Minecraft Cross-Play Beta Now Live for Windows 10 and Android
The beta that will allow Windows 10 and Android Minecraft players to play together is now live.
The beta is the first step in Microsoft's Better Together Minecraft upgrade, which aims to unite Minecraft on console, Windows 10, and Android. The Xbox One beta will be rolling out in the coming days.
Not all of Better Together's features will be available in the beta (servers aren't live) but they're being added as they become ready.
The Better Together upgrade for Minecraft was announced at E3 this year. The upgrade will bring the console and Windows 10/Android versions into the Bedrock Engine family, designed for cross-platform play. For the full breakdown of Minecraft's Better Together update, check out the FAQ.
Twin Peaks Won’t Answer All Our Questions and That’s OK
Warning: Major spoilers for Twin Peaks: The Return ahead.
Twin Peaks: The Return has tested the patience of even its most dedicated fans several times since its debut in May, but nothing — not the Dougie-heavy scenes or Candie’s drawn-out fly-swatting shenanigans or the ultra-violent Part 10 — has agitated viewers as strongly as last night’s episode.
Part 12 teased us with much-anticipated information before shutting us down so often that it became a central theme of the episode. Some would argue that at hour 12 of the show’s 18 hour runtime, audiences deserve to get antsy about the lack of answers it has provided for its core mysteries. While I sympathize with how painful the week long wait between episodes has been, the lack of concrete answers this far into the story should come as no surprise.
Anthem’s Lead Designer Corey Gaspur Has Passed Away
Corey Gaspur, designer on the Mass Effect trilogy and most recently Anthem, has passed away.
Corey Gaspur via BioWare's official site.
BioWare released an official statement on its website, which you can read below.
"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our friend and colleague Corey Gaspur.
He was a member of our team for over nine years, and worked as a designer on many of our titles, including Sonic Chronicles, Dragon Age: Origins, Mass Effect 2 and 3, and most recently Anthem.
2DS New Super Mario Bros. 2 Bundle Coming in August
Nintendo's New 2DS XL may have just released this week, but it appears the company won't be abandoning the original 2DS model anytime soon.
In a post on Twitter, Nintendo of America has revealed a new 2DS bundle. The handheld features a white-and-red color scheme comes with New Super Mario Bros. 2 pre-installed.
2DS New Super Mario Bros. 2 bundle, via Twitter
Every Character in Marvel’s Ant Man and the Wasp
Avengers: Infinity War isn't the only hotly anticipated Marvel sequel hitting theaters next summer. Fans can also look forward to Ant-Man and the Wasp, the follow-up to 2015's Ant-Man. Not only will this sequel finally put Evangeline Lilly's Hope Van Dyne in costume, but comics characters like Janet Van Dyne, Bill Foster and Jimmy Woo will also make their debuts.
If you're having trouble keeping track of all the recent casting announcements, fear not. We've put together a guide to every character confirmed to be appearing in this sequel. Check it out below...
Ant-Man and the Wasp is directed by Peyton Reed and stars Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Laurence Fishburne, Hannah John-Kamen and Walton Goggins. The film is scheduled for release on July 6, 2018.
Sony Pictures TV Officially Acquires Funimation
UPDATE: Sony Pictures Television has officially closed its deal to acquire Funimation Productions.
Funimation released the following statement in a post on its website:
It’s official. The deal has closed for Sony Pictures Television Networks to acquire Funimation — and we’re incredibly excited!We're still the Funimation you’ve known and grown up with, and now with the power of Sony, and with Gen
at the helm, we have the opportunity to bring the best anime to even more fans across the world.
Game of Thrones: “The Queen’s Justice” – Dragons on the Wall
Full spoilers for Game of Thrones: Season 7's "The Queen's Justice" continue below. Read on at your own risk!
At long last, the meeting we've all been waiting for has happened: Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen are now on a first-name basis. But that's not even the most jaw-dropping thing to happen in this episode! The Dragons on the Wall team has reunited -- with a couple hosting updates as well -- to dig into the excitement of "The Queen's Justice" in this week's episode. Make sure to also read our review of "The Queen's Justice!"
HBO Comments on Reported Game of Thrones, Ballers Leak
HBO is calling the recent theft of information relating to its programming the result of a "cyber incident."
In a statement, from HBO chairman Richard Plepler to employees, Plepler acknowledged the attack, saying it "resulted in some stolen proprietary information."
Among that information is "some of our programming," Plepler said. While not explicitly stating which programs were part of the leak, EW reports unaired episodes of Ballers and Room 104 have been posted online.
In addition to the programming, material from next week's episode of Game of Thrones has allegedly been stolen, with the hackers threatening to release more information "soon."
In his statement to HBO employees, Plepler promised teams are working to "protect our collective interests."
Dark Tower: What Makes Roland Deschain Special
Fans of Stephen King's Dark Tower series have only a short wait until the long-gestating feature film adaptation finally hits theaters. If you've been following Roland Deschain's adventures through all seven (okay, eight) books, you already know why he's the greatest gunslinger ever. But if you're still not sure what makes this hero such an unstoppable force in the fight against Walter O'Dim (AKA the Man in Black), we've got you covered.
Read on for 12 ways Roland stands out in any crowd. From his unmatched skill with firearms to his regal lineage and impressive proficiency in leatherworking (seriously), Roland truly breaks the mold. But be warned: This slideshow contains tons of spoilers from the books (and possibly the movie, depending on how closely it tracks with the books).
Avatar, Batman: TAS Voiceover Director Retires
Andrea Romano, voiceover and casting director behind dozens of projects including DC Universe Original Movies, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Animaniacs, and the original DuckTales, will retire this week.
Romano's work spans more than three decades of voiceover and animation casting direction, including having personally directed more than 10,000 voice sessions. Though Romano said in a statement she planned to continue working for another two to three years, she has decided to wrap up her current projects over the last few weeks following her diagnosis of optic neuropathy in one eye, which has caused blindness in that eye.
Andrea Romano