Netflix will open a Canadian office, develop its relationship with local creators

Mississauga's very own Maitreyi Ramikrishnan with director Tristram Shapeero on the set of 'Never Have I Ever.' (Source: Netflix)

Since 2017, Netflix has already invested $2.5 billion in the country. Now, it wants to grow that investment further with plans of opening a new office in the country while hiring a dedicated content executive to collaborate with Canadian creators. 

The streaming service's co-CEO Ted Sarandos announced the news in a blog post, but Netflix is still deciding where in the country it'll put up its Canadian headquarters. 

According to The Canadian Press, Netflix is looking into establishing its HQ in Toronto and Vancouver, especially since much of its production happens in both markets. 

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Nintendo launches limited-edition Switch inspired by 'Super Mario'

Source: Nintendo

Nintendo has a new limited-edition version of its Switch console inspired by the beloved Nintendo game, Super Marion. The gaming console comes out simultaneously with the release of Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury. It retails for US$300 (around CA$382) and comes in classic Mario colours.

This Switch Mario Red & Blue Edition includes an all-red console with a red dock stand, red Joy-Cons, blue Joy-Con grip, and red casing around the screen. It also comes with a screen protector and special carrying case featuring different symbols associated with the franchise. According to The Verge, this version is the updated console with two additional hours of battery life. However, it doesn't ship with the new game. 

Alexa lets you share songs with friends via Echo devices

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It's possible to use your Echo smart speaker to send song recommendations to friends. Amazon announced a music sharing feature that lets you share tracks with your Alexa contacts using Echo devices or the Alexa app. Tell Alexa to "share this song with" and state the contact. The recipient can listen to the song on whatever streaming service they have and send a reaction to it your way. 

The voice assistant will try and look for the song on services available to you and your recipient. If it doesn't find it, it'll get a station based on the artist's name and song title. The feature requires you and your contact to have Alexa Communications enabled. Amazon said this is "just the beginning" for the sharing feature, so other sharing capabilities might soon be heading our way.

Source: Engadget

HBO will make a 'The Last of Us' show, starring Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey

'The Last of Us' game will become an HBO show (Source: Naughty Dog)

If the names are familiar to you, you might know both of them from Game of Thrones. Pedro Pascal played Oberyn Martell and Bella Ramsey as Lyanna Mormont. But you might know Pascal more from his lead role in The Mandalorian or on Netflix' Narcos. The two actors will be playing a father and surrogate daughter tandem, Joel and Ellie, in The Last of Us's TV adaptation.

The casting news was confirmed by the game's creative director Neil Druckmann, who also serves as an executive producer and writer on the show. The first game in The Last of US series focused on Joel and Ellie's relationship, and it looks like the show will focus on that first. Chernobyl's Craig Mazin will be a writer and executive producer on the series, and Kantemir Balagov, who directed the independent WWII drama Beanpole, will direct the pilot episode.

Source: The Verge