State Champ Radio video games
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The third installment in the reboot series Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III drops on Friday, Nov. 10
Ready for pre-order for $69.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart and Target, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III — for current generation consoles PS5, Xbox Series X, as well as previous generation PS4 and Xbox One — is a first-person shooter with open-world elements from Sledgehammer Games and Activision. Modern Warfare III is the reboot of 2011’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.
Modern Warfare III follows a multinational special operations unit called Task Force 141. The unit is on the trail of Vladimir Makarov, a Russian ultranationalist and terrorist who wants to start World War III. Task Force 141 must stop him and his roaming armies.
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The game has 16 base maps from the previous installment Modern Warfare II, and also features a new special Zombie Mode that’s open world — a first for any Call of Duty game. Players can select linear missions, which are straightforward and on rails, or “Open Combat Missions,” which are open world. And of course, Modern Warfare III has online multiplayer with up to 24 players at once.
One of the best features is “Carry Forward,” which imports inventory from Modern Warfare II to Modern Warfare III. This is ideal for those who don’t want to spend the time to re-collect or upgrade their weapons and gear.
Additionally, Standard and Cross-Gen are the two editions of the game that are available. First is the Standard Edition, which just has the game. The second is the Cross-Gen Edition, which has the game itself and five different content packs, which includes early access, new locations, new missions, new characters and more — all unlocked.
Dropping on Nov. 10, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III comes out for PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4 and Xbox One, and is available for pre-order for $69.99 each. In the meantime, watch a trailer for the game, below.
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Source: Dia Dipasupil / Getty / Snoop Dogg / Cordell Broadus
Snoop Dogg is looking to do more than give out Death Row chains since acquiring the iconic music label. He is teaming up with his son, Cordell Broadus, to help put minority creators and gamers on the map.
Spotted on HypeBeast, the iconic Hip-Hop star and his seed are working together to give minority creators and artists a platform to develop and publish on Fortnite using the company’s Unreal Editor.
Broadus made the dope announcement while speaking at AFROTECH.
Per HypeBeast:
“We’ve been creating games, and none of them has been published anything on a huge scale, but on a very amateur level,” Broadus told AFROTECH. “We’ve been around games for the last five to six years. And Snoop, he’s done mobile games. A few of them in the past five to six years in apps and stuff like that. So we’ve always had the mindset of building it on our own.”
He added, “We felt like let’s really put resources into building Death Row Games and making a home for diverse creators in the gaming ecosystem and be a part of the narrative, the storytelling of what the next game should be looking like. And I keep saying ‘show representation of the culture in these sectors,’ versus us just being the talent. We wanted to make sure that we’re part of the decision that’s being made and more importantly tell these stories from diverse creators and focus on creatives in underserved communities.
Calvin Broadus Is Excited To Work With His Dad
“I think it’s dope for a father and a son to be working together for one, and for two he’s 51 years old. So he may be out of touch with some of these things.” He continued, “And I’m always there to keep him up to speed and translate information to him in a tone that he can understand. I think that’s more important… but just as much as I’m giving him game he’s given me the keys to make these decisions with a IP as big as his.”
Salute to both of them. We hope Death Row Gaming accomplishes its mission by opening the doors for Black and Brown creators in the video game space.
Photo: Dia Dipasupil / Getty
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Source: SOPA Images / Getty / GTA 6
GTA 6 trends on X, formerly known as Twitter, almost every month, and usually, it’s for no good reason. Well, that finally changed last night, and gamers have a reason to be very excited.
It’s happening, it’s finally happening. After years of silence and one massive leak, Rockstar Games is ready to unveil Grand Theft Auto IV, promising to share a trailer of the highly anticipated game.
The news was first revealed via bombshell exclusive reporting from Bloomberg’s Jason Scheirer, and it was officially confirmed with a post on X from Rockstar Games, who is notoriously quiet about upcoming projects.
“We are very excited to let you know that in early December, we will release the first trailer for the next Grand Theft Auto. We look forward to many more years of sharing these experiences with all of you,” said Rockstar Games president Sam Houser.
Leading up to this long-awaited day, word on the video game streets is that GTA 6 would feature its first female protagonist and will be influenced by Bonnie and Clyde while possibly returning to Vice City, Grand Theft Auto’s fictional spin on Miami.
It’s been no secret that Rockstar Games has been working on GTA 6 while continuing to add content to Grand Theft Auto Online, which launched alongside Grand Theft Auto V, which astonishingly came out in 2013 and has lived on three console generations.
GTA V is also one of the most profitable pieces of entertainment, bringing in more cash than any film or book since.
So, it should come as no shock that Rockstar Games took its sweet time making GTA IV.
Gamers Can Finally Rest: GTA 6 Is No Longer A Rumor
As expected, the video game world has been beaming with excitement at the news, knowing they are going to the first official look at Grand Theft Auto 6.
“No more GTA 6 rumors, we can finally rest,” one person said on X.
“The GTA 6 reveal rumours are finally over,” Tom Henderson tweeted.
We will be sharing that news when it officially drops. Until then, you can peep more reactions in the gallery below.
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Photo: SOPA Images / Getty
1. We feel you
2. The accuracy
3. Yes please
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Source: NurPhoto / Getty / PlayStation
You can now add Sony as the latest company that will no longer play nice with Elon Musk’s mess of a social media platform X.
PlayStation is killing off its X (formerly known as Twitter) integration. So what does that mean? Well, PS4 and PS5 owners used to enjoy being able to share screenshots and clips directly to their Twitter accounts from those two consoles.
Now, that will no longer be the case.
Spotted on The Verge, Sony announced the significant change to social sharing via a message on its website.
“As of November 13, 2023, integration with X (formerly known as Twitter) will no longer function on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 consoles, Sony said.
“This includes the ability to view any content published on X on PS5/PS4 and the ability to post and view content, trophies, and other gameplay-related activities on X directly from PS5/PS4 (or link an X account to do so)” the message continues.
Notable gaming news source Wario64 shared a screenshot of the message PS5 owners are receiving about the change on X’s biggest competitor, Threads.
As to why Sony is making this decision, the company didn’t give an exact reason for its decision, but many believe it has something to do with X’s ridiculous API pricing the company introduced earlier this year.
Sony did share how gamers could still share their screenshots and clips on X through other means, specifically through the PlayStation app, where you can download your content to your phone and directly post it to your social media accounts.
Xbox Also Made A Similar Move
Sony’s decision to no longer support Twitter’s API is not unheard of. Xbox also announced earlier this year that it was removing the feature.
Threads, it’s your time to shine.
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Photo: NurPhoto / Getty
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.
After the release of DreamWorks Trolls Remix Rescue last week, the studio is back with another game set in the Dreamworks Animation universe — in the lead up to the theatrical release of Trolls Band Together on Nov. 17.
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Retailing for $39.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart and Target, DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing is a high-speed kart racing game with local and online multi-player akin to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Team Sonic Racing, Disney Speedstorm and others. In fact, its developer and publisher (Bamtang Games and GameMill Entertainment, respectively) also put out Nickelodeon Kart Racers, a similar game, but with Nickelodeon characters.
It drops for Nintendo Switch, PS5, PS4 and Xbox Series X on Friday, Nov. 3.
Amazon
The game features 20 iconic characters from all of DreamWorks Animation, such as Shrek, Po, Boss Baby, Puss in Boots, Hiccup, Megamind and more. It has 20 kart racers that matches with each character. But, you can swap out kart parts for faster builds with hundreds of combinations of chassis, engines, wheels, spoilers and more.
Meanwhile, DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing also features 20 different tracks that are themed for various DreamWorks Animation movies, such as The Kingdom of Far Far Away from Shrek, Isle of Berk from How To Train Your Dragon, Bergen Town from Trolls, New York City Zoo from Madagascar, Baby Corporation from The Boss Baby and many others.
Dropping on Nov. 3, DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing comes out for Nintendo Switch, PS5, PS4 and Xbox Series X — it’s all available for $39.99 each.
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Source: picture alliance / Getty / Xbox / Microsoft
Microsoft is cracking down on “unauthorized” controllers and accessories on Xbox consoles.
Xbox console owners were hit with a rude awakening last week.
Posters on Resetera began sharing last week that they were being greeted with a warning informing them their third-party controller would be blocked, with the message “connected accessory is not authorized.”
The Verge reports it is unclear if Xbox’s intention with this move is to target cheaters or push Xbox console owners to use accessories that are a part of its official partner program.
“From the moment you connect an unauthorized accessory and receive error code 0x82d60002, you’ll have two weeks to use the accessory, after which time it will then be blocked from use with the console,” Microsoft said in a support note about the warning message gamers are receiving.
Microsoft continues, “At that time, you’ll receive error code 0x82d60003. We encourage you to contact the store or manufacturer where you obtained the accessory to get help with returning it.”
Specific Devices That Could Be Affected
Third-party accessories that have a “designed for Xbox” label on the box are not affected by the block. Any devices not authorized by Xbox could see the message and be blocked.
Gamers using third-party cheat devices like XIM, Cronus Zen, and ReaSnow S1 could also be affected.
The above devices are used mainly by PC players to imitate controller inputs, allowing mouse and keyboard users to utilize aim assist and reduced recoil from controllers combined with the fast movement mouse and keyboard fans enjoy.
Before Xbox made this move, Activision, Bungie, and Ubisoft had worked diligently to block these devices from being used in first-person shooters like Call of Duty, Destiny 2, and Rainbow Six Siege.
Brooks Gaming, which makes an adapter that allows users to use PlayStation controllers on Xbox, warns of “functional disruptions in the near future” for a number of its products, including the fighting board, steering wheel, and Wingman XB 2 converter in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Reactions From The Gaming Community
Of course, news like this is already getting reactions from the video game community and the implications of who this block will hurt.
Fight video game enthusiast Maximillian Dood directly hit Xbox chief Phil Spencer and Matt Booty on X, begging them to have a change of heart by pointing out how this could be extremely harmful to local fighting game events that use Xbox consoles.
“Heyo @XboxP3 @Xbox @mattbooty This is essentially a death sentence for local fighting game events that run on Xbox, much less, others that can only afford one arcade stick. The @brookgamingfans converters are not cheat devices. They’re a huge boon to the FGC. Please reconsider!” Dood wrote.
Phil Spencer, Matt Booty, or Xbox have yet to issue a statement on the block, but we do expect some comments to arrive very soon.
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Photo: picture alliance / Getty
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.
Although Trolls Band Together doesn’t come out in theaters until Nov. 17 (you can stream the film’s official soundtrack featuring *NSYNC, Camila Cabello, Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Kid Cudi and more right now), there’s a new Trolls video game that’s available in-stores and from online retailers Friday (Oct. 27).
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Priced at $49.99 on Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart and Target, Dreamworks Trolls Remix Rescue is a local multiplayer co-op (up to four players) 3D adventure platform game where you play as one of your favorite Trolls — such as Poppy, Branch, Guy Diamond and more — exploring the Troll Kingdom in a noble quest to save the world.
It’s playable on Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X and PS4.
In addition, Dreamworks Trolls Remix Rescue — which is from GameMill Entertainment and developed by Petit Fabrik — features fun mechanics and “Hair-Jitsu” attacks to defeat enemies, including whipping your hair; using your hair to smash, grab, push, pull and throw; hair helicopter twirling and more. Think of it like Sega’s Ristar, but with hair instead of flexible arms.
Meanwhile, you can even create and stylize your own Troll character with different hairstyles, facial expressions and features, outfits and more with thousands of combinations. There are loads of rhythm-based mini-games and puzzles to solve to unlock special items, new abilities, customizable traits for your Troll and much more.
Dreamworks Trolls Remix Rescue for Nintendo Switch, PS5, PS4 and Xbox Series X is available for $49.99.
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Source: Nacon / Teyon Games / RoboCop: Rogue City
Xbox has some new pep in its step after finally closing its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard King. To show its focus is back on what’s essential, games, we got a glimpse of what’s to come during the Xbox Partner Preview.
Like PlayStation’s State of Play presentations, the Xbox Partner Preview spotlighted the games coming to the Xbox Series X and Series S console from third-party studios.
During the 30-minute presentation, we got trailers and gameplay footage from Xbox’s third-party partners like Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, Remedy Entertainment, Studio Wildcard, Nacon, Konami, and more.
Gamers were happy to see the first in-engine footage from Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, island activities from Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, more gameplay footage from RoboCop: Rogue City, the first footage from Ark: Survival Ascended, and so much more.
In case you missed the Xbox Partner Preview program, we are here to break it down for you.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
Source: Konami / Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
Snake is back, and he looks better than ever. No, this isn’t a new game, but a revisit to a game many say is the greatest entry into the Metal Gear Solid franchise, Snake Eater.
Now called Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Konami has reimagined the tactical espionage stealth action game using the powerful Unreal Engine 5, giving the game a complete graphics overhaul.
The in-engine look gave us a glimpse of the dense jungle vegetation that will help Snake hide and take out his enemies and the predatory animals that not only pose a danger to Snake but also could be his next meal and help him survive.
Unlike the original game released in 2004, Metal Gear Solid Detla: Snake Eater will not only feature cutting-edge graphics but 3D audio as well when it arrives.
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RoboCop: Rogue City
Source: Nacon/Teyon Games / RoboCop: Rogue City
RoboCop: Rogue City is high on our list of games to play in 2023. While we don’t think this one will be on the level of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 or Diablo IV, it looks fun as hell, dishing out justice and handing out parking tickets as the cyborg.
In the latest look at the game, we get some more story beats, a look at Alex Murphy, aka RoboCop, his partner Lois, some gunplay action, and even a showdown with ED-209.
RoboCop: Rogue City is now available for pre-order—no release word on a release date.
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To see the rest of the announcements from the Xbox Partner Preview, hit the gallery below.
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Photos: Konami / Nacon
1. Alan Wake II Launch Trailer
Per Xbox:
Ritualistic murders in a small town. An FBI agent looking for answers, and a writer looking for an escape from the nightmare he is writing. Who is the victim, and who is the monster? Follow the horror story into the dark when Alan Wake 2 launches on October 27th. Play as the writer, Alan Wake, and the FBI agent, Saga Anderson. Explore two beautiful and terrifying realities, and solve a deadly mystery before it’s too late. Alan Wake 2 is available October 27th on Xbox Series X|S.
For more, head here.
2. ARK: Survival Ascended – Xbox Partner Preview
Per Xbox:
Respawn into a new dinosaur survival experience beyond your wildest dreams… as ARK is reimagined from the ground-up into the next-generation of videogame technology with Unreal Engine 5! You awake on a mysterious island, your senses overwhelmed by the blinding sunlight and brilliant colors bouncing off every surface around you, the azure waters of a verdant Island lapping at your bare feet. A deep roar echoes from the misty jungle, jolting you into action, and you stand up – not afraid, but intrigued. Are you ready to form a tribe, tame and breed hundreds of species of dinosaurs and other primeval creatures, explore, craft, build, and fight your way to the top of the food-chain? Your new world awaits… step through the looking-glass and join it!
For more head, here.
3. LIKE A DRAGON: INFINITE WEALTH | DONDOKO ISLAND REVEAL TRAILER – Xbox Partner Preview
Per Xbox:
Too many street punks getting you down? Time for the getaway you deserve? Dondoko Island is the destination for you. Create the resort of your dreams in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth when it launches January 26th, 2024.
4. Still Wakes the Deep – Gameplay Reveal – Xbox Partner Preview
Per Xbox:
Still Wakes the deep is an upcoming survival horror game from The Chinese Room. Set on an oil rig, this game pushes you through claustrophobic environments and freezing waters escaping an unthinkable horror. Still Wakes The Deep is coming to XBOX in 2024. Secret Mode are a Video Games publisher under Tencent and Sumo Group. Our goal is to delight and inspire you, and that’s why we are Secret Mode.
5. Manor Lords – Release Date Announcement Trailer – Xbox Partner Preview
Per Xbox:
Manor Lords, the highly anticipated historical city-building game, is coming on day one to PC Game Pass! Manor Lords launches in Game Preview on April 26th, 2024.
6. IKARO: Will Not Die – Announce Teaser – Xbox Partner Preview
Per Xbox:
From Futurlab, the award-winning creators of Powerwash Simulator and Velocity, in partnership with Thunderful, comes IKARO: Will Not Die, a momentum-based, fast-flowing action rogue-lite.
7. Spirit of the North 2 – Announcement Trailer – Xbox Partner Preview
Per Xbox:
Embrace the aurora and save the guardians in Spirit of the North 2, coming to Xbox Series X|S. Unveil the mysteries of a beautiful ancient world in this breathtaking 3rd-Person Adventure, a sequel to the acclaimed ‘Spirit of the North.’ Take on the role of an isolated fox with a raven companion on a quest to restore the lost guardians and return home. In an ancient world left in ruin, embark on the journey of an isolated fox far from home. With the help of a wise Raven companion, seek out the lost legendary guardians and release them from the grasp of the dark shaman Grimnir.
8. Dungeons of Hinterberg Social Gameplay Reveal – Xbox Partner Preview
Per Xbox:
Join us for a deeper dive into the social side to Dungeons of Hinterberg gameplay! In this new trailer, we explore a day in the life of Luisa, what she gets up to and who she meets.
9. THE FINALS – Open Beta Trailer – Xbox Partner Preview
Fight alongside your teammates in the world’s biggest, loudest, and most anticipated combat entertainment game show. Experience destruction in a way you haven’t before. THE FINALS Open Beta kicks off on Xbox Series X|S on October 26 – November 5, 2023.
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Source: Andrew Toth / Getty / FaZe Clan
Esports is struggling, and you don’t have to look further than what popular esports and influencer brand FaZe Clan is going through. Now, the organization is hoping after being purchased, it can stay afloat.
Spotted on The Verge, Faze Clan has been acquired in a stock deal worth about $17 million by gaming analytics and Esports brand company Gamesquare.
The $17 million is a steep drop from Faze’s $725-million valuation at the time of its special purpose acquisition company, SPAC, merger in July of 2022.
The website also notes that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is an investor in Gamesquare.
Like many entities in the Esports industry, the Esports organization has struggled since SPAC made it a publicly traded company on the Nasdaq exchange, posting a $28.4-million loss “through the first half of 2023,” Bloomberg reports.
A History of Struggle
Before news of the $17 million acquisition, FaZe Clan gave CEO Lee Trink the boot. The Esports organization boasted big names like Lil Yachty and LeBron James’ son, Bronny James, as members and NBA hooper Ben Simmons as an investor.
The organization abruptly lost one of its most prominent investors, Snoop Dogg, who reportedly lost millions after investing in the Esports organization.
With the acquisition by Gamesquare, FaZe Clan hopes that hitting the reset button will help right the sinking ship. FaZe Clan’s leadership is reverting to its original leadership structure.
Richard “Faze Banks” Bengtson will serve as CEO, Thomas “Faze Temperrr” Oliveira will become president, and Yousef “Faze Apex” Abdelfattah will take over as COO.
Via a press release, FaZe Clan says it will be “re-engaging with its core fanbase” in hopes that it will return the organization to the top of Esports relevancy.
We shall see if this all works out for the once mega-popular Esports organization.
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Photo: Andrew Toth / Getty
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Source: Blizzard Entertainment / Diablo IV
Still on the fence about entering Sanctuary and taking down Lilith? Well, thanks to Xbox Free Play Days, you can take the game for a spin without opening your wallet.
Diablo IV is currently in its second season, The Season of Blood, and many players have already taken down the game’s big bad Lillith, but many still have not yet experienced the greatness that is Diablo IV.
Kicking off on Thursday, October 19, Xbox Free Play Days gives gamers a chance to play 10 hours of Diablo IV for free, and when the trial is up, buy the game for 25% off.
Players will have access to Diablo IV’s content, and your progress will carry over if you purchase the game.
In our review of Diablo IV, our resident gamer, Beanz, wrote, “I’ve been through hell and back and enjoyed every minute of my hellishly addictive journey in Diablo IV.”
Diablo IV Is Rewarding Players In A Unique Way
In more Diablo IV news, players are encouraged to donate real blood to save lives and earn in-game rewards to celebrate the Season of Blood.
The new season sees Lord Zir use his Blood Seekers to raid the Sanctuary to procure blood for him using Blood Harvest rituals where players must defeat mini-bosses.
Diablo offers players in the United States residents a chance to donate “666 quarts of actual donated blood (equaling around 1,332 separate donations, with 1 pint per donation) into in-game rewards, while ultimately helping to save lives.”
Once the goal is reached, players who donated and those who didn’t will be entered in a contest to win a new custom-built PC infused with real human blood in its liquid cooling, which pays tribute to the game.
Well damn.
Here is a breakdown of the giveaway:
Tier 1: At 33% participation of the total 666-quart goal, all players will receive weapon cosmetics which include:
Dagger – Bloodpetal Anlace
Axe – Bloodpetal Sever
Necro Offhand – Bloodpetal Heart
Sword – Bloodpetal Blade
Druid Staff – Bloodpetal Bludgeon
Tier 2: At 66% participation, all players will receive the aforementioned rewards plus The Loch Raeth Maor Barbarian armor set.
Tier 3: At 100% participation, all players will receive the aforementioned rewards plus the Vermilion Eye Piebald mount, and the custom real human blood-infused PC sweepstakes will become available to enter.
So what are you waiting for? Download the gamer and start a journey in Sanctuary to spill some demon blood and guts.
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Photo: Blizzard Entertainment / Diablo IV
