Disney+ Removes Peter Pan, Other Movies From Kids Profiles For Negative Depictions
Disney+ has removed access on kids profiles to several titles that come with content advisory notices, including Peter Pan and Dumbo.
A 1011 Now news report identified Peter Pan, Dumbo, Aristocats, and the live-action Swiss Family Robinson as being amongst the titles that will no longer be available to stream on Disney+ profiles that are specifically set up for children, though "local ratings and cultural sensitivities can mean that there may be some variations in the availability of specific titles" in different regions.
"Titles with a content advisory notice related to negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures have been excluded," the company confirms on its online help center. These exclusions apply to children's accounts only, meaning that the identified titles will remain in the Disney+ library for regular accounts, with a content advisory message presented ahead of the feature.
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This announcement comes shortly after The Walt Disney Company launched its Stories Matter initiative. As part of this effort, the company drafted in a group of experts to advise and assess its content and ensure that it accurately represents global audiences. Disney has included examples of the disclaimers now included with select titles, along with an explanation of some of the negative depictions.
The disclaimer reads: "This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. Rather than remove this content, we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe."
This updated content advisory notice started appearing in front of controversial movies and shorts in the Disney+ library towards the end of last year.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/10/disneys-jungle-cruise-official-trailer-2"]
Disney further demonstrated the changes that are being implemented across the business when it announced plans to update its Jungle Cruise attraction at Disneyland and Walt Disney World after receiving years-long criticism over the ride's outdated and insensitive depictions of cultures. The river cruise will receive an updated storyline to better "reflect and value the diversity of the world around us."
Jungle Cruise is not the only theme park attraction to be getting a revamp; Disney previously revealed that Splash Mountain will be "completely reimagined" as a Princess and the Frog ride at Disneyland and Walt Disney World after fans petitioned to overhaul the ride because it was inspired by (and still includes) imagery from Song of the South, a movie featuring racially insensitive depictions.
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Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.
Amazon Reportedly Working on a Secret Home Robot the Size of ‘Two Small Cats’
Amazon has reportedly reached the "late-prototype stage" of its secretive home robot project, codenamed Vesta.
According to The Verge, an Insider report revealed that Amazon is making steady progress on its long-rumored Vesta bot after assigning more than 800 employees to the project. The company reportedly considers the development of its home robot a "top priority, as it has the potential to emerge as one of the biggest and most ambitious new technologies on the market.
Speculative details in the report suggest the device will be around the size of "two small cats," approx. 10 to 13 inches wide, and that it will be able to move around a space and navigate an area, just like a furry feline, as the voice-activated assistant will roll about on its wheels. The robot will function as a home automation hub by responding to comments and interfacing with other smart home devices.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/revealed-your-top-5-giant-robots-mechs-power-ranking"]
Additionally, the robot is said to be equipped with a screen, a microphone, several cameras, and possibly even sensors. These extra features would help to make Amazon's home robot one of the more advanced of its type, with some of the built-in gadgets used to monitor surroundings for environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and air quality.
The bot could also include a "small compartment" for carrying objects as part of its design, as well as a "waist-high retractable pole with a camera" that could act as another set of eyes when users misplace items around their home. As useful as it all sounds, some employees have reportedly expressed concern over whether the robot will find a customer base if it ever hits the market.
Insider claims an anonymous source "directly involved" with the project said that people were "very skeptical" about the product launch, as there had been apprehension over the possibility of it "turning into another Fire Phone." Amazon had a hard time selling its first-ever phone, with the company reportedly having lost $170 million on the phone shortly after its release.
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If the Vesta robot does eventually hit the market, then it is believed that it could initially be launched as a "limited invite-only product," as a means of presumably gauging reactions and interest before stocking up the inventory. It sounds like a smart plan to us, especially since a recent study found that humans prefer A.I. robots to look human... well, at least, up to a certain point.
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Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.
Amazon Reportedly Working on a Secret Home Robot the Size of ‘Two Small Cats’
Amazon has reportedly reached the "late-prototype stage" of its secretive home robot project, codenamed Vesta.
According to The Verge, an Insider report revealed that Amazon is making steady progress on its long-rumored Vesta bot after assigning more than 800 employees to the project. The company reportedly considers the development of its home robot a "top priority, as it has the potential to emerge as one of the biggest and most ambitious new technologies on the market.
Speculative details in the report suggest the device will be around the size of "two small cats," approx. 10 to 13 inches wide, and that it will be able to move around a space and navigate an area, just like a furry feline, as the voice-activated assistant will roll about on its wheels. The robot will function as a home automation hub by responding to comments and interfacing with other smart home devices.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/revealed-your-top-5-giant-robots-mechs-power-ranking"]
Additionally, the robot is said to be equipped with a screen, a microphone, several cameras, and possibly even sensors. These extra features would help to make Amazon's home robot one of the more advanced of its type, with some of the built-in gadgets used to monitor surroundings for environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and air quality.
The bot could also include a "small compartment" for carrying objects as part of its design, as well as a "waist-high retractable pole with a camera" that could act as another set of eyes when users misplace items around their home. As useful as it all sounds, some employees have reportedly expressed concern over whether the robot will find a customer base if it ever hits the market.
Insider claims an anonymous source "directly involved" with the project said that people were "very skeptical" about the product launch, as there had been apprehension over the possibility of it "turning into another Fire Phone." Amazon had a hard time selling its first-ever phone, with the company reportedly having lost $170 million on the phone shortly after its release.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-12-greatest-giant-robots-ever&captions=true"]
If the Vesta robot does eventually hit the market, then it is believed that it could initially be launched as a "limited invite-only product," as a means of presumably gauging reactions and interest before stocking up the inventory. It sounds like a smart plan to us, especially since a recent study found that humans prefer A.I. robots to look human... well, at least, up to a certain point.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.
Animal Crossing Build-a-Bears Are Moving In
Have you ever wished you could cuddle a big stuffed animal of Tom Nook, and then dress him up in a bunch of cute little outfits? Build-a-Bear may be about to make that a reality.
In a tweet today, Build-a-Bear announced it had partnered with Nintendo for an Animal Crossing collection:
Unfortunately, there are no further details at the moment as to which Animal Crossing characters will be turned into cute stuffed animals. Based on past promotions, it seems very possible we get at least one or two bears based on or inspired by main characters from the game such as Tom Nook or Isabelle, as well as a handful of outfits that can be worn by any bear. It's also possible that, like other collections, this is one that grows over time to include more and more characters. Build-a-Bear has previously released numerous collections based on popular entertainment properties including Super Mario, Doctor Who, Pokémon, Frozen, How to Train Your Dragon, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Mandalorian, and Sonic the Hedgehog. Meanwhile, Animal Crossing has seen plenty of interesting crossovers lately, including a partnership with ColourPop for a make-up line and an upcoming crossover with Sanrio to add six new villagers based on Sanrio characters, as well as a ton of new furniture items, to the game. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Rebekah Valentine is a news reporter for IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.COMING SOON! Our Animal Crossing™: New Horizons collection is full of fun for all ages. Sign up for free email and text updates so you don’t miss a thing!
US: https://t.co/g37GrjpCWc UK: https://t.co/D6Wesqr0Cc pic.twitter.com/ZJ0UwlAJx7 — buildabear (@buildabear) March 10, 2021
Animal Crossing Build-a-Bears Are Moving In
Have you ever wished you could cuddle a big stuffed animal of Tom Nook, and then dress him up in a bunch of cute little outfits? Build-a-Bear may be about to make that a reality.
In a tweet today, Build-a-Bear announced it had partnered with Nintendo for an Animal Crossing collection:
Unfortunately, there are no further details at the moment as to which Animal Crossing characters will be turned into cute stuffed animals. Based on past promotions, it seems very possible we get at least one or two bears based on or inspired by main characters from the game such as Tom Nook or Isabelle, as well as a handful of outfits that can be worn by any bear. It's also possible that, like other collections, this is one that grows over time to include more and more characters. Build-a-Bear has previously released numerous collections based on popular entertainment properties including Super Mario, Doctor Who, Pokémon, Frozen, How to Train Your Dragon, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Mandalorian, and Sonic the Hedgehog. Meanwhile, Animal Crossing has seen plenty of interesting crossovers lately, including a partnership with ColourPop for a make-up line and an upcoming crossover with Sanrio to add six new villagers based on Sanrio characters, as well as a ton of new furniture items, to the game. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Rebekah Valentine is a news reporter for IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.COMING SOON! Our Animal Crossing™: New Horizons collection is full of fun for all ages. Sign up for free email and text updates so you don’t miss a thing!
US: https://t.co/g37GrjpCWc UK: https://t.co/D6Wesqr0Cc pic.twitter.com/ZJ0UwlAJx7 — buildabear (@buildabear) March 10, 2021
PS5 Developers Can Now Add Denuvo Anti-Cheat to Their Games
Denuvo Anti-Cheat has joined the PlayStation 5 Tools and Middleware program, hoping to help developers to fight cheaters on the platform.
Revealed in a press release from Denuvo creator Irdeto, the company announced that game publishers and developers would be able to leverage its anti-cheat technology to "bring cheating to an end" on PlayStation 5.
"Denuvo, the leader in video games protection, offers its Anti-Cheat solution through this program to publishers and developers whose games are available on PlayStation 5," the release reads. Denuvo reasons that its tools will allow developers to protect their investment, when "approximately 70% of their revenue is earned in the first two weeks after the launch of a game." Many developers risk losing their player base if a game is overrun by cheaters.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/28/top-10-ps5-games"]
Irdeto said that Denuvo's technology allows developers to "secure both online gameplay as well as securely reward offline progress," and mentioned that it was already being used in a number of PlayStation 5 launch games (although it's not clear which ones). The company reiterated that its technology "has no negative impact on in-game performance," and noted that it has protected "over 2 billion unique game installs" across all gaming platforms.
Denuvo has been controversial in the games community previously. id Software recently added and then later removed Denuvo Anti-Cheat from Doom Eternal following online backlash from players. Denuvo Anti-Tamper, a separate anti-piracy tool, has more frequently been a cause for concern, with developers and players citing performance issues.
In other PS5 news, here's our coverage of the first 100 days of the console's launch. Internal storage upgrades will reportedly be enabled for the console via a firmware patch later this year.
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Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter
PS5 Developers Can Now Add Denuvo Anti-Cheat to Their Games
Denuvo Anti-Cheat has joined the PlayStation 5 Tools and Middleware program, hoping to help developers to fight cheaters on the platform.
Revealed in a press release from Denuvo creator Irdeto, the company announced that game publishers and developers would be able to leverage its anti-cheat technology to "bring cheating to an end" on PlayStation 5.
"Denuvo, the leader in video games protection, offers its Anti-Cheat solution through this program to publishers and developers whose games are available on PlayStation 5," the release reads. Denuvo reasons that its tools will allow developers to protect their investment, when "approximately 70% of their revenue is earned in the first two weeks after the launch of a game." Many developers risk losing their player base if a game is overrun by cheaters.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/28/top-10-ps5-games"]
Irdeto said that Denuvo's technology allows developers to "secure both online gameplay as well as securely reward offline progress," and mentioned that it was already being used in a number of PlayStation 5 launch games (although it's not clear which ones). The company reiterated that its technology "has no negative impact on in-game performance," and noted that it has protected "over 2 billion unique game installs" across all gaming platforms.
Denuvo has been controversial in the games community previously. id Software recently added and then later removed Denuvo Anti-Cheat from Doom Eternal following online backlash from players. Denuvo Anti-Tamper, a separate anti-piracy tool, has more frequently been a cause for concern, with developers and players citing performance issues.
In other PS5 news, here's our coverage of the first 100 days of the console's launch. Internal storage upgrades will reportedly be enabled for the console via a firmware patch later this year.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge Announced for PC and Consoles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge has been announced for PC and consoles. It's a 4-player co-op, side-scrolling brawler, developed by members of the Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game team.
Inspired by games like 1991's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge offers a classic pixelated art style and "shell-shocking new abilities built on a foundation of classic brawling mechanics." Players will fight through "a breathless tour of iconic TMNT locations" such as the NYC sewers and Dimension X to thwart Bebop, Rocksteady, Krang and Shredder.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/03/10/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-shredders-revenge-official-reveal-trailer"]
The trailer for Shredder's Revenge (above) also debuts a new take on the famous TMNT theme song, performed by Faith No More's Mike Patton. A release date for the game was not provided, but we know the game will come to PC and consoles when it launches.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge will be published by Dotemu in association with Nickelodeon, and is being developed by Tribute Games, whose previous work includes Flinthook and Mercenary Kings: Reloaded Edition. Tribute is made up of former Ubisoft employees who worked on beat-em-ups like Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game and the 2007 TMNT hack-and-slash movie tie-in. Dotemu has some retro pedigree, having published Streets of Rage 4, brought Windjammers back to life, and is helping to remake Pharaoh.
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For more turtle-y goodness, check out our article covering every Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movie, TV series and game.
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Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge Announced for PC and Consoles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge has been announced for PC and consoles. It's a 4-player co-op, side-scrolling brawler, developed by members of the Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game team.
Inspired by games like 1991's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge offers a classic pixelated art style and "shell-shocking new abilities built on a foundation of classic brawling mechanics." Players will fight through "a breathless tour of iconic TMNT locations" such as the NYC sewers and Dimension X to thwart Bebop, Rocksteady, Krang and Shredder.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/03/10/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-shredders-revenge-official-reveal-trailer"]
The trailer for Shredder's Revenge (above) also debuts a new take on the famous TMNT theme song, performed by Faith No More's Mike Patton. A release date for the game was not provided, but we know the game will come to PC and consoles when it launches.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge will be published by Dotemu in association with Nickelodeon, and is being developed by Tribute Games, whose previous work includes Flinthook and Mercenary Kings: Reloaded Edition. Tribute is made up of former Ubisoft employees who worked on beat-em-ups like Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game and the 2007 TMNT hack-and-slash movie tie-in. Dotemu has some retro pedigree, having published Streets of Rage 4, brought Windjammers back to life, and is helping to remake Pharaoh.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-shredders-revenge-screenshots&captions=true"]
For more turtle-y goodness, check out our article covering every Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movie, TV series and game.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.
Games Workshop Is Giving Away Warhammer Games in Upcoming White Dwarf Magazine
Games Workshop is giving away a dozen Warhammer PC games, plus some DLC, in the next issue of White Dwarf, the official Warhammer magazine.
Available from Games Workshop, other magazine stockists, and FLGS (friendly local games stores), the March edition of White Dwarf contains a voucher code for Steam, which will redeem 12 free games, including favourites Total War: Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine.
The code also redeems a 75% off voucher for 4X strategy Warhammer 40,000: Gladius, and a Legendary Khorne pack for Warhammer: Chaos & Conquest, a free-to-play MMORPG/strategy hybrid.
The 12 games provided as part of the promotion are: Total War: Warhammer (plus the Call of the Beastmen DLC), Warhammer: 40,000: Dawn of War, Warhammer: 40,000: Space Marine, Warhammer: 40,000: Armageddon Da Orks, Warhammer: 40,000: Sanctus Reach, Warhammer: Vermintide 2, Warhammer: 40,000: Space Wolf, Warhammer Quest, Warhammer Quest 2: The End Times, Warhammer Underworlds Online, Adeptus Titanicus: Dominus, and Talisman: Digital Edition.
As announced on the Warhammer Community site, the 462nd issue of White Dwarf will be available to buy from March 19, and can be pre-ordered from March 12. Importantly, the free games can only be claimed from a physical copy of White Dwarf, so if you get the magazine in digital format you won’t be able to get these games.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2016/05/19/total-war-warhammer-review"]
As many fans of Games Workshop know, there are a mountain of Warhammer games out there, some great, some not so great. Thankfully, this code includes some of the best games set in the Warhammer universes; Vermintide 2 is a particularly great grab, and the original Dawn of War - while showing its age now - is continually beloved as one of the best video game representations of the 41st millennium.
For more from Games Workshop in the digital space, check out our incredibly nerdy interview with the team behind Warhammer 40K: Darktide, as well as the details on the upcoming Total War: Warhammer 3.
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Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer.
The code also redeems a 75% off voucher for 4X strategy Warhammer 40,000: Gladius, and a Legendary Khorne pack for Warhammer: Chaos & Conquest, a free-to-play MMORPG/strategy hybrid.
The 12 games provided as part of the promotion are: Total War: Warhammer (plus the Call of the Beastmen DLC), Warhammer: 40,000: Dawn of War, Warhammer: 40,000: Space Marine, Warhammer: 40,000: Armageddon Da Orks, Warhammer: 40,000: Sanctus Reach, Warhammer: Vermintide 2, Warhammer: 40,000: Space Wolf, Warhammer Quest, Warhammer Quest 2: The End Times, Warhammer Underworlds Online, Adeptus Titanicus: Dominus, and Talisman: Digital Edition.
As announced on the Warhammer Community site, the 462nd issue of White Dwarf will be available to buy from March 19, and can be pre-ordered from March 12. Importantly, the free games can only be claimed from a physical copy of White Dwarf, so if you get the magazine in digital format you won’t be able to get these games.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2016/05/19/total-war-warhammer-review"]
As many fans of Games Workshop know, there are a mountain of Warhammer games out there, some great, some not so great. Thankfully, this code includes some of the best games set in the Warhammer universes; Vermintide 2 is a particularly great grab, and the original Dawn of War - while showing its age now - is continually beloved as one of the best video game representations of the 41st millennium.
For more from Games Workshop in the digital space, check out our incredibly nerdy interview with the team behind Warhammer 40K: Darktide, as well as the details on the upcoming Total War: Warhammer 3.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer.
