A new Marvel-based fighting game? Made by the same studio that brought us Mortal Kombat 11 and Injustice? WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT.
According to the digital grapevine, a new Marvel fighting game is in the works, and NetherRealm Studio is allegedly behind it. If this is indeed the case, it will be the first game since 2017’s Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite and would mean that NetherRealm is not currently working on the follow-up to Injustice 2: Gods Among Us.
The report comes from Daniel Richtman (via Stealth Optional) and doesn’t bear much in the form of details, so please take all of this with the tiniest grain of salt while at the same time being excited at the possibility that such a game could exist. Richtman says that the game is currently in development for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and possibly PC. There is a solid chance that PS4 and Xbox One owners won’t even get a chance to stiff this game.
For those who have been thirsting for Injustice 3, this news might not sit well with you because it means NetherRealm is putting all of its focus into this rumored Marvel game. But, Comicbook.com is adding more fuel to the fire by suggesting there is a slight possibility that NetherRealm could be working on a Marvel vs. DC fighting game.
That would be crazy.
Again, this is just mere speculation, but something definitely worth keeping in the back of your mind. Crazier things have happened.
Athletic wear and gaming have gone hand in hand as of late, so this latest collaboration between ANTA and HyperX makes all the sense in the world.
The two companies have one thing in common, they both work with Boston Celtic forward Gordon Hayward, so the decision to work together on this limited-edition box was a no-brainer. It brings together the two things that Hayward love’s to do, and that is playing basketball and gaming.
Source: Bernard Smalls / ANTA x HyperX
Inside the box is a limited-edition pair of Hayward’s signature basketball sneakers from ANTA, the GH2 “HyperX” and HyperX Cloud Alpha gaming headset. The sneakers feature some unique gaming-inspired details that help them easily stand out from other shoe silhouettes. The GH2 are draped in HyperX’s black and red colorways and have a unique printing process that showcases black-red gradient effects.
Source: Bernard Smalls / ANTA x HyperX
The inspiration behind the design is pulled straight from the circuit board that you can find inside HyperX’s products like headsets, keyboards, mice, and the HyperX logo, which can be found on the shoe’s heel pictured above.
Source: Bernard Smalls / ANTA x HyperX
Wearers can see the word “GAMER” on the lacing system, and it showcases the partnership between HyperX x ANTA.
Source: Bernard Smalls / ANTA x HyperX
Speaking about the limited-edition collaboration Dustin Illingworth, head of influencers and esports at HyperX, added:
“We are thrilled to be working with ANTA on this limited-edition HyperX x ANTA Gordon Hayward box. HyperX joins forces with ANTA to showcase Hayward’s passion for basketball and esports with a collection that reflects his love for the game, on and off the court, and captures the HyperX core belief – WE’RE ALL GAMERS.”
Source: Bernard Smalls / ANTA x HyperX
As far as getting your hands on the bundle, you might be out of luck in that department. Only a few were made and given away in a contest. If you come across one, you might have to pay a grip, BUT you can purchase the sneakers directly from China through ANTA’s website for only $160.
Source: Bernard Smalls / ANTA x HyperX
We look forward to more collaborations between the companies and hope they continue to look this good.
Unfortunately, The Academy has yet to acknowledge video games as a medium worthy of an Oscar, but the video game industry might have just found its way in.
Some video games are basically like films. Both have scripts, great stories, with amazing actors and actresses bringing characters to life. The only difference is you can directly interact with one, while viewers can only observe movies. That’s not enough to win a coveted Oscar award…yet, but video games did find a way to be recognized on Hollywood’s biggest night.
Sunday night (Apr.25), during The Oscars, the documentary short Colette won an Academy Award, a huge first for the video game industry. The doc was originally produced by Oculus Studios and EA’s Respawn Entertainment and was featured in the first-person shooter VR game Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond. The game is widely recognized for its historical accuracy, and keeping with that theme, players can unlock short “Gallery” films highlighting real World War II vets as they progress through the game.
Colette, which is directed by Anthony Giacchino, which is one of those “Gallery” films, tells the story of 90-year-old Colette Marin-Catherine, one of the last surviving French Resistance members. In the film, she is convinced by a young history student, Lucie Fouble, to return to Germany after vowing never to return to the country. Once there, she visits the Nazi concentration camp where her brother, Jean-Pierre, was sadly killed.
It was acquired and distributed byThe Guardianand won the award for best short film at the Big Sky Festival, which made it eligible for Oscar contention. The film went on to win the gold statuette, not only making it the first Oscar-related video game win but a first for The Guardian as well.
In a statement speaking on the historical win, Oculus Studios director of production Mike Doran said in a statement, “The real hero here is Colette herself, who has shared her story with integrity and strength.” He further added, “As we see in the film, resistance takes courage, but facing one’s past may take even more. Allowing us to preserve this pilgrimage for future generations was a true act of bravery and trust.”
Hawks Talon GC, the official NBA 2K League affiliate of the Atlanta Hawks, hosted a special livestream on the team’s Twitch channel titled Talon Takeover.
Hawks Talon’s Team Manager and Head Coach Wesley Acuff was joined by Grammy Award-nominated and Platinum-selling producer and recording artist Sonny Digital during the stream.
“Having Sonny Digital join us for tonight’s Talon Takeover was great,” said Acuff. “He is one of the most well-respected producers in Atlanta, and we are thrilled he was able to join us for tonight’s stream.”
Sonny Digital would detail his love for video games and the passion for producing and recording music.
“The event was dope, and I had fun,” said Sonny Digital. “Since we’ve been limited to what we can do, and I’ve been playing 2K a lot more, this was perfect timing. I would like to thank Hawks Talon Gaming Club for all the love.”
To much anticipation to the gamer world, A$AP Rocky dropped a new single on the Cyberpunk 2077 video game soundtrack, which can be found on the game’s radio station called The Dirge.
The track, which has no title, contains “regular” subject matter for Rocky such as “money, h**s and clothes”, but it also delved into the internal struggle that many Black and Brown people face around the world everyday.
On the song, Rocky, whose given name is Rakim Mayers, rapped “When I was younger, man I wished that I was light-skinned/Now I wouldn’t trade the world for my skin..” He went on saying, “I surpassed what you could do inside your lifespan/So just give me a little credit like a White man.”
A$AP has experienced his share of colorist criticism, most notably his comments about the Black Lives Matter movement at its inception in Ferguson after the death of unarmed teenager Michael Brown in 2016. Rocky stated, “So every time something happens because I’m Black I gotta stand up? Who the f*** am I, Al Sharpton now? I’m A$AP Rocky.I did not sign up to be no political activist…I don’t wanna talk about no f****** Ferguson and s*** because I don’t live over there! I live in f****** Soho and Beverly Hills. I can’t relate.”
Today (Jun.30), NBA 2K announced that “Everything Is Dame.” Portland Trail Blazers’ All-Star guard, Damian Lilliard, was revealed as one of the athletes blessed with the honor to grace the cover of the current-generation version of NBA 2K21.
Source: 2K / NBA 2K21
Last week the game studio announced that it was launching a TikTok page to help break the news with the help of Anthony Davis, who “passed the torch” to Lillard and the other two mystery players.
Speaking on being selected to cover the current-gen (PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch) version of NBA 2K21 Lillard called it a “special moment” and his career and stated:
“This is a special moment for me in my NBA career. I’ve been a fan of NBA 2K for years and love how they represent all aspects of basketball culture. I’m an avid 2K player, so I’m honored to join the other NBA greats who have been on the cover. I’m grateful to all my fans and can’t wait for everyone to experience the game later this year.”
Alfie Brody, Vice President of Marketing for NBA 2K added:
“There are a lot of great players in the NBA today, but Damian Lillard has done a particularly standout job of representing the current generation of NBA superstar. From his cultural influence, musical success, off the court leadership, and on-court domination, he’s the perfect fit for our cover of NBA 2K21 on current-generation platforms; we’re honored to have him.”
NBA 2K also revealed that Lillard will partner with 2K Foundations to renovate a site in his hometown of Oakland, CA, for the local community.
NBA 2K21 is not the first game Lillard has been the cover athlete for. Previously, Damian Lillard was the cover athlete for NBA 2K Online 2. Dame also covered NBA Live 15.
As for who will cover the NBA 2K21 for PS5 and Xbox Series X, we will find out that information on July 1. More information, including the release date and pricing, will be also be revealed when the pre-orders for the game go live on July 2. Until then, you can watch Dame’s “Everything Is Dame” announcement trailer below.
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Photo: 2K / NBA 2K21/ Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz
Call of Duty: Warzone just got even bigger, and we’re not just talking about download size either.
Announced today (Jun.29), Warzone will be getting another seasonal update that will introduce a new limited-time 200 Player Battle Royale mode that will push the number of combatants on the virtual battlefield up. Initially, only up to 150 players can battle it out on the Verdansk map. When the new update goes live June 29 at 11pm PT and on June 30 at 2am ET/7am BST, the number will increase to an astounding 200 players in Battle Royale Quads.
That’s not all that’s coming with the update. A new weapon, map, operator, and much more are on the way as well. Snipers, this update favors you thanks to a new sniper rifle called the Rytec AMR. The new weapon joins the other three sniper rifles already available and can be obtained via in-game challenge. You can also acquire the new sniper rifle thanks to a blueprint variant via the Store via the ‘Lost Souls’ bundle.
Source: Activision / Infinity Ward
An added bonus, as revealed by IGN, there will be spotter scope placed around Verdansk. This new scope will give its user an insane advantage by removing the sun glare that usually gives camped sniper’s locations away. Attached to the “.50 caliber-chambered beast,” the Rytec AMR, you will become the most dangerous player on the map.
But wait… there’s more.
A new map called Cheshire Park is on the way as well another new game mode call Team Defender. Cheshire Park drops players in London, England and players will battle it out in “picturesque garden and conservatory where Operators will battle from door to door or through the central flora-filled area.”
Source: Activision / Infinity Ward
Team Defender game mode is not new to veteran COD players and was introduced to the first-person shooter game franchise nearly a decade ago. It puts a unique spin on capture the flag, players now have to hold the flag for as long as possible to earn points for your squad.
Last but certainly not least, if you’re new to Call of Duty, starting tomorrow, a Warzone starter pack will be available.
Source: Activision / Infinity Ward
For $4.99, players will be able to boost their loadouts, Operator collection, and XP earn rate, and it includes:
1 Hour Double Battle Pass XP // 1 Hour Double Weapon XP
This update, when it arrives, will take up space. Owners of the full version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare can expect a download size of 22-36 GB plus console users will need a secondary 3.5 GB download. For free-to-play, Warzone players should expect a download of 22-30 GB.
When it comes to video games every now and then, you come across a hidden gem. Skelattack is one of those games.
Konami has been looking for a hit since Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain but failed to follow up that success dropping Metal Gear Survive and Contra: Rogue Corps, which were panned by critics and gamers. Rightfully so. Instead of one of its big-name titles delivering the goods, Konami has got itself a win with an indie title from Ukuza Inc.
The brainchild of David Stanley, Skelattack, is a unique, beautifully designed game that features lovable characters, well thought out levels complimented with a charming story. In the game, you take control of the hero Skully on the eve of his remembrance day. On this special occasion, the undead citizens of the Aftervale are reminded of their former lives before they passed to the other side. Skully’s day is interrupted when humans from the kingdom above invade. Instead of stealing the treasures the Aftervale holds, the humans kidnap the village elder skeleton Elzedon and take the magic called the Blue Flame that helps bring the undead spirits back to life. With the help of his trusty bat companion Imber, Skully sets out on an adventure to save Elzedon and stop the human’s plot dead (no pun intended) in its tracks.
Source: Konami / Ukuza Inc.
At first glance, Skelattack looks like another cute platformer, but that just hides the fact that it’s deceptively challenging. As you take Skully to the different dungeons, you will encounter a variety of enemies. Crocodiles, sword-wielding knights, ax throwing barbarians, bugs, whose sole purpose is to keep you from reaching your goal. But that’s not all, dangerous traps like crossbows, different variations of spikes, giant guillotines, fireballs, and more will make your life absolutely miserable while playing Skelattack and if you’re not careful will kill either Skully or Imber instantly.
Source: Konami / Ukuza Inc.
Now I cannot sugarcoat this, but you’re going to die, A LOT, playing this game. In fact, the game hilariously makes light of how many times you have perished while on your mission to save the Aftevale. As a matter of fact, my go around with the game the pesky spikes contributed to my frustrations and had me shaking my Nintendo Switch. Thank goodness the game counters the high death rates with saving locations where Skully and Imber can respawn and are usually not too far from where you met your doom.
— B E A N Z| Credit Your Photographer Please! (@PhotosByBeanz) June 6, 2020
Like most platformers that allow you to revisit areas, Skelly starts off bare-bones when it comes to skills and just armed with a sword. As you progress through the game, you will be able to upgrade your weapon and learn new abilities that will help make your mission not as painstakingly difficult.
Source: Konami / Ukuza Inc.
As for the controls, they are straightforward and responsive. Outside of your buddy Imber, jumping is your next best friend in the game and will help you get certain areas and avoiding enemies and traps.
Final Verdict:
For only $19.99, Skelattack was a fun, enjoyable, and extremely challenging experience. It proves that not only the big studio titles are worth your time, and these indie developers are really putting in the work to put out great games. If you’re into games with rewarding experiences, Skelattack should definitely find its way into your library of games to play while staying safe inside your homes.
Skelattack is now available for the Xbox, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC Steam.
Yes, we just got Hulk-sized amount of more details on Square Enix/Crystal Dynamic’s Marvel’s Avengers game.
Today (Jun.24), during the first Marvel’s Avengers War Table stream, we learned a great deal about the highly-anticipated game the revolves around earth’s mightiest heroes. Let’s jump into the latest deets, shall we?
Immediately, we learned about “War Zones,” which players can access through “War Tables” that are located in either the Quinjets, outposts, and the bridge of the Chimera Helicarrier. The War Table helps the team keeps tabs on A.I.M., an organization intent on ridding the world of the “Inhuman infection” and convincing the world heroes are trash.
The Helicarrier, which serves as the home base for the reassembled Avengers, can be repaired and upgraded over time. Each Avenger has their own personal quarters on the ship, a fabrication machine where players can design new suits from blueprints and storage for the extra gear you acquire while on a War Zone mission and more.
Unlike the Hero Missions, which are more story-driven and feature more cinematic sequences, War Zone missions turn the game into a more loot-driven expansive, explorable experience for players.
Marvel’s Avengers War Zone Director, Philippe Therien, states each mission will be “loaded with side content including concealed caches to uncover, powerful bounty enemies to defeat, A.I.M. depots to take over, faction allies to rescue, and hidden loot to claim.”
Warzone missions will also be broken up into a variety of different types that players can team up with friends or other players and tackle. They include:
Iconic Missions: While Hero Missions are the campaign crafted, hero focused missions,we also have War Zone missions crafted as unique Hero stories which evolve the story of a specific Avenger and provide context to how they dealt with the fallout from A-Day. How does Tony feel about A.I.M. repurposing his tech for their own ends? What are the ramifications of Hulk’s extended stay as the Big Green? Iconic outfits and powerful gear await at the end of a chain of Iconic Missions.
Faction Missions: In addition to reassembling the Avengers, players will help rebuild outposts for their allies. SHIELD suffered greatly after the disbanding of the Avengers, and the Resistance formed as a direct result of A.I.M.s increasingly authoritarian activity worldwide. Players can take part in missions to provide these factions intel, supplies, and defend them from A.I.M. attacks. Even cooler, the Helicarrier becomes populated by members of these factions who want to help in the fight against A.I.M. Faction leaders will also give out missions as part of the ongoing conflict in the post-campaign world and provide faction-specific rewards.
Drop Zones: Drop Zones are short missions with a single objective, such as defending allies or sabotaging an A.I.M. structure.
Vaults: Vaults are large explorable spaces that take some leg-work to uncover. To access a vault you first have to locate the coordinates from hidden SHIELD caches around the world. Once you’ve found the entrance, you must fight your way inside and breach the vault before you reap the rewards.
Hives: Hives are A.I.M. strongholds located throughout the world, the Avengers must uncover their location and fight their way through and a gauntlet of increasingly challenging A.I.M. defenses in order to disable them.
Villain Sector: Villain Sector missions culminate with a boss fight, such as notable Marvel villains working in tandem with A.I.M., or one of the organization’s extra-deadly constructs.
We also got to see some War Zone gameplay as well featuring the God of Thunder, Thor, destroying a bunch of A.I.M. robots while still rocking his mortal disguise.
That’s not all that was revealed, players can look forward to earning perks, rewards, and tons of cosmetic upgrades like the Hulk Buster armor to make your characters stand out during missions. A new story trailer was revealed, giving us even more insight into the game’s plot and revealing that MODOK will be the main thorn in the Avengers’ sides. We also get to see the Hulk battle Abomination as well.
Marvel’s Avengers launches on September 4, 2020, on PS4, Xbox One, Stadia, and P.C. The team will later assemble on PS5 and Xbox Series X holiday 2020. As previously reported, if you own a physical or digital copy of the game on PS4 or Xbox One, you will be able to upgrade the game for free on PS5 and Xbox Series X.
As an added bonus, PS4 owners will get early access to the upcoming beta when they pre-order the game. You can watch the new story trailer below.
The video game community hit the pause button in support of the civil unrest sweeping the nation in the wake of the fatal arrest of George Floyd. Epic Games also quietly made a move in its game Fortnite in the wake of the protests.
Players have noticed that all of the police-related vehicles in the game that include cop cars and SWAT vans are now gone. The Wall Street Journalis reporting that a source at Epic Games claims the move wasn’t a political one but instead believes:
“It’s just us being sensitive about the issues many people in our audience are dealing with.”
The cars didn’t affect gameplay at all, plus they were not even driveable and just served as decoration for the game’s map. Of course, some gamers are not feeling Epic’s decision to remove the cop vehicles. One Twitter user called people “soft” for the decision.
Add this person to the long list of people big mad that video game studios recognized the sensitivity of the times and decided to stand with Black video game players in solidarity.
As far as Epic Games is concerned, while not speaking publicly about events that followed the tragic death of George Floyd, the studio at the time did delay the launch of season 3 and issued a statement.
Recent events are a heavy reminder of ongoing injustices in society, from the denial of basic human rights to the impact of racism both overt and subtle against people of color. We’re acutely aware of the pain our friends, families, team members, players, and communities are experiencing.
We believe in equality and justice, diversity and inclusion, and that these fundamentals are above politics.
The team is eager to move Fortnite forward, but we need to balance the Season 3 launch with time for the team to focus on themselves, their families, and their communities.
We think the Fortnite players complaining about the lack of unusable cop cars in the game will be fine.
