007 First Light was released on May 27 and has been unanimously acclaimed by critics. Praising its ability to recreate the character in a video game and provide an accessible experience for more casual players while also offering a challenging experience for those familiar with the Hitman franchise, it is set to be one of the serious contenders for game of the year. And it seems that players feel the same way, as it has managed to sell one and a half million copies in its first twenty-four hours. 007 cannot stop succeeding This has turned 007 First Light […]
007 First Light was released on May 27 and has been unanimously acclaimed by critics. Praising its ability to recreate the character in a video game and provide an accessible experience for more casual players while also offering a challenging experience for those familiar with the Hitman franchise, it is set to be one of the serious contenders for game of the year. And it seems that players think the same, as it has managed to sell one and a half million copies in its first twenty-four hours.
007 cannot stop succeeding
This has made 007 First Light the fastest-selling launch in the history of IO Interactive. A feat considering that the Hitman franchise has historically performed very well.
About the game, we said it is “a proposal that offers us a different, but very current James Bond, who can captivate the audience in a way they do not expect.” Furthermore, we pointed out that “it is a millennial, irreverent, and totally contemporary James Bond,” something they also seem to be looking for in the movies. Because the rumors circulating about the new 007 movie are that they are looking for an actor under 30 years old to play James Bond. This would fit with what we have seen in this game.
007 First Light is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, and will be released on Nintendo Switch 2 in the second half of the year. With a score of 88 on OpenCritic and 87 on Metacritic, it is one of the most acclaimed games of the year. And since it seems that the movies will follow what has been seen in the video game, there is no reason for all the fans of the character not to be encouraged to try one of the most interesting games of the year.
Greg Kasavin, creative director of Supergiant Games, has shared his vision on the legacy that their acclaimed titles, Hades and Hades 2, might leave behind. In a recent interview with GamesRadar+ ahead of the 2026 BAFTA Games Awards, Kasavin took a humble stance, stating that he doesn’t worry much about the legacy of his games. “We never know what the legacy of our games will be. Most video games tend to be forgotten, so if we manage to create something that isn’t forgotten right away, that’s great,” he said. They want their games to be remembered and played Despite […]
Greg Kasavin, creative director of Supergiant Games, has shared his vision on the legacy that their acclaimed titles, Hades and Hades 2, might leave behind. In a recent interview with GamesRadar+ ahead of the 2026 BAFTA Games Awards, Kasavin took a humble stance, stating that he doesn’t worry much about the legacy of his games. “We never know what the legacy of our games will be. Most video games tend to be forgotten, so if we manage to create something that isn’t forgotten right away, that’s great,” he said.
They want their games to be remembered and played
Despite its modest attitude, Hades has received a score of 93 on Metacritic, while its sequel, Hades 2, has reached an impressive 95, highlighting its universal acclaim. Kasavin expressed his gratitude towards the players, emphasizing the importance of the time they dedicate to enjoying their works. “Games require an investment of time, and that’s why we appreciate those who choose to play our titles,” he commented.
The director also reflected on how the legacy of games does not completely belong to the developers once they are released. “Once a game is released, it no longer fully belongs to us,” he noted, suggesting that it is the audience who truly decides what place Hades and Hades 2 will occupy in the history of video games.
Kasin also compared his work to the rich tradition of Greek mythology, which does not belong to any person or company. “Greek mythology is something communal that transcends borders,” he stated, emphasizing the universal nature of the stories that have inspired his work. This perspective not only highlights Kasavin’s humility but also the depth of the connection between games and their rich narrative.”
The recent release of Code Violet, a third-person shooter developed by TeamKill Media, has generated significant buzz in the gaming community, though not for the expected reasons. With a score of 40/100 on Metacritic and a rating of 2.95/5 on the PS Store, the title has been the subject of harsh criticism. Approximately 46% of the reviews are 1 and 2 stars, reflecting discontent among users. An absolutely disastrous game, Code Violet, set in a sci-fi world with dinosaurs, is presented as the successor to Mindseye, acclaimed for […]
The recent release of Code Violet, a third-person shooter developed by TeamKill Media, has generated significant buzz in the gaming community, although not for the expected reasons. With a score of 40/100 on Metacritic and a rating of 2.95/5 on the PS Store, the title has faced harsh criticism. Approximately 46% of the reviews are 1 and 2 stars, reflecting dissatisfaction among users.
An absolutely disastrous game
Code Violet, set in a science fiction world with dinosaurs, is presented as the successor to Mindseye, acclaimed by many as the worst game of 2025.The developing company, TeamKill Media, which previously tried to establish itself with Quantum Error, defends its work by stating that they create it “for the fans” and not for critics. In their statements on social media, they argue that they have achieved their greatest success to date thanks to the support of their player base.
Despite these optimistic comments, numerous reports indicate that the game has recurring technical issues, poor gameplay design, and controversial creative decisions, such as the implementation of artificial intelligence and the refusal to release the title on PC. These limitations have led many to consider Code Violet a failed launch, which could even compete for the title of one of the worst games of the year.
With 2026 just beginning, the community is already questioning whether any title will be able to surpass the controversy surrounding Code Violet. TeamKill Media’s response to the criticism seems to be an attempt to reaffirm its position in the market, although the reception of the game suggests that the industry must pay attention to technical and creative aspects to avoid similar failures in the future.
The Epic Games Store continues its successful tradition of offering free games, and this time it’s the turn of Paradise Killer, which will be available to claim for only 24 hours. This title, developed by Kaizen Game Works, has received a rating of 81 on Metacritic, reflecting a good reception from both critics and players. Solve crimes and be fabulous Paradise Killer immerses players in an island in an alternative reality, where the story revolves around the investigation of a massive crime. The plot unfolds in a world that regenerates every […]
The Epic Games Store continues its successful tradition of offering free games, and this time it’s the turn of Paradise Killer, which will be available to claim for only 24 hours. This title, developed by Kaizen Game Works, has received a rating of 81 on Metacritic, reflecting a good reception from both critics and players.
Solve crimes and be fabulous
Paradise Killer immerses players in an island in an alternative reality, where the story revolves around the investigation of a mass crime. The plot unfolds in a world that regenerates every few millennia with the aim of trying to revive alien deities. This curious premise serves as the backdrop for a gaming experience that combines exploration, evidence collection, and decision-making.
Players will take on the role of Lady Love Dies, an investigator who must uncover the truth behind the mysterious crime. To do this, they will have the help of an electronic assistant named Starlight, who will facilitate the organization of testimonies and crucial secrets. However, the goal is not only to find the truth but also to accuse different suspects based on the information gathered throughout the investigation.
The offer from Paradise Killer presents a unique opportunity for players to expand their library at no cost, as long as they act quickly. Once the game is claimed, it will remain in the user’s library to enjoy at any time. The blend of surreal elements, crime, and exploration promises to capture the attention of those seeking an innovative and immersive gaming experience.
Don’t miss the opportunity to obtain this title and add it to your collection, as the promotion will only be available for a limited time.
The exhibition windows are getting shorter and shorter. It makes sense because companies want to take as few risks as possible and achieve the maximum possible profits. Reducing the time between when a movie is in theaters and when it moves to streaming makes sense when trying to maximize profits, especially if it doesn’t affect the money made at the box office. Something that doesn’t seem to have affected the highest-grossing horror movie of the year. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It is the ninth and latest installment so far in the Conjuring franchise. Composed […]
Display windows are getting shorter and shorter. It makes sense because companies want to take as few risks as possible and achieve the maximum possible profits. Reducing the time between when a movie is in theaters and when it moves to streaming makes sense when trying to maximize profits, especially if it doesn’t affect the money made at the box office. This is something that doesn’t seem to have affected the highest-grossing horror movie of the year.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It is the ninth and latest installment to date of the Conjuring franchise. Composed of three different series —The Conjuring, Annabelle, and The Nun—, this franchise has been expanding since 2013 with almost an annual film. And it seems that it has finally managed to make a significant impact.
A movie that has taken the box office by storm
In this installment, based on the true case of the Smurl Haunting, the Warrens must investigate the supposed paranormal phenomena experienced by a family in West Pittston in 1986. Suffering from violent poltergeists that even physically assaulted the family, it is one of the few, if not the only documented case, of a succubus, a demon that specifically feeds on people’s sexual desire. At least, to the extent that each person believes in the reality of this kind of investigations.
The movie leaves out some of the more gruesome aspects of the real case, such as those related to the couple’s infidelities and the presence of a hypothetical succubus, to focus on the other side: the violence of the poltergeists. This makes this installment one where the factor of terror is balanced with a point of tension, as the Warrens encounter particularly violent spirits that will not only be difficult to deal with, but also difficult to cope with the consequences of their actions.
According to the film’s director, Michael Chaves, the previous film in the saga, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, would open a new chapter for the Warrens. And it is evident in the slight change of tone of the film. But also in the success of the film.
Released on September 5 in theaters, with a substantial budget of 55 million dollars, it has nearly reached 500 million dollars in revenue. This makes it the highest-grossing film of the franchise, the highest-grossing horror film of the year, and the second highest-grossing film of the year, pending what happens in the remainder of the year.
Unfortunately, the critics have not shared the enthusiasm that has been shown at the box office. With a 59% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 54 on Metacritic, it is the second worst-rated film in the franchise, only behind The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. And although audience satisfaction and their reviews are much more positive, they are not spectacular numbers that would prevent them from feeling like a potential problem in future installments of The Conjuring.
If you want to see what all the fuss is about with The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, it arrives on HBO Max on November 21 for all subscribers of the platform. Looking to give it another boost and continue profiting from a movie that, if nothing else, has been one of the big commercial successes of the year for Warner Bros.
The Chinese market is becoming increasingly important for Hollywood. Although it may not seem like it, for a movie to succeed explosively, it needs to perform well in that market. That is why movies are increasingly being adapted to the tastes and criteria of the Asian market. Although it is not necessary to reach the Chinese market for a movie to be a success, nor is it the goal of most movies, blockbusters are increasingly trying to succeed in that market. Something in which The Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is no exception. Tenth […]
The Chinese market is becoming increasingly important for Hollywood. Although it may not seem like it, for a movie to succeed explosively, it needs to perform well in that market. That’s why movies are increasingly being adapted to the tastes and criteria of the Asian market. Although it is not necessary to reach the Chinese market for a movie to be a success, nor is it the goal of most films, blockbusters are increasingly trying to succeed in that market. Something that is no exception is The Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
Tenth film in the Planet of the Apes franchise and the fourth in the series after the reboot, the film directed by Wes Ball is a 145-minute odyssey that cost around 160 million dollars and managed to gross 400 million dollars at the box office. Partly thanks to the Chinese market.
Projecting $50-55 million in the US for its debut weekend, it ended up making just over $58 million. Similarly, it was expected to make between $80-90 million outside the US, but it ended up making $129 million. Among them, $6.4 million came from Mexico, $7.1 million from France, and $11.4 million from the second largest market in the world: China. Demonstrating the crucial importance it has in these big-budget films.
Even so, the movie was a success thanks to its domestic and global success. Although it performed well in China, which greatly boosted its numbers, its triumph was largely because it performed radically better than analysts around the world expected. Something that was also reflected in the reviews, receiving an 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, with 323 positive reviews. Even if on Metacritic, where scores tend to be much harsher, it barely reached a 66 out of 100.
Being the fourth installment of the franchise, one would expect it to have performed considerably worse than the previous ones. And although it made 100 million less than the previous film, War for the Planet of the Apes, it was considered a complete success. And why did it work? Mainly, because the movie knows how to maintain a perfect balance between continuing the story of the previous films and being completely understandable without having seen them. By elegantly maintaining that precarious balance for its two and a half hours, it manages to keep the attention of viewers looking for intense and bombastic entertainment, allowing them to enjoy a blockbuster that clearly shows where its budget is: in the special effects.
The reason for success: following the story and the visuals
Because the other great differentiating factor of the film is the great spectacle it offers. With highly crafted special effects and absolutely spectacular CGI, it has been compared in quality to Avatar, the film by James Cameron. This translated into numerous award nominations and, very notably, a nomination for the Oscars for Best Visual Effects in 2024, which Dune: Part Two would ultimately win.
Now the kingdom of the planet of the apes arrives on HBO Max so we can enjoy it in the comfort of our homes to relive the tremendous show it represents. And while it’s not the same as watching it in the cinema, it is surely still a spectacle worth seeing.
When we think of horror franchises, we always think of movies from the 90s and 00s. In the last 20 years, it seems that the ability to create great horror franchises has been lost, with the notable exception of Blumhouse and everything that has come out around the Insidious/The Conjuring universe. But the reality is that there is at least one other franchise that has managed to take off in recent years, and it did so almost unexpectedly. Taking its director to almost instant stardom. That franchise is A Quiet Place, or Un lugar tranquilo in its original title for the […]
When we think of horror franchises, we always think of movies from the 90s and 00s. In the last 20 years, it seems that the ability to create great horror franchises has been lost, with the notable exception of Blumhouse and everything that has come out around the Insidious/The Conjuring universe. But the reality is that there is at least one other franchise that has managed to take off in recent years, and it did so almost unexpectedly. Taking its director to almost instant stardom.
This franchise is A Quiet Place, or Un lugar tranquilo in its original title for the American audience. A franchise that currently spans three movies and a video game, with a fourth installment announced, and whose first two films are now available on streaming services for you to enjoy.
The original movie premiered in 2018 under the direction of John Krasinski. Starring Emily Blunt and Krasinski himself, the film placed us in a terrible situation: civilization has ended due to a species that has invaded us and hunts us down. Fortunately for us, they are blind. Unfortunately, they have very sharp hearing. The film narrates the daily life of a mother and father struggling to raise their children in a post-apocalyptic world where any sound, at the wrong moment, can lead to death.
Using sign language very ingeniously and placing a strong emphasis on the visual, the film stood out for the cleverness of its premise. Here, the terror does not arise from the threat itself, as much as from its presence: everything becomes a potential threat, since the slightest sound can be a death sentence for the whole family. And the film constantly exploits this by putting them in situations where it is difficult not to make any sound. Accidentally or not.
With a modest budget of 17 million, Paramount Pictures must have celebrated with champagne when they saw the numbers the movie was generating. Reaching a worldwide gross of 341 million, even with the insane 86 million dollar advertising campaign they had invested in it, they managed to make it a resounding success.
Even among audiences and critics, it seems to have worked spectacularly. With an 82 out of 100 on Metacritic and a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it is one of the most celebrated films of 2018.
Lowering expectations, but staying strong
A Quiet Place Part II, like any worthy sequel, arrived shortly after. Although not without problems. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they had to delay the release by almost a year, the film’s budget increased to nearly 60 million, and the marketing budget skyrocketed. But with Krasinski back at the helm and his main actors reprising their roles, now adding Cillian Murphy and Noah Jupe to the cast, the film developed the themes of the first one, emphasizing the particularities of the unique universe they had created.
Something that didn’t seem to be enough. Although it was a success, it wasn’t the same success as the previous one. It raised just under 300 million dollars and the critics would be notably less passionate. Although with a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, it would barely achieve a 71 on Metacritic, leaving the feeling that it was a worthy sequel, but perhaps not as impactful and well-rounded as the original.
Its third part, A Quiet Place: Day One, and its video game, A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead, both premiered in 2024. In both cases, it can be summarized that they followed the path of the previous sequel: relatively low-budget productions compared to Hollywood blockbusters or AAA video games, which did not achieve the success or impact of the original film, but performed well with critics and exceeded box office and sales expectations. These are two more successes for the franchise.
Now the first two movies of the franchise are coming to HBO Max, so you can see if this franchise is really that great. And if you want more, A Quiet Place: Day One is available for streaming on SkyShowtime. Even if you’ll still have to wait a bit to see its fourth installment: until July 9, 2027.
The video game MindsEye has received overwhelmingly negative reviews, reflected in its 37% rating on Steam reviews and an equally adverse score on Metacritic. This situation has put Alex Hernandez, who plays the main character, Jacob Diaz, in a complicated position. In a recent conversation, Hernandez expressed his concern about how this failure could harm his future in the video game industry. Being the visible face of a failure is very tough. Online criticism tends to be fierce and anonymous, creating a hostile environment for the game’s creators. Hernandez has […]
The video game MindsEye has received overwhelmingly negative reviews, reflected in its 37% rating on Steam reviews and an equally adverse score on Metacritic. This situation has put Alex Hernandez, who plays the main character, Jacob Diaz, in a complicated position. In a recent conversation, Hernandez expressed his concern about how this failure could harm his future in the video game industry.
Being the visible face of a failure is very hard
Online criticism is often fierce and anonymous, creating a hostile environment for game creators. Hernandez has revealed that he had to face the emotional pressure of being the “face” of a project that failed to connect with its audience. This reality has caused him personal distress, as he feels that, in some way, his reputation as an artist and player is tied to the negative perception of the title.
Despite the difficulty, Hernandez has worked hard to overcome the situation. “I had a couple of days of ‘oh, shit’, simply because of the reception,” he comments, reflecting on how the public’s reaction made him feel that his career in video games could be diminished. Although he stated that he has developed a “pretty thick skin” throughout his career, the emotional burden of being the public face of a failed game has been a considerable challenge.
As negative comments continue to circulate on social media, where some users choose their platforms to vent their frustration, Hernandez acknowledges that he must accept this reality. “I can’t be responsible for the whole situation, even though my face is on the box,” he concludes, highlighting the tough line that talents walk in the face of digital criticism, where emotions can trigger extreme and disproportionate responses.
Netflix has many great hits. Colossal hits that transcend the limits of Netflix and manage to become cultural phenomena are much fewer. Although it is precisely these exceptions that justify the million-dollar investments made by the platform, always seeking that big success that continues to justify its existence. Trying to find the formula that allows them to replicate success regularly. Even if they still haven’t figured out how to achieve it. The latest big success of Netflix has been Wednesday. And now it returns with a second season that promises to be as big a success as the first season. Or to […]
Netflix has many big hits. Colossal hits that transcend the limits of Netflix and become cultural phenomena are much fewer. Although it is precisely these exceptions that justify the million-dollar investments made by the platform, always seeking that big success that continues to justify its existence. Trying to find the formula that allows them to replicate success regularly. Even if they still haven’t figured out how to achieve it.
The latest big hit from Netflix has been Wednesday. And now it returns with a second season that promises to be as big a success as the first season. Or at least, Netflix has been promoting it to make that happen.
A series with a solid foundation
Wednesday is a series that follows the character of Wednesday Addams, the youngest daughter of the Addams Family. Due to her significant socialization issues at school, her parents decide to enroll her in Nevermore Academy, a school for young people with supernatural powers or unique backgrounds. There, Wednesday will have to learn to control her psychic powers, stop a wave of murders occurring in the nearby town for which the academy is being blamed, and the most difficult of all: to get along with her roommate, the incredibly optimistic and pink werewolf Enid Sinclair.
With the first episodes directed by Tim Burton, the first season surprised with its perfect blend of comedy, drama, and small touches of horror. With a very particular, almost gothic aesthetic, never abandoning the logic of teenage mystery stories in the style of Riverdale, the excellent work of Jenna Ortega as Wednesday and Emma Myers as Enid made the series a complete success. And for very good reasons.
We don’t know much about the second season. Its creator has said that the series, at its core, is about Wednesday’s struggles to navigate the world and how she sees everything in black and white in a world of grays, so we can expect there to still be conflicts with other members of the academy and especially with her dear friend Enid.
But to know it, we won’t have to wait. The second season is set to premiere soon, although in two parts. The first eight episodes of the season will premiere on August 6, directed by Tim Burton and Paco Cabezas, while the last four will premiere on September 3, directed by Angela Robinson and Tim Burton. A true dream team that promises us quality assurance for this second season, even if we will have to be a little patient to see it in full.
Many possibilities of success
And there are reasons to believe it will be a success. The first season of the series reached up to 150 million households and achieved a total of one billion hours viewed by December 2022. The critics were also quite favorable towards it. With a 73% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 66 on Metacritic, the series was well received. This translated into numerous nominations and awards during 2023, demonstrating that the series had potential and, above all, managed to attract attention not only among the audience.
Now arriving at its second season on Netflix, it is to be expected that it will be a success again. To what extent? It is impossible to know. The figures from the first season are excellent, and sequels often have trouble repeating what the originals did, but Wednesday is the kind of series that could very well replicate the success. So we have to wait and see what happens with this particular Netflix series. And see what Jenna Ortega has in store for us.
Something that doesn’t usually happen is that one of the most critically acclaimed films is also one of the most successful films of the year. At least in relative terms. Generally, the films that make the best numbers are those that appeal to a larger number of people, and that rarely translates into complex or interesting films, but rather into simple and funny ones. Which is fine, but it creates an obvious bias between what is good and what is popular. That was not the case with Babygirl. A film that was not only an absolute critical success and […]
Something that doesn’t usually happen is that one of the most critically acclaimed films is also one of the most successful films of the year. At least in relative terms. Generally, the films that make the best numbers are those that appeal to a larger number of people, and that rarely translates into complex or interesting films, but rather into simple and funny ones. Which is fine, but it creates an obvious bias between what is good and what is popular.
That was not the case for Babygirl. A film that was not only an absolute critical and award-winning success, but also caused a strong cultural impact that does not seem to be fading anytime soon and, in addition, was a more than notable box office success.
A movie that succeeded in winning over both critics and audiences
Babygirl is a film directed and written by Halina Reijn, who directed the popular Bodies Bodies Bodies in 2022, featuring Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, and Antonio Banderas in the leading roles. The film tells the story of a CEO dissatisfied with her sex life who finds a lover in a temp who protects her from a dog attack on the street. The plot thickens when games of domination and submission begin to intertwine in her life.
With a budget of 20 million dollars, the movie managed to gross over 64 million dollars at the box office. All of this without counting its release in the home format, being the most rented movie in the US, and becoming the third and sixth most purchased movie on iTunes and Fandango. This makes it an absolute commercial success.
But that doesn’t mean that the critics did not respond positively to the film. With a 76% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 79 on Metacritic, the film was met with great enthusiasm, except for the few dissenting voices that have abhorred it. Declaring it sexy, dark, and unpredictable, the excellent work of Nicole Kidman has been particularly highlighted for being both vulnerable and tremendously dominant, honestly showing how a sadomasochistic relationship works where the boundaries typical of this kind of relationship are not respected.
A conversation that does not run out
This has translated into an obscene amount of awards for Kidman as best actress for her performance in the film, being the big winner of the year in terms of nominations and victories among actresses who released films in 2010. Additionally, it was the best film of 2024 according to Time magazine, but it appeared in at least thirteen other publications in at least their top 10. Demonstrating that its success has been neither casual nor precisely insignificant.
Moreover, the film has generated no small amount of debate. Generating conversation about the role of women’s sexuality, especially among those who have already turned 30, and also the representation of mature women in fiction, the film has remained in the collective imagination since its release. And it is to be expected that it will continue to do so for a long time.
Especially considering that it is now available for streaming, being one of the major releases of August on Movistar+. A perfect opportunity to watch a movie that has generated conversation and no small amount of controversy and to find out if it was worth it or if, in the end, it was better to watch the new MCU movie.
