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How The Intricate, Secret-Packed Destiny 2 Collector's Editions Are Made

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 04:25

Lots of games are released with collector's editions, but few are as involved as those that accompany Destiny 2 expansions. The universe of Bungie's shooter MMO is incredibly dense and has seen reams of lore and tons of secrets come and go over its 10-year history. With its collector's editions, Bungie translates a lot of the experience of uncovering Destiny's story and unlocking its secrets into physical objects. A Destiny 2 collector's edition doesn't just come with a statue of some real-world version of an in-game object you can put on your desk--it's also usually full of lore, mysteries, and puzzles that offer extra rewards and a deeper understanding of the game world.

With the collector's edition for The Final Shape, the next big Destiny 2 expansion and the culmination of the last 10 years of its story, Bungie looked forward at what's coming in the story--the final confrontation with the Witness, the story's ultimate villain, inside the ever-present god-like robot, the Traveler. But it also looked backward to the original Destiny and how far players have come. The package includes items that fit both themes. There's the Entelechy lore book, a compilation of pieces of information about the Witness compiled by Eido, an Eliksni scribe who was a big part of one of the seasonal stories last year. And there's an autograph book signed by and full of well-wishes from various in-game characters, some of whom have only appeared in deep-cut lore entries.

The Final Shape marks the culmination of the 10-year story arc that began with the release of Destiny in 2024.

The centerpiece of The Final Shape Collector's Edition is a replica of the first Destiny's social space, the Tower, which is a real-life version of a replica statue seen in-game in the office of Commander Zavala. It also features three small figurines that represent the three leaders of the Vanguard: Zavala, Ikora Rey, and Cayde-6.

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CoD: Warzone And MW3 Season 3 Reloaded New Party Operator Skin Bonuses Explained

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 04:08

The Season 3 Reloaded update arrives to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone on May 1, bringing new maps, modes, and operator bundles. Some of the season's wackiest bundles will also include another way for players to earn additional XP with party pack bonuses.

How party pack bonuses work

Party pack operator bundles are Call of Duty's new shop packs that offer players the ability to level up faster. These select operator skins won't give anyone a competitive edge, but it will give a boost to the amount of XP earned.

Players will receive a double XP bonus for player progression and double weapon XP, if they are partied up with at least two other players wearing these select skins, and double battle pass XP is earned in parties of three or more players wearing the party pack skins.

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Elisabeth Moss Broke Her Back Filming New Show, Worked The Next Day

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 03:45

Elisabeth Moss, the Emmy-winning actor who starred on West Wing, Mad Men, and Handmaid's Tale, has revealed she sustained a serious injury when filming the new Hulu show The Veil. Speaking to Variety, Moss revealed that she broke her spine when filming a scene where her character, an undercover MI6 agent named Imogen, was running on a rooftop to evade an attacker. The scene was filmed on location at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul.

The scene, as it's shown on the series, was the second time it was filmed. The first time it was filmed, Moss smashed into a wall "the wrong way" and she "ended up lying on the roof for a couple hours."

Denise Di Novi, a producer on The Veil, was with Moss when the mishap took place. Di Novi said Moss "fractured a vertebra really badly," but wanted to continue filming.

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Stellar Blade Day One Update Will Remove Unintentional Racial Slur Reference

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 03:42

Sony will remove a piece of in-game graffiti in Stellar Blade that created an unintentional reference to a racial slur, and the fix will come in a day-one patch.

Spotted by IGN, there's a shop in Stellar Blade called the "R Shop" owned by the character Roxanne and its sign is placed next to the word "hard" in graffiti. When placed together, the two separate phrases seem to accidentally form a reference to the racial slur.

"The placement of two graphics near each other in Stellar Blade resulted in an unintentionally objectionable phrase," PlayStation said in a statement. "Shift Up had no intention of creating offensive artwork and will be replacing the graffiti for the Day 1 patch."

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Fortnite - A Grassy Island In The Center Of Everything Location

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 02:48

Fortnite's latest Snapshot Quests, also known as story challenges, are live in the game, and a few of them are trickier than you may be used to as of late. If you need to know where to find the location referred to when Cerberus says he left a chew toy "on a grassy island in the center of everything," we have your solution here.

On a grassy island in the center of everything in Fortnite

Each of these Cerberus chew toys you'll be finding for this week's snapshots require you to head to landmarks across the island, then dig up the toy. The nice thing to note is that once you get to the right spot, you'll receive a marker for where to dig, so you won't have to guess so long as you've arrived in the correct location.

For this one, you'll want to head to the lake southeast of Restored Reels. However, there are two small (and seemingly grassy) islands there, and in a firefight, it may be annoying to head to the wrong one and fail to complete your quest. For this challenge, you'll want to head to the smaller and more eastern island of the two there. We've marked it on the map below.

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Fortnite - Under The Windmill With A View Of The Styx Location

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 02:42

Fortnite's latest Snapshot Quests, also known as story challenges, are live in the game, and a few of them are trickier than you may be used to as of late. If you need to know where to find the location referred to when Cerberus says he left a chew toy "under the windmill with a view of the Styx," we have your solution here.

Under the windmill with a view of the Styx in Fortnite

Each of these Cerberus chew toys you'll be finding for this week's snapshots require you to head to landmarks across the island, then dig up the toy. The nice thing to note is that once you get to the right spot, you'll receive a marker for where to dig, so you won't have to guess so long as you've arrived in the correct location.

For this one, you'll want to head to the red windmill northeast of Grim Gate--hence how it overlooks to river Styx, known in Greek mythology to be the entryway to the underworld, Hades. We've marked it on the map below, so you don't get it confused with The Other Windmill--and yes, that's the actual landmark name of the island's identical windmill more to the south.

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Somebody Once Told Me Shrek Forever After Is Coming To 4K Blu-Ray

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 02:38

The world might be ready to roll you, but you don't need to be the sharpest tool in the shed to appreciate a good Shrek movie. Shrek Forever After fits that bill, and for the first time, it's getting a 4K Blu-ray release. Preorders for the fourth Shrek film are now live ahead of its release in June.

Shrek Forever After

In case you missed it when it first came out, Shrek Forever After pits the surly ogre against Rumpelstiltskin. After he makes a deal with the magical being, Shrek's entire history is rewritten and he has only 24 hours to assemble his gang and restore the original timeline. The only problem? Only Shrek remembers his past. Donkey can't remember his best friend, Fiona has become the warrior princess of a tribe of ogres, and Puss in Boots really needs to go on a diet.

For bonus features, there's quite a bit here to enjoy after the end credits have rolled. You'll get deleted scenes, documentaries, a look at the technology behind Shrek, commentary tracks, and much more. Like most Blu-ray releases, this version comes with a standard Blu-ray disc and a digital copy of the film. The other Shrek movies are also available on Blu-ray, and in case you're looking to assemble a jolly green collection, these can be purchased individually or in bundle deals.

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Review Roundup For Stellar Blade

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 02:24

Developer Shift Up's Stellar Blade is right around the corner, introducing itself as a character-action game in a sci-fi story starring Eve, a human arriving in a futuristic depiction of Earth filled with all sorts of monsters to take down. If you tend to pay more attention to combat set pieces than story beats, this is a game that should be on your radar.

Available as a PS5 exclusive, Stellar Blade will have you facing increasingly dangerous threats while investing points into large skill trees. Fights often demand precision and lots of parrying, with boss fights in particular being quite memorable in the smackdown they offer. It also has quite a lengthy campaign with side quests and hidden corners to wander off to.

Reviewer Imran Khan wrote in GameSpot's Stellar Blade review that he "came away from Stellar Blade having enjoyed the game quite a bit despite its foibles on the back of its incredibly strong systems. That its biggest weakness is that its tribulations can go on too long is perhaps praise from another perspective not my own."

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Fortnite - Near The Snow Where People Bury Yummy Bones Location

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 02:12

Fortnite's latest Snapshot Quests, also known as story challenges, are live in the game, and a few of them are trickier than you may be used to as of late. If you need to know where to find the location referred to when Cerberus says he left a chew toy "near the snow where people bury yummy bones," we have your solution here.

Near the snow where people bury yummy bones in Fortnite

Each of these Cerberus chew toys you'll be finding for this week's snapshots require you to head to landmarks across the island, then dig up the toy. The nice thing to note is that once you get to the right spot, you'll receive a marker for where to dig, so you won't have to guess so long as you've arrived in the correct location.

For this one, you'll want to head to the graveyard southeast of Lavish Lair. We've marked it on the map below.

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Itch.io Palestine Relief Bundle Aids Gaza's Children And Includes Over 300 Games

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 01:51

Game developers have come together for a massive video game bundle on itch.io to raise funds for besieged Palestinian citizens in Gaza. All proceeds will be donated to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF).

The Palestine Relief Bundle will net you 373 games for an for $8 (though you can pay more if you want). Notable inclusions are the cutesy platformer A Short Hike, the musical adventure Wandersong, and the 2D zelda-like Anodyne. The bundle also includes a number of tabletop role-playing games, like the mech-focused Apocalypse Frame and the paranormal mercenary sim Fist.

The collection has blown past its initial goal of $100,000 and its second goal of $250,000. Currently it has raised over $323,000 and is aiming to raise $500,000. The bundle is available for the next 11 days, as of writing. Developers created a similar bundle for Palestine in 2021, which raised money for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. Other itch.io bundles have supported causes like racial justice and Ukraine.

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TikTok Ban Bill Signed Into Law By Biden, Forcing Possible Sale Of The Company

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 01:40

Major changes could be in the cards for TikTok. President Biden on Wednesday signed into law a $95 billion plan that delivers aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, and also mandates that TikTok owner ByteDance must sell the hugely popular app or else it will be banned in the US.

ByteDance is now on the clock and has nine months to divest from its US subsidiary (with a further three-month extension if a deal is in the works but not yet completed). As such, any potential ban wouldn't happen soon, and that's to say nothing of any legal battles that could extend the timeline or lead to any other changes.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said in a video posted on TikTok (via THR), "Rest assured, we aren't going anywhere." Chew aded, "Make no mistake, this is a ban, a ban on TikTok and a ban on you and your voice. Politicians may say otherwise. But don't get confused."

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Ubisoft Has Ideas For Another Assassin's Creed Basim Story

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 01:13

Ubisoft developers have confirmed they have more ideas revolving around Assassin's Creed Mirage protagonist Basim, but reiterate that the game is a standalone experience.

In a Reddit AMA, several Ubisoft developers answered questions about Assassin's Creed Mirage and the future of the franchise. "We’re thrilled by the reception of Mirage! Mirage [has been designed] as a standalone experience without any [DLC planned]," explained creative director Stephane Boudon. "However, we have ideas on how we could extend the story of Basim, surely. But as of today, no post-launch content is planned for Mirage."

It's unclear what kind of way Basim could appear again. While Boudon said that there are no plans for Mirage DLC, that doesn't rule out something like a direct sequel or a cameo in future Assassin's Creed games.

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Apple's $3,500 Vision Pro Headset Has Reportedly Been Met With Low Demand Since Launch

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 01:12

The Apple Vision Pro--a $3,500 mixed-reality headset--reportedly isn't selling too well and demand for the high-tech device is lower than expected, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (via IGN). This has reportedly led Apple to make big production cuts, and it has been suggested that demand for the device has been weak in the US.

ShockedTimCookachu.jpg

Apple has cut its Vision Pro shipments to 400,000-450,000 units, according to the report, and Ming-Chi Kuo has speculated that the company may not release a cheaper Vision Pro model in 2025. It has been claimed that Apple is predicting a year-on-year decline for the headset in 2025. "The challenge for Vision Pro is to address the lack of key applications, price, and headset comfort without sacrificing the see-through user experience," Ming-Chi Kuo wrote.

When it first launched, critics praised the impressive hardware inside of the Apple Vision Pro while highlighting some serious shortcomings. The high price was the most obvious point of criticism, but the mediocre battery life, lack of killer apps on launch day, and performance bugs emphasized how Apple was catering to a niche audience of technophiles. Critics did agree that the Vision Pro provides a tempting peek into the future of mixed-reality computing, but one that is overshadowed by more affordable alternatives.

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Team America: World Police's Profane Puppets Will Misbehave In 4K For The First Time This Summer

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 01:00
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Just a few years into South Park's run, creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone tried to leverage the show's success by making a puppet action movie, and the result was 2004's Team America: World Police, which is still a one-of-a-kind movie experience. And, finally, after two decades, it's finally getting a release on 4K Blu-ray on June 25, and you can preorder it now at Amazon, Walmart, and Target.

Team America is about a group of black ops soldiers who handle impossible, world-saving missions that nobody else can hope to pull off--the movie is parodying that common action trope through the lens of 9/11 and ensuing wars in the Middle East. Though, honestly, the film is probably best remembered now for the still-amazing puppet sex scene, which includes several bits of depravity you don't normally get to see in a theatrically released movie.

Preorder Team America: World Police 20th Anniversary Limited Edition $20-$26

Team America is an R-rated puppet action movie made in the style of the old TV show Thunderbirds, but with the same sort of outlandish and irreverent sense of humor that made South Park so popular. It's aged very poorly in some significant ways--for better and worse, this is a 2004 movie through and through. But Team America is also a very specific portrait of the George W. Bush era of American politics, and that's an interesting thing to revisit in a lot of different ways.

As usual for Blu-rays, prices vary at each retailer at the moment. Walmart has the lowest price at $20, while Target is at $24.49, and Amazon is taking preorders for $26. Prices will likely level out in the coming weeks, and Amazon's preorder price guarantee ensures you will pay the lowest price from the time you order and release.

This release of Team America: World Police comes with a 4K Blu-ray, standard 1080p Blu-ray, and digital edition. Since this is an anniversary edition, it naturally comes with a bunch of special features, which we've outlined below.

Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Walmart Preorder at Target Team America: World Police 20th Anniversary Edition Special Features
  • Team America: An Introduction
  • Building the World
  • Crafting the Puppets
  • Pulling the Strings
  • Miniature Pyrotechnics
  • Capturing the Action
  • Up Close with Kim Jong-il
  • Puppet Test
  • Dressing Room Test
  • Animated storyboards
  • Deleted/Extended scenes and outtakes
  • Theatrical trailers

Team America isn't the only thing from Trey Parker and Matt Stone getting the 4K upgrade this summer--South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut is also being released on 4K Blu-ray on June 25. That makes that a pretty big day for Gen Xers and older millennials. You can preorder the South Park movie on 4K for the same prices at the same retailers: Amazon, Walmart, and Target.

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PUBG Is Bringing Back The Original Erangel Map For A Limited Time

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 00:56

Next month, PUBG wants to make you feel seven years younger with the return of the classic Erangel map. The original battleground for the game from 2017 will be available May 14-28 on PC and May 23-June 6 on consoles.

Erangel Classic, as it's being called by the development team, will take the place of the modern Erangel in normal matches during this limited timeframe. Confirmed features coming back include: gloomy weather, the prematch island with a downed plane, classic UI, and the tommy gun in care packages. However, modern gameplay tweaks will be a part of this OG experience, with patch notes getting into more of these details on May 13.

This won't be the first time a big battle royale game has decided to go back in time. Late last year, Fortnite had an OG Season that proved to be massively popular. The event revisited the game's original island and led to record concurrent player-counts at the time. The PUBG team is most likely hoping for similar results with Erangel Classic.

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Nintendo Switch Online Adds These N64 Games For Expansion Pack Subscribers

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 00:50

Nintendo has announced the next set of classic Nintendo 64 games are out now for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers. The racing games Extreme G and Iggy's Reckin' Balls are now both playable.

Originally released in 1997, Extreme G is a futuristic racing game made by the now-defunct studio Probe Entertainment. Players can pick up items to attack enemies or defend themselves. As for Iggy's Reckin' Balls, this game originally came out in 1998 and has players controlling a ball-shaped character as they race to the finish line. There is local and online multiplayer.

The N64 game catalog for Switch Online + Expansion Pack members also includes titles like Banjo-Kazoiie, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, GoldenEye 007, Super Mario 64, Mario Kart 64, Mario Golf, and many more. You can see the full list below.

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The South Park Movie Is Finally Releasing On 4K Blu-Ray For Its 25th Anniversary

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 00:21
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Considering that South Park is still going strong as a TV show in 2024, it can be a bit disconcerting to realize that the movie version, South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut, came out 25 years ago this summer. I don't know about you, but that certainly makes me feel old. But that's okay, because that feeling of oldness will fade quickly when you're enjoying this comedy classic in 4K for the first time. The first South Park movie's 25th Anniversary edition is available to preorder now at Amazon, Walmart, and Target. And compared to many recent 4K releases, it feels like a bargain to be able to snag it for as low as $20.

Yes, it's fair to ask whether it's truly necessary to watch South Park in 4K. But it's important to keep in mind that the animation in the South Park movie, which cost $30 million to make, was a lot more sophisticated than the show's thanks to the significant use of CGI at various points--this thing is gonna look good with all those extra pixels. But if for some reason you're anti-4K when it comes to South Park, the 25th Anniversary edition includes a 1080p Blu-ray and digital code for good measure.

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Assassin's Creed Codename Hexe Will Let You Possess And Control A Cat - Report

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 00:11

Since its first tease during the Assassin's-Creed-focused Ubisoft Forward presentation in September 2022, we haven't heard anything about Assassin's Creed Codename Hexe, a new entry in the franchise seemingly centered around witchcraft and the occult. A new report has finally shared new details about the upcoming adventure, including the ability to possess a furry friend for an advantage against enemies.

Per Insider Gaming, Codename Hexe will put players in the role of a female heroine named Elsa, as she attempts to navigate 16th-century Europe during the era of the Holy Roman Empire. The game will lean more heavily into the supernatural than previous AC games, as Elsa has access to multiple witchy abilities.

Assassin's Creed Codename Hexe

In footage provided to Insider Gaming, Elsa is seen sneaking around a group of soldiers--which the article says look like Landsknecht, or German mercenaries common for the time period. Elsa then casts a spell that allows her to possess a nearby cat, which the player then uses to create a distraction and send the soldiers in the opposite direction.

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Steam Refund Policy Changes Have Closed An Early-Access Loophole

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 00:07

Valve has announced that it's closing a loophole in its refund process. With a regular game release, players can request a refund within 14 days of their purchase or if they've played the title for less than two hours. This process didn't work for games in Steam's Early Access program, as users could log many hours of playtime before the full launch of a game and apply for a refund after. As of today, that loophole has been closed.

"If you purchase a game that is in Early Access or Advanced Access, any playtime will count against the two-hour refund limit," Valve explained in its updated refund policy. "If you pre-purchase a title which is not playable prior to the release date, you can request a refund at any time prior to release of that title, and the standard 14-day / two-hour refund period will apply starting on the game's release date."

It's worth noting that this policy also affects games offering a few days of early access as a reward for preordering it, as part of the advanced access changes. An example here would be Forza Motorsport, as last year players could get five days of early access to the game by upgrading to the premium edition. Otherwise, the rest of the Steam refund policy stays the same.

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Grab The Umbrella Academy Graphic Novel Box Set For Cheap At Amazon

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 00:00

The fourth and final season of Netflix's Umbrella Academy adaptation won't air until August--but you don't have to wait that long to delve into the complete story of a misfit band of superheroic siblings. The comics that inspired the Netflix adaptation are currently on sale in The Umbrella Academy Box Set, which Amazon is offering for $32.07--which is 43% lower than the normal list price. And beyond that price cut, Amazon is also offering individual Umbrella Academy books in hardcover format for great prices, alongside the Blu-ray editions of the streaming series.

Get box set at Amazon

The Umbrella Academy Box Set includes the three main volumes of the story in paperback format: Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite, Umbrella Academy: Dallas, and Umbrella Academy: Hotel Oblivion. It also includes an exclusive double-sided poster. The box set retails for $56, but while it's on sale, Amazon has knocked $23.90 off that price.

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