Stranger Things Season 4 Makes A Change To Where The Show Is Filmed

Netflix’s hit sci-fi show Stranger Things is changing things up for Season 4 as it relates to filming. The streaming network confirmed to Deadline that a “significant portion” of Season 4 will be filmed in New Mexico. This is notable because the three previous seasons were shot exclusively in Atlanta, Georgia.

“Season 4 is bigger, bolder and more intricate than ever,” Netflix executive Momita SenGupta said. “So this is the first time the show will be traveling beyond Atlanta.”

Stranger Things Season 4 will be filmed at Netflix’s new Albuquerque Studios, which it acquired in 2018. At the time, Netflix said it would spend $1 billion on local production efforts there by 2028, so it makes sense that Netflix would want to film one of its flagship shows there.

SenGupta teased that the new Netflix facilities “lent themselves to the story” for Season 4, but no other details were provided.

In addition to New Mexico, some of Season 4 was filmed in Vilnius, Lithuania. The makers of the show have stressed numerous times that this season will move the story beyond the town of Hawkins. In December, a cryptic tweet, proclaimed that “we’re not in Hawkins anymore.” And in an interview last year, co-creator Matt Duffer stated, “I think the biggest thing that’s going to happen is it’s going to open up a little bit, not necessarily in terms of scale, in terms of special effects, but open up in terms of allowing plotlines into areas outside of Hawkins.”

For more, check out GameSpot’s guide to the biggest upcoming shows of 2020.

Now Playing: Stranger Things Season 4 Theories!

Disney Canceled A Tron TV Show From Oscar-Winner John Ridley

A big new story from The Hollywood Reporter contains fascinating insight into Disney’s new streaming service, Disney+, including some of its growing pains. One of the revelations from the story is that Disney was said to be working on a Tron TV series from Oscar-winning writer John Ridley (12 Years A Slave, Three Kings, American Crime) before it was eventually scuttled.

The Tron series was never announced, so this is the first time we’re hearing about it. The report goes on to state that Ridley was working on the series as part of his deal with ABC Studios, which is owned by Disney. The show was never greenlit, so it wasn’t as if Disney canceled an in-development project. It is not uncommon for TV projects to be shut down before they even start, for a variety of reasons.

According to THR, Disney currently has more than 50 scripted shows and 50 unscripted programs in the works. The plan is to release about 35 original shows during Disney+’s first year, the report said.

As for shows that Disney has officially canceled, these include the scripted comedy Muppets Live Another Day and Book of Enchantment. Additionally, two other shows–High Fidelity and Love, Simon–moved from Disney+ to Hulu as part of a shake-up.

Additionally, production on the Lizzie McGuire show stopped in January when creator Terri Minsky left due to creative differences regarding the show’s more adult tone. The report cites sources saying there are some that believe Disney+ is struggling to find and define its identity.

The full story is a great read and well worth your time. Go read it here.

The Tron franchise has been on the bench for some time now. Tron: Legacy, starring Jeff Bridges, Olivia Wilde, and Martin Sheen, came to theatres in 2010, and this was followed up by 2012’s animated series Tron: Uprising.

SlashFilm reported last year that the Tron show was scheduled to be announced at the D23 Expo in 2019 but Disney decided to scrap those plans just days before the event. Ridley is said to have spent “several months” working on the show before it fell apart.

In 2015, Ridley was announced as the writer for a new Marvel show to air on ABC, but the status of this project is currently unknown.

Now Playing: Best Things To Stream For March 2020 – Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video

Re:ZERO Season 2 Has Been Postponed Due To Coronavirus

The ongoing coronavirus outbreak has disrupted industries and supply chains around the world, with anime being the latest to take a hit. The second season of Re:ZERO – Starting Life in Another World was scheduled to premiere in April, but has now been delayed to July 2020, Crunchyroll reports.

While Japan is dealing with its own outbreak of coronavirus, anime production is likely to be further affected by major outbreaks in China and South Korea, where a lot of animation outsourcing studios are located.

A new air date hasn’t been announced beyond the target of July, as mentioned on the official website, but the update says the new premiere date will be announced on Twitter when it’s been decided.

The release of Re:ZERO’s opening and ending theme CDs have also been delayed by the ongoing crisis. Scheduled for release on May 13, the opening song Realize by Konomi Suzuki will now come out on August 26, while the ending theme Memento by Nonoc will drop on September 2.

The spread of coronavirus has caused a number of big events like GDC, SXSW, and AnimeJapan to be cancelled or postponed. Even new Bond movie No Time To Die has pushed its release back as cinemas close across China and global cinema attendance drops.

Now Playing: 8 Must-See Anime To Watch For Winter 2020

Call Of Duty: Warzone Includes PS4-Exclusive Content

Call of Duty’s newest battle royale, Warzone, is launching this week on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Those who play on PS4 are getting a special treat that no one else is getting.

PlayStation announced on its blog that PlayStation Plus subscribers will receive a free “Call of Duty: Warzone Combat Pack” from the PlayStation Store. That’s all PlayStation had to say on the matter, but the company added that more information will be available when Warzone launches.

This content, whatever it is, will be exclusive for PS4 until October 1, 2020.

This is not the first timed exclusive Call of Duty content. Modern Warfare’s Season 2 update included some PS4-exclusive DLC, while the Survival mode for Spec-Ops is also exclusive to PS4 until October 1, 2020.

Warzone is a standalone free-to-play battle royale game for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. It’s also included with Modern Warfare for those who already bought the game.

For lots more on Warzone, check out GameSpot’s rundown of everything you need to know in the video above. You can also check out a full match of gameplay and find out what happens when you win.

Now Playing: Call Of Duty: Warzone – Everything You Need To Know In Under 4 Minutes

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Deals: Super Mario Maker 2, Super Mario Party, and Yoshi’s Crafted World $39.99 Each

Today’s spotlight deal is the Happy Mario Day Event that runs now through Saturday. Score 33% off some excellent first party titles for the Nintendo Switch, including the highly acclaimed Mario Maker 2 game. For those of you who don’t yet own the Switch, you can get a free Mario themed controller with purchase of the newer Switch model with the longer battery life. There are also some great deals on hard drives, LEGO, AirPods, and Vizio 4K TVs.

Super Mario Maker 2 for $39.99

This sale only runs until March 14 (Saturday) so hurry up and get Mario Maker 2 at the lowest price ever. This game is like Super Mario Bros U Deluxe on steroids; you have a complete single player “story mode” as well as the ability to create your own level masterpieces, or download others’ creations. We rated this game an “Amazing” (9.5/10). Seth Macy writes “Super Mario Maker 2 does nearly everything better than its already excellent predecessor, keeping the charm of a Mario game while introducing some incredible new ideas“.

Nintendo Switch V2 with Free PowerA Mario Controller for $298.99

There aren’t very many Nintendo Switch deals right now, but Walmart is throwing in a free controller when you get either the new generation Switch with the longer battery life.

Yoshi’s Crafted World for $39.99

If you’re looking for more polished 2D platforming goodness, give Yoshi’s Crafted World a whirl. This game is the spiritual successor to Yoshi’s Woolly World, starring everyone’s favorite green dinosaur. Whereas Woolly World portrayed a world made out of fabric, Crafted World emulates the cardboard cutout look perfectly.

Super Mario Party for $39.99

This is easily one of the best party games for the Switch with over 80 mini-games to choose from. Up to four players can play at a time, and each person only needs one half of a Joy-Con pair for the full experience (which means you only need two Joy-Con pairs for four people).

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games for $38.99

This is another excellent party game with up to 30 different mini-games all themed on the events that will take place during the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. Select from a star studded cast that includes both Mario and Sonic characters.

Get the Samsung Galaxy S20 on Visible and Pay $40/Month for Unlimited Data, Messages, and Minutes (Cheaper with Party Pay)

This sponsored deal is brought to you by Visible.

The new Samsung Galaxy S20 and S20+ are available on the Visible network. Purchase either and you’ll receive a $200 Samsung Gift Credit. On top of that, the $40/mo Visible plan gives you unlimited data, text, and phone, but that gets even cheaper if you sign up with more people (Party Pay). With 2 members the price drops to $35/mo, with 3 members it’s $30/mo, and with 4 members it’s $25/mo. Visible is owned and operated by Verizon, so you get access to the best overall network in the country.

Seagate Expansion 8TB USB 3.0 External Desktop Hard Drive for $119.99

2TB, 4TB, or even 6TB too small for you? This massive drive is cheaper than any 8TB hard drive on Black Friday. It’s compatible with the PC, PS4, or Xbox One but unlike one of those small portable drives, you’ll need to plug this into a power outlet as well as a USB port. It’s worth it for all the storage (there’s no such thing as a 8TB portable drive).

LEGO Architecture Skylines: Tokyo 547-Piece Building Kit for $47.99

This LEGO Architecture Skylines set is new for 2020 and it’s already discounted by 20% off. It features buildable models of the Tokyo Tower, Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower, Tokyo Big Sight, TOKYO SKYTREE, Chidorigafuchi Park, and Shibuya Crossing.

Out 6/26: Ghost of Tsushima for PS4

Ghost of Tsushima is coming exclusive to the PS4 console in less than 4 months. The Special Edition includes a steelbook case and some DLC goodies. The Collector’s Edition includes a steelbook case, replica Sakai mask and stand, Sashimono war banner, cloth map of Tsushima, Furoshiki wrapping cloth, 48-page mini art book, and even more DLC extras.

2019 65″ Vizio M658-G1 4K HDR QLED Smart HDTV with Bonus $200 Dell eGift Card for $649.99

The Vizio M-series QLED TVs are one of the best values you can get if you’re looking for a TV that’s fully HDR capable. The new Vizio M-series Quantum TVs utilize the same “Quantum Dot” technology used in Samsung QLED TVs. This particular model is the best M-series TV that Vizio offers: it features a wide color gamut, full-array backlight with 90 local dimming zones and 600 nits of brightness for excellent HDR image quality. Dell gift cards carry a 90-day expiration and can be used on anything at Dell.com.

Apple AirPods Pro for $234.98

The price of the AirPods Pro is back down to what we saw on Black Friday. These AirPods feature built-in active noise cancellation, but despite that that they boast a longer play time on a single charge than the vanilla AirPods. Other features include three sets of silicone tips for customized fit, a sweat and water resistant outer shell, and a wireless charging case that can provide an additional 24 hours of battery life.

Nintendo Switch Video Game Deals:

PS4 Video Game Deals:

Xbox One Video Game Deals:

PC Video Game Deals:

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Eric Song is IGN’s deal curator and spends 25% of his pay on stuff he posts.

The Mario Movie Is Happening Because Illumination CEO Told Miyamoto About His Failures

The Mario movie currently in the works at Illumination is still a while away, as it’s due to release in 2022. Nintendo has been protective of its characters following 1993’s disastrous live-action Super Mario Bros movie, which was an enormous flop that has since achieved cult status. Now, in a new interview, Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto has opened up about why Nintendo has partnered with Illumination (Despicable Me, Minions) for their upcoming animated film.

Shigeru Miyamoto, who is signed on to produce the new movie, spoke to Famitsu about the movie, and a portion of their discussion was translated by Nintendo Everything. In the interview, Miyamoto recalls meeting with Chris Meledandri, the CEO of Illumination. There was one specific thing that made Miyamoto trust the man, and it wasn’t because of the success of their films.

“When we started our partnership with Universal, I heard that the CEO of Illumination, Chris Meledandri, wanted to meet with me,” Miyamoto says. “I didn’t know what kind of angle he was getting at, but I’ll never forget when he talked to me about why he had failed before.”

According to Miyamoto, he started to feel like he could trust Meledandri when he spoke about these failures, and it convinced him that Nintendo could work with Illumination. “That was right around the time I was considering movies, so we decided to have him do the animation for us,” he said.

Asked to expound on the failure Meledandri talked about, Miyamoto simply responded “can’t say,” before laughing.

Nintendo is collaborating with Universal to open a theme park in Tokyo and Orlando. Illumination’s next film is the Despicable Me prequel Minions: The Rise of Gru. No director is officially attached to the Mario movie yet.

Now Playing: Minions: The Rise Of Gru (2020) – Official Trailer

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Elder Scrolls Online Is Getting A Huge Update On Consoles

Get ready for a massive download, Elder Scrolls Online players. The Patching Overhaul in ESO’s Update 25 will change the way the game is downloaded, patched and stored on your console–meaning improvements to game load time and a significant reduction in the amount of space taken up on your hard drive.

The bad news is that this update will require ESO to be completely re-downloaded from scratch. The game’s auto-update will take care of the full process for you, but be prepared for the update to take some time.

Update 25 has already been released for PC and Mac, but will be coming to consoles on March 10–so you may need to load up your console early if you’re planning to play ESO on Tuesday. The file size for the PC version of this update was 64.22GB, so the console download will likely be similarly huge.

As a thank you to everyone for going through the patching process, all players will be able to get the Crimson Torchbug pet for free in the two weeks following the patch. The Torchbug can be found in the Pets category of the Crown Store, and needs to be redeemed before March 24.

Console players look to benefit the most from ESO’s mega update, with smaller patches, more free hard drive space and a host of performance fixes–just in time to add the whopping territory of Skyrim in the game’s next major expansion.

Now Playing: The Evolution Of The Elder Scrolls Online | E3 2019

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Doom 64 Re-Release Will Feature A New Chapter

Doom 64 is returning on March 20 for Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC, releasing alongside Doom Eternal. The new version features upscaled graphics, a low price point, and, we’re now learning, all-new content that was not featured in the original Nintendo 64 version.

USGamer is reporting that Nightdive Studios, the team behind the updated port, has added a new chapter to the game. In an interview, senior developer James Haley described the new chapter to the site, saying that it takes place after the Doom 64 story (which is itself set after Doom II). “The Mother Demon you defeated in that outing had a sister, and since you’ve been messing up Hell non-stop, she tries to get rid of you by sending you away,” Haley explains.

“If you can make your way back and take revenge, you’ll be rewarded with a bit of lore that fans of both series, new and classic, should enjoy.”

The classic Doom games have gotten their share of new content recently, including the John Romero developed Sigil expansion for the original. This expansion recently made its way into the console versions of Doom and Doom II.

Elsewhere in the piece, quality assurance lead Leo Mikkola explains that the changed controls make the game “more accessible,” with a lower difficulty curve, but not necessarily easier overall, and that there’s “a distinct reduction of input lag.” It’s also confirmed that the PS4 and Switch versions feature optional motion controls.

March 2020 is going to be a huge month for Doom–here’s why you should be excited about Doom Eternal’s multiplayer.

Now Playing: Doom 64 – Official Announcement Trailer

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Android xCloud Preview Adds Tools To Help Players Discover New Games

Microsoft is continuing to work on its Project xCloud game streaming service, with the preview version now available in four countries. The Android version of the xCloud test, which now boasts well over 50 games in its library, is adding a new feature designed to help players find a new game to play.

Those in the xCloud preview will notice a set of five game trailers next time they open the app. As well as helping players to decide on their next game, xCloud will use the time the trailer is playing to load the game in the background, cutting down wait time if the player decides to jump in and play.

As Project xCloud is still in its beta phase, this new feature and many others in the preview may not make it to the finished app in the same state, or at all. “The Project xCloud preview is all about iterating, getting your input, and continuing to build great experiences,” the update reads.

If you’re in the preview already, the new feature will roll out today. If you want to get onto the preview–and you live in either the US, the UK, Korea or Canada–you can register here. To participate you’ll need a compatible Android device, a Microsoft account, an Xbox One controller with Bluetooth, and an internet connection with 10Mbps downloads.

xCloud is also available on iOS, but with fewer games and features currently available.

Keep an eye out for more Project xCloud news next week, when Microsoft will share its planned GDC announcements over Mixer livestream.

Now Playing: Project xCloud – Official Trailer