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Source: EA Sports / Tiburon / Madden NFL 25/ Christian McCaffrey
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is back in the 99 Club.
Following the announcement of Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill joining the 99 Club in Madden NFL 25, EA Sports revealed that the game’s cover athlete, Christian McCaffrey, will be joining him.
Like Hill, McCaffrey was surprised with a briefcase featuring a custom gold chain, Xbox Elite controller, custom trading card, and video announcement from Super Bowl Champion quarterback Eli Manning welcoming him into the prestigious club.
For McCaffrey, this isn’t a new experience. He was in the 99 overall rating club in Madden NFL 20 as an in-season addition and earned a spot back in the club in Madden NFL 21.
McCaffrey continues to show the world how elite he is. Last season, McCaffrey was named Offensive Player of The Year, leading the league with a career-high 1,459 rushing yards and 2,023 total yards from scrimmage.
He scored 21 total touchdowns, 14 on the ground and seven through the air.
His stellar play got him paid. The 49ers blessed him with a $38 million two-year contract extension, adding $8 million to his salary for the 2024 and 2025 seasons, plus an additional $24 million in guaranteed money.
The contract also reset the running back market.
NFL Fans Have Thoughts
Like Tyreek Hill’s announcement of joining the 99 Club, NFL fans share their opinions on McCaffrey returning to the prestigious club.
“It’s great seeing him stay healthy and show why he’s the most versatile back in the league,” one user on X, formerly Twitter, wrote.
Another user wasn’t so high on McCaffrey’s selection, writing, “Don’t deserve it !!! @KingHenry_2 deserved it more !!!”
EA will continue to announce the ratings via ESPN’s morning show, Get Up, and on the dedicated website.
More announcements are coming; until then, you can see more reactions in the gallery below.
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Source: EA Sports / Tiburon / Madden NFL 25/ Tyreek Hill
Next to the release of the NFL schedule, learning who will join Madden NFL’s exclusive 99 club and the ratings of star players in the league have become yearly significant events. Like last year, a receiver is the first player to land in the prestigious club.
The first name announced joining Madden NFL 25’s 99 Club is none other than the Cheetah, Miami Dolphins’ speedy wideout Tyreek Hill.
With the announcement, Hill became the first Dolphins player ever to earn the honor.
Last year, Minnesota Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson got the 99 Club party started this year, so it was only right that Hill got the honor.
Jefferson’s rating took a 1-point hit this year; he is 98, still pretty high, but we are sure he feels he also believes he should still be in the 99 Club.
The Madden NFL official X account shared a video of Hill receiving a briefcase featuring his custom gold chain and custom Xbox Elite controller and a video from Eli Manning welcoming him to the 99 Club.
Also, just like the previous year, EA Sports has launched an official website where you can check the ratings as they are released.
They also revealed the top receivers and safeties in the game.
Wide Receivers Safeties
Tyreek Hill (99 OVR) 1. Jessie Bates III (97 OVR)
Justin Jefferson (98 OVR) 2. Antoine Winfield Jr. (94 OVR)
Ceedee Lamb (96 OVR) 3. Minkah Fitzpatrick (93 OVR)
A.J. Brown (95 OVR) 4. Derwin James Jr. (91 OVR)
Amon-Ra St. Brown (95 OVR) 5. Tyrann Mathieu (91 OVR)
Davante Adams (94 OVR) 6. Budda Baker (90 OVR)
Ja’Marr Chase (93 OVR) 7. Kevin Byard III (89 OVR)
Stefon Diggs (92 OVR) 8. Kyle Hamilton (89 OVR)
Brandon Aiyuk (91 OVR) 9. Talanoa Hufanga (88 OVR)
Mike Evans (91 OVR) 10. Jevon Holland (88 OVR)
EA Sports will team with ESPN to roll out 99 Club members throughout the week and will share that news with you as its announced.
Once Again, It’s Arguing Time
Of course, like every year, there are reactions to these ratings. Some are stunned that Hill is the first Dolphins player to make it in the club.
“First ever is wild seeing that Marino, Jason Taylor, and Zach Thomas,” one person on X, formerly Twitter, wrote.
Another user wrote, “Stefon Diggs rated too high (based on age and canyon of a drop off last year), Jamar Chase rated too low. Jefferson probably deserves 99 based on how he dominated consistently even after missing a big chunk of the season last year.”
We only expect the discourse to get louder when other positions are revealed.
If we had to guess who would be in there, we think Patrick Mahomes will end up in the 99 Club.
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You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
1. Lol, now be nice
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Source: Bandai Namco / Tekken 8 / Nike
Tekken 8 and Nike’s new collaboration will allow players to issue fades in style.
Using the EVO 2024 stage in Las Vegas, Nevada, Bandai Namco announced a collaboration between Tekken 8 and Nike. In the game, characters will rock Nike Air Foamposite One sneakers inspired by Jin Kazama and Kazuya Mishima.
In a surprise announcement, Bandai Namco also revealed that the physical limited-edition Nike Air Foamposite One’ Kazuya Mishima’ was available to EVO attendees.
Tekken Project Director Katsuhiro Harada, Tekken 8 Game Director Kohei Ikeda, and Producer Michael Murray made the big announcement, dropping the trailer and showing off the physical Nike Air Foamposite One’ Kazuya Mishima’ sneakers.
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Attendees could purchase the “shiny black sneakers,” which Bandai says is “a clear, stylish extension of the character who inspired them,” through the Nike SNKR’s geo-targeting feature.
Bandai Namco also notes the sneakers will not be the only product of its collaboration with Nike and promises that more drops will come this fall, and that includes in-game content.
That wasn’t the only Tekken 8 news. The popular fighting video game also celebrated the return of iconic character and villain Heihachi Mishima, Kazuya’s father and Jin’s grandfather.
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Heihachi’s return to the game was met with excitement and hilarity because he always finds a way to return, even after meeting his demise in previous games.
Heihachi is the latest DLC character following Eddy and Lidia, and he will be available to players in August.
You can see more reactions to Heihachi Mishima, aka the OG King of The Iron Fist’s return in Tekken 8 below.
1. It’s a good day to be a final boss
3. The only reaction we wanted to see, lol.
6. Clearly
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Source: Richie Branson / Not Like Us
Are you sick of hearing “Not Like Us?” Well, that’s too damn bad because it just got more legs, thanks to a video game.
Thanks to a black video game designer, Kendrick Lamar’s infectious Drake diss will continue to be the topic of conversations, much to the ire of Champagne Papi.
On Monday, Richie Branson, who describes himself as “just a random brotha who designed games for Bleacher Report and worked for Epic Games as a game designer on a little game called Fortnite,” dropped a free game that turns the moment K.Dot wacks an owl pinata from the song’s visual into a fun video game.
In the web game, players take control of a pixel sprite version of the West Coast rapper and wop wop wop as many owls as they can with a bat.
Branson calls the game a “free love letter to video games and hip-hop,” adding, “I intentionally made the game spike in difficulty above 17, so any score 18 and above should be celebrated.”
This Diss Record Won’t Go Away
To rub more salt in Drake’s still open wound, the song featuring DJ Mustrard’s production is back in the Billboard Hot 100 this week after debuting at No. 1 in May.
Lamar is still riding the high from his “Pop Out” concert, which many have already dubbed one of Hip-Hop’s most culturally significant moments.
Meanwhile, Drake continues to post cryptic messages on Instagram, trying to give his fans and us the impression that he’s fine, but clearly, we think the brother is a bit scarred from his battle with Kendrick Lamar.
Drake, it’s okay to admit you are in the dumps now. It’s a sign of strength, not weakness.
If you want to try the game, you can head here.
2. Another one
3. Well deserved
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Source: Arc System Works / Double Dragon Revive
Double Dragon is back but with a very modern twist.
Today, Arc System Works dropped the reveal trailer for Double Dragon Revive, a modern reimagining of the beloved beat’em up game that first graced arcades (remember those?) in 1987.
Double Dragon Revive will bring fans “modern belt-scroll action and exhilarating gameplay.” While the game looks different, fans of the franchise will be happy to see their favorite characters, Billy and Jimmy Lee, back in action and put their hands and feet on Black Warriors’ goons who plague the streets of New York City.
The game will remain true to its roots, but Double Dragon Revive will have the touch of a fighting game thanks to Arc System Works’ involvement in the project.
Players can dish out powerful damage with Billy and Jimmy’s repertoire of martial arts moves, steal weapons, and even use the environment to their advantage, making Double Dragon Revive more than just a button-mashing experience.
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All of the characters from the original game return with fresh, new 3D designs.
The game kicks and punches onto PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam next year, but there is no word on how much it will cost.
If we had to guess, it would probably cost between $29.99 and $39.99.
Double Dragon Revive is the latest game in the franchise following 2023’s Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons, which turned the game into a roguelike adventure.
There’s been a renaissance going on in the beat ’em up genre with games like TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game, Streets of Rage 4, and the forthcoming G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra.
You can hit the gallery below for more photos.
1. Double Dragon Revive
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2. Double Dragon Revive
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3. Double Dragon Revive
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4. Double Dragon Revive
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5. Double Dragon Revive
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6. Double Dragon Revive
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7. Double Dragon Revive
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8. Double Dragon Revive
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9. Double Dragon Revive
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10. Double Dragon Revive
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11. Double Dragon Revive
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Source: NurPhoto / Getty / Xbox Live
On Tuesday, gamers hoping to play games online via their Xbox Live accounts were greeted by a massive service outage.
Xbox Live, Microsoft’s service, which allows gamers to play multiplayer games online, suffered a major service outage, with thousands of users reporting issues logging in.
The monitoring site Downdetector noted that user-reported issues began to spike at 2:15 pm ET Tuesday, with more than 23,000 outage reports being reported to the website. Many users reported seeing the message that Xbox Live was undergoing “scheduled maintenance.”
The official Xbox Live account on X, formerly Twitter, addressed the outage at 2:55 pm ET.
Per Variety:
The official Xbox Support account on X posted at 2:55 pm. ET, “We are aware that some users have been disconnected from Xbox Live. We’re investigating!” The message directed users to the Xbox status page — which eventually was updated to say that a major outage of the “Account & profile” service was reported at 2:07 pm ET. “You may not be able to sign-in to your Xbox profile, may be disconnected while signed in, or have other related problems,” the message on the Xbox status page said. “Features that require sign-in like most games, apps and social activity won’t be available.”
At about 8:49 pm ET, Microsoft wrote on the Xbox Support account that the issues were resolved: “Users should no longer be encountering issues signing in to Xbox Live and services.”
PlayStation Is Also Having Issues With Its Rewards Program
Microsoft isn’t the only company suffering from problems. PlayStation also had its own problems with its reward program, PlayStation Stars, which has been down for about a month, eclipsing 2011’s infamous PSN outage.
On the PlayStation App, users are greeted with the message, “PlayStation Stars will be returning soon in phased regional rollouts. “Thank you for your patience, and we look forward to welcoming you back.”
We’re just glad to see the issues being resolved. We are curious to hear what caused the Xbox Live service outage and PlayStation Stars to be down.
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Source: Xbox / Xbox Gaming x Amazon Fire TV
Amazon Fire TV devices got a significant boost thanks to Xbox Gaming.
Xbox is on a mission to get into homes everywhere, and you won’t need to purchase an Xbox Series X or Series S console to accomplish that goal.
Thursday, Xbox announced its new partnership with Amazon to bring its Xbox Gaming App to select Fire TV devices.
Beginning in July, Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) will go live on Amazon’s Fire TV 4K Max ($59.99) and Fire TV Stick 4K ($49.99) through the Xbox Gaming app. This will give users access to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate ($16.99) and instant access to a massive library of games and the latest games like Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, Starfield, and Forza Horizon 5.
To begin playing, you need only a Bluetooth wireless controller like the Xbox Wireless Controller, Xbox Adaptive Controller, PlayStation DualSense, or DualShock 4.
Xbox Is Offering Gamers Options
“We’re committed to making it easy for customers to access their favorite entertainment experiences with Fire TV,” said Fire TV and Alexa vice president Daniel Rausch. “We’re excited to work with Microsoft to bring the Xbox app to select Fire TV devices so customers can enjoy a vast library of high-quality games, allowing them to play amazing titles without the need for a console. Now customers have even more ways to play the games they love, wherever they are, with just a compatible Fire TV Stick, Bluetooth controller, and Game Pass Ultimate membership.”
“The expansion of Xbox gaming to Fire TV devices offers players another option for enjoying their favorite games using devices they already own. For those who don’t own an Xbox console, this provides an affordable and convenient way to get started. With Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, there’s something for every type of player. We look forward to having more people join the Xbox gaming community,” Xbox Experiences and Platforms Engineering corporate vice president Ashley McKissick adds.
It looks like Xbox is fully embracing a console-less future.
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Source: Orlando Ramirez / Getty / Dr Disrespect
It was all disrespect after Dr Disrespect revealed why Twitch banned him from the platform permanently.
Guy Beahm, better known as Dr Disrespect, told the world that the reason Twitch dropped an airstrike on his account two years ago was that he got caught in 4K sending private messages to a minor that he said: “sometimes leaned too much in the direction of being inappropriate.”
In a lengthy and edited post, he shared on X, formerly Twitter, the ridiculously popular YouTube streamer shared details about the banning after former Twitch employees spilled the tea on the platform on Friday, writing that he “got caught sexting a minor.”
Speaking with The Verge, another former employee said, “Beahm was banned over messages sent to a minor that discussed meeting up at TwitchCon.”
In his response, Beahm claims there were no “real intentions” behind the messages with the unnamed minor, adding, “I should have never entertained these conversations to begin with.”
A Masterclass In Fumbling Bags
We bet Dr Disrespect means it when he says he shouldn’t have never entertained these conversations because he is fumbling bags.
The first fumble came when he lost his two-year exclusivity contract to stream on Twitch. At the time, he was one of the biggest stars on the platform, with 4 million.
Twitch never spoke about the ban, and Dr Disrespect played it off as if he didn’t know why his partnership with the platform ended, but he was able to amass over 4.7 million subscribers on YouTube.
But while he still has his YouTube page, he was fired from the video game studio he co-founded, Midnight Society, on Tuesday.
In a post on X, the studio’s head, Robert Bowling, wrote, “If you inappropriately message a minor. I can not work with you.”
The Verge also reports that Dr Disrespect’s partnership with gaming peripheral company Turtle Beach is also a wrap.
Don’t be surprised if other companies he is tied to follow suit.
Despite the cracks in his streaming empire showing, Dr Disrespect vows to keep streaming after he comes back from his “vacation.”
The video game subsection of X has been clowning Dr Disrespect and anyone who fixed their lips to defend him; you can see those reactions in the gallery below.
2. Lol, interesting how the energy changed so swiftly.
3. Smart move
4. Howling
5. Another bag bites the dust
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Source: Activision / Activision
The new Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 was officially announced by Activision just after the Xbox Games Showcase on Sunday, June 9, and it’s going back to the 1990’s. While the nostalgia might be in effect right now, the game is dropping October 25.
Source: Activision / Activision
Developed by Treyarch and Raven Software, the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 campaign is being touted as a “spy action thriller” and will be set during the Gulf War.
Per Activision:
In true Black Ops fashion, the fictional story builds on the history of the time, thrusting you into a strange and clandestine conspiracy where a shadowy force has infiltrated the U.S. government. Anyone who resists is branded as a traitor, forcing players to go rogue for the first time to fight the very machine that created them. Nothing is what it seems, and the truth may be hard to fathom, drawing you ever deeper into intrigue, distrust, and mind-bending psychological revelations. This is true, signature Black Ops style.
While we’re sure the campaign will be cool, those into COD strictly for the multiplayer action should be pleased. Some of the multiplayer content that will be available at launch includes 16 brand-new Multiplayer maps on and new “innovations” that include Omnimovement (which lets you sprint, slide and dive in any direction) and Intelligent Movement and larger enemy hit zones as well as new HUD optimizations and a plethora of new weapons and accessories. And for those that know, the return of Theater Mode and Classic Prestige.
You can check for more details about the multiplayer in the clip below via Black Ops 6 Direct.
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Watch the reveal trailer, featuring the OG President George Bush, President Bill Clinton, Saddam Hussein and more below. And yes, you can get your early access in order over at the Black Ops 6 pre-order editions and benefits blog.
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Source: Carlo Paloni / Getty / Abubakar Salim / Tales of Kenzera: ZAU
Surgent Studios founder and creative director of Tales of Kenzera: ZAU Abubakar Salim addressed the constant harassment he and the studio have faced since releasing the game.
The video game industry still has a long way to go regarding diversity and inclusion.
People like Abubakar Salim are working hard to show that Black and Brown people have a place in the game’s business with the release of his game, Tales of Kenzera: Zau. However, there are still issues that must be dealt with, and Salim decided to speak about those challenges he and his studios have had to deal with.
Friday, Salim posted a five-minute video on his personal X/Twitter account to speak on the constant harassment that he admits he didn’t want to address initially.
Salim says he has dealt with claims that he didn’t “deserve the opportunit[ies]” he got at the beginning of his career, adding, “No, it was simply because I’m Black, and I’ve turned my other cheek and just kept doing my thing.”
Before dropping his game, Salim was best known for his acting roles in Assassin’s Creed Origins and roles in MAX’s original series Raised By Wolves and season two of Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon.
Salim states in the video that he could brush off some of the comments, but “when there’s a constant barrage of them, it’s exhausting.”
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The actor/video game developer says the harassment reached a “fever pitch” once his game, Tales of Kenzera: Zau, came to the forefront and became a focal point of the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) harassment campaigns.
Per IGN:
“Don’t get me wrong, there’s been so much amazing and beautiful support for this game. The fact that it’s inspired so many people and touched, you know, so many lives, it was one of our goals from the outset — to have this positive impact, right?” Salim says. “But at the same time, we are being faced with constant targeted harassment from people who see diversity as a threat. From people who look across the vast landscape of modern media and decide that anything that doesn’t speak to them or centers around them is unnecessary and inauthentic.”
“And look,” he continues, “there’s always a reason why diverse stories can’t exist. You know, it’s always either we’re doing it the wrong way or it’s just there to tick boxes and it’s just beginning to feel like there is no right way. You know, these exclusionary rules continue to stack up and the goalposts continue to shift until, you know, me, my studio, people who look like us, just sit down, be quiet and just accept the fact that you’re outsiders. But I won’t do that.”
“If there are people who aren’t like you in a game, I want you to know that game is still for you,” Salim continues. “You know, if the characters are a different race or a different gender or you know, a different ideology or different perspective, that doesn’t mean the game isn’t for you. It can still be for you.”
Salim Counters The Harassment By Lowering The Price Tales of Kenzera: ZAU Game On Nintendo Switch
The game dev was determined to make his game accessible to as many people as possible, setting it at an affordable $20 price point across Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
To combat the harassment, Salim announced that he lowered the cost of the game to less than $15 on the Nintendo Switch, thanking Nintendo for “acting fast on this.”
“I’m working with the team in bringing this discount to all platforms, and it’s gonna start from now to until the end of June because, you know, it just means so much to me, man,” he says.
Salim continues, “I believe this is just one way that I can show you how serious I am about this,” he says. “Games are for everyone. Diverse games, they’re not about taking something away from you. They’re about adding something new because there’s room for all of us.”
X Rallies Behind Abukar Salim
Following the release of his video, the gaming communities rallied behind Salim, offering him plenty of support and applauding his courage and commitment to pushing diversity in the gaming space.
“This is the message we all need to hear,” Kinda Funny and Gamertag Radio cohost Parris Lilly wrote.
Senior editor Alyssa Mercante added, “So grateful for your work, your vision, and your voice, and to consider you a friend.”
“Black gamers have been playing as non-Black characters in games for so long and enjoy those games, us included. But there is nothing wrong with us also wanting us to be represented fairly and authentically in the medium. What we’re finding here is these detractors don’t want the exact same experience that Black gamers have had to endure for a majority of the history of gaming,” Black Girl Gamers wrote.
We hear at HHW Gaming stand with Abubakar Salim and will continue to ensure we shine a spotlight on Black and Brown game developers like Salim, Xalavier Nelson Jr., and others.
You can see more messages of support sent to Salim in the gallery below.
3. In the face of racism and harassment we continue to have go higher. His decision was admirable.