The Xbox platform has historically struggled in Japan, but that seems to be changing. Xbox's business boss for Asia, Jeremy Hinton, recently said that Japan is actually the "fastest growing market worldwide" for Xbox, repeating something Xbox boss Phil Spencer said in 2020. Hinton told IGN Japan (translated by IGN US) that the Xbox platform overall has seen "phenomenal growth" in the past 12 months in Japan across console and PC."That's new people coming into our ecosystem, that's people signing up for Game Pass, that's people buying accessories or games on PC. So we're seeing really phenomenal growth coming out of Japan to be top of that list for us," he said.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

The annual Steam Summer Sale usually brings significant discounts to a ton of top PC games. Steam never announces the Summer Sale dates ahead of time, instead choosing to drop the sale on us without warning. However, it's not hard to assume that a "summer sale" would happen in the summer season, and as we're now in June it's time to start preparing for the tidal wave of sales coming our way on Steam.When is Steam Summer Sale 2021?The Steam Summer Sale 2021 is likely scheduled to begin on June 24 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET and continue until July 8. Steam sales regularly begin at 1 PM ET, and the first official day of summer is Sunday, June 20, so Steam kicking off its big summer sale in the first week of the season seems like a perfect fit. Last year's Steam Summer Sale ran from June 25 to July 29, which makes these dates even more likely.Start time: Thursday, June 24 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ETEnd time: Thursday, July 8 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ETThat timeframe was first reported back in April by Steam Database (@SteamDB) on Twitter, a notably dependable source of this kind of information, which reported that Valve had communicated those dates to its partners. For those who aren't familiar, Steam Database is a non-affiliated account that tracks updates and news related to Valve's Steam platform, and it has proven to be very accurate in its reporting. For example, the account correctly had the start of the 2021 Steam Lunar New Year Sale earlier this year.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

July is nearly here, and Hulu is serving lots of new films, TV shows, and original programming. Next month's selection includes much-loved classics, intriguing documentaries, scary horror, hilarious comedies, family favorites, and more.Fans of '90s movies will have plenty to watch on July 1, including Stallone's action hit Cliffhanger, tense thriller Breakdown, sci-fi comedy Galaxy Quest, Jim Carrey's The Mask and Dumb & Dumber, Stephen King's Sleepwalkers, Space Jam, and the original Universal Soldier. There are some high-profile '80s movies arriving that day too, including Beetlejuice, Robocop, Stand by Me, The Terminator, and Caddyshack.On July 2, two very different but equally entertaining music-themed movies are released. Bill & Ted Face the Music is the belated but hugely enjoyable third part of the time travelling rock'n'roll comedy series, while the joyous concert film Summer of Soul is directed by Roots drummer Questlove and looks at the 1968 Harlem festival.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Microsoft's big Xbox E3 showcase on Sunday was just the beginning of the company's plans to discuss games this week. It's been announced that an Xbox Games Showcase: Extended event is coming this Thursday, June 17. It won't be a news event, however, so don't expect any reveals. Instead, you can look forward to updates and insights from various development teams at Xbox.The event, which will be hosted by Gamertag Radio's Parris Lilly, will include conversations with developers from first-party studios such as Double Fine, Obsidian, Ninja Theory, and Rare, along with "dev partners" from across the globe. Ninja Theory will provide a behind-the-scenes look at Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, but we don't know for sure what the other teams are expected to talk about. Halo Infinite developer 343 Industries is also confirmed to appear, along with World's Edge and other studios.Excited to announce I am the host for Xbox Games Showcase: ExtendedAiring on Thursday, June 17 at 10:00 AM PT. Featuring conversations with developers from studios like Double Fine, Obsidian, Ninja Theory, Rare, and dev partners from around the world! pic.twitter.com/jeaQ3OtiZm — Parris (@vicious696) June 13, 2021Join @vicious696 tomorrow for the Xbox Games Showcase Extended, which is focused on conversations with devs at some of our studios + partners. So no reveals, but some great insights from teams making games for Xbox. https://t.co/9Dqmr55hkT — Aaron Greenberg 🙅🏼‍♂️💚U (@aarongreenberg) June 16, 2021Xbox Games Showcase Extended is Tomorrow!I'll be your host for conversations with studios like:✅343i✅Double Fine✅Ninja Theory✅Obsidian✅Playground Games✅Rare✅World’s Edge✅+ dev partnersThursday June 17 at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST: https://t.co/jK5MpVKfK5 pic.twitter.com/YJPkfqpS3j — Parris (@vicious696) June 16, 2021Tune in tomorrow for a behind the scenes update on the development of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II.Thursday June 17 at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BSThttps://t.co/7wNnrFkg3s — Ninja Theory (@NinjaTheory) June 16, 2021Rare's new IP Everwild did not show up at the Xbox E3 showcase, so perhaps this event will bring some news on that game. Double Fine's Psychonauts 2 got a release date at E3, while Obsidian announced The Outer Worlds 2. Rare wasn't totally absent from the show--not by a long shot. The studio announced a huge Pirates of the Caribbean crossover for Sea of Thieves featuring none other than Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Disney+ has announced a change for its lineup of TV shows. Going forward, all new originals series will debut new episodes on Wednesdays instead of Fridays.This change already started with Loki, which was Disney+'s most-watched series premiere so far. The new air dates for Disney+ original shows begins in July, and it impacts all shows around the world. This means that Monsters at Work will now premiere July 7, while Turner & Hooch will debut on July 21.Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that Disney is making this change to "accommodate the increased volume of original content on Disney+." The change only applies to original shows; new movies will still debut on Fridays.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Microsoft has revealed more details on the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean crossover coming to Sea of Thieves and revealed the first screenshots ahead of a new gameplay trailer on Thursday. The game's A Pirate's Life expansion is a narrative-focused DLC for Sea of Thieves that a Johnny Depp-like Captain Jack Sparrow and his crew to the game.The newly revealed screenshots, which you can see in the gallery below, show off some of the new environments and enemies that players will encounter in A Pirate's Life.Gallery A gameplay trailer for A Pirate's Life will premiere this Thursday, June 17, as part of the Xbox Games Showcase: Extended broadcast. Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

The summer is here, and to celebrate, Disney has plenty of new content arriving to its streaming service this July. Disney is giving viewers the choice to see a couple of high-profile movies in theaters or on Premier Access--which comes with an additional cost.On Friday, July 9, Marvel's Black Widow finally comes to theaters, and to Premier Access--for a $30 additional fee. After seeing numerous delays because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this solo Black Widow movie stars Scarlett Johansson as the titular hero. The film follows a story that takes place between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War as we learn more about who she is and the people that surround her--ones that aren't Avengers. The film also stars Florence Pugh, Rachel Weisz, and David Harbour.There is one more Premier Access movie coming in July, and it's Disney's Jungle Cruise, arriving on July 30. Starring Emily Blunt, Dwayne Johnson, Jesse Plemons, and Paul Giamatti, the film is based on the Disney ride of the same name. Hey, it worked for Pirates of the Caribbean. It follows a group of people on a riverboat traveling down a river. And guess what? There's danger and adventure along the way. Who knew?Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

A sequel to the animated film Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge, titled Battle of the Realms, is in the works and will be released sooner than you think. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the new film will be released on DVD, Blu-Ray, and digital this summer.The new Mortal Kombat Legends will see much of the original movie's cast return, including Joel McHale as Johnny Cage, Jennifer Carpenter as Sonya Blade, Jordan Rodrigues as Liu Kang, and Patrick Seitz as Scorpion, among many others. Additionally, Bayardo De Murguia will be taking over the role of Sub-Zero, with a number of other characters being introduced--Kung Lao, Jade, and D'Vorah to name a few.The project hails from the same creative team as Scorpion's Revenge--screenwriter Jeremy Adams, producers Jim Krieg and Rick Morales, and director Ethan Spaulding, with franchise co-creator Ed Boon serving as a consultant.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

We know now what Windows 11 looks like ahead of its June 24 reveal thanks to a leak showcasing the new operating system's UI elements, from the start menu to the startup sound and beyond, according to a report by The Verge.The leak first appeared on the Chinese site Baidu, a technology company focused on internet-related services. According to The Verge, which captured screenshots from the leak, the entire OS then popped up online. And as previously reported, Windows 11 uses design elements from the cancelled 10X operating system, particularly in the start menu. Though it would be remise to not acknowledge that Windows 11's new design does aesthetically harkens back to past Windows releases like 7 or 2000.Of course, this is an updated operating system, which means Windows 11 comes with some newer elements. The Verge's senior editor Tom Warren notes that the start menu gives you the option to move all of the app icons to the left-hand side of the screen. Further, there's a new Widgets icon, suggesting that Microsoft is bringing the feature back. Windows 11 goes back to using rounded corners, something it dropped with Windows 8.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

The trailer for the upcoming Netflix series Heist has been released. The show explores some of the biggest heists in US history and it arrives on July 14.The series focuses on three incredible heists. In 'Sex Magick Money Murder,' a 21-year-old woman and her ex-con lover steal millions from a Vegas casino, while 'The Money Plane' sees a man abscond with a fortune from Miami airport. The third is titled 'The Bourbon King,' and involves an alcohol-smuggling scheme that gets wildly out of control. The trailer reveals the show will feature a mix of real-life interviews and stylish reconstructions, and it looks like another true crime must-watch from Netflix. Check it out below:Heist has six episodes, with each heist retold over two episodes. The show is directed by Derek Doneen (The Price of Free), Martin Desmond Roe (Two Distant Strangers), and Nick Frew (We Are the Champions).Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Blooming Business: Casino is an upcoming tycoon game where you put together your own casino that will be attended by an assortment of anthropomorphic animals. During a hands-off demo preview and follow-up Q&A, creative director Paul Blachère detailed how Blooming Business: Casino tells stories through its emergent narrative."We've seen more and more, in the strategy market notably, a really emergent narrative," Blachère said. "We think this emergent narrative can really benefit from the tycoon form simply because if you look at the games that support this kind of fun, they are usually about domination and they're usually about strategy and violence--that's something that we think not everyone is necessarily trying to find in the stories they want to experience."Blooming Business: Casino isn't built to defeat the player, according to Blachère. "Players can enjoy things at their own pace and they are safe--we're not going to destroy anything and they're not going to lose everything," he said.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

PlayStation 5 owners looking for a competitive edge have a new option, as controller manufacturer HexGaming has announced the Hex Rival, a brand-new "ultimate esports controller." This marks the first elite-style controller we've seen that's designed specifically for PS5, though it comes at a hefty price: $290 USD.The Hex Rival features two back buttons that can be mapped to 15 different commands, both face buttons and directional inputs, and interchangeable thumbsticks with different height and grip designs. HexGaming Hex Rival PS5 Controller $290 The Hex Rival, HexGaming's new premium PS5 controller, is now available on both Amazon and the official HexGaming website. It comes in multiple colors and designs, including the Great Wave (pictured), Sakura Pink, Nebula Galaxy, and Origin of Chaos. See at Amazon Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Microsoft has commissioned a special art print for Halo Infinite themed around one of the new skins coming to the game, and it looks fantastic.The new Yoroi Spartan from Halo Infinite is becoming a screenprint by artist @SachinTeng. It will be available to buy during Comic-Con@Home this July through Mondo. More details about how you can buy it will come later, but for now, developer 343 Industries shared a sneak peek on Twitter. Check it out below:You’ve seen the Yoroi Spartan from #HaloInfinite in action, now prepare to immortalize it on your wall. Enjoy a sneak peek at this limited-edition screenprint by @SachinTeng – available during Comic-Con@Home July 23-25 from @MondoNews! Stay tuned for launch details coming soon. pic.twitter.com/NU7H4OcINk — Halo (@Halo) June 15, 2021Halo Infinite's first multiplayer season is called Heroes of Reach, and it includes the Yoroi Spartan skin that you can unlock by completing in-game challenges. 343 has yet to reveal the specifics, but that information should come in time.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

A young boy waiting at the airport received a nice surprise from charitable strangers on the internet. The six-year-old Nintendo fan received 15 Switch game codes for free after E3 host Greg Miller sent out a call for contributions.Miller tweeted that the boy noticed they both had Among Us loaded on their Switch systems at the airport. So he sent out a message asking for any spare age-appropriate Switch codes so he could hand them over and "blow his mind." Roughly 15 minutes later he followed-up asking people to please stop sending codes, because he was trying to copy them all down onto a sheet of paper before he had to board his plane.The result was roughly 15 free games, with a diverse range like Lego DC Super Villains, Nuts, and Donut County. Miller said the boy, only identified as McCoy, was "VERY happy."Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

The hosts are back online. It looks like filming of Westworld Season 4 has begun or is very close to kicking off, if an Instagram post from star Jeffrey Wright has anything to say about it.In a short and to-the-point post, the actor shared a photo of his trailer door on the show's set, which is marked with his character's name, Bernard. "Good morning...old friend," he wrote. You can see the post below. View this post on InstagramA post shared by Jeffrey Wright (@jfreewright)Given that Season 3 of Westworld came to an end over a year ago, it's reassuring to see production on new episodes is happening, though it remains to be seen when they'll debut on HBO.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com