Retro-inspired game for Masters of the Universe

Mattel and Limited Run Games announced He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Dragon Pearl of Destruction at Gamescom.

“Dragon Pearl of Destruction is one of the exciting ways we’re bringing Mattel’s brands to life through digital games,” said Erika Winterholler, Head of Business Development, Digital Games at Mattel. “It’s a love letter to those who grew up with He-Man, combining nostalgic visuals with fast-paced, modern gameplay. Our goal is to honor the franchise’s legacy while introducing it to a new generation of players. The team at Limited Run Games shares that passion, and we hope the game connects with both lifelong fans and newcomers alike.”

Inspired by the iconic ‘80s cartoon, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Dragon Pearl of Destruction allows players to take control of Eternia’s beloved heroes, including He-Man, Teela, Man-At-Arms, and more, to battle Skeletor and Evil-Lyn and save Eternia from plunging into darkness.

Fight through over 12 action-packed levels using character-specific moves, abilities, and power-ups to stop Skeletor’s ancient ritual that threatens to take over Eternia. Battle Cat, He-Man’s fearless feline companion, also joins the fray, battling on the side of justice with his claws unsheathed.

“Dragon Pearl of Destruction is the Masters of the Universe arcade game I yearned for as a child,” said Josh Fairhurst, CEO and Executive Producer at Limited Run Games. “I am excited and honored to be playing a small part in making it a reality.”

Growing up, I wanted an Intellivision to play the Masters of the Universe: The Power of He-Man video game. An arcade port of Golden Axe filled the void on the Sega Mega Drive, and now fans (myself included) can play a retro-inspired 2D brawler by Bitmap Bureau on PlayStation 5 (PS5), Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PC in 2026.

Are you looking forward to He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Dragon Pearl of Destruction? Let me know in the comments below.

Doctor Who is going nowhere

Ever since Ncuti Gatwa announced his departure from Doctor Who after only two seasons, fans (myself included) have speculated about the beloved series' uncertain future in partnership with Disney+.

Kate Phillips, the BBC’s new chief content officer, has appeared at the Edinburgh TV Festival and aimed to quell concerns and speculation about the franchise’s future:

“Rest assured, Doctor Who is going nowhere. Disney has been a great partnership – and it continues with The War Between The Land And The Sea next year – but going forward, with or without Disney, Doctor Who will still be on the BBC … The TARDIS is going nowhere.”

Longtime fans (myself included) have been here before, back in the eighties. Let's hope it's not another sixteen years before a new series.

What are your thoughts on the future of Doctor Who? Let me know in the comments below.

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight

During Gamescom Opening Night Live, Warner Bros. Games, TT Games, DC, and the LEGO Group announced LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, a brand-new action-adventure videogame inviting players to embark on an epic journey to become the hero of Gotham City, inspired by the 86-year history of Batman films, television shows, comics, and games, all combined with the TT Games’ legendary LEGO humour.

“We are thrilled to announce LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, a fantastic new game designed to entertain and provide enjoyment for every type of player,” said JB Perrette, President and CEO, Streaming & Games, Warner Bros. Discovery. “Our remarkable team at TT Games is working hard to deliver a fresh take on the beloved Batman universe, offering new and improved features beyond previous LEGO games that will excite both longtime fans and gamers of all levels.”

Developed by TT Games, creators of the best-selling LEGO Games franchise, including the critically acclaimed LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, and published by Warner Bros. Games, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight will release in 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 system, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.

“All of us at TT Games are incredibly proud to reveal LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, a brand-new game that’s a real celebration of everything Batman,” said Jonathan Smith, Strategic Director & Head of Development Team, TT Games. “We take players on Bruce Wayne’s epic journey to become the legendary hero of Gotham City, incorporating iconic moments from across Batman’s history with our special LEGO twist. Our all-new crime-fighting combat features are amazing fun and take LEGO gameplay to an entirely new level.”

The adventure begins with the origins of Batman as a young Bruce Wayne trains with The League of Shadows, and throughout the story-led campaign, players will build a family of allies with well-known characters including Jim Gordon, Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Catwoman, and Talia al Ghul to help confront an ever-growing threat from a Rogues Gallery of DC Super-Villains, facing the likes of The Joker, The Penguin, Poison Ivy, Ra's al Ghul, Bane, and more.

“This is a Batman game that fans will instantly connect with,” said Fredrik Löving, Senior Vice President and Global Head of GAME, The LEGO Group. “Our partners at Warner Bros. Games, TT Games, and DC have created an experience that delivers the style, intensity, and authenticity of Gotham City’s greatest hero, infused with the family-friendly fun of the LEGO brand, making it an exciting experience for LEGO Batman fans old and new.”

While fans (myself included) wait for the release of LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, LEGO is releasing the amazing Arkham Asylum building set on 9th September.

LEGO DC Batman Arkham Asylum is available from LEGO AU, CA, UK and US (affiliate links).

Are you looking forward to LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight? Let me know in the comments below.

Fallout heads to New Vegas in first look

Fallout was originally announced in 2020 during the pandemic and exceeded all expectations when season one dropped on Prime Video in April 2024. The live-action adaptation of Bethesda's video game franchise from the showrunners of Westworld, Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, is prestige television on par with HBO's The Last of Us.

Ahead of Gamescom, where a new Fallout video game is rumoured to be announced, Prime Video and Kilter Films have shared a first look at season two of Fallout. The new season will pick up in the aftermath of the debut season finale and take audiences along for a journey through the wasteland of the Mojave to the post-apocalyptic city of New Vegas. Season two will premiere this December exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

Based on one of the most celebrated video game series of all time, Fallout is the story of haves and have-nots in a world in which there’s almost nothing left to have. Two hundred years after the apocalypse, the gentle denizens of luxury fallout shelters are forced to return to the irradiated hellscape their ancestors left behind – and are shocked to discover an incredibly complex, gleefully weird and highly violent universe waiting for them.

The cast includes Ella Purnell (Yellowjackets, Sweetpea), Aaron Moten (Emancipation, Father Stu), Walton Goggins (The White Lotus, The Righteous Gemstones), Kyle MacLachlan (Twin Peaks, Desperate Housewives), Moisés Arias (The King of Staten Island, Jockey) and Frances Turner (The Boys, The Man in the High Castle).

Fallout season one has had more than 100 million viewers worldwide, ranking among the three most-watched shows ever on Prime Video.

The hit series based on the popular video game franchise will return for a third season as the show’s second season prepares to launch later this year on 17th December.

Fallout is streaming exclusively on Prime Video (affiliate link).

Have you watched Fallout on Prime Video? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

Alien: Earth

Noah Hawley's Alien prequel series is a blood-stained Peter Pan parable, stirring subconscious fears of a life-changing childhood trauma on Disney+.

For the first few years of rehabilitation following an unreported head injury witnessed by my primary school teacher and classmates, which culminated in a brain haemorrhage and diagnosis of paraplegia after awaking from a coma, I didn't think I'd live long enough to become an adult.

My parents shared that fear and initially thought the hospital had sent me home to die. The reality was that medical staff ignored the advice of the senior consultant; I was immunocompromised, and within days, I was readmitted.

At the time, I was obsessed with puzzles, LEGO, Doctor Who, The Muppets and The Six Million Dollar Man. The latter's toy line from Kenner would play a crucial role in trauma therapy, as a 5-year-old, to begin to make sense of what had happened and adapt. I was the boy who lived.

So, I found myself empathising with Wendy, sublimely played by Sydney Chandler. Developed by Prodigy, a competitor of Weyland-Yutani, she is the first hybrid synthetic with the consciousness of a terminally ill child. A chance at immortality, but at what for-profit price?

Wendy's first scenes with the Lost Boys were profoundly poignant as I'd befriended children on the hospital ward who didn't get to go home. Hawley deftly cuts between the Maginot's monstrous managerie and children bravely facing tragedy with hope.

Hawley has said of the Alien franchise: “For me, the first film may be the best horror movie ever made, the second film may be the best action movie ever made.”

The unmistakable look and feel of Alien DNA permeates Alien: Earth. And I got goosebumps as composer Jeff Russo, like Benjamin Wallfisch (Alien: Romulus), adroitly weaves familiar franchise leitmotifs from Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner and more into a brave new world of MU/TH/UR.

Hawley's Neverland examines existential fears of climate change, artificial intelligence (AI), and tech titans vying to control our lives, but never forgets its body horror roots in the biomechanical grotesqueries of H.R. Giger unleashed by Ridley Scott in Alien.

Like many, I watched the original Alien far too young and the titular xenomorph has stalked my nightmares and woven itself into the fabric of fragmented memories of a childhood trauma featuring creepy hospital corridors, flickering neon lights and faceless adults.

Alien: Earth opens with one of the best pilot episodes of all time. Alien has found its Andor.

Have you watched Alien: Earth on Disney+? Let me know in the comments below.

BBC Proms: The Planets and Star Wars

On Saturday, the Force was strong with The National Youth Orchestra as they performed a brand new suite from Star Wars by John Williams and Holst's The Planets at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms.

"Britain’s most talented teenagers present a concert of intergalactic musical giants. Expect moons and meteor showers, spaceships, stars and lightsabers from the National Youth Orchestra and Dalia Stasevska.

The many worlds of Holst’s The Planets, including the mysterious beauty of ‘Neptune’ and rousing ‘Jupiter’ theme, meet the music from John Williams’s mighty Star Wars soundtracks, plus Pulitzer Prize-winner Caroline Shaw’s piece inspired by sci-fi and some sky-gazing at the Griffin Observatory in Los Angeles."

The Planets and Star Wars are two musical pillars from my formative years, with the former influencing the latter.

Listen now on BBC Sounds and watch on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two on 24th August.

Alien at the Natural History Museum

Alien: Earth crash-lands this week on Disney+, and an alien egg is on display at the London Natural History Museum.

For the next fortnight, visitors and fans alike can bear witness to the first stage in the life cycle of the titular xenomorph in this special display, celebrating the release of FX’s Alien: Earth, a new sci-fi series from Emmy Award-winning Noah Hawley (Fargo).

Professor Caroline Smith, planetary scientist at the Natural History Museum, says: "Extraterrestrial life and the secrets of the solar system have forever fascinated humans. It's a treat to have one of the most iconic depictions of alien life opposite our fantastic exhibition, which reveals the very latest scientific discoveries as it explores the age-old question - are we alone in the universe?"

Read the official synopsis for Alien: Earth:

“When the mysterious deep space research vessel USCSS Maginot crash-lands on Earth, “Wendy” (Sydney Chandler) and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat in FX’s “Alien: Earth.”

In the year 2120, the Earth is governed by five corporations: Prodigy, Weyland-Yutani, Lynch, Dynamic and Threshold. In this Corporate Era, cyborgs (humans with both biological and artificial parts) and synthetics (humanoid robots with artificial intelligence) exist alongside humans. But the game is changed when the wunderkind Founder and CEO of Prodigy Corporation unlocks a new technological advancement: hybrids (humanoid robots infused with human consciousness). The first hybrid prototype named “Wendy” marks a new dawn in the race for immortality. After Weyland-Yutani’s spaceship collides into Prodigy City, “Wendy” and the other hybrids encounter mysterious life forms more terrifying than anyone could have ever imagined.”

The cast for Alien: Earth includes Sydney Chandler (Don't Worry Darling), Alex Lawther (Andor), Samuel Blenkin (The Sandman), Kit Young (Shadow and Bone), Essie Davis (Assassin's Creed), Adarsh Gourav (The White Tiger) and Timothy Olyphant (The Mandalorian).

Alien: Earth's first two episodes premiere exclusively on Disney+ on 13th August.

Are you looking forward to Alien: Earth? Let me know in the comments below.

Hulu goes global on Disney+

After 4 years, Star on Disney+ internationally will be rebranded as Hulu later this year as the House of Mouse consolidates its streaming services and focuses on the Disney+ app after buying out Comcast’s stake in Hulu.

Star ushered in grown-up content on Disney+ in 2021. However, Hulu is synonymous with prestige television from The Bear to Shōgun, and has far greater brand recognition. In 2009, Hulu and ITV almost signed a content deal.

Disney+ currently comprises Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic, with the ESPN and Star brands available in selected territories.

“Work is already underway to continue enhancing our technology, and over the coming months, we will be implementing numerous improvements within the Disney+ app, including exciting new features and a more personalised homepage,” said Disney in a statement. “All of this work will culminate with the unified Disney+ and Hulu streaming app experience that will be available to consumers next year.”

Could UK-based Disney+ subscribers (myself included) see Hulu launched as soon as next week to tie in with Alien: Earth?

What are your thoughts on Hulu launching internationally on Disney+? Let me know in the comments below.

Matt Smith to play villain in Star Wars

Former Doctor Who star Matt Smith, after being rumoured for a role as a young Palpatine in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, joins Ryan Gosling and Mia Goth in Shawn Levy's Star Wars: Starfighter.

According to Deadline, Smith will play a villain in the upcoming Star Wars movie, set for release in 2027 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of George Lucas' space opera. Smith, best known for playing the heroic Eleventh Doctor, is no stranger to playing villains in Terminator Genisys and House of the Dragon.

As a lifelong Doctor Who and Star Wars fan, I’m more excited for Star Wars: Starfighter than The Mandalorian and Grogu, which should have been released on Disney+.

What are your thoughts on Matt Smith playing a big bad in a galaxy far, far away? Are you excited for Star Wars: Starfighter? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Wars fans urged to back Boba Fett

Appearing at the Tampa Bay Comic Convention, Temuera Morrison, who has played bounty hunters Jango Fett and Boba Fett, was asked about his involvement in future Star Wars projects.

“No,” Morrison answered. “We really have to treasure those moments now. All of you need to send a fax, or a letter or an email to those powers-that-be at Lucasfilm. I’m sure they’d love to hear from everyone. Please give Daniel Logan and Temuera Morrison another chance and put them somewhere.”

The enigmatic and mysterious mercenary Boba Fett was first introduced in an animated segment during the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special. However, most fans (outside the US) wouldn't have known about him until Kenner's mail-away action figure promotion before appearing in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, played by the late Jeremy Bulloch.

The bounty hunter's apparent demise in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi was less than satisfactory and was used mostly for comedic effect. A school friend and I were left nonplussed and, wrongly, assumed he'd escape moments after the Rebels had destroyed Jabba's Sail Barge as creator George Lucas rushed to tie up loose ends leftover from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and sell more toys.

Daniel Logan, who played a young Boba Fett in the prequel trilogy and appeared alongside Morrison on the panel, reflected on his experience being part of the Star Wars franchise.

"The crazy part with Star Wars is that you don’t know about filming anything until like, a week, or maybe two, or even less than that, right?" he said.

"But the thing is, Temuera is the greediest person in Star Wars. He’s played so many characters, he’s got the most characters in Star Wars, if you go down the line — from Jango, Boba, all of the Clones, Rex, Cody, Fives — he’s got the most characters in Star Wars."

Logan added, "There’s going to be plenty of opportunities. Especially for this guy, especially with this era of Star Wars, like Ahsoka, and all this stuff set after Return of the Jedi."

Morrison last played the fan-favourite bounty hunter in The Book of Boba Fett and confirmed he won't be appearing in The Mandalorian and Grogu movie next year.

If you hadn't already guessed, Boba Fett's one of my favourite characters from the franchise and the 12-inch action figure was a cherished Christmas gift from childhood - I was too excited to sleep after discovering Santa had left a smuggler's bounty on the landing.

Would you like to see the return of Boba Fett? Let me know in the comments below.