games
Page: 4
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: NurPhoto / Getty /PS5 Pro
The PS5 Pro is PlayStaion’s worst-kept secret, and now an alleged leak is giving gamers their first look at the powerful console.
It’s been four years since the PS5 hit store shelves. At the time, it was one of the most sought-after devices in the world and ridiculously hard to get due to supply chain issues and annoying resellers.
With those issues now behind us and plenty of stock for everyone, word on the video game streets is that Sony was cooking up a PS5 Pro model, following the same console lifecycle as the PS4. Now, a new alleged leak is providing specs and a look at it.
Per an article on Deallabs, reliable leaker billbil-kun reports the name of the forthcoming console will be the PlayStation 5 Pro and shuts down any rumors of a PlayStation Showcase coming to announce the console formally.
According to the report, the PS5 Pro will arrive sometime at the end of 2024, with billbil-kun getting eyes on the packaging and design for the console.
While not sharing the leaked material due to copyright issues, a sketch of the console was shared. The PS5 Pro will keep the PS5 Slim design but feature three black stripes on the shell to help differentiate it from the core PS5 Slim model.
Other rumored leaked information includes:
Reveal is expected on the 6th of September 2024
Disc and Digital variants – Disc $699.99 – Digital $599.99 –
Detachable disc drive
1 TB Storage
IGN shared details on the PS5 Pro’s CPU performance:
In March, alleged PS5 Pro specs leaked online, specs IGN understood to be legit. The headline improvements are to the CPU, which is said to be identical to the standard PS5’s CPU but with a ‘High CPU Frequency Mode. That reportedly amounts to a 10% increase to 3.85GHz. The GPU, meanwhile, is said to enable faster rendering and higher quality ray tracing powered by 33.5 teraflops. The standard PS5 offers 10.28 teraflops. However, a direct PS5 to PS5 Pro comparison would work out at around 10.28 vs 16 to 17 teraflops.
Of particular interest, the PS5 Pro is said to have an upscaling/antialiasing solution called PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution Upscaling), custom machine learning architecture, and an AI accelerator.
IGN also reports that Sony hopes the PS5 Pro’s arrival will boost interest in the PS5 before the release of Grand Theft Auto 6, adding that a lot is riding on the highly anticipated game, which will arrive sometime in 2025.
Gaming X is reacting to the leaks and that eyebrow-raising price. You can see those reactions in the gallery below.
10. More rumored specs
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Prime Video / Blur Studio / Secret Level
Prime Video is teaming up with Blur Studio to bring your favorite video game characters to the small screen in a very unique way.
Announced during Opening Night Live at Gamescom on Tuesday, Deadpool director and Blur Studio founder Tim Miller was very emotional as he introduced Secret Level to the crowd.
Secret Level is from the mind of Miller, an avid gamer and Supervising Director Dave Wilson, and is described as a “revolutionary gaming anthology series.”
Prime Video subscribers can look forward to a new journey filled with “breathtaking animation and imaginative storytelling.”
“Secret Level weaves a tapestry of iconic games across multiple mediums to tell a series of unique and captivating stories,” said Vernon Sanders, head of television at Amazon MGM Studios.
Per Deadline, season 1 of Secret Level will feature and take viewers into the worlds of these popular video game franchises:
Armored Core
Concord
Crossfire
Dungeons & Dragons
Exodus
Honor of Kings
Mega Man
New World: Aeternum
PAC-MAN
PlayStation (Highlighting various PlayStation Studios beloved entities)
Sifu
Spelunky
The Outer Worlds
Unreal Tournament
Season 1 of the series will have 15 episodes and premiere Dec. 10 on Prime Video. Amazon MGM Studios and Blur Studio are the series’ producers.
Tim Miller created and executive produced Secret Level, and Dave Wilson serves as executive producer and supervising director.
You can peep the exciting teaser trailer below.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Atari / Plaion Games / Atari 7800 Plus
Atari is not done banking on nostalgia. The iconic video game company is again teaming up with Plaion Games to release another backward-compatible console.
If you are sitting on a treasure trove of Atari 2600 game cartridges, blow the dust off them because the new Atari 7800 Plus retro console can put them to good use again.
Atari is partnering with publisher, developer, and distributor Plaion Games to launch the 7800 Plus. This console features an HDMI port to connect with modern televisions and, like the original console, supports Atari 2600 and 7800 game cartridges.
According to a press release, the Atari 7800 Plus is now available for preorder at $129.99 and will be available this “winter 2024.”
Source: Atari / Plaion Games / Atari 7800 Plus
The Atari 7800 Plus’ Specs
Aside from being a smaller version, the Atari 7800 Plus looks exactly like the original console and will allow players to play games in widescreen mode or a 4:3 aspect ratio for retro gamers who want an authentic retro gaming experience.
The console will feature two new wireless controllers, the CX78 Plus Wireless Gamepad, which perfectly recreates the console’s original controller.
The CX78 Plus Wireless Gamepad is available as part of a bundle or sold separately for $34.99. The controller works with last year’s Atari 2600 Plus or can be connected to a PC using a USB-C adapter.
For the Atari purists, a $34.99 CX40 Plus Wireless Joystick will be available for purchase separately.
Source: Atari / Plaion Games / Atari 7800 Plus
The console will come with one game, Crystal Castles’ sequel Bentley Bear’s Crystal Quest. Still, if you want to bolster your collection with 10 additional titles, they will be available separately for $29.99.
The Atari 7800 Plus follows the release of 2023’s Atari 2600+ Mini and the long-delayed Atari VCS.
If you want to get your hands on one, head here to preorder.
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: Warner Bros. Games/ NetherRealm Studios / Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns / Cyrax
Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns is the first major update coming to MK1, and some gamers are BIG MAD that two popular characters have been gender-swapped, and of them are Black.
In Mortal Kombat 1, thanks to the efforts of Fire God Lui Kang, the sacred timeline was reset, ushering in a new era of peace and making some changes to the characters we know from previous games.
In the latest trailer delivered by NetherRealm Studios, we see those specifically with the two popular cyber ninjas, Cyrax and Sektor.
The first trailer since the expansion’s announcement at San Diego Comic-Con follows Cyrax, one of the six new playable characters joining the already expansive roster of fighters.
This version of Cyrax is a Black woman. She is a young Lin Kuei warrior from the Zaki clan whose skills are second to none, earning her the honor of donning a cyber suit. She also has the honor of serving directly under Sektor, who has been gender-swapped this time.
Unlike Sektor, Cyrax serves Lin Kuei and her grandmaster, Sub-Zero, on her own terms, which doesn’t sit well with her mentor.
While giving us her backstory, the trailer also shows off Cyrax’s impressive moveset, fatality, and animality and should be received as just another trailer to get us excited for the Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reign’s expansion, right?
Wrong.
Of course, some folks are losing their sh*t at the fact that both Cyrax and Sektor are no longer men. One person in particular hopped on X, formerly Twitter, to complain about Cyrax showing her face and being Black.
This Is Not The First Time Cyrax Was Black
Hilariously, folks, we’re quick to remind him that another version of Cyrax took the mask off, revealing himself as a Black man GASP.
There is even a website calling the decision a “woke disaster” and alleging that the Montreal-based consultation studio Sweet Baby Inc. was behind the decision to change Cyrax and Sektor in Mortal Kombat 1.
These people seriously need to go outside and touch grass.
Social media has been clowning the folks who are mad about Cyrax and Sektor’s changes; you can see those reactions in the gallery below.
2. Exactly
3. Lol, bingo
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Activision / Sledgehammer Games / Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
Activision is finally addressing the giant elephant in the room regarding Call of Duty: its massive download sizes.
Fans of Call of Duty looking forward to playing the next installment of the iconic first-person shooter must also figure out exactly how they will download the game on their consoles, as the game requires a massive amount of space during installs.
Hopefully, that will no longer be an issue or much easier to solve because Activision is making some changes ahead of the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, so COD games will no longer take up ridiculous amounts of space on your console’s hard drive.
The Verge reports that Activision will now separate Warzone from the default download for the annual titles. Players can expect that change to start on August 21 when Season 5 Reloaded arrives.
So, when you hit the download button, you can opt-in if you want Warzone to be a part of that download.
You will also have the option to download Warzone alone if that’s what you want. Other quality-of-life improvements are also coming with the arrival of Season 5 Reloaded.
Per The Verge:
With Season 5 Reloaded, Activision also says that it is going to rely more on texture streaming, and players will be able to pick between “optimized” (the default) or “minimal” streaming. In mid-October, Activision plans to introduce a new user interface for browsing your Call of Duty games, too.
You Will Be Required To Download A Big Update To Take Advantage of The Reduced Download Size & Other New Features
With that news, Activision admits you will have to download a big update that will be part of Season 5 Reloaded. The update will “reorganize game files and add new tech” to “prep the way for the full player interface.”
Once the update is done, Call of Duty players can expect the game’s footprint on their consoles to be reduced going forward.
With the new update, Activision says that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be a “smaller download at launch than Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III.”
Hallelujah.
Activision has not shared the specific download size but states the numbers seen on preorder information do not reflect the “download size or disk footprint” for the game.
Some much-needed hard-drive relief.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will hold an upcoming open beta beginning August 30.
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: Visual Concepts / 2K / NBA 2K25 / A’ja Wilson
2K reveals that A’ja Wilson is the highest-rated WNBA player and what players can expect from The W in NBA 2K25.
Unsurprisingly, Las Vegas Aces superstar, gold medal-winning athlete, WNBA champion/MVP, and NBA 2K25 cover athlete A’ja Wilson can now add another accomplishment to her still-growing list.
Thanks to her 99 overall rating in NBA 2K25, Wilson is now the highest-rated WNBA player in NBA 2K history.
Wilson’s rating was one of the many promised announcements, with 2K sharing details about the new features coming to The W game mode. These features will allow players to take their created superstar to WNBA greatness.
Source: Visual Concepts / 2K / NBA 2K25
Broken down by Felicia Steenhouse, Senior Producer at Visual Concepts, in the latest developer diary, players can now look forward to starting their journey and competing for the title of 2024 Rookie of The Year against Angel Reese and Caitlin Clarke.
The W in NBA 2K25 will also feature fully-voiced press conferences, a new Mentorship feature, and other improvements to The W Online.
“This WNBA season has been electric, showcasing incredible talent, especially from the dynamic rookies making their mark to the legends. We wanted NBA 2K25 to reflect this action-packed season and show how The W is about chasing the win,” said Steenhouse.” This year, we’ve deepened the immersion and opportunities for players to leave their mark in the WNBA, as we’ve worked with the league to scan more WNBA players, making it as true-to-life as possible. We even re-worked our engine to ensure smaller details, such as eyelashes and an increased library of hairstyles would be properly represented.”
A Full Breakdown of The W’s New Features:
Pursuit of Greatness: Players vie to climb the all-time ranks in the new Pursuit of Greatness story as they build a legacy to eclipse the best players in WNBA history and attempt career-defining moments throughout the journey. As the overarching narrative of their first season, players will be dropped into the captivating 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year race as they compete against players like Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, and Kamilla Cardoso. As players bolster their resume with on-court accomplishments like championships and awards, their progress will be visualized on detailed graphs that illustrate where they are in their career and how they stack up against the next player on the GOAT list that they’re chasing.
Press Conferences: For the first time, press conferences are coming to The W, allowing players to shape the narrative of their career and the league as a whole. Press conferences will happen after key moments and games like breaking a record, winning an award like Rookie of the Year or crossing a career milestone. When competing against someone on the GOAT list, like NBA 2K25 cover athlete A’ja Wilson, the questions asked could vary depending on a player’s performance, be it good or bad.
The W Online. The W Online has moved to a stunning new outdoor court in a forest grove, and players can join 3v3 multiplayer games amidst a gorgeous backdrop of redwood trees. Additionally, Weekly Community Goals are back in NBA 2K25 and require a collective effort from all players to accomplish them. These goals now track new stats, like the number of excellent green shot releases and teammate grades.
Game Changers Mentorship: The W Online in NBA 2K25 builds on the Game Changer status—earned by contributing to the weekly Community Goals—with a new feature called
More Ratings
Along with Wilson becoming the highest-rated player in the WNBA, we also learned who will be right behind her on that list. Right behind her is the Liberty’s Breanna Stewart at 97, Minnesota Lynx’s Napheesa Collier at 95, Connecticut Sun’s Alyssa Thomas also a 95, and the Phoenix Mercury’s Brittney Griner at 94.
Source: Visual Concepts / 2K / NBA 2K25
The ratings for this year’s crop of WNBA rookies were also revealed. Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark are tied for the top spot, earning a 90 overall rating.
Angel Reese’s Chicago Sky teammate Kamilla Cardoso, the Los Angeles Sparks’ Rickea Jackson, and Cameron Brink round out the list with an 80 rating, which could change as the WNBA season kicks off its second half.
Source: Visual Concepts / 2K / NBA 2K25
NBA 2K25 season is quickly approaching, and the latest game in the long-running basketball video game franchise will be on September 6.
2K also shared more screenshots of other WNBA superstars in the game.
You can check those out in the gallery below.
1. NBA 2K25
Source:NBA 2K25
NBA 2K25 2k,nba 2k25
2. NBA 2K25
Source:NBA 2K25
NBA 2K25 2k,nba 2k25
3. NBA 2K25
Source:NBA 2K25
NBA 2K25 2k,nba 2k25
4. NBA 2K25
Source:NBA 2K25
NBA 2K25 2k,nba 2k25
5. NBA 2K25
Source:NBA 2K25
NBA 2K25 2k,caitlin clark,angel reese,nba 2k25
6. NBA 2K25
Source:NBA 2K25
NBA 2K25 2k,caitlin clark,angel reese,nba 2k25
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Visual Concepts / 2K / NBA 2K25 / Angel Reese
It’s almost time for NBA 2K25, but right now, we are in the prime of WNBA season, and the folks at Visual Concepts and 2K Sports are giving us our first good look at this year’s top rookies, Chicago Sky’s walking double-double Angel Reese, and Indiana Fever’s phenom Caitlin Clark.
Ahead of 2K revealing the top 5 rated players in the W in NBA 2K25, 2K dropped the first look photos of Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark in the game.
Source: Visual Concepts / 2K / NBA 2K25
According to 2K, the studio went to great lengths to ensure true-to-life realism by bringing in the WNBA rookie class to enter a high-tech scanning trailer with thousands of cameras to accurately capture their likeness, facial expressions, and more in NBA 2K25.
2K has already hit the court running and gunning, dropping the first courtside report, which discussed the MyGM game mode, NBA Commissioner’s Cup integration, and the new Steph Curry Era feature.
The NBA 2K25 Ratings Are Already Rolling Out
Speaking of Steph Curry, they have also rolled out the ratings for the Top 5 3pt shooters in the league, with Curry taking the top spot with a 99 rating.
We also got the best handles, with Kyrie Irving taking the No. 1 spot with a 99 rating. Steph Curry, Trae Young, James Harden, and Luka Doncic round out the top 5.
The best defender in the steals category sees the Portland Trail Blazers Matisse Thybulle, who has a 98 rating, followed by Alex Caruso, Marcus Smart, Delon Wright, and Dyson Daniels.
Of course, we expect much discourse from the players and fans about these virtual statistics.
We already know there will be much debate when the WNBA player rankings drop tomorrow, and we will report on it when it happens.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: 2K Sports / Visual Concepts / NBA 2K25
It’s a new season, and 2K Sports promises that NBA 2K25 will deliver the “biggest changes” to the game’s engine in years.
Visual Concepts, the studio behind the NBA 2K basketball video game franchise, is all-in on its ProPlay technology, which it introduced in NBA 2K24 and will use to introduce tons of new animations into the game.
The studio is promising “the biggest change to our gameplay engine in many years,” plus an all-new dribbling system that will give players even more control than before and the ability to take ankles.
Using ProPlay, 2K says that “stops are higher, launches are more explosive,” bringing more lifelike movement to every inch of the court.
Offense On The Court Levels Up
What you can do offense in NBA 2K25 is taken to another level, thanks to many new mechanics. New tools like shot canceling, signature go-to shots, shot-timing profiles, Pro Stick rhythm shooting, and more make putting the ball in the basket even more fun and exciting.
ProPlay gives players a new weapon: signature go-to shots. Per 2K, this new feature allows players to pull off new dribble-into-shot combos directly copied from actual NBA footage. The moves can be executed by simply holding up on the Pro Stick.
Shot canceling will allow players to quickly transition from one shooting animation to the next, giving players another tool to elevate their offensive game.
Last year’s shooting mechanics were not a hit with players, but 2K is hoping to rectify that with shot-timing profiles. The new profiles allow players to customize their shot-timing windows.
Source: 2K Sports / Visual Concepts / NBA 2K25
New options allow players to customize their ideal jump shot by using shot-taking visual cues in an expansion of the Shot Creator suite.
It will allow players to customize where they release the ball in their custom animation, allowing them to get comfortable and in tune with the timing window and hit more shots in the green.
Utilizing the Pro Stick allows players to take advantage of rhythm shooting by pointing the Pro Stick down to start the shot and then up when the animation reaches its set point.
According to Visual Concepts, many people on the team found the new mechanic to be difficult before later appreciating it after using it for some time. They now have a hard time going back to the previous Pro Stick shooting mechanic.
Defense Is Also Improving
You can’t improve the offense in the game without ensuring the defense can keep up. NBA 2K25 introduces a new movement system that will give defenders movements similar to offensive players using the right stick.
Players can now make faster, tighter defensive cutoffs, allowing them to stay in front of Pro Stick all-star players.
To improve shot contention, a dynamic weighing system replaces the fixed one. Shot contests are now determined by defense coverage at the beginning of the shot.
Also, perimeter and interior defense and height play pivotal roles and determine the outcomes of the shots.
Visual Concepts is also trying to reduce your screaming at your AI teammates thanks to improvements that will provide better in-game mimicking of real-word spacing.
What that means is that your AI teammates should be where they are supposed to be while on the court based on what the offense is running.
New Tutorial System & Playbook Sharing
Source: 2K Sports / Visual Concepts / NBA 2K25
NBA 2K25 will also feature playbook sharing, which will allow players to create and share their custom playbooks with the community.
Learn 2K, a new tutorial mode, will help players acclimate to all the new features and older gameplay mechanics.
Ahead of NBA 2K25’s launch, 2K has laid out a roadmap that details the game’s features and modes.
Week of August 5: MyPlayer and MyCareer
Week of August 12: MyNBA and The W
Week of August 19: MyTeam
Week of August 26: The City
Week of September 2: Season 1 preview and 2KBeats soundtrack reveal
September 4: Early access period begins
September 6: Global launch of NBA 2K25
NBA 2K25 sounds like a refreshed experience, and we look forward to picking up the sticks when this game drops.
You can watch the official gameplay trailer below.
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: EA Sports / Tiburon / Madden NFL 25/ Travis Kelce
No surprise, but Travis Kelce is back in the Madden NFL 99 Club.
Travis Kelce continues to keep winning. The Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro tight end is coming off his third Super Bowl championship and is in one of the most high-profile relationships in the world thanks to hooking up with Taylor Swift.
Now, Kelce can add being the only NFL tight end to earn a spot in the Madden NFL 99 Club three times. Kelce joins former teammate Tyreek Hill, Madden NFL 25 cover athlete Christian McCaffrey, and offensive line Trent Williams.
Along with the announcement that Williams was making the club, EA also dropped the ratings for edge rushers and other offensive linemen.
Edge Rushers Offensive Linemen
Myles Garrett (98 OVR) 1. Trent Williams (99 OVR)
Micah Parsons (98 OVR) 2. Zack Martin (97 OVR)
T.J. Watt (97 OVR) 3. Penei Sewell (96 OVR)
Maxx Crosby (97 OVR) 4. Lane Johnson (95 OVR)
Nick Bosa (96 OVR) 5. Tyron Smith (95 OVR)
Josh Hines-Allen (91 OVR) 6. Tristan Wirfs (94 OVR)
DeMarcus Lawrence (91 OVR) 7. Chris Lindstrom (94 OVR)
Khalil Mack (90 OVR) 8. Laremy Tunsil (94 OVR)
Alex Highsmith (89 OVR) 9. Frank Ragnow (93 OVR)
Trey Hendrickson (89 OVR) 10. Creed Humphrey (92 OVR
Travis Kelce’s Briefcase Had Some Different Swag In It
Like his fellow NFL brethren before him, Kelce was gifted with a briefcase, a golden Xbox controller, and a custom greeting from retired New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning.
The only thing that made his 99 Club care package different was that he was given a custom podcast microphone instead of the gold chains the other players received.
Here is the complete list of highly-rated tight ends and cornerbacks.
Tight Ends Cornerbacks
Travis Kelce (99 OVR) 1. Sauce Gardner (97 OVR)
George Kittle (97 OVR) 2. Jalen Ramsey (96 OVR)
Mark Andrews (94 OVR) 3. Patrick Surtain II (95 OVR)
T.J. Hockenson (91 OVR) 4. Jaire Alexander (93 OVR)
David Njoku (90 OVR) 5. L’Jarius Sneed (92 OVR)
Evan Engram (88 OVR) 6. Charvarius Ward (91 OVR)
Sam LaPorta (86 OVR) 7. Marlon Humphrey (91 OVR)
Dallas Goedert (85 OVR) 8. Denzel Ward (90 OVR)
Dalton Schultz (84 OVR) 9. Trent McDuffie (90 OVR)
Cole Kmet (83 OVR) 10. Marhson Lattimore (90 OVR)
Trent Williams and McCaffrey are the first two 49ers to have joined the club at the same time. But we are optimistic they won’t be the only teammates because Kelce’s favorite quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, will also make the list.
Along with today’s latest 99 Club announcements, EA Sports released another deep dive video for Madden NFL 25 and revealed the new kickoff rules will be in the game.
Below are the reactions from the latest Madden NFL 99 Club members. Click here for the complete list of ratings.
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: EA Sports / Tiburon / Madden NFL 25/ Christian McCaffrey
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is back in the 99 Club.
Following the announcement of Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill joining the 99 Club in Madden NFL 25, EA Sports revealed that the game’s cover athlete, Christian McCaffrey, will be joining him.
Like Hill, McCaffrey was surprised with a briefcase featuring a custom gold chain, Xbox Elite controller, custom trading card, and video announcement from Super Bowl Champion quarterback Eli Manning welcoming him into the prestigious club.
For McCaffrey, this isn’t a new experience. He was in the 99 overall rating club in Madden NFL 20 as an in-season addition and earned a spot back in the club in Madden NFL 21.
McCaffrey continues to show the world how elite he is. Last season, McCaffrey was named Offensive Player of The Year, leading the league with a career-high 1,459 rushing yards and 2,023 total yards from scrimmage.
He scored 21 total touchdowns, 14 on the ground and seven through the air.
His stellar play got him paid. The 49ers blessed him with a $38 million two-year contract extension, adding $8 million to his salary for the 2024 and 2025 seasons, plus an additional $24 million in guaranteed money.
The contract also reset the running back market.
NFL Fans Have Thoughts
Like Tyreek Hill’s announcement of joining the 99 Club, NFL fans share their opinions on McCaffrey returning to the prestigious club.
“It’s great seeing him stay healthy and show why he’s the most versatile back in the league,” one user on X, formerly Twitter, wrote.
Another user wasn’t so high on McCaffrey’s selection, writing, “Don’t deserve it !!! @KingHenry_2 deserved it more !!!”
EA will continue to announce the ratings via ESPN’s morning show, Get Up, and on the dedicated website.
More announcements are coming; until then, you can see more reactions in the gallery below.