Author - Jerry Paxton

DJI Revolutionizes 360 Camera Market with the Osmo 360

2025/07/31

Geek News, News, Tech News, Trailers / Videos

DJI, the global leader in civilian drones and creative camera technology, today launches the Osmo 360. As the company’s first foray into 360 cameras, the Osmo 360 delivers new imaging innovation to elevate existing industry standards, bringing creators the flexibility needed for any creative vision.

The Osmo 360 delivers the sharpest photos possible on the 360 camera market with 1-inch 360° imaging¹. It is the first 360 camera to shoot ultra-high-spec 8K/50fps 360° video, and is the only 360 camera that can shoot continuously for 100 minutes in 8K/30fps².

“With the Osmo 360, DJI is challenging the status quo of the 360 camera market,” said Christina Zhang, Senior Director of Corporate Strategy at DJI. “We are revolutionizing panoramic innovation by leveraging DJI’s long history of innovation in creative camera technology. With each technological breakthrough, from 1-inch 360° imaging with industry-first square HDR sensor, to outstanding low-light performance, we aim to change what’s possible in a 360 camera.”

Standout 1-inch 360° Image Quality and Native 8K 360° Video

Specially designed for 360° capture, the Osmo 360’s industry-first square HDR image sensor maintains the same 360° image field as a traditional 1-inch rectangular sensor, while eliminating the unused area of traditional rectangular sensors. This results in 25% more sensor utilization, as well as outstanding image quality and lower power consumption, all in an ultra-compact, lightweight camera body.

The Osmo 360 is also the first 360 camera to feature native 8K/30fps 360° panoramic video with large 2.4μm pixels, boasting an industry-best run time of 100 minutes at 8K/30fps. The large pixel size – double the industry standard size of 1.2μm – captures more picture details, less noise, better low-light performance, and higher dynamic range. Also supporting ultra-high-spec 8K/50fps 360° video, Osmo 360 sets a new standard for video resolution in 360 cameras.

With an impressive 13.5 stops of dynamic range, combined with the larger pixel size and f/1.9 aperture, which significantly increases the amount of light intake, the Osmo 360 captures crisp, vibrant footage – even in low-light settings or high-contrast scenes like sunrise and sunset.

Additional Creative Features:

Invisible Selfie Stick: The Osmo Invisible Selfie Stick vanishes from 360° videos with no editing needed, providing third-person views typically captured by a cameraman.
High Frame Rate Video: For those that want to capture split-second details at a high frame rate, the Osmo 360 can also shoot in 4K/100fps 360° video.
Slow Motion: Capture video in up to 4x slow motion mode to make every awe-inspiring moment last longer.
120 MP 360° Photo: To capture a single moment in time, users can take an ultra-clear 360° photo up to 120 megapixels, achieving razor-sharp detail for still images.
Gesture and Voice Control: Start or stop recording with a simple palm gesture, or use voice control to go hands-free.
HorizonSteady and RockSteady: With HorizonSteady enabled, the footage remains level no matter how the camera is rotated. In single-lens mode, RockSteady 3.0 effectively reduces shakes while retaining the dynamic impact of motion, delivering a more immersive first-person perspective.
GyroFrame and Intelligent Tracking: DJI Mimo’s GyroFrame allows users to to adjust the 360° composition using motion control, while intelligent tracking makes it possible to lock onto and track people, vehicles, pets, and more.
Multi-Platform Editing Support: Edit videos with DJI Mimo or DJI Studio. DJI Studio offers a full suite of tools, and the Premiere plugin streamlines the workflow to create stunning 360° videos.

Performance as a Single Lens Action Camera

Effortlessly switch between the front and rear lenses without stopping recording – perfect for capturing travel vlogs in one seamless take. Osmo 360 can be used as a first-person action camera with single-lens mode, offering crisp 5K/60fps flat videos with a sweeping 155° ultra-wide angle. Boost Video mode provides an even broader 170° field of view and smooth 4K/120fps video.

Convenient to Carry, with Long Battery Life

For creators on the go, Osmo 360 prioritizes convenience with 105GB of built-in storage. Weighing just 183g, the advanced stacked design allows the camera to pack two large 1-inch 360 imaging lens modules into one, ultra-compact body. Moreover, the Osmo 360 is built to thrive in extreme conditions, capable of recording for over 1.5 hours in freezing conditions as low as -20° C (-4° F)¹. The battery can record continuously for 100 minutes¹ at 8K/30fps resolution, which can be extended for another 180 minutes¹ with the Osmo 360 Battery Extension Rod. In just 12 minutes, Osmo 360 reaches 50% power to ensure creators are never without a camera for long.

The Benefits of the DJI Ecosystem

Osmo 360’s magnetic quick release design works with Osmo Action series accessories, while also featuring a 1/4″ thread hole for easy compatibility with traditional gear.

Osmo 360 offers the OsmoAudio™ Direct Microphone Connection³, allowing users to connect Osmo 360 directly to two DJI microphone transmitters without a receiver, capturing studio-quality sound.

For more information, please refer to: https://www.dji.com/360

¹When capturing 360° content, Osmo 360’s CMOS sensor features an imaging area equivalent to that of a 1-inch CMOS sensor with a 4:3 aspect ratio.

²All data was tested in controlled conditions. Actual experience may vary. For more details, please refer to https://www.dji.com/360.

³Direct connection to the first-generation DJI Mic is not supported. DJI microphones are sold separately.

South Park S27 Premiere Surges with Biggest Share in Over 25 Years

2025/07/30

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Movie News, News

South Park season 27 viewership surges with biggest season premiere share on Comedy Central since 1999, up +68% vs. last season premiere, and nearly 6M cross-platform viewers across Paramount+ and Comedy Central. In addition, the viral premiere dominated Wednesday as the #1 telecast across all cable. South Park earned its most social episode ever, while #SouthPark trended on X for over 12 hours, ranking #1 for 5 hours. Tune-in tonight, July 30^th, for an encore airing of the premiere episode, “Sermon on the ‘Mount,” with a new episode airing Wednesday, August 6 at 10 p.m. ET on Comedy Central and next day on Paramount+.

Full ratings information below:

South Park S27 premiere scored 5.9M cross-platform viewers across Paramount+ and Comedy Central
Earned its biggest linear season premiere share since 1999
- Up +68% vs. S26 premiere (9.20 vs. 5.48)
Best season premiere rating since 2022
- Up +15% vs. S26 premiere (0.996 vs. 0.866)
#1 telecast across all cable on Wednesday
South Park S27 debut was a hit on social
- #1 most social episode ever for South Park
- #1most social program across all TV on Wednesday
- #SouthPark trended on X for over 12 hours, ranking #1 for 5 hours

Discover the Mysterious Dungeons of Hell is Us in a new Gameplay Video

2025/07/30

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 5 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox Series X News

With just a few weeks to go before its release, the highly-awaited Hell is Us game unveils a new gameplay video on its dungeons system, with commentary by creative and art director Jonathan Jacques-Belletête. Hell is Us is Rogue Factor’s ambitious project, due for release on 4 September 2025 on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S and PC (Steam, Epic Games Store).

The story of Hell is Us takes place in Hadea, a fictional country ravaged by a deadly civil war. This hermit nation hides a mysterious past and is home to ancient, forgotten dungeons that players must explore to advance their quest and unravel the secrets of the strange events taking place in the region.

Far from delivering side content, the dungeons are an integral part of the adventure, providing players with keys to understanding the deep history of Hadea and offering memorable gameplay sequences and challenges.

Each dungeon is unique in its atmosphere, challenges and meaning. They require players to use different types of skills: interacting and carefully observing their surroundings, using their sense of logic, and above all fighting the many enemies that stand in their way. What’s more, each of the different dungeons culminates in a final, intense confrontation, leading to revelations that shed light on the tortuous past of this remote corner of the world.

“The dungeons are based on the same philosophy that governs the game, which we call “player-plattering”, explains Jonathan Jacques-Belletête. “Through this concept, we want players to rediscover the pleasure of exploring on their own, without being hand-held. Within the deep and mysterious confines of each dungeon, the players must pay attention to their environment in order to orient themselves and figure out how to overcome the many obstacles they face. Each dungeon has its own distinct flavour and memorable moments, culminating in a real sense of achievement once completed.”

Snoopy Present: A Summer Musical Official Trailer

2025/07/30

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Movie News, News, Trailers / Videos

Apple TV+ debuts trailer for new original Peanuts special “Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical,” premiering globally Friday, August 15

Discover the magic of summer camp as Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the gang break out in original songs by Emmy Award nominees Jeff Morrow and Ben Folds, plus Broadway veterans Alan Zachary & Michael Weiner in the first Peanuts musical in over three decades.

Gear up for s’more Peanuts fun and a summer jam-packed with song! Today, Apple TV+ debuted the pitch perfect trailer for the all-new original Peanuts musical special, “Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical,” set to premiere globally on Friday, August 15. The special features original music by Emmy Award-nominated singer, songwriter, composer, and New York Times bestselling author Ben Folds, plus Emmy Award-nominated composer Jeff Morrow, and the veteran Broadway composing duo Alan Zachary & Michael Weiner. This latest special under the acclaimed “Snoopy Presents” banner by Peanuts and WildBrain for Apple TV+ marks the first Peanuts musical in 37 years. Original songs in the new special include “When We Were Light,” “Look Up, Charlie Brown” and “Leave It Better” by Folds, plus “Best Time Ever” and “A Place Like This” by Morrow and Zachary & Weiner.

This summer, celebrate the joy and magic of summer camp and the importance of preserving what you love. Charlie Brown loves camp and is determined to make his final year special, but Sally – a first-time camper – is nervous and skeptical of the new and unfamiliar place. While everyone settles into camp, Snoopy and Woodstock discover a treasure map that takes them on a wild adventure nearby.

One morning, the Peanuts gang learns that their beloved camp is shutting down because there are fewer campers joining each summer. The news especially saddens Charlie Brown, who feels hopeless about losing a place that has meant so much to him and his friends and is determined to preserve its legacy. Meanwhile, on their adventure, Snoopy and Woodstock find the sought-after treasure chest, but are quickly disappointed when they discover it’s not riches, but instruments and photos from past summer concerts held at the camp. Newly inspired, Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang use the treasure to host their own concert to save the camp.

Produced for Apple TV+ by Peanuts and WildBrain, “Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical” is directed by Erik Wiese and is written by Craig Schulz, Bryan Schulz, and Cornelius Uliano. Executive producers are C. Schulz, B. Schulz, Uliano, Paige Braddock, Josh Scherba, Stephanie Betts, and Logan McPherson.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang, and Apple TV+ is the place for families to celebrate the milestone all year long. Apple TV+ is the official and only streaming home for all Peanuts content through an expanded partnership with WildBrain, Peanuts Worldwide, and Lee Mendelson Film Productions.

The exciting slate of recent offerings for kids and families on Apple TV+ features the latest Peanuts series “Camp Snoopy”; the second season of beloved animated series “Frog and Toad,” based on the Caldecott and Newbery Honor-winning books; animated adventure trilogy “WondLa,” based on the New York Times bestselling book series “The Search for WondLa” by Tony DiTerlizzi; celebrated kids and family series “Yo Gabba GabbaLand!,” inspired by the hit, Emmy Award-nominated cultural phenomenon “Yo Gabba Gabba!”; “Me,” an elevated cinematic coming-of-age story from Barry L. Levy; “Wonder Pets: In the City,” from Jennifer Oxley; animated series “Goldie” inspired by Emily Brundige’s award-winning short film of the same name; and “BE@RBRICK,” the music-driven, animated series inspired by the iconic collectibles from MEDICOM TOY.

Award-winning all-ages offerings now streaming globally on Apple TV+ also include celebrated live action animated hybrid special, “The Velveteen Rabbit”; the Academy Award and BAFTA Award-winning animated short film “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse”; Oscar-nominated and BAFTA Award-winning animated film “Wolfwalkers”; Skydance animated feature “Luck”; the BAFTA Award and Humanitas Prize-winning “El Deafo,” BAFTA Award-winning “Lovely Little Farm”; “Duck & Goose”; “Get Rolling With Otis”; Spin Master Entertainment’s “Sago Mini Friends”; WGA Award-winning “Pinecone & Pony”; “Frog and Toad”; The Jim Henson Company’s Emmy Award-winning “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock”; “Harriet the Spy”; “Slumberkins”; Sesame Workshop’s “Helpsters”; Joseph Gordon-Levitt, HITRECORD and Bento Box Entertainment’s “Wolfboy and the Everything Factory”; Jack McBrayer and Angela C. Santomero’s Emmy Award-nominated “Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show”; Peanuts and WildBrain’s Emmy Award-nominated “Snoopy in Space”; “The Snoopy Show”; and Peabody and Emmy Award-winning series “Stillwater.” Live-action offerings include Bonnie Hunt’s DGA and WGA Award-nominated “Amber Brown”; DGA Award-winning “Best Foot Forward”; “Surfside Girls”; WGA Award-winning “Life By Ella”; Sesame Workshop and Sinking Ship’s Emmy Award-winning “Ghostwriter”; Emmy Award and Environmental Media Association Award winning “Jane” and Scholastic’s “Puppy Place.”

Also featured are “Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth,” the Emmy Award-winning television event based on the New York Times bestselling book and TIME Best Book of the Year by Oliver Jeffers, and specials from Peanuts and WildBrain including Emmy Award-nominated “Snoopy Presents: It’s the Small Things, Charlie Brown,” “Snoopy Presents: Lucy’s School,” Humanitas and Emmy Award-nominated “Snoopy Presents: To Mom (and Dad), With Love,” “Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie,” “Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin,” Emmy Award-winning “Snoopy Presents: Who Are You, Charlie Brown?” and “Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne.” Apple TV+ offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all your favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have earned 580 wins and 2,787 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy “Ted Lasso” and historic Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”

Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $9.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.* For more information, visit apple.com/tvpr and see the full list of supported devices. *Special offer is good for three months after the first activation of the eligible device. One offer per Family Sharing group. Plans automatically renew until canceled. Other restrictions and terms apply; visitapple.com/promo for more information.

Marvel Rivals Unveils Full Details for Season 3.5: The Abyss Awakens

2025/07/30

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Mobile News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Today, Marvel Games and NetEase Games have unveiled full details for Season 3.5: The Abyss Awaken for Marvel Rivals, the award-winning and critically-acclaimed Super Hero Team-Based PVP Shooter that lets players assemble an ever-evolving all-star squad of Super Heroes and Super Villains battling with unique powers across a dynamic lineup of destructible maps from across the Marvel Multiverse. The game’s third season continuation is set to kick off August 8 and will introduce Blade as a playable hero along with a new map, Throne of Knull. Season 3.5 will also introduce new features, Team-Ups and a new game mode: Resource Rumble.

The full details and features for Season 3.5 in Marvel Rivals are below and in the latest episode of Dev Vision.

Season 3.0 further ignited the battle: the mighty Phoenix was ambushed, forcing most of the Phoenix Force to seek refuge within a cosmic egg, awaiting its fiery rebirth. But as heroes clashed, the Phoenix Egg cracked prematurely. The scattered Phoenix Force found new hosts among our heroes, yet it also awakened an ancient evil. Knull, the King in Black, has now risen to full power, wielding the All-Black once more, and his Queen in Black still spreads her wings. Amid this chaos, Blade, forever walking the razor’s edge between two worlds, will be the first to light a fire upon the abyss, bringing fresh power to the fight.

Blade (Duelist) – In Season 3.5, the long-awaited Daywalker finally joins Marvel Rivals! Blade is a true Duelist; his unique bloodline gives him incredible strength, and his mastery of combat puts it to full use. He can pressure foes at mid-to-close range with his shotgun, and reduce their healing at just the right moment, then unleash his ravenous Ancestral Sword, awaken the Dhampir bloodline, and slice through every last enemy! And when the time is right, he will draw the legendary Sword of Dracula, dashing through foes and leaving a deadly trail in his wake. In that moment, Blade is the fiercest force on the battlefield. A true hero never looks back!

A new game mode, Resource Rumble, and its map, Throne of Knull, will arrive with the August 22 update. It will launch in Quick Match first to gather player feedback and fine-tune the experience, before rolling it out for Competitive play. Stay tuned for a gameplay deep dive soon!

Operation: Shield the Community

Great teamwork starts with great communication. To keep Marvel Rivals a positive experience for all, the team has been upgrading the in-game environment. As of July 24, in addition to player reports and manual review, all in-game voice chat will now be automatically screened by the system, with human review. This means we’ll catch more toxic behavior, and players using inappropriate language will be penalized, making the game a better place for everyone.

With the Season 3.5 update, we’re also adding a custom filter for text chat. If a message contains a muted word, it will be filtered out just for you. This feature will empower players to tailor their experience. We’ll also regularly review popular muted words and consider adding them to the official list.

Competitive Quitting Penalties & Compensation

We know how frustrating it is when a teammate leaves a Competitive match. This creates an unfair situation where the team with fewer players has a much harder time winning, and if they stick it out until the end, they still face losing competitive points. To combat this, in Season 3.5, we’re increasing penalties for players who quit: longer bans from Competitive play, and bigger point deductions. For the remaining players who stay, we’ll now offer some point compensation at the end of the match. Plus, surrender votes will require just one less than the number of remaining teammates. If someone leaves due to unavoidable system issues, we’ll review it and handle penalties fairly, and we’re speeding up the appeals process for mistaken bans.

Ignite Mid-Season Finals

From August 6 -10, the Marvel Rivals Ignite Mid-Season Finals will be held in Guangzhou, China! Ten factions from around the world will compete for the championship. Stay tuned to our website and social media for more info.

Season 3.5 Updates and New Team-Ups

The Season 3.5 update brings a fresh round of changes to team-up abilities: We’re removing Guardian Revival (Adam Warlock – Mantis/Star-Lord) and Atlas Bond (Iron Fist – Luna Snow) from play. Loki is leaving the Ragnarok Rebirth (Hela – Thor/Loki) team-up. Two brand new team-ups are being added: Duality Dance (Adam Warlock – Luna Snow) and Vibrant Vitality (Mantis – Groot/Loki). Also, some team-ups are welcoming new members: Iron Fist joins Chilling Assault (Luna Snow – Hawkeye), Star-Lord connects to the Rocket Network (Rocket Raccoon – Peni Parker), and Blade launches into Lunar Force (Cloak & Dagger – Moon Knight).

In addition to the above, players can continue to get all the latest information from the Game Update featuring full Patch Notes and Hero Balance adjustments.

NASCAR 25 Gets Oct 14 Release Date

2025/07/30

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 5 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox Series X News

Hope you’re well! I wanted to pass along a quick heads up that iRacing and NASCAR have revealed that NASCAR 25 is launching on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on Oct 14, 2025, with PC via Steam to follow soon after. Check out the new asset and get ready for the most immersive NASCAR video game yet!

NASCAR 25 is the first standalone NASCAR console title produced by iRacing, the developers behind the most authentic motorsport racing simulation in the world. iRacing is bringing decades of racing expertise to NASCAR 25, including developers who worked on fan-favorite NASCAR games like NASCAR Racing 2003, NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona, and entries from the NASCAR Thunder series.

NASCAR 25 will feature all four premier NASCAR series – the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series, Craftsman Truck Series, and, appearing along NASCAR series in a standalone title for the first time, the ARCA Menards Series. All four series, along with real drivers from each, will feature extensively in NASCAR 25’s Career Mode, where you’ll customize your own driver and vehicles, manage contracts, money, facility, and staff, and make strategic choices on and off the track that play a pivotal role in your journey to becoming a NASCAR Cup Series champion. The four series are also playable in other gameplay modes such as quick races, seasons, and online multiplayer.

For updates on NASCAR 25, visit www.nascar25.com

House Flipper 2 Launches a Massive Summer Update

2025/07/30

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

According to the House Flipper 2 Roadmap, another major seasonal update has arrived in the game, bringing a substantial amount of new content and features. More items = More fun!

Watch the House Flipper 2 Pool Party Update Teaser
House Flipper 2’s Pool Party Update is available now on PC (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1190970/House_Flipper_2), PlayStation (https://www.playstation.com/en-gb/games/house-flipper-2), and Xbox (https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/house-flipper-2/9N67Z2D5PHW2/0010).

Custom pools are now officially part of the House Flipper experience!

Now, with the introduction of custom pools, creating the perfect backyard is easier and more intuitive than ever.

Two new mechanics have been introduced to enhance co-op gameplay:

Throw Mode and the Water Gun. Whether you’re launching objects or even a piano at another player, or spraying them with water, these additions bring a lighthearted and interactive twist to the experience.

Enhanced Customization Made Simple:

Among the most impactful quality-of-life improvements is the new Customization Panel. Built directly into the Flipper Gun, it allows players to easily modify the details of furniture and decorations. This feature stems from ongoing community feedback, as the development team continues to prioritize smoother, more personalized gameplay.

As with every update, this release also includes a variety of performance improvements and bug fixes, ensuring a more stable and polished gameplay experience.

Developer breaks through the fourth wall with new Summer Splash Contest!

To celebrate the summer season and the release of the latest free update, Frozen District is proud to announce a brand-new community contest: Summer Splash.

Participants will be tasked with transforming a unique “shell” property — featuring a pool at its centre — into a stunning creation. Creativity and imagination are encouraged, as there are no design limits.

The contest will be open from August 1st at 20:00 CEST until August 31st at 23:59 CEST.

The grand prize is an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Kraków, Poland. The winner and their guest will be invited to visit the Frozen District studio, take some trips, explore the historic city alongside the team, and enjoy the full Frozen District experience. Flights, accommodation, and activities will all be fully covered!

For all the info – tune in to the announcement dev stream on Friday 01/08 starting at 17:30 CEST. Good luck to all entrants!

7 Years of the House Flipper Franchise and the first of House Flipper 2

Frozen District prepared a summarized video highlighting the major events and developments that occurred until the first year of House Flipper 2 was released.

The creators continue to work on multiple projects, and the last year was particularly fruitful in terms of events. The coming year promises to be even better, as they are expanding their cooperation with Warner Bros for House Flipper 2 Scooby-Doo™ DLC.

Starz Announces Winter Premiere for Gladiator Drama Spartacus: House of Ashur

2025/07/30

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Movie News, News, Trailers / Videos

STARZ (NASDAQ: STRZ) announced a Winter debut for its epic gladiator drama, “Spartacus: House of Ashur,” with a fiery new teaser trailer released during a panel today at San Diego Comic-Con. The action-packed teaser primed fans for the much-anticipated next chapter in the “Spartacus” franchise, led by executive producer and showrunner Steven S. DeKnight (“Daredevil”). Joining DeKnight on the San Diego Comic-Con panel was the show’s cast, including, Nick E. Tarabay (“Spartacus,” “The Expanse”), Tenika Davis (“Jupiter’s Legacy,” Cabinet of Curiosities), Graham McTavish (“The Witcher,” “House of the Dragon”), Jamaica Vaughan (“Home and Away,” “800 Words”), Jordi Webber (Choose Love, “Prosper”), and Jaime Slater (“Jupiter’s Legacy,” Pacific Rim: Uprising), with Liam McIntyre (“Spartacus: Vengeance,” “Spartacus: War of the Damned”), who played the role of “Spartacus” in previous chapters, moderating.

“Spartacus: House of Ashur” is a thrilling, erotic, history-bending, roller-coaster experience that builds on everything that made the original series a colossal hit. What if he lived, and the Romans rewarded his treachery with the gladiator school where he once bled? Welcome to the House of Ashur. No longer a slave, Ashur has clawed his way to power, owning the same ludus that once owned him. But ruling a band of merciless gladiators is child’s play compared to surviving the savage world of Roman politics — a cutthroat game in which betrayal isn’t a sin, it’s currency. He flips tradition on its head by unleashing Achillia, a fierce and powerful gladiatrix eager to prove herself worthy in a man’s world. Together, they ignite a new kind of spectacle that shocks, disrupts, and offends the elite with every drop of blood.

“Spartacus: Blood and Sand” debuted on STARZ in 2010 and was followed by the prequel series chapter “Spartacus: Gods of the Arena” in 2011, and two additional chapters, “Spartacus: Vengeance” in 2012 and “Spartacus: War of the Damned” in 2013. The original series, “Spartacus,” and all subsequent chapters are available on the STARZ app.

“Spartacus” creator, writer, and executive producer Steven S. DeKnight (“Daredevil”) serves as showrunner and executive producer on “Spartacus: House of Ashur.” Rick Jacobson (“Dark City: The Cleaner,” The Royal Treatment) and Aaron Helbing (“The Flash”, “Mortal Kombat: Legacy”) also serve as executive producers. “Spartacus: House of Ashur” is produced by Lionsgate Television for STARZ.

No Avengers? No Problem: Why San Diego Comic-Con 2025 Was the Best in Years

2025/07/30

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Misc Review, News, Reviews, SDCC

Leading up to SDCC 2025, the headlines were screaming doom and gloom. “No Marvel in Hall H?” “DC Studios sitting out?” It felt like the sky was falling. For a decade, the rhythm of this convention has been dictated by Kevin Feige wearing a baseball cap and announcing movies that won’t come out until my future kids are in college. Without that anchor, I honestly thought we were looking at a ghost town. But walking out of the San Diego Convention Center on Sunday, sunburnt, exhausted, and clutching a custom King of the Hill trucker hat like it was the Holy Grail, I realized something.

The sky didn’t fall. In fact, this might have been the best San Diego Comic-Con in years!

Here’s the thing: SDCC 2025 wasn’t about staring at a big screen in a dark room for four hours. It was about being there. It was the year the convention finally spilled out of Hall H and turned the entire Gaslamp District into a living, breathing theme park.

The Hall H Pivot (Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Xenomorph)

Let’s address the elephant in the room – or rather, the lack of Avengers in the room. Marvel sat this one out. Well, mostly. Robert Downey Jr. was practically trolling us from his Instagram feed all weekend with Doctor Doom hints, but he wasn’t on stage.

And honestly? It was refreshing.

Instead of a conveyor belt of logo reveals, we got depth. Saturday in Hall H felt like a film school masterclass. When George Lucas walked out, his first time ever at the con, the air just left the room. Seeing the creator of Star Wars sitting there, talking about narrative art with Guillermo del Toro? That’s not hype. That’s historic. You could hear a pin drop. It was emotional in a way that a trailer for Avengers 17 never could be.

But the real “I was there” moment came from FX. Noah Hawley didn’t just bring a teaser for Alien: Earth. He walked out and played the entire pilot episode. Just dropped it on us. The show is set in 2120, grounded, gritty – proper horror. Watching a room of 6,000 people collectively realize they were seeing something no one else in the world had seen yet? That energy is unmatched and definitely one of my favorite SDCC moments ever.

The Gaslamp Events

If you stayed inside the convention center all weekend, you did it wrong. This year, the studios realized that buying our attention is expensive, but earning our memories is priceless.

The undisputed champion of the weekend was PeaceFest.

HBO Max took over the Nova Nightclub and turned it into a glam-rock dive bar from an alternate dimension where Peacemaker is a festival organizer. It sounds ridiculous because it was. You walk through a “Quantum Unfolding Chamber” (fancy light tunnel, but it worked), and suddenly you’re drinking hard tea while a hair metal cover band screams Ozzy Osbourne covers.

And they had a live eagle. A real eagle. I don’t know who signed off on the insurance for that, but I salute them.

What made it work wasn’t the spectacle, though. It was the chill factor. They let us hang out for 45 minutes. Usually, these activations herd you through like cattle – get your photo, get your swag, get out. PeaceFest let us actually party. It felt less like marketing and more like a Saturday night out in the DC Universe.

Paramount brought out “The Lodge” where you could not only grab sliders but also get a custom-made Star Trek inspired cocktail as well as take some great pictures at their assorted photo opps.

Propane and Propane Accessories

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, Hulu won my heart with Hank’s Backyard.

They terraformed a parking lot into Arlen, Texas. It was simple: lawn chairs, fencing, and a propane grill. I played “Alamo Pong” using trash cans and giant balls, which is way harder than it looks, by the way.

The best part? The swag station. Instead of handing out generic posters that end up crumpled in your hotel room, they let us customize trucker hats with patches. I waited in line for maybe twenty minutes, drinking “Alamo Beer” (which was just canned water, but let me have my fantasy), and made a “Dale’s Dead Bug” hat that I have not taken off since.

It was tactile. It was comfortable. It was exactly what you needed after walking ten miles in cosplay boots.

When Immersion Gets Scary (and Messy)

Not everything was a home run, though. FX’s Alien: Earth activation, “The Wreckage,” was visually insane. They built a crashed spaceship site next to the Hilton that looked movie-set ready, dripping with black goo and smoke.

I went through during the day, and it was… fine? A bit of a confusing maze. But I heard the “Code: Red” night mode was terrifying. The actors turned the aggression up to eleven, and the lighting did a lot of heavy lifting. My big regret of this year’s con is that I didn’t get the chance to do the night event.

Then there was the Twisted Metal bumper cars. Yes, Peacock let us drive bumper cars dressed up like Sweet Tooth’s ice cream truck. It was chaotic fun, especially when Anthony Mackie showed up and started handing out PS5s to random people. Talk about a lottery ticket.

But we gotta talk about the Sonic Racing event at K1 Speed. Great idea: Sonic-themed go-karts. Execution? Oof. I heard horror stories of people waiting two and a half hours for food orders. It’s a reminder that no matter how cool the IP is, logistics are the real final boss of Comic-Con.

The Vibe Shift

Walking down 5th Avenue this year felt different. With the big superhero movie machine taking a breather, other fandoms stepped up.

The cosplay was fascinating. You couldn’t walk five feet without bumping into a group of four people in blue jumpsuits – the Fantastic Four hype is real, even without a panel. And Wicked? Everywhere. I saw at least three pairs of Elphabas and Glindas holding hands near the convention center steps.

Japanese gaming also had a huge moment. Western devs were quiet, so Bandai Namco and Sega just owned the floor. There was this life-size motorcycle from Code Vein II at Lou & Mickey’s that people were lining up just to sit on. It’s cool seeing gaming take up space that used to be reserved for Hollywood blockbusters.

And I have to give a shoutout to barleymash. They rebranded the whole restaurant as a “Retired Video Store” (think Blockbuster). I ordered a “Make it a Blockbuster Night”, bourbon and peach, and it came with a Red Vine straw. It’s cheesy, sure, but that’s why we come here! We want the cheese!

The Verdict

So, was SDCC 2025 a “quiet” year?

No way! It was a decentralized year.

We’ve spent so long thinking that Comic-Con is defined by what announcements come out of Hall H. But this year proved that the soul of the con isn’t in the press releases. It’s in the streets. It’s in eating BBQ in a fake Texas backyard, listening to hair metal in a fake dive bar, and getting scared by a fake alien in a hotel parking lot.

The big studios might have taken a break from the megaphone, but the culture didn’t skip a beat. If this is the future of SDCC—less staring, more doing—then sign me up for 2026.

Just remind me to bring better shoe inserts next time. My feet are never going to forgive me.

Photo Gallery

Alien: Rogue Incursion – Part One: Evolved Edition Evolution Trailer

2025/07/30

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 5 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Survios, the industry-leading virtual reality studio, debuted the ‘Evolution’ trailer for Alien: Rogue Incursion – Part One: Evolved Edition at San Diego Comic-Con. The best-selling VR game has been re-envisioned for PlayStation 5 and PC, bringing this authentically Alien action-horror experience to new audiences, complete with the most lethal Xenomorphs players have ever encountered. Pre-orders for the Evolved Edition are available now on PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam, with wishlisting available on Epic Games Store.

Set in the Alien film universe, Alien: Rogue Incursion – Part One sees players suit up as rogue Colonial Marine Zula Hendricks on a mission to the planet Purdan (LV-354) in search of a former squadmate. After a sudden attack, Zula and her Synthetic companion, Davis 01 find themselves in Gemini Exoplanet Solutions’ hauntingly desolate research facility, Castor’s Cradle.

In the terrifying new trailer, fans get a first look at the Evolved Edition’s even smarter and deadlier Xenomorphs in action, alongside enhanced visuals on display, including running at 60 FPS.

Coming September 30, Alien: Rogue Incursion – Part One: Evolved Edition will launch on PS5 and PC at $29.99 MSRP, with the Digital Deluxe edition available for $39.99

Alien: Rogue Incursion – Part One: Evolved Edition launches September 30, 2025. Pre-orders for Standard and Deluxe Editions are open now for PlayStation 5 and Steam.