Madden Dev Warns Hurricane Ian Could Delay Game Content
Madden NFL 23 Ultimate Team’s regular weekly schedule has come with an unusual warning this week, as Florida braces for the arrival of Hurricane Ian. EA Tiburon, which is based in Orlando, has anticipated potential disruptions to its usual content schedule as Florida enters a state of emergency.
The weekly schedule for Madden Ultimate Team content looks pretty similar to its usual weekly announcement, with new content drops planned for AKA, Team of the Week, Gridiron Guardians, Team Diamonds, and Legends. The Good Morning Madden stream is also planned for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning.
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More unusually, the schedule comes with a warning that “content is subject to change or experience delays due to Hurricane Ian.” No delays or changes have currently been confirmed, but it’s not surprising the studio is being wary, with Ian expected to heavily impact the state including disruptions to power supply and other services.
The storm is likely to cause flash flooding and strong winds across Florida, and is expected to make landfall on the west coast of Florida by Thursday. Ian has recently been upgraded to a Category 3 storm, and has the potential to intensify into a Category 4.
EA will keep players updated through social media if Hurricane Ian does end up impacting the Madden Ultimate Team schedule.
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Giancarlo Esposito’s First Marvel Movie Revealed
Earlier this month, Giancarlo Esposito couldn’t resist telling fans at CCXP Mexico that he had finally been cast in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. At the time, Esposito declined to share any details about his character or where he would show up. But he did say it would happen “sooner than you think.” And he was right, because the project is filming right now and it will be in theaters early next year.
Via The Hollywood Reporter, Esposito has been added to the cast of Captain America: Brave New World, which will be Marvel’s first movie of 2025. The secrecy surrounding Esposito’s character is so tight that his role is reportedly listed as “undisclosed” on the call sheets. However, THR is reporting that Esposito is playing a “villainous role.”
Esposito had a career resurgence after portraying Gus Fring in Breaking Bad, a role he reprised for the prequel series Better Call Saul. Since then, Esposito has portrayed villains in The Mandalorian and Revolution, and a morally ambivalent character on Prime Video’s The Boys.
During his CCXP Mexico appearance, Esposito dropped another hint that his MCU character “is original, and new, and fresh.” That suggests that he’s playing a villain who hasn’t previously appeared in a Marvel movie. But with so many comic book villains to choose from, it’s hard to narrow down the possibilities.
The Brave New World reshoots are scheduled to run 22 days in Atlanta, with expanded action scenes for Anthony Mackie’s Captain America. Marvel will release Captain America: Brave New World on February 14, 2025.
Mike Flanagan Is Terrified To Reboot The Exorcist
As announced earlier this week, Mike Flanagan has officially signed on to direct the next Exorcist movie, which is a clean break from the previously planned trilogy. Flanagan has a “radical new take” on the classic franchise. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t intimidated by the task at hand.
“For The Exorcist specifically, I’m f***ing terrified,” said Flanagan at an ATX panel via SlashFilm. The director gave that answer in response to a question about handling the creative freedom to do what he wants, along with the pressure of living up to the expectations that come with the franchise.
“With The Exorcist, there’s a lot of pressure, but thankfully there are a lot of bodies on the field of people who have stepped on landmines,” joked Flanagan. He went on to praise William Peter Blatty’s Exorcist sequel novel, Legion, as well as The Exorcist III. However, Flanagan was particularly enthusiastic about the short-lived 2016 Exorcist TV series that aired for two seasons on Fox.
“The franchise has had its ups and downs,” said Flanagan. “I would argue the show is one of the ups in a big way, and I thought it was just brilliant… Talk about how to do a legacy sequel, because damn, did that work.”
Universal hasn’t set a release date yet for Flanagan’s Exorcist movie.
Call of Duty: Game Pass’ Savior? | Spot On
Call of Duty is one of gaming’s biggest series. Xbox Game Pass is one of gaming’s biggest services. It only makes sense then that one of Xbox’s priorities–particularly after purchasing Call of Duty’s publisher, Activision–was ensuring the next title in the series is available on Game Pass.
Fortunately for Xbox and Call of Duty fans already subscribed to Game Pass, Microsoft recently confirmed that the next Call of Duty, Black Ops 6, will be included in the subscription service. Yet we can’t help but wonder if having Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on Game Pass will actually move the needle for Microsoft. Sure, Call of Duty has a built in, loyal fanbase, but will fans who traditionally play on other consoles be motivated to enter the Microsoft ecosystem? Will those not wanting to shell out $70 to purchase the game outright be attracted by Game Pass’ lower price point?
On this week’s Spot On, Tam and Lucy discuss that state of Microsoft and AAA gaming in general, the potential for a Game Pass price hike, and whether they think BLOPS 6 will be the title to give Game Pass a much needed shot in the arm.
Spot On is GameSpot’s weekly news show in which managing editor Tamoor Hussain and senior producer Lucy James talk about the latest game news. Given the massive video game industry’s highly dynamic and never-ending news cycle, there’s always something to talk about. Unlike most news shows, Spot On will dive deep into a single topic instead of recapping all the news. Spot On airs each Friday.
Popular Apple And Beelink Mini PCs Are Even More Budget-Friendly Than Usual At Amazon
Mini PCs are a nice alternative to full-size desktops or laptops. They can be used with standard keyboards, mice, and monitors just like a regular desktop PC, but they’re more affordable. Their small, compact size also makes them easy to fit on your desk or even carry around with you in a backpack. If that sounds like the kind of PC setup that’s right for you and you’re looking to pick one up, then you’re in luck–You can save on a bunch mini PCs at Amazon right now, including a dozen models from Beelink, which is the most popular mini PC brand on Amazon.
The prices of these mini PCs range based on the included hardware, with the most affordable being this Beelink Mini S12 Pro model that’s down to $159 (was $199). It sports a 12th Gen Intel CPU, 16GB RAM, and a 500GB SSD. If you need something stronger, the Beelink SER5 Max with an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD is available for $389 (was $459).
These mini PCs are designed for general use and home office functionality, but some can handle some light gaming. The model best suited for gaming is this Beelink SER7 configuration that includes a dedicated AMD Radeon 780M GPU, along with a Ryzen 7 CPU, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD. It’s available for $550 (was $749).
Here’s a quick list of all the Beelink mini PCs currently discounted at Amazon. Note that some require you to click the coupon code box on the store page in order to get the full discount.
- Beelink Mini S12 Pro Mini PC (12th Gen Intel-N100, 16GB RAM, 500GB SSD) — $159 ($
199) - Beelink Mini S12 Pro Mini PC (12th Gen Intel-N100, 16GB RAM, 500GB SSD) — $168 with coupon code ($
219) - Beelink SER5 Mini PC (AMD Ryzen 5 5560U, 8GB RAM, 500GB SSD) — $217.20 with coupon ($
309) - Beelink Dual LAN 2.5Gb Mini PC (12th Gen Intel-N100, 16GB RAM, 500GB SSD) — $229 ($
279) - Beelink SER5 Mini PC (AMD Ryzen 7 5700U, 16GB RAM, 500GB SSD) — $289 ($
359) - Beelink SER5 Mini PC (AMD Ryzen 7 5700U, 16GB RAM, 500GB SSD) — $295.45 with coupon code ($
389) - Beelink SEI12 Mini PC (Intel Core i5-12450H, 16GB RAM, 500GB SSD) — $329 ($
419) - Beelink SER5 Max Mini PC (AMD Ryzen 7 5800H, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $389 ($
459) - Beelink SEI12 Mini PC (Intel Core i7-12650H Turbo, 32GB RAM, 500GB SSD) — $439 ($
529) - Beelink SER6-P Mini PC (AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX CPU, AMD Radeon 680M GPU, 32GB RAM 1TB SSD) — $479 ($
599) - Beelink SER7 Mini PC (Ryzen 7 7840HS CPU, AMD Radeon 780M GPU, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $550 ($
749) - Beelink SER7 Mini PC (AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $599.20 ($
749)
More mini PCs
There are a few other notable deals on mini PCs from other brands, including a few Mac Mini models for Apple fans. The standout deal is the 2023 Mac Mini with M2 chip, 8GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD. This configuration is on sale for $100 off at Amazon, dropping the price to $499. Most users will find it to be more than speedy enough to handle daily computing needs, and Apple’s proprietary chip is powerful enough to handle many indie games, Apple Arcade titles, and some older Mac-compatible AAA games.
- Kamrui AK1 Plus Mini Desktop (Intel 12th Gen N95 CPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $160 with coupon code ($
220) - GMKtec Mini PC (Intel Core i7-11390H Turbo,16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $342 ($599)
- Mac Mini (Refurbished) (Apple M1 chip, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $384 ($
600) - Mac Mini (2023 model) (Apple M2 chip, 8GB RAM, 256 SSD) — $499 (
$599) - Mac Mini (2023 model) (Apple M2 chip, 8GB RAM, 512 SSD) — $699 (
$799) - Mac Mini (2023 model) (Apple M2 Pro chip, 16GB RAM, 512 SSD) — $1,200 (
$1,300)
One Of The Best Games Of 2023 Is Getting A Physical Release
A physical edition of the incredible indie adventure game Cocoon is launching on Nintendo Switch and PS5, courtesy of the folks at iam8bit. Not only is this a great opportunity to add one of the best games of 2023 to your collection, but the new Cocoon physical edition will also include five bonus art cards exclusive to the new release.
The Cocoon physical edition launches for $30 on September 13, and preorders are available now.
Cocoon physical edition preorder bonuses
All Cocoon physical edition preorders on PS5 or Nintendo Switch come with a digital download code for the Cocoon soundtrack.
$30
The Cocoon physical edition will include the base game plus five collectible art cards featuring scenes from the game. You also get the digital soundtrack code if you preorder before launch. You can preorder the PS5 and Nintendo Switch versions for $30 at Amazon and Best Buy.
Cocoon is a mind-bending puzzle-adventure game where you play as a tiny robot exploring strange alien worlds that overlap and intersect in exciting ways. In our Cocoon review, Jessica Cogswell awarded the game a 9/10 and praised its puzzles, visuals, and audio design, saying “Cocoon is a beautiful game filled with brilliance and meaning, delivered in a subtle yet unforgettable way.” It also made its way into our 2023 spotlight series that looked back on memorable moments in games thanks to the way navigating and solving Cocoon’s puzzles makes the player feel like a genius. The game initially launched as a digital-only game, but this new physical release will hopefully give even more folks a chance to try this engrossing sci-fi adventure.
How To Unlock Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door’s Secret Character
There’s a secret Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door party member you can unlock if you put in a bit of effort, but the classic RPG does a pretty good job hiding what you need to do. She might not be much help in combat, but her field skill is one of the most useful in the game–especially if you’re keen on tracking down every secret.
We explain how to unlock the secret character in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door below and whether she’s worth the effort. Of course, be mindful that this guide is one big spoiler.
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Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door secret character
Ms. Mowz, the badge shop owner and self-proclaimed Badge Ninja, is the seventh playable party member and one you can completely miss if you don’t do a specific side quest. The side quest featuring Ms Mowz only unlocks after you return to Rogueport following the conclusion of Chapter 4 in Twilight Town.
Head to the Trouble Center on the city’s eastern side, and pick up the “Elusive Badge” side quest there. Climb up to the roof of Zess T’s house, and you’ll meet “??? the questgiver,” who’s very obviously just Ms Mowz without her signature bow.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Elusive Badge quest
She tasks you with finding an elusive badge “in Hooktail’s room” and believes the secret to finding said badge is in the power of the wind. Hooktail’s Room is the same room where you fought the giant dragon in Chapter 1, so make your way back to the Petalburg Outskirts and into Hooktail Castle again.
The journey is a bit of a slog, since all the enemies–minus Hooktail–are back again. The puzzles are all solved, though. Don’t waste your time defeating enemies unless you just want a fight. By this part of your journey, you’ll only earn one Star Point for each enemy, so it’s not really worth the time.
Climb the castle, cross the bridge, and hoist yourself up the tower staircase and into Hooktail’s room. Walk to the room’s center, and bring Flurrie out from the Partner Wheel, if she’s not with you already. Use her field skill to blow away a hidden paper panel to reveal a chest. Unlike most panels in The Thousand-Year Door, this one has no visible edges. You might need to reposition Mario and Flurrie to get the angle just right.
Is Ms Mowz worth it in The Thousand-Year Door?
Yes, but possibly not for the reasons you might expect. Her combat abilities are a solid mix of offense–a slap attack that ignores enemy defense, for example–and support, including a skill that restores 10 HP to Mario. However, her field skill is what makes Ms Mowz such a good companion to have around. She can sniff out treasure.
You’ll notice Ms Mowz lift her nose in the air when you approach a hidden treasure, and she becomes visibly more animated as you get closer. The Thousand-Year Door is littered with hidden treasure, especially in the final few chapters, so having someone around to lead you in the right direction is a big help.
Sure, most of those hidden treasures are just Star Pieces, but if you want some of the best badges in the game, you’ll need plenty of Star Pieces to buy them with.
It’s probably a good idea to save your Shine Sprites for another party member, though. Ms Mowz’s damage output can’t compete with the likes of Bobbery, Vivian, or even Koops, so only upgrade her when you’re finished with everyone else.