games
Page: 6
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: Richie Branson / Not Like Us
Are you sick of hearing “Not Like Us?” Well, that’s too damn bad because it just got more legs, thanks to a video game.
Thanks to a black video game designer, Kendrick Lamar’s infectious Drake diss will continue to be the topic of conversations, much to the ire of Champagne Papi.
On Monday, Richie Branson, who describes himself as “just a random brotha who designed games for Bleacher Report and worked for Epic Games as a game designer on a little game called Fortnite,” dropped a free game that turns the moment K.Dot wacks an owl pinata from the song’s visual into a fun video game.
In the web game, players take control of a pixel sprite version of the West Coast rapper and wop wop wop as many owls as they can with a bat.
Branson calls the game a “free love letter to video games and hip-hop,” adding, “I intentionally made the game spike in difficulty above 17, so any score 18 and above should be celebrated.”
This Diss Record Won’t Go Away
To rub more salt in Drake’s still open wound, the song featuring DJ Mustrard’s production is back in the Billboard Hot 100 this week after debuting at No. 1 in May.
Lamar is still riding the high from his “Pop Out” concert, which many have already dubbed one of Hip-Hop’s most culturally significant moments.
Meanwhile, Drake continues to post cryptic messages on Instagram, trying to give his fans and us the impression that he’s fine, but clearly, we think the brother is a bit scarred from his battle with Kendrick Lamar.
Drake, it’s okay to admit you are in the dumps now. It’s a sign of strength, not weakness.
If you want to try the game, you can head here.
2. Another one
3. Well deserved
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Activision / Activision
Bronny James may be in a self-admitted “slump” on the court at NBA Summer League, but his skills on the sticks are still sharp. Lebron James’ firstborn won the Call Of Duty Two Minute Drill, beating out some notable NBA gamers along the way.
Source: Activision / Activision
The Los Angeles Lakers draft pick won the Second Annual Call of Duty Two Minute Drill at the NBA Summer League by finessing a last-second 84-83 victory over Charlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams. Reportedly, Bronny was playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III he eeked out his win just before the 8pm tournament deadline, defeating Williams and Bobi Klintman of the Detroit Pistons. The latter came in third with 77 points.
With the W, Bronny earned a $10,000 prize and a custom-made Call of Duty Two Minute Drill at the NBA Summer League Championship Belt. Bronny fans shouldn’t be too surprised since he one graced the cover of Sports Illustrated for his e-sports talents as a member of Faze Clan back in 2021.
Held over this past weekend (the first weekend of the NBA Summer League), over 60 NBA players participated in the Call of Duty Two Minute Drill in a winner take all format. Players also got a chance to preview the forthcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Those NBA ballers and gamers included Paul George, now of the Philadelphia 76ers, Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Trey Murphy (Wahoowa!, #iykyk) of the New Orleans Pelicans.
Check out some photos from the event below.
Source: Activision / Activision
Source: Activision / Activision
Source: Activision / Activision
Source: Activision / Activision
Source: Activision / Activision
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: Arc System Works / Double Dragon Revive
Double Dragon is back but with a very modern twist.
Today, Arc System Works dropped the reveal trailer for Double Dragon Revive, a modern reimagining of the beloved beat’em up game that first graced arcades (remember those?) in 1987.
Double Dragon Revive will bring fans “modern belt-scroll action and exhilarating gameplay.” While the game looks different, fans of the franchise will be happy to see their favorite characters, Billy and Jimmy Lee, back in action and put their hands and feet on Black Warriors’ goons who plague the streets of New York City.
The game will remain true to its roots, but Double Dragon Revive will have the touch of a fighting game thanks to Arc System Works’ involvement in the project.
Players can dish out powerful damage with Billy and Jimmy’s repertoire of martial arts moves, steal weapons, and even use the environment to their advantage, making Double Dragon Revive more than just a button-mashing experience.
[embedded content]
All of the characters from the original game return with fresh, new 3D designs.
The game kicks and punches onto PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam next year, but there is no word on how much it will cost.
If we had to guess, it would probably cost between $29.99 and $39.99.
Double Dragon Revive is the latest game in the franchise following 2023’s Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons, which turned the game into a roguelike adventure.
There’s been a renaissance going on in the beat ’em up genre with games like TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game, Streets of Rage 4, and the forthcoming G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra.
You can hit the gallery below for more photos.
1. Double Dragon Revive
Source:Double Dragon Revive
Double Dragon Revive double dragon revive
2. Double Dragon Revive
Source:Double Dragon Revive
Double Dragon Revive double dragon revive
3. Double Dragon Revive
Source:Double Dragon Revive
Double Dragon Revive double dragon revive
4. Double Dragon Revive
Source:Double Dragon Revive
Double Dragon Revive double dragon revive
5. Double Dragon Revive
Source:Double Dragon Revive
Double Dragon Revive double dragon revive
6. Double Dragon Revive
Source:Double Dragon Revive
Double Dragon Revive double dragon revive
7. Double Dragon Revive
Source:Double Dragon Revive
Double Dragon Revive double dragon revive
8. Double Dragon Revive
Source:Double Dragon Revive
Double Dragon Revive double dragon revive
9. Double Dragon Revive
Source:Double Dragon Revive
Double Dragon Revive double dragon revive
10. Double Dragon Revive
Source:Double Dragon Revive
Double Dragon Revive double dragon revive
11. Double Dragon Revive
Source:Double Dragon Revive
Double Dragon Revive double dragon revive
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: SOPA Images / Getty / Xbox Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass is the best value in gaming, but there is an argument that is seemingly no longer the case after word of price hikes coming.
Spotted on The Verge, Microsoft is doing what many people suspected it would do after finally acquiring Activision/Blizzard/King: raising the price of Xbox Game Pass again in September.
The price of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate tier will increase, and a new “Standard” tier will be launched, but those subscribers will no longer have access to day-one releases.
The new Standard tier will cost $14.99, give subscribers access to the Game Pass library, and allow them to play games online.
Subscribers to Ultimate are beginning to receive emails about the price increase to $19.99 a month beginning September 12, a $3 jump from $16.99.
PC Game Pass subscribers will also see their subscription price increase from $9.99 to $11.99, but they will still have access to the beloved day-one releases.
The proposed price hikes follow Xbox finally adding Call of Duty games, like the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, to the service, a benefit the company now enjoys after acquiring ABK.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Subscribers Bear The Brunt of The Hikes
Once again, Ultimate subscribers, who make up more than most Game Pass subscribers, will bear the brunt of these price hikes. This follows a previous hike that raised subscriptions by $1–$2 per month.
Another victim of this change is the Xbox Game Pass for console plan. Those currently under the plan will see their subscriptions continue, but new subscribers cannot select this option.
Subscription stacking, a hack X Console tier subscribers enjoy, has also been capped at 13 months from September 18. Existing stacks will not be affected.
Of course, the news of the price hikes and Xbox pushing subscribers towards the Ultimate tier is spawning reactions on X, formerly Twitter.
You can see those in the gallery below.
3. Interesting thread
4. This breakdown is worth checking out
6. Hmmmm this is an interesting way of looking at the price hike
8. Howling
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Activision / Activision
The new Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 was officially announced by Activision just after the Xbox Games Showcase on Sunday, June 9, and it’s going back to the 1990’s. While the nostalgia might be in effect right now, the game is dropping October 25.
Source: Activision / Activision
Developed by Treyarch and Raven Software, the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 campaign is being touted as a “spy action thriller” and will be set during the Gulf War.
Per Activision:
In true Black Ops fashion, the fictional story builds on the history of the time, thrusting you into a strange and clandestine conspiracy where a shadowy force has infiltrated the U.S. government. Anyone who resists is branded as a traitor, forcing players to go rogue for the first time to fight the very machine that created them. Nothing is what it seems, and the truth may be hard to fathom, drawing you ever deeper into intrigue, distrust, and mind-bending psychological revelations. This is true, signature Black Ops style.
While we’re sure the campaign will be cool, those into COD strictly for the multiplayer action should be pleased. Some of the multiplayer content that will be available at launch includes 16 brand-new Multiplayer maps on and new “innovations” that include Omnimovement (which lets you sprint, slide and dive in any direction) and Intelligent Movement and larger enemy hit zones as well as new HUD optimizations and a plethora of new weapons and accessories. And for those that know, the return of Theater Mode and Classic Prestige.
You can check for more details about the multiplayer in the clip below via Black Ops 6 Direct.
[embedded content]
Watch the reveal trailer, featuring the OG President George Bush, President Bill Clinton, Saddam Hussein and more below. And yes, you can get your early access in order over at the Black Ops 6 pre-order editions and benefits blog.
[embedded content]
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: Carlo Paloni / Getty / Abubakar Salim / Tales of Kenzera: ZAU
Surgent Studios founder and creative director of Tales of Kenzera: ZAU Abubakar Salim addressed the constant harassment he and the studio have faced since releasing the game.
The video game industry still has a long way to go regarding diversity and inclusion.
People like Abubakar Salim are working hard to show that Black and Brown people have a place in the game’s business with the release of his game, Tales of Kenzera: Zau. However, there are still issues that must be dealt with, and Salim decided to speak about those challenges he and his studios have had to deal with.
Friday, Salim posted a five-minute video on his personal X/Twitter account to speak on the constant harassment that he admits he didn’t want to address initially.
Salim says he has dealt with claims that he didn’t “deserve the opportunit[ies]” he got at the beginning of his career, adding, “No, it was simply because I’m Black, and I’ve turned my other cheek and just kept doing my thing.”
Before dropping his game, Salim was best known for his acting roles in Assassin’s Creed Origins and roles in MAX’s original series Raised By Wolves and season two of Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon.
Salim states in the video that he could brush off some of the comments, but “when there’s a constant barrage of them, it’s exhausting.”
[embedded content]
The actor/video game developer says the harassment reached a “fever pitch” once his game, Tales of Kenzera: Zau, came to the forefront and became a focal point of the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) harassment campaigns.
Per IGN:
“Don’t get me wrong, there’s been so much amazing and beautiful support for this game. The fact that it’s inspired so many people and touched, you know, so many lives, it was one of our goals from the outset — to have this positive impact, right?” Salim says. “But at the same time, we are being faced with constant targeted harassment from people who see diversity as a threat. From people who look across the vast landscape of modern media and decide that anything that doesn’t speak to them or centers around them is unnecessary and inauthentic.”
“And look,” he continues, “there’s always a reason why diverse stories can’t exist. You know, it’s always either we’re doing it the wrong way or it’s just there to tick boxes and it’s just beginning to feel like there is no right way. You know, these exclusionary rules continue to stack up and the goalposts continue to shift until, you know, me, my studio, people who look like us, just sit down, be quiet and just accept the fact that you’re outsiders. But I won’t do that.”
“If there are people who aren’t like you in a game, I want you to know that game is still for you,” Salim continues. “You know, if the characters are a different race or a different gender or you know, a different ideology or different perspective, that doesn’t mean the game isn’t for you. It can still be for you.”
Salim Counters The Harassment By Lowering The Price Tales of Kenzera: ZAU Game On Nintendo Switch
The game dev was determined to make his game accessible to as many people as possible, setting it at an affordable $20 price point across Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
To combat the harassment, Salim announced that he lowered the cost of the game to less than $15 on the Nintendo Switch, thanking Nintendo for “acting fast on this.”
“I’m working with the team in bringing this discount to all platforms, and it’s gonna start from now to until the end of June because, you know, it just means so much to me, man,” he says.
Salim continues, “I believe this is just one way that I can show you how serious I am about this,” he says. “Games are for everyone. Diverse games, they’re not about taking something away from you. They’re about adding something new because there’s room for all of us.”
X Rallies Behind Abukar Salim
Following the release of his video, the gaming communities rallied behind Salim, offering him plenty of support and applauding his courage and commitment to pushing diversity in the gaming space.
“This is the message we all need to hear,” Kinda Funny and Gamertag Radio cohost Parris Lilly wrote.
Senior editor Alyssa Mercante added, “So grateful for your work, your vision, and your voice, and to consider you a friend.”
“Black gamers have been playing as non-Black characters in games for so long and enjoy those games, us included. But there is nothing wrong with us also wanting us to be represented fairly and authentically in the medium. What we’re finding here is these detractors don’t want the exact same experience that Black gamers have had to endure for a majority of the history of gaming,” Black Girl Gamers wrote.
We hear at HHW Gaming stand with Abubakar Salim and will continue to ensure we shine a spotlight on Black and Brown game developers like Salim, Xalavier Nelson Jr., and others.
You can see more messages of support sent to Salim in the gallery below.
3. In the face of racism and harassment we continue to have go higher. His decision was admirable.
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: PlayStation / State of Play
Everyone owes Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grub an apology. He was absolutely correct — no surprise — that Sony is holding an event this month ahead of Summer Game Fest and the Xbox Games Showcase, but it will be the smaller State of Play.
On Wednesday, Sony confirmed it will have a State of Play presentation on Thursday, May 30.
Immediately, the company tempered expectations, announcing it would be a 30+ minute presentation that would provide “live updates on PS5 and PS VR2 titles, plus a look at PlayStation Studios games arriving later this year.”
Let The Speculation Begin
No one knows precisely what games PlayStation will show or what the company’s announcements will be, but that doesn’t mean we can’t speculate.
The announcement of this upcoming State of Play follows news that a new Astro Bot game is on the way, with sites like IGN speculating that the game could be part of the presentation.
We could also get our first peek at the PS5 Pro console and announcements about God of War: Ragnarok coming to PC, continuing Sony’s campaign to strengthen its presence outside the PS5/PS4 ecosystem.
There is also a tiny chance (we hope) to see more of Insomniac Games’ highly-anticipated Wolverine game, a possible look at the leaked Venom game, or Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 DLC.
Oh, the possibilities.
We will still head into this State of Play with the lowest expectations: Sony usually holds onto the more significant announcements for its PlayStation Showcase events.
Still, gamers and PlayStation fans are hoping we will get some significant announcements, even though Sony already told us not to expect any significant releases for the remainder of 2024.
Again, we have to wait and see; until then, you can see reactions to tomorrow’s State of Play in the gallery below.
1. Jeff Grubb was right
2. Immediately
3. Consider us all hyped
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: Activision / Treyarch / Raven Software / Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
The Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 rollout did not start smoothly, but Xbox hopes to keep the landing when the game releases later this year.Microsoft is having one hell of a year, and this latest booboo is just another moment that Phil Spencer is probably sitting in his gaming chair with his hand on his forehead.
Spotted by The Verge’s Tom Warren, the company that now owns Activision and the COD franchise accidentally revealed the worst-kept secret: the next installment, Black Ops 6, will be on Xbox Game Pass, with a link to a dead Xbox News Wire post.
Whoever accidentally hit send on that push notification is in big trouble because the accidental reveal came before today’s teaser trailer reveal and the official announcement from Xbox, confirming what we all knew was going to happen with Call of Duty games.
There Are Some Famous Faces In The Black Ops 6 Teaser Trailer
The teaser trailer doesn’t show any gameplay—Xbox is definitely saving that for the big June 6 showing at the upcoming Xbox Showcase in Los Angeles— but it didn’t have plenty of famous faces in it.
In typical Black Ops fashion, the trailer features past world leaders like former US President Bill Clinton and the late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, allegedly the main antagonist of Black Ops 6.
This isn’t the first time a Black Ops game has featured a prominent political figure; John F. Kennedy was in the first game, and notorious Presidental Op Ronald Reagan was in Black Ops Cold War.
Per Sports Keeda, Black Ops 6 will allegedly center around the Gulf War and will continue to revolve around the franchise’s main protagonists, Frank Woods, Alex Mason, Jason Hudson, and Russell Adler.
We will find out soon enough.
The trailer below shows more reactions to Black Ops 6 coming to Xbox Game Pass.
1. Gamers are happy
2. Xbox fans finally got something to celebrate about
3. Will this really shift the COD player base?
6. Salute to this guy
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: Future Publishing / Getty / White Xbox Series X
Didn’t care for the black Xbox Series X console? Well, there might be a white option on the way.
Exputer has shared leaked images of a white All-Digital Xbox Series X sporting the “robot white” look of Series S. The Verge reports it has seen documents confirming the photos are genuine.
While there should be excitement for the white All-Digital Xbox Series X, it can also mean that Xbox’s console refresh, the leaked “Brooklin” console, could have its wig pushed back.
The Verge reached out for comment but has not gotten word back.
The Brooklin console was also disc-less, but instead of box-shaped, it sports a new circular design plus a much-needed increased internal storage of 2TB, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, improved efficiency, 15% reduced PSU power, and a $499 price.
Xbox was allegedly gunning for a November release date, but speaking on the leak, Xbox chief Phil Spencer threw some cold water on those expectations.
“It is hard to see our team’s work shared in this way because so much has changed, and there’s so much to be excited about right now and in the future,” Spencer said in a September post on X, formerly Twitter. “We will share the real plans when we are ready.”
Exputer also reports that the All-Digital Xbox’s new coat of white paint and lack of disc drive are not the only upgrades. Some internal components, including the heatsink, which cools the console, will see an upgrade.
As for the price, Exputer reports the console will cost $50-$100 less than the current $499 Xbox Series X console.
Gamers Have Thoughts
The news of the white All-Digital Xbox Series X is sparking reactions. “Charging more while getting less. A tale as old as time. At least the ps5 slim still has a drive for $500, “one person wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“Why wouldn’t you just get a PC at this point? The whole thing about consoles is the physical media with them and their exclusives. And the Xbox won’t have either anymore if this is true,” another post read.
Again, this isn’t confirmed, but if Xbox does verify its existence, we are intrigued to see how it will be received.
Hit the gallery below for more reactions.
1. Damn, flat out no.
2. Well, someone is excited
6. It might be cheaper
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: Rockstar Games / GTA 6
Grand Theft Auto 6’s 2025 date release could be in danger.
According to a Kotaku report, Grand Theft Auto 6, the next highly anticipated installment in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise, could have its wig pushed back.
GTA 6 is still slated for an “early 2025” release date, but that date is in jeopardy due to “production delays.” The game could be released in late 2025 or sometime in 2026.
Per Kotaku:
As remote workers struggle with an unwanted return-to-office mandate from Rockstar Games, Kotaku has learned from sources with knowledge of the game’s development process that GTA 6 could miss its 2025 release window and slip into 2026.
Kotaku has also learned that it’s becoming more and more likely that the sequel might not land until late 2025. It’s also possible that it could even slip into 2026 as production reportedly falls behind.
While security and quality are reportedly the main reasons Rockstar is instituting the mandate to return to the office, I was told by sources—who wish to remain anonymous to avoid possible retaliation—that development on GTA 6 has started “falling behind.” I’m told this has leadership at Rockstar nervous and worried about the game missing the 2025 window and slipping into 2026, and is another big reason the company is pushing for a return to the office in April.
Is Rockstar Games Pushing Out Remote Workers?
Kotaku’s report comes after Bloomberg’s report that Rockstar Games was ending remote work, ordering employees back to the office following numerous leaks.
The drastic change was met with immediate criticism and caught many by surprise, leading to frustration. According to Aftermath’s reporting, some employees initially hired to work remotely felt like they were being pushed out of the company by not complying and completely upending their lives.
Some workers expressed concern to Aftermath that Rockstar Games was reverting back to its old crunch ways.
“We’re concerned about going back to that,” one Rockstar employee told Aftermath.
“I’ve been through a couple of projects, both of which had crunch. The first one was extremely difficult. I had way less gray hair back then. … We want to continue the strides we’ve made as a company to remove that toxic culture.”
Gamers also react to the news that they may have to wait even longer for GTA 6.
Some want Rockstar Games to take its time with the game, others don’t want the developers to experience crunch, and some are just overwriting; it’s been about 11 years.
You can see those reactions in the gallery below.
1. LOL, damn
4. Exactly
5. No, not yet