Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hollywood Opening Date Announced
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is set to open in Universal Studios Hollywood on April 7, 2016. The announcement was made in a video presentation filmed at the park, featuring Potter alum Evanna Lynch ("Luna Lovegood"), which included a big light presentation at Hogwarts Castle many who live in LA's San Fernando Valley, where Universal is located, saw occur last night.
Alongside this announcement, Universal has kicked off a new campaign to build excitement for the park ahead of its launch next spring. For a sneak peek at the Los Angeles-based Wizarding World, check out the new promotional spot below.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter currently has park locations in both Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Japan. Here's a look at last year's grand opening of Diagon Alley in Orlando, featuring a host of different stores and rides, including one based on Deathly Hallow's iconic escape from Gringotts Bank.
Every Bullet Counts Adversary Mode Comes to GTA Online
The latest adversary mode to be added to Grand Theft Auto Online is called Every Bullet Counts and is now available.
Every Bullet Counts is a variant on Last Man Standing where four players compete in a confined space. You'll have just one marksman pistol and two bullets to take out your three opponents.
Once ammo runs out, you'll have to resort to hatchet or machete melee attacks. If you stay still for more than five seconds you'll have your blip revealed on the map, so you'll have to keep moving.
The new free for all game mode features a couple of new locations, including Michael's Rockford Hills mansion and the Tequi-la-la nightclub.
Other new content to be added to GTA Online this year includes Freemode Events, Lowriders, and the Slasher adversary mode. Grand Theft Auto V has now sold over 54 million copies, and the franchise has shipped over 220 million total.
System Shock 3 Teased by Otherside Entertainment
OtherSide Entertainment has launched a teaser site, confirming System Shock 3 is in development.
Aside from a large "System Shock 3" logo plastered across the main page, the teaser site doesn't offer any further information about the game.
OtherSide was recently formed by the creative team behind Ultima Underworld, and is currently working on a spiritual successor to the role-playing series with Underworld Ascendant. Studio co-founder Paul Neurath worked on System Shock 2 at his former studio LookingGlass.
Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power Announced for PlayStation 4
Frozenbyte has announced that Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power will be coming to PlayStation 4.
Pricing and release date will be announced at a later time, but it is expected to release before the end of 2015.
"We're happy to confirm the PS4 version of Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power. It's been a rollercoaster of a year but closing it with the PS4 release gives me great satisfaction," said Frozenbyte CEO Lauri Hyvärinen.
The PS4 version of Trine 3 will include The Quest for Cake level which was recently released for PC. It will also feature local co-op, will run at 1080p 60fps, and will support Stereoscopic 3D.
Trine 3 released on PC earlier this year, but received some negative feedback, which prompted a response from the developer.
Hatoful Boyfriend: Holiday Star Release Date Announced
Mediatonic and Devolver Digital have announced that Hatoful Boyfriend: Holiday Star will be coming to Steam on December 15, and PS4 and Vita on December 22.
The holiday-themed sequel to Hatoful Boyfriend will cost £7 in the UK, while pricing details for North America and elsewhere have yet to be announced. Players will "travel to fantastically styled worlds, meet interesting new chickadees, and find romance in the elegantly designed winter wonderlands."
We first learned that Hatoful Boyfriend: Holiday Star would be coming this year back in June.
Hatoful Boyfriend: Holiday star will have new story elements that tie back to the original, along with plenty of manga and anime references. In IGN's review of the first game, we said that it "nails its plot with the help of its well-written characters."
Cyberpunk 2077 Reportedly Targeting 2016 Release
Cyberpunk 2077 may be releasing a bit earlier than expected, as a new report claims CD Projekt RED is planning to release the game by the end of 2016.
According to Gamereactor Germany (via Destructoid), a "source close to the company" has told the outlet the studio is aiming to launch the game sometime next year.
If the report proves true, this would be a significant bump forward in the game's release schedule, as earlier this year CD Projekt RED said it plans to focus on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for the next couple years and won't be discussing Cyberpunk 2077 again until 2017.
UK Daily Deals – Football Manager 2016 for £20
X-Men’s Shawn Ashmore Interested in Playing Iceman as Gay
While at the 2015 Game Awards to promote his upcoming game, Quantum Break, actor Shawn Ashmore told us that he would be down for playing Iceman in another X-Men movie. Iceman recently came out as gay in the comics, and Ashmore said he was interested in portraying that turn of events on screen.
“Obviously the comics and movies are separate. I wonder what the transition would be because we’ve sort of established Bobby as having a love interest in Rogue and having a love interest in sort of Kitty Pryde, but I think it’d be really interesting,” Ashmore said. “I think it’d probably be the most interesting thing that could happen to Bobby in the films. If they decided to take the story that way, it’d be incredibly dramatic, it’d be an interesting storyline, and it would give Bobby a great character arc. I’d definitely be open to that, but again, I’m not sure if they want to take the character in that direction. I have no idea how they would play that out. I think it’d be very interesting.”
12 Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know About Gremlins
Since smashing its way onto screens in 1984, Gremlins has become a festive mainstay, the film’s combination of slapstick comedy and brutal horror making it a twisted alternative to other, tamer holiday fare. But how well do you really know this tale of cute creatures turning into malevolent monsters hell-bent on death and destruction? To test your knowledge, the following are 12 things you might not know about this Christmas classic...
Here’s George Lucas’ Verdict on The Force Awakens
The father of the Star Wars franchise has seen Star Wars: The Force Awakens and is a fan...kind of?
LucasFilm President Kathleen Kennedy told THR that Lucas "really liked" the film after attending an early screening.
But when Vulture had the opportunity to ask Lucas to elaborate on his thoughts, he was less effusive. “I think the fans are going to love it,” he said. “It’s very much the kind of movie they’ve been looking for.”
A more reserved statement than "I really liked it" perhaps, but an unsurprising one considering Lucas' recent comments where he equated letting go of his franchise to going through a divorce.