The End of Paranormal Activity
The upcoming sixth Paranormal Activity film, Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension, will be the last in the series, according to producer Jason Blum.
"It's coming to an end. This is it, the finale," Blum told USA Today. "We're saying it before the movie opens. We're not going to grind this horror franchise into the ground. This will keep Paranormal Activity as part of this culture and this particular time in a really fantastic way."
Blum promises the final film in the franchise will provide plenty of answers to questions that date back to the original film's release in 2009.
Bourne 5 Adds Ex Machina Star
On-the-rise Ex Machina star Alicia Vikander has been confirmed to star opposite Matt Damon in the fifth Bourne movie, to be directed by Paul Greengrass.
According to Deadline, Vikander’s casting in the film means she can no longer commit to the upcoming Michael Fassbender-led Assassin’s Creed movie or the upcoming Tom Hanks-produced sci-fi/thriller The Circle.
Alicia Vikander in Anna Karenina (2012)
Blue Forza 6 Xbox One Bundle Announced
Update: the 1TB Xbox One Forza 6 bundle is available for pre-order on Amazon.
Microsoft will release a Xbox One Forza Motorsport 6 limited edition console worldwide in September.
The blue Forza 6 Xbox One bundle marks the 10-year anniversary of the racing franchise and includes a digital copy of the game. In addition, the package features the first custom Xbox One console with a racing theme and automotive sound effects, a 1 terabyte hard drive, and blue wireless controller with rubberized diamond grips for $400 USD.
Earlier this month, Microsoft unveiled the first 1TB Xbox One, which is now on sale in North America and coming to Europe and Australia this week. The Xbox One is traditionally available in black, though there have been white console bundles here and there.
Luna Blaster Joining Splatoon’s Arsenal Tonight
Splatoon fans will have a brand new weapon to play with very soon, as the Luna Blaster will be added to Nintendo's ink-filled shooter tonight at 7pm PT.
Take a look at this new weapon in the gallery below.
According to an announcement on the official Splatoon Tumblr, the Luna Blaster is designed specifically for close quarters combat. "What it lacks in range, it more than makes up for in fire rate and explosive impact," the post explains. "This blaster-type weapon is perfect for getting up close and personal."
For more on Splatoon's growing arsenal of ink-powered firearms, be sure to check out our comprehensive wiki guide, which provides a breakdown of each weapon. You can also get a rundown on all of the game's different modes.
Sony ‘Really Wanted’ Black Ops 3 PlayStation Partnership
At E3 2015 this year, Activision debuted the next Call of Duty on Sony's stage rather than Microsoft -- a first for the franchise in many years. When asked how this new partnership came to be, Activision CEO Eric Hirshberg said it was a combination of timing and previous work.
"The time was right for us to partner up with Sony," Hirshberg told IGN. "They really wanted it."
Activision's partnership with PlayStation on Bungie's Destiny gave the publisher confidence as well. "When a first party is really excited and gets behind your games it makes a really big difference," said Hirshberg. "
Comic-Con: The Walking Dead: Season 6 Poster Revealed
AMC has revealed The Walking Dead key art for next month's San Diego Comic-Con.
The poster, which will be showcased on banner ads around the convention, hints at a potential Season 6 showdown with Rick and Morgan front and center, while the members of Rick's group and residents of Alexandria can be seen in the background. Note that Father Gabriel, who traveled to the safe zone with Rick and co., is now placed with the group from Alexandria following last season's events.
Click the image below for a better look.
Tales from the Borderlands: Episode Three — Catch a Ride Review
Tales from the Borderlands' third episode, Catch a Ride, is its best yet. Its cold open--a frantic action sequence that kicks off seconds after the previous episode's ending--sets the bar for drama high and never falls from it during its two-hour run.
The best thing about Episode Three is that it is essentially two vastly different games. The final choice you made in Episode Two, Atlas Mugged, has a profound effect on what happens throughout the entirety of Episode Three. Your narrative path is determined by a decision made in desperation as all enemies closed in on Fiona and Rhys in Atlas Mugged's last minute, and that choice will set you on a path that follows either Fiona or Rhys more closely. Other characters caught in the crossfire will undergo significantly different changes as well--it's hard to discuss this without spoilers, so pardon the vague terms--which in turn also affect just how screwed you are as you go about your mission.
After making your last decision in Episode Two, you can play through the entirety of Episode Three without seeing half of what the episode has to offer. So if you want to see both narrative paths and experience every possible outcome, you'll have to play the episode twice following two distinctly different decisions. It's a little confusing, and a lot of time to invest, but it's time well spent; Catch a Ride's two versions offer their own memorable moments and bits of hilarity, so it's worth the second playthrough.
Catch a Ride calls back to previous episodes in meaningful ways, deepening the story and giving players headspace for some serious theory crafting. Remember Felix, Fiona and Sasha's wheeling and dealing adopted father? His story comes into play in a big way in Episode Three, turning everything the two girls thought they knew upside down and making their trials in Vault hunting more emotional than physical. As the sisters struggle to come to terms with this new information and babysit the boys (because let's be honest, they are in charge here), Rhys is grappling with his own ever-growing problem--the literal voice is his head.
Again, depending on your choices, the ghost of Handsome Jack is either chomping at the bit for more control of Rhys' body or has completely convinced the guy to trust his guidance. Both of these tracks present some incredibly tense scenes between the two, and the growing idea of Jack's ghost as a legit threat adds more anxiety to an already thrilling narrative.
This isn't the first time Telltale's versatility in presenting varied narrative options has really shone through in Tales from the Borderlands, but it is perhaps the ultimate example of what they can do. Tales' branching story fully handed you the reigns for Episode One, and the challenge back then was maintaining that surrender to players for four more episodes. Episode Three is a strong example of how much control you actually have on this story, which is a lot; it's surprising and delightful to navigate certain social situations and be reminded that this is, at the end of the day, your story. Fiona and Rhys may misremember or exaggerate what happened, but it's you who gets to decide what is truth. And when the credits roll, going back to try the episode again with different choices results is such a different entertaining experience, it's hard not to want things both ways.
Narrative variety aside, notable elements of Episode Three include the addition of new characters and expanding roles of existing ones. Vault Hunter Athena steps into a much larger role, and her presence feels completely natural among Telltale's new heroes. My favorite moment in the episode is a conversation between her and Fiona about what it means to be a Vault Hunter, with Fiona doubting her own abilities and Athena insisting it's not about power--it's about being able to think on your feet. This brief moment of real talk is a humanizing moment for Athena and a wake-up call for Fiona. It's the sweetest moment in the series so far, and one that reaches out to not just Fiona, but you as the player and consumer of the Borderlands universe.
Ashley Johnson's character also makes her debut in Catch a Ride as what is perhaps the world's cutest robot. Her performance is astounding, adding another layer to the headache Rhys and Fiona are dealing with and another mouth to spout hilarious dialogue. Johnson's character has the best one-liners of the episode, and I definitely snort-laughed a few times during her scenes.
Tales of the Borderlands shines in the little things, its moment-to-moment drama and humor consistently on point. Every exploration sequence is populated with curiosities to examine and conversations that shape the world in big ways. Action sequences move quickly and keep your heart pounding; like in the original Borderlands games, you need to catch up and run with the big boys or die gruesomely. Each second spent in its world teaches you something about the characters you're shepherding and the Borderlands universe at large. Episode Three is definitely the best we've seen of this series so far.
Here’s Your New Spider-Man
Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios have announced that Tom Holland has been cast as the new Peter Parker/Spider-Man. He will play the webslinger in the next Sony Spider-Man film and is also expected to appear in Captain America: Civil War for Marvel. Additionally, the studios have revealed that the Spider-Man film will be directed by Jon Watts, director of Cop Car, a thriller that debuted earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival.
Tom Holland
Bungie Teases ‘Something Better’ for Destiny Vets
In response to the controversy surrounding the exclusive perks included in Destiny's Collector's Edition of The Taken King, Bungie has confirmed that longtime players have "something better" coming.
"Year One players won't get the same perks as people who buy a collector's edition," David "Deej" Dague told Forbes (via Eurogamer). "They'll get something better. Tune into the Weekly Update for more."
Meet the XCOM 2 Advent Soldiers
On alien-occupied Earth, the setting of Firaxis Games’ XCOM 2, it’s not all fire and brimstone. Though humanity was quickly crushed, and helplessly buckled under the weight of the invasion, the ensuing 20 years of life on our planet have seen more integration than oppressive subjugation.
People flock to the shining white mega-cities built across the earth by our alien benefactors with the promise of an easier life free of disease. And to manage those populations, the aliens have conscripted the Advent - the ostensibly human arm of the occupation force.
Though Firaxis is keeping details on the Advent’s origins quiet for now (other than to say they’re not directly connected to the Exalt forces from XCOM: Enemy Within), its soldiers act as a sort of military police for the aliens proper.