Richard Jewell: Film Review

Richard Jewell: Film Review

Cast: Paul Walter Hauser, Kathy Bates, Sam Rockwell, Olivia Wilde, Jon Hamm
Director: Clint Eastwood

If Richard Jewell achieves anything, it'll be proof that the best performances come from unshowy actors determined to fall into their roles and make the best subtle use of their time on screen.

Eastwood's tale of one man caught in a maelstrom is perfect for his ageing Libertarian views, as he aims a salvo at the media and pushes the old ways of the American dream.

Hauser plays Jewell, a vulnerable oaf caught in his belief of authority and his inability to see the system is out to get him and manipulate him when he's accused of bombing Centennial Park during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

With his profile fitting the FBI's suspicions he's not the hero he's hailed as after he saved many in the park, Jewell finds his life - and that of his mother's - caught in the headlights.

Richard Jewell benefits from terrific turns from Hauser as the wronged man, Rockwell as the lawyer who decides to take the case after years of friendship, and Bates' silently-stoic-but-ultimately-rising-to-the-occasion mother.

When it concentrates on this triumvirate, the film packs a power punch that's subtle, unshowy and ultimately engrossing.

Which is why it's a shame that those swirling around Jewell's escalating plight, and those plotting his downfall, are nothing more than once-over-lightly stereotypes and caricatures.

From Wilde's contentiously sleazy reporter Kathy Scruggs who's made to trade sex for scoops (something the film's been slammed for) to Hamm's just bad FBI agent who was caught off guard when Jewell discovered the bomb, the film's outer edges damage the relatively engrossing tale that ensues.

Throw in Confederate flags, a scene of the US flag being waved in full camera that Roland Emmerich would be proud of and the whole mix starts to feel a little queasy, a touch of retro jingoism of the worst order.

Ultimately, Richard Jewell deserves to be seen for Hauser and Rockwell's performances alone, their character moments dazzling quietly under the ensuing heavy-handedness that Eastwood and his writer deploy.

It may be following Eastwood's desire to laud the common man caught in the unstoppable force of
the Government crusade his latest films have pushed, but the more powerful moments of Jewell, thanks largely to Hauser's understated and overwhelming performance, soar high above some of the other misdeeds of the rest of the film.

Helen Kelly - Together: Film Review

Helen Kelly - Together: Film Review

Director: Tony Sutorius

Director Tony Sutorius' portrait of renowned union advocate Helen Kelly is deep on inspiration, but low on full details of its subject itself.

Pulling together elements of the last year of her life, Sutorius prefers to concentrate more on the ripple effects of Kelly's life, rather than an in depth look at what motivated her, her background etc.

There are elements of this mentioned early on, as Kelly details some of her family life, her father's advocacy and the fact she was determined to be following in his footsteps. But largely, Sutorius chooses to concentrate on her fight against bureaucracy, her fight for the families of Pike River, of logging accidents in Tokoroa, and generally on the elements that just saw her intrinsically fighting for the everyday worker.

It's a pleasant enough affair, put together with heart and sensitivity, but one which unless you're interested in the birth of union moments and butting heads with bureaucracy, one which feels like it's not quite as wide a portrait as it could be.

Where it is successful is in Sutorius' desire to show that everyday ordinary decency is still evident in the face of insurmountable odds. From getting inside Pike River via some astounding footage to capturing Kelly dealing with chemo and union quibbles, there's a sense here that inspirational was what was aimed for - and there's no denying a legacy.

It's just that Helen Kelly Together feels more like a rallying call for general humanity rather than a portrait of its person, and while that's no bad thing, it does feel like the spotlight deserved to be shone a little more on Kelly.

Street Fighter V: Champion Edition out now

Street Fighter V: Champion Edition out now

STREET FIGHTER™ V: CHAMPION EDITION NOW AVAILABLE IN AUSTRALIA;

SETH ADDED TO ROSTER AS 40^TH CHARACTER

New Version of Acclaimed Fighting Game Includes 40 Characters, 34 Stages, 200+ Costumes and More!

Champions will rise! Capcom, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, have announced Street Fighter™ V: Champion Edition, the most robust version of the acclaimed fighting game, is now available for PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and PC. Also announced over the weekend, Seth embodies a new physical form and joins the Champion Edition roster as the 40^th character for Street Fighter™ V players to add to their collection. A new Street Fighter V: Champion Edition launch trailer featuring Seth and other iconic fighters is available now.

Street Fighter V: Champion Edition includes all content (excluding Fighting Chance costumes, brand collaboration costumes and Capcom Pro Tour DLC) from both the original release and Street Fighter™ V: Arcade Edition. Champion Edition adds each character, stage and other content that released after Arcade Edition and through the launch of this new version, including Seth. In total, this robust edition of Street Fighter V features 40 characters, 34 stages and over 200 costumes. Fighters can select their character and battle their way through a variety of exciting single-player and multi-player modes designed for players of all skill levels, including Cinematic Story Mode, Arcade Mode, Team Battle, Ranked Match, Casual Match and more.

Also available from today, Seth has been added as the 40^th character to appear in Street Fighter V; this master move mimicker returns with a new physical form in Champion Edition. The boss character from Street Fighter™ IV, Seth’s biological brain has been paired with Doll Unit Zero as the intelligence continues to seek new data and install moves from the fiercest fighters in the world. New players can experience Seth now as part of Street Fighter V: Champion Edition and current players can acquire Seth separately, also for 100,000 Fight Money (in-game currency).

Street Fighter V: Champion Edition is available now physically and digitally on PlayStation®4 and as a digital download on Steam. Current owners of any version of Street Fighter V can purchase a digital Upgrade Kit, offering instant access to all unowned Champion Edition content.

The initial Street Fighter V purchase is still the only one that consumers need to make to ensure they always have the most up-to-date version of the title. All game mode additions and balance updates are free for owners of any Street Fighter V version. Additionally, all DLC characters remain earnable completely free of charge through completing various in-game challenges and receiving earned in-game currency, called Fight Money. For those who can’t wait, in-game content can be obtained instantly using real money. Certain additional content can only be acquired using Fight Money, which can be earned through normal gameplay.

Borderlands 3 - Broken Hearts Day

Borderlands 3 - Broken Hearts Day

Borderlands 3’s February Patch and ‘Broken Hearts Day’ Free Seasonal Event Are Now Live

A level cap increase, True Takedown Mode, and other fan-requested updates have arrived! Plus, Borderlands 3’s new time-limited seasonal event offers unique rewards for all players.

It’s a big day in the Borderlands, Vault Hunters! Many of the highly requested feature updates detailed in Tuesday’s Community Love Letter are now live for all Borderlands 3 players. In addition, Borderlands 3’s latest seasonal event – Broken Hearts Day – is on now and will continue to run through next Thursday, February 20. For the full rundown of all of today’s updates and additions, please refer to the full patch notes here.

To view the trailer click the image below

As part of the new seasonal event – which is free for all players – you’ll see a variety of hearts hovering around heartsick enemies all across the Borderlands. Shooting these hearts produces any of six different effects, from temporarily converting an enemy to an ally to simply exploding into a pile of loot. The more hearts you break, the more rewards you unlock, with five brand new items up for grabs – including special skins and Legendary weapons unique to this event.

You have one week to break some hearts before this event ends on Thursday, February 20 – though Broken Hearts Day can be toggled off and on at any time in the game’s main menu. For more details, check out this helpful Broken Hearts Day blog, and for Broken Hearts Day assets, just click right here.

Today also marks the launch of Borderlands 3’s first level cap increase! As part of today’s February Patch, the maximum Vault Hunter level will rise from 50 to 53, giving you three additional skill points to add to your skill trees. But that’s not all: today’s patch also adds several highly requested feature updates, including True Takedown Mode, Guardian Rank toggling, skippable cutscenes, and event toggling.

For more information about these updates, as well as a look ahead to some of Borderlands 3’s upcoming enhancements, please refer to this week’s Community Love Letter. For additional context and insights into the update process, check out this week’s episode of The Borderlands Show, which features an in-depth interview with Borderlands 3 Live Lead Graeme Timmins.

Finally, if you want to catch Borderlands 3’s next major content announcement, be sure to tune in to the Gearbox panel at PAX East on February 28! The panel will stream live on twitch.tv/borderlands starting at 6.30am. Expect a whole bunch of exciting content announcements, including the full reveal of Borderlands 3's second paid campaign expansion.

Last Christmas: Blu Ray Review

Last Christmas: Blu Ray Review

A contrived and loose retelling of a Christmas Carol, Last Christmas draws inspiration from the Wham! song of the same name.

A game Clarke pratfalls and perks her way through the story as Kate, a mess of a girl, dressed permanently as an Elf and awash in one night stands, homelessness and booze, following recovery from an illness.
Down on her luck in London, Kate spies the suave Tom (Crazy Rich Asians' Golding, who gets to be charming and pointlessly pirhouetting around London for no real reason) and the pair strike up an unlikely friendship.

She the cynic, he the optimist, encouraging her to look up at the sky - even though her first doing of this results in pigeon poo in the eye - much like the film for the audience, to be frank.

You can see where Last Christmas is going a mile off - it's the kind of candy covered schmaltz soaked affair that would work well in the festive season, when you're stranded with family, boozed up and don't want to talk to them.

Throwing in Brexit jabs via way of London patriotism, mocking the homeless for being quirky, and plastering the film with shots of London streets in the winter, it's a shock there's no Hugh Grant cameo or Love Actually crossover in among the syrupy sentiment.

And yet, were it not for a duly game Emilia Clarke, Last Christmas would be a real festive turkey.

(It's hard to credit Golding with anything other than being smooth or suave as that's what the script demands of him, and he delivers with warmth and ease, giving Tom and Kate's bond a nice glow.)

Clarke however is called on to shoulder the burden of a cloying script that continues to one-up itself for weak gags, goofy edges and generally being underwritten. And she delivers her hot mess with warmth, chutzpah, and the kind of commitment that's needed to sell the sentiment and holes. (Of which a lot emerge in the final act).

It's the latest film to be fashioned around music, from Blinded by the Light to Yesterday, and while they all suffer from the necessity of shoehorning the music in, Last Christmas does a little the same, but can be forgiven on some level, because of the time of year it's aiming for.

There's a cheesy cornball edge to Last Christmas, but it's sadly not enough one way or another to push this into so-bad-it's-good-territory. Instead, it just is, and were it not for Clarke, the film would have crumbled into a bad Christmas hangover.

Terminator: Dark Fate: Blu Ray Review

Terminator: Dark Fate: Blu Ray Review

Dwelling in the past while simultaneously dismissing everything which happened post 1991's Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Terminator: Dark Fate wastes no time in steeling itself as homage to the films, and twisting and repurposing some of the best bits of Judgment Day.

In this latest, which sees the return of James Cameron, Reyes' Dani is the latest target of robots from the future, this time in the form of Gabriel Luna's Rev-9. Singled out for assassination, Dani finds her humdrum life in the hands of agile new saviour Grace (a strong Davis, easily the best addition to the series in a long time, androgynous, sympathetic and wearing similar gear to Sarah Connor's original white tank top) and Sarah Connor, whose life has been turned back to tragedy in the years after she and John averted Skynet's future.

Forced on the run, and with promise of help coming from a mysterious cabin in the woods, it's a fight for survival for the trio.

Terminator: Dark Fate isn't really content to go its own way.

It proffers up plenty of tantalising ideas, and gets into the action straight away with a factory-based fight and freeway chase with trucks.

If that sounds familiar it is - later on the film chooses to use a chase sequence involving a helicopter and a Terminator pouring its liquid form through its window. It's essentially Terminator 2: Judgment Day writ large for the 2019 audience. Much of it feels familiar, in the same way that any sci-fi robot-chasing-you-to-death film is going to - there's little room for nuance character work in between fits and bursts of popcorn baiting action.

Hamilton hovers between spitting, snarling and chewing the scenery with her damaged Connor; a few quieter moments allow her some depth, hinting at the ongoing effects of being caught in this eternal hunting game and are all the better for it. Schwarzenegger dabbles in some usual humour and nostalgia moments, but is largely there for set-dressing; and Reyes' Dani oscillates wildly between being terrified to becoming her destiny. Luna has little to do other than appear relentless, and be the subject of some occasionally iffy CGI.

Thankfully, Davis as the augmented super soldier, makes a valuable case of a vital new addition to the franchise, meshing both robotic like steeliness to the cause, and moments of humanity as reality sets in. It's no shock she radiates a younger Sarah Connor's determination, and even echoes her wardrobe.

Some of the action set pieces creak from obvious CGI, and Deadpool's Miller is competent enough at rolling them out, even if occasionally they feel perfunctory and all too familiar. (No one needs to ever see a Dunkirk style Terminators rising sequence ever again) That said, some of the live action ones are never less than thrilling, and offer a strong case for the Terminator's continuing popcorn appeal.

But the urgency of the dread fear of an unstoppable hunter on your tail has gone in this latest - and even echoes of contemporary themes such as detainee centres, electronic surveillance and immigrants try to add some urgency, they're not enough to detract from a film that pursues its core objective with dread precision, yet proffers no real reason to keep going back to a universe that seems destined to repeat itself ad infinitum.

Sonic The Hedgehog: Movie Review

Sonic The Hedgehog: Movie Review

Cast: Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz, James Marsden
Director: Jeff Fowler

After the initial outcry over Sonic The Hedgehog having human teeth, those involved in the latest family film to hit our screens must be relieved at what's been achieved.

The second look at Sonic proved to be more popular, with the Sega fave living and breathing the blue-shaped blur many nostalgia fans wanted.

So, with a flimsy plot, Sonic The Hedgehog has raced in to try and prove a box office fave and possibly relaunch a franchise - after all, console companion Tails is lurking about ready to be utilised.

In terms of plot, Sonic's simple - when small-town police officer Tom Wachowski (X-Men's Marsden) discovers the small blue hedgehog (voiced with energy by Schwartz), he's thrown into a fight with the Evil Dr Robotnik (Jim Carrey, back to his manic self).

Sonic the Hedgehog is not the disaster you would have expected.

Featuring a performance from Jim Carrey that could be characterised as vintage Ace Ventura gone mad and a bit bad, his Robotnik is the highlight of a kiddy film that feels bitsy, yet is entertaining enough to speed by as quickly (especially through some lulls later on) as Sonic powering through the glens.

Marsden is affable enough as Wachowski the small town cop who wants out but who realised that home is where his heart enough. And his partnership with Schwartz gels nicely but is never overplayed for easy laughs. Schwartz treads a fine line between irritating, cute and heartfelt, and negotiates it with veritable aplomb, proving an engaging enough road trip buddy as the film plays out. 

Though jarringly, some scenes feel shoe-horned in to expand proceedings - notably a bar detour that exists purely to fill time, and to show off some VFX work.

Sure there are elements of Spider-Man: Far From Home with a drones denouement and some of the FX feel ripped from Evan Peters' Quiksilver from the X-Men films, but thanks to some nostalgia bursts and some moments which constitute spoilers, Sonic fans will be happy enough.

Sonic the Hedgehog’s never quite strong enough to standalone as a film franchise launcher, and a Sonic vs Robotnik series would be worryingly too repetitive, but this has a bounce and flimsy flounce that’s just enough to amuse both the younger ends of the audience, and the nostalgia-dripped older end, desperate to capture that SEGA vibe from some 30 years ago.

A Guide to Second Date Sex: Film Review

A Guide to Second Date Sex: Film Review

Cast: George MacKay, Alexandra Roach, Michael Socha
Director: Rachel Hirons

From writer / director Rachel Hirons comes a comedy that feels very much in execution and in scripting like a three act play mixed with a UK sex screwball comedy.

Roach and MacKay play Laura and Ryan respectively, a pair whose dabbling in relationships has been less than successful. After meeting in a club, the pair stumble into a second date, and the expectations that come with it....

A Guide to Second Date Sex is a serviceable slice of awkwardness, that incorporates as much cringeworthy actions as it does recognisable insights into everyone's teenage years.

Roach and MacKay make affable enough bedfellows, and despite McKay's awful chin hair, the pair has enough universal quirks to make them relatable and to allow the situations to feel natural, and not forced. (Although a final act twist pushes the film a little too far as the histrionics are wound as tightly as they can.)

Side characters aren't as fleshed out as they could be, and the script's reliance on their quirks rather than a bit more depth gives the comedy an OTT edge that's not quite acceptable enough given the decent amount of groundwork that's already gone.

But with some moments of laugh-out-loud comedy, some moments where the awkwardness pushes it to excruciating, A Guide to Second Date Sex does just enough to transcend its play roots and feel like its own living breathing mirror onto all our failed fumblings and burgeoning relationships.

Blinded by the Light: DVD Review

Blinded by the Light: DVD Review

You've seen Blinded by the Light many times before, and in many different iterations.

The very familiar coming of age tale, set in Luton in England in 1987 centres around Cara's Javed, a young Pakistani man who yearns to be his own person, but who's stuck at a crossroads.

When Javed ends up going to college, he finds his world is irrevocably changed when he's gifted two Bruce Springsteen tapes, and being at the age of discovery, the doors of his perception are blown wide open by the Boss' music and lyrics.

But in the background of Javed's life lurk the National Front, the possibility of love, and the inevitability of a showdown over his desires and his dad's directives...

Blinded by the Light has an energy that bursts through the bubbling cheesiness which seeps in almost immediately.

Chadha is less interested in reinventing the wheel in this music-inspired movie, and more interested in perhaps showcasing a story that was prevalent in 1980s UK life, but rarely recorded. The indolence and ugliness of racism lurks casually in Javed's life, and while Chadha's only interested in occasionally using it for drama, the evocative montage of 80s Britain under Thatcher which begins the film serves only to showcase the good and the bad of the era.

Elsewhere, the film's cornball and corny dialogue sags a little in the excessive 2 hour run time - an expeditious edit could have given the film a pep and zap that it needed in parts as it spins its all-too-familiar tale.

There's a heart here, but rather than leading with the drama, the film hits every dramatic cliche and and services its leads ahead of the script; yet there are moments when the film excels, such as Chadha's reveal of a daytime club, and the heady thrill of youth within. These are the moments that Blinded by the Light could have had more of, not ones which feel rote and almost ridiculous.

It may be sweet, and crowd-pleasing at times, but Blinded by the Light does little exciting with the musical genre except to pillage someone else's back catalogue to sell nostalgia and probably Spotify soundtracks (in this case, the Boss) .

However, don't be surprised that in the year Rocketman soared to audience success and Bohemian Rhapsody won big, Blinded by the Light will have your heart tapping away in your seat, even if your head is warning you repeatedly against doing so.

WWE 2K20 - Southpaw Regional Wrestling DLC

WWE 2K20 - Southpaw Regional Wrestling DLC

WWE 2K20 Originals: Southpaw Regional Wrestling

Available Now

The totally awesome, 1980s themed WWE 2K20 Originals: Southpaw Regional Wrestling DLC pack is available now for WWE 2K20. Just like previous WWE 2K20 Originals, WWE 2K20 Originals: Southpaw Regional Wrestling includes a rad new Showcase, Story Towers, characters, arenas, character parts, weapons, voiceover and commentary. The DLC pack is included in every copy of the WWE 2K20 Deluxe and SmackDown! 20th Anniversary Editions and is available to download now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC/Steam. Southpaw Regional Wrestling is also available for individual purchase at $22.95 and as part of the WWE 2K20 Backstage Pass DLC bundle.

To view the trailer click the image below

Please find additional details in the blog post below, which went live earlier this week.

WWE 2K20 Originals: Southpaw Regional Wrestling Content

Based on WWE’s throwback series, Southpaw Regional Wrestling joins the spooky Bump in the Night and post-apocalyptic Wasteland Wanderers in expanding WWE 2K20 in fun and unique ways.

New Showcase

Southpaw Regional Wrestling kicks off with its biggest show of the summer, but there’s just one problem. Evil banker Mr. Mackelroy has purchased the company and intends to destroy it!

Fortunately for the Southpaw crew, fine print in the contract includes a loophole allowing Southpaw to win back ownership. They must beat Mr. Mackelroy’s intimidating squad in a best-of-five series of matches. Can they do the impossible and beat the bully?

New Story Towers

·       “Cult of Rasslersize” – Misfit Molly Becky Lynch finds herself in the presence of hottest new workout trend, Rasslersize. These aerobics fitness freaks want Misfit Molly to join, and they’re not taking no for an answer.

·       “What Goes Around…” – Mr. Mackelroy Tyler Breeze finds himself on the wrong side of a business deal gone wrong, and a shadowy figure has sent a band of debt collectors disguised as a glam rock band to collect his debt.

·       “Tower of Prep” – The Perth Preppies (The IIconics) are bratty rich kids who believe they deserve a shot at Southpaw’s Women’s Tag Championship, but the rest of the women’s division has other plans.

·       “A Man and his Chickens” – Big Bartholomew Rusev lives a simple life. He wrestles and cares for his chickens. Mr. Mackelroy has kidnapped his chickens and plans to turn them into nuggets unless Big Bart can make it through his gauntlet of goons. At the end of it all, the terrible Sea Creature awaits.

·       “Street Ninja Showdown” – Ninjas have kidnapped Zack Ryder's girlfriend, who also happens to be the President of the United States. Street Zack Ryder and Street Curt Hawkins hit the pavement to rescue her in a throwback to beat ‘em up games.

New WWE Superstar Characters:

·       Georgia Washington Charlotte Flair

·       Dosvetanya Lana

·       Bad Hair Day Ember Moon

·       Misfit Molly Becky Lynch

·       Samantha Urai Kairi Sane

·       Sasha Memorybanks Sasha Banks

·       Bay Lee Billionaire Bayley

·       Mr. Mackelroy Tyler Breeze

·       Glam Rocker Johnny Gargano

·       Sea Creature

Two New Arenas

·       Southpaw Summer Breakout ‘87

·       Max Headlock’s

And More

·       New voiceover and commentary

·       New themed Superstar parts

·       New themed Create-an-Arena parts

·       New themed weapons

If you opt for the WWE 2K20 Deluxe or Collector’s Edition, you’ll also have access to the complete set of WWE 2K20 Originals downloadable content packs, including Bump in the Night, Wasteland Wanderers, Southpaw Regional Wrestling, and Empire of Tomorrow. Southpaw Regional Wrestling is also included in the WWE 2K20 Backstage Pass DLC bundle.

WHAT ARE WWE 2K20 ORIGINALS?

WWE 2K20 Originals are a series of four downloadable content packs each based around a different theme and all-new fictional realm.  These are the core downloadable content offerings for WWE 2K20 and each will include a unique 2K Showcase, 2K Towers, playable characters, creation suite parts, new weapons and arenas, and so much more, set to a unique theme. All WWE 2K20 Originals will be released by spring 2020.

Outriders | Debut Gameplay trailer

Outriders | Debut Gameplay trailer

New Outriders Gameplay Trailer Showcases First Look At Upcoming RPG Shooter

SQUARE ENIX®, creators of the iconic FINAL FANTASY® and TOMB RAIDER® franchises, today announced the OUTRIDERS™ Reveal Stream and unveiled its debut gameplay trailer.

From People Can Fly, the developers of Gears of War: Judgment and BULLETSTORM, and Square Enix External Studios, the minds behind SLEEPING DOGS® and JUST CAUSE®, OUTRIDERS is a co-op RPG shooter for a new generation.

OUTRIDERS is an RPG shooter set in an original, dark and desperate sci-fi universe. As mankind bleeds out in the trenches of Enoch, you’ll create your own Outrider and embark on a journey across a hostile planet. With rich storytelling spanning a diverse world, you’ll leave behind the slums and shanty towns of the First City and traverse forests, mountains and deserts in pursuit of a mysterious signal. Combining intense gunplay with violent powers, along with an arsenal of increasingly twisted weaponry and gear-sets, OUTRIDERS offers countless hours of gameplay from one of the finest shooter studios in the industry.

The OUTRIDERS Reveal Stream will feature Game Director, Bartek Kmita; Lead Writer, Joshua Rubin; and host, Malik Forte and is set to debut Thursday, February 13^th at 8:00pm GMT | Friday February 14^th 7:00am AEDT. Watch the OUTRIDERS Reveal Stream at www.twitch.tv/squareenix.

“It’s incredibly exciting to finally reveal what we have been working on for the last four years,” said Bartek Kmita, Game Director at People Can Fly. “Outriders is our first game since leaving Epic Games, and has grown from an idea of the game we always wanted to make, to the most ambitious project People Can Fly has ever undertaken”.

OUTRIDERS will release on PlayStation 5®, Xbox Series X and PC in Holiday 2020. OUTRIDERS will also release on PlayStation 4® and the Xbox One family of devices.

OUTRIDERS official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/outridersgame
Follow OUTRIDERS on Twitter: https://twitter.com/outriders
Follow OUTRIDERS on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outridersgame
Subscribe to OUTRIDERS on YouTube: www.youtube.com/outriders

Join the OUTRIDERS Discord: discord.gg/outriders  
Learn more about SQUARE ENIX® here: http://www.square-enix.com
Learn more about People Can Fly: https://peoplecanfly.com 

The Borderlands Show: Ep. 5 Recap

The Borderlands Show: Ep. 5 Recap

New Borderlands 3 Seasonal Event and Level Cap Increase Detailed in Community Love Letter

Broken Hearts Day, Guardian Rank toggling, Mayhem 2.0, and other ‘Community Love Letter’ updates discussed during today’s episode of The Borderlands Show.

We hope you’re feeling the love, Vault Hunter, because we sure are! Gearbox and 2K shared a Community Love Letter earlier today, thanking fans for their continued support and revealing an update roadmap that includes a new seasonal event, a level cap increase, and a significant number of quality-of-life enhancements coming soon to Borderlands 3. This letter was also discussed on today’s episode of The Borderlands Show, which featured insider insights from Borderlands 3 Live Lead Graeme Timmins.

The new seasonal event – which is free for all players – is the perfect antidote for any Valentine’s woes: Broken Hearts Day! Particularly lovesick enemies across the Borderlands will soon have special hearts floating around them. These hearts take a variety of forms, and shooting them produces any of a number of unique effects, from buffing your party’s damage output to temporarily converting an enemy to an ally to simply exploding into a pile of loot. The more hearts you break, the more rewards you unlock, with five total rewards up for grabs – including special skins and Legendary weapons unique to this event.

Broken Hearts Day can be toggled off and on in the game’s main menu, allowing players to opt out of (or back into) the event at any time. The event will go live on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Stadia, and PC once the February patch deploys later this month. You'll then have exactly one week to break some hearts before this seasonal event ends. For more details, check out this helpful Broken Hearts Day blog.

In addition to this new event, Gearbox also announced Borderlands 3’s first level cap increase! Timed with the debut of Broken Hearts Day, the maximum Vault Hunter level will increase from 50 to 53. This will give you three additional skill points to add to your skill trees, allowing you to enhance your existing builds or even experiment with additional abilities. We’ll have more information about future level cap increases later, and intend to make any level cap increases free additions to the game.

And that’s not all Gearbox and 2K announced today. The Community Love Letter also included new details on each of these upcoming enhancements:

• True Vault Hunter Mode;
• Skippable Cutscenes;
• Guardian Rank Toggling;
• Event Toggling;
• Fight for Your Life Improvements;
• Mayhem 2.0;
• Twitch ECHOcast Extension Additions.

It’s a massive, comprehensive look at the free updates planned for Borderlands 3 in the next few months, so for all the details, be sure to read the letter in its entirety right here. And for a look at the second paid campaign expansion, catch the Gearbox Panel at PAX East on Thursday, February 27 at 11:30 am PT / 2:30pm ET (Friday, February 28 at 6:30 am AEDT). You’ll get your first look at the next add-on, as well as a future content roadmap for Borderlands 3. The panel will be streaming live on the Borderlands Twitch channel.

Today’s Community Love Letter also served as the foundation for today’s episode of The Borderlands Show, which featured analysis from our regular hosts Greg Miller and Fran Mirabella, as well as expert commentary from Stream Team member and host of The Bordercast, Mitsu. Our hosts were joined by longtime Gearbox developer and Borderlands 3 Live Lead Graeme Timmins, who provided additional context around today’s update roadmap. To catch the full episode, just click right here.