Earlier this year, conservatives on social media claimed an unlikely new icon. It wasnt a podcaster with questionable views or a libertarian businessman selling a course or any particular ideology. It was actress Sydney Sweeney, Euphoria star and the recent lead of the rom-com Anyone but You. Following her Saturday Night Live hosting gig in March, two conservative outlets published columns heralding Sweeney as a return to conventional beauty standards of the 90s and early 2000s or as, Bridget Phetasy for the Spectator put it, the giggling blonde with an amazing rack. Both pieces postulate that, by wearing low-cut dresses and playing up her sexuality, Sweeney was inviting men to gawk at her, therefore raising a middle finger to woke culture and the Me Too movement. Sweeney hasnt publicly aligned herself with the right in any way. (Her familys politics, though, were the subject of controversy in 2022, which may have something to do with the rights eager embrace of her.) Rather, her ascension as a throwback-y, hyper-feminine sex symbol has given conservatives the rare mainstream Gen Z figure on whom to project their values. For those paying close attention, the past year was rife with springboards for the conservative message.In the hindsight following Trumps reelection, it seems the zeitgeist of 2024 was a foreshadowing of his return to office and something forecasters might have considered a little more seriously. Bro country singers became the artists de jour, going head-to-head with female pop singers on the charts and, in many cases, outperforming them. The buzziest new reality shows were about Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders and Mormon TikTokers. Conservative films from smaller distributors, like the biopic Reagan and Daily Wire documentary Am I Racist?, made millions at the box office. Nominally apolitical podcasters and streamers, from Joe Rogan to the Nelk Boys, hosted presidential candidates and took on an increasingly political valence. Its a sharp turn from the liberal-coded pop culture of the Obama years and the sort of trends that took off in response to Trumps first presidency comic-book movies with a progressive edge like Wonder Woman and Black Panther, social commentary films like Get Out and Promising Young Woman, not to mention the explosion of drag culture. Joel Penney, an associate professor at Montclair State University, says the overall conservative feel of pop culture at the moment is, in many ways, a response to the Me Too movement and the notion by its detractors that masculinity is in crisis. At the same time that were seeing Sweeney receive praise for representing traditional femininity, the All-American straight white bro is getting renewed cultural attention. Theres been a lot of this trying to restore these strong male role models in pop culture, whether its Tom Cruise in the Top Gun remake or these bro podcasters and country singers, Penney says. We can see this happening most visibly in mainstream music. Its not just that country music a Southern genre with a past and present of conservative politics has emerged in the mainstream over the past two years with much controversy. Its that this class of musicians Morgan Wallen, Zach Bryan, Jelly Roll, Luke Combs, Shaboozey, and the newly rustic Post Malone are glaringly male. Shaboozeys unprecedented achievements in an overwhelmingly white genre add a refreshing element to this conversation. Beyonc also released a successful country album this year featuring Shaboozey and an array of Black female country artists. Cowboy Carters lead single, Texas Hold Em, topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks, a shorter amount of time than Morgan Wallen, Post Malone, and Shaboozeys No.1 songs this year. Nor was she recognized by the country establishment, getting completely shut out of the Country Music Association awards. Overall, it seems like country fans and the average young person, whos listening to more country music these days, are still more eager to hear dudes croon about beer.Outside of the charts, these country singers have also become mainstream personalities and subjects of celebrity gossip. In the span of roughly a year, Bryan went from a little-known alternative country crooner posting YouTube videos to a celebrity whose personal relationships are being analyzed by TikTok users and explained in the pages of People. Jelly Roll and his wife, influencer and popular podcast host Bunnie XO, have also become a recognizable celebrity couple, while Wallens dating life and public antics have become Page Six fodder. Singer Zach Bryan and influencer Bri LaPaglia a.k.a. Brianna Chickenfry at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards held at Crypto.com Arena on February 4, 2024, in Los Angeles. Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty ImagesElsewhere in pop culture, figures seemingly designated for a more male, conservative audience have gone mainstream. First, there was the viral video of a woman from Tennessee being asked about oral sex outside of a bar a very bro-y Girls Gone Wild-inspired genre thats emerged on TikTok and offering a memorable onomatopoeia. Theres also the viral Florida-based father-and-son duo A.J. and Big Justice, who do food reviews at Costco. With the exception of Big Justices sister and mother whos literally referred to as the Mother of Big Justice in videos this expanded universe of Costco Guys is made of white men and boys from Florida and New Jersey rating foods in a cartoonishly macho manner. Theyre not explicitly expressing MAGA as a value, but theyre trafficking in spaces that have been less visible in recent years: rural and suburban enclaves, featuring white, heterosexual, male, and even bro-y talent that was out of vogue in recent history. One can assume that the current MAGA-coded fabric of mainstream culture correlates with a generation of young people who identify as more conservative than their parents, although Penney says the relationship between pop culture and politics is a two-way street. While the media can reflect growing opinions and interests of the moment, it can also be used to shape it. Pop culture doesnt just emerge out of nowhere, says Penney, who wrote the book Pop Culture, Politics, and the News. Were seeing attempts to shape the culture that are increasingly coming from the conservative media ecosystem.Conservatives carved out a space for themselves at the movies In March, Ben Shapiros media company the Daily Wire released its first theatrical movie, the satirical documentary Am I Racist?, which earned $4.5 million its opening weekend. Currently, its the highest-grossing documentary of the year along with a handful of other conservative nonfiction films including the Catholic documentary Jesus Thirsts: The Story of the Eucharist, the Dinesh DSouza-directed Vindicating Trump, and the creationist movie The Ark and the Darkness all making the top 10 list.2024 saw other movies from conservative studios and right-wing producers make notable financial gains. Despite overwhelmingly negative reviews, the Ronald Reagan biopic, Reagan, starring Dennis Quaid, broke into the top 5 at the box office when it premiered in August, doing particularly well with older, white, and Southern audiences. Over the summer, the Christian media company Angel Studios also released the pro-adoption movie Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trout, marketed by Daily Wire+. While it made significantly less money than its 2023 predecessor Sound of Freedom, which had a vocal fan base of QAnon supporters, its nearly $12 million worldwide earnings are still a massive accomplishment for a small Christian film with no movie stars. While the performance of these movies has not bred the same immediate concern of something like Sound of Freedom, it does provide a potential incentive for major studios to start courting a movie-going crowd thats felt alienated by mainstream Hollywood.Actors Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones in the 2024 film Twisters. Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, and Amblin EntertainmentWarner Bros has yet to produce its own Sound of Freedom, but weve seen hints that Hollywood is interested in movies that at least appeal to white, Southern, and conservative audiences. American nostalgia bait came to the fore in the summer blockbuster Twisters. The Oklahoma-set film with a star-studded, country-infused soundtrack did particularly well in Southern cities and theater chains in middle America, outperforming initial estimations. While its probably most accurate to describe the film as decidedly apolitical with some patriotic markers, it does see the white, blond savior (played by Glen Powell) emasculate the movies other male main character, Latino storm chaser Javi (Anthony Ramos). Powell happened to produce another piece of Americana, Blue Angels, a look at the US Navys flight demo squadron, and the fourth highest-grossing documentary of 2024. He also co-starred with Sweeney in Anyone but You, a film released at the end of 2023 that crossed the $200 million mark in early 2024.Penney says corporations will try new strategies and pander to different audiences, as theyve done with Marvel and Disneys diversity pushes in recent years, based on what they think will benefit them financially. Theyre not really thinking about political impact. That was very much the reality of capitalism at work, Penney says. [Disney] was trying new strategies, not because they were really, truly convinced that they were going to save the world through expanding diversity, but they were getting a sense that thats what the audience wanted. It was a response to Me Too and Black Lives Matter and things that actually resonated with our culture to a degree. This pendulum swing from the sort of diversity-focused art that dominated pop culture during the Obama years to what were seeing now is hardly unprecedented. Specifically in music, countrys popularity as a genre has historically corresponded with a push in right-wing politics, from the jingoist anthems following 9/11 to Okie From Muskogee during the Nixon years. Pop culture has also seen movies with conservative and/or religious themes, from American Sniper and The Passion of the Christ, break the box office. If this current moment tells us anything, its that were stuck in an ouroboros of shifting political values and corporate interests. Suffice to say, its not a question of whether weve been here before but whether were paying attention to what these signals all mean. With an honest look at our media landscape, were the results of the election truly that surprising? Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

On Wednesday, President-elect Donald Trump revealed he will nominate Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), an accused sex offender known for his firm loyalty to Trump, to lead the Department of Justice. (Gaetz has denied wrongdoing.) On Thursday evening, Trump announced that three other lawyers he has close personal ties to will also be nominated to top DOJ jobs.This means that four of the highest jobs in the Justice Department, the office that brings federal prosecutions, will be held by people whose records suggest they will advance Trumps personal interest. Three of these four lawyers have serious legal credentials and institutional knowledge, and thus are likely to be effective in advancing those interests.Trump chose Todd Blanche, the criminal defense lawyer in his New York hush money trial (the one where he faced charges related to money paid to keep a sexual encounter quiet), to be deputy attorney general. Thats the No. 2 job in the Justice Department. The DAG, as this position is known within the department, wields tremendous power over federal criminal prosecutions. If successfully appointed, Blanche will supervise the 93 regional US attorneys who bring the bulk of all federal prosecutions in the United States. So Blanche will have a great deal of authority over who is prosecuted.Meanwhile, Trump wants John Sauer, the lawyer who represented him in the Supreme Court case holding that Trump is allowed to use the powers of the president to commit crimes, to serve as solicitor general. The role oversees the Justice Departments legal strategy in the Supreme Court, including arguing many of the most important cases. They also decide which cases the DOJ will appeal if the federal government loses a case in a trial court.Another one of Trumps personal criminal defense lawyers, Emil Bove, will serve as principal associate deputy attorney general, and will hold the DAG spot on an acting basis until Blanche or some other Trump nominee is confirmed or otherwise formally appointed to the job. Unlike the DAG and the solicitor general, Boves new role does not require Senate confirmation. So he will be able to move into this job on the first day of Trumps second presidency.This isnt the first time a president has tried to put one of his personal lawyers in a position of high responsibility within government. President Lyndon Johnson, for example, named Abe Fortas, his friend and personal lawyer, to the Supreme Court in 1965. If you know anything about Fortass very brief tenure on the Court, you may know that appointment didnt end well.Based strictly on their rsums, all three men are conventionally qualified for these jobs. Both Blanche and Bove previously worked as federal prosecutors for nine years before entering private practice. Sauer is a former law clerk to Justice Antonin Scalia who previously served Missouris solicitor general. Its easy to see all three joining the Justice Department without much controversy if they were picked by, say, President Nikki Haley.But Trump talks often about using the DOJ to target his political adversaries and people he views as foes. An NPR report on October 22 found that Trump made more than 100 threats to prosecute or punish perceived enemies. That includes a threat to, in Trumps words, appoint a real special prosecutor to go after the most corrupt president in the history of the United States of America, Joe Biden, and the entire Biden crime family. Trump also accused former Rep. Liz Cheney, a prominent Republican critic of the incoming president, of TREASON and threatened TELEVISED MILITARY TRIBUNALS. (Which, if they were to actually happen, would presumably take place in the Defense Departments legal structure, but could involve some DOJ personnel.)Trumps decision to name Gaetz, a staunch loyalist, to lead the Justice Department is a cause for considerable alarm if you fear the United States sliding into authoritarianism. Historically, the White House has obeyed strong norms against interfering with Justice Department prosecutorial decisions, but these norms have no legal force. So someone like Gaetz could tear down this barrier altogether.Trumps decision to appoint his personal lawyers to top DOJ jobs is equally concerning. Federal lawyers are supposed to represent the interests of the United States, not of any particular politician, while they work for the government. But Trump has selected three people who arent simply accustomed to representing his personal interests, but who have also likely collected considerable legal fees from him.Blanche, Sauer, and Boves conventional rsums also mean that, if they use their DOJ posts to pursue Trumps personal campaign of vengeance, they are likely to be fairly effective in doing so. As a DOJ outsider known for performative political stunts, Gaetz may struggle to navigate the departments internal bureaucracy or to resist its internal culture, which seeks to insulate prosecutorial decisions from the White House.Blanche, Sauer, and Gaetz still need to be confirmed assuming that Trump doesnt use recess appointments or some other method to get around the Senate confirmation process. But if Trump gets his way, his ultraloyalist attorney general will now be backed by people who know the Justice Department and the culture of elite federal lawyers quite well.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

At the start of Valves Half-Life 2, the seminal first-person shooter game that turns 20 this month, taciturn scientist Gordon Freeman is trapped within a dystopian cityscape. Armed soldiers patrol the streets, and innocent citizens wander around in a daze, bereft of purpose and future. Dr Wallace Breen, Freemans former boss at the scientific research centre Black Mesa, looks down from giant video screens, espousing the virtues of humankinds benefactors, an alien race known as The Combine.As Freeman stumbles through these first few levels of Half-Life 2, the player acclimatises to the horrible future laid out before them. Its hardly the most cheerful setting, but there are some friendly faces (security guard Barney, Alyx and Eli Vance) and even moments of humour, as Dr Isaac Kleiners pet, a debeaked face-eating alien called Lamarr, runs amok in his laboratory. It feels safe. It feels fun. It feels familiar. Theres even a crowbar! And then, the foreshadowing. Thats the old passage to Ravenholm, mutters Alyx Vance during Freemans chapter five tour of the Black Mesa East facility. We dont go there any more. You feel a shiver down your spine; you know you will end up going there.[Ravenholm] was a totally different environment from what the player had been in until that point, says Dario Casali, level designer and member of the informal City 17 Cabal, a group within Valve that worked on Half-Life 2s most famous level. It was an outlier of a map set that survived from a pretty early build of the game, borne from a need to give the newly introduced Gravity Gun a place to shine.Ravenholm was a totally different environment from what the player had been in until that point. Photograph: ValveThe absence of ammunition for Freemans traditional weapons is the impetus that drives Ravenholm and Half-Life 2 into horror game territory. An old mining town, previously hidden away from the Combine, Ravenholm is now a desolate place, plunged into darkness, its citizens corrupted by an intense bombardment of headcrabs (those face-eating aliens). We made use of confined spaces so that slow zombies [headcrab-afflicted people] could actually get near you, reveals Casali. And the player can no longer blast them away with a machine gun or pistol; you need to resort to the hefty Gravity Gun, picking up whatever you can find around you and flinging it at the monsters bearing down on Freeman. Pots of paint, bits of wood, even dead bodies became the players ammo.Like most of Half-Life 2, Ravenholm is a cinematic experience, taking its cue from horror movies such as Saw and 28 Days Later. When Combine forces attack Black Mesa East, Freeman escapes through the dark tunnel that leads to Ravenholm. Instantly, a sharp change of atmosphere descends like a chill upon the player: a grim set of dark buildings, wispy, almost nonexistent music, two crashed headcrab rockets, and something swinging from a barren tree. Closer inspection reveals the lower half of a corpse, pecked at by crows.Headcrab zombies appear out of nowhere, moaning their pained exhortations; but soon these are the least of Freemans worries. Designed to fit around the map, Ravenholms fast zombies climb up drainpipes and scurry across rooftops, leaving little safe haven for the adventurous scientist. Freeman must also contend with hunched creatures that hurl poisonous headcrabs.A desolate place. Photograph: EAFortunately, Freeman is not without help; soon, he encounters Father Grigori, who is responsible for Ravenholms Saw-like traps and passionately redeems his flock with a shotgun. Casali says: My take on it was that this guy had slowly lost his mind because of the headcrabs and the conversion of his congregation into zombies. Because Ravenholm was so isolated, I imagined he didnt even know about the Combine invasion and thought that the devil had come to town. Father Grigori and his flock of zombies was the perfect excuse to double down on the creepiness.Freeman follows Grigori throughout Ravenholm until a final climactic battle in (appropriately) a cemetery. I thought Ravenholm really needed a fittingly action-packed ending worthy of a horror film, says Casali, and what better place to do that than in a graveyard!While that closing encounter, with Freeman and Grigori besieged by an army of zombies and headcrabs, releases some of the tension built up while exploring the creepy streets of Ravenholm, the level still leaves a lasting impression on anyone who played it, such is the abrupt change of tone and style. The segment endured practically from the start of Half-Life 2s long development a version appeared in Valves renowned 2003 E3 demo evolving into the ammo-scarce spook-fest of the final game.As one of the outstanding games of the last 20 years, Half-Life 2 defined the future of video games with its innovative visuals and remarkable physics engine. As a part of the City 17 Cabal, Casali and his colleagues work was instrumental. The desire to outdo the original Half-Life was so strong, and we were constantly motivated by the quality of work the other teams were doing, he remembers. It was magic.

Sophie Turner will take on the role of Lara Croft in Phoebe Waller-Bridges new Tomb Raider series.According to Deadline, the Game of Thrones actor is in negotiations to take on the lead in the Amazon series based on the hit gaming franchise. It had been reported last month that Turner was competing against Bohemian Rhapsodys Lucy Boynton for the role.The live-action series is a major priority for Amazon and would mark the first project that Waller-Bridge has embarked upon since signing up with the company back in 2019. The deal is worth a reported $20m a year.When we look at a long-term commitment to a creator like Phoebe were so happy now that we retained her because shes obsessed with and grew up playing Lara Croft/Tomb Raider, Amazons Jennifer Salke said last month. So the fact that shes the creator and bringing this character to life, we think its going to be a huge franchise for us.Waller-Bridge will act as writer and executive producer on the series. Since creating and starring in two seasons of the award-winning dark comedy Fleabag, she has also appeared in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and co-written No Time to Die, Daniel Craigs final outing as James Bond.The opportunity to have a female action character Having worked on Bond and having worked as an actor on Indy, I feel like Ive been building up to this, she said to Vanity Fair in 2023. What if I could take the reins on an action franchise, with everything Ive learned, with a character I adore, and also just bring back some of that 90s vibe?She also said she intended to do something dangerous and exciting with the project.The role of the archaeologist adventurer has previously been played by Angelina Jolie in two films and Alicia Vikander in another. Hayley Atwell also voiced the character in a recent animated series on Netflix.Turner, who played Sansa Stark in the hit HBO series Game of Thrones, has since appeared in the X-Men movies as Jean Grey and appeared alongside Colin Firth in the crime drama The Staircase. She recently starred in ITVs fact-based drama series Joan and will next be seen in the heist thriller Haven.

EA FC 25's latest promo celebrates the athletic accomplishments of some of the world's best players, and some classic Heroes of years gone, too - including David Ginola and more.

From Zelda and the Switch to the Wii and Wii Sports, some launch games were worth buying consoles for. Here are our picks on the anniversary of the first Halo and Xbox

Why are there no big name video games being released this month? Readers FeatureGameCentralPublished Nov 16, 2024, 1:00amFarming Simulator 25 so its come to this (Giants Software)A reader is shocked to realise how few triple-A games are being released in November, during what should be gamings busiest month.There are many things that seem broken about the video games industry at the moment but one of the complaints that I always find puzzling is that there are too many games being released. Not in the sense that I think there can never be too many but that I simply dont agree. By total number, if you count out all the lowest of the low rent indie games on Steam, maybe theres more but in terms of big name triple-A video games the ones people actually care about there are worryingly few.Since its just before Christmas, November is normally the biggest month for new game releases and yet the biggest multiformat launch this month is well, there isnt one. If you put a gun to my head, looking at the release schedule, I guess its either Farming Simulator 25 or Planet Coaster 2? If thats not scraping the bottom of the barrel, I dont know what is.There are a few format exclusives but theyre equally low tier: Nintendos least anticipated exclusive of the season in Mario & Luigi: Brothership, the poorly reviewed Lego Horizon Adventures, the not-really-a-game Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, and the probably good but not very mainstream S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart Of Chornobyl.The worst thing is that apart from Assassins Creed Shadows, which was meant to be out in November, this isnt because of delays, this is simply all there is. [Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 was also delayed GC]. In December theres Indiana Jones And The Great Circle another Xbox console exclusive that doesnt seem likely to sell very well and thats it for the entire year.Thats a miserable state of affairs and, for me, yet more proof that the people in charge of games companies are pretty much universally incompetent. Ive heard some suggestion that this is all a delayed result of the pandemic, which may be true to some degree but I imagine its simply because games take longer nowadays and things they thought were going to be finished in four or five years are now taking six or seven.Publishers talk about a lack of growth in the console market as if this is a surprise, but dont seem to draw any connection between the decline in the number of triple-A games being released and the fall in console sales and peoples general lack of interest in gaming over the last two years.PlayStation 5 console sales have dropped more than expected? Hey, maybe thats because youve gone 12 months without having a major new game? Xbox sales have been in the doldrums for the last two generations and you had to spend 10 gazillion dollars buying Activision Blizzard to compete? Hmm you know, I think I might know why that is.Oh, but that Switch is still selling well despite coming up to its eighth birthday? And Nintendo has been releasing a steady stream of well-received games, with three out this autumn? You know, it might just be that theres some kind of connection there.Imagine if the movie industry shutdown for two months in the middle of the summer and instead of the latest MCU film or Tom Cruise movie you got a bunch of indie stuff youve never heard of and a vague promise that something better might be out next year? That is the position the games industry is in at the moment and its pathetic.The people in charge of these companies have got to get a grip and realise that they are in the business of making video games and they are failing. Its not the poor developers actually creating the games that are at fault, but the idiot execs with their company bonuses who think the answer to every problem is to sack another 500 people.Heres an idea: maybe those 500 people couldve made you a new game instead, that you couldve sold at Christmas and made a profit from. Crazy idea, I know, but I think its worth giving a try.Planet Coaster 2 how is this one of the biggest games of the month? (Frontier Developments)By reader CranstonThe readers features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you wont need to send an email.MORE : My top 10 PlayStation video games of the last 30 years Readers FeatureMORE : As a parent I would be perfectly happy with banning GTA 5 - Reader's FeatureMORE : Why I don't think Starfield is a misunderstood gem - Reader's FeatureSign up to all the exclusive gaming content, latest releases before they're seen on the site.Privacy Policy This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Xboxs new advert is sending mixed signals (Microsoft/YouTube)Microsofts Gaming CEO has said therell be more Xbox consoles after the Xbox Series X/S, but dont expect a mid-generation upgrade.Xboxs current strategy has been to expand its reach through multiplatform games and putting Xbox Game Pass on other devices, but this message has raised a lot of questions around the companys future in the console business.While Microsoft has been pushing Xbox Game Pass for years already, this multiplatform push has accelerated following poor sales of the Xbox Series X/S with executives already openly discussing plans for the next generation.If there was still doubt around Microsofts future in the console business though, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has reaffirmed the company has more hardware in the pipeline.Well definitely do more consoles in the future, and other devices, Spencer told Rolling Stone.While he doesnt give any details on the distinction, other devices is likely a reference to Xboxs plans for a handheld console (Americans do not generally refer to handheld consoles as literal consoles) with this quote implying that it might not directly relate to the companys next gen plans.In light of Sonys PS5 Pro console, Spencer was also asked about the chances of a mid-generation upgrade for the Xbox Series X, and he implied that one isnt on the cards.Can the Xbox Series X be bottled into a handheld? (Microsoft)We think about hardware that can create unique value for our players or creators on our platform, Spencer replied. We dont need to do incremental hardware for our own benefit. Does a new device really give you a unique experience on screen in some way?[Its] less like the old days, going from the original Xbox to 360; that was the standard defintion to high definition. Now, [its] harder to show the benefits.Summing up Xboxs mission moving forward, he adds: We are trying to expand, What does an Xbox mean? I want Xbox to be something 20 years from now. I think in order for Xbox to be vibrant, be successful, it needs to be about multiple pieces of hardware.This message is the driving statement behind a new Xbox marketing campaign, which includes an advert showing people playing games on various devices (laptops, tablets, and phones) with the message This is an Xbox.Microsoft is pushing this message aggressively beyond TV adverts too, with ResetEra users highlighting new Xbox posters discovered on the tube in Sydney, Australia. As well as the normal This is an Xbox posters, there are also others that say this is the door and this is where you stand plastered across the walls and floor.While you can see what Microsoft is going for, the tone comes off as slightly patronising when divorced of the context, which is only made clear in a separate poster alongside it highlighting All these things are Xboxes. If Microsoft is committed to making more consoles, it feels odd to see adverts proudly emphasise how you dont need an Xbox console to play its games even if dedicated hardware moving forward is only a small part of Xboxs overall plan.Its also important to note that while Spencer is saying they are committed to the console business now, its entirely possible things could change down the line. Is this the future of Xbox? (Microsoft)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.MORE : Xbox handheld in the works but its release date is surprisingMORE : Halo and Gears Of War can come to PS5 confirms Xbox bossMORE : The best early Black Friday 2024 deals on PS5, Xbox, and Switch consolesSign up to all the exclusive gaming content, latest releases before they're seen on the site.Privacy Policy This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Just over a week after announcing a new trilogy of Star Wars feature films is in development with writer Simon Kinberg, theres another detail for speculation-crazed Star Wars fans to ponder. Disney has shifted an Untitled Star Wars film from its upcoming schedule, slotting Ice Age 6 onto that release date (December 18, 2026) in its place. Variety confirmed the date change. A couple of things right off the bat: that doesnt mean the Star Wars film isnt happening. It just means there will be a longer wait to see it. It also doesnt change the fact that the next big-screen Star Wars adventure, The Mandalorian & Grogu, is currently set to hit theaters May 22, 2026. Disney also has yet another Star Wars film, similarly untitled, still hung on December 17, 2027. However, the schedule change does bring up some interesting questions, especially since Star Wars is in a moment where Lucasfilm is feeling increasing pressure to decide what comes next for the franchise. After Kinbergs trilogy was announced, io9 took a look at the entire upcoming Star Wars slateincluding confirmed projects, projects probably coming but that arent yet in production, and stuff thats been sort of drifting in the galaxy far, far away.So what was most likely to have been hovering over that December 18, 2026 spot? You have to guess it had been set aside for one of the three features announced at Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023: Sharmeen Obiad-Chinoys tale focusing on Daisy Ridleys Rey and the New Jedi Order; Dave Filonis Mandoverse-adjacent film rumored to incorporate the Heir to the Empire novels; and James Mangolds exploration of the earliest days of the Jedi. With Kinbergs trilogy now entering the mix, its entirely possible Lucasfilm wanted to buy more time to decide which of these movies to release first. Even beyond the scrutinized realm of Star Wars media, release dates change in Hollywood all the timeand theres no arguing with the idea that taking more time to get the movie right is better than rushing something to screens, no matter how impatient fans might get.At any rate, the guy with the helmet and his little green buddy will be coming in about a year and a half; maybe by then, well have a better idea of what will follow it to screens. What do you hope is the next Star Wars movie after The Mandalorian and Grogu? Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Dan Da Dan is quickly becoming a hot topic in the anime community as the dark horse entry for 2024s anime of the year. While many of the shows colorful characters have become the latest obsession for plushie and figurine fanatics the world over, one Japanese toy maker has decided to think outside of the box by instead making a replica of protagonist Okaruns MacGuffins: his golden balls. Earlier today, Japanese entertainment company Furyu Corporation announced a replica would be coming to its storefront next year. In the post on its official X/Twitter account, the Shibuya-based business laid on the charm for the three-dimensional orbs to prospective buyers, saying, Okaruns gold ball is reproduced in actual size. So, at this point, non-Dan Da Dan fans are probably wondering why a company would sell an anime protagonists balls. In the lore of Dan Da Dan, Okaruns balls are filled with magical energy that can grant its wielder a bunch of power. In short, Okaruns golden balls are to Dan Da Dan what Dragon Ball Zs seven wish-granting species are to the Z-fighters. Dont just take our word for it. Heres how Dan Da Dans Turbo Granny explains the spiritual significance of Okaruns lads. However, youll have to do your best to imagine one of Turbo Grannys voice actors (in English, Barbara Goodsonaka Rita Repulsa from Power Rangers; in Japanese, Mayumi Tanakaaka Monkey D. Luffy in One Piece) is reciting the monologue:His balls are covered in a layer of my spiritual energy. Theyre five centimeters across and gold and shiny. Youll know them when you see them. Theyre hard to miss. Them balls are chocked full of a powerful life force now. The kind of energy spirits and yokai are attracted to the most. They believe theyll come back to life if they gather enough items with high life force. Thats why evil spirits attack people, and try to steal life force from them. Dan Da Dans outro does not depict Okaruns balls to scale. Science Saru / Crunchyroll The announcement has already become the accounts most popular post, garnering over 16,000 likes. Its safe to say that many people want a hand on Okaruns balls just as severely as baddies do in the anime. Here are some of our favorite comments from Japanese X/Twitter users on the post.Is it a Christmas tree ornament? one confused commenter asked. This is the first time the main character sells his balls, one person wrote.Its funny to think that Okaruns gold ball has an carved on it, wrote another. At the moment, Okaruns golden orbs dont have a price tag on them, so folks will have to keep tabs on Furyus posting next year to see what it deems a worthy value point for a young mans balls. Whatever the case, it would make a helluva late Christmas gift for any of your anime-loving friends. Just let us know if theyre of good make and quality.New episodes of Dan Da Dan air every Thursday on Netflix, Hulu, and Crunchyroll. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.