Joss Whedon’s HBO series The Nevers — which he created, then left in the middle of production due to the general stress of making a big television show in the middle of a pandemic — gets a first trailer. Back when he was still attached, Whedon called it “the most ambitious narrative” he’d ever created.
The Nevers takes place in Victorian London, where people — mostly women — suddenly manifest magical abilities. Known as the “Touched,” they must find a space for themselves amidst the rigid (and frankly sexist) Victorian society, with widow Amalia True (Laura Donnelly) and inventor Penance Adair (Ann Skelly) leading the way. The first trailer is full of fist fights, sweeping Victorian ball gowns, and the general mystique of a gaslamp fantasy. Olivia Williams (The Sixth Sense), Denis O’Hare (American Horror Story), Eleanor Tomlinson (Poldark), and Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz) also star.
The show debuts in April with six episodes on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max.
Sega is bringing Judgment, the murder-mystery action-adventure from its Yakuza team, to PlayStation 5, Stadia, and Xbox Series X on April 23. The remastered version of Judgment will include refined visuals, a 60 frames per second frame rate, and improved load times, Sega says — plus it includes all previously released downloadable content. Sega’s re-release of Judgment will cost $39.99.
Judgment was originally released exclusively for PlayStation 4. Yakuza developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio released the game first in Japan, with a global release following in June 2019.
A spinoff of the Yakuza series, Judgment stars Takayuki Yagami, a disgraced lawyer turned grizzled private detective who attempts to solve the mystery behind a series of murders. Joining him in his quest is former yakuza Masaharu Kaito. The duo explore Kamurocho’s underground and battle its criminal element in search of the truth. Like the Yakuza games, expect plenty of street fights — but also investigative gameplay, side missions, and minigames.
In our review of the game, we praised Judgment for building something new on the structure of the Yakuza series’ familiar gameplay. “It doesn’t stray from its roots — it’s still a crime drama with lots of punching — but it fills out the story of the city and its people in a way that’s not possible from a game focused only on the criminal underworld,” we said. “This is the same city, just seen from a very different perspective.”
Netflix has announced an all-new animated Sonic the Hedgehog series, Sonic Prime, set to premiere worldwide in 2022.The animated adventure will consist of 24 episodes, which will follow Sonic on a “high-octane adventure where the fate of a strange new multiverse rests in his gloved hands.” Whilst that might sound like a familiar premise, Netflix notes that the series is “more than a race to save the universe,” as the Blue Blur ultimately finds himself on “a journey of self-discovery and redemption.”
Sonic Prime will be a collaboration between SEGA and Wild Brain Studio, as the two companies are jointly handling production, distribution, and licensing of the series, alongside Ben 10 creators Man of Action Entertainment, who will be serving as showrunners and executive producers on the project, which was accidentally teased towards the end of last year.“Sonic is a beloved character and holds a special place in everyone’s heart including my own,” Netflix’s Director of Original Animation, Dominique Bazay, said in a statement following the announcement. “I spent many hours with the blue blur as a kid and it’s a privilege to be able to bring this character everyone knows and loves on a brand new adventure with Netflix — one that a generation of loyal fans and brand new fans around the world can enjoy.”
The series based on the beloved video game — which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year — is said to build upon the momentum that was generated for the iconic character following the release of the Sonic the Hedgehog movie last year, with an all-new adventure that aims to “match the scale and scope of the epic adventures synonymous with the Sonic franchise.”
“Sonic the Hedgehog is a global entertainment icon that has captivated audiences since its video game debut in 1991,” added SEGA’s Ivo Gerscovich. “With over 1.14 billion game units sold and downloaded to date, an exciting feature film, a robust licensing program, and more, SEGA’s iconic hedgehog continues to surprise and delight audiences worldwide. We’re thrilled to partner with WildBrain, Man of Action Entertainment, and Netflix to speed into this new, animated chapter in the Sonic franchise.”
Every Video Game Movie in Development (Almost)
“This premium franchise is ideally suited to WildBrain’s capabilities and it’s already inspiring great things from our talented creative teams,” explained WildBrain President Josh Scherba. “We’ve witnessed first-hand the enduring popularity of this brand from the strong and steady global demand for our library of legacy Sonic series. We look forward now to bringing fresh and exciting Sonic content to fans both new and old.”
In addition to Netflix’s Sonic Prime, coming in 2022, a sequel to the Sonic the Hedgehog movie is in the works, with Jeff Fowler, who helmed the 2020 film, reportedly returning to direct the SEGA Sonic-oriented project from a script by Pat Casey and Josh Miller. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is currently scheduled to race into theaters on April 8, 2022.
Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.
Last year, Rockstar Games announced GTA 5 and GTA Online for the PS5 and Xbox Series X. At the time, the developer noted the pair were coming to next-gen consoles in an “expanded and enhanced” form. At the moment of publishing, it’s provided zero additional details on the ports and how they are being expanded and enhanced, but a new leak has relayed word of one feature players can expect. Unfortunately, it’s not a very exciting one, but it’s one players will be relieved to hear is in the works.
Word of the feature comes the way of a recent GTA Online update, and more specifically, the files of this update. With the update, Rockstar Games added new files for character transfers. The files themselves — “CHasCharacterToTransferDecisionPage” — don’t directly divulge anything too salient, but this seems to suggest Rockstar Games is working on a character transfer process for when the game comes to PS5 and Xbox Series X. In other words, it sounds like players won’t need to start from scratch with a brand new character, and will rather be able to carry over their progress to the new machines.
While this may seem like an obvious feature, especially since the game did this PS4 and Xbox One, it was far from a guarantee. It would be very easy for Rockstar Games to force players to start over, as this could have more financial benefits than letting players transfer their character. Of course, this would be a big PR blunder, but it could justify the decision whilst hiding behind the “expanded and enhanced” marketing slogan. That said, it looks like Rockstar Games will avoid this pitfall and allow character transfers.
For now, take everything here with a grain of salt given that everything here is the information of the leaked variety, and because it’s laced with some speculation.
At the moment of publishing, Rockstar Games has not commented on this leak in any capacity. If this changes, we will be sure to update the story with whatever is provided, salient or not. In the meantime, for more coverage on GTA Online and all things gaming — including not just all the latest news, but all of the latest rumors and leaks — click here.
Armie Hammer will no longer star in the upcoming Paramount Plus series “The Offer,” which tells the behind the scenes story of the making of “The Godfather,” Variety has learned from sources.
It was announced in early December that Hammer was attached to lead the show in the role of Al Ruddy, who produced “The Godfather” back in 1972. The 10-episode series details Ruddy’s experience working on the iconic film. The search is now on for a new series lead.
Reps for Hammer and Paramount did not immediately respond to Variety‘s for comment. This post will be updated should they respond.
News of Hammer’s exit from the show comes weeks after he also dropped out of the romcom “Shotgun Wedding,” in which he was to star opposite Jennifer Lopez, after a series of unverified Instagram direct messages supposedly written by Hammer leaked online. The messages described graphic sexual fantasies, including cannibalism.
Hammer previously issued a statement on the controversy, saying he would not respond to “bulls— claims,” further describing the social media uproar around the messages as “vicious and spurious online attacks against [him].”
“The Offer” was one of several high-profile projects announced when ViacomCBS revealed they were rebranding the streaming service CBS All Access to Paramount Plus back in September. Others included the spy drama “Lioness” from Oscar winner Taylor Sheridan as well as a reboot of the music docuseries “Behind the Music.”
Michael Tolkin is writing and executive producing “The Offer,” with Ruddy, Nikki Toscano and Leslie Grief also executive producing. Paramount Television Studios will produce.
With the rebrand and the addition of library shows from BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon and more content from the Paramount Pictures vault, Paramount Plus will offer up about 30,000 episodes and films. BET, Comedy Central and other ViacomCBS imprints will also produce original series for Paramount Plus.
The anime series comes after the 2017 feature Kong: Skull Island re-introduced the world to King Kong and comes ahead of March’s upcoming Godzilla vs. Kong movie from Warner Bros. and Legendary.
Meanwhile, Tomb Raider picks up after the events of Square Enix’s Tomb Raider video game reboot trilogy, which was released in installments from 2013-18 and was developed by Crystal Dynamics and Eidos Montréal. It will be unrelated to the ongoing series of films starring Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft, the adventurer first introduced in 1996.
Tasha Huo, known for The Witcher: Blood Origin, will write and executive produce Tomb Raider. Other executive producers include dj2 Entertainment Founder and CEO Dmitri M. Johnson, Stephan Bugaj and Howard Bliss; and Jacob Robinson.
Microsoft’s flagship Xbox Series X is one of the most powerful gaming consoles available right now. If you are having difficulty finding it, Target has restocked the Xbox Series X today, so you may want to check it out while supplies last. Given the challenge it has been to secure a unit, inventory will likely not last long.
Although no walk-in purchases are available, you will have the option to either have it shipped to your home or request an in-store pickup.
Like every major hardware launch, the demand for the Xbox Series X and its competitor, the PlayStation 5, is through the roof, and the usual problems of supply and demand are exacerbated by the fact that both next-gen consoles launched during a pandemic. Many retailers have sold the console exclusively online. The biggest struggle has been trying to guess when and where the next PS5 or Xbox Series X / S restock will happen, and there is no clear indication of when they will resume in-store walk-in purchases.
Xbox Series X
Prices taken at time of publishing.
The Xbox Series X is Microsoft’s flagship console, serving as its most powerful (and biggest) option.
While the Nintendo Switch is not brand-new anymore, buying one could be a smarter decision than trying to buy a PS5 or Xbox Series X right now. Getting a hold of the next-gen PlayStation or Xbox is admittedly hard to do. But even if you have the opportunity, you may want to reconsider.
Spending your money on the follow-up to your current console of choice seems like a no-brainer. But what do you actually want from a new console? I’d argue some of the best things about using a new console aren’t actually present in the new PlayStation or Xbox.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
Nintendo Switch: What I love
For example, take the game library. The majority of games you can play on the PS5 and Series X are the same ones you can currently play on the PS4 and Xbox One. Furthermore, the handful of platform exclusives may not be that inspiring to you. Meanwhile, over on the Switch, there are more than three years of releases to explore.
The variety of games available is a credit to Nintendo. Naturally, your thoughts may gravitate toward Mario, Animal Crossing, Super Smash Bros, Legend of Zelda and the like. These high-quality franchises are good reasons to buy a Nintendo console. However, you’ll also find a surprising number of big third-party games on the Switch. Highlights include Doom and The Witcher 3, as well as one of the best indie game libraries outside of the PC. All of the next-gen exclusives on PS5 and Xbox Series X are firmly big-budget affairs, and many of them are either remakes or sequels. I wouldn’t blame you if these lineups have left you cold.
While it’s nice to chase higher frame rates and prettier graphics, these don’t guarantee you’re going to have fun with a game.
In terms of hardware the Switch has some key advantages, too. By all means, compare TFLOPs and maximum resolution output, and laugh at the meager GPU inside the Switch. But while it’s nice to chase higher frame rates and prettier graphics, these don’t guarantee you’re going to have fun with a game. And if graphics are your priority, then you’re probably better off looking at a gaming PC rather than a console.
Then, there’s the fact that the Switch’s less powerful hardware allows it to be portable: easily its standout feature. I wouldn’t have ever thought about this before I bought my own Switch, but having access to a fully equipped console anywhere is a luxury that can’t be overstated. Even if you’re in lockdown right now to prevent the spread of you-know-what, having the freedom to play games somewhere aside from my desk helps keep the mental divide between work and home life from crumbling.
You get the versatile Joy-Cons to try out, too. These controllers have built-in accelerometers and gyroscopes, while still working similarly to a traditional gamepad. You can still play games as normal, but also try out less traditional motion control experiences. You won’t need extra peripherals, either, such as a costly VR headset. I feel that the Joy-Cons are comfier to use than a normal gamepad, since you can use both halves separated, with your arms relaxed at your sides. Perhaps this isn’t a common way to play, but it’s certainly how I like to use them.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
Nintendo Switch: What I don’t love
Let’s be honest about where the Switch is irredeemably weak, though. Multiplayer and online functionality are, to put it bluntly, a mess. Some games require Nintendo’s Switch Online subscription service for online multiplayer, but others let you play over the Internet for free. To activate voice chat, you need to use an app on your smartphone — a device that already does enough without having to be a gaming peripheral as well. This doesn’t bother me, since I’m a solitary gamer most of the time. But going for a Switch probably is a bad idea if you’re a dedicated player of Call of Duty, Fortnite or the like.
In Nintendo’s defense, the Switch is probably the best console for local multiplayer, considering that the Joy-Cons can be used as two separate gamepads. Up to eight Switches with four players apiece can also work together in the same space. Want a second controller for your Xbox or PS5? That’ll be another $70. And good luck gathering enough displays and consoles in one space for a 32-person local PS5/Series X multiplayer session without hiring a community hall.
The Switch’s internal storage is both smaller and slower than what you get with the Sony and Microsoft consoles. You get 825GB of SSD space on the PS5, and a 1TB SSD on the Xbox. The Switch has just 32GB of memory. However, Switch games take up less space as a rule thanks to the lower graphical fidelity. And if you run out of space, at least you can expand the Switch’s memory easily with any microSD card. Compare and contrast to the expensive proprietary SSD drives you’ll need to add more room to the Xbox or PS5.
I think even the most dedicated PlayStation or Xbox fan has a few good reasons to make the switch to a Switch, even once the next major wave of PS5 and Series X stock arrives. Granted, your decision depends on why you enjoy playing games. If you’re into graphical fidelity, robust multiplayer or are a dedicated fan of an exclusive franchise, you may not want a Switch. But if different kinds of games — and access to them outside of your living room — appeal to you more, maybe you should consider Nintendo’s hybrid console instead of Microsoft and Sony’s newest machines.
Still looking for a PS5 or Xbox Series X? Well, GameStop is about to bring the heat with a bunch of bundles dropping today.
The retailer announced it will be selling “A limited number of PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S,” bundles today (Thursday, Jan. 21). It’s even going to stock Nintendo Switch bundles, if you’re trying to track down the dockable console with some (hopefully) neat pack-ins. As of 1:15 pm (ET), there is no PS5 stock available.
PS5 Digital Edition: $399 at GameStop GameStop has confirmed it will have PS5 bundles available later today. It’s still unclear how much stock will be available or at what time. View Deal
PS5: $499 at GameStop GameStop has confirmed it will have PS5 bundles available later today. Stayed tuned for more news as it breaks. View Deal
But, as always, expect these units to sell out, and go fast at that. It’s bad enough that GameStop’s tweet refers to this incoming stock as “a limited number,” but it’s also advising that you turn on notifications for its social media account to do so.
This suggestion from GameStop is both smart shopping and smart marketing. While shoppers may get faster notice about availability, this opts users into GameStop sending them push notifications about anything that it wants.
❗Heads up❗– A limited number of PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, AND Nintendo Switch console bundles will be available tomorrow on https://t.co/CYyCoH1dWE. We’ll let you know when they’re live, but you might want to turn on post notifications so you don’t miss out! pic.twitter.com/tC3dUBDbKlJanuary 20, 2021
Looking at GameStop’s recent tweets suggests that opting into its notifications would leave you getting notifications for its live streams of games, promotions about games going on sale and videos from people who were able to successfully buy a console from the retailer.
And you might not want to get spam like that on your home screen, but at this rate you may have no choice. And it’s not like the other accounts might be more helpful. Even those Twitter accounts focused on PS5 stock notifications may send you alerts for stock that doesn’t apply to you, be it in another country or a retailer that requires a membership, such as Sam’s Club.
Check PS5 stock at other retailers
How to get GameStop Twitter notifications
1. Make sure you’re following @GameStop, and tap the Notifications bell.
(Image credit: GameStop/Twitter)
2. Tap All Tweets.
(Image credit: GameStop/Twitter)
That’s it. Now, once you’ve got your fill of notifications from GameStop, go back and tap the Notifications icon and select None to disable the alerts.