State Champ Radio Xbox
Page: 3
HipHopWired Featured Video
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.
—
Photo: Blizzard Entertainment / Diablo IV
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Microsoft / Xbox / Activision Blizzard
After months of court battles, unfortunate document leaks, and social media discourse, Microsoft can officially welcome Activision Blizzard into the fold.
Call of Duty, Diablo, Overwatch, World of Warcraft, Starcraft, Candy Crush, and other titles have a new home: Xbox. Friday, October 13, Xbox Wire shared a post announcing the news Team Xbox has been waiting months, if not years, to hear the $69 billion Activision Blizzard acquisition is a done deal.
Phil Spencer happily announced in the blog post that Xbox is now working on bringing Activision Blizzard’s library of games to Game Pass.
“Today we start the work to bring beloved Activision, Blizzard, and King franchises to Game Pass and other platforms. We’ll share more about when you can expect to play in the coming months. We know you’re excited – and we are too,” Spencer said.
PlayStation & Nintendo Gamers, Y’all Are Safe… For Now
The Xbox Chief also reassured the millions of gamers on other platformers.
“For the millions of fans who love Activision, Blizzard, and King games, we want you to know that today is a good day to play,” he said. “You are the heart and soul of these franchises, and we are honored to have you as part of our community. Whether you play on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, PC or mobile, you are welcome here – and will remain welcome, even if Xbox isn’t where you play your favorite franchise. Because when everyone plays, we all win. We believe our news today will unlock a world of possibilities for more ways to play. Thank you for the ongoing support. We have so much more to come in the months ahead – I’m excited for the future and cannot wait to share it with you.”
With the deal finally closing, that doesn’t mean Call of Duty and Diablo are going to Game Pass immediately. Activision Blizzard made it clear that Modern Warfare 3 and Diablo IV would not be on the gaming streaming service.
Call of Duty Is Coming To Ubisoft+
But thanks to a deal with Ubisoft granting the publisher cloud streaming rights, which helped Xbox secure the deal, Ubisoft announced Call of Duty and other Activision Blizzard games will be coming to Ubisoft+.
“In August, Ubisoft announced an agreement with Microsoft granting the publisher the perpetual cloud streaming rights for Call of Duty and all other current Activision Blizzard games and those released over the next 15 years once Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard is complete,” the blog post begins.
Sayonara Bobby Kotich
Also, with the news of the deal closing, current problematic Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick is on his way out. In an email to his employees, he announced he is staying until the end of 2023 to help with the transition period.
“I have long said that I am fully committed to helping with the transition,” says Kotick in the email to Activision Blizzard employees. “Phil has asked me to stay on as CEO of ABK, reporting to him, and we have agreed that I will do that through the end of 2023. We both look forward to working together on a smooth integration for our teams and players.”
Congrats to Team Xbox and Activision Blizzard.
—
Photo: Microsoft / Xbox / Activision Blizzard
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.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage is the 13th major installment in the very popular franchise, which started back in 2007. There’s a lot of excitement for the game since it’s the first major Assassin’s Creed game in the series since Valhalla was released in November 2020. Moreover, Mirage drops on Thursday (Oct. 5) across platforms.
Best PS5 Deals: Where to Buy the Popular Console & PlayStation Bundles on Sale
10/05/2023
Starting at $49.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, Target and Walmart, Assassin’s Creed Mirage is playable on Xbox Series X and PS5, as well as the previous generations Xbox One and PS4 (and Windows PC), in two editions: Launch and Deluxe.
Wondering what the difference is between the two editions? The standard Launch Edition features the game and a DLC (downloadable content) expansion called “Forty Thieves Quest,” while the Deluxe Edition — which goes for $59.99 — comes with both the game and DLC, as well as a digital artbook, digital soundtrack and new Prince of Persia-inspired outfits and skins.
As for the game itself, Assassin’s Creed Mirage takes place during the Golden Age of Baghdad, a few decades before Valhalla. It’s a “coming-of-age story” that follows Basim Ibn Ishaq, played by Lee Majdoub, a street thief who learns the world is much bigger than himself. His mentor Roshan, played by Shohreh Aghdashloo, trains him to join the Hidden One, an order of Middle Eastern assassins.
The game is expected to also be playable for the Apple iPhone 15 sometime in early 2024. Mirage will be the first Assassin’s Creed game to be officially released, natively, for the premium smartphone.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage for Xbox and PlayStation is available now at all sorts of online retailers. The game goes for $49.99 for the Launch Edition and $59.99 for the Deluxe Edition.
Want more great picks? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best over-ear headphones, wifi extenders, laptop deals and more.
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.
EA Sports FC 24 is out now! And after 30 years, this is the first installment of the franchise that isn’t associated with FIFA (International Association Football Federation). The two companies parted ways when they couldn’t come to terms on a new licensing agreement in 2022.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
However, now re-branded as EA Sports FC 24 — which retails for $69.99 for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/Xbox One and PC at Best Buy, Amazon, Target and Walmart — features a new level of gaming immersion that feels more realistic than previous installments, while it features teams and players from Major League Soccer, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Women’s Champions League, Premier League and more.
The game is also available for Nintendo Switch for $59.99.
EA SPORTS FC 24 — PlayStation, Xbox
$69.99
Amazon/EA Sports
In addition, new for 2024, the game adds women’s teams with the top female players — including Alexia Putellas, Sophia Smith and more — while gameplay and animations are enhanced with EA’s “HyperMotionV” technology that give matches more rhythm and fluidity for a more authentic look and feel.
The soccer game features online multi-player across platforms too. This means you can play online against anyone on any console from all around the world without missing a beat.
EA SPORTS FC 24 — Nintendo Switch
$59.88
Meanwhile, EA Sports FC 24 Ultimate Edition is out too. The game is available for all consoles, except for Nintendo Switch, while it’s priced at $99.99. It has the same gameplay and features as the standard edition above, but it also comes with 4,600 FC Points — the game’s virtual currency to unlock packs, drafts and more.
The cover art is different with more than 30 iconic players shown, including Vinícius Júnior, Sam Kerr, Marta Vieira da Silva, Ronaldinho Gaúcho, Pelé, Andrea Pirlo, David Beckham, Juan Román Riquelme and much more.
EA SPORTS FC 24 Ultimate Edition
$99.99
For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best over-ear headphones, wifi extenders and laptop deals.
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: Microsoft / Xbox Series X ‘Brooklin’
Another massive leak, spilling some juicy Xbox details, has the video game world buzzing.
An FTC leak has produced documents detailing some of Xbox’s future plans and another massive acquisition. The biggest news from the leak was that Xbox plans to drop what it calls a “console refresh” of the Xbox Series X called ‘Brooklin.’
It has been confirmed that it was Microsoft were the one’s who “leaked” the information after accidentally loading it onto a government website, per Bloomberg’s reporting.
Anyway, Brooklin is a new Xbox Series X console version that ditches the original “box shape” small fridge look for a new circular design plus a much-needed increased internal storage of 2TB.
Gamesradar reports that the “console refresh” will have the same price as the previous console with tweaks like a faster wireless connection, more storage as mentioned above, eco-friendly features to reduce the console’s carbon footprint, ditching the disc drive, and even an updated controller that could finally bring it on par, or close to the greatness that is the PS5’s DualSense controller.
The new controller, code-named Sebille, is “more immersive” and will feature gyro support, Bluetooth 5.2, and a direct Cloud connection. There will also be “precision haptic feedback” that doubles as speakers.
“Improved longevity” is also a feature of the Sebille controller, thanks to new modular thumbsticks.
According to the leaks, the controller will launch sometime in August 2024, around the same time as E3 2024, when the company was set to reveal its latest offerings to the video game world.
There are also plans for an Xbox Series S refresh due in August, with the Brooklin console coming in late October, right in time for Black Friday and the Christmas shopping season.
Phil Spencer Was Dreaming of Video Game Domination
The new console and controller weren’t the only news about the FTC leak. According to leaked emails, Xbox Chief Phil Spencer wanted to bring Nintendo into the Xbox ecosystem.
In the August 2020 email sent right before Microsoft bought Bethesda’s parent company ZeniMax, Spencer called a possible acquisition of Nintendo “a career moment.”
Spencer’s lust didn’t stop there. He also expressed interest in Steam owner Valve and Warner Bros’ collection of game studios like Mortal Kombat developer NetherRealm Studios and Rocksteady, the game studio behind the Batman Arkham Series.
Per IGN:
“Nintendo is THE prime asset for us in gaming and today gaming is our most likely path to consumer relevance,” Spencer wrote in the email.
“I’ve had numerous conversations with the LT of Nintendo about tighter collaboration and feel like if any US company would have a chance with Nintendo we are probably in the best position.”
However, Spencer outlined a number of blocks on the merger, including the fact Nintendo seemed uninterested in selling up. Nintendo is “sitting on a big pile of cash”, Spencer said, and was apparently happy with its current position. As a result, Spencer said he couldn’t “see an angle” on a buyout in the short term, adding: “I don’t think a hostile action would be a good move… so we are playing the long game.”
Well damn.
You can see more reactions to the leaks in the gallery below.
—
Photo: Microsoft / Xbox Series X ‘Brooklin’
2. Interesting
3. Looks like Tom was right.
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: Xbox / Xbox Series X Console Wraps
Xbox has been rolling out the custom Xbox Series X and Series S consoles that were exclusive and not available for purchase. Now, Xbox is giving Series X owners a way to add some flavor to the big black box.
Monday, August 21, Xbox decided to take a page out of PlayStation’s book by allowing Xbox Series X owners to finally add a bit of a personal touch to their consoles.
Like the PS5 custom plates, there are now Xbox Series X Console Wraps, but they are much easier to put on your console.
Per Xbox:
The wraps were designed specifically for Series X and have a custom, precision fit. Every detail was taken into consideration to ensure your console performance is preserved– vents are all clear, and small feet were added to the bottom of the wraps to ensure air can flow freely through the console.
Made with solid core panels that are layered with high-tech fabric finishes, the wraps are folded around your console and secured with a hook and loop enclosure. The interior of the wraps are printed with silicone designs that keep the wrap in place.
Source: Xbox
Celebrating the forthcoming launch of Starfield, the first Console Wrap will take its cues from the Bethesda title and the Xbox exclusive and compliment the already launched Starfield Xbox Headset and controller.
How Much Will The Xbox Series X Console Wraps Cost?
The Starfield Xbox Series X Console Wrap will release in the US, Canada, and Europe on October 18 for $49.99 and is available for pre-order right now via the Microsoft Store.
If Starfield isn’t your jam, and we understand if it isn’t, Xbox is rolling out two other Console Wraps.
Series X can look forward to Artic and Mineral Camo Console Wraps launching in the US and Canada on November 10 for $44.99, and they are also available for pre-order right now.
Source: Xbox / Xbox Series X Console Wraps
As expected, Xbox gamers are excited about the news; you can peep the reactions in the gallery below.
—
Photo: Xbox / Xbox Series X Console Wraps
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: JOSEPH PREZIOSO / Getty / Oceangate Expeditions
News of an OceanGate Expeditions submersible containing some prominent passengers going missing during an underwater expedition tour to survey the Titanic took over timelines over the weekend. Some recent developments around the company and the makeshift sub’s design have Twitter reacting.
If you didn’t hear about the story, OceanGate’s Titanic tourism submarine with five people onboard has gone missing. Per the New York Times, among those missing are the submarine’s pilot, British billionaire explorer Hamish Harding, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, one of Pakistan’s wealthiest men, Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his son Sulaiman Dawood, 19.
According to recent reports, time is critical as a search is underway to find the sub that went missing around the Titanic wreckage site in the North Atlantic on Sunday, with experts saying there is enough oxygen to last the crew until Wednesday.
As the story continues to own headlines, a CBS News story on OceanGate’s missing Titan story has gone viral after it showed how makeshift the sub is.
If you signed onto Twitter, you might see that Xbox Controller is trending, and it has nothing to do with the video game company dropping a new Xbox Design Lab custom controller. It’s the fact a cheap knockoff controller controls the $1 million makeshift submersible.
Twitter Is Flabbergasted
As you can imagine, Twitter is reacting to the news. One user sharing a clip from the story wrote in a tweet, “Y’all please watch this. It’s a CBS story that aired a while back about that submarine that is now missing. The creators of that missing submarine are DEEPLY unserious.”
“N****s really went into the deepest depths of the ocean in a DIY submarine controlled by an Xbox controller the size of a coat closet. If that isn’t natural selection idk bro,” another Twitter user wrote.
Bruh.
We hope the missing submarine is found and everyone onboard is alive and well.
You can peep more reactions to these recent developments in the gallery below.
—
Photo: JOSEPH PREZIOSO / 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. Xbox wants to take your gaming experience to the next level with an Xbox Series X mini fridge, which is back […]
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.
Amazon‘s Gaming Week may be over, but that doesn’t mean that deals have ended — especially for Xbox fans. Right now, you can score bundled deals on Xbox consoles to keep you plugged in and playing your favorite video games (including Super Mario Bros.).
‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ Is No. 1 on Prime Video: Here’s How to Watch From Home
06/09/2023
Walmart and Amazon are currently discounting various console and offering bundles that’ll save you cash and get you plugged in to the latest games (you can also check out Game Stop for possible deals). Whether you’re looking to play action-packed games or more story-centered ones, we’ve got the Xbox consoles to pair with your over-ear headphones and video cameras (looking at you e-sport commentators and vloggers).
See below to snag some savings on some of the best Xbox console deals from Amazon and Walmart we rounded up. And for more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best iPad deals, portable phone chargers and studio headphones.
Amazon
Xbox Series S – Fortnite & Rocket League Bundle
$298.99
The Xbox Series S is currently available for less than $300 and doesn’t just includes the console and controller, but Fortnite and Rocket League! To sweeten the deal you’ll also receive 1,000 V-bucks and 1,000 Rocket League credits.
Walmart
Xbox Series S – 512GB SSD Console + Xbox Wireless Controller
$289.99 $329.99 12% off% OFF
If you prefer playing multiplayer games — or just want an extra controller handy, the you may want to consider the this bundle for $40 off. You’ll receive two controllers, 10GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD for saving and storing all your downloads and game progress.
Amazon
Xbox Series X – Diablo IV Bundle
$559.99
This splurge-worthy pick features the latest Xbox Series X paired with the highly-anticipated Diablo IV game. The game is rated Mature, but for a more kid-friendly bundle you can opt for the Forza Horizon 5 bundle, which is rated E for everyone. You’ll get 1TB of storage space and the upgraded system that includes 12 teraflops of graphic processing power, DirectX ray tracing, a custom SSD and access to 4K gaming.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: SOPA Images / Getty / Xbox
Microsoft is working hard to get Xbox on as many platforms as possible, including smartphones. That could be a reality soon, but it all hinges on one big thing.
Speaking with the Financial Times, Xbox Chief Phil Spencer, spoke on the company’s ambition to bring an Xbox Games Store to the iPhone sometime this year, but that all depends on current regulatory measures.
The biggest roadblock is Microsoft’s $75 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, currently in limbo, according to the chief executive of Microsoft Gaming, that would give the tech giant a wide portfolio of mobile games. The app store’s launch also hinges on the EU’s Digital Markets Act plus other regulations that will allow for the enforcement of other app stores to appear on iOS.
“We want to be in a position to offer Xbox and content from both us and our third-party partners across any screen where somebody would want to play,” Spencer said to the Financial Times. “Today, we can’t do that on mobile devices, but we want to build towards a world that we think will be coming where those devices are opened up.”
Apple Is Preparing For The Launch of Alternative Store Apps on The iPhone
Apple, who is notoriously protective of its sh*t, is prepping iOS for the upcoming change by preparing to allow alternative app stores on the iPhone to comply with the Digital Markets Act that reportedly coming into play in March 2024, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
Gurman further reports Apple will roll out the changes with iOS 17 updates for iPhone next year in Europe only so that still leaves American iPhone users out of the loop.
Currently, you can access Xbox games on your mobile devices through the Xbox Cloud Gaming’s web client, and while it works smoothly depending on certain factors like internet connection, it’s not as stable as a dedicated app would be.
—
Photo: SOPA Images / Getty
