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Source: Epic Games / Fortnite AI-Powered Darth Vader / Getty Images / James Earl Jones
Did Epic Games cross the line with its AI-powered Darth Vader companion that uses James Earl Jones voice? Gamers are currently debating.
The iconic actor James Earl Jones passed away last year, but his contributions to cinema, especially his iconic voice, will forever be linked to the Star Wars villain Darth Vader.

Starting today, Walt Disney Co. and Epic Games will allow Fortnite players to recruit and speak to Darth Vader.

Thanks to the power of generative AI, the Vader in-game character will use the late actor’s voice. Epic Games said they are doing so while remaining in “close consultation” with Jones’ family.

How Epic Games Is Bringing James Earl Jones To Fortnite
Epic Games uses Google’s Gemini 2.0 Flash model to generate Vader’s responses to players, while ElevenLabs’ Flash v2.5 model generates Jones’ voice.
“James Earl felt that the voice of Darth Vader was inseparable from the story of Star Wars, and he always wanted fans of all ages to continue to experience it,” the family of James Earl Jones said in a statement. “We hope that this collaboration with Fortnite will allow both longtime fans of Darth Vader and newer generations to share in the enjoyment of this iconic character.”
This decision changes the direction of the entertainment industry in situations like this. In previous Star Wars games, actors were hired to mimic Jones’ voice while he was still alive.
“Epic Games and Disney have worked together to thoughtfully develop this innovative feature with a strong focus on transparency, consent, and safety — ensuring that creators, Disney IP, and players are protected in interactive experiences,” Disney and Epic said in a statement announcing the decision.
As with anything, nothing goes off without a hitch. IGN reported that Epic Games had to issue a patch within an hour of AI-Darth Vader going live because videos of him dropping f-bombs hit X, formerly Twitter timelines.

Gamers do not like conversing with an AI-powered chatbot with Jones’s voice either.
“We deadass having a conversation with James Earl Jones via AI…? Yea you can keep it,” one post on X read. 
Welp, it looks like its not going anywhere, and as long they got permission from the Jones family, we don’t see an issue, but this is still opening a can of worms for many.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.

2. Heard you

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Source: RICHARD A. BROOKS / Getty / PlayStation 5
Sony announced its financial forecast for the next year, and the company expects Donald Trump’s tariffs to impact its bottom line greatly.
Spotted on The Verge, Sony expects Trump’s stupid tariffs to impact its financial forecast by 100 billion yen (about $680 million). Sony is weighing different options to counter the tariffs, including moving manufacturing to the United States, which could raise the price of PS5 consoles.

Sony CFO Lin Tao confirmed during a company earnings call that the company is considering “passing on” the price of tariffs to counteract the tariffs. Tao did not mention the PlayStation 5 by name during the call, signaling that the company could look to raise prices elsewhere to avoid raising the price of the PS5 console.
The PlayStation 5 has already seen price increases outside of the United States in Australia, the UK, New Zealand, and Europe.
While Tao didn’t mention the console, CEO Hiroki Totoki did when discussing possibly moving PS5 production to the US to minimize the effect of Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Totokoi said the PS5 console could be manufactured “can be produced locally,” say it could be “an efficient strategy,”  that “has to be considered going forward.”

Sony Still Has To Worry About The 30 Percent Tariff On China
Sony still makes the PS5 in China, and even after the 90-day pause, the 30 percent tariff, which is a significant reduction from the 145 percent, is still above the 10 percent on imports into the United States from China.
If Sony does decide to raise its prices, it won’t be the first company to do so. Microsoft recently raised the price of its Xbox consoles by $100, while Nintendo has kept the price of the Switch 2 the same, opting to raise the prices of accessories instead. 
We may learn soon enough if Sony does raise the price of the PS5. Until then, you can see reactions to this unfortunate news that we can all blame on Donald Trump.

2. Great question

4. We’re begging Sony

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Source: Samsung / Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
Samsung isn’t done dropping entries into its flagship smartphone line.
Yesterday, Samsung unveiled its thinnest smartphone yet, the Galaxy S25 Edge, giving Korean tech a giant leg up on the competition, including Apple, which is reportedly set to drop a thin flagship smartphone, the iPhone 17 Air.

The Galaxy S25 Edge lives up to its thin reputation coming in at 5.8 millimeters thin and only weighing 163 grams making it one of the thinnest smartphones on the market.

The S25 Edge, which will cost $1,099 and officially go on sale beginning May 30, comes just four months after the launch of the S25 smartphone series. This marks a different path for Samsung, which usually doesn’t introduce new smartphones this early, usually opting for the middle of the year to introduce the latest models of foldable smartphones.

The S25 Edge is basically a lite model of the S25 Ultra, and it’s for the Samsung fan who loves a premium phone but doesn’t care for features like the S-Pen.
The thin smartphone features a durable titanium build paired with the latest Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2. It also has two premium cameras: a 200MP wide lens and a 12MP ultra-wide sensor with autofocus, allowing for detailed macro photography and Nightography.
Under the hood is the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform for Galaxy, which delivers snappy performance, on-device AI processing, and features like the Now Brief and Now Bar.
Here is the full breakdown via Samsung:

6.7″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display     
Slim and lightweight body at 5.8mm thick and weighing at 163 grams
Enhanced camera featuring a 200MP wide lens and 12MP ultra-wide sensor
ProVisual Engine optimized for Galaxy S25
Built with the latest Corning Gorilla Armor 2
AI image processing with ProScaler and Digital Natural Image engine (mDNIe). 
Galaxy AI features including Now Brief and Now Bar as well as editing features including Audio Eraser and Drawing Assist
Thinner, reconfigured vapor chamber to keep phone cool
Snapdragon 8 ® Elite Mobile Platform for Galaxy
ProVisual Engine
Available starting at $1,099.99 in Titanium Silver, Titanium Jetblack and Titanium Icyblue.

Again, we’re not sure who the market is for the S25 Edge, but it’s definitely appealing thanks to its features.

1. Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

Source:Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge samsung,galaxy s25 edge

2. Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

Source:Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
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3. Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

Source:Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge samsung,galaxy s25 edge

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Rosie Greenway / GTA 4

GTA VI won’t arrive till next year, but now there are rumors of a remaster of one of the most underrated entries into the Grand Theft Auto franchise, and a former developer feels it needs to happen.

Word on the video game streets is that 2008’s GTA IV is getting a remaster for current consoles, and Ex-Rockstar Games technical director Obbe Vermeij would love to see Niko Bellic make a triumphant return. 

Vermeij, who worked at DMA Design, which later became Rockstar North, from 1995 until 2009 on titles like Space Station Silicon Valley, Manhunt, and other fan-favorite GTA titles, was asked how he feels about a remaster of GTA IV.

“I hadn’t heard those rumours. I think GTA 4 should be remastered. It’s a great game and there have been a number of successful remasters recently,” he told the person on X, formerly Twitter. 

Unlike other studios, Rockstar Games doesn’t often get into its remastering bag. They did attempt with Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, which was a disaster at launch.

Vermeij spoke on that lackluster remaster in the past, noting that if Rockstar Games decides to do a remaster, “It would be better if Rockstar did quality remasters of their classic games.”No lies detected.

Again, there is no confirmation that Rockstar Games is working on a remaster of GTA 4. Honestly, based on the game studios’ track record, we won’t be shocked if the game is just a straight port with minimal improvements like the other classic titles brought back, like LA Noire and Red Dead Redemption.

We got our fingers crossed on this one.

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The U.K. government’s plans to allow artificial intelligence firms to use copyrighted work, including music, have been dealt another setback by the House of Lords.
An amendment to the data bill which required AI companies to disclose the copyrighted works their models are trained on was backed by peers in the upper chamber of U.K. Parliament, despite government opposition.

The U.K.’s government has proposed an “opt out” approach for copyrighted material, meaning that the creator or owner must explicitly choose for their work not to be eligible for training AI models. The amendment was tabled by crossbench peer Beeban Kidron and was passed by 272 votes to 125 on Monday (May 12).

The data bill will now return to the House of Commons, though the government could remove Kidron’s amendment and send the bill back to the House of Lords next week.

Trending on Billboard

Kidron said: “I want to reject the notion that those of us who are against government plans are against technology. Creators do not deny the creative and economic value of AI, but we do deny the assertion that we should have to build AI for free with our work, and then rent it back from those who stole it.

“My lords, it is an assault on the British economy and it is happening at scale to a sector worth £120bn ($158bn) to the UK, an industry that is central to the industrial strategy and of enormous cultural import.”

The “opt out” move has proved unpopular with many in the creative fields, particularly in the music space. Prior to the vote, over 400 British musicians including Elton John, Paul McCartney, Dua Lipa, Coldplay, Kate Bush and more signed an open letter calling on U.K. prime minister Sir Keir Starmer to update copyright laws to protect their work from AI companies. 

The letter said that such an approach would threaten “the UK’s position as a creative powerhouse,” and signatories included major players such as Sir Lucian Grainge (Universal Music Group CEO), Jason Iley MBE (Sony Music UK CEO), Tony Harlow (Warner Music UK CEO) and Dickon Stainer (Universal Music UK CEO).

A spokesperson for the government responded to the letter, saying: “We want our creative industries and AI companies to flourish, which is why we’re consulting on a package of measures that we hope will work for both sectors.”

They added: “We’re clear that no changes will be considered unless we are completely satisfied they work for creators.”

Sophie Jones, chief strategist office for the BPI, said: “The House of Lords has once again taken the right decision by voting to establish vital transparency obligations for AI companies. Transparency is crucial in ensuring that the creative industries can retain control over how their works are used, enabling both the licensing and enforcement of rights. If the Government chooses to remove this clause in the House of Commons, it would be preventing progress on a fundamental cornerstone which can help build trust and greater collaboration between the creative and tech sectors, and it would be at odds with its own ambition to build a licensing market in the UK.”

On Friday (May 9), SoundCloud encountered user backlash after AI music expert and founder of Fairly Trained, Ed Newton-Rex, posted on X that SoundCloud’s terms of service quietly changed in February 2024 to allow the platform the ability to “inform, train, develop or serve as input” to AI models. Over the weekend, SoundCloud clarified via a statement, originally sent to The Verge and also obtained by Billboard, that reads in part: “SoundCloud has never used artist content to train AI models, nor do we develop AI tools or allow third parties to scrape or use SoundCloud content from our platform for AI training purposes.”
The streaming service adds that this change was made last year “to clarify how content may interact with AI technologies within SoundCloud’s own platform,” including AI-powered personalized recommendation tools, streaming fraud detection, and more, and it apparently did not mean that SoundCloud was allowing external AI companies to train on its users’ songs.

Trending on Billboard

SoundCloud seems to claim the right to train on people’s uploaded music in their terms. I think they have major questions to answer over this.I checked the wayback machine – it seems to have been added to their terms on 12th Feb 2024. I’m a SoundCloud user and I can’t see any… pic.twitter.com/NIk7TP7K3C— Ed Newton-Rex (@ednewtonrex) May 9, 2025

Over the years, SoundCloud has announced various partnerships with AI companies, including its acquisition of Singapore-based AI music curation company Musiio in 2022. SoundCloud’s statement added, “Tools like Musiio are strictly used to power artist discovery and content organization, not to train generative AI models.” SoundCloud also has integrations in place with AI firms like Tuney, Voice-Swap, Fadr, Soundful, Tuttii, AIBeatz, TwoShot, Starmony and ACE Studio, and it has teamed up with content identification companies Pex and Audible Magic to ensure these integrations provide rights holders with proper credit and compensation.

The company doesn’t totally rule out the possibility that users’ works will be used for AI training in the future, but says “no such use has taken place to date,” adding that “SoundCloud will introduce robust internal permissioning controls to govern any potential future use. Should we ever consider using user content to train generative AI models, we would introduce clear opt-out mechanisms in advance—at a minimum—and remain committed to transparency with our creator community.”

Read the full statement from SoundCloud below.

“SoundCloud has always been and will remain artist-first. Our focus is on empowering artists with control, clarity, and meaningful opportunities to grow. We believe AI, when developed responsibly, can expand creative potential—especially when guided by principles of consent, attribution, and fair compensation.

SoundCloud has never used artist content to train AI models, nor do we develop AI tools or allow third parties to scrape or use SoundCloud content from our platform for AI training purposes. In fact, we implemented technical safeguards, including a “no AI” tag on our site to explicitly prohibit unauthorized use.

The February 2024 update to our Terms of Service was intended to clarify how content may interact with AI technologies within SoundCloud’s own platform. Use cases include personalized recommendations, content organization, fraud detection, and improvements to content identification with the help of AI Technologies.

Any future application of AI at SoundCloud will be designed to support human artists, enhancing the tools, capabilities, reach and opportunities available to them on our platform. Examples include improving music recommendations, generating playlists, organizing content, and detecting fraudulent activity. These efforts are aligned with existing licensing agreements and ethical standards. Tools like Musiio are strictly used to power artist discovery and content organization, not to train generative AI models.

We understand the concerns raised and remain committed to open dialogue. Artists will continue to have control over their work, and we’ll keep our community informed every step of the way as we explore innovation and apply AI technologies responsibly, especially as legal and commercial frameworks continue to evolve.”

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Source: Gylee Games / Ra Ra BOOM
Gylee Games’ new original game, Ra BOOM, aims to deliver a gut punch and not be just another mindless button-mashing beat’em up experience.
We are genuinely in a beat ’em up game renaissance, with games like TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons, the forthcoming Double Dragon Revive, Streets of Rage 4, and others restoring the feeling of the classic video game genre that used to gobble up all the quarters in arcades.

With Ra Ra BOOM, Gylee Games hopes to keep that momentum going. In essence, the game is a classic beat’em game in which playable characters take out hordes of villains and eventually the big boss. Still, once you pick up the sticks and press start, you will see the game studio is hoping to deliver a much deeper experience.
Source: Gylee Games / Ra Ra BOOM
Ra Ra BOOM’s Story
In the vibrant, fast-paced game, players can choose from five playable ninja cheerleaders, a combination we are sure you never thought of. They aren’t your typical cheerleaders; they have been trained to take on a rogue AI that has forced humans to leave Earth, but find themselves back on the planet, and must punch, kick, and shoot through hordes of angry robots and other foes and fight as a squad to save humanity.

Each character is fully upgradable, has unique hand-to-hand abilities, and wields a firearm to allow players to fight from a distance. To use your character’s special ability, you fill up a meter by landing hits on enemies; the power of the ability is determined by how full the meter is.
Source: Gylee Games / Ra Ra BOOM

HHW Gaming got hands-on with the game at PAX East and experienced the two levels during a brief demo. Ra Ra BOOM has been on our radar since seeing it during Kinda Funny’s Game Showcase two years ago.
Why Ra Ra BOOM Uses Ninja Cheerleaders?
Source: Gylee Games / Ra Ra BOOM
Speaking with the game’s creative director, Chris Bergman, our first question was why cheerleaders? His answer? Why not cheerleaders? 
“I wanted to create a 90s aesthetic. And, like, Saturday morning cartoons, fun and vibrant,” Bergman tells HHW Gaming. “Like what the f**k’s more vibrant than a cheerleader?”
He also notes that teens who still attend school while living off the planet were raised to fight AI-controlled robots but use cheerleading to build teamwork.
That makes all the sense in the world when you think about it.
Ra Ra BOOM Features A Deeper Narrative
Source: Gylee Games / Ra Ra BOOM
What also sets this game apart from other beat ’em up games is that Bergman wanted his game to have a meaningful narrative, as he feels that’s where the video game genre traditionally falls short.
“Well, I don’t think beat ’em up games have good narratives,” Bergman said. “They’re really limited in what you can do. So part of it was a creative challenge of, like, can we introduce a real narrative into a new creative IP and a new game, and I fell in love with these characters so much. I wanted to make sure that that story was heard.”

In crafting the game’s story, Bergman also used his personal experience, his father-in-law’s passing, and the grief he experienced from a traumatic moment to enhance Ra Ra BOOM’s narrative experience further.
He also used writing the game’s story to help him cope with his father-in-law’s death, and hopes the story will do the same for players.
Ra Ra BOOM is due out this summer and will be available on PC via Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series consoles, and will most likely cost $19.99 when it releases. It will have DLC content sometime after its launch, ensuring players will keep running it back after they beat the game.

1. Ra Ra Boom

Source:Ra Ra Boom
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2. Ra Ra Boom

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3. Ra Ra Boom

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11. Ra Ra Boom

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HipHopWired Featured Video

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Source: Gylee Games / Ra Ra BOOM
Gylee Games’ new original game, Ra BOOM, aims to deliver a gut punch and not be just another mindless button-mashing beat’em up experience.
We are genuinely in a beat ’em up game renaissance, with games like TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons, the forthcoming Double Dragon Revive, Streets of Rage 4, and others restoring the feeling of the classic video game genre that used to gobble up all the quarters in arcades.

With Ra Ra BOOM, Gylee Games hopes to keep that momentum going. In essence, the game is a classic beat’em game in which playable characters take out hordes of villains and eventually the big boss. Still, once you pick up the sticks and press start, you will see the game studio is hoping to deliver a much deeper experience.
Source: Gylee Games / Ra Ra BOOM
Ra Ra BOOM’s Story
In the vibrant, fast-paced game, players can choose from five playable ninja cheerleaders, a combination we are sure you never thought of. They aren’t your typical cheerleaders; they have been trained to take on a rogue AI that has forced humans to leave Earth, but find themselves back on the planet, and must punch, kick, and shoot through hordes of angry robots and other foes and fight as a squad to save humanity.

Each character is fully upgradable, has unique hand-to-hand abilities, and wields a firearm to allow players to fight from a distance. To use your character’s special ability, you fill up a meter by landing hits on enemies; the power of the ability is determined by how full the meter is.
Source: Gylee Games / Ra Ra BOOM

HHW Gaming got hands-on with the game at PAX East and experienced the two levels during a brief demo. Ra Ra BOOM has been on our radar since seeing it during Kinda Funny’s Game Showcase two years ago.
Why Ra Ra BOOM Uses Ninja Cheerleaders?
Source: Gylee Games / Ra Ra BOOM
Speaking with the game’s creative director, Chris Bergman, our first question was why cheerleaders? His answer? Why not cheerleaders? 
“I wanted to create a 90s aesthetic. And, like, Saturday morning cartoons, fun and vibrant,” Bergman tells HHW Gaming. “Like what the f**k’s more vibrant than a cheerleader?”
He also notes that teens who still attend school while living off the planet were raised to fight AI-controlled robots but use cheerleading to build teamwork.
That makes all the sense in the world when you think about it.
Ra Ra BOOM Features A Deeper Narrative
Source: Gylee Games / Ra Ra BOOM
What also sets this game apart from other beat ’em up games is that Bergman wanted his game to have a meaningful narrative, as he feels that’s where the video game genre traditionally falls short.
“Well, I don’t think beat ’em up games have good narratives,” Bergman said. “They’re really limited in what you can do. So part of it was a creative challenge of, like, can we introduce a real narrative into a new creative IP and a new game, and I fell in love with these characters so much. I wanted to make sure that that story was heard.”

In crafting the game’s story, Bergman also used his personal experience, his father-in-law’s passing, and the grief he experienced from a traumatic moment to enhance Ra Ra BOOM’s narrative experience further.
He also used writing the game’s story to help him cope with his father-in-law’s death, and hopes the story will do the same for players.
Ra Ra BOOM is due out this summer and will be available on PC via Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series consoles, and will most likely cost $19.99 when it releases. It will have DLC content sometime after its launch, ensuring players will keep running it back after they beat the game.

1. Ra Ra Boom

Source:Ra Ra Boom
Ra Ra Boom ra ra boom,gylee games

2. Ra Ra Boom

Source:Ra Ra Boom
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3. Ra Ra Boom

Source:Ra Ra Boom
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4. Ra Ra Boom

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11. Ra Ra Boom

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EA / Battlefield

The installment of EA’s first-person shooter franchise, Battlefield, is coming next year.

During a recent earnings call, EA revealed that the next Battlefield game will be released in March 2026. EA CEO Andrew Wilson shared details on the next installment, calling it a “pivotal step in delivering on our next generation of blockbuster entertainment.”

EA also revealed that Skate will be dropping sometime next year.

The news about Battlefield follows the report that Respawn, one of the studios owned by EA, canceled a new entry in the Titanfall franchise and laid off more than 300 employees.

Despite that bad news, the video game publisher beat both analysts’ expectations and its own projections in earnings, revenue, and net bookings, despite its most popular title, Apex Legends, growing stale.

Strong performances from co-op Split Fiction, which has sold more than 4 million units since its release, and franchises EA Sports FC, EA Sports College Football 25, and The Sims.

“The incredible success of ‘College Football’ and the enduring strength of ‘FC’ drove another record year for EA Sports, while ‘The Sims’ capped FY25 with a historic Q4,” Wilson said in a statement accompanying the financial results. “As we look to the future, we’re confident in our ability to execute across a deep pipeline — beginning this summer with the highly anticipated reveal of ‘Battlefield,’ a pivotal step in delivering on our next generation of blockbuster entertainment.”

The news about Battlefield also follows recent massive Battlefield 6 playtests that EA and DICE held to gather tons of data and player feedback in hopes of avoiding the mistake that was the launch of Battlefield 2042.

The game was a disaster when it arrived, but eventually rounded out to form after numerous updates and bug fixes.

Based on what we hear and see, the new Battlefield looks like a massive step in the right direction.

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Source: The Coalition / Xbox Game Studios / Gears of War: Reloaded
Gears of War has been long-rumored to be one of many Xbox exclusive video game franchises to make its way onto the PlayStation, and that day has finally come.

Just like how Emergence Day took citizens of Sera by surprise, Xbox hit us with the shocking announcement out of nowhere that its popular video game franchise from The Coalition, Gears of War, will land on the PS5 this summer.

According to the announcement on Xbox News Wire, Gears of War: Reloaded will be a “faithful remaster” of the first game in the franchise that will be “optimized for more platforms than ever before.”
When it arrives on August 26, Gears of War: Reloaded will feature 4K resolution, 120 FPS support, and a new multiplayer experience that will introduce cross-progression and cross-play across all platforms, making this the definitive way to play the game.
Other features include

High Dynamic Range (HDR)
Dolby Vision & 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos
7.1.4 3D Spatial Audio
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
4K assets and remastered textures
Enhanced post-processing visual effects
Improved shadows and reflections
Super resolution with improved anti-aliasing
Zero loading screens during Campaign

“As we approach the 20th anniversary of Gears of War in 2026, we’re reflecting on what this franchise means. It’s about the stories we’ve told, the friendships we’ve built, and the unforgettable moments we’ve shared together. With Gears of War: Reloaded, we’re opening that door to more players than ever,” the post on Xbox News Wire read.
Gears of War: Reloaded Will Be A Free Upgrade For Ultimate Edition Owners
The game’s announcement of the remaster of the game that first blew our minds back in 2006 on the Xbox 360 console comes as The Coalition is set to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Gears of War franchise.
The Coalition is developing Gears of War: Reloaded in partnership with Sumo Interactive and Disbelief. It will cost $39.99 when it arrives on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, PlayStation 5, and Steam.
GOW: Reloaded will be a free upgrade for players who purchased the digital version of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition.

It will feature “the most complete version of the game,” including all post-launch downloadable content at no additional cost, like the bonus Campaign act, all multiplayer maps and modes, and a full roster of classic characters and cosmetics unlockable through progression.

2. Yes indeed