Geek out your way!
Hey all! Frank of Geek Freaks here. The team and I are heading off on vacation. We will be camping, with minimal internet. So updates from us will be sparse.
While we are gone, we have set up a week of fun called “Geek Freak: Happy Campers.” During this week we will be posting Top 5’s on the site, and fun posts on our social accounts.
We will be back to update you on the news starting August 16th when we are back in the office. See you then!
*Update* Blizzard’s head of HR, Jesse Meschuk, has also left the company. He has not released a statement yet. Jesse has been mentioned in the recent filing for his lack of response to allegations.
Blizzard president J. Allen Brack announced his departure from the company today. Brack leaves two weeks after the State of California filed a lawsuit against the company for sexual harassment and gender discrimination. He is a big name in the company and has been in the folds for over a decade. Brack is named in the suit for not punishing offenders severely enough. He will be replaced by Jen Oneal and Mike Ybarra in the interim. Blizzard has released a statement announcing J. Allen’s departure.
To all members of the Blizzard Community,
We want to let you know about an important leadership change at Blizzard Entertainment.
Starting today, J. Allen Brack will be stepping down as the leader of the studio, and Jen Oneal and Mike Ybarra will co-lead Blizzard moving forward.
Jen joined Blizzard in January as executive vice president of development, where she’s been providing senior development leadership and support to the Diablo and Overwatch franchises. Jen is the former head of Vicarious Visions (which is now part of Blizzard Entertainment).
After many years at XBOX, Mike joined the company in 2019 as the executive vice president and general manager of platform and technology, where he’s been overseeing the evolution of Battle.net and our development services organization.
Jen and Mike have more than three decades of gaming industry experience between them. Moving forward, they will share responsibilities over game development and company operations.Blizzard Entertainment
Both leaders are deeply committed to all of our employees; to the work ahead to ensure Blizzard is the safest, most welcoming workplace possible for women, and people of any gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or background; to upholding and reinforcing our values; and to rebuilding your trust. With their many years of industry experience and deep commitment to integrity and inclusivity, Jen and Mike will lead Blizzard with care, compassion, and a dedication to excellence. You’ll hear more from Jen and Mike soon.
J. Allan Brack also released a short statement:
“I am confident that Jen Oneal and Mike Ybarra will provide the leadership Blizzard needs to realize its full potential and will accelerate the pace of change. I anticipate they will do so with passion and enthusiasm and that they can be trusted to lead with the highest levels of integrity and commitment to the components of our culture that make Blizzard so special.”
J. Allen Brack
Finally, thank you all for being a part of the Blizzard community, and for your passion and determination for safety and equality for all.
There are still many more involved in creating the “frat culture” and Blizzard, but Brack leaving was a good start. Blizzard could help redeem themselves and set a standard by removing all responsible execs.
Halo Infinite is projected to come out this holiday season, and players are ready! This week we learned more about how Infinite eSports will work and got some playtime in a new multiplayer map.
Halo Infinite has long been a staple of both FPS multiplayer and eSports. And today, eSports are more important to the industry than ever before. Players will be able to play on Xbox or PC during the open bracket phase. I’ll be on PC myself. Once the competition narrows down to the championship brackets, players will have to switch to PC. This change is jarring for console players, but 343’s Tashi promises they will be given time to adjust.
“To accommodate for players coming from the open bracket, they will be given an allotment of time and exclusive access to warmup PCs before jumping into their next matches to quickly acclimate.”
-Tashi, Halo eSports Lead
At this final stage of the competition, players can use any input device they prefer. This move is very unique in eSports. It means you can have players using a mouse and keyboard taking on a team of controller users. For non-competitive players, the cross-play may not seem like a big deal. But controllers are generally slower than MNK players. Most games have aim assist to keep the controller players competitive. Will Halo have some players using aim assist while others don’t? We don’t know yet. But this will make waves in the eSports community and may shape the future of competitive first-person shooters.
We also got to see some real Halo Infinity gameplay this week. Players were able to sign up for a multiplayer beta where they took on bots on a new map called Live Fire. The first thing I noticed from the footage was how much better the graphics look compared to the disastrous first gameplay trailer. Halo Infinite finally looks like a next-gen game.
Many of the additions from Halo 5 have been removed like Spartan Charge and other movement abilities. It slows combat a bit but returns the game to its roots. In the end, Halo should be about you outplaying your opponent, not what boosts you picked up.
Players are no longer able to color their armor red or blue, but instead, their shied aura is colored. This gives you the ability to see your team through walls, but you are more visible in the open. 343 is probably trying to show off player’s armor more than just it’s color. Many streamers have complained about this change. I can see the developers changing this before launch. Possibly adding an optional mode.
In the end, Halo Infinite seems to be returning to classic Halo. Basically, the more you play, the better you get. I will try to sharpen my skill and climb the ranks. But I’ll also be happy with camping my friends and having some fun in Discord.
Source: Halo Waypoint, PC Games
Activision Blizzard employees are walking out today in protest of the companies handling of sexual harassment allegations. Players join in the demonstration with mass log-outs throughout Blizzard games. Outrage follows a new lawsuit filed on July 22nd claiming the company has fostered an environment of sexual harassment and gender discrimination.
Employees march outside Blizzard’s Irvine offices with signs of protest and support for co-workers. The demonstration is being called #ActBlizzWalkout. 2,600 Activision Blizzard employees have signed an open letter to their company. Available via Polygon below. Complaints range from sexual harassment, gender bias, tone def response by management, and lack of action to stop abusers.
Players are staging mass log-outs in various games, specifically World of Warcraft. The campaign calls for everyone to meet in the city of Oribos at 10 am PST then log out together. Players are to sustain from logging back in for 30 minutes.
Activision Blizzard CEO, Bobby Kotick released a statement about the developing situation. Some problems are addressed, like removing in-game references to harassers and establishing “diversity initiatives.” Players’ and employees’ general response to Bobby’s statement has been “too little, too late.” There is a great deal of mistrust with Kotick due to his history of profit-first actions.
Activision Blizzard’s issues are far from over, but the community seems focused on action. For the company to rise above this, there will need to be radical changes throughout the entire organization. We will continue to update you as the story develops.
We stand with the employees of Activision Blizzard. We will no longer stream their games until real action is taken. #ActBlizzWalkout
This week we got our hand on a new space-based adventure, GR-8. This comic follows two 10-years-old kids growing up on a spaceship. Cal and Red find themselves in sticky situations, but come out on top when they work together and find new friends. GR-8 is a fun, light space adventure for all ages.
Cal is the son of two vital GR-8 crew members. He’s an average 10-year-old in that he can’t stand still and just wants to explore. He often shirks his studies to find a little trouble. Red is an orphan, saved by GR-8 after a humanitarian mission. He is a rhino-like species called Mesuit (a nod to the publisher Red Rhino Comics). Red’s species are tech-savvy, but Red is still fresh to the field. The two work together well, with Cal being the adventure and Red the level-headed one. The kids are joined by new friends along the way. Like a super-soldier trying to protect the ship and a fugitive space cowboy.
GR-8 makes for a fascinating setting. It is both a humanitarian and military ship, exploring the cosmos for the Union. Aboard is an array of species, all with unique duties. With this dense population, comes the normal society’s woes. Corruption, betrayal, and struggle are on full display. These stories are told in tandem with the fun and heartwarming tale of two friends. GR-8 will also take us to many planets that run the gambit of Sci-Fi. In the first five issues, we see cowboy-themed, jungle-themed, and city-covered planets. The possibilities are truly endless with this franchise.
I recommend this comic as a parent-child read. It feels like “Saga”, but family friendly. The bright and colorful art will keep the kids entertained. The back story and subtle plots will have the parents hooked. It’s hard to find a comic everyone can enjoy together. GR-8 is your next family read!
Check out GR-8 on ComiXology HERE!
A hacker selling corrupted saves of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was arrested this week in Japan. Ichimin Sho of Tokyo was captured by Niigata police on July 8th. He was selling save copies of Zelda that had hundreds of cheats and duplicated items. In his advertisements, he called these “the ultimate save data.” He later told police he made over 10 million yen, approximately $90k USD. Each copy sold for 3,500 yen ($32 USD).
This is just the latest arrest in a new concerted effort by Japan to limit the selling of modified copyrighted items. Japan passed the Unfair Competition Prevention Act two years ago that set up laws to protect tech companies from these situations. In February, they also arrested a 23-year old man for doing a similar business with Pokemon Sword and Shield.
We do not know yet what the sentence will be handed down to Sho, but will keep you updated as the story progresses.
Sources: Soranews24, NintendoLife, Broadcasting System of Niigata, Meti, Dexerto
No, there was no Switch Pro announced, but we still got tons of new things to check out from Nintendo at E3 2021. Here are their Top 5 announcements.
We wanted Master Chief or Dante, but at least it’s a new toon to play. Tekken’s Kazuya Mishima pairs well with the Street Fighter crew. He looks quick, useful for those relentless punches. Kazuya should fit right in.
Wario returns with one of the classic iterations of his games. Play along with friends through a library of wild minigames. You can do some couch co-op or challenge each other online. Wario getting a new title is great news for us all!
We got some additional footage for Breath of the Wild 2. The sequel to Switch’s most popular launch game is taking to the skies. Zelda gains new abilities to move vertically in Hyrule. One notable ability is a portal that lets him move through the stone. Players can return to Hyrule in 2022.
Classic 2D Metroid returns with Metroid Dread. Explore a mysterious planet as Samus. Picking up new abilities and power-ups along the way. Meanwhile, a villainous robot relentlessly hunts you. Dread is a fitting name for the latest in the Samus library.
Nintendo (and probably you) would rather have Metroid or Mario Party on top of my list. Nope! The Advance Wars announcement had my heart racing and voice hoarse with shouting. The devoted fans have finally been heard! Nintendo is giving us remasters of Advance Wars 1 and 2 later this year, and a third title is in the works. No information on Advance Wars DS yet. This is a day one purchase to me. Thanks, Nintendo!
Check out the whole Nintendo E3 Event here:
Join us as we recap every day of E3 on our Podcast!
Note: The employees of Ubisoft have made allegations against Ubisoft management and HR for sexual harassment and mismanagement. For more information, check out this article.
Ubisoft kicked of E3 with a slew of new games and major updates. Here are all the big announcements.
Team up with Mario, Rabbid Peach, and their friends on a mission to save the galaxy! Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, coming 2022 on Nintendo Switch.
Coming in 2022 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Stadia and Luna.
Escape isn’t an option from Yara. Watch as Giancarlo Esposito plays the most powerful Far Cry villain yet.
Cowabunga! Raphael, Michelangelo, Leonardo and Donatello are ninja-kicking their way into Brawlhalla! Jump in and check out this epic crossover event now!
Aiden Pearce is back! Discover Bloodline, the expansion that brings Aiden and Wrench back to Watch Dogs!
As the threat grows, our Operators rise to meet it. In Extraction, Rainbow Six has been united
Riders Republic invites players to jump into an exhilarating massive multiplayer playground where they can experience the thrill of outdoor sports through some of the most breathtaking landscapes the United States has to offer!
Love, wisdom, bravery. It suits her. On June 14, look to the skies for help from Thunderbird in the new Season, North Star.
Curious to know where your journey with Assassin’s Creed will lead you in the coming months? Learn more about Assassin Creed Valhalla’s upcoming second expansion, The Siege of Paris, as well as free updates, Discovery Tour, and more in this Upcoming Content Recap.
Watch the Ubisoft Film & Television produced MYTHIC QUEST Season 2 on Apple TV+
WEREWOLVES WITHIN is a feature film based on the Ubisoft VR title of the same name. Directed by Josh Ruben (“Scare Me”), and written by screenwriter, bestselling author, and Ubisoft Women’s Film Fellowship Recipent Mishna Wolff (“I’m Down”), “Werewolves Within” is set in the small town of Beaverfield. When a killer terrorizes the snowed-in residents of the small town, it falls to the new forest ranger to find out who – or what – lurks among them in this hilarious horror whodunnit The ensemble cast includes Sam Richardson, Milana Vayntrub, George Basil, Sarah Burns, Michael Chernus, Catherine Curtin, Wayne Duvall,, Harvey Guillén, Rebecca Henderson, Cheyenne Jackson, Michaela Watkins, and Glenn Fleshler. Werewolves Within opens in theaters June 25 and on VOD July 2.
We will recap and analyse today’s announcement on tonight’s podcast!
First up in our Indie Spotlight series is Devious Eye Entertainment. In the pre-E3 festivities, they have been trending near the top. They bring multiple games spanning an array of genres. A look into Devious Eye Entertainment’s studio, you learn quickly these are passionate gamers. Gamers that want to take that passion, and create new worlds.
We are a passionate studio guided by the basic principles of creating the most immersive forms of entertainment, powered by leading-edge technology and a creatively diverse team. We create entertaining experiences because we are excited about it, and about the concepts and ideas they each contain. We create games, music, and film because we love to!
Devious Eye Entertainment
Devious Eye Entertainment has teamed up with both Dreamfire Games and Before the Storm. These are teams that ask you to “join us on our journey through epic adventures, exciting worlds, and meaningful stories to create lasting memories.” Let’s take a look at some of the games Devious Eye Entertainment is bringing to E3!
Simply put, my kind of game! From Dreamfire Games, Archean is a beautiful RPG set in a bright open world. This already looks like an early AAA title and not indie. Shadows on the rocks, detail in the armor, and the sun rays catching your eye. It’s a gorgeous game.
Archean is a colorful and humorous third-person action role-playing game where you take on the role of Sai. You will adventure forth into a world that’s full of monsters to fight and towns to explore, all while searching for your lover to save them from mortal peril. Using your might and magic, you will travel far and visit many kingdoms to bring harmony to the lands that are stained with corruption.
Devious Eye Entertainment
I am not one for horror games. Even the best of them I tend to avoid. Or play with all the light on. But if horror is your jam, check out Reverie Chapter One and Two from Before the Storm. Awoken Ch1 of Reverie takes place in the abandoned Mount Moira Hospital. A place of torture and experiments. You search dark hallways and empty rooms, but you are not alone.
In chapter 2, DoomsDay, you are one of few survivors in a post-pandemic world. You journey with six others and seek answers while struggling to survive. More info on chapter 2 in the future.
The last game from Devious Eye Entertainment we are going to cover today is Runner. A detective noir in a detailed city of new tech and old crime families. You play as Jack Tanner, a detective accused of killing your boss. Now you must solve the case while staying one step ahead of your pursuers. Runner mixes a stunning city environment with an engaging story.
Devious Eye Entertainment is bringing the heat to E3! Their games come from diverse teams wanting to share their stories. We at Geek Freaks are excited to see what they bring next! Keep up to date on their site.
It’s that time of year again. School’s out, the summer heat is here, and the beaches are packed. For those of us who prefer to stay inside, E3 is finally here. This year, the industry’s largest gaming expo has more attention than ever. With 2020’s event canceled and this one being a solely online experience, legions of gamers hungry for something new are waiting to see what they can expect over the next year and beyond.
After a year of delays and disappointments, gamers look to E3 to see what is on the horizon. In this post-pandemic world, smaller companies seem to be enjoying greater success, with publishers like Coffee Stain poised to become new powerhouses. At the same time, traditional studios like EA, Ubisoft, etc., stick to tried and true formulas that don’t seem to resonate with people like they used to. What sort of business models might emerge as streaming and esports dominate the market while cash shops and microtransactions become increasingly unpopular? Will studios look at the communities forged during quarantines on more casual games and attempt to capture that, or is 2021 destined to be another year notable for remakes and disastrous launches?
Whatever happens, the team here at Geek Freaks will be here to keep you informed on the latest at this year’s E3.
2020 was a year of hardship for everyone, and with people spending more time at home than ever before, gaming has been on the rise. Early on, many of us were able to rally together on Animal Crossing, a relaxing experience we could share with the friends we couldn’t see in person. There were unexpected gems like Valheim, which captured the imaginations of aspiring Vikings around the world. Mainstays such as Call of Duty: Warzone have lived up to their name, and a new campaign of bans may keep the game competitive when the upcoming Battlefield drops.
A new Spider-Man title, Miles Morales, beat out 2020’s Game of the Year Winner, The Last of Us II, for lifetime sales. Resident Evil Village continued to impress fans of the long-running franchise. Streaming became a national pastime, bringing older titles such as Among Us to the forefront and knocking Fall Guys off the Twitch front page. Friends and strangers alike spent hours trying to figure out who they should vote out for being too “sus.”
Remakes haven’t lost their way either, tapping into our nostalgia for a better time during such a chaotic year. The Resident Evil 3 remake released with favorable reviews, and the long-awaited FF7 Remake did well even as gamers disdained the episodic release schedule. World of Warcraft’s TBC Classic recently launched, and my current level 77 Blood Elf Warlock is looking forward to taking down Illidan like it’s 2007. Although many of us, myself included, would prefer new titles to remakes, it’s hard not to go back.
Even during the harsh world of quarantines and decimated supply lines, the industry rose to the top. Both Microsoft and PlayStation released new consoles. Microsoft released the powerhouse Series X and the affordable Series S. Meanwhile, Sony stepped up SSD performance and exclusives with the PS5. The consoles wars were a helpful distraction when we needed it most. And while supplies are limited, the companies are showing support for all players. Both companies are offering monthly free games and free upgrades to next-gen graphics. Gaming not only thrived in 2020 but cemented its place in the mainstream.
Will 2021 bring us fresh ideas, more remakes, or the best of both? What remake would you like to see? Will we see new hardware announced at E3? Let us know on our socials!
Join us on our podcast where we will analyse every big announcement of E3!
The internet was abuzz last week when the YouTube classic, “Charlie Bit My Finger,” was auctioned off. The winner would gain the NFT rights to the video and presumably remove it from YouTube. One of the first notable NFT sales was of this image by artist Beeple that sold for $69 million.
“Charlie Bit My Finger” is one of the first videos to go viral. It went from the new video streaming site to being referenced in mainstream media. It is an important part of internet history and still enjoyed today by millions. The original poster of the video, Charlie’s dad, stated he would take down the video once it sold. Social media began to debate the importance of preserving history and the video owner’s rights. In the end, “Charlie Bit My Finger” sold for $760,999. The new owner decided to leave the video up, and preserve it for history.
We got lucky this time, but the rise of NFTs means this will happen again. Let us go over the good, bad, and ugly of NFTs. First, what is an NFT? NFT stands for Non-Fungible Token. It is a unit of data stored on the Ethereum blockchain and can’t be duplicated. The NFTs are used to represent a digital item like video, music, audio, etc. The buyer gains control of the NFT and the item it represents. That is a simplified version of the complex world of blockchains and cryptocurrencies.
Now on to the good aspect of NFTs. Artists struggle in a digital world to keep their work from being copied and getting paid for their efforts. With little effort, someone can grab your work and sell it on sites. With an NFT, the artist has proof they are the original creator of the work. Artists can use the claim to force sites to take down stolen work. They can also sell the right at a fairly cheap cost to themselves. Sites have cropped up where an artist can post there work and receive their much-deserved funding. NFTs can be the signature artists need for a digital era.
The bad is here. Cryptocurrency relies on trends. The right mention on Reddit or a new company recognizing a coin could throw everything out of wack. This rollercoaster is similar to NFTs. We all heard about “Charlie Bit My Finger” because the video is famous, and mainstream news sources shared the story. But a struggling artist who posted a new song now becomes a PR machine. They have to pitch their work constantly, hoping it goes viral. Also, in the last week, the market for smaller creators has plummeted. The NFT bubble has popped. Bigger rights like famous songs and videos will still do fine, but those who had seen NFTs as a new way to work as an artist are now seeing its limitations. NFTs are still too volatile to depend on.
The ugly is what we should all worry about. If the new owner of “Charlie Bit My Finger” wanted to take down the video, it would have been lost to the public. Digital art only becomes fiscally valuable if it happens to trend. The value is not in the original poster’s effort but in the publics’ interest. At that point, it belongs to all of us. We will likely see more publically loved content auctioned off. Next maybe your favorite video or song. We need to be vocal to keep our shared content available to everyone.
Here is the classic Charlie Bit My Finger video published 14 years ago.
The long wait for God of War 2 just got longer. Sony’s Santa Monica studio announced today the God of War sequel will be delayed until 2022. Previously called God of War Ragnarok, the new game will continue the story of Kratos and his son. The final scene of the first game showed Thor arriving for revenge.
The announcement comes weeks before E3. Sony does not have a presence there this year. They likely wanted to announce the delay before the event to avoid the negative press while all eyes are on the industry. We will keep you updated with God of War development and the E3 event.
It’s time. Time to determine the ultimate Josh. Joshes must gather for a battle royal to determine the one true Josh.
This may sound ridiculous, but it was the premise that brought together hundreds of Joshes from across the country to Lincoln, Nebraska. Armed with pool noodles, the Joshes fought in Air Park. Even cheering supporters wearing “I Love Josh” shirts rooted for their favorites Joshes. This event is internet gold, like the Area-51 raid and GameStop Stonks, but how did it start?
An Arizona college student, Josh Swain, started a Facebook message group to random other Joshes. He posted this message:
After a year of messages and growing fandom on Tik Tok, the event went from a joke to reality.
The Joshes met on April 24th at the Air Park of Lincoln. The original Josh Swaim wore a shirt with his name on it. Another Josh Swaim challenged him to a “fight” for the title, “Original Josh Swaim.” After a heated Rock, Paper, Scissor match, the Josh of Arizona rose the victor.
It was then time for the battle! Nearly 2,000 Joshes swung colorful pool noodles at each other. The warriors came prepared with Jedi outfits, a couple of Spider-men, and countless capes. In the end, a four-year-old named Josh “Little Josh” Vinson Jr. was the winner. He was given a crown, trophy, interviewed by the local news, and hoisted high with everyone chanting “Little Josh, Little Josh.”
This is the best of the internet. A fun community created out of a simple premise. They came together to have fun, but also do some good. There was a successful canned food drive with roughly 300 pounds of food donated. And $8,000 was raised for the Children’s Hospital and Medical Center Foundation in Omaha.
Congratulations to the one true Josh, Josh “Little Josh” Vinson Jr, and thank you to Josh Swaim for creating this wonderful event.
Special thanks to Lincoln’s Journal Star for the coverage of Josh Fight. The pictures shown are from them. Please check out their site for the full story.
Source: Journal Star
The first virtual Olympic event was announced this week in an attempt to bring eSports fans to the Olympics. The Olympic Virtual Series will take place from May 13 to June 23. Events include cycling, rowing, sailing, and motorsports.
“The Olympic Virtual Series is a new, unique Olympic digital experience that aims to grow direct engagement with new audiences in the field of virtual sports,” said IOC President Thomas Bach.
Each event will be handled by their perspective committee, with details coming later. The only confirmed game is Gran Turismo for the Motorsports event. Presumably, they will use the latest version, Gran Turismo 7. The game came out in 2017, with a PS5 version in the works.
Here is the full IOC President’s Press Conference:
Emilia Clarke is in final talks to join the ‘Secret Invasion’ cast. There is no information yet on what role the ‘Game of Thrones’ actress would play. She will be joining Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Kingsley Ben-Adir, and Olivia Coleman. Filming is in the early stages, and little is known outside the comic book story.
2008’s ‘Secret Invasion’ comic series ran for 8 issues. It followed a group of Skrulls who have infiltrated the Avengers. The tagline “Who Do You Trust?” was a major theme throughout the story. Heroes would question each other, not sure if they are allies or foes.
Disney+’s ‘Secret Invasion’ does not have a release date yet, but is expected in 2022.
Source: Variety
Today Square Enix Presents showed off some new games and upcoming updates. Let’s check out all the reveals!
We have another trailer for Outriders. This new IP is brought to us by the team that made Gears of War and Bulletstorm. It is a co-op RPG shooter. At first glance, the game has a Destiny feel.
It’s the 20th anniversary of the Tomb Raider franchise! To celebrate, Laura Croft and her Manor are joining Fortnite. The reboot trilogy is re-releasing later this year in a new collection.
SE has a whole suite of mobile games releasing this year. Personal highlight is Space Invaders AR. Playing a classic in the park should be a blast!
Marvel’s Avengers has come a long way since its bug-riddled launch. During the event, we got a peek at the 2021 roadmap. Hawkeye will explore the future to fight the evil Maestro Hulk; a classic comic storyline. We also meet our next hero, Black Panther! T’Chala was to be revealed earlier, but they decided to wait a bit following the tragic death of Chadwick Boseman. Wakanda Forever.
We are introduced to the two heroes of Balan Wonderland. The rebirth of this 3D platforming game comes later this month.
A new installment in the Life is Strange is coming. Life is Strange: True Colors follows Alex as they explore the death of their brother. An emotion-based power gives the plower the ability to see others’ emotions and channel them into a force ability. The Life is Strange franchise continues to tell compelling stories and pushing the medium forward.
Previously only known by its working title, Project Athia. Forspoken is an open-world game in a world filled with fantastical beasts. You play as Frey, and wield an array of abilities. We get a clip of a cutscene and a bit of gameplay.
You can watch the entire show below!
Let’s check out some of the cool shows and movies coming to your streaming platforms! These are our must watch picks.
“A Song of Ice and Fire” author George R.R. Martin released his yearly writing update this week on this blog. He uses this blog to inform readers of his appearances, books, and progress.
Fans have “patiently” be waiting for “The Winds of Winter” as GRRM blows past one due date after another. His delayed books are nothing new, but this project has received extra pressure after HBO’s Game of Thrones series finished.
In the blog, Martin states 2020 has been his most productive year yet, writing “hundreds and hundreds” of pages.
“The best year I’ve had on WOW since I began it. Why? I don’t know. Maybe the isolation. Or maybe I just got on a roll. Sometimes I do get on a roll.”
He goes on to say he has hundreds more. Martin hopes to conclude the book in 2021!
“That’s what 2021 is for, I hope.”
He makes no promises though. While we are excited about the next book, we would rather the novel be done well.
“I will make no predictions on when I will finish. Every time I do, assholes on the internet take that as a “promise,” and then wait eagerly to crucify me when I miss the deadline. All I will say is that I am hopeful.”
Keep up the great work George!
Hey all! We’ve had a fun week at Geek Freaks. A new News of the Week was released on Tuesday with conversations about WandaVision, Daredevil joining Spider-Man 3, Captain America returning to the MCU, and much more.
Friday brought a new Push to Talk! Squeaks talks to Frank about The Sandman audiobook. They then discuss the future of comics as an audio media.
First stream was the podcast recording followed by some World of Warcraft. The next stream, Saturday night, will be a sneak peak at a new game in alpha development. Stay tuned!
Xbox Gold prices are on the rise. A new Xbox Wire post revealed prices for all three tiers will be going up. The monthly plan will rise $1, making it $10.99 per month. Three-month plans are going up to $5 to a new price of $29.99. Most notable is the six-month plan coming in at $59.99.
The $60 six month plan has the internet a buzz. The previous price that lasted for a year was $60 for an entire year. Xbox removed the year-long plan in 2020, indicating a price increase was imminent. But with the new tier changes, a year of Xbox Gold will run you $120.
The increased price is expected with inflation but users are now demanding more. Some suggestions are adding Xbox Series X games to the monthly free games. Some suggest making Xbox Game Pass Ultimate the norm. Essentially making Game Pass a perk of Gold. The most vocal demand is simply making Gold free. If Xbox removes the monthly free game and relies on Game Pass as the access point to their library, then Gold should be free.
With Game Pass gaining in popularity, the use of Gold simply doesn’t make sense anymore. Will Xbox reverse the price changes following customer complaints? Unlikely, but we will keep you updated as they make their next move.
**Update
Xbox has now reversed their decision following user complaints.
Source: Xbox Wire
Geek Freaks Network 