The final trailer for Zack Snyder’s Batman v. Superman, no Assassin’s Creed this year, a new Harry Potter book (sort of), first-person sensation Hardcore Henry, and a new gaming engine from Amazon…
Here’s “The Week in Fandom” for February 12, 2016:
Batman v. Superman Trailer Drops
The final preview for Batman v. Superman dropped this week, and it plays like a game trailer for Arkham Asylum done in Zack Snyder’s signature style.
The all-out freeflow brawler style is classic Arkham. The Batman-centric trailer spends a lot of time getting audiences acquainted with Ben Affleck’s version of the Dark Knight, but there’s plenty of Supe, too — we even see a little of Lois and Clark’s domestic bliss. Also, has anybody else noticed that each time we see Wonder Woman, she gets better and better? Hopefully, this is a sign of great things to come.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice opens on March 25.
Ubisoft: No AC in 2016, Mystery Title OTW
Ubisoft held an earnings call for investors earlier this week, and there was more than just boring revenue news. A couple of key takeaways about the company’s plans for the coming months have had fans abuzz with interest.
In a break with tradition, Ubisoft will not release a new Assassin’s Creed game this year, giving the franchise a year off in an effort to “give the brand a new dimension,” CEO Yves Guillemot said.
Even more interesting, we have news of what they will be releasing. Some time in the next 14 months, Ubisoft will release a mystery title which they’re billing as a brand new, high-profile franchise with mass-market appeal. No further details are known, but hopefully they’ll be more talkative soon.
A New Harry Potter Book (Sort of)
As the stage production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I & II readies for its London debut, there’s big news this week that the play will be available in book form.
The script book will be released in print and digital editions simultaneously after the play’s world premiere this summer, and will comprise the version of the play script at the time of the play’s preview performances, says Pottermore.
The story is set 19 years after the Battle of Hogwarts, and picks up after the moment that fans last saw Harry and Ginny waving goodbye to their children at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
The play opens in London’s West End this summer.
Everybody’s Talking About Hardcore Henry
A first-person shooter in movie form? The new trailer (and poster) for Hardcore Henry dropped earlier this week, and buzz about the film’s game-inspired perspective has it trending hard.
ICYMI: Hardcore Henry is an action movie, shot entirely in a first-person perspective, that follows the silent protagonist — a newly resurrected cyborg — on a mission to save his wife and creator from a psychotic tyrant with telekinetic powers. Yes, this sounds like a video game shooter.
Russian filmmaker Ilya Naishuller directed and co-wrote the script with help from Will Stewart, after staging a successful Indiegogo campaign. It stars Haley Bennett (The Equalizer), Sharlto Copley (District 9) and Tim Roth.
If you’re not already all in, check out the trailer that features Henry tossing grenades and blasting bad guys as Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now” blares.
Amazon Introduces 3D Gaming Engine
Major games industry news this week as Amazon announced on Tuesday the release of the Lumberyard 3D game engine.
Lumberyard, currently in beta, is totally free to developers. There’s no subscription or revenue-sharing. And Lumberyard will also give developers access to source code, allowing them to redistribute it to modders.
Development for PCs and consoles (Xbox One and PS4) is currently supported, with mobile device and VR gear support on the way.
Amazon is also making news for including a LOL-inducing zombie apocalypse clause in the Lumberyard TOS.
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