Third ‘Star Wars’ trilogy is heading our way

We’re not just getting Episode VIII in 2017 and Episode IX in 2019. There is the upcoming Rogue One anthology film coming out this December. But aside from this Gareth Edwards-directed Star Wars film, there is also the standalone Han Solo film coming out in 2019. These two movies look like they’re part of the bigger plans Disney and Lucasfilm has for the Star Wars universe. Bob Iger, Disney’s chief executive, confirms at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia conference that a new anthology film is coming out by 2020, too. And that upcoming film will form a trilogy with Rogue One and the upcoming Han Solo movie with Alden Ehrenreich taking the titular role.

After that, we’re all kept in the dark with what’ll happen in the galaxy far, far away. But Iger has said he’s already in talks with Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy on plans for the Star Wars beyond 2020.

Source: Rolling Stone

Three classic 16-bit Disney games can now be played on your PC

If you’ve played Aladdin, The Lion King, and The Jungle Book in your early years, then you’re in for a treat. These games have been “meticulously updated” to work with modern operating systems and are now available for download on GOG.com. The games aren’t remastered versions but are said to have preserved the original graphics, sound, and gameplay of the games originally released between 1993 and 1994. The modern OSes they said in the press release include Mac, Linux, and Windows systems. Each game costs US$9.99 but are currently on sale for US$8.99 each. If you want to get all three games, they’re on sale for US$19.98 but after the 8^th, it’ll cost you US$29.97 to get all three.

‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ vinyl has 3D holograms etched on them

Vinyl has been experiencing a major comeback recently so it comes as no surprise that Disney is exploring the medium to release a unique vinyl album for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The two LP set has 3D holograms etched right into the surface of the records. One has the Millennium Falcon and the other the TIE Fighter. If you look at the records while they spin from the right angle, you’ll be able to see wire forms of the ships floating and rotating.

Disney hired holographic artist Tristan Duke to make this happen. Duke has made similar etched artwork on vinyl for Jack White’s Lazaretto Ultra LP. Expect this to be priced around US$50 (around CA$65) when it’s released on June 17^th through Disney Music Emporium and Amazon.

Source: SlashGear

Disney to discontinue ‘Disney Infinity’ and drop out of game publishing

Disney dropped a bombshell and announced that they were shuttering Disney Infinity. But that wasn’t the only big news Disney dropped, Disney said they will be closing down its “self-published console games business.” In an earnings report, Disney said they will write down a $147 million charge in relation to the shutdown of the console business, mostly due to Infinity. The company said in the report that there was a slight decrease in revenues and income from its Consumer Products & Interactive Media division partly due to “lower results for Infinity.” Right now, there are two final retail releases coming out, including three new characters from Alice Through the Looking Glass later this month and the Finding Dory Play Set coming out in June.

Source: Disney Interactive + Ars Technica