Month: February 2020

With the cool tease of Robert Pattinson all geared up for The Batman, which director Matt Reeves posted on Twitter, we’re sorting through all the movie batsuits and ranking them awful to awesome, from nipples to neck-mobility.

The batsuit is more important than any of Bruce Wayne’s various gadgets and weapons. It needs to strike fear in the hearts of law-breakers while also coloring the specific Bat-movie it appears in with a distinct tone and vibe. We’ve all gone down the batsuit road many times, and many actors and directors have tackled the Dark Knight’s various crucibles crushing the criminals of Gortham. The Caped Crusader’s costuming is crucial, allowing him to shift through the shadows and strike, like a bat, out of nowhere.

Here’s a glimpse of Pattinson all batted up, with score accompaniment by Michael Giacchino (Lost, Spider-Man: Far From Home)…

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Now let’s dig into decades of batsuits, from ’60s camp to ’80s goth to armor freakin’ thick enough to take on Superman (with the assist from kryptonite). The IGN Entertainment team voted on our faves, considering both form and function, and this is the ranking we came up with! And a few notes: This list only includes live-action movie suits, and we’re not including the Pattinson suit here since we haven’t seen the whole thing yet!

And when you’re done here, be sure to vote for your favorite batsuit in our poll at the bottom of this page, check out everything we know about The Batman so far, learn how fans are reacting to the new batsuit, or read up on how Robert Pattinson’s batsuit draws from the Arkham games and the comics.

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13. Batman & Robin Ice Armor

Yeesh. So — side note — the  Joel Schumacher films each had two batsuits for strictly toy sale purposes.

Batman & Robin’s alternate attire were the dreadful ice outfits that Bruce, Dick, and Barbara used in their efforts to thwart Mr. Freeze. Impervious to his cold attacks, the suits were also resistant to good taste and invulnerable against pleasing aesthetics.

12. Batman Forever Sonar Suit

After the bulk of Bruce’s batsuits were destroyed by Riddler in Batman Forever, he used his last remaining regalia to battle his foes in the film’s final fight – the Sonar Suit. It was a somewhat plain-looking silvery-black thing that totally felt like the last thing Bruce would have in his closet. It was also the first of Schumacher’s second batsuits (for toy line purposes).

11. Batman & Robin Main Suit

Blending the two Batman Forever batsuits (“Panther” and “Sonar”), and adding pop-out ice skates (because reasons – er – FREEZEons), George Clooney’s costume combined nipples with a metallic sheen for a result that we all mostly resent because he was a bad Batman in a bad Batman movie.

10. Batman v Superman Knightmare Suit

In Batman v Superman’s dystopian dreamscape, featuring a dustbowl Earth ruled by an evil Superman, Batman kept his regular DCEU costume and just added a big trench coat, goggles, and a separate ski mask. Oh, and guns. Whatever. It was all kind of a “hat on a hat” and that point, but who’s to say what’s right and wrong about Bruce’s dream-slash-vision? Any dystopia worth its weight in wasteland warlords is all about unnecessary accessories.

9. Batman v Superman Armored Suit

When the clock struck “Clobberin’ Time” for Bruce and his showdown with Superman, he decked himself out like a Decepticon, clamping himself inside a massively-strong batsuit exoskeleton. Inspired by the suit used in the Bats vs. Supes fight in Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, this chunky costume allowed Bruce to be just strong enough to fight Superman when Superman was incredibly-weakened by kryptonite.

8. Justice League Tactical Suit

Featuring upgraded armor, weaponry, and flight goggles, Bruce’s Justice League gear was the pinnacle of his Bat-tech, utilized in the battle against cosmic forces invading Earth. Less bulky and tank-like than the fireplug-looking costume he wore while slugging it out with Superman, Bruce’s tactical uniform was awesomely appealing apparel to wear against Steppenwolf and his minions.

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7. Batman Forever Main Suit

After two Tim Burton/Michael Keaton outings, Val Kilmer found himself adorned in attire that was – er – anatomically articulated. Inspired by the statues of ancient Greece, according to director Joel Schumacher, this bad boy had nipples, folks.

Aside from the much-maligned nips, however, the Forever suit (nicknamed the “Panther Suit” on set) made some nice, graceful alterations to the Burton costume, including a less-yellow chest symbol and a newly-designed utility belt.

6. Batman v Superman/Justice League Main Suit

Influenced heavily by both the comic’s long-running grey suit and Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, Ben Affleck’s batsuit in the DCEU is no-nonsense war wardrobe. It’s not meant to spotlight any flashy symbols or showy gadgets, it’s meant for hiding in the darkness until it’s time to burst into a room and cripple a dozen crooks. And maybe even brand them, if there’s time. Its stark simplicity has made it a fan favorite. This suit, with some subtle tweaks, also appeared in Justice League.

5. Adam West Suit

Before Tim Burton created the go-to movie iconography for all things Batman, Adam West ruled the roost with his ’60s camp TV portrayal of the Caped Crusader, complete with a satin blue and purple suit that featured smaller ears and a shorter cape (so West wouldn’t trip on set). For an entire generation, this was the one and only batsuit and West’s famous portrayal cemented this particular Batman in the annals of pop-culture history.

4. Batman Returns Suit

In Batman Returns, Bruce has been out Batmanning so much (or sometimes just sitting quietly at home waiting for the Bat-Signal to hit) that he’s now got a Batcave vault full of suits. The Returns suit isn’t hugely different from the debut costume in Batman ’89, but it featured a less sculpted look than its predecessor. It’s an angular armor-plated version with a new (to us, anyhow) gliding cape function.

3. Batman Begins Suit

Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins took a very grounded and gritty approach to Batman’s gear, reverse-engineering how one might actually craft one of these cool costumes in real life. Using Wayne Enterprises’ R&D department, Bruce tweaks an already-existing paramilitary “Nomex survival suit” and then fuses together the bat-aspects of it from other places. Customized with advanced tech, like a Kevlar cowl and memory cloth cape, this was the first batsuit we got to see built up from scratch.

2. Batman ’89 Suit

When Tim Burton’s Batman landed in 1989, fans were introduced to the first ever bulked-up, imposing depiction of the batsuit on the big screen. All black, with a yellow chest emblem, Michael Keaton’s suit was a foreboding rubberized take on Neal Adams’ illustrations. And what it lacked in head mobility (Keaton couldn’t turn his neck at all), it made up for in shadowy, sinister presence. And the highlighting of the bat symbol nicely mixed with the film’s marketing, which was often just the symbol itself on a poster. It wasn’t the most functional of the lot, but it’s the most iconic. And it’s the suit that influenced every single movie suit that followed, to this day.

1. The Dark Knight/The Dark Knight Rises Suit

After a year on the job, and with an anarchist clown to deal with, Bruce Wayne decided his Nomex batsuit needed a few alterations and upgrades. Sacrificing protection for mobility and agility, Lucius Fox whipped up a new costume using separated plating, and The Dark Knight suit was born – the perfect sleek and slimming suit to go toe-to-toe with Joker. Unfortunately, this lighter suit didn’t fare well against the brute force of Bane when Bruce donned it years later.

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Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

This is a mostly spoiler-free review for Hulu’s reboot of High Fidelity, with all 10 episodes now available to stream.

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In episode 2 of Hulu’s gender-flipped adaptation of the Nicholas Hornby novel High Fidelity, Rob (the incomparable Zoe Kravitz) breaks down the seven rules for organizing the perfect mixtape. Yes, you read that right. Suspend your disbelief that New Yorkers in their late twenties are still consistently making mixtapes for each other (at least she does it on Spotify). Anyway, here are the rules — which will make the idea of creating your own mix actually seem fun:

1. Gotta be entertaining.

2. Needs to tell a story.

3. Don’t be too obvious, but [it] can’t be too obscure either.

4. Can’t double up on songs by the same artist, unless that’s your theme.

5. The most important track is #1. It’s gotta be familiar, but also unexpected. Most importantly, it’s gotta make you feel good.

6. Track 2, there needs to be an element of surprise. What you’re saying is, “keep listening. There might be more here than I thought.”

Before we get to rule 7, let’s start with whether or not the High Fidelity makes it through the first six. Yes and no. If we consider the opening episode, “Top Five Heartbreaks” our first track, High Fidelity pulls off a lofty goal: it hones in on what made the John Cusak-helmed rom-com drama compelling with a heavy-hearted, complicated protagonist struggling to understand their own culpability and faults in failed love. Kravitz’s Rob is every bit as charming, flawed, and frustratingly selfish as Cusak in the 2000 film.

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(Side note: some critics felt Kravitz’s glamorous presence made for a mismatch in casting and a distraction, but Rob is relatively financially stable, owns her own record shop, and has the most gorgeous, successful men and women of NYC throwing themselves at her feet, so her casting makes sense. What’s more distracting is how she affords her large Brooklyn apartment when Champion Records only seems to attract paying customers on Saturdays.)

In the first episode of the 10-part series, a fourth-wall breaking Rob is still reeling from a relationship that ended a year ago, when she attempts to go on a first date. Her suitor, Clyde (Jake Lacy), bores her at first until they sink into a charming flirtatious rhythm, bonding over his flimsy appreciation for the song “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac and her overwhelming knowledge of the band and the making of the groundbreaking album, “Rumors,” which is not her favorite.

When that date ends in sex and he ditches in the morning after promising her french toast, Rob is disappointed but not surprised. “Of course it was the nice guy. It’s always the nice guy,” she laments. From there she takes us through her top five most memorable heartbreaks: Kevin Bannister, Simon Miller, Kat Monroe, Justin Kit, and most recently, Russell “Mac” McCormack. (Though Kat is a woman and Rob is sexually fluid, the chemistry is hardly there and the bulk of her storyline remains more heteronormative than the creators probably think it is.)

Episode 2, “Track 2” accomplishes rule number six wholeheartedly, gripping the viewer and creating something new out of old characters. Champion Records’ only employees — Simon (David H. Holmes), Rob’s gay ex-boyfriend and heartbreak #2, and Cherise (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), Rob’s boisterous friend who seems to be all talk, little action when it comes to her own musical career — cement themselves as the emotional heart of the series and two of the most compelling reasons to watch. Their riffs on race, sexuality, and trauma as they pertain to the eclectic music that moves them helps modernize a series that otherwise could have felt trapped in the early aughts. It doesn’t hurt that they call Rob on multiple instances of bulls–t and act as the audience’s perspective on her actions.

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From episode 2 on, the series builds momentum and delves further into these surprisingly authentic characters and each of Rob’s breakups (as well as some new relationships), while keeping the reason behind her breakup with Mac shrouded in mystery. In a later episode, she sits in the studio while her latest hookup, Liam (Thomas Doherty), a sexy, young musician, records a new song. She tells him the beat is fun, but the vocals sound earnest. “Get weird with it,” she encourages, and it works.

Likewise, High Fidelity is at its best when it gets weird with it, and flounders when it becomes too earnest. Episode 5 is the highlight, following Rob and Clyde on an outrageous not-date in the Upper West Side that feels notably rom-com-y and electric in a way that Hulu’s other recent movie reboot, Four Weddings and a Funeral, failed to capture. However, a decision Rob makes in the same episode that attempts to solidify her status as the hero of the story inadvertently undermines that swagger.

So, back to that final rule:

7. Closers are tough. It’s the last thing they’re gonna hear and the only thing they’re gonna remember, so you gotta bring your message home

Unfortunately, High Fidelity begins to waver once it hits its emotional peak late in the season with a chaotic, crescendoing party scene that rips apart Rob’s newfound confidence. From there, the series flounders in an attempt to draw out the story for another three or so episodes, and none of the character arcs reach a satisfying enough conclusion. The season finale comes after a supposedly earth-shaking revelation that simply doesn’t feel so meaningful, and the season ends awkwardly and abruptly, leaving much more to be desired.

But that doesn’t mean the whole thing is a bust. There are bursts of genius scattered throughout High Fidelity that bode well for a potential second season, and plenty of relationships worth exploring further. That’s not even mentioning the beautiful way music is utilized throughout the series to echo the characters’ ethos and emotions, effortlessly diving between artists like Minnie Ripperton, David Bowie, Aretha Franklin, Swamp Dogg, and, delightfully, PTAF’s “Boss Ass Bitch” after a particularly successful hookup.

High Fidelity is right, closers are tough, and while it struggles with hitting a solid finish, hopefully this isn’t the end.

Video game movies have often proven worthy of disdain in the past but the new hybrid CG-animated/live-action Sonic the Hedgehog is shaping up to be better liked than most, at least according to the IGN staff who have seen the movie.

In addition to the official IGN review posted on Tuesday, below you’ll find reactions from six staff members across all of our content-making departments — from editorial to social to video — all of which are kept as spoiler-free as possible.

In addition to the staff review roundups for tentpole entertainment properties such as Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Netflix’s The Witcher, we also had several members of our team chime in about what they thought about Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.

These roundup pieces are a bit of an experiment that we will continue tweaking and refining, so we’ll be taking all your feedback left in the comments as we produce more of these in the future.

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IGN’s Review, by Akeem Lawanson, Host/Producer

From the official IGN Sonic the Hedgehog review: While this family-friendly action-comedy suffers from a simplistic story and leans too heavily on tired visual cliches, Sonic the Hedgehog is nevertheless boosted by solid performances from Ben Schwartz as Sonic and Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik. Their ongoing cat-and-mouse game is entertaining, and passionate fans of the Sega franchise should appreciate all the nods to Sonic’s history.

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Make no mistake, this frantically-paced film is made first and foremost for Sonic fans. If you’ve been there for the little blue fella these past 29 years, from his humble beginnings on the Sega Genesis to his current iteration, then Sonic the Hedgehog is the love letter you’re probably looking for. If not… maybe save your gold rings.

Terri Schwartz, Editor-in-Chief, Entertainment

Sonic the Hedgehog is a sweet and simple adaptation of the beloved video game franchise of the same name. This is a movie aimed at kids that certainly is charming as an adult viewer — and pays loving homage to the Sonic video games — but also isn’t especially edgy or adult with its humor. Instead, this is a sweet story about friendship and family, with the strongest bond being between Ben Schwartz’s teenage Sonic and James Marsden’s Tom Wachowski, a cop who crosses paths with Sonic and needs to protect him from Jim Carrey’s villainous Dr. Ivo Robotnik.

Carrey channels his full The Mask energy for a pre-Eggman Robotnik, with all the mustache-twirling zeal you’d hope from him playing this character. As someone who didn’t grow up playing Sonic and who didn’t have a deep attachment to the character, I found his big-screen debut pleasant and inoffensive, but it’s not something I would rush to theaters to see again any time soon.

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Zach Ryan, Director of Social Content and Strategy

I didn’t expect much from the Sonic film. To be honest, I’ve never really been much of a Sonic fan, but from the moment we saw those first renders, I knew that this movie would certainly be… something. Fortunately, for all of us, Sonic the Hedgehog is surprisingly fun and full of heart. Yes, it’s chock full extremely online jokes and there are a couple of genuinely bizarre product placements, but that’s not enough to bring down the absolutely bonkers action sequences or distract from a genuinely charming performance from Ben Schwartz as Sonic.

My only real gripe with the film is Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik. He’s got a very ‘90s era Jim Carrey vibe about him throughout the whole movie and his over-the-top “I’m better than you” schtick is more annoying than it is funny. It captures a Saturday morning cartoon feel in the same way the recent TMNT films did: absolutely crazy, occasionally cringy, and ultimately a good time.

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Nick Limon, Video Producer

The Sonic movie is charming and perfect for kids, with little substance for the adults bringing them to the movie outside of the fantastic bar fight and, of course, Jim Carrey chewing up every scene he’s in.

But other than that, not much of the movie sticks with me outside of the glaring omission of City Escape. Like, why have Sonic travel to San Francisco and have him run away from something and NOT play City Escape? It’s probably in a previous draft of the movie that’s forever lost in time. Like tears in rain.

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Brendan Graeber, Editor, Games

I went into the Sonic movie with pretty low expectations – I was a Nintendo kid that played a handful of Sonic games at my friend’s house growing up, so I honestly wasn’t sure what was going to happen. The movie relied heavily on making Sonic a believable character on screen, and to that end, the design of Sonic was exactly what it needed to be to carry the film (I honestly don’t think I could have stomached a movie’s worth of Sonic’s initial gremlin design). Ben Schwartz did an impeccable job voicing a version of Sonic I actually liked: wisecracking, but not too snarky. Schwartz also managed to make Sonic a goofy chatterbox that never crossed the line into becoming a true annoyance, which I consider a pretty impressive feat. There were a few fun nods to Sonic’s source material, and I’m glad the movie didn’t get lost in the weeds with pointless references or lore that wouldn’t make sense to the plot.

I also felt like Sonic the Hedgehog worked as well as it did thanks to the efforts of its small but talented main cast. Similar movies like Detective Pikachu lost me whenever the camera cut away to the bland human characters, but I felt James Marsden ended up having great chemistry trying to keep up with the hyperactive hedgehog, and Jim Carrey absolutely stole the show by channeling his ‘90s-era zaniness to make every scene he was a part of absolutely over-the-top. I did find the plot revolving around Sonic and Tom Wachowski’s quest to get to San Francisco a bit odd and ultimately underused. The pacing didn’t feel quite right at times with Sonic rushing along with secondary plots by getting mad at something that didn’t make sense, and certain scenes just ended up feeling trivial. That said, Sonic’s slow-motion action scenes were pretty enjoyable, and actually translated Sonic’s signature “spin dash” to look as cool in a movie as it does in a video game.

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Francesca Rivera, Associate Producer

I never played the Sonic games growing up, so everything I learned about Sonic’s tragic life-on-the run was straight from this movie. That being said, I love James Marsden, Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz, and Ben Schwartz’s love of Sonic, and would’ve tried to watch this movie for them regardless. Sonic is the kind of self-aware kids’ movie that would entertain both the young children and the grown-ups who brought them alike.

Although it is a fun time for the kids, Sonic doesn’t really say anything about anything, especially for its human (and actual) lead, James Marsden’s Tom Wachowski. Marsden, by the way, carries the film expertly and is clearly having a lot of fun, especially against Jim Carrey’s Robotnik. The cat-and-mouse road trip that covers the second act really builds Tom and Sonic’s friendship and fulfills each character’s needs the way a neat movie should. There are also some truly creative “freeze time” sequences with songs that, indeed, slap.

It’s obvious that this film is the first of a franchise, setting up the Sonic/Dr. Robotnik rivalry over the course of what felt like one long first act. The way Tom’s story ends does leave a bad taste in my mouth and Jim Carrey’s Dr. Robotnik, unfortunately, is a little too out-of-place against everyone else’s dialogue and performances. So while the larger lesson of maybe staying in your comfortable space instead of challenging yourself may be troubling to expose to children, it still is a sweet story of helping those in need.

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Yusuf McCoy, Social Media Designer

With a commendable performance from Jim Carrey and the titular hero voiced by Ben Schwartz, this live-action adaptation brings the joy and excitement for fans and children alike. Though the film does an adequate job of introducing some lore to Sonic, it falls short in the final act. With some surprise appearances making their way into the film leaving room for possible sequels, this is a strong start to a possible film franchise.

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Let us know your thoughts on Sonic the Hedgehog in the comments below! And for more on the movie, here’s our breakdown of the end credits scene and what it could mean for a sequel, all the video game Easter eggs we caught in the film, find out what the critics are saying about Sonic, and what Jim Carrey had to tell us about the evolution of Robotnik’s look.

This post contains spoilers for Stranger Things Season 3, and the newly released Season 4 teaser trailer. 

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Chances are you’re desperately counting down the days to when Stranger Things Season 4 will premiere. We’ve broken down all the biggest questions about the future of the Netflix sci-fi hit below, and will keep this post updated with new developments as they are announced.

Netflix officially renewed Stranger Things for a fourth season back in September 2019. The news came with a statement from Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, Ted Sarandos:

“The Duffer Brothers have captivated viewers around the world with Stranger Things and we’re thrilled to expand our relationship with them to bring their vivid imaginations to other film and series projects our members will love. We can’t wait to see what the Duffer Brothers have in store when they step outside the world of The Upside Down.”

Stranger Things Season 4 Trailer

So far, Netflix has released one trailer for Season 4 of Stranger Things, which gives us our first glimpse of David Harbor’s Jim Hopper (HE’S ALIVE) in what appears to be a prison camp in Russia. The streamer revealed the teaser trailer on Valentine’s Day 2020, with the caption, “From Russia With Love…” Watch the teaser below:

From Russia with love… pic.twitter.com/ZWEMgy63Et

— Stranger Things (@Stranger_Things) February 14, 2020

When Will New Episodes of Stranger Things 4 Release on Netflix?

Netflix hasn’t set a release date for Season 4 yet, but the Season 3 finale may give us some clues for when Stranger Things Season 4 will take place: Before Joyce, Will, Jonathan, and Eleven move away from Hawkins at the end of the episode, Mike and Eleven discuss visiting each other for Thanksgiving and Christmas of that year.

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While the events of Season 1 technically happened in November (and prominently featured Christmas lights) we have yet to see the show tackle Thanksgiving or Christmas – and a Christmas setting could pave the way for some awesome ’80s homages to the likes of Gremlins, Die Hard (again!), or Silent Night, Deadly Night. Season 2 took place around Halloween, while Season 3 is set in the summer in the days leading up to July 4, so if the show wants to continue with a holiday theme, Christmas would make sense – although the young cast may age too quickly for the show to believably pull off Season 4 taking place just a few months after Season 3.

In terms of when Stranger Things will actually premiere, we can look to its previous drops on Netflix for some clues. Season 1 premiered in July 2016, Season 2 in October 2017, and Season 3 in July 2019. If the Duffer brothers continue to follow this pattern, then we can assume Season 4 could premiere in October 2020. However, the show is still in the early stages of production, with plenty of shooting and post-production work ahead. So, with Season 4’s narrative possibly taking place during Christmas, perhaps a December 2020 release date isn’t out of the question?

Is Stranger Things 4 the Last Season?

Back in August 2017, the Duffer brothers gave an interview in which they said Stranger Things would end after Season 4. “We think it will be a four-season thing and then out,” Ross Duffer told Vulture.

Matt Duffer added that continuing the show past that point was possible: “We just have to keep adjusting the story,” he said, but noted, “I don’t know if we can justify something bad happening to them once a year.” Then again, a lot can change in two years, and Shawn Levy certainly seemed to think a Season 5 was on the table as recently as last April.

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Season 3 expanded on the threat of the Upside Down by revealing that the Russian military was also investigating the creepy alternate dimension, potentially seeking to weaponize the creatures inhabiting the Upside Down, like the Demogorgon. That leaves a lot of narrative ground still to explore, in addition to the fact that we’ve had very little explanation into the mythology of the Upside Down, what the Mind Flayer actually wants, or why people seem so eager to venture into a creepy parallel universe full of deadly monsters in the first place.

Although Netflix doesn’t release ratings information for most of its series, Stranger Things has inarguably become a global phenomenon. According to third-party reports, is the most popular streaming show on the web, even when it’s between seasons, so there’s no reason to think that Netflix would cancel Stranger Things before the Duffer Brothers choose to end it. (If anything, the streaming network might encourage the Duffers to stretch it longer, as HBO reportedly tried to do with Game of Thrones.)

What Will Stranger Things Season 4 Be About?

Now that we have a Season 4 teaser trailer featuring Hopper alive and (mostly) well, we can assume that some of the stories will take place in Russia. While Netflix hasn’t released a full Season 4 synopsis, it did reveal a few details about Hopper in a press release message from the Duffer Brothers:

“We’re excited to officially confirm that production on Stranger Things 4 is now underway — and even more excited to announce the return of Hopper! Although it’s not all good news for our American; he is imprisoned far from home in the snowy wasteland of Kamchatka, where he will face dangers both human…and other. Meanwhile, back in the states, a new horror is beginning to surface, something long-buried, something that connects everything.”

With Hopper still in the mix, we expect Season 4 to delve much deeper into the mechanics of the Upside Down and what it might be used for: an army of attack-dog Demogorgons that Russia intends to release on an unsuspecting American public? A new energy source (since the Mind Flayer sure lets out a lot of lightning)? At this point, any explanation into the rules of the Upside Down would be welcome – and we also need to know why the Russians are forcing their prisoners to build a train track – what are they trying to transport?

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We also expect Season 4 to explore what happened to Hopper while he was in the Upside Down and how he got out. From the teaser trailer, it’s difficult to ascertain exactly what kind of mental state Hopper is in, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see him utilized as a new host for the Mind Flayer (or maybe the Russians will brainwash and Winter Soldier him) just to up the emotional stakes for Eleven next season. The show will also no doubt need to deal with Eleven’s lost powers and how she gets them back.

The show has a few other loose ends to tie up before it’s over: Season 2 introduced Eleven’s “sister” from Dr. Brenner’s experiment, Eight, aka Kali – and even though fans weren’t wild about that episode, there are still a whole bunch of other super-powered kids out there who might come in handy against the Mind Flayer. We need to learn more about those experiments and the kids that were created as a result. We also need to learn the whereabouts of Dr. Brenner himself since right now he’s a Chekhov’s Gun that’s still hanging over Eleven.

And between the Byers family leaving Hawkins and the introduction of Russia, the show finally has an opportunity to expand beyond its small-town setting. Season 3 established that the town is special – at least when it comes to opening the gate to the Upside Down – but Alexei also revealed that there were other gates and other keys, which gives this conspiracy a much wider scope.

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Since half of the main characters are still in Hawkins, we’re probably not going to leave the town entirely (and hopefully people will actually start asking questions about the disappearances of so many Hawkins residents, including the newspaper’s editor and a couple of young lifeguards) but it would be nice to explore other parts of the Stranger Things universe. Still, given that the end of Season 3 also introduced the concept of “Satanic Panic” as a way of exploring the weird goings-on in Hawkins, that rising hysteria could also play a role in Season 4.

What do you hope to see in Stranger Things Season 4? Share your theories and predictions in the comments.

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Today’s spotlight is the Amazon Warehouse sale with some crazy prices on very good or like new condition Xbox One X and PS4 consoles and accessories, Apple iPad tablets, Apple Watches, PSVR headsets and more. There’s also a very rare deal on the Calvin and Hobbes hardcover box set that you don’t want to miss out on.

70% Off The Complete Calvin and Hobbes Hardcover Box Set, Now Only $63.99

Calvin and Hobbes is such a timeless cartoon classic and sometimes we see the paperback set go on sale but never the hardcover set. Today, that’s changed. There’s an instant $32 off discount that will automatically apply during checkout.That makes the hardcover edition, which never goes under $90, the same cost as the paperback edition. It’s already temporarily out of stock, but you can still order it to lock in the price. Hurry though, it will sell out soon.

• Get it on Amazon for $63.99

Amazon Warehouse: Video Game Consoles and Hardware at Prices Lower Than Black Friday

Amazon Warehouse is currently offering an extra 20% off on top of already discounted used items. That includes consoles, VR bundles, controllers and more. “Like New” and “Very Good” condition items are often in brand new or mint condition with just damage to the packaging only or perhaps missing the manual or a few nonessential accessories. You also get the same 30-day money back guarantee as a standard Amazon purchase and the remainder of whatever warranty the item has (often for “Like New” items it’s almost the entire warranty).

Amazon Warehouse: Xbox One X Bundle With Game (Used: Like New) from $237.92

Select Amazon Warehouse vendor; discount applied during checkout

This deal is back, and it’s even cheaper than before. “Like New” console bundles are currently available and the description states that they are pretty much brand new with dented box packaging. This is pretty much the only way to score an Xbox One X at such a ridiculously low price, and it even comes with a very high quality game. Both Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and Gears 5 (which actually includes all Gears games), are well rated.

• Get the Xbox One S Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Bundle for $242.12
• Get the Xbox One X Gears 5 Bundle for $237.92

Amazon Warehouse: PS4 Pro Death Stranding Bundle (Used: Like New) for $302.48

Select Amazon Warehouse vendor; discount applied during checkout

This deal is likely to run out of stock quickly since there probably isn’t too much inventory. This is easily one of the nicest PS4 Pro themes I’ve seen, and it even comes with a custom yellow translucent DualShock controller. The game is included as well.

• Get it at Amazon Warehouse for $302.48

Amazon Warehouse: Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller (Used: Like New) for $131.17

Select Amazon Warehouse vendor; discount applied during checkout

These are essentially brand new controllers in original packaging (you can get it brand new for $20 off too). This professional-grade controller features adjustable tension thumbsticks, shorter hair trigger locks, wraparound textured grips, interchangeable thumbsticks and paddle shapes, and includes a USB Type C cable with charging dock. It boasts up to 40 hours of battery life and is confirmed to work on the next-gen Xbox as well.

• Get it at Amazon Warehouse for $131.18
• Get it New for $159.99 with Amazon Prime

Amazon Warehouse: PSVR Mega Blood + Truth Everybodys Golf Bundle (Used: Like New) for $255

Select Amazon Warehouse vendor; discount applied during checkout

This bundle includes a pair of Move controllers and the PlayStation camera. Both of these accessories are necessary to play the #1 VR game out there: Beat Saber. You’ll never find this bundle for as low of a price, even on Black Friday, and it’s in “Like New” condition.

• Get it at Amazon Warehouse for $254.56

Amazon Warehouse: Apple Watch Series 5 with Stainless Steel Case and Milanese Loop (Used: Very Good) for $430.61

Select Amazon Warehouse vendor; discount applied during checkout

If you want the latest and inarguably the greatest smart watch out there, the latest generation Series 5 is discounted at Amazon Warehouse. The headline upgrade of the Apple Watch Series 5 is its always-on display, which means you don’t need to tilt your wrist to check the time. This particular model has  an extra nice stainless steel case and Milanese loop, and it also has both GPS and cellular connectivity.

• Get the Series 5 40mm GPS + Cellular for $430.61
• Get the Series 4 44mm GPS + Cellular (Used: Very Good) for $283.50

Amazon Warehouse: Apple Watch Series 3 38mm GPS + Cellular (Used: Very Good) for $170.18

Select Amazon Warehouse vendor; discount applied during checkout

Score the Apple Watch Series 3 right now at close to the lowest price ever. You’ll save over $200 compared to getting an Apple Watch Series 5 and let’s face it, most people probably won’t fully appreciate the ECG or the cosmetic updates compared to the Series 3. What everyone will appreciate, though, is the extra bank in his or her wallet. The Series 3 features an aluminum case that’s waterproof up to 50 meters, built-in heart rate monitor, GPS, and its small, sleek, and looks almost identical to the Series 4.

• Get the Series 3 38mm GPS + Cellular for $170.18

Amazon Warehouse: Apple iPad Pro Tablet (Used: Very Good) from $429.18

Select Amazon Warehouse vendor; discount applied during checkout

This iPad Pro model currently sells for $800 at Apple. If you want the most powerful tablet out there, then look no further. The benchmarks show that the performance of the iPad Pro eclipses that of some Intel Core i7 equipped laptops. As long as you’re happy with the iOS ecosystem, this is easily the best iPad you can get.

• Get the Previous Model 10.5″ 256GB WiFi + Cellular for $429.18
• Get the Latest 12.9″ 256GB WiFi + Cellular for $834.26
• Get the Latest 11″ 512GB WiFi for $723.43

Amazon Warehouse: Latest Apple iPad Air (Used: Very Good) for $330.92

Select Amazon Warehouse vendor; discount applied during checkout

Save $160 off the latest Apple iPad Air, which was released in 2019, when you buy a “Very Good” condition unit. The iPad Air is superior to the iPad 10.2″ in two ways. First, the iPad Air has a slightly larger 10.5″ display that boasts an anti-reflective coating, P3 wide colour reproduction, and True Tone technology, all of which the iPad lacks. Second, the iPad Air comes equipped with the powerful A12 processor (similar to the A12X on the iPad Pro) vs the A10 on the iPad. This is the iPad to go for if you don’t want to pay the iPad Pro price.

• Get it at Amazon Warehouse for $330.92

Amazon Warehouse: Sony WH1000XM3 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphone (Like New) $198

These are the best sounding noise-cancelling headphones I’ve personally used. In my opinion the active noise cancellation is just as good as the Bose QuietComfort 3 but the audio quality is better. The previous version of these headphones (WH1000XM2) sold like hotcakes on Black Friday The WH1000XM3 upgrades the noise cancelling and swaps the Micro USB port to USB Type C. This is far and away the lowest price we’ve seen.

• Get it at Amazon Warehouse for $198.06

Marvel’s Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Edition for Xbox One and PS4 Now up for Preorder

One of the most anticipated games of 2020 now has it’s most special edition up for preorder. Earth’s Mightiest Edition includes Marvel’s Avengers: Deluxe Edition with steelbook case, a full color 12” statue of Captain America, Hulk bobblehead, Mjolnir keychain, Black Widow’s belt buckle, Iron Man’s prototype armor blueprints, Kamala Khan’s honorary Avenger pin, and commemorative Avengers group photo. Pre-order to get 72-hour early access.

• Preorder it for Xbox One on Amazon for $199.99
• Preorder it for PS4 at Best Buy for $199.99

Kingdom Come: Deliverance for PC is Free for a Limited Time at the Epic Games Store

If you enjoy Witcher 3, I’d suggest giving this game a go, especially at the current “low” price. It’s a similar style of action RPG that takes place in a familar medieval setting, complete with a rich story, detailed world, engaging NPCs, and character progression. What really makes Kingdom Come: Delivery unique, though, is it’s realistic and gritty combat system. You can read our review for more info about the game.

• Get it at the Epic Games Store for Free

Newest Apple AirPods 2 Wireless Earphones for $129

Today, the AirPods have dropped back down to $129, which is the lowest price that we saw on Black Friday. These are truly wireless earphones with no cord connecting the two ear pieces. It also includes a charging case.

• Get it on Amazon for $129
• Get the AirPods Pro Noise Cancelling Earphones for $234.99

55″ LG OLED55B8 4K OLED Smart HDTV for $999

This is the best OLED TV deal we’ve seen in 2020 and cheaper than any OLED TV deal we saw during Black Friday. OLED TVs are still considered the TV to buy if you want the absolute best image quality. Even the least expensive “B8” model blows the non-OLED competition away. They are superior to traditional LED LCD TVs thanks to their perfect depiction of HDR content thanks to unparalleled contrast ratios and black levels. The B8 is a 2018 model but picture wise it is almost identical to the 2019 B9 model.

• Get it at Walmart for $999

70″ Samsung UN70NU6900 4K Smart HDTV for $578

It amazes me that you can score a latest generation (2019) massive 70″ 4K TV from a brand name like Samsung for only $578. You even get free delivery and the option to extend your warranty from Walmart/AllState to 3 years for only $54.

• Get it at Walmart for $578

55″ TCL 55R615 4K Smart Roku HDTV (Fully HDR Capable) for $399.99

This is one of TCL’s more premium models and is one of the least expensive TVs with fully HDR capability (it was $500 on Black Friday). It boasts a full array LED backlight with local dimming and wide color gamut, two features that are generally reserved for much higher priced models. It’s definitely one of the best sub-$500 55″ TVs out there.

• Get it at Walmart for $399.99

55% Off Dungeons & Dragons Core Rulebook Hardcover Gift Set, Now $75.99

Discount Applied During Checkout

Play the role playing game that’s survived generations of gamers. Even after all this time, Dungeons & Dragons never gets old. The D&D Core Rulebook Gift Set includes exclusive foil cover editions of the three Dungeons & Dragons core rulebooks: the Players Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual, as well as a Dungeon Master’s Screen. You have almost everything you need to get started, save for some polyhedral dice.

• Get it on Amazon for $75.99 (discount applied during checkout)

Back in Stock: Cyberpunk 2077 Collector’s Edition

This one has been out of stock from nearly the beginning and bound to go out of stock again well before the September release date. This is easily one of the most anticipated games of 2019. The studio CD Projekt Red are the masterminds behind the incredible Witcher games and if you’re a huge fan like I am then you will most definitely be getting this game. The Collector’s Edition includes the game with steelbook case, 10″ statue of V in action, hardcover art book, metal pin set, metal keychain, patches, postcards, sticker set, DLC, and more.

• Preorder it for Xbox One at Walmart for $249.99

More Deals From Today:

• OnePlus 7T Smartphone (Unlocked) for $499 at OnePlus
• 75″ Sony XBR 75X900F 4K HDR Smart HDTV for $1498 at Walmart
• PS4 Pro 1TB Gaming Console for $299.99 at Woot
• Sony PS4 DualShock Controller in Black for $39.99 at Walmart
• Sony PS4 DualShock Controller in Glacier White for $39.99 at Walmart
• Sony PS4 DualShock Controller in Green Cambo for $39.99 at Walmart

Nintendo Switch Video Game Deals:

• Animal Crossing: New Horizons + $10 Best Buy Credit for $59.99
• Battle Chasers: Nightwar for $14.99 on Amazon
• Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night for $19.99 at Gamestop
• Bomber Crew for $3.74 at Nintendo eShop
• Darkest Dungeon for $14.99 at Nintendo eShop
• Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth Complete Edition for $39.99 at Gamestop
• Friday The 13th: Game Ultimate Slasher Edition for $19.99 on Amazon
• God Eater 3 for $29.99 at Gamestop
• Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle for $14.99 at Nintendo eShop
• Our World is Ended for $19.99 at Gamestop
• Overcooked 2 for $14.99 at Nintendo eShop
• Pokemon Sword for $49 on Amazon
• Pokemon Shield for $49 on Amazon
• Slay the Spire for $19.99 at Gamestop
• Snake Pass for $5.99 at Nintendo eShop
• Steamworld Quest: Hand of Gilgamesh for $17.49 at Nintendo eShop
• Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales for $19.99 at Nintendo eShop
• Unravel Two for $4.99 at Nintendo eShop
• Yooka Laylee and the Impossible Lair for $20.09 at Nintendo eShop

PS4 Video Game Deals:

• PlayStation Store Critics’ Choice Sale
• Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown (PS4 or Xbox) for $29.99 on Amazon
• Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & The Secret Hideout (PS4) for $39.99 on Amazon
• Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (Switch, PS4, Xbox) for $19.99 at Gamestop
• Borderlands 3 for $24.99 on Amazon
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (PS4) for $38.99 at Playstation Store
• Catherine Full Body Standard Edition for $29.99 at Best Buy
• Control (PS4) for $29.99 at Gamestop
• Doom Eternal for $49.94 on Amazon
• God of War for $13.01 on Amazon
• Man of Medan (PS4 or Xbox) for $19.89 on Amazon
• Nioh for $9.99 on Amazon
• Red Dead Redemption for $29.99 at Best Buy
• Resident Evil 3 for $49.94 on Amazon
• Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration (PS4) for $8.99 at PSN
• Sonic Mania for $9.99 at PlayStation Store
• The Outer Worlds for $26.66 on Amazon
• Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 for $5 at Gamestop
• Watch Dogs 2 for $9.99 at Best Buy

Xbox One Video Game Deals:

• Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown (PS4 or Xbox) for $29.99 on Amazon
• Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (Switch, PS4, Xbox) for $19.99 at Gamestop
• Borderlands 3 for $24.99 on Amazon
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (Xbox) for $38.99 with Xbox Live Gold
• Devil May Cry 5 for $19.99 on Amazon
• Doom Eternal for $49.94 on Amazon
• Doom Eternal Collector’s Edition (Xbox) for $199.99 at Walmart
• Injustice 2: Legendary Edition (Xbox) for $14.99 on Amazon
• Man of Medan (PS4 or Xbox) for $19.89 on Amazon
• Red Dead Redemption 2 for $29.99 at Best Buy
• Resident Evil 2 for $19.79 at Microsoft
• Resident Evil 3 for $49.94 on Amazon
• Sonic Mania for $9.99 at Microsoft
• The Outer Worlds for $35 on Amazon
• Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 for $3 on Amazon

PC Video Game Deals:

• Up to 75% Off Iconic Games Sale at Ubisoft Store
• New Free PC Games with Twitch Prime Membership
• Borderlands 3 for $27.14 at Green Man Gaming
• Doom Eternal for $49.94 on Amazon
• Aztez for Free at Epic Games Store
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance for Free at Epic Games Store
• The Outer Worlds for $27.60 at Green Man Gaming
• Train Simulator 2020 for $1 at Humble Bundle
• Metro Exodus for $19.79 at Microsoft

______________________________

Eric Song is IGN’s deal curator and spends 25% of his pay on stuff he posts.

 

 

The Batman director Matt Reeves gave fans their first look at Robert Pattinson in the Batsuit via a moody screen test, but aside from comparisons to Marvel’s Daredevil, people are debating one detail: the chest symbol.

If you look closely, it’s more than just a bat emblem like we’re used to seeing. The bat seems to be made of something metal embedded in his chest plate, but no one can seem to decide what it’s made from.

Theory #1: The Gun That Killed Bruce Wayne’s Parents

The going theory is that the bat symbol is made from the gun that killed Bruce Wayne’s parents. If that is indeed the case, then the idea probably came from last year’s Detective Comics #1000, which featured a short story by Kevin Smith and Jim Lee that showed Bruce tracking down the gun that killed his parents, buying it from a Gotham City pawn shop, and melting it down into an armored chest plate for his suit, so he can use the metal that hurt him as a child to protect him as a man.

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Obviously Pattinson’s Batsuit doesn’t have that same metal plate, but if the symbol is made from that gun, then his reasoning in the movie may be the same as in the comic.

That said, it’s hard to make out which parts of the gun are where, but that may be because he split it in half and chopped it up to fit it into the shape of a bat.

Theory #2: It’s a Pair of Knives

Then again, perhaps it’s hard to make out which parts of the gun are where because… it’s not a gun. Instead, we may be looking at a pair of custom-made Bat-knives, or just some really sharp Batarangs. The giveaway that these may be knives comes from the little clips.

Guns don’t have those clips but they are a common feature on knives.

Theory #3: It’s Both!

The third possibility combines both of our theories into one. What if Batman took the gun that killed his parents and carved it into a pair of gnarly Batarangs that he keeps stocked in his chest plate so he can access them at a moment’s notice in a fight to mess up some bad guys? Given that they do look rather knife-like, perhaps Pattinson’s Batman will use Batarangs that are essentially throwing knives.

Regardless of what material the bat symbol is made of and it’s ultimate purpose, it is cool that Matt Reeves has put a new spin on this iconic element of the Batsuit in order to give audiences something fresh. Usually the bat symbol is just there for cosmetic reasons but now it may have profound symbolic meaning for the Dark Knight or at least provide a practical function beyond looking neat.

What do you think is the deal with the chest symbol? Let us know down below in the comments.

And be sure to check out our full analysis of the Batsuit where we identify its many comic book influences.

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Joshua is Senior Features Editor at IGN. If Pokemon, Green Lantern, or Game of Thrones are frequently used words in your vocabulary, you’ll want to follow him on Twitter @JoshuaYehl and IGN.

The biggest video game industry event of all is opening its doors to the public in a way it never has before, and it’s exactly the sort of thing the ESA needs to do to keep E3 relevant moving forward. This year, the ESA announced a “reimagined” E3, one with new badge-levels for the public, and an increased focus on the show as a celebration of gaming.

It’s a move it needed to make. With Sony making the call to skip the event entirely once again (during the year it plans to launch the next-generation PS5), and with more and more publishers making big announcements on their own time, a la Nintendo, it’s understandable that there have been so many recent questions about E3’s future, and what it could possibly evolve into.

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For years, E3 was the event that fans looked forward to, but it remained adamantly a ‘trade show’ (though many people bypassed this austerity with small enthusiast sites and channels). Starting in 2017, E3 made a small attempt to capitalize on the excitement surrounding the event by issuing public badges, allowing members of the general public to walk the hallowed halls of the Staples Center. The number of public badges has increased each year since, but the Entertainment Software Association – the body in charge of running E3 – never fully embraced the fans knocking on its door.

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Yes, E3 is a place where people in suits meet with other people in suits in back rooms to do things like hash out how many copies of Konami’s PES soccer they’d sell to a Malayasian retailer. But to everyone outside the industry with a love of video games, it also serves as a magnificent celebration of our favorite hobby, the one week of the year when all eyes are on us and the industry we support.

In the meantime, other shows were gaining traction with their inclusion of fans. Gamescom in Germany attracted 373,000 attendees last year, and the Tokyo Game Show had 260,000. E3, in the meantime, stayed relatively stagnant: in 2019 attendance was 66,100, down about 3,000 from the year before.

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But it seems like the ESA has finally turned its thinking around. In September, the ESA said it hoped to turn E3 into a “fan, media, and influencer festival,” (even though the details of which still aren’t completely clear). From its press release about the new direction of E3, the ESA stressed that E3 will now feature “special guest gamers, celebrities, and digital programming on the show floor,” as well as “extended live streaming” and the “debut of an all-new floor experience that will be streamed to bring exclusive conversations with leading industry innovators and creators to attendees and fans worldwide.”

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Whatever that might look like, it’s a positive. E3, as a brand, is still strong. By leaning into the show as a community celebration and showcase rather than a walled-off event largely for the benefit of the industry itself, the ESA can turn the “Is E3 dying?” narrative around. Yes, Sony bowing out for the second year in a row is a huge blow, but if E3 is able to reinvent itself as the most important video game fan event of the year, Sony will have no choice but to join back in.

Because, for a lot of us, getting to E3 has always been – and still remains – the goal, whether through a job in the industry or saving up the money and vacation time to make it on your own dime with a public pass. At E3 2018, I happened to be walking to an appointment at the exact moment they opened up the doors for day 1 for public pass holders and caught the wave of excitement. One attendee fell to his knees and shouted his joy to the heavens – the energy and enthusiasm is still there. I just hope it’s not too late for E3 to realize that.

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Seth Macy is IGN’s tech and commerce editor and just wants to be your friend. You can find him on Twitter @sethmacy.