of the game as a unified product. Instead of waiting weeks for a patch in Dota 2 or Starcraft at the time, League players could expect patches as soon as the community saw a problem. The game quickly evolved and iterated, and even though it's gone through some huge design changes since release, these have always been done in consultation with the community, with the team at Riot happy to roll back anything that might not be working.
This rapport with the community would serve Riot Games well over the years to come, and the community itself would reap those rewards; many community initiatives born from the passion of fans turned into features that Riot would then implement into the League of Legends product. Things like detailed match statistics were first provided by OP.GG, which has now become LCS Stats. The original League of Legends wikia provided the framework by which Riot now deals with its interlocking lore and displays it. The League community was, and still is, full of people who managed and ran third-party infrastructure that eventually became critical to the influence of the game. The title inspired fans to not only consume it but also to contribute to it, including the now-famous example of Chinese region superfans doing their own illegal broadcasts before Riot officially taking them on board.
That being said, while Riot Games has grown in profile alongside its sizeable community, the company itself has also grown in notoriety. Current and ex-Rioters have spoken out against the company's toxic corporate culture in the past year or so, which has led to victims coming forward about sexism, harassment, and toxic workplace attitudes. While the company has tried to make strides towards addressing concerns after immense public pressure. It's not as simple as wanting to implement a diversity initiative at the company; just a few weeks after employees filed lawsuits stating that Riot is in violation of the California Equal Pay Act, there has now also been walkout in protest of the forced arbitration clauses in Riot employment agreements. Riot's internal issues have started to bleed over into a lot of how League of Legends is covered in mainstream media and how it's talked about, and this has definitely affected the perception of the esport in a way that it's still currently recovering from.
While it's near impossible to set aside the recent reports when discussing Riot, League of Legends' legacy is a different story. It's obvious that the game helped put esports on the map for a lot of mainstream audiences before the explosion of titles like Fortnite and PUBG. From record viewership numbers on Twitch to hosting one of the biggest esports events ever at Madison Square Garden in 2016, Riot Games' prodigal son has gone from strength to strength since its launch in 2009. In doing so, it's changed the way that people experience and access esports, taking fans from the days of bootleg broadcasts of regional streams to an international gauntlet of iconic stadiums at every year's World Championships. Blizzard and Valve, the top dogs when Riot Games entered the scene, are now playing catch-up to the well-oiled Ferrari that is the League of Legends production model, and it shows.
Valve has released a new mobile Steam Chat app, letting you keep in touch with your friends and game invites without the desktop client. The free app is now available on the App Store and Google Play.
The announcement boasts that the mobile app lets you use several of the desktop client features, including a fully featured friends list, and rich chat with videos, tweets, GIFs, and emoticons. You can also manage your list with invite links, get notifications and game invites, and manage your group chats.
Valve invited feedback but says it's already working on updates and new features for the app, including voice chat. The company also notes that since Steam Chat is moving to its own dedicated app, the overall Steam Mobile app will focus its next updates on account security with more options for Steam Guard.
Recently Steam has had its PC storefront dominance challenged by the emergence of the Epic Games Store, which has been securing exclusivity periods for some high-profile PC game launches like Ghost Recon Breakpoint. Meanwhile, Valve is preparing to launch its annual Steam Summer Sale.
After the commercial disappointment of 2015's Terminator Genisys, there was some suggestion that it might be a long time before we saw another movie in the long-running sci-fi franchise. But that's not to be the case, and the sixth film in the series, Terminator: Dark Fate, arrives in November. The movie's trailer will be revealed tomorrow, May 23, but ahead of that we have the first poster.
The poster is a striking and simple one. It shows Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor, the iconic main character of the first two Terminator movies, walking down a desert road carrying a gun with a blazing sun behind her. Dark Fate will be a direct sequel to 1991's Terminator 2: Judgment Day, ignoring the three movies in-between, and the poster's somewhat awkward tagline hammers this home: "Welcome to the day after Judgment Day." Check it out below:
Hamilton isn't the only original cast member set to feature in Dark Fate-- Arnold Schwarzenegger is back as the T-800. The new stars includes Mackenzie Davis (Blade Runner 2049), Gabriel Luna (Agents of SHIELD), Diego Boneta (Pretty Little Liars), and Colombian star Natalia Reyes in her first Hollywood movie. The movie is directed by Deadpool's Tim Miller and produced by James Cameron, who created the franchise and helmed the first two movies. It releases on November 1. For more, check out this recent batch of images from the film.
In a recent interview with Yahoo Movies, Cameron spoke about working alongside Miller and what fans could expect from this latest Terminator movie. "Tim's a very willful and opinionated director, and he's got his own ideas for the film," he said. "I'm kind of like the Pips--he's Gladys. I said, 'I can't be involved in this film at all if Arnold [Schwarzenegger] is not in it.' Fans are going to want to see [Linda Hamilton] again, and they're going to want to see the real Sarah Connor and what time and dealing with these tragic futures has done to her."
"It's hardened her even more, but in a way that made her much stronger," Cameron explained. "Maybe less likable, but stronger. And ultimately, she becomes a really important character in passing the baton to the new characters that come in. It's a very female-centric film, which I'm glad Tim embraced those themes."
Following up on its previous May offerings, Microsoft has announced another set of eight games coming to Xbox Game Pass subscription service throughout the rest of the month and early June. The games coming to Xbox One over the next few weeks include some indie classics, big franchises, and even a couple of day-one launches.
First on May 23, the service will add Metal Gear Survive and The Banner Saga. The first is an alternate take on the Metal Gear universe with light horror elements, while the latter is a strategy game set against a backdrop of viking legend.
Then on May 29, the shooter Void Bastards will launch and become immediately available on Game Pass same-day. May 30 will bring another launch day game, the exploration game Outer Wilds. That day will also add the multiplayer horror game Dead by Daylight.
Those all join other recent May offerings that include Wolfenstein 2, Wargroove, Tacoma, and more. Microsoft tends to announce Game Pass offerings about three weeks at a time, so we're likely to see the rest of the June lineup later. That could mean reveals to come at Microsoft's E3 press conference.
Game Pass offers an all-you-can-eat subscription to a library of more than 100 games for $10 per month. All first-party Xbox One games, like Sea of Thieves and Forza Horizon 4, are included on launch day. If you'd like to give the service a try, you can sample the first month for just one buck. There's still a little more time to get the extended offer, which includes three months for $1.
Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker is the final part in the trilogy that kicked off with 2015's The Force Awakens, and it releases in December. The first trailer arrived in April and gave fans a taste of what to expect from the movie, which is directed by JJ Abrams. Now a new batch of images has been released.
The images come via Vanity Fair, which has published an extensive feature about The Rise of Skywalker. They reveal some of the movie's new characters, alongside familiar faces. In terms of new villains, there's the amazing-looking "masked scoundrel" Zorri Bliss (Keri Russell) on the planet Kijimi, and First Order leader Allegiant General Pryde (Richard E. Grant) pictured alongside General Hux.
The good guys are represented by Jannah (Naomi Ackie), seen riding a creature called an Orbak alongside Finn, plus a group of Aki-Aki, who are natives of the planet Pasaana. Over at Vanity Fair's site you can also see new pictures of Rey, Kylo, Lando, Chewie, R2-D2, and Luke.
Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters on December 19. Abrams returned to direct after helming 2015's The Force Awakens, although he wasn't the first choice of director. Jurassic World's Colin Trevorrow was initially hired, but he left the movie in September 2017.
The film stars Daisy Ridley as Rey, Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, John Boyega as Finn, Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron, Kelly Marie Tran as Rose Tico, Lupita Nyong'o as Maz Kanata, Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux, Mark Hamill as Luke, and Billy Dee Williams as Lando. It will also include an appearance from Carrie Fisher. Although Fisher died before production began, she will appear in footage originally shot for 2017's The Last Jedi. For more, check out everything we know about Star Wars Episode IX.
Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker isn't the only new Star Wars release that fans have to look forward to this year. It has also been confirmed that the live-action TV show The Mandalorian will be available on the streaming service Disney+ when it launches on November 12.
Recent Articles:
You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website.
No comments:
Post a Comment