Nintendo Delays Animal Crossing Mobile Release Date
Nintendo's fourth smartphone game, Animal Crossing, has been delayed until the next financial year. A new release date window has been pencilled in for some time between April 2017 and March 2018.
Originally due to launch last year, this marks the second delay for Animal Crossing's mobile entry after it was put on ice and scheduled to release before the end of next month.
Instead, the free-to-play game has been pushed back once more so that Nintendo can focus on the Android launch of Super Mario Run in March, as well as the release of Fire Emblem Heroes on 2 February.
Fire Emblem Heroes Isn’t a Mobile Knock-Off
Fire Emblem Heroes feels like the ultimate crossover comic book for a Nintendo universe full of heroes and villains. And it could not have come at a better time for the long-running, turn-based strategy series. After years of niche status, Fire Emblem is in the middle of a renaissance since 2013’s successful FE Awakening on Nintendo 3DS. The new free-to-play mobile game appears to be a faithful experience, but one that uses random selection mechanics, called Gacha, as motivation for players to build an unstoppable FE dream team.
The mobile debut of Fire Emblem uses the same tried-and-true battle language of the series, but it makes a few changes too. Hardcore fans will recognize the familiar weapon triangle, a series mainstay that uses a rock, paper, scissors system to determine which weapons dominate in an engagement (sword are strong against axes, axes beat spears, and spears get a damage boost versus swords). It's an elegant system that can always be found at the lower right of the screen. Every skirmish takes place on a single screen map, so you can position your troops and attack using a single hand while you’re riding the bus or train. The smaller battlefields appear much simpler at first than the larger ones we’ve seen on the 3DS, but they feel engineered for quicker turn-based matches on the go.
Overwatch’s Bastion is Getting Buffed
Overwatch's big friendly robot is getting a rework.
Overwatch's game designer Geoff Goodman confirmed the news that Bastion will be getting a buff in response to a complaint on the game's official forums, and said a PTR build where you can test the revamped character out will be coming "fairly soon". Check out the full list of changes in Goodman's comment below.
"Here are some high level stuff we're likely to have testable in the next PTR:
Recon Mode - Lowered spread and increased magazine size, to help with general viability in this mode.
Conor McGregor Denies Game of Thrones Cameo
UFC star Conor McGregor might not appear in Game of Thrones after all.
Despite recent rumors suggesting McGregor will reportedly have some sort of a cameo role in one of the two remaining seasons of the HBO show, the current UFC lightweight champion denied the rumors in an interview with the Good Times Network (via Entertainment Weekly). McGregor confirmed that he was indeed visited by people from HBO right after a fight about a potential role before the rumors began. But, he's currently "not trying to be in show business, I’m trying to be in the fight business."
Official: Ben Affleck Will No Longer Direct The Batman
Ben Affleck will no longer be directing The Batman for Warner Bros.
Variety has confirmed that Affleck will stay on board the project as star and producer, but that he and the studio came to a mutual decision that he would step down as director.
“There are certain characters who hold a special place in the hearts of millions,” said Affleck in a statement. “Performing this role demands focus, passion and the very best performance I can give. It has become clear that I cannot do both jobs to the level they require. Together with the studio, I have decided to find a partner in a director who will collaborate with me on this massive film. I am still in this, and we are making it, but we are currently looking for a director. I remain extremely committed to this project, and look forward to bringing this to life for fans around the world.”
Darth Maul’s Revenge Tale Begins This Week
With dozens of comic books to choose from, let us show you which are the best coming out this week. Take a look at this list spotlighting our favorite comics that we know are money-well-spent and new books that look cool and are backed by some top-tier talent.
Check out our picks, then head to the comments to let us know what you’ll be buying this week!
Writer Cullen Bunn | Artist Luke Ross | Cover Artist Rod Reis (Marvel Comics)
Mel Gibson Circling Daddy’s Home Sequel
Daddy's Home 2 may star both Mel Gibson and John Lithgow.
According to Deadline, Paramount Pictures wants both actors to join previously confirmed cast members Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg, who will return to reprise their roles from the first film.
Gibson most recently appeared in The Expendables 3 and Blood Father. He also directed the 2016 WWII drama Hacksaw Ridge, which has been nominated for several Oscars.
Why Wedge Wasn’t Included in Rogue One
There are specific reasons why Wedge Antilles, the beloved starfighter pilot for the Rebel Alliance in the original Star Wars trilogy, wasn't included in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Despite both Red and Gold Leader making a surprise appearance in the film during the Battle of Scarif, Wedge was nowhere to be seen. Lucasfilm Story Group's Pablo Hidalgo explained on Twitter that Wedge wouldn't actually be there in the battle, as the starfighter pilot had never seen the Death Star before A New Hope. Wedge famously says "Look at the size of that thing!" when he first sees the Death Star in Episode IV, and that was the line Hidalgo and Lucasfilm were trying to preserve.
Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger Cast for TV Series
The two leads for Marvel's Cloak and Dagger TV series have been unmasked.
Actress and singer Olivia Holt (Kickin' It) will play Tandy Bowen/Dagger, while Aubrey Joseph (The Night Of) will portray Tyrone Johnson/Cloak. In the official cast announcement, Marvel describes the Cloak and Dagger show as a coming-of-age story.
Aubrey Joseph and Olivia Holt will star in Marvel's Cloak and Dagger.
Game of Thrones Author Releasing New Anthology Story
Expect a new Game of Thrones story written by George R.R. Martin to be released in 2017, even if it's not The Winds of Winter.
An Amazon listing for a new anthology collection called Book of Swords, from editor Gardner Dozois, teases "15 original tales celebrating fantasy’s golden age of sword and sorcery, including a new story from George R. R. Martin set in the world of A Game of Thrones!" The anthology is slated to be released on October 10th.