2023 has been good for Sony as they’ve just announced that the PS5 has sold more than 30 million units.

The Holiday season is always the time of the year when more video game consoles are sold, and this year has been no different. Sony has also announced that December 2022 was the biggest month ever in PS5 sales.

Furthermore, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), Jim Ryan, had another big announcement as he confirmed that PS5 availability will be significantly improved moving forward. 

Since Sony started selling their latest console in 2020, the PS5 has been difficult to find worldwide, and the stock has always been limited, as the company suffered the consequences of a global chip shortage. Let’s hope this means gamers can finally buy the PS5 when they want to and not have to wait months to get one. 

Although there are already some fun games on the platform, it looks like this might be a good time for buying a PS5, as this 2023 will bring a slew of big exclusives to PS5. Games like Forspoken, Horizon Call of the Mountain, Final Fantasy XVI, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will make all you PS5 owners out there very happy indeed. 

The Knives Out franchise is known for its wide variety of famous actresses and actors, including the main cast and surprise cameo appearances. With this in mind, many fans wonder who will be in the next film now that the third installment is already in the works. So, without further ado, here are our picks of 10 actors we want to see in Knives Out 3 and the roles they can play in the upcoming story.

A Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion mod for PC allows for players to restore the original voices from the PSP release. Modder Svenchu uploaded this specific mod to mod hosting website Nexus Mods. The voice restoration mod will work on the PC version of the game, requiring Patch 1.0.1 to use, as Svenchu states that they would like those using the mod to support the developers. This means that it will not work on pirated copies of the game.

This Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion mod brings back the original voices for Zack, Cloud, Sephiroth, Aerith, and Genesis. However, the mod itself doesn't cover all instances of voice acting in the game. That said, Svenchu is currently working on removing the additional voice acting for specific cutscenes to fully recreate the PSP experience. Additionally, they are working on replacing voice combat sound and dialogue with the original versions.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion is a remake of the original PSP release. Not only does it feature an entirely new voice cast, the game is completely voice acted. Other adjustments include changes in the combat, and a new user interface that more resembles Final Fantasy VII Remake.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion is available for the PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.

Danmachi Familia Myth Battle Chronicle is looking for participants for its upcoming closed beta test. You can apply from January 5, 2023 through March 10, 2023. After that, the test will run March 16-22, 2023. The developer will only accept 3,000 participants.

You need to have a relatively newer iPhone or Android device, with around 3 to 4 GB of space. It recommends devices newer than iPhone 8 Plus and Version 14.0. As for Android users, it recommends something that can handle 64bit and is newer than Android Version 8.0. However, this beta test is only for those living in Japan. For those who meet the requirements, you simply need to input your e-mail in the Danmachi Familia Myth Battle Chronicle closed beta website.

Here is a trailer for the game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hKgK_DBssU

Danmachi Familia Myth Battle Chronicle is an action-RPG based on the series of the same name. The trailer shows the characters running around together through a variety of familiar environments, and shows the different factions that will be present in the game. However, it does not s how what the combat system will be like.

The Danmachi Familia Myth Battle Chronicle closed beta will start in Japan from March 16 to March 22, 2023, and interested parties will have until March 10 to apply.

People can once again start climbing the competitive ladder, as Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Ranked Battle Series 1 Season 2 just began. Until January 31, 2023, people can take part in competitive matches to earn rewards. Among the items people can earn are more League Points (LP), which are doled out at every tier, as well as Bottle Caps and items like TM 171: Tera Blast. [Thanks, Serebii!]

Here is the full list of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Ranked Battle Series 1 Season 2 rewards.

• Beginner Tier: 5,000 LP
• Poke Ball Tier: 10,000 LP
• Great Ball Tier: 1 Bottle Cap, 1 Tera Blast TM, 30,000 LP
• Ultra Ball Tier: 1 Ability Capsule, 1 Gold Bottle Cap, 1 Tera Blast TM, 3 Bottle Caps, 60,000 LP
• Master Ball Tier: 1 Ability Capsule, 1 Gold Bottle Cap, 3 Bottle Caps, 1 Tera Blast TM, 100,000 LP

For those who haven’t engaged in Hyper Training yet, you can use it to adjust a Pokemon’s IVs at Montenevera. Both standard and golden Bottle Caps can be traded in to max out various stats.

As a reminder, the Ranked Battles in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet can be accessed from the Battle Stadium in the Poke Portal. You need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to participate in these matches against other players. For Season 2, Paldea Pokedex Pokemon are valid, and you can use between three and six in Singles and four and six in Doubles. (This means Charizard and Cinderace can’t be used.) You also can’t use any legendary or paradox Pokemon.

A JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run Johnny Joestar figure will appear again. It turns out the Super Action Statue version is getting rereleased. It first appeared in 2018, when standard and Wonder Festival 2018 [Winter] versions appeared. Now in August 2023, it will appear in Japan again. It is showing up for ¥8,251 (~$61.71) on Amazon and $66.65 on Hobby Link Japan. [Thanks, Dengeki Hobby Web!]

The rerelease is identical to the original version of Johnny Joestar. While it the line features "statue" in the name, it is an articulated figure. There are two face plates, with one smiling expression and another looking angry. People also get multiple pairs of hands. Additional action parts make it look like he is using his Stand, Tusk. He stands at 150mm tall, which makes him just under six inches.

Here's a closer look at the Steel Ball Run Johnny Joestar Super Action Statue figure.
[gallery columns="6" size="full" ids="945764,945765,945766,945767,945768,945763" link="file"]

The world of speedrunning can be intense and extremely draining. It often involves players getting through a game as quickly as possible, using whatever skips or glitches they have at their disposal to get to the end efficiently. Some speedruns, like Dark Souls and Resident Evil, are absolutely hypnotizing to watch. Others can go by very quickly… like this Apple TV+ suggestions speedrun that just got posted by TikTok user @liamfarrey.

The goal of this speedrun is to scroll through the movie suggestions on Apple TV+ to get to Marmaduke. Liam and his friend Alex start with Fight Club, the David Fincher drama/dark comedy, and they have to click through the best suggestions on Apple TV+ to quickly find their way to Marmaduke, the 2021 family comedy with Owen Wilson.

Look, it sounds dumb, but it’s not as easy as you might think. Fight Club and Marmaduke couldn’t be more opposite of each other in terms of film genres, and getting from one end to the other may take more clicking than you realize.

The culinary horror thriller starring Anya Taylor-Joy is now being served on HBO Max

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M3GAN may return, but you won’t have to wait around to find out

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Misty and Brock return for Ash’s send off

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Pikachu and Gengar Squishmallows are on store floors now

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Chef White can murder me

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Antlers director Scott Cooper and Harry Potter’s Dudley Dursley help spice up a story co-starring Edgar Allan Poe

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Avatar: The Way of Water is finally here — but James Cameron has so much more planned

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A cautionary tale about making $1.5B at the box office

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Developers are calling it a ‘suspension of service’

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DMM Games released an introduction trailer for Blue Reflection Sun. This is a collaborative effort between DMM Games, Koei Tecmo Games, and illustrator Mel Kishida. At over two minutes long, the trailer gives a look at the worldview, characters, and gameplay.

The story follows students at Hinomori Academy, in a world after a mysterious ash has caused the creation of monsters, as well as diseases in humans. The monsters are called “Testa” and they are antagonistic towards humanity. However, some humans who have gained special powers as a result of contact with the ash – the Eroded – are able to defeat the Testa. Shiho Kasuga is a victim of the ash, and she transferred to Hinomori Academy in order to receive treatment. Shiho ends being one of my fighters against the ash and the Testa.

You can watch the trailer for Blue Reflection Sun here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WU1k61RCO3A

The trailer mainly focuses on the female characters that will be in the game. Though it will star a male protagonist, he mostly appears in the background of scenes in this video.

Due to complications with COVID-19, certain streaming services will delay episode 12 of Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury. It will still air on TV as planned. The announcement on the official website did not specify which streaming services will experience a delay. [Thanks, ryokutya2089!]

The delay will only last for a day. It will start streaming from 6pm JST on January 9, 2023 for those who use affected services. Bandai Namco Filmworks added that it will continue to create the show while taking care of both the staff and cast. It did not specify the details of the COVID-19 issues that the studio faces.

In North America, Crunchyroll is the major streaming service that distributes Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury. However, Crunchyroll has not made an announcement in regards to the delay. So viewers who use Crunchyroll will likely be able to watch episode 12 on January 8, 2023, along with the TV viewers in Japan.

Escrit, a Japanese wedding service company announced recently a collaboration to offer wedding buffets themed after the famous Velvet Room, a location in the Persona series. New details on the collaboration have been revealed, including artwork depicting the protagonists of Persona 3, Persona 4 and Persona 5. Limited merchandise will be on sale at the event. [Thanks, Persona Central!]

Escrit showed new artwork especially designed for the wedding collaboration on the official website for the event. It depicts the protagonists of Persona 3 Portable, Persona 4, and Persona 5 in a wedding venue fashioned after the Velvet Room, wearing formal attire. Pictures of the merchandise have also been shared, but the prices haven’t been revealed yet. You can see the artwork and pictures of the original merchandise here.

[gallery link="file" ids="946064,946062,946061,946060,946059"]

The event will last from February 2, 2023 to March 30, 2023. There are four venues available in the Shibuya, Omotesando, Ikebukuro, and Roppongi areas of Tokyo, and two more in Osaka and Kobe. Each venue allows up to six people per reservation. The buffet will cost 7,700 yen (roughly $58), while Osaka will only have a set course meal available for 11,000 yen (roughly $83).

The Pokemon Company International has shared details about the first three episodes of the last arc for Ash, Pikachu, and their friends in the Pokemon anime series, and Misty and Brock are back. Releasing under the title “Pokemon: Aim to Be a Pokemon Master,” this special arc will be 11 episodes long, and it starts airing in Japan on January 13, 2023. [Thanks, Natalie]

The first one of these episodes is titled “The Wind of Beginning.” It sees Ash and Pikachu encountering the wounded legendary pokemon Latias while out on their adventures. In the second episode of the Pokémon, titled “Ash vs. Misty! Duel on the coast,” Ash will compete in a fishing duel against his friend and former travel companion, Misty. “Brock and Cilan, and the Witch of the Forest” is the name of the third episode. As the title suggest, it will feature Brock, Ash’s original travel companion along with Misty in the original series, and Cilan, who joined Ash alongside Iris in the anime adaptation of the Black & White generation of Pokemon.

Here you can see the poster for the anime and some screenshots of the first three episodes.

[gallery ids="946053,946056,946055,946054" link="file"]

The opening song for this arc has been revealed as "Aim to Be a Pokemon Master -with my friends-," a remake of the original Japanese opening theme for the initial 1997 anime series. The animation accompanying the music track will highlight Ash and Pikachu’s 25-year long journey.

You can watch a teaser of the new arc, and listening to the remake of the opening theme here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjiMKr2DYBY

Gungho Online will suspend all services for Deathverse: Let It Die, the battle royale spiritual sequel to 2016’s Let It Die to support redevelopment. The suspension will begin on July 18, 2023, less than one year since the game's release on September 28, 2022. The game is free-to-play, however paid Death Metal currency sales will stop on February 7, 2023.

In a letter published on the Deathverse: Let It Die website, the development team cited ongoing challenges with things like lag and in-game matchmaking that have persisted since launch. Unable to fully resolve these issues with live updates, the team decided to temporarily suspend services in order to redevelop the title.

No duration for the suspension has been announced. Nor has the team commented on what areas the redevelopment will reach. However, the letter does state that the game will be re-released with “significant improvements.”

With the upcoming suspension, the Deathverse team will be ending the sale of premium currency, Death Metal, on February 7, 2023. Additionally, while the entirety of Season 2 will be released as scheduled, Season 3 content will only be partially available.

The best person to take on goblin extermination jobs is back. A new season of Goblin Slayer is on the way, and people can see its first trailer. The Goblin Slayer season 2 trailer was uploaded alongside other production information to the series' official website.

The Goblin Slayer season 2 trailer focuses on a monologue by the titular character, while showing off some of his companions. Based on the light novel series by Kumo Kagyu, Goblin Slayer follows the exploits of a man known as the Goblin Slayer (in the series, all characters are identified by their professions). A silver-ranked adventurer, Goblin Slayer is known in his community as unusual, since he only takes on assignments related to hunting goblins. His single-minded focus on the "little demons" has given him unmatched expertise in the field of killing them. He uses that experience, as well as carefully selected specialist equipment and tricks, to turn the tide in various battles against goblins, who are more formidable than their low status implies. His face is also never shown, as he refuses to remove his distinctive helmet.

The Goblin Slayer season 2 trailer also shows some of the protagonists' companions, as well as characters who show up later in the series. The Priestess, Elf Archer, Dwarf Shaman, Lizardman, are all visible. A glimpse of the blindfolded Sword Maiden can also be seen, dressed in the same outfit as she wore in her earlier years as an adventurer.

Check out the trailer below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc3U12kH3WA

A new Pokemon GO special event has been announced, offering trainers a chance to catch a version of a Pokemon of the Diamond/Pearl generation. Twinkling Fantasy will be live from January 10-January 16, 2023. While running, people will see Mega Salamence in Pokemon GO for the first time, as well as more of Goomy and Noibat,

During the event, numerous fairy and dragon-type Pokemon will be more frequently encountered. Goomy and Noibat, which typically have low encounter rates in Pokemon GO and show up in eggs, will occasionally appear during the event. Below is a list of Pokemon that will appear and how you can get them:

An anime adaptation of the manga Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead is on the way, and a worldwide release is confirmed. In July 2023, it will make its debut. Variety confirmed that only Hulu is confirmed as a subscription service for it, at the moment, but more are planned. The first trailer for the series also appeared. [Thanks, Variety!]

In Zom 100, Akira Tendo wakes up to find a zombie apocalypse kicked off. This means he no longer needs to return to the tedious office job he hates. However, given the state of the world, he’s uncertain how long he might have left. So, he creates a bucket list of 100 things he wants to attempt to do before the zombies get him. The series follows his attempts to complete his goals while he meets and aids other survivors.

The first Zom 100 trailer spends one minute showing off the upcoming series.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2mag0-sn80&ab_channel=vizmedia

Here is the key visual for the anime adaptation. It features Akira on a motorcycle with Shizuka Mikazuki, surrounded by zombies.

New #Zom100 anime key visual!

Let’s ride with Akira and Shizuka into the new year! pic.twitter.com/VNEaqvrBee

— Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead (@Zom100_EN) January 6, 2023

Faith opened up pre-orders for a wireless mouse that looks like the Toyota AE86 from Initial D. It will cost 6,600 JPY, which is around $50, and they will start to ship out in early January 2023 in Japan. Not only does it work like a normal mouse, but you can also make the front and back lights flicker after you turn it on. [Thanks, DenFaminico!]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1jaLkpATnQ

Like in the series, the logo for Fujiwara Tofu is on the side of the mouse. There will also be two mouse pads featuring art from Initial D, and these will come with the mouse. The version of the Toyota AE86 with the black car bonnet (from Volume 20) is also something you could purchase. You can order the Initial D Toyota AE86 wireless mouse (both versions) from Camshop. International customers will be able to order, as there is a proxy service on the site itself.

The year is fresh and new. There are 12 months of new titles headed our way. However, which ones will get our attention? Especially since we still aren't sure of what may appear? We figured now would be a perfect time to start talking about our most anticipated games of 2023, so we can compare and perhaps find new things to follow as the excitement builds. (Especially since we finished all our GOTY 2022 talk!)

I need FFVII Rebirth as soon as possible, because FFVII Remake is really building to something and I have to know what part 2 will bring. The appearances of characters from spin-offs like Crisis Core and Dirge of Cerberus in the first segment of the remake really got me curious about how things could change this time around. Not to mention anyone who saw that ending knows something big is coming. Please, don't let this one get delayed into 2024! — Jenni

Nexon Games' mobile RPG Blue Archive will turn two years old in Japan in 2023, and its operator Yostar planned a big party to celebrate. Calling it the Blue Archive Festival, the event is planned for January 22, 2023. The Blue Archive 2nd Anniversary event will include both an in-person celebration in Japan, as well as a livestream broadcast and in-game promotional campaigns.

https://twitter.com/Blue_ArchiveJP/status/1610833599283994631

The Blue Archive 2nd Anniversary event will be held in Akihabara's Bellesalle event venue. The event space itself will take up two floors of the venue. The first floor is an exhibition area that's free to visit for all, while the main stage is located on a different floor that requires a ticket to enter. Tickets go for 2,200 Yen (about $16.50 USD).

The main stage is where the Blue Archive 2nd Anniversary live broadcast will be conducted. The guest list will include voice actors for various characters. It's also where in-game plans for the anniversary will be announced.

Meanwhile, the exhibition area will have various attractions for Blue Archive fans. The centerpiece is a massive Peroro display standing 5 meters (about 16.5 feet) tall. Peroro is a bird-like mascot character from the in-game series Momo Friends. Peroro also appears in the game periodically as a boss, growing to kaiju size and attacking the city of Kivotos as "Perorodzilla".

Voting kicked off for Fire Emblem Heroes Choose Your Legends Round 7. Between January 5-12, 2023, people can cast six votes for the character they’d most like to see appear in the game. If the person already is available, then they will get a new alt.

People can vote once each day for a character of their choice. You must sign into your My Nintendo account. Characters are organized by games, then alphabetically. Since Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes and more original Fire Emblem Heroes characters appeared since the last vote, all are now available for this year's poll.

As in the past, the top two men and top two women will get new units after Fire Emblem Heroes Choose Your Legends Round 7 ends. In Round 6, Chrom and Tiki earned the most votes. Seliph and the female version of Byleth ended up in second place. Their brave versions then appeared later in 2022. The Round 5 winners involved Three Houses characters Gatekeeper and Marianne, as well as Sacred Stones’s Eirika and Mystery of the Emblem Marth.

Fire Emblem Heroes is available on Android and Apple iOS devices. The Choose Your Legends Round 7 voting will run January 5-12, 2023.

We have the Honkai Impact 3rd 6.3 release date, and the update will appear next week. People will get to take part in the Symphony of Truth on January 12, 2023. The Bronya Herrscher of Truth S-rank battlesuit, Story Chapter XXXIV, and Bustling Holiday Symphony will all appear when it does.

While the current Honkai Impact 3rd story took people to the moon, Story Chapter XXXIV marks a return to Earth. It also introduces the Chaotic Dimension, where three characters go in to fight. Also, it is because of the story reveals regarding Honkai and Project Stigma that Bronya gets the Herrscher of Truth.

As for Bustling Holiday Symphony, it involves St. Freya and Golden Courtyard factions. You need to explore and take on Scenic Tasks. When your faction does well, you can get to new spaces and fight a boss. You choose which side to support and try to earn rewards by helping your team.

Here is the Honkai Impact 3rd 6.3 Symphony of Truth trailer going over what folks can expect when that update appears.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTHPxSsNC-0&ab_channel=HonkaiImpact3rd

You can watch the full Honkai Impact 3rd 6.3 Hyperion Lounge presentation below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqIXMshSSyk&t=89s&ab_channel=HonkaiImpact3rd

Megahouse will open up a raffle for a re-run of a Tsunade figure from Naruto in Japan. This is the second version of her Naruto Gals figure, in which she holds a gourd of sake and has a small Katsuyu on her shoulder. The raffle will start from January 13, 2023 at 1:00 PM JST. That would be January 12, 2023 at 8 PM PT/11 PM ET. It will then close at the end of the day on January 23, 2023.

https://twitter.com/mega_girlshobby/status/1611135646822957056?s=61&t=t5MWYDrYN2ZBReDq8idYfQ

It will announce the winners on January 24, 2023. You can either choose to pay first or after the raffle results. The raffle is not on a first-come-first-serve basis. People who put in their orders on January 23, 2023 have as much of a chance to purchase the figure as someone who orders it on January 13, 2023. It will ship out at the end of January 2023.

As mentioned earlier, the Tsunade figure comes with her sake gourd and Katsuyu. It also comes with a bench that she is sitting on. Other figures in the Naruto Gals series from Megahouse include ones of Tenten and Temari. It is unknown at this time whether or not Megahouse will re-run those as well.

The Naruto Gals Tsunade figure from Megahouse will open up for raffle from January 13-23, 2023 in Japan. She will cost 16,280 JPY, which is about $121.90.

Nijisanji opened up auditions for its next wave of EN VTubers. You will have until January 23, 2023 to submit your audition. There are some basic requirements in order for Anycolor to consider you, with your age and streaming experience being the most important.

You can fill out the application form here. Some basic requirements include being able to speak in fluent English and being over 18 years of age. You must be able to deliver some form of content at least three times a week for about a year, at the very least. While streaming experience is not required, it is preferable for you to have done it before.

Nijisanji will likely provide a Live2D model for you if you pass, so you do not need to have one already. However, you have to submit an audition video in character. You can use your real face, an original character, or an existing model. Anycolor stated that it will not take your gender into consideration, making it an open audition for anybody. If you pass, you should know within a month of January 23, 2023.

Late last week, we unveiled our list of the top 10 waifus from 2022. It featured the very best queens that anime had on offer, from midnight assassins to leporid heroines, and we are confident it brought unbridled joy to at least one person out there, statistically speaking.

But I know what you’re thinking. Where are the men? Those dashing lads, capable of melting your heart with a single smirk before stealing away into the misty morning dew? Worry not, thirsty one, because we’re back at it again, this time with a top 10 list that simply oozes machismo. For your viewing delight, these are the boys who put the “ohhhhh” in husbando.

As before, our rankings are limited to only one entrant per anime.

Since its initial reveal in 2021, Arkane Austin’s vampire hunting co-op game Redfall has been intriguing Xbox fans with its enticing blend of style and carnage.

Positioned to be a killer app for Microsoft in a year where they could really use one, we have been slowly learning more about the expansive open world and the oppressive location in which the mayhem takes place. In a refreshingly transparent interview with the team at Arkane, however, we have been gifted with some fascinating insight into the development mindset itself.

Speaking with GamesRadar‘s Josh West, creative director Ricardo Bare revealed exactly how much effort has gone into ensuring the FPS gameplay lives up to players’ expectations.

“There’s a certain level of work you have to put into a shooter to just reach the minimum bar, because you’ll inevitably get compared to all the other shooters out there if your guns don’t feel good,” Bare explained. “We got insight from some of our sister studios; the people who worked on Doom came over and gave us feedback a couple of times, things like that, and we’re pretty happy with the results.”

It may have been a bit of a bumpy road, but Netflix has officially confirmed that their hit show Wednesday will indeed be returning for a second season. While it may be unsurprising that the show would be renewed given that the show is an absolute ratings juggernaut, rumors circulated that the show would be switched over to Amazon Prime, given that Amazon owns the series’ production company.

However, since a deal was likely in place before Wednesday’s first season was released, these rumors have turned out to be false, as the show will remain on Netflix for at least the time being.

Details regarding the hit show’s second season are scarce so far, but we do know that a writer’s room was already being formed before the renewal even happened. This is almost certainly because of the show’s popularity giving the creatives being the series the courage that a renewal would eventually happen.

It has also been said that there is a chance the new season would explore more of the relationship between Wednesday and her mother, Morticia, so this may be one of the directions that the season chooses to go. Nevertheless, there hasn’t been any official confirmation of how Season 2 of Wednesday will unfold storywise, with only speculation and hopes thus far.

Going back to normal life after the Holidays might be a scary proposition for many, as some horror movies have been at the top of the streaming charts. The one that’s leading it, per Flix Patrol, is none other than the horror movie The Black Phone. 

The Black Phone tells the story of Finney, a kid abducted by a child killer and locked in a soundproof basement. There, there’s an old phone that starts ringing. When Finn answers, he talks to some of the killer’s previous victims who want to help him escape. 

The Blumhouse-produced film was both a critical and commercial success. It premiered at Fantastic Fest and earned $161 million worldwide on an $18 million budget. The film earned an 83% rating from critics and an 88% rating by audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus was that “The Black Phone might have been even more frightening, but it remains an entertaining, well-acted adaptation of scarily good source material.” The source material was a short story named The Black Phone, written by Joe Hill (Stephen King’s son).

The film was directed by Scott Derrickson (Doctor Strange) and starred Mason Thames (Walker), Madeleine McGraw (Ant-Man and the Wasp), Ethan Hawke (Training Day), Jeremy Davies (Lost), and James Ransone (Sinister).

If you’re looking for a scary movie, this might be your best bet, as it’s being watched by many around the world. You can watch The Black Phone on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Rakuten TV, and Vudu.

There are plenty of surprisingly tough and strong Pokemon within the franchise, and each Mon’ has its selection of moves to use in combat. Beyond this, some Pokemon have serious abilities that make them stand out – both in terms of a deity-like figure and, in some cases, a significant threat. But which Pokemon are top of the pyramid when it comes to power? Here’s our ranking of the top 10 most powerful Pokemon.

10. Mew

Mew is an extremely rare Psychic-Type Legendary Pokemon that only a handful of Trainers have sighted. What makes Mew so special is that it contains the DNA of every single Pokemon in existence and is, therefore, able to learn any TM, HM, Technical Record, and Move Tutor move (minus special signature moves of a few particular Mons’)

A new Valorant Episode is fast approaching, and Riot Games is today detailing everything that’s coming in its Patch 6.0 notes. That not only includes the expected new map Lotus and the return of Split but also a small but important Omen nerf and some changes to the competitive system.

Full Valorant Patch 6.0 Notes

GAMEPLAY SYSTEMS UPDATES

● Reworked the way guns process Zoom inputs for ADS and Scopes when using Toggle Zoom.

○ There should now be fewer cases that can lead to Zoom disagreements between the Client and Server under adverse network conditions like packet loss and ping jitter. Additionally, Zoom Inputs when using Toggle Zoom can now be buffered earlier than before and multiple zoom level transitions can be buffered at once.

Map Updates

New Map Lotus

• Lotus is a new 3-site map that offers a variety or rotation options. Unlock the secrets behind the doors of these ancient ruins.
• Please note that the Lotus only queue will only be playable in Swiftplay mode for one week and then goes into the competitive and Unrated map rotation in Patch 6.1.

For full details on Lotus, you can view this article. For more details on Split and all the new changes, see here.

Map Rotation

• Breeze and Bind have now been removed from competitive and Unrated map rotation, but are still playable in all other modes.

Valorant Omen Nerf

Omen’s Dark Cover (E)

Nostalgia is a funny concept, especially when it comes to something like Trigun. A hit series of the ’90s anime scene and an especially hallowed series for western anime fans, the show has taken on a deeper value than people may realize. This has elevated the series to the point of being put on a pedestal by older fans, with some even mythologizing it despite its flaws growing more noticeable with each passing year.

This puts its new remake, Trigun Stampede, in an interesting position. While it certainly could have catered to longtime fans of the series and remade the ’90s anime adaptation with modern animation, it also had the opportunity to address the issues of the revered classic. It could make the series all that it could be, and could have been if there were a way to hone it past the technological limitations from so many years ago.

As one may have guessed by the trailers for Trigun Stampede, the show aims to do the latter. It boasts revised character designs, an expanded adaptation, and a new 3D animation style that is nearly unrecognizable from the original series. Now, having watched the first episode, I can safely say that the show is no longer the same Trigun that me and fans like me fell in love with so many years ago.

And honestly, the show is exponentially better for it.

The big feature of Valorant’s Episode 6, Act 1, might be its new map Lotus, but there’s also another map returning that’s on everybody’s mind. Split is back in the rotation after a six-month hiatus and it has some new looks about it. Here we’ll be detailing the full overview of all the changes you need to know about.

All Changes in Valorant Map Split

The changes to Split aren’t a major overhaul, but there are a number of key areas around the map that have been changed in order to better balance it and make both attacking and defending more intuitive. Let’s break down each area. All images in this article are sourced from Riot Games.

Riot Games is kicking off its new season of Valorant content next week, and of course, there’s a new bundle coming along with it. The new weapon skin is called ‘Araxys,’ and it’s a futuristic-looking design that reminds us of something from Halo or Destiny.

“The goal was to create a skinline that embodied the danger, the mystery, and the power of an unknown, possibly hostile, alien race. We wanted to make something that seemed technologically advanced, yet too dangerous for mankind to wield safely. We wanted to create something sleek but aggressive, advanced but dark in nature.” – Stefan Jevremovic, Riot Games Art Lead

The Araxys bundle is an XE tier premium bundle that costs 8700VP in total (around $90). It features the following items:

• Araxys Vandal
• Araxys Operator
• Araxys Shorty
• Araxys Bulldog
• Araxys Bio Harvester (melee)
• Araxys Gun Buddy
• Araxys Card
• Araxys Spray

All weapons in the bundle are upgradable across four different Levels. These are as follows: