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Source: Christian Petersen / Getty / Travis Kelce
We called it, Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce is back in the Madden 99 Overall Rating club.
EA continues to roll out Madden NFL 24 ratings highlighting the highest-rated superstars by their dominant positions.
Travis Kelce is the latest player to have the honor of being in the Madden 99 Overall rating club, joining Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, Rams All-Pro defensive lineman plus current record hold Aaron Donald and Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin, the first guard in the 99 club since Cowboys’ Larry Allen made in Madden 2003.
For Kelce, this is his fourth selection to the Madden 99 Club, and he currently holds the record for tight ends. Along with the Kelce news, EA also dropped the top 10 lists for highest-rated tight ends, including Kelce and cornerbacks in the game.
Cornerbacks Tight Ends
Jalen Ramsey 97 1. Travis Kelce 99
Jaire Alexander 95 2. George Kittle 96
Patrick Surtain II 94 3. Mark Andrews 95
Sauce Gardner 93 4. T.J. Hockenson 90
Marlon Humphrey 93 5. Dallas Goedert 89
Darius Slay 92 6. Kyle Pitts 87
Stephon Gilmore 91 7. Darren Waller 86
Marshon Lattimore 90 8. Pat Freiermuth 85
Tre’Davious White 90 9. David Njoku 84
Denzel Ward 88 10. Evan Engram 84
The Top 10 Running Backs & Offensive Linemen
Yesterday, the company did the same with guards and running backs who surprisingly won’t have a representative in the Madden 99 Club, which adds to the current disrespect of the NFL running back. Browns running back Nick Chubb comes the closest with a 97 overall rating.
Running Backs Offensive Linemen
Nick Chubb 97 1. Zack Martin 99
Christian McCaffrey 96 2. Trent Williams 98
Josh Jacobs 95 3. Lane Johnson 98
Derrick Henry 94 4. Laremy Tunsil 95
Saquon Barkley 93 5. Chris Lindstrom 93
Dalvin Cook 91 6. Joel Bitonio 92
Austin Ekeler 89 7. Tristan Wirfs 92
Jonathan Taylor 89 8. Quenton Nelson 92
Tony Pollard 88 9. Jason Kelce 92
Aaron Jones 88 10. Andrew Thomas 92
Which Quarterbacks Will Land In Madden NFL 24’s 99 Club?
We believe EA is saving the best for last, which is quarterbacks, and again we think there is a good chance we might see two or maybe three QBs in the Madden 99 Overall club in Madden NFL 24.
Will Kelce’s teammate Patrick Mahomes make it again, will Madden NFL 24’s cover athlete Josh Allen or Eagles phenom Jalen Hurts earn their first 99 overall rating?
We shall see in the coming days.
Madden NFL 24 arrives on August 15.
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Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty
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Source: EA/ Cliffhanger Games / Black Panther
It’s official, de Bleck Pantha is getting his own standalone video game.
Wakanda Forever!
On the heels of the 57th anniversary of the Black Panther’s Marvel Comics’ debut, Monday, July 10, Cliffhanger Games, a new studio, is working on a third-person video game for the iconic superhero.
Reports of T’Challa’s standalone video game adventure first hit the internet in July 2022. Now we know the new triple-A development studio based in Seattle is up to delivering a Black Panther video game that will hopefully be up in the ranks with other Marvel video games like Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, and criminally slept on Guardians of The Galaxy.
Per Marvel, the studio’s mission “is to build an expansive and reactive world that empowers players to experience what it is like to take on the mantle of Wakanda’s protector, the Black Panther.”
Development on the game will be led by Kevin Stephens (Monolith Productions), with a team full of talent who worked on popular titles like Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, Halo Infinite, God of War, Call of Duty, and others.
“We’re dedicated to delivering fans a definitive and authentic Black Panther experience, giving them more agency and control over their narrative than they have ever experienced in a story-driven video game. Wakanda is a rich Super Hero sandbox, and our mission is to develop an epic world for players who love Black Panther and want to explore the world of Wakanda as much as we do,” said Stephens.
Cliffhanger Games & Marvel Are Working Closely Together On Black Panther
When it comes to comic book IP, fans are demanding to please because they expect either the movies, original series, or games to meet the standards of the comics.
Smith ensures they will hit that mark, confirming Cliffhanger Games and Marvel have been working closely together on the game, stating “to ensure that we craft every aspect of Wakanda, its technology, its heroes, and our own original story with the attention to detail and authenticity that the world of Black Panther deserves.”
He continues, “It’s an incredibly rare opportunity to build a new team around the values of diversity, collaboration, and empowerment,” said Kevin. “We want our game to enable players to feel what it’s like to be worthy of the Black Panther mantle in unique, story-driven ways, and we want Cliffhanger Games to empower everyone on our team as we collaborate to bring this amazing world to life.”
Reception To The News
Unsurprisingly, fans are happy to hear about Black Panther officially getting a video game. Take that superhero fatigue. We got a taste of what it’s like to control King T’Challa in Crystal Dynamic’s disappointing Marvel’s Avengers in a well-received War For Wakanda expansion.
There is also the news of the mysterious Captain America and Black Panther video game.
If we have any concerns, we want to see all of the Black and Brown video game development talent working on this title, and it’s only fitting. Now when it comes to that, the pickings are slim. We know that we are not naive, but they are out there, and to see concerted effort would be very much appreciated.
So far, it looks like Cliffhanger Games is on the right track. Jercye Dianingana, a 3D Senior Environment Artist II at Cliffhanger Games, was happy to reveal he was working on the Black Panther game.
We love to see it because we are rooting for everyone Black. ALWAYS!
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
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Photo: EA/ Cliffhanger Games / Black Panther
2. Let’s gooooo
4. The deets
5. This better not be the case
6. We all are.
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.
2K is celebrating its 25th anniversary by unveiling its latest edition of the popular NBA gaming series — and it’s officially available for preorder. The new NBA 2K24 will not only feature a slam dunk-worthy lineup of players to choose from, but comes in multiple covers, including two with the legendary Kobe Bryant on front, which you can collect.
Four editions of the game were made for consoles including PS5, PS4, Xbox consoles, Nintendo Switch and PC. You can collect or choose between the Black Mamba version or Kobe Bryant edition of the game, which will feature past and current-gen versions of the game.
Pricing will defer depending on the console and version of the game you choose.
Keep reading to preorder the game and ensure you have a copy by the time it’s released.
GameStop
NBA 2K24 – Kobe Bryant Edition
$From $59.99
The Kobe Bryant edition will have you go back to the athlete’s early career days and work your way up to stardom level. Card-collecting mode has returned, which comes with hours of customizable options. The Kobe Bryant edition only comes with the base game with the option to purchase the past-gen or current-gen version of the game.
GameStop
NBA 2K24 – Black Mamba Edition
$99.99
The Black Mamba version comes with the same base game as the Kobe Bryant edition, but will have additional bonuses including 100K VC, 15K MyTEAM points, 2K24 starting five draft box with three option packs, 10 box MyTEAM promo packs, a cover star sapphire card, on diamond shoe, 2-hour double XP coin and more.
For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom merch, tech deals from Walmart and over-ear headphones.
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. Nintendo wants you to kick off your summer gaming with some chic new pastel Switch Joy-Con controllers. The new accessories will […]
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Source: Visual Concepts / NBA 2K
The NFL is the most popular professional sports league in the United States, but according to a new poll, it can’t claim the crown in the video game space.
Spotted on Variety, Madden NFL has been sacked. It is no longer the pinnacle in sports video games, Visual Concepts NBA 2K is king in the U.S., according to new research conducted by OHgamblers.
Analyzing Google searches and search terms related to the basketball video game, sports gaming experts determined that NBA 2K was the most searched game in 31 states over the past 12 months. Massachusetts, New York, and California top the list for the most NBA 2K-related searches.
This shouldn’t come as no surprise, being how popular NBA 2K has become since arriving in 1999. It quickly became the dominant basketball video game franchise thanks to its stellar presentation, superb gameplay, and realistic graphics, helping it dunk on its direct rival, the NBA Live franchise.
That game hasn’t been seen since the legendary NBA Elite 11 Andrum Bynum glitch.
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It’s Not Easy Being At The Top
It hasn’t been an easy transition dunk for NBA 2K, either. Literally being the only basketball video game on the market and there is no direct competitor to keep the game’s developers on the toes, the product got stale with its passionate community ripping the game that became a cash grab due to microtransactions.
But, as of late, with the arrival of the PS5, and Xbox Series X, developers were able to bring new energy to the game thanks to better technology, making the experience look and feel even better than previous iterations.
We loved NBA 2K23, and in our review, we called the game a marginal improvement from NBA 2K22, which wins by celebrating the NBA’s past, specifically the Jordan years.
Madden NFL has also fallen victim to the curse of offering the “same game” every year, just in shiny new packing with a different cover athlete.
So maybe that contributed to the game losing its popularity. Hell, actual NFL players were on Twitter ripping Madden NFL 23, so hopefully, Madden NFL 24 will be a significant improvement next year.
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Photo: Visual Concepts / NBA 2K
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Warner Music Group is getting its game on.
The major music company joins forces with Hello There Games, the Sweden-based game studio for the release of Invector: Rhythm Galaxy, a rhythm game soundtracked by 40 chart hits from the likes of PinkPantheress, Duran Duran, Charli XCX and others.
Slated to drop July 14, initially on PC, Invector: Rhythm Galaxy marks WMG’s first leap into games publishing.
This venture into gaming “showcases our commitment to reimagining the boundaries of music and how it is defined by artists and fans alike within our evolving ecosystem,” comments Oana Ruxandra, WMG’s chief digital officer and executive VP, business development.
Invector: Rhythm Galaxy is said to intertwine “the power of music with the interaction of gaming to build active, immersive experiences for fans and new revenue streams for WMG’s artists.”
Gaming and music are generations-long buddies. During the presentation of the IFPI’s Global Music Report in March of this year, WMG’s Simon Robson, president, international, Recorded Music, noted the industry has “done a great job looking at opportunities in fitness and the games sectors.”
WMG has worked with Peloton and invested in Web3 companies, including Roblox, and sees the alliance with Hello There Games as one that also plays in the music discovery space for gamers.
Hello There Games co-developed the Avicii Invector with the late Swedish EDM star, a game that features the tunes “What Would I Change It To,” “Pure Grinding,” “You Be Love” and more, and was originally built for the PS4.
Adds Oskar Eklund, CEO and founder of Hello There Games, “our unwavering passion for music and gaming fuels our drive. Many of our team members are talented musicians themselves.” Eklund continues, “We are so excited to bring this game to the next level with Warner Music Group and their amazing artists. We can’t wait for everyone to experience the magic of Invector: Rhythm Galaxy firsthand.”
Watch the trailer below.
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.
Amazon‘s Gaming Week may be over, but that doesn’t mean that deals have ended — especially for Xbox fans. Right now, you can score bundled deals on Xbox consoles to keep you plugged in and playing your favorite video games (including Super Mario Bros.).
‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ Is No. 1 on Prime Video: Here’s How to Watch From Home
06/09/2023
Walmart and Amazon are currently discounting various console and offering bundles that’ll save you cash and get you plugged in to the latest games (you can also check out Game Stop for possible deals). Whether you’re looking to play action-packed games or more story-centered ones, we’ve got the Xbox consoles to pair with your over-ear headphones and video cameras (looking at you e-sport commentators and vloggers).
See below to snag some savings on some of the best Xbox console deals from Amazon and Walmart we rounded up. And for more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best iPad deals, portable phone chargers and studio headphones.
Amazon
Xbox Series S – Fortnite & Rocket League Bundle
$298.99
The Xbox Series S is currently available for less than $300 and doesn’t just includes the console and controller, but Fortnite and Rocket League! To sweeten the deal you’ll also receive 1,000 V-bucks and 1,000 Rocket League credits.
Walmart
Xbox Series S – 512GB SSD Console + Xbox Wireless Controller
$289.99 $329.99 12% off% OFF
If you prefer playing multiplayer games — or just want an extra controller handy, the you may want to consider the this bundle for $40 off. You’ll receive two controllers, 10GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD for saving and storing all your downloads and game progress.
Amazon
Xbox Series X – Diablo IV Bundle
$559.99
This splurge-worthy pick features the latest Xbox Series X paired with the highly-anticipated Diablo IV game. The game is rated Mature, but for a more kid-friendly bundle you can opt for the Forza Horizon 5 bundle, which is rated E for everyone. You’ll get 1TB of storage space and the upgraded system that includes 12 teraflops of graphic processing power, DirectX ray tracing, a custom SSD and access to 4K gaming.
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Source: Activision / Call of Duty / Nickmercs
FaZe Clan member Nickmercs learned swiftly that spewing anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric will cost you.
Spotted on PC Gamer, Nickmercs got his Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone skin pulled by Activision after he posted a headass anti-LGBTQ+ tweet.
In response to a tweet from CharlieIntel, a Call of Duty-focused website, which speculated that that was why Nickmerc’s skin was suddenly missing because of his comments, the Call of Duty Twitter account did confirm his skin is no longer available.
“Due to recent events, we have removed the ‘NICKMERCS Operator’ bundle from the Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone store,” the tweet begins.
The tweet in question from the FaZe Clan member, who has 6.7 million followers on Twitch and 2 million on Twitter, was a reply to a tweet from eSports broadcaster Chris Puckett highlighting a clash between anti and pro-LGBTQ+ demonstrators at a school that was voting to decide if it should recognize June as Pride Month.
“They should leave little children alone. That’s the real issue,” Nickmercs said in his problematic tweet.
Outrage quickly followed after Nickmerc’s tweet, with Puckett himself responding, “Who is this ‘they’ and what terrible act is everyone afraid of?” he inquired. “I think/hope the goal of most of ‘them’ is to reduce child suicides. This is done through acceptance and removing the stigma of feeling/being different.”
Per the website, Nickmercs said he would not delete the tweet or apologize in a stream, claiming he does not resent the LGBTQ+ community.
Riiiiggghhht.
Bigots Are Big Mad
As expected, Actvision’s decision garnered plenty of reactions from gamers. You got the usual suspects who claim they will now be boycotting the company and popular video for taking the right stance.
Welp, it looks like they will have to stay mad because Nickmercs skin is no longer available, and there are no signs it is coming back.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
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Photo: Activision / Call of Duty
1. LOL, you won’t be missed on the COD battlefield
2. Another hater
3. Another loser who claims to be an ally
6. Y’all know what he meant
7. The lack of comprehension
9. Are y’all okay?
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Source: LEON NEAL / Getty / Grand Theft Auto V
We can’t think of any other game that has been able to live such a long life than Grand Theft Auto V, and it will reportedly get more content to keep it going.
Spotted on Gaming Bible, Grand Theft Auto V is getting a San Andreas story expansion furthering Rockstar Games’ commitment to squeeze out as much green out of its cash cow, GTA Online, while they continue to work on Grand Theft Auto 6.
Per Gaming Bible:
Coming this month, on June 13, fans can expect GTA Online: San Andreas Mercenaries to launch. This free expansion will see players working together to fight Merryweather Security as part of the Los Santos Angels.
Players will take part in missions involving “stealing sensitive data from server farms, conducting raids, and dropping explosive payloads on high-value targets across the state.” Heavy stuff.
Rockstar also promises “spontaneous opportunities” to make money and earn new items in the world by taking down moving targets and completing random events.
The website also reports that GTA Online players can expect a bevy of fixes and quality-of-life improvements to the game, including:
When calling Mors Mutual Insurance, you’ll be able to claim all destroyed vehicles at once.
An alternate sprint control option (hold to sprint) will be added to the Settings Menu.
Custom description tags for garages to help quickly locate your favorite rides.
The Willard Eudora and Albany Classique Broadway will become eligible for Taxi Work when using Taxi Liveries.
Updates to the Creator to incorporate additional props and weather options, including snow.
Are We Close To Seeing Grand Theft Auto 6?
The news of this GTA Online update comes on the heels of reports Rockstar Games is very close to giving us our first look at Grand Theft Auto 6.
The highly-anticipated game was already the victim of a massive leak that confirmed earlier reports that the game would feature a female playable character, have a Bonnie and Clyde influence, and will take us back to Vice City.
We might catch our first look at Summer Game Fest or the upcoming Xbox Games Showcase, so stay tuned.
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Photo: LEON NEAL / Getty / Grand Theft Auto V
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Source: META / Meta Quest 3
Meta is still in the VR business and has a new Meta Quest 3 headset on the way.
Quiet as kept, the Meta Quest 2 was the best VR headset on the market. Meta is promising the Meta Quest 3 will build off that promising better performance, new mixed-reality features, and a much more comfortable and sleeker design.
The Meta Quest 3 will start at $500 for the 128GB model. A 256GB model is in the works, and the price will be announced at a later date.
The new headset boasts a smaller design, and that doesn’t mean a sacrifice on the power department. The Meta Quest 3 is 40% slimmer than the previous model and sports three large camera sensors on the front of it, making the Meta Quest 3 stand out from any other.
The controllers, Touch Plus, also receive an upgrade and have a much more compact design while boasting advanced tracking and haptics that owners of Meta’s $1000 Meta Quest Pro enjoyed.
Speaking of the Meta Quest Pro, the Meta Quest 3 will also support Meta Reality, a feature previously exclusive to the Quest Pro. Meta Reality allows users to merge the real world with the virtual one, allowing you to use your dining room table as a battlefield or project a large map on the floor.
If you upgrade from an older Quest model, you can bring all your games and other software because it will all be fully compatible with the Meta Quest 3.
The Meta Quest 2 Is Getting A Price Cut
With the addition of the Meta Quest 3 to Meta’s growing family of VR headsets, the Meta Quest 2 is receiving a substantial price cut and will now only cost $300 for the 128GB model and $350 for the 256GB model.
Both models will also receive a power boost through an update that sees the Quest 2 and Quest Pro internals get a boost. Meta says users of both headsets can expect 26% better processing performance and 19% better graphics performance, plus Dynamic Resolution Scaling allowing for a more smooth and more consistent VR experience.
So basically, if you have been on the fence about VR, this seems like the perfect opportunity to dive in.
The Quest 3 arrives sometime in the fall, pre-orders have not begun, but you can sign up for notifications about the VR headset.
You can head here if you want to know what new games are coming to the Quest 3.
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Photo: META / Meta Quest 3
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