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Source: Activision / Youtube
First-person shooter fans can rejoice. Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 is officially on the way.
On Thursday, May 23, Activision announced that Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 is the next time up in the Call Of Duty series. However, if you’re looking for more details like what the campaign is looking like or which new sniper rifles you want to get your hands on, you’re going to have to be patient. The full reveal of the next Call of Duty game will go down immediately after the highly-anticipated Xbox Games Showcase on Sunday, June 9 at 10amPT/1pmET.
For now, you can watch the new “wake up (rushmore) #thetruthlies” trailer below. You can also stay tunes for future updates at the Call of Duty blog. There’s also some more interactive stuff at The Truth Lies.
Yeah, we’re in.
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Source: Marvel Studios / Apple Vision Pro / Marvel’s What If…? An Immersive Story
Marvel Studios dropped the first trailer for Marvel’s What If…? An Immersive Story, giving people who spent nearly $4,000 on the Apple Vision Pro a reason to turn it on.
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to wield the power of the Infinity Stones, make sling ring portals, and cast mystic spells like Doctor Strange?
Well, Marvel Studios is giving you that feeling thanks to the power of the Apple Vision Pro.
The Disney-owned studio dropped the first trailer for Marvel’s What If…? An Immersive Story, which, for some bonehead reason, will live exclusively on the Apple Vision Pro, you know, the $3,500 headset not that many people in the world have.
Adapted exclusively for Apple’s high-end headset, the video game version of the animated Disney+ series will take users on a mixed-reality adventure, allowing them to experience the multiverse shenanigans that happen in episodes of the show.
Lile the Guardians of The Multiverse, players will team up with The Watcher and get help from our favorite Sorceror Supreme, Wong, to take down “dangerous variants.”
Vision Pro users will be taken from their living rooms or gaming caves to familiar and new Marvel locations and interact with characters from the Marvel Studios lexicon.
No controller is necessary to enjoy this experience; all you need is your eyes and hands to get into the action. Spatial audio will also aid in immersing you into the world of Marvel’s What If…?.
Marvel’s What If…? An Immersive Story Release Date & Cost
Surprisingly, you won’t have to wait long to experience this app. It will arrive on May 30 and be FREE but for a limited time.
You would think the free price tag would be forever since you already dropped rent on the Vision Pro.
We are curious to know if this will remain an Apple Vision Pro exclusive or eventually find its way onto the fully capable Meta Quest 3 headset.
You can ponder What If…? (see what we did there?) and watch the trailer below.
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Source: Sonos / Sonos Ace Headphones
Sonos is easily one of the best consumer audio brands on the market, but shockingly, it has never sold headphones, that was until now. The company unveiled its new Ace headphones.
The company’s first entry into the headphone market will not blow you away design-wise. However, what the brand is banking on with its Ace headphones is the sound quality that will offer “the most precise and immersive home theater experience possible.”
The Sonos Ace comes in two color options, “Soft White” and “Black,” with a simple modern look. It is for people in the market for a new pair of headphones that are not called AirPods Max or anything from Apple Beats.
Source: Sonos / Ace Headphones
The Ace headphones fold in the same way as AirPods Max but offer a lightweight travel case, something AirPods Max users have been screaming for.
Sonos Ace Headphones Features
Of course, the Ace headphones are wireless and offer features like “world-class” noise-canceling and transparency modes combined with “breathtaking” hi-resolution wireless audio.
Spatial audio is also available. Sonos promises an astounding 30 hours of battery life, with three hours of juice off three minutes of charging.
Comfort was another focal point with the Sonos Ace headphones featuring vegan leather ear cups that are “pillowy soft” and give the users a “wearing nothing” feeling, and they are replaceable.
“Sonos Ace represents our ambition to create moving sound experiences that are equal to the moment we live in. It is an exciting new chapter as we embark on what it means to design for personal listening,” said Maxime Bouvat-Merlin, Sonos Chief Product Officer. “True to Sonos’ heritage of premium products, each individual detail of Sonos Ace has been expertly crafted, custom designed, and tuned by the world’s leading sound experts to give you a listening experience unlike any other.”
The Sonos Ace headphones are available for pre-order, will officially launch on June 5, and will cost $449.
For more photos, hit the gallery below.
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Source: NurPhoto / Getty / X / Twitter
It took a while, but Twitter.com is officially dead.
The rollout for X, Elon Musk’s version of the social media platform known as Twitter, was a hot ass mess. Logging onto Twitter.com still worked, and sharing tweets on websites didn’t work unless you changed the x in the URL to Twitter (that still is the case.).
Today, many desktop Twitter users were surprised to see that typing Twitter.com now redirects them to Elon Musk’s X.
Along with the redirect, a message at the bottom of the webpage says, “We are letting you know that we are changing our URL, but your privacy and data protection settings remain the same.”
The domain transition from Twitter to now X was a weird one. Almost everything, like the platform’s official account, mobile apps, and useless premium accounts, was under the new X branding, while Twitter.com still worked.
Of course, even though Elon Musk is still turning X into the “everything app” he has envisioned, users on X are sticking by the original name and telling Musk, “We are still gonna call it Twitter.”
The platform, formerly known as Twitter, has seen better days. Bots live in people’s mentions, porn is all over timelines, and there are way too many Cheech and Chong edible ads.
Still, as our favorite tech reviewer, Marques Brownlee, said in a post, it’s “still Twitter.”
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
2. Forever
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Source: Rockstar Games / GTA 6
We don’t have an exact date for when we will return to Vice City in GTA 6, but the window for the highly anticipated game’s release did narrow a bit.
Rockstar Games’ parent company, Take-Two Interactive, revealed in its Q4 2024 earnings report that Grand Theft Auto 6 will arrive in fall 2025.
While that’s not an exact date, it’s a slight update from the more vague “coming 2025” release window.
“Our outlook reflects a narrowing of Rockstar Games’ previously established window of Calendar 2025 to Fall of Calendar 2025 for Grand Theft Auto VI,” Take-Two Chairman and CEO Strauss Zelnick said in the report. “We are highly confident that Rockstar Games will deliver an unparalleled entertainment experience, and our expectations for the commercial impact of the title continue to increase.”
In an interview with Variety, speaking on the game’s fall 2025 release window, Zelnick added, “I think we’re going to leave it there for now.”
GTA 6’s Rollout Marred By Leaks
Gamers shouldn’t be surprised by the vagueness. Rockstar Games plays it very close to the chest for its games, especially Grand Theft Auto.
Information about the game in the form of leaked materials hitting X, formerly Twitter timelines, September 2022.
Then, the game studio had to release GTA 6’s trailer earlier than planned when a bunch of crypto dweebs leaked it.
The trailer confirmed that the game will feature two male and female protagonists and take us to Leonida, the GTA equivalent of Florida, and we will spend most of our time in Vice City, the game’s take on Miami.
With any news regarding GTA 6, the reactions are pouring in. Some are excited that we seem to be getting closer to a release date, while others want to know the EXACT day we can expect to boot up the game.
With this game, we want Rockstar Games to take its time and deliver a game on the same level as GTA V.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
2. Challenge accepted
4. A perspective we can get behind.
12. Now why would you say that?
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Source: Jeff Fusco / Getty / Comcast
We didn’t ask for it, but another cable-like streaming bundle is coming.
Comcast chief Brian Roberts announced a new three-way bundle featuring Peacock, Netflix, and Apple TV+ is coming at a reduced price.
Speaking Tuesday at MoffettNathanson’s 2024 Media, Internet, and Communications Conference in New York, Roberts said the new package will be called the StreamSaver bundle and will be available to all Comcast broadband and TV customers.
Without revealing many details, Roberts said that Peacock, Netflix, and Apple TV+ will “come at a vastly reduced price to anything in the market today.”
According to Roberts, the goal of this new bundle is to “add value to consumers” and, at the same time, “take some of the dollars out of” the other streaming companies’ businesses.
“We’ve been bundling video successfully and creatively for 60 years, and so this is the latest iteration of that,” Roberts said. “I think this will be a pretty compelling package.”
Social Media Says The Bundle Is Basically Cable TV
The new bundle’s reception isn’t met with the excitement Roberts hoped for. Most users on X, formerly Twitter, are basically saying this is just cable television, which many have cut their cord for, replacing it with streaming platforms.
“let me just go ahead and get a landline too,” one person on X wrote in response to the announcment.
Another user wrote, “Cable is back baby! (Without the same residuals for actors though).
One user pointed out this move could be out of desperation because the streamers are not making as much money as they used to.
“They are all folding. Individually, each business model cannot sustain itself. When you see mergers like this happen, it’s because they are hemorrhaging money. They merge not to become a superpower but to save each other,” the post on X read.
Welp.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
1. Exactly
3. Too damn much
5. Basically
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Source: LyfeShare / LyfeShare App
Planning after a loved one passes is never an easy situation to deal with, both mentally and especially physically. LyfeShare aims to give users peace of mind during the process.
LyfeShare is an “innovative platform with patent-pending technology, dedicated to preserving and sharing your legacy.”
It allows users to securely upload, store, and share important documents that will be useful later, such as when a loved one dies or when you need to refer to critical financial documents to close certain accounts.
That’s not all you can upload; you can also share other essential documents that may get lost over time, like family recipes, photos, birth certificates, and more, to ensure you never forget your family’s history.
The app is the brainchild of Michael Swift and its other founders, who wanted to make estate planning and dealing with the end-of-life process easier, especially for Black and Brown people.
Speaking with AriseTV, Swift talked about creating Lyfeshare, telling the website, “Witnessing the undue burden and added pain caused by disorganized and inaccessible documents during a time of loss ignited the idea for LyfeShare.”
He continued, “The necessity for a solution became clear to create a platform that simplifies document management, safeguards legacies, and ensures critical information is readily accessible when needed most. LyfeShare is not just about storage. It’s about providing support, guidance, and peace of mind to individuals and families navigating life’s most challenging moments.”
How Much Does The Service Cost?
By heading to the website or through the downloaded app, you can sign up for three different prescription tiers: Basic, which starts at $7.99 per month; Standard, which costs $9.99 per month; and Premium, which costs $16.99.
Once subscribed, users will have access to other features like the “Buddys,” giving friends and other family members access to the information.
LyfeShare Features A Unique “Time Release Function” Exclusive To The App
Source: LyfeShare / LyfeShare App
LyfeShare’s patented “Time Release Function” will also be available to subscribers. This function gives users more control over their documents and when they will be available following a loved one’s passing.
Swift spoke about the feature, telling the website it’s “exclusive to LyfeShare, is our intellectual property, setting us apart from other legacy management platforms. It allows users to schedule the release of their documents and information to specific individuals at predetermined times in the future. It offers a strategic approach to legacy management, enabling users to ensure that their important information is shared according to their wishes, even after they’re no longer able to manage it themselves.”
He continued, “Personally, the time release function has changed my life by providing peace of mind and reassurance that my legacy will be managed and shared in the way I intend. It allows me to plan for the future with confidence, knowing that my loved ones will have access to the information they need, when they need it most. Additionally, the ability to schedule the release of information on important dates or milestones allows me to continue to be present and make a meaningful impact in the lives of my family and friends, even after I’m gone.”
LyfeShare is available for download on iOS and the Google Play Store.
You can also sign up by visiting the website.
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Source: NurPhoto / Getty / TikTok
Following President Biden keeping his promise and signing the bill that could ban TikTok in the United States, the social media platform is suing in hopes of keeping that from happening.
Spotted on the AP, TikTok and its China-based parent company ByteDance sued the US Government, challenging the law and calling for the potential banning of the popular video-sharing app and most young adults’ source of “news” if it fails to find a US-approved buyer.
ByteDance has nine months to find a buyer and gets a three-month grace period if it finds a US-approved buyer.
The lawsuit claims the US Government’s law is an attack on free speech that has never been done before and unfairly singles out TikTok.
Per The AP:
In its lawsuit, ByteDance says the new law vaguely paints its ownership of TikTok as a national security threat in order to circumvent the First Amendment, despite no evidence that the company poses a threat. It also says the law is so “obviously unconstitutional” that its sponsors are instead portraying it as a way to regulate TikTok’s ownership.
“For the first time in history, Congress has enacted a law that subjects a single, named speech platform to a permanent, nationwide ban, and bars every American from participating in a unique online community with more than 1 billion people worldwide,” ByteDance asserts in the lawsuit filed in a Washington appeals court.
President Biden signed the law as part of a larger foreign aid package. This law is the first time the US has imposed a potential ban on a single social media company.
Advocates of free speech argue that the law is similar to the behavior of oppressive regimes like China, which is ironic because the US is trying to keep US citizen’s private data out of the hands of the Chinese government.
More Details From TikTok’s Lawsuit
The lawsuit states that ByteDance has no intention of selling TikTok, which aligns with reports that the company prefers a ban over a sale. However, if it did, ByteDance would need Beijing’s blessing to make that happen.
Another sticking point is TikTok’s algorithm, which has been the “key to the success of TikTok in the United States,” which the Chinese government “made clear” in its lawsuit would be part of any sale.
According to both entities, the new law would force them to shut down in the US by Jan.19 because operating in the US would be technologically and legally impossible.
The lawsuit also claims that a US-only version of TikTok would be technologically impossible because there would be no “operational relationship” between the US TikTok app and the Chinese company.
While we don’t know what TikTok’s fate will be, one thing is for sure: This will be a long, drawn-out situation.
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Source: picture alliance / Getty / Phil Spencer
The video game world is still reeling after word hit the e-streets that Xbox closed Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, and Alpha Dog game studios under the Bethesda Games umbrella. Now, gamers are focusing on Xbox chief Phil Spencer and his leadership, or lack thereof. Should Phil Spencer be fired? Is it time for him to go? That’s what many are calling for to happen after this recent round of studio closures and the absorption of one into ZeniMax Online Studios.
While many blame the practice of companies like Xbox and PlayStation acquiring game studios, some also feel that Spencer’s feet should be held to the fire.
Kotaku’s Zack Zwiezen proclaimed in an article that “It’s time to stop giving Phil Spencer a pass,” pointing out the many “bad decisions Spencer has made during his time as CEO and contradictory statements.
Per Kotaku:
In October 2020, shortly after Xbox announced its plans to consume Bethesda, Spencer told Kotaku: “This deal was not done to take games away from another player base” and added that Xbox wants “more people to be able to play games, not fewer people to be able to go play games.” Yet, in March 2023 Redfall director Harvey Smith said that Microsoft stepped in after buying Bethesda and canceled a PS5 port of the vampire hunting co-op game. Starfield shipped only on Xbox and PC. And despite a few Xbox games—like Grounded and Sea of Thieves—jumping ship to PlayStation and Switch, future big titles like Indiana Jones won’t be multiplatform.
Xbox’s boss has also talked a big game about giving developers the freedom to make what they want to make, explaining in a May 2023 interview with Kinda Funny: “When a team like Rare wants to do Sea of Thieves, when a team like Obsidian wants to do Grounded, and Tango wants to go do Hi-Fi [Rush] when everyone probably thought they were doing The Evil Within 3. I want to give the teams the creative platform to go an push their ability, push their aspirations.”
The article states that Spencer says the right things, but even when those studios get to make the games they want, and if they are critical successes, there is still a chance they will suffer the same fate as these latest studios.
Social Media Reactions
Social media hasn’t been kind to Spencer either, and that’s totally understandable because we are all tired of hearing about these layoffs while people in offices continue to line their pockets with cash while game developers have to figure out how to make ends meet.
Former PS I Love You XOXO co-host and head of Pen To Pixels Janet Garcia also called out Spencer for his comments that have now “aged like milk,” pointing out his penchant for trying to be transparent, something people appreciate about Spencer, leaves him open to these contradictory moments.
“Yeah so many of Xbox’s comments are aging like milk rn. This is the danger of selling the “good guy” narrative. It only works when you do “good” things. That said this is also why PlayStation and Nintendo don’t talk to anyone anymore. They’re like nah I’m not gonna play myself,” Garcia said on X, formerly Twitter.
Former Blizzard President Mike Ybarra Comes To Phil Spencer’s Defense
Former president of Blizzard Entertainment Mike Ybarra tried to empathize with Spencer, writing on X, “I know this hurts him [Spencer] as much as anyone else.”
Ybarra continued, “I’m not trying to defend the decisions. I think we all get ourselves into situations that are tough and unexpected (certainly I have). It’s part of the job, as is the accountability for the outcomes. But he’s a good human and he cares deeply for the creative process and developers. That’s my first hand experience in working closely with him for 8+ years and knowing him for 24+.”
Unfortunately, folks were not trying to hear it and didn’t hesitate to tell Ybarra he was wrong.
What a sad state of affairs.
Hopefully, we will hear from Spencer in his own words about this latest decision.
Until then, you can see more reactions in the gallery below.
1. Oh wow.
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Source: Christian Petersen / Getty / Xbox
The video game industry is in turmoil, and you wouldn’t think that’s the case because of the quality of games we have been getting. While we, as gamers, are enjoying a spoil of riches, developers continue to lose their jobs at a ridiculous clip.
Xbox is navigating choppy waters as it shifts its business model, putting some of its biggest exclusive titles on competitive consoles.
One of those titles was the beloved Hi-Fi Rush from Tango Gameworks, one of the many studios Xbox acquired when it acquired Bethesda Game Studios.
In a stunning turn of events, Tango Gameworks is one of four studios, including Arkane Austin, the developer of the massive flop Redfall, Alpha Dog Studios, and Roundhouse Games, which have been closed by Xbox, IGN reports.
Xbox is one of the many video game companies that have been unable to avoid the massive layoffs in the industry. The Microsoft company started the year by laying off almost 2,000 employees, which led to then-Blizzard president Mike Ybarra leaving.
Now comes the news of a new round of layoffs due to significant studio closures under the Bethesda umbrella.
Per GameRant:
Xbox has decided to shut down Arkane Austin, Alpha Dog Studios, and Tango Gameworks, with Roundhouse Games also effectively shutting down by being “absorbed” by ZeniMax Online Studios. In an email from Matt Booty obtained by IGN, it was explained that these shutdowns are about “prioritizing high-impact titles and further investing in Bethesda’s portfolio of blockbuster games.” Arkane Austin worked on the 2017 Prey game and Redfall, Tango Gameworks was known for The Evil Within and the critically-acclaimed Hi-Fi Rush, Alpha Dog Studios was working on the Mighty Doom mobile game, and Roundhouse Games was primarily serving a support role at the time of its closure.
Arkane Austin’s demise could directly result from the disastrous launch of Redfall. Reviewers immediately deemed it a critical flop due to its broken state and abandoned it despite some quality-of-life improvements.
In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, Arkane Studios confirmed the Austin studio’s closure, telling gamers who bought the Hero Pass of the premium Bite Back edition or Bite Back upgrade will be eligible to receive the value of the upgrade.
Arkane says Redfall serves will remain online, but there will be no further updates.
Tango Gamework’s closure is the biggest surprise due to Hi-Fi Rush’s success following its surprise drop on the Xbox Game Pass and, most recently, its newfound popularity on the PlayStation 5 console.
What a spooky time to be a developer in the video game industry.
You can see reactions to the sad news in the gallery below.
1. No lies detected
2. This is also true
3. We’re old enough to remember the push for Xbox to gobble up more studios.
8. Cold world