Thursday, March 2, 2017

The latest News from GameSpot News On 03/03/2017

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The latest News from GameSpot

In the 03/03/2017 edition:

Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Everything You Need To Know

By Matt Espineli on Mar 03, 2017 12:24 am

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the latest entry in the critically acclaimed, long-running Zelda series. It's set in a massive open world that's far bigger than any Zelda game before it, packed with distinct locations to explore and enemies to defeat.

With the game scheduled to release on March 3 for both Nintendo Switch and Wii U, we've compiled our full review and our most important features and gameplay videos detailing everything you need to know about this fascinating new entry in The Legend of Zelda series. Be sure to check back often as we update this article with additional articles and videos.

The Review

"No matter how gorgeous its environments are, how clever its enemies are, and how tricky its puzzles get, the fact that Breath of the Wild continues to surprise you with newfound rules and possibilities after dozens of hours is by far its most valuable quality. It's a game that allows you to feel gradually more and more empowered yet simultaneously manages to retain a sense of challenge and mystery--which, together, creates a steady, consistent feeling of gratification throughout the entire experience. Breath of the Wild is a defining moment for The Legend of Zelda series, and the most impressive game Nintendo has ever created."--Peter Brown [Full review]

Guides And Features

Guides:

In-Depth Features:

Gameplay Videos

For more on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, check out the news stories below.


Battlefield 1 They Shall Not Pass DLC Release Date Revealed, New Trailer Released

By Eddie Makuch on Mar 03, 2017 12:22 am

Battlefield 1's first expansion, They Shall Not Pass, arrives on March 14 (for some), Electronic Arts announced today. The publisher also put out a cinematic new trailer for the add-on, showing off the French army and the new France-set maps, weapons, and vehicles that are included in the add-on.

They Shall Not Pass also comes with two new Operations, as well as the new Frontlines mode.

They Shall Not Pass will be available on March 14 for people who own the $50 Battlefield 1 Premium Pass before being made available for everyone to buy two weeks later, on March 28.

Three more expansions are coming to Battlefield 1: In the Name of the Tsar, Turning Tides, and Apocalypse. You can get all of these with the Premium pass. Release dates have not been announced, but you can find out everything we know about them here in our previous coverage.

In other news, a free trial for Battlefield 1 will be available on Xbox One and PC (but not PlayStation 4) starting tomorrow, March 3. You can read more about what it contains here.


Overwatch's New Character Is A Robot Named Orisa

By Chris Pereira on Mar 02, 2017 11:49 pm

Following a series of teases over the last two weeks, Blizzard has finally unveiled the newest addition to Overwatch's roster: Orisa

Orisa is a Tank-class character whose "gameplay is engineered around protection." Her weapon is the Fusion Driver, an automatic cannon that deals constant damage but slows her movement speed. The alternate fire is Halt, which launches a charge that she can detonate to slow enemies and pull them towards the explosion.

Her abilities include Fortify, which reduces the damage she takes and makes her immune to "action-impairing effects;" and Protective Barrier, a stationary barrier that can be deployed to block enemy attacks. Her Ultimate is Supercharger, which launches a device that buffs damage done by any teammates in its line of sight. The device itself can be destroyed by enemies.

You can try out Orisa now on the PC version's public test realm. A date for her release in the live game has not been announced. You can see all of her skins in the gallery below, along with a story trailer further below.

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Teases for Orisa began last week. Through a series of posts, most in the guise of faux news coverage, we learned about Efi Oladele, an 11-year-old scientist with apparent plans to build whatever was to become the new character. Subsequent teases were tied to in-game changes, including a pretty significant one to the attacking team's spawn room on Numbani.

Prior to all of this, director Jeff Kaplan said that the next character was "not who you think it is." This was seemingly meant to deny that it would be Doomfist, who is believed by many to be a future character. Actor Terry Crews has actively campaigned to voice him if and when he becomes a character.

Separately from the new character, a new patch arrived for Overwatch this week that adds a server browser and significant balance changes, particularly for Bastion.


Ghost Recon: Wildlands DLC Detailed, Free PvP Mode Coming After Launch

By Eddie Makuch on Mar 02, 2017 11:31 pm

Ubisoft today outlined its post-launch plans for Ghost Recon: Wildlands today, which includes paid content through a DLC pass and free updates.

The DLC pass comes with two "major" expansions, as well as a one "special mission that call[s] on players to take on enemies that only experienced Ghosts are able to handle." Season pass-owners will get to play the new expansions one week before everyone else can buy them.

People who buy the pass also get new outfits and weapons, as well as a permanent 5 percent XP boost and a "single-use short XP booster" that offers +50 percent XP bonus for the player and +25 percent XP bonus for everyone in their squad for a period of two hours.

Here is a full rundown of what's in the DLC pass, as written by Ubisoft:

  • One week early access to two major expansions:
    • Narco Road: Players will infiltrate a gang of smugglers and take part in crazy races and challenges to earn their infamous leader's trust and destroy them from the inside. Gamers will be able to meet new bosses and travel the wildlands in new vehicles.
    • Fallen Ghosts: During an evacuation mission, the Ghosts' chopper is shot down and the squad will need to adapt as they're tracked down by an elite group of ruthless mercenaries. Players will fight a new powerful enemy, learn new skills and unlock weapons to complete their mission.
  • The Unidad Conspiracy missions: Players will work to break down and destabilize the alliance between Santa Blanca and Unidad in the Media Luna province.
  • The Peruvian Connection pack: Players will be able to play through the Peruvian Connection mission as well as receive seven gear patches
  • Faction themed equipment packs
    • Rebellion Ghost Pack: Players can don an outfit inspired by the brave Katari 26 rebels. They will also unlock a unique AK-47 equipped with a bigger magazine and customized with unique engraving work.
    • Unidad Ghost Pack: Players dominate enemies with an Unidad outfit so they can attack Unidad camps dressed just like one of them. They will also unlock a unique Unidad LMG weapon, customized with the colors of Unidad, and equipped with a red dot scope and a larger magazine.
    • Santa Blanca Ghost Pack: With a Santa Blanca-inspired outfit, players can mimic their style without joining their ranks. This pack also unlocks the Santa Blanca golden M1911, customized with engravings and the mark of the cartel, for players to unleash chaos on the cartel.
  • Exclusive vehicle: Bolivian Minibus
  • Digital content
    • Permanent +5% XP booster for the player
    • Single-use short XP booster: +50% XP for the player and +25% XP for other players in the session, expires two hours from time of use.

In terms of free post-release content, Ubisoft will add head-to-head multiplayer to Wildlands after release. This will be in the form of a 4v4 mode. More details will be announced later.

Ubisoft did not announce release dates or windows for any of Wildlands' post-release content. The DLC pass costs $40. There is also a Gold edition (containing the game and the DLC pass) that goes for $100.

In other news, the Wildlands betas attracted 6.8 million players, setting a new record for Ubisoft. The game launches in full this coming Tuesday, March 7.


Logan Could Make $65 Million With US Opening, Here's How That Compares To Other X-Men Films

By Eddie Makuch on Mar 02, 2017 11:10 pm

The new Wolverine movie Logan is receiving a lot of praise from critics, but how will the franchise's first-ever R-rated movie do at the box office? According to tracking estimates posted by The Hollywood Reporter, the film could make $65 million in the US for the March 3-5 weekend, taking in a further $100 million from international markets over the same span of time.

Logan may benefit from an expanded availability in theaters. According to THR, it's playing in 2,071 theaters in the US this weekend, which is the most for any R-rated movie ever domestically.

Here is a rundown of how the previous X-Men/Wolverine installments fared in the US for their opening weekends, with figures pulled from Box Office Mojo:

  • X-Men (2000) -- $54.5 million
  • X 2 (2003) -- $86 million
  • X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) -- $103 million
  • X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) -- $85 million
  • X-Men: First Class (2011) -- $55 million
  • The Wolverine (2013) -- $53 million
  • X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) -- $91 million
  • X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) -- $66 million

We will report back with official box office numbers this weekend when they come in. Keep checking back with GameSpot for the latest.

X-Men franchise actors Hugh Jackman (Wolverine) and Patrick Stewart (Charles Xavier) are retiring their characters after Logan.

GameSpot's Logan review praised it for being brutal and grim, featuring outstanding performances by Jackman and Stewart.

"Logan continually subverts your expectations, but in its impactful ending, it still somehow feels like the only way the movie--and Wolverine's long journey--could end," GameSpot critic Randolph Ramsay said. "This is a film that elevates its genre, succeeding precisely because it's different, and because it strives to be the Wolverine movie fans have always wanted to see. Logan is a must-watch, and is not only a wonderful superhero movie, but a wonderful movie in its own right."

For more on the critical reaction to Logan, check out this roundup of reviews.

In other news, it was recently revealed that studio bosses were concerned that the film's more adult approach might turn fans off. "There was real consternation about the intensity of the tone of the film," Fox executive Stacey Snider said. "It's more of an elegy about life and death. It's not a wise-cracking, cigar-chomping mutton-sporting Wolverine, and the debate internally became, 'Isn't that freakin' boring?'"

Additionally, director James Mangold has teased a black-and-white version of Logan.


Four More Games Added To Xbox One Backwards Compatibility Program

By Eddie Makuch on Mar 02, 2017 10:47 pm

The Xbox One's backwards compatibility catalog grows again today with four more games.

As announced by Microsoft's Major Nelson on Twitter, today's additions include Dead Rising 2: Case Zero, Dead Rising 2: Case West, Meet the Robinsons, and Cars 2: The Video Game.

If you already own any of these games digitally on Xbox 360, they should show up automatically in your Xbox One game library. If not, you can buy them on your Xbox One or through the links below.

In other Xbox One backwards compatibility news, Xbox boss Phil Spencer recently talked about Call of Duty: Black Ops II joining the catalog. He really wants the game to be added to the catalog but said you shouldn't expect it soon.

The Xbox One's backwards compatibility library has more than 320 games in it, including Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto IV--you can see them all here.


All the Xbox One Backwards Compatibility Games

By Eddie Makuch on Mar 02, 2017 10:44 pm

[Updated March 2 with Dead Rising 2: Case Zero, Dead Rising 2: Case West, Meet the Robinsons, and Cars 2]

The Xbox One's backwards compatibility feature, introduced in November 2015, lets you play Xbox 360 games on the new console. But what games are available? We've now rounded them all up--and we'll continue to update this post as new games are made available.

Microsoft has promised that "hundreds" are still on the way.

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Xbox One Backwards Compatibility Lineup (As of March 2, 2017):

New titles are bolded

  • A Kingdom for Keflings
  • A World of Keflings
  • Aegis Wing
  • Age of Booty
  • Alan Wake
  • Alan Wake's American Nightmare
  • Alice: Madness Returns (added January 24, 2017)
  • Alien Hominid HD
  • Altered Beast
  • Anomaly Warzone Earth
  • Arkanoid Live
  • Assassin's Creed
  • Assassin's Creed II
  • Assassin's Creed Rogue (added February 23, 2017)
  • Asteroids & Deluxe
  • AstroPop
  • Aqua
  • Babel Rising
  • Banjo Kazooie: Nuts n Bolts
  • Banjo Tooie
  • Banjo Kazooie
  • Battlefield: Bad Company 2
  • Battlefield 3
  • BattleBlock Theater
  • Battlestations: Midway
  • Bayonetta
  • Beat'n Groovy
  • Bejeweled 2
  • Bejeweled 3
  • Bellator: MMA Onslaught
  • Beyond Good & Evil HD
  • Bionic Commando Rearmed 2
  • BioShock
  • BioShock 2
  • BioShock Infinite
  • Bloodforge
  • Blood Knights
  • Blood of the Werewolf
  • BloodRayne: Betrayal
  • Blue Dragon
  • Bomberman Live: Battlefest
  • Boom Boom Rocket
  • Borderlands
  • Borderlands 2 (added February 23, 2017)
  • Bound by Flame
  • Braid
  • Brain Challenge
  • Bully: Scholarship Edition
  • Burnout Paradise
  • Call of Duty 2
  • Call of Duty 3
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops
  • Call of Duty: World at War
  • Call of Juarez Gunslinger
  • Capcom Arcade Cabinet
  • Carcassonne
  • Cars 2 (added March 2, 2017)
  • Castle Crashers
  • Castlestorm
  • Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
  • Catherine
  • The Cave
  • Centipede & Millipede
  • Clannad
  • Comic Jumper
  • Comix Zone
  • Condemned
  • Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
  • Crazy Taxi
  • Crystal Quest
  • Crystal Defenders
  • Dark Souls
  • Dark Void
  • de Blob 2
  • Dead Rising 2: Case West (added March 2, 2017)
  • Dead Rising 2: Case Zero (added March 2, 2017)
  • Dead Space
  • Dead Space Ignition
  • Deadliest Warrior: Legends
  • Deathspank: Thongs of Virtue
  • Defense Grid
  • Deus Ex: Human Revolution
  • Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut
  • Dig Dug
  • Dirt 3
  • Dirt Showdown
  • Discs of Tron
  • Disney Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
  • Domino Master
  • Doom
  • Doom II
  • Doom 3: BFG Edition
  • Doritos Crash Course
  • Double Dragon: Neon
  • Dragon Age: Origins
  • Dragon's Lair
  • DuckTales Remastered
  • Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project
  • Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara
  • Dungeon Siege III
  • E4: Every Extend Extra Extreme
  • Earthworm Jim HD
  • Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard
  • The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
  • Encleverment Experiment
  • Escape Dead Island
  • Fable II
  • Fable III
  • Faery: Legends of Avalon
  • Fallout 3
  • Fallout: New Vegas
  • Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon
  • Feeding Frenzy
  • Feeding Frenzy 2
  • Final Fight: Double Impact
  • Flashback
  • Flock
  • Forza Horizon
  • Fret Nice
  • Frogger
  • Frogger 2
  • FunTown Mahjong
  • Galaga
  • Galaga Legions
  • Galaga Legions DX
  • Garou: Mark of the Wolves
  • Gatling Gears
  • Gears of War
  • Gears of War 2
  • Gears of War 3
  • Gears of War: Judgment
  • Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved
  • Ghostbusters
  • Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime
  • Golden Axe
  • Go! Go! Break Steady
  • Grand Theft Auto IV (added February 9, 2017)
  • Grid 2
  • Gripshift
  • Guardian Heroes
  • Gunstar Heroes
  • Guwange
  • Gyromancer (added February 23, 2017)
  • Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax
  • Halo: Reach
  • Halo: Spartan Assault
  • Halo Wars
  • Hardwood Backgammon
  • Hardwood Hearts
  • Hardwood Spades
  • Haunted House
  • Heavy Weapon
  • Hexic 2
  • Hexic HD
  • Hitman: Absolution (added February 14, 2017)
  • Hydro Thunder
  • I Am Alive
  • Ikaruga
  • Injustice: Gods Among Us + disc-only Ultimate Edition
  • Interpol: The Trail of Dr. Chaos
  • Iron Brigade
  • Jeremy McGrath's Offroad
  • Jet Set Radio
  • Jetpac Refuelled
  • Joe Danger Special Edition
  • Joe Danger 2: The Movie
  • Joust
  • Joy Ride Turbo
  • Juju (added January 31, 2017)
  • Jurassic Park: The Game
  • Just Cause 2
  • Kameo
  • Kane & Lynch 2
  • Killer Is Dead
  • The King of Fighters '98
  • The King of Fighters 2002 (added February 23, 2017)
  • Lazy Raiders
  • Left 4 Dead
  • Left 4 Dead 2
  • Lego Batman
  • Lego Indiana Jones (added February 7, 2017)
  • Lego Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game
  • Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
  • Limbo
  • Lode Runner
  • Lost Odyssey
  • Lumines Live!
  • Mad Tracks (added January 31, 2017)
  • Magic: The Gathering 2012
  • Mars: War Logs
  • Mass Effect
  • Mass Effect 2
  • Mass Effect 3
  • The Maw
  • Medal of Honor: Airborne
  • Meet the Robinsons (added March 2, 2017)
  • Mega Man 9
  • Mega Man 10
  • Metal Slug 3
  • Metal Slug XX
  • Midway Arcade Origins (added January 19, 2017)
  • Might & Magic Clash of Heroes
  • Military Madness
  • Mirror's Edge
  • Missile Command
  • Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine
  • Monday Night Combat
  • Monkey Island: SE
  • Monkey Island 2: SE
  • Moon Diver (added February 24, 2017)
  • Motocross Madness
  • Ms. Splosion Man
  • Ms Pac-Man
  • Mutant Blobs Attack
  • Mutant Storm Empire (added January 19, 2017)
  • MX vs. ATV Reflex
  • N+
  • NBA Jam: On Fire Edition
  • Neogeo Battle Coliseum
  • Nights Into Dreams
  • Of Orcs and Men
  • Omega Five
  • Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising
  • Operation Flashpoint: Red River
  • The Orange Box
  • Outland
  • Pac-Man
  • Pac-Man C.E
  • Pac-Man CE DX+
  • Pac-Man Museum
  • Peggle
  • Perfect Dark
  • Perfect Dark Zero
  • Phantasy Star II
  • Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds
  • Pinball FX
  • Planets Under Attack
  • Plants vs. Zombies
  • Portal: Still Alive
  • Portal 2
  • Prince of Persia
  • Pure
  • Putty Squad
  • Puzzle Quest
  • Puzzle Quest 2
  • Puzzle Quest: Galactrix
  • QIX++ Puzzlegeddon
  • Rage
  • Raskulls
  • Rayman 3 HD
  • Rayman Legends
  • Rayman Origins
  • Red Dead Redemption
  • Red Faction: Battlegrounds
  • Rocket Knight (added January 26, 2017)
  • R-Type Dimensions
  • Runner 2
  • Sacred 3
  • Sacred Citadel
  • Saints Row IV
  • Sam & Max: Beyond Time & Space
  • Sam & Max Save the World
  • Samurai Shodown II
  • Scarygirl
  • Scrap Metal
  • Sega Vintage Collection: Alex Kidd & Co.
  • Sega Vintage Collection: Monster World
  • Sega Vintage Collection: Streets of Rage
  • Shadow Complex
  • Shadowrun
  • Shadows of the Damned (added January 26, 2017)
  • Shank 2
  • Shred Nebula
  • Shotest Shogi
  • Silent Hill: Downpour
  • Skate 3
  • Skullgirls
  • Skydive
  • Small Arms
  • Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
  • Sonic & Knuckles
  • Sonic CD
  • Sonic The Fighters
  • Sonic The Hedgehog
  • Sonic The Hedgehog 2
  • Sonic The Hedgehog 3
  • Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 1
  • Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode II
  • Soulcalibur
  • Soulcalibur II
  • South Park: The Stick of Truth
  • Space Ark
  • Space Giraffe
  • Space Invaders Infinity Gene (added February 23, 2017)
  • Spelunky
  • The Splatters
  • Splosion Man
  • SSX
  • Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
  • Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
  • Strania
  • Stuntman: Ignition (added January 31, 2017)
  • Super Meat Boy
  • Supreme Commander 2
  • Syberia
  • Tekken 6 (added January 19, 2017)
  • Tekken Tag Tournament 2
  • Texas Hold 'Em
  • Ticket to Ride
  • Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas
  • Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2
  • Torchlight
  • Tour de France 2009
  • Tour de France 2011
  • Toy Soldiers
  • Toy Soldiers Cold War
  • Toy Story 3
  • Trials HD
  • Trine 2
  • Tron: Evolution
  • Ugly Americans: Apocalypsegeddon
  • Unbound Saga
  • Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown
  • Viva Piñata
  • Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise
  • The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
  • Wolfenstein 3D
  • World Puzzle
  • XCOM: Enemy Unknown
  • Zuma
  • Zuma's Revenge!

Don't see your favorite game here? Back in November, Microsoft said it is holding discussions with all major publishers and developers to possibly bring their games to the program. However, the decision about whether or not a game is added to the lineup ultimately comes down to individual publishers.

What do you make of the lineup so far? And what games would you like to see added in the future? Let us know in the comments below!


Here's How Pokemon Go's Trading Feature May Work

By Eddie Makuch on Mar 02, 2017 10:22 pm

Pokemon Go developer Niantic Labs has shared an update on the game's much-anticipated trading feature. Product manager Tatsuo Nomura told Polygon that trading will not be done through the internet. Players will need to be physically close to swap creatures, though a specific distance has not been revealed. Trading has not even been officially announced for the game yet.

"You shouldn't be able to exchange your Pokemon with someone who is 100 miles away from you. ... The person needs to be in your proximity," Nomura explained.

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This is no big surprise, as Niantic Labs has for a long time now said one of the main ambitions for Pokemon Go is to bring people together to make the world a better place.

"We don't want to just have that be an online game that you can just exchange virtually," Nomura said.

Trading is a huge part of the Pokemon experience, in video games and through the card game. Niantic Labs is still developing the feature for Pokemon Go, and it sounds like the studio won't rush it.

"We're still trying to come up with an answer [to trading] that makes sense so it doesn't kill the game," Nomura said, adding that the feature is penciled in for 2017. "If we fail this, we can easily kill the game."

In other Pokemon Go news, the popular mobile game has crossed 650 million downloads, which is up from the 500 million figure that was disclosed in September. Additionally, a Pokemon Day celebration event is going on now, bringing party hat-wearing Pikachus to the game.


Nintendo Switch Can Access Other Regions' EShops

By Chris Pereira on Mar 02, 2017 10:13 pm

Back in January, Nintendo announced that the Switch would not be region locked, allowing you to import and play games from other countries. You'll also be able to access the eShop from other regions, although there are some caveats that may limit the ability's usefulness.

With the day-one update live, Switch users can now access the eShop, add friends (using friend codes, unfortunately), and more. This has led to the discovery that you can sign into the eShop from other regions--including Japan, where there are traditionally numerous games released that never make it overseas. Nintendo confirmed with GameSpot that this is intended functionality, and not the result of some kind of loophole.

The process is fairly simple: You make a profile on the system and connect it to a new Nintendo Account account that is set to the region whose eShop you want to access.

Logging into this profile on the system and going to the eShop then shows you games from that market. Should you make a Japanese account, it'll let you get certain things not available in North America or Europe currently, such as Puyo Puyo Tetris and New Frontier Days: Founding Pioneers, according to Eurogamer.

However, you reportedly can't purchase games from other regions with a debit or credit card from a different country. It's possible that purchasing prepaid cards will be a workaround for this, but that remains unconfirmed for now.

Despite this, it is possible to download free demos from other regions, letting you grab Japan's Puyo Puyo Tetris demo, for instance. Journalist Chris Kohler noted on Twitter that some Japanese games may even feature English text options. Update: NeoGAF member Cheesemeister has provided a list of languages supported in games on the Japanese eShop.


Xbox Boss Confirms No New Halo FPS This Year, Teases Project Scorpio Graphics

By Eddie Makuch on Mar 02, 2017 09:52 pm

As suspected, Microsoft will not release a new Halo first-person shooter or Gears of War game this year. Appearing on the latest IGN Unlocked podcast, Xbox boss Phil Spencer said 2017 will be an "interesting" year because the focus this year will instead be on other games.

Spencer said he is "incredibly proud" of 2017's Xbox lineup, adding that, "It's going to be an interesting year for us because we don't have Gears, we don't have a Halo first-person shooter game."

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Some notable Microsoft-published games coming this year include Crackdown 3, State of Decay 2, and Sea of Thieves. Spencer also teased, "Maybe there's some things that we haven't talked about yet."

Also during the podcast, Spencer discussed Project Scorpio, which launches this holiday, specifically talking about the graphical quality that it will deliver.

"I am very confident in the quality that I've seen from the games that we're launching and how they look on Scorpio," he said. "When people see games on Scorpio, for those that are close to the detail, they're going to see a demonstrable difference between that and the games that they're playing now--on any console. I know that content has to be the thing that we use to demonstrate the capability of the box."

Project Scorpio's launch will be unlike a traditional console release, in that it's a mid-generation hardware update instead of a full generation leap like Xbox 360 to Xbox One. Every game and accessory for Xbox One will work on Project Scorpio, with developers able to take advantage of the new console's beefed up horsepower to deliver better-looking games.

Microsoft has time and again referred to Project Scorpio as a "premium" console that will have a price and design that reflects that. It will be more expensive than the Xbox One S, and Spencer said he's sure that Xbox One S will sell far better than Project Scorpio.

In other Project Scorpio news, Spencer has teased that Microsoft will share more details about the console ahead of the company's Xbox E3 2017 briefing in June.


Matt Damon Monster Movie The Great Wall Will Lose $75 Million - Report

By Eddie Makuch on Mar 02, 2017 09:23 pm

The Matt Damon monster movie The Great Wall is expected to lose more than $75 million, according to sources speaking to The Hollywood Reporter.

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The Great Wall made around $36.5 million at the US box office, with $266 million coming from international sources for a total worldwide haul of $302 million, according to Box Office Mojo.

That's a lot of money, but it's far less than what investors anticipated for what THR says is the largest-ever movie co-production between US and Chinese film companies.

Universal funded 25 percent of The Great Wall's $150 million production budget, with Legendary Entertainment, China Film Group, and Le Vision Pictures making up the rest. The marketing budget for the movie was estimated to be at least $80 million.

Universal Pictures, one of the movie's producers, will itself lose $10 million on the action film, the report said.

The Great Wall will make more money when it comes to home video. THR said it could bring in $20 million from digital/Blu-ray/DVD in the US and up to $40 million from international markets. Additionally, it could bring in as much as $30 million from TV rights, the report said.

The Great Wall was directed by Zhang Yimou (House of Flying Daggers) and also starred Willem Dafoe and Pedro Pascal.


AMD Ryzen 7 1800X CPU Review

By Michael Higham on Mar 02, 2017 09:00 pm

Introduction

The CPU market has been relatively noncompetitive for the past few years, but AMD is bouncing back into competition against Intel with its Ryzen series of central processing units (CPUs). Ryzen is based on AMD's new Zen architecture and uses the company's new AM4 socket type. This is the direct successor to AMD's AM3 and AM3+ socket types, which launched in 2009 and 2011, respectively. The last consumer-level CPUs from AMD were with its FX line and the Piledriver architecture, which released in 2012.

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The Ryzen 7 family is AMD's high-end CPU line, all equipped with eight-cores and 16 threads. We're specifically reviewing the highest-end 1800X model here. It runs at a base clock speed of 3.6 GHz and a boost clock of 4.0 GHz. At $499 USD, the Ryzen 7 1800X is aimed at those who are in the market for a CPU that's competent for gaming, but built to handle multi-core tasks like video production and streaming. It aims to represent a blend of professional use-case scenarios with relative consumer affordability. The buzzword associated with this growing market is "prosumer." The 1800X is also significantly cheaper than Intel's eight-core i7-6900K ($1,049 USD) and the company's leading 10-core i7-6950X ($1,649), and priced just above the six-core i7-6800K ($409), all of which are from Intel's 14nm Broadwell-E architecture.

Ryzen 7 Line of CPUs

CPUCores, ThreadsSocketBase ClockBoost ClockTDPMSRP
1800X8 cores, 16 threadsAM43.6 GHz4.0 GHz95W$499
1700X8 cores, 16 threadsAM43.4 GHz3.8 GHz95W$399
17008 cores, 16 threadsAM43.0 GHz3.7 GHz65W$329

Technical Details

AMD's new Zen architecture adopts the 14nm FinFET technology which is much more power efficient compared to the previous Piledriver architecture's 32nm SOI manufacturing process. The thermal power design (TDP)--aka power draw--of the Ryzen 7 1800X is 95W, and can ramp up the wattage to the AM4 limit of 128W under an "all cores boost" heavy load case, which it does automatically when there's enough thermal headroom.

Socket AM4 is also introduced along with Ryzen CPUs, which will feature six different chipset options. The X370, B350, X300 (for small form factor) chipsets will allow for unlocked overclocking on any of the Ryzen CPUs. The following are the details for all the chipsets:

ChipsetUSB (3.1 G2, 3.1 G1, 2.0)SATADDR4 DIMM SlotsPCIe LanesPCIe SlotsOverclocking
X3702, 6, 6448, Gen 22Unlocked
B3502, 2, 6246, Gen 21Unlocked
A3201, 2, 6TBATBA4, Gen 21Locked
X300 (SFF)TBA22TBA2Unlocked
A/B300 (SFF)TBATBATBATBA1Locked

A single Zen CPU Complex (CCX) contains four cores, eight threads, 64Kb L1 instruction and data caches, 512KB dedicated L2 cache per core, and an 8MB L3 cache shared among all CPU cores. Zen-based products can feature multiple CCXs, and in the case of Ryzen 7, two CCXs are on the processor.

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Along with the new Zen platform, AMD introduces new technologies such as SenseMI, XFR, Precision Boost, and the AMD Ryzen Master software. SenseMI detects and reads the CPU's behavior and allows Precision Boost to work, which varies core clock speed in increments of 25 MHz on the fly. XFR (only available on X-branded Ryzen CPUs) recognizes how efficient your cooling solution is and ramps up clock speeds beyond the boost level, if enabled. Lastly, the AMD Ryzen Master software is an application that allows users to control clock speed, voltages, and monitor CPU activity.

Methodology

Test Bench

Our test bench for the Ryzen 7 1800X consists of the Gigabyte AX370 Gaming 5 motherboard for socket AM4 CPUs, 16GB (2x8GB) of Corsair Vengence DDR4 3000MHz dual-channel RAM, and a Noctua NH-U12S CPU cooler. To keep things as consistent as possible with our previous CPU tests, we stuck with a reference Nvidia GTX 980 as our graphics card. We were also equipped with a 700-watt NZXT power supply and a Western Digital Blue SATA solid-state drive. Here is a chart for the specs of the systems used in our tests:

CPUAMD Ryzen 7 1800XIntel Core i7-6950XIntel Core i7-5960XIntel Core i7-7700KIntel Core i7-6700K
MotherboardGigabyte AX370 Gaming 5Asus Strix X99 GamingAsus Strix X99 GamingGigabyte GA-170X-Gaming 7Gigabyte GA-170X-Gaming 7
RAMCorsair Vengeance 3000MHzCorsair Vengeance 2133MHzCorsair Vengeance 2133MHzCorsair Vengeance 2133MHzCorsair Vengeance 2133MHz
GPUGeForce GTX 980GeForce GTX 980GeForce GTX 980GeForce GTX 980GeForce GTX 980
SSDWD Blue 960GBCorsair Force LS 240GBCorsair Force LS 240GBSeagate 600 Series 240GBSeagate 600 Series 240GB
CPU CoolerNoctua NH-U12S (Air)Corsair H115iCorsair H115iNZXT Kraken X61NZXT Kraken X61
CaseNZXT H340Corsair Carbide 600CCorsair Carbide 600CNZXT H440NZXT H440
Power SupplyNZXT 700WCorsair RM850XCorsair RM850XNZXT 1200WNZXT 1200W

All systems ran on Microsoft Windows 10 operating system.

Approach

All the results used in our charts for this review are based on numbers produced by GameSpot. Tests were conducted and recorded internally across all CPUs. The majority of our benchmarks are focused on stressing the CPU for both single and multicore performance. In this review, we found it relevant to use our numbers from our previous tests with the Intel Core i7-6700K, 7700K, 5960X, and 6950X for comparative purposes. Here are the specifications of each CPU:

CPUCores, ThreadsBase Clock SpeedBoost Clock SpeedChipsetTDP
AMD Ryzen 7 1800X8 cores, 16 threads3.6 GHz4.0 GHzX37095W
Intel Core i7-6950X10 cores, 20 threads3.0 GHz3.5 GHzX99140W
Intel Core i7-5960X8 cores, 16 threads3.0 GHz3.5 GHzX99140W
Intel Core i7-7700K4 cores, 8 threads4.2 GHz4.5 GHzZ17091W
Intel Core i7-6700K4 cores, 8 threads4.0 GHz4.2 GHzZ17091W

Benchmark Results

Blender

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Blender is an open-source 3D graphics and animation program that really stresses multi-core CPUs. Just like our previous tests, we used the "flying squirrel" 3D model to render in Blender. Per our results, the 1800X was outperformed by the 7700K by four percent. This would indicate that Blender doesn't need more than four cores to run efficiently, backed up by the slower performance of the 5960X. The 6950X does come out on top, however. This could be due in-part to Broadwell-E's Max Turbo Boost feature.

Cinebench R15

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Cinebench R15 is a 3D animation benchmark that really makes the most of CPU cores. We see the 6700K and 7700K lag significantly behind while the eight and ten core CPUs exhibit substantial improvement. Considering the price of the 1800X, Cinebench shows it to contend with the more expensive ten-core 6950X by being 13.5 percent slower. The 1800X zooms past the 7700K by performing 39 percent faster.

GeekBench 3.0 Multicore 64-bit

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GeekBench 3.0 is a synthetic benchmark that scores CPU power. The 1800X has an impressive showing in the multicore test, coming within one percent of the 6950X. It also leaps well ahead of the 5960X by nearly 25 percent, showing the advantage of its two extra cores.

GeekBench 3.0 Single-Core 64-bit

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As expected, the 7700K and 6700K shine in this test with their more robust individual cores. However, the 1800X makes a significant statement of single-core efficiency by jumping well ahead of the 6950X with its higher clock speeds.

PCMark 8 Creative Accelerated

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PCMark 8 is a multi-step test that simulates real-world scenarios like video conferencing, web browsing, and photo editing. This is one case where Ryzen leaps ahead of all the other intel processors by performing nearly four percent faster than the four-core and and ten core CPUs. Having extra cores doesn't lead to a clear advantage in this test, but the efficiency of the 1800X shows it's well-suited for everyday applications.

Since we've used data from previous benchmarks, the anomaly between the 6700K outperforming the 7700K persists. The test was done twice at that time and the results remained the same.

3DMark 11 Extreme Physics Score (1080p)

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3DMark 11 is a synthetic DirectX 11 benchmark tool that gives users an idea of how a system will perform in games. With the Extreme test, we only took the physics score to see how our CPUs handled complex physics calculations. While the 1800X leads the four-core i7s by nearly eight percent, the eight and ten-core Intel CPUs exhibit a substantial lead.

3DMark 11 Performance (720p)

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By running the 720p 3DMark 11 test, we get a larger picture while leaning more on the CPU. Our Ryzen 7 1800X beats out the 6700K by about 17 percent, but still trails the 7700K by about four percent and the 6950X by ten percent. The takeaway is that this benchmark isn't intended to take full advantage of additional cores.

POV-RAY 3.7

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Persistence of Vision Raytracer (POV-RAY) is a free benchmark that tests a system's ray tracing capability. The results show that extra cores make for a distinct advantage in ray tracing. We see the 1800X well ahead of the four and eight-core Intel CPUs, but just behind the ten-core 6950X.

POV-RAY 3.7 (Single-Core)

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The single-core results breakdown as expected, with the 6700K and 7700K showing better individual core performance. The 6950X does edge out the 1800X in this case by a little over five percent, however.

X264 pass 1

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The Tech ARP X264 benchmark is one of the most demanding CPU tests, which consists of two passes in a single run to simulate video encoding. Core count is a significant advantage in X264 and it shows with the 1800X, 5960X, and 6950X speeding ahead of the four-core i7 CPUs.

X264 pass 2

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The advantage of core count becomes more clear when things get more intense in the second pass of X264. The 1800X trails just behind the ten-core 6950X by around seven percent, and overtakes the eight-core 5960X by about 16 percent. The 7700K and 6700K lag behind and proves that video encoding is best done with more cores.

7-Zip

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7-Zip is one of the most common compression and decompression tools available. These tasks rely heavily on the CPU and clearly takes advantage of extra CPU cores. In this case, we see the 1800X in a virtual tie with the 5960X while the 6950X speeds past both.

Star Swarm Stress Test (Low at 1080p)

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The Star Swarm Stress Test is a real-time tech demo from Oxide games, co-developers of the RTS Ashes of the Singularity. Testing at low settings shifts the emphasis from the GPU to the CPU, and this particular test is partial to extra cores. However, the 1800X doesn't react well to the benchmark compared to the Intel CPUs. It trails behind the 6700K by about six percent and the rest by about 23 percent. The 6950X and 5960X do show a distinct advantage over the four-core i7 CPUs, though.

Star Swarm Stress Test (Extreme at 1080p)

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The 1800X still struggles to keep up with the Intel CPUs, even dipping below 60 FPS when we bump the settings up to extreme quality. Extra cores still exhibit a substantial benefit among the Intel CPUs, so it's curious to see the 1800X come up short.

BioShock Infinite (Low at 1080p)

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We continue to see the 1800X significantly lag behind when we move to the Bioshock Infinite benchmark tool. While all Intel CPUs put out 300+ FPS at low quality settings, the 1800X averages just above 200 FPS. The 6950X leads the performance pack a bit, but the 6700K and 7700K aren't far behind.

BioShock Infinite (Max at 1080p)

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Again, the 1800X comes in last place among the CPUs we tested. With Bioshock Infinite at maximum settings, the faster individual cores of the 6700K and 7700K prove to be more suited for in-game performance.

SteamVR

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The Steam VR performance test is a benchmark tool to see if your system is ready for VR applications. AMD's 1800X makes a bounces back by coming out on top, slightly outperforming all the Intel CPUs. The results between the Intel CPUs would tell us more cores aren't necessary, but the 1800X would say otherwise. AMD attributes its VR performance to efficient single-threads.

Temperatures and Overclocking

Peak temperatures of the Ryzen 7 1800X were recorded during the X264 stress test since it is demanding multi-threaded nature make it a great worst-case scenario. With our Noctua air cooler, the peak core temperature was 74 degrees Celsius under load, which is a reasonable CPU temperature. This also means we had room for overclocking.

Keep in mind that the Ryzen 7 1800X will bounce between its 3.6GHz stock clock and 4.0GHz boost clock on its own, based on operating temperature and workload.

Using AMD's own Ryzen Master software, we were able to hit a stable 4.1GHz overclock with 1.45 volts while running X264. Peak load temperatures reached 82 degrees Celsius and the overclock returned modest results; around four percent for X264 Pass 1 and about six percent for X264 Pass 2.

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A more robust cooling solution and further tinkering may yield better overclocking results, which is worth exploring in future testing.

Conclusion

The bottom line is that the Ryzen 7 1800X makes the most sense for users that need more than a CPU for gaming, those who are considered "prosumers." The performance for multicore applications is impressive for its $499 price tag, which increases accessibility for those who need more power for video production and image rendering.

The 1800X isn't intended for those with only gaming on their mind, as most games benefit more from individual core speed. However, we're curious as to why it substantially underperforms in our two game tests. Further in-game tests may or may not tell a different story, but future BIOS updates could help. Our 3DMark 11 and Steam VR benchmarks do show promise for Ryzen's in-game performance, though. Regardless, the 1800X is one of the best bang-for-the-buck CPUs when it comes to applications--video encoding, image rendering, compression/decompression--that utilize more than four cores.

We plan to expand our in-game benchmark tests as we dig deep into the performance of the Ryzen 7 1700X and 1700 CPUs. Stay tuned for our breakdown of the new line of AMD processors.


Xbox Boss Talks Project Scorpio Pricing, Xbox Game Pass, E3 Timing, Cancelling Games, And More

By Eddie Makuch on Mar 02, 2017 08:41 pm

Xbox boss Phil Spencer appeared on the newest edition of IGN's Unlocked podcast this week where he discussed a lot of interesting topics. In the hour-long conversation, Spencer talks about Microsoft's just-announced Xbox Game Pass, provides an update on Project Scorpio, and explains why Microsoft moved its Xbox E3 briefing this year from Monday morning to Sunday afternoon.

The full interview is incredibly fascinating and well worth a watch if you're interested in learning more about how the Xbox business works. You can watch the entire interview in the video below.

For Xbox Game Pass, which is a digital game subscription service where you can get access to an evolving library of games for $10/month, Spencer said it has been in the works for two or three years. It's taken so long because Microsoft had to get the under-the-hood, technical specifics worked out, while the company also had to sign business deals with third-party publishers.

Spencer also talked about how the Xbox Game Pass library, which will have more than 100 games in it, will not likely see a complete refresh every month. Only a "handful" of games will be added or removed every month. Whether or not a game drops out may come down to a third-party publisher's decision. Spencer said it's important that the games in the library don't feel like trials or demos, and that players can subscribe to the service feeling confident that a game will be there for a long time.

NeoGAF has a roundup of what was said during the talk.

On the subject of Microsoft's E3 switch from Monday to Sunday, Spencer said it was done to help Microsoft's news have more room to breathe. For Project Scorpio, Spencer teased a pre-E3 reveal (though the console will also have an E3 presence of course), but no plans are solidified as of yet. In terms of what the console will look like, Spencer said it will have a "premium" look to it, though it should appear familiar in the Xbox family ecosystem.

"I can't wait to show people what it looks like," Spencer said.

The much-discussed topic of pricing for Project Scorpio also came up. Spencer did not give anything away, but said again that people can expect a "premium" price.

"I call it a premium console because I want people to be clear that the customer we're building that for is the premium gaming customer," Spencer said. "The person who buys the majority of the games, the person who's playing the most games, spending the most hours, spending the most dollars. It's like our Elite controller. I call that a premium controller."

"I'm not trying to scare anybody on the price. We're going to come out on a price that we think is fair for the product that we build and the customers will tell us as they always do. I call it premium because I don't want people to get confused that somehow Scorpio is the thing that is going to take over the Xbox line."

Spencer added that he fully expects that Xbox One S, with its lower relative price point, will sell far better than Project Scorpio.

"The majority of the consoles that we're going to sell are the Xbox One S and I'm very proud of that," he said.

Spencer also discussed Microsoft's controversial decisions to cancel Fable Legends (and close Lionhead) and shut down Scalebound, two high-profile projects.

"When I look at the investment that I want to make in first-party and that the company wants to make in first-party, I think we're in a position where we're going to be able to do some new and interesting things," he said, adding that those decisions will be good for the company in the long run. "And that meant we had to stop doing some other things in order to create room for that. And that's just kind of the nature of running a business."

"One of the things that I wanted to do when I came into this job ... one of the things was our first-party and how I thought about needing to--this is an unfair word, but I'll say 'rework' our first-party. Regretfully, that meant certain things that we were doing, I thought we needed to do something different. It meant getting back to what I think is a core and building from that."

Also during the podcast, Spencer reiterated that Microsoft has no plans to release a dedicated handheld gaming device, though he has a "never say never" attitude about this.

Spencer also talked about how Microsoft has no deal in place with Alan Wake and Quantum Break developer Remedy for a new game and also revealed that the release date for Voodoo Vince will be announced sometime next week.

What are you looking forward to from Microsoft and Xbox this year? Let us know in the comments below!


GTA 5 Online DLC And Update Roadmap

By Jason Imms on Mar 02, 2017 08:30 pm

Rockstar announced today a series of updates coming soon to Grand Theft Auto Online.

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15 new official stunt races have already been added to the game, as part of Rockstar's 2017 stunt race event. Players can earn double GTA$ and RP by playing on any of the Rockstar Created and Rockstar Verified stunt races. Plus, anyone that logs in during the event (closing on March 13) will pick themselves up a limited Pink Jock Cranley Stuntman Jumpsuit.

The upcoming March title update will add a new stunt race type, geared toward the new Rocket Voltic, Ruiner 2000, and Blazer Aqua vehicles. Each race set will make use of the special abilities of each vehicle, asking players to rocket into the sky, parachute out of it, and skim across the water, respectively.

A new set of adversary modes are also being added to the game over the course of Spring, including but not limited to "a gallows humor take on dodgeball" mode called Resurrection, and an homage to old-school 2D GTA called Top Down.

Finally--alongside the shiny new Progen GP1 supercar--the most-requested throwback cars are coming back, with the Turismo Classic and Infernus Classic hitting Liberty City for the first time since Grand Theft Auto III.

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Rockstar also reminds players they only have 10 days left to upgrade Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 characters to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.

Go to the Rockstar newswire to learn more.


Beauty And The Beast's Gaston Recalls His Audition

By Eddie Makuch on Mar 02, 2017 08:28 pm

With Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast hitting theaters in just a few more weeks, the film's stars are out on tour promoting it. Last night on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Gaston actor Luke Evans recalled his audition for the part of the macho, self-interested character.

A lot of people auditioned for the role. For past auditions, Evans said he can be nervous, but that wasn't the case for Beauty and the Beast. Evans said he was feeling confident that he would get the part because the audition had him singing the famous song "Gaston"--and he had it down. "This one I knew I could do it, and I was like, 'I can sing this track [and] I'm going to blow him away,'" Evans said.

Earlier this week, Disney released a clip of the "Gaston" scene, showing Evans and LeFou actor Josh Gad belting out the track--watch it here.

Beauty and the Beast opens on March 17. It also stars Emma Watson as Belle, Dan Stevens as Beast, Ian McKellan as Cogsworth, Kevin Kline as Maurice, Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts, and Stanley Tucci as Cadenza, a character not seen in the 1991 animated movie and invented for the new version. The film is directed by Twilight's Bill Condon.

It is expected to have a huge opening in the US, where it could make as much as $120 million for its opening weekend, according to estimates. If it can cross $100 million, that would make it one of the biggest March openings in movie history.

A number of new clips have been released in recent days and weeks:


Jack Sparrow Fights The Undead In New Pirates Of The Caribbean 5 Trailer

By Dan Auty on Mar 02, 2017 08:26 pm

Jack Sparrow has been away from screens for six years, but he returns this summer in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. A new trailer for the fifth movie in the blockbuster series has arrived--check it out below:

This follows last year's first teaser, plus the TV spot that was screened during the Super Bowl. A synopsis has also been released. It reads:

"Thrust into an all-new adventure, a down-on-his-luck Captain Jack Sparrow finds the winds of ill-fortune blowing even more strongly when deadly ghost pirates led by his old nemesis, the terrifying Captain Salazar, escape from the Devil's Triangle, determined to kill every pirate at sea… including him. Captain Jack's only hope of survival lies in seeking out the legendary Trident of Poseidon, a powerful artifact that bestows upon its possessor total control over the seas."

Dead Men Tell No Tales stars Johnny Depp as Sparrow and Javier Bardem as Captain Salazar. Geoffrey Rush plays Barbossa, while Orlando Bloom will also appear in the movie as Will Turner, making his first appearance in a Pirates movie since 2007's At World's End.

The Beatles singer Paul McCartney even apparently has a role in the movie, continuing the rock star trend that started with Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones appearing as Jack Sparrow's father in At World's End.

Dead Men Tell No Tales is directed by Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg and hits theaters on May 26, 2017.


1-2-Switch Review Roundup

By Oscar Dayus on Mar 02, 2017 08:07 pm

Nintendo Switch's minigame collection, 1-2-Switch, launches simultaneously with the console on March 3. It features 28 bizarre minigames, and it'll have you doing things like waving flags, shaking soda bottles, and duelling (with pistols or wands). But is it any good?

Reviews have started to go live for the first-party title, including GameSpot's own. In our review, critic Oscar Dayus said the game "feels a little like a wasted opportunity," but that "at its best, it delivers some hilarious moments." For more, read our full 1-2-Switch review.

Take a look at the roundup below for a selection of critical opinions, or check out GameSpot sister site Metacritic to see a wider view.

  • Game: 1-2-Switch
  • Developer: Nintendo
  • Platform: Nintendo Switch
  • Release: March 3
  • Price: US $50 / £40 / AU $70

GameSpot -- 6/10

"1-2-Switch, then, feels a little like a wasted opportunity. Many of its minigames are duds that are too limited to be fun on their first attempt, let alone their 100th, and the remainder mostly don't have the depth to maintain a consistent enough high to warrant many playthroughs with the same crowd. There's no doubt 1-2-Switch should have been packed in with the Nintendo Switch, and the decision to sell it separately goes against every fibre of its varied-but-shallow DNA. But 1-2-Switch, at its best, delivers some hilarious moments. Seeing an uninitiated friend milk a cow, looking into your dad's eyes as you beat him to the trigger in Quick Draw, and making a fool of yourself strutting down Runway's catwalk is all amazing fun, even if it is short-lived.

Does it live up to Wii Sports? Not a chance. But that doesn't stop 1-2-Switch being an entertaining minigame collection--just make sure you've got enough willing friends to maintain your own fading high." -- Oscar Dayus [Full review]

IGN -- 6.8/10

"1-2-Switch is the Switch's version of Wii Sports, in that it acts as an overall mission statement for the console itself. The quirky, bizarre nature of the unique mini-games make it a funny, memorable experience, but some games are hard to play at first due to unclear tutorials and dialogue cues. Despite its oddities and flaws, I have had so, so much fun playing and watching 1-2-Switch with a small group of friends that I can recommend it in that specific situation, but I don't have much desire to go back." -- Alanah Pearce [Full review]

The Guardian -- 3/5

"As it stands, 1-2 Switch is a really fun couple of hours that may well end up being the star attraction at one or two friends or family get-togethers. However, it will then find itself at the dusty end of your games collection. Nintendo says it wants to offer value to Switch purchasers, yet we can't help but feel it's not just the cow getting milked in this scenario." -- Keith Stuart [Full review]

Nintendo Life -- 6/10

"1-2-Switch does a great job of showing off the unique feature set of the Switch and its Joy-Con controllers, but it's seriously lacking in long-term appeal. When played with a group of friends or family members it's a proper hoot, and has the same social gaming appeal that made Wii Sports a living room tradition for so many households all over the world, but there's no escaping the fact that many of these mini-games lack longevity; some are so basic that they fail to maintain your interest past the first go, no matter how inebriated you and your pals happen to be." -- Damien McFerran [Full review]


Logan Director Is Working On A Black-And-White Version

By Dan Auty on Mar 02, 2017 07:53 pm

During the build-up to the release of Logan, director James Mangold tweeted a series of stylish black-and-white images from the movie, plus this mysterious teaser. Now Mangold has revealed that he is planning a black-and-white version of the film.

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Mangold was asked on Twitter if a monochrome version of Logan was in the works. His response was very positive:

If it happens, Logan won't be the first high-profile Hollywood action movie to get a black-and-white version. Last year, the 'chrome edition' of Mad Max: Fury Road was released.

Logan hits theaters this weekend. It is predicted to be a box office smash, and has received very strong reviews. GameSpot's Randolph Ramsay called it a must-see and the best X-Men movie to date.

Earlier this week, star Hugh Jackman revealed that it was comedian Jerry Seinfeld who convinced him to say goodbye to Wolverine. Appearing on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, Jackman said he approached Seinfeld two years ago to ask for his advice about potentially leaving the character behind.

Seinfeld shared his own philosophy with Jackman--and it resonated strongly, so much so that Jackman just hours later decided to say goodbye.

"He said, 'Look, when you creating something, it's very important not to run yourself dry. It's not about finishing on top necessarily, but making sure that you are creatively still have something left, which propels you into whatever is next,'" Jackman recalled.

"I went home and I said, 'This is it; this is the last one.' And then the next morning, I wake up at 4 in the morning, and I record into a voice memo because I had this really strong idea for what to do for the last one; and that's like two years ago."


Patrick Stewart Talks About Why Playing Poop In The Emoji Movie Is So Important To Him

By Eddie Makuch on Mar 02, 2017 07:49 pm

One of actor Patrick Stewart's next roles is the Poop emoji in Sony's upcoming The Emoji Movie. In an appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert last night, Stewart made some wonderful jokes about the role.

After Colbert asked Stewart if he was worried the Queen of England might revoke Stewart's knighthood, he joked that she would approve because playing poop has been something he has been building up to his entire life.

"I think she will approve because she will know that, for me, poop has been a lifelong work in progress," he explained.

Colbert then asked if Stewart would be method-acting for the role.

Stewart said playing poop is indeed a "totally internal" process.

"Until it's external," he said. "When I was an infant, it was more spontaneous. In my teens, it took a kind of comedic spurt; it was low-farce, rather than high comedy. But as I matured, so did my output."

The Emoji Movie opens on August 4. In addition to Stewart, the film features the voices of Silicon Valley's T.J. Miller and Saturday Night Live's Maya Rudolph.

Here is the full plot synopsis:

"The Emoji Movie unlocks the never-before-seen secret world inside your smartphone. Hidden within the messaging app is Textopolis, a bustling city where all your favorite emojis live, hoping to be selected by the phone's user. In this world, each emoji has only one facial expression--except for Gene (T.J. Miller), an exuberant emoji who was born without a filter and is bursting with multiple expressions.

"Determined to become 'normal' like the other emojis, Gene enlists the help of his handy best friend Hi-5 (James Corden) and the notorious code breaker emoji Jailbreak. Together, they embark on an epic 'app-venture' through the apps on the phone, each its own wild and fun world, to find the Code that will fix Gene. But when a greater danger threatens the phone, the fate of all emojis depends on these three unlikely friends who must save their world before it's deleted forever."

Stewart will be seen next in the Wolverine movie Logan, which opens in theaters on March 3.

Disclosure: The Late Show With Stephen Colbert airs on CBS, whose parent company, CBS Corp., owns GameSpot.


Injustice 2's Next Character Is A Deep Cut From DC's Golden Age

By Scott Butterworth on Mar 02, 2017 07:30 pm

Injustice 2 developer NetherRealm Studios today revealed the latest addition to the game's growing roster: Doctor Fate, a series newcomer who's totally not the same guy as Marvel's Doctor Strange. Though not as widely known as heroes like Superman and Batman, the helmet-clad sorcerer actually debuted way back in 1940, and various incarnations have existed in the DC Comics universe ever since. Still, he could easily qualify as one of the more "obscure characters" NetherRealm studio head Ed Boon previously referenced.

Doctor Fate joins an already diverse cast, one that Injustice 2 designer John Edwards promises will be "the largest roster that we've ever done." And according to Edwards, Fate brings something totally new to that lineup: "We like to have characters that have a lot of variety--especially in their moves and attacks--so we can make sure we don't just have one type of character. We don't want every character to be just like Batman or Superman. So we try to find characters that have unique powers, unique abilities, things that the rest of cast don't necessarily have. And we looked back and we were like, 'Hey, we don't really have a predominant spellcasting, magic-based character.' Doctor Fate, being essentially the most powerful magic user in the DC universe, seemed like just a real good fit."

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While it's unclear how Doctor Fate's presence will impact Injustice 2's narrative, Edwards did provide some insights into Fate's fighting style during a recent preview event. "He is one of the more complex characters, mechanically so," said Edwards, "He doesn't have any straight physical attacks. So his in-close combat is not as good as Batman, obviously, or Black Canary. He fits a ranged playstyle, for the most part. He's very strong at controlling space and keeping his opponent away from him. In addition to that, he uses traps: he can place ankhs down in different locations on the battlefield which will heal him or damage his opponents if they are standing in the field. He can kind of control space in those ways."

To further illustrate Doctor Fate's unique tactics, Edwards explained one of his most creative abilities: "He has a very interesting special where he can lock the interactables in the background to prevent the opponent from being able to use them for a short period of time. So because of our 'background interacts' [are] an integral part of the gameplay, it's a very powerful ability to have-- to essentially shut your opponent out of being able to use those things as escape routes or for big damage. It really allows him to keep the pace of the fights how he wants to. That's probably one of the coolest specials we have in the game."

Injustice 2 launches for PS4 and Xbox One on May 16 and will be accompanied by both a mobile game and a comic that explores the events between the original and the sequel. Expect more coverage of the game's story mode and controversial gear system in the near future.


New Beauty And The Beast Movie Focuses On Belle, Watch It Here

By Eddie Makuch on Mar 02, 2017 07:20 pm

Disney has released a new featurette for its soon-to-arrive live-action Beauty and the Beast. This newest video is titled "Empowered Belle," and it features actress Emma Watson, as well as director Bill Condon, Beast actor Dan Stevens, and others talking about Belle and why her character is unique.

"She really is the first modern Disney princess who doesn't want to be a princess," Condon said. "Someone who is more interested in figuring out who she is than in finding a guy and getting married."

Watson added that Beauty and the Beast was a big part of her childhood, so it was important for her to do the character justice.

"Belle really dominated and characterized a huge part of my childhood and my growing up," she said. "I know what she meant to me as a young girl. When you love something that much, you really want to do it justice."

LeFou actor Josh Gad said, "Emma as Belle empowers a whole new generation of girls."

Watson's Belle may not be exactly as you remember her from the 1991 animated original. For the live-action remake, she is more "industrious and inventive." This was part of an effort to ensure that Belle is seen as a "21st century heroine," according to Condon.

Beauty and the Beast opens on March 17. It also stars Ian McKellan as Cogsworth, Kevin Kline as Maurice, Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts, and Stanley Tucci as Cadenza, a character not seen in the 1991 animated movie and invented for the new version. The film is directed by Twilight's Bill Condon.

It is expected to have a huge opening in the US, where it could make as much as $120 million for its opening weekend, according to estimates. If it can cross $100 million, that would make it one of the biggest March openings in movie history.

A number of new clips have been released in recent days and weeks:


The Division's Ongoing Support Unaffected By Developer's New Avatar Game

By Eddie Makuch on Mar 02, 2017 06:34 pm

Earlier this week, Ubisoft announced that The Division developer Ubisoft Massive is now working on a new Avatar game with James Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainment and film company Fox. Some wondered what impact this might have on The Division. Now, Ubisoft has explained that the untitled Avatar game is being made by a totally separate internal team, so The Division's ongoing support is unchanged.

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"Avatar is a new project with its own dedicated team and Massive is currently recruiting top talent to work on it," Ubisoft said in a statement to Eurogamer. "Avatar's development has no impact on the team working on The Division or on our plans to continually support and update the game and brand for the long term."

The statement goes on: "We're proud of what the team has accomplished with The Division, thankful for our community's dedication, and looking forward to sharing more about what's coming next for the game very soon."

Ubisoft Massive, which is based on Sweden, is a large studio, staffed by almost 400 people. As the statement mentions, the team is looking to grow for the new Avatar game. There are dozens of open positions posted to Ubisoft Massive's careers portal right now.

The Division's newest expansion, Last Stand, launched on February 28 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. A massive free update, containing new Dark Zone areas and a lot of balance changes, also came to the game on that day--you can see the complete patch notes here.

Last Stand is The Division's third and final announced expansion, following Underground and Survival. No new add-ons have been announced, though as the statement above says, Ubisoft is not finished supporting the game just yet.

As for the Avatar game, almost nothing is known about it, apart from the fact that it is set on Pandora and will come to PC and consoles. No date has been set and no gameplay has been shown. It's the second Avatar game from Ubisoft, as the publisher worked with Cameron on a 2009 game that served as a prequel to his blockbuster.

There are four Avatar movie sequels in the works. Filming is expected to begin this summer, with Cameron reportedly eyeing Christmas 2018 for the first sequel's release.


Resident Evil 7 Discounted To $40 Today Only

By Eddie Makuch on Mar 02, 2017 06:33 pm

Looking to pick up a copy of Capcom's Resident Evil 7? Amazon has a pretty good deal on right now that you may want to consider. The online store is selling the game's Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions for only $40, which is one of the best deals we've seen so far on the horror game.

Here are links to get the game's Amazon product pages: Xbox One, PS4. Note that this price is for a new, physical copy. The digital versions of Resident Evil 7 that Amazon sells are still at full price. Additionally, the PC version of Resident Evil 7 is not discounted.

This is an Amazon Deal of the Day item, so you have until the end of the day to take advantage of the offer.

Resident Evil 7 has shipped 3 million copies by Capcom's latest count. The publisher is hoping the game will do better, as it has forecast the title to ship 4 million units by the end of March.

Capcom has already released two pieces of extra content for Resident Evil 7: Banned Footage Vol. 1 and Banned Footage Vol. 2. After launching first on PS4, they are now available on all platforms. Looking ahead, Capcom will launch the free Not A Hero DLC sometime this spring on all systems. This content focuses on a character that was teased at the end of Resident Evil 7.

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GameSpot's Resident Evil 7 review scored it an 8/10.

"By the end of the campaign, I was ready for the game to be over, but that's okay. RE7 ends just as it starts to outstay its welcome, and after the fact, I felt like I'd survived a truly harrowing journey," reviewer Scott Butterworth said. "The boss fights may be slightly inconsistent and certain sections might drag after a while, but RE7 is still a remarkable success. It has a clear vision and executes it with impressive patience and precision. By returning to horror, Resident Evil has once again become something special."


Zelda: Breath Of The Wild's Day One Update Adds DLC Menu

By Oscar Dayus on Mar 02, 2017 06:32 pm

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's day one update, which is out now, introduces a new menu option allowing you to see what DLC is available for the game. It is unclear what else is included in the patch.

The only DLC available right now is the content offered to those who've already purchased the game's season pass. This includes three new treasure chests, which contain "useful items" and "exclusive in-game clothing," according to Nintendo.

The season pass--which is available for both the Switch and Wii U versions of Breath of the Wild--will include two full expansions: one will launch in "Summer 2017" and one in "Holiday 2017." They'll include new challenges, difficulty settings, dungeons, and more. The add-ons cannot be purchased individually.

Breath of the Wild launches on March 3. Reviews have now gone live for the latest Zelda title, and it seems critics are more than impressed. In our Zelda: Breath of the Wild review, critic Peter Brown called the game "a defining moment for The Legend of Zelda series, and the most impressive game Nintendo has ever created."

He added: "No matter how gorgeous its environments are, how clever its enemies are, and how tricky its puzzles get, the fact that Breath of the Wild continues to surprise you with newfound rules and possibilities after dozens of hours is by far its most valuable quality. It's a game that allows you to feel gradually more and more empowered yet simultaneously manages to retain a sense of challenge and mystery--which, together, creates a steady, consistent feeling of gratification throughout the entire experience."

Read the full review here.


Why BioWare Canceled Mass Effect: Andromeda's Multiplayer Beta

By Eddie Makuch on Mar 02, 2017 05:56 pm

Following the news yesterday that BioWare had canceled Mass Effect: Andromeda's multiplayer beta, the developer has now apologized for that and explained why it was necessary.

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"Sorry we won't have [a multiplayer technical test]," producer Fernando Melo said on Twitter. "I know many were looking forward to it (as were we). Long story but right decision for how close we are to [going] live."

He added: "[Mass Effect: Andromeda multiplayer] has had the most [extensive] user testing we've ever done."

Melo also mentioned that there was a closed alpha for Andromeda earlier this year that was held on retail consoles, so the game has been tested in the wild.

In another tweet, Melo said Andromeda's multiplayer is "very alive ... and awesome."

People who attend PAX East this month in Boston can play the multiplayer mode. Additionally, EA/Origin Access subscribers can get a crack at the entire game ahead of launch when it arrives for the subscription service on March 16.

Finally, Melo teased that BioWare still has more to announce about Andromeda's multiplayer. He kicked things off with an image of the mode's character selection screen; check it out below.

Andromeda's multiplayer will tie into the game's campaign. In terms of gameplay, you can expect to be on the move more often than in Mass Effect 3. Whereas that game often saw players often stay in a fixed location they could defend, Andromeda will throw new enemy types at you that force you into or out of cover.

Andromeda will not have a season pass. There is likely to be DLC for the game, but it remains to be seen how it will be released. BioWare has said it is plans to discuss specifics at a later date.

The full game launches on March 21 for Xbox One, PC, and PlayStation 4. For more, check out all of GameSpot's written coverage and videos here.


Here's Why Nintendo Switch Cartridges Taste Really Bad

By Eddie Makuch on Mar 02, 2017 05:53 pm

With the Nintendo Switch set to arrive in just a matter of hours now, Nintendo has confirmed one more detail about it: its game cartridges taste really bad. They are covered in a non-toxic material that is meant to discourage people from putting them in their mouths, a Nintendo representative confirmed.

"A bittering agent (Denatonium Benzoate) has also been applied to the game card," the spokesperson told Polygon. The Nintendo representative added that it's a good idea to keep the small Switch cartridges out of the reach of children so as to "avoid the possibility of accidental ingestion."

Denatonium Benzoate is the "most bitter chemical compound known to humanity," according to Polygon.

Jeff Gerstmann, the founder of GameSpot sister site Giant Bomb, put a Switch cartridge in his mouth and immediately wished he hadn't. For more on how Switch games taste, check out GameSpot's taste test video above.

In other Switch news, a recent report from a research firm predicted that the system will sell 5 million units in 2017. For more, check out GameSpot's review of the Nintendo Switch.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is one of the console's launch titles--and it's a good one. GameSpot's review scored it a 10/10, while other outlets praised it as well.


Horizon Zero Dawn Crashes During Opening Cinematic For Some

By Eddie Makuch on Mar 02, 2017 05:51 pm

Horizon Zero Dawn's release this week has not gone entirely to plan. Developer Guerrilla Games wrote on Twitter to say that it is aware of an issue where some players are having difficulty viewing the game's opening cinematic. The studio is looking into the matter and apologized for the issue.

It is not immediately clear how widespread the issue is. People on GameSpot sister site GameFaqs are reporting that Horizon Zero Dawn crashes when the opening cinematic begins.

Guerrilla said in a post on Reddit that it is "looking at the problem and investigating solutions." We will report back with more details on the issue as they become available.

If you're one of the players who can't view the opening cinematic, you can watch it right now through the video embed above. It is a particularly grand sequence, setting up the story for the post-apocalyptic game in which machines rule the Earth.

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Horizon Zero Dawn is available now on PlayStation 4. The game received a chorus of praise, including a 9/10 score from GameSpot.

"This is first departure from the Killzone series for developer Guerrilla Games, and though you might think the team took a risk by stepping out of its FPS comfort zone to create a third-person open-world action game, you'd never know it was their first rodeo," reviewer Peter Brown said. "For every minor imperfection, there's an element of greatness that recharges your desire to keep fighting and exploring Zero Dawn's beautiful and perilous world. Guerrilla Games has delivered one of the best open-world games of this generation, and redefined its team's reputation in the process."


Justice League Director Reveals Aquaman Test Footage

By Dan Auty on Mar 02, 2017 05:47 pm

Aquaman will play a major role in this year's DC superhero team-up Justice League. Director and birthday boy Zack Snyder has now tweeted some test footage from the movie, which shows Aquaman, played by Jason Momoa, in his underwater world. Check it out below:

A new trailer for Justice League is expected soon, but in the meantime we've had a variety of images from the movie, including this shot of the team together. In addition, Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot also posted a new image of Snyder on set--check it out here.

Justice League also stars Ben Affleck as Batman, Ezra Miller as Flash, and Ray Fisher as Cyborg. The movie is released on November 17, and also features Henry Cavill as Superman, Amber Heard as Mera, JK Simmons as Commissioner Gordon, and Ciaran Hinds as the villainous Steppenwolf.

In a recent interview with Heroic Hollywood, visual effects supervisor Bryan Hirota spoke about the film's tone, and whether it would be a reaction to the negative response to last year Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. "Justice League was always the rebirth of hope and the rise," he said. "People try to say that it's a response to the backlash, and I'd definitely say that criticisms were heard. But it's not like we threw everything out and started with a blank slate.

"It's a bit like Star Wars. Empire Strikes Back? Dark movie! But then Return of the Jedi is the rise and the rebuilding of hope."

In related news, last week it was confirmed that Rise of the Planet of the Apes director Matt Reeves had signed in to direct the standalone Batman movie, currently known as The Batman. Affleck was originally slated to direct, but last month stepped down to concentrate on acting and co-writing the film's script.


Nintendo Switch: Friend Codes Return In Day One Update

By Oscar Dayus on Mar 02, 2017 05:46 pm

Nintendo Switch's day one update, which is out now, reintroduces Friend Codes as the main method to add friends.

The update--which also adds the eShop--means you can register new pals by searching locally, by looking at a list of people you recently played with, and by linking to your Miitomo or Super Mario Run accounts. But Friend Codes remain the primary way of expanding your friend list.

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Nintendo Switch lets users claim a unique Account User ID, similar to Xbox Live's Gamertags and PSN's account naming system. This had led many to believe adding friends on Switch would work in a similar way to those services, which also allow users to search by real names. However, it seems that isn't the case at present on Nintendo's new platform.

Wii U featured the ability to add players using their Nintendo Network ID, a separate system similar to that of PSN and Xbox Live. Switch's Account User ID replaces the Nintendo Network ID scheme, but it is not being utilized for adding friends, it seems.

Friend Codes were first introduced with the Nintendo DS, which allowed players to add each other by having both people enter each other's respective 12-digit codes into their devices.

Nintendo has previously argued that friend codes offer users increased security and control over who they interact with online.


Marvel's The Inhumans Casts Another Major Role

By Dan Auty on Mar 02, 2017 05:07 pm

The upcoming Marvel show The Inhumans continues to add cast members. Following yesterday's announcement that Anson Mount will portray Black Bolt, Medusa's actress has been revealed.

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As reported by Deadline, Serinda Swan will star as the Queen of the Inhumans. Swan is best known for the Fox TV thriller Graceland, and also appeared in Smallville and the 2010 sci-fi movie Tron: Legacy. Medusa's powers include the ability to control the rate of growth and movement of each strand of her tougher-than-steel hair.

"Serinda empowers Medusa's regal glory and still maintains a relatability that synced perfectly with the character," said Marvel TV boss Jeph Loeb in a statement. "She is nothing short of wonderful."

The first season of The Inhumans will comprise of eight episodes, and the show premieres on ABC in September 2017. It is a co-production with IMAX, and the first two episodes will get a worldwide release in IMAX theaters.

The show is being overseen by Scott Buck, who is also showrunner on Iron Fist, Netflix's Marvel show that arrives this month. The Inhumans is one of several new Marvel shows in the works. Runaways and Cloak & Dagger are both in production, while the currently untitled X-Men spinoff is a co-production between Marvel TV and Fox.

An Inhumans movie was first announced in 2014, but no longer appears on Marvel's schedule. In addition, the story of the genetically created superhero race has already been explored on TV in Agents of SHIELD.

The Inhumans were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and first appeared in a 1965 issue of Fantastic Four. Their first self-titled comic line ran from 1975 to 1977, and they have subsequently appeared in a variety of limited and ongoing series over the past four decades.


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