CULTURE

The 10 Most Anticipated Games of 2021

The future of gaming looks bright. Here is our list of most anticipated arrivals of 2021.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2

Xbox Game Studios

While 2020 was a mess all around, there was no shortage of amazing games this year.

With most of us confined to our couch, video games took on a new meaning in our lives. Our Animal Crossing islands served as our vacation homes and the only way to experience normalcy. Call of Duty chat rooms were the only way for us to have honest human interactions, and don't even get me started on the time spent traversing the wilds in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Keep ReadingShow less
MUSIC

14 Most Anticipated Albums of 2020

Halsey, Dua Lipa, Tame Impala, and more.

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

While it's plenty fun to revisit music of the last year (or decade), it's equally exciting to point our focus to future releases.

2020 is coming soon, with no shortage of both indie and major-label releases in the early months to keep our ears busy. Below, we've picked just a few that we can't wait to hear.

The 1975: Notes On A Conditional Form (Interscope/Dirty Hit, 2/21)

After dropping their acclaimed A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships late last year, the modern indie pop legends return this year with their fourth studio album. They've released three songs from it so far, including opener "The 1975," featuring teen climate activist (turned Matty Healy's friend) Greta Thunberg.

The 1975 - People (Official Video)www.youtube.com


Grimes: Miss Anthropocene (4AD, 2/21)

The follow-up to Grimes' 2015 magnum opus, Art Angels is "a concept album about the anthropomorphic goddess of climate change." She's released five singles, most recently "4ÆM."

Grimes – 4ÆMwww.youtube.com


Georgia: Seeking Thrills (Domino, 1/10)

British producer Georgia Barnes' second album is due at the beginning of the year. If '80s-indebted synth-pop is up your alley, check out her fantastic single "About Work the Dancefloor."

Georgia - About Work The Dancefloor (Official Video)www.youtube.com


Frances Quinlan: Likewise (Saddle Creek, 1/31)

Frances Quinlan is best known as the lead singer of Philadelphia indie rockers Hop Along, but her inimitable voice still packs a punch as a solo act. Her first album under her own name comes out next month. Check out a single from it, "Now That I'm Back."

Frances Quinlan - Now That I'm Backwww.youtube.com


Tame Impala: The Slow Rush (Interscope, 2/14)

The Slow Rush is Kevin Parker and company's first album since 2015's instant-classic, Currents. The Australian band has released three singles so far: "Borderline," "It Might Be Time," and "Posthumous Forgiveness."

Tame Impala - Borderline (Audio)www.youtube.com


Halsey: Manic (Capitol, 1/17)

Manic is Halsey's third album. It includes her No. 1 hit "Without Me," as well as features from Alanis Morrisette, Dominic Fike, and Min Yoon-gi of BTS.

Halsey - Without Mewww.youtube.com


Beach Slang: The Deadbeat Bang of Heartbreak City (Bridge Nine, 1/10)

Last year, James Alex released the mellowed-out, acoustic-focused Everything Matters But No One Is Listening as Quiet Slang. Now he's back with his full punk band, Beach Slang, with their third studio album. It features Tommy Stinson of the Replacements on bass.'

Beach Slang - Bam Rang Rangwww.youtube.com


Kesha: High Road (Kemosabe, 1/10)

After the stream of empowerment anthems that comprised 2017's Rainbow, Kesha is returning to her party-pop roots for her fourth album. Singles "Raising Hell," "My Own Dance," and "Resentment" are out now.

Kesha - Raising Hell (Official Video) ft. Big Freediawww.youtube.com


Mura Masa: Raw Youth Collage (Polydor, 1/17)

Grammy-winning British producer Mura Masa's second record is on the horizon. It features guest vocals from pop darling Clairo, idiosyncratic rapper slowthai, lo-fi R&B upstart Tirzah, and more.

Mura Masa, Clairo - I Don't Think I Can Do This Again (Official Video)www.youtube.com


Bombay Bicycle Club: Everything Else Has Gone Wrong (Island, 1/17)

After taking some time off, London indie pop band Bombay Bicycle Club are back with their first new album since 2013. So far, you can hear "Eat, Sleep, Wake (Nothing But You)," "Racing Stripes," and the album's title track. Read our interview with bassist Ed Nash about the band's return.

Bombay Bicycle Club - Racing Stripeswww.youtube.com


Okay Kaya: Watch This Liquid Pour Itself (Jagjaguwar, 1/24)

Norweigan singer-songwriter Okay Kaya's second album is out soon, intertwining her themes of melancholy and anxiety into dark, eerie pop. She's released three singles so far: "Ascend and Try Again," "Baby Little Tween," and "Asexual Wellbeing."

Okay Kaya - Ascend and Try Againwww.youtube.com


Wolf Parade: Thin Mind (Sub Pop, 1/24)

Indie rock stalwarts Wolf Parade are back with their fifth album, their first since departure of multi-instrumentalist Dante DeCaro. They've already released two songs from it, "Forest Green" and "Against the Day."

Wolf Parade - Forest Green [LYRIC VIDEO]www.youtube.com


Andy Shauf: The Neon Skyline (Anti-, 1/24)

Canadian singer-songwriter Andy Shauf is soon releasing his sixth solo album. The singles "Things I Do" and "Try Again" are out now.

Andy Shauf - "Try Again"www.youtube.com


Dua Lipa: Future Nostalgia (Warner, TBA)

Dua Lipa's second studio album doesn't have a set release date, but we know it's coming in early 2020. If the two lead singles so far—"Don't Start Now" and "Future Nostalgia"—are any indication, it won't be a disappointment.

Dua Lipa - Don't Start Now (Official Music Video)www.youtube.com

CULTURE

E3 2019 Sunday Roundup: Microsoft, Bethesda, and KEANU REEVES

All the E3 2019 Sunday trailers are here, from Keanu Reeves in Cyberpunk 2077 to Elden Scrolls, Halo Infinite, and Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot.

E3 2019 is finally here, and that means loads of new trailers and game announcements.

Sunday featured Microsoft pulling out all the stops with the best cameo appearance in E3 history (hint: it's KEANU REEVES) and Bethesda desperately trying to save their failing Fallout 76. Check out all of Sunday's trailers right here in one spot:

Microsoft

Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077's presentation easily stole the show on day one. Could there possibly be a better way to end a gorgeous cinematic trailer than by introducing VIDEO GAME KEANU REEVES as a character? Well, yes actually, but that would require getting...They did it. Those absolute mad men. They got the REAL KEANU REEVES to come onstage. This game announcement is a work of art. One might even call it "breathtaking."

Xbox Project Scarlett

Xbox Project Scarlett Console Announcement | Microsoft Xbox E3 2019www.youtube.com

Microsoft's next-gen console, Xbox Project Scarlett, is said to be four times as powerful as the Xbox One. So maybe they should have just called it the Xbox Four?

Halo Infinite

Halo Infinite - "Discover Hope" Cinematic Trailer | E3 2019www.youtube.com

Could Xbox Project Scarlett's biggest launch title be anything other than a new Halo? The Halo games have always been some of the best shooters on the market, and they're probably the only Microsoft exclusive games worth buying an Xbox for.

Elden Ring

Elden Ring - Announcement Trailer | E3 2019www.youtube.com

The rumors were true! Elden Ring is indeed a collaboration between Dark Souls creator Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. We look forward to the spooky arm lady killing us over and over again.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot - E3 2019 Trailer | PS4www.youtube.com

Formerly Dragon Ball Project Z, the upcoming DBZ RPG is now titled Kakarot. The cinematics look great so far, and it'll be interesting to see what RPG elements are incorporated into the gameplay.

Gears 5

Gears 5 - Official Escape Announcement Trailer | E3 2019www.youtube.com

Gears 5 doesn't look that different from the previous four Gears of War games, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. If it's not broke, why fix it?

Dying Light 2

Dying Light 2 - Reveal Trailer | E3 2019www.youtube.com

More parkour. More zombie killing. More choices. The first Dying Light was one of 2015's best new IPs, and the sequel already looks promising.

Tales of Arise

Tales of Arise - E3 Announcement Trailer | PS4, X1, PCwww.youtube.com

Tales of games have always been about living your best anime life, and Arise has plenty of anime. There's anime boy with white hair and a fire sword and anime girl with a magic light gun and stilettos. It might be anime trash, but so are we.

Blair Witch

Blair Witch - Official Reveal Trailer | E3 2019www.youtube.com

TheBlair Witch Project is a horror game now. It actually looks pretty spooky.

Crossfire X

CrossfireX - E3 2019 - Announce Trailerwww.youtube.com

Crossfire is a free-to-play FPS that's incredibly popular in Asia. Now it's coming overseas as Crossfire X. Will it take off in the States? Considering the popularity of FTP shooters: probably.

Minecraft Dungeons

Minecraft Dungeons Gameplay Trailer - E3 2019www.youtube.com

Procedurally generated dungeon running games are awesome. Minecraft skins are ugly. So basically, this is just a very ugly dungeon running game. Leave Minecraft skins in Minecraft.

Bethesda

Ghostwire: Tokyo

GhostWire: Tokyo – Official E3 Teaserwww.youtube.com

A new horror game from the devs of The Evil Within, Ghostwire: Tokyo's initial trailer looks intensely unsettling. The realistic design of Tokyo looks great, too.

Deathloop

DEATHLOOP – Official E3 World Premierewww.youtube.com

From the studio behind Dishonored, Deathloop appears to feature an action-based Groundhog Day type premise.

Doom Eternal

DOOM Eternal – Official E3 Story Trailerwww.youtube.com

The Doom franchise has always been about shredding demons to pieces. Doom Eternal seems to deliver on that front.

Wolfenstein: Youngblood

Wolfenstein: Youngblood – Official E3 2019 Trailerwww.youtube.com

It's always nice to kill Nazis. A new Wolfenstein means more Nazi killing. Nice.

Commander Keen

Commander Keen — Official E3 Announce Trailerwww.youtube.com

Probably Sunday's weirdest reveal, the '80s PC game Commander Keen is being revived as a free-to-play mobile game. Just...why?

Fallout 76 Wastelanders

Fallout 76 Wastelanders Official Reveal Trailer - E3 2019www.youtube.com

The newest expansion for the disastrous Fallout 76 MMO brings...NPCs? Yes, seriously, the characters populating the world—a core element of every other MMO in history—are just now being added over six months after launch. There's also going to be a battle royale mode, because of course there is.