6 Things Missing from Nintendo’s January Direct
With several reports leading up to the heavily-rumored January Direct, many of us were fully prepared for Nintendo to come out swinging with a solid set of reveals to get us hyped for Switch in 2018. However, Nintendo once again decided to go in a completely different direction than expected and surprised us all with a Mini Direct. While it had some great announcements, it ultimately left us hanging with a lot of questions still unanswered. Here are six things Nintendo still needs to talk about this year.
Okay, so let’s just go ahead and rip the band-aid right off and get the most obvious one out of the way first. A great deal of praise and high sales numbers don't make up for a lackluster online infrastructure. Simply put, the Switch's current online system still feels like it's in beta, and that's precisely the reason why we're shocked that we still haven't heard anything about a solid release date for the Switch's paid online service nearly a full year into its lifecycle. It’s time for Nintendo to start being more vocal about a fixing their voice chat system, matchmaking, and how they plan to improve the overall state of their current online infrastructure
Bungie Outlines Destiny 2 Updates in 2018
Destiny 2's game director Christopher Barrett has outlined a number of changes and planned updates coming to the sequel in 2018, promising that the developer is "not just listening, we are doing."
Chief among the plans Barrett listed is a features roadmap, highlighting three key release windows for which Bungie will provide more details as each update nears. All content and features in these updates will be made available to all Destiny 2 players.
Barrett also explained the team is "shifting the balance of new content" away from Bright Engrams and more toward activity rewards. So items like Ghosts, Sparrows, and ships will be includes in achievement reward pools. Bungie pledges to "provide a gameplay path to earn Bright Engrams and all contained rewards," while also giving players "more direct purchase options."Barrett mentions some of these changes will begin with the Crimson Days event, which launches on February 13.
Warner Bros. CEO: DC Films Can’t Try to Copy Disney
Warner Bros. is streamlining the processes involved with making its super hero movies in an attempt to improve on what has been less than stellar numbers for less than stellar films.
Warner Bros. Entertainment CEO Kevin Tsujihara told The Wrap Warner Bros. "can’t do what Disney’s done."
He said while it's "worked really, really well for them," it's not who Warner Bros. is. "We need to continue to create a balanced slate of all types of movies and all genres," Tsujihara said.
Last week, DC films got a new boss in Walter Hamada, and now Warner Bros. Pictures Chairman Toby Emmerich answers only to Tsujihara.
How HBO’s Fahrenheit 451 Is Updated for the Modern Day
"Knowledge is a dangerous thing."
So says Michael Shannon's Beatty in an extended trailer for HBO's Fahrenheit 451 film adaptation, which aired during the project's TV Critics' Association press tour panel. The new take on Ray Bradbury's seminal dystopian novel takes that theme of dangerous knowledge and updates it for the modern technological and political age.
While the novel Fahrenheit 451 is set in the unspecified future, Bradbury's story couldn't have anticipated the ways technology would have advanced 65 years after its 1953 publication. When director Ramin Bahrani took to adapt the story, his first big challenge to modernize it was to figure out how to make it still relevant in a time when all of the world's books can exist on the Internet on our smartphones.
Overwatch League Day One Peaks at More Than 400k Viewers
If day one of Overwatch League is any indication of how the inaugural season is going to play out then we’re in for a treat. While the first 2 matches resulted in both Los Angeles teams sweeping the floor with their opponents 4-0, Dallas Fuel and Seoul Dynasty wrapped the night up with an impressive show of skill.
The matchup started slowly with the two teams going 3-2 in Junkertown, the highlight of which was a RIP-Tire ult denial using Ana’s Biotic Grenade from Dynasty's Ryujehong. Dallas walked away with the first win, but the pace picked up at Temple of Anubis. Both teams started off strong, taking the objectives with ample time left on the clock. Both teams managed two successful attack rounds before Seoul began to put the pressure on Dallas. Fleta’s Widowmaker and Genji plays stole the spotlight and helped secure their first win against Dallas, 6-5. Seoul continued their winning streak on Ilios with a fast 2-0 victory, before the night ended with a draw on Numbani. Since a draw doesn't reward either team with a point, Seoul Dynasty walked away the victors with a 2-1 record.
What $ Amount Defines a Microtransaction?
Welcome back to Game Scoop!, IGN's weekly video game talk show. This week we're discussing microtransactions, Xbox achievements, video game addiction, and more. Watch the video above or download the podcast below.
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Official Dark Souls Figures, Apparel Line Announced
An official line of Dark Souls merchandise will be released this spring, thanks to a partnership between Bandai Namco and Fangamer.
The line will include "figurines, apparel, and more," according to Fangamer, though no specific products have been revealed at this time. However, Fangamer is apparently teasing one of the figurines with the gif seen below.
A teaser for Fangamer's upcoming Dark Souls line (via Fangamer)
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age Coming to PC Next Month
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is coming to PC on February 1 with some exclusive new features.
The PC port comes with the same content and improvements found in the PlayStation 4 version along with the additions of 60fps gameplay, compatibility with 21:9 ultra-wide monitors with multiple monitor support, and the ability to access New Game Plus mode right from the start.
There's also a new configuration option which will let players maximize their license points and money owned, and all three of the game's background music options will be unlocked from the beginning as well.
Venom: New Image Confirms Standalone Movie’s Villains
Earlier today, we debuted an exclusive new image from the Venom movie starring Tom Hardy and slated for release this October. The photo shows Hardy as reporter Eddie Brock and holding a notebook that, if you flip the image upside down and zoom in, reveals some plot details about the Sony-Marvel movie (which is a standalone film that's not expected to include Tom Holland's Spider-Man).
Flight of the Concords Returns with New HBO Special
Flight of the Conchords' Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie are returning with an hour-long comedy special that will premiere on HBO this May.
The special will be taped before a live sold-out audience during their United Kingdom tour. The duo will perform classics and new original songs from their "Flight of the Conchords Sing Flight of the Conchords Tour."
Hamish Hamilton will direct the special, with Clement and McKenzie executive producing alongside Mike Martinovich. The Flight of the Conchords TV series made its debut on HBO, where it had a two-season run from 2007 to 2009.
The show earned ten Emmy nominations, with Flight of the Conhcords' album "The Distant Future" winning Best Comedy Album at the 2008 Grammy Awards.