Nintendo has announced its first video presentation of the new year: a Pokemon-focused Direct. The broadcast takes place tomorrow, January 9, and will cover "roughly 20 minutes of new Pokemon information," according to the company, which suggests the stream will be packed with news and announcements.If you're eager to tune into the presentation, we've rounded up everything you need to know about this week's Pokemon Direct below, including what time it starts and what we can expect to see. We've also included a YouTube embed so you can watch the stream right here on GameSpot, and be sure to check back after the presentation for our full Pokemon Direct coverage.Pokemon Direct Start Times (January 9)6:30 AM PT9:30 AM ET2:30 PM GMT1:30 AM AEDT (January 10)Watch It Here What We Can ExpectNintendo and The Pokemon Company have been tight-lipped on what this week's Direct will hold. Nintendo has only said the broadcast will cover "roughly 20 minutes of new Pokemon information," while the official Pokemon Twitter account teased there will be "some exciting updates coming to the world of Pokemon this year," although no specifics have been shared beyond that.Considering the most recent Pokemon games, Pokemon Sword and Shield, launched for Switch less than two months ago, it seems too early to expect the next installments in the series to be revealed during this week's Direct. That said, there's a good chance we'll hear some kind of news on Sword and Shield. The games' current Max Raid events end the same day the broadcast airs, so a new in-game event may be announced, or we can learn about some kind of post-launch updates planned for the titles.We will also likely get our first look at Pokemon Home, a new Pokemon Bank-like cloud storage service in development for Switch and smartphones. Few details have been revealed about the service since it was first announced last June, but it is slated for an "early 2020" launch, which would make this week's Direct a good place to formally unveil it.We also know the Pokemon Sleep app is slated to launch sometime this year. All that has been revealed about it so far is that it will somehow "turn sleep into entertainment," so it may also be featured during this week's Direct. Beyond that, there's a new Detective Pikachu game for Switch on the way, but we similarly know very little about it, so we may get our first glimpse at the game during the presentation. Pokemon Sword And Shield News & Guides Pokemon Nintendo Direct Stream: Start Times, Watch It Here Pokemon Nintendo Direct Stream Announced For This Week Pokemon Sword & Shield: All Max Raid Events Happening Right Now Pokemon Sword And Shield: Every Free Gift Available Right Now Pokemon Sword & Shield Eevee Guide: How To Get Every Evolution Info from Gamespot.com

For the second year in a row, the Academy Awards will go hostless, according to GameSpot sister site TV Guide. The 92nd Oscars, airing next month, will "[repeat] what worked last year: huge entertainment value [and] big musical numbers," ABC president Karey Burke said during the Television Critics Association winter press tour.This year's hostless Oscars mirrors exactly what happened during 2019's awards show. Kevin Hart withdrew from hosting in response to criticism about homophobic comments he made in the past on Twitter."I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year's Oscar's....this is because I do not want to be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing talented artists," Hart tweeted in December 2018. "I sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ community for my insensitive words from my past."2019's Academy Awards show didn't hit the same viewership as 2016 or 2017, securing about 30 million eyes; however, it did perform marginally better than 2018's ceremony, which held about 26 million viewers globally.Though the Oscars has yet to announce the full list of categories and nominees, the organization did provide a shortlist of candidates in a handful of categories. These include Best Live-Action Short Film, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Original Score, Best Feature Documentary Film, and more.The 92nd Academy Awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, February 9 at 3:30 PM PT / 6:30 PM ET on ABC. The full list of nominees will be announced on Monday, January 13. You can check out the shortlist below. Keep in mind not every category, including Best Director and Best Picture, has been revealed.The 92nd Oscars Nominees ShortlistDocumentary, Feature FilmAdvocateAmerican FactoryThe ApolloApollo 11AquarelaThe Biggest Little FarmThe CaveThe Edge of DemocracyFor SamaThe Great HackHoneylandKnock Down the HouseMaidenMidnight FamilyOne Child NationDocumentary, Short SubjectAfter MariaFire in ParadiseGhosts of Sugar LandIn the AbsenceLearning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl)Life Overtakes MeThe NightcrawlersSt. Louis SupermanStay CloseWalk Run Cha-ChaInternational Feature FilmCzech Republic, The Painted BirdEstonia, Truth and JusticeFrance, Les MisérablesHungary, Those Who RemainedNorth Macedonia, HoneylandPoland, Corpus ChristiRussia, BeanpoleSenegal, AtlanticsSouth Korea, ParasiteSpain, Pain and GloryMakeup And HairstylingBombshellDolemite Is My NameDownton AbbeyJokerJudyLittle WomenMaleficent: Mistress of Evil1917Once upon a Time…in HollywoodRocketmanMusic, Original ScoreAvengers: EndgameBombshellThe FarewellFord v FerrariFrozen IIJojo RabbitJokerThe KingLittle WomenMarriage StoryMotherless Brooklyn1917Pain and GloryStar Wars: The Rise of SkywalkerUsMusic, Original Song"Speechless" from Aladdin"Letter To My Godfather" from The Black Godfather"I'm Standing With You" from Breakthrough"Da Bronx" from The Bronx USA"Into The Unknown" from Frozen II"Stand Up" from Harriet"Catchy Song" from The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part"Never Too Late" from The Lion King"Spirit" from The Lion King"Daily Battles" from Motherless Brooklyn"A Glass of Soju" from Parasite"(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" from Rocketman"High Above The Water" from Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am"I Can't Let You Throw Yourself Away" from Toy Story 4"Glasgow" from Wild RoseAnimated Short FilmDcera (Daughter)Hair LoveHe Can't Live without CosmosHors PisteKitbullMemorableMind My MindThe Physics of SorrowSisterUncle Thomas: Accounting for the DaysLive-Action Short FilmBrotherhoodThe Christmas GiftLittle HandsMiller & SonNefta Football ClubThe Neighbors' WindowRefugeeSariaA SisterSometimes, I Think about DyingVisual EffectsAlita: Battle AngelAvengers: EndgameCaptain MarvelCatsGemini ManThe IrishmanThe Lion King1917Star Wars: The Rise of SkywalkerTerminator: Dark Fate Info from Gamespot.com

Pokemon Go's first Community Day of 2020 is set for Sunday, January 19, and now we know what Pokemon you'll be able to catch during the event. Niantic has announced that Piplup, the Water-type penguin from Diamond and Pearl, will be the featured Pokemon for January's Community Day.Throughout the event, Piplup will appear in the wild much more often than normal, making this a good opportunity to stock up on Piplup Candy. You'll also have your first chance to catch a Shiny Piplup in Pokemon Go, and the Pokemon will learn a special event-exclusive move if you can evolve it into its final form, Empoleon, up to two hours after the Community Day ends. This month's event move has not yet been revealed, but previous starter Pokemon were able to learn Hydro Cannon during their respective Community Days.💧💧💧 Give it up for Piplup! 💧💧💧 This adorable Water-type Pokémon is the star of January’s #PokemonGOCommunityDay! Don’t tell Oshawott. 😉 💧⭐️ https://t.co/SOfJaLKNyr pic.twitter.com/MDPGNp1Hun — Pokémon (@Pokemon) January 8, 2020On top of increased Piplup spawns, a few other bonuses will be available during January's Community Day. As usual, any Lure Modules you use during the event will remain active for three hours, rather than the usual 30 minutes. Pokemon eggs will also hatch at a quarter of the distance they normally take. You can read more details about January's Community Day on the official Pokemon website.Like previous Community Days, January's event will run for three hours, but it will take place at different times depending on which hemisphere you live in. For players in the Northern Hemisphere, the event will run from 11 AM-2 PM local time; in the Southern Hemisphere, the Community Day takes place from 3-6 PM local time.In the meantime, Pokemon Go's Hatchathon event is still underway until January 16. The Legendary Pokemon Heatran has also returned to Raids for a limited time, and there's a new batch of Field Research quests. You can catch up on more Pokemon Go news below. Pokemon Go News Pokemon Go January Community Day Featured Pokemon Revealed Pokemon Nintendo Direct Stream: Start Times, Watch It Here Pokemon Go Heatran Raid Guide: Shiny Heatran, Counters, And How To Catch Pokemon Go January 2020 Research Quests Pokemon Go's First Community Day Of 2020 Dated Info from Gamespot.com

Over the past couple of years, Marvel and Netflix parted ways with original series like Daredevil and Jessica Jones getting cancelled. And ABC stopped production on its shows on the network, with the final season of Agents of SHIELD coming in 2020. However, just because Disney+ has become the place for new MCU series, that doesn't mean the door is completely closed for future collaborations between Marvel and ABC.During ABC's presentation at the TCA winter press tour, ABC Entertainment president Karey Burke spoke about the possible future for Marvel on its network. "We're just in the very beginning of talking with [Marvel Studio's president] Kevin Feige now about what ABC/Marvel could look like," Burke said.With Disney's streaming service being launched last November, the company has been focused on bringing Star Wars and Marvel original content there, rather than to network television, with series like The Mandalorian closing out the year and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and WandaVision a part of the slate of original programming for 2020. Marvel News The Door Isn't Shut For More Marvel Shows On ABC Marvel Phase 4 Movies & TV Shows: Here's What's Coming Agents of SHIELD will get a final season sometime this year, and Hulu--whose majority shareholder is Disney--is getting a whole crop of new Marvel original series in the near future. That leaves ABC a bit in the dust as far as programming goes.With the exit of Marvel TV head Jeph Loeb back in October, ABC's future with Marvel programming seemed bleak at best. And since there hasn't been any news of new programming, many speculated that door has closed. But according to ABC, that may not be the case just yet, and there is a slight possibility the network could be bringing in a new era of shows.Info from Gamespot.com

New year, new you...more gaming? While most people's New Year's resolutions tend to focus on improving themselves in some way, others like to set goals for themselves, like reading 50 books or saving a certain amount of money. But maybe you're perfectly content with yourself physically, emotionally, and financially. Maybe what you really need more of in your life in 2020...is video games. And if that's the case, GOG has the perfect sale to kick off your new year. The New Year's Resolutions sale is live now for the next few days and includes an eclectic mix of tactics games, RPGs, and mystery games for up to 90% off. We're not really sure why any of these games were chosen for this particular sale, but let's accept it and move on.The sale's standouts include 2018's Surviving Mars, a sci-fi city-building sim set on the Red Planet, which is on sale for $10.19, down from $30. You can also save on a Deluxe Edition upgrade or season pass for the game. If you enjoyed last year's live-action interactive film/game Telling Lies, you can pick up Her Story, the 2015 hit featuring interviews with a missing man's wife, for just 99 cents.Classic Star Wars games also feature in the sale, including Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Knights of the Old Republic II for $3.49 each, as well as my personal favorite, Star Wars: Jedi Knight II - Jedi Outcast, also available for $3.49. You'll also find roguelike space shooter Everspace for $4.49, horror-mystery The Vanishing of Ethan Carter for $3, turn-based tactics game Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus for $15, and more.There are dozens of games marked down, and you can see more of the titles on sale right now at GOG. The New Year's Resolutions sale ends at 6 AM PT / 9 AM ET on January 11. See more games on sale at GOG More game deals at GOGThe Curse of Monkey Island -- $3.49 ($7)Draugen Collector's Edition -- $18 ($30)Everspace -- $4.49 ($30)Her Story -- $0.99 ($10)Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak -- $12.49 ($50)Niffelheim -- $5 ($20)Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Jedi Academy -- $3.49 ($10)Star Wars: Jedi Knight II - Jedi Outcast -- $3.49 ($10)Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic -- $3.49 ($10)Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords -- $3.49 ($10)Supraland -- $12 ($20)Surviving Mars -- $10.19 ($30)Titan Quest: Atlantis -- $11.24 ($15)Undertale -- $4 ($10)The Vanishing of Ethan Carter -- $3 ($20)Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus -- $15 ($30) Info from Gamespot.com

Escape From Tarkov has been "out" in some form or another since 2016, first with the closed alpha and eventually a closed beta, available to those who pre-order the game on its official website. Described as a "hardcore story-driven MMO" with RPG and FPS elements, Escape From Tarkov's popularity surged at the start of the new year thanks to some popular streamers picking it up over the holidays. It also received its biggest update yet in October 2019. If you're new to Escape From Tarkov or are looking to get into it, now is a great time.One thing that sets Escape From Tarkov apart from other multiplayer shooters is how detailed and finely tuned every aspect of it is, from combat to movement to inventory management. Unless you're used to more realistic military sims like ARMA or adjacent games like DayZ and even PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, Tarkov's barrier to entry is a bit higher than your average shooter--if you really want to be on top of your game, you're going to have to learn a lot of hotkeys.Table of Contents [hide]Basic Movement and ControlsAdvanced Movement and ControlsBasic Combat and Equipment ControlsAdvanced Combat and Equipment ControlsInventory Management and Looting ControlsOther ControlsBelow, you'll find a handy list of some of the most important and commonly used hotkeys in Escape From Tarkov, as well as a rundown of the basic controls: the action, the primary key binding, and the press type (if it's something other than pressing or releasing a button) listed below are all the current default from Escape From Tarkov's settings. We've changed the wording for "press type" or "input type" to be a bit more basic than what the game's official settings specify--"continuous" is now "hold down," for instance, meaning it's a key you need to hold down rather than just press once. We've also added a few hotkeys that were unlisted and bolded some particularly handy ones to memorize, which we'll go over individually.Note that the distinction between a "basic" and "advanced" control in this guide is entirely for organizational purposes--Escape From Tarkov's game settings don't distinguish its inputs this way, this is just to make things clearer for new players. What's "advanced" for one player might be considered "basic" for another--it all depends on how new you are to the kind of hardcore, genre-bending shooter Tarkov strives to be. In any case, we hope this guide will help you learn the finer nuances of Tarkov's movement, how to properly wield your weapons and take advantage of their customizability, and how to quickly cycle through your inventory when exploring and looting in the dangerous city of Tarkov.If you're interested in picking up the game, check out our Escape From Tarkov pre-order guide for a quick breakdown on where to buy and the differences between its four editions. Escape From Tarkov is currently not on Steam.Basic Movement and ControlsCommandKeyInput TypeMove forwardW--Move leftA--Move backwardS--Move rightD--Lean leftQHold downLean rightEHold downJumpSpace--WalkCaps LockPress to toggleSprintLeft ShiftPress to toggleCrouchCPress to toggleProneXPress to toggleInteractF--Open inventoryTab--NextMouse Scroll+--PreviousMouse Scroll---Check timeO--Check time and exitsODouble tapMumbleY--Open mumble dropdownYDouble tapMumble presetF1-F12--Movement in Escape From Tarkov is bound to the WASD keys by default, and the ability to jump, crouch, and go prone are pretty straightforward too. There are more advanced movement options to be aware of that we'll list out under Advanced Movement, but the major takeaway from this section should be some of the basic interaction inputs, notably hitting F to grab items, loot bodies and containers, and open and close doors.Raid time and extraction points will appear in the top right-hand corner when you press the "O" key twice.But another big one not to overlook is double-tapping "O" to check time and exits. Every raid you enter comes with a time limit and a set of potential extraction zones, and you should be tracking both while you're out looting. Hitting "O" twice pulls up that information in the top right corner.Advanced Movement and ControlsCommandKeyInput TypeFree lookMiddle Mouse ButtonHold downSmooth lean leftLeft Alt + A--Smooth lean rightLeft Alt + D--Sidestep leftLeft Alt + Q--Sidestep rightLeft Alt + E--Next walk poseC + Mouse Scroll+--Previous walk poseC + Mouse Scroll---As you can see, Escape From Tarkov features both basic lean and crouch options as well as more advanced, incremental variations. Unlike leaning using Q and E, "smooth" lean lets you only lean out a little bit at a time. You also don't need to hold Alt down unless you're adjusting your lean position, so you can stay leaned the degree you want while behind a corner and have your keyboard hand free. You can use the standard Q or E lean to stand back upright. You can also cycle between "walk poses," which are just different degrees of crouching that you can adjust to adapt to the height of whatever cover you're behind. Hitting C automatically takes you to the lowest crouch level and hitting C again makes you stand up. To exercise more caution, you can use walk poses to rise and lower yourself more deliberately.There are five additional "walk poses" between standing upright and crouching fully, which you can set by holding the "C" key and scrolling up or down.Free look is another important one. If you recall from the basic controls section, there are three movement speeds in Escape From Tarkov: the default walking speed, the slower walking speed you can toggle with Caps Lock, and sprinting, which you can toggle with Shift. You can't sprint while strafing, so your field of view is limited to what's in front of you--but by holding down the middle mouse button while moving, you can freely look around. Currently, your free look range is still pretty narrow, but it does allow you to quickly glimpse blind spots while in a hurry. You can even use free look while scoped in so you're not completely unaware of short-range threats while sniping.Basic Combat and Equipment ControlsCommandKeyInput TypeShoot/FireLeft Mouse Button--Aim down sightsRight Mouse ButtonPress to toggleReload weaponR--Quick reloadRDouble tapNext magazineR + Mouse Scroll+--Previous magazineR + Mouse Scroll---Throw grenadeG--Equip melee weaponV--Quick draw melee weaponVDouble tapHold breath to steady aimLeft AltPress to toggleEscape From Tarkov strives for a bit more realism with its guns than most games do. You have the standard right-click to aim, left-click to shoot, and R to reload, but there's way more to it than that.One major thing to note from this section is the difference between a reload and a quick reload. Just hitting R for a standard reload in Escape From Tarkov will remove the current magazine in your firearm, place it in an open slot in your inventory, and replace it with the next magazine in your inventory. (You can even select which magazine to load in from your inventory by holding R and scrolling with the mouse wheel.) A quick reload, as the name suggests, saves some time by having your character throw the current magazine onto the ground before loading in a new one. You won't get far in Escape From Tarkov being too trigger-happy or constantly reloading after every shot, which most FPS games let you get away with, but quick reloads can be appropriate in an emergency. You just have to remember to pick up your dropped magazine later. Escape From Tarkov News And Guides Escape From Tarkov Pre-Order Guide: Version Differences & How To Get Early Access Escape From Tarkov Won't Include Playable Women Because They're "A Huge Amount Of Work" Will Escape From Tarkov Have Microtransactions? Is Escape From Tarkov Coming To Steam? Remember that reloading is more realistic in Escape From Tarkov, unlike more casual shooters--you're not reloading bullets into a magazine by tapping R, you're actually replacing the entire magazine. So if your current magazine had a few rounds left, it'll go into your inventory with that same amount of rounds, and if you reload with it next time, you won't have a full magazine. (You can manually load rounds into magazines from the inventory.) To complicate things further, reload times vary depending on what gun you're using and whether or not it already has a round in the chamber.Moving on to melee combat. Pressing V will equip your melee weapon (you'll start out with a knife), but double-tapping V will do something the in-game settings call "Draw Knife," but what I'll call a "quick draw" instead. Quick drawing your knife will holster your currently equipped weapon, draw your knife out and do a quick stab, then sheath your knife and pull out your previous weapon, all just by double-tapping V.Finally, holding your breath with Left Alt while aiming down sights will steady your firearm's aim. This used to be bound to the Shift key, but was changed. Many players end up remapping this one to avoid interfering with other commands involving the Alt key, and setting its input type to "hold" instead of "toggle." We recommend playing around with different settings and keybindings in offline mode and seeing what works for you.Advanced Combat and Equipment ControlsCommandKeyInput TypeActivate night vision goggles/Lower face shieldNPress to toggleActivate tactical device (flashlight, laser, etc.)TPress to toggleSwitch tactical device modeLeft Ctrl + T--Switch scopesLeft Ctrl + Right Mouse Button--Change scope magnificationLeft Alt + Right Mouse Button--Check ammoLeft Alt + T--Change fire modeB--Check fire modeLeft Alt + B--Check chamberLeft Shift + T--Examine weaponL--Fold stockLeft Alt + L--Overhead blind fireLeft Alt + W--Right side blind fireLeft Alt + S--Equip weapon on the back3--Equip weapon on the sling2--Equip secondary weapon1--Slot 44--Slot 55--Slot 66--Slot 77--Slot 88--Slot 99--Slot 00--Scope elevation upPage Up--Scope elevation downPage Down Here, you get into the real nitty-gritty of Escape From Tarkov's firearm mechanics. Most of it is pretty straightforward: inputs for switching scopes and cycling through reticles once you get more advanced modifications for your guns, using the number keys to cycle through weapons, and so on. Changing your fire mode between single (the default starting mode), burst, and full-auto with the B key is an important one, but the other ones worth explaining from this section include how to toggle your "tactical device," check ammo, and blind fire.Tactical devices in Escape From Tarkov can be toggled with T, and it's important to note these include flashlights and lasers. So if you have the right mod equipped and you're wondering how to turn on your flashlight, it's T. Many serious Escape From Tarkov streamers like Shroud have rebound this command (as well as the input for changing scope magnification) to Mouse Button 3, 4, or 5 for easier access.Checking ammo in Escape From Tarkov will only give you an approximation of how many rounds you have left. Try to stay on single fire and be sure to count your shots!Checking ammo with Left Alt + T can be vital, since Escape From Tarkov's HUD doesn't track how much ammo you have left--even when you use this input to check ammo, it won't give you an exact number. Finally, you can blindfire from behind cover using Left Alt + W for overhead firing or Left Alt + S for right-side firing around corners. At the moment, it does not seem Escape From Tarkov has the option to switch firing positions between right and left shoulders.Inventory Management and Looting ControlsCommandKeyInput TypeExamineMiddle Mouse Button--Quick transferCtrl + Left Mouse Button--Quick equipAlt + Left Mouse Button--Split stackCtrl + Left Mouse ButtonClick and dragDiscardDel--Rotate itemR--Nothing is bolded here because it pretty much all needs explaining. A major part of Escape From Tarkov is looting and inventory management, so you'll be spending a lot of time looking at your inventory and your stash, but if you're in a raid it's important to minimize that time so you're not vulnerable. To quickly grab an item from a looted container and transfer it to your inventory, just hit Ctrl + Left MB. This works when transferring items between your inventory and your stash too.To quickly equip something in your stash or from a container, you can use Alt + Left MB. You can click and drag items around with the left mouse button to place them in specific slots. Pressing R while dragging an item rotates it so you can use the space you have more efficiently. To split a grouped item like a stack of ammo, hold Ctrl and click and drag the item you want to separate to a new cell. A box will pop up where you can designate the number of items you want to place in the new stack. If you have unknown, greyed-out items in a container, your inventory, your stash, or even a trader's inventory, you can quickly examine and reveal those items by clicking on them with the middle mouse button. Finally, you can hover over an item you don't want and press delete to discard.Other ControlsCommandKeyInput TypeTake a screenshotPrtScn--Toggle iconsI--Console`--Open menuESC--As stated above, these are just the default key bindings for Escape From Tarkov's controls and we recommend testing things out and seeing what works for you. Like most games, you can reset the primary key for each command and set a secondary input on top of it. You can even change the press type for even more customization.Did we miss something? Escape From Tarkov is still in development, so things are always being updated and changed. Plus, the community is awesome at finding out new tricks and techniques. Feel free to leave a comment below if we left something important out or if a piece of information is outdated.Info from Gamespot.com

In an effort to be more transparent about The Outer Worlds' development, Obsidian Entertainment revealed that the action-RPG also had non-combat flaws in conjunction with the ones already found in the game.In a conversation with Gamasutra, developers Tim Cain and Leonard Boyarsky talked about the flaws that didn't make it into The Outer Worlds. The two discussed that they wanted players to acquire non-combat flaws as well to provide greater depth to the game's experience."One of the flaws we wanted [in the game] was to be impulsive," Cain said. "When dialogue options come up there would be a little timer. When it ticked down to five seconds one of the response options disappears, just greyed out. Then another one after another five seconds until there was only one option left."The Outer Worlds' flaw mechanic is a permanent attribute system wherein you accept a flaw in exchange for a perk point. These flaws come with negative effects, such as stat and weapon efficiency decreases.Cain explained that he intended players to pick their dialogue choices quickly, lest the game's systems chose for you. However, he also didn't want players to feel rushed to read the text. This, coupled with AI demands and the individual flaw system, led to the dialogue flaw system getting chopped.Being impulsive wasn't the only non-combat flaw you could have earned while playing The Outer Worlds. Obsidian outlined a few other flaws, including "pathological liar," "hotheaded" or "short-tempered," and more. The Outer Worlds News and Guides The Outer Worlds Beginner's Guide: Spoiler-Free Tips To Ensure The Best Experience Possible Should You Play The Outer Worlds On Normal, Hard, Or Supernova Difficulty? Best Games Of 2019 - The Outer Worlds The Outer Worlds received generally favorable reviews when it launched on October 25 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The action-RPG is expected to arrive on Nintendo Switch sometime early this year. The text on the console-handheld hybrid should be a little larger thanks to a November update.Info from Gamespot.com

The Witcher was one of Netflix's most popular new programs in 2019. It's no surprise that a second season is coming, and now it's been revealed when fans can expect it.Showrunner Lauren Hissrich said in a Reddit AMA that Season 2 is expected to premiere in 2021. "We don't yet have a target launch date for S2, past 2021. We don't want to rush the product. That doesn't benefit anyone," she said.Naturally, people flooded the AMA with questions about what to expect in Season 2. Hissrich didn't give away any specifics, but she did promise that the story will be "much more linear."One of the critiques of Season 1 was that the story's different timelines could be hard to follow. In Season 2, the three main characters will have their individual stories intersect more, and this should help with the flow, Hissrich said. "The story will be much more linear, now that the three characters' stories have started to intersect," she explained.The Witcher Season 1 included eight episodes, which some remarked was fewer than they expected. Hissrich explained that the number of episodes in a TV show season depends on a number of factors, including the story they want to tell and the budget, as well as an estimation of what the audience might want to see. The Witcher being a new show, Hissrich said more episodes would have led to a smaller budget per episode. "So we knew we didn't want to do that. Eight felt like the magic number," she said.With Season 2, Hissrich and her team are approaching the number of episodes similarly. "What are the stories [author Andrzej Sapkowski] was telling, and why? What building blocks do we need to set up future stories? Is there anything we missed from S1 that we want to include? And what will work on television?"One thing you won't see in is Triss having an extended spell of uncontrollable and slimy poop."No one wants to see Triss have diarrhea for three episodes," she said. So what are we trying to glean from that in the books, and how do we present that onscreen?Also in the AMA, Hissrich responded to a question regarding how The Witcher show handles diversity. She said in the books, it is assumed that everyone in the universe has the same color skin. In the TV show, Hissrich and her team decided to pursue a different way of thinking."Because it's 2020, and because the real world is a very big and diverse place, we made a different assumption on the show: that people don't pay attention to skin color," she said. "Not because they're all the same color, but because the bigger differences are about species, not skin. If you went to your local supermarket and there were people with horns and tails, do you really think you'd be paying attention to how much melanin is in their skin?"For Season 2, Hissrich said her team will continue to do cast the best actors for any new roles, regardless of their skin color."We do color-blind casting, and we work hard to make sure that no one feels like they can't put themselves up for a role just because they're not the 'expected' look of the character. We will continue to do this in S2, and hope to expand our reach even more," she said.Go to Reddit to read the full AMA.The release of The Witcher TV show appears to have helped The Witcher 3, as the CD Projekt Red game recently passed 100,000 concurrent players on Steam which is an all-time high for the 2015 game.The Witcher TV show is based on the novel series by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. His novels also served as the inspiration for CD Projekt Red's video game series. The studio recently agreed to new terms with Sapkowski after the author sought $16 million from the game developer. CD Projekt Red's The Witcher Gets Netflix 'Toss A Coin To Your Witcher' Mod The Witcher's Geralt Teased As Cameo In Another Game Releasing In 2018 The Witcher 3 Collection Giveaway (US Only) The Witcher Celebrates 10th Anniversary With This Nice Video The Witcher: Enhanced Edition Free At GOG Info from Gamespot.com

The Skywalker saga may have reached its conclusion with Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker, but that doesn't mean the Star Wars universe is anywhere close to finished with our favorite Skywalker and Skywalker-adjacent characters. Not only are we anxiously anticipating the arrival of new Disney+ streaming series like Obi-Wan and Cassian Andor but Marvel has a slate of new Star Wars comics just over the horizon.Darth Vader himself is getting a brand-new solo series created by Greg Pak and Raffaele Ienco, kicking off with Darth Vader #1, and StarWars.com offered an extensive preview of the first issue.The story will take place after the events of The Empire Strikes Back but include extensive flashbacks to Vader's personal history, so expect plenty of cameos from your favorite (or least favorite?) prequel characters. Star Wars News Clone Wars Season 7 On Disney Plus: When Does It Air And What We Know About The Star Wars Series The Mandalorian Episode 8: 11 Easter Eggs And References You Might Have Missed Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker - 48 Easter Eggs From Past Movies Star Wars Timeline: How To Watch It All In Order On Disney Plus Curious as to how the events of the current Star Wars universe work out between all the shows and movies? Check out our handy guide to the Star Wars timeline. And don't forget to brush up on your Rise Of Skywalker trivia with our breakdown of every Easter Egg and reference from the movie.Darth Vader #1 hits shelves on February 5, everywhere comics are sold. Info from Gamespot.com

With the release of Netflix's The Witcher series and the recent (massive) uptick in Steam users playing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, we decided it was the perfect opportunity to replay GameSpot's 2015 Game of the Year on PC. And why stop there when there are mods that can transform Geralt's beautifully scarred face into the chiseled cheeks of Henry Cavill?You can watch our exploits as Henry Cavill-looking Geralt in the video below. There are several mods out there that can achieve this cosmetic look if you want to do this yourself, but if you specifically want to use the one we tried, it's Shadowphonic's Game Lore Henry Cavill Retexture. For even greater detail, PC Gamer has a full-fledged guide for using multiple mods on top of the one made by Shadowphonic to also give Geralt the same hairstyle, sword, and armor seen in the Netflix series.In our own playthrough as Cavill-Geralt, we travel through the beautiful landscape of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. After making sure our face looks just right in a cutscene and go converse with NPCs to see how well the mod holds up when Geralt has to speak.If you haven't yet played it, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a really good game--one of the few titles that GameSpot has awarded a 10/10 review score to. In GameSpot's The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt review, Kevin VanOrd wrote, "Make no mistake: this is one of the best role-playing games ever crafted, a titan among giants and the standard-setter for all such games going forward. Where the Witcher 2 sputtered to a halt, The Witcher 3 is always in a crescendo, crafting battle scenarios that constantly one-up the last, until you reach the explosive finale and recover in the glow of the game's quiet denouement. But while the grand clashes are captivating, it is the moments between conflicts, when you drink with the local clans and bask in a trobairitz's song, that are truly inspiring."Info from Gamespot.com

A new study shows that the percentage of movies featuring female leads reached a new all-time high in 2019, though the amount of time women spoke on screen in 2019 fell slightly.The Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University released the results of its 2019 poll that showed the percentage of the year's highest-grossing movies featuring female leads jumped from 31 percent to 40 percent.The study also showed that 43 percent of these films focused on male protagonists, while 17 percent had ensemble casts or a combination of men and women in lead roles.For this study, a protagonist is defined as the character "from whose perspective the story is told." Additionally, these characters are described as being "instrumental to the narrative of the story." The study looked at more than 2,300 characters in the top 100 grossing American movies."There's been a fierce debate in the industry about the reasons that movies have historically failed to tell stories about people of color, women, or members of the LGBTQ community, as well as spirited discussions about how to change things," reads a line from the study's excerpt. "Despite those gains, it's worth noting that audiences are still twice as likely to see men on screen as women."Some of the other statistics in the study include that 37 percent of major characters were women, up 1 percent from 2018. Additionally, while the number of female protagonists rose in 2019, these characters overall spoke less. The study showed that 34 percent of all speaking characters were women, which is down 1 percent year-over-year.The study also revealed that the percentage of black women in speaking roles dropped to 20 percent, down 1 percent from 2018, while the percentage of Latinas jumped from 4 percent to 5 percent, and 7 percent of female characters were of Asian descent (down 3 percent).Some of 2019's biggest movies featuring women in lead roles included Little Women, Us, Frozen 2, and Captain Marvel, among many others.Some other statistics from the study include:Female characters were more likely (46 percent) than male characters (34 percent) to have a known marital status.73 percent of male characters had an identifiable occupation in their movie, compared to 61 percent for women.Male characters were more likely to be shown at work, doing their job (59 percent) compared to women (43 percent).45 percent of female leads were in studio movies, while 55 percent appeared in independent films. For comparison, 2018's data showed that women were more than twice as likely to appear in an independent movie compared to a studio film.Go to the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University's website to read the full studies and get more details. Info from Gamespot.com

Though it's adding to the story that spanned seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation and continued through four movies, don't expect Star Trek: Picard to be more of the same adventures in space exploration. According to Patrick Stewart, who plays the titular role in the upcoming CBS All Access show, the world of Star Trek: Picard is not the one fans remember from the series that started in 1987.In an interview with Variety, Stewart laid out some of the fundamental differences between Star Trek: Picard and its predecessor show. The relatively safe, advanced world of TNG has changed fundamentally over the years between its conclusion and Picard, which picks up years later, he said."I think what we’re trying to say is important," he said. "The world of 'Next Generation' doesn’t exist anymore. It’s different. Nothing is really safe. Nothing is really secure.""In a way, the world of 'Next Generation' had been too perfect and too protected," Stewart said. "It was the Enterprise. It was a safe world of respect and communication and care and, sometimes, fun."Star Trek: Picard is taking a different tack as it revisits the world of the 24th century. It finds the legendary Captain Jean-Luc Picard retired from Starfleet and living out his life on his family's vineyard in France. It seems there's some trauma in Picard's past: 15 years before the start of the series, he took part in a major rescue mission, and it doesn't seem as though things went all that well. The story of what led to that mission is getting covered in CBS All Access's Short Treks series, in an episode called "Children of Mars."Star Trek: Picard also looks to revisit, and perhaps recontextualize, some of the story points that popped up during TNG. The Borg played a big role on the series and seem to be pretty important in Star Trek: Picard, as well--Captain Picard was famously assimilated by the powerful cyborg race, and we'll see the return of Hugh (Jonathan Del Arco), a Borg drone the Enterprise saved during TNG, return on Picard. Also slated to show up is Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan), a former Borg drone who regained her humanity on another series, Star Trek: Voyager."I explained to them all those elements of 'Next Generation,' which belong in 'Next Generation,' and why I didn’t want to go near them again," Stewart said during the interview. "But they talked about it in such an interesting way. And they talked for a long time."So while there will be a lot of familiar faces in Star Trek: Picard--TNG characters Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes), Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), and Data (Brent Spiner) are confirmed to show up on the series--the show won't be much like the original, it seems. Given how different the real world has become since the end of TNG in 1994, it makes sense.Disclosure: CBS is GameSpot's parent company.Info from Gamespot.com

A UK man is going to jail for stealing £36,935 ($48,000 USD) worth of Harry Potter merchandise and selling it on the popular auction site eBay. 35-year-old Adam Hill, who is a former Warner Bros. Studios employee, was charged with stealing all manner of items from the film company's stock room, including wands, badges, and key rings. The thefts took place between December 2017 and March 2018, according to a news release from local authorities.Hill is said to have sold the items through his personal eBay account, and on occasion he used the Warner Bros. franking machine to send the items from within the Warner Bros. mail room.The report goes on to highlight how brazen Hill was in his thefts. The release says Hill got caught when his colleagues took notice of Harry Potter merch appearing and then vanishing from under Hill's desk.In total, Hill is said to have sold 1,040 Harry potter items on eBay. Authorities searched his car and found 12 further items that Hill reportedly planned to sell. A search of Hill's home in St Neots led to the discovery of even more items that Hill reportedly planned to unload."In a significant breach of trust, Adam Hill had the audacity to steal thousands of pounds of merchandise from Warner Bros in plain sight of his work colleagues; but they reported him after growing suspicious of the items constantly piling up under his desk," Crown Prosecution Service's Jan Muller said in a statement.Hill was sentenced to 14 months in prison suspended for 18 months and 250 hours unpaid work. Info from Gamespot.com

Bruce Straley, the director of Uncharted 2, Uncharted 4, and The Last of Us, has worked on some of the most iconic action games of the last two console generations. There was a common criticism leveled against the Uncharted series, though--that Drake's personality was at odds with how easily he was able to kill people. The term for this, where the story or characters of a game do not sync up well with the action, is ludonarrative dissonance.In an interview with Gamesindustry.biz, Straley has opened up about his work on these games, why they faced this issue, and how they "solved" it with The Last of Us. In Uncharted games, he says, "the threat is a video game threat," and the bad guys in these games need to be free to throw a lot of enemies at the player to keep the gameplay interesting. "You have to have interesting core mechanics to keep the player invested," Straley says."That's our problem as designers: in 2007, that's where the industry was, that's where we were. We didn't necessarily have the wherewithal, the clarity so to speak, that we do now."As the article points out, Nathan Drake's personality was much rarer at the time than it is now--most shooters featured silent protagonists, or kept characterization to a minimum, especially when work began on the first game in the series in 2004."If you think about game design in that same way you think about your character arc, the character should have an ebb and flow of a roller coaster [matching] the pace of the game," Straley says. "As a game designer, you're thinking about the character and storytelling and how the character is feeling."Straley says that this was less of an issue for The Last of Us because of the post-apocalyptic setting, which allowed them "to create a threat that applied stakes," as it made sense that characters in this world would be used to fighting to survive. "They had their own compass of values that they were driven by, or directed by, which meant they were capable of killing you for a bottle of water and a pair of shoes, because that meant another day of survival in that world that we created."Straley says that although the games he created are shooters, he believes that it's possible to capture these emotional beats in other genres, or even non-combat games, citing PlayDead's Inside as an example. "Can you create a game that's as interesting and character-driven and compelling as an Uncharted story or Last of Us story without shooting? I think you can. Again the concept has to be... 'how can I create a rich enough world to allow for interesting core mechanics?'"In a later Twitter thread, Straley talks more about how his games were designed, and points out that the term "ludonarrative dissonance" was much less common when he was working on Uncharted 2--in fact, he had not heard of it.When I chose to make Uncharted 2 an “Action Adventure-Shooter” (and those ARE the words I used), I had never even heard of the words ludonarrative dissonance. WTF IS THAT?! I just wanted to make a fun romp. And it was for a lot of people. Success! But that was 2007. We evolve. — Bruce Straley (@bruce_straley) January 8, 2020Straley left Naughty Dog in 2017, and thus has not been working on The Last of Us Part II. He has said that he left due to the stressful time he had on Uncharted 4. The Last of Us Part II will release for PS4 on May 29, 2020.Info from Gamespot.com

EB Games, Australia's largest game chain store, is closing several locations around Australia. In a statement given to Kotaku Australia, the retailer has said that 19 unprofitable stores around the country are closing; however, 20 stores have disappeared from their online store locator."Where possible, staff were offered the opportunity to work in surrounding stores," the statement reads. It also notes that several more "large format" stores, combining EB Games and pop culture outlet Zing, will be opening around the country.According to Kotaku, the following stores look set to close:Bribie Island EB Games QLD 4507Brickworks Marketplace EB Games SA 5031City Cross EB Games SA 5000Cleveland EB Games QLD 4163Dandenong EB Games VIC 3175Dianella EB Games WA 6059Hallet Cove EB Games SA 5158Hamilton EB Games VIC 3300Harbourtown Adelaide EB Games SA 5950Inala EB Games QLD 4077Inverell EB Games NSW 236Kalamunda EB Games WA 6076Lutwyche EB Games QLD 4030Majura Park EB Games ACT 2609Rockdale EB Games NSW 2216Tamworth EB Games NSW 2340Underwood EB Games QLD 4119Winston Hills EB Games NSW 2153These stores are expected to close by the end of January 2020, and will be discounting stock from 20-60%. It is unclear whether any of the 40 EB Games stores in New Zealand will be affected.EB Games is the Australian subsidiary of major US retailer Gamestop. Their parent company has fallen on hard times itself, and had to layoff over 100 employees in 2019, but there's a plan in place to turn things around.They previously carried the Australian edition of Game Informer, which was cancelled in early 2019. The first store (then named Electronics Boutique) opened in 1997, and as of now there are over 450 stores in operation in Australia with over 5000 employees.Our thoughts are with any and all affected staff.Info from Gamespot.com