Despite its commercial and critical success, Sony's PlayStation 4 action game God of War will not receive an expansion. This much has already been confirmed. And now game director Cory Barlog confirmed it again."There is no DLC coming for the game. Sorry," Barlog said on Twitter. His tweet came in response to another tweet where he seemingly teased something new for God of War. But as it stands, he was only referring to more reveals coming this week for God of War's anniversary celebration.Just so no one gets the wrong idea - there is no DLC coming for the game. Sorry. — Cory Barlog 🎮 (@corybarlog) April 14, 2019We already know about the free dynamic theme and avatar set, and Barlog teased that even more is coming. But it won't be an announcement of God of War DLC.In January this year, Barlog talked about pitching an idea for God of War DLC. However, it was "too ambitious," and people told him the idea was crazy, so it got scrapped."I had a really fun idea for a DLC that I only regret because I would love to have done that," Barlog told Kinda Funny. "But it was too ambitious."It would have been similar to The Last of Us 1's Left Behind or Uncharted Lost Legacy releases, which were big enough to warrant their own standalone releases. "It would [have] ended up being its own thing," Barlog said of the God of War expansion we'll never see. "Rightfully so, everybody said, 'Dude, this is crazy, this isn't DLC, this is a little too big."In other news, Barlog joked on Twitter that the next God of War game will be exclusive to the Epic Store.Info from Gamespot.com

The teaser trailer for Star Wars Episode 9: The Rise of Skywalker is here. The first look at the hugely-anticipated next Star Wars film was revealed at the franchise's annual Celebration convention, along with its title. It was introduced at the end of a panel discussion by director JJ Abrams and Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy, and it gives us our first look at the movie and real sense of what to expect. For all the details, check out our Episode 9 trailer breakdown.The trailer opens with Rey (Daisy Ridley) in the desert, a lightsaber in her hand, as she stares down a First Order fighter coming right at her. We hear Luke Skywalker's (Mark Hamill) voice tell her, "We've passed on all we know. A thousand generations live in your now, but this is your fight." She then runs at it, leaping to attack.The teaser also shows brief glimpses of many characters, from Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) cutting down foes with his lightsaber to Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) laughing while piloting the Millennium Falcon. The short tease also includes footage of Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher)'s role in the film, which looks to include a touching moment with Rey. Though Fisher died before production of the film began, unused footage from Star Wars: The Force Awakens is incorporated to complete her story.The final image of the trailer sees Rey and her friends together, as Luke's voice is heard once more, saying, "We'll always be with you. No one's ever really gone." Then, creepily, Emperor Palpatine's (Ian McDiarmid) laugh is heard cackling as the title is shown. Check out the teaser above. McDiarmid even appeared on stage at Celebration following the debut of the trailer to demand it be shown again.Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters on December 19. Abrams returned to direct after helming 2015's The Force Awakens, although he wasn't the first choice of director. Jurassic World's Colin Trevorrow was initially hired, but he left the movie in September 2017.The film stars Daisy Ridley as Rey, Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, John Boyega as Finn, Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron, Kelly Marie Tran as Rose Tico, Lupita Nyong'o as Maz Kanata, and Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux. New cast members include Naomi Ackie, Richard E. Grant, and Keri Russell. The film will also see appearances from a number of Star Wars veterans including Mark Hamill as Luke, Billy Dee Williams as Lando, and Carrie Fisher as Leia. Fisher died before production began, but will appear in footage originally shot for 2017's The Last Jedi.Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker isn't the only new Star Wars release that fans have to look forward to this year. It has also been confirmed that the live-action TV show The Mandalorian will be available on the streaming service Disney+ when it launches on November 12.Star Wars Celebration also promises news and reveals for the new Star Wars game Jedi Fallen Order from the developers of Apex Legends and Titanfall. Go to GameSpot sister site CNET to see a full rundown of what to expect from the show.Info from Gamespot.com

Anticipation is sky-high for Star Wars: Episode IX, which releases in December and will complete the current trilogy that kicked off with 2015's The Force Awakens. But just prior to the debut of the movie's title and first trailer, Disney boss Bob Iger delivered some news regarding plans to slow the rapid influx of new Star Wars movies.In an interview with Bloomberg to mark the launch of the annual Star Wars Celebration this weekend, Iger stated that the studio plans to take some time off after Episode IX hits theaters. "We have not announced any specific plans for movies thereafter," he said. "There are movies in development, but we have not announced them. We will take a pause, some time, and reset, because the Skywalker saga comes to an end with this ninth movie. There will be other Stars Wars movies, but there will be a bit of a hiatus."At a panel during Star Wars Celebration, the cast and director JJ Abrams shared more details on this final installment of the Skywalker saga. The title will be The Rise of Skywalker, and it appears to bring the franchise full circle: the Emperor is back. You can check out the first teaser-trailer here to see it all for yourself.Iger also told Bloomberg that the studio plans to focus on Star Wars TV projects for the time being. It has been confirmed that the live-action TV show The Mandalorian will be available on the streaming service Disney+ when it launches in November. In addition, there is a series focused on the Rogue One character Cassian Andor in the works, plus a new season of the animated show The Clones Wars.Episode IX will be the fifth Star Wars movie to be released in four years. While The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and Rogue One were big box office hits, last year's Solo: A Star Wars Story was the first commercial failure in the series. After the movie only grossed $392 million worldwide, there were reports that Disney's plans for more spin-off movies had been cancelled.In terms of the Star Wars movies that we know about, there are separate trilogies in development from Last Jedi director Rian Johnson and Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and DB Weiss. It was recently rumored that Benioff and Weiss's films will be set in the Old Republic, several thousand years before the events of the current movies.For more on Star Wars Celebration, go to GameSpot sister site CNET to see a full rundown of what to expect from the show. Info from Gamespot.com

Star Wars Celebration is finally underway, and there are several noteworthy panels poised to announce details about upcoming games, movies, and TV shows. This expansive event looking at everything happening in the Star Wars Universe is scheduled for the full weekend, so we'll keep updating this hub of information with additional announcements as they occur.The panel for Star Wars: Episode IX kicked things off in exciting fashion by revealing both the Episode IX trailer and title: The Rise of Skywalker. While there wasn't much insight provided during the panel's discussion, the two-minute trailer provided a ton of details about what to expect, although the overall plot remains a mystery ahead of its release in December.Respawn has revealed its Star Wars video game, Jedi Fallen Order. It's been confirmed as a single-player-only game, and the first trailer has made its debut along with a release date, although there weren't many detail (or any gameplay) beyond that.Panels for TV shows The Mandalorian and The Clone Wars animated series are also coming this weekend. The full schedule is available for anyone to see, and many of the panels will be live streamed. So if you can't make it out to Chicago this weekend, you can still follow along online.Star Wars Celebration is an annual event for fans of the stories told a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far, away. Although there are several exhibits, panels, and viewings that celebrate the Star Wars universe's vibrant past, most of the event is devoted to teasing tidbits of the franchise's future, whether that's new movies, television shows, books, or comics.One significant piece of news that came out just before the start of Celebration, aside from what we learned about Disney+, concerns the post-Episode IX Star Wars movies. According to Disney boss Robert Iger, there will be "a bit of a hiatus" after that movie. Subsequent films are already in development, but it seems like the recent, rapid-fire pace of new movies will slow down somewhat as Lucasfilm focuses on its Disney+ shows.Table of Contents [hide]Where And When To Watch The PanelsEpisode IX: The Rise Of SkywalkerWhen Does Episode 9 Take Place?What Does The Title Mean?Lando And Episode 9's New Character, JannahEmperor Palpatine Is Back, But How?Is That The Death Star?Episode 9 Release DateJedi Fallen OrderJedi Fallen Order TrailerNew Character, Cal KestisJedi Fallen Order Release Date And PlatformsThe Clone Wars Animated SeriesThe MandalorianStar Wars CosplayWhere And When To Watch The PanelsThere are two major panels at Star Wars Celebration this year. The first is devoted to Episode IX and is occurring today at 11 AM CDT, which works out to 12 PM ET, 9 AM PT, 5 PM GMT, and 4 AM AEDT in Australia on Saturday. The second is scheduled for the reveal of Respawn's upcoming Star Wars game, Jedi Fallen Order, and happens on Saturday at 1:30 PM CDT, which works out to 2:30 PM ET, 11:30 AM PT, 7:30 PM GMT, and 6:30 AM AEDT in Australia on Sunday.You can watch the Episode IX panel here. That has now concluded, having consisted of a lengthy discussion with the cast and crew, hosted by Stephen Colbert. The end of the panel delivered the major goods: the title and trailer.You can watch the Jedi Fallen Order panel here.Episode IX: The Rise Of SkywalkerStar Wars: Episode IX had been without a name, but with its release now just eight months away, the Celebration panel delivered the goods on this newest adventure. The latest movie in the Star Wars saga is officially called The Rise of Skywalker, and we got the first trailer showcasing all of the returning characters from the current trilogy, as well as fan favorites from the original trilogy like Lando Calrissian. Perhaps most notably, there was voiceover from Luke Skywalker suggesting that no one ever completely disappears, which set the stage for the trailer to close out with the iconic laughter of the Galactic Empire's sinister leader, Emperor Palpatine.Completing the third Star Wars trilogy that started with J.J. Abrams' The Force Awakens, Episode IX is scheduled to release on December 20, 2019. Initially, Jurassic World's Colin Trevorrow was directing the final major act of Rey, Finn, and Poe's story, but Disney fired him over creative differences. Abrams was brought on as his replacement.Little is known about the plotline for Episode IX. The Last Jedi dismissed several of the more notable plotlines surrounding the characters from The Force Awakens--such as the importance of Snoke and Captain Phasma, as well as the identity of Rey's parents. However, The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson has said he'd be okay if Abrams chooses to retcon Rey's parentage in Episode IX. The new trailer, however, raises many interesting questions. With Palpatine's laughter closing off the trailer, does that mean the Empire of the original trilogy is back along with the evil Sith lord? Is that the ruin of the Death Star we see in the ocean of that unknown planet? How exactly does Lando come back to pilot the Millennium Falcon (the ship he famously lost to Han Solo? What role will that cute new droid that's with BB-8 play? And after so many adventures, how will the saga of the Skywalker lineage finally end?When Does Episode 9 Take Place?While the precise answer to this question remains under wraps, both JJ Abrams and Daisy Ridley provided some insight into how much time has passed since The Last Jedi. The two suggested that a fair amount of time has gone by and that this movie will see the core group reunite for an adventure.What Does The Title Mean?This is one question we surely won't get a definitive answer to until we can see the full movie. But we've got theories about what the title means.Lando And Episode 9's New Character, JannahBritish actress Naomi Ackie was among the actors to come on stage during the Episode IX panel. She revealed she'll be playing a new character Jannah, who might be the daughter of Lando (whom we also got a look at in costume).Emperor Palpatine Is Back, But How?As noted above, it appears ol' Sheev, aka Darth Sidious, is making a comeback of some sort, as reinforced when actor Ian McDiarmid appeared on stage at Celebration and demanded (in the Emperor's voice) that the trailer be rolled a second time. We don't actually see the former Emperor in the flesh, so it's unclear what form he might take--perhaps he's just a Force ghost, like what we've seen with Yoda and Obi-Wan previously. Previous Star Wars stories have dived into Palpatine's attempts to clone himself, among other things, and we've got some details on how the Emperor could be back.Is That The Death Star?At one point in the trailer, we see Rey and company overlooking the wreckage of...something. We can't be entirely positive, but it certainly looks like the wreckage of the Death Star II, which was destroyed at the end of the Return of the Jedi (not long after Palpatine perished).Episode 9 Release DateThe previously announced release date for what we now know is The Rise of Skywalker is still in place: Episode 9 hits theaters on December (with the first showings on the night of Thursday, December 19).Jedi Fallen OrderLike Episode IX, little has been confirmed about Respawn's Jedi Fallen Order before Celebration. A brief teaser of a broken lightsaber's glowing hilt accompanied by the message "Don't stand out" has been released, and, during E3 2018, Respawn boss Vince Zampella announced Jedi Fallen Order would take place after Revenge of the Sith. The game puts players into the boots of a Jedi padawan that escapes Order 66, and will release during 2019's holiday season.On the first day of Celebration, Respawn's Vince Zampella confirmed the game would be single-player only, with no microtransactions or multiplayer. The Jedi Fallen Order panel has now concluded, having provided us with a trailer, release date, and a few detail.Jedi Fallen Order TrailerThe first trailer for Jedi Fallen Order has been revealed, and while it didn't consist of gameplay, Respawn said it does use game assets and was rendered in-engine.New Character, Cal KestisThat trailer showcases the story and protagonist of the game, who is named Cal Kestis. He's being played by Gotham and Shameless actor Cameron Monaghan.Jedi Fallen Order Release Date And PlatformsBefore the release date could be confirmed during the panel, EA published the trailer for the game on YouTube, where that much-anticipated detail was revealed: It releases for PS4, Xbox One, and PC on November 15.The Clone Wars Animated SeriesStar Wars: The Clone Wars animated series is getting a surprise seventh season, which sees the reunion of Anakin Skywalker and his padawan learner, Ahsoka Tano, after she left the Jedi Order at the end of Season 5.Based on the Season 7 San Diego Comic-Con trailer--which can be seen above--the show's return picks up mere moments before the start of Revenge of the Sith. Anakin and Obi-Wan are called in to take a hologram call, only to see that it's Ahsoka and Mandalorian warrior Bo-Katan Kryze. In the novel Ahsoka, we learn that Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka reunite on Mandalore after Ahsoka leaves the Jedi Order--just prior to the former two being called away to save Chancellor Palpatine from being kidnapped by General Grievous. However, before then, the three, along with Clone Captain Rex and Commander Cody, go on to fight in one last battle: the Siege of Mandalore.The MandalorianThe Mandalorian is one of the TV series to launch with Disney+, the company's new streaming service. The series takes place prior to the events of The Force Awakens, and a panel during Star Wars Celebration is scheduled to reveal additional details.The first season consists of eight episodes and showrunner Jon Favreau believes it will serve as a good entry point for those unfamiliar with Star Wars. "Since we're starting with new characters in a new time period, it's a great way to bring new fans in," he said.Star Wars CosplayIt wouldn't be a major fan event without cosplay, and we'll be rounding up the best we spot around Chicago for you to check out.Star Wars Celebration Cosplay: Day OneInfo from Gamespot.com

Niantic has a couple of big events lined up for Pokemon Go next week, from a special Latios Raid to the return of the annual Eggstravaganza. But before all that, the developer is holding April's Community Day. The monthly event returns today, April 13, giving players around the world another chance to earn bonuses and capture some rare Pokemon--including a new Shiny.Just like previous months, April's Community Day will only run for three hours, during which you'll be able to find increased spawns of this month's featured Pokemon. While the duration period is always the same, the particulars of each Community Day--such as what time it starts and what other bonuses you'll be able to earn--typically vary month by month, so we've rounded up all the important details you need to know about this month's event below.What Is The Featured Pokemon?Each Community Day, Niantic designates one "featured" Pokemon that'll serve as the star of the event. Throughout the Community Day, the featured Pokemon will spawn more frequently in the wild than it normally does, making it a good opportunity to stock up on them. On top of that, Community Days typically offer players their first opportunity to catch the Shiny version of that month's featured Pokemon, and the monster can learn a special move if it fully evolves by the end of the event.The featured Pokemon for April's Community Day is Bagon, the first form of the fan-favorite Dragon Pokemon Salamence. Throughout the event, Bagon will be much more common than it normally is, and you'll have your first chance to capture a Shiny Bagon. Moreover, if you manage to evolve Bagon all the way into Salamence up to an hour after the event ends, it'll automatically know the powerful Dragon-type attack Outrage.What Time Does It Start?Up until last month, Niantic traditionally held each Community Day during a specific window of time, which varied depending upon your region; in North America, for instance, the event would always run from 11 AM - 2 PM PT, while Europe's Community Day would take place from 10 AM - 1 PM UTC.Beginning in March, however, Niantic changed the schedule for Community Days. Rather than holding the event during specific times in each region, it will now take place everywhere from 3-6 PM local time. This should make it much easier to remember when the Community Day is happening, as you no longer need to convert the event hours to your time zone.What Other Bonuses Are There?Along with increased Pokemon spawns, Niantic offers a few other bonuses during each month's Community Day as an extra incentive to go out and participate in the event. This month, you'll earn triple the usual amount of XP for capturing Pokemon throughout the Community Day. Additionally, Lure Modules--which typically only last 30 minutes--will remain active for three hours when used during the event.Info from Gamespot.com

The title of the hugely-anticipated next Star Wars film has finally been revealed, and it's Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker. The title was announced during a panel discussion at the franchise's annual Star Wars Celebration convention, which is currently underway in Chicago. Alongside the name reveal, Lucasfilm also shared the movie's first poster, which you can see below. Rather than featuring the broad cast of characters, like previous Star Wars movie posters, it simply consists of the logo on the traditional space backdrop.One of the biggest bits of information we learned from the Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker teaser trailer was that Ian McDiarmid would return and reprise his role as Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious. Despite his death at the end of Return of the Jedi, he'll apparently be back in some capacity; we hear him laugh at the end of the trailer, and McDiarmid himself appeared on stage at Celebration to reaffirm that it was indeed him. You can get the rundown on all the details in our trailer analysis.At the end of The Last Jedi, Supreme Leader Snoke, who had been positioned as the main antagonist in The Force Awakens, was defeated, leaving fans wondering who would replace him as the big bad. While many expected Kylo Ren to fill the role, the return of Palpatine indicates Kylo's role in the movie could be more ambiguous, which makes sense given the internal struggle the previous movies have depicted him as having.Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker hits theaters on December 19. The film stars Daisy Ridley as Rey, Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, John Boyega as Finn, Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron, Kelly Marie Tran as Rose Tico, Lupita Nyong'o as Maz Kanata, and Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux. New cast members include Naomi Ackie, Richard E. Grant, and Keri Russell.The film will also see appearances from a number of Star Wars veterans including Mark Hamill as Luke, Billy Dee Williams as Lando, and Carrie Fisher as Leia. Fisher died before production began, but will appear in footage originally shot for 2017's The Last Jedi.Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker isn't the only new Star Wars release that fans have to look forward to this year. It has also been confirmed that the live-action TV show The Mandalorian will be available on the streaming service Disney+ when it launches on November 12.Star Wars Celebration also promises news and reveals for the new Star Wars game Jedi Fallen Order from the developers of Apex Legends and Titanfall. Go to GameSpot sister site CNET to see a full rundown of what to expect from the show.Info from Gamespot.com

Star Wars Celebration is officially underway in Chicago, and it got started in a big way, with the Episode 9 panel revealing both the first trailer and title: The Rise of Skywalker. The expected cast of characters makes a return, but there's another making a comeback that was not at all expected. Sheev Palpatine--the Emperor of the Galactic Empire and Darth Sidious, Lord of the Sith--is back in Episode 9.The teaser trailer shows a series of action scenes, with voiceover from Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) seeming to pass the Jedi legacy on to Rey. "We've passed on all we know," he says. "A thousand generations live in you now. We'll always be with you. No one's ever really gone."But that hopeful final line immediately turns sinister, with audio of Emperor Palpatine's identifiable cackle. As if to confirm the return of the Emperor, actor Ian McDiarmid briefly appeared on-stage as well. We don't actually see him in the trailer itself; it's only his voice, so that leaves open many questions about what form he'll take and what role he'll play. The overall plot of the film remains a mystery as well, although we help you piece things together in our Episode 9 trailer breakdown.The return of Palpatine pairs with some hints the cast and director JJ Abrams had dropped during the QA session of the panel, when they mentioned that the heroes gather together to take on the greatest evil in the galaxy. This is never directly said to be Palpatine, but given that he's popped up in the trailer, he's sure to factor in somehow.Luke Skywalker passed away in the previous film, The Last Jedi, so presumably any advice he lends to Rey in this one will be as a Force Ghost. It's unknown how Palpatine is returning, but in the now non-canonical Expanded Universe fiction, the character was known for cloning himself to be functionally immortal. Star Wars: Battlefront 2, which is canon under the new Disney continuity, did suggest that the Emperor had contingency plans in place in the event of his death.For more news, check out everything coming out of Star Wars Celebration.Info from Gamespot.com

Star Wars: Episode IX finally has its title and a first teaser trailer. As revealed during a panel at Star Wars Celebration, the movie is called The Rise of Skywalker, a name that puts a fine point on its place as the last installment of the nine-film Skywalker Saga. But what does it all mean?The conspicuous Skywalker name is the clearest indication of a direction for this film. Along with the return of Emperor Palpatine and what appears to be the wreckage of the second Death Star, the title suggests a movie that will pay heavy homage to the legacy of the series. The "Skywalker" name itself suggests several possibilities.ReyThe most obvious possibility is Rey, the primary protagonist of the new trilogy and the latest to carry on the Jedi legacy. Luke Skywalker, who passed away in The Last Jedi after using a Force projection to save the few remaining members of the Resistance, explicitly said that he would not be the last Jedi, implying that Rey is the first of a new generation. The panel explained that this movie takes place after some time has passed, and Rey seems to have come into her own as a Jedi in the meanwhile. But could she be a Skywalker?In a pivotal scene with Kylo Ren in The Last Jedi, she admits that she's always known information that he sensed as well: that her parents were nobody of significance. Kylo calls them "filthy junk traders" who sold her. The movie juxtaposed Rey's heroism, coming from a bloodline that was not special, to Ren's villainy, hailing from the Vader-Skywalker line.However, JJ Abrams reportedly had bigger plans in mind for Rey's heritage, and fans have speculated that his return to direct this final installment means he could retcon that detail and make her a Skywalker after all. The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson has stated he just wants to be surprised and entertained, suggesting he doesn't really mind if Abrams undoes that plot point.Kylo Ren / Ben SoloAnother clear possibility is Kylo Ren, aka Ben Solo. The son of Han and Leia rejected his Jedi legacy and embraced the ways of his grandfather, the villainous Darth Vader. The first of the new trilogy established that he idolized the Dark Side of the force, even killing his own father to prove his devotion to it.The second film showed a more complex side of Kylo Ren, who turned after seeing his Jedi Master Luke apparently ready to cut him down in his sleep because of the darkness inside of him. He even betrayed his Sith Master Snoke, but it wasn't a change of heart: he expected Rey to join him and rule the galaxy, and became enraged when she rejected him.If this final movie redeems Kylo Ren, he could also embrace the Skywalker name to put his past behind him. The introduction of the Emperor as an even greater Dark Side threat could give him a foil to fight against.Leia OrganaAside from her son, Leia Organa is the last known living member of the Skywalker bloodline. She's never canonically adopted the Skywalker name, though, and actress Carrie Fisher passed away in 2016. Her part will be composed of unused footage, so it's doubtful she'll be so central to the film to be the singular meaning of the title.SymbolismThe Rise of Skywalker could refer not to the bloodline itself at all, but rather to a symbolic legacy of the Skywalker name living on beyond the family. This film very may well see Leia and Kylo Ren both perish, which would end the actual bloodline. But the family as a whole has had a profound impact on the fate of the galaxy, both for good and ill, and this film is said to close their arc. The name may simply refer to how the Skywalker clan is remembered as the galaxy moves on without them.Similarly, the return of the Emperor suggests this movie will lean heavily into the franchise's long history. The Rise of Skywalker could refer to the past, with flashbacks and new context given to the rise of Anakin Skywalker or Luke Skywalker. Thematically, this could also relate to the end of the bloodline and how it will be remembered.All of the AboveOne element in Star Wars titles is how often they carry multiple meanings that touch on various plot points and symbolism. Revenge of the Sith, for example, could be interpreted as both the culmination of the machinations of Darth Sideous to wipe out the Jedi, and the more personal story of Anakin's corruption. Return of the Jedi could be read as the actual return of Luke Skywalker, a Jedi, and the return of the Jedi Order. The Rise of Skywalker could refer to several possibilities at once, and the ability to interpret it in several ways simultaneously would align it with the legacy of the series. That would be a fitting way to end the Skywalker Saga.For more, check out our Episode 9 trailer breakdown.Info from Gamespot.com

At Star Wars Celebration we learned the next entry in the Star Wars movie series will be called "The Rise of Skywalker," and got an exciting teaser trailer that confirms the return of an iconic series villain. During the panel, which was chaired by noted Star Wars fan Stephen Colbert, director J.J. Abrams and multiple members of the cast provided information on the movie and their characters.Asked about when The Rise of Skywalker takes place in relation to The Last Jedi, Abrams confirmed that some time had passed since we last saw Rey, Finn, Poe, and Rose. That's somewhat different from what we saw at the start of The Last Jedi, which picked up pretty much immediately after the end of The Force Awakens."The movie doesn't pick up immediately after. Some time has gone by," Abrams explained. "In this movie, and you can tell by that picture [shown at the start of the panel], this is an adventure that the group goes on together. I think one of the great things about the movie--and getting to work on it--is the dynamic between the characters."The picture that Abrams is referring to, seen above, and depicts Rey, Finn, Poe, Chewie, BB-8, and C-3PO standing in a jungle environment in front of the Millennium Falcon. This, according to Abrams, speaks to one of the big themes of the movie, the idea of these characters who have been thrown together under the banner of the Resistance going on an epic journey together.For longtime fans of Star Wars, it may come as a comfort to learn that Abrams opted to stick close to the series' tradition of shooting in real locations, to give the places fans will be taken to during the film a sense of authenticity. "As with The Force Awakens, despite this being an epic space adventure on many worlds and places, [we built] exterior and interior sets ... [we went to] locations around England and Jordan. We did everything we could to have it in-camera. We tried to keep it as real and as physical as possible--it was better for the actors and the movie."Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker is set to hit cinema screens on December 19. It stars Daisy Ridley as Rey, Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, John Boyega as Finn, Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron, Kelly Marie Tran as Rose Tico, Lupita Nyong'o as Maz Kanata, and Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux. New cast members include Naomi Ackie, Richard E. Grant, and Keri Russell.A number of Star Wars veterans including Mark Hamill as Luke, Billy Dee Williams as Lando, and Carrie Fisher as Leia, will also be part of the story. Fisher died before production began, but will appear in footage originally shot for 2017's The Last Jedi. Discussing this, Abrams said the team discussed how they would move on and came to the realization that "it was impossible," which is why they used cut footage."The miracle of having scenes from Force Awakens that went unused, and looking at them and seeing that they could be used, is the idea of saying, 'Well, what if we could write scenes around her?' The crazy thing is, emotionally, every day it hits me that she's not here, but it's surreal because we're working with her. Leia lives in this film in a way that is kind of mindblowing to me."Also returning to the franchise is Ian McDiarmid, who played Emperor Palpatine in Return of the Jedi and the prequel trilogy. The teaser for The Rise of Skywalker ends with the iconic, creepy cackle of Palpatine, and with Luke providing voiceover suggesting that Palpatine will return to menace the galaxy. McDiarmid appeared on stage at Celebration to solidify the reveal. Here's a look at how Palpatine might return to a galaxy far far away.Star Wars Celebration will continue throughout the weekend, and we're expecting to learn more about Respawn's Jedi Fallen Order and the Disney+ series, The Mandalorian. Make sure to keep an eye on GameSpot, where we'll have all the news as it breaks. You can also use our Star Wars Celebration roundup to stay on top of everything. Info from Gamespot.com

Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker got its big debut at Star Wars Celebration, complete with a teaser-trailer loaded with moments to please fans and raise intriguing questions about this final chapter in the Skywalker Saga. One of the biggest questions comes from a moment in the trailer that shows some kind of ancient ruins. The curvature looks an awful lot like the dish of the Death Star superlaser.The scene sees Rey, Finn, Poe, C-3PO, BB-8, Chewbacca, and brand-new droid Dio spying the wreckage, while the voice of Luke Skywalker says, "No one's really gone." The screen then cuts to black, and the laugh of Sheev Palpatine, aka Darth Sidious, can be heard.Although nothing has been confirmed, what Rey and company most likely discover is the partial remains of the second Death Star--last seen exploding at the end of Return of the Jedi. And although Luke's words are seemingly meant to be reassurance for Rey, they can also be interpreted as a warning that the Force allows all manner of beings to remain even after they've died. Considering this line is spoken while looking out at the wreckage of what appears to be the second Death Star, the final resting place of Darth Sidious, and immediately followed by the laugh of said Sith Lord, it's implied that Palpatine might not be really gone after all. His body may have died, but his evil endures.Of course there's another theory: Sidious never really died, and the laugh we hear is from the man himself. Sidious' master Darth Plagueis used the dark side of the Force to both prolong his life and mask his presence from the Jedi. We know Sidious mastered the latter before he killed his master--it's how he managed to hide his true nature from the Jedi Council for so long--so he might have also learned the former too. And much like his first apprentice, Darth Maul, who was seemingly killed by Obi-Wan, perhaps Sidious isn't really dead. He's just been in hiding for years, biding his time to take revenge and using the Force to both mask his presence and extend his natural life.Info from Gamespot.com

We've finally gotten our first look at Star Wars: Episode IX, thanks to the movie's debut teaser trailer, which was released during a panel devoted to the film at Star Wars Celebration. We also learned the title of the movie--The Rise of Skywalker--and caught a new tidbit that's teasing a big new development in the final movie of the Skywalker Saga: the return of Emperor Palpatine.If you didn't catch Palpatine's return, it's likely because it was a bit subtle. The trailer, which features voice-over from Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), ends with a spooky laugh. You'd be forgiven for not realizing the creepy cackle belongs to Ian McDiarmid, who plays Palpatine, but Disney confirmed fans' suspicions by bringing McDiarmid out on stage after revealing the trailer. (You can check out our trailer analysis for a breakdown of other key moments.)Palpatine has been Star Wars' major villain for quite a while. We saw how the Sith Lord known as Darth Sidious pulled the strings of the galaxy in the prequel trilogy to turn the Old Republic into the Galactic Empire, and how he turned Anakin Skywalker from a Jedi into the galaxy far, far away's most feared villain, Darth Vader. Sidious was famously killed by Vader in Return of the Jedi, in order to save his son Luke Skywalker's life. So how can Palpatine be back?We know from that Palpatine had a bunch of contingency plans in place in the event of his death, like what we saw in Star Wars: Battlefront II's story. In Star Wars lore of the past, Palpatine's plan was to use hidden clones in case he was killed. Though it's no longer canon, the old Star Wars Expanded Universe included a lot about Palpatine's return after his death. In those stories, Palpatine had created a secret cloning facility where copies of himself were being grown, which he could use in the event of his death. In his search for immortality, he'd learned about a Force technique that allowed him to transfer what was essentially his spirit into other bodies--effectively allowing him to keep moving from clone to clone forever.In the Expanded Universe, the trouble was that Palpatine's clones were never very good. They were only viable for a short time; at first, the bodies only lasted about a year, and he had to continually transfer himself. That still allowed Palpatine to spend years in hiding, marshalling his forces for an attempt to restore the Empire after his defeat. He even briefly turned Luke Skywalker to the Dark Side to serve as his apprentice.Palpatine was ultimately defeated by Luke and Leia, as well as some sabotage from his inner circle. Leia saved Luke from the Dark Side and they managed to destroy most of Palpatine's clones, while what remained had been sabotaged by Palpatine's own royal guards, causing the last clone to deteriorate much more quickly than the others. When Palpatine tried to transfer into the body of Leia and Han's son Anakin, another Jedi Palpatine had struck down, Brand, managed to drag Palpatine into the Force, leaving him a disembodied spirit forever.Obviously, lots of the big portions of that story are no longer possible because of changes since Disney acquired Star Wars, but we've seen the Disney Star Wars canon borrow ideas from the Expanded Universe before; Grand Admiral Thrawn, for instance, was the villain of a trilogy of Expanded Universe books, and has been brought into the new canon with a 2017 novel and Star Wars Rebels. Palpatine making some clones for himself tracks with what we've seen of him in the past, too--we know his mentor, Darth Plagueis, was searching for immortality, and it would make sense that Palpatine would continue the search for those same Sith secrets.The return of Palpatine doesn't have to be precipitated by ideas from the Expanded Universe, though. It's possible The Rise of Skywalker could expand on an idea first floated in Star Wars: Rebels. In that series, Palpatine attempted to enter the World Between Worlds, a nexus that connected all of space and time together. He was thwarted by Jedi Padawan Ezra Bridger in that show, but the setup for Palpatine to pull some Sithy time travel shenanigans is there.And while that laugh is Palpatine's, that doesn't mean Palpatine will return in a form we all expect. It's possible what we're hearing is some recording or artifact that contains Palpatine's will, his memories, or his personality. We saw a powerful Sith holocron, an artifact that contains information, in Rebels, and that one included something called "The Presence," which seemed like an artificial intelligence. And back during The Clone Wars, there was another Sith holocron that actually held the ghost of the Sith Lord Darth Bane, which means Palpatine could take a similar approach, even without clones. Battlefront II also saw the Emperor ordering his soldiers to destroy a bunch of Sith artifacts before the Rebels got hold of them, which might have related to Palpatine's plans to survive beyond his demise.We won't know exactly what method Palpatine uses to come back into the galaxy, but one thing's for sure--Rey and Kylo Ren probably won't be able to use a Jedi mind trick to cut him in half. Info from Gamespot.com

The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson has said he just wants to sit back and enjoy the last film as a Star Wars fan. Today with the release of the first teaser-trailer for the newly named film Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, he got his first chance to do just that.So what did Johnson think? Judging by his reaction on Twitter, he's very pleased. The director of Brick, Looper, and the most recent main Star Wars film took the opportunity to gush like any other fan would.I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS and I just melted back into being a happy kid. If you need me I’ll be spending the rest of the day smiling dreamily. https://t.co/z8evIBbRoA — Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) April 12, 2019Johnson directed Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which was criticized by some fans for subverting the expectations set in JJ Abrams' first movie, The Force Awakens. In particular, Rey's parentage turned out to be no one of consequence, and the villainous Snoke was dispatched fairly easily, undermining him as a serious threat. Some have suggested that JJ Abrams returning to direct the last film means that some of Johnson's choices will be retconned, but this teaser-trailer does not confirm that to be the case. Johnson has indicated he doesn't really mind whatever Abrams would like to do with it.With Snoke gone, the new primary villain of The Rise of Skywalker would appear to be Emperor Sheev Palpatine. His signature cackle can be heard near the end of the trailer, and just to make sure there was no confusion, actor Ian McDiarmid appeared on stage. We've posited a few theories on how the deceased villain may be making a return.Palpatine isn't the only relic getting a reappearance in this final film. The footage also showed what appeared to be the wreckage of a Death Star--most likely the second such space station, where Palpatine presumptively died. This film is said to take place some time after The Last Jedi, so the characters have had some time to grow into their various roles before coming back together for a last adventure. That still leaves the mystery of what the title means.The presentation wasn't all nostalgia, though. It also introduces us to a new character named Jannah, played by actress Naomi Ackie. Asked if she could be the daughter of Lando Calrissian, who is also reprising his role for this film, she gave a coy response that didn't exactly amount to a denial.Info from Gamespot.com

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order writer Chris Avellone has said story is "very important to Respawn" in concern to the upcoming game. The Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords writer tweeted that he's done with his portion of the Jedi: Fallen Order's story. Respawn is expected to announce further details about Jedi: Fallen Order during a panel at Star Wars Celebration."I hope [the six writers] are listed in the reveal because I accidentally said 'I've wrapped this up,' but there are other writers and I'm not even the lead guy," Avellone said in an interview with VG247. "Story was very important to Respawn. I think they do a good job of introducing various narrative layers into their games already, but they think the story is an important part of what they perceive to be a Star Wars game. That's one of the reasons I like Respawn, because when they tackle something like that, they understand what the important points are."The lead narrative designer for Jedi: Fallen Order is Aaron Contreras, who previously led the creation of the story for Mafia 3. "I think they brought me on because I have a pretty strong Star Wars pedigree so I'd probably be able to just jump right in," Avellone continued. "And I was, which was good. It didn't require a ton of new research."The first details for Jedi: Fallen Order were revealed during E3 2018. Respawn boss Vince Zampella said the Star Wars game has you play as a Jedi Padawan who escaped Order 66 after Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, still armed with a lightsaber. Zampella and Jedi: Fallen Order game director Stig Asmussen will further discuss Respawn and Lucasfilm's collaboration on the game on April 13 at 11:30 AM PT / 2:30 PM ET / 7:30 PM BST. Prior to the panel, Jedi: Fallen Order art work was leaked.Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is scheduled to release Fall 2019. Despite not knowing much about it, there's quite a few people and places we want to see in the game. Respawn hasn't announced scheduled platforms for Jedi: Fallen Order, but the game is presumably releasing for Xbox One, PS4, and PC.Info from Gamespot.com

Respawn boss Vince Zampella has confirmed that Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order is a story-driven, single-player game. There will be no multiplayer to speak of, and no microtransactions either, which means the game will be bucking a few recent trends in favor of delivering players a focused narrative.On the Star Wars Celebration Day 1 live stream, Zampella said, [Jedi: Fallen Order] is a single-player story game… No multiplayer, no microtransactions. It's a story game." Zampella's words were met with applause and shouts of joy.[Update: Saturday's Jedi Fallen Order panel has concluded, having brought us both the first trailer and a release date: The game is coming to PS4, Xbox One, and PC on November 15. There were also some high-level details shared about the story and its protagonist, but we didn't get a look at gameplay and learn a whole lot about what the game plays like. The panel was light on information overall.]Jedi Fallen Order writer Chris Avellone's earlier comments, when he said story is "very important to Respawn.""I hope [the six writers] are listed in the reveal because I accidentally said 'I've wrapped this up,' but there are other writers and I'm not even the lead guy," Avellone said. "Story was very important to Respawn. I think they do a good job of introducing various narrative layers into their games already, but they think the story is an important part of what they perceive to be a Star Wars game. That's one of the reasons I like Respawn, because when they tackle something like that, they understand what the important points are."The Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords writer has said he's done with his portion of Jedi: Fallen Order's story. "I think they brought me on because I have a pretty strong Star Wars pedigree so I'd probably be able to just jump right in," Avellone continued. "And I was, which was good. It didn't require a ton of new research."Jedi: Fallen Order was revealed during E3 2018, and Zampella said the Star Wars game is set after Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. You'll play as a Jedi Padawan that escaped Order 66, and you'll have access to a lightsaber. Respawn is expected to announce further details about Jedi: Fallen Order during a panel at Star Wars Celebration on April 13 at 11:30 AM PT / 2:30 PM ET / 7:30 PM BST.Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is currently scheduled to release Fall 2019, presumably for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. Some art for the game has already been leaked. Despite not knowing much about it, there are quite a few people and places we want to see in the game.Info from Gamespot.com

Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order follows the story of a Padawan that escaped the Emperor's ruthless extermination of the Jedi, and developer Respawn Entertainment has brought in actor Cameron Monaghan to portray its main character, Cal Kestis. Fans were introduced to Kestis and Monaghan during the Jedi Fallen Order panel held at this year's Star Wars Celebration.Monaghan is known for starring as Ian Gallagher in the TV series Shameless and, more recently, has made a name for himself playing Jerome and Jeremiah Valeska, a version of DC's iconic villain Joker in the Batman prequel series Gotham.His character, Cal Kestis, is on a journey to overcome the tragic events of his past while also attempting to complete his training to become a full-fledged Jedi. Of course, he's also fighting for his life, as the Empire and its Inquisitors have been empowered by Order 66 to wipe out the Jedi, and they're after him.During the panel, developer Respawn Entertainment also confirmed that Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order's release date as November 15. The game will be available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC through publisher EA's Origin service.Star Wars Celebration also gave us the first trailer for next entry in the movie franchise and confirmed that the film will be titled Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. You can watch the trailer here. If that wasn't enough Star Wars for you, Disney revealed that The Mandalorian, a spin-off TV series from Iron Man, Jungle Book, and The Lion King director Jon Favreau will be available when the Disney+ streaming service launches later this year.Star Wars Celebration is sure to keep on delivering exciting news and tidbits about the future of the beloved franchise. You can stay up-to-date with all of it using our Star Wars Celebration roundup, which is being updated as and when new information is revealed. Info from Gamespot.com