Slender Man is a fictional horror character that first appeared as a viral internet myth in 2009, which has gone onto become a notable part of modern pop culture. It's somewhat surprising that it's taken nearly a decade for an official Slender Man movie to be made, but 2018 will finally see Hollywood's take on this urban legend.
A first trailer for Slender Man has now been released. It looks like a pretty traditional teen horror movie, with disappearing teens, freaky long-haired children, spooky woods, and lots of weird, quickly cut imagery. But there are plenty of horror fans who have been waiting a long time to see the character on screen, and director Sylvian White is not a newcomer to the genre, having previously directed such horror TV shows such as The Originals and Sleepy Hollow. Check the trailer out below:
Slender Man stars Joey King (Fargo, The Flash), Annalise Basso (Electric Dreams), Julia Goldani Telles (The Affair), and Kevin Chapman (Person of Interest). Slender Man himself is played by Javier Botet, who also played a Xenomorph in Alien: Covenant and appeared in the horror blockbuster It. The movie hits theaters on May 18.
Slender Man made his first appearance as part of a Photoshop contest on the Something Awful forum. The contest required forum members to alter an existing photograph to create something scary and supernatural, with Eric Knudsen contributing two images of children being menaced by an abnormally tall, thin creature in a dark suit. Over the following years, the character has inspired creepypasta stories, fan art, memes, video games, and cosplay, as well as the 2015 HBO documentary Beware the Slenderman. In 2014, the character was also linked to the tragic murder of a 12-year-old girl in Wisconsin.
As part of its continued effort to expand the amount of content available to non-DLC owners, Bungie has released a new Destiny 2 update on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Rather than address any bugs or exploits, this patch deals exclusively with undoing the studio's previous decision to lock those who haven't purchased Curse of Osiris out of content they had access to previously.
Bungie has shared patch notes for hotfix update 1.1.1.2, which is now available following a batch of server maintenance. It makes good on Bungie's previous announcement to expand both Iron Banner and Faction Rally, which became inaccessible to non-DLC owners after Curse of Osiris's release. The brief, complete patch notes for the new update follow at the bottom of this post, but they boil down to letting everyone access the two events.
Community manager David Dague recently teased that these changes were coming as part of this update. The most recent Faction Rally event, which would have been the first as part of the game's Season 2 that started with Curse of Osiris, was scheduled to take place in mid-December. But Destiny 2 players were outraged over the newly imposed DLC paywall, and Bungie canceled the event "to ensure all of our players can access the activity and the appropriate rewards."
A new date for the next Iron Banner or Faction Rally has not been announced, but Dague said, "Updates to the live calendar [will] come next week." Once they do return, existing Season 1 rewards from the events will still be available to all players. But new seasonal rewards, which will include armor ornaments, will be limited to those who own Curse of Osiris.
Update 1.1.1.2 is now available on all platforms. Unfortunately, it doesn't address the Warlock Super glitch in Crucible's Mayhem mode, but Bungie warned players in December that it would not be able to fix it before The Dawning event comes to an end on January 9.
Destiny 2 Update 1.1.1.2 Patch Notes
Iron Banner
Players who do not own Curse of Osiris may once again access Iron Banner when available
Faction Rallies
Players who do not own Curse of Osiris may once again pledge to Factions during Faction Rally events
When it comes to Bright, the future seems bright. The Netflix original movie that premiered on December 22 has already been given a sequel with director David Ayer and the cast returning.
If you've paid attention to the critical consensus of Bright, that may come as a bit of a surprise. With a Metacritic score of 29, the film set in a present-day world where humans interact with fantasy creatures has been almost universally panned. "From the director of Suicide Squad and the writer of Victor Frankenstein comes a fresh slice of hell that somehow represents new lows for them both," IndieWire's David Ehrlich says in his review.
Still, even the bad reviews can't slow the film down. According to Netflix, which is notorious for not releasing actual viewing numbers, Bright is the number one movie on the service in every country. It's also "one of the biggest" originals on the streamer. That's as close as Netflix will get in terms of disclosing how many people actually watched the movie, though.
According to Netflix, stars Will Smith and Joel Edgerton are expected to return for the sequel, which has no release date. There will be one major change on the creative side, though. Max Landis, who wrote the first film, will not be back. In his place, Ayer will handle writing duties, in addition to directing. Previously, he's written the scripts for Suicide Squad, End of Watch, and Training Day, among other films. Eric Newman and Bryan Unkeless will be returning as producers.
While there's no telling when Bright 2 will arrive on Netflix, the streaming service has already tested its release with a short video of "orc auditions" that you can watch above.
Amazon and Twitch Prime members can now get a new batch of freebies for Call of Duty: WWII. This month, subscribers will be able to receive a pair of supply drops that include some rare items for the WWII shooter.
From January 2-23, Twitch Prime subscribers will receive a Rare supply drop, which includes a trio of items, one of which is guaranteed to be Rare. In addition to that, subscribers will receive an Epic supply drop. This likewise consists of three items, including a guaranteed Epic item. You can claim the supply drop pack on Twitch.
Twitch Prime is one of the services included in Amazon Prime, so everyone who already has a Prime membership will be able to receive free games and bonus items in select titles. Activision will offer a new Call of Duty: WWII freebie for Twitch Prime subscribers every month. Those who choose to sign up for Twitch Prime now will also receive an exclusive Zombies Bomb Voyage weapon camo pack as a bonus.
2017 has been a big year for Nintendo, and even though the Nintendo Switch hasn't even been out a year, it already has a strong library of games to play. But there are still more to come in 2018 on both Switch and the 3DS; from a new Fire Emblem to the next Yoshi game, Nintendo has already announced some of the upcoming year's games.
In this gallery, we're looking ahead to the Nintendo games we're most excited about. If you're curious about the biggest games to play in 2018 on other platforms, check out our individual features highlighting the most anticipated PS4 games, Xbox One games, and PC games. You can also check out our feature focusing on the biggest games to play 2018 in general.
If you want to see our choices for the best games this year, check out our Game of the Year 2017 Top 10 List. And for more on our picks of the best games of the year across various categories, as well as features focusing on the year's performance for PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Switch, check out our Best of 2017 hub.
Bloodstained: Ritual Of The Night (Switch)
Castlevania has changed a lot over the years, but there was a time when game after game followed a familiar formula to great results. The developer largely credited for the series' past greatness is Koji Igarashi, who is presently working on Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, a spiritual successor to Castlevania games of yore.
Early impressions of the game from events like E3 and Tokyo Game Show are positive. Igarashi's handiwork is on full display, meaning that you will explore 2D, gothic environments while fending off demonic enemies and gather new abilities to extend your reach and open new pathways.
It's the familiar "Metroidvania" formula, but the fact that it's coming from the person responsible for popularizing it in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (after Super Metroid laid the foundation) eases the concerns that Bloodstained is just a simple nostalgia trip. Igarashi has been out of the game for quite a while after leaving Konami, and our hope is that his return to 2D action games comes with improvements and innovations. The sub-genre has been approached by many developers in his absence, and we can't wait to see if Igarashi is able to rekindle his old flame in the light of the many great games his earlier works inspired.
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes Of An Elusive Age (Switch, 3DS)
Unlike Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest games never quite reach the same fevered level of excitement in the West as they do in Japan. That's unfortunate, because it means there are a lot of people missing out on one of the most iconic and fun RPG experiences out there. And the upcoming Dragon Quest XI is set to continue the previous games' traditions of sweeping musical scores, epic stories, and turn-based combat against colorful (and sometimes wacky) enemies.
DQXI already released in Japan back in July 2017 on PS4 and 3DS, but the upcoming international release is notable because it should bring the series to a new platform: Nintendo Switch. That doesn't mean you should rule out the other versions completely, though. On 3DS, the game introduces a unique twist where the lower screen is an exact representation of the regular 3D gameplay, but redone in a classic, pixelated style.
And if this entry in the mainline series does well abroad, that raises the (very, very slim) possibility that the Dragon Quest MMO, Dragon Quest X, could also get a release in the West! Okay, now that might be too much Dragon Quest to ask for at one time.
Fire Emblem (untitled) (Switch)
Nintendo announced a new mainline Fire Emblem game for the Switch during a Direct presentation in January 2017. While the company hasn't given many details about the still-untitled game, it will be the first time a main Fire Emblem has been on a Nintendo console since 2007's Radiant Dawn on the Wii. Plus, it'll be playable on the go! Recent Fire Emblem games (including 2017's Echoes) have been popular on the 3DS, so the potential for a Fire Emblem experience that's both console-scale and portable-ready is exciting.
Indivisible (Switch)
Side-scrolling action RPG Indivisible comes from the same team that brought us 2012's insane fighter Skullgirls. Indivisible follows the story of the rebellious Ajna. She and her father live just outside a quiet little town, but things take a turn for the worse and a mysterious power awakens within her: the ability of "incarnations" to recruit different people to help her along her journey.
Indivisible is largely inspired by a number of different cultures and mythologies, which hopefully opens the doors to positive and meaningful representation. This also means that the game could run the risk of mishandling the sources from which it draws its inspiration, but it's worth having a little faith and hope for a game that's trying to pull from perspectives we don't see often. Everyone likes to have something they can see themselves in, and Indivisible may be one of those games where its representation could make it or break it.
Kirby Star Allies (Switch)
Kirby sucks. No really, Kirby sucks--that's kind of his thing. And the next installment in the Kirby franchise, called Star Allies, is coming to Nintendo Switch next year. This new title was the same one originally announced as simply "Kirby" at E3 2017, and it looks promising. Kirby can utilize abilities such as Sword, Fire, and Water, as well as his trademark vacuum move. You can also mix those skills together to create even cooler powers.
The whole game is designed for up to four-player multiplayer, with each player able to use a single Joy-Con. Alternatively, if you have enough Joy-Cons and Joy-Con grips, you can each play with a more traditional setup.
Following the likes of Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Kirby Star Allies has a lot to live up to when it comes to Switch exclusives. Here's hoping it becomes the console's next big thing when it launches in Spring 2018.
No More Heroes: Travis Strikes Again (Switch)
No More Heroes and its sequel, Desperate Struggle, were some of the best action games on the Nintendo Wii, featuring gratuitous violence, crazy boss designs, a strong sense of style and attitude, as well as some, uh, interesting implementations of motion control. That was over seven years ago, and though developer Grasshopper Manufacture has had a number of cult hits (and misses) since then, talk of another No More Heroes sequel has always been a point of conversation for CEO Goichi Suda, aka Suda51.
Well, now it's happening. After skipping the Wii U, protagonist Travis Touchdown is coming back to Nintendo consoles with Travis Strikes Again on Nintendo Switch. We got a quick teaser trailer at the Nintendo Indies Showcase in 2017, where we were reintroduced to Travis in all his self-referential glory and learned of the game's primary conceit: A dangerous console that sucks players into video game worlds. Though these worlds will be original game concepts, Travis Strikes Back is also collaborating with other indie game titles, though this might only be superficially in the form of the game's always-extensive t-shirt wardrobe. We always expect off-the-wall ideas from Grasshopper Manufacture, so we're looking forward to seeing what Travis Strikes Back will surprise us with.
Owlboy (Switch)
The critically acclaimed PC-exclusive Owlboy is finally making its way onto consoles. While the console ports are receiving no major changes from the original, the Switch version bears notable mention given its portability. The game's endearing 2D twin-stick shooter action seems a perfect fit to bring on the go. Given the high praise it received when it released (GameSpot gave it a 9), it's certainly one of the more highly anticipated indie ports in 2018.
For the uninitiated, Owlboy is an action-adventure game set in a sky world where the lands below were torn apart by a catastrophic event many years prior. You play as Otus, an owl-human hybrid who sets out on a journey to save his village from a band of pirates. A charming and heartfelt adventure in its own right, Owlboy's upcoming console ports are well worth keeping an eye on, especially if you missed out on the original back in 2016.
Persona Q2 (3DS)
Fans of both Persona 3 and 4 were treated to an endearing collaboration between the casts of both games with Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth in 2014. In a wacky series of time-bending events, both Inaba's Investigation Team and SEES (Special Extracurricular Execution Squad) crossed paths and joined forces to back home from an alternate dimension. All characters received an adorable chibi redesign which drove home the fun, lighthearted interactions between the two squadsBut with Persona Q2 coming out next year, we're hyped up to see how the Phantom Thieves fit into the mix (and what their chibi versions will look like) and what Atlus will do with crossover casts. The only thing that was revealed for Persona Q2's announcement was a cartoony rendition of the phrase "TAKE YOUR HEART" with the Arsene top hat logo. Of course, this indicates the return of the Persona 5 crew, but whether or not Q2 involves past characters has yet to be shared.
We anticipate another dip into Etrian Odyssey-style first-person dungeon-crawling where you're expected to draw out maps manually on the 3DS touch screen. The turn-based combat system also differs from the main series; in Persona Q, actions are chosen for the entire turn before anything unfolds, changing how you strategize in battle.
We should also expect another stellar soundtrack. It'll be pretty tough to top the introduction song "Maze of Life" and battle theme "Light the Fire Up in the Night" from the first game, but with a bar set so high and coming off the Persona 5 soundtrack, it's hard to imagine Persona Q2 without the proper music to back it up.
Project Octopath Traveler (Switch)
Project Octopath Traveler on Switch evokes the qualities that are bound to please fans of classic Japanese RPGss. Its "HD 2D" pixelated visual style offers a unique take on the much-used JRPG aesthetic, combining 16-bit style character sprites and textures with polygonal environments and high-definition effects. Combat is involved and utilizes weakness exploitation much like the Shin Megami Tensei games. And its ensemble cast of playable characters even calls back to early SaGa games. There's already plenty of strong characteristics at play that make Project Octopath Traveler a promising adventure.
It's worth noting that the game is being worked on by Tomoya Asano, a Square Enix veteran developer who served as a producer on both Final Fantasy III and Final Fantasy IV for Nintendo DS, Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light, Bravely Default, and Bravely Second: End Layer. While we've only gotten a demo of the game since its initial announcement, we're eager to see what else it has to offer. Heck, we're still curious what the game's final name will be, seeing as Project Octopath Traveler is technically a working title. Time will tell.
Yoshi (Switch)
Nintendo's upcoming Yoshi game was revealed during E3 2017. Simply titled "Yoshi" for now, the announcement trailer showed some gameplay similar to 2015's Yoshi's Woolly World but with an emphasis on flipping the stage around to see behind walls and find secrets you wouldn't be able to notice from the initial angle. It would appear from the trailer that there will be co-op as well, though that hasn't been confirmed. The papercraft style is definitely suited to the adorable feel of a Yoshi game, too, so it seems promising as a cute, feel-good platformer on the Switch in 2018.
Okami is still fantastic. Even in a year like 2017, which had dozens of amazing games and several terrific open-world adventures, the updated Okami HD feels like it could have been a new release. Okami is an ageless classic that, even after 11 years since the last time played it, is somehow even better than I remember.
Loving Okami isn't a new hot take; when the original released back in 2006, it was a critical darling; it's currently 93% on Metacritic, and our own review at the time gave it a 9 out of 10. But publisher Capcom was disappointed by the game's low sales. After developer Clover had another commercial failure in God Hand--along with the departure of key personnel later that same year--the studio was shut down in 2007. And yet despite the game's post-release troubles, Okami still stands out as a significant achievement.
Much of Okami's timelessness is due to the bold, brush-stroke-inspired art style. Okami was gorgeous even on PS2, and Okami HD is a faithful tribute to the game's everlasting beauty. When you're stationary, the screen is a painting. Slight, subtle movements of the air are portrayed with thin flowing lines, and your wolf-form pulses with whirls of energy. In movement, the game runs at a noticeably lower frame-rate, at least on Xbox One and PS4, but Okami's hyper-stylized version of feudal Japan is like seeing a painting come to life.
The game overall is an obvious homage to the Legend of Zelda series, but your ability to use the world as a literal canvas for your god-like brush strokes makes Okami feel inspired and unique rather than just a derivative Zelda clone. The drawings you create on-screen are simple enough that they don't stall the momentum of battle, and the mechanics are generous enough that even for someone as artistically untalented as myself, creating circles and lines makes me feel like I missed my calling as a painter.
But how does the updated Okami HD change the experience? Having not touched the game since it's PS2 release 11 years ago, Okami stays true to my memories, but I'm constantly surprised by how modern it feels. There are no story or gameplay changes for this update. There are some aspect ratio options, and the game has a sharper look than its PS2 predecessor, but otherwise this is a port of the original game. Besides the frame-rate issue, there are a few small issues that could've used a fix. Text speed is inconsistent--sometimes you can quickly speed through dialogue; other times, words crawl slowly along the screen, completely oblivious to your button-mashing attempts to speed them up. And the game oscillates between gently pointing you in the right direction with a map marker, or putting a huge, unmissable arrow in front of you that points the way to your next goal. But these are minor issues that don't detract from what is a sprawling modern masterpiece.
One thing remains blissfully unchanged about the game--there is no voice acting. Oddly, the game was dinged in our original review for its lack of voiceover, and to be fair, it released alongside other cinematic games with great performances such as Final Fantasy XII, Half-Life 2: Episode 1, and Bully. But the lack of voice acting in Okami insulates the game in some ways from its occasionally inconsistent characterizations and the general danger of overacting--which, as we've seen in more recent games like Xenoblade Chronicles 2, can pull down an otherwise solid story.
In remakes and remasters, sometimes games can feel like historical relics compared to current releases--they were great for their time, but they have some element that just doesn't hold up today. Or worse, your memory of a game had glossed over the flaws that stand out in stark relief once you pick up a controller today. But the years have only been more kind to Okami. It's a humorous piece of interactive folklore; a fast and loose take on Japanese mythology that I loved back in 2006 and that feels just as fresh and exciting today.
In his (somehow) directorial debut, the non-fiction poker memoir Molly's Game, Aaron Sorkin manages this all in the same way he did for The Social Network: by flitting nimbly between different timelines and settings, explaining the bits that need explaining (like, more than once, the ins-and-outs of poker), and never letting us get comfortable in one time or place for long. The movie is a little exhausting as a result, but it makes up for that with structure and pacing that make Molly's journey a joy to watch.
The full title of the book is Molly's Game: From Hollywood's Elite to Wall Street's Billionaire Boys Club, My High-Stakes Adventure in the World of Underground Poker, a personal memoir by Molly Bloom. Her exploits running occasionally illegal, high stakes poker games in LA and New York made her a tabloid sensation--and got her indicted in federal court when Russian mobsters entered the game.
There's a lot of drama not just in Bloom's story, but in the way it unfolds--like her refusal to name most of the individuals involved in her games (which forced her to take a less lucrative book deal as a result), and the fact that her real trouble with the federal government occurred after she published the book. You don't need to know any of that to enjoy Molly's Game the movie, which does an admirable job laying out exactly what's important at any given point in the story.
The movie opens with Bloom's disastrous Olympic skiing incident, wherein she wipes out spectacularly on the slopes. In the very next scene, years later, FBI agents swarm her apartment building and arrest her in the dark, early hours of the morning. At that point you have no concrete idea what she's being arrested for, what happens in the intervening years, or what the outcome will be. How much of the story you know going in will vary depending how closely you followed Bloom's real life saga over the years, but going in blind makes the whole thing more narratively satisfying.
In the movie's version of events, the skiing accident--a true one-in-a-million fluke--set her on a path that she eventually lost control of. She moved to LA, got a job as some Hollywood douchebag's assistant, and eventually found herself running underground poker games attended by big name actors and executives who dropped tens of thousands a night.
Chastain's smartly deployed voiceover narration is usually what prevents Molly's Game from getting mired in the minutiae of gambling laws, poker rules, or its own complicated story. You absolutely believe that this woman found it simple to wrap powerful men around her little finger.
The rest of the main cast comprises Michael Cera as a mysterious, unnamed actor who sat at Molly's table, Kevin Costner as Molly's demanding, strict father, and Idris Elba as her reluctant attorney. Each has one or two great, memorable scenes, although Chastain steals the film.
Molly's Game is dramatic, fast-paced, and often funny. But the most interesting thing it does is paint a picture of Molly Bloom as a whip-smart, enterprising, confident, powerful woman whose ambition took her to some dark places--but whose heart was always in the right place. It's hard not to wonder how warped this narrative has become over the years, as it passed from real events through tabloids, courts, a memoir, and finally, this movie. Like so much of Sorkin's other work, though, it ultimately doesn't matter, because Molly's Game is a good story told in exactly the right way.
The Good
The Bad
Sorkin's fast, stylish writing and directing
Pacing and Sorkin's signature rapid fire dialogue are slightly exhausting
Unlike recent entries in the series, Monster Hunter World is in development for both consoles and PC. A PS4 and Xbox One release is just weeks away but as we already knew, it'll be a longer wait for the PC version. However, Capcom has now provided some idea of when to expect it.
In a new video shared on Monster Hunter's official Twitter account (below), World producer Ryozo Tsujimoto provided an update on the PC version's status. "We're working hard on it right now and aiming for an Autumn 2018 release. We'll update you with more details later and thank you for your patience."
The tweet itself adds that the PC version is currently being optimized. We don't yet know exactly what will distinguish it from the console versions, if anything; presumably there will be a range of visual options, at the very least. At this point, however, Capcom has not discussed the subject.
As for the console versions, World launches on PS4 and Xbox One on January 26. A pair of beta tests for the game were held on PS4 in December, but there've been no plans announced for a beta on Xbox One or PC. We do know that Capcom has plans for free post-launch content, including new monsters, on all platforms. Those on PS4 can also look forward to exclusive, Horizon: Zero Dawn-themed content.
The holidays may have come and gone, but Pokemon Go players still have one more chance to take part in the game's second annual Christmas event. The in-game event concludes tomorrow, January 4, giving you a few more hours to catch a rare festive Pikachu and take advantage of increased spawns for certain Pokemon.
The holiday event began last month, on December 22. Like the first Pokemon Go Christmas event, it introduced a Santa hat-wearing Pikachu, which can only be encountered during the event. This special Pikachu can evolve into a Santa hat Raichu, and unlike the previous holiday event, you also have a chance to hatch a rare Santa hat Pichu.
In addition to the festive Pikachu, the holiday event introduced 20 more Ice- and Water-type Pokemon originally from Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire to the mobile game, including Relicanth, Milotic, Sharpedo, and Wailord. Players also have a chance to encounter Ice-type Pokemon such as Seel, Shellder, and Swinub more frequently for the duration of the event. Finally, Pokemon Go's in-game shop will continue to sell special boxes that contain Super Incubators, Lure Modules, and new Star Pieces until January 4.
While the game's Christmas event may soon be coming to an end, players have a bit more time to capture Pokemon Go's current Legendary Pokemon, Groudon. The powerful Ground-type monster can be encountered as a Raid Battle at certain Gyms until January 15. Groudon is the first Gen 3 Legendary to appear in Pokemon Go, though developer Niantic teased that its Pokemon Sapphire counterpart, Kyogre, may also soon be added to the game.
Niantic recently released a new update for Pokemon Go that added an improved AR+ mode to the game. The mode makes Pokemon appear closer to their actual size in the mobile game, along with making them more aware of their surroundings. Niantic CEO John Hanke also confirmed that Pokemon Go will finally be released in China, though he didn't give any indication as to when the game will roll out in the region.
Platinum Games, the company behind action titles like Bayonetta, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, and Nier: Automata, has a number of projects in the works right now. We already know the company is making Bayonetta 3 for Nintendo Switch and co-developing Lost Order and Granblue Fantasy Project Re: Link for mobile and PlayStation 4, respectively, but it seems there are even more projects on the way.
The company's head of development, Atsushi Inaba, told Game Informer that Platinum is in the initial stages of planning a further two projects: "We've pretty much opened the company up to 'Anybody can pitch a game,' and so over the last year we've gotten about 70 design documents from different people," Inaba said. "So [2017 was] about us basically diluting which stuff we wanted to focus on and not focus on, and drilling down to the point where we now have two designs that we're genuinely focused on."
He continued: "We can't put together a AAA, $10 million-plus game, because we just don't have that sort of cash as an independent developer. However, we don't plan to go the indies route with just a few people on a team making a game, so it'll be somewhere in the middle, looking at probably about 20 people on the staff making the game, so that'll still be a healthy [size]."
Inaba also stated that Platinum is looking to self-publish more of its games going forward--every one of its games so far have been published by other companies. "One of the things Platinum is focused on is we're looking into creating our own IP, creating our own game," he said. "Up until now, obviously we've worked on original IPs for a wide variety of publishers. We've also worked on other Hollywood IPs for other publishers as well. But we're becoming more and more interested in the idea of self-publishing and doing our own title."
However, Inaba says this doesn't mean the end of Platinum working on other companies' franchises: "We will continue to do AAA games for other publishers and that's because, again, we don't have the cash flow to take on the risk to only do self-published games."
Regular updates to Grand Theft Auto V continue in 2018. Although the first weekly update of the year is not a massive one, Rockstar has released a cool new vehicle and announced some new discounts and extended bonuses that may get you to boot up the game on PS4, Xbox One, or PC.
GTA V's newest car is a rally vehicle, the Annis Savestra Sports Classic. It's available now through Legendary Motorsport, and while it looks to be a worthwhile ride on its own, it can get even better. Those with access to an Avenger or Mobile Operations Center have some optional upgrades for the Savestra, including mounted machine guns.
If you don't yet own a MOC, you can pick up the cab for 50% off its regular price from now through January 8. You can get also get 30% off the Coil Cyclone or Grotti Visione, or 25% off the Ocelot Ardent (a weaponized vehicle), the FH-1 Hunter helicopter, P-45 Nokota plane, and HVY APC (another weaponized vehicle). In the case of the latter three, the discount applies to both the buy-it-now and trade prices.
On the bonus side, Adversary modes Slashers and Occupy are awarding players with double GTA$ and RP until January 8. The Premium Stunt Race is Duel, with a restriction to Muscle-class vehicles, while the Time Trail is Up N Atom. The Premium Race hands out big GTA$ payouts to the top three finishers, while everyone gets Triple RP. The Time Trial offers GTA$ and RP for those who can beat the target time.
Gaten Matarazzo, who plays the pudding-loving Dustin on Netflix's Stranger Things, is a great singer. Remember when we heard him sing the national anthem at a MLB game? He crushed it. He's also in a band called Work in Progress, and they performed recently on the Jersey Shore at the Stone Pony near where Matarazzo grew up.
He sang on a number of songs, including covers of Foo Fighter's "Everlong" and "Porch" by Pearl Jam. YouTube user vivalavix was there and recorded Matarazzo and company performing the covers. Also on the setlist was Fall Out Boy's "Sugar We're Going Down," which Matarazzo sang alongside his sister. You can watch that video here on YouTube from user BeccaRaptor94.
Stranger Things Season 2 premiered just before Halloween last year, and it was a huge hit. Incredibly, around one third of the the streamer's US subscribers watched it. So it's no surprise that Netflix greenlit a third season, though we don't know when it'll premiere or what the story will be.
Not that anyone was doubting it would be, but Star Wars: The Last Jedi is a massive hit. The sci-fi epic has now made $531.5 million in the United States, passing another Disney movie, the live-action Beauty and the Beast, to become the top-grossing release domestically this year. The Last Jedi has made $523.3 million from international markets, boosting the film's total global box office haul to an astonishing $1.054 billion after just a few weeks, according to box office numbers posted on Box Office Mojo.
While critics were generally impressed by The Last Jedi, fans reacted in a more mixed manner, at least in some places. The audience rating on the mega movie site Rotten Tomatoes is just 50 percent after more than 165,000 votes.
The Last Jedi opens in China, its final market, on January 5, so the film's box office haul stands to grow much further still before all is said and done.
In addition to The Last Jedi, three other films have surpassed $1 billion worldwide this year, according to Variety, including Beauty and the Beast ($1.26 billion), The Fate of the Furious ($1.24 billion), and Despicable Me 3 ($1.03 billion).
The Last Jedi will surely surpass the $1.056 billion that Rogue One made, though it is not expected to catch up to the hugely successful The Force Awakens ($2.068 billion).
Whatever figure The Last Jedi ends its theatrical run with is just the beginning, as the movie will make even more money from DVD/Blu-ray/digital sales further down the line.
Pokemon Go has finally been confirmed to launch in China. John Hanke, the CEO of developer Niantic, told Financial Times that the game is coming to the gamer-rich country, though he did not give any indication as to when it would be released. Niantic is working with NetEase to launch Pokemon Go in China. NetEase is a Chinese games company that has also worked with Activision Blizzard to bring World of Warcraft and Overwatch to China.
"We absolutely intend to bring our existing games into China," Hanke said. "Beyond that, there are opportunities to build games in China, both for China and for the world."
In addition to Pokemon Go, Niantic continues to operate and support its AR game Ingress. One of its biggest upcoming titles is Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, which is also an AR title.
A year ago this month, Reuters reported that Pokemon Go, and other unspecified augmented reality games, are "unlikely to be rolled out in China anytime soon," due in part to concerns about information security and safety. China's State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film, and Television has decided to work with other branches of the country's government to "evaluate the game's risks," the report said. This decision was motivated by a "high level of responsibility to national security and the safety of people's lives and property," the group said.
Specifically, China's Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association said Pokemon Go's risks include a "threat to geographical information security and the threat to transport and the personal safety of consumers."
It appears whatever issues China had with Pokemon Go have been addressed or resolved. It remains to be seen how the Chinese version of Pokemon Go may differ from the western edition; we'll report back with more information as it's made available.
Pokemon Go has been linked to car crashes around the world, some of them fatal. The game leverages Google Maps to track your location, which makes some people--and governments apparently--uneasy.
In this matchup between of the two biggest names in the business, the Rock bested Hogan in front of a record 68,237 fans. The "Icon vs. Icon" match didn't feature the two wrestlers at the peak of their powers, but the up-and-down bout electrified the crowd.
Result: The Rock defeated Hollywood Hulk Hogan.
Photo: WWE
25. Triple H vs Shawn Michaels (SummerSlam, 2002)
In his first match in four years, Michaels returned to fight his former best friend, Triple H. The friends-turned-rivals battled it out in the ring, but the real action didn't happen until Triple H hit Michaels with a sledgehammer after the match.
Result: Michaels defeated Triple H in an Unsanctioned Street Fight.
Photo: WWE
24. Ric Flair vs Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania 24)
This bout between two Hall of Fame wrestlers past their prime was one of the most legendary matches ever. Michaels was initially hesitant to beat the Nature Boy, but after three Sweet Chin Musics, Michaels finally pinned the Nature Boy after saying, "I'm sorry, I love you."
Result: Michaels defeated Flair in a Career Threatening Match.
Photo: WWE
23. The Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels (Badd Blood: In Your House, 1997)
In the inaugural Hell in a Cell match, the Heartbreak Kid and the Phenom showed how fun and brutal this kind of match can be. Although 'Taker was dominating the match, his undead brother, Kane, made his debut and screwed over his sibling.
Result: Michaels defeated Undertaker to be the No. 1 contender for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship.
Photo: WWE
22. Ric Flair vs Randy Savage (WrestleMania VIII)
Before battling it out at WrestleMania VIII, Flair decided to play mind games with Savage. All it did, however, was motivate Savage to batter the Nature Boy and win the title.
Result: Savage defeated Flair for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship.
Photo: WWE
21. Triple H vs Cactus Jack (Royal Rumble, 2000)
Prior to the big Royal Rumble match in 2000, Triple H and Mick Foley (as Cactus Jack) battled it out in a Street Fight for the WWE Championship. While chairs, thumbtacks and a barbed wire two-by-four were used in the bloody brawl, it was Triple H's Pedigree that wound up ending Jack's shot at the title.
Result: Triple H defeated Cactus Jack to retain the WWF Championship.
Photo: WWE
20. John Cena vs Brock Lesnar (Extreme Rules, 2012)
In his first match since 2004, Lesnar bloodied Cena with devastating elbows. Somehow, Cena was able to survive the punishment long enough to hit Lesnar with an Attitude Adjustment... right into the metal steps.
Result: Cena defeated Lesnar.
Photo: WWE
19. John Cena vs AJ Styles (Royal Rumble, 2017)
In one of Cena's greatest matches, he needed multiple finishers--including an Attitude Adjustment from the top rope--to defeat the champion, AJ Styles. Cena's victory tied Ric Flair's record with his 16th world title reign.
Result: Cena defeated Styles to win the WWE Championship.
Photo: WWE
18. Royal Rumble Match, 1992
This epic Royal Rumble match had even higher stakes than usual, with the winner becoming the WWF World Heavyweight Championship. The roster of 30 wrestlers was completely stacked with old and new stars. In the end, The Nature Boy bested Sid Justice, Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage.
Result: Ric Flair won the WWF World Heavyweight Championship by eliminating Sid Justice.
Photo: WWE
17. Shawn Michaels vs Kurt Angle (WrestleMania 21)
For nearly 30 minutes, two of the best technical wrestlers of all time went head to head. Both men kicked out of multiple pin attempts, but in the end, Angle finally secured an ankle lock on the Heartbreak Kid.
Michaels earned a standing ovation after the bout.
Result: Angle defeated Michaels by submission.
Photo: WWE
16. Bret Hart vs Owen Hart (WrestleMania X)
In a bitter battle between brothers, the Hart siblings battled in the first televised match of WrestleMania X. Owen got the better of Bret by escaping multiple submission holds to win.
Bret--performing double duty--would go on to beat Yokozuna for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship in the main event.
Result: Owen Hart defeated Bret Hart.
Photo: WWE
15. The Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XXVI)
Billed as a "Streak vs Career" bout, this no-disqualification main event at WrestleMania 26 was one for the books. After numerous finishers by both men, 'Taker finally hit his third Tombstone Piledriver, winning his 18th straight match at WrestleMania and ending the Heartbreak Kid's wrestling career.
Result: The Undertaker defeated Michaels in a No DQ Streak vs. Career Match.
Photo: WWE
14. Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XII)
In this Iron Man Match at WrestleMania XII, sixty minutes wasn't enough to determine a winner between bitter rivals Hart and Michaels. The match ultimately headed to sudden death where the Heartbreak Kid scored his Sweet Chin Music finisher on the Hitman to win the title.
Result: Michaels defeated Hart in sudden death overtime to win the WWF World Heavyweight Championship.
Photo: WWE
13. John Cena vs CM Punk (Money in the Bank, 2011)
Vince McMahon was desperate for Cena to defeat CM Punk at Money in the Bank 2011. After McMahon and John Laurinaitis interfered in the match, Cena could have had an easy victory but he decided to try win it fair and square. That plan backfired when Punk hit his finisher and won the WWE Championship. He then disposed of Albert Del Rio who tried to use his Money in the Bank power.
Result: CM Punk defeated Cena for the WWE Championship.
Photo: WWE
12. Bret Hart vs The British Bulldog (SummerSlam, 1992)
Although the Intercontinental title was known as the No. 2 WWF title at the time, this bout between the British Bulldog and Hart was the main event at Summerslam in 1992. After the British Bulldog escaped the Sharpshooter submission, he countered and pinned Hart to win the championship.
Result: The British Bulldog defeated Hart for the WWF Intercontinental Championship.
Photo: WWE
11. The Ultimate Warrior vs Randy Savage (WrestleMania VII)
In arguably the greatest retirement match ever, The Ultimate Warrior survived five Savage elbow drops to end the illustrious wrestling career of the Macho Man.
Result: The Ultimate Warrior defeated Savage.
Photo: WWE
10. Shawn Michaels vs Mankind (Mind Games, 1996)
Although the WWF was struggling to keep up with WCW in 1996, the former had Michaels, arguably the world's best wrestler, at the height of his powers. The Heartbreak Kid showed a more ruthless and calculated persona in this bout with the deranged Mankind. This match elevated both their careers to new levels.
Result: Michaels defeated Mankind by disqualification.
Photo: WWE
9. Edge And Christian vs The Dudley Boyz vs The Hardy Boyz (WrestleMania 17)
Dubbed "TLC II," this Tables, Ladders and Chairs match featured three of the best tag teams of the era in a high-flying fight that saw spears, Swanton Bombs, and more. Eventually, Edge and Christian outlasted their opponents in one of the craziest battles in WrestleMania history.
Result: Edge and Christian defeated The Dudley Boyz and The Hardy Boyz for the WWE Tag Team Championship.
Photo: WWE
8. Stone Cold Steve Austin vs The Rock (WrestleMania 17)
In a showdown between two of the most popular wrestlers ever, it was Stone Cold--with the help of his former nemesis Vince McMahon--who defeated the People's Champion after the two used each other's finishers a multitude of times. The shock of Austin turning heel only added to the drama of this epic bout.
Result: Austin defeated The Rock for the WWF Championship.
Photo: WWE
7. Hulk Hogan vs Andre the Giant (WrestleMania 3)
It wasn't the most technically skilled wrestling tilt ever, but that doesn't matter when it comes to a match this entertaining. Andre the Giant entered the ring by stepping over the top ropes, but the Eighth Wonder of the World found himself on the wrong end of an iconic slam delivered by Hogan, ending Andre the Giant's 15-year undefeated streak.
Result: Hogan defeated Andre the Giant to retain the WWF World Heavyweight Championship.
Photo: WWE
6. The Undertaker vs Mankind (King Of The Ring, 1998)
In one of the most discussed fights of all time, the Undertaker brutally beat Mankind in and out of the ring. The most iconic moment came when the Phenom threw Mankind off the top of the cell into the announcer's table.
Result: Undertaker defeated Mankind.
Photo: WWE
5. Bret Hart vs Stone Cold Steve Austin (WrestleMania 13)
With Ken Shamrock as the special guest referee, Hart used his signature Sharpshooter leg lock, causing Austin to pass out from pain and loss of blood. After the hard-fought battle, Hart turned heel while Austin became one of wrestling's biggest stars.
Result: Hart defeated Austin by submission.
Photo: WWE
4. Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart (Survivor Series, 1997)
In his last match with the WWF before departing for the WCW, Hart lost the World Heavyweight title to Michaels after Vince McMahon decided to award the title to the Heartbreak Kid without the Hitman's knowledge. It's notoriously known as "The Montreal Screwjob."
Result: Michaels defeated Hart by submission to win the WWF World Heavyweight Championship.
Photo: WWE
3. Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon (WrestleMania X)
In absolutely stacked card, the Michaels-Ramon Ladder Match stood out above the rest. The battle had a multitude of epic moments, such as HBK's iconic splash from the ladder. In the end, Ramon came away victorious after Michaels got tangled in the ropes.
The bout was voted the Match of the Year by Wrestling Observer Newsletter in 1994.
Result: Ramon defeated Michaels in a Ladder Match to retain the WWF Intercontinental Championship.
Photo: WWE
2. Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat (WrestleMania III)
While the Andre the Giant versus Hulk Hogan match stole the headlines, it was the battle for the Intercontinental Championship that truly excited fans. Savage and Steamboat went back and forth at a frantic pace, with Steamboat eventually using the small package move to steal a victory--fand the Intercontinental title.
Result: Steamboat defeated Savage for WWF Intercontinental Championship.
Photo: WWE
1. Shawn Michaels vs Undertaker (WrestleMania 25)
At WrestleMania 25, the Heartbreak Kid and the Phenom put on the best match in WWE history. 'Taker escaped with a victory after catching Michaels with a Tombstone Piledriver to extend his WrestleMania streak to 17 consecutive victories. The battle was named the Match of the Year in 2009 by the WWE Slammy Awards, Pro Wrestling Illustrated and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Result: Undertaker defeated Michaels.
Photo: WWE
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