State Champ Radio Gadgets and Gaming
Rooker was happy to reprise the fan-favorite character of Mike Harper.
The motion capture and technology have significantly improved since Black Ops 2.
Rooker was surprised by the lasting impact of the Mike Harper character.
Michael Rooker is back as Mike Harper in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, and he had plenty to say about his return to the iconic video game franchise.
The cat’s out of the bag: Mike Harper survived the events of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, meaning the choice to save him was the correct one, allowing him and his wisecracking self to be a part of JSOC and help Desmond Mason take down the guild, Black Ops 7 reality warping campaign.
HHW Gaming got to speak with Michael Rooker about making his return to the iconic video game franchise, and basically, he’s more than happy to be back.
Michael Rooker Says It Was A Great Choice To Bring Mike Harper Back
Activision / Treyarch / Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
Love Hip-Hop Wired? Get more! Join the Hip-Hop Wired Newsletter
We care about your data. See our privacy policy.
The first question immediately was how the game’s developers pitched the idea of Harper’s return in Black Ops 7 to him, and how they made the choice not to shoot Harper in Black Ops 2 the canon decision in the game.
“Oh, come on. Great choice. Mike Harper, fan favorite,” Rooker begins. “That whole concept of making that choice, that moral choice, to shoot Mike Harper, or not shoot Mike Harper. Shoot Mike Harper and save the world. Or hem the world. I’m not shooting my buddy. And that was a big choice for people, for gamers, and it’s a big deal. And so, that really, I think, embedded that character even more in folks’ minds. So now that Mike Harper is back in Black Ops 7, it’s just, oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. It’s about time. I know that’s what they’re going to be thinking, because that’s what I thought. I was like, “Yeah, well, it’s about time. Why not?”
Rooker Was Ready To Be A Part of The Design Process
Activision / Sledgehammer Games / Trey Arch / High Moon Studios / Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
Black Ops 2 was released more than a decade ago, meaning the design process for video games has, for all intents and purposes, gotten more sophisticated.
We spoke with Rooker about taking part in the process for Black Ops 7, and he revealed it’s a bit of a mix of new and old, but
“It was a big difference in the facial motion capture. We have cameras now that record the motion capture for the face, the eyes, the mouth, and all that stuff,” Rooker revealed to HHW Gaming.”Technically, it’s going to be way more detail. They’ve got the making of this game; the chips are different. All the internal stuff that they’re using to put everything together, to make the hair, was a big thing back then. The hair is a big thing. So they’ve gotten way better with that, and it’s just phenomenal stuff. And the motion capture is basically the same. The main thing for me was that it threw me for a loop for about five minutes, until I got used to having this camera in my face and the lights shining in my eyes. Once you’re over that, then it’s basically, yeah, I can do this scene with someone.
He continued, “The ADR room is basically old, tried-and-true stuff. There’s not a lot of big… There may be a lot… There very well may be advances in the recording aspect of this stuff that I don’t know about. I’m not a professional recording artist, or anything like that, so I don’t know the technology that goes in behind that. But I know for a fact that my job inside the studio hasn’t really changed.”
“As an actor, I’m still there, and try to get in the moment, or back to that moment, and make it as real as possible. That’s my goal anyway.”
Rooker Was Suprised At The Lasting Impact of Mike Harper Since Black Ops 2
Activision / Sledgehammer Games / Trey Arch / High Moon Studios / Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
One thing that surprised the Guardians of the Galaxy and The Walking Dead star was how popular Mike Harper became after his appearance in Black Ops 2, which led the developers to bring him back.
“Oh, you know what? I was surprised back then, back in the day, how popular that character ended up being, ” Rooker revealed. “And they were always telling me, “Oh, this is going to be great. They’re going to love this. People are going to love this.” And they did. People absolutely, absolutely, dug it. And I didn’t really stay with games that much, I did that, but I moved on. I did film and stuff like that. And as you know, gamers and cinema people, kind of different animals.”
“But this is going to be really a good combination now, because we’re getting to a point in gaming, where it’s looking very cinematic, “he continued.
“And now it’s unreal that they’re going to make a film based on the biggest game franchise in the world. So it’s about time, because I’m like, “Yeah, do it, man. Get these gamers off the couch, and into the theater.”
Who knows, maybe Mike Harper will end up in the film adaptation as well; it only makes sense.
You can peep our entire interview, where we touched on other topics above as well. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is out now.
CFOTO / Sony / PlayStation 5
Still on the fence about getting a PlayStation 5 since the price went up earlier this year? Now is a better time than any to make that move, thanks to deals.
As part of its early Black Friday deals beginning Nov.21, Sony Interactive Entertainment is knocking $100 off multiple PlayStation 5 models, including the standard PlayStation 5, PS5 Digital Edition, and PS5 Pro.
Two Fortnite PS5 bundles, which offer gamers PlayStation-exclusive in-game content and 1,000 V-Bucks, are also a part of the upcoming early Black Friday deals.
PS5 Digital Edition 825 GB – Fortnite Flowering Chaos Bundle — $399.99
PS5 Console 1 TB – Fortnite Flowering Chaos Bundle — $449.99
But that’s not all, you can expect deals on PS5 accessories and other hardware as well.
$100 off PlayStation VR2
$20 off PlayStation Portal remote player
$20 off Pulse Elite wireless headset
$30 off Pulse Explore wireless earbuds
$30 off DualSense Edge wireless controller
$20 off DualSense wireless controller
$20 off Access controller
The deals don’t stop with hardware; select games like Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Lost Soul Aside, Astro Bot, and God of War Ragnarök will also be a part of the early Black Friday deals.
There will be hundreds of PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 digital games on sale, offering savings of up to 75% off.
Even though we have a start date, there is no word on how long the sale will last. Nevertheless, this will be the perfect opportunity for those already in the PS5 ecosystem to get an extra DualSense controller, headset, earbuds, or more games to add to the backlog.
CFOTO / Sony / PlayStation 5
Still on the fence about getting a PlayStation 5 since the price went up earlier this year? Now is a better time than any to make that move, thanks to deals.
As part of its early Black Friday deals beginning Nov.21, Sony Interactive Entertainment is knocking $100 off multiple PlayStation 5 models, including the standard PlayStation 5, PS5 Digital Edition, and PS5 Pro.
Two Fortnite PS5 bundles, which offer gamers PlayStation-exclusive in-game content and 1,000 V-Bucks, are also a part of the upcoming early Black Friday deals.
PS5 Digital Edition 825 GB – Fortnite Flowering Chaos Bundle — $399.99
PS5 Console 1 TB – Fortnite Flowering Chaos Bundle — $449.99
But that’s not all, you can expect deals on PS5 accessories and other hardware as well.
$100 off PlayStation VR2
$20 off PlayStation Portal remote player
$20 off Pulse Elite wireless headset
$30 off Pulse Explore wireless earbuds
$30 off DualSense Edge wireless controller
$20 off DualSense wireless controller
$20 off Access controller
The deals don’t stop with hardware; select games like Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Lost Soul Aside, Astro Bot, and God of War Ragnarök will also be a part of the early Black Friday deals.
There will be hundreds of PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 digital games on sale, offering savings of up to 75% off.
Even though we have a start date, there is no word on how long the sale will last. Nevertheless, this will be the perfect opportunity for those already in the PS5 ecosystem to get an extra DualSense controller, headset, earbuds, or more games to add to the backlog.
Netflix / Netflix Game Night
Netflix has shifted its strategy for its gaming venture and is now meeting its subscribers where they are, in hopes of letting them play games on the streaming service.
It’s been four years since Netflix mightily stumbled into the gaming space, but the streaming giant hasn’t given up on its video game ambitions.
The streamer’s new strategy is to bring games to its millions of subscribers so they don’t have to download a separate app, making them playable in the Netflix app on your televisions and turning your smartphones into controllers.
Love Hip-Hop Wired? Get more! Join the Hip-Hop Wired Newsletter
We care about your data. See our privacy policy.
“Starting today (Thursday), you can play games on your TV, using your phone as a controller — no setup needed, it’s as easy as streaming your favorite shows,” said Alain Tascan, President of Games at Netflix. “You can now go from watching KPop Demon Hunters to playing Pictionary: Game Night without ever leaving Netflix. And for those who love to play anywhere and everywhere, we’re bringing even more games to your phone with our own special Netflix touch.”
You and your friends can play games like Dead Man’s Party: A Knives Out Game, LEGO Party!, Boggle Party, Party Crashers, Pictionary: Game Night, and Tetris Time Warp, allowing you to put on the ultimate game night.
Game Night’s other goal is to keep subscribers logged into the service longer while showcasing smartphone interaction, which the company plans to use for live television events like Star Search, a reboot of the classic television series hosted by Ed McMahon, coming to Netflix sometime next year.
So, are you excited to jump into Netflix Game Night? It definitely sounds like it has some legit staying power.
PlayStation/PlayStation 27″ Gaming Monitor
During yesterday’s Japan-focused State of Play, Sony unveiled its new PlayStation gaming monitor, which you can connect to your PC or PS5.
Along with a refreshed Japanese-only PS5 Digital Edition, Sony announced a new monitor featuring a 27-inch QHD display with a 240Hz refresh rate, HDR support, and variable refresh rate. Still, it caps at 120Hz when used with a PS5.
But that’s not the only feature it has. Sony always loves to add features to its peripherals to help them stand out, so the new monitor includes a charging hook for your DualSense controller.
Love Hip-Hop Wired? Get more! Join the Hip-Hop Wired Newsletter
We care about your data. See our privacy policy.
The hook conveniently folds down from the rear of the monitor, allowing you to jump into gaming mode when you get that itch quickly.
Source: PlayStation / PlayStation 27″ Gaming Monitor
The PlayStation 27″ Gaming Monitor will be available in both the US and Japan markets, but as of right now, it does not have a price and will hit shelves sometime next year.
The monitor announcement further highlights PlayStation’s foray into PC gaming, following the Pulse Elevate portable speakers unveiled back in September.
The Pulse Elevate portable speakers will also work with PC, Mac, PS5, and PS Portal and will arrive in 2026.
We are intrigued to see what else Sony is cooking to further cement its footprint in PC gaming.
Rockstar Games / Grand Theft Auto VI
You’re going to have to wait even longer to play Grand Theft Auto VI.
Some unfortunate news to report, gamers: Grand Theft Auto VI has once again had its release date pushed back. Take-Two Interactive announced the highly anticipated game will now drop on November 19, 2026, six months after its original May 2026 release date.
The news of the delay came during the company’s July-September quarterly earnings results.
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick didn’t provide a reason for the delay in a letter to shareholders but did note, “we remain both excited and confident they will deliver an unrivalled blockbuster entertainment experience.”
Take-Two also says that recent firings in the UK, which led to the video game company being accused of “union busting,” had nothing to do with the delay.
A statement from Rockstar disputes those claims, noting that the fired staffers “were found to be distributing and discussing confidential information in a public forum, a violation of our company policies” and the cuts were “in no way related to people’s right to join a union or engage in union activities.”
“These two matters are entirely separate, and the reasons that we’ve given for each,” a spokesperson for Take-Two said Thursday. “And I think to conflate the two would not only be misleading, it would be highly erroneous. So these are two entirely separate issues.”
Rockstar Games Shares New Grand Theft Auto VI Release Date
In a separate statement on X (formerly Twitter), Rockstar Games revealed the new release date and shared more insight into the delay.
“Hi everyone, Grand Theft Auto VI will now release on Thursday, November 19, 2026. We are sorry for adding additional time to what we realize has been a long wait, but these extra months will allow us to finish the game with the level of polish you have come to expect and deserve. We want to thank you again for your patience and support. While the wait is a little longer, we are incredibly excited for players to experience the sprawling state of Leonida and a return to modern day Vice City. Sincerely, Rockstar Games”
Honestly, take your time, Rockstar Games, because Grand Theft Auto VI has to be nothing short of a masterpiece.
Social media is reacting to the news of GTA VI’s latest delay. You can see those reactions below.
Bernard Smalls / iOne Digital / HHW Gaming
PlayStation continues to make the PS Portal an excellent companion device to the PlayStation 5.
When the PS Portal was first released, it was nothing more than a competent device capable of remote playing titles on your PS5. It was eventually unlocked, allowing cloud streaming.
Following the latest update, PlayStation is bringing a boatload of features that PS Portal owners have been screaming for, making the device even more attractive, especially for people still on the fence.
Most notably, following the latest system update, PS Portal owners with PlayStation Plus Premium accounts can now purchase and stream games without a PS5.
Love Hip-Hop Wired? Get more! Join the Hip-Hop Wired Newsletter
We care about your data. See our privacy policy.
They can also stream select titles like Astro Bot, Borderlands 4, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and the recently released PS5 exclusive Ghost of Yotei, effectively untethering your PS Portal, with the only requirements being a Premium subscription and a strong internet connection.
To see the complete list of streamable games, you can head here.
Here are the other new features coming to the PS Portal thanks to the PlayStation system update, as announced on the PlayStation Blog.
Redesigned UI
A refreshed home screen***** now features three tabs: Remote Play, Cloud Streaming, and Search.
Remote Play home screen: Connect to a PS5 console paired with the PS Portal to enjoy games installed on that console. A PlayStation Plus membership is not required for Remote Play.
Cloud Streaming home screen: A new dedicated home screen for Cloud Streaming allows PlayStation Plus Premium members to instantly stream a range of compatible PS5 games without waiting for downloads.
Search screen: Quickly look up any game that supports Cloud Streaming. If you don’t have the entitlement to stream a game, a QR code will be displayed to direct you to the PlayStation App or to a web browser on another device.
Enhancing Gameplay Experience
This update also introduces several new features designed to make playing on PS Portal more immersive and convenient.
New Features for Remote Play and Cloud Streaming
3D Audio Support: 3D Audio is now available during Remote Play and Cloud Streaming on supported games, when using a compatible audio device. Immerse yourself in spatial sound with wired headphones or a compatible PlayStation Link wireless audio device such as the Pulse Explore wireless earbuds and Pulse Elite wireless headset.
Passcode Lock: Protect your device by setting a passcode on your PS Portal.
To set a passcode, go to Settings > System > Passcode.
Network Status Screen: A stable internet connection is essential to ensure the best experience on PS Portal. You can now quickly check your connection quality with an easy-to-access status view.
During Cloud Streaming or Remote Play, open the Quick menu and go to Troubleshoot > Show Network Status.
New Features for Cloud Streaming
In-Game Store: In-game purchases are now supported during Cloud Streaming. You can purchase add-on items and in-game currencies without leaving your game session, and receive benefits instantly.
Just like before, you can also make in-game purchases during a Remote Play session.
Accessibility Options: Enable new accessibility options during Cloud Streaming, such as screen reader and adjustable text size.
Go to Settings > Cloud Streaming > Accessibility Settings for Cloud Streaming.
These settings will only apply to select screens during Cloud Streaming. You can continue to access the PS5 console’s settings menu to adjust accessibility settings during Remote Play.
Game Invitations: Receive game invites from friends that are playing the same game during Cloud Streaming, and join a multiplayer session directly from the Quick menu.
Getty Images / NBA 2K League
The NBA 2K League, the eSports organization tied to the NBA 2K video game franchise, is back—but this time, it’s boasting significant changes.
NBA Take-Two Media announced the relaunch of the NBA 2K League, which will now focus on entertainment and online content.
The new NBA 2K League will highlight creators and NBA players who will battle it out on the sticks throughout the season.
NBA 2K players, don’t worry, you haven’t been forgotten. There will also be an open ladder competition for fans.
Love Hip-Hop Wired? Get more! Join the Hip-Hop Wired Newsletter
We care about your data. See our privacy policy.
NBA players will now be able to be involved in the NBA 2K League because of NBA Take-Two Media’s new multi-year partnership with the National Basketball Players Association.
NBA Take-Two Media, an entertainment company formed earlier this year by the professional basketball league and Take-Two, focuses on eSports and online social content.
Sticking to that focus, you can expect to see various creators throughout the season, including honorary commissioner Jess’ Jesser’ Riedel, a popular sports YouTube creator with over 35 million followers.
The 2K League Will Feature Six Teams
The new season will feature six teams: Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, and Washington Wizards.
Each team will be represented by duos featuring content creators and NBA players who participate in various challenges throughout the year.
The league’s revamp was first teased by the NBA 2K League back in July. The decision to switch things didn’t come without some bad news: a significant number of staff lost their jobs, according to Dexterto.
“With the new 2K League, we’re building an entirely new type of entertainment universe that blends competition with content,” said Andrew Perlmutter, CEO of NBA Take-Two Media.
“Filled with wild, wacky, unpredictable and emotionally resonant moments, we’re extending the immensely popular world of NBA2K beyond competitive gaming and will show fans who their favourite athletes and creators are off the court.”
Lookout For These 2K League Events
The new season of the NBA 2K League will start with a new reality series called MyPlayer Mayhem that will be a combination of competitiveness and entertainment.
You can catch the first episode on November 5 on the NBA 2K League’s YouTube channel, with new episodes dropping every week.
MyPlayer Mayhem will conclude with two live tournaments on Twitch from November 8 to 9th and November 15 to 16th, 2025.
Next Fan Up, the 2K League tournament, begins on November 16 and will offer NBA 2K players who think they are good enough to compete with creators and NBA players.
Those participating in Next Fan Up will have the opportunity to represent an NBA team of their choice by climbing the online ranks through gameplay and social media challenges.
Getty Images / Soulja Boy / SouljaGame Flip
Soulja Boy is back with his console-copying shenanigans. The rapper is being accused of stealing Retroid’s flow, bar-for-bar, with his newly released SouljaGame Flip console.
We at HHW Gaming are always rooting for everyone Black, especially for significant accomplishments like releasing your own gaming console.
However, we can’t get behind jacking another company’s whole design and then partaking in price-gouging by selling that same fugazi console for a ridiculous price.
That’s precisely what DeAndre “SouljaBoy” Cortez did with his SouljaGame Flip console, which is a blatant ripoff of Retroid’s Retroid Pocket Flip 2.
Aside from ripping off the Pocket Flip 2’s design, what sets Soulja Boy’s retro handheld apart from Retroid’s device is the ridiculous $435 price tag, which is double the Pocket Flip 2’s $210. In the comment section of Soulja Boy’s post, one person said, “Not a single gamer buying this. Especially at that price.”
Another commenter wrote, “Play some games on it. Where’s the gameplay? Is it an emulator??? Rather get a Steam Deck for less that does more.”
The “Turn My Swag On” crafter did share videos in his story of him playing 50 Cent’s Blood In The Sand video game on the device, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas while doing other things like “making beats.”
Still doesn’t justify the price he was charging for the device, and he has since marked the console down to $200, Kotaku reports.
Retroid Immediately Responded Regarding Soulja Boy’s Fugazi Handheld
Soulja Boy’s grift was first reported on by Retro Dodo, which quickly reached out to Retroid about the console. A representative for the company responded, “I didn’t know about this,” the site reported. “This is not any kind of official licensing deal. He does not have permission to rebrand our products and sell them as his own. The Retroid Pocket Flip 2 is patented in the U.S by ourselves.”
So that means he can be swiftly sued if Retroid wants to apply pressure.
It wouldn’t be the first time Soulja Boy gets pressed by a gaming company. Nintendo, which is infamous for suing people for ripping off its property, went after the rapper for selling a Soulja Boy-branded emulation console preloaded with Nintendo ROMs.
After hilariously saying Nintendo wouldn’t sue, he changed his tune, telling his followers on X (formerly Twitter), “I had to boss up, I didn’t have a choice,” after Nintendo threatened him with legal action.
Soulja Boy needs to chill, unless he wants to be the first rapper sued by a video game company.
You can see more reactions below.
Rockstar Games / Grand Theft Auto
Rockstar Games, the developer of the highly anticipated game Grand Theft Auto 6, is being called out following the firing of 30 employees at its UK and Canadian offices.
Bloomberg reports that after Take-Two, the parent company of Rockstar Games, stood behind the firings, claiming the former employees were “for gross misconduct,” the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) is singing a different tune, accusing the game developer of “union busting.”
According to Bloomberg’s report, the fired employees were all either current union members or working to organize at Rockstar, and were also members of the same private Discord group.
IWGB is calling CAP on Take-Two’s Claims
The IWGB reacted to the latest developments, writing on X:
“This is the most ruthless act of union busting in the history of the UK games industry. Yesterday, @RockstarGames fired over 30 employees for union activity. We won’t back down, and we’re not scared – we will fight for every member to be reinstated.”
In a statement sent to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreirer, IWGB president Alex Marshall categorizes described Rockstar’s firings as “flagrant contempt for the law and for the lives of the workers who bring in their billions is an insult to their fans and the global industry.”
Take-Two Fully Supports Rockstar Games’ Decision
Take-Two company spokesperson Alan Lewis issued a statement on the matter:
“We strive to make the world’s best entertainment properties by giving our best-in-class creative teams positive work environments and ongoing career opportunities. Our culture is focused on teamwork, excellence, and kindness. Rockstar Games terminated a small number of individuals for gross misconduct, and for no other reason. As always, we fully support Rockstar’s ambitions and approach.”
Well, the news isn’t sitting well with the gamer social media. We don’t expect this to kill the hype surrounding GTA 6. However, people are still not feeling that Rockstar Games can allegedly fire employees who are trying to unionize during some trying times in the gaming industry.
You can see those reactions below.
