Games

It’s easy to see why the original Star Wars trilogy is so popular. It’s universally loved, the foundation for everything that followed, and many consider it the best movie trilogy ever made. Characters like Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Darth Vader have become iconic figures in our culture. Interestingly, the newest Star Wars story, The Mandalorian and Grogu, is the first to not feature any of these classic heroes.

The Pokémon Company recently showed off more card designs for the Japanese version of the Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration set, as reported by Poke Beach. While we haven’t seen English versions of the cards yet, the worldwide release gives us a good look at what to expect – including some amazing futuristic Pikachu rares and beautiful full-art cards featuring Espeon and Umbreon. As a big Eevee fan, I’m even more excited about this set, but also worried about how expensive they might become due to scalpers.

Star Wars actor Jonny Coyne, who plays Janu Coin, recently shared at Fan Expo Philadelphia (as reported by Screen Rant) how his role in the franchise changed. He explained that he was initially told he’d appear in Season 4 of The Mandalorian, and possibly an episode of Boba Fett, but those plans were ultimately canceled and replaced with a movie opportunity.

Sally Choi, the Art Director for the film Obsession, recently shared on Instagram that she earned only $300 per day, totaling under $7,000 after taxes for the entire project. This was her first major film, and she explained she’s sharing her experience to both feel better and to advocate for change within the industry. Choi knew the low pay upfront, acknowledging that low-budget films often have limited resources. Her story offers a rare glimpse into the often-overlooked financial realities for many film crew members, especially now as the increasing use of AI threatens jobs and prioritizes profits.

The Final Fantasy game now available on Xbox and PC Game Pass is Final Fantasy 6, a groundbreaking RPG that often gets overshadowed by its more famous sequel. Many fans consider it the best in the series, and it was incredibly successful and well-received when it first came out. However, this isn’t the original Super Nintendo version; it’s the Pixel Remaster released in 2022, which only recently came to Xbox in 2024. Unfortunately, it’s not available for owners of the older Xbox One console.

I’ve noticed something interesting about the Marvel Cinematic Universe – being incredibly powerful doesn’t automatically mean a character will be a major player going forward. It’s actually quite common to see some of their strongest heroes seemingly left out of future plans, with no clear indication of when they might return. These characters are all still around and, as far as we know, still active, but Marvel hasn’t officially said what’s next for them yet, which is a little frustrating as a fan!

Often, writers want to explore a darker side of the classic Superman story, turning the symbol of hope into a villain. While characters like Homelander have become popular as evil versions of Superman, he isn’t the most compelling. Here are seven of the best evil Superman alternatives, and most of them are actually more interesting than Homelander.

Then there’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a more lighthearted prequel to Game of Thrones. Despite only having one season so far, many believe it’s currently HBO’s best fantasy series – on par with House of the Dragon. Unlike the original Game of Thrones, this show has the potential to run for a long time – potentially even ten seasons or more. Showrunner Ira Parker envisions telling many more stories focusing on the adventures of Dunk, a wandering knight, and Egg, his young squire (who is secretly Prince Aegon Targaryen). He recently shared a detailed plan for these future seasons with Decider.

The Godfather films are instantly recognizable classics. The first movie, adapted from Mario Puzo’s novel, tells the story of Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) as he gains power. Eventually, his son Michael (Al Pacino) gets pulled into the family’s criminal world, despite his reservations, and becomes trapped in a dangerous pattern of violence and deceit. Even as Michael tries to have a normal life, including a marriage with Kay (Diane Keaton), he finds himself increasingly immersed in the Mafia.

Next week is pretty quiet for new releases, but if you’re a basketball fan and enjoying the NBA Finals, “NBA The Run” might be worth checking out. It’s a game inspired by the popular “NBA Street” series from the PlayStation 2 era.