Wednesday was a big day for those who have been impatiently awaiting the arrival of Marvel's next film, Captain Marvel. We got not just a look at Brie Larson in her superhero costume, but also a bunch of new information and photos from the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe film due out next year. That includes reveals of Nick Fury and the Skrulls, among other things.
The new photos from the film were shared by Entertainment Weekly, where you can see all 10 images. They mark the first we've seen from Larson's superhero debut, and they don't disappoint. Not only can she be seen in her costume as the titular Captain Marvel--in an image featuring far less Photoshopping than the cover version--but several other details are given away.
Most notably, Captain Marvel brings back Nick Fury back--but in a major change, he actually has both of his eyes. As the movie is set in the 1990s, a younger version of the director of SHIELD will be introduced, long before he starts wearing his signature eye patch. Perhaps the movie will actually show how he loses his eye?
Also seen in the photos are the introduction of the Skrull alien race. In one image, they are walking out of the ocean, led by Talos (Ben Mendelsohn). According to a caption from EW, the Skrulls are among the "nastiest and most notorious baddies" in all of Marvel comics. Take that, Thanos.
The last photo we want to highlight is the first look at Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch). As EW explains it, Maria is one of Carol Danvers' oldest friends and a fellow Air Force pilot, who flies under the call sign Photon. She's also a single mother to a young daughter, which is where things get interesting. In the comics, Maria's daughter is Monica, who ends up with superpowers and grows up to become an Avenger.
Monica has been known as Photon, but also Captain Marvel for a time. She's currently known as Spectrum. As Marvel plots out phase four of the MCU, it will be interesting to see if the introduction of Maria opens the door for Monica to become a big part of the franchise's future.
You can see the rest of the photos over at Entertainment Weekly. Captain Marvel is in theaters on March 8, 2019.
PAX West 2018 has officially wrapped up, and as usual, this year's convention was home to some stunning cosplay. All throughout the weekend, the Washington State Convention Center was filled with attendees who came dressed as their favorite characters from a wide variety of video games, comics, anime, and movies. We've already rounded up some of the best costumes from Day 1 and Day 2 of PAX West, as well as the best Overwatch cosplay, but in the gallery above, you can see some of our favorite cosplay from the entire convention.
Video games were particularly well represented in this year's cosplay at PAX West, especially more recent titles like Fortnite. The phenomenally popular battle royale game inspired numerous costumes, including one of Tomato Town mascot Tomatohead. The in-game area was recently replaced by a new pyramid called Tomato Temple. Season 5 of Fortnite is set to wrap up very soon, and developer Epic Games has already begun laying the groundwork for the next season with some strange in-game phenomena. Earlier in August, a mysterious purple cube materialized on the island and has recently begun moving toward an unknown destination. What this signifies remains a mystery, but it no doubt ensures that Fortnite will still be on everyone's minds for weeks to come.
Final Fantasy was also a popular choice for cosplay. Fans came dressed as a number of popular characters from throughout the series' history, including Noctis, Tidus, Yuna, and a lot of Chocobos. The series' MMO installment, Final Fantasy XIV, has been receiving a steady stream of updates and new content in recent weeks. On top of the recently concluded annual Moonfire Faire summer event, the MMO recently added the iconic Rathalos as a boss as part of a collaboration with Capcom. Meanwhile, Final Fantasy's Behemoth made its debut in Monster Hunter World early last month alongside a new set of weapons and gear inspired by the series' Dragoon class.
Other video game franchises you'll see represented in the gallery include Halo, The Legend of Zelda, Nier Automata, Tomb Raider, Overwatch, and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege. The latter kicked off Year 3, Season 3 this week with the release of Operation Grim Sky. The big update introduced two new Operators to the game named Maverick and Clash, who specialize in Attack and Defense, respectively. Grim Sky also introduced an assortment of multiplayer improvements and other tweaks, but perhaps its most notable addition is a completely overhauled version of Hereford Base, one of the first maps available in the game.
By Anonymous on Sep 07, 2018 12:03 am Scum is a tough game and you will likely die a lot, so we put together these hints and tips to make your survival sandbox experience a little less stressful.
Amazon might have killed off its video game pre-order discount for Prime members, but that's not the only benefit the online retailer offers gamers. Prime members also get benefits from the Amazon-owned streaming site Twitch. Each month, Twitch gives out a bundle of free PC games, as well as free in-game goodies in titles like PUBG, Overwatch, and most recently, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege.
Between now and December 31, Siege players can get free exclusive in-game gear in which to deck out their Operators. Right now, Prime members can visit Twitch to receive eight Twitch Prime packs containing exclusive items for Hibana, Finka, Ela or Bandit.
In October, four more Twitch Prime packs will become available, and again in November, for a total of 16. You're guaranteed not to receive any duplicate items, and if you collect all of the packs, you'll end up with four complete skins. Also included with the freebies is a Legendary Chibi Charm.
To get your free gear, Prime members can head to Twitch and click the crown-shaped icon near the search bar. Here you'll find your Rainbow Six freebies, along with any other available items you haven't redeemed yet. You'll be instructed to link your Twitch and Ubisoft accounts, and then you're all set. Next time you play Rainbow Six Siege, your Twitch Prime packs should be waiting for you.
If you don't have a Prime account but you want the gear anyway, you sign up for a free 30-day trial. In addition to the monthly gaming goodies, you also get a free channel subscription each month on Twitch, plus free two-day shipping on many items and access to Amazon Prime video and music. Even if you cancel your membership before the first bill comes, you'll get to keep the Siege gear, along with any other freebies you collect.
This week, Rusev and Lana sat down with the Good Brothers--Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson--to reveal the latest batch of playable WWE superstars in WWE 2K19. Over 50 superstars were declared part of the upcoming game--which you can jump ahead and see by clicking the link below. There's no real huge surprises in this batch, although we finally get some 205 Live stars like Mustafa Ali and Drew Gulak.
Fans of both Daniel Bryan are going to be very happy as 2K is bringing back Showcase Mode for WWE 2K19, which follows the career of the superstar. From his first match as Bryan Danielson to his feuds with The Miz, it will be covered in the upcoming game. One of the selling points for WWE 2K series is the gigantic roster, which WWE 2K19 will have. This year's edition will undoubtedly have a plethora of superstars to choose from when the game releases on October 9, 2018. Last year's WWE 2K18 ended up with over 180 wrestlers--the largest in the history of the series--and while 2K isn't boasting this year's edition will topple that, yet, it should still be more than any player can handle.
It's early, and there still aren't specific details about gameplay, aside from the Million Dollar Challenge, which takes place within the new Challenge Mode. However, there have already been a few announcements for characters on the roster, including cover star AJ Styles and pre-order bonus characters Ronda Rousey and Rey Mysterio. Additionally, the $130 Wooooo! Edition of the game has been announced which comes with a bunch of exclusives including a season pass, exclusive roster additions, a piece of Ric Flair's robe, early access to play, and more.
This year's edition will be skipping Nintendo Switch, after last year's port featured a bevy of problems from frame rate issues to resolution dropping down to 540p, even in docked mode. However, the game will still be released in early October for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. If you're interested in pre-ordering WWE 2K19, check out our pre-order guide, with all the info about what each edition contains, where to buy it, and pricing.
Over the course of the next few months, we'll keep you updated with all the newly confirmed superstars in the game, as well as a breakdown of which shows these wrestlers are from and how many new additions will be playable. You can find links to the latest updates below as well.
Confirmed playable characters breakdown (so far):
Total wrestlers: 141
New to the series: 28
Raw superstars: 51
Smackdown superstars: 48
Legends: 8
NXT superstars: 21
205 Live: superstars: 11
Men's division: 110
Women's division: 31
Jump ahead to the latest updates:
July 25 (9 added, pre-order and deluxe edition bonus characters)
Deluxe edition contains '80s-inspired character in his Wrestlemania VIII attire.
Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat (Legend)
Deluxe edition contains '80s-inspired character.
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Legend)
Deluxe edition contains '80s-inspired character.
Undertaker (Legend)
Deluxe edition contains the character in his 2002 Bikertaker outfit.
Daniel Bryan (Smackdown)
2K announced that the Daniel Bryan's career will be the subject of WWE 2K19's Showcase Mode. There will be 11 different models of Bryan, each with its own unique moveset and look. Additionally, GameSpot talked to Bryan about his longtime feud with WWE superstar The Miz.
Playing video games can be an expensive hobby, no question. But if you bide your time and pay attention to sales, you can often save quite a bit of money, even on recent games. That's great in theory, but if you're ready for a new game now, you want to know what deals are available this very moment. To help you out, we've gone through this week's video game sales to find the best deals on the best games for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
Before we dig into the deals, you should pick up any free games you're eligible to receive. If you're a PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold subscriber, you can downloaded September's free games for your console. And if you have an Amazon Prime account, don't forget to grab your free PC games from Twitch this month.
If you want to see the deals on any particular platform or from a specific retailer, you can check out this week's coverage of individual sales.
If you're looking forward to Red Dead Redemption 2's release on October 26, you might want to refresh your memory on the first game. It's backwards compatible on Xbox One, and it's on sale digitally on the Microsoft Store
Steam is running a nice sale on a bunch of games this week, including the entire Witcher series for under $25. Not bad for a terrific set of action RPGs.
Call of Duty: Black Ops III Zombies Chronicles Edition (PS4, Xbox One)
With the sequel right around the corner, now's a good time to catch up on the previous Black Ops game, especially since it's on sale at Best Buy. This edition comes with bonus DLC for the Zombies mode.
Before Assassin's Creed Odyssey lands on October 5, you can catch up on Origins at a discount right now. Other Assassin's Creed games are on sale as well on the PlayStation Store.
Whether you want to add a couch co-op partner or you threw your old one out the window during a tough boss fight, you might need a new Xbox One controller. This week you can get one (or more) for $20 off.
Microsoft has announced Xbox Skill, which lets you control your Xbox One console with voice commands through other devices. With Xbox Skill, you'll be able to order your console to follow your commands via Cortana or an Alexa-enabled device. For now, Xbox Skill is only available for U.S. Xbox Insiders in the Alpha Skip Ahead, Alpha, and Beta rings.
According to Xbox's website, Xbox Skill lets you power your console on and off, as well as "adjust volume, launch games and apps, start and stop broadcasts on Mixer, capture screenshots, and more." Once Cortana or Alexa is connected to your console, you can say, "Xbox, what can I say?" to find the full list of commands.
If you're an Xbox Insider in the U.S., follow the directions below to try out Xbox Skill with Cortana or Alexa.
For Cortana
Sign into the Xbox you want to control.
On your Windows 10 PC, sign in to your Microsoft account to link the skill.
Try your first command.
For Alexa
Sign into the Xbox you want to control.
Sign in with your Amazon Account on the Echo portal, and click Enable.
Sign in with your Microsoft account to link the skill.
Let Alexa discover your console, then follow the instructions to pair your console with Alexa.
Try your first command.
Xbox Skill is rolling out gradually for all U.S. Xbox Insiders right now. If you're an Insider, you can check to see if there is a digital assistant setting option on your console via the Devices tab under Settings. If it's not there, then you're not eligible yet. Check back as Xbox will continue to add all U.S. Xbox Insiders that fall into the Alpha Skip Ahead, Alpha, and Beta rings.
Via Xbox Skill, you'll be able to control your Xbox One with a Windows 10 PC, Amazon Echo, Harman Kardon Invoke, Sonos One, or Cortana and Alexa apps on iOS and Android devices.
After a slight delay, Fortnite's 5.40 update has finally arrived on PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and mobile. Along with introducing another new item to Battle Royale, the Grappler, the patch marks the start of the High Stakes event, which features a new limited-time mode and its own set of challenges to complete.
The aforementioned challenges are tied to the new LTM, Getaway. Unlike a typical game of Battle Royale, this heist-themed mode divides players into teams of four, with the objective being to find one of the four safes scattered around the island, extracting the (appropriately llama-shaped) jewel housed within, and making it safely to the getaway van.
There are three High Stakes challenges in all, which will reward you with XP and new High Stakes cosmetics. Each is fairly straightforward and can be reasonably completed by taking part in enough Getaway matches. You can see the full list of High Stakes challenges, and the rewards they confer, below.
Play matches of The Getaway (10) -- 5,000 XP
Deal damage to Jewel-carrying opponents (500) -- Suited Up spray
Pick up a Jewel in different matches of The Getaway (5) -- Cash Flow skydiving trail cosmetic
If you manage to complete all three of the challenges before the High Stakes event ends next week, you'll unlock one final reward: an exclusive Crowbar skin for your pickaxe. Additionally, developer Epic offering a new Wildcard skin in the Fortnite store throughout the event, which comes with four interchangeable masks and a Cuff Case back bling.
Epic is also selling a new Ace Pack. It runs for $5 and comes with two similarly heist-themed cosmetics: the Ace Outfit and the Swag Bag back bling, which looks like a duffle bag stuffed with cash. You'll also receive 600 V-Bucks--Fortnite's in-game currency--for purchasing the Ace Pack, making it a particularly good value.
As previously mentioned, Fortnite's 5.40 patch also added a new traversal tool to the game's arsenal, the Grappler. This gun can be fired at walls and used to launch yourself around the map. Meanwhile, Week 9's set of challenges are scheduled to go live very soon, on Friday, September 7.
With so much TV, it's very hard to know what to watch. Now, with the upcoming fall season, it's about to get a lot worse. Not only are there new shows on network TV and cable, but streaming services have their own new shows--and there's even a new streaming platform about to launch.
So what should you watch this fall? It's a difficult question, but one GameSpot has the answers to. After digging through the fall season's new offerings, we've found there are plenty of things to get excited about--from horror, to sci-fi, to spin-offs, to some very interesting comic book adaptations.
Whether it's Netflix's adaptation of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, or the latest series based on the works of George RR Martin--which appears to be very different from Game of Thrones--these are the shows you absolutely will not want to miss in the next few months. At the very least you're going to want to give them a shot.
Follow along as GameSpot guides you through the 9 shows you need to be prepared for this fall. And if we missed something you're excited for, sound off in the comments! There's always room for another show, even if it means losing a few more hours of sleep.
1. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Premieres October 28 on Netflix
Why you can't miss it: Hailing from the same producers as Riverdale, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is anything but a spin-off of the CW series. Instead, this adaptation of the Archie Comics series is a dark and twisted thriller taking inspiration from a number of classic horror films, including The Exorcist.
That it's premiering just before Halloween is all you really need to know about The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. It's going to be scary, and that's a good thing.
Who's in it: Chilling Adventures of Sabrina stars Kiernan Shipka (Mad Men) as the titular teenage witch. The series also stars Michelle Gomez (Doctor Who), Lucy Davis (Wonder Woman), and Miranda Otto (24: Legacy).
2. Mayans MC
Premieres September 4 on FX
Why you can't miss it: It's been nearly four years since Sons of Anarchy ended, but the outlaw world created by Kurt Sutter is back. Mayans MC follows a new club filled with new characters, but the mayhem and motorcycles are still plentiful.
What Mayans does different, though, is what matters most. With a Latino gang working for drug cartels on the border between the United States and Mexico, the Hispanic culture flowing through the veins of Mayans MC can be seen in every single frame. It helps it to stand out from what came before. Still, it delivers on the kind of action and MC calamities that Sons of Anarchy fans have been missing since the series ended.
Who's in it: Mayans MC stars JD Pardo, Sarah Bolger, Michael Irby, Danny Pino, Carla Baratte, and Clayton Cardenas. It's Edward James Olmos you're going to want to pay attention to, though, as the acting legend puts in a fantastic performance.
3. Manifest
Premieres September 24 on NBC
Why you can't miss it: We all miss Lost. There will never be another show like it, but Manifest sure is trying. The series revolves around the mystery of Montego Air Flight 828, which magically disappeared for five years before landing safely--with the passengers having lost mere hours.
The best thing about shows like Manifest is the mystery behind it all. Whether it'll be able to engage viewers on the level that Lost managed to remains to be seen, but it's certainly worth a shot.
Who's in it: Manifest stars Josh Dallas, Melissa Roxburgh, Athena Karkanis, and JR Ramirez.
4. The Purge
Premieres September 4 on USA
Why you can't miss it: Blessed be our New Founding Fathers for letting us Purge and cleanse our souls! By now practically everyone should know what The Purge is. After four films, the franchise about a world where all crime is legal for a 12-hour period once a year is haunting. And now it's coming to TV once each week.
The first season of The Purge takes place during a single year's event and follows several different characters as they attempt to survive--or celebrate--Purge night. What it does differently from the movies it put the spotlight on the wealthy, as well as the struggling.
Who's in it: The Purge stars Gabriel Chavarria, Lee Tergesen, Amanda Warren, Colin Woodell, and Hannah Emily.
5. Nightflyers
Premieres in 2018 on Syfy
Why you can't miss it: Game of Thrones won't be back until some time in 2019. There will be plenty of George RR Martin on TV this fall, though. Nightflyers is based on a novella by Martin. Instead of Westeros, though, this series is set in space, as the crew of an advanced ship looks for new life.
Don't expect this to be your standard space adventure, as this psychological thriller pushes the boundaries of the crew's sanity. And based on a description of the series, the scariest moments and figures aren't what they'll find on their adventures, but are instead already on their ship.
Who's in it: Nightflyers stars Gretchen Mol, Eoin Macken, Jodie Turner-Smith, and David Ajala.
6. Star Wars Resistance
Premieres October 7 on Disney Channel
Why you can't miss it: It'll be a while before Star Wars: The Clone Wars returns on Disney's streaming service, but there is a new animated Star Wars series incoming. Star Wars Resistance is set before the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and follows a resistance pilot who is spying on the First Order.
Who's in it: The series will feature a plethora of new characters, as well as guest appearances by Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron) and Gwendoline Christie (Captain Phasma). BB-8 will also appear in the series.
7. Maniac
Premieres September 21 on Netflix
Why you can't miss it: Someone gave Cary Fukunaga, the director and one of the producers behind the first season of True Detective, a Netflix show, and that alone is exciting. Maniac follows two people looking for answers to their mental health issues as they undergo an experimental new treatment.
While that may seem straightforward, the trailers for Maniac paint a very different picture. The imagery looks like something out of a '70s sci-fi film and the story feels epic, as the two leads--Superbad stars Jonah Hill and Emma Stone, reunited for the first time since the film--venture through the drug trials and their own minds, looking for relief.
Who's in it: In addition to Hill and Stone Maniac stars Justin Theroux, Sonoya, Mizuno, and Julia Garner.
8. The Haunting of Hill House
Premieres October 12 on Netflix
Why you can't miss it: Based on a 1959 novel, The Haunting of Hill House is another scary show you're going to want to binge leading up to Halloween. While Netflix says their take is a modern reimagining of the source material, clearly some things will stay the same--including the horrifying nature of Hill House itself.
The spooky mansion will be home to four siblings who grew up in it, only to reunite as adults and go back into the haunting above and face their fears. Given that the series is written and directed by Mike Flanagan, whose horror credits include Gerald's Game, Oculus, and Ouija: Origin of Evil, chances are this is going to be a very scary late night binge.
Who's in it: The Haunting of Hill House stars Michiel Huisman, Carla Gugino, Henry Thomas, and Annabeth Gish.
9. Titans
Premieres October 12 on DC Universe
Why you can't miss it: It's live-action Teen Titans and Robin says "F*** Batman" in the trailer. What more do you need to know?
The jury is still out on Titans, but it's definitely something you'll want to keep an eye on. After all, this is the first original series for the DC Universe streaming service. It will be used as a measuring stick for the other shows the service plans to introduce. Besides, it's the live-action adventures of Robin, Starfire, Raven, and Beast Boy.
The series comes from producers Greg Berlanti, Geoff Johns, Akiva Goldsman, and Sarah Schechter. If anyone should know how to build a good DC TV show, it's them. It should be interesting to see what they come up with when they don't have any network restrictions holding them back.
Who's in it: Brenton Thwaites, Anna Diop, Teagan Croft, and Ryan Potter. Additionally, Alan Ritchson will appear as Hawk, while Minda Kelly plays Dove.
By Anonymous on Sep 06, 2018 10:34 pm It's time to web sling our way through the city, save some folks, and more with our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
The spirit of Sons of Anarchy is alive and well in Mayans MC. In fact, it's even more alive than most fans of the FX biker drama expected. It was already known that Emilio Rivera would be reprising his Sons role as Mayans godfather Marcus Alvarez in the new series. That's far from the only link to Sons of Anarchy that can be found in the first episode of Mayans MC, though. Warning: The following contains spoilers from the pilot episode of Mayans MC.
In one of the episode's flashbacks to eight years before the current time, none other than former biker queen Gemma Teller (Katey Sagal) appears. She can be seen in the background of a prison visiting room as a recently-incarcerated EZ (JD Pardo) breaks up with Emily (Sarah Bolger). When the split gets louder and more dramatic than is allowed in prison, Gemma is seen more clearly, reacting.
While this is an exciting moment for Sons fans, it's not just a throwaway cameo. In fact, it's a small piece of a bigger puzzle according to Mayans MC co-creator Kurt Sutter. "Having Gemma there in the pilot was fun for us and will speak to something we want to do later on," he explained at the Television Critics Association press tour in a small group interview. "It's a little bit of a nod to Sons, but I think also there's a reason why she was there and we'll find out what it is later on."
As co-creator Elgin James told GameSpot, this isn't the last connection to the original series that will build to something more. "All these little things that [Kurt] plants all pay off somehow," he teased. "So that's all I know is that nothing is just thrown away."
Making sure nothing is a simple cameo is what helps Sutter to ensure Mayans MC doesn't trample on the mythology built by Sons, which is the one unbreakable rule James says he was given. As for what Gemma's appearance means, there's no telling. After all, while she was alive eight years ago, she's dead now. So anything they do to include Gemma in the Mayans storyline will have to remain in the past.
She's also not necessarily the last Sons character fans will see pop up on Mayans MC. Truthfully, anyone is on the table--even Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam) himself. That is, as long as it means something. "Whomever I bring back, I can't do it for a sensational one hit kind of thing," Sutter said. "There has to be an integral part of why it's important to the new mythology."
Still, Jax is a long shot. Hunnam has yet to appear on a TV series since the conclusion of Sons of Anarchy and has a number of films in the works. However, if it makes sense from a plot standpoint, Sutter isn't opposed to calling on his former star. "For me to bring Jax back in a flashback, it would really have to be integral to the story," he said.
At long last, the world has finally seen the new extension of the Sons of Anarchy universe. Mayans MC has premiered on FX, introducing viewers to a new club of outlaws and misfits who live by their own incredibly violent rules.
The first episode of FX's Mayans MC was filled with twists and turns, leaving everyone's loyalty in question. Between the introduction of EZ (JD Pardo) and his incredibly conflicted life--including a stint in jail, an ex-girlfriend that somehow married into the cartel, and his place within the Mayans MC--and the club's relationship with said cartel, there's a lot of plates spinning right now.
While the first season of Sons of Anarchy proved to be a slow burn descent into the madness of MC life, Mayans made it clear from the opening minutes that this show is going to be very different. In no time at all, the Mayans are perhaps the most conflicted club we've seen in this universe yet, leaving it hard to trust pretty much anybody.
After watching the first episode, GameSpot sat down with co-creator Elgin James and the cast of the series to get some answers to our questions. We need to know about the flashbacks, how that cameo fits into the timeline, what's going on with Emily and Miguel, and so much more.
Once you've seen the premiere, take a look to get some clues about how Season 1 of Mayans MC will play out. Warning: The following contains Mayans MC spoilers for the first episode.
How do the flashbacks work?
One major difference between Mayans MC and Sons of Anarchy is the use of flashbacks in the former. As seen in the premiere, EZ's photographic memory makes revisiting certain moments in his life simple. Don't expect her characters to get that treatment, though.
"We'll only get flashbacks from his POV," James explained. It will be interesting to see how that plays out, given that we know the flashbacks could include more Sons of Anarchy characters and that the Gemma Teller (Katey Sagal) cameo in the premiere is building up to something more. However, the flashbacks will also show viewers how he ended up in jail in the first place.
Where in the Sons of Anarchy timeline is that Gemma flashback set?
As we learn in the Mayans premiere, 8 years earlier, EZ was locked up in Stockton State Prison--a familiar place for Sons of Anarchy fans. You might be wondering where in the universe's timeline that falls, though, given Gemma Teller Morrow (Katey Sagal) is in the waiting room.
Going back to Sons of Anarchy, this moment would fall somewhere between Seasons 3 and 4 of the series. That happens to be when much of Samcro was locked up for a 14-month stretch. At that point Jax (Charlie Hunnam), Clay (Ron Perlman), Bobby (Mark Boone Junior), Tig (Kim Coates), Juice (Theo Rossi), and Happy (David Labrava) were all behind bars, giving Gemma plenty of reasons to be visiting.
The bigger question now is how that will play into a bigger story, which James has promised will happen on Mayans MC.
Will we find out how Emily ended up married to a Galindo?
It's an intriguing road for Emily (Sarah Bolger) to go from a small-town girl with a bright future to married to the head of a cartel in Miguel Galindo (Danny Pino). How, exactly, did that happen? Thankfully, that's something Mayans is going to deal with--and not just through EZ's flashbacks.
What's been interesting to do is now we have to find out what happened to Emily, not just through [EZ]--we do see more of her throughout [his flashbacks]--but also through her own stuff," James teased. "You see as she blossoms throughout the season as well. She has an amazing arc this season and I think from [what] you see of what she's doing now kind of leads us to the path of the decisions that she's made."
Does she actually love her husband, though?
While Emily's path to marrying Miguel maybe a dark one, it doesn't make their marriage a sham. "Emily is a character who I believe, maybe just before we met her in the pilot, wears her heart on her sleeve," Bolger explained. "I think that she has had to woman up. I think she has had to guard herself. To a place where Miguel actually made sense. Not only does Miguel love her, and they have love, like in this marriage it's not loveless. They are partners now, in more ways than one."
How long will Alvarez stick around?
The inclusion of Marcus Alvarez (Emilio Rivera) brings a lot of weight to Mayans MC, as one of the few survivors of Sons of Anarchy. Thankfully, though he's the head of the Oakland chapter of the Mayans, he won't be heading home anytime soon. Instead, he's going to be a pretty constant presence during Season 1, which James is excited to see unfold.
"Emilio Rivera is the whole reason why we're all here, you know, because of what he did with the character that a lesser actor, lesser human being, lesser man just wouldn't [have] done and he brought so much depth to this character and so much truth," the showrunner explained. "All these years later we have a show, he's our soul, he's our godfather. He's also, in the same way of, he's the bridge between the two worlds. While we're building out this new world and given everyone has a lot to do but we don't forget where our soul is and he's throughout the season as well. Marcus isn't going anywhere."
Is Angel in over his head?
While Angel (Clayton Cardenas) is loyal to his club, he's also working against them in trying to help bring down the cartel. As it turns out, though, it's entirely possible he hasn't thought through his plan.
"You know I think the thing is his ambition may be bigger than his britches, you know?" Cardenas said. "And it kinda puts him in situations that I don't know if he's really prepared for, but seeing the grander, in his eyes, seeing the grander scheme helps him push through."
What's the deal with Creeper?
Mayans MC doesn't even make it through a single episode without one of the club's members being gunned down. Thankfully, Creeper survived the incident. Once he's patched up and back in action, you should expect to get to know him a lot better.
"I've dabbled with some sort of addiction," Joseph Lucero sais of his character. "You guys will find that out later. I'm very volatile, angry, I have a huge insecurity because I don't speak Spanish, I'm Mexican or Latino, but I'm very f***ing loyal. I'm loyal as s***, I will die for it, but because of my recent addictions, I've gotten close with God. That has become a friction thing within myself."
Lucero also notes that his costume includes a sobriety token, which he wears like a badge of honor. Whether that will be noted on the show remains to be seen.
Does Bishop trust his cousin, Alvarez?
Bishop (Michael Irby) is the president of the Mayans MC chapter on the border, but with his cousin Alvarez there, he's not necessarily in charge. After all, Alvarez--the founder of the Mayans--outranks pretty much everyone in the organization. As Irby tells it, that could lead to some friction between the cousins.
"Not only are we dealing with the Cartels, but Bishop himself is dealing with his relationship with his cousin, with Marcus," the actor said. "He's got eyes on him too, wondering if I'm doing a good job down here with this group of misfits... I gotta say, you gotta love and hate these boys, but that is my cabinet, right? That is my people who I put together for this MC."
Can EZ survive being a rat?
If there's one lesson learned from Sons of Anarchy, it's that rats have to die. To be an informant putting the club in jeopardy is the deadliest sin imaginable. Unfortunately for EZ, that's not something he's realized just yet.
"I think he's naïve, you know? I think he really believes he can [get away with it]," Pardo said. "I believe he wants to. You get to see this in the beginning, he never wanted to be part of this life. He didn't care for it. There was nothing special or fascinating about it. He was going off to a great school and he was going to get a great job and make lots of money and enjoy life."
What he's not expecting, however, is the draw of the club. "Once you become a part of that world it's like a disease," the actor teased. "It just takes over you."
A new DLC expansion for Destiny 2, Forsaken, has finally been released. It's much larger than the last two, being positioned as the equivalent of the previous entry's game-changing Taken King expansion. Whether it'll add the long-term legs players crave remains to be see, but in the meantime, there is a lot of new stuff to take in--including Exotics for Hunters, Warlocks, and Titans to get their hands on. Be sure to check out our Forsaken review-in-progress for thoughts on what we've played so far.
Following the recent changes made as part of the 2.0 update, among the many additions and changes in Forsaken and the 2.0.0.1 update are a new Power level cap, Strikes, story missions, areas to explore, a Raid (launching September 14), Gambit mode, Crucible maps, and much more. But players take part in many of these activities with one goal: to secure new gear, and specifically Exotic weapons and armor.
No doubt there are many hidden Exotics to uncover, some of which may not be available right away. But already we've either gotten our hands on or been able to preview a ton of the Exotic weapons and armor included, and you can see them above, including one of the new weapon type, bows. We'll continue to expand this as we come across more.
One thing to bear in mind is that there are a select number of items that you'll only find on PS4. As with previous Destiny content releases, Sony has a timed exclusivity arrangement that sees certain things released first on PS4. With Forsaken, that includes a Strike called Broodhold, an Exotic weapon called Wavesplitter (pictured above), an Exotic ship (Great Beyond), and an armor set for each class: Thorium Holt (Warlock), Red Moon Phantom (Hunter), and Mimetic Savior (Titan). All of this will eventually release on Xbox One and PC, but not until at least Fall 2019.
Forsaken is now live on all platforms. We've got some early impressions, a guide to activating a new Heroic Public Event, and we'll have a Gambit guide soon on how to compete effectively in the new PvE/PvP hybrid mode. Look for much more in the coming days.
Destiny 2: Forsaken is ushering Bungie's latest sci-fi shooter into its second year with a smorgasbord of new missions, modes, enemies, equipment, and more. Prominent among the new additions is Gambit, a unique Destiny 2 mode that blends PVE and PVP together into one seriously fun competition.
Most of the time in Gambit, you won't be shooting other players directly. But you're always competing with another team of Guardians, so you'll want to bring your A-game to every match. And that means having the right loadouts, knowing the best strategies, and being prepared with a complete understanding of everything Gambit has to offer.
As a hybrid mode that isn't just PVE or PVP, Gambit allows you to explore new play styles that straddle the line between both. Based on our early experiences with the mode, here are some of the best ways to ensure your team comes out on top.
How Gambit works
Destiny 2's newest game mode is aptly named, as almost every move you make is a gambit that risks your progress and points for a greater advantage over your opponents. Teams of four players compete to defeat enough enemies to be the first to summon a large "Primeval" boss enemy and defeat it, while periodically invading one another's areas and killing other players to slow the opposing team's progress. Besides these "invasions" of one player into the opposing team's play area, the two teams are totally separate.
You'll spend the bulk of any Gambit match defeating enemies and gathering the Motes they drop. You can carry up to 15 at a time, and although there's no direct adverse effect for holding onto them, you'll lose them all permanently if you die, setting your team back significantly.
You're meant to bank these Motes periodically at the station in the center of the map, getting your team closer to summoning your Primeval. Doing so in increments of five sends a "blocker" enemy to the opposing team's area, preventing them from banking their own Motes. Banking five Motes sends a small blocker, ten sends a medium, and 15 sends a large blocker that takes significant firepower to defeat. The bars along the top of the screen show not just how many Motes your team has banked (the red and blue bars), but also how many Motes each team's players are holding (the gray portion of the bar that's not yet filled in).
The notches on these bars represent the 25 and 50 marks. Reaching these milestones opens a portal to your opponents' side, allowing one player on your team to invade their space and try to slow their progress. The invading player gets an overshield, and can see their opponents' locations for the duration of the invasion, even through walls. They invader is sent back to their side if they get four kills (a team wipe), if they die (which drops three Motes for the invaded team to pick up), or at the end of a 30 second timer.
When your team has banked 75 Motes, a large Primeval boss enemy appears. It's accompanied by smaller, but still tough enemies that provide it with extra protection--taking them out makes the Primeval more vulnerable to damage. Once your Primeval is summoned, your opponents get to invade periodically, and any deaths while an invader is present restore the boss's health. The first team to defeat its Primeval wins the round, and each Gambit match is best out of three.
The best Gambit tips and strategies
That all may sound rather complicated, but once you play a few matches it starts to seem simple. But don't worry--you'll quickly realize just how tactical Gambit can be. The amount that strategy matters varies from match to match, depending on the skill of your opponents, but fighting a coordinated team can be incredibly frustrating if your side doesn't have its act together. Here are some important rules, tips, and strategies if you don't want to get your butt handed to you.
Communicate. Obviously it's possible to solo queue into Gambit matchmaking, but it's not advised. Playing Gambit with any degree of strategy requires tons of communication, and you're generally not going to luck into a team of three other random players who all have mics and are willing to use them. Try to form a team by playing with friends, joining a clan, using an LFG site, or finding a Discord server dedicated to Destiny 2 on your platform of choice.
Coordinate when you bank Motes. It can be tempting to bank your Motes whenever you have enough to send the other team a blocker (five or more), or whenever you start worrying about dying and losing them. But coordinating with your teammates on when to bank Motes is absolutely crucial. Sending one small or medium blocker to the other side won't slow down your opponents much; sending three or four simultaneously is a different story.
Pay attention to how many Motes your teammates are carrying. If you have two Motes and your teammate has 14, don't dash ahead of them to catch up. Let them fill up on Motes so they can send a large blocker to the other side. And if you see that a teammate who's carrying a lot of Motes is under heavy fire--from normal enemies or even from an invader--it's smart to attempt a rescue.
Send blockers with your invader. The notches on the Motes progress bar that represent 25 and 50 Motes are important. Once your team has banked a total of 25 Motes, a portal opens to the opposing team's map. Communicate with your teammates so that once your team is carrying 25 total--when the grey progress bar passes the first notch--you bank them all together, spawning multiple blockers and opening the portal simultaneously. That way when your invader goes through, your opponents can't hastily bank all the Motes they're carrying, giving the invader time to take them out and deny them those Motes.
Likewise, be careful of blockers and invaders arriving simultaneously. If the other team knows what they're doing and they're faster than you, chances are they'll use this exact strategy on you. You have two options when an invader and blockers arrive together: You can quickly take out the blockers and try to bank your Motes before the invader can kill you--which will usually involve burning a Super--or you can turn all your attention to killing the invader and sending them back to their side. Either way, it takes communication, awareness, and coordination among your teammates.
Save your Super and power ammo for invading. Chances are you'll pick the best one or two PVP players on your team to be the designated invaders. When heavy ammo pops up at stations around the map, let these players pick it up. And if you're the invader, save your super and your heavy ammo for when you're deep in enemy territory.
If you have a ton of Motes when you get invaded, hide. Hiding may be relatively ineffective, considering the invader can see more or less exactly where you are at all times. But taking cover can force the invader to expose themselves trying to get to you, allowing your teammates with fewer Motes to take the risk and defeat them. Again, communication is key--"Invader is here, I have 15 Motes, I'm taking cover!" is a valuable callout.
When the other team spawns their Primeval, don't invade right away. Summoning your Primeval opens you up to more frequent invasions. It can be tempting to head to your opponents' side right away when that happens, especially if your team is lagging far behind, but it's unwise. Killing opposing Guardians when their Primeval's health is full will set them back a few seconds; killing them when they've already done some damage to their boss's health will restore its health, more significantly impeding their progress. It can be the difference between your team losing and catching up for the win.
That said, don't wait too long to invade once the other team's Primeval starts taking damage. Given how powerful Forsaken has made us, burning down a boss to zero health can take a matter of seconds with the right loadouts. An invasion even with your foes' Primeval still at half health can be too late if they're good. You'll get a feel for the timing eventually.
The best Gambit guns and loadouts
Before Destiny 2: Forsaken's release, Gambit was briefly available for a single day for players to try out. The king of the Gambit meta quickly emerged as Sleeper Simulant, an Exotic linear fusion rifle that players of Destiny 2's Warmind expansion had the ability to acquire. With its powerful and accurate shots, Sleeper excels both at taking down PVE bosses and at sniping enemy players from across the map. Its rounds even ricochet and penetrate targets, allowing skilled players to take out multiple opponents with a single shot.
With Forsaken's release, Sleeper may soon be considered a relic from Destiny 2's first year--or maybe not. Given how new this all is, it isn't yet clear what will come out on top once players have discovered all the new guns and armor Destiny 2: Forsaken will offer. For now, here are some general tips.
Don't be afraid to pick a focus. Coordinate with your teammates before you starting matching and don't be afraid to choose a focus area. You can always choose who goes to invade when a portal opens. Those players your team has designated as invaders can spec their loadouts for PVP, while those who will remain behind killing adds can choose equipment and abilities better suited to PVE. Ultimately everyone will wind up doing some of both, but it's OK to focus on one style or the other.
Your super is crucial. We've yet to experiment enough with Destiny 2: Forsaken's new Super abilities, but suffice to say which Supers you and your teammates choose is important. You'll want a good blend of add-control supers, damage dealers, and PVP-focused abilities; during the Gambit preview event before Forsaken's release, Hunters' tether proved helpful for taking down the Primeval, Golden Gun and Warlocks' Dawnblade were great for invading the other team, and even the Titan class's generally underused Ward of Dawn bubble proved useful for taking shelter inside when you were invaded.
The PVP meta is always changing. Are hand cannons or SMGs on top right now? Are snipers viable again with Forsaken's changes to ammo and weapon slots? Is Sleeper still the best choice for your heavy? These meta dynamics shift and change with the seasons, and with Forsaken having just arrived, you should feel free to experiment and change your loadout if what you're using isn't working.
We'll have more tips and strategies as Destiny 2: Forsaken continues to evolve. For now, have fun in Destiny 2's most unique challenge yet.
With its release approaching next year, the first image from Captain Marvel has arrived, and it's a notable one. Brie Larson stars in the upcoming Marvel movie, which is set for release in March 2019. She is the first female superhero to headline a film within the MCU, and the image comes via Entertainment Weekly, which has subsequently shared additional photos and details.
The main EW image shows Larson as Carol Danvers wearing the iconic Captain Marvel costume from Marvel's comic books, which will be good news for those fans who were worried that she might be wearing something a little different. Check it out below:
Captain Marvel is directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, who collaborated on Ryan Gosling's breakthrough Half Nelson and have directed episodes of hit TV shows The Affair and Billions. The cast features Samuel L. Jackson as SHIELD boss Nick Fury and also includes Ben Mendelsohn (Star Wars: Rogue One), Jude Law (Sherlock Holmes), DeWanda Wise (She's Gotta Have It), and Gemma Chan (Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them). According to EW, the movie will not include an origin story and will initially see Danvars working in space as part of the elite Kree military team Starforce. The magazine also released additional Captain Marvelimages and details.
Larson spoke about what we can expect from her character. "She can't help but be herself," she said. "She can be aggressive, and she can have a temper, and she can be a little invasive and in your face. She's also quick to jump to things, which makes her amazing in battle because she's the first one out there and doesn't always wait for orders. But the [not] waiting for orders is, to some, a character flaw."
Scum is a tough game and you will likely die a lot, so we put together these hints and tips to make your survival sandbox experience a little less stressful.
It's time to web sling our way through the city, save some folks, and more with our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
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