The Gray Man, the next all-star movie from streaming giant Netflix, has been given a summer release date.
Helmed by Marvel movie veterans Joe and Anthony Russo, the Netflix movie will officially arrive on the streaming service on Friday, July 22. The espionage thriller will also be available to watch in theaters a week earlier on July 15, although Netflix hasn't stated if this will be a limited theatrical run or not. We've reached out for comment.
Based on Mark Greaney's novel series of the same name, The Gray Man has some serious star power attached to it. Former Captain America star Chris Evans, Blade Runner 2049 and La La Land actor Ryan Gosling, James Bond and Knives Out actress Ana de Armas, and Bridgerton alum Regé-Jean Page are among its all-star ensemble.
Alongside The Gray Man's lunch date announcement, Netflix released a batch of first-look images, which give us our clearest look yet at Gosling's protagonist and Evans' villain-in-chief. Check them out below:
Additionally, Netflix provided a plot synopsis for those who may want a better idea of what The Gray Man's story will entail.
"The Gray Man is CIA operative Court Gentry (Ryan Gosling), aka, Sierra Six," Netflix revealed in a press release. "Plucked from a federal penitentiary and recruited by his handler, Donald Fitzroy (Billy Bob Thornton), Gentry was once a highly-skilled, Agency-sanctioned merchant of death.
"But now the tables have turned and Six is the target, hunted across the globe by Lloyd Hansen (Chris Evans), a former cohort at the CIA, who will stop at nothing to take him out. Agent Dani Miranda (Ana de Armas) has his back. He’ll need it."
The Gray Man has been co-written by Joe Russo alongside Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame scribes Stephen McFeely and Christopher Markus. The Russo brothers, Mike Larocca, Chris Castaldi, and Jeffrey Kirschenbaum are among the film's executive producers.
Here's that all-important release date one more time, too: The Gray Man will launch worldwide on Netflix on July 22, while it'll be available to see in cinemas a week earlier on July 15.
Analysis: the subscriber chase is on
There's no denying that Netflix needs a big win (or a highly anticipated production) to win back subscribers. The streaming giant has suffered a fair amount of negative publicity in recent times, with a 40% slump in its share price and the loss of 200,000 subscribers since the start of the year. Add in public backlash over a crackdown on password sharing and financial issues that led to the cancellation of multiple in-development shows , and Netflix could use some positivity right about now.
Of course, there are plenty of fan favorite Netflix TV series set to return to our screens soon. Stranger Things season 4 and The Umbrella Academy season 3 are sure to get Netflix back on track, and gloss over the cracks that are appearing in the streaming company's walls.
Even so, Netflix could use one of its upcoming movies to help convince those who recently unsubscribed to, well, pick their subscription back up again. And The Gray Man could be the film that draws former viewers back in.
Netflix achieved huge success with another all-star ensemble movie – Red Notice – in late 2021. The action comedy wasn't universally loved by critics, but it became the biggest Netflix movie of all-time thanks to its star trio of Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Gal Gadot.
The Gray Man arguably has an even bigger (and better) cast than Red Notice. However, would-be viewers who want to stream the film who don't possess a Netflix subscription, then, will have to weigh up whether it's worth reactivating their account to do so. Still, you can't underestimate the star power of actors like Evans, Gosling, and de Armas. Their castings are almost certain to entice audiences, so don't be surprised if Netflix sees a slight uptick in its subscriber base around mid-July.
The chase between Gosling's Sierra Six and Evans' Hansen will definitely be on this summer. But, for Netflix, there'll be a greater chase at play: persuading previous and new, potential subscribers to sign up to the service and retain their interest with the streamer's other offerings. Fail to do so, though, and Netflix's problems could grow further.
PS4 Pro vs PS4: what's the difference?
Which should you buy, the PS4 Pro or the PS4? The newest PlayStation console you can buy today is the PS5 . But some people may still need to weigh up whether they should go with the older PS4 model or pick the more powerful (and more pricey) PS4 Pro .
Choosing between the two isn’t easy. Just because one has the ‘Pro’ label doesn’t mean it’s the one you should buy. Especially if you're not sure about the exact improvements that Sony made to the standard PS4.
Both the PS4 and the PS4 Pro support the same library of games. So there’s no deciding based on which you enjoy playing. Instead, the biggest difference between the two consoles is that the PS4 Pro is capable of playing some of those games in a higher resolution (up to 4K ).
First thing’s first, the PS4 Pro isn't as powerful as Sony's newest next-generation console, the PS5 . If you want the ultimate in power and performance, and you’re willing to pay a premium for it, you should get the PS5. But the PS4 Pro hardware is still a big improvement on the standard PlayStation 4 and it can offer better performance and visuals than the standard console as a result.
With improved hardware, however, comes a bigger price tag. Those with affordability in mind may not find the upgrades the PS4 Pro has over the regular PlayStation 4 are enough to justify the increase in cost. That means it’s comes down to you and your priorities.
So, is the mid-generation PS4 Pro the console for you? Or is the standard version a better fit? Should you stop considering these two older consoles altogether and save up for the PS5 instead?
In this guide we'll look at several key factors that’ll help you choose, like the price, design, specs, graphics, VR performance and other aspects of both consoles to help you make the best choice for you between the PS4 and PS4 Pro. We've also added a section at the bottom of this guide about what you'll be getting from the newest console: the PS5, just in case you'd rather go for the latest and greatest system instead.
PS4 vs PS4 Pro price comparison
The Pro offers some rather obvious advantages over the original PS4, but there are still several reasons to go for the latter, not least the lower price. Take a look at the list of current deals below, plucked from the web's top retailers.
Of course, if you decide that a PS4 Pro is more up your alley, you're in for a treat –especially if you have a new 4K HDR television to play it on. You'll find the lowest prices on Sony's PlayStation 4 Pro further down below.
Knowing the difference between the two PS4 models can make all the difference during sales, as you'll be able to spot a genuine bargain much more easily.
PS4 vs PS4 Pro key differences
One of the main differences when it comes to the PS4 vs PS4 Pro question is resolution: whereas the original PS4 is limited to 1080p, the newer PS4 Pro can go as high as 2160p – or 4K, as it's more commonly known. However, games need to have been specifically updated to take advantage of the 4K on the PS4 Pro – you can see a comprehensive list of older games that have been updated here .
Ultimately it's up to game developers themselves to issue those patches and make the most of the more powerful hardware that the PS4 Pro offers. If there's no PS4 Pro mode in the game, then you can't get true 4K resolutions.
The good news is that, going forward, all new PS4 games have to include a 'Pro Mode', enabling them to make the most of the Pro's enhanced hardware. It's also worth bearing in mind that even if an older game hasn't had the PS4 Pro patch, it's still probably going to look better on the more expensive console.
Don't forget that in order to see 4K HDR graphics in all their glory on your PlayStation 4 Pro, you're going to need a 4K HDR TV to match – an older 1080p screen won't see much of a benefit, apart from a few extra frames here and there.
Should you buy a PS4 Pro and have a 4K TV on hand, however, you should prepare yourself for a feast for the eyes– games look great on the PS4 Pro. Textures in Spider-Man on PS4 Pro are significantly clearer than they are on the regular PS4, for example – Insomniac (the game's developer) has done a great job optimizing the game for PS4, but playing it on a Pro is the far superior experience (check out the video we've embedded above).
For a more recent example, check out the Death Stranding PS4 vs PS4 Pro comparison on YouTube below.
PS4 vs PS4 Pro appearance
As far as physical looks go, the most obvious difference between the original PS4 and the PS4 Pro is the addition of an extra layer on top of the console.
While the original PS4 has two layers separated by a gap for the disc drive and two USB ports, the PS4 Pro has three layers.
Thankfully this hasn't lead to too much of an increase in its dimensions. The original PS4 measures 275.1 x 305.1 x 53.1 mm, while the Pro measures 295 x 327 x 55 mm. That means it's slightly bigger, it's 2 cm deeper and 2 cm wider, but interestingly it's more or less the same height.
It's also half a kilogram heavier, or just over a pound, though that shouldn't bother you too much unless you're lugging it from one room to the next.
PS4 vs PS4 Pro connections
In terms of rear connectors, the PS4 Pro is nearly identical to the standard PS4, aside from the addition of an extra USB 3.0 port – which should be pretty useful if you're planning on hooking up a PlayStation VR , since the headset takes up a USB port when it's plugged in.
An extra USB port is an excellent inclusion, since the PSVR brings back the Move Controllers which each need a USB port to charge. If you're planning a jump into virtual reality, then the PS4 Pro might be the way to go.
Unlike the slimmer PS4 currently on sale, the PS4 Pro does include an optical audio output on its rear, just like the original launch PS4 from 2013.
The final difference between the ports on the back of the console is the HDMI port. While the standard PS4 has an HDMI 1.4 port, the PS4 Pro has an HDMI 2.0 port to allow it to output at 4K resolutions (more on that later).
It's important to note that you don't need to upgrade your HDMI cable to take advantage of 4K, despite what Sony is claiming on its official FAQ . Any HDMI cable that can handle 1080p can do 4K just fine.
PS4 vs PS4 Pro optical drive
This is a particularly sore spot for Sony's latest system. Despite initial speculation to the contrary, the PS4 Pro does not include an Ultra HD Blu-ray player – it can play Full HD 1080p Blu-ray discs just the same as the original PS4.
Sony's decision to omit a Ultra-HD Blu-ray drive from the system is puzzling, considering that Blu-ray support was one of the major boons of the PS3. Now, Sony might be saving that for another console down the road ... but considering that Microsoft's Xbox One S already has the high-end disc drive, it would've benefitted Sony to launch the Pro with one as well.
PS4 vs PS4 Pro internals
The internals are where we see some of the key differences between these two PS4 models.
Both consoles share an AMD Jaguar x86-64 8-core CPU, which has seen a 30% boost in clock-speed from 1.6GHz to 2.1GHz based on its predecessor.
Meanwhile the GPU has seen a much bigger performance increase. Its power has been doubled, and its clock-speed has been boosted from 800MHz to 911MHz.
In total the GPU has jumped from 1.84 TFLOP in the launch PS4 to 4.2 TFLOP in the Pro. This bump is in order to accommodate the new 4K functionality.
The Wi-Fi of the Pro has also seen an upgrade to include 802.11ac and a Bluetooth bump to v2.1 to v4.0. Both of these upgrades were also seen in the new slim PS4.
The Pro also has an additional 1GB of DDR3 RAM, which will be used for non-gaming apps to free up the faster GDDR5 RAM for gaming performance.
PS4 vs PS4 Pro: 4K TV performance
This is the big one – the main reason it's worth making the jump from the original hardware to the PS4 Pro. The PS4 Pro supports 4K output, as opposed to the standard PS4's Full HD 1080p resolution.
When it comes to streaming services such as Netflix this means that the console is able to play movies and TV shows in their maximum resolution – but unfortunately the lack of an Ultra HD Blu-ray drive means that the console will not be able to play physical 4K media.
Games are slightly more complicated because it's up to developers to decide how they want to use the PS4 Pro's extra muscle. We're seeing it bear more fruit now the jacked-up console has been on the market for a while.
In our review of God of War , for example, we found the PS4 Pro version came with two separate graphics modes: one which favors resolution, displaying the game at checkerboard 2160p (or 4K), and another which favors performance, lowering the resolution to 1080p but displaying at a framerate that's closer to 60fps (but never actually locking at it).
The one you choose will obviously come down to your personal preference. Camera movement is much, much smoother in performance mode, though the drop in visual detail is noticeable — especially in game, where the level of detail seen at 4K is so high.
Of course, HDR is also available for those with TVs that support the format, and we can say that it definitely adds to the experience, particularly when it comes to lighting and shadows.
Other games such as Days Gone are upscaled to achieve a 4K output, but reports indicate that the upscaling process used is more clever than simply stretching the image over a larger number of pixels. Meanwhile, other games such as Deus Ex: Mankind Divided are said to upscale much less successfully.
The takeaway seems to be that achieving good 4K performance will need developers to be clever about the balance they strike between native rendering resolution and the upscaling technologies used.
On something like Horizon Zero Dawn , the 4K HDR quality really stands out on the PS4 Pro – that's worth bearing in mind if you're picking between these two consoles during the holiday sales (or indeed at any other time of year).
In summary: the PS4 Pro is not powerful enough to run a game at 4K with all the graphical bells and whistles turned on, but with some compromises the results can be impressive.
Although HDR support is new with the PS4 Pro, this same functionality has arrived on launch PS4s via a firmware update. Check out our full guide to HDR for exactly what that means for how your games will look.
In terms of loading times, the PS4 Pro offers a small improvement over the stock PS4 , but if you're looking for a boost in loading times, then you'll see more of an improvement if you upgrade your launch PS4 with an SSD .
PS4 vs PS4 Pro: 1080p TV Performance
Although the PS4 Pro is meant mainly as an accompaniment to 4K televisions, the console will also give a graphical boost if you're playing on a 1080p screen.
But while some of these enhancements are intentional, such as using supersampling to enhance the amount of detail in a given scene, others are not.
The Last Guardian , the much-delayed game from Team Ico, finally launched with numerous framerate issues that were present on both the PS4 at 1080p, and the PS4 Pro at 4K.
But a performance analysis revealed that these issues almost completely disappear if you force the game to run in 1080p mode on a PS4 Pro by changing the system settings.
We don't think this is an intentional feature of the Pro, but if this trend continues in the future it might make the Pro a much more necessary upgrade for 1080p TV owners.
PS4 vs PS4 Pro 'boost mode'
Introduced in PS4 firmware 4.50, 'boost mode' is a feature that allows PS4 games that haven't received a PS4 Pro patch to receive a performance boost when played on the new console. While the exact improvements aren't fully understood, a Digital Foundry analysis has unearthed performance boosts of as much as 38%.
Titles tested included Assassin's Creed: Unity, Battlefield 4, and Project Cars, all of which saw substantial performance increases when running on the Pro, despite not having a Pro patch available.
Check out the video below for a more in-depth outline of the benefits.
PS4 vs PS4 Pro: PlayStation VR
Although prior to the PlayStation VR's release there were rumors circulating that the headset's performance on launch consoles was going to be 'terrible' , now that the hardware is out the distinction appears to be much more subtle.
In fact a recent analysis by Digital Foundry suggests that in some games the difference between PS4 and the PS4 Pro can be a struggle to find. Having the cheaper console doesn't mean you're locked out of virtual reality.
Other games appear sharper on the Pro because of how the developers have enabled super-sampling techniques, effectively rendering games at a higher resolution in order to enhance detail levels.
In Robinson: The Journey for example, details are much crisper, and textures benefit from a higher level of texture filtering.
The bottom line with the PlayStation VR is that the differences between the two consoles are too slight to conclusively recommend the Pro on the basis of VR performance alone.
If this changes in the future as developers get better acquainted with the PS4 Pro then this may change, and we'll update our thoughts accordingly.
What about the PS5?
You might have a valid reason for only being able to choose between a PS4 and a PS4 Pro, but most people should also factor in the newest PS5 console into their decision-making too – if they can afford to.
That's because the PS5 really is one fantastic console. Rather than being a small step up from the PS4 (we're looking at you, PS4 Pro), this is a true next-gen gaming experience. One which we hope will only get better as more titles arrive on the PS5 line-up.
The console is powerful and ramps up performance compared to the PS4 and PS4 Pro. When it comes to the specs, the PS5 is a technically impressive console. Including the new custom RDNA 2 GPU that can push 4K resolution at 120 frames per second, and the octa-core AMD Zen 2-based CPU with a 3.5GHz clock speed.
Add on 16GB of GDDR6 memory and the NVMe SSD and this is a machine with some seriously good-looking specs.
What's more, Sony has re-imagined almost every key part of the gaming experience – from a simpler setup and new well-thought-out user interface, to a revolutionary controller and added bonuses for PS Plus members. The result is a console that we can't help but be hugely impressed with.
Check out our PS5 review and where to buy PS5 guide – though be warned that stock can be hard to get hold of.
Conclusion: a substantial upgrade short of a generational leap
The PS4 Pro is undoubtedly a substantial step up from the PS4, but 'true' 4K gaming is difficult for it to achieve without compromise.
The biggest physical difference between it and the standard PS4 visually is the addition of an extra layer, but the internals have also been beefed up considerably. The GPU is a great deal faster, and although the CPU is architecturally similar it's been clocked at a faster speed.
So should you make the upgrade from your existing PS4? The answer largely depends on if you have a 4K TV or plan on upgrading to one. If you are, then the PS4 Pro will present numerous visual benefits. If you aren't, well, there's likely isn't anything on the PS4 Pro that will be worth the extra money, at least not yet.
With the PS5 now having launched, of course, you may wish to save your cash for this true next-generation leap in power and capability. Otherwise, though, you should be able to nab some excellent prices on the PS4 and the PS4 Pro – even if they're starting to look a bit long in the tooth by comparison.
Peridot is a pet sim from the Pokémon Go team and it's like a modern Tamagotchi
Niantic has unveiled its next AR mobile game, Peridot, which looks to be the perfect pet simulator.
Peridot is inspired by classic virtual pets, like Tamagotchi, with the core mechanics focused around raising uniquely adorable critters affectionately nicknamed Dots. The game is a fresh and original IP from Niantic, whose biggest success to date has undoubtedly been Pokémon Go.
While Niantic followed Pokémon Go with another Nintendo property – Pikmin – the game was less focused on building on the level of interactivity between the player and the creatures. Instead, Pikmin Bloom is a walking app , so it's interesting to see Niantic double down on the bond between the player and the Dots this time around.
Coupled with the cutesy aesthetic, people looking to bond with a pet without any of the responsibility should love Peridot.
What can you do with your Peridot?
Peridot's game loop is pretty straightforward. You raise, nurture and eventually breed the Dots from an egg to adulthood.
The premise is that Peridots are eons old and have awoken in a strange new world – and it's your job to take care of them.
You can feed, play with, and take your Dot on adventures but it's best not to get too attached as it's a fairly short journey from birth to a fully-fledged adult who's ready to fly the nest.
You can play with and train your Peridot, and explore the world with it. Niantic loves getting players out and about, and it's done a lot of legwork to make your Dots' interactions with the real world as varied and interesting as possible.
How does breeding Peridots work?
Dots can recognize different terrain, and forage for resources that are unique to particular environments. They have their own desires, like eating a certain food, going for a walk, or visiting nearby points of interest.
They also sport different looks, personality traits, abilities, and likes and dislikes thanks to their 'DNA'. The entire breeding system has been built around this system, which is modeled after the way DNA works in reality.
The combination of "hand-crafted assets and procedural generation" is going to make for a huge variance in Dots, which is the incentive for players. Ideally, you want to breed different types of Dots to unlock, whether that's a specific look, or traits you're trying to foster.
Jumping back to the loose narrative of the game, players are helping diversify the newly-awoken species. Archetypes like 'Unicorn', 'Peacock', 'Cheetah', 'Ram', 'Rabbit', and 'Clownfish' are just a few examples of the patterns available.
Like Pokémon Go, the game incorporates points of interest (POI) from real life, but rather than Gyms to go battle pokémon in, Peridot's POIs are Habitats. Basically, places to go send off your adult Dot to go make nasty and pop out an egg.
Nests around Habitats are used for breeding, and they can offer a variety of mutations that result in certain features, like a zebra pattern. It can take a few generations to finally get the traits and patterns you're after, but with such a short birth-to-breeding cycle, that shouldn't be too much of a grind. And as an added plus, there are no negative consequences for abandoning your Dot for days. It'll be alive and well, and happy to see you, presumably.
Once you release a Dot into the wild after it's bred, you can still see it again. It'll live at the POI it made whoopee at, and you can recall it any time to play and hang out.
Interestingly, the world is populated with NPC Dots as well as player Peridots, so your hatchlings can go on to seed countess other Dots.
At some point down the line, you'll be able to buy items and accessories at the in-game store to jazz up your Dot, or imbue it with certain buffs. You can feed it items to make it grow faster, or give it 'Dot nip' to make it happier – all of which feeds back into the breeding loop.
Peridot is rolling out with a soft launch on Android and iOS this month in select markets which will function as a beta. More regions will be added as testing continues and expands, so keep an on the official Peridot website for updates.