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Virtual star Ironmouse, along with a host of other VTuber virtual talent, will perform at an IRL event in Los Angeles in July.
Fantastic Reality will feature a performance from Ironmouse, a massive virtual streaming and Twitch star, along with performances from virtual talent including Japanese virtual singer KAF and Jakarta’s virtual pop artist JKT48v. Together, these acts have a combined global following of almost 10 million.
But while the talent is virtual, the event will be very real. Fantastic Reality happens at The Vermont Hollywood on July 3 beginning at 7 p.m. For several of the performances, VTuber composer Daryl Vanessa Barnes will direct a live band, with performer and event co-producer Mariya serving as MC for the night, which will also feature music from both virtual and non-virtual DJs.
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Fantastic Reality is part of the VTuber (or “virtual YouTuber”) phenomenon happening in online spaces and featuring virtual artists of all shapes and sounds. These performers, who are not AI, create often anonymous content using real-time motion capture technology. The field typically fuses aesthetics of anime, video games, animation and the internet.
To wit, South Korean virtual boy band PLAVE, whose members’ real-life identities are hidden behind digital avatars but whose commercial performance and ambitions rival K-pop’s biggest human acts, recently became the first entirely virtual Korean act to surpass 1 million units sold, according to Circle Chart.
Trending on Billboard
Fantastic Reality is pushing the boundaries even further by bringing such virtual acts into an IRL space. The event is being presented by VTuber streaming app IRIAM, with co-producers Kou Mariya, Daryl Vanessa Barnes, ETC, Bulldog DM and Rust.
“Fantastic Reality is doing something that has always been impossible,” Mariya says in a statement. “We’re uniting our community in an intimate IRL space with a cutting-edge live show featuring international luminaries Ironmouse, KAF, JKT48v and more with a live band.”
See the full lineup below:
Courtesy of Fantastic Reality
The maker of Fortnite has defeated a $32.5 million patent lawsuit over animated in-game concerts put on by Travis Scott and Ariana Grande, with a federal jury deciding that it did not steal another company’s technology for the virtual events.
The verdict came down on Monday (May 19) after a weeklong trial against Fortnite maker Epic Games. Epic was accused of infringing a patent invented by Canadian virtual reality company Utherverse Digital when it staged the virtual Scott and Grande concerts for tens of millions of Fortnite users in 2020 and 2021.
Utherverse was seeking $32.5 million in damages for the alleged infringement. But the jury in Seattle federal court rejected the claims, siding with Epic to rule that neither the Scott nor the Grande concert stole Utherverse’s technology.
Trending on Billboard
Lawyers for Utherverse and Epic did not immediately respond to Billboard‘s requests for comment on the verdict Tuesday (May 20).
The litigation has been ongoing since 2021. That year, Utherverse claimed that the Fortnite concerts relied on a patent it was issued in 2017, which covers a type of technology for playing back a recorded event in a virtual world.
Epic denied any infringement, saying the technology behind its virtual concerts used completely different processes than Utherverse’s patent. Epic’s attorney, Daralyn Durie of the law firm Morrison Foerster, said during the trial’s closing arguments that Utherverse was “trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.”
Jurors heard testimony during the trial from Brian Shuster and Aaron Burch, two Utherverse employees who co-invented the patent at issue. Multiple Epic executives also testified, including controller Brian Boyle and former head of marketing Matthew Weissinger.
Scott’s “Astronomical” concert series in April 2020 made history as Fornite’s largest-yet in-game gathering, drawing nearly 28 million unique players from across the world across five airings of a pre-taped performance by the rapper’s avatar.
In August 2021, Fortnite followed up its success with the Scott concerts with Grande’s “Rift Tour,” which similarly featured an animated version of the pop star performing hits like “7 rings” and “Positions” across five viewings.
A number of other artists have since performed their own virtual concerts within the massively popular Fortnite gaming universe, including Eminem, The Weeknd and Billie Eilish.
Source: Epic Games / Fortnite AI-Powered Darth Vader / Getty Images / James Earl Jones
Did Epic Games cross the line with its AI-powered Darth Vader companion that uses James Earl Jones voice? Gamers are currently debating.
The iconic actor James Earl Jones passed away last year, but his contributions to cinema, especially his iconic voice, will forever be linked to the Star Wars villain Darth Vader.
Starting today, Walt Disney Co. and Epic Games will allow Fortnite players to recruit and speak to Darth Vader.
Thanks to the power of generative AI, the Vader in-game character will use the late actor’s voice. Epic Games said they are doing so while remaining in “close consultation” with Jones’ family.
How Epic Games Is Bringing James Earl Jones To Fortnite
Epic Games uses Google’s Gemini 2.0 Flash model to generate Vader’s responses to players, while ElevenLabs’ Flash v2.5 model generates Jones’ voice.
“James Earl felt that the voice of Darth Vader was inseparable from the story of Star Wars, and he always wanted fans of all ages to continue to experience it,” the family of James Earl Jones said in a statement. “We hope that this collaboration with Fortnite will allow both longtime fans of Darth Vader and newer generations to share in the enjoyment of this iconic character.”
This decision changes the direction of the entertainment industry in situations like this. In previous Star Wars games, actors were hired to mimic Jones’ voice while he was still alive.
“Epic Games and Disney have worked together to thoughtfully develop this innovative feature with a strong focus on transparency, consent, and safety — ensuring that creators, Disney IP, and players are protected in interactive experiences,” Disney and Epic said in a statement announcing the decision.
As with anything, nothing goes off without a hitch. IGN reported that Epic Games had to issue a patch within an hour of AI-Darth Vader going live because videos of him dropping f-bombs hit X, formerly Twitter timelines.
Gamers do not like conversing with an AI-powered chatbot with Jones’s voice either.
“We deadass having a conversation with James Earl Jones via AI…? Yea you can keep it,” one post on X read.
Welp, it looks like its not going anywhere, and as long they got permission from the Jones family, we don’t see an issue, but this is still opening a can of worms for many.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
2. Heard you
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Source: RICHARD A. BROOKS / Getty / PlayStation 5
Sony announced its financial forecast for the next year, and the company expects Donald Trump’s tariffs to impact its bottom line greatly.
Spotted on The Verge, Sony expects Trump’s stupid tariffs to impact its financial forecast by 100 billion yen (about $680 million). Sony is weighing different options to counter the tariffs, including moving manufacturing to the United States, which could raise the price of PS5 consoles.
Sony CFO Lin Tao confirmed during a company earnings call that the company is considering “passing on” the price of tariffs to counteract the tariffs. Tao did not mention the PlayStation 5 by name during the call, signaling that the company could look to raise prices elsewhere to avoid raising the price of the PS5 console.
The PlayStation 5 has already seen price increases outside of the United States in Australia, the UK, New Zealand, and Europe.
While Tao didn’t mention the console, CEO Hiroki Totoki did when discussing possibly moving PS5 production to the US to minimize the effect of Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Totokoi said the PS5 console could be manufactured “can be produced locally,” say it could be “an efficient strategy,” that “has to be considered going forward.”
Sony Still Has To Worry About The 30 Percent Tariff On China
Sony still makes the PS5 in China, and even after the 90-day pause, the 30 percent tariff, which is a significant reduction from the 145 percent, is still above the 10 percent on imports into the United States from China.
If Sony does decide to raise its prices, it won’t be the first company to do so. Microsoft recently raised the price of its Xbox consoles by $100, while Nintendo has kept the price of the Switch 2 the same, opting to raise the prices of accessories instead.
We may learn soon enough if Sony does raise the price of the PS5. Until then, you can see reactions to this unfortunate news that we can all blame on Donald Trump.
2. Great question
4. We’re begging Sony
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Rosie Greenway / GTA 4
GTA VI won’t arrive till next year, but now there are rumors of a remaster of one of the most underrated entries into the Grand Theft Auto franchise, and a former developer feels it needs to happen.
Word on the video game streets is that 2008’s GTA IV is getting a remaster for current consoles, and Ex-Rockstar Games technical director Obbe Vermeij would love to see Niko Bellic make a triumphant return.
Vermeij, who worked at DMA Design, which later became Rockstar North, from 1995 until 2009 on titles like Space Station Silicon Valley, Manhunt, and other fan-favorite GTA titles, was asked how he feels about a remaster of GTA IV.
“I hadn’t heard those rumours. I think GTA 4 should be remastered. It’s a great game and there have been a number of successful remasters recently,” he told the person on X, formerly Twitter.
Unlike other studios, Rockstar Games doesn’t often get into its remastering bag. They did attempt with Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, which was a disaster at launch.
Vermeij spoke on that lackluster remaster in the past, noting that if Rockstar Games decides to do a remaster, “It would be better if Rockstar did quality remasters of their classic games.”No lies detected.
Again, there is no confirmation that Rockstar Games is working on a remaster of GTA 4. Honestly, based on the game studios’ track record, we won’t be shocked if the game is just a straight port with minimal improvements like the other classic titles brought back, like LA Noire and Red Dead Redemption.
We got our fingers crossed on this one.
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Source: Gylee Games / Ra Ra BOOM
Gylee Games’ new original game, Ra BOOM, aims to deliver a gut punch and not be just another mindless button-mashing beat’em up experience.
We are genuinely in a beat ’em up game renaissance, with games like TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons, the forthcoming Double Dragon Revive, Streets of Rage 4, and others restoring the feeling of the classic video game genre that used to gobble up all the quarters in arcades.
With Ra Ra BOOM, Gylee Games hopes to keep that momentum going. In essence, the game is a classic beat’em game in which playable characters take out hordes of villains and eventually the big boss. Still, once you pick up the sticks and press start, you will see the game studio is hoping to deliver a much deeper experience.
Source: Gylee Games / Ra Ra BOOM
Ra Ra BOOM’s Story
In the vibrant, fast-paced game, players can choose from five playable ninja cheerleaders, a combination we are sure you never thought of. They aren’t your typical cheerleaders; they have been trained to take on a rogue AI that has forced humans to leave Earth, but find themselves back on the planet, and must punch, kick, and shoot through hordes of angry robots and other foes and fight as a squad to save humanity.
Each character is fully upgradable, has unique hand-to-hand abilities, and wields a firearm to allow players to fight from a distance. To use your character’s special ability, you fill up a meter by landing hits on enemies; the power of the ability is determined by how full the meter is.
Source: Gylee Games / Ra Ra BOOM
HHW Gaming got hands-on with the game at PAX East and experienced the two levels during a brief demo. Ra Ra BOOM has been on our radar since seeing it during Kinda Funny’s Game Showcase two years ago.
Why Ra Ra BOOM Uses Ninja Cheerleaders?
Source: Gylee Games / Ra Ra BOOM
Speaking with the game’s creative director, Chris Bergman, our first question was why cheerleaders? His answer? Why not cheerleaders?
“I wanted to create a 90s aesthetic. And, like, Saturday morning cartoons, fun and vibrant,” Bergman tells HHW Gaming. “Like what the f**k’s more vibrant than a cheerleader?”
He also notes that teens who still attend school while living off the planet were raised to fight AI-controlled robots but use cheerleading to build teamwork.
That makes all the sense in the world when you think about it.
Ra Ra BOOM Features A Deeper Narrative
Source: Gylee Games / Ra Ra BOOM
What also sets this game apart from other beat ’em up games is that Bergman wanted his game to have a meaningful narrative, as he feels that’s where the video game genre traditionally falls short.
“Well, I don’t think beat ’em up games have good narratives,” Bergman said. “They’re really limited in what you can do. So part of it was a creative challenge of, like, can we introduce a real narrative into a new creative IP and a new game, and I fell in love with these characters so much. I wanted to make sure that that story was heard.”
In crafting the game’s story, Bergman also used his personal experience, his father-in-law’s passing, and the grief he experienced from a traumatic moment to enhance Ra Ra BOOM’s narrative experience further.
He also used writing the game’s story to help him cope with his father-in-law’s death, and hopes the story will do the same for players.
Ra Ra BOOM is due out this summer and will be available on PC via Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series consoles, and will most likely cost $19.99 when it releases. It will have DLC content sometime after its launch, ensuring players will keep running it back after they beat the game.
1. Ra Ra Boom
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2. Ra Ra Boom
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11. Ra Ra Boom
Source:Ra Ra Boom
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Source: Gylee Games / Ra Ra BOOM
Gylee Games’ new original game, Ra BOOM, aims to deliver a gut punch and not be just another mindless button-mashing beat’em up experience.
We are genuinely in a beat ’em up game renaissance, with games like TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons, the forthcoming Double Dragon Revive, Streets of Rage 4, and others restoring the feeling of the classic video game genre that used to gobble up all the quarters in arcades.
With Ra Ra BOOM, Gylee Games hopes to keep that momentum going. In essence, the game is a classic beat’em game in which playable characters take out hordes of villains and eventually the big boss. Still, once you pick up the sticks and press start, you will see the game studio is hoping to deliver a much deeper experience.
Source: Gylee Games / Ra Ra BOOM
Ra Ra BOOM’s Story
In the vibrant, fast-paced game, players can choose from five playable ninja cheerleaders, a combination we are sure you never thought of. They aren’t your typical cheerleaders; they have been trained to take on a rogue AI that has forced humans to leave Earth, but find themselves back on the planet, and must punch, kick, and shoot through hordes of angry robots and other foes and fight as a squad to save humanity.
Each character is fully upgradable, has unique hand-to-hand abilities, and wields a firearm to allow players to fight from a distance. To use your character’s special ability, you fill up a meter by landing hits on enemies; the power of the ability is determined by how full the meter is.
Source: Gylee Games / Ra Ra BOOM
HHW Gaming got hands-on with the game at PAX East and experienced the two levels during a brief demo. Ra Ra BOOM has been on our radar since seeing it during Kinda Funny’s Game Showcase two years ago.
Why Ra Ra BOOM Uses Ninja Cheerleaders?
Source: Gylee Games / Ra Ra BOOM
Speaking with the game’s creative director, Chris Bergman, our first question was why cheerleaders? His answer? Why not cheerleaders?
“I wanted to create a 90s aesthetic. And, like, Saturday morning cartoons, fun and vibrant,” Bergman tells HHW Gaming. “Like what the f**k’s more vibrant than a cheerleader?”
He also notes that teens who still attend school while living off the planet were raised to fight AI-controlled robots but use cheerleading to build teamwork.
That makes all the sense in the world when you think about it.
Ra Ra BOOM Features A Deeper Narrative
Source: Gylee Games / Ra Ra BOOM
What also sets this game apart from other beat ’em up games is that Bergman wanted his game to have a meaningful narrative, as he feels that’s where the video game genre traditionally falls short.
“Well, I don’t think beat ’em up games have good narratives,” Bergman said. “They’re really limited in what you can do. So part of it was a creative challenge of, like, can we introduce a real narrative into a new creative IP and a new game, and I fell in love with these characters so much. I wanted to make sure that that story was heard.”
In crafting the game’s story, Bergman also used his personal experience, his father-in-law’s passing, and the grief he experienced from a traumatic moment to enhance Ra Ra BOOM’s narrative experience further.
He also used writing the game’s story to help him cope with his father-in-law’s death, and hopes the story will do the same for players.
Ra Ra BOOM is due out this summer and will be available on PC via Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series consoles, and will most likely cost $19.99 when it releases. It will have DLC content sometime after its launch, ensuring players will keep running it back after they beat the game.
1. Ra Ra Boom
Source:Ra Ra Boom
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2. Ra Ra Boom
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3. Ra Ra Boom
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11. Ra Ra Boom
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EA / Battlefield
The installment of EA’s first-person shooter franchise, Battlefield, is coming next year.
During a recent earnings call, EA revealed that the next Battlefield game will be released in March 2026. EA CEO Andrew Wilson shared details on the next installment, calling it a “pivotal step in delivering on our next generation of blockbuster entertainment.”
EA also revealed that Skate will be dropping sometime next year.
The news about Battlefield follows the report that Respawn, one of the studios owned by EA, canceled a new entry in the Titanfall franchise and laid off more than 300 employees.
Despite that bad news, the video game publisher beat both analysts’ expectations and its own projections in earnings, revenue, and net bookings, despite its most popular title, Apex Legends, growing stale.
Strong performances from co-op Split Fiction, which has sold more than 4 million units since its release, and franchises EA Sports FC, EA Sports College Football 25, and The Sims.
“The incredible success of ‘College Football’ and the enduring strength of ‘FC’ drove another record year for EA Sports, while ‘The Sims’ capped FY25 with a historic Q4,” Wilson said in a statement accompanying the financial results. “As we look to the future, we’re confident in our ability to execute across a deep pipeline — beginning this summer with the highly anticipated reveal of ‘Battlefield,’ a pivotal step in delivering on our next generation of blockbuster entertainment.”
The news about Battlefield also follows recent massive Battlefield 6 playtests that EA and DICE held to gather tons of data and player feedback in hopes of avoiding the mistake that was the launch of Battlefield 2042.
The game was a disaster when it arrived, but eventually rounded out to form after numerous updates and bug fixes.
Based on what we hear and see, the new Battlefield looks like a massive step in the right direction.
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Source: The Coalition / Xbox Game Studios / Gears of War: Reloaded
Gears of War has been long-rumored to be one of many Xbox exclusive video game franchises to make its way onto the PlayStation, and that day has finally come.
Just like how Emergence Day took citizens of Sera by surprise, Xbox hit us with the shocking announcement out of nowhere that its popular video game franchise from The Coalition, Gears of War, will land on the PS5 this summer.
According to the announcement on Xbox News Wire, Gears of War: Reloaded will be a “faithful remaster” of the first game in the franchise that will be “optimized for more platforms than ever before.”
When it arrives on August 26, Gears of War: Reloaded will feature 4K resolution, 120 FPS support, and a new multiplayer experience that will introduce cross-progression and cross-play across all platforms, making this the definitive way to play the game.
Other features include
High Dynamic Range (HDR)
Dolby Vision & 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos
7.1.4 3D Spatial Audio
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
4K assets and remastered textures
Enhanced post-processing visual effects
Improved shadows and reflections
Super resolution with improved anti-aliasing
Zero loading screens during Campaign
“As we approach the 20th anniversary of Gears of War in 2026, we’re reflecting on what this franchise means. It’s about the stories we’ve told, the friendships we’ve built, and the unforgettable moments we’ve shared together. With Gears of War: Reloaded, we’re opening that door to more players than ever,” the post on Xbox News Wire read.
Gears of War: Reloaded Will Be A Free Upgrade For Ultimate Edition Owners
The game’s announcement of the remaster of the game that first blew our minds back in 2006 on the Xbox 360 console comes as The Coalition is set to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Gears of War franchise.
The Coalition is developing Gears of War: Reloaded in partnership with Sumo Interactive and Disbelief. It will cost $39.99 when it arrives on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, PlayStation 5, and Steam.
GOW: Reloaded will be a free upgrade for players who purchased the digital version of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition.
It will feature “the most complete version of the game,” including all post-launch downloadable content at no additional cost, like the bonus Campaign act, all multiplayer maps and modes, and a full roster of classic characters and cosmetics unlockable through progression.
2. Yes indeed
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Source: Rockstar Games / GTA 6
Welp, many predicted this day was coming. GTA 6 was once poised to be the biggest video game release of 2025, but will now be the biggest release of 2026.
Rockstar Games confirmed many analysts’ and gaming journalists’ predictions when it officially announced today that it would be delaying GTA 6 by six months.
The video game studio confirmed the news in a statement shared on its social media profiles, telling disappointed fans that the game needs more time to cook and will not arrive on May 26, 2026.
“We are very sorry that this is later than you expected,” Rockstar announced on X, formerly Twitter. “The interest and excitement surrounding a new Grand Theft Auto has been truly humbling for our entire team. We want to thank you for your support and your patience as we work to finish the game.”
Games of this magnitude needing more time isn’t unusual, but with GTA 6 being YEARS in development, it’s not crazy for some eyebrows to raise and people to overreact. Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar Games parent company, saw its shares take a hit with the announcement of the delay, losing over nine percent in the market.
“With every game we have released,” the statement continues, “the goal has always been to try and exceed your expectations, and Grand Theft Auto VI is no exception. We hope you understand that we need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve.”
Bummer.
Take-Two Still Has Some Heat On The Horizon
While this news stings, Take-Two still has some big realeses to look forward to this year like Mafia: The Old Country and Borderlands 4 which just recently pushed up its release date due, and, of course, NBA 2K26.
But, we can’t front, GTA 6 was high on everyone’s list and now that we have to wait even longer to experience what could be the greatest game ever made not named GTA V, stinks.
Oh well, if these means we will only be getting a more perfect game, then Rockstar take as much time as you need to deliver us the game we have all come to expect from you.
You can see more reactions to the news in the gallery below.
1. Parris knew
2. Pretty much all of our reactions
4. Tears, also why does this account exist?