Games with Gold Revealed for May
Microsoft has revealed which games Xbox Live Gold members will be able to download for free throughout the month of May.
For the entirety of the month, Xbox One owners can download 2D physics-based structure destruction/tower defense brawler CastleStorm: Definitive Edition, as well as Pool Nation FX, which was also part of last month's Games with Gold offerings.
Meanwhile, 360 owners will get Mafia II from May 1 through May 15. On May 16, Mafia II will be replaced by Codemasters' Formula One racing sim, F1 2013. Check out IGN's Mafia II and F1 2013 reviews to learn more.
Ending The Witcher 3 ‘With a Bang’
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is the final Witcher game with Geralt of Rivia at center stage, and CDProjekt Red Senior Writer Jakub Szamałek told IGN, “we felt that we owed Geralt a proper goodbye, and decided to part ways with a boom.”
Szamałek continued, “I think good stories must have an ending. You cannot extend them indefinitely, and we felt that Geralt has had such an amazing adventure, and his saga is already so long and complex that this seemed like a good point to think about an appropriate finale for the story.”
Geralt “has reached the end of his journey,” but this doesn’t mean it’s the end of The Witcher universe in video games. “The Witcher universe is a very big place with a lot of NPCs, a lot of characters, a lot of places we haven’t shown yet,” Szamałek said. “So, we might return to it at some point…but we think that this is a good place to let Geralt enjoy his retirement and try something new."
Hulu Gets Streaming Rights to Fear the Walking Dead
Hulu has just closed a deal with AMC Networks for the exclusive streaming rights to several drama and comedy series, including Fear the Walking Dead, the upcoming spinoff/companion series to AMC's The Walking Dead.
Through this multi-year deal, Hulu will become the exclusive hub of new and upcoming scripted programs from AMC, as well as future series from BBC America, IFC, WE tv and SundanceTV. AMC content will be available to watch on Hulu before each subsequent season's network premiere.
“AMC Networks has an incredible reputation and track record in producing captivating storytelling across a variety of genres for true connoisseurs of television,” said Mike Hopkins, Chief Executive Officer at Hulu. “This huge partnership guarantees that Hulu viewers will soon be able to enjoy the newest slate of premium programming from some of the top cable networks.”
Arrow: Can Nyssa Survive the League’s Attack?
The Daughter of the Demon has been in flux lately on Arrow, as things have changed drastically for Nyssa al Ghul, played by Katrina Law. The heir apparent to her father’s legacy, Nyssa found herself passed over by Ra’s al Ghul when he named Oliver Queen as the person who would take his place. In the wake of this, Nyssa has been spending more time than ever in Starling City and found a new focus by continuing the training of Laurel Lance, now that she’s become Black Canary.
This week’s Arrow, "Al Sah-him", puts Nyssa in the spotlight, though in a dangerous way. With Oliver now having accepted Ra’s al Ghul’s offer, the League of Assassins returns to Starling City - and Nyssa is the one they’re after.
Meeting the Enemy via Oculus Rift
The Storyscapes exhibit at the Tribeca Film Festival is always a must-attend event for me, with its exploration of new and interactive approaches to storytelling. These often involve the use of Oculus Rift virtual reality headsets and other technological wonders, but as this year’s Storyscapes demonstrated, a lower-tech approach can be similarly stimulating and intense.
On the VR side, the project titled “The Enemy” was the highlight. Created by war photographer Karim Ben Khelifa, the experience promised the following: “Two combatants from opposite sides of a war observe each other. We are in the middle.” And that is quite literally what happens when the user straps on the VR headset and a pair of headphones. With the outside world blocked out -- but a helpful attendant making sure you don’t trip over all those wires you’re connected to -- the user walks back and forth in the virtual world of the two subjects of “The Enemy”: an Israeli and a Palestinian soldier.
The Strain: New Teasers for Season 2
The second season of The Strain will explore questions of trust.
At least, that's what these two short teaser videos suggest (they're both currently region locked to North America).
The Strain is executive produced and based on the comic series by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan, which follows the spread of vampirism in New York City.
We chatted with del Toro last year about his favourite parts of Season 1 (our review is here) and what to expect from Season 2.
Shadow of Mordor Game of the Year Edition Announced
Warner Bros. has announced Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is getting a Game of the Year Edition on PS4, Xbox One and PC, set for release on May 5.
The bundle will bring together all the DLC released thus far, including The Lord of The Hunt and The Bright Lord DLC packs, for $49.99. The full list of DLC included is below:
- Story Packs: The Lord of The Hunt and The Bright Lord
- Skins: The Dark Ranger, Captain of the Watch, Lord of the Hunt, The Bright Lord, Power of Shadow and Lithariel Skins
Snyder & Capullo Address THAT Batman/Joker Twist
Warning: this article contains spoilers for Batman #40!
Batman's "Endgame" story rocked the foundations of the Batman franchise today when, in a climactic bloody battle, Batman and Joker both died.
This shocking development came at the end of a six-issue arc where Joker returned -- fully healed from having his face cut off -- with a plan to infect Gotham City with a deadly Joker-virus. He also tried to trick Batman into thinking he was an immortal "Pale Man" who had haunted Gotham since its founding lifetimes ago. But at the end of the story, Batman discovered a cave containing a pool of Dionesium -- a green liquid with healing powers. Joker showed up and detonated explosives so that the cave would collapse. Batman and Joker fought until they were both on the ground dying, and with Batman having found a cure for Gotham's infected, he resigned himself to his fate with the Joker as the cave-in buried them.
Shocking Batman/Joker Twist Rocks ‘Endgame’ Finale
Warning: this article contains spoilers for Batman #40!
The "Endgame" story arc within the pages of Batman by writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo has come to a bloody conclusion as both Batman and Joker perished in a fight to the death. That's right -- Batman and his greatest nemesis, the Joker, are dead.
Don’t Look Now Remake Planned
Don’t Look Now – one of the most critically acclaimed horror movies of all-time – is set to get the remake treatment.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, producing partners Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman will oversee the project with StudioCanal. The pair previously collaborated on Liam Neeson action-thrillers Unknown and Non-Stop.
Donald Sutherland in the 1973 original.