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On this day in 2023

On this day in 2022

• EVENTS
• Ticketmaster sells more than 2 million tickets for Taylor Swift's The Eras tour, the most tickets ever sold in a single day for an artist, amid hours-long wait times for fans.
• Brooklyn Public Library celebrates its 125th anniversary and announces Maurice Sendak's 1963 title "Where the Wild Things Are" is its most borrowed book.
• GAMING: PC
• Floodland for PC is released. A society survival game set in a world destroyed by climate change. Explore, scavenge and build a city to unite the clans. Conflicting cultures and limited resources mean you need to make tough choices; have you got what it takes to lead your people into a new era of humanity?
• GAMING: PLAYSTATION 5
• Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA for PlayStation 5 is released. Ys returns with a brand new adventure for the first time in 8 years! Adol awakens shipwrecked and stranded on a cursed island. There, he and the other shipwrecked passengers he rescues form a village to challenge fearsome beasts and mysterious ruins on the isolated island. Amidst this, Adol begins to dream of a mysterious blue-haired maiden living in an unknown world. Join Adol as he unravels the riddle of the cursed isle and the blue-haired maiden Dana in Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana!FEATURES:An Epic Tale - Follow Adol on his latest adventure and uncover the mysteries of the cursed island. Party On! - Change your playable character on-the-fly as you battle ferocious foes in lighting-fast combat.Another Side - Unravel the mystery of the blue-haired maiden Dana through her unique gameplay sections.It Takes a Village! - Rescue your fellow shipwrecked passengers and bring them to your village where they will provide valuable services.
• Syberia: The World Before for PlayStation 5 is released. Vaghen,1937: Dana Roze is a 17-year-old girl, who is beginning a brilliant career as a pianist. However, shadows begin to appear over her future as the fascist threat of the Brown Shadow hangs over Europe, at the dawn of the Second World War.Taiga,2004: Kate Walker survives as best she can in the salt mine where she has been imprisoned, when a tragic event propels her into a new adventure in search of her identity.Set off on an adventure across continents and through time. Play as both Kate Walker and Dana Roze as you get to the bottom of mysteries that have remained buried for too long.Explore the fantastic and poetic world of Benoît Sokal, with its breathtaking sceneries and iconic characters. Solve complicated puzzles and riddles in keeping with the tradition of the saga. Discover a rich and captivating story with unprecedented stakes and gripping dialogue.
• GAMING: SWITCH
• Smurfs Kart for Switch is released. It's time to heat up your engines! Choose your Smurf - each one having their own kart and unique ability - and take part in wild races.Start off strong, find shortcuts, use the right items at the right time to pass your opponents and become the village's best kart driver!Play solo or with friends and family, should you be a beginner or the most trained driver... get the pole position and show others who is the fastest Smurf of all time!
• GAMING: XBOX SERIES X
• Somerville for Xbox Series X is released. Jumpship’s debut title immersse players in a hand-crafted narrative set across a vivid and rural landscape. Set in the wake of a catastrophe and grounded in the intimate repercussions of large-scale conflict, players navigate through perilous terrain as they unravel the mysteries of Earth’s visitors.
• Pentiment for Xbox Series X is released. Step into a living illustrated world inspired by illuminated manuscripts and printed woodcuts in a time when Europe is at a crossroads of great religious and political change. Walk in the footsteps of Andreas Maler, a master artist who finds himself in the middle of murders, scandals, and intrigue in the Bavarian Alps. Choose your backgrounds, impact a changing world, and see the consequences of your decisions in this narrative adventure.

On this day in 2021

• EVENTS
• Former Trump aide Stephen Bannon turns himself in after being found in contempt of US Congress by a federal grand jury, after refusing to comply with investigation into Jan 6.
• DEATHS
• Heber Bartolome, Filipino folk-rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bandurria and kubing player (Banyuhay - "Nena"), who died at 73.
• Julio Lugo, Baseball Player.
• Marvin Smith, Race Car Driver.
• Bengt Madsen, Swedish soccer administrator (chairman Malmö FF 1999-2009), who died from cancer at 79.
• GAMING: PC
• Moncage for PC is released. Moncage is a stunning vignette puzzle adventure developed by Optillusion.The game takes place inside a mysterious cube, with each side of the cube housing a unique world: be it an old factory, a light tower, an amusement park, or a church, etc. At first sight, they may seem random and unrelated, but upon closer look, you will become mesmerized by the subtle and intricate ways of how these worlds connect...Use your imagination and spare no brain cells to find the connection and pinpoint every possible interaction between different sides of the cube, then watch as the magic unfold in front of you.Behind the puzzles, there lies a story with a surprising twist for the player to uncover. Collect the photos from obscure corners and angles to reveal the underlying story, one photo at a time.
• GAMING: XBOX SERIES X
• Halo Infinite for Xbox Series X is released. When all hope is lost and humanity’s fate hangs in the balance, the Master Chief is ready to confront the most ruthless foe he’s ever faced. Begin anew and step inside the armor of humanity’s greatest hero to experience an epic adventure and finally explore the scale of the Halo ring itself.
• SPORTS
• Bobby Collins Jr., American college football coach (head coach University of Southern Mississippi; Southern Methodist University), who died at 88.

On this day in 2020

• EVENTS
• British Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton clinches 4th straight and record equalling 7th F1 World Drivers C'ship by winning Turkish GP at Intercity Istanbul Park, Tuzla.
• SpaceX Falcon 9 launches first regular flight to International Space Station with four astronauts, three from NASA, one Japanese.
• World-record price for a Belgian racing pigeon called New Kim sold for €1.6m (£1.4m) at auction.
• 84th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: American Dustin Johnson fires record total -20 to win his first Masters title by 5 strokes from Cameron Smith of Australia & South Korean Sungjae Im.
• Treaty establishing world's largest trading bloc between 15 Asian Pacific countries signed at virtual Asean meeting.
• DEATHS
• Soumitra Chatterjee, Indian actor, playwright and poet (Satyajit Ray's Apu Trilogy), who died of COVID complications at 85.
• Ray Clemence MBE, English soccer goalkeeper (England 61 caps, Liverpool, Tottenham), who died from prostate cancer at 72.
• Campbell Forsyth, Scottish soccer goalkeeper (4 caps; St Mirren, Kilmarnock, Southampton), who died at 86.
• TV SERIES
• Murder on Middle Beach is released. Madison Hamburg investigates his mother Barbara Beach's unsolved 2010 murder in this four-part documentary he also directed.
• The Crown: Season 4 is released. The fourth season features the arrival of new Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (Gillian Anderson) and Lady Diana Spencer (Emma Corrin) starting her journey to becoming Princess Diana.
• POLITICS
• US President Donald Trump tweets [Biden] "won because the election was rigged, ” while still refusing to concede the election.

On this day in 2019

• EVENTS
• Pakistan becomes the 1st country to introduce a vaccine against typhoid, targeting 10 million children.
• " Joker" starring Joaquin Phoenix is the 1st R-rated film to earn $1 billion worldwide.
• Iran shuts down its internet for five days to suppress news of national protests against higher gas prices - beginning of the worst unrest for 40 years in the country.
• DEATHS
• John Barker, Race Car Driver.
• Jorge Vergara, Entrepreneur.
• Harrison Dillard, American athlete (Olympic gold 100m,4×100m relay 1948; 110m hurdles,4×100m relay 1952), who died at 96.
• MOVIES: NOT RATED
• Everybody's Everything is released. Creating a unique mix of punk, emo and trap, Lil Peep was set to bring a new musical genre to the mainstream when he died of a drug overdose at just 21 years old. From the streets of Los Angeles to studios in London and sold out tours in Russia, the artist born Gustav Ahr touched countless lives through his words, his sound and his very being. Everybody's Everything is an intimate, humanistic portrait that seeks to understand an artist who attempted to be all things to all people.
• Feast of the Seven Fishes is released. December 23,1983: Just days before Christmas, the Oliverio family readies their Feast of the Seven Fishes, an Italian tradition stretching back to the old country of Calabria. Amidst the preparations, Tony Oliverio, a young man with big dreams and a bigger heart, wonders if he’ll find love this Christmas season or spend it alone with his loud and loving family- Great Grandma Nonnie, Grandpa Johnny, Great Uncles Frankie and Carmine, his parents, his brother, and a host of friends. When Sarah, the girlfriend of his cousin Angelo, introduces Tony to Beth, it looks like Tony’s holiday experience might take a turn for the better. That is unless Nonnie thinks Beth isn’t good enough for her great-grandson, and Beth’s Ivy League suitor doesn’t steal her heart first. Come on inside, where it’s warm, and the smells of cooking fish permeate the air, and let’s have a visit.
• Atlantics is released. In a popular suburb of Dakar, workers on the construction site of a futuristic tower, without pay for months, decide to leave the country by the ocean for a better future. Among them is Suleiman, the lover of Ada, promised to another.
• Scandalous: The Untold Story of the National Enquirer is released. Sex! Gossip! Scandal! For over 60 years, the National Enquirer has pumped out salacious, shocking stories, stretching the limits of journalism and blurring the lines between truth and fiction. Scandalous is the sensational true story of the most infamous tabloid in US history, a wild, probing look at how one newspaper’s prescient grasp of its’ readers darkest curiosities led it to massive profits and influence. From its coverage of Elvis’s death, to Monica Lewinsky and the O.J. Simpson murder trial, the National Enquirer rattled the foundations of American culture and politics, sometimes allegedly using payoffs and blackmail to get its scoops. With rare archival footage and revelations as wild as National Enquirer headlines themselves, Scandalous examines our obsession with the rich, famous and powerful, and the tabloid that has fed those obsessions for generations of Americans.
• Waves is released. Set against the vibrant landscape of South Florida, Waves traces the epic emotional journey of a suburban African-American family—led by a well-intentioned but domineering father—as they navigate love, forgiveness and coming together in the aftermath of a loss. [A24]
• The Warrior Queen of Jhansi is released. The Warrior Queen of Jhansi tells the true story of the legendary Rani (translation: Queen) of Jhansi, a feminist icon in India and a fearless freedom fighter. In 1857 India, this 24-year old General led her people into battle against the British Empire earning the reputation as the Joan of Arc of the East. This real-life Wonder Woman's insurrection shifted the balance of power in the region and set in motion the demise of the notorious British East India Company and the beginning of the British Raj under Queen Victoria.
• MOVIES: PG13
• Charlie's Angels is released. Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, and Ella Balinska are working for the mysterious Charles Townsend, whose security and investigative agency has expanded internationally. With the world’s smartest, bravest, and most highly trained women all over the globe, there are now teams of Angels guided by multiple Bosleys taking on the toughest jobs everywhere.
• Ford v Ferrari is released. Visionary American car designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and fearless British-born driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale) battle corporate interference, the laws of physics, and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary race car for Ford Motor Company and take on the dominating race cars of Enzo Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France in 1966.
• MOVIES: R
• The Report is released. Idealistic staffer Daniel J. Jones (Adam Driver) is tasked by his boss Senator Dianne Feinstein (Annette Bening) to lead an investigation of the CIA's Detention and Interrogation Program, which was created in the aftermath of 9/11. Jones' relentless pursuit of the truth leads to explosive findings that uncover the lengths to which the nation's top intelligence agency went to destroy evidence, subvert the law, and hide a brutal secret from the American public.
• The Good Liar is released. Career con artist Roy Courtnay (Ian McKellen) can hardly believe his luck when he meets well-to-do widow Betty McLeish (Helen Mirren) online. As Betty opens her home and life to him, Roy is surprised to find himself caring about her, turning what should be a cut-and-dry swindle into the most treacherous tightrope walk of his life.
• MOVIES: TVMA
• I Lost My Body is released. In a Parisian laboratory, a severed hand escapes its unhappy fate and sets out to reconnect with its body. During a hair-raising escapade across the city, the extremity fends off pigeons and rats alike to reunite with pizza boy Naoufel. Its memories of Naoufel and his love for librarian Gabrielle may provide answers about what caused the hand's separation, and a poetic backdrop for a possible reunion between the three.
• MOVIES: UNRATED
• Recorder: The Marion Stokes Project is released. Marion Stokes secretly recorded television 24 hours a day for 30 years from 1975 until her death in 2012. For Marion, taping was a form of activism to seek the truth, and she believed that a comprehensive archive of the media would be invaluable for future generations. Her visionary and maddening project nearly tore her family apart, but now her 70,000 VHS tapes are being digitized and they'll be searchable online.
• TV SERIES
• The Mandalorian: Season 1 is released. The Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) travels the galaxy, out of reach of the New Republic after the fall of the Empire in Disney+'s first Star Wars live-action series.
• Dollface: Season 1 is released. Recently dumped by her boyfriend, Jules (Kat Dennings) has to rebuild her relationships with the friends she had shut out before in this comedy created by writer Jordan Weiss.
• ALBUMS
• Courage was released by Céline Dion. The first English-language release in six years for the Canadian pop singer features contributions from David Guetta, Greg Kurstin, LP, Sia, Sam Smith, and Björn Yttling.
• I Made a Place was released by Bonnie "Prince"Billy. The first full-length release of new material from the singer-songwriter in eight years features contributions from Nathan Salsburg, Mike Hyman and Joan Shelley.
• No Treasure But Hope was released by Tindersticks. The 12th full-length release for the British alternative band led by Stuart Staples was recorded in six days.
• One of the Best Yet was released by Gang Starr. The first full-length release from the rap group in 16 years features vocals from Guru, who died in 2010 and guest appearances from Big Shug, J. Cole, Freddie Foxxx, Group Home, Jeru The Damaja, Talib Kweli, M.O.P., Ne-Yo, Nitty Scott, Q-Tip, and Royce Da 5'9".
• Our Pathetic Age was released by DJ Shadow. The double album from the hip-hop DJ/producer features instrumentals in the first half and hip-hop collaborations that include such artists as De La Soul, Dave East, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, Nas, Pharoahe Monch, Pusha T, Raekwon, Run The Jewels, and Wiki in the second half.
• GAMING: PLAYSTATION 4
• Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order for PlayStation 4 is released. A third-person action-adventure Star Wars title from Respawn Entertainment. The Empire seeks to eradicate all Jedi after the execution of Order 66. You, a Jedi Padawan-turned-fugitive, must fight for your survival as you explore the mysteries of a long-extinct civilization in hopes of rebuilding the Jedi Order. After narrowly escaping the Jedi purge, you’re on a quest to rebuild your fallen Order. Pick up the pieces of your shattered past and complete your Jedi training, all while staying one step ahead of the Empire and its deadly Inquisitors. Utilize your Jedi training to overcome your opponents and solve the mysteries that lay in your path. Use the Force to augment the way you explore, allowing you to traverse new paths and discover parts of locations you’ve been to before. Move quickly, though. The Empire is on your trail and won’t stop until every Jedi is exterminated. [Electronic Arts]
• Golem for PlayStation 4 is released. Enter a mysterious storybook world and take the role of Twine, an adventurous kid who has been seriously injured in an accident. Even though you are unable to leave your bed during your recovery, you never stop dreaming of exploring the outside world. That is, until you discover that you have the ability to create and control stone creatures called golems, seeing through their eyes and controlling their actions.
• GAMING: SWITCH
• Pokemon Shield for Switch is released. Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield are set in Galar, an expansive region with many environments—idyllic countryside, contemporary cities, thick forests, and craggy, snow-covered mountains. The people and Pokémon live together in this region, and they’ve worked together to develop the industries here. You’ll visit the various Gyms in the Galar region, aiming for the enviable and admirable title of Champion. [Nintendo]
• Pokemon Sword / Shield Dual Pack for Switch is released. A new generation of Pokémon has come to the Nintendo Switch system. Become a Pokémon Trainer, embark on a new journey in the new Galar region, and unravel the mystery behind the Legendary Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta! Explore the Wild Area, a vast expanse of land where the player can freely control the camera. And participate in Max Raid Battles** in which players will face off against gigantic and super-strong Pokémon known as Dynamax Pokémon. Begin your adventure by choosing one of three new partner Pokémon: Grookey, Scorbunny, or Sobble and encounter new and familiar Pokémon as you catch, battle, and trade. Players can control the camera and explore the vast areas around them in the Wild Area. Team up with other players locally or online in the new multiplayer co-op Max Raid Battles. Trainers who possess the special item Dynamax Band can Dynamax their own Pokémon. Get ready for the next Pokémon adventure in the Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield games.* Catch, battle, and trade Pokémon on an all-new adventure in the Galar region* Choose from three new partner Pokémon and encounter never-before-seen Pokémon* Unravel the mystery behind the Legendary Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta!* Players can control the camera in the vast Wild Area* Team up with other Trainers to participate in Max Raid Battles**!* Battle wild Dynamax Pokémon in Max Raid Battles and try catching them**** Nintendo Switch Online membership (sold separately) and Nintendo Account required for online play. Not available in all countries. Internet access required for online features. Terms apply. nintendo.com/switch-online **
• GAMING: XBOX ONE
• Sparklite for Xbox One is released. Sparklite is an action-adventure set in the whimsical and ever-changing land of Geodia. Battle foes in top-down action using an arsenal of gadgets, guns, and gear. Explore dangerous corners of the procedurally generated world, take down titans of the mining industry, and harness the power of Sparklite.
• Valfaris for Xbox One is released. Set in the far reaches of space, Valfaris is a heavy metal infused 2D action-platformer and the next game from the team behind Unity Awards finalist, Slain: Back From Hell. Brutal combat. Deadly enemies. Stunning pixel art. Savage soundtrack. Get ready to rip the galaxy a new wormhole.

On this day in 2018

• EVENTS
• LeBron James passes Wilt Chamberlain for 5th on the NBA's career scoring list with 44 points for the LA Lakers in 126-117 victory over Portland Trail Blazers at the Staples Center, Los Angeles.
• David Hockney's "Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)" sells for $90.3 million in New York, record for a living artist.
• Art experts in England authenticate two bronzes of men riding panthers as Michelangelo's only surviving bronze works.
• DEATHS
• Don Hoffman, Race Car Driver.
• Kim Porter, Model.
• Roy Clark, American country singer (Hee Haw, The Tonight Show), who died at 85.
• GAMING: PC
• Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus for PC is released. Take control of one of the most technologically advanced armies in the Imperium - The Adeptus Mechanicus. As Magos Dominus Faustinius, you'll lead the expedition on the newly rediscovered planet of Silva Tenebris. Manage resources, discover long-forgotten tech, plan tactical operations using the Noosphere technology and control your Tech-Priests every move.Your every decision will shape the missions ahead and ultimately decide the fate of the troops under your command. However, choose your path carefully - the Imperium depends on it.* AugmentFlesh is weak! Upgrade your Tech-Priests limbs with mechanical augments made from the blessed metals of the Omnissiah. Customize your team with hundreds of possibilities, creating a squad to suit your playstyle.* Difficult DecisionsMake tough decisions that will forge the future from your Ark Mechanicus, The Caestus Metalican, and send you towards alternate endings for a truly unique playthrough.* Experience the NoosphereUse the Adeptus Mechanicus' evolved human cognition to scan unexplored tombs for valuable data in order to gain a tactical advantage over your enemy.* The LibraryA compelling story written by Black Library author, Ben Counter, specifically crafted to fit the unique personality of the Adeptus Mechanicus faction.
• The Settlers History Collection for PC is released.
• Underworld Ascendant for PC is released. In 1992,  Ultima Underworld changed the rules of what a fantasy RPG could be.  It introduced the concept immersion, a player-authored experience, and an open-world to explore. The games is considered one of the most innovative and renowned RPG’s of its generation.
• GAMING: PLAYSTATION 4
• Battlefield V for PlayStation 4 is released. Enter mankind's greatest conflict with Battlefield 5 as the series goes back to its roots with a never-before-seen portrayal of World War 2. Lead your squad to victory with new ways to turn the battlefield to your advantage. Assemble your Company of customized soldiers, weapons, and vehicles then take them on an epic journey through the Tides of War. Experience the most intense, immersive Battlefield yet. You will never be the same.
• GAMING: SWITCH
• Trailblazers for Switch is released. Get ready for high-speed thrills with an explosion of colour in Trailblazers, the first-ever second-to-second co-operative arcade racer. Paint the track as you go to dynamically change the racing line, boost on your team's colour and outwit the opposition in a sprint for the finish. The more you paint, the faster you can go. Trailblazers is an innovative co-operative racer with groundbreaking on-track gameplay. Racing in teams of up to three-versus-three, players paint the track to create the best racing line, then use that paint to boost up to insane speeds. Drive with flair and style to gain skill points and blaze your way to victory! Experience blistering high-speed action with up to six players online, or locally via split-screen for up to four local players with additional online or AI-controlled challengers.
• POLITICS
• Afghan President Ashraf Ghani confims more than 28,000 of the country's military and police have been killed since 2015.
• Africa's fastest train between Casablanca and Tangier in Morocco at 320km (198 miles) inaugurated by King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron.
• SPORTS
• American singer and musician Roy Clark died aged 85 at his Tulsa home due to complications of pneumonia. He scored the 1969 US hit single, 'Yesterday, When I Was Young' and was best known for hosting Hee Haw, a nationally televised country variety show, from 1969 to 1997..

On this day in 2017

• EVENTS
• Australian postal vote on same-sex marriage revealed - 61% vote yes.
• Country singer Blake Shelton wins People Magazine's sexiest man alive award.
• Isabel Dos Santos, Africa's richest woman, fired as head of Angola state oil company Sonangol.
• Leonardo da Vinci's painting "Salvator Mundi" sells for $450.3 million at auction in New York, world record price for any artwork.
• Pakistan unveils remains of 1,700 year-old sleeping Buddha in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
• DEATHS
• Lil Peep [Gustav Åhr], American rapper, who died of a drug overdose at 21.
• Keith Barron, English actor (At Earth's Core, Baby Love), who died at 83.
• MOVIES: NOT RATED
• Song of Granite is released. Enigmatic and complex, Joe Heaney was one of the greats of traditional Irish singing (sean nós). Shaped by the myths, fables, and songs of his upbringing in the west of Ireland, his emergence as a gifted artist came at a personal cost. Featuring performances from Colm Seoighe, Macdara Ó Fátharta, Jaren Cerf, Lisa O'Neill, Damien Dempsey, and sean nós singers Mícheál Ó Chonfhaola and Pól Ó Ceannabháin, and beautiful black and white cinematography, Song of Granite is a distinct portrait of Heaney’s life and a marvelous exploration of music and song.
• POLITICS
• 3 UCLA basketball players suspended after admitting shoplifting in China, only released at President Trump's request.
• The Zimbabwean Army detains Robert Mugabe and the first family and appoints sacked Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa as interim president.

On this day in 2016

• EVENTS
• American jazz and blues pianist, singer, and songwriter Mose Allison died aged 89. He became notable for playing a unique mix of blues and modern jazz. His music influenced many blues and rock artists, including Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, Tom Waits, the Yardbirds, John Mayall, J. J. Cale, the Who (who made ‘Young Man Blues’ a staple of their live performances and is featured on their Live At Leeds album)..
• DEATHS
• Jules Eskin, American cellist (Boston Symphony,1964-2016), who died of cancer at 85.
• Milt Okun, American music producer and arranger (John Denver, Peter, Paul and Mary), who died at 92.
• Mose Allison, American jazz and blues piano player, singer, and composer (" Everybody's Cryin Mercy" ; "Your Mind Is on Vacation"), who died at 89.
• TV SERIES
• Shooter (2016): Season 1 is released. Ex-Marine sniper Bob Lee Swagger (Ryan Phillipe) returns to service when he learns of a plot to kill the president in this series based on the 2007 film of the same name.
• Good Behavior: Season 1 is released. Just released from jail, Letty Dobesh (Michelle Dockery) is hoping to reunite with her 10-year old son, who was being raised by her mother Estelle (Lusia Strus) and get her life together when she overhears a contract killer's (Juan Diego Botto) plans to kill a woman in this adaptation based on the books by Wayward Pines author Blake Crouch.
• GAMING: PLAYSTATION 4
• Ittle Dew 2 for PlayStation 4 is released. Ittle and Tippsie crash onto yet another island filled with loot, puzzles, and mysterious inhabitants. With the help of a magical map, they set out to steal eight pieces of a raft from increasingly improbable locations including beaches, prairies, an art exhibit, and some dude’s basement. [Playstation.com]
• GAMING: XBOX ONE
• Silence: The Whispered World 2 for Xbox One is released. Silence: The Whispered World 2 will take you back to Silence, a world made of dreams. We accompany Noah, a teenager who lost his little sister, Renie, in the hazardous real world and now hopes to find her again in Silence. His quest leads him to another visually impressive and emotional adventure, where you get to solve plenty of mysteries surrounding Noah, his sister, and the dreamscapes of Silence.
• Watch Dogs 2 for Xbox One is released. Check out the birthplace of the tech revolution as Marcus Holloway, a brilliant young hacker who has fallen victim to ctOS 2.0's predictive algorithms and accused of a crime he did not commit. In Marcus' mission to shut down ctOS 2.0 for good, hacking is his ultimate weapon. Players not only can hack into the San Francisco Bay Area's infrastructure, but also into every person and any connected device they possess to trigger unpredictable chains of events in this vast open world.
• POLITICS
• Sixto Durán Ballén, Ecuadorian politician, President of Ecuador (1992-96), who died at 95.

On this day in 2015

• EVENTS
• Holly Holm defeats UFC Champion Ronda Rousey in an upset in Melbourne, Australia.
• Federation Cup Women's Tennis, Prague, Czech Republic: Czech pair Karolína Plíšková & Barbora Strýcová beats Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova & Elena Vesnina of Russia 4-6,6-3,6-2 for a 3-2 win and 9th title for the home country.
• France launches air strikes on Isis stronghold Raqqa in Syria in wake of terror attack on Paris.
• DEATHS
• Cynthia Payne, English brothel madam, who died at 82.
• Saeed Jaffrey, Indian actor (The Chess Players, Gandhi), who died at 86.
• TV SERIES
• Into the Badlands: Season 1 is released. Loosely based on Journey To The West, warrior Sunny (Daniel Wu) and a young boy named M.K. (Aramis Knight) must travel across the Badlands controlled by seven barons in a post-apocalyptic America in this martial arts drama from Alfred Gough and Miles Millar.

On this day in 2014

• EVENTS
• A 7.3 magnitude earthquake strikes under the Molucca Sea in eastern Indonesia, triggering a tsunami warning.
• World leaders gather in Brisbane for G20 Summit, which will focus on economic growth.
• DEATHS
• (Bernard) "Bunny" Briggs, American tap dancer 'Duke's dancer', who died at 92.
• Bunny Briggs [Bernard Briggs], American tap dancer 'Duke's dancer', who died at 92.
• TV SERIES
• Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B is released. The Lifetime TV movie depicts the life of R&B singer Aaliyah (Alexandra Shipp) from her first taste of fame on "Star Search"to her tragic ending at the age of 22.
• The Missing: Season 1 is released. Tony (James Nesbitt) spends years searching for his five-year-old son (Oliver Hunt), who disappeared during a vacation in France, which results in a strained relationship with his wife (Frances O'Connor).
• POLITICS
• The parents of 43 Mexican students who disappeared start a nationwide bus tour in protest at the government's handling of the case.

On this day in 2013

• EVENTS
• Sony launches the Playstation Four, selling one million units on the first day.
• 5 people are killed and 10 are injured after a train derails in Nashik, India.
• DEATHS
• Barbara Park, Children's Author.
• Mike McCormack, American NFL offensive tackle (NY Yankees, Cleveland, Philadelphia), who died at 83.
• MOVIES: NC17
• Charlie Countryman is released. When his late mother appears in a vision and tells him to go to Bucharest, Charlie (Shia LaBeouf) immediately boards a plane across the Atlantic. But when he meets a fellow passenger, Charlie finds himself with another promise to fulfill.
• MOVIES: NOT RATED
• Cold Turkey is released. A Thanksgiving get-together for the eccentric Turner clan, presided over by eminent scholar and patriarch Poppy (Peter Bogdanovich), turns into a disastrous holiday weekend when black sheep daughter Nina (Alicia Witt) pays her first visit home in 15 years.
• Dear Mr. Watterson is released. A documentary film about the impact of the newspaper comic strip Calvin & Hobbes, created by Bill Watterson.
• Detroit Unleaded is released. An ambitious Lebanese-American youth is forced to take over his family's gas station after his father's death.
• Faust is released. Employing elaborate camera movements, a dense soundscape, intricate production design and spectacular locations, FAUST conjures up a unique and phantasmagoric vision of the Faustian legend. Faust, played by Johannes Zeiler, is a man in search of the ideals of the Enlightenment but he becomes obsessed with the lovely Magarethe (Isolda Dychauk) and eventually sells his soul to the Devil (Anton Adasinsky) also known as the Moneylender, so that he may possess her. Comic, cosmic, painterly and stunningly beautiful scenes abound as the Devil takes Faust on a strange, unforgettable journey that ends in Hell itself. [Leisure Time Features]
• Sunlight Jr. is released. Set in the underbelly of usually sunny Florida, Melissa Winters (Naomi Watts) works as a cashier at the local convenience store, Sunlight Jr. She lives in a seedy motel with her boyfriend Richie (Matt Dillon), a former TV repairman who lives month-to-month on his government disability check, spending most of it at a neighborhood tavern. When an unexpected pregnancy takes their lives in a new direction, they are forced to examine the realities of both of their lives, and to face tough choices about what lies on the horizon. [Gravitas Ventures]
• The Great Beauty is released. Jep Gambardella has seduced his way through the lavish nightlife of Rome for decades, but after his 65th birthday and a shock from the past, Jep looks past the nightclubs and parties to find a timeless landscape of absurd, exquisite beauty.
• MOVIES: R
• The Best Man Holiday is released. When college friends reunite after 15 years over the Christmas holidays, they will discover just how easy it is for long-forgotten rivalries and romances to be reignited.
• Nebraska is released. An aging, booze-addled father makes the trip from Montana to Nebraska with his estranged son in order to claim a million dollar Mega Sweepstakes Marketing prize.
• 12-12-12 is released. A behind-the-scenes look at the televised benefit concert to raise relief funds for victims of Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
• GAMING: PC
• Contrast (2013) for PC is released. Contrast is a 2D/3D puzzle platformer in which you can shift between the striking 3D fantasy world and the mysterious 2D shadowscape.
• Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition for PC is released. You have been kidnapped, imprisoned, and tortured. The wizard Irenicus holds you captive in his stronghold, attempting to strip you of the powers that are your birthright. Can you resist the evil within you, forge a legend of heroic proportions, and ultimately destroy the dark essence that haunts your dreams?
• X Rebirth for PC is released. In the distant future, the X universe faces a period of profound and irrevocable change. While the universe stumbles towards an uncertain future, countless adventures await as new enemies rise in search of power. Enter a young adventurer and his unlikely female ally traveling in an old, battered ship with a glorious past - two people alone against the galaxy, playing a key part in the events to come. The fate of the universe rests in the hands of the player...
• GAMING: PLAYSTATION 4
• Trine 2: Complete Story for PlayStation 4 is released. Trine 2 is a sidescrolling game of action, puzzles and platforming where you play as one of Three Heroes who make their way through dangers untold in a fantastical fairytale world. Join Amadeus the Wizard, Pontius the Knight and Zoya the Thief in their adventure full of friendship, magic and betrayal.
• Resogun for PlayStation 4 is released. RESOGUN is a visceral fast-paced shoot em' up developed exclusively for the PS4 system. Unleash a varied array of devastating weapons including lasers, missiles, overdrive, and nova-bombs to blast hordes of enemies and rescue the last survivors from distant galactic colonies that are under ruthless attack from an evil alien invasion force.
• Super Motherload for PlayStation 4 is released. Super Motherload is a digging adventure with a procedurally-generated world that changes each time you engage with it. Buy powerful upgrades and supplies for your mining pod as you progress and prosper.
• Skylanders Swap Force for PlayStation 4 is released. Embark on an exciting new adventure with the Skylanders and the SWAP Force. For generations, the SWAP Force protected the volcano that replenishes Skylands magic. That is until an epic battle caught them in an eruption that blasted them apart, sent them to Earth and gave them the ability to swap powers. Only you can mix and match their tops and bottoms, put them on the new Portal of Power and save Skylands.
• Blacklight: Retribution for PlayStation 4 is released. Blacklight: Retribution is a fast paced, adrenaline pumping first person shooter based in a futuristic urban warzone. Building upon Zombie Studios' predecessor, Tango Down, Blacklight: Retribution provides FPS enthusiasts with a massive arsenal of weaponry and gear ranging from bleeding edge side arms to massive mechanized Hardsuits. Customize your weapons and gear for the perfect load out, earn credits in game to change the tide of battle by deploying flame throwers, automatic grenade launchers and even airstrikes.
• Call of Duty: Ghosts for PlayStation 4 is released. This new chapter in the Call of Duty franchise features a unique dynamic in which players are on the side of a crippled nation fighting not for freedom, or liberty, but simply for survival. 10 years after a devastating mass event, the nation's borders and the balance of global power have been permanently redrawn. As what's left of the nation's Special Operations forces, a surreptitious group known only as "Ghosts"leads the fight back against a newly emerged, technologically-superior global power. There are over 20 NEW Kill Streaks in Call of Duty: Ghosts — such as Juggernaut Maniac, Helo-Scout, Vulture and the ODIN Strike. You can even bring in Riley, from the single-player campaign, as your guard dog to warn you when enemies approach, and to attack enemies if they get too close to your person.
• Contrast for PlayStation 4 is released. Contrast is a 2D/3D puzzle platformer in which you can shift between the striking 3D fantasy world and the mysterious 2D shadowscape.
• flower for PlayStation 4 is released. The pioneers that brought you the PLAYSTATION Network title flOw are back with another concept that challenges traditional gaming conventions. Flower expands the team's tradition of delivering simple gameplay, accessible controls and a medium to explore emotional chords uncommon in video games. In Flower, the surrounding environment, most often pushed to the background in games, is pulled to the forefront and becomes the primary "character." The player fades from an external and stressful world in the opening of this fresh and genuine game only for PS3, and journeys through beautifully vivid landscapes, changing the his surroundings and exploring nature along the way.
• LEGO Marvel Super Heroes for PlayStation 4 is released. LEGO Marvel Super Heroes features an original story where players take control of Iron Man, Spider-Man, the Hulk, Captain America, Wolverine and many other Marvel characters as they unite to stop Loki and a myriad of other Marvel villains from assembling a super-weapon capable of destroying the world.
• Killzone: Shadow Fall for PlayStation 4 is released. The events of Killzone Shadow Fall take place thirty years after the events of Killzone 3. Set in a time of planetary colonization, the game focuses on the conflict between the Vektans and the Helghast, two rival colonist factions inhabiting a remote planet. For 3 decades, both factions have lived side by side, separated by an enormous security wall – but now their cold war is about to run hot. It is up to Lucas Kellan, a member of the military intelligence unit dubbed the Shadow Marshals, to try to protect the fragile peace that exists. A new warrior for a new era of war, Kellan 's missions will range from quiet infiltrations to all-out combat. Lucas will need to be methodical and ready to adapt, as any misstep could lead to mutually assured destruction.
• Knack for PlayStation 4 is released. Knack is an action game for the PlayStation 4 announced by lead system architect Mark Cerny at the PlayStation Meeting. Players take control of a robot named Knack who is created to help neutralize the goblin threat that has taken over the peaceful land.
• GAMING: XBOX 360
• Deadfall Adventures for Xbox 360 is released. Deadfall Adventures takes the classic adventure genre and combines it with fast paced action associated with First Person Shooters. Set in exotic locations such as ancient Mayan ruins, forbiden cities, frozen wastelands and lush, tropical jungles - Deadfall Adventures takes the player on a whirlwind adventure set in the late 1930's