Rogue One Writer Shows Off Concept Art for Last Starfighter Project

Rogue One writer Gary Whitta has shared concept art for a possible new Last Starfighter project.

Whitta revealed the images on Twitter and they feature plenty of spaceships. “Okay, probably shouldn’t show you this so early but here’s a little something I’ve been tinkering on with my co-writer Jonathan Betuel,” Whitta tweeted. “You might recognize the ships. Thanks to the amazing Matt Allsopp (lead concept artist on ROGUE ONE) for creating these images for us.”

Check out the concept art in the image gallery below.

Fans asked Whitta if this project might be a reboot or a sequel to the 1984 sci-fi classic, but his only response was teasing that there might be more news coming soon. “Okay, back to work… might have a bit more for you later :),” Whitta tweeted.

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PUBG Savage Map Update Adds Squads Mode For Testers

The new PUBG map, Savage, is currently available to testers–and only Solo is supported. But that is changing, as developer PUBG Corp. announced today in a Steam post that it is opening up support Squads on the game’s experimental test server.

You need a key to access this, and if you were not able to secure one already you can grab one on the PUBG website here. There is not telling how long they’ll be available for, so if you’re interested, you should act quickly. There are “hundreds of thousands” of keys being made available, but given how big PUBG is, they could run out.

If you get in and want to play Squads on the new map, you should be aware that you might see longer matchmaking times. In addition to adding Squads support, PUBG Corp. is updating the current version of the Savage map with the following changes:

  • Increased the item and weapon spawn rates inside residential buildings and small cabins to improve the looting experience along the outskirts of the map.
  • The first blue zone circle will show up right at the beginning of the match so players can plan their strategy before parachuting.
  • Blue zone time adjusted to speed up gameplay during the first phase of the match.
  • Red zone frequency has been lowered
  • There are now fewer explosions inside each red zone. The size of the red zone remains the same.
  • Vans now spawn less often. The two-wheeled motorcycle spawns more often. Motorbikes with sidecars have been removed from Codename: Savage.

Savage is much smaller than the two existing PUBG maps, which leads to faster and more frenetic matches. PUBG creator Brendan Greene says the map “should give you all a much more intense and faster-paced Battle Royale experience.”

If you’re not in the Savage beta, there is still fairly new PUBG content to check out. PUBG Corp. recently released a new update that added a weapon skin system, allowing players to customize the look of their weapons with cosmetics obtained through new crates. Additionally, the developer is giving away a free weapon skin to PC players for a limited time to celebrate the one-year anniversary of PUBG’s early access release.

Overwatch Is Taking Unusual New Steps To Fight Toxicity, Here’s How

Blizzard is ramping up its efforts to address toxicity in Overwatch. Game director Jeff Kaplan revealed that the studio is looking into–and experimenting with–machine learning to help make Overwatch a more wholesome and welcoming place for players. The goal is for Overwatch to auto-detect bad behaviour, which would theoretically be faster than players manually sending in reports when they come across questionable behaviour.

“We’ve been trying to teach our games what toxic language is, which is kinda fun,” Kaplan said in an interview with Kotaku. “The thinking there is you don’t have to wait for a report to determine that something’s toxic. Our goal is to get it so you don’t have to wait for a report to happen.”

Blizzard’s machine learning efforts have already included things like teaching the AI non-English language to address toxic language in other languages like Korean. Looking ahead, Kaplan said he wants the AI to be sophisticated enough to be able to see gameplay that looks questionable and then look further into the player.

“That’s the next step,” Kaplan said. “Like, do you know when the Mei ice wall went up in the spawn room that somebody was being a jerk?”

AI systems are not perfect. One example that Kotaku pointed out was that swearing and harsh trash talk might be OK between friends but not when speaking to strangers. The game’s toxicity monitors might not be able to differentiate. For now, the backend systems are focusing on the most extreme instances of toxicity.

Go to Kotaku to get the full story.

In September last year, Kaplan talked about how development on new content for Overwatch was slowed by the studio’s efforts to combat the “riding tide of toxicity” in the game.

“There is not going to be a moment where we have a magic patch in Overwatch that makes bad behaviour go away,” Kaplan explained. “But it is a continual process that we are very dedicated to fixing and improving.”

He added: “Our highest level philosophy is, ‘If you are a bad person doing bad things in Overwatch, we don’t want you in Overwatch. Overwatch should be an inclusive game space.”

Kaplan previously talked about how toxicity in games in worse than elsewhere because there is an element of anonymity when playing online far away from where your opponent may be. Blizzard is taking its own steps to combat toxicity, but Kaplan also called on players to “take a deep look inward” and think about if they could be nicer when conversing online.

In other Overwatch news, the game’s updated Uprising event kicks off next week with some changes–and new skins.

Ryan Reynolds Auctioning Pink Deadpool Suit To Fight Cancer

Ryan Reynolds has teamed up with Omaze for a charity auction to support cancer research–and by supporting it you could win a rare pink Deadpool suit, which you can see in the video below.

You can donate $10 to $5,000 to support the campaign, which is raising money for the “Fuck Cancer” charity. Donating $10 gets you 100 chances to win the pink Deadpool suit, $25 for 250, $50 for 1,000, and so on. If you donate $1,000 or more, you’ll get extras like a signed poster, signed Blu-ray/DVD, or even a personalized outgoing voicemail message if you donate $5,000. Go to the Omaze campaign site to see a full rundown of perks.

In a silly video promoting the campaign, Reynolds said he has a “heart-on” for pink, clarifying that he means the color, not the singer. He says he’s more of a Celine guy, anyway. Should you win the suit, Reynolds offered up some options for how you could use it. In keeping with Deadpool’s signature, he says you could make it a colorful addition to your S&M collection or maybe use it to scare off children or the elderly.

The Fuck Cancer charity supports programs in the area of early detection and screening for cancer. It also provides support in the form of retreats and events.

Deadpool 2 hits theatres on May 18, and its directed by David Leitch (John Wick, Atomic Blonde). Leitch replaced Tim Miller, who reportedly clashed with Reynolds over the direction of the movie. The newest trailer dropped in March–and it was a NSFW blast.

If you’re looking for more Deadpool 2 info, check out 62 images from the trailer as well as our trailer breakdown.

Overwatch Comic Likely Teases PvE Mode Starring Reaper

A new Overwatch comic starring Reaper, in conjunction with a tease during a Developer Update video, makes it seem likely that we’ll soon get a new PvE mode called Retribution staring Reaper, Genji, McCree, and Moira.

On Monday, Blizzard revealed that not only would last year’s Uprising event return, but they would be exploring more stories from Overwatch’s past in a similar way with what they call the Overwatch Archives. Game Director Jeff Kaplan said more details would be coming in a video during the Overwatch League tonight, but signed off by saying “we hope that you’re ready for the retribution.”

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Far Cry 5: The 9 Best Weapons

Top Guns in Far Cry 5

Previous Far Cry games have always sported a diverse roster of weapons, and Far Cry 5 is no different. With so many options available, you’re probably asking which weapons are worth purchasing. To help you out, we’ve gathered nine weapons that we believe to be some of the best in the game. It’s important to note that some of our choices are Prestige weapons, which are specialty weapons that can be unlocked for purchase by playing through the game’s campaign or with real-world money.

What are some of your favorite weapons in Far Cry 5? Let us know in the comments below. If you’re interested in our other Far Cry 5 guides, be sure to check out our feature highlighting nine tips we wish we knew before starting. You can also watch our video guide discussing general beginners tips to follow. But if you are more fascinated by Far Cry 5’s Arcade Mode, then watch us discuss how to use it in our guide video, or play some of the best and worst maps available in the mode now. Otherwise, check out our feature highlighting the game’s 11 most intriguing Easter eggs.

Far Cry 5 is out now on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Be sure to read our Far Cry 5 review for our full thoughts about the game. In other news, Ubisoft announced Far Cry 5’s Season Pass, which takes you to settings like Mars and the Vietnam War. We also recently learned more about how to access the game’s live events and the special rewards you earn by completing them. You can also find out more about how the game’s microtransactions work in our detailed explainer.

The SPAS-12 “Flameout” Shotgun

You can never go wrong with a shotgun in your loadout, but the “Flameout” Shotgun is particularly amazing for its rate of fire, being able to make short work of any approaching enemy groups. In addition, it can also be equipped with incendiary rounds, which makes it all the more destructive against multiple foes and deserving of its title.

The Slingshot

Despite what you might assume it does, Far Cry 5’s slingshot actually lets you fire arrows. It sounds absurd, but its quick firing speed puts it a slight step above the standard bow at close range; it can even fire specialty arrows, like the incendiary or explosive arrows. If you’re a fan of stealthily picking off cultists with arrows, the slingshot comes highly recommended. It also comes with an unlimited supply of rocks as an alternate ammunition, which while nowhere near as powerful as arrows, makes for a good laugh when you’re able to use them to land a headshot.

SA50 “Free State”

If you’re looking for an all-around great sniper rifle that balances heavy stopping power, range, and a semi-auto rate of fire, then the SA50 “Free State” comes highly recommended. It sports a solid rate of fire with little recoil when aiming down sights. And when equipped with a suppressor, you can make short work of enemy camps with little consequence.

M-79 “Shark Shooter”

When a firefight goes south and cultists start showing up in trucks, the M-79 “Shark Shooter” grenade launcher offers a quick way to recover. With its destructive splash-damaging grenades, you can make short work of enemy groups and easily take out incoming vehicles. It sports a short firing range, so be mindful of your aiming arc and general spacing between you and potential dangers ahead. In addition, the “Shark Shooter” replaces your sidearm slot, freeing up your other slots to equip powerful weapons.

.44 Magnum Steel & Ivory

There’s not a whole lot to say about the .44 Magnum “Steel and Ivory.” It’s simply an incredibly powerful sidearm that can down enemies in a single shot. If wielding a powerful handgun sounds like your idea of a good time, then “Steel and Ivory” is well worth using. As long as you’re quick and precise, it’s guaranteed to get you out of a pinch.

RAT4

If you’re interested in adding a rocket launcher to your loadout, then the RAT4 is a solid choice. It can lock onto vehicles and planes, which makes it incredibly useful if you’re not accustomed to handling rocket launchers. In addition, you can even manually guide its missiles–similar to the LK-1018 from Far Cry 4. The RAT4 becomes essential later on when enemy helicopters and attack planes show up in greater numbers.

AR-CL “Sharkbite”

The AR-CL “Sharkbite” strikes a fine balance between an assault and sniper rifle, being capable of semi-automatic fire while retaining minimal recoil for precision firing. It can be a great way to free up an equipment slot if you’re tired of lugging around both a sniper and an assault rifle.

Magnopulser

The Magnopulser is one of the few weapons in Far Cry 5 to have unlimited ammo, which can be useful when you’re in a bind. Earned by completing a series of sidequests with Larry, the mad scientist of Holland Valley, this alien weapon fires a blast of energy that either vaporizes enemies or sends them flying (depending on the range you fire it from). It’s best to use the Magnopulser against a crowd, but if you must use against a single enemy, try shooting it at their feet to stagger them and follow up with a melee attack. Otherwise, fire it at point-blank range to instantly dissolve enemies into pink mush; be wary, however, as you can’t loot a vaporized body. And avoid using the Magnopulser against heavy enemies, as it cannot instantly vaporize them.

All Melee Weapons (Seriously)

Unlike past games, melee weapons in Far Cry 5 are incredibly useful. While they make for great short-range damage dealers, it’s also possible to throw them long distances at enemies for massive damage or to stagger them. The Close Combat Mastery perk further enhances the damage dealt, and with the aid of performance-enhancing drugs, like The Fast and The Furious, melee weapons are made even deadlier. When standard firearms wear out their welcome, you can’t go wrong with hurling shovels, bats, or pipes at unsuspecting cultists.

If you’re looking for a melee weapon with a finer aesthetic touch, purchase the Optimism Shovel at one of the local weapons shops. It’s literally a shovel with a smiley face painted onto it. Brilliant.

The Rock May Not Be In Fast And Furious 9 And That’s Not Okay

Even though it seems like the in-fighting between the cast of the Fast & Furious franchise had come to an end, the situation could be more troubling than fans realize. Is it possible the next movie, Fast & Furious 9, will be missing Dwayne Johnson? Say it isn’t so!

In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Johnson admits he may not appear in the franchise’s ninth installment. “I’m not quite sure,” he says. “Right now I’m concentrating on making the spin-off as good as it can be.” That spin-off, which was previously announced, will see his Luke Hobbs team with Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) on their own adventure, without Dom (Vin Diesel) and the rest of the family.

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So why has Johnson considered sitting out the next movie? It sounds as if his rift with Diesel may be deeper than some believed. After the wrestler-turned-actor ranted on social media about one of his Fate of the Furious co-stars, many assumed it was Diesel. That was only compounded when the film released and the two actors didn’t share much screen time. “That is correct,” Johnson says. “We were not in any scenes together.”

However, he maintains that the two of them came to an understanding during production. “Vin and I had a few discussions, including an important face-to-face in my trailer. And what I came to realize is that we have a fundamental difference in philosophies on how we approach moviemaking and collaborating,” he says. “It took me some time, but I’m grateful for that clarity. Whether we work together again or not.”

While it remains to be seen what Johnson’s future in the Fast and Furious movies is, here’s hoping Luke Hobbs will ride again after the upcoming spin-off–which is scheduled to hit theaters on July 26, 2019. Regardless, there will be plenty of chances to see the actor on the big screen. Both Rampage and Skyscraper will arrive this year and he’s going to star in a movie based on Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise attraction.

Dwayne Johnson ‘Not Sure’ If He’ll Return for Fast 9

Dwayne Johnson isn’t sure if he’ll reprise his role as Luke Hobbs for Fast and Furious 9.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Johnson opened up about his issues with Vin Diesel. “What I came to realize is that we have a fundamental difference in philosophies on how we approach moviemaking and collaborating,” he explained. “It took me some time, but I’m grateful for that clarity. Whether we work together again or not.”

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What the Welsh Offer in Thrones of Britannia: Total War Saga

We got a look at the Irish last time we saw Thrones of Britannia, the Total War Saga spin-off, and this time around the Welsh kingdom of Gwined and the viking realm of Northymbre were in the spotlight. The Welsh are led by King Anararaut, and start with a highly defensible position on the island of Ynis Mon – modern day Anglesey. Anaraut’s father, Rhodri the Great, was a great king who brought the Welsh together, but after his death, his sons have somewhat predictably fallen to infighting. As is often the case in Total War, you’ll have to unify your neck of the woods to establish a stable base for going after enemies further afield. Luckily, the rugged terrain of Wales will make it just a bit easier to hold off outside invaders until the civil war is wrapped up.

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