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Source: Katelyn Mulcahy / Getty / LeBron & Bronny James
Are the Los Angeles Lakers father-son duo, LeBron and Bronny James, coming to Call of Duty as playable operator skins?
Like his son, Bronny, LeBron James is a gamer. He has his own PS5 DualSense Controller and has been featured as a playable character in the WB Games Interactive fighter MultiVersus.
Bronny and LeBron also starred in a hilarious television spot for PlayStation’s God of War: Ragnarok.
Now, for their next trick, there seems to be a very good chance the two professional hoopers will join the likes of Snoop Dogg, Nicki Minaj, and 21 Savage by having their own operation skins in Call of Duty.
The buzz all started when LBJ lobbied for his son, who was once a member of FaZe Clan, to have his own operator skin in Call of Duty on X, formerly Twitter, writing in a post, “Bronny just said he want his own “Skin”. @Activision @CallofDuty talk to me.”
When LeBron James calls you out, you have to respond, and the official X account for COD did respond with a GIF of The Replacer, writing, “We know Bronny is a shooter, let’s talk. First father son duo in NBA history. Could be a #CallOfDuty first too.”
The Replacer Has Been Busy
So maybe The Replacer will replace both Bronny and LeBron so they can play some Black Ops 6.
Adding more fuel to the speculation fire, notable Call of Duty news site CharlieIntel also took notice, dropping the “looking eyes emoji.”
This latest development comes after The Replacer stepped in for Angel Reese so she can play some Black Ops 6, speculating the Chicago Sky superstar will be involved in the next installment in the Black Ops franchise.
Bronny also won the Call of Duty two-minute drill at the NBA Summer League, so the young hooper’s involvement in the game could have been in the works for a minute.
We shall see how this plays out. The gallery below shows more reactions to LeBron and Bronny James possibly getting operator skins.
1. LOL, chill
2. Nepotism we have no issue with
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Source: NetEase Games / Bungie / Destiny: Rising
Destiny: Rising, NetEase Games’ long-rumored free-to-play mobile first-person shooter set in Bungie’s Destiny universe has finally been unveiled.
Finally, we know what to expect from Destiny: Rising, the free-to-play shooter from China-based NetEase Games. Destiny Rising’s announcement comes after NetEase Games announced their 2018 $100 million investment in Bungie, which is coming to expensive smartphones that can run some pretty big games.
In Destiny: Rising, players will no longer create their Guardians based on the Hunter, Warlock, or Titan classes. Instead, you will choose from unique Destiny heroes.
Each character will have unique abilities and stories to utilize those characters in single, co-op, and competitive multiplayer modes, all set in Bungie’s Destiny universe.
The trailer also revealed that Destiny Rising will feature Ghosts, Lightbearers, Iron Lords, and Warlords while showcasing the hero’s unique abilities, such as the “void scythe,” which is reminiscent of an ability that the Warlock class would use in the base Destiny games.
Classic enemy factions like the Fallen, Hive, and Vex were also in the announcement trailer.
NetEase Games Is Building Its Own Storyline Using Destiny’s Lore
The game will take place in an alternative Destiny timeline and explore the post-Dark Age era before the rise of the Guardians and the Tower.
NetEase was granted creative freedom to develop its own storyline and vision for Destiny: Rising. “We want to capture and depict a specific time where the reins are in the hands of the players to experience, to explore, to define,” Stone Shi, senior narrative designer at NetEase, said, The Verge reports.
“With Destiny: Rising, NetEase Games is honored to partner with Bungie to deliver a Destiny-caliber experience to mobile devices,” said Ethan Wang, Senior Vice President, NetEase, Inc. “Destiny is an incredible franchise with a passionate and dedicated global fanbase. As huge fans ourselves, we are humbled and thrilled for the opportunity to bring gamers an action-packed RPG shooter set within the Destiny Universe.”
“For over a decade, we have built this universe to contain many unique and wonderful stories, and we are excited to see mobile gamers be able to experience this new take on the Destiny universe from the creative team at NetEase,” said Terry Redfield, Creative Lead at Bungie.
Destiny: Rising will also allow players to play in first-person or third-person modes, feature exotic weapons, and introduce a new Mythic weapon rarity class that will introduce a new weapon type and have touchscreen controls and controller support.
No release date was announced, but you can sign up for the closed alpha test on November 1 by heading here.
1. Destiny: Rising
Source:Destiny: Rising
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2. Destiny: Rising
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3. Destiny: Rising
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5. Destiny: Rising
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The action role-playing game Diablo IV was one of the most popular titles of 2023, while its developers at Blizzard Entertainment just released a new campaign to get even more action and thrills out of the experience.
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The Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred expansion pack for Xbox Series X and Xbox One is available now starting at $39.99 for the standard edition at Amazon, Best Buy and other retailers. The DLC (downloadable content) is also available for PC at G2A.
Pop fans were brought into the world of Diablo IV in 2023 when Halsey teamed up with BTS member Suga for a revamp of her song “Lilith.” Speaking to Billboard about their collaboration on the track, Halsey praised Suga’s work, saying the song would’ve been impossible to release without his help. “We were able to infuse the anthem with intricate narratives that encompass a wider range of emotions I wouldn’t have been able to tell without him. He added a whole new perspective to the song,” she said. “Plus, it was just honestly really cool to do something so bada– with my friend.”
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Keep in mind, Vessel of Hatred is an add-on for the game Diablo IV, so you need to own a copy of the game to download and play the expansion pack. Additionally, if you have access to Diablo IV with Xbox Game Pass, you’ll still have to buy the DLC to play.
You can order now and Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred will be delivered to you via “You Games and Software Library” on Amazon.
Activision Blizzard
‘Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred’
If you’re not an Amazon Prime member, then you can 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 with Prime Delivery; in-store discounts at Whole Foods Market; access to exclusive shopping events — such as Prime Day and Black Friday — and more.
Meanwhile, Vessel of Hatred is an expansion of Diablo IV, while it features new characters, locations, narratives and enemies to the world of Sanctuary. It takes place in a jungle setting called Nahantu and introduces the “Spiritborn,” a new class of playable characters who have the power of ancient jungle warriors.
Starting at $39.99 and available for purchase at Amazon and Best Buy, Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred is out now for Xbox. In the meantime, watch the trailer for the game, below:
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: PHILIP FONG / Getty / PlayStation Network
PlayStation owners were stressed last night because they couldn’t get any online gaming in.
The issue has been resolved, but if you checked on your favorite gamer last night, they were probably mad because the PlayStation Network was down.
Sony did not reveal the cause of last night’s massive outage, which lasted around eight hours. It barely acknowledged that it was happening, only sending a message to users that the issue was resolved.
Per The Verge:
PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 console users are now able to play online games again following a massive outage on Sony’s gaming network that started on Monday night. The official PSN Service Status page confirms that “all services are up and running” now, after previously warning users that they “might have difficulty launching games, apps, or network features.”
“This problem has now been resolved,” said a message posted by the Japanese Ask PlayStation customer support account. “We apologize to our customers for any inconvenience caused.”
The outage prevented users from signing in, playing multiplayer games, or playing single-player games that required online connectivity.
It’s been a somewhat rough week for PlayStation, with the shaky PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection preorder event, a bug plastering ads on the new PlayStation 5 home screen, and now this situation that surely gave PlayStation 5 and 4 owners flashbacks of the 2011 PSN outage that lasted for 23 days after the service was hacked.
Again, Sony has yet to reveal the cause of the massive outage, but one user on X, formerly Twitter, claims PSN was hacked allegedly.
We shall see if Sony ever admits what happened; until then, you can see more reactions in the gallery below.
2. Very unserious people on X, lol
3. HOWLING
8. Will we ever learn what really happened ?
9. It’s been a roller coaster ride
10. Imagine that
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With the upcoming release of the movie Sonic The Hedgehog 3 in theaters on Friday, Dec. 20, Sega is dropping a new Sonic video game featuring True Blue’s antagonist Shadow The Hedgehog in a new adventure.
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Ready for pre-order for $49.99 at Target, Sonic X Shadow Generations for Sony PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch is set for release on Friday, October 25.
And if you’re a Target Circle member, you can order now and get Sonic X Shadow Generations delivered straight to your home in two days.
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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, access to exclusive shopping events — such as Target’s Deal Days and early Black Friday deals — and other perks.
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.
In addition, Sonic X Shadow Generations is available for pre-order at Walmart and Amazon.
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‘Sonic X Shadow Generations’ for PS5
Release date: Oct. 25
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‘Sonic X Shadow Generations’ for Xbox Series X
Release date: Oct. 25
Sega
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‘Sonic X Shadow Generations’ for Nintendo Switch
Release date: Oct. 25
As for the game itself, Sonic X Shadow Generations is a collection of that features a new campaign with Shadow trying to take down Black Doom, who has re-emerged to rule the world, as well as Modern and Classic Sonic teaming up to stop Dr. Eggman from splitting the timeline with Time Eater.
Additionally, the game features retro levels from past Sonic releases that are playable throughout the new game.
Dropping on Friday, Oct. 25, Sonic X Shadow Generations comes out for PS5, Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch. The game is available for pre-order right now for $49.99 at Target, Walmart and Amazon. In the meantime, watch the story trailer, below.
Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best over-ear headphones, wifi extenders, laptop deals and more.
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Source: Kojima Productions / Death Stranding 2 On The Beach
TGS (Tokyo Game Show) has come and gone, and we got a minor update on Hideo Kojima’s next video game opus, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach.
We have no idea when Death Stranding 2: On The Beach will arrive, which makes us all want a PS5 Pro. Hideo Kojima knows the game’s release date but can’t tell us yet due to “unforeseen circumstances.”
During a panel for the forthcoming sequel to his post-apocalyptic walking simulator, which stars Norman Reedus as the game’s main protagonist, Sam Porter Bridges, Kojima revealed that he could yet give a firm release date “in preparation” for the release date. Still, we can expect it to arrive at “some point next year.”
“I haven’t said the release date today, but the release date has already been decided, and I’m currently working on it in preparation for that,” VGC reports.
He continued, “Since we are talking about 2025, it will be released next year, so we will announce it at some point next year. But, due to some unforeseen circumstances, we cannot announce it today.”
The panel also featured roughly 20 minutes of gameplay footage that also showed off DS2’s photo mode, which looks like it will probably take the title of the greatest photo mode ever.
We also learned that Elle Fanning will be joining the all-star cast for the game as a character named Tomorrow. Joining Reedus and Mad Max director George Miller.
Kojima Hints At His Age Catching Up With Him
Kojima didn’t reveal those “unforeseen circumstances,” but he admitted to not being at his best due to his age.
“Yes, I got tired today, and my back still hurts. So, I’m gonna watch a movie by a director I love. I guess I’m getting old,” Kojima wrote on his English account on X, formerly Twitter.
Kojima’s back could be hurting for having to carry the industry on his back for so long.
Just saying.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
1. This merch is sick!
2. Hideo Kojima continues to innovate in the video game space
3. This is so crazy
4. Kojima the goat!
5. We all do!
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Source: Activision / Activision
Call Of Duty: Black Op 6 is almost here. So that means the beloved first-person shooter’s publisher Activision is launching a hefty advertising campaign, just in case you need a reminder.
The first spot in the live-action campaign features a familiar character—The Replacer, portrayed by actor Peter Stormare (Fargo, John Wick Chapter 2). First seen back in 2013 (damn, it has been that long?!), The Replacer helps players focus on their gaming while he handles their business. And in this case, that includes serving tacos, “saving” cats from trees, blessing his followers and holding down family dinner time, to comedic effect.
“The Return of the Replacer” is only the start of a series of launch commercials that will drop prior to the title’s release in late October. Plans are for a total of over 30 unique spots across media, intent on targeting various audiences. Gamers do lurk everywhere, after all. Expect some famous games to get “replaced.”
Watch “The Return of the Replacer” below (its broadcast debut was during Sunday Football on September 29th). Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 is out October 25.
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. 2024 is the year of nostalgia. Sony is celebrating three decades of PlayStation with a retro-inspired collection of PlayStation 5 consoles […]
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Source: Sony / PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection
Did you get one? Today was the pre-order day for the PS5 Pro and the PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection Bundle, and as expected, getting your hands on any of the items was a challenge.
When the PS5 Pro was first announced, the reception was not exactly what PlayStation was hoping for after the lead system architect for the PS5 proudly unveiled the mid-cycle refresh for the PS5.
Gamers immediately balked at the disc-less console’s $699.99 / £699.99 / €799.99 / ¥119,980 price tag, which Sony argues is worth it for the upgraded GPU, advanced ray tracing and AI-driven upscaling to a plethora of games.
While many at the time asked, “Who is this made for?” the announcement of the PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection PS5 Pro $999 bundle made the divisive console a bit more attractive to those who were on the fence about dropping $700 bucks on a gaming console.
Then Tuesday’s State of Play event announced Ghost of Yotei, the sequel to 2020’s Ghost of Tsushima, and showcased other PlayStation 5 Pro Enhanced games, making the PS5 Pro sound like a worthy purchase.
A Long Wait To Be Disappointed, Only To Be Disappointed
This leads us to today’s pre-order event. When the PlayStation website opened the virtual queue, many were greeted with a message telling them their wait to purchase a PS5 Pro or anything from the PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection was “more than an hour.”
Some even waited more than 2 hours only to strike out, as Kinda Funny’s Tim Getty revealed in a post on X, formerly Twitter, writing, “Over 2 hours of waiting and alas no PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary Bundle is in my future. Boo.”
Scalpers Got Their Hands On PlayStation 30th Anniversary PS5 Pro Bundle & Base Console
Others believe the pre-order vent had scalpers written all over it because, as an article by GameRadar+ pointed out, the PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection sold out and immediately landed on eBay.
The prices on resale sites are absurd. One post on X shared a screenshot of PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Bundle Pre-Orders going for £9,999.99 with the caption, “You know what. £699 doesn’t seem so bad.”
Some Folks Did Get Their PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection PS5 Pro Bundles & More
Some were rewarded for their patience, landing a bundle, console, DualSense controller, or PS5 Portal, as our very own Bernard “Beanz” Smalls did.
Another user shared their success, claiming they got a PS5 Pro for themselves and helped two friends get lucky.
So, congratulations to those who got a PS5 Pro, the limited-edition bundle, or accessories. For those who missed out, better luck next time.
Also, to Sony, get your sh*t together. The pre-order experience shouldn’t be so frustrating in 2025.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
1. Damn shame
2. Confusion
3. Ridiculous
4. We agree
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With the success of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom last year, Nintendo introduces a new entry in the nearly 40-year old franchise. However, this isn’t just the same old game. This new addition is the first game in the series where you get to play as Princess Zelda herself, instead of Link.
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The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom for Nintendo Switch drops on Thursday (Sept. 26) for $59.99 at Target and other retailers.
And if you’re a Target Circle member, you can order now and get The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom delivered straight to your home in two days (with orders over $35) — or you can pick it up at your local Target store for free.
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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, access to exclusive shopping events — such as Target’s Deal Days and early Black Friday deals — and other perks.
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.
In addition, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is available at Best Buy.
Nintendo
‘The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’
After Link gets trapped in a mysterious rift called “The Still World,” Princess Zelda must venture into Hyrule, with the Tri Rod and her fairy companion Tri, to find and rescue him and save the kingdom.
In our gameplay, we found that Echoes of Wisdom is a throwback to older Zelda games, like A Link To The Past and Link’s Awakening, instead of the open-world design of newer games, such as Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.
It features new mechanics to replica objects to help you throughout your journey — which have a slight learning-curve — but, ultimately make it fun and rewarding to use what you’ve learned to solve puzzles and battle enemies. And even though you play as Princess Zelda, this is very much a Legend of Zelda game through and through, and serves as a challenging and additive adventure through Hyrule.
Priced at $59.99 and available for purchase at Target and Best Buy, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is out now. In the meantime, watch the overview trailer for the game, below:
Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.