Apple : Email attacks are now the biggest threat for businesses |
- Email attacks are now the biggest threat for businesses
- Microsoft Edge is phasing out Flash
- The best multiplayer PC games 2019: top competitive games to play today
- Final Fantasy 7 Remake: trailers, release date, news and features
- How to watch Peaky Blinders season 5 online for free: stream from the UK or abroad
- FIFA 20: release date, news, Volta modes and everything else there is to know
- Loki TV show: everything we know so far about the Disney Plus series
- The Elder Scrolls 6: release date, news and rumors
- Diablo 4: everything there is to know so far
- Anthem: update news, DLC, tips, patch notes and more
- Apex Legends Season 2: latest update news, tips, patch notes and more
- Starfield: latest trailers, rumors and news
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons release date, news and features
- The best Netflix series in the UK (September 2019): fantastic Netflix shows to binge
- Get free headphones and cheap bills in Virgin's latest fibre broadband flash sale
- Rick and Morty season 4 release date, rumors, and Inter-Dimensional Cable 3
- Best iPhone 2019: which Apple phone is the best?
- Metroid Prime 4: everything we know so far
- The best Labor Day sales 2019: deals end today on TVs, laptops, mattresses and more
- Sorry, sci-fi fashionistas: Cyberpunk 2077 won't let you see yourself in cutscenes
| Email attacks are now the biggest threat for businesses Posted: 02 Sep 2019 01:21 PM PDT Business email compromise (BEC) attacks have overtaken both ransomware and data breaches as the main reason companies filed a cyber-insurance claim in the EMEA region last year according to new research from insurance giant AIG. Statistics published by the firm in July revealed that BEC-related insurance filings accounted for 23 percent of all cyber-insurance claims received by the company in 2018. Incidents related to ransomware came in second place and accounted for 18 percent of all cyber-insurance claims in the EMEA region. Data breaches caused by hackers and data breaches caused by employee negligence tied for third place with both at 14 percent.
According to AIG, the recent rise in cyber-insurance claims from BEC attacks was caused by poor security measures at victim companies including the use of poor passwords for email accounts, not using multi-factor authentication and the lack of employee training about email-based attacks. Cyber-insurance claimsAlthough BEC attacks currently hold the top spot, AIG expects that ransomware may regain its top spot soon. As ransomware became more targeted, the number of ransomware-related cyber-insurance claims dropped last year. This is because those launching ransomware attacks have begun to target businesses and government organizations as opposed to consumers. The number of incidents may be lower but the attackers behind them are receiving larger payouts. As enterprise and government victims learn that they can offset losses by filing a cyber-insurance claim, AIG believes that the number of claims will go up despite the smaller number of ransomware infections recently. This trend has already become widespread in the US and a recent ProPublica investigation discovered that insurance companies are now advising victims to pay the ransom demand and then file a cyber-insurance claim afterwards. AIG also found that GDPR has affected the number of cyber-insurance claims filed as businesses can no longer hide data breaches and have to disclose them under the regulation. Now companies are publicly revealing their data breaches and filing a cyber-insurance claim to help cover some of their costs and any fines levied against them under GDPR. A fifth of all the cyber-insurance claims AIG received in 2018 included a public GDPR notification. However, the firm found that these claims included costs that were significantly higher than those did not include a GDPR data breach notification.
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| Microsoft Edge is phasing out Flash Posted: 02 Sep 2019 11:54 AM PDT Microsoft Edge will follow in the footsteps of Google Chrome and other chromium-based web browsers when it comes to retiring Adobe Flash. Back in July 2017, Adobe revealed its plans to retire Adobe Flash in December 2020 at which time the company will no longer update or distribute the software. Other browser makers including Microsoft, Google and Mozilla as well as Facebook and Apple also announced their plans to stop supporting Flash in 2020. At that time, Microsoft stated that by the end of 2020, users would no longer be able to enable Adobe Flash in either Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer in an announcement, saying:
"By the end of 2020, we will remove the ability to run Adobe Flash in Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer across all supported versions of Microsoft Windows. Users will no longer have any ability to enable or run Flash." Chromium-based EdgeSince its initial announcement regarding Flash support, Microsoft has begun working on a new Chromium-based Edge browser and as such, the company will now follow Google's own road map for removing Adobe Flash from Chrome. Google's plan is quite similar to the one already laid out by Microsoft and the company offered more details in a recent announcement, saying: “In the next version of Microsoft Edge (built on Chromium), we will continue to retire Flash in the same timeframe as other Chromium based browsers. You can learn more of that timeline in this blog post. Flash will initially be disabled, and the user will need to re-enable Flash on a site-by-site basis; Flash will be completely removed from the browser towards the end of 2020. Group policies are available for enterprise admins and IT pros to change the Flash behavior prior to that date.” Classic Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer 11 will both continue to offer full flash functionality in 2019 and Microsoft will not be making any further changes to the Flash experience on these legacy browsers until December 2020 when Flash will be entirely removed.
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| The best multiplayer PC games 2019: top competitive games to play today Posted: 02 Sep 2019 11:00 AM PDT Welcome to our pick of the best multiplayer PC games of 2019. If videogames are defined by competition, then there’s nothing more gamey than drawing your controller from its holster and taking on other players. Whether you’re rubbing shoulders with your frenemies on the couch or taking on the world, the best multiplayer PC games are the perfect way to satiate that thirst for competition, because there’s no victory sweeter than that over another human being. If you'd rather play together than against each other, then check out our pick of the best co-op PC games of 2019. We also have the best single player PC games and the best PC games overall. Here are the best multiplayer games to have graced the PC platform in recent years. 1. Battlefield 1The debate about the best Battlefield game of all time will never end, but Battlefield 1 certainly strikes a strong balance of spectacular visuals, modern mechanics, and sprawling maps from the rarely charted battlefields of World War I. It’s arguably better than its successor, Battlefield V, thanks to a slightly slower, more methodical pace and the bold way in which it exaggerates the almost-steampunk chaos of WWI. There are gas grenades, bayonet charges, formidable special units like flame troopers, and of course Behemoths - menacing vehicles that come in to balance out a battle if it’s too one-sided. Battlefield 1 is quite possibly the most atmospheric and spectacular online shooter ever made. 2. Rocket LeagueThe blisteringly fast-paced toy-car-football phenomenon powers on, as popular today as ever. If you’re worried that it’s a bit too reminiscent of actual football, then work through that worry, because it’s so much more. The beauty of Rocket League is in its absolute subservience to physics. Ball control is completely manual, team moves require a high level of communication and coordination, and aerial play is a whole higher layer of game to master. Competitive play is divided up into leagues and seasons too, ensuring that whether you’re playing 1-v-1 or 3-v-3, you tend to be matched up fairly. 3. Dota 2It may be more of a lifestyle choice and esport rather than a mere game - both insanely popular yet weirdly niche - but Dota 2 is a shining showcase of the MOBA at its finest. Get past the tough learning curve, and you’re in for a world of meticulously balanced heroes and 5-v-5 arena combat. The aim is simple: destroy the enemy team’s ‘Ancient’ - essentially their base - using your heroes and a steady stream of ‘creeps’ that move towards the enemy base via three lanes. Think real-time strategy meets hack-n-slash. It’s deep, tactical, and free to play. 4. Towerfall: AscensionAfter all these years, the simple charms of firing pinpoint pixel arrows at other people on a single screen remain just as compelling. Towerfall sees up to four players with a limited supply of arrows attempting to one-shot each other. It’s accessible, but with plenty of clever tricks, such as a wraparound screen that lets you run and fire arrows between the left and right, and top and bottom of the screen. There’s also the ever-vital dodge button, with which you can catch inbound arrows and fire them right back into the silly face of your attackers. To spice things up, you can experiment with the endless mashups of mutators - from non-homing arrows to angel wings and an ever-scrolling screen - which help keep the game fresh and surprising. 5. OverwatchThe garish hero-based shooter hit the ground at hyper-speed and never really stopped. With one of the most vibrant and varied character rosters ever seen in a game, you have a huge amount of freedom about how to play - whether it’s as a tanky hamster scampering around in a four-legged mech, or an angelic, airborne healer. Overwatch manages to condense a lot of fun into snappy team-based game modes, making it viable for both lunch breaks or all-night blowouts. Despite the asymmetry of its characters, it’s brilliantly balanced, with just about every hero feeling both rewarding and distinctive to play as. 6. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: SiegeFans of the unforgiving tactical shooter series bemoaned its move into the multiplayer space, but none could have predicted the runaway success it’d become. Two teams of five face off against each other in attackers versus defenders games of bomb defusal, hostage rescues and asset protection. The hook is that levels are partially destructible, and there’s a lengthy preparation phase during which defenders can build up their defences while attackers survey the map. No two games feel the same, and as you gain ‘Renown’ points, you can unlock new operators, each with distinctive abilities and play styles. 7. Worms W.M.DIt sometimes seems like there are a thousand variants of the classic invertebrate tactics game you can play today. The most recent iteration is Worms W.M.D, which has a bold new art style and weapons, but if you prefer a more vintage feel then Worms Reloaded or even Worms Armageddon could be for you, while 2012’s Worms Revolution dabbles in 3D graphics on a 2D plane. Whichever you go for, the formula remains a zenith of multiplayer gaming. Up to four players control a team of worms each, taking turns on a timer to cross precarious levels and decimate enemy teams with bazookas, explosive sheep, banana bombs and cheeky melee punches. A bit like Chess, Worms is both ancient and eternal. 8. MordhauWith so many competitive combat games revolving around guns, we figured we’d highlight a game that takes things back to basics. Building on the lineage of physics-based first-person slashers like Chivalry and Mount & Blade, Mordhau is a medieval battlefield where up to 64 players go at each other with swords, maces, throwing knives, and whatever they find lying on the ground. Mordhau thrives in improvisation, as even a disarmed player can unsheath a knife (or pull one out of a shield) and take out an incoming enemy with a well-placed throw. As well as team-based siege modes, there’s an excellent battle royale mode too. 9. PlayerUnknown's BattlegroundsMaybe a controversial representative of the battle royale genre in light of the runaway success of subsequent titles like Fortnite and Apex Legends, but if you’re after serious suspense and a distilled atmosphere where you’re perking your ears for every footstep and distant gunshot, then PUBG still hits the target. It remains one of the most played games on Steam with good reason, and major updates (such as the overhaul of original map Erangel) show that the developers are serious about refining the experience, making it less buggy and more realistic than ever. 10. Overcooked 2The sequel to the most freewheeling and frantic (and only) co-op cooking game ups the ante, chucking you and up to three friends into kitchens of ever-increasing chaos. As a rabble of cooks, you need to cook and serve up food for a restaurant before the timer runs out. Self-organisation is key, and you’ll be screaming at each other in delighted frustration over things like the dishes not being washed or the soup setting on fire. In later levels the kitchens are set on everything from airships to underground temples, shifting and moving, forcing your team to adapt and constantly rejig your clockwork-like system. It’s a game that helps you empathise just a little with Gordon Ramsay and his infamous tirades.
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| Final Fantasy 7 Remake: trailers, release date, news and features Posted: 02 Sep 2019 10:34 AM PDT First released in 1997, Final Fantasy 7 immediately cemented its place as one of the best JRPG titles around and introduced millions of gamers around the world to the genre. Now, due to the success of Final Fantasy 7 over 20 years ago (and the pleads from die hard fans), Square Enix is releasing a remake. Unfortunately, those high expectations have been both a blessing and a curse for the game as the path to release hasn’t been smooth. But now, four years after it was announced at E3 2015, we finally have a Final Fantasy 7 Remake release date: March 3, 2020. We've now seen the game a half-dozen times in trailers – and even got hands on time at Gamescom 2019 and E3 2019 – but, with news and rumors still churning around the great wide web, we’ve gathered up everything we know has been confirmed, what we've played and everything fans suspect right here for your perusal. [Update: Check out our hands on: Final Fantasy VII Remake review.] Cut to the chase
Final Fantasy 7 Remake trailersThe first trailer for the game was released upon the remake's announcement at E3 2015. The trailer is largely cinematic and you can watch it for yourself below: A further trailer (this time featuring gameplay) was revealed at PSX in 2015: There's also the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trailer that was revealed during Sony's May 9 State of Play event this year. In it, we got a great look at what the action-heavy combat would look like (think Kingdom Hearts and you'll be on the right track) and one of the series most well-remembered protagonists, Aerith. Check it out below: The most important trailer we have is the one that was unveiled at a Final Fantasy 7 concert held in Los Angeles, where the game's director, Tetsuya Nomura, unveiled Remake's official March 3, 2020 release date. It's only a minute long but it's important. Final Fantasy 7 Remake release dateThe Final Fantasy 7 remake has had something of a troubled development, which makes it all the more surprising that we'll be seeing the game as early as we are. The date Square Enix has given us is March 3, 2020 – but it's unclear if that's for all of the episodes (remember, FF7R is an episodic game with more than two Blu-rays worth of content) or if that's just the release date of episode one. For some, that date is much sooner than expected considering the game's recent setback, but others will likely say it's arriving later than they wanted. For what it's worth, the game has been in the works since 2014 but there have been few significant official updates since the E3 2015 reveal. In that time, development of the game has moved from external developer CyberConnect2 to Square Enix’s in-house team. Overhauls like this can cause big delays to a game’s progress but according to Square Enix's Naoki Hamaguchi the decision was made out of a desire to maintain “control quality as well as keeping the schedule stable.” The good news is now that release date is set in stone. We also know is that the game will be available to PlayStation 4 players “first” as was promised at its E3 reveal. Saying “first” suggests this isn’t an outright exclusive and that the game will eventually come to Xbox One and PC. However, there was no indication as to how long the agreed exclusivity period would be. We're also expecting Final Fantasy 7 remake to be a cross-generation release, likely releasing on both PS5 and the next Xbox alongside current generation consoles. Image credit: Square Enix Final Fantasy 7 Remake news and rumorsThose Xbox One rumors However, Square Enix confirmed in a statement to IGN that Final Fantasy 7 will only release on PS4 on March 3, 2020 and that there are “no plans for other platforms”. Whether this means there are no plans for other platforms just on March 3 or whether there are no plans for other platforms for good is unconfirmed but so far it seems like the game will be a PS4 exclusive. Microsoft has deemed the Facebook video which was quickly removed an “internal mistake”. Preview Midgar Cast change Image credit: Square Enix Deeper into story and characters Tactical Mode FF7 Remake is based around core values E3 2019 news - Two Discs and new ATB system So what's worth pointing out here is that the sedentary turn-based combat you may remember from the original has been replaced with a FF15-style approach that allows you to control the characters and move them around the battlefield. You'll still have some familiar options in combat - like Limit Breaks - but expect combat to be a bit more engaging this time around. During E3 2019 we also learned that Final Fantasy 7 Remake is not only episodic, but actually requires two Blu-ray discs to hold all the content. The first disc, released on March 3, 2020, will actually only take place in Midgar - that futuristic city you've seen so much of in the trailers. Nomura admits an announcement was premature "I am well aware of the fact that we announced it too early," Nomura told Italian gaming mag Multiplayer (translated by Kingdom Hearts Insider) . "But even in the industry, word was beginning to spread that we were working on the game, so we just decided not to keep it more secret and officially reveal it." Image credit: Square Enix It’s a reconstruction, not a shot-for-shot remake Considering it’s so beloved there’s a lot of pressure on Square Enix to not stray too far from the original source material but according to director Tetsuya Nomura it won’t be a completely direct recreation. In an interview with Wired, Nomura said “We're not intending for this to become a one-to-one remake, or just the original Final Fantasy VII with better graphics.” Nomura has said that he wants the remake to "apply to the current era" and "the current generation of players." He added the caveat that he doesn't "want to change it so much that it's unrecognizable" but it has to be offering something "fresh and new." To accommodate modern consoles and gamers, changes will naturally have to be made to the game both in terms of gameplay, mechanics and perhaps even to some elements of the story. For starters, early trailers show a game more akin to Final Fantasy XV mechanically, with fixed viewpoints and static backdrops swapped out for full-3D terrain, and a turn-based battle system removed in favour of a real-time action-orientated one. Image credit: Square Enix It’s episodic The reasoning behind the decision, according to series producer Yoshinori Kitase is that “a proper HD remake” just wouldn’t fit into one instalment and maintain the “same feeling of density of the original.” “We've seen everyone's comments and reactions to the news that Final Fantasy 7 remake will be a multi-part series and many have speculated correctly as to the reason why we have made this decision,” he said, “If we were to try to fit everything from the original into one remake instalment, we would have to cut various parts and create a condensed version of Final Fantasy 7. We knew none of you would have wanted that. “I hope that by explaining a little more about our design decisions that you can appreciate the size of this project and what we have planned for this remake. Going beyond the scale and depth of the world, narrative and gameplay from the original to deliver something that feels familiar yet new. As I said before, we like delivering surprises.” Each episode will apparently be its “own unique experience” but as yet we don’t know how many episodes there will be or how they’ll be structured in relation to the original story. Image credit: Square Enix No more turn-based battles In an interview with Famitsu, Nomura said that battles in the remake will be “action-based” rather than command-based. Nomura didn’t go into much more detail with regards to the game’s combat system but it’s widely expected that we’re going to see a formula more similar to Kingdom Hearts and FFXV. This would mean a more active and seamless style of battling involving party members whom the player will be able to switch between. Though the loss of turn-based combat will be mourned, a move towards a system like Kingdom Hearts will be more accessible to new players. A PS5 release? For Sony, it'd be a system seller right out of the gates for the new console generation, and for the developers you'd imagine it'd offer more processing grunt and a little longer in terms of the development window. This is speculation at this point, but as the sun sets on the PS4, and titles like Final Fantasy 7's remake being no closer to even having a release date, it starts to seem like the looming next generation machines may be now what they're being aimed at. (Image credits: Square Enix) This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| How to watch Peaky Blinders season 5 online for free: stream from the UK or abroad Posted: 02 Sep 2019 10:26 AM PDT Thomas Shelby and his fight starting, whiskey swigging gang are back once again. That's right, the time to watch Peaky Blinders online is back with season 5 now back and a good few episodes in. Blinders fans unite because from the episodes that have aired so far, we can say with certainity that Peaky Blinders is bigger and more impressive than ever. Two episodes of gripping TV, tense arguments and fights later and we want more! Luckily, if you want to watch Peaky Blinders online for the whole season its easy, you can catch the first two dramatic episodes now and find out how to catch the rest here. Of course, we don't want to spoil anything for you but if episode 1 and 2 are anything to go by you will want to watch Peaky Blinders online all the way through this season. And luckily for you, we've been tracking down all of times, locations and key information you need to catch the show. It doesn't even matter if you're from the UK and mistimed a holiday so will be missing episode from this season of Peaky Blinders - you can still catch all of the action as it happens. You can find out how lower down the page.
How to watch Peaky Blinders online for free in the UK:For those trying to watch Peaky Blinders in the UK, BBC One is the place to find all of the action. The show will be returing to TV every Sunday at 9pm on BBC One. We're already a few episodes in but if you miss any of the episodes when they air you will then be able to catch them on BBC iPlayer instead. Live stream Peaky Blinders from anywhere else in the world:If you're out of the country or live abroad but still want to watch Peaky Blinders online, fret not, it's still possible. This is by using a VPN to get around the pesky geo-restrictions. Which VPN is best for you? Our favourite option is ExpressVPN. And how do you use that to watch Peaky Blinders season 5? Read on to find out all you need to know. How to watch Peaky Blinders online in the US:Sadly for American fans, this is one of those times where the UK has the upper hand. The new season of Peaky Blinders won't air in the US until October 4 where you'll be able to find it on Netflix US. Until then, you can always get your fill of gangsters, fights and a whole lot of arguments by watching old seasons of the show. You can find out how below. Where to watch Peaky Blinders online: seasons 1-4If you're not yet completely caught up on the Shelby gang and their drmatic goings on then don't worry, all of the old seasons are still available. No matter where you are in the world, this is the best places to watch Peaky Blinders online for seasons 1 through 4. UK: For those in the UK watching old seasons is easy. You get two options, either watching through BBC iPlayer or Netflix. Canada: Exactly the same as above, the only place to watch all of the old seasons of Peaky Blinders is Netflix if you're in Canada. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| FIFA 20: release date, news, Volta modes and everything else there is to know Posted: 02 Sep 2019 10:26 AM PDT Better manual defending, revamped shooting and a 'Volta Football' street and indoor five-a-side mode: FIFA 20 is on its way, and we've got the first details here. Yep: goal, goal, goal. Football, football, football. No ‘soccer’ shenanigans here folks – we’re talking about the beautiful game, FIFA 20, the 2020 season’s updated footie simulator. There’s a new FIFA game on the way from developers at EA Vancouver. With it being one of the most successful sporting game franchises of all time, and it having had an annual release since 1993, it’s as safe a bet that EA will be pulling out all the stops for a gargantuan game before the introduction of the PS5 and Xbox Project Scarlett consoles. So, with a FIFA 2020 game now certain, what can we expect from the next FIFA game? How’s Alex Hunter’s ‘Journey’ from amateur to pro going to conclude? And what changes can we expect when we play FIFA 20? With a September release date, it's likely we'll get a final push of trailers, and possibly a better look at the new Volta modes, in the coming weeks. [Update: We got hand on with FIFA 20 at Gamescom 2019. Read on to find out more.] Cut to the chase
FIFA 2020 release dateLike the changing of the seasons (and the football seasons themselves), there’s an annually expected launch window for FIFA games. For more than a decade, FIFA games have launched towards the end of September, and that's now confirmed with the FIFA 20 release date being set for September 27. If you're an EA Access player however, you get a week's early play, with the game launching on the subscription service on September 19. The news was confirmed with a new teaser trailer, posted on Twitter. You can find it embedded below: The previous two FIFA games landed on the final Friday in September (29 September, 2017 and 28 September, 2018) which, as we predicted, would align FIFA 2020’s release for Friday 27 September 2019. Note that FIFA games launch with a title suggesting the year ahead – FIFA 20 may come out in 2019, but its FIFA 20 / 2020 naming will reflect the coming season. FIFA 20 trailersVolta gameplay trailer Volta football trailer There will be a campaign mode, online leagues and squads and customisable player avatars – almost enough for a full game in its own right, it would seem. It'll only be available in the PS5, Xbox One and PC versions of the game though, skipping out on the Nintendo Switch, PS3 and Xbox 360 versions. Check out the trailer below: Official gameplay trailer FIFA 20 gameplay development updatesHands on Gameplay footage reveal Check out the stream below: Cover Star After a few weeks of waiting, we now also know that Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane will feature on the cover of the FIFA 20 Ultimate Edition, as well as in the FIFA 20 Ultimate Team as an Icon. Pro Clubs FIFA 20 will also bring back some player positions due to fan feedback so now Left and Right Forwards, Left and Right Wing Backs and Left and Right Midfielders are returning. Greater control over players doesn't stop at their appearances. In FIFA 20, the player progression system has upped its game slightly and now your choice of player height, weight and position will effect how they play. There are also 30 new player traits that can be paired with "specialty traits" can bring real benefits. There is, of course, an element of risk and reward to this as big benefits to one attribute can lead to a dip in others. Outside of customization, there's going to be some new broadcast features and game modes added to FIFA 20. There will be replay transition wipes, an on-screen watermark, club banners and a new Pro Clubs logo as well as augmented reality overlays at half-time and match intros. Oh, and celebrations aren't restricted to one player anymore. Now, the camera won't stay zoomed in on one player, it'll stay out so that you can coordinate a celebration that includes the whole team. Finally, there are two new match types: House Rules Cups and Practice. House Rules Cups is inspired by FIFA Kick-Off Mode's House Rules and will see a new match type rotated each day with a different cup each weekend. Practice, on the other hand, does exactly what you'd think; you can pit yourself against a variety of AI either alone or in your team. You can choose how challenging you want the AI to be and you can even choose which kind of tactics you want them to be using to ensure you're feeling the right kind of pressure and practicing in the way you want. If that means playing against a team of 99-rated players applying high pressure you can do that. Volta Football 'Football Intelligence' Spin will now also affect the trajectory of the ball, with more realistic deflections. The part of a player's shoe that hits the ball also plays into the flight of the ball now. AI Defending Pace will also get tweaked to give defenders a better chance of catching up with particularly speedy players. Shooting, and 'composed finishing' Even manual goalkeepers will be slowed down to more realistic speeds. Players controlling their goalkeeper using right-stick movement will now have to commit to a direction when attempting to make a save, making it feel more rewarding or more galling when you make it or miss it. Away from the goal, volley-crossing and volley-shooting are being checked to make them more realistic. By more realistic, of course, we mean less accurate and a little more unpredictable. Strafe dribbling New penalty kicks and free kicks Passing There are two new options for passing in addition to this. Manual 'Dinked' passes, which will be used to elevate the ball over a defender's leg and the Driven Pass-and-Go which will take over from the current manual pass combo. Timed Finishing This should have been a high risk and high reward feature but players felt that it was just too easy to perform. As a result, EA Sports has reduced the Green Timing Window from 2-4 frames to strictly 2 frames, making it more difficult to pull off, while Green Timed Shots will generally just be less accurate. They will still, however, be slightly more accurate than a standard shot. Otherwise what's the point? With these fixes, as well as improvements to player switching and set-piece positioning, EA Sports seems to be at pains to show that it plans to address some of the biggest fan concerns over FIFA 19 ahead of announcing FIFA 20. FIFA 20: what we want to seeFIFA titles make incremental improvements over the years – it’s rare to see one massively change the formula, and FIFA has been in a pretty stable state for the best part of a decade now. If you’ve played a recent edition, you’ll be able enjoy the latest one, with a few months work needed to master its new systems. FIFA is in a good place then, with FIFA 20 set to be built on solid foundations – but that’s not to say we can’t look forward to some improvements. Here’s a handful of things we’d like to see changed. The end of the ‘Journey’ – and the start of something new? Dynamic weather Career Mode changes Build-your-own team mode FIFA 2020: Early Access? FIFA as a subscription?EA has been toying with different sorts of distribution models for a while now, with its EA Access subscription model, and its Origin Premier service, letting players try out the firm’s top games for a monthly fee. With the launch of FIFA 19, EA allowed gamers to play FIFA 19 nine days before the game’s general release, and we’d expect to see the same occur for FIFA 20. What’s potentially interesting though is the possibility of FIFA becoming its own live service, with EA offering a subscription fee for the game, or elements of the game, being constantly updated rather than as an annual release. It’d let the company drip-feed updates, as well as keeping team sheets and player likenesses up to date, and remain competitive to titles like the free-to-play phenomenon Fortnite, which follows a similar model of constant updates. To be clear, EA has not stated that this is to be the case for FIFA, but with the franchise such a powerful draw, and the idea of games-as-a-service becoming more of an industry standard, don’t be surprised if a future FIFA game takes this route. Is there a FIFA 20 demo?Although we know FIFA 20 will be officially launched in September 2019, EA Sports has yet to set a date for its FIFA 20 demo. They're released every year before the official launch, and we've got our fingers crossed for another early demo this year too. In the past, the demo has been available in a trial capacity for a week or two earlier than the launch date. Looking back, FIFA 19's demo was available on 13 September, 2019, two weeks before the game's full launch – EA followed this same pattern for FIFA 18, FIFA 17 and FIFA 16 too. If the same pattern applies to this year, which we assume it will but can't guarantee, then we'd expect the demo to have dropped by 14 September, 2019. Again though, this is all speculation for now – but we'll be sure to update you when we get official confirmation.
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| Loki TV show: everything we know so far about the Disney Plus series Posted: 02 Sep 2019 10:22 AM PDT Back in November 2018, Disney announced that it’s creating a Loki TV show that will released on its upcoming streaming service Disney Plus. Focusing on Tom Hiddleston’s Norse god trickster, the show will form part of Disney Plus’ enormous Marvel catalogue, alongside other spin-off shows for Hawkeye and WandaVision, which features Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch alongside Paul Bettany's Vision. In a press release, Disney confirmed the news, saying “Disney+ is also assembling a live-action series centered around a fan-favorite character from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.” Cut to the chase
Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger confirmed that the fan-favorite would be Loki, the god of mischief, with Tom Hiddleston reprising his role from the enormously Marvel Cinematic Universe films, including Thor and The Avengers. While it’s not slated for release until 2021, we’ve gleaned a few details and rumors surrounding the Loki spin-off – here’s everything we know so far. Loki TV show release dateAccording to Den Of Geek, Marvel revealed that the Loki TV show release date will fall in Spring 2021 (that’s March, April, or May for our readers in the Southern Hemisphere), at the San Diego Comic-con in July. Aside from that rather large window, neither Marvel nor Disney have provided any further information on a release date – not yet, anyway. At least in the meantime we have The Mandalorian release date to look forward to, which is coming up on November 12. The Star Wars spin-off is set to be one of the biggest launch titles for the Disney Plus streaming service, charting the story of a galactic bounty hunter. What will happen in the Loki TV show?Caution: the following section contains spoilers for Avengers: Endgame. Loki’s character is a complex one – throughout the Thor and Avengers films, we see him go from antagonist to a somewhat redeemed character, learning to use his powers for good. However, Loki met his demise in Avengers: Infinity War, and in the next film Endgame, Hiddleston played a version of Loki from an alternate timeline – one who had yet to go through a redemption arc his doppelgänger had. This less-evolved Loki disappeared during Avengers: Endgame with the Tesseract, which allows him to teleport away – and with his whereabouts unknown, it’s the perfect setting for a dramatic series to kick off. With a new alternate universe to explore, the trickster god’s trajectory could branch out in surprising ways; including time-traveling trips to the past. In February 2019, an article by The Hollywood Reporter suggested that “Loki as the trickster and shape-shifter pops up throughout human history as an unlikely influencer on historical events”. According to the Radio Times an image from Kevin Feige’s Disney+ presentation appeared to confirm this theory, explaining that, “it featured a blurry image of Tom Hiddleston standing in what looks like 1970s USA, in front of a billboard advertising Steven Spielberg’s Jaws. This would position the series (at least a portion of it) in 1975.” Wherever Loki ends up, we’ll be in for lots more mischief from the Norse god, as confirmed in a tweet by Tom Hiddleston: Who’s working on the Loki TV show?Aside from Tom Hiddleston reprising his role as the titular character, we don’t know too much about the cast of the new Loki spin-off show, but we do know some of the names attached to it. President of Marvel Studios, Kevin Fiege is confirmed to be acting as executive producer, while Rick and Morty’s Michael Waldron will be the showrunner as well as an executive producer for the series. He will also write the pilot episode, as confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter. If Loki has just a smidgen of Rick and Morty’s wacky humor and outlandish storylines, we could be in for a wild ride with the new series. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The Elder Scrolls 6: release date, news and rumors Posted: 02 Sep 2019 10:14 AM PDT Bethesda granted the wishes of Elder Scrolls fans everywhere when studio boss Todd Howard confirmed at E3 2018 that the developer is working on the highly-anticipated The Elder Scrolls 6. We haven't heard much about The Elder Scrolls 6 since it was announced, potentially due to the Redfall trademark dispute, and the game wasn't at E3 2019. But that hasn't stopped us from future-gazing. Following the announcement trailer at E3 2018, rumors immediately started gathering about where the latest Elder Scrolls title will be set, when it will release and when we will hear more. So we've gathered and assessed all the news and rumors about The Elder Scrolls 6 in this handy guide. Here's everything you need to know. [Update: Don't hold your breath for The Elder Scrolls 6 – Starfield is Bethesda's focus. Read on to find out more.] Cut to the chase
Elder Scrolls 6 release date – when can I play it?We might as well get the bad news out of the way first – you’re not likely to be playing The Elder Scrolls 6 any time soon. The good news, however, is that it’s been confirmed you will be able to...eventually. The game was confirmed during Bethesda's E3 2018 conference but nothing more than a logo was given. We don't even have a subtitle or a release year. Todd Howard said that the game will be coming after Starfield, the company's next big IP. That means Elder Scrolls 6 could be years away. In addition, the Redfall trademark dispute (which has now been settled) may have delayed the game's release date even further. Elder Scrolls 6 trailer – when can I watch it?The only footage we have of Elder Scrolls 6 is a very short clip of the game's logo. Other than that, you might be waiting a while to see more. Here's the announcement trailer: Elder Scrolls 6 news and rumorsGamescom 2019 Don't hold your breath for The Elder Scrolls 6 – Starfield is Bethesda's focus The news comes from an interview with Bethesda Game studios executive producer Tom Howard, speaking to IGN, who warned "I think everyone should be very patient" when asked about an Elder Scrolls release date. "The gap in between [Elder Scrolls games] is going to be long, It already is," continued Howard. "On one hand, I think it's good to miss things. I think that makes people come to it with really, really fresh eyes, and I think when they eventually—eventually—see the game and what we have in mind, they'll understand the gap more in terms of technology and what we want it to do." The Redfall trademark dispute has been resolved The resolution is reported (via Gamasutra) as being amicable and "mutually beneficial" for both parties but it remains confidential. If Redfall is to be a focus for The Elder Scrolls 6, which isn't confirmed, progress can now continue to the relief of anxious fans. Elder Scrolls 6 didn't appear at E3 2019 Photogrammetry technology will be used Skyrim Grandma will be making an appearance Elder Scrolls VI goes official Thanks to Todd Howard, we know Bethesda is working on two huge new titles simultaneously, though their developments are staggered. We now know that one of them is the Elder Scrolls 6. Having returned to Skyrim after some time away, Howard compared it to seeing an old friend from high school, adding that the time away had given him the chance to see Skyrim as a gamer for the first time. This, to us, would be the perfect time to start applying this new perspective to the next title in the series. At the very least we can say we know it won’t just be called Elder Scrolls 6. There’s going to be a colon and another word to round the title off if previous releases are anything to go by. Where will Elder Scrolls 6 be set?We’re willing to bet that like all the other games in the series The Elder Scrolls 6 is going to be set in the continent of Tamriel, the map of which is below. Previous games have taken us to Highrock, Hammerfell, Morrowind, Cyrodil, and Skyrim. Valenwood, Elsweyr and Black Marsh are the biggest places left to explore. Though there’s still much of Morrowind left to explore, we imagine much of that will be covered in the upcoming Elder Scrolls Online title. So, Valenwood, Elsweyr or Black Marsh. Which looks most likely? Rumors online are heavily pointing towards Black Marsh, the home of the world’s reptilian Argonian race. There isn’t actually any solid reason for this rumor, but its swampy marshlands and network of islands would make for an interesting geographic change for the series, though it’s a geography that would leave itself open to comparison with the Witcher 3. It’s probably the region of Tamriel that we know the least about so Bethesda would have plenty of room to be creative. That said, Elsweyr would also be an interesting geography change with its dry plains and harsh badlands that the Khajit call home. It would certainly be nice to find out more about the culture of either the Khajit or the Argonians so both of these extremely different settings have an understandable appeal to fans. There is, however, weight to a rumor that Elder Scrolls 6 could be set in Valenwood. Valenwood is the home of the Bosmer and it’s an area of Tamriel that Bethesda hasn’t explored much. The rumor that the game will be set here is based on a reported internal Bethesda memo from all the way back in 2014. In this memo, Bethesda employees were reportedly wanted against using the terms Fallout: Nuka World, Elder Scrolls VI or Project Greenheart. Though it was initially believed to be a fake, Fallout: Nuka World ended up being a big DLC release for Fallout 4 which gives slightly more weight to rumor that Project Greenheart is in fact the codename for the next Elder Scrolls title. The fact that Greenheart is a city in the verdant region of Valenwood makes this even more interesting. Forest and jungle settings are hard to get right in games and it’d be really interesting to see Bethesda get creative with the part of Tamriel that’s said to have rejected civilization and embraced the wilderness. It's hard to tell from the short E3 clip we have of the game but our first impression is that the game world looks a lot more like Valenwood or Elsweyr than Black Marsh. In an interview with Eurogamer, Todd Howard confirmed the team has settled on the location - but he won't tell us where yet. What features can we expect?Homebuilding It would be a feature that would actually fit in particularly well with the rumored Valenwood setting, if it involved the player adapting to the wilderness in the way the resident Bosmer have with their treetop cities. In a similar way the player used debris and junk to craft their settlement in Fallout, they could use their natural environment to do so in Elder Scrolls in a nice contrast. A whole new story Howard noted that Skyrim and Fallout 4 take slightly different approaches to stories, with Skyrim leaving things more open to the player’s vision and Fallout guiding them more firmly through a story Now he says the studio are looking how to “tell a better story in an open world.” He said “each of our games we've had successes and failures and if you ask us internally, we have new ideas that we want to explore in the future because we feel like we haven't really cracked it yet the way we think it could be.” Being aware of the differences between Skyrim and Fallout’s approaches to storytelling and the fact that both have positives and negatives suggests that the next Elder Scrolls title could strike some kind of balance between giving the player completely free reign and telling a story around their character. It’s hard to deny that The Witcher 3 has had a massive impact on what players expect in terms of including an engaging story in an open world game. Though we don’t in any way want Bethesda to just churn out a Witcher copy (we’re not sure it’d be possible anyway) it does put a certain amount of pressure on Bethesda when it comes to achieving high-quality environmental and quest-based story telling. Something we don’t expect to see, though, is multiplayer. Skyrim certainly doesn’t suffer from a lack of multiplayer and it wouldn’t really make all that much sense to incorporate any online multiplayer gameplay with the Elder Scrolls Online still rolling along. Virtual reality What would we like to see?Well, something we’d like to see and fully expect to see is improved graphics and reduced bugginess. The remastered version of Skyrim showed just how far things have come visually since the game’s first release so we fully expect any title following on from it to be of that standard if not much higher, depending on how far away the game is. There’s actually a fairly good chance that the game could be created using an entirely new game engine – after it created an entirely new engine for Skyrim we don’t think it’s unlikely Bethesda will do the same for Elder Scrolls 6 and any Fallout sequels.
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| Diablo 4: everything there is to know so far Posted: 02 Sep 2019 10:02 AM PDT It’s been over seven years since the initial release of Diablo 3, so obviously we're expecting that it's only matter of time before we start another monstrous loot hunt through Sanctuary in the inevitable Diablo 4. While Blizzard Entertainment hasn't actually confirmed that Diablo 4 is in the works, it seems pretty likely. Read between the lines of the company's statements on the topic and it seems fair to suggest that something is definitely on the way, and it definitely seems Diablo shaped. Following the furore around the disappointing announcement of mobile game Diablo: Immortal at Blizzcon 2018, we're expecting Blizzard won't make the same mistake again at Blizzcon 2019. Want to know more? Here’s everything to know so far about the development of the long-awaited Diablo 4. [Update: We're expecting to hear more about Diablo 4 at Blizzcon 2019. Read on to find out more.]
Cut to the chase: is Diablo 4 coming out?
Diablo 4 rumors, development and hiresBlizzcon 2019 New hires While it's not certain that the listings are for Diablo 4, the game is unannounced and there's already a confirmed mobile title in the form of Diablo Immortal in the works. These are some essential positions in the development of a game, however, which suggests that if they are for a Diablo 4 project, the game could be some time from completion. More development focus Blizzard wasn't at Gamescom 2019 "As part of a renewed effort this year to maintain our focus on development, for our current games and our future projects, we won’t have a booth at Gamescom 2019," the post reads. "The show is an important one for the European and global gaming community, and we’re going to miss meeting players in Cologne this year. "We’re also looking forward to sharing more details about the projects we’re currently working on when the time is right." While the post itself doesn't shed any light on what these projects might be, it does clarify that if we are getting a Diablo 4 announcement this year, it'll likely not be until BlizzCon 2019 (in November). What we know so far Blizzard denied that there was anything else ever set for an unveiling at the event, but a post to YouTube back in August suggested otherwise. In it, community manager Brandy "Nevalistis" Camel stated that there were “multiple Diablo projects in the works”: "The forges here at Blizzard are burning hot. And we have multiple Diablo projects in the works. Some of them are going to take longer than others,” stated Camel. “But we may have some things to show you later this year. We hope you stay tuned, while we work to bring these Diablo experiences to life. None of this would be possible without the support that you have shown us for over 20 years. "So whether you first joined us in Diablo 3 or you are a seasoned veteran, thanks you. Diablo is, and always will be, part of Blizzard's identity, and we can't wait for the future." While we now know that one of those in-development projects is Diablo Immortal, an educated guess would be that one of the other projects could be Diablo 4. So what’s pointing us towards a Diablo 4 game in production? In a February 2019 earnings call, COO Coddy Johnson stated that Diablo's development headcount “will grow substantially as the teams work on several projects underway for the franchise”. Diablo games are known for their moody dungeons. (Image Credit: Blizzard Entertainment.) This followed multiple job listings that pointed towards skills needed for a Diablo title – one was hunting for a “skilled Dungeon Artist” with “a focus on composition, detail and mood, while ensuring that the gameplay space is readable," as well as a technical artist who could "help the environment and prop teams define, create, maintain and streamline the modelling and world-building pipeline and processes to bring to life the world of Sanctuary." Of course, Diablo 3 remains an active concern at Blizzard, so these roles could be purely for maintaining that existing game. But with the majority of Diablo Immortal’s development being handled by Blizzard’s Chinese partner Tencent, Johnson’s call for a headcount rise would point to something more substantial being in the works. Indeed, back in 2016 Blizzard was on the hunt for a new game director "lead the Diablo series into the future." Such a future-gazing role would almost certainly include a mainline Diablo title. Works in progress: Diablo Hades and / or Diablo FenrisGame development is often iterative. Diablo 3 was in the works for many years and prototyped in many different ways before becoming the game we know today – and even then, it’s changed dramatically since its (somewhat shaky) initial launch. Diablo 4 will likely be no different, and an incredibly interesting report from Kotaku back in 2018 pointed to multiple iterations of Diablo being in the works at Blizzard – one that has now ceased experimentation and has been shelved, the other what is reportedly now the foundation of Diablo 4. Note that these rumors come from sources we’ve not been able to independently verify, but, working alongside the Kotaku UK team and being able to vouch for their integrity, we’d say there’s legitimate information here that could point to the direction that Diablo 4 is headed towards. Diablo 3, modified to play from an 'over-the-shoulder' perspective. (Image Credit: Mr Monstrosity / Diablo Fans) – Hades (or ‘Diablo as Dark Souls’): the first of these projects was codenamed ‘Hades’. Sources speaking to Kotaku described a game not dissimilar in approach to Dark Souls – an over the shoulder, hardcore dungeon crawler. Work on Hades spanned 2014-2016 reportedly, and included top Blizzard talent including Diablo 3 director Josh Mosquiera. Given the popularity of Dark Souls, broadly similar RPG mechanics and the shared gothic aesthetic of the two, this would have been an interesting and fresh direction for the series to take. However, sources state that the game just wasn’t gelling, with the team eventually going on to make the excellent Rise of the Necromancer DLC for Diablo 3. – Fenris (a return to Diablo 2’s darkness): the second (and reportedly ongoing) effort to make Diablo 4 was codenamed ‘Fenris’, and was worked on by the same team that canned Hades. It would be a more traditional isometric Diablo title, and would see the caricature, colorful aesthetic of Diablo 3 ditched in favor of a darker, grimier, more horrifying look that bring the creepy dread of the first two Diablo games up to date. "There’s a lot of people who felt like Diablo 3 got away from what made Diablo Diablo in terms of art style and spell effects," one unnamed Blizzard employee told Kotaku. "They want to make [Fenris] gross, make it dark, [get rid of] anything that was considered cartoony in Diablo 3… Make what people were afraid of in Diablo 2, but modern." Fenris is also discussed in highly social terms, taking cues from the likes of World of Warcraft and Destiny. While it wouldn’t be an MMO, it could well be a ‘live game’, with social areas that players can meet in before heading out into instanced dungeon raids. Could it be that the Diablo franchise is about to experience a schism? One that sees the more approachable stylings of the Diablo 3 era be carried as the mobile Diablo Immortal experience, freely monetizable away from the ire of the hardcore Diablo fan, while Diablo 4 goes back to the horror-infused roots of the earlier games in the series, as being worked on with the Fenris project? It’s a reasonable idea. Whatever happens, we’ll have all the most up to date information on Diablo 4 here. So keep checking back as we delve deeper into the growing darkness at the heart of Sanctuary. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Anthem: update news, DLC, tips, patch notes and more Posted: 02 Sep 2019 09:54 AM PDT Anthem, BioWare's cooperative, team-based shooter is a change of pace for the makers of Dragon Age and Mass Effect. With a focus on cooperative PvE combat popularized by the likes of Destiny, it landed amid a swirl of hype and expectation, which it has so far failed to meet. Anthem has a big challenge in front of it then – with arguments that its endgame content is weak, its loot system broken and its story not up to scratch when compared with previous narrative-driven BioWare RPGs, it's fighting to win back the hearts of those who were initially in awe of its promise. With EA backing it and BioWare's heritage at its heart, there's hope yet that Anthem will be redeemed. It's being touted as a "living" game after all – one that will evolve over time to keep its fans entranced long after launch – and the likes of behemoths such as Destiny and Fortnite all went through rough launches before becoming gaming juggernauts. With a sizeable update just having landed – in the shape of Anthem Cataclysm – EA could certainly surprise us. So what's the latest Anthem news? When's the next update? And what does the future hold for Anthem? Read on for everything you need to know about the Iron Man simulator. As we said in our full Anthem review: "It is a game of oxymorons and inconsistencies. The story is designed to be single-player but the game is clearly not. The gameplay is an absolute joy but is stifled by the repetitive nature of the end-game. The character animations are truly sublime, but most of the characters themselves are cliché and predictable. "Anthem is a fun game, and a stunningly pretty one, but with flaws in nearly every other aspect of its design. It will improve with patches, updates, and a strong community, but it isn’t a particularly strong foundation. This is less an anthem, and more an annoying earworm..."
Anthem update news and Anthem patch notes
It's finally here! After months of delays, Anthem's Cataclysm event is now live on all platforms. The new season-long event brings with it a bunch of new features including new enemies, rewards, in-game currency, story missions and much more. Here's EA's explanation of the Cataclysm event: "The people of Bastion have much to fear – malevolent creatures roaming the wilds, fanatical Dominion forces testing their strength and fortitude – but nothing inspires as much terror and dread as a Cataclysm. They are one of the most destructive and chaotic manifestations of the Anthem – leaving devastation and death in their wake. And now, Freelancer, it’s your turn to face the chaos head on and do your best to end it." Essentially it seems like we're going to be venturing into a chaotic, black portal of death. Sounds good. Cataclysm and arenas To enter the Cataclysm, you select the 'Cataclysm' option from the Game Modes menu and wallah! You're be in the swirly area of possible death. EA warns that it's probably not a great idea to immediately start exploring as the storm will damage your javelin when you're out in it. Instead, you should look to close rifts inside the new arenas. Arenas are scattered throughout Cataclysm, if you close the rifts inside them then you will be able to "find temporary shelter from the storm, complete tasks, increase available mission time, and engage in combat for loot, in-game currency, and scoring opportunities". Seems like the safest option. But you'll also be able to take part in Cataclysm events in Freeplay mode. There are balls of light in the sky called Storm Gates, when these open you can fly through and complete the objectives within before time runs out to earn rewards. The upper right corner of your screen will tell you how long you need to wait until it opens. In-game currency and war chests According to EA, Major Crystals are mainly given out as mission and challenge rewards while Minor Crystals are earned through playing. Minor Crystals can be used to purchase Major Crystals, war chest or vanity items. But, what's in a war chest? All Cataclysm's non-vanity items apparently. This new in-game currency can be spent at Head Herschel’s Hut in the Fort Tarsis market. Enemies, rewards and scoring Tired of the grunts? Then take on Vara, Cataclysm's big bad who commands an army of Valkyries. There's also new rewards in the form of new Masterwork and Legendary melee items, support, gear, weapons and some exclusive cosmetics. You'll also receive an additional melee slot. If you're all about the score, then know that the way to earn points in a Cataclysm run is through taking out enemies, gathering items, and completing puzzles and objectives. You also get points for spending time in the storm, but remember it hurts. Pointing scoring is more important than ever (for the competitive among us) due to the introduction of a global leaderboard that lets you see the highest score you’ve earned during the Cataclysm and how you rank against the entire player base. Finally, there are three new story missions for you to sink your teeth into. The first sees you investigating a Dominion connection to the storm, the second has you teaming up with others to capture an old enemy, and the final mission will see you stopping the Catclysm itself. Hopefully...
Anthem tips and tricks guidesAnthem is a complex game. With four classes to master, a ton of loot to uncover and large world to explore, it can be daunting for a newcomer, and difficult for even a long term player to master. Get ahead of the pack with our selection of Anthem guides, designed to help you get your Iron Man-like Javelin suit fighting fit as soon as possible.
Anthem DLC – what's next?Anthem is an ongoing project at EA and BioWare, a game that both companies expect to support for many years, with a player base that will grow and evolve along with the game. How do both teams hope to achieve this? Through regular content drops, that's how. As pictured above, EA and BioWare had already mapped out the "ongoing narrative of Anthem", with updates mapped out until May 2019 – but things haven't exactly gone to plan. This first "Act" is called "Echoes of Eternity", which was initially scheduled for March 2019 introducing the "Evolving World" chapter, April 2019 the "Stronger Together" chapter and May 2019 bringing the ominous sounding "Cataclysm" chapter. However, as mentioned above, BioWare isn't on track to hit its roadmap. So we're not quite sure when these updates will arrive. Evolving World will focus on battles with huge bosses such as Titans of War, Ruin, Bane and Havoc in freeplay mode, as well as new Legendary missions and a Scar Infestation freeplay event. Stronger Together will expand the endgame with a new Mastery System for the skill tree progression, as well as host of new freeplay events, more legendary missions, a new Stronghold called "The Sunken" (which will have its own weekly challenge) as well as the introduction of leaderboards and guilds. Cataclysm arrived in August despite initially being pegged for a May release. So, by this logic, BioWare is running roughly three months behind its initial roadmap. But what about paid DLC? EA has yet to announce it's mid-to-long term plans for Anthem. We'd expect it will follow a similar path as Destiny, which had a continued supply of small improvements and features added, interspersed with larger paid-for DLC packs, before an eventual sequel. That is, of course, if Anthem can prove its staying power... Here's hoping – there's a gem at the heart of Anthem, waiting to be dug out. We're hopeful that we'll one day be playing Anthem at its strongest.
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| Apex Legends Season 2: latest update news, tips, patch notes and more Posted: 02 Sep 2019 09:48 AM PDT Apex Legends Season 2 is now well underway and it’s brought with it a slew of Apex Legends updates: a new character (Wattson), new modes, events, additional weapons (L-Star from Titanfall 2) and a much-needed improved battle pass and challenges. Officially dubbed Apex Legends Season 2: Battle Charge, the changes here are based on Season 1 feedback, according to developer Respawn Entertainment and EA. They admitted that not everything went right at launch and well-received by players. Chief among the changes is a new ranked mode and the advent of daily and weekly challenges, something Fortnite excelled at and Apex Legends did not. It'll also take less time to reach Battle Pass level 100 and you'll find three additional Legendary skins along the rewards track.
The new weapon for Season 2? It should actually be familiar to fans of Respawn: it's the L-Star from Titanfall 2, only it's an SMG this time. It's powerful enough to break doors (something only melee and explosive can do currently), but there are some drawbacks. It only arrives in care packages (you can't equip it at load out) and there's no ammo around the map. Coming even sooner to the Apex Legends universe is Apex Elite Queue. The top five players of a match are entered into this elite designation, letting them test their skills against each other in guaranteed epic matches. But they have to keep finishing in the top five to remain in Apex Elite Queue. EA surprised many with the sudden announcement of Apex Legends back in February, a free-to-play battle royale shooter that sees the publisher going toe-to-toe with genre mammoths PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and Fortnite Battle Royale. Developed by Respawn Entertainment and set in the Titanfall universe, Apex Legends is a squad-based battle royale shooter where teams of three go up against 57 other players to try to gather loot and be the last person (or squad) standing. However, unlike Fortnite and PUBG, Apex Legends sees players take on one of eight classes, each represented by a unique character (imagine Fortnite mixed with Overwatch and you’ll be on the right track.) Whether that sounds like your kind of gaming or not, Apex Legends hit the ground running. It managed to reach a million players in its first eight hours and amassed 10 million players in three days. That's good going. Really good going. Particularly when you consider that it took Fortnite two weeks (a fortnight!) to reach those same numbers. Similarly, it took Fortnite 24 hours to accrue a million players, compared to eight hours for EA’s shooter. However, things seem to have slowed down for Apex Legends with revenue dropping and Respawn opting to implement less-frequent, more meaningful updates in lieu of constant, smaller updates. Do we have another Fortnite on our hands or just a passing fad? Let's not get ahead of ourselves and instead take a look at everything we know about Apex Legends. As we said in our full Apex Legends review: "Truth be told, the Battle Royale movement has never quite grabbed me. I dabbled in PUBG and spent a dozen hours or so with Fortnite, yet nothing ever quite stuck the landing. Apex though, has got me hook, line and sinker. Featuring intuitive controls, an outstanding comms system and remarkable rogue’s gallery, Respawn has created what feels like the AAA outing for the genre." Apex Legends update news
Apex Legends' Voidwalker event kicks off from September 3, featuring a new limited-time mode that only lets you use the game's worst weapons: shotguns and snipers. The battle royale's next event centers around Legend Wraith's "mysterious past" and adds a bunch of new content including event challenges, a direct purchase shop and new map details. The Voidwalker event will run from September 3 to September 17 on all platforms, but what can we expect? Arguably the biggest Voidwalker event addition is the new limited-time mode: Armed and Dangerous. This mode only allows players to use snipers and shotguns, and makes overall loot much more difficult to find. The event also adds some new lore details including "part of a decayed Project: Wraith facility in Kings Canyon". This facility includes "a functional prototype portal" that allows you escape quickly or get an early jump on a base. As with any event, Voidwalker also adds some exclusive new skins and Wraith-themed content which can be unlocked by completing event challenges during the two weeks. After that, the exclusive content will no longer be available. If you would rather just buy some exclusive items, then you can purchase all themed cosmetics from the direct purchase shop for $5. As a tie in to the short, we’re adding a set of themed cosmetics such as the Voidwalker Wraith Legendary, which includes a custom character select animation. Finally, from 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST on September 6 to 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST on September 9, players will earn double XP for Top 5 finishes and wins. According to Respawn, this bonus will affect both Account Level and Battle Pass progression. Apex Legends tips and tricksApex Legends can be difficult to get to grips with. There are a lot of different characters each with their own abilities and skills, plus this battle royale arguably leans more heavily on strategy and teamwork than some of its competitors. Get ahead of the pack with our selection of Apex Legends guides, designed to help you become a champion.
How to download Apex LegendsApex Legends can be downloaded for free from the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Origin Store or Apex Legends website. Simply search for the title, download the game and enjoy! But do keep in mind that a good internet connect and subscription to either PS Plus, Xbox Live or Origin Access is required to play. The good news is that Apex Legends is also coming to mobile in the future, following in the footsteps of Fortnite and PUBG. Apex Legends roadmap - what's next?Respawn Entertainment has shared the season roadmap for Apex Legends. Apex Legends Battle Pass seasons run for approximately three months. Currently four seasons have officially been announced:
Is Apex Legends coming to mobile?Yes. In EA’s quarterly earnings report, the publisher announced that it’s looking at bringing the Respawn Entertainment-developed game to mobile platforms and to both South Korea and China. “We’re in advanced negotiations to China and mobile”, EA’s CFO Blake Jorgenson stated, before later mentioning South Korea as another expansion point. While the specific platform details haven't been confirmed, it’s fair to assume that this will include both Android and iOS releases down the line, and as far as the Eastern market releases, this will be via EA’s PC platform and marketplace, Origin.
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| Starfield: latest trailers, rumors and news Posted: 02 Sep 2019 09:27 AM PDT We may not know much about Starfield, but by goodness are we excited. Bethesda's upcoming single-player RPG set in outer space marks the gaming giant's first new IP for 25 years. But just what is the game about? And, more importantly, when will we actually be able to play it? During the game's shock announcement at E3 2018, Bethesda boss Todd Howard called Starfield "our next-generation, single-player epic". However, Bethesda wouldn't divulge any more details apart from a short teaser trailer announcing the game and showing off its logo - and we haven't heard much about it since. However that hasn't stopped us from boarding the hype train with a first-class ticket. There's nothing more exciting than whetting your appetite for a new game by future gazing (or star gazing in this case). So, in that spirit, we've searched the galaxy to bring you the latest news and rumors on Starfield. Here's everything you need to know. Cut to the chase
Starfield release dateSo far, what's been released is a title, trailer and, well, promise of greatness to come. With details so thin on the ground, the earliest we'd expect to see a Starfield game would be 2020. Bethesda Game Studios Director Todd Howard has stressed that "everyone should be very, very patient". In Bethesda's E3 2018 presentation, Howard referred to the first Starfield game as "next-gen", suggesting it might not see a release before the next generation of consoles (either the PS5 and Xbox Project Scarlett). He might, however, just mean the game will use the capabilities of the PS4 and Xbox One's recent mid-cycle upgrades, in which case late 2019 or early 2020 would be a more likely window. In an interview with Eurogamer, Howard elaborated: "What systems we put it out on - what's the hardware requirements - is still to be determined. We're pushing it; we're thinking very, very far in future so we're building something that will handle next-generation hardware. That's what we're building on right now, that's where our mind is, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't exist on the current systems as well." Starfield trailersWe saw our first glimpse of the game during E3 2018. It's not much more than a title and setting at this point, but the video does introduce us to an unnamed planet, a floating satellite or space station, and some sort of... glowing wormhole? Check out the teaser trailer below: Starfield news and rumorsGamescom 2019 Starfield is Bethesda's focus "We're creatives, and it's like, we have to make this game, and this is the time, and so Elder Scrolls 6 is going to have to wait a little bit," Howard said. "And again, Elder Scrolls Online is doing so well, it's so vibrant, that this is the time [for Starfield], both for us creatively, and our audience." Not at E3 2019 A whole new world There have been rumors flying around about the game since Bethesda publisher Zenimax filed a trademark for the name as far back as 2013. Given how much mileage Bethesda has achieved out of its other tentpole IPs – Fallout and The Elder Scrolls, which have both seen various spin-off entries and MMO variants – it is presumably hoping to make Starfield a far-reaching franchise in the same vein. ...and whole new systems Bigger than ever before While we haven't heard specifics on gameplay, Starfield looks set to follow in the same vein, albeit in a more galactic setting. But the final frontier could hold much larger potential for exploration, allowing players to travel across various planets and encounter unknown civilizations. There's a big gap in the market for sci-fi RPGs (Image credits: Bethesda) Keep checking back here for all the latest Starfield news
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| Animal Crossing: New Horizons release date, news and features Posted: 02 Sep 2019 09:08 AM PDT Nintendo has finally given Animal Crossing fans what they want. During a Nintendo Direct in September 2018, the company announced (via a short teaser trailer) that Animal Crossing is coming to the Nintendo Switch sometime in 2019. Unfortunately, however, that news was overturned when Nintendo's Yoshiaki Koizumi announced that the game would be delayed until March 20, 2020 during the company's E3 2019 Nintendo Direct presentation. While the Nintendo Direct and Koizumi brought us some disappointing news at the show, they also brought us our first look at actual gameplay, plus some needed story details of what we're doing on the island and why. Bringing Animal Crossing to the Switch will entice fans old and new, plus we think the game is a perfect match for Nintendo’s hybrid console. Animal Crossing’s sandbox nature makes it ideally suited to long play sessions on your TV, as well as shorter on-the-go bursts on the Switch’s handheld mode. Here's what we know so far about Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Cut to the chase
Animal Crossing: New Horizons release dateBoth a huge disappointment for fans and a huge relief for those working on the game, Nintendo recently announced that New Horizons will be available on March 20, 2020. We'll likely hear more about the game later this year, probably around September and October when Nintendo drops its next Nintendo Direct. Animal Crossing: New Horizons trailersWhile it doesn't hold a lot of information, the game's first trailer was shown off back in September of 2018 – promising a late 2019 release date that we now know won't happen. Still, it serves as a nice introduction to the game and one of its most illustrious characters, Tom Nook. The arguably much more important trailer came to us during E3 2019, when Nintendo dropped a slew of new details about the game. Based on the trailer we know that crafting will now play a major role in the game, and subtle tweaks like being able to place furniture anywhere on the island will really help make everyone's home base look different from one another – a huge step in the right direction for a franchise that can come off as a bit too vanilla. Check out the E3 2019 trailer below: Animal Crossing: New Horizons news and rumorsGamescom 2019 Multiplayer On online multiplayer, things get bigger as up to eight players will be able to play on the one island. As far as talking to one another goes, Animal Crossing will be compatible with the Nintendo Switch Online app. Saves Region Setting Crafting Farming Expanding the home Officially announced Nintendo’s trademark As well as this, the trademark also covers stuffed animals, game machine controllers, board games, playing cards, protective carrying cases, and trading card games, so it’s clear that Nintendo still has big plans for the series. It’s been a long time since the last mainline release What’s also interesting is that the Wii U never received a mainline title (no, Amiibo Festival absolutely does not count) despite the fact that many fans expected to see one. It’s possible that Nintendo started work on an Animal Crossing Wii U or settled on waiting to launch one for the Switch. The success of previous releases Given one of Nintendo’s most staunchly handheld titles, Pokemon, is now confirmed to be coming to the Switch, we don’t think it’s likely the company will keep Animal Crossing languishing on the 3DS for much longer. What we want to see from Animal Crossing: New HorizonsWider, more dynamic, cast More furniture Bigger spaces or more areas More chances to craft your own story Of course, for those interested in continuing along the mayor route that would still be there, but it’d also be exciting to see shopkeeper or cafe owner paths open up. Creating your own designs or crafting furniture to sell to the locals, or collecting ingredients from your town and others to add some interesting flavors to your cafe menu – all of these sound like enjoyable pursuits in an Animal Crossing world. Mobile tie-in It’d actually be nice if Nintendo managed to tie the mobile and console releases together in some way so that players can get more depth out of the mobile game, and give us another way to enjoy the console release. Whether that’s unlocking and transferring items, earning money or improving relationships, we’d just like a way to keep playing even on days where we can’t carry our Switch. Now that we've seen it's possible with Pokemon Let's Go, our hopes are even higher. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The best Netflix series in the UK (September 2019): fantastic Netflix shows to binge Posted: 02 Sep 2019 09:05 AM PDT If you've ditched regular TV and you're getting your fix online, we bet you're using Netflix. The online streaming platform has more than 140 million subscribers worldwide, so it's made sure there's a diverse range of Netflix shows, as well as exclusive Netflix TV series, for viewers with a range of tastes to enjoy. UPDATE: That was one hot summer over on Netflix. The most recent fresh new TV is the third season of GLOW: it's official, the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling have moved to Vegas! This season may be the best yet, there's plenty of glamour, glitter and neon, but what really shines is the laugh-out-loud script and powerful acting from the stellar cast. In big Netflix news, the Emmy award-winning series The Crown, will reign over our screens once more, returning for a third season on November 17. The historical drama, which documents the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, will feature an entirely new cast, with recent Oscar winner Olivia Colman taking over from Claire Foy in the lead role. Netflix offers a huge number of TV shows, from old classic sitcoms and soaps to the site's own Netflix Originals, produced in-house and birthing the likes of Bojack Horseman, Orange is the New Black, and the brilliantly quirky Russian Doll – which has just been renewed for a second season! Sadly, Rick and Morty season 4 won't be coming to Netflix when its released in November – instead it will be available to watch on Channel 4. That being said, there's still all sorts of big-hitters and cult hits competing for your eyeballs, with TV shows being added and removed from Netflix on almost a daily basis. The streaming platform will need to keep up its winning streak of great TV content, with rising subscription prices and fierce competition from the likes of Disney Plus, and Apple TV Plus when they launch later in the year. We've put together this guide to the best Netflix shows that you can watch in the UK right now – and so you can keep up-to-date with Netflix's busy release schedule, which we'll be updating you on once a week. You can check out the box to the right for the best Netflix shows by category – comedy, drama, sci-fi, Netflix Originals, and the like – or read on below for what's coming and going on the service. If you're more of an Amazon Prime fan, and there's a lot to love about this Netflix rival at the moment, then you can see all the best Amazon Prime TV shows in our separate guide. When They See Us has been the most watched show on the platform – of all time. Image Credit: Netflix New Netflix TV showsThere's a great selection of new shows to watch on Netflix right now, including new seasons of Orange is the New Black, GLOW and Stranger Things. One of our top picks of the year so far is When They See Us, the hard-hitting new drama miniseries from Ava DuVernay, which is a powerful look at systemic racism in the US featuring some exceptional performances. In fact, since its release earlier this month, the show has become the most popular series Netflix has ever featured on the platform – in short, it's a must-watch. Netflix has also welcomed the third and final season of Jessica Jones, the season season of Dark (a German language Netflix Original series), the third season of Stranger Things – which could just be the best yet – and the final season of Orange is the New Black. And if you just can't get enough of Stranger Things star David Harbour, you'll be happy to hear he's released a mockumentary on Netflix called Frankenstein's Monster's Monster: Frankenstein. From the trailer (below), it looks like a funny spoof, with great acting from Harbour. What's coming soon to Netflix?For Netflix TV shows, there's a lot to look forward to later in the year too. Fans of Jim Henson's puppetry classic, The Dark Crystal, will be happy to hear that Netflix's 10-part prequel series Age of Resistance will be landing on August 30. They've even stuck with real puppets. We're also delighted that Netflix's Emmy award-winning series The Crown, will return for a third season on November 17. The hugely popular historical drama returns with a new cast, with recent Oscar winner Olivia Colman taking over from Claire Foy in the lead role. More details have also been revealed about The Witcher TV show. The Netflix adaptation of The Witcher game and book will be released before the end of 2019, the company has now confirmed. Neil Gaiman fans will be happy to hear that it looks like Netflix and Warner have agreed on a deal to bring Gaiman's fantastical Sandman horror stories to life. Early reports suggest there will be 10 episodes based on the award-winning comic books and Gaiman himself will be co-writing at least one of the episodes. Get ready to enter The Dreaming! Here's some of the brilliant Netflix UK shows you can expect in 2019:
Image Credit: Netflix Netflix UK FAQ: quick questions answeredHow much does Netflix cost in the UK? There are a few different plans you can choose from in the UK, depending on whether you want to watch in SD, HD, or Ultra HD (4K) – dependent on the strength of your internet – and how many separate devices you want to watch on. Basic– £5.99 per month – With the cheapest membership option, you can watch one one screen at a time in Standard Definition, and download videos to one mobile device. Standard – £7.99 per month – This membership allows you to watch in HD on two screens at a time and download videos to two mobile devices. Premium – £9.99 per month – The most expensive subscription allows you to watch in HD and Ultra HD on four screens at a time, and download videos to four mobile devices.
How can I get a free Netflix account? Netflix offers new customers a free month of the service as a trial period – simply choose a membership type and payment plan and your first month will be free. At the end of this period, if you choose to continue watching Netflix, you'll be charged one "low monthly fee" regardless of how much you used the service and on how many devices you watched videos on. Netflix will send you a reminder towards the end of your trial period – if you want to cancel your membership, you can do so at any time during this period and you won't be charged. Can I watch live TV on Netflix? No – you can only watch films and TV series from Netflix's rather extensive library. If you want to watch live TV in the UK, you can try services like Sky's Now TV, BBC iPlayer, or ITV Hub. Is Amazon Prime better than Netflix? The answer to that question really depends on the shows and movies you want to watch. Check out our roundup of the best Amazon Prime Video TV Shows for an idea of what you can watch on Amazon Prime. You can also read our Amazon Prime review for more information on what the service offers. Do you get Netflix free with Sky Q? Netflix can be accessed on a Sky Q box, but it doesn't come for free – you'll still need to sign in with a paid-for Netflix subscription. However, if you opt for Sky's Ultimate on Demand package, it will integrate Netflix billing with your Sky bill, while reducing its cost and unlocking Netflix recommendations within the Sky Q interface. If you're paying for both services, it's well worth combining them in this way as a result.
Best Netflix Original seriesSome of the best Netflix series worth watching today are ones the streaming site has produced itself – often with stellar results. There's been a lot of money pumped into creating original content, even if Netflix may get a bit pickier about what it funds going forward. While many of the Netflix Original shows out there were committed to the dustbin of viewing habits pretty quickly, these ones are definitely worth your attention. Image Credit: Netflix When They See UsCreated by Ava DuVernay for Netflix, this hard-hitting drama follows the story of five teens - four African American men and one Hispanic - who were accused of attacking and raping a woman in New York in 1989. It's a gut-wrenching story that shines a light on the systemic racism in the US. Just a few weeks after its release, this show has garnered a lot of media attention, as well as a lot of viewers. Netflix has revealed it's actually the most popular series that's ever been featured on the platform to date. In other words, it's a must-watch. Season on Netflix: 1 Image credit: Netflix Russian DollOrange Is The New Black's Natasha Lyonne stars in this dark comedy as Nadia, who keeps dying and reliving her 36th birthday party in a surreal time loop – much like Groundhog Day. With it's cynical and witty examination of living and dying, Russian Doll switches rapidly between laugh-out-loud hilarity and devastating sadness – it's a must-watch. In June 2019, Netflix announced it would be renewing Russian Doll for a second season - more details to come soon. Seasons on Netflix: 1 Image credit: Netflix ManiacA bizarre new sci-fi series based on a Norwegian TV show of the same name. It's about Annie and Owen, played by Emma Stone and Jonah Hill, two troubled strangers who are brought together during some strange pharmaceutical trials. Dr. James K. Mantleray claims that a new series of pills he's created can solve all kinds of mental illness and heartbreak, but there's something much deeper and more sinister going on too. Seasons on Netflix: 1 Image credit: Netflix Bojack HorsemanYes, Bojack Horseman is hilarious. Yes, it’s the best thing Will Arnett has done since Arrested Development. And, yes, it should be the next thing you watch if you are into anthropomorphic comedy about a once great TV star who has fallen on hard times. It’s all of that but it’s also a pretty accurate portrayal of depression and should be celebrated as such. For those who are worried it may be too dark for them, fear not - there's loads of slapstick humor, word play, and stunning animation to keep everything balanced. Seasons on Netflix: 5 Image credit: Netflix The CrownIs The Crown Netflix's crowning glory? It could be, as a sumptuous look at one of the world's most famous families: the Royal family. Charting the early years of the relationship between the Queen (Claire Foy) and Prince Philip (former Doctor Who Matt Smith), the show was written by Peter Morgan and, at £100 million, is one of the most expensive TV series ever made. Which means there's enough pomp and ceremony to keep those pining for a Downton Abbey replacement happy. The second season is now on Netflix and is a nice improvement on the first series - it's also the last that stars the current cast, with Olivia Coleman and Helena Bonham Carter slated to appear as the Queen and Princess Margaret respectively in the next couple on seasons. Seasons on Netflix: 2 Image credit: Netflix Orange is the New BlackOrange Is The New Black is back for its sixth season and is a show that consistently one of the best to watch, with its superb tale of life in a women's prison. It's so popular that it is now the most watched series on Netflix - although the makers have announced that the show's next season will be its last. The show has returned for its seventh final season and things are looking pretty bleak for the inmates of Litchfield Penitentiary – as well as for those who are on the outside. While the comedy is still there, it's slathered with a fair bit of drama and darkness. Seasons on Netflix: 7 Image credit: Netflix GLOWThe long-awaited third season of the female wrestling comedy GLOW is finally here. The Gorgeous Ladies Of Wrestling have returned and this time they’ve been commissioned for a full series of their trashy, hot-pink, hairspray-fuelled wrestling show led by their coked-up director (played by Marc Maron). Sound familiar? Well, this season there's a big difference: they've moved to VEGAS, baby! The fantastic third season could potentially even outshine the first two for its refreshing female-fronted cast and writers, and its brilliant balancing act between empowerment and exploitation. It’s a must-watch. Seasons on Netflix: 3 Best drama series on NetflixImage credit: Sony Pictures Television Breaking BadBreaking Bad is must-watch TV and one of the reasons Netflix has risen to the popularity it has. Before Breaking Bad, Netflix was seen as a fairly decent streaming service. After it got the rights to show the final season of Breaking Bad in the UK, Netflix propelled itself to superstardom. Not bad for a show that’s ostensibly about a high-school teacher with cancer who goes on to sell meth to pay for his hospital bills. It goes without saying, if you haven’t yet spent time with Walter White and Jesse - do so now! But, be warned, the show is as addictive as the stuff Walter is peddling. Seasons on Netflix: 5 Image credit: BBC SherlockThis contemporary BBC remake of the Arthur Conan Doyle classic is dark, funny, and intricately written, and it's brought Victorian sleuth Sherlock Holmes bang up to date for the modern age. With stellar performances from Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as Holmes and Dr Watson respectively, this BBC adaptation is an absolute must-watch. Storylines packed with intrigue and nail-biting tension are offset by moments of genuine humor, so even the scaredy-cats in the family will find something to love about this series. Seasons on Netflix: 4 Image credit: Channel 4 / Clerkenwell Films The End of the F***ing WorldAdapted from the comic book of the same name (mins the ***), The End Of The F***ing World is f***ing brilliant. It tells the tale of two teenagers on a journey; both are loners on the run but one of them just happens to be a bit of a psychopath. It's funny, but brutal TV. It's British and co-funded by Channel 4 and there's a fantastic edge to everything in it - and it's perfectly bite-sized, too at just under 20 minutes an episode. It's so good, it's destined to get a second season. The first ends so perfectly, though, it's actually a real shame that this will happen. Seasons on Netflix: 1 (and it needs to stay that way) Image credit: Lionsgate Television Mad MenOn the face of it, Mad Men is about advertising execs - lead by the ever-conflicted Don Draper - in the Sixties but it's much much more. Each episode lingers, taking time to tell its tale, but it's worth the wait. Superb television that you can get caught up in. Seasons on Netflix: 7 Best comedy series on NetflixThat's right: Netflix has become a brilliant hub for the funnies. Whether that's Netflix's range of stand-up specials, or the TV comedies below, there are few streaming sites as sure to get a laugh out of you. Image Credit: Netflix EasyAll three seasons of Easy are now available on Netflix. It's a US comedy set in Chicago all about love, relationships and sex. There are some characters that crop up again as protagonists, but sometimes they're background characters in other stories. We like that comedian and WTF podcast creator Marc Maron is making an appearance in the third season. Seasons on Netflix: 3 Image credit: Netflix Sex EducationThis British comedy series sees socially awkward sixth-former Otis (who lives with his sex therapist mother) team up with the smart and rebellious Maeve, to create a sex clinic for the school's sexually frustrated students. It's equally funny as it is heartfelt, and offers a frank and uncensored view of teen sexuality and the social quagmire that is sixth-form education. Don't be put off by the Americanisation of this high school comedy that's apparently set in a seemingly quaint British village – the temporal and physical ambiguity is what gives this fantastic series part of its charm. Seasons on Netflix: 1 Image credit: NBC / Fremulon The Good PlaceComedy is in a good place right now and, funnily enough, The Good Place is a perfect example of that. Starring Ted Danson and Kristen Bell, this off-the-wall comedy focuses on a recently deceased woman who is sent to a heaven-like utopia called the Good Place completely by accident. In order to stay there she goes to any lengths to hide what a terrible person she was when living. Season 1 and 2 have already aired in the UK through Netflix, with new season 3 episodes being added each week in line with their US release. The fourth season is expected to land later in 2019, which unfortunately will be the last. A great cast, clever writing and an original concept make this a must-watch. Seasons on Netflix: 3 Image credit: Objective Productions / Channel 4 Peep ShowAll nine seasons of Peep Show are now on Netflix - and if you haven't seen the show, then you are in for a treat. Charting the rather mundane lives of two flatmates Jez (Robert Webb) and Mark (David Mitchell), the show is a wry look at adults trying and failing to be adults. All shot in first person - hence the name - Peep Show doesn't shirk from sex, drugs and political incorrectness but it does it all in such a brilliantly British way, that you don't mind at all when you are watching some of the most awkward TV moments, including one of the characters serving up a dead dog for dinner. Don't ask, just watch. Seasons on Netflix: 9 Image credit: FX It's Always Sunny in PhiladelphiaInitially made on a shoe-string budget, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia first season had a cult following, but low viewing figures meant it was destined to be a one-series wonder. Thankfully, everything changed when Season 2 was eventually green-lit, thanks to some big-time star power. Danny De Vito joined for a 10-episode run that was extended because he loved it so much. He's still in the show that's now in its 13th season, bringing with him huge viewing figures. The antics of Dennis (Glenn Howerton), Mac (Rob McElhenney, the show's creator), Charlie (Charlie Kelly) and Sweet Dee (Kaitlin Olson) won't be for everyone - at its darkest the show's 'comedy' themes range from nazism to drug abuse - but stick with it and this deliciously depraved classic will reward you. Its 13th season has finally arrived on Netflix, and we're happy to say, it's just as funny as the previous 12. Seasons on Netflix: 13 Image credit: Netflix Arrested DevelopmentArrested Development is one of the best comedies ever made. So it made sense that Netflix would want to resurrect it for a fifth season. The fourth season was funny, but it wasn’t perfect - primarily because most of the cast were too busy to get into the same room. But the first half fifth season brings back some of that Bluth magic, which is full of in-jokes, jokes that run for entire seasons and more, well, jokes, this is essential TV. [Update: The second half of season 5 is here as of March 15, 2019. Do the chicken dance!] Seasons on Netflix: 5 Image credit: Fox Brooklyn Nine-NineFollowing the brilliant but immature NYPD detective Jake Peralta, this Golden Globe-winning series is a laugh-a-minute, with plenty of deadpan jokes, physical comedy, and crackpot characters. With around 20 episodes per season Brooklyn Nine-Nine is totally bingeable, and the latest fifth season is now available to stream on Netflix. Seasons on Netflix: 5 Best sci-fi / fantasy series on NetflixImage credit: Netflix Stranger ThingsWhen it comes to TV and movies, the '80s is the nostalgia decade of the moment. Whether it's Jeff Nichols' Midnight Special that plays like a Steven Spielberg film, if Spielberg still made films like he did in the Eighties, or The Goldbergs and Red Oaks mining the decade for laughs, filmmakers can't get enough of the shell suits and Sony Walkmans. Stranger Things is another brilliant homage to this era. Leaning heavily on Spielberg, John Carpenter and Stephen King - so much King - the story revolves around a small town, a group of friends, a missing person and a dodgy science lab. Writing anything else would give away the myriad twists in a show that is full of brilliant creepy fun. The third season has just arrived on Netflix and it's probably the best one yet, bringing everything we know and love about the show and adding in even more spooky science, drama between the characters and heaps of colourful 80s nostalgia. Seasons on Netflix: 3 Image credit: Netflix The OACo-created by and starring the ever-brilliant Brit Marling, The OA consists of eight episodes that rival Stranger Things for, well, strangeness. Marling is a blind woman who comes back after disappearing for many years. Her sight is restored and she has a tale to tell. The whole thing has been made to make you feel uneasy and it does a great job of that – and with the second season now on Netflix, there's more to binge than ever before. Seasons on Netflix: 2 Image credit: CBS Star Trek: DiscoveryWell, this series went to places we never thought it would. Set before the exploits of the Starship Enterprise, the show is filled with Roddenberry characters. But while the original series had shades of light this is a much darker look at space exploration. Sonequa Martin-Green is great as the first officer who has a past intrinsically linked to Star Trek characters of the past – we can't wait to see where this series goes. Seasons on Netflix: 2 Image credit: Netflix Black MirrorSeason 5 of Black Mirror is out now and, although we're sure we said the same thing for the fourth season, this one could be the darkest, most varied season of the show yet. Before Black Mirror, Charlie Brooker was best known for his snarky look at the news in Weekly Wipe and his fantastic, caustic look at 'meeja' types in London’s Shoreditch. Now, the show has given him superstar status. For good reason, it’s fantastic TV with each episode taking on a different dystopia topic, mostly framed around technology going very long. The third season was commissioned by Netflix and is in 4K, with most of the episodes being feature length. Seasons on Netflix: 5 Image credit: Netflix New season added: DarkDark is a German-language supernatural thriller in which the disappearance of two children in a small town brings the fractured relationships and dark pasts of the people living there to the surface. Adding a touch of Scandinavian crime thriller to American drama, this 10-part series has been renewed for a second season, which landed on Netflix in June 2019. Seasons on Netflix: 2 Image credit: Netflix The Umbrella AcademyBased on the comic books written by My Chemical Romance's Gerard Way and illustrated by Gabriel Bá, The Umbrella Academy is Netflix's latest Original series. After 43 babies are born to women who showed no signs of pregnancy, seven are adopted by billionaire Sir Reginald Hargreeves, who trains them to save the world using their powers. After the family becomes estranged, they are reunited once more when their father dies and are forced to come to terms with their past and the danger that lurks in their future. Fronted by Ellen Page, The Umbrella Academy is flamboyant, dark, and gratifyingly violent – all the ingredients you need for a great superhero series. Best animated series on NetflixNetflix has made no secret of its desire to cater to all tastes – including those after some high-class animation. There's been a flurry of kids' cartoons, adult satires, and Japanese anime making its way to the service: here's our pick of the very best. (Alternatively, if you're looking for the best streaming service for anime, we have a whole other guide for that.) Image credit: Warner Bros. Rick and MortyRick and Morty has enjoyed an almost obsessive cult following since its release in 2013, and with three seasons on Netflix, there's a lot to catch up on if you haven't seen it yet. The series follows the crazy inter-dimensional adventures of mad scientist Rick Sanchez and his timid grandson Morty, as they navigate both the multiverse and fraught family relationships. Part of it's wide appeal is creator Dan Harmon's masterful combination of side-splitting humor with sometimes devastating emotional depth, meaning Rick and Morty is a series you will unlikely be able to stop watching once you start. Sadly Rick and Morty season 4 isn't coming to Netflix – instead it will air on Channel 4 in the UK. What this means for previous seasons on Netflix remains to be seen, but the likelihood is that they'll eventually be taken down. Seasons on Netflix: 3
Neon Genesis EvangelionThis critically-acclaimed Japanese anime has landed on Netflix, with all 26 episodes of the original series as well as two additional tie-in films, Death True and The End of Evangelion. Given how hard it's been to get hold of in recent years, the anime coming to Netflix is nothing short of a miracle. Charting a battle between giant human mechs (piloted by high schoolers, of course) and invading monsters known as Angels, this is an anime that spends as much time looking at the internal lives of its protagonists as the flashy action sequences they find themselves in. Dark, raw, and unafraid of facing emotional trauma, Neon Genesis Evangelion is a must-watch for any anime fan. Image credit: Warner Bros. Final SpaceAnother sci-fi entry here: after human prisoner Gary meets a planet-destroying alien, they must go on an interstellar mission to save Earth. Alongside a ragtag team of misfits, Gary embarks on a journey through space to find out the true meaning of 'final space', or where the universe ends. Laugh-out-loud funny, and surprisingly emotional, the series was picked up for another season in May 2018. Seasons on Netflix: 1 Image credit: Netflix F is for FamilyBased on the life of comedian Bill Burr, F is for Family is a funny and endearing cartoon set in 1970's American suburbia, and centres around Burr's father Frank Murphy. A little like an even more adult version of The Simpsons, the series is all about 70's nostalgia, with musical, costume, and cultural throwbacks interspersed with Frank's profane rants at his misbehaving children and long suffering wife Sue. Full to the brim with laugh-out-loud moments, the series is just as heartwarming as it is hilarious - and it's back for a brilliant third season. Seasons on Netflix: 3 Image credit: FXX ArcherArcher is back on Netflix for its penultimate ninth season, and like the previous season, the characters are playing different versions of themselves as Archer still lies in a coma. This time Archer is a drunken co-pilot alongside Pam, who crash their plane onto the verdant Pacific island of Mitimotu, with the series paying homage to the short-lived television series Tales of the Golden Monkey and the Indiana Jones films. Seasons on Netflix: 9 Image credit: WIT Studio Attack on TitanBased on the manga of the same name by Hajime Isayama, Attack on Titan is an action -packed anime that's set in a world where humans live in cities protected by enormous walls to protect them from gigantic humanoid monsters called Titans who devour them at any opportunity. When a Titan breaks through the wall of protagonist Eren Yeager's hometown, he vows to get revenge by joining a group of soldiers who battle them. Although the show has a dedicated fan following, though the second and third seasons are yet to be released on Netflix. (You can find the rest on Crunchyroll.) Seasons on Netflix: 1 Image credit: Cartoon Network Over the Garden WallNow something for the kids – originally aired on Cartoon Network, Over the Garden Wall is a charming mini-series that centers on two half brothers Wirt and Greg (voiced by Elijah Wood and Collin Dean respectively) who must find their way home through an enchanted forest. Stalked by an evil ancient creature called 'The Beast', the two boys encounter the strange and sometimes wonderful inhabitants of the forest along their way. With stunning animation inspired by Victorian illustrations and postcards, Over the Garden Wall is the perfect watch for adults and children alike. Seasons on Netflix: 1
Best documentaries on NetflixImage Credit: Netflix Our PlanetNarrated by everyone's favourite nature expert, David Attenborough, the new Our Planet documentary is a beautiful and breathtaking look at planet Earth in all its glory. Produced in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund, the new eight-part series took more than four years to make and is Netflix's first nature documentary. Although the scenes are truly wonderful, the documentary was made to address issues of conservation and show the impact climate change has on animals across the globe. Seasons: 1 Image credit: Netflix Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy TapesThe latest true crime documentary to land on Netflix is this fascinating insight into the crimes of notorious serial killer, Ted Bundy. The four-part series features present day interviews, archival footage of Bundy, and audio recordings made with the killer on death row. With chilling images and descriptions of Bundy's crimes, it's not a watch for the faint-hearted. But, if you can stomach it, this documentary is completely captivating. Seasons on Netflix: 1 The Great HackWhat's your personal data really being used for? The Cambridge Analytics scandal rocked the world of social media, with huge swathes of user information being weaponized for targeted political warfare – notably for Donald Trump's election campaign and the Leave campaign in the UK – and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg even being called to Congress to testify on the matter. Here's how it happened. Image Credit: Netflix The Disappearance of Madeleine McCannIt might be one of the most famous unsolved missing person cases ever in the UK and now the story of Madeleine McCann's disappearance has been given the Netflix documentary treatment. The new documentary is reported to contain testimonies that haven't been heard before and it's bound to reignite discussion about what really happened to Maddie. As with all documentaries on Netflix that deal with sensitive issues, be warned before watching this one. We haven't had chance to watch it yet but imagine it'll be triggering and upsetting. If you're looking for something light, this most certainly is not it. Seasons on Netflix: 1 Image credit: Netflix Making a MurdererThe world's fascination with real crime seems to be at its highest at the moment and it's all thanks to the podcast Serial. Now on to its second series, Serial highlights cases of crime in forensic detail. Making a Murderer is in a similar vein. This 10-part series looks at Steven Avery, someone who spent 18 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit and is then accused of a different crime. The show has been ten years in the making and is gripping stuff. Seasons on Netflix: 2 Image credit: Duplass Brothers Productions Evil GeniusIf true crime is your thing, then you'll want to get stuck into Evil Genius this weekend. It's about the very odd story of a pizza delivery man who robs a bank with a bomb tied around his neck. And that's all we can really say without ruining some of the more baffling details. Described by numerous review sites as "unnerving" and "Lynchian", this isn't one for rom-com lovers or those looking for a chilled Sunday evening watch. Seasons on Netflix: 1 Image credit: BBC Planet Earth IINature buffs will have likely already watched this breath-taking documentary series when it first premiered on the BBC back in 2016, but you can rewatch it all again now the entire second season has landed on Netflix. Following on from the super popular Planet Earth, this beautiful, breath-taking and at times brutal look at our planet and the plants, animals and people that thrive on it is made even more compelling because it's narrated by David Attenborough and the main music is composed by Hans Zimmer. Seasons on Netflix: 1 Image credit: Netflix Last Chance UESPN might've had the world of sports documentaries well in hand with its 30 for 30 series. But that was before Netflix got the crazy idea to make one of its own. Inspired by an article in GQ magazine, Last Chance U follows student athletes who are one step away from never playing football again. On top of the pressures on the field, students face problems in the classroom where class absences and the fear failing hit harder than a defensive lineman. It's gritty, heart-wrenching and exactly the kind of series that gives you something to root for all while biting your nails. Just in time for football season, the third season of the show – which follows a new team in Independence, Kansas – is now available. Seasons on Netflix: 3 Image credit: Netflix ExplainedCreated by Netflix and Vox Media, this handy and smart series takes a look at some of the most popular ideas and tech around today and explains them in a way that's poignant in its presentation without feeling overwhelming to take in. From the racial wealth gap, cryptocurrency and why diets rarely work through to K-Pop and the stock market, it's an insightful look at the problems, ideas and trends around today and the stuff that could shape tomorrow. At the very least, it gives you enough knowledge to have a really good debate down at the pub. Seasons on Netflix: 1 Best reality series on NetflixImage credit: Netflix Tidying up with Marie KondoDoes this item spark joy? Marie Kondo is Japanese organizing consultant, and in this series, she visits families and helps them to re-organise their lives. Using her KonMarie method, she instructs her students to go through their belongings, only keeping things that "spark joy". Relaxing and uplifting, this show is the perfect thing to watch before a spring clean. Seasons on Netflix: 1 Image credit: Netflix Queer EyeNeed a dose of feel-good TV to help cope with today's rocky political landscape? Check out Queer Eye, a show about being the best you with help from five of the coolest dudes on the planet. The show has just entered its third season and we're still loving the premise of taking people stuck in a rut and hoisting them to the self-respecting, self-loving person we all want to be. Werk. [Update: As of March 15, 2019 the third season of Queer Eye is here! Yasss hunny!] Seasons on Netflix: 3 Image credit: Love Productions / Channel 4 The Great British Bake OffEveryone’s favourite baking show is on Netflix and ready to stream. If you didn’t binge on baking as you binged on chocolate eggs, head on over to the streaming site now to watch seven seasons of GBBO. For those not in the know (seriously, how?), Great British Bake Off is a baking reality show that follows wannabe bakers through a series of challenges week after week. Each time, someone is eliminated and it’s made all the more addictive by judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood. The reboot of the series by Channel 4 (with an entirely new lineup apart from Hollywood) isn't yet available on Netflix, but the rights have been acquired by the streaming giant so it shouldn't be too long now. Seasons on Netflix: 7 Image credit: World of Wonder It's been going strong for 10 years and 11 seasons, but RuPaul's Drag Race is still giving fierce fans a heavy dose of fabulous. For those not already in the know, the elimination-style reality show sees RuPaul go on the hunt for America's next drag superstar - expect lots of glitter, drama, and fun. Now that the show has been picked up by Netflix, it's sister show Untucked is also available to stream. Season 11 has just landed, with a new episode dropping every Friday – in time for some seriously sickening bingeing. Seasons on Netflix: 11 Image credit: Netflix Nailed it!If watching The Great British Bake Off makes you feel inadequate, you should try Nailed It!, the baking show for people who suck at baking. The series sees three contestants per episode take on two impossible baking challenges, with the winner receiving $10,000. Hosted by the infectiously upbeat Nicole Byer and suave French pastry chef Jaques Torres, this show is guaranteed to make you smile. [Update: The Christmas edition, Nailed It: Holiday is out now...perfect watching for a cosy night in.] Seasons on Netflix: 2 Image credit: Netflix Ultimate BeastmasterIf you were a fan of Takeshi's Castle back in the day, or more recently, Ninja Warrior, you're going to love Ultimate Beastmaster. The competition sees 2 contestants from six to nine countries take on 'The Beast', a ridiculously challenging obstacle course that only the fittest will be able to take on. What sets this series apart from other obstacle course shows is that Netflix produces six localized versions, featuring "select television hosts, actors, comedians and athletes as commentators from the six countries competing in the show". Seasons on Netflix: 3 This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Get free headphones and cheap bills in Virgin's latest fibre broadband flash sale Posted: 02 Sep 2019 09:01 AM PDT Virgin Media is back to do what it does best - flash sales. The company has outdone itself yet again, by cutting the prices of its fibre broadband deals and offering up some impressive audio freebies. Whether you’re looking for Bowers and Wilkins headphones or a £50 credit to your bill, Virgin Media has got you covered. One of its three main broadband deals - the M100 - is ensuring up to 9 devices are covered and download speeds of up to 108Mbps. As it covers and ensures efficiency for that many devices, this broadband deal is ideal for the busier households. This fantastic offer also includes a Virgin phone line and what’s more, for a limited period of time Virgin has dropped the cost of this deal, from £33 to £26. Plus, as previously mentioned all three of Virgin Media's main broadband only deals are offering free Bowers and Wilkins headphones with an RRP of £119, or a £50 credit in paying your bill. And if by any chance you’re not happy with your purchased deal, it offers a 14-day money back guarantee. The ideal fibre broadband deal is difficult to find and that is why if this deal sounds perfect to you, you will have to hurry. It ends this Wednesday, September 4 at 11.59pm. However, if this isn't quite what you're looking for, let us put you at ease: we’ve got a guide just for you of the best broadband deals. Virgin Media’s fibre broadband deal + free headphones:Want more from your broadband deal?If you’re looking for the fastest broadband, look no further than Virgin Media. Its comparison charts show how it offers some of the fastest download speeds around, with some of its deals offering download speeds of up to 362Mbmps. Only Hyperoptic with its 1% coverage of the UK can top that (if you're lucky enough to be in its reach). Broadband of this speed would be ideal for any tech savvy individuals or heavy streamers. However, if you are looking to save a few extra quid but don’t want to compromise your broadband speed, TalkTalk is a great option. They are offering a very similar deal with its Faster Fibre with speed boost which is only £23.50 a month. On top of that, TalkTalk guarantees the same price per month for the full 18 months of your contract, so you don’t get hit with any unexpected, pesky broadband price rises. Fancy more freebies? Try BT. Its latest Superfast Fibre deal includes a £100 Mastercard gift card and unlimited usage for £31.9 a month. Plus, BT are guaranteeing that there will be no broadband price rises for the rest of 2019.
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| Rick and Morty season 4 release date, rumors, and Inter-Dimensional Cable 3 Posted: 02 Sep 2019 09:00 AM PDT TV fans all over the world are waiting with bated breath for news of a Rick and Morty season 4 release date, after Adult Swim's animated sci-fi show completed its third season in October 2017. The show centers around the Smith family, which consists of married couple Jerry and Beth, their two children Summer and Morty, and Beth’s alcoholic mad scientist father Rick, who has commandeered their garage for use as his personal laboratory. It’s been a long time coming, but negotiations with Adult Swim concluded in May 2018 with the renewal of the beloved series for 70 new episodes – more than the first three seasons of Rick and Morty combined. That enormous commission is testament to the show’s success, which has surpassed its status as a cult favorite to become one of Adult Swim's most loved syndicated series. While Rick and Morty has traditionally been one of Netflix's most popular shows outside of the US, the fourth season will air on Channel 4 in the UK instead, after the broadcaster outbid Netflix.
Cut to the chase
Part of Rick and Morty’s success is down to its masterful combination of wacky, borderline-offensive comedy with truly stirring character arcs, from Rick’s self destructive nihilism to Morty’s acceptance of humanity’s insignificance within the larger universe (and his inherent teenage awkwardness). The series largely focuses on the adventures of Rick and Morty, who travel to other planets and dimensions using Rick’s flying car, allowing us to see multiple versions of the characters who exist within the multiverse. While Rick is eccentric, nihilistic and reckless, Morty is anxious and self-conscious, acting as the moral compass that tempers his grandfather’s massive ego.
When will Rick and Morty season 4 be released?Traditionally there have been huge stretches in between series, and season four is no different, with the previous season ending in October 2017. That being said, the Rick and Morty season 4 release date is fast approaching, with WarnerMedia confirming that it will air in November 2019 – we still don’t have a specific date, but we know that there will be 10 episodes in the new season. We might not have so long to wait for season 5 however; co-creator Justin Roiland confirmed in an interview with Polygon that the renewal deal would allow the team to reduce the gaps in between seasons and “keep the machine going”. Rick and Morty season 4 trailersWhile we haven’t had a full trailer for Rick and Morty season 4, we have been treated to a clip from the new season. The first clip from season 4 appeared on the Adult Swim YouTube channel on July 19, and reveals that one episode will star an alien called Gloopie (voiced by Taika Waititi), who helps Jerry to launch an app. You can watch the clip below: What will happen in Rick and Morty season 4?Rick and Morty’s storylines are so wild, it’s quite difficult to say where the next season will take us, but we can be fairly sure we’ll be seeing lots more adventures through space and time. However, the scant information we do have on the new season means we can speculate as to its contents. Rick leaves home The official Twitter for Rick and Morty has also revealed a few stills from the new season, one of which shows Rick walking peacefully through a field, away from his flying car – could season 4 see Rick abandon his family once more? The return of the Vindicators Remember the intergalactic crime-fighting Vindicators from season 3? Another still shared on Twitter shows Rick with aliens that look pretty similar to one of the team’s members, Crocubot, who was crushed to death as a result of Rick’s egomaniacal Saw-like game. At the end of the episode, lead Vindicator Supernova goes mad with desire for revenge and tries to kill Rick and Morty before escaping – so we could be in for a final showdown between Rick and the cosmic heroine. Inter-Dimensional Cable 3 One of the most loved aspects of the series is Interdimensional Cable – a plot point that first appeared in season 1, when Rick hijacks the family’s cable box so that it has access to TV channels from across multiple dimensions and universes. As the family watches, we’re treated to the infinite possibilities of multiverse TV, including a crime show in a universe where people evolved from corn, and an advert for a restaurant that caters exclusively to people with tiny mouths. According to an article by Inverse, the return of Inter-Dimensional Cable is all but confirmed, after Roiland shared an image of a recording booth on Instagram with the caption “Idc3 (maybe) @rickandmorty” – Idc3 could easily stand for Interdimensional Cable 3. Taika Waititi at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's Annual Grants Banquet in July 2019. Rick and Morty season 4 confirmed guest starsSince Rick and Morty's explosion in popularity, it's little wonder that celebrities are lining up to make guest appearances on the madcap sci-fi series. Here are some of the names confirmed to appear in Rick and Morty season 4: Taika Waititi Confirmation of the Thor: Ragnarok director's involvement in season 4 of Rick and Morty came as part of the clip released on the Adult Swim YouTube channel in July, which shows off Waititi's voice acting chops as an app-making alien called Gloopie. Sam Neill Joining Waititi as a fellow member of Gloopie's species is Sam Neill, whose perhaps best known for his portrayal of Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park (1993). In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Justin Roiland dispelled hopes that Neill would be riffing off his Jurassic Park role, saying only that his character is "from the same species as Taika’s character, and we wanted a Kiwi flavor to their species". Kathleen Turner That's right; legendary actress Kathleen Turner will lend her sultry smoky voice to Rick and Morty season 4 in an as of now unknown role. It wouldn't be the first time Turner has been cartoonified – she provided the unmistakeable voice of Jessica Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988). Matthew Broderick Another old hat at cartoon voice-acting, you may remember Matthew Broderick as the voice of Simba in the original Lion King (1994) – the adult Simba, that is. More recently, he appeared in the wildly popular animated Netflix series Bojack Horseman, playing the titular character's grandfather. Liam Cunningham Liam Cunningham, AKA, Ser Davos Seaworth of Game of Thrones fame hasn't done much in the way of voice acting work – however, we can't wait to hear his lilting Irish tones in Rick and Morty season 4. Paul Giamatti The US actor and producer who's best known for roles in Private Parts (1997), Saving Private Ryan (1998), and Cinderella Man (2005), has also been confirmed for a role in Rick and Morty season 4 – what that will entail is still to be confirmed.
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| Best iPhone 2019: which Apple phone is the best? Posted: 02 Sep 2019 08:57 AM PDT This list of the best iPhones for you is set to get a shake-up, because Apple has announced the date it'll unveil the new iPhone 11: September 10. That means you could get your own hands on the new device by September 20. Currently Apple's 2018 collection of iPhones takes the top spots of this list, but we're expecting to see three (or even four) new Apple smartphones at the September event, and it's very likely they'll displace the older handsets. The best iPhones aren't necessarily the newest, but Apple consistently provides meaty upgrades when it releases new iPhones, so previously we've found newer means better. Naming a best iPhone isn't as simple as looking at plain specifications, because value and usability can't be defined so easily – and even those metrics get changed since the best iPhone deals can sway the value of each device. As such, we've taken the time to use each iPhone extensively, to work out all the features and functions new and older iPhones provide. We've snapped with their cameras, played many games, and weighed the value you get for the price. So without further ado, this is our list of the best iPhones on the market right now, bearing in mind that the clock is ticking before this list gets completely overhauled.
Best iPhone: which one should you buy todayImage credit: TechRadar The iPhone XS Max is the best iPhone you can buy right now. It's Apple's biggest and best iPhone – if your hands and wallets are large enough. It has an expansive 6.5-inch OLED screen with HDR10 support to make colors pop. It's the perfect phone if you want a giant screen. Behind that huge screen is an improved dual-lens 12MP camera. Apple outfitted it with Smart HDR and increased the sensor size to capture larger pixels. Don't let that static 12MP number fool you. The iPhone XS Max (like the XS) has new depth-sensing capabilities for adjustable bokeh (background blur) during and after a shot. The TrueDepth camera returns with faster Face ID recognition, and your 7MP selfies get better depth control and Smart HDR, too. And, of course, Animoji returns with the iOS 12 benefit of having Memoji now. The iPhone XS Max is more expensive than the iPhone X and iPhone XS that replaces the X, of course. But if you're paying for it over the course of two years in a contract (or through the Apple Upgrade Program), it's not that much more month-to-month. Read our in-depth iPhone XS Max review Image credit: TechRadar Believe it or not, the iPhone XS is Apple's best 'small' phone. It has a 5.8-inch screen, so it's more one-hand-friendly than the Max, but still a sizable upgrade for some people. It's an upgrade over last year's iPhone X, our previous best iPhone recommendation, though you'll have to look more closely for the changes – the design isn't different at all. It has a Smart HDR-capable 12MP camera, enhanced TrueDepth front-facing camera, and a fast A12 Bionic chipset, exactly like the larger iPhone XS Max. In fact, this all-screen phone is pretty much the iPhone XS Max in last year's smaller form factor. It does have a smaller battery than the Max and obviously a smaller screen, but you will still capture the same great photos and videos on this device and play the same games. There's no different there. Read our in-depth iPhone XS review Image credit: TechRadar The iPhone XR is a great upgrade for the average consumer who doesn't want to pay for the most expensive iPhone money (a lot of money) can buy. This is Apple's 'cheap' iPhone, at least when it comes to recently launched handsets. It's also the best iPhone of the new trio for battery life. It stands out with a variety of iPhone XR colors: Blue, White, Black, Yellow, Coral, Red. This contrasts heavily with the rather muted colors of the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. Yet it shares the same internal specs: Apple's fast A12 Bionic chipset and a 12MP dual-lens camera with a single lens on back.
You don't get the dual-lens camera like you do on a higher-tier iPhone, so you miss out on telephoto shots. But Smart HDR is the real perk to taking great photos, and that's here. It's cheaper, it's more colorful and it has a big 6.1-inch screen. That's enough for most people, especially those who aren't insistent on an impressive OLED screen. Read our in-depth iPhone XR review Image credit: TechRadar The iPhone X is as impressive as it is expensive, but if you really want the best iPhone today and don't want to wait for the iPhone XI, this is the one to get today. Millions of Apple fans already have since it launched almost seven months ago. It's the future of Apple's smartphone. It has a large all-screen display, except for a notch cutout at the top that houses a new TrueDepth Camera. This takes selfies to another level and can also map your face to an iPhone X-exclusive Animoji. If you don't know what that is by now you probably won't care. The iPhone X is Apple's 10th anniversary smartphone and has just about everything iPhone users have been asking for, from a more forward-leaning design to faster specs and new features. You'll just have to get used to Face ID instead of reaching for that non-existent fingerprint sensor. Read our in-depth iPhone X review Image credit: TechRadar The iPhone 8 Plus is the best iPhone if you're not willing to take the plunge into Apple's proposed smartphone future and need that Touch ID fingerprint sensor. It remains popular due to its screen size, cheaper price and physical home button. It does have several key features you'll like, however. It's among the first iPhones to have both wireless charging and fast charging, and the camera has improved. Its dual-lens camera doesn't have OIS in the telephoto lens (a feature saved for the X), but it's still a great way to snap a photo at long distances. It won't turn nearly as many heads with its bezel-heavy design, but the iPhone 8 Plus is the iPhone built for big hands and slightly smaller wallets than the new iPhone X. Read our in-depth iPhone 8 Plus review Image credit: TechRadar This is actually the best-selling iPhone from Apple, and for several good reasons. First, we get it, you refuse to budge from the 4.7-inch iPhone screen size and, frankly, we don't blame you. Every time we go back to this iPhone with 'normal' dimensions, we feel like we just went on a smartphone vacation. Second, its price is way more reasonable for a lot a folks than the iPhone X and iPhone 8 Plus. Just because the size is the same as iPhones of old, doesn't mean the technology behind it is, though. The iPhone 8 features the same A11 Bionic chipset as the iPhone 8 Plus and the iPhone X, and it too debuted wireless charging and fast charging on an Apple smartphone. The camera is still fantastic, even if it doesn't have the dual-lens capabilities that are exclusive to the X and Plus, and you'll dig iOS 11 at this size more so than the even smaller iPhone SE. Read our in-depth iPhone 8 review Back in 2016 the iPhone 7 Plus was the best phone Apple had ever made, and it remains a winner for its longevity and price. It's larger than the iPhone X though despite its smaller display, so if you're after a smaller phone with a bigger screen, this won't be the best choice for you with its 5.5-inch 1080p display. The big upgrades over older iPhones are the waterproof design and a new dual-lens camera that allows you to snap with two 12MP lenses at the same time. It allows for better optical zoom as well as a bokeh mode to blur the background of your photos and put the main focus on the foreground. Battery life on the iPhone 7 Plus is much improved upon the iPhone 6S Plus, and while it's still a costly option it's much cheaper than it was at launch, making it one of the best iPhone choices for people looking for a deal. Read the full iPhone 7 Plus review Despite the iPhone SE's small size and relatively modest price tag, it's still an upper mid-range phone. It has the same boxy yet premium design as the metal-clad iPhone 5S and the same powerful Apple A9 chipset and rear camera as the iPhone 6S. It lacks the 3D Touch features and higher-resolution front-facing camera of the iPhone 6S and beyond. The screen is also less impressive all round, thanks in large part to a lower contrast ratio. But it compares well to many mid-range handsets. It's also the most powerful 4-inch iPhone you can get, so for fans of compact form factors this is an obvious choice. But the best bit is its price, as it's one of the cheapest iPhones you'll find on the market and it's something of a bargain by Apple standards. Read the iPhone SE review Don't fancy the large iPhone 7 Plus above? Why not opt for the iPhone 7, which is a smaller and cheaper alternative. This was one of the first iPhones to lack a headphone jack, but it does come with a water-resistant design that means your phone is likely to survive the odd dip in the sink rather than just being frazzled right away. There's no dual-lens camera on the iPhone 7, but you can still take some absolutely incredible photography with the 12MP sensor. If you own an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6S, you may not see much difference with the this phone but the newer processor and camera tech may be enough to entice you to buy it if you can't stomach the high price of the iPhone 8. Read the full iPhone 7 review The iPhone 6S, as you probably know, is Apple's flagship from 2015. The Apple A9 chipset and a chunky 2GB of RAM, up from 1GB on the previous model, make it far superior in raw power to 2014's model and still reasonably speedy by today's standards, and it's got some other tricks too. It has a 12MP rear camera and a tried-and-tested 8MP front-facing camera, which at the time was the best selfie shooter Apple had on a phone. It does sport largely the same design and screen as the iPhone 6 though and the latter in particular is starting to feel a bit dated in the face of super sharp QHD screens from rivals - and from the newer iPhone X. This was the first iPhone to sport 3D Touch though, which makes the screen pressure-sensitive and offers new tricks for enhanced emailing and shortcuts around the home screen. Read the full iPhone 6S review
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| Metroid Prime 4: everything we know so far Posted: 02 Sep 2019 08:52 AM PDT It's been 10 years since the last Metroid Prime game, so to say fans are hungry for more Samus would be an understatement. Then finally during its E3 2017 livestream Nintendo announced a brand new Metroid Prime game is coming to Nintendo Switch: Metroid Prime 4. But that's all we got, an announcement that included a logo for the new Metroid Prime and little else. No release date, no developer information, no footage. Nothing. A brand new Metroid Prime title for the Switch is an exciting proposition - the Metroid Prime games, released between 2002 and 2007, were critical gold for the GameCube and Wii consoles; to see the series return on Nintendo’s most successful console in years would be fitting. However in January 2019 fans were disappointed to learn that Metroid Prime 4 is probably going to be a while off as Nintendo scrapped the project and decided to start again with the help of Retro Studios. Regardless of the extra wait time, we're excited to see Metroid Prime 4 on the Nintendo Switch (whenever that will be). So here's everything we know about Metroid Prime 4 on Switch so far. Cut to the chase
Release dateWe weren't quite sure when Metroid Prime 4 would release but now we know it definitely won't be for a while as Nintendo announced in January 2019 that it had scrapped the project and started again with help from Retro Studios. TrailersBack at E3 2017, Nintendo released a first-look trailer for Metroid Prime 4. Check it out below: News and rumorsGamescom 2019 As expected, we didn't hear anything more about Metroid Prime 4 at Gamescom 2019. No appearance at E3 2019 Perhaps unsurprisingly given the recent changes to its development, Metroid Prime 4 did not make an appearance during Nintendo's direct at E3 2019. At the moment it's not entirely clear when we will hear about the game again, though Nintendo isn't completely against hosting Direct presentations at short notice so we can only hope that we won't be waiting until E3 2020. Retro Studios is hiring for Metroid Prime 4 These advertisements suggest that the game is still in the early stages of development so it could be some time before we get any more solid updates on its progress. If you're a world class developer and a fan of Metroid, though, this could be your big break! Nintendo scrap Metroid Prime 4 and start again “This change will essentially mean restarting development from the beginning, so completion of the game will be delayed from our initial internal plan,” Nintendo's senior managing executive officer Shinya Takahashi explains in the update video. “We strongly recognise that this delay will come as a dissapointment to the many fans who have been looking forward to the launch of Metroid Prime 4.” You can watch the development update from Nintendo below: The story Back in 2015, Eurogamer interviewed series producer, Kensuke Tanabe, who stated that “the stories of Dark Samus and Phazon are done” adding that any new games in the series would focus on other Prime-series elements. Gameplay Coming in as a fresh start, there’s actually plenty of room for Metroid Prime 4 to innovate. Given The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario franchises have embraced more open worlds, we wonder if this is something that Nintendo will want to bring into the Prime series, too. It’s like that, like other Switch games, there will be optional motion controls with the Joy-Cons - we’re imagining aiming, firing, an environment scanning, for example. What we want to seeA more open world The first three titles were already pretty big, but the Switch offers more scope. We think the Super Mario Odyssey approach of large interconnected worlds could translate well. The Metroid series is replete with interesting environments we’d love the chance to see more of and the Switch is the console that has enough power to make that possible. Be accessible We'd love to see Metroid Prime 4 take a Monster Hunter: World approach by retaining what makes it great while giving new players a way in. New weapons and abilities Make it feel like a true Switch game Motion control could create some fun and interesting shooting and environment scanning opportunities, but integrating HD Rumble into puzzle solving or integrating it into combat situations to act as an enemy alert would be interesting. Bring in Sylux Tanabe said that he'd like to create a Metroid game which featured both Sylux and Samus and explored their dynamic, something which we'd also like to see happen; the characters have an unexplored and potentially interesting history. It's known that Sylux isn't the biggest fan for Samus or the Federation, yet he uses a Federation weapon. That alone has us thinking he'd make an engaging villain for a new title. (Image credits: Nintendo)
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| The best Labor Day sales 2019: deals end today on TVs, laptops, mattresses and more Posted: 02 Sep 2019 08:47 AM PDT Most Labor Day sales end today, but there's still time today to enjoy the late summer deals. So whether you're looking to treat yourself to a summer sizzler of a bargain or planning ahead to best equip yourself for the upcoming school year, this is the place to be. This years' Labor Day sales include discounts on TVs, laptops, furniture, mattresses, and appliances from retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, Home Depot, Walmart, and more. We've been checking through the latest Labor Day sales at these stores and more so you don't have to and can sit back and put your feet up instead. What items get discounted for the Labor Day sales?The most popular categories discounted during Labor Day include furniture, home items, TVs, laptops, and appliances. You'll also find seasonal end-of-summer items on clearance such as patio furniture, grills, outdoor play items, and more. The best Labor Day sales:
Our best Labor Day sale picks:When is Labor Day 2019?Labor Day is a federal holiday that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers to the United States economy. Labor Day is observed annually on the first Monday of September, and this year it falls on Monday, September 2, with the long holiday weekend kicking off on Friday, August 30. When do Labor Day sales start?Most Labor Day sales start the week before the holiday, but some retailers like Home Depot and Best Buy began their promotions last week. Other retailers won't start their sales until Friday and some will wait until the actual holiday to offer sitewide discounts. Most offers will last through the weekend and end on Monday, September 2 at midnight. You can shop more TV deals with our roundup of the best cheap TV sales and 4K TV deals happening now. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Sorry, sci-fi fashionistas: Cyberpunk 2077 won't let you see yourself in cutscenes Posted: 02 Sep 2019 08:07 AM PDT Got your eye on Cyberpunk 2077? If the main draw for you is going to be designing a murderously good-looking netrunner for the game's cinematic sequences, we may have bad news for you. After a discussion on the topic in the CD Projekt RED forums, a forum user contacted the official Cyberpunk 2077 Twitter account to ask about third-person cutscenes, with the response that, "In Cyberpunk 2077, immersion is very important to us, so yes, cutscenes are fpp [first person perspective]". When asked whether this extended to "sex scenes", the response was "same".
All about youCD Projekt RED's expansive dystopian RPG raised some eyebrows at its decision to make the gameplay of Cyberpunk 2077 show in the first-person view, given the third-person gameplay of the studio's bestselling The Witcher III: Wild Hunt (now being made into a Witcher TV series, starring Henry Cavill). A number of cinematics released by CD Projekt RED in the interim still showed third-person perspectives, though it sounds like most, if not all third-person cutscenes are being adapted for first-person instead. The studio's global community lead Marcin Momot tweeted, seemingly in response to the news, stressing the team's focus on "full immersion", and clarifying that players will still see their creations "in the inventory screen, during driving sequences, in mirrors and, very occasionally, in some of the cut-scenes." We're not yet sure what those exceptions might be, but could imagine your face being saved for death animations, or particularly large plot points in the game. For those of you who slave over the character creation tools in RPGs like this, it may still come as something of a disappointment. The counter-argument is that you'll probably be able to see the rest of the Cyberpunk world more up close and personal, with an emphasis on the gorgeous environmental storytelling and character models aside from your own. If we have to make do with seeing ourselves in passing windows or rear-view mirrors to get to play Cyberpunk 2077, it will probably be worth the sacrifice.
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