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Source: Albert L. Ortega / Getty / Atari
It took a while, but Atari finally came out on top in its competition with longtime rival Intellivision.
For those who are only familiar with Sega and Nintendo, or Xbox and PlayStation going at each other, there were two video game companies vying to be in people’s homes, Atari and Intellivision.
Atari and Intellivision launched dueling consoles, the Atari 2600, and Intellivision.
Intellivision was developed by Mattel Electronics and introduced to the world in 1979. Its console sold about 5 million units by 1990.
Thursday, May 23, one of the most storied rivalries in the video game industry ended when Atari announced it had acquired Intellivision.
Atari announced that it would acquire its longtime rival and the 200 games in its library.
Atari wrote in a press release, “Atari will seek to expand digital and physical distribution of legacy Intellivision games, potentially create new games, and explore brand and licensing opportunities.”
The Intellivision Amico Is Not Part of The Acquisition
The Verge reports that the acquisition does not include the Intellivision Amico, the new console Intellivision announced in 2020 that it was working on and that led by infamous “liar” and legendary video game composer Tommy Tallarico.
The website notes that Intellivision will rebrand itself and grant licensing rights to the new company, allowing Intellivision games to be on the console.
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“We look forward to our expanded collaboration and the prospect of bringing a broad array of new titles to the Amico family gaming platform,” Intellivision CEO Phil Adam said in the press release.
Atari now specializes in retrogaming, launching mini retro versions of its classic consoles and releasing its classic games on modern consoles. It also owns Digital Eclipse, a studio that specializes in retro gaming.
We are curious to see the fruits of this acquisition.
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Source: Activision / Youtube
First-person shooter fans can rejoice. Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 is officially on the way.
On Thursday, May 23, Activision announced that Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 is the next time up in the Call Of Duty series. However, if you’re looking for more details like what the campaign is looking like or which new sniper rifles you want to get your hands on, you’re going to have to be patient. The full reveal of the next Call of Duty game will go down immediately after the highly-anticipated Xbox Games Showcase on Sunday, June 9 at 10amPT/1pmET.
For now, you can watch the new “wake up (rushmore) #thetruthlies” trailer below. You can also stay tunes for future updates at the Call of Duty blog. There’s also some more interactive stuff at The Truth Lies.
Yeah, we’re in.
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Source: Marvel Studios / Apple Vision Pro / Marvel’s What If…? An Immersive Story
Marvel Studios dropped the first trailer for Marvel’s What If…? An Immersive Story, giving people who spent nearly $4,000 on the Apple Vision Pro a reason to turn it on.
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to wield the power of the Infinity Stones, make sling ring portals, and cast mystic spells like Doctor Strange?
Well, Marvel Studios is giving you that feeling thanks to the power of the Apple Vision Pro.
The Disney-owned studio dropped the first trailer for Marvel’s What If…? An Immersive Story, which, for some bonehead reason, will live exclusively on the Apple Vision Pro, you know, the $3,500 headset not that many people in the world have.
Adapted exclusively for Apple’s high-end headset, the video game version of the animated Disney+ series will take users on a mixed-reality adventure, allowing them to experience the multiverse shenanigans that happen in episodes of the show.
Lile the Guardians of The Multiverse, players will team up with The Watcher and get help from our favorite Sorceror Supreme, Wong, to take down “dangerous variants.”
Vision Pro users will be taken from their living rooms or gaming caves to familiar and new Marvel locations and interact with characters from the Marvel Studios lexicon.
No controller is necessary to enjoy this experience; all you need is your eyes and hands to get into the action. Spatial audio will also aid in immersing you into the world of Marvel’s What If…?.
Marvel’s What If…? An Immersive Story Release Date & Cost
Surprisingly, you won’t have to wait long to experience this app. It will arrive on May 30 and be FREE but for a limited time.
You would think the free price tag would be forever since you already dropped rent on the Vision Pro.
We are curious to know if this will remain an Apple Vision Pro exclusive or eventually find its way onto the fully capable Meta Quest 3 headset.
You can ponder What If…? (see what we did there?) and watch the trailer below.
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All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Nearly 20 years after its release, Nintendo re-mastered the classic GameCube game, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.
For Nintendo Switch, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is priced at $59.99 at Walmart. During a search for treasure, Princess Peach gets abducted by the X-Nauts aliens. Mario then goes out to rescue her in a storybook role-playing adventure.
And since its from Walmart, you’ll get the game shipped to your home for free as soon as it’s available if you’re a Walmart+ member.
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Not a member? You can sign up for a 30-day free trial to take advantage of everything the retailer’s rewards program has to offer, including free delivery; fuel savings at Exxon, Mobil, Walmart or Murphy gas stations; streaming access to Paramount+ to watch hit originals such as Halo, Fatal Attraction and Star Trek: Lower Decks; early access deals and other member’s benefits. Learn more about Walmart+ here.
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Below, you’ll find all the different retailers, including Target and Amazon, to buy Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo
‘Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door’
As for gameplay, it’s a turn-based role-playing game where you can play as either Mario, Princess Peach or Bowser. The game emphasizes timing and strategy for battles and progression. The Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door re-master has updated graphics that are vivid, brighter and modern, while audio is richer and deeper — specifically designed for the Nintendo Switch.
Available at Walmart, Target and Amazon, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is priced at $59.99 and out now.
In the meantime, watch the game’s launch trailer, below:
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Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Waka Waka Waka! Happy 44th birthday, Pac-Man! The first superstar in gaming, Pac-Man kicked off the popularity of video games when he first hit arcades on May 22, 1980.
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To celebrate the occasion, we rounded up a few gaming items from Target that can show off your love and affection for the “big yellow fella.”
And if you’re a Target Circle member, you can order now and get just about all gaming gear (with orders over $35) delivered straight to your home in two days.
Not a member? Sign up for a free membership to take advantage of all that Target Circle has to offer, including access to “deal of the day” products, instant savings on select items, three months of Apple TV+ to watch hit originals, including Killers of the Flower Moon, For All Mankind, The Morning Show, Long Way Up and Ted Lasso, access to exclusive shopping events — like Target’s Deal Days and early Black Friday deals — and other perks.
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If you want to take it a step further, you can sign up for the Target Circle Card (with no annual fee), which offers an extra 5% discount on all purchases, two-day free shipping with no order minimums and more. Learn more about the Target Circle Card here.
Ahead, you’ll find our picks for the best items to celebrate Pac-Man’s birthday.
Lego
Lego Icons Pac-Man Arcade Retro Game Building Set
Arcade1Up
Pac-Man Deluxe Arcade Game
Arcade1Up
Class of ’81 Deluxe Arcade Game
The Lego Icons Pac-Man Arcade Retro Game Building Set is now available for $269.99 at Target and Lego.com. Meanwhile, the Arcade1Up Pac-Man Deluxe Arcade Game and Arcade1Up Class of ’81 Deluxe Arcade Game go for $499.99 apiece at Target.
Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the 14th major installment in the very popular franchise, which started back in 2007, and is the follow up to last year’s Assassin’s Creed Mirage.
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Starting at $69.99, Assassin’s Creed Shadows drops on Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 on Friday, Nov. 15. However, it’s available for pre-order now at Walmart.
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And since its from Walmart, you’ll get the game shipped to your home for free as soon as it’s available if you’re a Walmart+ member.
Not a member? You can sign up for a 30-day free trial to take advantage of everything the retailer’s rewards program has to offer, including free delivery; fuel savings at Exxon, Mobil, Walmart or Murphy gas stations; streaming access to Paramount+ to watch hit originals such as Halo, Fatal Attraction and Star Trek: Lower Decks; early access deals and much more. Learn more about Walmart+ here.
Below, you’ll find all the ways to pre-order Assassin’s Creed Shadows on Xbox Series X and PS5.
Ubisoft
‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Special Edition’ (Xbox Series X)
$69.99
Pre-order at Walmart
Ubisoft
‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Special Edition’ (PS5)
$69.99
Pre-order at Walmart
Ubisoft
‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Gold Edition’ (Xbox Series X)
$109.99
Pre-order at Walmart
Ubisoft
‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Gold Edition’ (PS5)
$109.99
Pre-order at Walmart
So what’s the difference between the two editions? The Special Edition features the game and the Sekiryu Character Pack, while the Gold Edition comes with both the game and character pack, as well as a season pass, additional quests and two expansion packs. Each edition comes with the “Thrown to the Dogs” quest when you pre-order at Walmart.
As for the game itself, Assassin’s Creed Shadows takes place during feudal Japan starting in 1579, while it explores regions like Kyoto, Kobe, Osaka and Iga. You play as a lethal Shinobi Assassin and a powerful Samurai warrior in dual mode during a time of civil war in Japan, as the country opens up to Portuguese traders and Jesuit missionaries.
Available for pre-order right now, Assassin’s Creed Shadows for Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 is set for release on Friday, Nov. 15, at all sorts of online retailers, including Walmart. The game goes for $69.99 for the Special Edition and $109.99 for the Gold Edition.
In the meantime, watch the game’s world premiere trailer below:
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Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.
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Source: Rockstar Games / GTA 6
We don’t have an exact date for when we will return to Vice City in GTA 6, but the window for the highly anticipated game’s release did narrow a bit.
Rockstar Games’ parent company, Take-Two Interactive, revealed in its Q4 2024 earnings report that Grand Theft Auto 6 will arrive in fall 2025.
While that’s not an exact date, it’s a slight update from the more vague “coming 2025” release window.
“Our outlook reflects a narrowing of Rockstar Games’ previously established window of Calendar 2025 to Fall of Calendar 2025 for Grand Theft Auto VI,” Take-Two Chairman and CEO Strauss Zelnick said in the report. “We are highly confident that Rockstar Games will deliver an unparalleled entertainment experience, and our expectations for the commercial impact of the title continue to increase.”
In an interview with Variety, speaking on the game’s fall 2025 release window, Zelnick added, “I think we’re going to leave it there for now.”
GTA 6’s Rollout Marred By Leaks
Gamers shouldn’t be surprised by the vagueness. Rockstar Games plays it very close to the chest for its games, especially Grand Theft Auto.
Information about the game in the form of leaked materials hitting X, formerly Twitter timelines, September 2022.
Then, the game studio had to release GTA 6’s trailer earlier than planned when a bunch of crypto dweebs leaked it.
The trailer confirmed that the game will feature two male and female protagonists and take us to Leonida, the GTA equivalent of Florida, and we will spend most of our time in Vice City, the game’s take on Miami.
With any news regarding GTA 6, the reactions are pouring in. Some are excited that we seem to be getting closer to a release date, while others want to know the EXACT day we can expect to boot up the game.
With this game, we want Rockstar Games to take its time and deliver a game on the same level as GTA V.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
2. Challenge accepted
4. A perspective we can get behind.
12. Now why would you say that?
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Living in modern times, we spend a majority of our time staring at screens — working on a laptop from home, scrolling through TikTok on a smartphone, watching YouTube on a tablet or playing video games on a computer desktop.
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Staring a screen for long periods of time could cause eye strain, fatigue, blurred vision, headaches, dry eyes or sleep loss because of blue light that’s emitted from laptops, smartphones and other devices with displays. In some cases, too much blue light can cause eye disease.
However, there’s a simple solution. Enter blue light-blocking glasses.
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These special glasses don’t require a prescription, and act like a pair of sunglasses — but for computer screens. A good pair can also help reduce eye strain and fatigue, and may also improve your overall health and sleep quality.
And if you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can order now and get a pair of blue light glasses delivered to your home in less than two days thanks to Prime Delivery.
Not a member? Sign up for a 30-day free trial to take advantage of all that Amazon Prime has to offer, including access to Prime Video and Prime Gaming; fast free shipping in less than two days; in-store discounts at Whole Foods Market; access to exclusive shopping events — such as Prime Day and Black Friday — and more.
Read on to find our picks for the best blue-light-blocking glasses.
Gunnar
Best for Fallout Fans
Gunnar Gaming Blue Light Glasses
These blue-light-blocking glasses are great for fans of the video game and Amazon original series, Fallout. This pair comes with Vault 33-branded glasses, a metal collector’s case, a microfiber cloth and a pouch.
Benicci
Best for Colors
Benicci Blue Light Glasses
$17.97
$19.97
10% off
This pair of blue-light glasses are ideal for enhanced colors when using a laptop or smartphone; they can help reduce blue light for a better night’s sleep.
Horus X
Best For Gamers
Horus X Blue Light Glasses
$33.90
$49.90
32% off
These glasses offer blue light and UV protection, while their wrap-around design for additional security on faces is ideal for gamers — especially during intense battles and gameplay.
Livho
Best For Laptops
Livhò Blue Light Glasses
Not only do these unisex blue-light glasses look smart, but you’ll also look smart when using them while working on a laptop. This pair offers blue light, fluorescent lights, UV400 protection and glare reduction.
Fonhcoo
Best Stylish
Fonhcoo Blue Light Glasses
$13.59
$15.99
15% off
While blue-light glasses serve an important function to protect your eyes, a good pair could also be stylish and graceful, like the Fonhcoo Blue Light Glasses.
Madison Avenue
Best Oversized
Madison Avenue Blue Light Glasses
If you’re looking for something that’s bold and eye-catching, then these Madison Avenue Blue Light Glasses are a good fit.
Did we miss what you’re looking for? If you want more, shop the best blue-light-blocking glasses below:
Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Playing video games is great! It’s a wonderful way to decompress at the end of a long day or week. However, if you’re looking to take your game to the next level, then a trusty gaming headset just might do the trick.
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There are a few things to consider when looking for a gaming headset. First is immersive audio that’s detailed, robust and rich. The next thing is a sturdy microphone so you can easily communicate with other players online when playing multiplayer games. One of the things you don’t want is your microphone to die just when you’re about to take over a hill or command base.
Finally, you want to look for a gaming headset that’s comfortable to wear around your ears and over your head for long periods of time.
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We rounded up the best gaming headsets for different types of gamers, as well as for different types of consoles. Whether you’re an Xbox Series X gamer, a livestream cosplay gamer or everything in between, we’ve got you covered with our recommendations for next-level gaming immersion.
And if you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can order now and get your games and accessories delivered to your home in less than two days thanks to Prime Delivery.
Not a member? Sign up for a 30-day free trial to take advantage of all that Amazon Prime has to offer, including access to Prime Video and Prime Gaming; fast free shipping in less than two days; in-store discounts at Whole Foods Market; access to exclusive shopping events — such as Prime Day and Black Friday — and more.
Read on to find our favorite headsets for gamers.
Sony
Best For PlayStation 5
PlayStation Pulse Elite Wireless Headset
A next-generation console calls for a next-generation gaming headset such as the PlayStation Pulse Elite Wireless Headset. It connects easily to the PS5 while also delivering wireless audio that’s immersive and deep.
HyperX
Best For Battery Life
HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless Gaming Headset
If you’re looking for a gaming headset that lasts for a long time, then the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless Gaming Headset is the one for you since it has a whopping 300 hours of battery life per charge. That’s nearly 13 days of use!
SteelSeries
Best For Xbox
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Gaming Headset
For Xbox gamers, SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Gaming Headset is ideal thanks to impressive high-fidelity audio, advanced noise-cancelation and comfy all-day fit. It comes in white and black too.
Logitech G
Best For Switching between Devices
Logitech G435 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Headset
$47
$79.99
41% off
The Logitech G435 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Headset comes with a Bluetooth switch mode that makes it easier to go between consoles and gaming devices at a moment’s notice.
Audeze
Best For Sleek Design
Audeze Maxwell Wireless Gaming Headset
The Audeze Maxwell Wireless Gaming Headset has a premium fit with a sleek and stylish design that makes gaming sound as good as it looks.
Razer
Best For Cosplay
Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Pro Wired RGB Headset
$167.38
$199.99
16% off
If you’re a cosplayer, then the Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Pro Wired RGB Headset comes with kitty, bear and bunny ears that are interchangeable for various livestream looks.
Did we miss what you’re looking for? If you want more, shop the best gaming headsets below:
Want more deals? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.
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Source: picture alliance / Getty / Phil Spencer
The video game world is still reeling after word hit the e-streets that Xbox closed Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, and Alpha Dog game studios under the Bethesda Games umbrella. Now, gamers are focusing on Xbox chief Phil Spencer and his leadership, or lack thereof. Should Phil Spencer be fired? Is it time for him to go? That’s what many are calling for to happen after this recent round of studio closures and the absorption of one into ZeniMax Online Studios.
While many blame the practice of companies like Xbox and PlayStation acquiring game studios, some also feel that Spencer’s feet should be held to the fire.
Kotaku’s Zack Zwiezen proclaimed in an article that “It’s time to stop giving Phil Spencer a pass,” pointing out the many “bad decisions Spencer has made during his time as CEO and contradictory statements.
Per Kotaku:
In October 2020, shortly after Xbox announced its plans to consume Bethesda, Spencer told Kotaku: “This deal was not done to take games away from another player base” and added that Xbox wants “more people to be able to play games, not fewer people to be able to go play games.” Yet, in March 2023 Redfall director Harvey Smith said that Microsoft stepped in after buying Bethesda and canceled a PS5 port of the vampire hunting co-op game. Starfield shipped only on Xbox and PC. And despite a few Xbox games—like Grounded and Sea of Thieves—jumping ship to PlayStation and Switch, future big titles like Indiana Jones won’t be multiplatform.
Xbox’s boss has also talked a big game about giving developers the freedom to make what they want to make, explaining in a May 2023 interview with Kinda Funny: “When a team like Rare wants to do Sea of Thieves, when a team like Obsidian wants to do Grounded, and Tango wants to go do Hi-Fi [Rush] when everyone probably thought they were doing The Evil Within 3. I want to give the teams the creative platform to go an push their ability, push their aspirations.”
The article states that Spencer says the right things, but even when those studios get to make the games they want, and if they are critical successes, there is still a chance they will suffer the same fate as these latest studios.
Social Media Reactions
Social media hasn’t been kind to Spencer either, and that’s totally understandable because we are all tired of hearing about these layoffs while people in offices continue to line their pockets with cash while game developers have to figure out how to make ends meet.
Former PS I Love You XOXO co-host and head of Pen To Pixels Janet Garcia also called out Spencer for his comments that have now “aged like milk,” pointing out his penchant for trying to be transparent, something people appreciate about Spencer, leaves him open to these contradictory moments.
“Yeah so many of Xbox’s comments are aging like milk rn. This is the danger of selling the “good guy” narrative. It only works when you do “good” things. That said this is also why PlayStation and Nintendo don’t talk to anyone anymore. They’re like nah I’m not gonna play myself,” Garcia said on X, formerly Twitter.
Former Blizzard President Mike Ybarra Comes To Phil Spencer’s Defense
Former president of Blizzard Entertainment Mike Ybarra tried to empathize with Spencer, writing on X, “I know this hurts him [Spencer] as much as anyone else.”
Ybarra continued, “I’m not trying to defend the decisions. I think we all get ourselves into situations that are tough and unexpected (certainly I have). It’s part of the job, as is the accountability for the outcomes. But he’s a good human and he cares deeply for the creative process and developers. That’s my first hand experience in working closely with him for 8+ years and knowing him for 24+.”
Unfortunately, folks were not trying to hear it and didn’t hesitate to tell Ybarra he was wrong.
What a sad state of affairs.
Hopefully, we will hear from Spencer in his own words about this latest decision.
Until then, you can see more reactions in the gallery below.
1. Oh wow.