gaming

21 Dec 2023

PS5 Sales Top 50 Million, Xbox Series S & X Sales Dwindle

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Sony Moves Over 50 Million PS5 Units, Xbox Sales Slip

Source: SOPA Images / Getty / PS5

When it comes to moving consoles, Sony remains king.

Sony has a lot to be happy about. Roughly three years after its release, the popularity of the PS5 console remains high, and according to Reuters, the company has reportedly sold over 50 million units.

The Japanese tech giant also says it has the best-ever Black Friday period for the video game console.

Per Reuters reporting, Sony expects to finish the year on a high note thanks to a strong holiday performance, putting the company on pace to reach its sales target of a record 25 million units to close out the current financial year ending March 31.

Eric Lempel, senior vice president for global marketing, sales, and business operations at Sony Interactive Entertainment, said, “Given the momentum we’ve had in November and a lot of what we’re seeing in December, just in general, we’re feeling very good about sales overall.”

Remember that this number could have been higher, but PS5 sales were hampered due to supply chain issues when the console first hit the market.

Still, despite that, you can expect to see a PS5 in a home thanks to a solid first-party game lineup with games like God of War: Ragnarok and, most recently, Insomniac Games’ Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.

Xbox & Nintendo Are Not Seeing The Same Success With Its Consoles

The outlook isn’t so rosy for the PS5’s direct competitors, Microsoft’s Xbox Series S | X and the Nintendo Switch.

IGN reports the Xbox sales have hit a snag. According to the website, PS5 sales are up “65% to 22.5 million units,” while Xbox’s sales took a dip to “about 15% to 7.6 million.”

The Nintendo Switch, which at one point was impossible to find on shelves during the pandemic, has fallen nearly 20%.

We are curious to see if Sony can continue its dominance in the gaming space in 2024.

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Photo: SOPA Images / Getty

20 Dec 2023

HHW Gaming: Zack Snyder Is Down To Direct A ‘Fortnite’ Movie

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Zack Snyder Is Down To Make A 'Fortnite' Movie

Source: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / Getty / Zack Snyder

Zack Snyder is currently building a Star Wars-like world with his Rebel Moon franchise, but that’s not stopping him from looking toward the future and wanting to make a movie out of his favorite video game, Fortnite.

The architect of the now-dead DCEU is a huge fan of Fortnite, and who can blame him? The game is highly addictive, and its latest updates have injected new life into the video game.

During a recent interview for his new film Rebel Moon, which critics lambasted by critics, Snyder was asked about the prospect of directing a Fortnite movie.

“I mean, of course,” Snyder told the interviewer, who asked if he ever “want to combine” his passion for filmmaking and playing the addictive video game.

Snyder even noted his valiant attempt to get free skins based on his Rebel Moon characters into the game.

“Look, Fortnite is an amazing world, and it is an amazing distraction for me,” Snyder said. “It’s really cool, and the alchemy that they’ve created there is really unique. When I started playing it, I thought I knew what it was, and then it was something entirely different.”

He continued, “You definitely don’t know. You definitely can never say never. That’s my mantra in this business.”

Consider us intrigued at the thought of a Snyder-esque Fortnite universe, full of his love for slow-motion shots and intense action.

But please, Zack, we know you love to make things rather dark, and Fortnite is far from that. We don’t need another DECU/Snydevers situation here.

Lighten it up a bit, and have some fun. Fortnite is a goofy game that makes it possible for hulky Peter Griffin and Optimus Prime to face off against each other.

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Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / Getty

19 Dec 2023

HHW Gaming: Gaming Community Rallies Around Insomniac Games After Stolen Data Leaks On Internet

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Insomniac Games Showered With Support After Stolen Data Hits X

Source: Insomniac Games / Marvel’s Wolverine

Hacks are wack… PERIOD. The gaming community is rallying around Insomniac Games after files were stolen from their highly anticipated Marvel’s Wolverine game and other highly-sensitive information hit the web.

Full disclaimer: HHW Gaming stands in solidarity with Insomniac Games and other game studios and will not share any links to stolen material.

With that out of the way, leading up to last night’s unfortunate events, Rhysida, a ransomware group, demanded $2.3 million from Insomniac Games, the studio behind PlayStation-exclusive titles like Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Miles Morales and more.

According to Cyber Daily, after Insomniac Games did not meet Rhysida’s ridiculous demands, the ransomware group leaked 1.67 terabytes of data comprising over 1.3 million stolen files.

The files included level design and character information from Marvel’s Wolverine. Internal company presentations leaked Insomniac Games and Sony’s unannounced games like Marvel’s Spider-Man 3, Venom, an X-Men game, and, unsurprisingly, a new Ratchet & Clank game.

There were also screenshots of internal spreadsheets with other information on development and budgets.

The leak of the Insomniac Games employee’s personal information made this hack even more egregious.

Insomniac Games joined the growing list of other game studios that also experienced hacks. Rockstar Games saw early development footage of GTA 6 leak, Cyberpunk 2077, and The Witcher: Wild Hunt developer CD Projekt Red, Bandai Namco, and Riot Games.

The Gaming Community Denounced The Hacks On Social Media

While thirsty folks eager to feast their eyes on Insomniac’s Wolverine game circled the stolen material like hungry vultures on rotting flesh, the gaming community rallied around the studio to denounce the leaks.

“Leaks are scary, frustrating, damaging and often happen without consent or any planning,” one user on X, formerly Twitter, wrote.

“Our sympathies to @insomniacgames and all the affected team members. After all the effort and dedication they have poured into their games, they didn’t deserve this. No one does. The hackers also leaked employee’s personal information, which is truly disgraceful and shameful,” Alan Wake 2 developer Remedy wrote on its official X account.

Add us to the list of people who feel for Insomniac Games and all of the other studios who were victims of bored losers who had nothing better to do with their computer skills.

You can see more reactions in the gallery below.

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Photo: Insomniac Games / Marvel’s Wolverine

15 Dec 2023

The 14 Best Holiday Gifts for Gamers: Nintendo, PS5, Xbox & 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.

It’s that time of the year again! Colder weather, hot chocolate at night and, of course, holiday gift-giving. However, it seems like gamers are one of the hardest groups to shop for year after year. This might be that the technology and games move so fast that it just might be too confusing.

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That’s where we come in. We rounded up the best gifts for gamers for the holiday season. Regardless of whether they’re a gaming vet with all of the best consoles, or they’re a newbie to gaming and want to get a good start, we’ve got you covered with great gift ideas from Nintendo, Sony, and even retro gaming companies.

Scroll down and shop the best gifts for the gamer in your life, below:

Nintendo

Nintendo Switch OLED: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Bundle

Walmart has the Nintendo Switch OLED bundled with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and a three-month membership. It comes the OLED model of the console, two gray Joy-Con controllers, a digital download of the game and a membership.

Nintendo

‘Super Mario RPG’

Nearly 30 years after its release, Nintendo remastered the classic Super Nintendo game Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars.

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.

Paladone

Pac-Man and Ghosts Lamp

Add a bit of classic gaming with the Pac-Man and Ghosts Lamp. It has Pac-Man being chased Inky, Blinky, Pinky and Clyde, while its LED light brights up any gaming room. It’s a great throwback to the ’80s!

Microsoft

Xbox Series X Replica Mini Fridge

$39.97

$88

55% off

At 14.4 inches tall, the Xbox Series X Replica Mini Fridge is designed to sit next to your real Xbox Series X, while the thermoelectric cooler keeps up to eight cans chilly. There’s even some room in its door to keep a few candy bars nice and cool.

Retroid

Retroid Pocket 2S Handheld Console

The Retroid Pocket 2S handheld gaming console is ideal as a retro gaming emulator that’s compatible with NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, N64, Saga Dreamcast and other old school gaming platforms.

ASUS

Asus ROG Ally

The Asus ROG Ally is a handheld gaming PC that’s surprisingly lightweight with a premium feel in the hand. This thing is a beast with an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme Processor, 7-inch touchscreen display, 16GB of memory paired with up to 1TB of on-board storage (expandable with microSD card) and more.

It even runs the full version of Windows 11 for multiple gaming platforms, such as Steam, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Epic, RetroArch and much more. Now you can play just about anything on-the-go.

Microsoft

Xbox Series S Starter Bundle

$249.99

$299.99

17% off

The Xbox Series S Starter Bundle has the digital-only version of the gaming console, a white Xbox Wireless Controller and a three-month subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for cloud gaming and online multiplayer.

Amazon

‘DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing’

$24.99

$39.99

38% off

What if Mario Kart, but Dreamworks. DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing has 20 iconic characters from all of DreamWorks Animation, such as Shrek, Po, Boss Baby, Puss in Boots, Hiccup, Megamind and more. It has 20 kart racers that matches with each character. But, you can swap out kart parts for faster builds with hundreds of combinations of chassis, engines, wheels, spoilers and more.

Amazon

N-Gen Gaming Chair

$129.98

$147.98

12% off

The N-Gen Gaming Chair has thick cushioning for a more comfortable experience, durable design with high-quality multi-layered polyurethane leather that’s scratch- and stain-resistant and overall affordable price. Meanwhile, the gaming chair comes in six colors, including black, pink, red, blue and more.

SteelSeries

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Gaming Headset

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 works with just about any PC, Mac, PlayStation or Nintendo Switch, as an overall great and affordable gaming headset — thanks to its excellent audio quality, microphone clarity, and solid Bluetooth connectivity.

Ubisoft/Amazon

‘Just Dance 2024 Edition’

$19.99

$29.97

33% off

Just Dance 2024 is a motion-control rhythm dance game where players mimic dance moves to chart-topping hits for more points. The higher you level up, the harder the dance moves get.

It also includes 40 new tracks, including “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus, “Tití Me Preguntó” by Bad Bunny, “How You Like That” by BLACKPINK, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston, “Chaise Longue” by Wet Leg, “I Am My Own Muse” by Fall Out Boy, “Vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo and much more. Check out a complete playlist here.

Nintendo

‘Super Mario Bros. Wonder’

Super Mario Bros. Wonder has Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Princess Daisy, Toad, Toadette, Nabbit and Yoshi (four colors) as playable characters. However, instead of an adventure in the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario and friends find themselves in the Flower Kingdom.

Amazon/Sony

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 for PS5 finds Peter Parker and Miles Morales joining forces to defeat Kraven The Hunter, who has claimed Manhattan as his latest hunting ground.

The open-world action adventure game has expanded its map from the first two games in the franchise, while gamers can explore Brooklyn and Queens, in addition to Manhattan.

Meta Quest 3

The Meta Quest 3 is virtual reality headset that offers stunning cinematic picture and audio for gaming and entertainment in the Metaverse.

Last-minute shopping can be frustrating during the holidays, but it helps to have a plan in place. When shopping online, you’ll want to factor in shipping deadlines so that your gift gets delivered in time. Christmas falls on a Monday this year, so it’s best to get your gifts shipped as soon as possible, or at least by Dec. 21, which is the deadline for most carriers.

Amazon Prime members get free overnight and two-day shipping on millions of items (click here to launch your free 30-day trial). Walmart, Target and Best Buy are also offering extended delivery options and in-store pick up during the holiday season.

For more recommendations, check out the best gaming chairs, best stocking stuffers and our Shop 100 ultimate gift guide.

15 Dec 2023

Sony Releases New Access Controller for PlayStation 5: Here’s Where to Buy It Online

Over the last few weeks, Sony released the refreshed PlayStation 5 Slim, handheld PlayStation 5 Portal remote player and new PS Pulse Explorer wireless earbuds for the holiday season. Now Sony has just released a new accessory that increases the PS5’s community.

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Priced at $89.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart and PlayStation Direct, the Sony PlayStation Access Controller is a new controller kit that’s highly customizable for accessibility purposes — especially for players with disabilities or dexterity issues.

Made for easy access, the PS Access Controller is adaptive for many different types of playing styles — thanks to its 360-degree design, extendable joystick, swappable and magnetized buttons and stick caps, range of motion, textured layout and more. It even has designed to stay stationary on flat surfaces, including a wheelchair tray or a AMPS pattern mount.

Sony PS Access Controller

Meanwhile, the new controller is expandable for different types of configurations. This means you can sync two PS Access Controllers together for additional accessibility, or you can pair it with a traditional PlayStation DualSense Wireless Controller (sold separately) for haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, motion sensors, and much more.

The PS Access Controller has four input ports at its base for additional expandability to connect peripherals, like joysticks, action buttons, triggers and others. There’s even custom profiles available for up to 30 individual controller settings, which means it’s easier and faster to re-map the entire controller (after setup) based on the game being played. The options for customizability and configurations are nearly endless.

This is a big win for game accessibility! The Sony PS Access Controller is available for $89.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart and PlayStation Direct. In the meantime, watch a trailer for the new gaming controller, below:

Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best over-ear headphones, wifi extenders, laptop deals and more.

12 Dec 2023

HHW Gaming: E3 Is Officially Dead, Gamers Pay Their Respects To Beloved Video Game Convention

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Source: FREDERIC J. BROWN / Getty / E3

The zombie that was E3 finally got the blow to the head to keep it from returning. The Electronic Entertainment Expo announced via X, formerly Twitter, that it has run out of extra lives for the convention.

The great Gene Park at the Washington Post broke the story before E3 confirmed the sad news that the beloved convention born in 1995 will not return.

“After more than two decades of hosting an event that has served as a central showcase for the U.S. and global video game industry, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has decided to bring E3 to a close,” the Electron Entertainment Expo said in a statement. “ESA remains focused on advocating for ESA member companies and the industry workforce who fuel positive cultural and economic impact every day.”

In a post on X, E3 wrote, “After more than two decades of E3, each one bigger than the last, the time has come to say goodbye. Thanks for the memories.”

The once popular gaming convention has been on life support since COVID came through and shut down the in-person video game convention in 2020. The ESA tried to hand on for dear life with a virtual convention in June 2021 that everyone agreed was a mess.

The ESA did make a valiant attempt to bring the in-person convention back but failed in 2022 and 2023 due to the conference failing to attract exhibitors.

Before the then-raging pandemic officially killed E3, the convention was dying slowly. Game Awards founder Geoff Keighley, who claims he was at every E3 since its exception, pretty much assisted in taking down E3 by founding Summer Game Fest in 2020.

The last time there was an in-person E3 event, only 66,100 people came out.

Gamers Are Sharing E3 Memories

With the announcement, gamers and people in the gaming industry have shared their fondest memories while saying goodbye to the convention.

“I understand why this happened, but it’s heartbreaking all the same. E3 was like Christmas for gamers and having all the conferences take place in one week was such a treat. So many good memories spanning so many years. Thanks for everything, E3,” Sony Santa Monica writer Alana Pearce said on X.

“E3 has had a huge significance in my life,” Spawn On Me founder Kahlief Adams wrote in a post on X.

What a sad day for the gaming world. Attending E3 was a dream for me, and I was close to achieving it, only to learn this year’s convention was canceled.

So long E3.

You can see more reactions in the gallery below.

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Photo: FREDERIC J. BROWN / Getty

11 Dec 2023

HHW Gaming: Sega Lowkey Stole The Show At The Game Awards With Return of ‘Crazy Taxi,’ ‘Streets of Rage’ & More

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Sega Announces It Is Reviving Crazy Taxi, Shinobi & More

Source: SEGA / Crazy Taxi

There were plenty of significant announcements and reveals from The Game Awards 2023, but Sega could lowkey stole the show with its Power Surge trailer.

The Game Awards 2023 are still the talk of the internet, whether it’s Geoff Keighley’s fumbling of the show, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 not taking home any awards, or Bethesda announcing Marvel’s Blade while not confirming if it was an Xbox exclusive or not.

But one of the biggest surprises came from Sega after the iconic game developer confirmed the return of its classic franchises, Crazy Taxi, Golden Axe, Jet Set Radio, Shinobi, and Streets of Rage, each with brand new games coming.

Thank Sonic The Hedgehog For Inspiring Sega To Bring The Classics Back

Sega, who at one point seemed done with making games, revealed that the recent success of Sonic The Hedgehog’s latest titles was why it decided to drop new games from classic IPs.

“In recent years, Sonic the Hedgehog has forged new paths for SEGA, bringing the franchise to life and reaching new audiences in ways we had only dreamed of in the past. Building off that success, we are digging into our legacy and reimagining several franchises to bring these games to more audiences around the globe,” said Co-COO of SEGA Corporation and CEO of SEGA of America, Shuji Utsumi. “Today’s announcement is just the start of our initiative. First and foremost, our ambition will be to create great games with memorable characters and worlds. We hope fans of all ages will look towards our future with anticipation as we release these projects in the coming years.”

Sega notes each game is in different stages of production while not sharing the official titles of the games.

You can peep the announcement trailer below.

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Photo: SEGA / Crazy Taxi

11 Dec 2023

HHW Gaming: Roblox & adidas Link For New In-Game Collaboration

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Source: adidas / Roblox

Fashion continues to make its mark in the gaming space thanks to great collaborations, and that continues with adidas teaming up with Roblox.

Roblox is no stranger when upgrading the drip in the game. Since the game’s 2006 inception, big names like LeBron James, Gucci, and Vans have partnered with the popular game. Now it’s adidas’ turn to throw its name in the mix.

The new Roblox collaboration saw adidas launch a series of pop-up shops featuring bespoke outfits and other officially licensed clothing, allowing players to their avatars in adidas signature pieces like the classic tracksuit and other accessories via the Roblox Marketplace.

They will also be featured throughout different Roblox experiences coming soon.

adidas partnership with Roblox will also see the brand work with Roblox’s top creator, Rush Bogin (Rush X), to bring some limited-edition user content to the game.

It will also feature items like adidias Oversized Trefoil Cross-Bodu Bag, Trefoil Crown with Halo, Black Hair with Beanie Headphones, and more.

Players can get their hands on pieces from the Adidas x Rush X collection through a series of drops in the game through December.

Per the sportswear company, the collection is on a first-come-first-serve basis, with the first 10,000 collection packs being available for free. After that, the prices will range from 85 to 500 Robux.

To learn more about the collaboration, head here.

You can see more photos in the gallery.

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Photo: adidas / Roblox

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08 Dec 2023

Logitech G Unveils New Astro A5O X Wireless Gaming Headset: Here’s How to Pre-Order Online

For serious gamers, a high-performance gaming headset is just as important as a pro-level controller, solid and speedy Internet and one powerful console (or maybe two).

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Available for pre-order for $379.99, the Logitech G Astro A5O X is a wireless dual-band gaming headset, which means it can connect and switch audio from console-to-console with just a tap of a button with Logitech G’s “PlaySync.” It’s ideal for those times when you want to finish up a game on your PlayStation 5 and then start a new game on your Xbox Series X.

It delivers exceptional gaming audio that’s clear, robust and completely immersive with deep and heart-thumping bass — thanks to Logitech G’s 40mm “Pro-G Graphene” audio drivers and 24-bit “Lightning Wireless” technology for a low latency wireless audio with virtually no lag.

Logitech G Astro A5O X Gaming Headset

“Over the last decade, the A50 has become an icon in gaming headsets due to its focus on gamer-centric design, premium sound, and superior comfort and durability,” said Ujesh Desai, general manager of Logitech G, in a press release. “Our new A50 X elevates this beloved headset with an unmatched level of performance by combining the A50’s award-winning design with several new features and advanced technologies that truly revolutionize gameplay.”

Meanwhile, the wireless gaming headset — which has comfortable padded earcups and omnidirectional microphones — comes with a base station that works as a go-between the headset itself and your 4K TV via HDMI 2.1 for better performance and audio. It also works as a charging station for the wireless headset with up to 24 hours of battery life per charge.

Compatible with Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5 and most PC and Mac gaming sets, the Logitech G Astro A5O X Wireless Gaming Headset — which comes in black and white models — is set for release in early 2024. It’s available for pre-order for $379.99 at logitechg.com.

Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best over-ear headphones, wifi extenders, laptop deals and more.

07 Dec 2023

HHW Gaming: ‘LEGO Fortnite’ Kicks Off New Era For The Popular Video Game

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Source: Epic Games / LEGO Fortnite

The world of Fortnite and how players can enjoy it continues to grow. Starting today, loyal fans of the game can now boot up LEGO Fortnite, the latest addition to Epic Games’ ridiculously popular video game.

Thursday, December 7, Epic Games launched LEGO Fortnite, a new survival crating game it developed in partnership with the LEGO Group.

Some are describing it as Fortnite and LEGO’s version of Minecraft, another popular title owned by Microsoft. Instead of downloading a separate game, you can access it by selecting it on the Fortnite menu, just like when you choose the battle royale mode.

Epic says the procedural map players can explore is 19x more significant than the battle royale map, and you can either play in a creative mode where you can build whatever you want or a survival mode where skeletons, wolves, and other enemies will generate.

Players will also have to monitor not only their character’s health but also their hunger and extreme heat warnings.

Source: Epic Games

Fortnite is also famous for the skins it introduces into the game, and that continues to be the case in the new mode. Speaking with The Verge, Saxs Persson, Epic’s executive VP, says more than 1,200 Fortnite skins have a LEGO variant players can use.

Source: Epic Games

LEGO Fortnite Isn’t The Only New Mode Coming To Fortnite

LEGO Fortnite is also the first of many in-game experiences coming to Fortnite. Beginning tomorrow, December 8, players can look forward to Rocket Racing (from the creators of Rocket League) and Fortnite Festival on Saturday, December 9 (from the studio behind Rock Band and Guitar Hero).

The latter will allow players to play rhythm-based games similar to Rock Band and Guitar Hero alone or with friends, as well as songs from artists like Eminem, who just recently got his own skin in the game and was a part of the Big Bang event.

Fortnite sounds like it’s the ultimate place to be.

For more news on LEGO Fortnite, head here.

Hit the gallery below to see more images.

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Photo: Epic Games / LEGO Fortnite