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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. Beats is entering the beauty game in its first-ever collaboration with the beauty brand Olive & June. The tech brand has […]
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Source: EA Sports / UFC 5
UFC 5 is coming and is aiming to be EA Sports’ best combat sports video game since Fight Night Champion.
Thursday, September 7, EA Sports dropped the first trailer for UFC 5 featuring UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, who is the cover athlete for the deluxe edition of the game, and Alexander Volkanovski and former UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko, who cover the standard edition.
The Frostbite Engine Is Entering The Octagon
When UFC 5 arrives, it will be the first game in the MMA video game franchise to be powered by EA’s Frostbite Engine. It will introduce the all-new Real Impact System that the developer says will make the game “the definitive MMA experience with authentic gameplay and graphics maximized for modern consoles.”
EA claims the Frostbite Engine will “enhance” the realism in the game thanks to high-speed 60 frames-per-second rendering and gameplay simulation.
“UFC 5 offers an intensely realistic fighting experience, harnessing Frostbite’s power and technology,” said Nate McDonald, EA SPORTS UFC 5’s Lead Producer. “From our Real Impact System that helps maximize the power of the generational hardware leap to the enhanced lighting, detailed characters,strand-based hair, and face animation system, every aspect is upgraded. Our collaboration with UFC delivers an unparalleled and authentic MMA interactive experience.”
“UFC 5 captures all the sweat, blood, and commitment that it takes to be successful in the Octagon,” said Volkanovski. “Trust me, the level of immersion that EA SPORTS has recreated with this game is the ultimate representation of the sport.
The Real Impact System will allow players to experience realistic blow-by-blow damage with hyper-accurate progression as your fighter’s attributes realistically deteriorate throughout a fight.
Thanks to 64,000 possible facial damage combinations, players can feel the power behind each blow. The new fluid physics and particle systems elevate how blood and sweat are shed in the Octagon.
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Other Features Coming To UFC 5
Along with a new engine and the Real Impact System, other features coming to UFC 5 include:
Cinematic K.O. Replay: Cinematic K.O. replays showcase fight-ending finishes with intensified visuals and enhanced excitement. Presented in super slow motion with cinematic angles and lighting, the impact of fight-ending shots represents highlight reel moments recapturing the drama of a UFC fight.
Doctor’s Checks and Stoppages: Suffering a notable injury prompts the referee to pause the fight for a ringside doctor’s inspection. Failure to adapt and protect the injury from further damage can lead to a doctor’s stoppage, which introduces true-to-sport strategic variables for players to navigate under heightened pressure.
New Strikes and Hit Reactions: New Strike animations emulate heavy hitters and professional kickboxers and more coupled with new motion variations for ground and pound elbows, spinning attacks, body punches, and calf kicks. Plus, the Hit Reaction animations and physics during a frenetic fight can initiate clean connection impacts-moments players can feel with next-level immersion during gameplay.
Seamless Submissions: Revamped Seamless Submissions extend the existing grappling system with faster animation transitions and the removal of mini-games. Grapple Assist aids beginners, while veterans can explore deeper layers. Seamless submissions provide a smoother, authentic ground game for grappling enthusiasts.
Fight Week and Alter Egos: UFC 5’s launch includes a revamped live service with features like Fight Week and Fight Picks tied to real-world UFC events. Alter Egos are all new versions of top fighters that capture authentic career-defining moments and provide alternative looks and associated abilities.
Pre-Order Bonuses
EA Sports UFC 5 Standard Edition arrives on October 27 for PS5, Xbox Series S | X. The Deluxe Edition of the game arrives on October 24 for those who pre-order the game, plus grants you access to Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, and Pedor Emilanenko as playable characters.
For more photos, hit the gallery below.
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Photos: EA Sports / UFC 5
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Source: BEHROUZ MEHRI / Getty / Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 is currently the white whale of the gaming industry, and reportedly, a bunch of Captain Ahabs (devs) got to see it at Gamescom.
The evidence is mounting that Nintendo showed off the highly-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 to developers at Gamescom, and they also got to see it in action. Spotted on The Verge, via Eurogamer, and Windows Central, “trusted devs” saw a tech demo of how some games run on the Switch 2.
Per The Verge:
There was reportedly a demo of an improved version of Zelda: Breath of the Wild designed to run on the more advanced hardware inside the Nintendo Switch 2. Eurogamer’s report follows rumors from Windows Central’s Jez Corden that Nintendo had discussed a next-generation Switch with select developers at Gamescom.
Reports also claim that devs saw Epic Games Unreal Engine 5 tech demo of The Matrix Awakens running on hardware Nintendo hopes to get into the Nintendo Switch 2.
According to The Verge’s reporting, the game utilized “Nvidia’s DLSS upscaling technology with ray tracing enabled,” signaling that Nintendo and Nvidia are possibly working on a more powerful chip for the Switch 2.
Other Nintendo Switch 2 Rumors
VGC also reports that Nintendo is gunning for a 2024 release for the Nintendo Switch 2. It will not use an OLED screen, which is an unusual decision, and will still have support for physical cartridges.
“Certain developers” also have developer kits and console development is “progressing well,” Nikkei Asia reports.
These latest reports follow the multiple rumors of Nintendo dropping a “Nintendo Switch Pro” that was allegedly supposed to allow 4K gaming, and 11 developers did get their hands on 4K Nintendo Switch development kits.
According to Bloomberg, Nintendo had to change plans due to the global chip shortage. Nintendo, who is notoriously tight-lipped about their projects, denied it was working on a 4K Nintendo Switch.
As expected, the video game streets are talking. You can see the reactions to the recent developments in the gallery below.
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Photo: BEHROUZ MEHRI / Getty
1. A game changer, literally.
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.BEST RETRO SPEAKER
JBL Authentics 500
This portable speaker looks old-school, but both it and its little brothers, the “200” and “300,” are all-new inside, with audio technology like Dolby Atmos. This is the big boy, with three one-inch tweeters, two 2.75-inch mid-range woofers and a 6.5-inch down-firing subwoofer that deliver 270 watts of 3.1 channel sound – in immersive Dolby Atmos if the music warrants it. Like the 300, the 500 has nearly eight hours of battery life and can move from room to room on a single source of sound.
BEST SPEAKER THAT RUNS ON SUN
Urbanista Malibu
The aptly named Urbanista Malibu runs on sun — literally. After introducing over- and in-ear headphones, the company is now launching a Bluetooth speaker that can play until the sun goes down and well after. Its battery can store enough power to work for 30 hours. When the weather turns, it can charge with a USB-C cable — better performance than most similar products — and an IP67 water-resistance rating means it works in the rain.
BEST HOMETOWN HERO
Teufel Ultima 25 Aktiv
IFA has grown so big that some companies now organize their own events, including the Berlin audio company Teufel (which translates to “devil” in German), which shows new products in its headquarters in the center of what was formerly West Berlin. Among this year’s highlights were the Teufel Ultima 25 Aktiv speakers, which will sell for about $500, the powered counterpart to the popular Teufel Ultima 20 bookshelf speaker (a “passive speaker” that gets electricity, along with signal, from a speaker cable). The speakers even have HDMI output and input so video can play on a screen, but audio can “pass through” the TV and go to the speakers.
BEST SMALL SOUNDBAR
Sennheiser Ambeo Mini
Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Mini
Courtesy of Sennheiser
After some tough years during the pandemic, the German audio company Sennheiser is coming back with an exciting addition to its soundbar portfolio, the AMBEO Soundbar Mini, which is designed for smaller rooms. Thanks to “7.1.4 virtualization technology,” the device creates a stunning 3D sound in virtually any room,” according to a statement by Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Product Manager Maximilian Voigt, “all from a single box.” It supports Dolby Atmos and can be paired with serious subwoofers if you’re ready to rumble. At about $800, it’s not the least expensive soundbar out there — but it could be the best for smaller spaces.
BEST MUSIC MOVEMENT
Sonos Move 2
Sonos Move 2
Courtesy of SONOS
Sonos’ Move speakers were the first that could work with the brand’s systems over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and often topped lists of smaller speakers with serious sound. Now Sonos is making the Move 2 available with new colors, more battery life, and stereo functionality. Like Sonos’ Era speakers, they have a USB-C ports that, with the right adapter, can play music from a turntable or CD player — or play music from a phone while recharging it. But the biggest changes are in battery life, which now lasts up to 24 hours instead of 11, and the stereo functionality that comes from packing in two tweeters in each box.
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Source: Warner Bros. Games/ NetherRealm Studios / Mortal Kombat 1/ Megan Fox
Actress Megan Fox is bringing her talents to the world of video games and is the latest big name to join in on the fun that is Mortal Kombat 1.
Fresh off the release of the “It’s Your Blood Trailer” starring Dave Bautista, NetherRealm Studios and Warner Bros. Games announced Megan Fox will be the voice and face of Nitara, the vampire heroine and latest main roster fighter coming to the fighting game.
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In a statement about being a part of Mortal Kombat 1, Fox said, “I grew up playing Mortal Kombat, and I can’t believe that I’m voicing a character in the new game.” “It’s an honor to be a part of one of the greatest video game legacies of all time.”
As for Nitara, she first burst on the scene in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance; in those games, she is described as “self-serving” rather than an outright villain and fights to separate her realm from Outworld.
Per Warner Bros. Games, she “hails from the dark and desolate realm of Vaeternus, and fights to protect her race of vampires and utilizes her ferocious claws, razor-sharp fangs, and aerial abilities to take on any opponent in her path.”
What also remains the same is that Nitara still requires blood to live, and she is still a deadly foe.
The Fighters So Far In Mortal Kombat 1
Nitara joins Liu Kang, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Raiden, Kung Lao, Kitana, Mileena, Shang Tsung, Johnny Cage, Kenshi, Smoke, Rain, Li Mei, Tanya, Baraka, Geras, Reptile, Ashrah, Havik, General Shao, Sindel, Nitara, and more who all have new backstories thanks to Fire God Lui Kang rebooting the timeline.
Mortal Kombat 1 launches on Xbox Series S | X, PS5, and Nintendo Switch on September 19.
Step into the Nitara announcement trailer featuring Megan Fox below.
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Photo: Warner Bros. Games/ NetherRealm Studios / Mortal Kombat 1
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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.
The best music is meant to be experienced, and you can’t do that with a lot of noise and distractions buzzing around in the background. That’s why more and more people are switching from their generic wired headphones to a pair of good active noise-canceling (ANC) headphones.
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Most ANC headphones will cost you into the hundreds of dollars, but right now, a surprise Amazon sale gets you the Soundcore by Anker Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones for just $44.99.
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Soundcore by Anker Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones
$44.99 $59.99 25% OFF
The Soundcore by Anker Life Q20 Headphones deliver hi-res music in crisp, clear detail, thanks to the Q20’s 40mm drivers. In terms of over-ear headphones, the brand’s BassUp technology is almost unmatched as it aims to conduct real-time analysis of low frequencies and strengthen bass output as needed. You can also customize your listening experience by double pressing the play button for an amplified listening experience — especially when jamming to genres such as EDM or hip-hop.
Ultimately, what you’re buying these headphones for, though, is their advanced noise-canceling technology. Anker’s headphones feature dual noise-detecting microphones that pick up and filter out up to 90% of ambient sound to ensure that nothing distracts you from your music.
The Anker Life Q20 deliver a whopping 40 hours of playtime in noise-canceling mode. Turn off ANC and get up to 60 hours. Need a quick boost? A short, five-minute charge gets you up to four hours of listening time.
The Anker noise-canceling headphones have a 4.5-star rating (out of five) with more than 47,000 five-star reviews. One shopper has even claimed the design and listening experience makes them “way better than AirPods.
This $45 deal not only gets you the Anker Life Q20 active noise-canceling headphones, but includes ultra-soft memory foam and protein leather earpads, charging cables and a travel case.
For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best earbuds under $50, celebrity headphones and commuter gadgets.
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Source: SOPA Images / Getty / Charter Spectrum
Charter Spectrum customers, unfortunately, got caught up in Charter Communications’ dispute with Disney.
Reuters reports Disney let Charter Communications and its customers know it was not playing when it pulled several channels, including ESPN and ABC, over an unresolved distribution agreement.
The move left Spectrum customers in massive markets like New York and Los Angeles in the dark and during significant sporting events like the return of College Football and the U.S. Open.
Charter Spectrum serves more than 32 million customers in 41 states and was paying Disney roughly $2.2 billion in annual programming costs.
Per Reuters:
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Charter flashed a message on screen that urged viewers to contact Disney. “We offered Disney a fair deal, yet they are demanding an excessive increase,” it read.
“The rising cost of programming is the single greatest factor in higher cable TV prices, and we are fighting to hold the line on programming rates imposed on us by companies like Disney.”
The dispute is mainly over sports network ESPN, which does not have a streaming service and is a big cable attraction despite losing subscribers each year to cord-cutting.
This Dispute Could Push Disney Into A Direct-to-Consumer Model
As expected, the “unresolved distribution” between the two companies is hurting both company’s stock prices. Reuters reports Spectrum’s shares fell 2% after losing what it describes as the “lynchpin” of its video service in ESPN.
Disney’s shares fell to 2.7%, joining other media companies, Warner Bros Discovery and Paramount Global, which lost between 4% and 6% thanks to down numbers on their streaming platforms.
The website further reports if this dispute continues, it could speed up the House of The Mouse’s direct-to-consumer ambitions. Returning CEO Bob Iger said the company is actively searching for a “strategic partner” to start a joint venture or purchase a stake in the sports network to bring it directly to customers.
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Photo: SOPA Images / Getty
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Source: Maple Powered Games / Freedom Games / G. I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra
It’s a beat ’em up game renaissance. Fans of the classic 80s cartoon, it’s your time. G.I. Joe is coming to your PC and Nintendo Switch.
Unveiled during The MIX, G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra is the latest retro arcade style beat ’em up game to drop. Developer Maple Powered Games and publisher Freedom Games aim to deliver a game set in the iconic world of G.I. Joe.
Players can take control of legendary Joes, Duke, Scarlett, Snake Eyes, Roadblock, and other franchise favorites to fight for freedom wherever there’s trouble over land, sea, air, or even in space and visit iconic locations like Cobra Island, the Pit, Cobra’s top-secret underwater base, and more.
You will lead the Joes on a mission armed with an arsenal of weapons, explosives, and more as you thwart Cobra Commander and his Cobra minions like Troopers, Ninja Vipers, HISS Tanks, the deadly Crimson Guard, and more.
Each playable character can pull off a special ability, string-together combos, and defensive moves like dodging and parrying.
You can embark on this mission alone or assemble a team of four for online or couch co-op in either Story or Arcade Mode.
G.I.Joe: Wrath of Cobra features hand-drawn pixel art and classic-style cartoon cutscenes to deliver fans the ultimate G.I. Joe experience paired with an arcade-style soundtrack from legendary composer Tee Lopes (Sonic Mania, TMNT Shredder’s Revenge, Streets of Rage 4 – Mr. X Nightmare DLC) and from Crush 40’s lead vocalist Johnny Gioeli (Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020).
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Banking On That 80s Nostalgia
G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra is the latest game looking to bank on nostalgia, and gamers love for arcade-style beat ’em up games.
“G.I. Joe is an absolute classic franchise with one of the best fanbases. Working on this game is a dream come true, and it’s been a blast creating the game I’ve always wanted to see for G.I. Joe,” said Kerry Vandenberg, co-founder of Maple Powered Games. “We’re honored to give G.I. Joe fans the video game they deserve with the most authentic experience possible.”
“G.I. Joe is one the most iconic brands from the 80s, and it was the golden era of arcade games. To celebrate the growing popularity of retro-themed games, we’re thrilled to partner with Maple Powered Games and Freedom Games to bring G.I. Joe fans our first-ever Hasbro Retro Arcade experience in this exciting interpretation of a classic 2D beat ’em up,” said Eugene Evans, SVP Digital Strategy and Licensing at Hasbro.
The game arrives on PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG with support for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems and Nintendo Switch in Q1 2024.
Hit the gallery below for more screenshots from the game.
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Photo: Maple Powered Games / Freedom Games / G. I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra
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Source: PlayStation / PlayStation Plus
Yesterday’s price is not today’s price for the PlayStation Plus subscription service.
Sony announced that the price of a PlayStation Plus is going up. An annual Essential plan jumps from $60-$80, the Extra plan goes from $100 to $135, and the Premium plan from $120 to $160.
Brace yourselves. The new prices for the tiers go into effect on September 6.
Those still locked into their current subscriptions won’t experience the price hike until November 6, but if you make any changes “such as upgrades, downgrades, or buying additional time,” you will have to pay the extra money for the new subscription price.
As for the reason for the price hike, Sony says it will allow the company to “continue bringing high-quality games and value-added benefits” to the service.
Basically, if you want them to continue to drop those great games free to subscribers, the price has to go up. Sony also adds that yearly plans continue to come at a discount and are a better value than month-to-month or three-month subscriptions.
New PlayStation Plus was Sony’s answer to Xbox’s subscription service, Game Pass, and offered its users free titles every month, and for the most part, there were plenty of bangers.
Hilariously, the news of the price hikes comes on the heels of the very mid Saints Row coming to the PlayStation Plus service as the month’s free title. It is a rare miss for Team PlayStation regarding its monthly offerings.
Gamers React To The PlayStation Plus Price Hike
As expected, gamers have been sounding off about the news, and no one is happy about the price hike.
“I just saw that PlayStation plus is going up so they can provide us with better games each month and the first month of the price hike is saints row. What a world we live in,” One X user wrote.
Another user noted in an X post, “No dedicated Sony multiplayer games No Day 1 first parties No extra incentives or perks PlayStation: “We’re gonna increase the prices of plus.”
Welp.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
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Photo: PlayStation / PlayStation Plus
2. Good times
3. Interesting