This Day in Gaming
Aussie birthdays for notable games.
– NBA Street (PS2) 2001.
– Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two (PSV) 2013. Get
– Jak and Daxter Collection (PSV) 2013. Get
– Outlast (XO) 2014. -20%
Table of Contents
Nice Savings for Nintendo Switch
Kirby and the Forgotten Land Forgotten Land might seem like another addition to that list at first glance, this time warping the traditionally 2D structure into 3D levels. But in reality, this platformer feels like the next big step for a more classic Kirby formula. 8/10, great.33% off A$79.95A$53.30
- Need for Speed Remastered (-80%) – A$11.99
- Switch Console OLED White (-17%) – A$449.00
- Mario Party Superstars (-20%) – A$64.00
- Cafe Enchante (-28%) – A$57.00
- Super Mario Odyssey (-20%) – A$64.00
Expiring Deals From Yesterday
- Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (-13%) – A$78.00
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (-26%) – A$58.99
- It Takes Two (-43%) – A$34.00
- Super Smash Bros Ultimate (-23%) – A$69.00
- Splatoon 3 (-29%) – A$57.00
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land (-29%) – A$57.00
Purchase Cheaply for PC
Spider-Man Sale Get you some damn fine ports of arguably the best super hero gaming franchise ever. (Batman Arkham will probably want a word with me now.) Two games. Both 33% off. Spidey Remastered is $63.61 and Miles Morales is $50.21.33% off A$74.95A$50.21
- Assetto Corsa: Ultimate Ed. (-90%) – A$11.58
- Logitech G502 X Plus mouse (-29%) – A$199.00
- Street Fighter 6 [code: FP15OFF] (-26%)
- Starfield [FANATICAL15] (-28%) – A$86.66
Expiring Deals From Yesterday
- Starfield (-20%) – A$95.96
- Starfield Premium Ed. (-20%) – A$135.96
- Grounded (-40%) – A$29.97
- Rainbow Six Siege (-60%) – A$11.98
- Generation Zero (-80%) – A$7.99
- No Man's Sky (-50%) – A$43.97
- Dying Light 2 (-50%) – A$44.97
Exciting Bargains for Xbox
Storage Expansion X/S 1TB So many Game Pass games. So few places to store them all and have ready to go at a moments notice. Welcome to the solution to that problem. A solution which used to be priced around 400 clams (for reasons I can’t fully explain).19% off A$299.95A$242.85
- LVL50 Wireless headset (-40%) – A$69.00
- X/S controller (-27%) – A$69.00
- Xbox Wired headset (-23%) – A$69.00
- Dead Island 2 (-22%) – A$78.00
- Starfield Collector's [Back in stock] – A$499.00
Expiring Deals From Yesterday
- Starfield Controller [NEW] – A$109.95
- Diablo IV (-24%) – A$83.99
- Starfield Premium Upgrade [NEW] – A$59.95
- F1 23 (-32%) – A$74.99
- Assassin's Creed Mirage (-19%) – A$64.99
- Hogwarts Legacy (-27%) – A$79.99
Pure Scores for PlayStation
Spider-Man 2 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 from Insomniac (starring Spider-Man, Miles Morales, Venom, and Kraven the Hunter) will be here in no time. No time being: October 20, 2023 on PS5. This seems to be the best price currently going. Stake your claim early.21% off A$124.95A$99.00
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (-37%) – A$79.00
- PlayStation 5 Console (-9%) – A$724.00
- T.Flight Hotas One (-33%) – A$128.00
- Dead Island 2 (-22%) – A$78.00
- Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown (-14%) – A$69.00
Expiring Deals From Yesterday
- Diablo IV (-24%) – A$83.99
- DualSense controller (-39%) – A$67.00
- Hogwarts Legacy (-27%) – A$79.00
- Gran Turismo 7 (-44%) – A$69.95
- Assassin's Creed Mirage (-19%) – A$64.99
Adam Mathew is our Aussie deals wrangler. He plays practically everything, often on YouTube. He barely tweets.
]]>$100 Xbox Gift Card for $90
Use Code SSCTA824Xbox Gift Card $100 10% off $100.00$90.00
It's the classic discounted gift card sale once again! If you like to buy games on Xbox, then you'll probably love to hear that you can get a $100 Xbox gift card for $90. You can then stack those savings by purchasing games on sale on the Xbox store to save even more money, or just use it to get a little bit of money off your Game Pass subscription. Just head to the link above and use the promo codeSSCTA824 to nab this deal.
The Legend of Zelda Complete Box Set for 32% Off
PaperbackThe Legend of Zelda Complete Box Set 32% off $79.99$54.73
Are you on a Zelda kick thanks to Tears of the Kingdom? Well lucky for you, there's a ton of Zelda stuff out there. This includes The Legend of Zelda manga box set, which is discounted by 32% today over at Amazon. This box set includes 10 manga volumes, which adapt the stories of classic Zelda games like Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, and a lot more. The art is gorgeous, and it's fun to experience the world of Zelda through stories where Link actually… Talks!
Get Three Free Months of Xbox Game Pass with the Backbone Controller
Free 3-month Xbox Game Pass UltimateBackbone One for Android – PlayStation $99.99
Free 3-month Xbox Game Pass UltimateBackbone One for Android $99.99
The Backbone controller is already a great option for cloud gaming on your smartphone, but today that deal is even better. For $99.99, you can get both the Backbone gaming controller for Android devices and three free months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which is a $44.99 value. Game Pass seems to be going on sale less and less these days, so you have to scoop up these deals when you can. And fortunately, these two products go great together, as Game Pass gets you access to Xbox's cloud gaming beta, where you can play tons of Xbox Game Pass games directly from your phone.
Bandai Namco Pac-Man Deluxe Arcade Game
Arcade1UpBandai Namco Pac-Man Deluxe Arcade Game 10% off $499.99$449.99
Arcade1Up makes some of the best mainstream arcade replicas around, including this Pac-Man Deluxe arcade game cabinet. This cabinet contains 14 classic games, including Pac-Man, Dig Dug, Dig Dug II, Pac-Mania, Pas & Pal, Super Pac-Man, Pac-Man Plus, Pac-Land, Galaga, Galaxian, Galaga '88, Mappy, Rompers, and Rolling Thunder. It's a great party piece if you have friends over, and you can also spend plenty of time just trying to set high scores for yourself.
Digital Nintendo Switch Game Sale
Nintendo SwitchMario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope 50% off $59.99$29.99
Nintendo SwitchXenoblade Chronicles 3 30% off $59.99$41.99
Nintendo SwitchMonster Hunter Rise + Sunbreak 33% off $59.99$39.99
Nintendo SwitchMetroid Dread 30% off $59.99$41.99
There's a digital Nintendo Switch sale happening over at Amazon right now, with great discounts on some of the system's best gems. You can save 50% on Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope, and there are also discounts on first-party games like Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and Metroid Dread. And, a huge sale on Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, which is an absolute steal considering the hundreds of hours of content held within.
Sega Games On Sale
SegaLike a Dragon: Ishin! 33% off $59.99$39.99
SegaPersona 5 Royal 67% off $59.99$19.99
SegaSonic Frontiers 33% off $59.99$39.99
SEGA has put some of its best recent games on sale. This includes Persona 5 Royal, which is an essential RPG if you're a fan of the genre. Plus, Sonic Frontiers is discounted, and absolutely worth playing and running around in for 40 bucks. Finally, you can check out Like a Dragon: Ishin, a Yakuza spinoff that doesn't require eight games of backstory for you to enjoy.
Kingdom Hearts: 20th Anniversary King Mickey Plush
Square EnixKingdom Hearts: 20th Anniversary King Mickey Plush 10% off $94.99$85.19
Kingdom Hearts fans should check out this deal on a 20th Anniversary King Mickey plush. This is an import from Japan, so it's naturally more expensive than plushes you'll find over here, so hopefully this discount helps balance things out a bit. This plush has King Mickey in his Kingdom Hearts II outfit, with a 20th anniversary logo on his foot. It also includes his trunk case that fans will recognize from the games.
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon Is 28% Off
Nintendo SwitchBayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon 28% off $59.99$42.78
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a surprisingly amazing spinoff from the mainline Bayonetta action series. Bayonetta Origins is a much different take on the iconic witch, trading in Platinum's trademark frenetic action for a slower-paced, more puzzle-oriented action adventure. And the results are stunning, with a gorgeous painterly art style and moment-to-moment gameplay that might scratch the itch of those who miss classic, top-down, 2D Zelda games. It's one of the year's biggest sleeper hits, and one that shouldn't be missed for the 28% discount over at Amazon.
Sonic the Hedgehog Encyclo-speed-ia Is 53% Off
SEGASonic the Hedgehog Encyclo-speed-ia 53% off $79.99$37.33
If you're a fan of Sonic the Hedgehog, you should definitely check out this deal on the Sonic the Hedgehog Encyclo-speed-ia, a hardcover book celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Blue Blur. This Deluxe Edition is discounted over 50% when you apply the coupon before checkout. In this Deluxe Edition, you'll get an exclusive mosaic cover, a gold foil slipcase, and prints of Sonic and Dr. Eggman, along with all of the great contents of the book itself.
Preorder The Art of Final Fantasy XVI
Square EnixThe Art of Final Fantasy XVI $39.99
Final Fantasy XVI is out this month, and you can preorder the game's official art book today. Scheduled to launch in March 2024, The Art of Final Fantasy XVI contains over 300 pages of concept art and illustrations. From the towering Eikons to the beautiful vistas of Valisthea, this art book compiles all the best visuals of Final Fantasy XVI.
AirPods Pro (2nd generation) for 20% Off
AppleAirPods Pro (2nd generation) 20% off $249.99$199.99
More Deals From This Week
Razer Nari Ultimate Wireless Gaming Headset for $79.99
Razer Nari Ultimate Wireless 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset with Haptic Feedback 60% off $199.99$79.99
Today Amazon is offering the Razer Nari Ultimate wireless gaming headset for the PS5 or PC (not for the Xbox) for only $79.99. That's a massive 60% price drop from its original $200 MSRP. The Razer Nari Ultimate is one of Razer's higher end gaming headsets. It features big 50mm drivers and THX Spatial Audio 7.1ch surround sound. The Nari's claim to fame, however, is the implementation of haptic feedback for even more immersion in your games. As our review puts it, "it kind of simulates having a subwoofer strapped to your skull." The haptics might seem like a gimmick at first glance, but it works surprisingly well, especially for high-octane games like action, horror, fighting, and shooters.
Fire Emblem Engage for Switch for $39.99
SwitchFire Emblem Engage 33% off $59.99$39.99
Woot is offering the new Fire Emblem Engage game for only $39.99. Amazon Prime members get free shipping as well. Engage is the latest Fire Emblem strategy game for the Nintendo Switch following the immensely popular Three Houses. We awarded the game a 9/10 in our IGN review. The gameplay is every bit as enjoyable and challenging as Three Houses and there are plenty of QoL improvements that make some of the rote sections common to SRPGs much more palatable. The story is definitely simpler and more predictable than Three Houses, but it still provides a suitable backdrop for the fun battles, and this time around your protagonist is fully voiced. It's worth checking out at $39.99.
55" TCL R646 4K Mini LED QLED TV for $549.99
55" TCL R646 4K Mini-LED QLED Google TV 8% off $599.99$549.99
Unlike the other two 2022-released TVs on the list, the R646 was TCL's flagship TV of 2021. That shouldn't turn you away, however, because this TV performs every bit as well but at a lower price. It boasts a Mini-LED panel with quantum dot (QLED) technology, wide color gamut, and full-array LED backlight with 240 zones of local dimming. The 120Hz native refresh rate and two HDMI 2.1 ports means that this TV is capable of 4K@120Hz gaming with the PS5 or Xbox Series X consoles. It also has variable refresh rate and auto low latency mode. For the smart interface, the R646 stays with the tried and true Google TV.
55" TCL R655 4K Mini LED QLED TV for $649.99
55" TCL R655 4K Mini-LED QLED Roku TV $649.99
The TCL R655 is the 2022 refresh of the R646. The improvements are minimal but so is the price discrepancy. There are two main changes with the newer R655. Whereas the R646 can do 4K @ 120Hz, the R655 can actually go all the way up to 4K @ 144Hz. Also, whereas the R646 uses the Google TV smart interface, the R655 uses a Roku smart interface. I personally think Roku is more user friendly.
55" Hisense U8H 4K Mini LED TV for $648
55" Hisense U8H 4K Mini LED QLED Google TV 7% off $699.99$648.00
The U8H was Hisense's flagship TV of 2022 and pricing is pretty much identical to the TCL R655. Although the featureset between the two is nearly identical, the Hisense offers a few subtle advantages. The Hisense U8H has more local dimming zones so it's able to deliver a better image when bright and dark elements are present in the same image. The Hisense TV is also a bit better for games because it has a faster response time. Unlike the R655, the Hisense U8H uses the Google smart TV interface. Even if you find the older 2021 U8G on sale, you shouldn't consider it because that TV does NOT have a Mini-LED panel.
HP OMEN 17" RTX 4080 Gaming Laptop for $1959.99
HP OMEN 17" 2560×1440 (QHD) Intel Core i7-13700HX RTX 4080 Laptop 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD Must select the following: i7 + RTX 4080, 1440p Display19% off $2,409.99$1,959.99
HP is currently has the HP OMEN 17 RTX 4080 equipped gaming laptop for only $1959.99. This is an incredibly powerful gaming laptop and the price is more reasonable than you'd expect; other RTX 4080 equipped gaming laptops currently sell for at least $2300, and most sell for closer to $3000. Even better, it's paired with the newest 13th gen Intel Core i7-13700HX Raptor Lake CPU and a higher-resolution 17" 2560×1440 display.
Follow these instructions:
- Click Here
- Select Processor & Graphics: i7-13700HX + RTX 4080 (+$650)
- Select Display: QHD 2560×1440 (+$60)
- Final price should be $1959.99
HP OMEN 17t RTX 4090 Gaming Laptop for $2359.99
HP OMEN 17" 2560×1440 Intel Core i7-13700HX RTX 4090 Laptop with 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD Must select the following: i7 + RTX 4090, 1440p Display16% off $2,809.99$2,359.99
HP is offering this HP OMEN 17 RTX 4090 gaming laptop for under $2400! This is an absolute monster of a gaming laptop that's most powerful than most gaming desktops. This may be the first mobile GPU that can handle up to 4K gaming at 60+ fps (or, in this case, handle 1440p gaming without breaking a sweat).
Follow these instructions:
- Click here
- Select Processor and Graphics – Intel® Core™ i7-13700HX (up to 5.0 GHz, 30 MB L3 cache, 16 cores, 24 threads) + NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4090 Laptop GPU +$1050
- Select Display – 17.3" diagonal, QHD (2560 x 1440), 165 Hz, 3 ms response time, IPS, micro-edge, anti-glare, Low Blue Light, 300 nits +$60
- Final price will be $2359.99 with Free Shipping
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Season 1 stars Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-jun, and Gong Yoo will all be returning for the second installment, joining new cast members Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Sung-hoon, and Yang Dong-geun.
Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-Hun, Wi Ha-jun, and Gong Yoo will all be returning for Squid Game Season 2!
And #TUDUM just revealed four new actors who will be joining the cast! pic.twitter.com/0iofoBQ1kB
— Netflix (@netflix) June 17, 2023
And if that wasn't enough Squid Game for you, Netflix also unveiled the first teaser for its reality competition based on the Emmy-winning series.
Some of that returning cast isn't a surprise. Season 1 set up an intriguing continuation for Lee Jung-jae's Gi-hun after he won the titular competition, and the actor himself has another buzzy role coming up in Star Wars series The Acolyte.
Perhaps more interesting is the return of Wi Ha-jun, as the fate of his character, Jun-ho, was left uncertain at the end of Season 1. Gong Yoo will no doubt be returning to recruit more unlucky participants into the competition, while Lee Byung-hun played Hwang In-ho, the overseer of the Squid Game.
As far as the new cast goes, Yim Si-wan is best known as a member of South Korean boy band ZE:A and its sub-group ZE:A Five, but has also had roles in film The Attorney and TV series Misaeng: Incomplete Life. Kang Ha-neul also appeared in the latter, as well as a long list of other TV dramas including When the Camellia Blooms, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, and Midnight Runners.
Yang Dong-geun, meanwhile, is an actor, rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and breakdancer, and Park Sung-hoon has appeared in series like The Day of the Kidnapping, Justice, and You Are the Boss.
For more Squid Game, check out our 9/10 review of Season 1. And for everything announced during Netflix's Tudum, check out our roundup.
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she's not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.
]]>This November, the game you love becomes reality. #TUDUM has your first sneak peek at how the brand new competition series, Squid Game: The Challenge is coming to life. pic.twitter.com/UZWBnOIwoF
— Netflix (@netflix) June 17, 2023
While there aren't many surprises in the 27-second clip, it does seem that Netflix didn't deviate much from the show's original formula. The teaser shows a bit of behind-the-scenes work of the crew building out the set, which recreates much of the production design of the series.
There's also a brief look at the overseers in their masks and red onesies, the contestants in green jumpsuits and the barracks they presumably stayed in, and the giant animatronic doll that presides over a high-stakes (but not deadly, in the case of the reality show) game of Red Light Green Light.
Earlier this year, Variety and Rolling Stone spoke to contestants who said that shooting Squid Game: The Competition was an "inhumane disaster," "cruel," and "rigged." Medics were called to set on Day 1 to treat minor injuries. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the teaser doesn't address any of that.
Squid Game became a runaway sensation after its 2021, with IGN writing in our 9/10 review of Season 1, "Equal parts gut-wrenching and squirm-inducing, it’s a white-knuckle thriller, drama, and episodic psychological breakdown with a sickly pastel veneer."
For everything announced during Netflix's Tudum, check out our roundup.
]]>Scroll down to dig into the ending of the film, where full spoilers await you.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (review) is a fresh start for the long-running series. It’s set in the ‘90s and introduces new Cybertronian factions to the movies like the Maximals and Terrorcons. And it ends with a real bombshell, one that promises to, well, transform the franchise in the years to come.
Let’s take a closer look at the ending of Rise of the Beasts and how it forges a direct link to another iconic ‘80s franchise. Is a Transformers vs. G.I. Joe movie on the horizon? Here’s what we know.
The Transformers Movies in (Chronological) Order
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Ending Explained
Rise of the Beasts pits Optimus Prime’s Autobots and Optimus Primal’s Maximals against Scourge, a Transformer who serves as the herald of the all-powerful, world-devouring Unicron. This marks the first true live-action appearance of Unicron, a villain made famous in the 1986 animated film The Transformers: The Movie and who was previously referenced in 2017’s Transformers: The Last Knight.
The film ends with one final battle for the fate of Earth, as Scourge and his Terrorcons attempt to summon Unicron to Earth using the combined Transwarp Key. Unfortunately, Mirage is seemingly killed when he shields Anthony Ramos’ Noah from enemy fire and transforms into an exoskeleton suit.
Ultimately, Optimus is able to kill Scourge, but that doesn’t solve the portal problem. Optimus destroys the Transwarp Key and is nearly sucked into the portal as it collapses. It’s only thanks to the combined assistance of Noah and Optimus Primal that Optimus is spared a nasty death. It’s an important reminder that our heroes are strongest when they stand united.
Rise of the Beasts ends on a fairly open-ended note. Scourge and the Terrocons may be dead, but we’re left to assume that Unicron is still alive and will eventually return to threaten the world again. But while the Autobots have lost the Transwarp Key and their ticket back to Cybertron, Optimus is content knowing he’s made some powerful friends.
While Dominique Fishback’s Elena gets some well-deserved professional recognition for her work, Noah’s own future is starting to look up as he lands a new job at a security firm. But not just any firm. When Noah interviews with a mysterious agent played by Michael Kelly, he’s handed a business card with the G.I. Joe logo. Noah, because of his tech experience and relationship with the Autobots, is being recruited into this top-secret military organization. For the first time in live-action, the Transformers and G.I. Joe franchises are crossing paths.
Kelly’s character makes it clear he wants to recruit Noah and the Autobots, telling him, “We’re in the middle of an ongoing war.” We’ll get to what that war might be in just a minute.
For the first time in live-action, the Transformers and G.I. Joe franchises are crossing paths.
“
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ Post-Credits Scene
It’s pretty tough to top the G.I. Joe reveal for shock value, but Rise of the Beasts does save one more surprise for the mid-credits scene. We see Noah working on an old car that’s clearly been spliced together from different parts. No sooner is it fixed than the car transforms into Mirage. Noah has managed to repair his buddy and bring him back to life.
There’s no other post-credits scene after the credits are done rolling, and no other clues as to what’s going to happen now that the Joes have entered the Transformers universe. But the mid-credits scene does at least confirm that Mirage still has an important part to play in a future sequel.
How Rise of the Beasts Sets Up a Transformers/G.I. Joe Crossover
A Transformers/G.I. Joe crossover movie is the kind of thing ‘80s kids fantasized about but probably never expected to become a reality. But this crossover is something that’s been teased in the past. As far back as 2014, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura called it “a possibility.”
These two franchises may have never crossed paths in the heyday of their respective animated series, but Transformers and G.I. Joe do have a long history together in the comics. Marvel Comics published the very first crossover, 1986’s G.I. Joe and the Transformers, establishing that the Joes and the Auotbots do sometimes exist in the same universe. That was the start of a recurring line of crossovers between the two properties, first at Marvel and then later at publishers like Dreamwave and Devil’s Due.
However, it wasn’t until IDW Publishing acquired the rights to both franchises that Transformers and G.I. Joe became more fundamentally linked. 2016’s Revolution crossover brought together not just those two franchises, but other Hasbro properties like M.A.S.K., Rom, Action Man and the Micronauts into one shared universe. Revolution paved the way for further comics like First Strike, where G.I. Joe’s founder, Joe Colton, declares war on Earth’s Cybertronian residents. That shared universe culminated in 2018’s Transformers: Unicron, as the titular villain finally set his sights on Earth and its united heroes.
Now, at long last, Hasbro looks to be setting up a Transformers/G.I. Joe cinematic universe. In the scene with Kelly’s character, we learn that the G.I. Joe organization is still in its early stages. They’re quietly building up an arsenal and recruiting powerful allies to deal with the war to come. What the scene doesn’t tell us is who G.I. Joe is forming up to fight. Are they worried about their enemies at Cobra, or are they concerned about rogue Cybertronians like the Terrorcons?
It’s worth remembering that, just like how Rise of the Beasts is a period piece set before the original Transformers movie, 2021’s Snake Eyes movie was also essentially a flashback film showing the early days of G.I. Joe and Cobra. Both the Transformers and G.I. Joe franchises are looking backward toward the past and laying the groundwork for the shared universe to come. We may see the next Transformers and G.I. Joe movies jump ahead in time, showing this alliance taking shape before a proper G.I. Joe/Transformers crossover happens in the present day.
Future movies will also have to explain why we never saw the Joes in the Michael Bay Transformers series, since Bumblebee and Rise of the Beasts are both technically prequels to those films. Or perhaps Paramount will pivot away from the Bay series and start treating the newer Transformers films as a soft reboot of the franchise.
It’s possible this cinematic universe is drawing some inspiration from IDW’s Hasbro comics and positioning Unicron as the endgame threat that brings both teams together. Rise of the Beasts could be directly setting the stage for Unicron’s return in a team-up movie down the road. What better reason to bring the Joes and Autobots together than pitting them against a massive robot looking to devour the entire planet?
Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura has hinted we’ll see more of the Joes in the next Transformers sequel, but that Paramount is only beginning to map out what’s next for both franchises.
“We don't know what the next mission is in a way,” Bonaventura told IGN. “We do this differently, I think, than a lot of franchises is we purposely don't plan the next movie until we've seen this movie play with the audience, so that you can feel the audience. Look, when you introduce the concept of it, what if it had fallen flat? Then what? So we wait to see."
For now, Bonaventura makes it clear the focus is on integrating the G.I. Joe characters into the next Transformers movie, rather than following the Monsterverse approach of building up each franchise individually and laying the foundation for a later crossover.
“I never really know what people mean by a crossover,” Bonaventura said. “So what I'll describe it is it's a Transformers movie that will employ Joes. And so, it will be a continuation of this movie. It'll be a sequel to this movie, and we'll see how much of the Joes fit naturally into it.”
Regardless of what happens next, we’ve just taken our first step into a larger world. We know that a Transformers/G.I. Joe crossover is finally in the cards. And as they say, knowing is half the battle.
For more on Rise of the Beasts, find out how to watch the new Transformers movie, brush up on how to watch the entire series in chronological order and see the entire Transformers storyline leading up to Rise of the Beasts.
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
]]>Linda Hamilton, best known as Sarah Connor in The Terminator, Terminator 2, and Terminator: Dark Fate, is joining the cast for Season 5, it was announced during today’s Tudum livestream.
🚨Breaking News From #TUDUM🚨
Linda Hamilton is joining the cast of Stranger Things 5! pic.twitter.com/qYJMeGS700
— Netflix (@netflix) June 17, 2023
It’s undeniably a huge get for Stranger Things, which has nabbed some major stars of the ‘80s in the past. There’s obviously Winona Ryder, who’s a member of the core cast as Joyce Byers, but the show has also featured Full Metal Jacket star Matthew Modine, Freddy Krueger actor Robert Englund, The Goonies breakout Sean Astin, The Princess Bride’s Cary Elwes, and Mad About You star Paul Reiser.
And, as Stranger Things has to be nearing the ‘90s by now, Hamilton – who truly became an action icon in James Cameron’s 1991 classic Terminator 2: Judgment Day – makes a lot of sense. Plus, with Season 4’s finale basically teeing up a giant showdown with Vecna, the Hawkins crew is gonna need some muscle.
The announcement was the biggest takeaway from Stranger Things’ time at Tudum, as it has no Season 5 footage to show at the moment. It was originally set to start production this month, but showrunners Matt and Ross Duffer (better known as the Duffer brothers) confirmed in May that filming would not begin while the writers’ strike continues.
Hamilton’s casting is perhaps the most significant update we’ve gotten on Stranger Things’ fifth and final season. Previously, The Duffers declared Season 5 would be "a culmination of all the seasons" with "a little bit of everything" from the past, and revealed the title of its first episode.
For everything announced during Netflix's Tudum, check out our roundup.
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she's not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.
]]>Nintendo eShop $50 Gift Card for $45
Enter Code SSCTA723Nintendo eShop $50 Gift Card 10% off $50.00$45.00
One of our favorite deals is back, where you can get a $50 Nintendo eShop Gift Card for $45. The deal is over at Newegg, and you just need to enter the promo code SSCTA723. You can use funds from Nintendo eShop Gift Cards on the Nintendo Switch Online Game Vouchers, which means you can stack the two deals on top of each other to get pretty significant savings on first-party Nintendo games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
Digital Nintendo Switch Game Sale
Nintendo SwitchMario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope 50% off $59.99$29.99Nintendo SwitchXenoblade Chronicles 3 30% off $59.99$41.99Nintendo SwitchMonster Hunter Rise + Sunbreak 33% off $59.99$39.99Nintendo SwitchMetroid Dread 30% off $59.99$41.99
There's a digital Nintendo Switch sale happening over at Amazon right now, with great discounts on some of the system's best gems. You can save 50% on Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope, and there are also discounts on first-party games like Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and Metroid Dread. And, a huge sale on Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, which is an absolute steal considering the hundreds of hours of content held within.
Sega Games On Sale
SegaLike a Dragon: Ishin! 33% off $59.99$39.99SegaPersona 5 Royal 67% off $59.99$19.99SegaSonic Frontiers 33% off $59.99$39.99
SEGA has put some of its best recent games on sale. This includes Persona 5 Royal, which is an essential RPG if you're a fan of the genre. Plus, Sonic Frontiers is discounted, and absolutely worth playing and running around in for 40 bucks. Finally, you can check out Like a Dragon: Ishin, a Yakuza spinoff that doesn't require eight games of backstory for you to enjoy.
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon Is 28% Off
Nintendo SwitchBayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon 28% off $59.99$42.78
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a surprisingly amazing spinoff from the mainline Bayonetta action series. Bayonetta Origins is a much different take on the iconic witch, trading in Platinum's trademark frenetic action for a slower-paced, more puzzle-oriented action adventure. And the results are stunning, with a gorgeous painterly art style and moment-to-moment gameplay that might scratch the itch of those who miss classic, top-down, 2D Zelda games. It's one of the year's biggest sleeper hits, and one that shouldn't be missed for the 28% discount over at Amazon.
Sonic the Hedgehog Encyclo-speed-ia Is 53% Off
SEGASonic the Hedgehog Encyclo-speed-ia 53% off $79.99$37.33
If you're a fan of Sonic the Hedgehog, you should definitely check out this deal on the Sonic the Hedgehog Encyclo-speed-ia, a hardcover book celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Blue Blur. This Deluxe Edition is discounted over 50% when you apply the coupon before checkout. In this Deluxe Edition, you'll get an exclusive mosaic cover, a gold foil slipcase, and prints of Sonic and Dr. Eggman, along with all of the great contents of the book itself.
Preorder The Art of Final Fantasy XVI
Square EnixThe Art of Final Fantasy XVI $39.99
Final Fantasy XVI is out this month, and you can preorder the game's official art book today. Scheduled to launch in March 2024, The Art of Final Fantasy XVI contains over 300 pages of concept art and illustrations. From the towering Eikons to the beautiful vistas of Valisthea, this art book compiles all the best visuals of Final Fantasy XVI.
More Deals From This Week
Razer Nari Ultimate Wireless Gaming Headset for $79.99
Razer Nari Ultimate Wireless 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset with Haptic Feedback 60% off $199.99$79.99
Today Amazon is offering the Razer Nari Ultimate wireless gaming headset for the PS5 or PC (not for the Xbox) for only $79.99. That's a massive 60% price drop from its original $200 MSRP. The Razer Nari Ultimate is one of Razer's higher end gaming headsets. It features big 50mm drivers and THX Spatial Audio 7.1ch surround sound. The Nari's claim to fame, however, is the implementation of haptic feedback for even more immersion in your games. As our review puts it, "it kind of simulates having a subwoofer strapped to your skull." The haptics might seem like a gimmick at first glance, but it works surprisingly well, especially for high-octane games like action, horror, fighting, and shooters.
Fire Emblem Engage for Switch for $39.99
SwitchFire Emblem Engage 33% off $59.99$39.99
Woot is offering the new Fire Emblem Engage game for only $39.99. Amazon Prime members get free shipping as well. Engage is the latest Fire Emblem strategy game for the Nintendo Switch following the immensely popular Three Houses. We awarded the game a 9/10 in our IGN review. The gameplay is every bit as enjoyable and challenging as Three Houses and there are plenty of QoL improvements that make some of the rote sections common to SRPGs much more palatable. The story is definitely simpler and more predictable than Three Houses, but it still provides a suitable backdrop for the fun battles, and this time around your protagonist is fully voiced. It's worth checking out at $39.99.
55" TCL R646 4K Mini LED QLED TV for $549.99
55" TCL R646 4K Mini-LED QLED Google TV 8% off $599.99$549.99
Unlike the other two 2022-released TVs on the list, the R646 was TCL's flagship TV of 2021. That shouldn't turn you away, however, because this TV performs every bit as well but at a lower price. It boasts a Mini-LED panel with quantum dot (QLED) technology, wide color gamut, and full-array LED backlight with 240 zones of local dimming. The 120Hz native refresh rate and two HDMI 2.1 ports means that this TV is capable of 4K@120Hz gaming with the PS5 or Xbox Series X consoles. It also has variable refresh rate and auto low latency mode. For the smart interface, the R646 stays with the tried and true Google TV.
55" TCL R655 4K Mini LED QLED TV for $649.99
55" TCL R655 4K Mini-LED QLED Roku TV $649.99
The TCL R655 is the 2022 refresh of the R646. The improvements are minimal but so is the price discrepancy. There are two main changes with the newer R655. Whereas the R646 can do 4K @ 120Hz, the R655 can actually go all the way up to 4K @ 144Hz. Also, whereas the R646 uses the Google TV smart interface, the R655 uses a Roku smart interface. I personally think Roku is more user friendly.
55" Hisense U8H 4K Mini LED TV for $648
55" Hisense U8H 4K Mini LED QLED Google TV 7% off $699.99$648.00
The U8H was Hisense's flagship TV of 2022 and pricing is pretty much identical to the TCL R655. Although the featureset between the two is nearly identical, the Hisense offers a few subtle advantages. The Hisense U8H has more local dimming zones so it's able to deliver a better image when bright and dark elements are present in the same image. The Hisense TV is also a bit better for games because it has a faster response time. Unlike the R655, the Hisense U8H uses the Google smart TV interface. Even if you find the older 2021 U8G on sale, you shouldn't consider it because that TV does NOT have a Mini-LED panel.
HP OMEN 17" RTX 4080 Gaming Laptop for $1959.99
HP OMEN 17" 2560×1440 (QHD) Intel Core i7-13700HX RTX 4080 Laptop 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD Must select the following: i7 + RTX 4080, 1440p Display19% off $2,409.99$1,959.99
HP is currently has the HP OMEN 17 RTX 4080 equipped gaming laptop for only $1959.99. This is an incredibly powerful gaming laptop and the price is more reasonable than you'd expect; other RTX 4080 equipped gaming laptops currently sell for at least $2300, and most sell for closer to $3000. Even better, it's paired with the newest 13th gen Intel Core i7-13700HX Raptor Lake CPU and a higher-resolution 17" 2560×1440 display.
Follow these instructions:
- Click Here
- Select Processor & Graphics: i7-13700HX + RTX 4080 (+$650)
- Select Display: QHD 2560×1440 (+$60)
- Final price should be $1959.99
HP OMEN 17t RTX 4090 Gaming Laptop for $2359.99
HP OMEN 17" 2560×1440 Intel Core i7-13700HX RTX 4090 Laptop with 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD Must select the following: i7 + RTX 4090, 1440p Display16% off $2,809.99$2,359.99
HP is offering this HP OMEN 17 RTX 4090 gaming laptop for under $2400! This is an absolute monster of a gaming laptop that's most powerful than most gaming desktops. This may be the first mobile GPU that can handle up to 4K gaming at 60+ fps (or, in this case, handle 1440p gaming without breaking a sweat).
Follow these instructions:
- Click here
- Select Processor and Graphics – Intel® Core™ i7-13700HX (up to 5.0 GHz, 30 MB L3 cache, 16 cores, 24 threads) + NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4090 Laptop GPU +$1050
- Select Display – 17.3" diagonal, QHD (2560 x 1440), 165 Hz, 3 ms response time, IPS, micro-edge, anti-glare, Low Blue Light, 300 nits +$60
- Final price will be $2359.99 with Free Shipping
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From the creators of Game of Thrones comes a stunning new blockbuster series unlike anything you’ve seen before.
This is your first look at 3 Body Problem #TUDUM pic.twitter.com/O6gIoI3CmK
— Netflix (@netflix) June 17, 2023
3 Body Problem is helmed by Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, along with True Blood writer and The Terror: Infamy showrunner Alexander Woo.
According to Netflix's official synopsis, it follows the story of "a young woman’s fateful decision in 1960s China" which "reverberates across space and time to a group of brilliant scientists in the present day. As the laws of nature unravel before their eyes, five former colleagues reunite to confront the greatest threat in humanity’s history."
The cryptic trailer highlights the show's sleek production in short clips while a voiceover bellows, ending with "life looks for life."
The Netflix series is adapted from Liu Cixin's Hugo Award-winning book trilogy The Three-Body Problem (The Remembrance of Earth's Past Trilogy), the first of which tells "the story of humanity's first contact with an alien civilization," as Peter Friedlander, Netflix VP of Original Series, wrote on the company's blog back when it was officially announced in 2020.
Among the executive producers are Knives Out writer-director Rian Johnson and Brad Pitt. Liu Cixin and English translator Ken Liu also serve as consulting producers for the series. Liu Cixin also penned the novel The Wandering Earth, which was made into a movie that was aqcuired by Netflix in 2019.
The cast features Jess Hong, Benedict Wong, Eiza González, Jovan Adepo, Alex Sharp, John Bradley, Saamer Usmani, Liam Cunningham, Rosalind Chao, Jonathan Pryce, Marlo Kelly, Sea Shimooka, Ben Schnetzer, and Zine Tseng.
For everything announced during Netflix's Tudum, check out our roundup.
]]>In our exclusive gameplay video (see it above), Director Hiroshi Takai and Combat Director Ryota Suzuki explain how the enemies you fight will change on your second playthrough.
“On your first playthrough, you can choose between the Action Focused mode and the Story Focused mode,” explains Takai. “After you beat the game in either of these modes, New Game Plus unlocks, and you can carry protagonist Clive’s level, gear and abilities over to your next playthrough. New Game Plus also features a new mode, called the Final Fantasy Mode, which makes the game more challenging.
“Since you can continue your level and abilities from a previous playthrough, in Final Fantasy Mode, enemies will become stronger accordingly. The positioning of enemies is different, and in many cases the enemy type itself is entirely different as well. You might suddenly be confronted by an elite monster that wasn’t there on your first playthrough.”
In our video, you can see examples of how enemies change in the Greatwood stage near the beginning of the game, as well as the Inner Sanctum of Drake’s Breath, a location you visit mid-game. While wolves await you on your first playthrough of the Greatwood, in New Game Plus, Minotaurs stand in your way. Fafnir, a boss you meet somewhere halfway through the stage, is now replaced by a Chimaera.
One of the fiercer enemies you face at the Inner Sanctum of Drake’s Breath during your first playthrough is a towering enemy that wields a heavy axe. Having to face two of these brutal enemies at the same time in New Game Plus would be one thing, but one of them is instead replaced by an Iron Giant, one of Final Fantasy’s most iconic baddies, which made its first appearance in 1988’s Final Fantasy II.
“Expect tons of surprises like that. ‘But that wasn’t there before!’ you might say to yourself,” Takai says with a chuckle.
Of course, a shuffled set of enemies is not the only way Final Fantasy XVI’s New Game Plus shakes things up. You will also become able to upgrade your weapons to a higher level. While on your first playthrough weapons can only be upgraded up to three degrees, New Game Plus allows the player to upgrade weapons up to six degrees. If you upgrade a weapon to the sixth degree it will reach its maximum potential and it will change to a different item name.
In New Game Plus you can synthesize accessories as well, which according to Takai adds a whole new layer of customization.
“As you will be carrying over the items you obtained on your first playthrough, you will be obtaining multiples of the same accessories,” says Takai. “The blacksmith can synthesize these for you into one accessory with a +1 attribute, which makes it possible to create builds that match your playstyle even better.
“For example, let’s say that a certain accessory allows you to shorten the recast time for abilities by two seconds. By having two of these accessories synthesized into one, that becomes four seconds. You can even go as far as separately equipping one more of these accessories, which would allow you to shorten the recast time up to six seconds. There’s a wide variation of accessories that have different effects, and synthesizing them will allow for a new layer of depth in New Game Plus.”
In the game’s Arcade Mode, you can replay stages that you have finished before. Here, you will be scored according to how you perform. In New Game Plus, a leaderboard makes it possible to compete against players from around the world for the highest score.
“Arcade Mode doesn’t just let you replay stages, but it adds a score to your performance,” says Takai. “This score increases as you defeat enemies and use abilities. Trying to get a higher score might feel a bit like how you would do so in a classic shmup. After a mid-boss, a result screen appears that evaluates your performance with a grade. Once you finish the stage, an additional result screen will indicate your score and grade for the entire stage, and you will receive a bonus according to your performance. Players who compete seriously on the leaderboards might rack up S rank scores, but it will be interesting to see how far they can extend their score from there.”
As for why the main game doesn’t show player scores and grades, Takai says that he didn’t feel the need to evaluate the skill of players who are casually enjoying the game.
Final Fantasy 16: The 6 Realms of Valisthea
“Above all, we wanted players to be able to enjoy the story without anything standing in the way,” says Takai. “The same goes for the game’s combat. I think many players don’t want to be evaluated by the game when they’re just there to have some fun. For example, if the game keeps giving you a C, it can make you feel like you’re being told over and over that you are bad at the game. We didn’t feel the need to do that to players who just want to have fun, so we saved it for the players who actively want to compete on the leaderboards in Arcade Mode.”
Takai tells us that there is also a mode called Ultimaniac, which is even more difficult than Final Fantasy Mode. For players who are up to the challenge, Arcade Mode offers a leaderboard for this difficulty too.
“It’s so difficult that I’m not even sure if I can beat the game on that difficulty myself,” admits Takai. “But if you’re a die-hard action game fan, it might be a welcome challenge.”
Besides Arcade Mode, Chronolith battles – a sort of battle mini-game – also come with a leaderboard in New Game Plus.
“In different areas of Valisthea – the realm where the game takes place – Chronoliths are hidden,” explains Takai. “Once you have progressed to a certain point in the story, these standing stones will start to emit a blue light. By accessing them, you will be challenged to a special battle, which we call Chronolith Trials. The main concept behind Final Fantasy XVI’s combat is that the player can combine different Eikon abilities to create builds that match their own play styles. However, for the Chronolith battles we wanted to limit the player to certain Eikon abilities and test their skills in what plays out like a time attack.”
Final Fantasy 16's Dion and Barnabas
If you want to know more about Final Fantasy XVI’s Eikon abilities, be sure to check out our feature on that as well. In this feature, Takai and combat director Ryota Suzuki explain how they hope abilities will function as tools for the player to find their own way of tackling the game’s enemies. But by forcing the player to use a specific build, the Chronoliths might make you more comfortable with certain Eikon abilities you had ignored until that point.
“The time limit for these battles is 1 minute and 20 seconds,” says Takai. “You have to defeat multiple waves of enemies within that time. That being said, by accomplishing various tasks you can actually regain some of that time while fighting. For example, one of those tasks might demand that you defeat an enemy by using a certain ability in the air. If you succeed, you will get a few seconds back. This will become key if you want to beat the challenge before your time runs out.
“After a few waves, a boss designed especially for these challenges awaits you at the end. By defeating it within the time limit, you can obtain an accessory found only here. In New Game Plus, not only the difficulty but also the types of enemies you will fight here changes, and there is a leaderboard as well.”
Since the Chronolith Trials are essentially time attacks, Takai thinks that their speedy nature makes them a good starting point to join the leaderboards.
Based on Takai’s explanation, it seems that most of the features in New Game Plus are related to the game’s combat. Takai believes that Final Fantasy XVI’s combat is highly replayable.
Final Fantasy 16 New Characters Revealed
“Final Fantasy XVI offers the player a wide array of abilities,” he says. “Try out an ability that you had avoided before, and you should be able to find new ways to enjoy the game’s challenges. The variety in gameplay these abilities provide always make it fun to come up with new builds. That’s why we designed Final Fantasy XVI so that it could be enjoyed through multiple playthroughs.
“On your first playthrough, Clive will learn these abilities little by little, so he won’t be able to use all of them from the get go. On your second playthrough, you can bring all of your abilities to the beginning of the game, so the game will feel more diverse from the start.
“In New Game Plus, we’ve also made it possible to skip the first part of the game in which Clive looks back at his childhood. Of course, all cutscenes can be skipped as well, so you can really focus on the combat.
“Final Fantasy XVI really has a lot of replayability. So for those looking for a new challenge, I hope you revisit the game after you roll the credits.”
Final Fantasy XVI releases for PlayStation 5 on June 22. Be sure to check out boss battle gameplay against Liquid Flame, gameplay of hunting a wanted monster in one of the game’s overworlds, and a feature on the game’s side quests. Also, don’t forget to check out which classic Final Fantasy games the developers consider their favorites.
Esra Krabbe is an editor at IGN Japan. Please don’t evaluate his skills.
]]>The multiverse-spanning trilogy is based on the premise there are near-infinite versions of Spider-Man, but now it looks as though we’ll finally meet some of the other Gwen Stacys.
During an interview with The Crew Call with Anthony D’Alessandro (originally reported by comicbookmovie.com) producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller were asked if we’ll see any other Gwen Stacys in the upcoming sequel.
“Currently, yes,” said Lord before Miller added: “I would say that, yes. It's on the page. I think that… these things evolve as they go.”
Spoilers for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse below.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse revealed there are certain ‘canon events’ that happen to every Spider-Man: the death of a police captain, the death of an uncle, or simply being bitten by a radioactive spider.
Then there’s the death of Gwen Stacy.
Obviously, we’ve seen the parallel to this when Gwen’s version of Peter Parker was killed after turning himself into The Lizard. So, for now, it looks as though the Gwen we know and love is safe. However, there’s always the possibility that another Gwen could be in danger.
“There's one I'm very excited about,” said Lord. “Yes, I know exactly the one you're talking about,” added Miller. “You know the one I'm thinking of, which is based on. I'm not gonna say anything. I'm not gonna say anything… But it is sort of plot-integral, I would say.”
Gwen Stacy has proved to be hugely popular since the release of Across the Spider-Verse, so exploring alternate versions of her is clearly a good move. As for which Gwen Stacys will appear in Beyond the Spider-Verse, that remains to be seen.
IGN’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse review gave it 8/10 and said: “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse surges with visual inventiveness and vibrance in an undeniably strong evolution of the style established in Into the Spider-Verse.”
Want to read more about Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse? Check out 7 Spider-Man comics you should read before Beyond The Spider-Verse as well as every Spider-Man movie in the works.
Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.
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