Apparently, A Big Lebowski Spin-Off Movie Was Released Today

After three years of collective proverbial dust on the shelf and having a less than stellar theatrical run, The Big Lebowski spin-off movie you didn’t know existed has been released digitally. Titled The Jesus Rolls, you can rent this movie for mere pennies, and it might still not be worth the price.

Taking into consideration that the movie already debuted back in 2016 at the Rome Film Festival and finally hit Italian theaters last year it’s only just recently hit American theaters back at the end of Februrary.

The Lebowski spin-off has received little to no fanfare on the release, but word of mouth hasn’t been great either.

On Rotten Tomatoes, The Jesus Rolls has an approval rating of 21% based on 28 reviews, with an average rating of 4.67/10. The website’s critics consensus reads: “The Jesus Rolls limply into the gutter in its misguided attempt to belatedly explore the saga of a supporting character better left on the margins.”

The weirdest thing about the film is that it’s not so much as a Big Lebowski sequel (which the Coen Brothers were not on board with originally) as it is a remake of a French film Going Places, which in itself is an adaptation of a novel.

John Turturro, who reprises the Jesus Quintana role from the original Big Lebowski, had campaigned to somehow, someway play the role again for almost 20 years. However, since Turturro essentially made the character his own, the Coens allowed him to use the character again in 2014 when the spin-off was originally announced.

Without the Coens’ involvement or approval, The Jesus Rolls seems like a cheap imitation to a continuation for a one-note character. However, if you’re feeling especially morbidly curious, The Jesus Rolls is available right now to own on Amazon for $8, but to rent is only $1.

The products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors. GameSpot may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Hits Big Three-Day Sales Milestone

Final Fantasy 7 Remake is an anticipated return to one of Square Enix’s most beloved properties, and it’s showing in the sales figures. The company announced that in just the first three days (having launched on April 10), the game sold 3.5 million copies.

The official FF7 Remake Twitter announced the sales figure with a thank you to fans. That figure includes copies both shipped and sold digitally, so it may not be sell-through to consumers. But several more days have passed since the initial launch weekend, so the tally is likely even higher by now.

It’s an impressive figure made more so by the fact that the game launched on only one platform, the PlayStation 4. It has a one-year exclusivity window on PS4, so it’s expected to come to other platforms on or after April 10, 2021. No platforms have been announced, so it could come to PC, Xbox One, or next-gen platforms. This is just the first part of the full FF7 story, and a release date hasn’t been announced for Part 2.

“Regardless of your history with the original game, Final Fantasy VII Remake is an astounding achievement,” Tamoor Hussain wrote in GameSpot’s review, which earned a rare 10/10. The wait for its release was a long one, but in gameplay, story, characters, and music, it delivers–the wait was worth it. For first-time players, it’s an opportunity to understand why Final Fantasy VII is held in such high regard. It’s the chance to experience a multifaceted story that grapples with complex subject matter, be in the company of memorable characters, and be moved by their plight. For returning fans, this isn’t the Final Fantasy VII your mind remembers, it’s the one your heart always knew it to be.”

For more on FF7 Remake, check out our full listing of guides and walkthroughs. and check out some cool Easter eggs in the video above.

Now Playing: Final Fantasy 7 Remake: 34 Cool Easter Eggs And Callbacks

GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Update Adds New Merchants And Museum Features

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is set to receive a new content update this week, introducing two new merchants to the game and expanding the already extensive Blather’s Museum.

Launching on April 23, the free content update will introduce both Leif and Jolly Redd into the pool of visiting merchants. Leif’s Garden Shop will stock all sorts of flora, including tree saplings, unique seeds, and a variety of colorful shrubs to spruce up your island.

Jolly Redd will set up shop on his ship, which will occasionally dock on your island. There you’ll be able to purchase artworks and sculptures for bells, as well as uniquely colored furniture for your home. In line with previous Animal Crossing entries, you’ll have to determine what artworks are real and which are fake. Genuine art can then be donated to the museum, which will now feature a whole new wing dedicated to your sculptures and artworks for display.

The update will also usher in the first of multiple events over the next two months, starting with Nature Day. From April 23 through May 1, you can earn additional Nook Miles Points by completing nature-friendly challenges, such as planting trees and watering plants. You can check out the full event schedule here.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons has been a hit for Nintendo, and it’s easy to see why. In our Animal Crossing: New Horizons 9/10 review, critic Kallie Plagge praised its improvements and breadth of content, saying, “New Horizons certainly came at the right time, and its strengths are particularly comforting right now. I’m as excited to see what random events await me each morning as I am glad to have it during hard times, and that’s sure to keep me coming back for the foreseeable future.”

GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.

HBO Max Launch Date Announced, Will Arrive With Friends, Doom Patrol, Studio Ghibli, And More

Despite the ongoing disruption to the entertainment industry, 2002 continues to be the year that the streaming war really heats up. The mobile-only platform Quibi and NBCUniversal’s Peacock both launched this month, and they will soon be joined by the long-awaited HBO Max, which now has a confirmed launch date.

HBO Max will be available from May 27, and will cost $15 per month. While this is more expensive than most of its streaming rivals, it is the same as a current HBO subscription and does include a wide variety of library content from other WarnerMedia-owned brands. These include DC Entertainment, CNN, TNT, TBS, truTV, The CW, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Crunchyroll, Rooster Teeth, and Looney Tunes.

Direct-billed subscribers to HBO Now will get access to HBO Max at launch for no extra cost, as will customers who subscribe to select AT&T premium wireless video or internet services or get HBO through AT&T.

WarnerMedia has announced some of the original content that will be available on launch day. There’s the comedy Love Life, starring Anna Kendrick, the ballroom dance competition Legendary, the acclaimed documentary On the Record, and all-new Looney Tunes cartoons. In addition, Season 2 the DC show Doom Patrol will be available later in the year, as will Season 3 of the acclaimed thriller Search Party.

Older movies and shows that will be available on HBO Max include popular comedies Friends, The Big Bang Theory, and South Park, plus all of Studio Ghibli’s classic anime films. Movies fans will be able to watch DC superhero hits such as Joker, Wonder Woman, and Suicide Squad, plus The Matrix movies and Warner classics like The Wizard of Oz and Casablanca.

In a statement, chairman of Warner Media Entertainment Bob Greenblatt said, “Our No. 1 goal is having extraordinary content for everyone in the family, and the HBO Max programming mix we are so excited to unveil on May 27th will bear that out. Even in the midst of this unprecedented pandemic, the all-star teams behind every aspect of HBO Max will deliver a platform and a robust slate of content that is varied, of the highest quality, and second to none.”

Now Playing: Doom Patrol – Official Extended Trailer

Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ April 2020 Update Adds Nature Day Event

Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ April 2020 update will arrive on April 23 and will add the Nature Day seasonal event, a museum expansion with an Art Gallery, Leif and Jolly Redd as new merchants, hints at future events like Wedding Season, and much more.

Nature Day will run from April 23 to May 4, and will help celebrate our real world Earth Day that takes place on April 22. This update also gives us a glimpse at future events, including May Day Tour from May 1 – May 7, International Museum Day from May 18 – May 31, and the previously mentioned Wedding Season from June 1 – June 30.

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/21/animal-crossing-new-horizons-april-free-update-trailer”]

Nature Day will feature special Nook Miles challenges that are focused on such activities as planting trees and watering flowers. May Day Tour will allow players to use a one-time May Day Ticket to go on a limited-time tour to a special island that may include “a special visitor who looks familiar.”

International Museum Day brings a Stamp Rally to Animal Crossing: New Horizons and will have player viewing fish, insects, and fossils they’ve collected and getting stamps for visiting exhibits. Wedding Season will take place at Harvey’s Island and will let players meet the married couple Reese and Cyrus. They will also be able to arrange and take anniversary photos with them in the wedding-picture studio, and earn wedding-themed items as a reward.

Leif the sloth will bring his Garden Shop to your island and he will allow you to buy the newly added shrubs, like the White-azalea or the orange-tea-olive. Jolly Redd the fox will bring his Treasure Trawler boat to your shores and will offer artwork and furniture in exchange for bells.

[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”albumSlug=animal-crossing-new-horizons-april-2020-update&captions=true”]

The museum expansion adds an Art Gallery that includes paintings, sculptures, and much more, many that are modeled after real world masterpieces.

While you prepare for all these new updates and events, be sure to check out our Animal Crossing Wiki Guide that can help you make bells fast, conquer the Turnip Market, and much more. In addition, read everything we know about Leif the Sloth and Earth Day and discover the best real-world Turnip tools that will help you get the best return on investment.

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/09/16-things-we-loved-and-didnt-about-animal-crossing-new-horizons”]

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected].

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Latest Xbox One Sale Is All About Horror Games: Layers Of Fear, Outlast, And More

Horror fans looking for something new to play on Xbox One this week will want to check out the this week’s sale on the Xbox Store. Microsoft’s Un-Halloween Horror Sale features discounts on dozens of horror and suspense titles, including multiplayer games such as Friday the 13th: The Game and Dead by Daylight. The sale is live now and runs through April 27.

Though most of us are currently spending more time at home nowadays, you can still connect with friends and loved ones through online multiplayer. Dead by Daylight: Special Edition is discounted to $12 (was $30), while Friday the 13th: The Game is down to just $5 ($20). At this point, the player base for Friday the 13th is probably pretty small, but Dead by Daylight still receives regular updates. It’s a great time to check out what these asymmetrical survival horror games have to offer. Additionally, open-world survival horror game 7 Ways to Die is slashed to $18 (was $30).

A bunch of story-driven horror games are also on sale, including a pair of great games from Polish studio Bloober Team. Layers of Fear, a creepy adventure revolving around a tortured artist, is $5 (was $20). Alternatively, you can pick up a bundle including Layers of Fear and sci-fi horror game Observer for $16 (was $40). Set in 2084, Observer stars a detective who has the ability to hack into the minds of others.

Those looking for something even grittier can pick up the Outlast: Bundle of Terror for $5 (was $25), which comes with the sadistic base game and Whistleblower DLC. Outlast puts you in the shoes of investigative journalist who visits a psychiatric hospital filled with homicidal patients. The sequel, Outlast 2, pushes the unsightly horrors to the max and is also steeply discounted at $7.49 (was $30)

You can browse the full Un-Halloween Horror Sale on the Xbox Store and check out our picks below. If you own a Nintendo Switch or PS4, you can still shop spring sales at the Switch Eshop and PlayStation Store, too.

Best deals at Xbox Store

Now Playing: Top New Games Releasing On Switch, PS4, And PC This Week — April 19-25, 2020

GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Upcoming Events Schedule – Nature Day, May Day, And More

Nintendo has outlined some of what players can expect from Animal Crossing: New Horizons over the next two months. Updates for the hit Nintendo Switch game will bring not only new features and visitors, but also a series of events that dot the calendar from now through the end of June, including Nature Day, May Day Tour, International Museum Tour, and Wedding Season. Here’s when each one starts and what we know about it so far.

Nature Day

  • Dates: April 23 – May 4

The one impending event we already knew was coming, thanks to a Nintendo Direct mini broadcast, was a celebration of Earth Day, which takes place on April 22. Specific details and dates hadn’t been shared previously except that Leif would return in some capacity. Nature Day begins on April 23 and will see special Nook Miles+ objectives that involve planting trees, watering flowers, and taking advantage of a new feature–the ability to plant shrubs.

May Day Tour

  • Dates: May 1-7

During this week-long event, beginning May 1, you’ll get a one-time ticket–the May Day Ticket–to head out on a May Day Tour from the airport. Nintendo says that the location you’ll head to will be different from the usual mystery tour deserted islands, and based on the video, it appears you’ll have to navigate a hedge maze. Nintendo also teases, “A special visitor who looks familiar might also be there…” Based on the video, that’ll be Rover.

International Museum Day

  • Dates: May 18-31

The museum is set to receive an expansion for art as part of a New Horizons update that brings back returning character Redd. Starting on May 18, there will be a Stamp Rally event that equips you with a stamp card that you can fill out by browsing the fish, insects, and fossils you’ve collected. Collecting stamps will lead to an unspecified reward.

Wedding Season

  • Dates: June 1-30

During June, you can visit Harv’s island to encounter Reese and Cyrus, a married couple and another returning set of characters from the series’ past. Given the photography-themed nature of Harv’s island, you’ll be decorating a studio and taking anniversary photos. Rewards include “wedding-themed items.” (This wouldn’t be the first time the game helped facilitate a wedding of some sort.)

GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.

HBO Max Launch Date Set for May 27

WarnerMedia has announced that its new streaming platform HBO Max will officially launch on May 27.

The new streaming service will be available to U.S. customers for $14.99 per month (the same price as HBO Now), with approximately 10,000 hours of content available to viewers from day one, including a mix of original projects and an extensive lineup of library and acquired programming. Existing HBO customers will get access to HBO Max at no extra charge.

Launch day originals include the scripted comedy Love Life, starring Anna Kendrick; Sundance 2020 Official Selection feature documentary On the Record; underground ballroom dance competition series Legendary; Craftopia, hosted by YouTube star LaurDIY; all-new Looney Tunes Cartoons, from Warner Bros. Animation; and Sesame Workshop’s The Not Too Late Show with Elmo.

[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”albumSlug=everything-coming-to-hbo-max&captions=true”]

The service will also launch with a large selection of library titles such as Friends, The Big Bang Theory, Doctor Who, Rick and Morty, plus CW shows such as Batwoman, Nancy Drew, and Katy Keene, the first season of DC’s Doom Patrol, and much more, with the platform expected to add the complete libraries of South Park, Gossip Girl, The West Wing, and many others in the first year of launch.

In addition to TV series, specials, and documentaries, HBO Max will feature a catalogue of more than 2,000 feature films within the first year, including titles from Warner Bros., New Line and DC such as Joker, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman, as well as a mix of films acquired specifically for HBO Max via Warner Bros., the Criterion Collection, and the acclaimed Studio Ghibli.

HBO Max officially acquired U.S. streaming rights to Studio Ghibli films last year, meaning that 20 films from Japan’s legendary animation arthouse will be available on the platform at launch, including Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, as well as fan-favourites My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Ponyo, and Kiki’s Delivery Service, while The Wind Rises will join the collection in the Fall.

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2015/11/20/our-favorite-studio-ghibli-films-ign-anime-club”]

“Our number one goal is having extraordinary content for everyone in the family, and the HBO Max programming mix we are so excited to unveil on May 27 will bear that out,” said Robert Greenblatt, Chairman of WarnerMedia Entertainment and Direct-To-Consumer. “Even in the midst of this unprecedented pandemic, the all-star teams behind every aspect of HBO Max will deliver a platform and a robust slate of content that is varied, of the highest quality, and second to none. I’m knocked out by the breadth and depth of our new offering, from the Max originals, our Warner Bros library and acquisition titles from around the world, and of course the entirety of HBO.”

After the initial launch, Max Originals will continue to premiere on the streamer at a regular cadence throughout Summer and Fall, so there is a significant amount of content in the works. In fact, it was recently revealed that three high-concept projects from J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot are in development – a DC Comics-inspired series using characters from Justice League Dark; a show set at The Shining’s infamous Overlook Hotel; and a 1970s-set drama about a getaway driver.

[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true”]

The highly anticipated Friends unscripted cast reunion will also be released on the platform at a later date, as the production was delayed indefinitely amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer were all set to return to the original soundstage, where the show started out about 25 years ago, to film the special on March 23 and March 24, but plans had to be postponed.

The good news is that, even without the Friends reunion special, HBO Max will have plenty of content to offer subscribers when it launches next month, as it attempts to compete with the likes of NetflixHuluAmazon Prime Video, and the Disney+ platform. If you want to find out more about these services, check out our breakdown of the state of the streaming wars so far.

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Nintendo Investigating Reports Of Switch Account Breaches

Nintendo is investigating reports of Switch account breaches. Though the company acknowledged that it is aware of reports of breaches and is looking into the matter, it’s unclear how widespread the issue is.

“We are aware of reports of unauthorized access to some Nintendo Accounts and we are investigating the situation,” a spokesperson told Eurogamer.

The company also explained what users should do now, either to help prevent a breach or if they suspect one has already occurred. To help protect your account, Nintendo recommends turning on two-step verification. If you think your account may have already been accessed, the company recommends contacting its support desk.

This follows an earlier report that some users have reported unauthorized transactions on their account, like sales of Fortnite V-Bucks using PayPal linked to the Switch accounts.

In addition to Nintendo’s recommendations, the usual spate of security recommendations applies: use unique passwords across different accounts, consider using a password manager to generate alphanumeric passwords, and change your passwords regularly.

Now Playing: How Animal Crossing Came From One Of Nintendo’s Biggest Failures

Peaky Blinders: Mastermind Announced for PC and Consoles

IGN can exclusively reveal Peaky Blinders: Mastermind, a puzzle-adventure game made by Futurlab and published by Curve Digital, which will come to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC this summer.

Mastermind comes with a fairly unique twist – every level of the top-down game has you controlling six members of the show’s Shelby family simultaneously. That’s made possible by putting the entire level on an adjustable timeline, which can be rewound and replayed, allowing you to adjust the actions of each character to find solutions to obstacles, whether violent, stealthy, or both.

Each member of the Shelby family comes with unique abilities – Tommy (threatening), Arthur (brawling and door kicking), Polly (bribing and lock picking), John (arson and brawling), Ada (distraction) and Finn (sneaking and pickpocketing). You’ll need to to use each one, linking the many abilities in sequence, to get through the game’s challenges. It’s essentially an action-tactics game, and you can get a good look at how that works in the reveal trailer, below:

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/21/peaky-blinders-mastermind-official-reveal-trailer”]

Made in collaboration with show creator Steven Knight, Mastermind’s story acts as a prequel to the show’s first season, as the Shelby family discovers a plot to put their burgeoning criminal empire out of business. The game’s set-up is a nod to Tommy Shelby’s ability to think through complex scenarios in his head – you’re essentially creating, enacting, and retooling his plans before they happen for real. The game’s soundtrack has been created by Feverist, the art-rock band that scored the show’s first season.

Game director James Marsden explains the inspiration for the game’s core mechanic: “There’s a point in the show where Tommy Shelby explains he has no concern for the past, nor the future; all he cares about is a crucial moment he calls the soldier’s minute. We designed our game around that idea, allowing the player to plan actions backward and forward in time, choreographing an ensemble cast of characters to synchronise their actions during these crucial moments. The player gets to feel like the smart and sophisticated leader that Tommy is, so we think becoming the mastermind will resonate with fans of the show and gamers alike.”

To see how that mechanic plays out across an entire level of the game, check out our exclusive gameplay from the first level below:

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/21/peaky-blinders-mastermind-gameplay-reveal”]

The game won’t be released until summer this year, but you can wishlist the game on Steam right now.

For those not familiar with Peaky Blinders, the series offers a gritty snapshot of life in 1920s Birmingham, following the Shelby family’s schemes and setbacks. We named the fifth season one of the best drama TV series of 2019.

[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”albumSlug=peaky-blinders-mastermind-12-screenshots&captions=true”]

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Joe Skrebels is IGN’s Executive Editor of News, and those hats make him feel terrified these days. Follow him on Twitter.