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Ten PlayStation 4 Exclusives That Should Be On Your List

While it’s hard to believe we’re nearing the PlayStation 5’s one year anniversary, it’s somehow even harder to believe it’s still next to impossible to find one in stores. If you’re among the many still queuing up in digital lines, checking Amazon weekly, and calling GameStop way too often, we understand your suffering and are here to reassure you that you’re not alone. We’re also here to point out a lovely silver lining: with all the great games already on the PlayStation 4, chances are you don’t yet need that PS5 to experience one of the many compelling stories exclusive to PlayStation.

While just about all of the games on this list are your big name, AAA “blockbusters,” it doesn’t stop them from being quintessential PlayStation titles that kind of earned their fantastic reputations. So, even if ten folks have already told you, “you’ve just gotta play (insert game here),” here’s hoping this list puts on just a biiiit more pressure and finally convinces you to give one of these great games you haven’t played a shot.

NAUGHTY DOG

1. The Last of Us Remastered

While technically a PlayStation 3 title, The Last of Us came so late in the console’s life cycle it basically feels like a PlayStation 4 title, and all the touch-ups in the remastered edition, as well as the addition of the Left Behind DLC, make this version the definitive way to experience Joel and Ellie’s first story. So, why should you play it? Well, when it comes to what game is considered the quintessential, prestige narrative game exclusive to Sony — of which there are now oh-so many — The Last of Us is perhaps the most celebrated entry, and for good reason. With incredible performances, a heartbreaking story, and a criminally underrated multiplayer mode, this game deserves the heaps of praise it gets. Oh, and bonus: with the HBO television show based on the game just around the corner, there’s never been a better time to play.

2. God Of War

While the original God of War series was, uh, a bit bruitish, 2018’s God of War succeeded in the difficult task of redefining the franchise for a modern audience while retaining its roots. While the game is still combat-driven, packed with mythos, and doesn’t shy away from Kratos’ frequent dismemberment of anyone who stands in his way, this God of War tells a more emotional story and grounds the brooding, bulky deity. With the addition of a new pantheon, new world, colorful cast of characters, and the frankly incredible feeling Leviathan axe, this first entry in Kratos’ new saga creates a world that feels vibrant and mythical to an extent never before seen in the series.

3. Horizon Zero Dawn

While fans weren’t sure what to make of Killzone developer Guerrilla Games’ pivot away from the first-person shooter genre when they first saw footage of Horizon Zero Dawn, we know now that the team’s drastic departure definitely paid off. When Horizon Zero Dawn hit shelves in 2017, players were immediately taken aback by how incredibly fun and fluid the action role-playing game was, as well as by the lush and beautiful post-apocalyptic world of machines Guerrilla created. On top of earning heaps of praise from both fans and critics, the game’s success ultimately led to some other pretty wild things happening for the team as well. I mean, for one thing, Sony was so impressed by what the studio accomplished, co-founder and managing director Hermen Hulst was offered the position of PlayStation’s head of Worldwide Studios after the legendary Shuhei Yoshida stepped down back in 2019. Furthermore, when developer Hideo Kojima was debating what engine he would use to create Death Stranding, he ultimately settled on Horizon Zero Dawn‘s Decima Engine after being so impressed by how phenomenal the game looked. Suffice to say, people really like this game. And with its sequel coming in just a few months, now is a great time to play it.

Insomniac

4. Marvel’s Spider-Man

It’s been an amazing decade to be a Spider-Man fan and Marvel’s Spider-Man for PlayStation 4 is one of the many reasons why. While there have been quite a few Spidey games over the years, Insomniac Games used their studio’s great power with great responsibility and managed to create what is largely considered the definitive one. Never before has swinging past the skyscrapers of New York City felt so hair-raising, and the Arkham series-esque combat system feels perfectly at home in the comic book-inspired title. Combine that with an emotional story that’s sure to appeal to old web-heads, new fans, and folks of all ages, and you’ve got a universally beloved game centered around one of the world’s most adored arachnids. If not the only adored arachnid.

5. Bloodborne

Alright, it’s officially October which means it’s time to bust out a spooky game, and this year I’m asking you to try out Bloodborne. Made by the same team behind the infamous Souls games and Sekiro, Bloodborne is arguably the greatest entry-point for folks who’ve always wanted to try one of the former out but are worried about their notorious difficulty. While still grim and grueling, it’s markedly easier to get the hang of than the developer’s other titles and is so aesthetically rewarding it will motivate you to power through even the most grating of fights. Furthermore, I simply cannot praise enough the atmosphere created in Bloodborne and the design behind the desolate city of Yarnham, which is every bit as tense and terrifying and it is intricate and beautiful. It is an unforgettable game, and one worthy of the blood, sweat, and tears you’ll put into it.

6. Persona 5 Royal

Back when the original PlayStation launched in North America in 1995, it quickly became the best way for American audiences to discover and play all the countless Japanese role-playing games never before available to them. Since then, the PlayStation family has remained the definitive console for JRPGs, making it only suiting that one of the highest-rated JRPGs from the last generation is a PlayStation 4 exclusive. Persona 5 Royal has just about everything fans of the genre could possible want and then some — charming characters, breathtaking art and music direction, an enjoyable turn-based battle system, time management elements, social links, and of course, a story equal parts tense and fun as hell. It’s the type of game that has something for everyone, and I can guarantee you’ll never play anything quite like it.

Sony

7. Ghost of Tsushima

If the idea of playing an extremely good Assassin’s Creed game set in Feudal Japan sounds like a fun time to you, I’d definitely recommend picking up Ghost of Tsushima. While I should point out it’s not actually an Assassin’s Creed game — or even a Ubisoft title, for that matter — it does have the same feel to it, complete with a vast map filled with things to do and jaw-dropping sights. Furthermore, the game gives you quite a bit of liberty in regards to how you explore this land, allowing you choose where you go, whom you help, and if you will ultimately slink in the shadows like a ruthless assassin or meet your foes head-on like a true samurai warrior. With a seemingly endless skill tree, a photo mode you’ll spend literal hours in, and incredible story focused on family, community, honor, and identity, this one (or its shiny new director’s cut) is a must-play.

8. The Last of Us Part II

I’ll be honest, I can’t even imagine how stressful it must have been for Naughty Dog to work on the sequel to the game that ultimately became Sony’s crown jewel. When “award-winning” and “perfect” are what you’re forced to live up to, how do you come up with an entirely new and challenging story that doesn’t fall flat and does justice to what came before it? Turns out, you make The Last of Us Part II. While the game is undoubtedly controversial and received more mixed reactions than the first entry in the series, it’s still one of the system’s highest-rated games and is largely considered a masterclass in storytelling that not only lives up to the first game but expands upon its story in unexpected and a truly meaningful way. Grim, grisly, and honestly gut-wrenching, this one isn’t for the faint of heart, but does have a whole lot of it.

9. Final Fantasy VII Remake

And speaking of the unimaginable stress of following up a perfect game, throw on a twenty-something year legacy and now we’re looking at what Square was tackling with Final Fantasy 7 Remake. When Final Fantasy VII was released back in 1997, it quickly became known as one of the greatest games of all time (as well as my personal favorite of all time but, you know, neither here nor there). When fans heard they were remaking the game, it was met with as much excitement as it was skepticism. When news later came out that the remake would only be covering the original game’s first seven hours — while also adding about 20 hours of new content — excitement and skepticism turned into awe and bewilderment. However, Final Fantasy 7 Remake kind of absolutely nailed it, adding better characterization to fan favorites and injecting so much love and care into the game, old fans got more than a bit misty-eyed. In addition, the game managed to somehow be incredibly accessible to newcomers to the series, while also appeasing fans, while also treading entirely new ground in a way that honored the game that came before it. When it comes to remakes, this is kinda how you do it.

Naughty Dog

10. Uncharted: Lost Legacy

Following the finale of Nate Drake’s four-part adventure, Naughty Dog made the bold call to continue the story in a fairly unexpected way: a spin-0ff game featuring two of the series’ side characters. Even more unexpected, it completely worked and might even be the title with the most heart in the entire Uncharted series. In Lost Legacy, both Chloe and fresher-face Nadine are given far more characterization and charm than they are ever allowed in the main series and ultimately become two people we are completely invested in. What’s even better is this game is actually a fantastic entry point to the series, as you don’t have to know much to enjoy it and it packs all the same action-packed punches the rest of the Uncharted series does in a short n’ sweet package.

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Man, Look At This Joe Biden Impression From New ‘SNL’ Castmember James Austin Johnson

Brand new Saturday Night Live cast member James Austin Johnson came firing out of the gate for his premiere episode with an impression of Joe Biden that’s definitely an improvement over Jim Carrey‘s attempts to satirize the current president. Best known for his viral Donald Trump impressions, Johnson did a pretty decent job stepping up to the plate as he he parodied Biden’s less than stellar summer, which involved pulling out of Afghanistan and the Delta variant spiking cases across America.

“How’s everybody doing? What’s cookin’? What’s good? How was everybody’s summer? Mine was bad!” Johnson’s Biden joked right out of the gate. “Not Cuomo bad, but definitely not Afghanistan good. Everybody keeps razzing me about that drone strike, but on the bright side I went the entire summer without falling down once.”

Johnson was also flanked by Cecily Strong as embattled Arizona senator Kyrsten Sinema, who had just been the focus of an odd Axios article about her wine-drinking renegade ways. It was quite the political two-hander, and a welcome surprise for SNL fans considering Strong’s return for Season 47 was up in the air until literally days before the season premiere.

But as good as Johnson’s Biden impression was, nothing can compare to his fireworks illegal in Pasadena masterpiece of a tweet from this summer. Good luck getting this sucker back out of your head.

(Via Saturday Night Live)

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Arca Announces Her Latest Release, ‘Kick II,’ With The Spectacular Video ‘Born Yesterday’ Featuring Sia

On December 3rd, Arca will release the new album, Kick ii, on XL Recordings. The release follows 2020’s Kick i, which just last week received a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Album. Kick ii is the next installment in the Kick anthology series of albums and sees the multi-talented Venezuelan experimental producer and performance artist exploring the amorphous self states within her.

Along with the album announcement, Arca has also dropped a spectacular video for new single “Born Yesterday” featuring Sia on vocals. The track opens with Arca’s typically polished avant-pop production, before breaking into a glorious hyper pop assault. In the clip, Arca seemingly acts as an envoy for Sia’s singing, with an interpretative dance that she increasingly loses herself in as the track builds. “Born Yesterday” comes on the heels of previous collaborations on Kick i with Rosalía, Björk, SOPHIE, and Shygirl. And while it’s the only track on Kick ii with a guest vocalist, the album also features production and songwriting appearances from Cardopusher, Boys Noize, Mica Levi, Jenius Level, Wondagurl, and Cubeatz. Check out the album’s full tracklist below.

KICK ii tracklist:
1. Doña
2. Prada
3. Rakata
4. Tiro
5. Luna Llena
6. Lethargy
7. Araña
8. Femme
9. Muñecas
10. Confianza
11. Born Yesterday featuring Sia
12. Andro

Sia is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

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What’s On Tonight: Rock Star James Wolk Crashes A Party In ‘Ordinary Joe,’ And ‘On My Block’ Takes A Final Lap

Ordinary Joe (NBC, 10:00pm) — It’s like Sliding Doors but with TV Prince James Wolk (Watchmen, Mad Men, Political Animals, Zoo) and no Gwyneth Paltrow. If that’s not enough to make you climb aboard, consider that Wolk not only plays a rock star (!) but also a nurse and a police officer, all during parallel timelines following a pivotal choice after college graduation. This week, Musical Joe decides to crash a birthday party while Nurse Joe is planning a birthday party in an alternate timeline.

On My Block: Season 4 (Netflix series) — This coming-of-age comedy, filled with street-savvy teens and Emilio Rivera as Uncle Chivo, takes one final trip around the inner-city block. An unburied secret causes more conflict, but the friends will have to band together and learn not to avoid the past.

9-1-1 (FOX, 8:00pm) — The citywide Los Angeles blackout ain’t over yet, so amid the mayhem, Athena must confront a tragedy while Eddie’s thinking about his future. Get it together and help the team, Eddie.

Roswell, New Mexico (CW, 8:00pm) — Liz relents to an agreement while everyone’s trying to save Max, and a discovery happens for Rosa and Isobel.

Y: The Last Man (FX on Hulu) — The acclaimed graphic novel gets its due as a dystopian TV drama starring Diane Lane as the globe’s de facto president. Her son becomes, as the title suggests, the very last man on Earth following an apocalyptic event that pretty much obliterates the Y chromosome. FX recently made it known that although the Y appears to refer to the chromosome, the show takes a nuanced approach and does not operate on a merely gender-binary level.

The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon — Seth Meyers, Cobie Smulders, Farruko

Late Night With Seth Meyers — Blake Griffin, David Chase, Barrett Martin

In case you missed these weekend picks:

The Many Saints of Newark (Warner Bros. film on HBO Max) — David Chase’s The Sopranos prequel movie arrives in theaters and in your living room this weekend. The mob-movie cast (including Jon Bernthal, Corey Stoll, Billy Magnussen, Ray Liotta, and Vera Farmiga) is almost too good. Notably James Gandolfini’s son, Michael, stars as Young Tony. He’s coming of age (and learning to be a mob boss) while rival gang warfare swirls around the family. Our own Mike Ryan enjoyed the film with some qualifiers while calling it both exhilarating and confounding, and Vince Mancini has rounded up the 10 episodes of The Sopranos that will refresh you before the film.

The Guilty (Netflix film) — Jake Gyllenhaal plays an 911 emergency dispatch operator who walks into a situation that he thinks he’s prepared for, but he has no idea… or does he? This movie’s a remake of a Danish film of the same name, and if you’re not familiar with that work (or perhaps even if you are), you aren’t ready for this.

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Kyrie Irving Could Lose Up To $15 Million If He Doesn’t Get The COVID Vaccine And Misses Home Games

According to a report from ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Bobby Marks, the NBA and NBPA have agreed to reduce a player’s salary by 1/91.6 for each game they miss as a result of being unvaccinated, a conclusion that projects to impact Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving. This decision prices in preseason, regular season, and postseason games, though teams will not garner any relief from the luxury tax for reductions in player salaries.

Both New York and San Francisco have implemented city-wide COVID-19 vaccine mandates, which threatens to affect members of the Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, and New York Knicks. These protocols stand to cost Irving roughly $380,000 for each home game he misses, which would run north of $15 million if he does not become vaccinated at any point throughout the year. Irving participated in Brooklyn’s media day last week via Zoom and conveyed a commitment to the Nets.

“I know that I’ll be there every day no matter what and just be present for my teammates as one of the leaders on the team and be there for my growing tribe off the court,” Irving said. “I know the focus has to be at an all-time high, no distractions. This is the last thing I wanted to create, was more distractions and more hoopla and more drama around this. I’m doing my best to maintain this with good intentions and a good heart.”

Irving participated in the Nets’ training camp last week in San Diego, though he, James Harden, and Kevin Durant all sat out in Sunday’s preseason opener against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Bontemps and Marks reported the Nets are scheduled to practice in Brooklyn on Tuesday ahead of preseason games against the Milwaukee Bucks and the Minnesota Timberwolves, all of which Irving cannot take part in. Last month, Nets general manager Sean Marks said he does not anticipate the vaccination requirements “being any sort of hindrance” to the team and that he believes the situation will be rectified before the start of the regular season.

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Members Of The IATSE, The Union That Represents Film/TV Production Crews, Overwhelmingly Voted To Approve A Strike

Last month, it seemed quite possible that the film industry could be completely shut down as the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada (or IATSE, for short) called for its members to vote on a strike authorization. Now, however, a strike almost seems imminent.

According to The Wrap, IATSE members have overwhelmingly voted in favor of a strike authorization, “giving the union new leverage when it returns to the negotiating table with studios on a new bargaining agreement.” The report states that of the IATSE’s reported 60,000 eligible voters, 90% showed up to cast their ballot this weekend, with a staggering 98% of the votes in favor of the strike.

While this vote doesn’t immediately start the proposed strike, it does increase pressure on the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) to meet with the IATSE and accept the union’s terms in order to avoid the looming mass exodus of workers and, subsequently, the industry taking a fairly devastating blow. On an Action Network petition page, IATSE laid out the four issues they have with AMPTP and are hoping to find resolutions for, including: excessively unsafe and harmful working hours, unlivable wages for the lowest-paid crafts, consistent failure to provide reasonable rest during meal breaks, between workdays, and on weekends, and workers on certain “new media” streaming projects get paid less, even on productions with budgets that rival or exceed those of traditionally released blockbusters. Following the vote, IATSE president Matthew Loeb released a statement on matter:

“The members have spoken loud and clear. This vote is about the quality of life as well as the health and safety of those who work in the film and television industry. Our people have basic human needs like time for meal breaks, adequate sleep, and a weekend. For those at the bottom of the pay scale, they deserve nothing less than a living wage.”

However, following the vote the AMPTP released a statement claiming that they already are addressing the union’s demands, citing “a proposal that included increases of 10-19% in minimum wages for 871 members, an average of 18% increase in minimums for certain new media productions, and covering the $400 million deficit in the IATSE Health Plan without raising premiums and other healthcare costs like deductibles and co-pays for dependents,” according to The Wrap. The alliance then expressed they are still “committed to reaching an agreement that will keep the industry working,” though it will require “both parties working together in good faith” to resolve their issues:

“The AMPTP remains committed to reaching an agreement that will keep the industry working. We deeply value our IATSE crew members and are committed to working with them to avoid shutting down the industry at such a pivotal time, particularly since the industry is still recovering from the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. A deal can be made at the bargaining table, but it will require both parties working together in good faith with a willingness to compromise and to explore new solutions to resolve the open issues.”

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Indie Mixtape 20: The World Is A Beautiful Place Once Stayed In An Abandoned French Laboratory

For the first time in four years, emo staples The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die are prepping a new record. Illusory Walls is as dense as anything the band has released to date, but with an even deeper layer of intense lyrics that revel in the dullness of life in a modern capitalistic hellscape. With two tracks clocking in at 15+ minutes, Illusory Walls is a sprawling, emo infused, post-rock masterpiece, one that will take some time to sink in.

To celebrate the new album, producer/guitarist Chris Teti sat down to talk Paramore, layered production, and an epic chest tattoo in the latest Indie Mixtape 20 Q&A.

What are four words you would use to describe your music?

Dense, Atmospheric, Ridiculous, Eclectic

It’s 2050 and the world hasn’t ended and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?

A unique band that carved it’s own sound and drew influence from a wide range of artists. Just friends collaborating on music together however we see fit for the given album or song.

What’s your favorite city in the world to perform?

Basically anywhere in Brazil or Germany.

Who’s the person who has most inspired your work, and why?

For me personally it would be Ken Andrews from Failure. I loved that he produced his band’s album Fantastic Planet and that was a huge influence on me wanting to do the same with our albums. I love all the weird layers and production on that record and it really changed how I viewed music.

Where did you eat the best meal of your life?

Sesame Vegan Chicken at China Pan in CT. RIP China Pan

What album do you know every word to?

Carry On – A Life Less Plagued. A close second would be The Red Chord – Clients (Deluxe Edition). Specifically the Deluxe Edition where they cover “We Did It Again” by Metallica, Ja Rule, and Swizz Beatz.

What was the best concert you’ve ever attended?

Ok I have a few: Genghis Tron, Baroness, The Red Chord, Converge at the Palladium Upstairs in Worcester, MA 2008. Bear Hands at a Wesleyan College frat house in 2008. Merauder, Snapcase, Sick of It All in NYC 2011

What is the best outfit for performing and why?

A black Comfort Colors bootleg shirt from Paradise of Flowers with black jeans and black vans. My favorite colors are black and camo.

Who’s your favorite person to follow on Twitter and/or Instagram?

Ice-T.

What’s your most frequently played song in the van on tour?

For me it would be a mix of No Doubt and Paramore until my phone runs out of data by day 2 and then David had endless awesome playlists.

What’s the last thing you Googled?

“Minuments band” because I mis spelled the word “Monuments.” I was curious about their lineup after seeing an Olly Steele playthrough.

What album makes for the perfect gift?

Destroy The Machines by Earth Crisis.

Where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever crashed while on tour?

Punk squat in France. Actually I don’t know if I would say “punk” it was just a squat. 100% the most terrifying and shocking place I’ve ever been in my life. It seemed like an abandoned laboratory. The wifi password was actually around 100 characters long and all the doors slide open automatically. I felt like I was in a movie.

What’s the story behind your first or favorite tattoo?

My chest piece is a combination of Failure’s Fantastic Planet, Cave In, and Mars Attacks. It is basically an outer space war with the Cave In satellite, astronauts + spaceship from the Fantastic Planet cover, and Mars Attack aliens.

What artists keep you from flipping the channel on the radio?

Honestly I don’t listen to the radio, but if we’re talking radio via streaming it would maybe be…. Paramore, Ceschi, Rage Against The Machine, Body Count, Neurosis, anything Mike Patton or Walter Schriefels, Tera Melos, L7, Fugazi, Gouge Away, Deftones, These Arms Are Snakes, Karnivool, Mewithoutyou…

What’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?

Greg Thomas of END took me on as a studio intern in 2010, and definitely didn’t need to haha.

What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?

I guess it would be my 19-year-old self, but I would tell myself- Paper + Plastik will flake on pressing your band’s (My Heart To Joy) 7 inch, so don’t count on them. Even though it feels like the end of the world you’ll do way cooler things.

What’s the last show you went to?

Knocked Loose in Harford, CT. Shout out to their new guitarist Nicko Calderon. His band Church Tongue is awesome and their recent EP (The Hubris of Gods Departed) is one of my favorites. It was produced by my studi Partner Greg Thomas.

What movie can you not resist watching when it’s on TV?

Total Recall.

What would you cook if Obama were coming to your house for dinner?

I would start off with wine glasses filled with Monster “Ultra Paradise.” and an appetizer of Justin’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups. Meal would be vegan pizza from Nice Slice in Providence, RI. Fake chicken pizza with bbq and buffalo sauce swirled together on it. I would then talk to him at length about the self-titled Paramore LP for dessert.

Illusory Walls is out October 8. Pre-order it here.

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‘No Time To Die’ Could Become The First Pandemic-Era Movie With A $100 Million Opening At Domestic Box Office

A Quiet Place Part II made $48.3 million during its opening weekend at the domestic box office, a pandemic-era record. It was soon topped by F9 with $70 million… then Black Widow with $80.4 million… then Venom: Let There Be Carnage this past weekend with $90.1 million (it deserved every last cent). No film released during the pandemic has topped $100 million in its first three days of release, but that may soon change.

The new James Bond movie, No Time to Die, is expected to top $100 million in ticket sales during its opening weekend in the United States following a $119.1 million opening in 54 international markets, including $34.8 million in the United Kingdom. The last film with a $100 million-plus debut: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, in December 2019.

The 25th installment in the storied spy franchise is the first Hollywood title of the pandemic era to cross $100 million in its overseas launch without China… It smashed IMAX records, including setting the best opening weekend for a Bond film in 24 countries, including Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and Italy. And it was the best pandemic-era opening in 21 markets, including the U.K., Hong Kong, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, and Norway.

A $100 million opening wasn’t a frequent occurrence in the Before Times — it’s only happened 61 times ever — but it’s happened enough that the expectation of success is there. (The closest a Bond film has come to hitting nine digits is Skyfall with $88.3 million.) There’s optimism that Daniel Craig’s final Bond movie, also with Ana de Armas, the voice of Paddington, and Rami Malek hamming it up, can be the 62nd.

(Via the Hollywood Reporter)

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Facebook And Instagram Are Down And A Lot Of Suddenly Bored People Have Jokes About It

Causation is not correlation, but Facebook and Facebook-owned Instagram went down worldwide just hours after a bombshell report about the company’s alleged negligence aired on national television Sunday night. The social media platforms, along with the messaging service WhatsApp, all saw massive failures on Monday that left users frustrated and sent the massive company even further into chaos.

According to reports, this was just more than a DoS attack or a routine error. Something big went wrong, though according to the New York Times some inside the company doubted it was a cyber attack of some kind.

Two Facebook security team members, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said it was unlikely that a cyberattack caused the issues. That’s because the technology behind the apps was still different enough that one hack was not likely to affect all of them at once.

In a series of tweets, John Graham-Cumming, the chief technology officer of Cloudflare, a web infrastructure company, said the problem was likely with Facebook’s servers, which were not letting people connect to its sites like Instagram and WhatsApp.

There were a lot of reports of something very strange going on, though.

Apparently, the outage has been so bad employees were struggling to actually get in the building to work.

In a perhaps-unrelated story, Facebook’s stock tanked on Monday.

And plenty of people had some fun reacting to the news.

Hopefully, everyone managed to get through the day as best they can without the algorithm.

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Damian Lewis Confirms He’s Leaving ‘Billions’ After Five Seasons (And Possibly American TV Altogether)

Following a five-season run on the hit Showtime series Billions, Damian Lewis has officially exited the show, which saw his cutthroat capitalist character, Bobby Axelrod, square off against Paul Giamatti‘s dogged attorney general, Chuck Rhoades. Without giving away too much of the season finale, Lewis confirmed to The New York Times that His time with Billions is over, marking the longest amount of time that he’s spent playing one character. However, he did leave the door open for perhaps one more cameo down the road.

“There’s an opportunity maybe for me to return,” Lewis said. “But for now, broadly speaking, Axe has been vanquished.”

Following the death of his wife, Helen McCrory, Lewis plans to stay in London for the foreseeable future and hinted that he may have “closed the chapter” on starring in American television. However, the actor was reluctant to speak about McCrory’s death, except to make it clear that it wasn’t his reason for leaving Billions. The plan was always for Axe to leave after five season. Via The New York Times:

Lewis said McCrory’s death did not explain his departure from “Billions.” He initially signed on for five seasons and “always just assumed that would be enough,” he said. Koppelman said the show, which premiered in 2016, had been building toward Axe’s departure for several years.

When the show returns in January sans Lewis, Giamatti will be facing off against Corey Stoll’s recently introduced character in the quest for more billions.

(Via New York Times)