If you're an avid user of Xbox One's games streaming service Xbox Games Pass, get ready to say goodbye to a significant amount of 360 titles. On May 31, 21 titles are leaving the service's catalog.
Out of the 21 titles on the way out, one two are Xbox One titles, and the rest are from 360. We're not sure why these titles in particular are leaving the service, but we do know that third-party titles aren't permanent additions--though this cut is probably the largest the service has seen so far. Some bigger titles on the chopping block are Bioshock, Bioshock 2, and Bioshock Infinite, as well as Borderlands.
Each of these titles will be available on the service until the end of the month. If you don't have time to play them all, you can snag your favorites for 20 percent off.
June's entire list of incoming games hasn't been released quite yet, but we do know that Xbox One exclusive title State of Decay 2 will be hitting the service as soon as it launches on May 22. All members will have immediate access to the game with the service, as well as Sea of Thieves, Gears of War 4, and many, many others. Check out the full list of Xbox Games Pass titles here.
By Anonymous on May 12, 2018 11:30 pm Hyperkin is known for offering new ways to play old games and the SupaBoy is a competent, portable way to play your PAL and NTSC SNES cartridges.
By Anonymous on May 12, 2018 08:30 pm Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire upends your expectations with an impressive amount of creativity. GameSpot discusses why it's anything but a typical CRPG.
Not all games receive positive fanfare upon their announcement or in the lead up to release. Heavy skepticism can follow a game for one reason or another. Sometimes it occurs due to a game being a drastic shift from past entries of a long-established franchise. Other times it's a prolonged development cycle that colors our expectations, typically resulting in cynicism or apathy.
While there are games that ultimately fall in line with our worst expectations, there are plenty that manage to defy the odds. Everyone loves a good underdog success story, so we've compiled 15 of the most amazing games that defied widely held skepticisms and turned out to be great after all.
What are some of your favorite games that defied expectations? Let us know in the comments below. Otherwise, be sure to keep up on our upcoming E3 2018 coverage. With all the successes you read about here, be sure to keep an open mind to whatever this year's big show might have in store. You can get up to speed on the big press conferences through our E3 2018 schedule.
DMC: Devil May Cry
When Ninja Theory's Devil May Cry reboot DmC: Devil May Cry was first revealed in 2010, people were understandably skeptical. It drastically redesigned the look of the frontman Dante, ditching the brash demon hunter's silver hair and red-leather in favor of a modern look and angsty demeanor.
The change in art direction was instantly polarizing, resulting in a devout group of hardcore fans boycotting the game before it even released. Others worried the combat system wouldn't hold up to the high standard of quality set by past entries; Ninja Theory perceived lack of experience being the main culprit. While an early demo helped reassure some fans, expectations nevertheless remained low for others.
However, when DmC eventually released in January 2013, the game was welcomed with positive critical reception and solid sales. At the time GameSpot gave the game an 8/10, and said: "DmC pulls off that unlikely reboot trick of feeling fresh and inviting while still holding onto what made the original series so appealing and so special."
Despite its quality, some fans still rallied against DmC, going as far as petitioning to President Obama to remove the game from store shelves. However, the game continued to receive praise well after its initial release, and it's often cited now as one of the best entries in the franchise. DmC even received further acclaim with its subsequent remaster edition on PS4 and Xbox One. It just goes to show that looks can be deceiving.
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
When Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle was first leaked, nobody thought it was going to be an exceptional game--much less a good game. When Nintendo fans saw an arm cannon-touting Mario accompanied by Ubisoft's polarizing Rabbids, they lamented the possibility. It seemed like another disastrous mini-game collection waiting to happen; people wished it wasn't true.
Flash forward to E3 2017 and everything changed. When Shigeru Miyamoto took to the stage during Ubisoft's E3 press conference brandishing an arm cannon, it seemed like everyone's worst fears were about to come true. And then the game was shown: Rather than the mini-game collection that most people expected it be, Mario + Rabbids was in fact a turn-based tactical strategy experience. It was a shocking surprise that nobody saw coming.
Initial first impressions towards Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Rush were strong, and a positive reception followed into its release. GameSpot called it an "implausibly engrossing formula that is positively challenging and endlessly charming." Mario + Rabbids is an undeniably compelling game, and one of the most shocking and surprising entries in this list.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
When Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance debuted at the Spike Video Game Awards in 2011, it was a bit of a shock. Formerly titled Metal Gear Solid: Rising, the spin-off looked far more over-the-top than the initial version shown at E3 2009, which featured a tone and style reminiscent to mainline Metal Gear games. This was because the game was now being developed by Platinum Games, a studio most known for its work on fast-paced character action games.
It turned out that the team at Kojima Productions weren't able to design a game completely based around the initially proposed "cutting" mechanic, so Platinum Games stepped in to pick up the pieces. While the studio was well-regarded for its games, there was skepticism from hardcore MGS fans over whether or not the studio could meet the series' standard of quality in both gameplay and narrative. Some fans felt its style sharply contrasted existing games in the series.
Despite these reservations, Rising managed to live up to the series's legacy in all the right ways. Its stylish violence and hard rock soundtrack somehow seemed right at home in the occasionally ludicrous Metal Gear universe, proving that there was more to the franchise than Snakes and espionage. While Rising still has its detractors, it remains a substantial game well worth playing.
Until Dawn
It's all to easy for horror movies to unintentionally step into the realm of cheesy. Whether it's poor acting, rough special effects, or sloppy editing, there's so much that could potentially sap a scene. The same can be said of horror games, so the odds were stacked against Until Dawn from the start.
Making matters worse, the game was originally announced as a first-person PS3 game with Move controls. No one really cared when it blew past its release date, and when it was re-announced as a third-person PS4 game, most people shrugged. Such a turbulent development cycle almost always spells bad news for a finished game.
And then Until Dawn launched--and it was fantastic. The setting was creepy, the characters were interesting, and the narrative twists kept on coming. It was like watching a really good horror movie, but with the outcome under your control. Not bad for a game that seemed doomed from the beginning.
Doom (2016)
It's all to easy for horror movies to unintentionally step into the realm of cheesy. Whether it's poor acting, rough special effects, or sloppy editing, there's so much that could potentially sap a scene. The same can be said of horror games, so the odds were stacked against Until Dawn from the start.
Making matters worse, the game was originally announced as a first-person PS3 game with Move controls. No one really cared when it blew past its release date, and when it was re-announced as a third-person PS4 game, most people shrugged. Such a turbulent development cycle almost always spells bad news for a finished game.
And then Until Dawn launched--and it was fantastic. The setting was creepy, the characters were interesting, and the narrative twists kept on coming. It was like watching a really good horror movie, but with the outcome under your control. Not bad for a game that seemed doomed from the beginning.
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Coming off of a console generation that was littered with cheap, cash-in superhero games, many of us weren't expecting much from Rocksteady's Batman game. Sure it looked pretty and hearing Kevin Conroy reprise his role as Bruce Wayne was a huge plus, but aside from the fantastic Sunsoft-made games, the caped crusader didn't have the best track record when it came to video games. Boy, we couldn't have been more wrong.
Borrowing design philosophies from Metroid, Arkham Asylum gave us a dark, detailed setting to explore, with certain pathways closed off until you acquired the proper gear to access them. The developers clearly understood Batman's long and rich history, and it could be seen around every corner, as well as in the gadgets and abilities you gained along the way.
However, the best part of Arkham Asylum was that you truly felt like Batman. You would stalk criminals from the shadows, leap off tall buildings, disarm enemies with your batarang, and you were even able flex your muscles as a detective. Arkham Asylum wasn't just one of the best games from the last generation, but one of the best games ever made.
Watch Dogs 2
Watch Dogs was a bit of a disappointment for those expecting it to be a revolutionary next-gen game. Its hacking premise captivated us, but in execution, it was fairly limited. The visually striking appearance of protagonist Aiden Pearce fascinated us. Beneath the vigilante's gruff exterior were interesting motivations, but he ultimately failed to be memorable. That's not to say that Watch Dogs was an awful game for these reasons; rather, it simply failed to live up to the promise of its initial reveal, managing to only be a decent open-world game and not the masterpiece that many had envisioned it in the lead up to its release.
Flash forward to its sequel. Announced shortly before E3 2016, Watch Dogs 2 spurred trepidation in those burned by its predecessor. But not all people were so incredulous; after all, the original did have its share of fans. However, it was difficult to ignore the air of skepticism surrounding Watch Dogs 2 pre-release. Certain aspects of it seemed promising: hacking would be expanded, its protagonist's narrative background covered themes not seen in most action games, and its setting of San Francisco and Silicon valley was a perfect fit for the series.
And Watch Dogs 2 overcame the odds. Instead of trying to make good on the high expectations that plagued the original's pre-release, the game focused on developing its own sense of style, while expanding upon the mechanics of its predecessor. GameSpot said the game "is a step up from the first game's dreary rendition of Chicago, and even though Watch Dogs 2 can't go toe-to-toe with genre heavyweights, it's hard to walk away from its fun-loving attitude and exuberant cast." The game didn't reach the sales of the original, but it managed to firmly establish Watch Dogs as a promising and worthwhile franchise.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
After the critically acclaimed Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, Zelda fans were eager to see what the next game in the franchise would be. But when Nintendo inevitable showcased the next entry for GameCube, titled The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, fan response was deeply mixed. The vibrant cel-shaded visual style was a far cry from the more realistic style depicted in Ocarina of Time and the tech demo teased at the Space World 2000 event. Many had grown to accustomed to the visual precedent set by Ocarina of Time, so to not be able to see it displayed in a next-generation Zelda game disappointed many of series' most ardent fans.
Unfortunately, this widespread skepticism followed Wind Waker to its release, affecting its sales. Despite receiving glowing critical reception, it sold much less than previous Zelda games. The poor sales can likely be attributed to anxiety among fans that Nintendo was losing its edge by focusing on games for children, as opposed to the more mature-rated games developed by its competitors.
However, Wind Waker has since garnered acclaim among fans, often cited as not only one of the best Zeldas, but one of the best Nintendo games of all time. Time often heals the deepest of wounds, and Wind Waker is no exception.
Hitman
For fans of the Hitman franchise, little faith was left after Hitman: Absolution. A series known for exercising your creativity with a limited toolset in cleverly designed levels resorted to a simpler stealth-action template when Absolution hit in 2012. Hitman: Blood Money, which came out in 2006 had been hailed is the best example of what a Hitman game should be, until we got the full picture of 2016's entry.
It's a bit tricky to talk about 2016's Hitman game due to its episodic rollout. Even after the first episode, some fans remained suspicious, but once we had the chance to play through the second episode, Sapienza, we started to unpack the game's full potential. Each level was a huge playground where permutations of in-mission events unraveled and prompted players to adapt to emergent conditions to assassinate the necessary targets. The additions of challenges, escalation missions, elusive targets, and seasonal events uplifted the already great foundation. Replayability was at the heart of Hitman's lasting appeal and IO Interactive fostered that by continually supporting the game and giving you new reasons to jump back into missions you already finished.
Metroid Prime
When a beloved franchise makes a dramatic shift from its original style, it's natural for it to be met with skepticism and worry. This appeared to be the case leading up to the release of Metroid Prime for the Gamecube back in 2002. We had become so attached to the side-scrolling exploration that the change to a first-person adventure-shooter hybrid seemed to be a decision made to chase trends, rather than to benefit Metroid as we knew it. However, developer Retro Studios, in collaboration with Nintendo, captured the essence Metroid by creating a 3D world full of wondrous secrets, intense boss fights, and foreboding atmosphere.
Metroid Prime retained the core conceit of the franchise by gating sections of the game behind the requirement of certain powers and upgrades. But what Prime really nailed down was the environmental puzzles and uniquely challenging enemies that filled each region. Chozo lore was scattered across Tallon IV, the planet Prime takes place on, which gave a rich sense of world-building without being too in-your-face about it, and the light ambient electronica soundtrack set the tone for wandering a hostile planet alone.
In 2018, the control scheme of Metroid Prime is the probably the only aspect that hasn't aged well. A remaster of the Prime trilogy came out for the Wii and implemented the motion controls from Corruption which are much more fluid, but still aren't ideal today. Regardless, Metroid Prime represents an evolution of one of Nintendo's biggest franchises that stayed true to its retro roots while taking a step forward into the modern era.
Final Fantasy XV
Final Fantasy XV had a lot going against it well before release: major delays--the game was originally slated to release on PlayStation 3 back in 2006; changing directors--Tetsuya Nomura was swapped out for Hajime Tabata after several years of development; and, most alarmingly, the game started out as an offshoot title to Final Fantasy XIII's world. Originally titled Final Fantasy Versus XIII, the rebranding to a mainline Final Fantasy titled involved significant reworking of the plot, characters, and the game's mythos to take on its new identity.
Yet FFXV's eventual release was an open-world triumph. GameSpot's Peter Brown praised the "impressive open-world that's equally beautiful and haunting." And the PC version of the game specifically made a stunning game look even better.
While FFXV seemed like a game destined for either vaporware status or just flat out cancellation, the game continues to get new content and expansions even in 2018. And with the continual updates and content additions, FFXV is not just a game that surpassed our expectations, it's a better experience today than when it originally launched.
The Last Guardian
Having the well-known creator leave their parent company halfway through a project is generally not a great sign. So it seemed when, after five years of development on The Last Guardian, director Fumito Ueda left Sony and founded his own company. However, Ueda stayed on as a creative consultant for the game, leaving the technical aspects of The Last Guardian's development to Sony.
Some delays are due to a team taking more time with a project and adding necessary refinements, and while those postponements often lead to immediate disappointment, they're generally considered an overall positive. But when a project's delays stretch for years and is punctuated with drama behind-the-scenes, the game that comes out is all too frequently a disappointment (see high-profile flops like Duke Nukem Forever and Daikatana). Add in The Last Guardian's shift from PlayStation 3 development to PlayStation 4, and it seemed unlikely that the game would even be released much less be any good. But Ueda's vision ultimately shone through the fog of negativity, providing players with a gorgeous, mysterious world to explore and a heartfelt narrative between the young, helpless protagonist and a cat-like, winged beast.
The Last Guardian went on to earn a 9/10 score in our review with Peter Brown writing, "Your affection for Trico and sympathy for both characters blossom nonetheless, culminating in an enrapturing series of revelations that cements your attachment to their personalities."
Wolfenstein: The New Order
Before Wolfenstein: The New Order, it seemed like the World-War II-set shooter series had a difficult time trying to justify itself. With its predecessor Wolfenstein (2009) receiving mixed reviews and lackluster sales, enthusiasm for a follow-up was a low. Because of this, developer Machine Games (made up of ex-Starbreeze devs) wanted to switch things up by offering a more story-driven shooter set in an alternate-1960s under the rule of The Third Reich.
In the reveal trailer for The New Order, an older Blazkowicz wielding two shotguns faces off against a squad of nazi-robots--complete with Jimmy Hendrix's cover of "All Along The Watchtower" blaring in the background to set the tone. Now an alternate-history narrative, there was a general worry that Wolfenstein would be moving to a setting that films and other games have ventured out to countless times. Moveover, Machine Games' focus on having a more relatable and nuanced Blazkowicz in the midst of his Nazi-killing rampage seemed almost counter to the series' pulpy action and set-piece moments--like facing-off against a gun-toting mecha-Hitler.
But as it turned out, The New Order had a certain level of self-awareness when it came to managing its action and its story's tone. In keeping with tradition, the reboot was still an immensely satisfying run-and-gun shooter focusing on taking out Nazis in gruesome fashion. But underneath all that was a surprisingly earnest narrative about B.J. Blazkowicz and his reflections of a life in wartime--and what it said about his own mental well-being. Along with a set of memorable side-characters, The New Order features plenty of moments that channel Tarrantino-esque flair and moments of action--most of which were played to the tune of German covers of famous Rock-n-Roll songs. And all this happened while still showing an incredible amount of humanity and thoughtfulness to B.J.
Machine Games' reboot turned out to be a pleasant surprise that showed the potential of what a new setting could offer, and how an old-school shooter can still feel fresh when given the right chance.
Sonic Mania
For years the Sonic series chased the legacy of its early games, often delivering experiences that failed to capture the spirit that made the 16-bit originals classics. Whether it was by getting wrapped up in story or putting too much emphasis on speed instead of level design, the newer games felt lost. However, this all changed with Sonic Mania, a sequel designed to be a throwback to Sonic's first few games, created by people who knew exactly what that ought to look like.
Designed and developed by members of the Sonic fan-hack community, Sonic Mania exudes passion and reverence in its recreation of nostalgic visuals, sounds, and levels. But the game isn't content with senselessly regurgitating the past; rather, it expands upon the familiar with new ideas of its own and delivers plenty of inventive concepts that diversify and build upon the series' fast-paced level design. Sonic Mania is smart and interpretive in its approach, leveraging the strengths of its design and visuals to craft not only the best Sonic game ever made, but an amazing platforming experience overall.
Sonic Mania turned out to be a huge success, managing to sell over one million copies across all platforms. Its success has even paved way for an enhanced version of the game featuring additional characters and modes, which is slated for release this July.
Sleeping Dogs
United Front Games' Sleeping Dogs experienced a prolonged and difficult development, which began in early 2008. The title was pitched as an open-world game incorporating dark tones with elements of comedy, similar to an HBO crime drama. However, publisher Activision felt it could be made part of its True Crime franchise. As a result, the game was revealed as True Crime: Hong Kong in November 2009, but due to issues in development, it was delayed.
The extended development negatively impacted the project. Stiff competition from contemporary open-world franchises, like Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption, reduced hopes of the game's success based on the investment Activision was already putting into it. This inevitably lead to the game's cancellation in 2011 and massive layoffs at United Front Games.
Despite its cancellation, the project didn't meet its end. Rather, publisher Square Enix stepped in to purchase the rights to the game, allowing the project to finally reach people's hands. Renamed Sleeping Dogs, the game released in 2012 to positive reviews. GameSpot's Carolyn Petit gave the game an 8/10 and praised its melee combat, varied mission design, and alluring atmosphere. While Sleeping Dogs' sales didn't meet Square Enix's expectations, it remains a fantastic open-world action-adventure in its own right that defied the odds and survived what seemed an inevitable cancellation.
Destiny 2 has been struggling to keep its players invested for a while now. Going into its second expansion, Warmind, the biggest question was whether or not Destiny 2 can entice people to come back to it. This expansion is geared more toward the hardcore players, offering difficult endgame activities and a slower, more demanding level grind to get there. If you aren't interested in those things, though, there's not a lot here besides the same old Destiny 2 activities to draw you in.
Warmind's campaign consists of a handful of missions, and it takes around an hour and a half to complete. If you haven't played Destiny 2 much since Curse of Osiris, it's easy to jump back in; I started at 310 power and did some minimal grinding to keep up with each mission's recommended level. It remains a very welcome change from Destiny's more punishing pace, where skipping a few weeks meant another few weeks of intense grinding just to catch up.
Like most story-centric activities in Destiny 2, Warmind's campaign does just enough explaining to justify fighting enemies in the first place and leaves you to fill in the rest yourself. That can work really well, but in Warmind, a lot of seemingly important things are packed into a very short amount of time; a buried Golden Age research facility, new information about Rasputin, a crazy-powerful spear, and suddenly a giant worm that you have to kill. It's not that those things aren't connected but rather that there's no time to absorb anything before you're in the final fight, and it's anticlimactic as a result.
Individually, Warmind's different components are actually kind of cool. The Valkyrie spear can take out swarms of enemies in one very satisfying throw, and fighting a huge, serpentine monster is fun just for the spectacle of it. The new ally character, Ana Bray, is almost interesting--she's related to Clovis Bray, a historical figure in Destiny lore, and can speak to Rasputin--but she doesn't have enough time to develop into anything substantial. Though Warmind is an expansion about a hyper-intelligent AI that's been around since the first game, it feels like these are just the building blocks for what could be a compelling story.
For laidback Destiny 2 players, the more accessible activities are a great way to test out the new Exotic weapon changes that launched alongside the expansion. The 1.2.0 update is available even if you don't have Warmind, but it's at least nice to have a reason to try out the Exotic buffs. My personal favorites are the Graviton Lance, which now fires a two-round burst with a heftier and more satisfying explosion on impact, and Riskrunner, which deals more damage when its Arc Conductor buff is active. They actually feel like true Exotics now and as a result are loot worth chasing, so much so that the changes kind of steal Warmind's thunder.
Two of Warmind's story missions are disappointingly repurposed as Strikes, just like in Curse of Osiris. The addition of Nightfall-like modifiers to Heroic Strikes makes them a lot more difficult, at least, but the loot chest reward for completing them doesn't match the challenge--weapons and gear drop at 340 power, which is right about where you'll be when you finish the story. The new cap is 385, leaving a large gap between the "easy" content and the endgame that could have been filled with mid-tier Heroic Strike rewards. As a whole, the mid-level section of the expansion is unfortunately pretty empty of anything to motivate you to keep going forward.
The new destination, the polar ice caps of Mars, is around the size of Io. In addition to new Adventures and Lost Sectors, Mars has new secrets to hunt down in the form of Sleeper Nodes. They're primarily for other quests, but they can be fun to look for and a good excuse to explore. Mars also boasts a new activity, Escalation Protocol. It works kind of like a Public Event in that anyone in the area can join, but it's way harder, throwing waves of high-level Hive at you. As of week one, it's basically impossible to complete it, which makes it a nice accomplishment to chase if you've been wanting more to do in the late game. So far, Escalation Protocol is the most intriguing thing in Warmind--I actually want to level up enough so I can see what happens and what kind of loot I can get.
It certainly feels like Warmind has a slower burn than vanilla Destiny 2 or Curse of Osiris. In order to get the Exotic fusion rifle Sleeper Simulant, for example, you have to complete a time-intensive multi-step quest that involves running both Heroic Strikes and Escalation Protocols. On the hardcore end of things, the challenging new Raid Lair is a big incentive to get your power level up. The grinding alone will likely keep the most dedicated players busy for a bit, and figuring out and implementing a viable strategy once you actually make it to the Raid Lair is, as always, a reward in itself.
However, if you aren't already dedicated to reaching the level cap and completing every late-game activity, Warmind doesn't offer many draws for you; the only reason to do anything is to level up or get new loot, and that can keep you busy for a while this time around. How busy depends on your patience when grinding and your desire to jump through every hoop to get there. That barren middle-tier--when you've beaten the story and need to grind 20 or 30 power levels so you can reach the endgame--is a very easy place to lose steam.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is getting its own 8-bit style companion piece from Inti Creates. The retro platformer specialists promised a smaller prequel game as a stretch goal during the Kickstarter campaign, and now the studio has announced the first details. It will be called Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon, and it's coming on May 24.
Curse of the Moon features four playable characters familiar to fans of its Castlevania inspirations: Zangetsu, who uses a sword; Miriam, with a whip; Alfred, the alchemist; and Gebel, a shapeshifter who can turn into a bat. You start as Zangetsu and gain more allies as you progress, and you can swap between them at will. The more allies you have, the more versatility in combat, and you can keep progressing through a stage even if you die as long as another character remains. Stages will also have areas that only particular characters can access.
A code will be sent for free to Kickstarter backers who contributed above the requisite amount during the campaign, and it will be available for everyone else as a standalone purchase for Steam, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, 3DS, and Vita for $10.
It's a pretty clear throwback to Castlevania 3: Dracula's Curse, a clever thematic way to make a prequel for Ritual of the Night, which is inspired by Symphony of the Night. That game, meanwhile, is still planned for release sometime this year. We're likely to hear more about exactly when at E3 2018.
Update: Brooklyn Nine-Nine has been saved. After Netflix and Hulu reportedly passed on the opportunity to bring the show back, NBC has taken the plunge and renewed the acclaimed comedy for Season 6. The news was shared by numerous people involved with the show on Twitter, all of whom seemed quite excited about the news.
NBC being the one to save the show actually makes sense, given that Brooklyn Nine-Nine is produced by Universal Television--a branch of NBC itself. There's not yet a premiere date for Season 6 or any further details, but just knowing that the show's final episode won't be the upcoming season finale is more than enough good news for now.
Hey everyone, just wanted to say no big deal but.... NBC JUST PICKED #BROOKLYN99 UP FOR SEASON 6!!! Thanks in no small part to you, the best fans in the history of the world!
Original Story: Surprising and angering fans, Fox this week announced the cancelation of the cult comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine, but the show may live again.
Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that, just hours after Fox announced the show's cancellation, multiple networks reached out to producers Universal Television. According to the site, Netflix, Hulu, TBS, and NBC all made calls, though these might have been only exploratory in nature. It would in fact be more surprising and noteworthy if no networks came calling. We don't know anything about what might have been said or discussed on the phone calls, but it seems encouraging for the show to have other networks take some kind of interest.
Universal Television company declined to comment on THR's report. The other two shows that Fox canceled this week, The Mick and The Last Man on Earth, are also in discussions with new homes to potentially come back, THR's sources said. Go to THR to see the full report.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which stars SNL veteran Andy Samberg, premiered in 2013. According to Deadline, the show failed to find a substantial audience in part because it moved back and forth between Sunday and Tuesday. The show was created by Parks and Recreation creators Dan Goor and Michael Schur.
We're nearly halfway through May, which means the first batch of this month's free Games with Gold on Xbox One won't be available for much longer. Xbox Live Gold members only have a few more days to grab a couple of titles at no charge before they return to their regular price.
From now until May 15, Gold members can download the first of this month's two free Xbox 360 games: the Sega classic Streets of Rage. Like all other Games with Gold, it is also playable on Xbox One through backwards compatibility. Additionally, one holdover from April's Games with Gold lineup--Assassin's Creed Syndicate--will also return to its regular price on May 15.
Those two will be replaced by a new pair of titles beginning May 16. On the Xbox One side, Gold members will be able to grab the last mainline installment in the Metal Gear Solid series, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, while Platinum Games' cult favorite shooter Vanquish will be the second free 360 title available this month.
Both Metal Gear Solid V and Vanquish will be free to download through the end of May, and the latter is likewise also playable on Xbox One thanks to backwards compatibility. Gold members can also still grab the newly released Super Mega Baseball 2 for free until May 31. You can see the full list of this month's free Games with Gold below.
May 2018 Games With Gold
Xbox One
Super Mega Baseball 2 (May 1-31)
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain (May 16-June 15)
By Anonymous on May 12, 2018 06:30 pm Deadpool joins forces with fellow mutants to form X-Force in a fight against Cable. Learn more about the comic book origins of the team and all the characters to expect in the Deadpool sequel.
Deadpool's back, and this time he's bringing friends--a whole team of them actually, even though we all know just how much he loves to talk big about being above all that superheroic nonsense. They're called the X-Force, and they're making their way to the big screen in Deadpool 2, as Wade comes up against Cable for the first time in his improbable live action career.
As you probably could have guessed, there's a little more to the history and the roster of the X-Force than just a bunch of people brought together by Wade Wilson putting out help wanted ads. They're a team that actually has close to 30 years of comic book history, and in that time they've been through their fair share of remixes and reinventions.
The original X-Force was a product of the early '90s revolution in comics, where everything was becoming more and more xxxtreme and over the top. Like Deadpool himself, the team was conceived by creators Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza, who made them as a more modern replacement for another X-Men offshoot called the New Mutants. With top to bottom pouch-strapped costumes, weirdly rendered bionic anatomy, and more mullets than you can shake a stick at, the original X-Force was composed of mutants like Boom Boom, Warpath, Shatterstar, and Cable, with Deadpool popping in and out of the lineup as it suited him (though he didn't actually get an official position in the team until 2010.)
Over time, the X-Force grew into the more "black ops" division of the X-Men who deal with potential threats proactively and before they get out of hand. In keeping with their '90s-extreme origin, this often made them the more violent and morally ambiguous branch of Marvel's myriad mutants. It also meant that they had a relatively high turnaround as far as team roster was concerned, as various members would either fall out with one another or quit altogether when their missions pushed them too far outside of their comfort zones.
In Deadpool 2, however, it looks like the X-Force will be given an overhauled origin and mission statement that's considerably less dark. From the trailers, we can see that the team is brought together by Wade posting flyers (because why not, right?) and basically accepting all comers--including a totally non-powered, sweater vest wearing human named Peter who was, unsurprisingly, invented for the movie. The rest of Deadpool's X-Force lineup actually does have their roots in the comics in one way or another.
First up, we have Domino (Zazie Beetz), whose mutant ability is the manipulation of luck (it's a lot more useful than it sounds). Essentially, Domino's presence affects chance-based outcomes in her favor, meaning that she's really lucky while the people around her are extremely unlucky. Domino was actually introduced in X-Force #8 all the way back in 1992, so she's been around nearly from the very start. She's also got some on-again-off-again history working with Deadpool as a partner, which may make or an interesting dynamic between her and Wade's live action love interest, Vanessa.
Next up is Bedlam (Terry Crews) who has abilities relating to "bio-emps" or organic electromagnetic fields. Bedlam is able to short circuit mechanical systems and even disrupt human brains to produce fear reactions, pain, and even sleep just by being near. He was introduced in X-Force #82 in 1998.
Zeitgeist (Bill Skarsgard) has an extremely unappealing mutation which allows him to vomit acid at will. He's not a character who shows up all too frequently in the comics (probably because it's hard to make acid puke look good under any circumstance, even if it's being used for superheroics) and was first introduced in X-Force #116 in 2001. From trailers and set photos, it looks like Zeitgeist's live action costume includes a plastic mouthguard, making it entirely possible that his vomit reaction may not be totally within his control just yet. So basically, brace for a lot of barf jokes in the theater.
Shatterstar (Lewis Tan) can be seen in trailers rocking a full blown 90s accurate costume complete with his maroon mullet. Introduced in New Mutants #100 back in 1991, Shatterstar is actually a genetically engineered superhuman from a place called Mojoworld--an extra dimensional plane of existence that verges on the Lovecraftian (no, really, it's a whole situation). The actual specifics of Shatterstar's powers are still kind of up in the air, but he's been shown to have enhanced strength, speed, durability, and the ability to generate concussive blasts through his swords.
Finally, we have the returning Colossus (Stefan Kapicic) and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand) rounding out the roster. We've already seen just how well they work with Wade in the first movie, so we probably won't be in for too many surprises on that front--though we'll have to see how much this new team influences Colossus's mission to get Wade to join the X-Men proper.
On top of that confirmed roster, there's also actress Shiori Kutsuna, whose unnamed character can be seen in trailers wielding what looks like an electrically charged chain. The best guess for her character is the mutant Surge, who was introduced in the early-2000s New Mutants revival in issue #8. Surge, like her name implies, has the ability to manipulate and generate electricity--similar to Bedlam, but a bit more traditional; less biotic fields and more literally shooting lightning from her hands.
Cable himself (Josh Brolin) is being set up as the main antagonist for the film, but he too has a pretty heavy comic book history both working directly with Deadpool and with the X-Force--he was one of the founding members of the original team, after all, so it's pretty likely we'll see some developments on that front before the movie is over.
Of course, all this comics history is going going to get you so far in this very specific context. Your best bet walking into the theater is going to be expecting Deadpool 2's X-Force to play a bit fast and loose with the team's actual history and source material. When it comes to the Merc with a Mouth, isn't that kind of the point?
By Anonymous on May 12, 2018 08:19 am Joey and Kallie venture into Skyrim with the intent of starting their own travel website, but decide that turning the graphics inside-out is much more fun.
By Anonymous on May 12, 2018 07:30 am Destiny 2: Warmind is geared toward high-level players, but it offers little in the way of motivation while you grind levels to get to the endgame. GameSpot staff chat about their time with the DLC so far, and whether or not they'll continue playing.
It's that time of the year where television networks decide what gets renewed and what gets canceled, and on social media, we all let out a slew of sorrowful tweets as we commemorate the loss of our favorite television series. This year has been a troubling one to say the least as one of the best comedies and best sci-fi series were both canceled.
Almost as an "in memoriam," we are taking a look at shows canceled in 2018 that were taken way too soon from us. These shows were canceled because of low viewership, budgeting, or to make room for new shows. Or it could possibly be because a series which aired originally on ABC and starred Tim Allen was picked up by another network, which would literally make the series the "Last Man Standing" as far as sitcoms go on Fox.
Throughout the year, we'll keep this list updated with shows that deserve a second chance as they get canceled this year. Luckily, some of these canceled shows may find new life on streaming service or other networks. Hours after Brooklyn Nine-Nine got the axe, Hulu, Netflix, TBS, and NBC reached out to producers. As of this writing, none of these series have new homes, but it's wishful thinking.
Last Man On Earth (Fox)
Number of seasons: 4
First aired: March 1, 2015
Fox's post-apocalyptic comedy just wrapped up its fourth season and got canceled days later. Will Forte starred as a man who believed he was the last person on Earth after a virus seemingly kills everyone on the planet. He quickly discovers another survivor, played by Kristen Schaal, and the two can barely stand each other.
Episodes available for steaming on Hulu.
The Expanse (Syfy)
Number of seasons: 3
First aired: December 14, 2015
Right in the middle of its third season, Syfy announced that The Expanse is coming to an end this June. The science-fiction series took place 200 years in the future where tensions arise between the colonies on Mars and those living on Earth. A detective, played by Thomas Jane, is tasked with finding a missing woman. However, others slowly realize she is part of a larger conspiracy.
The Mick (Fox)
Number of seasons: 2
First aired: January 1, 2017
Kaitlin Olson plays an irresponsible woman who has to take care of her niece and nephew in Connecticut after their parents were arrested by the FBI for tax evasion. If you're a fan of Olson's work on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, you'll really enjoy this show.
Both seasons of The Mick are available on Hulu.
Once Upon A Time (ABC)
Number of seasons: 7
First aired: October 23, 2011
Once Upon A Time takes place in Storybrooke, Maine where the residents are actually characters from fairy tales who have been magically transported to the town with no memories of their previous life. The world slowly starts to unravel from there.
Seasons 1-6 are available on Netflix, and all seasons are available on Hulu.
The Path (Hulu)
Number of seasons: 3
First aired: March 30, 2016
Hulu's original series The Path just wrapped up its third season only to get canceled by the streaming service. The show followed a religious group--which bordered on being a cult--that slowly tears a family apart, while the group itself starts to unravel because of corruption and foul play.
The series is available on Hulu.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox) -- SAVED
Number of seasons: 5
First aired: September 17, 2013
Fox's comedy series followed the day-to-day life of the 99th Precinct in the NYPD. The series starred Andy Samburg, Terry Crews, Chelsea Peretti, and Melissa Fumero. Because the show had a loyal fanbase, there is currently an outcry on the internet. The series may not be done for good, as other networks, like NBC and Netflix, have been reaching out to producers.
Update: Sure enough, not long after its cancelation, NBC saved Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Season 6 has been confirmed to air on Fox's rival network.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is available on Hulu.
Lucifer (Fox)
Number of seasons: 3
First aired: January 25, 2016
Fox canceled Lucifer days before its season--now series--finale. The show was loosely based on the Vertigo comic series of the same name, which followed Lucifer, the devil, as he lives in Los Angeles and becomes a consultant to the LAPD. It was a quirky police procedural with a supernatural twist.
The series is available on Hulu.
The Exorcist (Fox)
Number of seasons: 2
First aired: September 23, 2016
The Fox series was a sequel to the original 1973 film of the same name. It followed Catholic priests who investigate a family that was being terrorized by a demon.
Ubisoft has shared some more details on what awaits in Rainbow Six Siege's upcoming Operation Para Bellum update. The update kicks off the second season of Year 3, and along with introducing two new Operators and other features, it makes two major balance changes to the game.
First, Echo will receive a significant buff following the update. Specifically, Ubisoft is giving him a second Yokai drone. The max charge for each of his drones has also been decreased, from 3 to 2, while the recharge time between shots has been increased to 20 seconds.
"Our original intention was to have an anchor that would be active throughout the whole round," Ubisoft said of Echo. "We decided several months ago to give Echo a second Yokai. The goal is to encourage him to take more risks with them throughout the round."
Other Operators are also receiving some tweaks in Season 2. Operators with three Speed will be "slightly slower" following the update, while those with one Speed will move a little faster. Additionally, movement speed with a handgun will receive a "small increase."
"One of the foundations of the speed vs. armor system is the balancing act between the two. However, we have seen that speed was stronger than armor in almost all situations," Ubisoft said. "To refine that balance, we will bring both ends of the spectrum closer to the middle. The intention of this change to the speeds is to make high armor Operators more viable."
Finally, Ubisoft shared a new trailer that provides our first look at Season 2's new map: Villa. As its name implies, the new map is based around a huge mansion in the Italian countryside, which fits along with the two new Italian Operators being introduced in Operation Para Bellum.
You can read more details about the upcoming Operation Para Bellum update on the Rainbow Six Siege website. The update will be officially revealed during the Rainbox Six Siege Pro League Finals, which takes place on May 19-20. You'll be able to watch the reveal on the game's Twitch channel.
Bethesda only began hosting its own E3 showcases a few years ago, and the company has already become known for packing them with surprise announcements. As E3 2018 approaches, company marketing VP Pete Hines says this year's could end up being the longest they've ever done.
"Bethesda Showcase is in one month. I'm starting to get excited," Hines said in a tweet. "We have a lot to show you this year. Might be our longest E3 Showcase ever? Not sure, but it's packed."
As a strategy, Bethesda tends to keep its announcements very close to release. Often a look at E3 is the first we've seen of a game before its release in the fall, with an unusually low occurrence of leaks. That appears to be different this year, as Rage 2 from Bethesda was one of the games seemingly outed by Walmart Canada. Rather than deny it or go radio silent, though, both the official Rage 2 account and Hines have made tweets all but confirming it, and recent teaser images have pointed to an announcement coming soon--possibly as soon as Monday.
Bethesda's conference will take place Sunday, June 10 at 6:30 PM PT / 9:30 PM ET. Other conferences are spread throughout the weekend and Monday, including presentations from Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Square Enix, Ubisoft, Sony, and Nintendo. Check out the full schedule for more details.
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