Month: September 2020

Following its reveal of the Xbox Series X last December, Microsoft finally revealed its other next-generation console, the Xbox Series S. It’s a new approach to the launch of a new console generation, where both the premium and more affordable versions of the same platform are available from day one. Coming off a generation with half-step iterations–the Xbox One X and the PS4 Pro–it’s clear that Microsoft wants to give everyone some way to get in on its latest hardware. Which leaves Sony in a precarious position.

Sony has already revealed its hand with its own two versions of the PlayStation 5, albeit with a different philosophy in mind. Instead of providing two consoles that differ in terms of performance, Sony is simply giving customers the choice between having a disc drive or going all-in on digital purchases. The underlying hardware in both is identical, which suggests that their prices aren’t going to differ by much. At least, not to the degree at which Microsoft has positioned its Xbox Series X and Series S, which will retail for $500 and $300 respectively.

The Xbox Series S presents a potentially difficult marketing hurdle for Sony to overcome. At $300, it’s priced way too low for the more powerful, and more expensive to manufacture, PS5 to compete with, yet the existence of two versions of the PS5 immediately lends itself to the idea that it can. For those who understand the architectural differences between the two, this is a moot point. But for most customers who simply see two Xbox consoles and two PS5 consoles, understanding why they don’t trade blows at the same two price points could be very confusing. It’s evident already over social media, with numerous suggestions that the PS5 Digital edition should be priced to match the Series S. It’s just not feasible for Sony to make that move, never mind possible with the hardware it’s touting.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

It’s been just under two months since Rocket Arena, EA’s colorful 3v3 hero shooter, released on PS4, Xbox One, and PC to very little fanfare. In that time span, we’ve seen the game drop from $30 to just $5 and get a free-play weekend on Xbox One and Steam. Now, you can already grab yourself a free copy on PC if you subscribe to Amazon Prime. From now until October 10, you can claim Rocket Arena’s standard edition for free via Prime Gaming (formerly known as Twitch Prime) and get a copy for Origin. To claim Rocket Arena, simply log into your Amazon Prime account at Prime Gaming. You’ll receive a product code that can be redeemed in the Origin launcher or on Origin.com. The code expires November 9, so be sure to redeem it before then.

Rocket Arena combines the hero shooter aspects of Overwatch with the ring-out mechanic of Super Smash Bros. and a cartoonish Fortnite-inspired art style. Each character–of which there are currently 11–has their own signature abilities and rocket types, and the goal is to knock your foes off the map rather than deal damage to take them out. The game has multiple modes, including the main Knockout mode, a Rocketball mode that has two teams compete to score a “rocketball” into the opposing team’s goal, a Mega Rocket mode that’s essential King of the Hill, and more. With each season of the game, new heroes, maps, events, and rewards will be added–Season 1 is currently ongoing.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Disney’s gambit of producing live-action adaptations of its animated back catalog has, on paper, sounded like a savvy strategy. But with the recent Mulan, that approach has been proving out to have a turbulent learning curve in practice. The film has sparked controversy over, among other things, parts of production taking place in the province of Xinjiang, where internment camps are located–and Disney giving special thanks to several government entities there who have also been linked to cultural genocide. (For deeper context on many of the issues involved here, check out the NSFW–though compelling and great–clip of John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight below.)

As Disney has come increasingly under fire for these production choices since the movie’s release last week, Christine McCarthy, Disney’s chief financial officer, told Variety on Thursday that the company acknowledges the pushback they’ve been receiving. “It has generated a lot of publicity,” McCarthy said. “Let’s leave it at that.”

McCarthy also added that “it’s common to acknowledge in a film’s credits the national and local governments that allowed you to film there.”

Continue Reading at GameSpot

We learned plenty of new things about Immortals Fenyx Rising, formerly Gods & Monsters, at a lengthy demo session so here’s everything you’ll want to know about Ubisoft’s new open world adventure and its similarities to Breath of the Wild.

Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X: two very similar consoles, with a couple of big differences. Which one is right for you? The Generation Next team compare all the key criteria you need to be thinking about if you want to get a next generation Xbox.

This review of The Boys Season 2, Episode 4, titled “Nothing Like It in the World” contains full spoilers. Check out our episode release schedule for The Boys Season 2 to find out when new episodes are debuting on Amazon.

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After last week’s action-packed three-episode premiere of The Boys Season 2, episode 4 slows the momentum for a more character-driven hour of television. And even without buckets of blood from disemboweled whales this week, creator Eric Kripke manages to take the series down new and interesting paths.

One of the memorable themes permeating “Nothing Like It in the World” is the issue of discrimination, which writer Michael Saltzman effectively explores using a couple of key characters. Firstly, there’s the shocking reveal that Aya Cash’s Stormfront is actually a much older supe called Liberty, who we learn has killed an innocent black man for a crime he didn’t commit back in the ’70s. Apart from the head-scratching fact that she’s probably over 70 years old and still looks amazing, it’s interesting to see the show delving into complex issues like racism.

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In Season 1, sure, we had Homelander’s questionable moral choices when it came to being an all-powerful being. But Stormfront is something else entirely and is perhaps the most dangerous character (so far) in Season 2 due to her duplicitous nature. Aya Cash, who is no stranger to playing complex characters (watch FX’s You’re the Worst if you haven’t yet), gives a dynamic performance here, especially during the scene when she’s confronted by Homelander. The way she makes him feel uncomfortable and doesn’t appear to back down from his laser-focused glare shows just how confident she truly is.

The second instance where discrimination is explored happens during Billy’s last conversation with Becca. While not as overtly obvious as Liberty’s example, Billy’s struggle to accept Becca’s superpowered son shows that he still has a blind spot when it comes to supes… Even for those who are still innocent. Whether or not he’ll be able to overcome his prejudice down the road remains to be seen, but it’s always enjoyable to watch Karl Urban show some vulnerability instead of barking orders at The Boys.

Antony Starr’s Homelander also has some fantastic moments to shine as the world he once knew slowly begins to crumble around him. All of the scenes between him and Madelyn Stillwell Doppelgänger (Dan Darin-Zanco) at the cabin are super creepy, and brilliant. Watching Homelander confront himself (so to speak) in the final scene appears to be a turning for the character who, if he were Kylo Ren, would probably say, “let the past die.” Even with Cash’s on-screen charisma, Starr remains one of the most watchable members of The Boys’ talented ensemble. While I don’t see him switching over to the “good guys” any time soon, perhaps he’ll forsake Vought altogether and chart his own path since everyone around him continues to lie to his face? Time will tell.

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While “Nothing Like It in the World” is a mostly strong outing for the series, one of the disappointing aspects is the overall lack of focus on Karen Fukuhara’s Kimiko. After the tragic loss of her brother in the Season 2 premiere due to Stormfront’s diabolical actions, one would think that a deeper exploration of how she’s handling the situation would be in order. Sadly, all we get is an awkward failed attempt by Frenchie to kiss her, and a scene where she’s contemplating an attack on Stormfront in public. While that surely signifies that’s she’s royally pissed off at Stormfront for murdering her brother, it feels like her story is a bit rushed here, and since the character is nonverbal, it needs to work harder to let us in on her mental state.

Another entertaining storyline in episode 4 centers around the trio of Hughie, Mother’s Milk, and Starlight, who find themselves on an unlikely cross-country adventure. While the group’s trip this week isn’t the most thrilling in terms of action and spectacle, Saltzman’s script uses the quieter moments to further develop the characters. Laz Alonso and Erin Moriarty’s scene in which the two of them toast to “fathers and sugar” is a heartwarming and impactful moment that gives us a better look at where these two characters come from.

And lastly, there are the always entertaining adventures of Chace Crawford’s The Deep, who appears to be searching for a compatible wife who will help him reshape his image and get back into The Seven. During the premiere, we wondered if it was really possible for The Deep to change and become a better human being, but after we see who his ideal pick for a wife could be, it’s clear that he’s still a pretty shallow dude… Oh well, it’s still fun to watch him fail.

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