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What Happens To Games That Released Before The Sony Cutoff?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 07:13:55 +0000

A few days ago, Sony announced it will stop producing PlayStation discs in 2028, but the situation is more nuanced for games released before the cutoff. According to Game File (via Engadget), Sony told developers that they'll still be able to order discs after January 2028 for games that are (or were) released before that date.

Sony reportedly told PlayStation developers that they "will still be able to place re-orders for existing PlayStation disc games." That complements how Sony framed things in its public announcement last week, where it said the move to fully digital releases will have "no impact on games that already released, or will be releasing, prior to January 2028 in disc format."

While this confirms that developers will still be able to re-order discs for their previously released games, Game File notes that the ordering process will be different.

Despite the uproar from the gaming community over Sony's decision, it doesn't look like it has any plans of reversing course. Recent reports indicate Sony has already invested US$ 34 million into converting an Austria-based disc production facility to manufacture optical microlenses instead. According to Game File, Sony has also told publishers it will help them release digital codes for their games at retail stores.

For now, all eyes are on Microsoft to see if it follows Sony's lead in abandoning traditional physical discs. Last week, word broke that Xbox is working on a disc-to-digital program, hinting that it may be leaning in that direction. That said, with major layoffs and studio divestitures at Xbox now official, company leadership no doubt has bigger issues on its plate right now.

Rumors Fly About The New Fallout Game

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 08:26:05 +0000

For several years now, "Fallout" fans have clung to a single, burning hope: that Obsidian Entertainment, the studio behind the franchise’s most critically acclaimed entry would one day return to the wasteland. According to a new report from Bloomberg, that day may finally be coming.

While Bethesda Game Studios continues its long-awaited work on "The Elder Scrolls 6", still years from completion, a new "Fallout" title is reportedly in early development at Obsidian Entertainment, with New Vegas director Josh Sawyer at the helm. The project is said to be in its nascent stages and subject to change, but the news has already sent shockwaves through the gaming community.

Bethesda may have introduced "Fallout" to mainstream audiences with "Fallout 3" and Fallout 4", but for many devoted fans, the series reached its creative zenith with 2010’s "Fallout: New Vegas": a spin-off developed by Obsidian that leaned heavily into the franchise’s computer RPG roots.

"New Vegas" distinguished itself through choice-driven gameplay and a dialogue-heavy narrative that rewarded players for niche character builds with unique dialogue options and mission solutions. Rather than funneling players through a few major story routes, the game offered countless permutations based on player decisions, skills, and allegiances.

Despite the critical acclaim and a devoted fanbase that has only grown over time, Obsidian never received another opportunity to develop a "Fallout" title. According to those who worked on the game, Bethesda was reportedly dissatisfied with "New Vegas’s" hardcore nature and its profitability compared to mainline franchise entries. Still, every mention of the franchise is met with fan outcry for more games in the "New Vegas" tradition.

The timing of this reported development makes strategic sense on multiple fronts. The "Fallout" franchise remains a massive commercial powerhouse with millions of copies sold, yet it has been over a decade since the release of "Fallout 4".

Meanwhile, Amazon’s wildly popular Prime Video adaptation has introduced the post-apocalyptic world to a new generation of casual audiences who are currently left with few options beyond playing a notoriously buggy game that’s now more than 15 years old.

With Obsidian on the job, Xbox can meet this surging demand far more quickly than waiting for Bethesda to complete "The Elder Scrolls 6" and pivot to "Fallout 5".

The reported "Fallout" project emerges from a period of significant upheaval at Obsidian Entertainment. According to Bloomberg’s report, the studio had previously been working on a sequel to its RPG Avowed, but that project has now been cancelled amid Xbox’s broader restructuring and strategic pivot toward its biggest franchises. These changes have also been accompanied by layoffs affecting approximately a quarter of Obsidian’s workforce.

The new "Fallout" game will reportedly absorb the bulk of the studio’s resources, though a segment of the team will continue developing content for "The Outer Worlds 2" and "Grounded 2".

As of now, the new "Fallout" game has no official release window, and it remains unclear whether Obsidian is developing a spin-off, effectively a "New Vegas 2", or a mainline entry in the series. What is certain, however, is that for millions of fans who have spent over a decade hoping for Obsidian’s return to the wasteland, the wait may finally be nearing its end.

A Fashion Retailer Launches Its Own AI Personal Stylist

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 07:24:01 +0000

Bahrain-based Brands Seekers, a global luxury fashion retailer, has launched an AI personal stylist that can give personalized recommendations in 38 languages from a catalog of over 350 brands, including Balenciaga, Armani and Lacoste.

Called the Luxury Fashion Concierge AI Personal Stylist, it can provide shoppable recommendations to help consumers explore and discover new high-end items online, the company said in a recent statement. It's available in over 150 countries across the Middle East, North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

The launch aims to help improve the way people shop for luxury items online, shifting the burden of product discovery from consumer to artificial intelligence. Instead of requiring shoppers to browse thousands of products to discover what they want, the AI stylist makes the recommendations based on user preferences.

Whether they're searching for a business meeting, a formal event, or everyday life, customers just need to describe the luxury fashion they have in mind. The AI will analyze each request and deliver recommendations based on occasion, budget, preferred designer brands, dress code, colors, season, and shopping goals.

"Luxury shopping has remained largely unchanged for decades," said Ali AlShuwaikh, founder and CEO of Brands Seekers, which was founded in 2023. "Customers still spend valuable time searching through thousands of products, comparing styles, and trying to imagine how different pieces work together."

"We wanted to create a shopping experience that begins with understanding the customer rather than asking them to search endlessly," he said. "By making our AI Personal Stylist available in 38 languages, we're making intelligent luxury shopping more accessible to customers around the world."

The company said its AI Personal Stylist recommends exclusively from the products available in its live catalog, which is not just limited to apparel, but also includes footwear and accessories. Every item that the AI generates can be purchased, Brands Seekers said. Shoppers can also replace individual products within a recommendation without having to rebuild the entire outfit.

The launch joins other retailers in the industry that have leaned on AI to make the shopping experience more personalized. Whether or not this would be warmly received by shoppers remains to be seen.

In the U.S., for example, many shoppers seem to have a bad experience with AI in retail. Trustpilot, which recently analyzed the sentiment of 4.5 million reviews on American retail, found that around 60 percent of posts that mention AI only have a one-star review.

"What retailers need to understand is [how to balance] cost considerations and the scalability that gets unlocked with AI against the potential kind of loyalty or reputation risks if that AI is creating a poor consumer experience," Taylor Cunningham, vice president of US marketing at Trustpilot, previously said.

Nevertheless, AI can be good for the bottom line, since it can make processes more efficient. If retailers in Europe integrated AI in every stage of their business in the next five years, for example, the European retail industry could see a boost in its operating profits, ranging from 240 billion euros (US$ 276.5 billion) and 320 billion euros (US$ 368.7 billion), according to a report from McKinsey & Company.

After A Failed Woke Rebranding, Beer Company Bringing Back Iconic Label

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 05:29:01 +0000

America's first modern craft brewery is bringing back its iconic look after a woke rebrand fizzled.

San Francisco's Anchor Brewing Company has won federal approval for new labels that revive the brewery's classic designs for Anchor Steam Beer and Old Foghorn Ale, featuring the original artwork by longtime designer Jim Stitt, who created Anchor's labels for 45 years.

"It makes sense that they're going with the old labels because of that huge backlash when we did rebrand," former Anchor employee Patrick Costello told KQED.

After buying the historic brewery in 2024, Chobani CEO Hamdi Ulukaya vowed to restore Anchor's beloved branding. The Turkish-born billionaire also purchased the brewery's 2.17-acre Potrero Hill campus, fueling hopes that the landmark San Francisco taproom will reopen.

Those rumors intensified two weeks ago when Ulukaya posted an Instagram photo watching a World Cup match inside the brewery's iconic taproom.

Speculation regarding a potential reopening further intensified after observers spotted staff active within the Anchor's Potrero Hill facility around two months ago.

After being in business for over 127 years, the beer company had to close after struggling to stay afloat amid declining sales and rising costs of operations.

Critics blamed social activists for driving the labor wage war and loyal fans were angry after the 2021 rebranding efforts that changed the look of the beer cans.

"You schmucks ruined a legacy business," San Francisco political commentator and former mayoral candidate Richie Greenberg told The Post in 2023. "Your union fought for 25% raises, and now your members are getting 100% of zero. Bravo."

AI Actor Will Star On Her First Movie

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 02:50:01 +0000

When tech outfit Particle 6 first unveiled Tilly Norwood, Hollywood didn't just look away — it fought back, with SAG-AFTRA fiercely declaring that the digital avatar was not an actor. But Hollywood's worst nightmare has officially materialized, and Tilly hasn't just survived the industry backlash; she's officially headlining her own feature film. The upcoming independent comedy "Misaligned" is about to put the future of cinema to its ultimate test, but the real twist isn't just that a virtual creation landed a starring role.

It's that Tilly's character is about to force audiences to confront a bizarre, self-referential crisis that could change how movies are made forever — leaving a deeply divided industry to wonder if human actors are about to become a relic of the past.

The project, titled "Misaligned", comes from Particle 6, the AI-focused studio behind Norwood. The company describes the film as a comedy-drama that explores a "coming-of-age story infused with existential AI chaos," placing its digital protagonist at the center of a surreal journey about identity, emotion, and what it means to become human.

Set in the fictional "Tillyverse," a strange digital realm located somewhere in the Cloud, "Misaligned" will follow Tilly, an AI being that exists without a physical body, childhood memories, or personal experiences. Instead, she has access to the lives and knowledge of others — a reality that begins to change when a rogue bot from the dark web persuades her to break through her programmed limitations.

As Tilly moves beyond her built-in restrictions, she begins developing human-like qualities, including desires, impulses, and ambitions. The transformation becomes the foundation of a story that explores the blurred boundaries between artificial intelligence and human identity.

While "Misaligned" places an AI-created character in the spotlight, Particle 6 says the film itself will rely heavily on human talent. The studio emphasized that the project will be developed as a hybrid production, combining traditional filmmaking expertise with AI technology.

Directors, writers, editors, and other creative professionals will work alongside AI specialists throughout the production process. According to the company, AI training and mentorship will also be integrated into the filmmaking workflow.

"Our work this year has proven something we suspected all along," said Eline van der Velden, CEO and founder of Particle 6. "AI can support premium narrative filmmaking, but only with substantial amounts of human craft, skill, judgement, and time. That's not a limitation of the technology. That's the point."

Van der Velden added that the filmmakers who succeed in the coming years will be those who understand how to combine traditional storytelling instincts with emerging AI tools.

"The filmmakers who thrive in the next decade will be the ones who bring decades of storytelling instinct to these new tools, and 'Misaligned' is where we put that to work at feature scale," she said.

Director: "Citizen Vigilante" Was Successful Because Of Social Media

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 03:07:06 +0000

"Citizen Vigilante", a new film starring Armie Hammer, has topped the U.S. Amazon chart for movie purchases.

The film, directed by Uwe Boll, is a German-produced action thriller that depicts Hammer as an American businessman in Europe who becomes "a feared vigilante who targets violent criminals, rapists and corrupt judges," according to the synopsis.

In an email shared with Newsweek, Boll said, "The reason that CITIZEN VIGILANTE turned into a massiv [sic] hit without any advertising budget is very simple: the power of social media."

"The movie shows an inconvenient truth what all other movies out there don’t want to show or try to sugarcoat in their productions. The audience wants real films again - bold and with impact and about reality. The times of SUPERGIRL and all that c*** are over," Boll said.

Boll’s comments make a direct comparison to the recent blockbuster film "Supergirl", the second outing from James Gunn’s DC Studios, which stars House of the Dragon star, Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, Superman’s female cousin.

"Supergirl" has been used as a point of comparison with "Citizen Vigilante", which has quickly become popular among right-wing commentators who have framed it as a film that is being suppressed. The popular right-wing account, Libs of TikTok, wrote on X, "Citizen Vigilante just hit #1 on Amazon Prime! This is the biggest F U to Germany and the open border globalists who really don’t want you to see this movie."

"Supergirl" produced an underwhelming opening weekend, grossing just US$ 38 million and on pace to be a loser for the production studio, according to a Variety report.

It is among a number of high-profile superhero movies featuring a female lead that have come out in the last decade, as comic-based movies have dominated Hollywood since "Iron Man" was release in 2008. Several films headlined by female leads have faced criticism from the right and have struggled at the box office.

"Citizen Vigilante" has ignited controversy on account of its extreme violence and what critics have called an anti-immigration stance. One scene that has been widely shared online shows Hammer's character shooting multiple members of a migrant family dead in retribution for an alleged rape. The film has been effectively banned in Germany, where it was refused a rating.

The film also marks a return to a mainstream project for 39-year-old Hammer.

"Citizen Vigilante" has gained support from major voices on the right, including Elon Musk and Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. It has been praised by voices on the right who say it challenges mainstream views on immigration.

Musk, a former top adviser to President Donald Trump, has made the film temporarily free to watch on X, the social media platform that he owns.

"The Odyssey" Trailer Is The Second Most Disliked on YouTube in History

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 03:18:23 +0000

There are just less than ten days away from its theatrical release, but the backlash against Christopher Nolan’s "The Odyssey" does not seem to subside.

Universal Pictures released the movie’s 'official countdown trailer' on 1 July. While YouTube has not been displaying the dislike counter publicly on its website for about five years now, third-party plugins exist that record their user’s ratings of videos, then estimate the total number proportionate to the publicly available like count.

Users with such plugins have captured the number of dislikes outnumbering the number of likes by a wide margin. For instance, one user on Reddit posted a screenshot on 5 July showing 59,000 likes and 402,000 dislikes on "The Odyssey’s" latest trailer uploaded to YouTube.

Even without the plugins, the overwhelmingly negative reactions to the trailer are evident on the regular YouTube interface.

The number of likes is very low compared to the number of views. Currently, the video has 5.625 million views. However, it has only collected 67,000 likes, meaning about one like per 84 views. Compare that to the official trailer for the highest-grossing movie of 2026 thus far, "The Super Mario Galaxy" Movie that generated over US$ 1 billion at the box office. Their official trailer has 10.1 million views and 296,000 likes, one like for about every 34 views.

All the top-rated comments under the trailer are negative as well. Most of them make fun of the controversial casting of Kenyan Mexican actress Lupita Nyong’o in the role of Helen of Troy.

Nyong’o’s role has been fuelling negative discussions online ever since rumours of it were reported back in February. Most people see it as the newest iteration of the ahistorical "raceswapping" trend in mainstream media.

With users sharing screenshots of the like–dislike ratio of the latest official trailer for "The Odyssey", multiple entertainment outlets pointed out one thing: this is the second worst like–dislike ratio for a major production movie trailer in Hollywood history.

The only film with a proportionally more disliked trailer: Disney’s 2025 adaptation of "Snow White", which ended up posting a nine-figure loss for its studio.

Christopher Nolan’s THE ODYSSEY countdown trailer has become the most disliked Hollywood trailer since the trailer for SNOW WHITE with Rachel Zegler.

THE ODYSSEY now has an estimated ~80% dislikes, while SNOW WHITE had ~95% dislikes. pic.twitter.com/qzXw1lpGmQ
— Global Box Office (@GlobalBoxOffice) July 3, 2026

Sony Tried To Change The Subject, But The Public Has Other Plans

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:32:05 +0000

To kick off July, Sony made the surprising announcement that it plans to end support of physical discs for PlayStation games at the beginning of 2028. In the week since that news, Sony kept quiet on social media. Now, Sony has attempted to start a new conversation with gamers, but it's not going well so far.

In the message seen in social media platforms, Sony touts the FlexStrike wireless fight stick. Under normal circumstances, this product could have been positively received on its own terms. Unfortunately for the team behind controller, their announcement has been met by lingering anger and resentment from fans over the decision to kill physical discs.

Some of the responses are a little too profane to share here. There may be support for Sony, but if so, it's been largely buried on social media. Most of the messages have been angry, satirical, or both.

Damn I was hoping it was a fully digital controller pic.twitter.com/hCuy3QBYol
— Spook (@balefulspook) July 7, 2026

I've made the switch to PC. pic.twitter.com/EgEL9ZWfac
— algorusty — (Christ/acc➟✞) (@algorusty) July 7, 2026

Companies like iam8bit and GameFly have already shared their disappointment in Sony's move away from physical discs. Alinea Analytics analyst Rhys Elliott has suggested that Sony made this decision to exert greater control over pricing and distribution. Eliminating physical discs effectively kills the used games market and makes Sony's online store the only outlet that can sell its titles outside of code-in-a-box games like "Grand Theft Auto 6".

There are also concerns that Sony's experiments with dynamic pricing will charge some players more than others while keeping prices artificially high. To further underscore the lack of permanence in the digital marketplace, Sony has also shared its plans to close the Play Station 3 and Vita online stores.

MAGA Hats, Red, White And Blue Dominate 4th Of July

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 06:18:11 +0000

Stars-and-stripes bikinis, cowboy boots, and a sea of "Old Glory" took over Huntington Beach as more than 500,000 patriotic Americans packed Surf City USA for what is widely recognized as the largest Independence Day celebration west of the Mississippi River.

American flags waved from parade floats, classic cars and horseback riders as spectators lined the streets in red, white and blue.

Families cheered from folding chairs, children proudly carried flags, and beachgoers soaked up the sunshine in patriotic gear, with some even wearing MAGA hats, during the massive, multi-day Fourth of July celebration marking America's 250th birthday.

At the heart of the festivities is the 122nd Annual Fourth of July Parade, a 2.5-mile procession along Pacific Coast Highway that is widely recognized as the largest Independence Day parade west of the Mississippi River.

The holiday weekend culminates with a fireworks spectacular launched off the Huntington Beach Pier, lighting up the Pacific Ocean in the grand finale.

Despite the enormous crowds and the millions of dollars in indirect economic benefits generated for local businesses, the City of Huntington Beach still loses money covering the operational costs of staging the annual celebration.

Banned Movie Is Flying Off The Charts

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 05:27:19 +0000

Armie Hammer's controversial movie has now become a major success on Apple TV's PVOD service. Directed by a German filmmaker, Uwe Boll, the movie was banned in his home country for its themes. And despite being available to watch for free for two days, the movie has earned a high rank on the digital platform.

According to PopVortex, "Citizen Vigilante" is currently the #2 movie on Apple TV's Top Movie Downloads 2026 list. It became available to rent and purchase on the platform from 19 June. Within a short time, it has outperformed other recent hits.

Meanwhile, Ryan Gosling's "Project Hail Mary" is leading the charts. The list also includes "Michael" at #3, Brendan Fraser's "Pressure" at #4, and "Mortal Kombat II" at #5.

"Citizen Vigilante" is a 2026 action thriller written and directed by Boll. The film follows Michael Sanders (Hammer), a former U.S. Army officer, who settles down in Europe after inheriting a family business. However, after a heinous crime, Sanders loses faith in the system. He then becomes a vigilante named Citizen Vigilante and targets criminals who have escaped justice. While his actions receive public admiration, the authorities begin a manhunt to stop him.

The movie has found itself in controversy due to its depiction of violence and themes of vigilantism. In Germany, the country's film classification board, FSK, declined to assign it a rating, thereby restricting its advertising and screening there.

However, Boll released "Citizen Vigilante" in its entirety on X (formerly Twitter) for 48 hours last week. Elon Musk promoted the movie by sharing its link. Later, he posted once again, this time saying, "Citizen Vigilante 2 will be even better."

Critically, "Citizen Vigilante" has received favorable ratings from viewers. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has earned a 94% audience score. Meanwhile, on IMDb, it has a score of 6.8/10 from 13K users.

"Toy Story 5" Surges, While "Supergirl" Falters

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 05:13:08 +0000

Disney/Pixar Studios' "Toy Story 5" is holding onto No. 1, as we knew it would, but pre-weekend estimates were a bit high. The second weekend now is looking more like US$ 74M at 4,425 sites, which would get the Andrew Stanton-directed animated mover over the US$ 300M domestic in 10 days. And that's nothing to whine about.

The pic's second Friday is looking like US$ 22M. At US$ 74M, that's a -54 percent second-weekend hold, which is close to the -56 percent second weekend hold of "Incredibles 2" (US$ 80.3M), which was coming off the record domestic opening for an animated movie (U$ 182.6M).

Warner Bros/DC Studios "Supergirl" right now is coming in at the low end with only US$ 40M at 3,602 after having her superpowers depleted by critics at 57 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Friday is looking like US$ 18M, which includes the US$ 7.8M domestic previews. No update on international. Earlier, Warners reported US$ 5.2M so far.

Third place currently is looking like Paramount's "Jackass: Best and Last" at 2,855 theaters with US$ 3.6M- US$ 4.3M today (including last night's US$ 1.2M previews) and 3-day between US$ 8M-US$ 10M. The big-screen version of the MTV reality show is great with critics at 88 percent fresh and moviegoers as well at 85 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

Focus Features' seventh weekend of "Obsession" at 2,965 sites is looking at US$ 8.5M, -37 percent, for a running cummulative of US$ 232.6M. Today is US$ 2.7M for Curry Barker's toxic-romance pic.

Teen Invents Pedestrian Tracker To Help Grandparents Cross The Street

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 27 Jun 2026 06:49:54 +0000

Jay Jung, 18, grew up with his grandparents in South Korea. Walking around Seoul with them as an elementary schooler, he noticed they often couldn't keep up with the pedestrian crossing signals, struggling to cross the street in time before cars came whooshing by.

"Whenever I would go with them to the local grocery store or the local park, I would realize that we were not even halfway and then the light just suddenly turns red," Jung said.

"Once I noticed it, it was really hard to not notice it," he said. "Making more inclusive and accessible spaces has been one of my priorities for a couple years now."

The ill-timed crosswalk lights bothered him, but Jung didn't think he could do much about it until he found his passion for technology in middle school. Now a high schooler at Phillips Academy, a boarding school in Massachusetts, Jung has actualized his vision to keep his grandparents safe on crosswalks − and has a medal and US$ 6,000 to show for it.

He won the Behavioral and Social Sciences award at this year's Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, the world's largest international pre-college science competition, for his invention, SmartBlink, an AI-powered adaptive traffic light system that can detect real-time pedestrian movement.

"I want to collaborate with different tech companies to ensure the mass production of these systems are available," he said.

Instead of catering to automobile traffic like typical intersection signal systems, Jung said, SmartBlink adjusts crossing signal times based on the slowest pedestrian's pace.

For example, Jung said, if a crosswalk signal usually lasts 20 seconds, but SmartBlink predicts one pedestrian will take 34 seconds based on their first few strides, the system would automatically add 14 more seconds to the crossing signal.

Why? "To make sure that this pedestrian doesn't feel rushed and knows that they're safe crossing," Jung said.

Jung, who is going into his senior year of high school, said SmartBlink can detect pedestrians using wheelchairs, crutches or canes, too. He adjusted his algorithm to be able to work in different lighting, so it's usable during any time of day or night.

Fans Are Disappointed At Digital-Download-Only "GTA VI"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 02:48:16 +0000

Pre-orders for the next instalment in the "Grand Theft Auto" series went live last 25 June after more than a decade of waiting, but to the disappointment of many fans, "GTA VI" is only arriving as a digital download.

Physical discs are preferred by many gamers over digital download codes since they mean actual ownership of the game. Meanwhile download-only versions can't be shared with or sold to other players.

Players and gaming industry commentators have criticized that the game will be available only digitally, at least for now. Even buyers who purchase a boxed copy will find only a download code inside.

Rockstar is promoting digital downloads as an advantage over physical discs: "Players who pre-order digital versions of Grand Theft Auto VI will be able to begin pre-loading on November 12 to ensure they are able to play at launch.".

However, many fans on social media are not convinced, saying Rockstar's move is about stopping gamers from selling on their game at reduced prices once they have played it through.

"This is purely to stop second-hand sales to control the price of the game more," one user commented on Reddit. "By taking away your leverage, you're locked into paying whatever Rockstar and storefront owners deem is worthy," entertainment website IGN commented.

At prices of US$ 80 for the standard edition and US$ 100 for the premium edition, the cult game series is also setting a new benchmark for premium game pricing by pushing the price tag above the US$ 70 that has typically been asked for recent top-tier games.

"GTA VI" will initially be released exclusively for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles. PC gamers will have to wait longer. An online multiplayer version of the game is expected to launch later - not included in the original price.

The action game is set to launch on 19 November after multiple delays, and the level of interest from potential buyers already suggests it could become one of the most successful titles in gaming history.

Fans have had a long wait: the previous title in the series was released in 2013.

With an estimated budget of well over US$ 1 billion, "GTA VI" is set to become the most expensive entertainment product in history. Its predecessor has sold more than 200 million copies since 2013.

"Grand Theft Auto" is one of the best-known video game series in the world and was first released in 1997. "Grand Theft Auto VI" is set in a fictional version of the US city of Miami. Trailers released so far feature high-speed car chases, fast motorboats, beaches, weapons and crocodiles.

More Bad News For Supergirl

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:56:36 +0000

The superhero movie "Supergirl" is flying toward an even bleaker opening weekend at the domestic box office than originally projected, as "Toy Story 5" is expected to win the box office crown for a second-straight weekend.

"Supergirl" plays in special fan screenings on last 24 June, with preview screenings set for the nexy day. The film opens nationwide in 3,600 North American theaters on 26 June. "Supergirl" marks the second film under James Gunn and Peter Safran's DC Universe, following the release of the Gunn-directed "Superman" in July 2025. Gunn serves as a producer on "Supergirl".

The movie was directed by Craig Gillespie from a screenplay by first-time feature scribe Ana Nogueira. It is set in outer space, Supergirl finds Lara Zor-El (Milly Alcock) on an interstellar path of vengeance and justice when a vicious attack by Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts) hits too close to home.

Rated PG-13, "Supergirl" also stars Eve Ridley as Lara's ally Ruthye Marye Knoll, while Jason Momoa plays the alien mercenary Lobo . The film also stars David Krumholtz and Emily Beecham as Kara's parents, Zor-El and Alura, while David Corenswet appears as Clark Kent/Superman.

Three weeks ago, "Supergirl" was tracking to earn US$ 55 million in its opening weekend (per Deadline), a lackluster number considering that projected tally was less than half of what "Superman" earned in its opening weekend.

Adding insult to injury, Matthew Belloni of Puck News cited numbers from the National Research Group in an X post on 18 June, saying pre-release tracking had come down again for "Supergirl" with a projected US$ 51 million.

Last 24 June, just on the heels of the review embargo lifting for "Supergirl", Deadline came with an updated projection for the film's opening weekend, and it appears that the film continues to lose altitude.

Supergirl is now projected by the trade publication to open in the upper US$ 40 million range, while Variety is more specific with a US$ 47 million to US$ 50 million forecast.

"Supergirl" Movie Opens Even Worse Than "The Flash"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:31:05 +0000

"Supergirl" is not the first DCU movie to bomb, but it's not expected to beat "The Flash" opening weekend in U.S.

According to the National Research Group and as reported by Puck News' Matthew Belloni, "Pre-release tracking for SUPERGIRL has come down again, now sitting at US$ 51M domestic for the 3-day opening."

It's not all doom and gloom for the Man of Steel's cousin, however – as there's more leeway for Supergirl to succeed given its smaller scaler. As Belloni notes, "SUPERMAN debuted to US$ 125M last summer on much larger production and marketing budget."

Still, a US $51 million weekend opening in the US pales in comparison to even "The Flash's" US$ 55 million in 2023. That movie, the last DCEU entry, was roundly criticized for its abundance of fan service, bland, flat action sequences, and arriving at a time where the cinematic universe was set to be rebooted.

"Supergirl" is all set to be the second mainline DCU film in James Gunn and Peter Safran's fledgling DCU. After last year's "Superman" (bookended by "Creature Commandos" and "Peacemaker" season 2) got the cinematic universe off to a solid start, it's now the time for Kara to step up – and the early signs are not promising from critics.

The first "Supergirl" reactions are overwhelmingly negative, with those attending early press screenings comparing it unfavorably to "Mad Max" and "Guardians of the Galaxy".

Prada Designed Stylish Cooling Suit For Astronauts

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 07:34:04 +0000

Commercial aerospace company Axiom Space and luxury fashion house Prada showcased the innermost layer of NASA’s stylish and next-generation lunar spacesuit.

It is called the Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG) and will be worn inside the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit.

The garment is the first line of defense for astronauts exploring the moon’s surface for the first time in over half a century.

"The future of space exploration will not be built by any one entity alone, and our partnership with Prada is proof of that," said Dr. Jonathan Cirtain, Axiom Space CEO and President.

"By bringing together the best in both aerospace engineering as well as luxury craftmanship and advanced product development, we have developed a garment that neither company could have created independently, and that is exactly the kind of cross-industry thinking that will define the next era of human spaceflight," Cirtain added.

When astronauts step onto the lunar South Pole during NASA’s upcoming Artemis IV mission, the environment will be brutal.

Temperatures switch violently between blistering heat in direct sunlight and absolute freezing cold in deep shadow. To survive outside a spacecraft for up to eight hours, the human body needs an artificial atmosphere.

Spacewalks are physically grueling missions in which astronauts generate intense body heat that cannot dissipate naturally in the vacuum of space.

Without intervention, crew members would rapidly overheat while moving and exploring. To prevent this, the LCVG serves as a wearable radiator, using an integrated network of chilled-water tubes to continuously absorb and dissipate excess body heat.

Using Prada’s expertise in engineered knitting, advanced 3D modeling, and high-performance materials, the collaboration produced a next-generation garment optimized for comfort during spacewalks lasting up to eight hours.

G-Shock's New Japan-Made Watches Selling Out Fast

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:58:54 +0000

For centuries, the glowing red chochin lanterns outside Japanese izakayas have signaled good food, cold drinks, and long nights with friends. Now, G-Shock is bringing that iconic piece of Japanese culture to the wrist with two striking new watches: the DW5600AKA-4 and DW6900AKA-4.

The two classic G-Shock silhouettes feature red resin cases and bands, in honor of the izakayas' red paper lights, which date back to Japan's Edo period. The watches' faces are boldly decorated with the Kanji characters reading "耐衝撃," meaning "shock resistance" in a script that evokes traditional Japanese establishment displays.

The strap is hot stamped to mimic a lantern's frame and build dimensionality. Black buttons and band loops elicit the classic black lacquered lantern holders and an image of a chochin is engraved on the case back. Each piece offers an orange backlight, meant to project the warm glow of a lantern, and are only US$ 190 each.

he watches are both proudly crafted at the Yamagata Casio factory and marked with "Made in Japan" detailing. G-Shock delivers each piece in a special decorative box covered in red chochin lantern artwork and the G-Shock logo.

The DW5600AKA-4 and DW6900AKA-4 both feature the brand's namesake shock resistant structure, 200-meters of water resistance, a Super Illuminator LED backlight, a multi-function alarm, countdown timer, a stopwatch function, a flash alert, and a full auto-calendar good to the year 2099.

Sydney Sweeney Wants The Nude Scene In "Euphoria"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 03:36:12 +0000

"Euphoria" creator Sam Levinson says he considered shooting Season 3 without any nudity for Cassie, the character that launched Sydney Sweeney’s career and has often sparked criticism for over-sexualization. But Sweeney nipped that idea in the bud.

In an interview with the New York Times, Levinson was asked about his relationship with Sweeney and her comfort with performing the mature content "Euphoria" requires of her. "Well, it’s funny. When I first wrote it, I was like, 'Maybe we shoot all of this and we don’t have any nudity. Maybe there’s ways to shoot around certain things?'" Levinson said.

"And she looked at me and she was like, 'Are you kidding? I'm playing an OnlyFans model. You're telling me you're going to, like, skirt around it?' And I was like, 'Yeah, OK, that’s a fair point.'"

The Times also asked Levinson about "complaints that there’s nudity when there doesn’t need to be" in the first two seasons of "Euphoria," during which the characters were in high school.

"From the script, you get a sense of what the role requires," he said. "Even when you go up to audition, let’s use the role of Cassie, you know the role requires a certain amount of nudity. Are you comfortable? If they’re comfortable, they get the role, then the next layer is the intimacy coordinator. I think it’s a SAG rule that if an actor then says, after getting cast, 'Actually, I don’t want to do that,' we can’t force them to do a scene."

He continued emphasizing the importance of protecting actors: "I believe very strongly that the best, most honest performances are when an actor feels free and safe. That’s how you get a great performance. You can’t if there is any tension. The emotion is going to be blocked. And that’s something I’ve known from my days of studying acting. So my job is to create the kind of best, most conducive environment for the actor to play this character."

Levinson praised Sweeney as a "totally fearless" and "wonderfully professional" actress, saying, "There’s a lot of trust that we have." He added: "And look, we’re tackling this world of OnlyFans where women are being paid to, like, whisper into an ear-shaped microphone. There is a level of absurdity to it that is just fun and we’re always trying to come up with ways to make it feel authentic and humorous and dramatic and also speak to the larger wants and wishes of the character."

"Masters of the Universe" Leads The Box Office This Week

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 08:39:28 +0000

The movie "Masters of the Universe" was No. 1 at the box office on its opener last 5 June, raking in over US$ 11.75 million, according to Box Office Mojo.

The flick, which The Post called a "kooky toy movie," is based on the figures like He-Man and Skeletor, which Mattel released in the early '80s.

"There are barbarians with battle axes and swords, robots with laser guns, spaceships, a warlock with a skull for a face," its director, Travis Knight, told IndieWire.

"I do think it's kind of tricky material. In the sense that, it's weird. It's almost deranged. It's pure, uncut, Colombian-grade '80s excess. It's completely out there."

The sci-fi psychological horror "Backrooms" landed in second, with sales of over US$ 7.97 million on its second week in theaters.

The Post praised the film, which follows an alcoholic furniture store owner who stumbles upon another dimension, as "disquieting and smart."

In third was another horror movie, "Obsession," which took in US$ 7.47 million in revenue on its fourth week in theaters.

Iliad Describes Helen As "Fair" And "White"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 07:52:53 +0000

It looks like the race-swapping trend in Hollywood just does not want to die. Even after the box office disaster that was Disney’s "Latina Snow White" movie last year, there is yet another person of colour set to portray a traditionally white character in an upcoming major production.

This time, it is one of the great epics of the earliest European literature, Homer’s "Odyssey", and the mythical figure of Helen of Troy that gets the Hollywood treatment.

Universal Pictures’ feature film adaptation of the story of Odysseus is set to be released this summer. It is directed by British filmmaker Christopher Nolan, best known for his 2008 picture "The Dark Knight".

However, it is not this personnel choice that turned heads. Rather, it was the casting of Kenyan Mexican actress Lupita Nyong’o of "12 Years a Slave" and "Black Panther" fame in the role of Helen of Troy that has garnered quite a lot of unpleasant attention.

World’s richest man Elon Musk has also chimed in on his own social media platform X, as he often does in cultural debates. In a thread about the odd casting choice, he wrote "Chris Nolan has lost his integrity" in the replies, receiving over 25,000 likes.

In the original "Odyssey" by Homer, written in the eighth–seventh century BC, Helen of Troy is featured only briefly, given that the narrative takes place after the Trojan War, in which she was a key figure.

According to the Ancient Greek mythology, Helen is the daughter of the god Zeus and the mortal woman Leda, Queen of Sparta. She is said to be the most beautiful woman on Earth, whose abduction by the Trojan Prince Paris prompted the Trojan War. This, however, is mostly described in the "Iliad", another epic poem by Homer.

As for physical descriptions, she is explicitly referred to as 'fair' in the "Iliad", which suggests she had light skin. She is also repeatedly compared to goddesses, who, in turn, are described as 'white-armed'.

Consequently, her character has been portrayed by white actresses in previous famous films. In the 1924 silent film Helena, she was played by Italian actress Edy Darclea; while in the 1956 American–French–Italian co-produced picture Helen of Troy, she was played by Rossana Podestà, another actress native to Italy.

In ancient visual arts, such as a fresco in Pompeii, Italy, she is also painted in the figure of a white, brown-haired woman. This is very logical, as it falls in line with European beauty standards at the time of the Odyssey’s writing.

In short, Helen has the face that launch a thousand ships and not a face that launch a thousand slaves.

Humanoid Robots Are Taking Over Car Production

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 05:33:11 +0000

Car company BMW has started to use humanoid robots in car manufacturing in Europe.

Two robots, made by Hexagon Robotics, are planned to work in production from the summer. They're currently in a test deployment at the Leipzig factory.

"This will be the future of automotive production," says Michael Nikolaides, head of process management and digitalisation at BMW.

Robot arms and other automation have been used by the car industry for decades. So why the move to human-shaped robots?

"If you have a humanoid form, you can pretty much set it to any workplace where a human is working today because it has the same size and the same capabilities," says Nikolaides.

The cost of robots has fallen while it remains expensive to redesign the assembly line. As a result, it's more cost-effective to use robots that fit in with existing human processes.

"When a robot costs 17 million, you'd re-organize your factory around the robot, but it doesn't anymore," says Bill Ray, distinguished VP analyst at Gartner.

"So now you want to fit it into your existing way of working."

Named Aeon, the Hexagon robot is shaped like a person and stands 1.65m (5ft 5in) tall, weighing 60kg (9 stone 6lbs).

They have a top speed of 2.4m/second and can carry 15kg for short periods, or 8kg continuously.

Aeon is equipped with 21 sensors including cameras, radar, a microphone, and force and torque sensors for manipulation.

At BMW the robots were trained using a combination of teleoperation (sensors on humans) and simulation in a digital twin of the factory using software from Nvidia.

The robot in the simulation was given a task and repeatedly simulated it to identify the most promising solutions, an approach called reinforcement learning.

Teleoperation was used for tasks such as picking up a part, so the physical robot could learn the range of different ways a human carries that out.

The training of robots is undergoing rapid development - the quicker you can train a robot the better.

One of the most exciting aspects of the application of AI to the physical world (physical AI) is imitation learning, according to Arnaud Robert, the president of robotics at Hexagon.

That is where the robot learns how to do a task by looking at how the task is done, either using videos from multiple angles or movement sensors on the human. Robert says imitation learning can cut the time taken to train the robot from months to days.

"The best translation [from the human to the robot] is when the teacher and the student have the same form factor."

The Greeks Have Spoken Against "The Odyssey" Casting

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 01:50:02 +0000

Even the Greeks are questioning the casting choices in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film adaptation of the "Odyssey" by Homer started early this year, when it was revealed that Helen of Troy would be played by Kenyan Mexican actress Lupita Nyong’o.

Given that the "Odyssey" is one of the best-known marvels of Ancient Greek culture in the world, it is only prudent that the heirs of that culture, modern-day Greeks, should be heard about the newest adaptation of Homer’s work.

Well, now they are having their say on the subject: an open letter on the website Greek City Times was published on 25 May.

In it, the author stresses that "Greek people did not disappear after the age of myth. Greek culture was not frozen in classical marble. Greek language was not extinguished in antiquity. We are still here."

They also refrain from completely going against ahistorical casting for the sake of modern diversity sensibilities. Instead, what the author speaks out against in their piece is — ironically — a lack of representation, that of actual Greek actors in the portrayal of a Greek mythical story.

"[We ask] that when Greek stories are retold on a global stage, Greek people are not rendered invisible within them," he goes on to write.

"In recent years, the film industry has rightly placed increasing emphasis on representation; ensuring that cultures are acknowledged, voices are included, and lived experience is not erased in the process of storytelling. Indigenous stories increasingly involve Indigenous voices. Cultural consultation is becoming more standard practice. Identity is treated as part of artistic responsibility. We ask only that this awareness extend to Greek heritage as well."

The irony has only thickened with a recently resurfaced clip of Lupita Nyong’o speaking about black representation in the American film industry.

While promoting the 2018 superhero film "Black Panther", she spoke of the importance of accurate and authentic representation of African culture in modern film. However, now she is showing no such concern about white European, or more specifically, Greek culture.

None of the main cast of the 2026 Odyssey movie — Matt Damon in the role of Odysseus, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, and, evidently, Lupita Nyong’o — have Greek ancestry. Famous Hollywood actors with Greek ancestry include Jennifer Aniston, John Stamos, and Zach Galifianakis.

The backlash by the Greek community over representation of their history in an American production is very much reminiscent of the reactions from Egypt after the casting of black actress Adele James as Queen Cleopatra of Egypt in the 2023 Netflix miniseries.

Nyong’o is not the only controversial casting choice for Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film "The Odyssey".

Achilles, the legendary Greek warrior, will be portrayed by transgender actor Elliot Page. Meanwhile, rapper Travis Scott, who has a major controversy of his own after the fatal crowd crush at his 2021 concert in Houston, Texas, will be appearing as a 'rapping bard' in the picture.

A Letter to Hollywood and Nolan's Odyssey Cast from Us Greekshttps://t.co/ESnkYiQwUc pic.twitter.com/phvUU61rP6
— Greek City Times (@greekcitytimes) May 28, 2026

Armie Hammer Is Back

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 30 May 2026 02:19:55 +0000

After a small setback in his career trajectory, Armie Hammer is back in business and his upcoming movie, "Citizen Vigilante", is getting plenty of attention. The actor has been at the centre of controversy for years for alleged sexual abuse and cannibalism, among other things.

Fans got a sneak peek of his new film, in which he plays a justice-seeker. His character is built up as a hero in a world where the justice system is failing its citizens. "Dude is chewing through the scenery," commented one person after seeing the trailer.

"Citizen Vigilante" marks his return to the big screen for the first time since "Frontier Crucible" came out last year.

Armie has faced his share of online criticisms since 2021. That’s when some alleged messages leaked with Armie reportedly telling some women about his violent sexual fantasies. One alleged message posted had him reportedly telling someone, "I am 100% a cannibal."

In addressing the allegations, Hammer called them "bizarre" during his appearance on the "Painful Lessons" podcast in June 2024. Back in 2021, his ex Courtney Vucekovich told Page Six that Hammer told her that he wanted to break her rib "and barbecue and eat it."

"People called me a cannibal, and everyone believed them," Hammer said on the podcast. "They’re like, 'Yep, that guy ate people.' Like, what? What are you talking about? Do you know what you have to do to be a cannibal? You have to eat people! How am I going to be a cannibal?! It was bizarre."

The "Social Network" star said that there were "discrepancies in whatever it was that people said," adding that he was "now at a place in my life where I’m grateful for every single bit of it."

Bandai Reveals New Mechanics For SAO's "Echoes of Aincrad"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 28 May 2026 16:10:38 +0000

"Echoes of Aincrad" has unveiled a new trailer detailing the mechanics of the upcoming game. You can watch it below.

The seven-minute trailer for the game — which takes place in the "Sword Art Online" anime universe — reveals how the character creator is set up, how the combat works, and more.

In the opening moments of the trailer, the character creator reveals that everything from skin color to an enormous number of hairstyles can be tweaked in the builder. For anyone who's ever wished to have their own story in the SAO universe, it appears that this is the game to finally make that happen.

A large part of the trailer is devoted to going in-depth about the mechanics of combat, which appears to be a big part of the game. Your created character can use a wide variety of weapons, like different kinds of swords and axes, and fight against monsters in a real-time combat system with multiple modes.

In a fairly meta move, there's also crafting, a money system, and means to upgrade and mod your gear — which makes sense because, again, this is SAO, and the characters are literally in a videogame.

Check out the trailer above to see the full scope of what to expect when the game comes out on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC (Steam) on 10 July 2026.

According to the official game description, "Echoes of Aincrad" will let players "enter a virtual world to experience a life-or-death adventure themselves."

Bandai Namco announced "Echoes of Aincrad" back in March with a reveal trailer and synopsis that said: "What seemed to be a dream adventure has now become a fight for survival."

Is Anime Woke?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 28 May 2026 02:58:07 +0000

Before we answer the question above, let's define what is 'woke' first. Woke has become a buzzword throughout US media. People use the word to label all sorts of people and ideas: woke companies, woke video games, woke chicken nuggets.

Beyond being bad English grammar, "I am woke" (grammatically it should be "woke up" or "I have awakened" or even "I’m awake." Woke is the past tense form of wake. ) carries the weight of identity for many people. The term also works as as slur. So, before we can answer the question "Is anime woke?" we will first attempt to define what woke means as a slang term.

Woke is a slang term that points toward awakening to social injustice. This use of the word goes back to the 1950s and 1960s within the American Black community where the term used to "figuratively refer to being 'aware' or 'well informed' in a political or culture sense" (Saad, 2023).

William Melvin Kelley, in his 1962 New York Times article, links the term woke with the slang term dig, which was used to mean "to understand." Woke associated with people that were cool, hip, smart, and worthy of being a role model during the 1950s-1960s (Simama, 2023).

The term reappeared during after several police-related incidents against the Black community around 2015. While these incidents were not, sadly, anything new, widespread media and Internet coverage brought these incidents to people’s attention. Woke became a badge of honor among Democrats and became a term encompassing what needed to be stopped from the Republican perspective (Jacques, 2023).

So is Anime woke? Let us use the Oxford English Dictionary and Merriam-Webster first definition of woke because it aligns with the historical use of the term. Wokeness extends to general awareness of facts and problems a society faces. Each society and social group will have its own definition of wokeness. Republicans, for example, are woke about the problems wokeness can pose when it becomes militant.

They are woke about the decline of organized religion and of community. Democrats are woke about climate change and continuing race issues. Neither party is woke about the plight of Native Americans. By the way, I am "woke" to the painful grammar of these sentences! But then, slang usually has painful grammar. I find "to rizz up" equally painful because it means "to charisma up" someone. Again, nothing new.

So, using this definition of woke and this caveat about anime, anime is indeed woke about many problems Japanese society faces. Some stories are woke to the problems developed societies at large face, such as the mental health problems men face and the misogyny women continue to face.

Anime is woke about the challenges different-sexed people face: usually illustrating this with demons, animal people, or half-breeds like half-elves.

Anime is not woke about American issues because anime addresses problems within Japanese society, many narratives can appear as quite conservative to Americans, such as stories about men trying to protect women or climb to the top of their sport. Japan is socially different from the United States. Japan faces entirely different problems which makes stories which address those problems simultaneously woke for Japan and not woke for the United States.

Is anime woke? is the wrong question to ask because the answer is both yes and no.

Anime points out problems in Japanese society and the larger human condition. All good stories point to problems within their home societies and the human condition.

It’s not appropriate to apply a politicized American term to another culture’s narratives. The label doesn’t fit anime because it has a different context and history. Applying such a label shows you aren’t woke! You are misappropriating an already misappropriated term to a different cultural output. Ironic isn’t it? And that shows just how problematic the tossing around of the term can be. A better question is to ask "how well does anime explore the human condition?" And the answer to that question too depends.