There are a lot of single "Bachelor" and "Bachelorette" contestants who are left looking for love and still want to be on TV.

So ABC decided to take some of those rejected contestants and fly them to a remote tropical resort in Mexico and let the drama unfold on "Bachelor in Paradise."

"Bachelor in Paradise" has had three seasons so far. Season four was supposed to come to a TV near you later this summer, but production has been halted following allegations of "misconduct" on the set involving two controversial contestants, and many are speculating this could spell the end for the ratings juggernaut.

A producer on the show allegedly filed a "third-party complaint" tied to "misconduct" involving contestants Corinne Olympios and DeMario Jackson. The incident is reportedly related to a drunken hook-up caught on camera.

So what's the recipe for ABC's hit drama? A lot of booze, attractive people, bikinis, crying, and constant plot twists.

Here's everything you need to know about the scandalous reality show:

SEE ALSO: There's a giant mystery surrounding one of the most scandalous shows on TV — and it's halted production

Chris Harrison, who hosts "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette," is also the host of "Bachelor in Paradise."

At the beginning of the season, a dozen single people arrive at a resort in Mexico. There are twice as many single women as there are men.

Immediately, couples begin to form. The guys mostly get snatched up, but a bunch of the women are left loveless.

Cameron Diaz decided to walk away from her prolific movie career, because the frequent traveling wore her out.

"I just went, 'I can't really say who I am to myself,' which is a hard thing to face up to," Diaz said during a panel at the In Goop Health event on Saturday in Los Angeles, California, according to E! News.

The actress, whose last major role was Mrs. Hannigan in the 2014 "Annie" remake, said that two decades of travelling between film sets and her home took a toll on her well-being.

"I felt the need to make myself whole," she said at the event for Gwyneth Paltrow's wellness brand.

According to Vogue, Diaz's search for wholeness includes transcendental meditation.

Diaz has been nominated four times for a Golden Globe Award for "Gangs of New York," "Vanilla Sky," "Being John Malkovich," and "There's Something About Mary." As of now, she hasn't announced any upcoming projects. 

Paltrow served as the moderator for the panel, which included Diaz, designer Tory Burch, model Miranda Kerr, and actress Nicole Richie.

SEE ALSO: Diddy is the highest-paid celebrity, according to Forbes

DON'T MISS: Jerry Seinfeld explains why he snubbed Kesha: 'I don't hug a total stranger'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How Tracy Anderson became the most successful woman in fitness and the favorite trainer of Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Lopez

What is eSports? History & Rise of Video Game Tournaments

Years ago, eSports was a community of video gamers who would gather at conventions to play Counter Strike, Call of Duty, or League of Legends.

These multiplayer video game competitions would determine League of Legends champions, the greatest shooters in Call of Duty, the cream of the crop of Street Fighter players, the elite Dota 2 competitors, and more.

But today, as the history of eSports continue to unfold, media giants such as ESPN and Turner are broadcasting eSports tournaments and competitions. And in 2014, Amazon acquired Twitch, the live streaming video platform that has been and continues to be the leader in online gaming broadcasts. And YouTube also wanted to jump on the live streaming gaming community with the creation of YouTube Gaming.

eSports Market Growth Booming

To put in perspective how big eSports is becoming, a Google search for "lol" does not produce "laughing out loud" as the top result. Instead, it points to League of Legends, one of the most popular competitive games in existence. The game has spawned a worldwide community called the League of Legends Championship Series, more commonly known as LCS or LOL eSports.

What started as friends gathering in each other's homes to host LAN parties and play into the night has become an official network of pro gaming tournaments and leagues with legitimate teams, some of which are even sponsored and have international reach. Organizations such as Denial, AHQ, and MLG have multiple eSports leagues.

And to really understand the scope of all this, consider that the prize pool for the latest Dota 2 tournament was more than $20 million.

Websites even exist for eSports live scores to let people track the competitions in real time if they are unable to watch. There are even fantasy eSports leagues similar to fantasy football, along with the large and growing scene of eSports betting and gambling.

So it's understandable why traditional media companies would want to capitalize on this growing trend just before it floods into the mainstream. Approximately 300 million people worldwide tune in to eSports today, and that number is growing rapidly. By 2020, that number will be closer to 500 million.

eSports Industry Analysis - The Future of the Competitive Gaming Market

Financial institutions are starting to take notice. Goldman Sachs valued eSports at $500 million in 2016 and expects the market will grow at 22% annually compounded over the next three years into a more than $1 billion opportunity.

And industry statistics are already backing this valuation and demonstrating the potential for massive earnings. To illustrate the market value, market growth, and potential earnings for eSports, consider Swedish media company Modern Times Group's $87 million acquisition of Turtle Entertainment, the holding company for ESL. YouTube has made its biggest eSports investment to date by signing a multiyear broadcasting deal with Faceit to stream the latter's Esports Championship Series. And the NBA will launch its own eSports league in 2018.

Of course, as with any growing phenomenon, the question becomes: How do advertisers capitalize? This is especially tricky for eSports because of its audience demographics, which is young, passionate, male-dominated, and digital-first. They live online and on social media, are avid ad-blockers, and don't watch traditional TV or respond to conventional advertising.

So what will the future of eSports look like? How high can it climb? Could it reach the mainstream popularity of baseball or football? How will advertisers be able to reach an audience that does its best to shield itself from advertising?

Robert Elder, research analyst for BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, has compiled an unparalleled report on the eSports ecosystem that dissects the growing market for competitive gaming. This comprehensive, industry-defining report contains more than 30 charts and figures that forecast audience growth, average revenue per user, and revenue growth.

Companies and organizations mentioned in the report include: NFL, NBA, English Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, NHL, Paris Saint-Germain, Ligue 1, Ligue de Football, Twitch, Amazon, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, ESPN, Electronic Arts, EA Sports, Valve, Riot Games, Activision Blizzard, ESL, Turtle Entertainment, Dreamhack, Modern Times Group, Turner Broadcasting, TBS Network, Vivendi, Canal Plus, Dailymotion, Disney, BAMTech, Intel, Coca Cola, Red Bull, HTC, Mikonet

Here are some eSports industry facts and statistics from the report:

• eSports is a still nascent industry filled with commercial opportunity.
• There are a variety of revenue streams that companies can tap into.
• The market is presently undervalued and has significant room to grow.
• The dynamism of this market distinguishes it from traditional sports.
• The audience is high-value and global, and its numbers are rising.
• Brands can prosper in eSports by following the appropriate game plan.
• Game publishers approach their Esport ecosystems in different ways.  
• Successful esport games are comprised of the same basic ingredients.
• Digital streaming platforms are spearheading the popularity of eSports.
• Legacy media are investing into eSports, and seeing encouraging results.
• Traditional sports franchises have a clear opportunity to seize in eSports.
• Virtual and augmented reality firms also stand to benefit from eSports.  

In full, the report illuminates the business of eSports from four angles:

• The gaming nucleus of eSports, including an overview of popular esport genres and games; the influence of game publishers, and the spectrum of strategies they adopt toward their respective esport scenes; the role of eSports event producers and the tournaments they operate.
• The eSports audience profile, its size, global reach, and demographic, psychographic, and behavioral attributes; the underlying factors driving its growth; why they are an attractive target for brands and broadcasters; and the significant audience and commercial crossover with traditional sports.
• eSports media broadcasters, including digital avant-garde like Twitch and YouTube, newer digital entrants like Facebook and traditional media outlets like Turner’s TBS Network, ESPN, and Canal Plus; their strategies and successes in this space; and the virtual reality opportunity.
• eSports market economics, with a market sizing, growth forecasts, and regional analyses; an evaluation of the eSports spectacle and its revenue generators, some of which are idiosyncratic to this industry; strategic planning for brand marketers, with case studies; and an exploration of the infinite dynamism and immense potential of the eSports economy.

Interested in getting the full report? Here are two ways to access it:

1. Subscribe to an All-Access pass to BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report and over 100 other expertly researched reports. As an added bonus, you'll also gain access to all future reports and daily newsletters to ensure you stay ahead of the curve and benefit personally and professionally. >> START A MEMBERSHIP
2. Purchase & download the full report from our research store. >> BUY THE REPORT

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 7 details you might have missed in the premiere of season 3 of 'Twin Peaks'

Some smartphone games require little more than opposable thumbs and a pulse. 

Others, like Blackbox, require so much wit and creativity that you'll either end up feeling frustrated or incredibly proud of yourself. 

Blackbox is a puzzle game for iPhone that was just awarded one of Apple's prestigious Design Awards, which honor the best new apps, the ones Apple thinks are especially useful or beautiful.

Blackbox was among this year's 12 winners, which Apple announced at its annual developer conference this week.

Blackbox presents you with small challenges that you have to complete by doing everything except touch the screen. Each challenge ends when you "turn on the lights," meaning the small, brightly-colored squares (called lights) change from empty to filled. To do this, you have to use your phone's other sensors, features and functions to trigger the puzzle.  

If that sounds confusing, it is. Blackbox is hard — I mean really hard — but equally rewarding. Here's how it works.

SEE ALSO: 12 fun tricks hidden inside Google Hangouts

When you download Blackbox, you'll be greeted with a short (and sassy) walkthrough of the components of the app.

But those directions are mysterious, only providing the basics before launching you into your first puzzle.

In this puzzle, there are six lights to turn on. The game doesn't give you any directions on how to do that, simply urging you to "Think outside the box," which isn't particularly helpful — unless you notice that the words are reversed, which means you need to flip your phone around until you hit all six lights. 

The main thing to know about Blackbox is that most of the puzzles can't be solved with simple taps or swipes on the screen. Instead, the game uses actions you can complete using the sensors and features within your phone — like changing the volume buttons, altering the screen brightness, plugging into the headphone jack — to solve the puzzles.

21 everyday phrases that come straight from Shakespeare's plays.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: These are the key issues Trump needs to address to boost the economy

The wildly successful battle-royale-style game "PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds" is getting three major updates that many players asked for.

The updates were announced on Monday during the E3 PC Gaming Show, and streamed on PC Gamer's YouTube channel. 

Those updates include new gameplay maneuvers and animations, like climbing and vaulting over obstacles, as well as new weather modes, like fog and a beautiful dusk setting.

While the updates may not seem significant for those familiar with big-name AAA games like the "Call of Duty" franchise, it's a big deal for a game "PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds," which is still unfinished and yet so popular. Indeed,"PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds" is an "early access" game at the time of writing. That means it's available to buy and play, but it's not a fully released game and players could encounter a few bugs here and there, as well as limited features. Despite this, Bluehole Studios, the developers behind "PlayerUnknown's Battlegrouds," had sold two million copies of the game within its first five weeks of availability.

It's not yet known when players can expect an update containing these features, but it shoudn't be too long judging by the constant updates rolled out by Bluehole Studios. Check out the new features coming to "PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds:"

SEE ALSO: Forget 'Call of Duty' — this insane new game is going to blow your mind

1. Climbing over obstacles.

This is a big deal, as players aren't currently able to jump over obstacles that should be easy to clear, especially when you have the adrenaline that comes with a life-or-death fight coursing through your veins.

Here's what climbing over a car hood looks like in the upcoming update.

This could let you get a better look as you scan the horizon for potential enemies, but it could also make you target practice for danger that lurks nearby.

2. Vaulting

Sprinting away from danger is the only way to get out of a sticky situation in "PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds" at the moment, so it's good to see a new option to evade a barrage of bullets more quickly in the upcoming update.

Nintendo's got a brand new Super Mario game in the works, but with an all-new spin.

Rather than a traditional Mario title, this one co-stars the Rabbids, the characters from Ubisoft's long-running game franchise. The new game's called "Mario & Rabbids: Kingdom Battle" and will be a "turn-based tactical adventure" game, according to Ubisoft.

Players will see a battlefield, where the action takes place, from a birds-eye view. The combat looks a bit more complex than the standard Mario & Luigi-style RPGs, and there are a variety of tactics for taking down groups of enemies. In the image below, you can see Mario taking a shot at an enemy who's hiding behind cover.

It looks like Nintendo and Ubisoft will be playing up the fun. In the trailer for the game, comedy was rife. And it looks as though the game makers drew from past titles to include lots of the goofy flair and funny quirks from the Rabbids and Super Mario franchises. 

Nintendo mastermind Shigeru Miyamoto was on hand at Ubisoft's E3 event in Los Angeles Monday to introduce the new game.

"Mario & Rabbids" has reportedly been in development for the past three years, and it's coming to the Nintendo Switch on August 29 as an exclusive.

The first trailer for the game is right here:

SEE ALSO: I got an early look at Microsoft's new Xbox One X in action, and I was not blown away

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 5 hidden features only PlayStation 4 power users know about

In every medium — from books to film to photography to video games — there are underappreciated classics. Sometimes they're flawed jewels, and sometimes they're simply a victim of timing.

"Beyond Good & Evil" is a case of the latter.

When the third-person action-adventure game debuted in 2003, it was critically-acclaimed and commercially unsuccessful. Loyal, vocal fans asked the game's maker, Ubisoft, for a sequel. For years, that sequel has been discussed but never made official.

On Monday, it was reintroduced in a surprise announcement.

Rather than a direct sequel, "Beyond Good & Evil 2" is a prequel set in a "stunning new solar system." 

Here's the full description of the game's plot, care of Ubisoft:

"System 3 has become the center of interstellar trade and colonization in the Milky Way of the 24th century, thanks to the creation of Hybrid slaves. While private enterprises fight over resources and power, the first colonists weave together the rich and diverse spiritual and cultural heritages of Old Earth to give meaning to their existence. In this new era of piracy, we will rise from lowly pirate to legendary captain at the helm of massive star-faring vessels, adventuring alongside crews of colorful characters to fight for freedom and the right to determine our own fate among the stars!"

The trailer debuted during a Ubisoft press briefing in Los Angeles, just ahead of the annual E3 video game conference. None of the footage in the trailer appears to be in-game, nor is it clear what state of development the game is in. It was re-introduced by Michel Ancel, the game's creative director and the man responsible for the original game. 

Fans have been anticipating more news on "Beyond Good & Evil 2" for years; Ubisoft has previously shown concept trailers for a sequel that featured characters from the first game. In the image below, for instance, Pey'j is seen in the forefront while a character who looks like Jade sits in the background. 

Outside of those trailers, Ubisoft has remained relatively quiet when asked about the sequel — the common refrain is something along the lines of, "It isn't canceled, but we have nothing to say right now other than that." 

By contrast, the new trailer debuted on Monday looks remarkably different from the art style previously on display. And news that it's a prequel is a change from how the game was previously discussed.

It's unclear what consoles this game is for, or when it's planned for release. It's being developed by Ubisoft Montpelier, in France, and the first trailer looks absolutely outrageous. Beware that there's some NSFW language in there.

Here it is:

SEE ALSO: A crazy new game dares you and a friend to escape prison together

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: These size comparisons show the true scale of enormous things

Microsoft has a brand new game console called the Xbox One X. All that “Project Scorpio” talk you might have heard the last few months? This is that, without the code words.

In any case, Microsoft is touting the new device as “the world’s most powerful console.” Based on its internal specs, Microsoft probably isn’t wrong!

But since this kind of iterative release is a bit untraditional for game consoles, you might have questions about what exactly this new Xbox is, and where it fits into the larger gaming market.

We're here to help. Here’s everything we know about the Xbox One X, now that it’s officially been unveiled:

SEE ALSO: I got an early look at Microsoft's new Xbox One X in action, and I was not blown away

The Xbox One X is, fundamentally, another Xbox One.

This is not a “next-generation” device like the leap from the Xbox 360 to the Xbox One.

Instead, it’s more like Microsoft’s version of Sony's PlayStation 4 Pro — it takes the existing Xbox One and makes it stronger.

That means it plays all the same games you can play on the original Xbox One or Xbox One S. There is no deviation in any of the three devices’ game libraries.

In other words, there are no games that are exclusive to the Xbox One X. If you’d prefer the cheaper Xbox One S, you won’t miss out on that next “Halo," “Crackdown,” or what have you.

At the same time, this means a good chunk of the games from companies other than Microsoft will still be available on the PlayStation 4 and other platforms as well. 

That said, Microsoft is promising that games on the Xbox One X will look and run better than they will on other Xbox One devices, provided that those games are built with the Xbox One X’s extra horsepower in mind.

VH1's new series "Daytime Divas" has handed the network something to talk about.

According to Nielsen, 1.5 million total viewers watched the hourlong series premiere of "Daytime Divas" last Monday, June 5, at 10 p.m. in live-plus-three data, which counts viewing the night of and over the following three days in DVR, on-demand, and other platforms.

Combining viewers across all the airings of the show last Monday, a total of 2.5 million people watched the series premiere in live-plus-three ratings data.

When it comes to the audience that advertisers most want to reach, adults aged 50 and under, "Daytime Divas" was the No. 1 show in its time period and the third-biggest scripted series launch of 2017 after FX dramas "Legion" and "Taboo."

Produced by Sony Pictures Television, "Daytime Divas" stars "Ugly Betty" and "Desperate Housewives" star Vanessa Williams, "Martin" actress Tichina Arnold, "Wilfred's" Fiona Gubelmann, "Pretty Little Liars" actress Chloe Bridges, and "Prison Break" alum Camille Guaty.

Business Insider named "Daytime Divas" one of the most-exciting shows of the summer. It's based on former "The View" cohost Star Jones's novel "Satan's Sisters." Jones is also an executive producer. And while it's a scripted series, there's sure to be some insightful looks into the inner workings of a daytime talk show.

"Daytime Divas" is just the latest hit for VH1, which has been climbing up the cable ratings standings for nearly two years on the strength of "RuPaul's Drag Race," its "Love & Hip Hop" reality franchise, and its hip-hop drama "The Breaks," among other shows.

SEE ALSO: The 34 most exciting TV shows this summer you need to see

DON'T MISS: VH1 is in the middle of a ratings resurgence and beating its cable competitors — here's why

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Fabio Viviani describes the insanely tough challenge he had on 'Top Chef' that never made it to TV

One of the best games of the past 10 years, "Skyrim," is coming to the PlayStation 4 VR headset. It's the same "Skryim" you already know and love, but now you can play the game entirely from within virtual reality.

Beyond just being able to play the game in VR, it looks as though you'll be able to control each hand independently through the PlayStation Move motion controllers.

The original "Skyrim" launched on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC way back in 2011. It was a critical and commerical blow-up success, and has gone on to receive "definitive" editions on newer consoles — from the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 to the Nintendo Switch.

And now, apparently, it's getting a VR version.

It's not clear whether the new version will cost anything if you already own the game on PlayStation 4. We'll update this with more information as we learn more. 

In the meantime, the full trailer is right here:

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's everything Apple is rumored to be launching in 2017

At its E3 press conference on Monday night, Sony unveiled a high-definition remaster of "Shadow of the Colossus," one of the most critically-acclaimed video games in the PlayStation library.

In a brief trailer, Sony revealed that the title, which is simply called "Shadow of the Colossus," would be released sometime in 2018. Texas-based Bluepoint Games was noted as the developer behind the remaster.

Originally released for the PlayStation 2 in 2005, "Shadow of the Colossus" is something of a landmark in gaming history. It's an emotive, minimalist story that focuses on a young boy named Wander, who is tasked with slaying 16 giants (or, colossi) across a vast, deserted landscape. It's one of those games you kind of need to play to really "get."

The game, along with its equally acclaimed predecessor "Ico," already received a slight graphics upgrade in a 2011 port for the PlayStation 3 (also handled by Bluepoint Games). But if Sony's teaser is any indication, this new version should look much more polished and modern — likely to take advantage of the improved graphics power in the recently-released PlayStation 4 Pro, which supports 4K and HDR visuals.

Sony and Fumito Ueda, the lead designer behind "Ico" and "Shadow of the Colossus," released a spiritual successor to those games called "The Last Guardian" late last year.

Here's a look at the reveal trailer for "Shadow of the Colossus": 

And you can take a look at some screenshots below:

SEE ALSO: Sony's PlayStation 4 is crushing Nintendo and Microsoft — now execs explain the master plan

Sony played a gameplay trailer of the upcoming PlayStation exclusive game called "Days Gone" during its conference at E3 on Monday, and it looks fantastic.

"Days Gone" is an open-world game set two years after a devastating global pandemic, where much of humanity has turned into monstrous flesh-eating zombies. And they're the fast kind of zombies that run in herds towards the slightest sign of fresh human meat instead of lumbering slowly, which intensifies the horror.

The trailer also revealed that animals like wolves and bears were affected by the pandemic, too, and they look bigger and more carnivorous than their pre-pandemic selves. They, too, will chase fresh humans in search for their next meals. The bear at the end of the trailer, complete with the remnants of a barbed wire fence wrapped around its body, looks particularly deadly. 

As is expected with most zombie apocalypse settings, humans also pose one of the greatest threats. In the trailer, the game's biker-gang protagonist called Deacon is rescuing his friend who was captured by a rival group.

Check out the trailer for "Days Gone:"

SEE ALSO: After 14 years, one of the most critically-acclaimed games of all time is finally getting a sequel

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This crazy new Xbox horror game looks like nothing we've ever seen before

More details are emerging about the state of ABC's "Bachelor in Paradise" as an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct is underway.

One contestant told People on the condition of anonymity what it was like behind the scenes as production in Mexico was being shut down pending the investigation. The contenders were placed on lockdown, separated, and not allowed to speak with one another, the person said.

"We were told to stay in a certain part of the [resort] while they figured out what the hell had happened," the contestant said. "We knew something bad had happened. There was a dark energy that came around the house. You have to understand that we weren't even there a week. The game hadn't even really begun yet."

The alleged incident reportedly occurred on the show's first day of taping.

"They stopped taping anything, and we were just kind of there, waiting in limbo," the person said. "We couldn't talk to each other about what we knew. On Thursday, one of the camera guys told me that they were probably going to shut down production. I didn't realize that it was that serious until then. I was like, 'Wait, they're thinking of canceling the show?' It hadn't even crossed my mind that they'd do that."

According to reports, production was suspended because producers alleged they filmed DeMario Jackson ("The Bachelorette" season 13) in a sexual encounter with a female contestant, whom the reports have identified as Corinne Olympios ("The Bachelor" season 21), while she was too drunk to give proper consent.

ABC and producer Warner Horizon have confirmed that an investigation into "allegations of misconduct" is in progress. It was reportedly the result of a "third-party complaint" filed by a show producer. But both ABC and Warner Horizon haven't confirmed that this season of the show has been canceled.

But according to the contestant who spoke to People, producers didn't paint a positive picture of the show returning after the investigation.

"One of them was crying. She told us that it was over and we'd all be going home," the contestant said of a meeting held after the lockdown.

"[The producer] was like, 'I don't think that's realistic,'" the contestant continued of the likelihood that production would resume. "She said that there was an investigation going on, and that could take days, weeks, or even months. And by that time, we all have lives and jobs and things to go back to, so it just wasn't going to work out. They told us that we'd be considered for future seasons and opportunities in the franchise, but that this adventure was probably over."

"Bachelor in Paradise," a summer spin-off of ABC's long-running "The Bachelor" franchise, has aired for three seasons. It features eliminated contenders from the franchise who are secluded at a beautiful destination and gives them another chance at romance.

SEE ALSO: One of the most scandalous shows on TV is rumored to be shutting down because of a boozy hot-tub incident — here's what 'Bachelor in Paradise' is about

DON'T MISS: Producers behind hit reality-TV shows reveal the secret tricks they use to orchestrate crazy drama

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Everything you need to know about Corinne Olympios — the newest villain on 'The Bachelor'

A new "God of War" game is in the works, and it's a bit of a departure from previous entries in the series. 

Rather than ripping through thousands of enemies with the traditional "chain blades," the re-booted "God of War" stars a softer, gentler, more parental Kratos.

Here's Kratos with his son, a primary component of the new game:

It appears that Kratos is leaving the trappings of ancient Greece — and the many Gods that rule it — for Norse mythology and snow-covered woods. It also appears that his origin story is being somewhat re-imagined. He's usually driven by the death of his family, but the new "God of War" puts him in the role of a single father raising his son.

Don't let that fool you, though — this is still a series with massive beasts and loads of combat.

And rather than Kratos taking on the world all by himself (as he is wont to do), it appears as though the game is a bit of a training session for his son. 

Expect lots of fraught moments like this:

But you want to see the new "God of War" in action, don't you? 'Course you do.

"God of War" is scheduled to launch in "early 2018" exclusively on the PlayStation 4. Here's the trailer:

SEE ALSO: Sony is remastering the acclaimed 'Shadow of the Colossus' for the PlayStation 4, and it looks fantastic

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 5 hidden features only PlayStation 4 power users know about

Rajiv Surendra, the author of "The Elephants In My Backyard: A Memoir," is best known for his portrayal of Kevin G in the Tina Fey-written "Mean Girls." He recounts his famous role, how he once ran away from home and became a nanny in Munich, starting a business in New York, and what else he's up to these days. Following is a transcript of the video.

"Oh please. It’s called 'Mean Girls' and it’s starring Lindsay Lohan. It’s going straight to DVD."

I’m Rajiv Surendra and many of you probably know me as Kevin G. the rapping mathlete from “Mean Girls.”

I can never forget that rap. No one will let me forget the rap.  I didn’t think this rap was going to be a big deal. And I had no idea that was going to become one of the iconic moments of "Mean Girls." This two-minute ridiculous rap.

"Aaall youuu

Sucka emcees ain't got nothin' on me!

From my grades to my lines

You can't touch Kevin G!

I'm a mathlete, so nerd is inferred.

But forget what you heard.

I'm like James Bond the Third

Sh-sh-shaken, not stirred. I'm Kevin Gnapoor.

The G is silent when I sneak in your door

And make love to your woman on the bathroom floor.

I don’t play it like Shaggy. You'll know it was me

‘Cuz the next time you see her, she be like,'Ohhh! Kevin G!'"

"Mean Girls" was a lot of fun to shoot because no one on set was a big star.  So there were no divas on set. The only sort of big name on set was Lindsay. And Lindsay, at that point, wasn’t a huge star.

I remember sitting in the hair and makeup chair one morning and asking the hair stylist how she thought it would do.  She had worked on some pretty big movies and she was like, "Oh please. It’s called 'Mean Girls' and it’s starring Lindsay Lohan. It’s going straight to DVD." Then "Mean Girls" came out and it became this big thing and I was shocked. And it still surprises me that 14-year-olds come up to me and say,"Oh my God! You’re Kevin G."

When I auditioned for "Mean Girls," I was at this point in my life as an actor where I was so frustrated with the stereotype.  Parts like mine were atypical. This rapping math guy that didn’t have an Indian accent and bobble his head. And I felt like Tina Fey had written this accurate depiction of what it meant to be a first-generation Indian guy in North America.

On the set of "Mean Girls," the cameraman had read a book and he came up to me one day and was like,"You’re the lead character in this book I just finished."

And I was like,"Oh yea. Is he brown?"

And he’s like,"Actually, yea, he is."

The book happened to be "Life of Pi."

Cause here, finally,  was that lead role that wasn’t playing the stereotypical, nerdy Indian kid.  This was an authentic Indian kid.  And I made it my mission to land that part.  I dropped out of college. I flew to South India where the book takes place.  I enrolled in the boy's school that Pi attends, this little seminary called Petit Seminaire. And I learned how to walk like those Indian kids. How to talk like them. I wanted to perfect that South Indian accent.

The adaptation of the book went through 5 different directors.  All the while I continued researching for this part. This was something that was to continue for 6 years. This stop-and-go pattern. And then a few months later, after this six-year journey, I found out that Ang Lee, the final director, didn’t want an actor. He wanted the real thing.

So I was kind of crushed when I found out someone else was cast.  So I actually ended up running away from home. I moved to Munich and I became a nanny for two little kids. Running away was actually kind of the best thing for me. It allowed me to kind of mourn the loss of this big dream that I had. This huge goal that I chased after. I really learned that you really shouldn’t let the fear of failure stand in your way. If you’re willing to take chances amazing things can happen.

I had come back to Toronto a couple of times and I had very casually started this calligraphy business. So I was doing to chalkboard menus at restaurants and cafes in Toronto and it kind of became a thing. So I run a calligraphy business out of New York called Letters In Ink, I’m now an author and I still continue to audition for tv shows and movies.

Well, people are looking at the book, considering turning it into a movie and I would love for that to happen.  I think it would be so ironic if the role that I ended up playing was myself. Woody Allen. Where are you? What’s your next movie? It’s this right here Woody.

Follow Tech Insider: On Facebook

Join the conversation about this story »

The PlayStation 4 is continuing its market dominance over the current generation of video game consoles, with over 60.4 million units sold. 

Sony Interactive Entertainment's announcement, which came after its E3 showcase on Monday night, includes all sales from the system's launch in November of 2013 up to June 11, 2017. 

In a press statement, Sony Interactive Entertainment president and global CEO Andrew House thanked fans for supporting the PS4. 

"The PS4 platform is in its prime, with the industry's best lineup of exclusive and partner titles slated to release this year, taking full advantage of the power of the PS4 system," he said. "We remain steadfast in bringing the best entertainment experience to users worldwide and making PS4 the best place to play."

Sony also announced it has sold 487.8 million games thus far, in both digital and physical formats. In addition, the company stated that its online service PlayStation Plus has 26.4 million paid subscribers worldwide, and that PS4 users spend a combined 600 million hours on the console each week. 

The PlayStation 4's closest rival, the Xbox One, had moved 27 million units as of January 2017. 

SEE ALSO: The PlayStation 4 is selling about twice as fast as the Xbox One

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This couple lived in Google’s parking lot for 2 years and saved 80% of their income — here’s how they did it

Some of the world's top music artists are turning to a classic tech startup strategy to find success in the digital age: scale with a compelling free product, and then convert your most passionate users into paying customers.

In a new interview, Abel "the Weeknd" Tesfaye described his initial breakout, which came with a series of mysterious free mixtapes starting around 2011.

"I really wanted people who had no idea who I was to hear my project," the 27-year-old Toronto native told Forbes. "You don't do that by asking for money."

The idea was to get his music into the hands of as many people as possible. That notion was partially driven by the understanding that live concerts is where a big chunk of money is made, and this income stream only comes from passionate fans.

"We live in a world where artists don't really make the money off the music like we did in the Golden Age," Tesfaye said. "It's not really coming in until you hit the stage."

Tesfaye isn't the only star who has recognized that the "freemium" model favored by many tech companies, or something close to it, is effective in the new era of music.

“For the artists' fans and for artists, in terms of exposure, music should be everywhere and as easily accessible as humanly possible ... especially for an artist you are still building,” Andrew Gertler, who manages teen singer-songwriter sensation Shawn Mendes, told Business Insider last month.

“The music really is not as much the revenue generator as the marketing tool to then create other income streams,” Gertler explained.

Those other income streams include not only things like live events and brand deals, but also opportunities at the crossroads of music and TV (or video in general), where Gertler said the line is getting more and more blurred. Forbes also notes that Tesfaye has made a bundle on festival and arena concerts, and deals with big names like Apple.

Tesfaye and Mendes have recognized that while the actual recorded music might not be the revenue driver it once was, it is still a way to get a music artist incredible reach. If that artist has a valuable product, this reach will create a subset of loyal fans, who can help drive the real moneymakers.

SEE ALSO: As YouTube stars pursue new dreams, keeping millions of loyal fans happy is a tough balancing act

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How to undo sent emails in Gmail

Marcus Lemonis has seen a lot of horrible business decisions over the years of investing in and making over failing companies on CNBC's "The Profit," but one Chicago retailer has reached a new low.

On Tuesday's new episode at 10 p.m., Windward Boardshop is struggling to keep products on the shelves and its doors open. 

An iconic retailer for skateboarding and snowboarding enthusiasts over three decades, Windward Boardshop has since gone downhill after its owners tried to expand too quickly. The three partners don’t communicate and one of them has been sidelined from business decisions by the other two.

In Business Insider's exclusive preview, Lemonis visits the business at a trade show and drops some fatal truth bombs on an owner.

"This is the s---tiest display I've ever seen," Lemonis told Chris Currier, one of Windward Boardshop's three owners, upon arriving to see his sparse setup at the trade show.

For Lemonis, the trade show display is just part of the problem. Windward's very presence at the show is losing the company money, something Lemonis shows Currier by doing the math right there on the spot.

As a result of his calculations, Lemonis offered a new tagline for the business: "Windward Boardshop, where we love to lose money."

Watch Business Insider's exclusive preview from Tuesday's episode of "The Profit" below:

SEE ALSO: 'The Profit' star Marcus Lemonis talks about how much he's invested and lost on the show

DON'T MISS: Diddy is the highest-paid celebrity, according to Forbes

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Jim Cramer told us about his 'vicious' daily routine which starts at 3:45 AM and doesn't end until after 11:30 PM

One of Nintendo's most popular properties is speeding towards a full-fledged virtual reality experience. 

Bandai Namco has announced that their flagship virtual reality arcade, VR Zone Shinjuki, will open next month. The arcade will be nearly 40,000 square feet, according to a report in The Japan Times, and will feature over 15 virtual reality games. 

But the highlight of the announcement was the reveal of an official "Mario Kart" game designed entirely for virtual reality.

Players sit in a metal rig designed to look like a go-kart, wearing an HTC Vive headset as well as sensors on both of their hands. The race is seen in the first person, and famous "Mario Kart" items such as the red and blue shells are tossed at opponents by gesturing with your hands. 

For now, you'll have to book a flight to Tokyo if you want to play "Mario Kart" in virtual reality. However, an executive at Bandai Namco told The Japan Times that the goal is "to spread VR Zone facilities around the world."

Check out the new "Mario Kart" game in action below. 

SEE ALSO: Walmart is using virtual reality to train its employees

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: I wear these computer glasses every day even though I have perfect vision — here's why