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Don’t dwell on the past, because a behind-the-scenes video of the making of Halsey and Suga‘s collab of “Lilith (Diablo IV Anthem)” is about to drop, and Billboard has an exclusive first look at the BTS rapper’s time filming the visual.
During an interview taped while making the music video, Suga shares what a big fan he is of the Diablo video games, and how Diablo IV — which arrived June 6 — will play into his downtime while he’s on his first solo world tour. “I played Diablo 1, 2 and 3,” he tells the camera. “Back then, I spent a lot of time in the Cow Level.” (According to PC Gamer, Cow Level in Diablo 3 is a secret level event that honored artist Kevin Kanai Griffith, who died in October 2014 from a rare form of cancer. In that level, players battle against a horde of — yup, you guessed it — armed cow warriors.)
“I am preparing to play [Diablo IV] once it releases and I am touring,” continues the K-pop star, who is currently on the road supporting his solo album, D-DAY. “I bought a new laptop and I am just waiting. Once it releases, I will be playing, even as I am touring.”
The music video featuring the BTS member originally dropped on June 5, and since then, has already raked in more than 8 million views on YouTube. The moody visual — which was done in collaboration with Blizzard Entertainment, the video game developer behind the popular Diablo series — features Halsey walking through the Chapelle des Jésuites in Cambrai, France, while draped in dark hooded cloak before dropping it to reveal her fierce warrior garb and eventually becoming the game’s Blessed Mother Lilith. The reworked, darker version of “Lilith” — originally from her critically acclaimed 2021 album If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power — has Suga joining Halsey for the chorus and rhyming a new verse about mid-song.
“Step out of the moment that’s been trapping you in/ All this negativity of hatred and insanity/ Don’t dwell on the past/ It’s time to make a change/ Look around believe in what you see/ I have returned to hell,” he raps before duetting with Halsey.
“I’m thrilled that I got to collab with SUGA of BTS on a reimagined version of ‘Lilith; for the Diablo IV anthem!” Halsey previously said in a statement of working with the K-pop star. “Having spent countless hours in Sanctuary with my family, I’m here as both a fan and a collaborator. Plus, I’ve always wanted to do a concept with SUGA with this type of dark mythology. Hopefully, fans of Diablo, SUGA, and myself will love Lilith’s embrace.”
Watch Billboard‘s exclusive clip of Suga talking about his love for the game above, and check out the full behind-the-scenes video of the making of his and Halsey’s “Lilith (Diablo IV Anthem)” when it arrives later today.
In the meantime, revisit Halsey and Suga’s full music video for “Lilith (Diablo IV Anthem)” below:
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Source: Visual Concepts / NBA 2K
The NFL is the most popular professional sports league in the United States, but according to a new poll, it can’t claim the crown in the video game space.
Spotted on Variety, Madden NFL has been sacked. It is no longer the pinnacle in sports video games, Visual Concepts NBA 2K is king in the U.S., according to new research conducted by OHgamblers.
Analyzing Google searches and search terms related to the basketball video game, sports gaming experts determined that NBA 2K was the most searched game in 31 states over the past 12 months. Massachusetts, New York, and California top the list for the most NBA 2K-related searches.
This shouldn’t come as no surprise, being how popular NBA 2K has become since arriving in 1999. It quickly became the dominant basketball video game franchise thanks to its stellar presentation, superb gameplay, and realistic graphics, helping it dunk on its direct rival, the NBA Live franchise.
That game hasn’t been seen since the legendary NBA Elite 11 Andrum Bynum glitch.
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It’s Not Easy Being At The Top
It hasn’t been an easy transition dunk for NBA 2K, either. Literally being the only basketball video game on the market and there is no direct competitor to keep the game’s developers on the toes, the product got stale with its passionate community ripping the game that became a cash grab due to microtransactions.
But, as of late, with the arrival of the PS5, and Xbox Series X, developers were able to bring new energy to the game thanks to better technology, making the experience look and feel even better than previous iterations.
We loved NBA 2K23, and in our review, we called the game a marginal improvement from NBA 2K22, which wins by celebrating the NBA’s past, specifically the Jordan years.
Madden NFL has also fallen victim to the curse of offering the “same game” every year, just in shiny new packing with a different cover athlete.
So maybe that contributed to the game losing its popularity. Hell, actual NFL players were on Twitter ripping Madden NFL 23, so hopefully, Madden NFL 24 will be a significant improvement next year.
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Photo: Visual Concepts / NBA 2K
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Source: Activision / Call of Duty / Nickmercs
FaZe Clan member Nickmercs learned swiftly that spewing anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric will cost you.
Spotted on PC Gamer, Nickmercs got his Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone skin pulled by Activision after he posted a headass anti-LGBTQ+ tweet.
In response to a tweet from CharlieIntel, a Call of Duty-focused website, which speculated that that was why Nickmerc’s skin was suddenly missing because of his comments, the Call of Duty Twitter account did confirm his skin is no longer available.
“Due to recent events, we have removed the ‘NICKMERCS Operator’ bundle from the Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone store,” the tweet begins.
The tweet in question from the FaZe Clan member, who has 6.7 million followers on Twitch and 2 million on Twitter, was a reply to a tweet from eSports broadcaster Chris Puckett highlighting a clash between anti and pro-LGBTQ+ demonstrators at a school that was voting to decide if it should recognize June as Pride Month.
“They should leave little children alone. That’s the real issue,” Nickmercs said in his problematic tweet.
Outrage quickly followed after Nickmerc’s tweet, with Puckett himself responding, “Who is this ‘they’ and what terrible act is everyone afraid of?” he inquired. “I think/hope the goal of most of ‘them’ is to reduce child suicides. This is done through acceptance and removing the stigma of feeling/being different.”
Per the website, Nickmercs said he would not delete the tweet or apologize in a stream, claiming he does not resent the LGBTQ+ community.
Riiiiggghhht.
Bigots Are Big Mad
As expected, Actvision’s decision garnered plenty of reactions from gamers. You got the usual suspects who claim they will now be boycotting the company and popular video for taking the right stance.
Welp, it looks like they will have to stay mad because Nickmercs skin is no longer available, and there are no signs it is coming back.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
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Photo: Activision / Call of Duty
1. LOL, you won’t be missed on the COD battlefield
2. Another hater
3. Another loser who claims to be an ally
6. Y’all know what he meant
7. The lack of comprehension
9. Are y’all okay?
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Source: LEON NEAL / Getty / Grand Theft Auto V
We can’t think of any other game that has been able to live such a long life than Grand Theft Auto V, and it will reportedly get more content to keep it going.
Spotted on Gaming Bible, Grand Theft Auto V is getting a San Andreas story expansion furthering Rockstar Games’ commitment to squeeze out as much green out of its cash cow, GTA Online, while they continue to work on Grand Theft Auto 6.
Per Gaming Bible:
Coming this month, on June 13, fans can expect GTA Online: San Andreas Mercenaries to launch. This free expansion will see players working together to fight Merryweather Security as part of the Los Santos Angels.
Players will take part in missions involving “stealing sensitive data from server farms, conducting raids, and dropping explosive payloads on high-value targets across the state.” Heavy stuff.
Rockstar also promises “spontaneous opportunities” to make money and earn new items in the world by taking down moving targets and completing random events.
The website also reports that GTA Online players can expect a bevy of fixes and quality-of-life improvements to the game, including:
When calling Mors Mutual Insurance, you’ll be able to claim all destroyed vehicles at once.
An alternate sprint control option (hold to sprint) will be added to the Settings Menu.
Custom description tags for garages to help quickly locate your favorite rides.
The Willard Eudora and Albany Classique Broadway will become eligible for Taxi Work when using Taxi Liveries.
Updates to the Creator to incorporate additional props and weather options, including snow.
Are We Close To Seeing Grand Theft Auto 6?
The news of this GTA Online update comes on the heels of reports Rockstar Games is very close to giving us our first look at Grand Theft Auto 6.
The highly-anticipated game was already the victim of a massive leak that confirmed earlier reports that the game would feature a female playable character, have a Bonnie and Clyde influence, and will take us back to Vice City.
We might catch our first look at Summer Game Fest or the upcoming Xbox Games Showcase, so stay tuned.
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Photo: LEON NEAL / Getty / Grand Theft Auto V
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Source: META / Meta Quest 3
Meta is still in the VR business and has a new Meta Quest 3 headset on the way.
Quiet as kept, the Meta Quest 2 was the best VR headset on the market. Meta is promising the Meta Quest 3 will build off that promising better performance, new mixed-reality features, and a much more comfortable and sleeker design.
The Meta Quest 3 will start at $500 for the 128GB model. A 256GB model is in the works, and the price will be announced at a later date.
The new headset boasts a smaller design, and that doesn’t mean a sacrifice on the power department. The Meta Quest 3 is 40% slimmer than the previous model and sports three large camera sensors on the front of it, making the Meta Quest 3 stand out from any other.
The controllers, Touch Plus, also receive an upgrade and have a much more compact design while boasting advanced tracking and haptics that owners of Meta’s $1000 Meta Quest Pro enjoyed.
Speaking of the Meta Quest Pro, the Meta Quest 3 will also support Meta Reality, a feature previously exclusive to the Quest Pro. Meta Reality allows users to merge the real world with the virtual one, allowing you to use your dining room table as a battlefield or project a large map on the floor.
If you upgrade from an older Quest model, you can bring all your games and other software because it will all be fully compatible with the Meta Quest 3.
The Meta Quest 2 Is Getting A Price Cut
With the addition of the Meta Quest 3 to Meta’s growing family of VR headsets, the Meta Quest 2 is receiving a substantial price cut and will now only cost $300 for the 128GB model and $350 for the 256GB model.
Both models will also receive a power boost through an update that sees the Quest 2 and Quest Pro internals get a boost. Meta says users of both headsets can expect 26% better processing performance and 19% better graphics performance, plus Dynamic Resolution Scaling allowing for a more smooth and more consistent VR experience.
So basically, if you have been on the fence about VR, this seems like the perfect opportunity to dive in.
The Quest 3 arrives sometime in the fall, pre-orders have not begun, but you can sign up for notifications about the VR headset.
You can head here if you want to know what new games are coming to the Quest 3.
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Photo: META / Meta Quest 3
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Source: NurPhoto / Getty / PlayStation Showcase
Rumor has there is a PlayStation Showcase on the horizon.
There have been rumblings about a PlayStation Showcase happening, and according to one very reliable insider, it could be right around the corner.
Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb shared a schedule on Twitter on Monday detailing what gamers could look forward to in the form of gaming events filling in the void left behind by E3 after it announced it was not happening this year.
On the list were several events we already knew were going down in Los Angeles, but to the surprise and excitement of many, PlayStation Showcase sat at the top of that list, and it’s expected to happen the week of May 25th, according to Grubb.
In a follow-up tweet, he added that it could happen before the 25h, but “that’s probably the latest that week it could happen.”
Grubb is not one to put out baseless information on his Twitter account, and because he is sharing a date means that he’s pretty confident the showcase is happening.
What Games Will Be Shown During The PlayStation Showcase?
Now, the main question is, what the hell will PlayStation show at this showcase? Unlike its smaller scale State of Play presentations that are usually just a collection of trailers and sometimes deep dives in the case of Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League, PlayStation Showcases are usually big events where Sony pulls out the bangers.
Many believe we could get our first look at gameplay from Insomniacs’ Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, which is still coming sometime this year, and more gameplay footage from Final Fantasy XVI or Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.
Will PlayStation Drop A Konami Bomb?
But, rumors are floating around that Konami will boast a huge presence during the PlayStation Showcase showing off the Silent Hill 2 Remake, which we already know is a PlayStation exclusive, but new to the conversation is a Castlevania game and a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, which might be exclusives on the PS5 for a period of time.
This all according to podcast host Nick Baker, so take this news with a grain of salt, but if true, this could be huge for PlayStation, and another sour note for Xbox owners.
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Windows Central editor Jez Corden also said he “heard similar” news about Metal Gear Solid exclusivity to PlayStation. In a follow-up tweet, he wrote, “Just heard Sony landed a deal with Konami for Silent Hill, Metal Gear, and maybe even a new Castlevania.”
Again, we shall wait and see, but you know the video game Twitter is chatting about it. You can see all the reactions in the gallery below.
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Photo: NurPhoto / Getty
2. If these rumors are true, Sony wins the year again
4. A Spider-Man 2 date would be nice
7. Seeing some Wolverine action would be nice.
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Source: Activision / Call of Duty / Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant calls himself Easy Money Sniper, and now we will see if he can live up to that in Call of Duty as the latest operator.
The writing was on the wall literally, and Call of Duty players saw it coming. Fans of the franchise figured it all out when they spotted Easy Money Sniper, the Phoenix Suns All-Star’s Instagram handle written on one of the buildings hinting he would be coming to the game.
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That was confirmed when Call of Duty announced that the professional hooper, business mogul, and avid gamer would be the next available skin.
“@easymoneysniper is drafted to Call of Duty for his rookie season, ” Call of Duty writes in the caption of the IG post. “Kevin Durant will be available in a special, limited-time Store Bundle to be released during Season 03 Reloaded.”
Immediately after the announcement, the one question COD players had on their minds was if Durant would be in all of his 6’11 glory when he becomes available, making him a very obvious target in the game, or will he be shrunken down to the exact size of the other operators.
Durant’s addition to the game follows the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle villain, The Shredder’s operator skin.
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We can’t wait to see how Easy Money Sniper looks and feels in the game. We also wonder how good Durant is in Call of Duty. He didn’t make a good impression in the NBA 2K Players Only Tournament.
On the other hand, his teammate, Devin Booker, is an excellent COD player, so he might be jealous that KD got an operator skin before him.
We are sure Booker will eventually get into the game too.
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Photo: Activision
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Source: YOSHIKAZU TSUNO / Getty / PlayStation
It looks like PlayStation isn’t out of the handheld business after all.
Insider Gaming exclusively reports PlayStation is actively working on a new handheld console called the “Q Lite.” The video game website says it will not center around cloud gaming but will be an extension of the PS5 utilizing the console’s remote play function that the company has been hyping up as of late.
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Per Insider Gaming:
Codenamed the Q Lite, the next PlayStation handheld is the next piece of Sony hardware that aims to be yet another piece of hardware that requires the PlayStation 5. Insider Gaming understands that the Q Lite is not a cloud-streaming device but instead uses Remote Play with the PlayStation 5.
According to the report, the Q Lite will feature adaptive streaming up to 1080p and 60FPS and require constant internet connectivity.
As for its look, Insider Gaming says it will look like a PS5 DualSense controller with “a massive 8-inch LCD touchscreen in the center.” It will also have adaptive triggers and support haptic feedback, plus all of the bells and whistles you come to expect for a portable gaming device.
The Q Lite Could Be A Part of The Second Phase of The PS5
The news of the Q Lite follows reports of Sony working on a PlayStation 5 Pro and PS5 console with a detachable disc drive, and it will arrive before both consoles.
All three devices could be a part of the “second phase of the PS5,” according to Jeff Grubb’s reporting. PlayStation is also said to be working on wireless earbuds called “Project Nomad,” a wireless headset called “Project Voyager,” and The Q Lite could all be coming very soon.
Sony officially discontinued its last portable device, the PS Vita, in 2019, leaving the impression the company is done with handheld consoles.
That appears not to be the case. Are you excited about Q Lite? Let us know in the comment section below.
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Photo: YOSHIKAZU TSUNO / Getty
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Source: Ubisoft / Tom Clancy’s The Division 2
Happy Division Day. Ubisoft is celebrating by giving long-time The Division players what they want, more content for Tom Clancy’s The Division 2.
Tom Clancy’s: The Division 2 was released in 2019 and is still pushing on four years later. During Ubisoft’s Division Day live stream, fans were treated to a look at the upcoming roadmap The Division 2’s Year 5 of content.
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Year 5 of Division 2 will kick off in June, but players won’t have to wait that long to try some new content. Beginning April 21, players can sign up to participate in a public PC test server for the new mode Descent.
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From April 25 to May 9, players who log in during that time will also get the Resident Evil Leon Kennedy RPD outfit.
A Full Breakdown of Year 5’s Seasons
Broken Wings (June): This new season brings a new twist on Manhunts and introduces a new game mode titled Descent, a rogue-lite mode available for free to all Division 2 players when Year 5 begins. Players will also see the continuation of a multi-season rebuild of the Castle Settlement that will bring the devastated landmark back to life with a renewed purpose. As a part of the premium pass for Season One: Broken Wings, players will be able to unlock pieces of a Splinter Cell-themed outfit to help Fifth Freedom their way throughout DC and NYC.
Puppeteers: A challenging new Incursion will take Agents on a venture out to the Meret Estate for another confrontation with the Cleaners.
Vanguard: Agents will go back to New York City for the holidays and discover new revelations about Aaron Keener and his Rogues.
Black Diamond: New story DLC will be available that adds new zones, new main missions, and a whole new endgame structure.
Ubisoft says each of the four seasons will continue introducing Manhunts, Leagues, and Events. Players must own the Warlords of New York expansion to have access to the new content. Descent mode will be available to all Division 2 players.
You can watch the full stream below.
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Photo: Ubisoft / Tom Clancy’s The Division 2