WarnerMedia has announced that its new streaming platform HBO Max will officially launch on May 27. The new streaming service will be available to U.S. customers for $14.99 per month (the same price as HBO Now), with approximately 10,000 hours of content available to viewers from day one, including a mix of original projects and an extensive lineup of library and acquired programming. Existing HBO customers will get access to HBO Max at no extra charge.

Where all of HBO meets your favorite shows, movies, and new Max Originals. Streaming May 27.

Sign up for updates: https://t.co/e3U0f0wgAV pic.twitter.com/SbBjZ0smb8 — HBO Max (@hbomax) April 21, 2020

Launch day originals include the scripted comedy Love Life, starring Anna Kendrick; Sundance 2020 Official Selection feature documentary On the Record; underground ballroom dance competition series Legendary; Craftopia, hosted by YouTube star LaurDIY; all-new Looney Tunes Cartoons, from Warner Bros. Animation; and Sesame Workshop's The Not Too Late Show with Elmo. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=everything-coming-to-hbo-max&captions=true"] The service will also launch with a large selection of library titles such as Friends, The Big Bang Theory, Doctor Who, Rick and Morty, plus CW shows such as Batwoman, Nancy Drew, and Katy Keene, the first season of DC's Doom Patrol, and much more, with the platform expected to add the complete libraries of South Park, Gossip Girl, The West Wing, and many others in the first year of launch. In addition to TV series, specials, and documentaries, HBO Max will feature a catalogue of more than 2,000 feature films within the first year, including titles from Warner Bros., New Line and DC such as Joker, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman, as well as a mix of films acquired specifically for HBO Max via Warner Bros., the Criterion Collection, and the acclaimed Studio Ghibli. HBO Max officially acquired U.S. streaming rights to Studio Ghibli films last year, meaning that 20 films from Japan's legendary animation arthouse will be available on the platform at launch, including Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, as well as fan-favourites My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Ponyo, and Kiki's Delivery Service, while The Wind Rises will join the collection in the Fall. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2015/11/20/our-favorite-studio-ghibli-films-ign-anime-club"] "Our number one goal is having extraordinary content for everyone in the family, and the HBO Max programming mix we are so excited to unveil on May 27 will bear that out," said Robert Greenblatt, Chairman of WarnerMedia Entertainment and Direct-To-Consumer. "Even in the midst of this unprecedented pandemic, the all-star teams behind every aspect of HBO Max will deliver a platform and a robust slate of content that is varied, of the highest quality, and second to none. I’m knocked out by the breadth and depth of our new offering, from the Max originals, our Warner Bros library and acquisition titles from around the world, and of course the entirety of HBO." After the initial launch, Max Originals will continue to premiere on the streamer at a regular cadence throughout Summer and Fall, so there is a significant amount of content in the works. In fact, it was recently revealed that three high-concept projects from J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot are in development - a DC Comics-inspired series using characters from Justice League Dark; a show set at The Shining's infamous Overlook Hotel; and a 1970s-set drama about a getaway driver. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true"] The highly anticipated Friends unscripted cast reunion will also be released on the platform at a later date, as the production was delayed indefinitely amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer were all set to return to the original soundstage, where the show started out about 25 years ago, to film the special on March 23 and March 24, but plans had to be postponed. The good news is that, even without the Friends reunion special, HBO Max will have plenty of content to offer subscribers when it launches next month, as it attempts to compete with the likes of Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and the Disney+ platform. If you want to find out more about these services, check out our breakdown of the state of the streaming wars so far. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

IGN can exclusively reveal Peaky Blinders: Mastermind, a puzzle-adventure game made by Futurlab and published by Curve Digital, which will come to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC this summer. Mastermind comes with a fairly unique twist - every level of the top-down game has you controlling six members of the show's Shelby family simultaneously. That's made possible by putting the entire level on an adjustable timeline, which can be rewound and replayed, allowing you to adjust the actions of each character to find solutions to obstacles, whether violent, stealthy, or both. Each member of the Shelby family comes with unique abilities - Tommy (threatening), Arthur (brawling and door kicking), Polly (bribing and lock picking), John (arson and brawling), Ada (distraction) and Finn (sneaking and pickpocketing). You'll need to to use each one, linking the many abilities in sequence, to get through the game's challenges. It's essentially an action-tactics game, and you can get a good look at how that works in the reveal trailer, below: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/21/peaky-blinders-mastermind-official-reveal-trailer"] Made in collaboration with show creator Steven Knight, Mastermind's story acts as a prequel to the show's first season, as the Shelby family discovers a plot to put their burgeoning criminal empire out of business. The game's set-up is a nod to Tommy Shelby's ability to think through complex scenarios in his head - you're essentially creating, enacting, and retooling his plans before they happen for real. The game's soundtrack has been created by Feverist, the art-rock band that scored the show's first season. Game director James Marsden explains the inspiration for the game's core mechanic: “There’s a point in the show where Tommy Shelby explains he has no concern for the past, nor the future; all he cares about is a crucial moment he calls the soldier’s minute. We designed our game around that idea, allowing the player to plan actions backward and forward in time, choreographing an ensemble cast of characters to synchronise their actions during these crucial moments. The player gets to feel like the smart and sophisticated leader that Tommy is, so we think becoming the mastermind will resonate with fans of the show and gamers alike.” To see how that mechanic plays out across an entire level of the game, check out our exclusive gameplay from the first level below: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/21/peaky-blinders-mastermind-gameplay-reveal"] The game won't be released until summer this year, but you can wishlist the game on Steam right now. For those not familiar with Peaky Blinders, the series offers a gritty snapshot of life in 1920s Birmingham, following the Shelby family's schemes and setbacks. We named the fifth season one of the best drama TV series of 2019. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=peaky-blinders-mastermind-12-screenshots&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News, and those hats make him feel terrified these days. Follow him on Twitter.

ComiXology is offering free access to the first entry of several essential titles from its DC collection. There are up to 34 different comics to choose from, including access to titles such as Batman: The Long Halloween, Doomsday Clock, Flashpoint, Harleen, and much more. Yes, it is just the first issue of each title available, but this shouldn't put you off what is a great chance to check out some of the most essential DC reading available. If you were unsure about a comic or graphic novel series before, here presents an opportunity to test the waters. We've also rounded up all 34 of the comics available, which you can check out right here: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=free-first-issues-on-comixology&captions=true"]

• Free DC First Issues at ComiXology (34 Available)

Free Online Graphic Novels and Comics

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• Get a 60-Day Free Trial to ComiXology

These free comics are seemingly tasters for all the content available on ComiXology, which hosts over 20,000 digital comics, graphic novels, and manga from DC, Marvel, Image, Dark Horse, and more. If you are interested in reading more than just the first issue of comics such as Batman: Year One, Kingdom Come, and Dark Nights Metal, you should check out ComiXology's Unlimited subscription. There are even other non-superhero titles such as Darth Vader, Stranger Things, and Attack on Titan ready to read. If you're an avid comic reader, there is a free 60-day trial available which includes access to all the comics mentioned, or you might even want to consider continuing afterwards since it's only $5.99/month. ComiXology is owned by Amazon, so you can even use your Amazon details to sign in, giving you one less password to keep track of. If you're not interested in picking up the full subscription once your trial expires, simply remember to cancel before your first bill. It couldn't get more risk-free. We've even got some great suggestions for you to get started with if you're looking for the 25 best comic series to binge on ComiXology while you enjoy your free trial. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Robert Anderson is a commerce writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @robertliam21

Death Stranding's PC release has been delayed to July 14 due to a temporary closure of Kojima Productions.

Following the temporary closure of KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS, we have had to delay the PC launch of DEATH STRANDING to July 14, 2020, to allow more development time amidst the current work-from-home orders in place. Thank you all for your patience and continued support!#keeponkeepingon pic.twitter.com/euOmebcdQj

— KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS (Eng) (@KojiPro2015_EN) April 21, 2020

Kojima Productions previously had to cancel its appearance at GDC due to the Coronavirus and started enacting safeguarding precautions in late March when one of its employees tested positive for COVID-19. This led to a temporary closure of the studio. In the statement posted to Twitter, Kojima Productions notes that the delay has been actioned "to allow more development time amidst the current work-from-home orders in place." The company thanked fans for their patience and support. Death Stranding's PC release was initially set for June 2, the date being revealed back in early March. The game will feature an official crossover with Valve's Half-Life series, with Sam able to wear a Headcrab hat, don a head valve and wear Alyx's gravity gloves from last month's Half-Life: Alyx. It will also include the full photo mode added to the PS4 version. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/08/death-stranding-pc-photo-mode-showcase-2-trailer"] For more on Death Stranding, check out our review of the game, which we called "a fascinating world of supernatural sci-fi." In other news, Kojima recently revealed a collaborative jacket with German Techwear house Acronym, which sold out almost immediately after retailing for close to $2000. Here are some ways to help others and stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. [poilib element="accentDivider"]  

DC's Digital First program is set to expand its slate of comic books with a variety of titles released digitally seven days a week. DC Comics announced the expansion of its digital publishing program in a recent press release, outlining the plan to give comic book readers daily and weekly access to stories that have never been made available on digital platforms before. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/04/03/11-times-dc-movies-improved-on-the-comics"] The first wave of titles released as part of the new expansion will be Superman: The Man of Tomorrow, Batman: Gotham Nights, Wonder Woman: Agent of Peace, Aquaman: Deep Dives, Flash: Fastest Man Alive, Swamp Thing: New Roots and DC Super Hero Girls: Infinite Frenemies, with each debuting online for the first time, having previously been exclusive to DC Giants anthologies. "Comic book fans want more access to content than ever before," Chief creative officer and publisher Jim Lee said in a statement. "This strategy is intended to get daily content to fans immediately, and also to ensure that when comic shops open back up for business, they will have new content and product that their customers will want. In the meantime, we will have properly stoked and protected the demand for comics, keeping fans interested in our characters and stories. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/17/dc-universe-online-birds-of-prey-launch-trailer"] "I really want to stress that regularly scheduled and solicited print comics, traditionally available on Wednesdays, will continue to be available day-and-date digitally on Tuesdays moving forward," Lee added. "On the other hand, DC Digital First comics will be released seven days a week, with a strikingly different trade dress that will distinguish these titles from physical versions." In addition to the new batch of content joining its Digital First catalog, DC has launched DC Essential Reads, a free digital promotion offering first issues of Watchmen, Batman: Hush, The Sandman, Dark Nights: Metal, Doomsday Clock, Crisis on Infinite Earths, Mister Miracle, and more iconic editions from the DC library, on a variety of digital platforms until June 8. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-top-25-heroes-of-dc-comics&captions=true"] This news comes shortly after DC Comics announced that it would be shipping a limited selection of new comics to stores starting April 28 after an initial slowdown at the start of the month when Diamond Comic Distributors stated it would stop shipping deliveries of new books to stores as of April 1 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over time, the pandemic has caused multiple delays and shutdowns across the entertainment industry, but we remain hopeful that some of 2020's biggest comic book projects will get back on track. DC is currently preparing for two major Joker-centric stories; Joker War will chronicle what may be the final confrontation between Batman and Joker, while the long-awaited Three Jokers will finally address one of the biggest mysteries in the DC Universe. For a list of recommendations on how best to help, and stay safe, during the coronavirus pandemic, please read our resource guide. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Nintendo will attempt to boost output of Switch units in response to a growing demand for the console under current remote conditions. According to a report from the Nikkei Asian Review, in which both Nintendo and Switch parts suppliers are spoken to, Nintendo plans to produce "10% more units of the Switch series in 2020," having produced 20 million consoles in 2019. There is currently a widespread shortage of Nintendo Switch consoles at retail, which is a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic's effects on the supply chain. Stock scarcity is being further exacerbated by a group of resellers who are buying up fresh stock to mark up the price and make a profit. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/20/why-nintendo-switches-are-impossible-to-find-ign-daily-fix"] Nintendo has asked its suppliers and assembly contacts to "prepare for additional production in the April-June quarter" to make up for the shortage. However, a Nintendo representative said that, despite calls for increased production, "the outlook remains uncertain, and we can't forecast exactly how many Switches can be supplied." Parts suppliers have reportedly received orders up to 50% larger than their expected output, and Nintendo is reportedly ordering from a wider range of companies to avoid any potential bottlenecks. An industry source tells Nikkei that, "There are signs procurement is being moved forward to deal with the disruptions in the supply chains." With the gaming market booming and Nintendo riding high after the success of last month's Animal Crossing, this shortage comes at an unfortunate time for the company, but hopefully its stock can be replenished, and something can be done about the rampant reselling affecting the market at present. For more on the Nintendo Switch, check out our coverage of last week's update that finally allows players to remap their Joy-Con controllers. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/14/switch-update-finally-lets-you-remap-controllers-ign-news"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Super Mario Maker 2's final major update arrives on April 22, 2020, and will add a new World Maker mode, all seven Koopalings, a Super Mario Bros. 2 Mushroom, the Frog Suit, the Super Acorn from Super Mario Bros. U, the Boomerang Flower, the Cannon Box, the Propeller Box, and more. The World Maker mode will allow players to create up to eight worlds that contain up to 40 of their courses, which can all be shared with others. Course icons can be changed and Bonus Stages are available, including the moving picture matching game. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/super-mario-maker-2-world-maker-update-trailer"] Players can create a path, complete with Warp Pipes, bridges, hills, and more, and can place their levels on them in any order they wish. Each World can either be Underground, Desert, Snow, Sky, Forest, Volcano, or Outer Space-themed. Furthermore, players can name their game after themselves, like the example given of "Super Ellie World." The Super Mario Bros. 2 Mushroom will turn Mario into himself from...well...Super Mario Bros. 2. It's only available in the Super Mario Bros. style, but allows players to ride on and pick up/throw enemies as was done in SMB2. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=super-mario-maker-2-world-maker-koopaling-and-super-mario-bros-2-mushroom-update&captions=true"] The Frog Suit will be added to the Super Mario Bros. 3 style and makes Mario a pro at swimming and allows our favorite plumber to run along the top of water. Super Mario World creators will be able to add the Power Balloon that causes Mario to float with "the fluffy grace that only a balloon can muster." The Super Mario Bros. U style will add the Super Acorn, while the Super Mario 3D World style will add the Boomerang Flower, Cannon Box, Propeller Box, Red POW Box, Goomba Mask, and the Bullet Bill Mask. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/06/26/super-mario-maker-2-review"] All seven Koopaling - Larry, Wendy, Morton, Lemmy, Roy, Iggy, and Ludwig - are present and have their own unique moves and can be added to any style but Super Mario 3D World. Other items will also be added, like the Cursed Key that will have a Phanto chase the key holder, an On/Off Trampoline that can be activated with a switch, and a wind-up automaton Mechakoopa (Red ones shoot homing missiles, blue ones shoot laser beams, and at night they both gain jet engines). Super Mario Maker 2 was released in June 2019 and, in our review, we said "Super Mario Maker 2 does nearly everything better than its already excellent predecessor, keeping the charm of a Mario game while introducing some incredible new ideas." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/02/super-mario-maker-2-the-legend-of-zelda-master-sword-clip"] This latest update will bring a close to a year of updates that included the addition of Link's Master Sword from the Legend of Zelda which sort of made Super Mario Maker 2 into Zelda Dungeon Maker. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com. Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN who loves this but is very sad we won't be getting a Paper Mario style. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

The release of the first official images from this December's new Dune movie from director Denis Villeneuve had the internet buzzing last week, but there's one notable person who has "zero interest" in the film: David Lynch, the director of 1984's Dune. "I have zero interest in Dune," Lynch said flat-out in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter. The director, whose short film What Did Jack Do? was recently released on Netflix, explained that making the big screen's first adaptation of Frank Herbert's 1965 sci-fi novel was "a total failure" for him. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=dune-how-the-movies-have-depicted-the-iconic-stillsuit-costume&captions=true"] "Because it was a heartache for me," Lynch said. "It was a failure and I didn’t have final cut. I’ve told this story a billion times. It’s not the film I wanted to make. I like certain parts of it very much — but it was a total failure for me." While Lynch's pricey film was a critical and commercial disappointment, Dune has garnered a cult following in the decades since. Lynch would go on to make Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart, Twin Peaks, Mulholland Drive, and Lost Highway, just to name a few of his post-Dune projects. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/04/24/the-best-space-operas-that-arent-star-wars"] For more on the new Dune, find out why it's been split into two films, how Jason Momoa describes his character Duncan Idaho, our breakdown of the film's costumes and armor, and our explainer on the saga.

Fans of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman have been waiting decades to see this grand fantasy comic adapted. Like a great many film and TV projects, production on The Sandman has halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But according to Gaiman himself, the series was making clear progress before it went on hiatus. Gaiman gave fans a brief update on his Tumblr page (via Batman-News), revealing that scripts have been written for Season 1, directors have been chosen, casting had begun and sets were in the process of being built before the hiatus. In short, it sounds like filming should commence shortly after the pandemic lets up. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=dc-extended-universe-every-upcoming-movie&captions=true"] In response to a fan question about the current status of the series, Gaiman wrote, "It’s going really well, except it’s kind of hibernating right now until people start making TV again. The scripts for the first season are written, casting had started, directors hired, sets were being built. Everything was ready to go into production, and then we moved into a pause. As soon as the world is ready to make TV drama, Sandman will move smoothly back into being made. In the meantime, we are taking the opportunity to get the scripts as good as we can." Netflix officially confirmed its Sandman series in June 2019, part of what was reported to be a "massive" financial deal between Warner Bros. and Netflix. The show will consist of a 10-episode initial order, plus a pilot, with Wonder Woman writer Allan Heinberg serving as showrunner. He'll also executive produce alongside Gaiman and David Goyer, and all three will co-write the first episode. Here's how Netflix describes the series: "A rich blend of modern myth and dark fantasy in which contemporary fiction, historical drama and legend are seamlessly interwoven, The Sandman follows the people and places affected by Morpheus, the Dream King, as he mends the cosmic--and human--mistakes he's made during his vast existence." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/20/the-batman-release-pushed-to-october-2021"] There's no release date yet for The Sandman: Season 1, and given the current hiatus, we wouldn't expect the series to debut before 2021 at least. In the meantime, brush up on everything new to Netflix in April 2020, as well as our breakdown of every TV series canceled or ending in 2020. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.