Beware, spoilers for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and otherMarvel movieslay ahead!
One is the story of an ordinary American family in an ordinary American town; the other is the saga of extraordinary people with superpowers. One resets to the status quo at the end of almost every episode; the other revels in the vastness of its decades-old continuity.
And yet, despite being chalk and cheese on so many levels, The Simpsons and the Marvel Cinematic Universe have much more in common than longevity and their availability on Disney Plus. Because whether you’re hanging out in Springfield or one of the far-flung corners of the MCU, their supporting characters can be just as memorable as the big hitters with their names in the titles.
Ask anyone to name their favorite Simpsons character, and they’re as likely to mention Moe, Sideshow Bob or Comic Book Guy as Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa or Maggie. In fact, back in the show’s 1990s glory years – remember those? – a major reason for The Simpsons’ success was the way the focus could be on Principal Skinner one week, then Reverend Lovejoy and Aunt Selma the next. In effect, Springfield quickly became a vast shared universe populated by recurring characters you came to know and love.
We don’t know if Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige is a Simpsons fan – he did voice a Thanos parody in 2020 episode ‘Bart the Bad Guy’ – but it certainly looks like he’s been taking inspiration, even since the MCU’s early days.
In the original Iron Man, it felt safe to assume that Clark Gregg’s Agent Coulson was a random government suit who’d never be seen again. But by the time Loki bumped him off in The Avengers – after appearances in Iron Man 2 and Thor – Coulson’s loss was such a big deal that it brought the feuding Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and Hulk together to save the world. In a room full of supersoldiers, billionaire genius playboys, and Norse gods, it’s the ‘ordinary’ character who keeps things grounded and real. Coulson also gives us mere mortals some perspective on what it’s like to work alongside superheroes – and ask Captain America about getting your prized collection of trading cards autographed.
The Simpsons and the MCU have more in common than you might think.(Image credit: Disney +)
More than comic relief
And for all Tony Stark and Loki’s beautifully crafted one-liners, it’s usually the characters further down the cast list who bring the biggest laughs. Luis (Michael Peña)’s uniquely subjective approach to storytelling gives Ant-Man its most memorable scenes, while wannabe revolutionary Korg (Taika Waititi) is arguably the standout character in Thor: Ragnarok – a movie stacked with A-list comic performances.
Despite their comic relief assignments, however, the MCU’s funniest supporting players aren’t just there to bring the laughs. They’re also fully rounded characters, with lives and motivations of their own, whether their interests are staying out of prison (Luis) or running a successful leafleting campaign (Korg). Crucially, Marvel puts in the hard yards to make sure you care about characters who get relatively limited screentime. Indeed, the thought that Korg may have been killed in Thanos’s assault on the Asgardian ship in Infinity War came as just as much of a hammer blow as that famous finger snap.
Even Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), up there with the silliest of all the MCU characters, is given a degree of pathos. A lauded British stage actor paid to masquerade as terrorist boss the Mandarin in Iron Man 3, Slattery is undeniably ridiculous. But he’s also tragic, as a series of questionable life choices and bad luck have landed him in Xu Wenwu’s prison by the time Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings rolls around. As good as he is for a hilarious anecdote – his musings on finding inspiration in Planet of the Apes are priceless – you can’t help but feel for a man who’s spent years in solitary confinement, with only his faceless Dijiang pet, Morris, for company.
When a character like Slattery does make a surprise return, it enhances the connectivity of the universe. While it’s usually the big-name Avengers-style crossovers that grab the headlines, Marvel’s formula allows smaller-scale encounters to happen in almost every movie or TV show – and they don’t even have to shout about it.
It doesn’t even matter if you don’t remember that the vlogger on the bus in Shang-Chi also appeared in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Or if you didn’t spot that the Abomination is a returning character from The Incredible Hulk – a movie many viewers have chosen to forget anyway. But if you’re a big MCU fan, these callbacks – however big or small – make you feel like a privileged member of an inner circle, peeking behind the curtain to see how everything fits together in Feige’s grand plan.
(Image credit: Marvel/Disney)
Where stars are born
Perhaps the best thing about supporting players, however, is that they don’t have to lurk in the shadows forever. Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp), effectively Steve Rogers’ love interest who never was, became surprisingly pivotal to the wider MCU when she turned up in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, while Ayo (Florence Kasumba) got the chance to lead the Dora Milaje in Okoye’s absence.
Dr Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings) received an even bigger promotion in WandaVision, after spending the first two Thor movies in a thankless sidekick role. Marvel could easily have created a new scientist to be the audience’s eyes and ears in Westview, but by bringing back Darcy – working alongside FBI agent Jimmy Woo (Randall Park), himself a veteran of Ant-Man and the Wasp – they emphasized that connection with earlier entries in the MCU.
Now, as Phase 4 kicks properly into gear, Doctor Strange’s librarian-in-chief Wong (Benedict Wong) has emerged as a surprising frontrunner to become the MCU’s MVP. Not only does he show up in the trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home and the opening of Shang-Chi (alongside the aforementioned Abomination, bizarrely), he’s part of the brain trust brought in to solve the mystery of the Ten Rings.
While Wong, Darcy, Sharon, Korg and Luis are unlikely to ever headline their own live-action movies or TV shows, the fact they’re there, showing up every now and then to interact with the superstars of the MCU, makes the universe richer. So everyone else who’s trying to build a complex shared universe should take a note from The Simpsons – it never hurts to give your supporting players the respect you give your leads.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings streams on Disney Plus from November 12.
Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) lived to fight another day in Agents of SHIELD.(Image credit: ABC/Disney)
I used to upgrade my iPhone every year without fail. Regardless of some features that I wouldn’t use, it was the allure of having the latest and greatest that always mattered.
However, in recent years, as life does, other priorities take hold, and you also realize that having the latest and greatest every year simply doesn't matter.
This happened to me in 2018 when I upgraded my iPhone 8 Plus to an iPhone X - essentially the same phone, but the X had Face ID instead of Touch ID, alongside a smaller OLED screen compared to the bigger LCD display of the 8 Plus.
I’ve been waiting for a 13 Pro all year, and it feels like my iPhone X has been aware of this - crashing, being slow and running on a battery lifespan of two hours. But there’s others who have been using older iPhones that still run on iOS 15, and I wanted to see just how the experience compared, using the latest and greatest iPhone, to one from 2015.
I used to work at a store as tech support, and I remember when the iPhone 6S launched. 3D Touch was the big feature for that line of iPhones, where you could force-press on an icon, and the equivalent of a right-click menu would appear.
With photos and web browser links, you could ‘peek and pop’ to preview the content instead, while you could have animated wallpapers on your lockscreen, which would play when 3D Touch was enabled.
However, the feature never caught on, and has since been reduced to a haptic touch, where it’s now an optional use case for Apple and third-party apps.
But the other big feature, like any other iPhone launch, were the cameras. The front-facing camera went from 1.2MP to 5MP, able to showcase selfies in greater detail alongside a Retina Flash that could give the camera a flash in darkened areas by lighting up the LCD display and flashing, giving an image more brightness. While the back cameras went from 8MP to 12MP, with the ability to shoot in 4K video.
Using these in 2021, you can tell just from the design and the cameras that these were supercharged iPhone 6 devices from 2014, and using them with iOS 15, they’re still remarkably fast to use, albeit with caveats.
Taking photos with a 6S and 13 Pro
The cameras between the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 6S are night and day, to excuse a pun.
Using Night Mode in the 13 Pro has already transformed how I take photos once the sun sets, and adding in the fact that this can be used on every lens the phone has, is only a bonus.
The iPhone 6S doesn’t have this, with Night Mode only appearing on the iPhone 11 series in 2019, but its detail in the daylight still works well, especially compared to budget Android phones.
I used to do what was called the ‘Cathedral test’ in the old job, where I would compare images of phones around Lincoln Cathedral. I decided to do the same here.
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The results speak for themselves - while many still upgrade every year and see incremental improvements, seeing the difference in quality here just shows that the camera system in the iPhones have only gotten better.
But that’s only half the story for the iPhone 6S.
iOS 15 on a iPhone 6S
This is the earliest iPhone that can run iOS 15, and using a freshly-reset iPhone 6S, there’s still life in this yet.
Taking into account the obvious omission of Face ID and the smaller 4.7 inch screen here, the software still works well, with Focus and widgets able to work as well as it does in the iPhone 13 Pro.
But the one big difference is using Touch ID for ApplePay. It’s much faster and straightforward than using Face ID, especially when using a mask. It makes you yearn for the feature to arrive in the power button for a future iPhone 14, similar to how it’s in the iPad mini and iPad Air devices.
It’s also a night and day comparison when you consider Android phones. Software updates on a variety of devices are few and far between, and still you may buy a phone that only has one Android update left.
For instance, if you buy a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, your next available update may be Android 12, and that’s it.
Patience is a 13 Pro virtue
(Image credit: Apple)
After upgrading to a new iPhone after four years, it’s great to have the latest and greatest features, not only from this year, but since the release of the iPhone XS in 2018. From the triple-camera design, to Night Mode, to the 120Hz display and the smaller notch of the iPhone 13 Pro, it’s already a favorite model of mine.
But I’m sure that if I upgraded from an iPhone X to an iPhone 11 Pro, the upgrade would have still been significant, but not as major as this leap. Waiting between upgrades is the next best thing now, and while you may be happy on a yearly device cycle, the joy of taking advantage of four years of upgrades is unparalleled.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 (or BOTW 2, for short) is in development for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo has confirmed that we should expect to see it sometime in 2022.
Our last update on the game came during Nintendo's E3 2021 presentation when a new trailer gave us a much better look at the world of Breath of the Wild 2. It seems to be similar to that of the 2017 game, but with a sky-high difference. The new trailer below shows that floating cities are back, as is jumping through, and even paragliding past, clouds, seemingly taking inspiration from Skyward Sword (recently remastered for Switch).
As the sequel to Breath of the Wild, which is still hailed as one of the best Switch games ever, expectations for Breath of the Wild 2 are extremely high and we still have a lot to learn about it, including its exact release date and its true title. At the moment, it remains unclear when we'll get out next update as the game was absent from September's big Direct stream and Nintendo has confirmed it will be sitting out this year's Tokyo Game Show.
For everything we do know about Breath of the Wild 2, though, read on—you'll find every trailer, teaser, leak and update Nintendo has released over the past two years.
Breath of the Wild 2: what you need to know
What is it? The upcoming sequel to 2017's Breath of the Wild
When can I play it? BOTW 2 is set for release at some point in 2022
Breath of the Wild 2 release date
A lithe Link uses his, uh, power glove to throw cannonballs into enemies(Image credit: Nintendo)
Nintendo hadn't shared much information on Breath of the Wild 2 other than an announcement trailer and a few sparse comments but E3 2021 gave us the best look yet.
The Nintendo presentation showed off some more footage of the game, while letting slip a 2022 release date for BOTW 2.
We don't know if that's early 2022 or late 2022, but it's worth noting that the original Nintendo Switch launched with Breath of the Wild in March 2017, so a March 2022 date would prove a neat five-year anniversary.
Breath of the Wild 2 trailers
We got a better look at Breath of the Wild 2 in the E3 2021 Nintendo presentation, and it showed off a vast, expansive world of Hyrule – expanded even further with navigation into the skies, despite the more dungeon-crawling feeling of the original 2019 teaser.
There's some paragliding up in the clouds, along with more a freefall mechanic that seems ripped right out of Skyward Sword, and a new glove that looks to be taking the place of the Sheikah slate for Breath of the Wild 2.
There's even a short clip of a splashed puddle... reverting in time? We're not entirely sure, but it's clear that some new mechanics will be introduced into the Zelda formula, while one of the first game's sentient boulder enemies (that's Stone Pebblit to you) is shown with a Bokoblin fort on its back for BOTW 2, suggesting even more dynamic interplay between the game's many enemies. Take a look below...
We got our very first glimpse of Breath of the Wild 2 at E3 2019, though, with this spooky trailer that shows Zelda and Link exploring an underground chamber – with some mysterious runes, glowing hands, and a brand-new haircut that has set the internet on fire. Suffice it to say we're excited.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 trailer that first revealed the game is just 82 seconds long and there's no dialogue whatsoever, but there are some clues to be gathered from it.
It features a torch-carrying Link and Zelda traversing a dark dungeon beneath Hyrule (no big surprise there). Spirit-like tendrils creep around the musty tomb they're exploring, with the pair riding a large elephant-like beast. Something shocks the pair, and then we cut to what appears to be the resurrection of some long-dead (and creepy looking) warrior. Could this be the return of Ganondorf?
The video then cuts to a long shot of Hyrule Field, with Hyrule Castle in the distance. There's a tremor, the castle is smothered with dust... and that's the end.
The clip finishes with a message that reads: "The sequel to Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is in development."
We wouldn't usually expect so much animation to be done so early in development, but it probably helps that Nintendo already has the in-game engine from Breath of the Wild.
Breath of the Wild 2 news and rumors
Could Zelda have a bigger role this time around?
Nothing at Tokyo Game Show
As insiders suggested would be the case, Nintendo’s September Direct didn’t include an update on Breath of the Wild 2. It turns out we shouldn’t expect one during Tokyo Game Show in October, either, as Nintendo has confirmed that it won’t be present at the show. The news was confirmed in an official Tweet from Nintendo’s official account. At the moment, it remains unclear as to when we’ll get our next update on Breath of the Wild 2.
A Nintendo Switch Pro could still be in the works
The announcement of the Nintendo Switch OLED put a dampener on those rumors of a high-powered, 4K Nintendo Switch Pro intended to launch with Breath of the Wild 2. However, according to Tokyo-based analyst Serkan Toto, a Nintendo Switch Pro could still happen. Toto has suggested that the Switch OLED might be a “dummy upgrade” before a real upgrade arrives next year.
Speaking to Bloomberg, Toto said: “This new Switch looks more like an interim model than a real upgrade to me,” Toto told Bloomberg. “This might just be a dummy upgrade until Breath Of The Wild 2 is ready and the component shortage is over next year.”
Skyward Sword HD in the meantime
There's still a wait for Breath of the Wild 2 but Nintendo has released an HD remaster of Skyward Sword in the meantime and we think it's worth playing while you wait. We think, from the mechanics and characters to the locations and narrative, both Skyward Sword and Breath of the Wild 2 could share a surprising amount of commonality and we've explained why you should consider paying attention to Skyward Sword HD in the run-up to the release of Breath of the Wild 2.
BOTW 2 and those Majora's Mask comparisons
Nintendo's Treehouse is always a great place to find new info on upcoming Nintendo games, and Breath of the Wild 2 is no different. Bill Trinen, Senior Product Marketing Manager of Nintendo of America, spoke of BOTW 2 in a recent broadcast with IGN, and its much-noted comparison to the relationship between the N64's Ocarina of Time and its sequel, Majora's Mask.
"I would say it’s an easy comparison or conclusion to jump to at this point in time, just given what’s been shown so far and given the nature of it being a direct sequel. So I understand people making that conclusion, but at the same time – and I don’t want to delve too much into it – but this is its own game”.
However, whereas Majora's Mask reused lots of assets, Trinen wanted to make it clear that this is indeed a true sequel. “I think as we start to show a bit more of the game over the coming months to the next year or so, it’ll probably start to be a bit more apparent where this game stands on its own and what makes it so unique”.
"The way that [BOTW 2] builds on Breath of the Wild, which already was such an expansive game with so many layers of Link’s abilities and layers to the gameplay… I think this is going to layer quite a bit more into that”.
Ganondorf fan theory for BOTW 2
A new Breath of the Wild 2 fan theory is suggesting that Ganondorf could be a playable character in segments of the game. Barrett Courtney of Kinda Funny (via GameSpot) has suggested that the Link we got a glimpse of in the new E3 2021 trailer is actually Ganondorf and that part of the game will involve players exploring the fall of Ganondorf.
“This game will be learning about the fall of Ganondorf the man and then saving him from the evil that has been ruling over him for generations. And in doing so, we’ll break the cycle started by Demise.”
Continuing down this line, Courtney has suggested that the full name of BOTW 2 (still being kept under wraps by Nintendo) could be something like “Demise of the Wild”, making reference to Breath of the Wild and the corruption caused by Demise.
Incidentally, Demise is one of the main antagonists of Skyward Sword, which is to be re-released on Switch later this year. Courtney suggests that a Skyward Sword port was a deliberate choice, “Fujibayashi wants to connect all 3 of his major games together and getting Skyward to Switch will give first timers the back story they need before BOTW2.”
Of course, there is evidence against the theory and until Nintendo reveals more about the game, we can’t be absolutely certain about the story that Breath of the Wild 2 will tell.
The real title is being kept a secret
Nintendo revealed to IGN that it's holding back on revealing the official full title of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 because it could give away some of what's going to happen in the game.
“As for why we’re holding back on the name, you’ll just have to stay tuned because, obviously, Zelda names are kind of important,” Nintendo Treehouse's Bill Trinen explained. “Those subtitles... they start to give little bits of hints about maybe what’s going to happen.”
Trinen didn't indicate when Nintendo is planning to reveal the full title but it's likely that won't be until closer to the game's release.
More information coming in 2021 Nintendo’s Direct presentation in February 2021 didn’t bring any more details on Breath of the Wild 2 but it wasn’t completely absent. Zelda series producer, Eiji Aonuma, shared a small update during the presentation (via NintendoLife), noting that development is “proceeding smoothly” and that there’s going to be more information on the game later this year.
“I’m sure a lot of you saw me and thought there might be news to the sequel to the Breath of the Wild game.” Aonuma said, “Unfortunately, we don’t have anything to share right now. Development is proceeding smoothly and we should be able to bring you some information this year. For now, we’ll have to ask you to wait just a bit longer.”
We now have a 2022 release date thanks to E3 2021, of course, but that doesn't mean we don't hear more before 2021 is over.
Paragliding never looked so dangerous(Image credit: Nintendo)
Hyrule Warriors and a longer wait for news Nintendo and Koei Tecmo Games have released a prequel to the original Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild titled Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. Set 100 years before the original game, it has Link, Zelda and friends (including the four Champions, who will be playable for the first time) battle hordes of enemies in Hyrule before it was destroyed in the Great Calamity.
While it was exciting to have the chance to return to Hyrule in 2020, the release of this prequel did suggest it could be another while before we hear anything more about a sequel.
In revealing Age of Calamity, series producer Eiji Aonuma acknowledged the relative lack of news for Breath of the Wild 2 and said:
“In order to make the vast world you enjoyed exploring in the original game even more impressive, the team is working hard on its development, so you’ll have to wait a bit longer before we can provide more updates.”
Breath of the Wild 2 is going higher, taking to the skies above the Hyrule we know and love – so will that make for two maps, or one very big one?(Image credit: Nintendo)
Could Switch Pro rumors offer Breath of the Wild 2 hints? There have been numerous reports that there's a Nintendo Switch Pro in the works for a 2021-2022 release date. Reports of the new console come from the Economic Daily News and Bloomberg both of which suggest a more powerful Nintendo Switch console with upgraded interactivity and improved display quality could be coming next year. Along with these hardware upgrades, Bloomberg also suggests that Nintendo has a bunch of new games up its sleeve to launch alongside the console.
Given the original Breath of the Wild launched with the original Nintendo Switch back in 2017, launching Breath of the Wild 2 alongside a more advanced iteration of the console would be some nice symmetry.
We now know, of course, that Nintendo is planning to release the Nintendo Switch OLED in October 2021 which has an improved screen but no greater degree of power, putting some doubt on these rumors. However, an analyst has suggested another console could still come down the line.
Voice acting misunderstanding In a sign of just how much fans are looking for news on Breath of the Wild 2, an interview with the voice actors behind the Spanish dubs of Zelda and Revali in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on Spanish podcast A Coffee with Nintendo was seized upon and caused some controversy (via IGN).
In the interview it seemed to be suggested that the voice actors had finished their work on BOTW 2, leading fans to think that the game might be further along in its development than originally thought. However, this proved to be incorrect. It was later clarified that the voice actors were joking and that context was lost due to translation issues. In fact, it's not even confirmed that they're working on the sequel. So we're left with no further clues as to progress on Breath of the Wild 2.
A new glove item may take the place of the Sheikah slate in Breath of the Wild 2(Image credit: Nintendo)
All the DLC that never was In an interview with Kotaku, Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma said there were originally plans for more DLC content for BOTW, after The Champion's Ballad and Master Trials add-ons that came in 2017.
"Initially we were thinking of just DLC ideas," says Anouma. "But then we had a lot of ideas and we said, 'This is too many ideas, let’s just make one new game and start from scratch.'"
BOTW 2 will be a darker turn for the series All we really know at this point is how little we know. But boy, are there rumors. The unexpected trailer sparked a huge amount of speculation, hopes and hot takes on what the next mainline Zelda title might include.
We've heard from Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma that the game is going to have a darker tone than Breath of the Wild, and will even be "a little bit darker" than Majora's Mask (via IGN).
The trailer certainly supports this, with what looks like Ganondorf's corpse being resurrected by a disembodied hand, and seemingly imagery from 2006's Twilight Princess, which saw Hyrule turned into a bleak shadow realm – largely in response to the far cheerier and cartoonish The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker. That said, it won't be all doom and gloom - visually at least - as the E3 2021 trailer has at least indicated that we'll take to the skies and explore amongst the clouds.
A Gerudo corpse, possibly Ganon, is grabbed by a mysterious force in the 2019 teaser
The Twilight realm The glowing blue hand in the trailer is the biggest clue that we'll be seeing more of the Twili – shadow people descended from Hylians who tried to take the power of the Triforce for themselves. The hand is wrapped in twisting shapes reminiscent of Twilight architecture, while the swirling magic could remind some of the portals that let Twili invade Hyrule in the 2006 game.
We know that BOTW's dev team originally toyed with the idea of an alien invasion, and seeing shadow creatures teleport out of the sky could well have been what they have planned this time around.
A clue in the audio Showing just how far some Zelda fans will go, reddit user u/ReroFunk (via Inverse) pieced together a pretty convincing theory regarding Twilight Princess villain Zant, a Twili who served Ganondorf in the game. If you listen to the trailer's audio in reverse, there are certain notes that seem to echo the music played during your final encounter with Zant – who, while defeated, is adamant he'll return through the power of his "god".
u/ReroFunk also suggests we could see the demon king Demise return for the next Zelda game. Demise was the final boss in Skyward Sword, and revealed to be the original form of Ganondorf. The below still from the Zelda trailer also looks alot like Demise when you think about it.
Ganon, Demise, or something else entirely?
Lots of dungeons (and an extended map) Rumors about the Breath of the Wild sequel suggest that we could be in for a treat in the form of a new map that's not like anything we've seen from Zelda before. What's more, a couple of new job listings suggest that Nintendo is looking for people to work on designing some dungeons and hidden bosses for the game – so far, so exciting.
Zelda's turn in the spotlight? One of the favorite fan theories doing the rounds regards the Hyrule princess herself. She's shown in the trailer with a practical short haircut, and is dressed in a manner pretty similar to Link's own adventurer's gear – leading some to think she may be a playable character.
Zelda's devs have seemed pretty dismissive of the idea of a female Link in the past – sadly – but we may in this game see sections playing as Zelda, or at least with her playing a more active role in the story.
James Bond is a silhouette against a dark forest, as he tip-toes along the side of a chain-link fence - through the gaps in the fence, we see the spires of a gray factory jutting into the star-speckled night sky.
Bond digs into his pocket and pulls out a smartphone. It's a Sony Xperia 1 IV, because Bond gets first dibs on new phones. He holds it landscape, pointing it towards the buildings.
PHONE SCREEN: We see the camera app. Bond’s fingers pinch and drag to zoom in. They do so again, and we see the factory taking up the majority of the display. Bond’s finger taps at the shutter button, and the screen flashes to signify the picture has been taken.
We see Bond’s face as he squints at the display, as the light from the device flickers on his face.
PHONE SCREEN: We’re looking at the Gallery app. Bond selects his recent photo, and it appears large on the screen. The finger taps the send button, and on the list of options that appears, we see a WhatsApp icon with Q’s face. Bond selects this, and adds the message "wish u was ere", then puts the phone away.
Okay, okay - we’ve never seen a smartphone used like that in a James Bond film. In fact, in your average day-to-day life, you probably use smarter processing, connectivity and photography tech than 007 ever has in a film or book. But the Bond films have a history of mobile phones at this point, slotting into his selection of gadgets as the series entered the modern age.
Since the Brosnan days, Bond films have become glorified product placement reels, with stories seemingly written to give 007 moments to look cool with whatever products Eon has been paid to show off. Alongside mediocre lagers and expensive watches, mobile phones are among the products that we often see in the hands of 007 and his comrades.
As the distributor of most of the Daniel Craig Bond films, Sony has lots of devices in these films - though it’s not the only company to have its devices grace Bond’s palm. In No Time To Die, it’s HMD Global (makers of Nokia phones) which steps up to the podium - more like Nokia Time To Die.
James Bond is a bit of a technophobe, if you can call a gadget-toting superspy that - he barely uses his smartphones for anything beyond calling and texting, with few secret functions hidden in these devices. We've never even seen him play Snake, Angry Birds or Call of Duty: Mobile. He'd probably kill at the latter.
To celebrate the newest flick, we’ve looked through all the films in which 007 or his companions have used a mobile phone, so you can see how the character progressed from the brick phones of old, to… well, less-old Sony phones.
How to watch the James Bond movies in order
Tomorrow Never Dies: Sony Ericsson JB988
(Image credit: Sony)
Bond’s first recognizable mobile is one that doesn’t actually exist. The Sony Ericsson JB988 was designed by Sony explicitly for Tomorrow Never Dies, and it’s not even a spin-off of an existing device, as the J series was designed for kids and only went up to 300 anyway (yes, we do get the ‘JB’ suffix though).
It’s probably a good thing this phone never hit the market, as some of its stand-out features include a 20,000 volt taser and a remote control for Bond’s BMW. Those features in the hands of the public would cause mayhem. Oh well: it really puts the features in ‘feature phone’.
Die Another Day: Sony Ericsson T68i & P800
(Image credit: Sony)
Though Bond took a digital detox in The World is Not Enough and Die Another Day, another character stepped up to make sure the product placement didn’t stop. Sony’s Ericsson T68i was used by Halle Berry’s character Jinx - though it was literally just used as a bomb, which isn’t the best advertisement in the world.
The bigger phone in the picture, though, was the Ericsson P800 used by Rick Yune’s character Zao (the guy with all the diamonds encrusted on his face). It plays an important role, as it’s how the villain receives information about James Bond at the beginning, including a crisp low-res portrait of Pierce Brosnan which would have looked great in 2002 when the film came out.
Casino Royale: Sony Ericsson K800i & M600i
(Image credit: Sony)
There are two keyboard-toting Ericsson feature phones in Casino Royale: the K800i used by Bond itself, and the M600i used by Eva Green’s Vespa Lynd.
The K800i doesn’t do much in the film, though Sony pushed the tie-in for the phone’s marketing, which also presented the devices as (at the time, at least) a competitive camera phone. The M600i is much more important, as Bond reads a text Lynd receives on it near the end of the film, for some major information.
Neither of those uses exactly screams ‘super-spy’, but Daniel Craig’s first film marked a point where product placements switched from ‘an annoying part of the movie you can overlook’ to ‘basically the only reason they make these things’.
Quantum of Solace: Sony Ericsson C902 Cybershot
(Image credit: Sony)
James Bond actually remembered to use his phone in Quantum of Solace, snapping pictures of stuff with that 5MP camera the C902 has, and taking some calls too. Nice work, Jimmy.
The special edition version of the phone 007 uses actually has a James Bond game pre-installed. We can therefore only assume the spy stumbled upon it and discovered he was a fictional character, like some twisted version of Stranger Than Fiction but with an Ericsson phone instead of Emma Thompson.
Skyfall: Sony Xperia T
(Image credit: Sony)
007 finally joined the smartphone world with Skyfall, as the spy was seen to be carrying and using the Android-toting Xperia T. In fact, it this was the center of a huge promotion for the Xperia T, with Sony calling it the ‘Bond phone’.
In Skyfall, Bond doesn’t really do much with the Xperia T - he receives a text with it at one point, showing off one of the Sony phone’s flashiest features of… receiving texts. He didn’t even try to take a picture with its 13MP camera or look at secret files on its (then-crisp) 720p display. Disappointing.
Spectre: Sony Xperia Z5 & Samsung GT-S5611
The Sony Xperia Z5 is in Spectre for such a short amount of time, we're just using our review image instead.(Image credit: TechRadar)
Move over, texting in Skyfall, as Bond has an even cooler thing to do with the Sony Xperia Z5 in Spectre - or should we say, call-’er! Bond is seen calling Moneypenny on the Z5 as he zooms around in a car chase, and the phone basically doesn’t show up again. Not exactly the flashy spy xperia-nce we were expecting.
In the film, we also get a rare glimpse at a non-Sony phone, as the Samsung GT-S5611 feature phone shows up, and actually has more plot relevance than the Sony. Bond sends it to Moneypenny so he can carry on communicating with her when he goes dark, and disguises it so no-one can tell. Now that’s what we call spycraft. Understandably, the Samsung logo was hidden in the film though - Sony clearly couldn’t let a single frame of a competitor’s logo get into the movie.
No Time To Die: uh, something Nokia?
(Image credit: HMD Global)
When No Time To Die was initially meant to be released, HMD Global’s product placements meant a Nokia phone would be used by Bond - maybe he could do something super-futuristic like access the internet or put it on charge, judging by other Craig films.
At the time, the Nokia 8.3 5G was announced as the tie-in, as that was the brand’s newest device. With Bond 25 being delayed, though, that handset is no longer new. The Nokia XR20 rugged phone is the brand's newest 'big phone', but that's not debuting in No Time To Die - the older 8.3 remains, alongside a cutesy Nokia 3310 cameo (that's the famous brick phone everyone's owned at least once).
BioShock 4 is the unofficial title for the new BioShock game that's been officially confirmed by games publisher 2K Games and its new studio Cloud Chamber Studios as being in development.
We first heard about BioShock 4 back in 2019. The official announcement followed months of rumors that the game was in development and had been for some time. But 2K games has made it clear that the next BioShock will be “in development for the next several years,” so even if it’s well on its way, we’ll have to wait a little longer before its launch.
Although official details are scarce, we’re hoping 2021 will be the year when we learn more about when the game might arrive and what we can expect from the next instalment in the BioShock franchise. In the meantime, we’ve collected together all the news and rumors about BioShock 4 in the guide below, as well as what we’d like to see from the next game.
BioShock 4: cut to the chase
What is it? The fourth entry in 2K Games' retrofuturistic game series
When can I play it? TBC (but likely not for a while yet)
What can I play it on? TBC (but PS5, Xbox Series X and PC are likely)
BioShock 4 release date
(Image credit: 2K)
While we're certainly excited for the next BioShock game, it looks like it'll be a while before we actually get our hands on it.
In a tweet officially announcing a new BioShock is in the works in 2019, publisher 2K Games stated that work has begun on the next iteration of the BioShock franchise but that the game "will be in development for the next several years".
It may not be the most welcome news, but this does give us an idea about what platforms BioShock 4 will release on. With the PS5 and Xbox Series X now available, we'll almost certainly be seeing a new BioShock releasing on these platforms (and probably on PC too). Whether the title will also release on last-generation consoles is less certain; it kind of depends on when the sequel releases.
BioShock 4 news and rumors
(Image credit: 2K)
Below, we're rounded up all the biggest rumors and news surround BioShock 4.
Nvidia GeForce Now leak
There was a major leak from the Nvidia GeForce Now (game streaming service) database in September 2021 and it included a listing for “BioShock 2022”, which could be related to the BioShock game announced in 2019, known for now as BioShock 4.
Addressing the leak, Nvidia issued a statement to confirm that while the leak was real, the inclusion of any game on it doesn’t mean anything. Nvidia told Wccftech: “Nvidia is aware of an unauthorized published game list, with both released and/or speculative titles, used only for internal tracking and testing. Inclusion on the list is neither confirmation nor an announcement of any game.
“Nvidia took immediate action to remove access to the list. No confidential game builds or personal information were exposed.”
Since the leak took place, 343 Industries has stepped forward to say that a listing for Halo 5 on PC was incorrect and that the game will not come to the platform which is as good a sign as any that many of the games that appeared on the list (or any release dates tied to them) should be taken with a pinch of salt.
The last we heard was in a Take-Two financial report in early 2020 which said the next BioShock “will be in development for the next several years“. Based on that, a 2022 release does seem slightly too soon, especially given the coronavirus pandemic has caused delays for more than a few studios. However, we can’t be sure until something official is announced.
Unreal Engine 5 A recent job listing at Cloud Chamber games, developers of BioShock 4, suggests the team could be developing the game using Epic’s Unreal Engine 5. In the ad for a Senior Gameplay Programmer it states that the candidate will “work within Unreal Engine 5 adapting existing systems and building new technology in order to fulfil the project’s technical needs and creative goals.”
If BioShock 4 is being developed using Epic’s latest, next-gen engine it bodes well for how the game will look as Epic’s recent demo footage of the engine in use on PS5 and Xbox Series X was very impressive.
A possible PS5 exclusive? There’s a rumor going around (via ComicBook) that Sony could be pursuing BioShock 4 as a PS5 exclusive in some capacity, whether outright or timed.
On an episode of the Xbox Era podcast, host Nick “Shpeshal_Ed” Baker said that he has heard from unnamed sources that Sony is going after BioShock 4 as a PlayStation exclusive. According to Baker, he wasn't given many details about the current situation and couldn’t say for certain whether any deal being made would make the game an outright exclusive or a timed exclusive, though he did say he would assume the latter.
Of course, this remains nothing more than a rumor at the moment and, even if Sony is in talks for exclusivity, there’s no certainty that any deal would be made.
(Image credit: 2K Games)
More job listings suggest the next BioShock will be open-world In yet another piece of juicy gossip supplied by a new round of job listings, it appears that Cloud Chamber will be taking BioShock in a different direction this time out, with the developer actively searching for someone "who can weave impactful, character-driven stories in an open world setting."
Another job listing also points to the upcoming BioShock implementing an "urban crowd system" with a "systemic tribal ecology" backed by a "sometimes hostile AI". It's said the person who ultimately gets the job will need to "push the envelope of what is possible with interactive crowd systems".
Clues given by more job listings point to a new setting When you’re short of formal announcements about a game, sometimes there are things to be gleaned from its job listings. That’s proven to be the case with BioShock 4, as some Cloud Chamber Games job listings spotted by Twitter user MauroNL (via IGN) suggest that the game won’t be set in Rapture or Columbia, the settings for previous games in the series.
As pointed out by MauroNL “Several job listings ask: ‘we want you to help us breathe life into a new and fantastical world.’, which suggests the game having a new setting and not a return to Rapture or Columbia. ‘Together, we will set the stage for a stunning narrative and systems-driven experience’.”
While this clearly isn’t a confirmation on where the game is – or isn’t – set, it certainly does suggest that BioShock 4 will take us somewhere new, which wouldn’t be an unwelcome change and would allow Cloud Chamber Games to really make its mark on the BioShock universe.
Take-Two financial report Take-Two Interactive recently published a financial report which makes a mention of BioShock 4. A very small mention but a mention nonetheless. According to this report, it'll be quite a while before we see BioShock 4 as it "will be in development for the next several years". This is pretty much as expected—although it was reported that the game has been in the works for years, it was also noted that its development has been rebooted in that time so it's unsurprising that it's going to be a few more years before we get to play it. Nonetheless, it's always good to manage expectations.
(Image credit: 2K Games)
Job listings Cloud Chamber Studios is working on the next BioShock title and some job listings (via GamesRadar) the studio has posted can give us small insights into BioShock 4, or at least what the development team is working to bring to the game.
One listing for a Senior AI Engineer mentions "high ambitions" for tying AI and storytelling together in this "strongly narrative and systemic game". The game will have "several AI systems" for this person to work on including an "urban crowd system and the systemic tribal ecology of a sometimes hostile AI".
Another listing for a Lead Combat/AI Designer tells prospective applicants they'll be working on developing "an FPS combat paradigm that is accessible, satisfying, and allows for a high degree of player expression and experimentation within a highly reactive world" and that they will have to think "beyond direct conflict, accommodate various play-styles and design encounters that can be resolved through player ingenuity."
It's not a huge amount to go on but it does suggest an ambitious approach is being taken with BioShock 4 and that the game will continue, and potentially even enhance, the flexible approach taken by previous installments.
In the works for years According to a report by Kotaku, a new BioShock has quietly been in the works for years.
"What 2K didn’t say is that this project has already been in the works since at least 2015, although it’s been rebooted since then," writes Kotaku's Jason Schreier.
Official announcement Publisher 2K Games took to Twitter in late 2019 to announce a new installment in the bestselling videogame franchise.
While there's no indication of where the game might be set, and its connection to the existing characters and environments established in previous titles, we do know that 2K is setting up a whole new development studio – "Cloud Chamber, purveyors of fine videogames" – to work on the unnamed BioShock title, which will be "in development for the next several years".
Today, 2K announced the founding of Cloud Chamber, its newest development studio. This team of storytellers has begun work on the next iteration of the acclaimed @BioShock franchise, which will be in development for the next several years.Learn more: https://t.co/L5hMVADxvY pic.twitter.com/SPvVVZoFCQDecember 9, 2019
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Initial rumors - confirmed The first substantial rumors about a new BioShock game emerged in April, 2019. In an article about the current goings-on at Mafia 3 development studio, Hangar 13, Kotaku reported that there’s a studio located right next door and the team within is working on the early stages of the next BioShock game, codenamed Parkside. We now know a new BioShock is definitely in the works.
BioShock 4: what we want to see
(Image credit: 2K)
Return to Rapture While it was nice to venture out of the underwater city of Rapture in BioShock: Infinite, it didn't quite feel the same. Sure there were some nostalgic scenes and the Burial at Sea DLC let us pop in once again, but we want to return properly this time.
Perhaps BioShock 4 could see us returning to a new Rapture, one that society has tried to reclaim and spruce up following the events of the previous games. If not, then we would love another wonderfully atmospheric city in a similar vein.
Big Daddies and Little Sisters Sure, they're a bit creepy but we love them. More importantly, they're a big part of why many of us love BioShock but weren't really big players in BioShock: Infinite. We hope to see them return in the next one.
Explore the lore more While it can sometimes be confusing, BioShock's lore and narrative is intriguing and we love the webs that have been weaved across the previous games. We're hoping 2K strive to build more on it, perhaps throwing in some more twists.
New Vigors A big part of what makes BioShock so much fun are the Vigors you can play around with. While it would be great to see the return of our favorites, we want some new Vigors to try out and combine.
BioShock revisited: unpicking the complex, messy legacy of 2K's knockout franchise
Hungry for details on Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Rocksteady’s next triple-A outing? Then you’ve come to the right place.
Since its announcement at the DC FanDome presentation in 2020, we've learned that the game is set in the Arkham-verse Metropolis and will give players the choice between playing solo or with up to four players via online co-op. There’ll be four playable characters to choose from, each with their own “unique moveset” and “enhanced traversal abilities”: Harley Quinn (Dr. Harleen Quinzel), Deadshot (Floyd Lawton), King Shark (Nanaue), and Captain Boomerang (George “Digger” Harkness).
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is scheduled to release in 2022, the same year as WB Montreal’s Gotham Knights, so it’s safe to say 2022 is a big year for DC fans. When it does launch, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will be available to play on PS5, Xbox Series X and PC.
We're expecting to learn more about the game during 2021's DC FanDome in October but in the meantime we've gathered together all the latest news and rumors about Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League below.
What can I play it on? PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League release date
(Image credit: Warner Bros)
The announcement of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League was confirmed on August 7, 2020 via the game's official Twitter account.
An image of Superman facing away with a target locked upon his head revealing the games' title confirmed its existence before pointing fans to DC FanDome, a virtual online convention due to take place later that month - where Rocksteady officially unveiled the Suicide Squad game's 2022 release window and first trailer.
Outside of a 2022 release window, Rocksteady and Warner Bros. have yet to give a specific release date for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
Historically the developer has launched games between May and October, giving us a slight indication of what date the Suicide Squad game could land on.
Urban Chaos: Riot Response – May 19th (Europe) and June 13th (North America)
Batman: Arkham Asylum – August 25th, 2009
Batman: Arkham City – October 18th, 2011
Batman: Arkham Knight- June 23rd, 2015
Batman: Arkham VR – October 11th, 2016
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League trailers
(Image credit: Warner Bros)
As part of DC FanDome on August 22, 2020, Rocksteady premiered the first trailer of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. It opens with a look at what seems to be supervillain Brainiac's lair, before confirming the game's location as Metropolis. Panning down we get the reveal of Harley Quinn, followed by her fellow Task Force X members: Captain Boomerang, Deadshot, and King Shark.
Suicide Squad instigator Amanda Waller speaks to Quinn through comms telling them to make their way to the Metropolis Grand Hotel as "alpha target" is now in the open and needs engaging. After a montage where the group takes on hordes of Brainiac's army - to OutKast's B.O.B – Bombs Over Baghdad - they reconverge on a roof. Quinn then tries to remember who they should be on the lookout for, until being suddenly interrupted by a helicopter explosive.
As the smoke clears, it appears that Superman has saved the helicopter pilot – only to decimate the human moments later via heat vision, while seemingly under the control of Brainiac. The group quickly realize that the Man of Steel is their "alpha target", and the trailer ends as a boomerang comically hits Superman's head, with Captain Boomerang uttering: "You shouldn't have done that, shark".
Check it out below:
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League news and rumors
New Artwork
Ahead of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League’s next big reveal at DC FanDome on October 16, some new key art has been released. The Artwork gives us a fresh look at the game’s four main playable characters: Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang and King Shark. We don’t know when exactly during DC FanDome the game will make an appearance but we can be sure it’ll be present in some capacity during the show.
Look what we have here…Tune into DC FanDome 10/16 @ 10:00am PT to see more. #DCFanDome #SuicideSquadGame pic.twitter.com/dGreeK4ToOSeptember 24, 2021
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No more additional characters?
It looks like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League won’t be expanding its roster of playable characters beyond the four that have already been confirmed. As reported by PCGamesN, a recent press release for the game states that “The game’s original narrative follows the four Suicide Squad members as they take on an impossible mission to save Earth and kill the World’s Greatest DC Super Heroes,” which strongly suggests no more will be added. This definitely casts doubt on previous rumors that the game will be an evolving live service title in the style of Marvel’s Avengers.
DC FanDome returns and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is on the lineup
DC has confirmed that its online event DC FanDome will be making a return in 2021, specifically on October 16 and a recent trailer has Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League on the lineup. What exactly we'll learn about the game remains unclear but we do at least now know we can expect to see it in some capacity during the show.
A new trailer for DC Fandome 2021 has been released. pic.twitter.com/Cpyi4ZBCAfAugust 31, 2021
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It was during the 2020 iteration of the show that Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League was first revealed to the world so this is a perfect time for an update, especially as the game didn't make an appearance during E3 2021. Alongside Gotham Knights (which will also be present) it’s one of the major superhero games that DC has in the works.
Gotham Knights delayed
Gotham Knights, the DC game announced alongside Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League has recently been delayed, its release date moving from sometime in 2021 to sometime in 2022. This means that both games are set to launch in the same year, making 2022 a big one for DC fans.
At the moment, there’s no indication that Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will be delayed like its more heroic counterpart, as Suicide Squad was already slated for a 2022 release and is in development with a separate studio.
Is Warner Bros Interactive leaning into live service?
According to a recently spotted advert for an internship (via IGN), Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment’s upcoming projects are going to have a “heavy focus on live service”.
There’s a section of the advert which states that “WBIE is currently involved in a variety of new projects, ranging from casual games to core games featuring our well-known franchises on all platforms (console, digital, mobile) with a heavy focus on live service. “
Generally, live service elements in a game will see it being updated by its developer after release with things like new features or storylines. It’s not uncommon in games these days and can be effective when done right but it can also be controversial when a game doesn’t get off to a strong start eg. Marvel’s Avengers.
Although Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League isn’t referred to directly here, it is one of the games that Warner Bros will be publishing in the next couple of years. However, Rocksteady hasn’t actually confirmed that there will be any live service elements in Kill the Justice League, so at the moment we can't be sure if they're have any involvement in Kill the Justice League.
Gotham Knights developer WB Games Montreal has told IGN that that its co-op and single-player game won’t involve games-as-a-service elements, which means that there’s no guarantee every game published by Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment is going to be subject to this. Certainly, we haven’t seen any clear evidence that Suicide Squad will include live service elements and as result, we’re going to need to wait for official confirmation from Rocksteady before we can be sure.
Mugshots
News on Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is still in fairly short supply since the game isn't expected until 2022. However, the official Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Twitter account has tweeted out some neat mugshots of the game's playable characters which you can see below:
“Fool had it coming. There's only one Deadshot.” pic.twitter.com/pYWT3gjKbTDecember 8, 2020
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"Where is Waller? Tell her I do not belong here." pic.twitter.com/RUJQzl8qdxDecember 1, 2020
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"I'll be back! I always come back!" pic.twitter.com/td2TnjC04FNovember 26, 2020
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"You guys still do Taco Tuesday in this joint or what?" pic.twitter.com/s61c92pq2CNovember 19, 2020
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Singleplayer and co-op
Kill the Justice League is a game that will appeal to those who like single-player and co-op gameplay as its main campaign supports both.
Rocksteady revealed at DC FanDome that players who opt for solo play will be able to switch between other members of the squad as they please, with the uncontrolled team members being handled by AI to play alongside you.
If you want friends to join you, they can jump into the shoes of the squad members you don’t want, with up to four players able to play at once. According to Rocksteady, this is going to be a seamless gameplay experience and the co-op will be drop-in, drop-out, so you can have friends playing with you one minute and go solo the next without it impacting your game.
Story Details of the campaign are limited for the time being, except that we know that it is an "original narrative" set in the DC universe and a continuation of the Batman: Arkham-verse. Implanted with lethal explosives in their heads, the story follows the Suicide Squad as they look to save Earth and kill the world's greatest DC superheroes, The Justice League.
Superman is the only member to have been shown off so far but we're pretty confident in saying the likes of Wonder Woman, Aquaman, the Flash, Batman and so forth, will appear in throughout. The latter of which will be an interesting conundrum, considering how Batman: Arkham Knight ended. Several rumors suggest The Dark Knight might work alongside the Suicide Squad in their attempts to thwart the mind-controlled Justice League.
During the DC FanDome panel, Rocksteady creative director Sefton Hill spoke about the narrative links that will continue on from the Arkham series, stating that: "a lot of through threads and storylines you're gonna see come to fruition in this game".
Open-world Metropolis itself will serve as the open-world in Rocksteady's Suicide Squad. The city is best known as the home of Superman, takes inspiration from the likes of Toronto and New York, while also being neighbors with Gotham. Hill described Metropolis as the game's "fifth character" and hopes it will serve as a "love letter to DC fans".
(Image credit: Warner Bros)
Voice actors So far, two out of the four Suicide Squad members have been confirmed, with long-time Harley Quinn veteran voice actor Tara Strong resuming the role once more. King Shark, on the other hand, will be voiced by WWE wrestler Nuufolau Joel Seanoa a.k.a. Samoa Joe.
While no official word on the voice of Captain Boomerang, it's heavily rumored that Chris Parson has been given the role. He previously voiced Junkrat in Overwatch and there is a huge resemblance when listening to the two.
Deadshot is a little harder to pin down. Chris Cox previously voiced the one-shot wonder in Arkham City and Arkham Origins, both of which are set in the same universe. This Deadshot has been confirmed to be the Floyd Lawton interpretation of the character too, however, there's a huge gaping flaw why it doesn't seem to be Cox that's returning.
For one, the audio clip sounds nothing like his version, and two – the most damming - this Deadshot is black, as opposed to the white version Cox portrayed. Therefore, without an established voice immediately jumping out at people, many believe it may be an up-and-comer. However, King Shark was killed in the direct-to-video Assault on Arkham, so the question of what is actually 'canon' is very much up in the air.
The last unconfirmed role we hear in the trailer (Superman doesn't speak) is Amanda Wallace. CCH Pounder has voiced the Suicide Squad boss in Arkham Origins, Arkham Origins Blackgate, and Assault on Arkham, therefore, it's not out of the realms of possibility that she will return once again/
Lego Batman star Will Arnett (who hosted the DC Fandome panel) also asked if he could appear in the game as an NPC, to which Hill replied that: "I think we can maybe make something work". Something that would certainly make for a cool easter egg.
TechRadar reached out to Warner Bros. for confirmation of the voice actors, however, the company refused to comment at this time.
It's been a while since we last heard rumors about a foldable phone from Honor, but a fresh leak suggests a foldable called the Honor Magic X could be launching imminently – and may even see the light of day before the end of the year.
This latest tip comes from Huawei Fans on Chinese social media network Weibo (via Notebookcheck), and offers up the tidbit that the incoming handset is going to be built along similar lines to the Huawei Mate X2.
Honor originally started out as a spin-off brand for Huawei of course, so it makes sense that the two companies are still sharing some technical information – and as the Mate X2 is a very decent foldable phone, most people are unlikely to be disappointed with the news.
The only other tips that this source offers up are that the foldable is likely to be out before the end of the year, and that Honor has a lot of confidence in it. That potential launch window matches up with what we heard back in February.
An unfolded screen size of around 8 inches has previously been talked about, which matches the size of the Huawei Mate X2. On the inside, we might see the phone powered by the Snapdragon 888 or the Snapdragon 888 Plus.
Honor might not be stopping there either: the rumors are that it's also developing a clamshell-style foldable to take on the Motorola Razr and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3, though up to this point we've not heard too much about it.
Analysis: here come the foldables
The Galaxy Z Flip 3.(Image credit: Carlos Pedrós)
Foldable phones aren't a new idea at this point, but it does feel as though mid-2021 marks something of a watershed moment – a moment when this form factor went from niche and experimental to something that mainstream buyers would consider picking up.
That's almost entirely down to the arrival of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3, two phones that are well-made, well-specced, and not completely unaffordable. While early foldable phones had questions around their reliability, that's not the case with these too.
With Honor, Google, and others expected to enter the fray soon, anyone interested in picking up a foldable phone is going to be spoilt for choice. In the near future we might see sales of these units actually reaching a noticeable share of the market.
A lot of that still depends on the price of course – foldable phones remain very much at the expensive end of the smartphone spectrum. The technology they use means foldables will stay pricey for now, but we're hoping that Honor manages to stick to its traditions and bring out something that's reasonably affordable.
