Latest news with #Outlaws
Metro
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Star Wars Outlaws is Ubisoft's best game and you should get it now it's cheap
A reader is disappointed to hear that Star Wars Outlaws will not be getting a sequel but recommends the original now that it's heavy discounted. I'm sure if I was in charge of Ubisoft I'd blame Star Wars itself for the failure of Outlaws, but I really don't think that's fair. I doubt they honestly think that season 3 of The Mandalorian being bad is the real reason for its failure, but I'm sure it didn't help so it's a convenient scapegoat that shifts the blame away from them. Either way I'm very upset to hear that there won't be a Star Wars Outlaws 2. I think there's a couple of reasons for the game's failure but it's a real shame because I think it's Ubisoft's best game of recent years and definitely better than Assassin's Creed Shadows, Far Cry 5, and any of their other games I've played lately. It's not massively different from their usual open world formula but it's got a lot of small things it does better, that really should have made it be a bigger hit. Although perhaps, and this is fair enough, it was just too little too late and by that point everyone had just had enough of it all. In terms of the Star Wars aspect of it all, I think the problem was that, as GC said, when you have Star Wars without Jedi it can just seem like a generic sci-fi adventure. There's nothing necessarily wrong with that, but I don't feel they pushed the Star Wars aspects as much as they could and the aliens were definitely underused in terms of making everything feel different but also familiar. I think everything to do with Jabba the Hutt worked the best and that's because it looked and felt the most like the movies. The bigger problem was that none of the main characters were that interesting. They had all that behind the scenes footage of the actress being all bubbly and excited but in the game she's just kind of quiet and a bit dull. She is absolutely not the female equivalent of Han Solo and her pet and that unlikeable robot friend is not a good stand-in in for Chewie. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. But really, that's relatively minor stuff. It's not like I particularly liked any of the characters in Assassin's Creed Shadows or Far Cry 5 either, and at least Outlaws had multiple different planets (Tatooine is amazing). What Outlaws does better than the average open world game though is that it combines its side quests and its skill tree together so that instead of doing random fetch quests you're actually working to unlock new skills and upgrades, which really makes a difference in terms of things not feeling like busywork. The open world is well designed and there's plenty of variety, with shooting, driving, stealth, and spaceship combat. And the best thing? It's not 100+ hours long. I don't think it would be even if you did everything, but you can definitely beat the main story in less than 20 hours, which for me is a definite plus. Not only does it mean I can beat it in the same year I start it, but it means the game never outstays its welcome, which all the Assassin's Creed games always do. More Trending There's never going to be another one but you can get it dirt cheap at the moment and I believe it's also coming to Nintendo Switch 2. I'd definitely check it out, as it's much better than its reputation and it's sad we're never going to get another one. By reader Tacle The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@ or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email. MORE: It is madness that Konami still hasn't made a new Castlevania - Reader's Feature MORE: I had a Commodore Amiga as a kid and this is not the gaming future I imagined - Reader's Feature MORE: The biggest problem with the Nintendo Switch 2 is that it's too big – Reader's Feature
Metro
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Star Wars Outlaws 2 cancelled by Ubisoft claims insider
Ubisoft's disappointment with the sales of Star Wars Outlaws has led to the cancellation of a sequel, but it's Lucasfilm they blame. Star Wars Outlaws may have been a useful evolution of Ubisoft's usual open world formula, but sales wise it has been far from a success story. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot recently highlighted how the game had fallen short of sales expectations, where he blamed its failure on the overall Star Wars brand being in 'choppy waters' when it released last year. Guillemot's comments conveniently ignore the fact that Star Wars Outlaws launched in a pretty buggy state, and with a lofty £69.99 price tag, but whatever the reason for its poor sales, it seems a sequel is now out of the question. According to insider Tom Henderson, Ubisoft 'recently' cancelled a sequel to Star Wars Outlaws, which was 'very, very early' in development. '[Ubisoft] also recently cancelled Star Wars Outlaws 2 because that was planned and in the works,' Henderson said on the Insider Gaming podcast (at around the 46:40 mark). He claimed the project was in the pre-production phase, adding: 'It was very, very early… but they looked at Outlaws 2 and thought, yeah let's not do that.' Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. While not surprising if true, it's still disappointing considering Star Wars Outlaws felt ripe for an expanded, refined sequel. The obvious comparison when assessing why Star Wars Outlaws may have underperformed is Star Wars Jedi: Survivor from EA. The sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order came out two years before Outlaws, but it still sold well despite releasing after the stink of Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker, The Book Of Boba Fett, and the third season of The Mandalorian. More Trending 2024 wasn't a great year for Star Wars either but only a few months later season 2 of Andor came out, and Star Wars Battlefront 2 suddenly shot up the Steam charts, so it doesn't seem fair to blame the brand alone. The deciding factor between EA and Ubisoft's success may have been very simple: one lets you play as a Jedi and the other does not. While The Mandalorian and Andor have done very well with little to no lightsabers, in terms of video games the Jedi and their related elements offer much more unique action than something like Outlaws can provide. As for what other Star Wars games are in the works, EA is developing a sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, while Heavy Rain studio Quantic Dream is working on narrative-driven title Star Wars Eclipse. Respawn and Bit Reactor also recently revealed Star Wars Zero Company, a turn-based strategy game set to be released next year. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Battlefield 6 reveal trailer is live now with multiplayer showcase to follow MORE: Donkey Kong Bananza fan breaks game by painting the cartridge yellow MORE: Super Mario Party Jamboree Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV review – party unfavoured
The Citizen
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Local learner wins big in glitzy film, TV awards
YOUNG Dineo Nxumalo of Port Natal School strutted the red carpet like a superstar at the 2025 Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film & Television Awards at the ICC on Saturday. The Grade Six learner at Port Natal School in Umbilo bagged the award for Best Newcomer Actress. The recognition was for her performance in Sent, marking a powerful moment for fresh talent in the industry. The 12-year-old uMlazi-born starlet attributes her success to the support of her parents, her school and an undying fire within herself. She mesmerised audiences as Mbali Biyela in the hit series Outlaws (2023). The 2025 Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film & Television Awards featured A-listers from the celebrity world, household names, and fresh talent alike from the film and TV industry. A stalwart of the industry, Angus Gibson, was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades-long contribution to the growth and depth of South African storytelling. Known for his ground-breaking work on productions such as Yizo Yizo, Shaka iLembe, and numerous documentary features, Gibson has spent decades shaping the visual narrative of South Africa through an authentic and uncompromising lens. Accepting the honour, Gibson reflected: 'As Bomb Productions, whenever we tell a story, we want the characters that we depict to recognise themselves. For the last 12 years, we have been immersed in a Zulu world, so it is from the KZN audience that we most want approval. This award is an affirmation that makes me very happy.' Topping the winners' list was Disaster Holiday, produced by Rethabile Ramaphakela, which scooped four major awards, ie Best Pan African Film, Best Feature Film, Best Production Design, and Best Use of KZN as a filming location. Jackie Motsepe, chief operations officer at the KZN Tourism and Film Authority, shared, 'It was a night that affirmed the power of African storytelling. From newcomers to legends, our creatives are shaping culture and inspiring futures. We're proud to see KZN emerging as a strong player on the African and global film map. The Simon Mabhunu Sabela Awards continue to honour excellence while driving the industry forward.' On the TV front, Kwenzokuhle Ngcobo took home the Best Actor prize for his role in Scandal, while Nqobile Magwaza bagged Best Actress for her performance in Smoke and Mirrors. In film, Ntando Mncube (Themba) and Sibongiseni Shezi (Umjolo: The Gone Girl) scooped the top acting awards. The awards were bestowed upon 25 deserving winners, ie actors, producers, directors, etc. For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Irish Examiner
14-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
Anniversary of climber famed for his adrenaline and glamour but whose remains were never found
The eternal human quest for adrenaline-fueled adventure took on a new aspect in the 1970s. This involved finding a sheer cliff, maybe 50 metres high, and climbing to the top without the aid of ropes or safety equipment. Fall early on and you had a sporting chance of spending the remainder of your life in a wheelchair; come off anywhere near the top and you were headed for 'the pearly gates'. The reasons not to take part in such an activity seem irrefutable, yet the sport of free solo climbing was soon attracting growing numbers of participants. Michael Reardon climbs on the Gap of Dunloe, County Kerry. Picture: Damon Corso One reason why some were prepared to ignore the possible gravitational consequences from such activities may be a reaction to living in an increasingly anodyne world where every effort is made to engineer risk from our lives. Children no longer walk to school, are often discouraged from running in playgrounds, while some schools require them to wear goggles when playing conkers. Adults can't buy more than two packets of paracetamol, are advised to only to go outside in the morning and evening on hot, summer days, while some universities ban students from throwing mortarboards at graduation. If Christopher Columbus lived today, he could hardly have discovered America. An apparatchik would surely have appeared on the quayside before he sailed and listed several reasons why the Santa Maria could not be licensed for transatlantic travel. Health and safety inspections may have made our lives safer and more comfortable, but they have also assuredly made them less challenging and more boring. Invariably, however, some free-spirited people will resolutely refuse to accept the constraints that safety experts impose on the rest of us. Free soloist Michael Reardon climbing in his beloved Gap of Dunloe, Killarney. Picture: Valerie O'Sullivan Rockclimber Michael Reardon was one such person. American-born, but of Irish ancestry, he lived from an early age the expansive life common among those who eventually broaden the boundaries of human achievement. In the 1980s he was a member of a heavy metal band and later worked as a writer and film producer. He was best known, however, for belonging to an elite group of top-level climbers — known as the Outlaws — whose members insisted on making ascents of cliff faces while unfettered by ropes. For some people, this is climbing in its purest and most stylish form — to the rest of us, it appears foolhardy in the extreme. But then we should remember the age-old truism that those who dare to push back the frontiers of the possible are invariably considered foolhardy by their contemporaries. Public opprobrium was heaped on the 'reckless' first climbers to reach the summit of the Matterhorn. It also fell upon those who battled with the north face of the Eiger Mountain in the 1930s. And in more recent years, it has fallen upon women — but not so much on men — who have continued with cutting-edge climbing after having children. Nevertheless, without people prepared to take risks and push themselves beyond their comfort zone, the world's greatest mountains would remain unclimbed, European explorers could hardly have reached America and the lunar dust would remain footprint-free. A restless search for advancement is a key element of the human condition. If it exists, then sooner or later somebody, possessing raw courage beyond what the vast majority of us can comprehend, will want to reach it, climb it, traverse it, or explore it. Reardon was such a person, and inevitably on his Irish visits, he hit the local climbing scene like a tornado. Spurning long-held conventions on safety, he soloed 240 of our hardest climbs. Locals observed in awe as, with his trademark blonde locks flowing in the breeze, he glided unprotected up cliffs that heretofore had only been attempted by Ireland's best climbers using ropes and modern equipment. Irish Examiner, Saturday, July 14, 2007: Search for missing climber Michael Reardon In the end, it was not a fall but the ocean that claimed him. This July marks 18 years since he was swept out to sea while climbing in Kerry. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, many concluded that the world's best-known solo climber had finally overreached himself and that his loss was the result of a climbing error and an ocean fall. Reality was more mundane, but no less tragic. A rogue wave knocked Reardon from a rock during a photo shoot following another successful ascent, and his remains were never recovered. When I spoke to his friend, Kerry mountain climber, Con Moriarty, he quickly pointed out that Reardon was — despite his awesome reputation — no daredevil': He was an extremely cautious and calculating climber, and I never saw him take an unnecessary or foolhardy risk.' Irish Examiner. Wednesday, October 3 2007 Inquest rules that climber Michael Reardon died by misadventure Reardon is now remembered for the fact that in a tragically short career, he put adrenaline and glamour into rockclimbing that would later be harnessed by world-renowned climbers such as Alex Honnold. Locals and climbers, family and friends of climber free soloist Michael Reardon US waving at the memorial service on Valentia Island for climber Michael Reardon in 2007. Picture: Don MacMonagle With his simple, flowing technique, he brought challenges that would have previously been considered outlandish firmly within the realm of possibility for future generations of climbers. Michael Reardon: May 1, 1965 – July 13, 2007. Picture: Valerie O'Sullivan
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Top 5 concerts this week in Sarasota, Bradenton, Anna Maria Island, Palmetto
Editor's note: As of press time, the National Hurricane Center was monitoring a disturbance expected to stall off the Southeast U.S. coast later this week, which could affect your Fourth of July weekend in Sarasota and Manatee counties. This week's local events calendar will be largely be dominated by the Fourth of July holiday, so it'll be fairly quiet when it comes to concerts. Yet that doesn't mean local live music lovers are totally out of luck — in fact, there'll even be a few shows on the Fourth of July itself. Those include a reggae band, some of whose members played Tampa's MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre the previous night, as well as a blues rocker's group. Said blues rocker is also one of multiple musicians who'll take part in a concert Saturday, while a former Sarasotan and member of the Tampa-founded Southern rockers the Outlaws plays a homecoming show. We close things out with a concert featuring two of Tampa Bay's most acclaimed jazz musicians. Here are this week's highlights. Event details are subject to change. Looking for more fun events? Top 5 things to do in Sarasota area this Fourth of July weekend Fourth of July fireworks, festivals, more in Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice, Punta Gorda 50-plus fun things to do in July in Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice, Punta Gorda Ticket Newsletter: Sign up to receive restaurant news and reviews plus info on things to do every Friday Anna Maria Island Irish pub and music venue Freckled Fin will celebrate the Fourth of July with a concert by Sarasota reggae-ska group Soul Purpose IV. The band's lineup includes Kevin Offitzer, who's also the drummer for California's Stick Figure, and Cody Moore, who also plays saxophone and keyboards in St. Petersburg's The Hip Abduction — with both of those groups having played Tampa's MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre the night before on a reggae triple-bill with Stephen Marley. Soul Purpose IV's lineup also includes Pat Monahan, Richy Kicklighter, Dr. Soppa and D-Arrow. 7 p.m. Friday; Freckled Fin Irish Pub, 5337 Gulf Drive N., Holmes Beach; 941-251-3930; Bradenton restaurant and blues spot Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, meanwhile, will celebrate the Fourth of July with Kid Royal Band performing on its back patio. The St. Pete-based band is fronted by Chris "Kid" Royal, who — like many blues musicians — took to the music at a young age, starting to perform around 15 years old and developing a local reputation as a guitar prodigy. Musicians that Royal has performed with include "his biggest musical hero" Ronnie Earl, including a 2019 concert at a Salt Lake City hospice for the homeless. 7 p.m. Friday; Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, 1114 12th St. W., Bradenton; $5; 941-243-3735; Kid Royal is also one of the artists set to take part in this Fourth of July weekend celebration at Palmetto's Waypoint Bar & Grill featuring harmonica player and singer T.C. Carr and musician friends. Also set to perform are guitarist Josh Nelms, bassist Vinnie Seplesky, and drummer Dennis McCarthy, who've played with Carr in groups including the Mad Beach Band, Josh Nelms Trio, and T.C. Carr and the Bolts of Blue. The event will also feature barbecue and Pabst Blue Ribbon to give it that Fourth of July cookout feel. 5 p.m. Saturday; Waypoint Bar & Grill, 11000 U.S. Highway 41 N., Palmetto; 941-212-6600; Sarasota-raised guitarist and singer-songwriter Chris Anderson will play another homecoming show at Big Top Live. Anderson is a former member of Tampa-formed Southern rockers the Outlaws, best known for the songs "Green Grass & High Tides" and "There Goes Another Love Song." Anderson also released the 1995 solo album "Old Friend," with its title track co-written with Warren Haynes and later recorded by the Allman Brothers Band as the final song on their final studio album, 2003's "Hittin' the Note." 7 p.m. Saturday; Big Top Live, 975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; free general admission, $16.52 VIP seating; 941-371-2939; Jazz Club of Sarasota's Monday Night Jazz Cabaret series, held in Florida Studio Theatre's John C. Court Cabaret, will feature the return of Daniela Soledade and Nate Najar for a concert titled "Love & Bossa Nova Live." Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro and now based in St. Pete, singer Soledade released her latest album "Deco Tropical" earlier this year. Guitarist Najar, another of Tampa Bay's best-known musicians in the jazz scene, has released numerous albums of his own including 2022's "Jazz Samba Pra Sempre," featuring Soledade as a guest on multiple tracks. 6:30 p.m. doors, dinner/drinks, 7:30 p.m. show Monday; John C. Court Cabaret, 1265 First St., Sarasota; $34-$39 (sold out as of press time); 941-260-9951; If you would like to be considered for this story, please submit your event to at least 10 days before our Thursday publication date. Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at Support local journalism by subscribing. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Top 5 concerts this week Sarasota Bradenton Anna Maria Island Palmetto
