By Oscar Dayus on May 09, 2018 11:13 pm
Some games are like the ugly duckling--they float when placed on water. No wait, that's not what I meant. Some games are like the ugly duckling because they start off as the underdog, the one that everyone mocks, the one that nobody likes. And then they emerge into a beautiful winged bird, capable of flight faster than the speed of sound and able to dazzle anyone who walks by. Okay, maybe this metaphor got a little stretched… Point is, many games might not get off on the strongest footing, but some of them eventually recover from their shaky starts to become decent or even excellent experiences. In this gallery we're going to run down some of those games that started poorly, as well as some solid games that have only gotten better with time. To the duckmobile!
Final Fantasy 14
Upon its original launch seven years ago, Final Fantasy XIV was ... not great. Players complained of incomplete quests, UI issues, repeated assets, poor performance, and plenty more problems. Our Final Fantasy XIV Online review said the game lacked character, cohesion, and joy, and we gave it a 4/10. Square Enix's CEO even said the game "greatly damaged" the Final Fantasy brand. Not a great start, I'm sure you'll agree. After the game's servers were shut down in 2012 and a PS3 version was canceled, Square Enix eventually decided to replace the MMO with a completely reworked version of the game called Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, which launched for PC in 2013. Thankfully, A Realm Reborn improved on pretty much every area of the original Final Fantasy XIV, from crafting to traversal, from its combat to its open world. That PS3 version finally made it out and was joined by a PS4 edition, which we thought was even better than the PC version. In addition, a bunch of free content updates and more extensive DLC packs have continually improved the game: Heavensward added 40 hours of excellent new story content, while Stormblood--released in June--introduced a whole new undersea world along with another 50 hours of campaign content. In short, Final Fantasy XIV is a completely different beast to the one that disappointed fans the world over in 2010--it's never been so good, and it's definitely worth another look if you were put off all the way back in 2010.
No Man's Sky
No Man's Sky was possibly a victim of its own hype machine--it was a cool concept executed fairly well, but it left some disappointed. Its world may have been vast, but much of it was empty or repetitive, and few solid threads to follow meant that players often felt lost or dismayed to carry on exploring. Since launch, developer Hello Games has responded to the criticism in the best way possible: by making loads of cool, free stuff. In November, it added a Creative Mode and a Survival Mode--allowing you to explore or die to your heart's content--along with a base-building feature. A few months later, another update let you share that base across the internet and also introduced a permadeath option and land vehicles. And just recently, another big new update added multiplayer support, another 30 hours of story content, and much more. In addition, there's a whole storyline that many players might have missed. A mysterious force known as Atlas offers a purpose, a sprinkling of story that helps direct you in an otherwise directionless world. If you didn't pursue Atlas first time round, it might be worth going back just to see how it pans out. No Man's Sky is coming to Xbox One this year alongside a new update that, according to Hello, will be "an important next step in a journey for No Man's Sky," so it may be worth revisiting.
Rainbow Six Siege
Rainbow Six Siege actually launched with a positive critical reception in December 2015--it was soon after launch that the criticism began to rain down. Players complained of broken matchmaking, connectivity issues and lag, and multiple imbalances in the meta, to name just a few problems. For months many of these issues remained, and despite player numbers staying consistently high (a testament to the excellent game underneath), matchmaking times and other issues did not improve. Now, however, Siege is almost a different game. Following months of patches, hotfixes, balance changes, and more, Siege is finally in the state it should have been when it launched, and it's passed 20 million players with more than 2.3 million playing every day. Matchmaking is seamless, balance is much improved, and bugs are much, much rarer. The shooter has also received an extensive program of free DLC, helping the operator dynamics stay fresh and keeping players on their toes. Free maps and skins, plus new, unlockable characters, have continually offered reasons to return to Siege. Siege has now started holding huge, free, limited-time events in addition to its standard quarterly DLC drops, and Ubisoft says it wants to continue supporting the game until it reaches 100 Operators, a feat that at the current rate would take some seven years. Rainbow Six Siege is here to stay, and the gaming landscape is better for it.
Friday The 13th
Let's not beat around the bush: Friday the 13th was a hot mess when it launched in May. Even excusing the multitude of bugs and an all-around less-than-beautiful appearance, the horror game was pretty much unplayable. Assuming you could even find a match, doing so would take upwards of 10 minutes, leading our critic to award the game a 4/10 in our Friday the 13th review. While many of its problems remain, it is now just about possible to find a match. And when you do, Friday the 13th is a lot of fun: playing a match with a bunch of friends, when you're invested in you and your buddies escaping from the hell you find themselves in, the game can be a simultaneously terrifying and hilarious experience. There's nothing funnier than your friends screaming, after all. What's more, developer Illfonic continues to improve the game in patches and content updates, and the highly-anticipated single-player portion is finally available.
Rocket League
Rocket League launched with… no problems at all. Or at least, no one really had any problems with it. It was a solid, fun multiplayer game with a great hook (football with cars is one hell of an elevator pitch). These days, however, it's a completely different beast. Like many, I played Rocket League a decent amount after it launched as a PS Plus freebie in July 2015. After deciding it was indeed a solid, fun multiplayer game, I put it down and probably went back to my backwards one-dimensional games like FIFA or Cars 3: Driven to Win. (One of these is a joke; I bet you can't guess which.) Two years on and Rocket League has evolved. A multitude of new modes have freshened the game up hugely: Rocket League is now basketball with cars, superheroes with cars, and hexagonal volleyball with cars, and more than 33 million have played the game since launch. And with another new free map launching just last month and a Switch version (featuring cross-play with Xbox One and PC) coming soon, Rocket League continues to provide new reasons to come back.
Mass Effect: Andromeda
After the hugely successful original Mass Effect trilogy, expectations were high for the fourth game in the series. Andromeda took Mass Effect's story to a new galaxy, with new characters, new locations to explore... and a whole new bunch of bugs. Despite many positive reviews, Andromeda was met with huge criticism for the janky state it launched in. Animations and character models looked strange to say the least, and some accused the sci-fi game of launching unfinished. The fallout from Andromeda's troubled launch caused publisher EA to reportedly put the franchise on hiatus, and now developer BioWare Montreal has been absorbed into EA Motive. However, the developer continued to support and fix Mass Effect: Andromeda since launch, meaning it is now--finally--in an acceptable state. Underneath the aesthetic issues, of course, was a decent game, and with many of those problems now sorted, the experience is much improved. I's by no means perfect, of course, but it also has some of the best worlds and combat seen in the entire Mass Effect series, and it's certainly worthy of another look.
Grand Theft Auto Online
When Grand Theft Auto V first launched in 2013, it wasn't exactly lacking in stuff to do. Its huge, dense open-world and ensemble cast of characters meant it was packed with places to go, people to see, and activities to engage in. Because of that and some unfortunate server problems at launch, not everyone properly dug into GTA Online. You may, like me, have booted it up once, failed to connect, and then got distracted by the single-player mode's diverse offering and never bothered to go back. But GTA Online today is a very different entity to the one GTA V launched with five years ago. The Heists update, released in 2015, gave the multiplayer mode more structure and set piece missions for players to work towards. Like their single-player equivalents, they are complex, multi-part missions that involve intense planning and teamwork to pull off, and they contain some of the most satisfying co-op gameplay you can have online. In addition, the GTA community continues to give fellow players more and more things to do in the form of races, deathmatches, and more via the Content Creator--and that's on top of the new stuff Rockstar itself is continually adding in. To this day, the developer continues to support GTA Online with new missions, discounts, items to buy, and more. The company has even released a new version of GTA V specifically designed around encouraging people to play the ever-evolving Online mode.
Warframe
Warframe came out in 2013 and was largely dismissed by players and critics alike. They deemed it a competent but ultimately bland experience. However, developer Digital Extremes has continued to work on the free-to-play game in order to address the issues it had five years ago. Now, the shooter-RPG has changed significantly. Digital Extremes updates the game frequently, adding new content and expansions and reworking what was already there. An open-world DLC pack was added for free in 2017, bringing a day-night cycle, new mini-games, additional enemies, and more. Before that, the company redesigned Warframe's movement system and even small details like UI elements. In April, the game received a new game mode and plenty of new items to equip your character with. Warframe is a game that's progressed beyond what was there at launch into a deep and varied experience, and it's worth trying again.
Ghost Recon: Wildlands
Ghost Recon: Wildlands' initial reception might have been modest, but that hasn't stopped Ubisoft from supporting its game heavily in the months since its launch. Like with Rainbow Six Siege, Ubisoft committed to continuing to work on its game once it was out the door with both paid and free DLC. To start with, that added content included minor updates and improvements as well as new story missions and characters, such as the ones seen in the Narco Road and Fallen Ghosts expansions. Since then, however, Wildlands has added an entirely new PvP portion, named Ghost War. That included eight maps and 12 classes at launch, but more of each have been added since the free mode was introduced in 2017. There have also been free add-ons centered around the Predator and Splinter Cell. Ubisoft has already also announced it will continue to support Wildlands for at least another year. The coming months will bring "major" content drops, including modes, weapons, and more. Wildlands, like Siege, is always changing and improving, and there's never been a better time to dive in.
Hearthstone: Heroes Of Warcraft
Like many of Blizzard's games, Hearthstone has incredible staying power. Of course that's partly because it--like many of Blizzard's games--is excellent. It blends accessible card game mechanics with the developer's trademark ability to cram personality into every sinew of its titles. Crucially, Hearthstone contains enough depth to keep players interested to this day, around five years since it first launched in beta and over four years since its public release. Oh, and it's free-to-play. Not only all that, but Blizzard is still releasing new content for the TCG. The company recently released a new expansion, named The Witchwood, which introduced another 135 cards to the game. A new mode launched shortly after that, and another two expansions are coming this year, which combined with some rotations of active cards will shake up the game's meta in a big way. Single-player modes such as Dungeon Run have helped keep the attention of some players who aren't huge fans of PvP, and it's that breadth of appeal that has helped Blizzard's card game remain relevant for so long. Hearthstone, like many of Blizzard's games, will be around for a while, and we can't wait to see what's next.
Final Fantasy 15
Final Fantasy XV was another game that launched to a positive reception, but a lot has changed since it came out in 2016. To start with, the game is now available on PC, and it even has a Pocket Edition on mobile. To coincide with the PC launch, Square Enix released a new, up-to-date version of the game called the Royal Edition. Why did it do this, you ask? Because like with Final Fantasy XIV, the company poured resources into support for XV long after its launch. A total of four expansions came out in the months following launch, each adding content in their own way. Episode Gladiolus added a spin-off portion in which you control the character's quest to become a stronger guardian for Noctis, and Episode Ignis follows a similar thread for that character. Episode Prompto, meanwhile, turns the game into a third-person shooter, while Comrades introduced an entirely new multiplayer portion (which also allowed you to play with AI if you prefer). Square Enix recently said four more Episodes will arrive in 2019, but there will likely be more to enjoy before then. Like the Assassin's Creed crossover, or the upcoming Shadow of the Tomb Raider event. To be honest, all I want is more cup noodle DLC...
Dota 2
Dota 2 was arguably one of the first titles to get the games-as-a-service model right, while simultaneously acting as a prime example of a great free-to-play game. It's also one of the best MOBAs ever made. It's pretty good, then. With this sequel Valve went far beyond what was achieved with the original Defense of the Ancients--a mod for Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos--and that's partly down to how well the developer has supported Dota 2 since its launch in 2013. Frequent patches have brought new maps, an updated UI, a new engine, and even Rick and Morty crossover content. Of course, additional characters have continued to arrive, suitably shaking up the meta each time, as have additional modes. A co-op campaign was added in May 2017, for example, while the game's Battle Pass subscription service has even introduced a Battle Royale mode just recently. In short, this is a game that is still growing and improving after five years. It's showing no signs of slowing down, and if you have the spare time required to learn its ins and outs, Dota 2 is definitely worth trying.
By Dan Auty on May 09, 2018 08:08 pm
We'll soon be halfway through 2018, and in terms of cinema, there's already been a mix of huge hits, critical smashes, and inevitably, a few disappointments. Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War have smashed records, and there's another Marvel movie--Ant-Man and the Wasp--still to come. The second Star Wars spin-off arrives this month in the shape of Solo: A Star Wars Story, which will focus on the early adventures of the iconic space smuggler, and Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt in the sixth Mission: Impossible movie, Fallout. Beyond these big tentpole franchises, other crowd-pleasing favourites are set to return. There's more dinosaur action in the Jurassic World sequel, the much-anticipated Deadpool 2, DC's Aquaman, and several movies from cinema's busiest star, Dwayne Johnson. The first of Sony's Spider-Man spin-offs arrives in the shape of Venom, we'll find out if there's life in the Predator franchise, and the classic Halloween series returns just in time for, well, Halloween. So here's what you can look forward to over the rest of the year...
Cargo
Fantasy and comic book fans know Martin Freeman for a number of important roles, including Bilbo Baggins in the Hobbit trilogy and Everett Ross in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Freeman takes on the lead role in Cargo, an Australian post-apocalyptic survival thriller that hits Netflix in May. He plays a man who becomes infected with a pandemic that will transform him into a terrifying creature within 48 hours, leaving him little time to find someone to look after his young child. The tense first trailer was released recently, and it looks like the blazing heat and barren landscapes of the Outback are a perfect setting for this post-apocalyptic drama. Release date: May 18
How To Talk To Girls at Parties
While Neil Gaiman's classic comic book Sandman seems to be getting no closer to the screen, fans of the iconic writer will want to check out this adaptation of his 2007 short story. It's a romantic sci-fi comedy, in which a teenager falls in love with a girl from an alien world, set against the backdrop of the punk scene in late-'70s London. It features rising star Alex Sharp (To the Bone) and Elle Fanning (The Neon Demon, Super 8) and is directed by John Cameron Mitchell, who made the equally extravagant musical comedy Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Expect a wild mix of music, romance, comedy, and some outlandish visuals. Release date: May 18
Deadpool 2
Deadpool was one of the 2016's biggest cinematic surprises--not only was it the most successful R-rated movie of all time, it outgrossed every other movie in the X-Men universe. So expectations are high for the sequel. The movie lost original director Tim Miller early on due to creative disagreements with star/producer Ryan Reynolds. But with John Wick co-director David Leitch on board and a cast that includes the return of Morena Baccarat, T.J. Miller, and Brianna Hildebrand, including the much-anticipated movie debuts of Josh Brolin's Cable and Zazie Beetz's Domino, everything is in place for bigger, badder, and more outrageous follow-up. The marketing campaign has refused to play by the rules; expect the movie to do the same. Release date: May 18
Fahrenheit 451
While HBO are best known for lavish TV shows such as Westworld and Game of Thrones, it also produces its own movies. Ray Bradbury's classic sci-fi novel Fahrenheit 451 is getting a new film adaptation, which is set to hit the channel in May, following a premiere at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. It stars Michael B. Jordan (Creed, Black Panther) and Michael Shannon (Man of Steel, Boardwalk Empire), and imagines a dystopian future in which books are made illegal and firemen burn them to restrict their knowledge. Jordan plays Guy Montag, a young fireman who starts to doubt their mission and comes into conflict with his mentor, fire captain Beatty (Shannon). Release date: May 19
Solo: A Star Wars Story
The second Star Wars spin-off has been marked by much behind-the-scenes turmoil, with original directors Chris Lord and Phil Miller being replaced during production by Ron Howard, leading to months of extensive reshoots. But last year's Rogue One emerged unscathed after similar production problems, and Howard is an experienced veteran of dozens of crowd-pleasing movies. The adventures of a young Han Solo is something that Star Wars fans have wanted to see for decades, and with a hugely talented supporting cast (Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Thandie Newton) backing up Alden Ehrenreich (Han) and Donald Glover (Lando), we're excited for this one. Release date: May 25
Upgrade
Writer and actor Leigh Whannell is best known for his association with director James Wan--together the pair created the Saw and Insidious series, two of the biggest horror franchises of the last two decades. Whannell made his directing debut with 2015's Insidious 3 and is now stretching out beyond that series with his second movie, Upgrade. It's a high concept sci-fi thriller, in which a quadriplegic man is given a chance to get revenge on those who killed his wife and left him paralysed, via a computer chip that not only allows him to walk again, but also unleash massive amounts of violence upon his enemies. Like Insidious, Upgrade is produced by horror specialists Blumhouse, and if the recent red-band trailer is anything to go by, it's going to be tons of unwholesome fun. Release date: June 1
Ocean's Eight
The long-awaited reboot of the hit heist comedy series, Ocean's Eight showcases an all-female team, led by Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock), sister of George Clooney's Danny Ocean from the previous trilogy. She assisted by the likes of Cate Blanchett, Helen Bonham Carter, Rihanna, and Mindy Kaling, and the first trailer suggests that it will match the fast-moving funny style of the earlier movies. It's directed by Gary Ross (The Hunger Games). Release date: June 8
Hereditary
A Quiet Place has become 2018's first horror smash, and it could soon be joined by Hereditary. There's plenty of buzz about this tale of a family which move into the house of a dead grandmother and find themselves under threat from grandma's ghost. Which all sounds extremely generic, but early reports suggest that the movie is anything but, and uses its familiar set-up to deliver something truly unexpected and terrifying. The cast is led by Toni Collette and Gabriel Byrne, and it's directed by first-timer Ari Aster. We'll find out just how scary it is when it arrives in June. Release date: June 8
The Incredibles 2
Pixar's long-awaited sequel to its 2004 superhero family smash The Incredibles was originally set for a 2019 release but having switched places with Toy Story 4, we now get it a whole year earlier. Although the first teaser gives little away, we do know a few plot details. At Disney's D23 convention this summer, director Brad Bird revealed that the movie take place immediately after the end of the first movie, and will focus more on Elastigirl's superhero adventures, while Mr. Incredible is now a stay-at-home dad, trying to deal with the increasingly powerful baby Jack-Jack. Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, and Samuel L. Jackson all reprise their roles, with Toy Story veteran John Ratzenberger playing the villainous Underminer. Release date: June 15, 2018
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Jurassic World wasn't just the fourth part in a series of big dinosaur movies; it was an absolute box office monster, and currently stands as the fourth biggest film of all time. For the follow-up, acclaimed Spanish filmmaker J. A. Bayona takes over from Colin Trevorrow, who remains on-board as producer and co-writer. Meanwhile Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard reprise their roles. Trevorrow has described the movie as a "Spanish horror thriller"(in reference to Bayona's earlier hit Mama) but most exciting is the return of Jeff Goldblum, who starred in Steven Spielberg's original Jurassic Park way back in 1993. Release date: June 22
Sicario: Day of the Soldado
The drug cartel thriller Sicario was one of the most gripping movies of recent years, and hopes are high for this follow-up. Director Denis Villeneuve and star Emily Blunt aren't returning, but the movie is in good hands. Director Stefano Sollima is best known for the brilliant Italian crime drama series Gomorrha, and Benicio Del Toro is set to reprise his role as a former undercover agent turned morally ambiguous enforcer Alejandro. This time the movie focuses on attempts by the CIA to incite an all-out war between rival drug gangs in Mexico; writer Taylor Sheridan has said that "if Sicario is a film about the militarization of police and that blending over, this is removing the policing aspect from it." Release date: June 29
The First Purge
The Purge series has proved to be one of the most successful horror franchises of recent years, and expectations are high for this fourth entry. The First Purge looks set to continue the mix of scares, action, and biting social commentary. As the title indicates, it's a prequel that looks at the creation of the single night of legalised crime known as The Purge, and the first trailer suggests that it's lost none of its gory, satirical bite. Release date: July 4
Ant-Man and The Wasp
The first Ant-Man was a welcome contrast to the likes of The Avengers and Captain America: Civil War. As much of a heist comedy as a superhero movie, it featured a winning lead role from Paul Rudd and put the emphasis much more on character and humor than huge CG-driven action sequences. With Avengers: Infinity War due in May, Ant-Man and the Wasp should be a good follow-up two months later. Evangeline Lily reprises her role as Hope Van Dyne, who now fights alongside Ant-Man as The Wasp, with Michael Douglas and Michael Pfeiffer as her parents. We don't know what direction the movie will go in this time, just that director Peyton Reed promises "an entirely different genre template." Release date: July 6
Skyscraper
Another of Dwayne Johnson's 2018 action epics, this China-set thriller stars Johnson as a retired FBI hostage rescue agent who now works as a security assessor for the world's biggest skyscraper. While the first trailer doesn't reveal the specific dangers he must face while working in the world's most advanced building, we know they involve explosions, shooting, and lots of jumping. That said, it looks a bit less comedic than many of The Rock's other movies, as evidenced by the fact he has a prosthetic leg and a greying beard. All will be revealed in July. Release date: July 13
The Equalizer 2
The Equalizer might not be one of Denzel Washington's most notable movies, but the gritty revenge thriller was nevertheless a big hit back in 2014. The Equalizer 2 arrives in July, and it's the first time that Denzel has ever appeared in a sequel. The first trailer delivers plenty of action, as Denzel's retired CIA operative sets out to avenge the death of a friend in suitably brutal style. We've seen a similar set up in many movies in recent years, from John Wick and Jack Reacher to the Taken series, but director Antoine Fuqua is hot from the massive success of The Fate of the Furious and is sure to deliver the violent goods. Release date: July 20
Mission Impossible 6: Fallout
The Mission: Impossible series might be more than 20-years old, but on-set injuries aside, star Tom Cruise shows no signs of slowing down. Fallout sees Rogue Nation's Chris McQuarrie return to the directors chair, with Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames, and Alec Baldwin all reprising their roles from previous movies. Superman star Henry Cavill joins the cast, as does his controversial moustache. Expect plenty of insane action. Release date: July 27
Teen Titans Go! To The Movies
The irreverent animated DC comedy Teen Titans Go! continues to be a hugely entertaining and popular show, and 2018 sees the release of both a fifth season and a new movie. In keeping the self-referential tone of the show, Teen Titans Go! to the Movies see the Teen Titans discover that all the other superheroes in the DC universe have had their own movies, so they set about trying to find both a director to make their film and a suitably threatening supervillain to fight. Lego Batman star Will Arnett will voice the evil Slade, while The Good Place's Kristen Bell is the filmmaker who wants to bring their story to the big screen. Release date: July 27
The Meg
Based on the best-selling 1997 novel, this big-budget shark thriller has been in development for several years and finally arrives this summer. Expendables star Jason Statham plays an expert diver who faces off against a 70-foot monster shark which is causing mayhem off the coast of China. The recent shark movie The Shallows was a great small-scale thriller with a limited location, but with a budget in excess of $150 million, expect The Meg to deliver something way more spectacular. Release date: August 10
Slender Man
Slender Man is the fictional horror character that first appeared as a viral internet myth in 2009 and 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 finally sees Hollywood's take on this urban legend. The movie's first trailer makes it looks like a pretty traditional teen horror movie, with disappearing kids, 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. Release date: August 24
The Nun
James Wan's The Conjuring was one of most successful horror movies of recent years, inspiring not only a prequel, but two spin-offs focusing on spooky doll Annabelle. The latest movie in this horror series is The Nun. It's set before the other four movies in the series so far, and focuses on the investigation into the earlier life (and death) of Valak, the terrifying demon nun from The Conjuring 2. Wan co-wrote the screenplay, and it's directed by Corin Hardy, who previously helmed the acclaimed low-budget shocker The Hallow and is about to start shooting the remake of The Crow. Expect plenty of scares. Release date: September 7
The Predator
Although the original Predator is an '80s action classic, the movies that have followed have ranged from interesting but flawed (Predator 2) to completely terrible (Alien vs Predator). The Predator is writer/director Shane Black's attempt to get the franchise back on track. Black's impressive resume ranges from writing Lethal Weapon to directing Iron Man 3, and as a young actor he even had a role in original Predator. We're yet to see any footage from the movie, but the plot details we know so far suggest that it will focus upon a group of traumatised prisoners who do battle with Predators in a suburban setting. Black himself has said that he only agreed to make the film if he could do it on a big, blockbuster scale, while still delivering the sci-fi horror goods. Release date: September 14
Venom
Although the deal between Disney and Sony has ensured that Spider-Man is currently part of the former's Marvel Cinematic Universe, the movie right to the character ultimately remain with Sony. As a result, the studio is launching its own interconnected universe of characters from the canon of Spidey comic-books. Venom is first up; it stars Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock, a photographer who ends up with superpowers after he is taken over by the alien parasite of title. It's directed by Zombieland's Ruben Fleischer, and the impressive supporting cast includes Michelle Williams, Woody Harrelson, and Riz Ahmed. Release date: October 4
First Man
Given Neil Armstrong is the most famous astronaut ever, it's surprising that he's never had his own biopic until now. First Man is set between 1961 and 1969 and tells the story of Armstrong's preparations for his history-changing journey to the moon. It stars Ryan Gosling as the man himself and is helmed by Gosling's La La Land director Damien Chazelle. The impressive cast also includes Claire Foy, Kyle Chandler, Jon Bernthal, and Pablo Schreiber. Release date: October 12
Johnny English Strikes Again
While it's unlikely that a third Johnny English film was high on anyone's most-anticipated movies list for 2018, the previous two spy spoofs were major box office hits, earning more than $320 million worldwide. Johnny English Strikes Again sees Mr. Bean actor Rowan Atkinson return as the inept superspy, who this time must thwart a master hacker. As the first trailer reveals, English travels to France with his loyal sidekick Bough to track his enemy down--and also launch missiles at French cyclists. Oscar winning actress Emma Thompson co-stars, alongside Olga Kurylenko, who appears to be parodying her role in the 2008 James Bond movie Quantum of Solace. Release date: October 12
Halloween
The Halloween series might be one of longest-running and most profitable horror franchises in movie history, but most fans would agree that every entry hasn't necessarily been a good one. The last time Michael Myers stalked the screen was in Rob Zombie's hugely divisive remakes a decade ago, but now, on the 40th anniversary of John Carpenter's original movie, the killer also known as The Shape is back. Plot details for this latest Halloween are under wraps, but it's got an impressive pedigree. It's directed by acclaimed indie auteur David Gordon Green and produced by Blumhouse Films, which has scored major successes in recent years with the likes of Get Out, Paranormal Activity, and the Purge movies. Original star Jamie Lee Curtis returns, and if that wasn't enough, Carpenter himself is creatively involved and potentially providing another iconic soundtrack. Could this be the Halloween reboot that finally gets it right? Release date: October 19
The Grinch
The classic Dr. Seuss story How the Grinch Saved Christmas was adapted into a hit Jim Carrey movie 18 years ago, and a new animated version hits the screen in November. Doctor Strange and Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch will provide the voice of the Holiday-hating title character, and the first trailer arrived last week. The movie was actually meant to be released last year, but the trailer is colourful and fun and the movie will hopefully be worth the wait. Release date: November 9
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
The Harry Potter series might have finished in 2011, but the wider movie universe goes from strength to strength. The success of 2016's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them led to the announcement of a further four movies, the first of which arrives in November. Eddie Redmayne returns as Newt Scamander, with Jude Law as the young Dumbledore, who enlists the help of Newt to help defeat the dark wizard Grindelwald (Johnny Depp). David Yates directs once more, from a screenplay by Potter creator JK Rowling. Release date: November 16
Widows
Ocean's Eight isn't the only high-profile heist movie coming our way in 2018. Widows is the latest film from Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen (12 Years A Slave) and is written by Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn. The movies focuses on four women whose husbands are killed in a failed heist, who then decide to finish the job themselves. It's based on a British TV show of the same name from the 1980s, and the star-studded cast includes Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Colin Farrell, Liam Neeson, and Get Out's Daniel Kaluuya. Films like 12 Years and Shame proved that McQueen can deliver prestigious, acclaimed dramas, so hopes are high that he is equally adept at making edgy crime thrillers. Release date: November 18
Creed 2
While most thought that the legendary movie boxer Rocky Balboa had finally hung up his gloves, the 2015 spin-off Creed not only gave the character one of his finest movies, it paved the way for director Ryan Coogler to get the job of directing Marvel's wildly successful Black Panther. Coogler won't be back for the sequel, but star Michael B. Jordan is, once again playing the son of the original movies' Apollo Creed. Rocky creator and star Sylvester Stallone is back too, as both co-star and co-writer. Steven Caple Jr. directs this time, and it's rumoured that Creed 2 will bring back another iconic character from the original series--Rocky IV's Russian powerhouse Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren).
Release date: November 21
Robin Hood
Ridley Scott's 2010 version of the the Robin Hood myth wasn't a critical or commercial success, but that hasn't stopped yet another version of the story heading to screens in 2018. This time we have a younger Robin, with Kingsman star Taron Egerton in the lead role. The cast also includes Jamie Foxx as Little John and Rogue One's Ben Mendelsohn as the Sheriff of Nottingham, and it's directed by TV director Otto Bathurst (Peaky Blinders, Black Mirror). The first trailer is suitably action-packed, but we'll find out in November if this Hood is any good. Release date: November 21
Ralph Breaks the Internet
The 2012 animated comedy Wreck-It Ralph was a critical and commercial hit, and the sequel arrives in November. It focuses on the arcade game villain-turned-hero of the title, who this time enters the internet after the arcade his game lives in goes online. John C. Reilly is the voice of Ralph, with Sarah Silverman, Jane Lynch, Alan Tudyk, Taraji P. Henson, and James Corden also part of the voice cast. Release date: November 21
Aquaman
The DC universe has had a bumpy ride so far, with only Wonder Woman connecting with both audiences and critics. But there's every reason to be hopeful that Aquaman could do the same. Director James Wan is a skilled genre operator, whether delivering crowd-pleasing horror (Saw, The Conjuring) or blockbuster action (Furious 7), and there's a killer cast that includes Patrick Wilson, Willem Defoe, Nicole Kidman, and '80s action icon Dolph Lungren, plus Jason Momoa as Aquaman and Amber Heard as Mera. Wan recently debunked the rumour that the film would be overstuffed with multiple villains, and promises an "emotional and powerful" origin movie. Release date: December 21
By Mat Elfring on May 09, 2018 01:45 am
Avengers: Infinity War blew our minds, as it changed the landscape of the Marvel Cinematic Universe forever. And the craziest part about it is that the story isn't even finished being told. Avengers 4, which should wrap up the Thanos storyline, hits theaters in May 2019. While it's a bummer that we have to wait so long to figure out what happens to our favorite characters in future Marvel movies, we already have a few clues to as to what's coming down the line. Warning: There are Infinity War spoilers ahead. Over the next year, we'll be learning a lot about what Avengers 4 has to offer, so GameSpot will keep you updated with the most important news and information that connect Infinity War to the upcoming 2019 movie, as well as tidbits that give us an idea as to what Avengers 4 will be about. So here's a roundup of everything we know about these two movies. What some Infinity War fans are waiting to hear about is what's going on with Ant-Man and Hawkeye. Well, Ant-Man's next solo film is coming to theaters on July 6, and the movie takes place right after Civil War. However, we're still not sure what's going on with Hawkeye right now. Additionally, the only other Marvel movie with a set release date is Captain Marvel--which takes place in the '90s--and it's set to come out March 8, 2019. We're kicking this off with everything we know about Infinity War that either wasn't in the movie or most people might have missed. To jump ahead to Avengers 4 information, click here. Be patient, as we won't get to see Avengers 4 in theaters until May 3, 2019.
What Were Groot's Final Words?
Obviously, he said, "I am Groot," but what does that translate to? According to James Gunn, his final words, before disintegrating, translate to "Dad." Considering the only core Guardian member to survive was Rocket, it makes the scene all the more sad.
Thor Purposely Didn't Kill Thanos
Why didn't Thor throw Stormbreaker at Thanos' head instead of his chest? According to Joe Russo, it was so Thor could brag that he was getting his revenge to the man he was trying to kill. How will this decision affect Thor in Avengers 4? Better yet, how will Star-Lord feel--if he comes back to life--knowing his anger over Gamora's death led to Thanos killing half the life in the universe?
One Scene That Didn't Make The Cut Was A GotG Joke
Usually, the Director's Cut is exceptionally longer than the Theatrical Cut. However, the Russos revealed that most of what the brothers shot was used for the movie, with one exception being a Guardians scene. In the scene, the Guardians are deciding where to go but don't know what to do. It was more of the Guardians being comedic. Personally, I would have been fine with that staying in.
There Almost Wasn't An End-Credit Sequence
End-credit sequences have become a big part of Marvel's movies. We all know they're coming. However, Infinity War almost didn't have one. Joe and Anthony Russo debated not having one as the film's ending was already so heavy that it didn't need an extra tag on the end.
Infinity War Is Filled With Easter Eggs
Fans of Marvel Comics probably realized there are a ton of references to specific comic book stories within Infinity War, including how Mantis and Drax's bodies were warped when battling Thanos on Knowhere. Additionally, there are tons of pop culture references as well, including one for Arrested Development.
Mark Ruffalo Completely Spoiled Infinity War Last Year
During an interview with GMA in July, 2017, Mark Ruffalo completely spoiled the ending to Infinity War by saying, "Wait till you see this next one, half... everybody dies." Obviously, none of us believed him at the time, but after the third Avengers film came out, we realized Ruffalo totally blew it. So, make sure to watch every Ruffalo interview between now and Avengers 4 just in case he accidentally leaks something again.
Guardians Member Kraglin Is Still Around
One of the newest members of the Guardians of the Galaxy didn't appear in Infinity War. Kraglin, who was wearing Yondu's mohawk to control the Yaka Arrow during the mid-credit sequence of Vol. 2, is still a part of the team though, according to Guardians director James Gunn. His whereabouts will eventually be revealed, but we don't know, at this time, whether it will be in Avengers 4 or Guardians of the Galaxy 3.
Hulk Shots From The Trailer Weren't In The Theatrical Cut For A Reason
If you watched all the trailers for Infinity War, you probably remember the Hulk--not Bruce Banner--at the battle in Wakanda, which took place at the end of the actual film. However, if you saw Infinity War, Hulk refused to come out after Thanos beat him up early on in the movie. There's a reason for that. Co-director Joe Russo stated those scenes were only meant to be in the trailer, never the actual film. That's actually a pretty genius move, which throws off people trying to figure out the entirety of the movie from the trailers and promos.
If Dead Characters Are Revived, It Will Come At A Great Cost
While Infinity War ended with 26 well-known characters dying off--along with half the life in the universe--and considering Black Panther and Spider-Man have sequels coming out sometime in the future, we know some of these characters are coming back to life. However, it won't be as easy as Thanos snapping his fingers again. Joe and Anthony Russo both said there are real stakes to what happens at the end of the movie, and while this is a fantasy world where anything can happen, remarkable feats come at a great cost.
Many Infinity War Deaths Are Very Real
Infinity War was a pretty big departure from the two previous Avengers films. There wasn't a lot of hope to it. Screenwriter Christopher Markus stated that many of the deaths in Infinity War are very real, so there won't a 100% happy ending to Avengers 4. Looks like the next Avengers film will break our hearts as well.
Warlock Won't Be In Avengers 4
Although Adam Warlock's cocoon appeared in the mid-credit sequence of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and the character is a major part of the Infinity Thanos saga in the comics, he will not be appearing in Avengers 4. Additionally, the character isn't even confirmed for Guardians of the Galaxy 3 yet.
There Won't Be Any 20th Century Fox Surprises
While there were a lot of rumors surrounding whether or not Silver Surfer was going to appear in Infinity War--he didn't--don't expect any big surprise characters whose movie rights are owned by Fox. While Disney has been working on buying assets from the company, which includes X-Men and Fantastic Four, the deal is not finalized, and Comcast just stepped in and made a $60 billion bid. Fox could scrap the deal with Disney and accept Comcast's offer, but as of this writing, it's unknown what Fox will do. Regardless, Infinity War and Avengers 4 were shot back-to-back, and the chances of them including a character whose rights they don't own are slim-to-none.
Captain Marvel Will Make Her Avengers Debut
While Captain Marvel's solo film comes out on March 9, 2019, Avengers 4 will be her team debut. The post-credit sequence of Infinity War was our first indication of Captain Marvel's existence, as her logo appeared on Nick Fury's pager. Considering her solo film takes place in the '90s, what's she been up to for 20 years?
The Real Title To Avengers 4 Hasn't Been Revealed For Good Reason
Early on, we knew the title for the third Avengers film would be Infinity War, but we still don't know the title for the fourth film, which comes out in less than a year. There's a reason for that. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige stated that they wanted to keep the focus on Infinity War, not on the movie coming out next year. Most likely we won't know the title of the movie until Infinity War is out of theater rotation, but many of us still wonder if Avengers 4's actual title is an Infinity War spoiler.
Gamora May Be Dead For Real
Going back to dead characters, one hero that died during Infinity War did so in an unsual way. Thanos sacrificed Gamora in order to get the Soul Stone for his gauntlet. Her soul became trapped in the stone, but does that help her chances to come back to life? While there's no confirmation of Gamora's future, it's not looking bright. Actress Zoe Saldana discussed learning about her character's death early on, and she said she suffers from "fear of missing out." That's not confirmation, and while this is pure speculation, it's not looking good for Gamora's return.
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