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Source: Rockstar Games / GTA 6
Mark your calendars! Gamers are excited after Rockstar Games dropped the date for the first trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6.
After years of trending on social media for absolutely no reason at all, opening X and seeing GTA 6 in the top trending topics finally means something now.
While not saying much, Rockstar Games announced trailer 1 for what is easily the most highly anticipated game in the world, which will be arriving on December 5.
Proving just how popular this game is, just announcing the trailer’s release date sent social media into a tizzy.
“Fast forwarding to Tuesday,” Sony’s official X, formerly known as Twitter account, wrote.
The trailer will also arrive two days before The Game Awards, shutting down the theory that Geoff Keighley had GTA 6 as a big reveal during the show.
What We Know So Far Ahead of GTA 6 First Trailer Release
While we know when to expect the trailer, we still have no idea what this game will look like outside of the massive leak that showed footage from a pre-build.
Rumors also suggest that GTA 6 will see the game return to Vice City, which is Grand Theft Auto’s version of Miami, featuring a female protagonist as one-half of the playable characters for the first time, drawing inspiration from Bonnie and Clyde and one of the most extensive “evolving” maps in GTA history.
Like everyone else, we are excited to see what Rockstar Games has been taking its sweet time to build since GTA V, which has seen life on three console generations since its initial release in 2013 on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 console, making it one of, if not the most profitable pieces of media ever.
Until the day the trailer drops, you can see more reactions in the gallery below.
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Photo: Rockstar Games / GTA 6
4. The wait is finally over
6. Vince McMahon has never been so popular on social media
7. Howling
While NewJeans‘ brand of easy-listening K-pop minimalism has earned the girl group both a No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 as well as a Billboard Music Award, the quintet shook up their formula when it came to recording League of Legends‘ annual world-championship anthem “Gods.”
For the musical collaboration alongside Riot Games set to one of the world’s most popular video games (League of Legends reports 80 million average monthly players), NewJeans bring a booming, maximalist electronic-pop epic fully in English where an ominous full choir accompanies members Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein.
According to NewJeans, bringing “Gods” to life meant delivering their most elaborate live performance to date when the quintet took the stage at LoL‘s World Championship Finals on Nov. 19. Along with dancers and actors joining NewJeans, the performance included virtual-reality, computer-generated imagery and guest appearances from the top competing teams in eventual 2023 champs T1 from South Korea as well as Weibo Gaming from China.
Talking to Billboard exclusively after a big weekend where they not only performed and won at the 2023 BBMAs but helped open League‘s 2023 Worlds, NewJeans discuss recording and preparing “Gods” for the big stage, meeting T1 and Weibo Gaming, favorite Riot Games’ musical collaborations and more.
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Congratulations on a huge weekend. Not only did you perform and win at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards, but you also performed “Gods” for the first time live at Worlds. How are you all feeling?
DANIELLE: The whole experience felt surreal to me! Performing for the Worlds Finals as well as the Billboard Music Awards alongside artists we deeply respect and admire was incredibly surreal! Even looking back now the scale was unbelievable and we are so grateful and honored for the experience.
The Worlds performance looked and felt very massive. How do you prepare for such a big performance with different elements like dancers, actors, VR and more?
MINJI: It felt like the stage with the most diverse range of creative elements we had so far. It was truly enjoyable going through the process of coordinating with the dancers and actors through numerous rehearsals, aligning the timing and virtual reality aspects! [Laughs]
Those VR and CGI elements are very cool to watch on YouTube. As performers, do you need to imagine the effects while you’re singing?
MINJI: I was aware that there were numerous stage setups, but when we actually rehearsed on stage, everyone was quite mesmerized. In particular, seeing the part where the video effects seamlessly transitioned into reality left everyone in awe. It was truly an honor to be able to participate in a performance of the scale!
How was making the live premiere of “Gods,” your first song in English, at Worlds? Take us through how this song was conceptualized and eventually came to life on stage.
MINJI: “GODS” was a new challenge for us as NewJeans. It has a different vocal and choreographic style from what we usually do, so we invested a lot of time and effort into it! I recall rehearsing it over and over again for a flawless and dynamic live performance on the grand stage.
HAERIN: Since it’s the anthem for a game and a tournament that is so widely loved on a global level, we thought the lyrics in English would help fans around the world immerse themselves better in the surge of emotions associated with the song.
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Are any of you League of Legends fans or players yourselves? Was anyone excited to see parts of the game like Leona and Mordekaiser’s character represented during the performance?
HANNI: I enjoy playing League of Legends every now and then, and because there are so many champions, I’ve become curious about all their different abilities. It was amazing to see the performance we practiced being brought to life on stage alongside such amazing dancers, actors, and all the special effects and CGI. I remember being in awe while we watched the playback of our performance backstage. Also, our outfits and styling were inspired by the champion Leona! Looking back, having Leona appear on stage with us was definitely cool to watch.
So, even your fashion had connections to LoL too?
DANIELLE: Yes!! In fact, our whole outfits were based around Leona, who is a holy warrior in League. Our accessories were specifically designed to resemble her armors of gold and shimmer!
HAERIN: Our wardrobe had a chic feel to it and was put together based on a palette of neutral tones. We wanted an attire suitable for portraying the song effectively!
Finalist teams T1 and Weibo Gaming (WBG) also joined on stage. T1 members have shared that they’re NewJeans fans. Are any of you fans of the teams or players? Did you meet at the event?
HANNI: We had the pleasure of meeting both T1 and WBG backstage on the media conference day! It was a few days before the Finals, and I can’t imagine how nervous they would’ve been, but they greeted us all very warmly. It was nice to have time to meet them! Up until then, we had seen all the small references they made about us and our music, so I really wanted to mention it to them and thank them. But, out of the excitement of meeting them, I forgot to mention it!
HYEIN: We had a lot of rehearsals to perfect our performance for the Finals. During one of the rehearsals, I turned around briefly and was surprised but also fascinated to see the players there! Also, before the stage, we had a moment to greet the players, and it was so gratifying to be able to tell the players from both teams that we’ll be cheering for them.
One of my favorite parts was the montage with people from the LoL community’s photos, like players, casters, announcers, owners and more. How does it feel to be part of this diverse community?
HANNI: The fact that we were able to take part in such a globally loved occasion and engage with such a big community still feels surreal. We were so honored to be a part of it, and we were also grateful to everyone who made it possible. Being there in person and witnessing how such a wide community shares the same love and passion, including all the staff and fans there alike, was an amazing experience. It really was the icing on the cake for this whole process.
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You’re now joining LoL and Riot Games’ history of musical collaborations. Imagine Dragons, Becky G, Marshmello, Kim Petras and more have participated, while Riot Games has created virtual bands like K/DA, HEARTSTEEL and True Damage. Have you listened to these collabs?
HANNI: I’ve listened to nearly all of the musical collaborations with Riot Games Music and watched all the amazing accompanying performances. I think K/DA’s “POP/STARS” was just so iconic and massive. I remember it blew up in popularity back when I still lived in Australia! Personally, “Warriors” by Imagine Dragons, the first-ever Worlds Anthem, possesses a very deep emotional sound that is captivating, and I loved immersing myself in the emotion it conveys and the expression of it itself. While we were rehearsing and preparing for the opening ceremony performance, we got to watch the other performances, and HEARTSTEEL was such a blast to watch! The song is not only fun to listen to, but the artists’ individual characteristics and personality were showcased really well on stage, while effortlessly complimenting each other!
As artists, in what ways do you see music and gaming connecting?
DANIELLE: From my perspective, I think music can enhance the storytelling aspect, enriching the whole experience of the game. I think it helps to heighten the overall immersive quality of the experience, which leads to a stronger connection between the player and the visual elements within League!
NewJeans had a massive 2023. Is anything significant still planned for the end of this year? Or any spoilers about what to expect for 2024?
HYEIN: Certainly there were many exciting events in 2023, including our music releases. I want to deliver many fulfilling and amazing performances for the remainder of 2023! I hope our fans, Bunnies, will enjoy our upcoming performances too!
NewJeans performs at League of Legends World Championship 2023 Finals Opening Ceremony at Gocheok Sky Dome on November 19, 2023 in Seoul, South Korea.
Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
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. If you’re tired of constantly going back and forth between your gaming setup and the kitchen to get a soda, energy […]
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Source: SOPA Images / Getty / Grand Theft Auto 6
As we get closer to the big reveal of Grand Theft Auto 6, the hype for the highly-anticipated video game is so thick you can cut it with a knife.
GTA VI is trending on X, formerly known as Twitter, but this time around, the energy is much different. Unlike the other times the long-awaited sequel to GTA V trended, there is actual excitement now because a trailer for the game is on the horizon.
Rockstar Games confirmed a trailer is on the way following the equivalent of Woj Bomb in the video game space due to Bloomberg’s Jason Scheirer coming through with slam dunk reporting claiming the studio was dropping a trailer for the game.
In a post shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, Rockstar Games president Sam Houser wrote:
“We are very excited to let you know that in early December, we will release the first trailer for the next Grand Theft Auto. We look forward to many more years of sharing these experiences with all of you.”
Gamers React To GTA VI’s Trailer Coming In December
With that in mind and Thanksgiving and Black Friday now behind us, gamers have taken to Elon Musk’s trash platform to express how excited they are about GTA VI’s announcement being on the horizon.
“The only thing on my mind right now is #GTAVI December hurry up!!! Its gonna be game of the generation bruh….,” one post on X read.
Another post read, “I hope we get that #GTAVI trailer Friday but I’m expecting nothing until next week at least. Regardless, I can’t believe we’ve made it this close.”
We feel both posts and wonder when the trailer will drop in December.
There is a strong chance it could happen during the upcoming Game Awards.
We shall see.
Until then, hit the gallery below for more reactions.
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Photo: SOPA Images / Getty
2. Howling
3. The graphics will be mind-blowing
4. Not confirmed, but if true, this will be crazy.
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Source: Epic Games / Eminem x Fortnite Big Bang Event
Slim Shady is officially coming to Fortnite. Enimen and Epic Games confirmed the rapper will be a part of the upcoming “Big Bang” event in the extremely popular video game.
After a day of speculation, Fortnite and Eminem confirmed his existence in the game and will be a part of the Big Bang event to close out the highly successful Fortnite OG chapter.
Epic Games confirmed that Fortnite players will be greeted by a new Big Bang loading screen featuring the “Without Me” rapper in preparation for a virtual performance from the Detroit rapper.
Source: Epic Games / Fortnite / Eminem
Also, if you’re going to attend the event, you have to look the part, so of course, three Eminem-related skins will be available: Rap Boy, Slim Shady, and Marshall Never More, which also come with matching accessories.
The new looks, the latest edition to Fortnite’s “Icon Series,” will be available starting Wednesday, November 29, at 7 PM ET.
Source: Epic Games / Eminem x Fortnite Big Bang Event
Those who attend the Big Bang event will unlock the Marshall Magma Style for the outfit, whether you purchased the outfit before or after attending.
As expected, Eminem and Fortnite fans have been reacting to the news of the legendary rapper coming to the video game.
“imma be honest… Eminem in Fortnite will go hard,” one X user wrote.
You can see more reactions to the news in the gallery below.
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Photo: Epic Games / Fortnite Big Bang Event
1. Good question
2. Proper use of Em bars.
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Source: Epic Games / Fortnite / Eminem
Fortnite is enjoying a resurgence thanks to its OG Season. Now, word on the street is that Eminem will come to the game to help close Chapter 4.
Spotted on Polygon, reliable Fortnite leaker HYPEX is reporting that Eminem will be the star of Fortnite’s upcoming “Big Bang” event to close out the Fortnite OG event and usher in a new season of Fortnite.
According to the leaker, the picture above will be the announcement photo, and it “will be the BIGGEST one to date,” saying the download size will come in at “1.5GB+, making it the biggest in terms of file size alone.”
Eminem will also be a playable character in Fortnite Chapter 5, with players getting their hands on Slim Shady and Marshall Never More skins, each with two styles.
The Marshal Skin will come with a Marshall Magma exclusive to Fortnite players who attend the end-of-season event on December 2.
Eminem is not the only thing reportedly coming to Fortnite Chapter 5. According to leaker Shiina, Lego Fortnite will be released on December 7, Rocket Racing will follow on December 8, and Fortnite Festival will drop on December 9.
HYPEX also says the Fortnite Festival will allow players to play vocals, guitar, drums, and bass over tracks from Lady Gaga, Imagine Dragons, Linkin Park, Toto, and Alice Cooper.
The Lego mode will feature playable Lego minifig characters and allow players to craft and build.
When Eminem hits the virtual Fortnite stage, he will join other artists, Travis Scott, Ariana Grande, and J Balvin, who also had epic Fortnite concerts.
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Photo: Epic Games / Fortnite / Eminem
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Source: Insomniac Games / PlayStation / Dove
Black and Brown video game characters are constantly plagued with awful-looking generic hairstyles. Dove and Open Source Afro Source Hair Library to fix that glaring issue.
Did you know that 85% of Black gamers do not feel video games are coming up painfully regarding the representation of Black characters?
Did you also know that 74% of game developers really want to actively promote better representation?
Dove and Open Afro Source Hair Library are on a mission to fix the Black hair issue in video games with the launch of “Code My Crown,” the first complete and free guide about coding textured hair and protective styles specifically for video games.
Code My Crown aims to eliminate the tired excuse that Black hair is hard to emulate in games by providing coders and developers with an instructional guide allowing them to code more diverse and “true to life” hairstyles in 3D games.
As mentioned above, the guide is free to download at Dove.com/CodemyCrown. This site was also created to help increase diversity in the video game world.
Speaking on the lack of texture hairstyles in games, Isaac Olander, lead Code My Crown developer 3D Artist, said in a press release, “Out of hundreds of possible hairstyles to choose from in the video games I play most often, only a handful are textured hairstyles,”
Olander added, “I am personally grateful to the many talented artists that have selflessly shared their knowledge before me. Their generosity has shaped my artistic journey, and it feels incredibly rewarding to give back to our artistic community with this guide.”
What Is The Open Source Afro Hair Library?
Open Source Afro Hair Library features a bunch of Black creators, developers, and natural hair experts who point out the top textured and protective hairstyles that are always absent in video games.
Code My Crown also features 15 original hair sculpts created by international Black 3D artists, animators, programmers, and academics to help give developers a foundation to create better virtual hairstyles for Black characters.
Each sculpt has 360-degree image mapping, step-by-step instructions, and cultural context to help them create Black hairstyles in the game.
“In the real world, there is an incredible variety of Black hairstyles. But this is rarely reflected in the gaming world,” A.M. Darke, founder and lead Code My Crown contributor, said in the release. “When Black hair is absent from the games we play or are consistently low-quality, it communicates that Black players and our culture are an afterthought, that our stories aren’t worth telling.”
Black Hair In Video Games Has Been A Hot Topic Issue
In March, Kinda Funny’s Blessing Adeoye Jr. released a fantastic video highlighting the need for immediate fixes to Black hairstyles in video games.
The video notes there have been some strides.
For example, see Miles Morales’ crispy ceaser haircut in the above photo from Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales or his latest hairstyle in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, but the issue in gaming is still glaring.
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We can still find some recently released games that provide users with subpar cornrows, afros, and other hair options that only Tyler Perry would use in his television shows or films.
However, we applauded Dove, the Open Source Afro Hair Library, the developers, and Blessing for bringing attention to this important issue.
Representation will always matter.
¯
Photo: Insomniac Games / PlayStation
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Source: Sony / PlayStation Portal
When the PlayStation Portal was officially unveiled, there were more skeptics than believers about the latest PlayStation accessory. Now that people have tried it, surprisingly, it is being well-received by many.
The PlayStation Portal is an unusual device. For $200, you’re basically getting the perfect PS5 companion device that truly puts the console’s Remote Play option to use better.
Of course, there are caveats; it doesn’t allow for cloud streaming, even though there are reports that the feature could be coming eventually. Another complaint is the lack of Bluetooth functionality.
Plenty of people have said you don’t need this device, given that you could use Remote Play on your smartphones and even connect your DualSense controller. Still, after using the PlayStation Portal leading up to its release, some reviewers are much more optimistic about the device than initially.
What Are The Critics Saying About The PlayStation Portal
Tech Radar’s Rob Dwiar had nothing but glowing words for the PlayStation Portal, giving it a perfect score in his review:
“Offering superb ergonomics as well as excellent design and build quality with all those exquisite DualSense controller features on top, this Remote Play beaut and its bright and sharp 8-inch LCD screen present a wonderful portable PS5 experience. … The Portal is not pretending to be anything else apart from a quality remote-play device for your PS5, and it absolutely nails its brief. As long as you come to it knowing what it does and what it can offer you, then it wholeheartedly, unabashedly, spectacularly succeeds.”
Surprising Skeptics
IGN’s Seth G. Macy had his issues with the device but overall was surprised by the PlayStation Portal after initially being skeptical about it, writing in his review:
“The PlayStation Portal is the most surprising device I’ve ever come away from loving after going in loaded with skepticism. It’s such a better experience than using your phone with a slap-on controller, and it works so much better than I was anticipating. I really love the freedom it gives me to play my PS5 from anywhere with decent WiFi coverage … The biggest things keeping the Portal from being a truly amazing device are its current lack of a way to access WiFi that requires a web browser to log in, and its lack of Bluetooth support for audio. [Grade: 8/10]”
A Perfect Gift For Gamers, But There Is Room For Improvement
Kotaku’s Jen Glennon praised the PlayStation Portal’s battery life, calling it “a solid sub-$200 gift option,” but also noted in her review that there is room for improvement with the Portal.
“While there are tweaks I’d like to see in the weeks and months ahead, I’ve been quite impressed with the time I’ve spent with Portal so far. I’ve played for about six hours on a single charge and still have a bar of battery life left to go. It’s a solid sub-$200 gift option for the gamer in your life who’s always hogging the TV when you’re trying to watch Vanderpump Rules or Monday Night Football.”
Some Are Meh On The PlayStation Portal
With the good, some people were always left feeling meh about the PlayStation Portal experience.
The Loadout’s Callum Self described his experience with PlayStation Portal as “enjoyable and disappointing” but noted in his review that it is the best way to use Remote Play.
“My overall time with the PlayStation Portal was both more enjoyable and disappointing than I expected. It’s certainly the best way to use Remote Play currently, by a long shot, and I’m sure I’ll be using it frequently in the future. But the washed-out screen, lack of cloud gaming support, and so-so battery life make me wish for a better, but unlikely, PlayStation Portal 2. [Grade: 5/10]”
No Reasonable Use For The PlayStation Portal
Then, of course, some just feel PlayStation swung and missed with the Portal. PC Mag’s Will Greenwald calls the Portal “just a screen sandwiched between a controller” and not worth the $200 price point.
“The screen works as intended, but the 1080p resolution looks fuzzier than most modern mobile devices. … The most baffling aspect of the Portal is its fundamental limitation. … I can’t see a reasonable use case for the Portal that wouldn’t be served more economically, and with a better screen, with many other devices. Ultimately, the Portal is just a screen sandwiched between a controller, and for $200, it should be more than that. [Grade: 2.5/5]”
Well, for the most part, people are high on the PlayStation Portal, but it sounds like this is a device for a very niche group of people, and those are the gamers who love Remote Play and hate using their smartphones to utilize it.
Will you be buying a PlayStation Portal? Let us know in the comment section below.
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Photo: Sony / PlayStation Portal
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 30 years after its release, Nintendo remastered the classic Super Nintendo game Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars.
Exclusively for Nintendo Switch, Super Mario RPG is priced at $57.99-$59.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart and Target. After saving Princess Peach from King Bowser, the Smithy Gang, led by an evil robotic blacksmith named Smithy, invades the Mushroom Kingdom and shatters the Star Road into seven pieces.
Nintendo
Super Mario RPG
As far as gameplay, you play as Mario and his friends — Princess Peach, Mallow, Geno and even Bowser — trying to defeat the gang and restore the Star Road to its former glory. The role-playing game has elements of turn-based combat with up to three characters, while it was heavily influenced by Final Fantasy, but in an isometric 3D platform game. Think of Super Mario RPG as Nintendo’s version of Final Fantasy, but with Mario and the Mushroom Kingdom.
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The Super Mario RPG remake has updated graphics that are brighter, colorful and modern, while audio is deeper and richer — specifically designed for the Nintendo Switch. It also has some new gameplay mechanics, like timed attacks and triple moves, that varies from different character groups, so it’s encouraged to mix and match between the five characters to discover new attacks and abilities.
Back in 1996, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars was the first Mario RPG and the last Mario game released for the Super Nintendo. The game is very influential for Nintendo fans, as it paved the way for more role-playing games, such as the Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi series.
Super Mario RPG for Nintendo Switch is available at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart and Target for $57.99-$59.99. In the meantime, watch a trailer for the game, below.
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Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best over-ear headphones, Wi-Fi extenders, laptop deals and more.
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.
Although Sony just released the newly designed PlayStation 5 Slim, the tech and entertainment company has another gaming device up its sleeve with the PlayStation Portal, which comes out on Wednesday, Nov. 15.
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Retailing for $199.99 at Amazon and Target, the new PlayStation Portal is a handheld remote player for the PS5. While it may look like a Nintendo Switch or a SteamDeck, it’s not an independent gaming console. It’s a remote player that pairs with your PS5 and mirrors its games so you can play anywhere on the PS Portal when you’re on the same Wi-Fi network as your PS5. The PlayStation Portal comes in handy if, for example, you want to play the new Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 or Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III in the bedroom while someone else is watching TV in the living room.
Please note: You need to own a PlayStation 5 to use the PlayStation Portal.
Sony
Sony PlayStation Portal
The new Sony handheld supports 60fps (Frames Per Second) at 1080p HD resolution gaming, while it has a sharp 8-inch LCD touchscreen display and DualSense wireless controller features, like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. In fact, it looks and feels exactly like the DualSense wireless controller that comes with the PS5 proper, only it’s split into two with a tabletlike display placed in the middle.
It comes with a USB-C port for charging and a 3.5mm headphone jack for wired headphones. Unfortunately, there is no built-in Bluetooth. If you want to go wireless with a pair of headphones and earbuds or a gaming headset, you’d have to use the upcoming Pulse Explore Wireless Earbuds (drops on Dec. 6 for $199.99) or Pulse Elite Headset (releases on Feb. 21, 2024, for $149.99) via Sony’s proprietary PlayStation Link connectivity standard.
The Sony PlayStation Portal comes out on Wednesday, Nov. 15. It’s available for $199.99 at Amazon and Target. In the meantime, watch a trailer for the new handheld, below.
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Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best over-ear headphones, Wi-Fi extenders, laptop deals and more.