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Is Reddit down? Users report major crash on February 19 RedditThe self-proclaimed front page of the internet has experienced a major crash on February 19, with users worldwide reporting that they are unable to access the site. Reddit’s own status report confirmed at 4am PST on February 19, that they’re “experiencing a high volume of errors when accessing reddit.com” and that they were investigating. It’s the first major outage on the site for some time, with the most recent on January 21 only being recorded as a “partial outage.” This crash, on February 19, is affecting desktop browsers, mobile browsers and the mobile app. Down Detector, which tracks various websites and game servers, was inundated with reports between 4 and 5am PST on February 19, many of which were concentrated in Europe and East Coast USA (with Redditors on the west coast probably not awake yet). Other than their status report page, Reddit is yet to address the outage further, but at 4:59am PST, provided an update on the status page, only to say they were still investigating. The popular website hosts countless of communities, known as ‘subreddits’, where people congregate to discuss particular topics and niches, share news and humor, and debate endlessly in the comments section. Reddit status updates Update, 5:11AM PST: Reddit has identified the issue and is implementing a fix. Update, 5:24AM PST: Reddit has implemented the fix and is monitoring the results. Hopefully services are resumed shortly. Update, 5:43AM PST: All systems are operational. According to the latest update on the Reddit status page, the fix implemented at 5:24AM resolved the major outage, and services should now be coming back online around the world.

Are Facebook & Instagram down? Users report outages on April 8 Facebook[Update: April 8, 5:54 p.m. ET — Both Instagram and Facebook appear to be working again for the majority of users.] Social media giants Facebook and Instagram appear to be down worldwide, with many reporting issues with loading the popular apps on April 8. Current events mean many are at home and surfing the web, making this the worst time for Facebook and Instagram to suffer from outages and issues – specifically with loading and FB’s Messenger service. According to DownDetector, the problems started at around 5:12 PM EST on April 8, with users still experiencing complications with the websites. Because the websites aren’t working, people were forced onto Twitter to complain about the problem. Many replied to DownDetector’s official account to report various outages. With some people relieved to find out they hadn’t gotten banned, others replied to DownDetector’s tweet about Instagram’s outage by noting that “Facebook is down right now!” It appears that both sites crashed at similar times and their audiences are perplexed. “I legit thought the person whose page I was on had blocked me…” On the plus side, people seem to be glad to find out that they’re not the only ones suffering from an outage — so DownDetector is possibly saving relationships. User reports indicate Instagram is having problems since 5:28 PM EDT. https://t.co/lXKoHvktSg RT if you’re also having problems #Instagramdown — Downdetector (@downdetector) April 8, 2021 The account also reported problems with the FB’s Messenger service, which started around a similar time as Instagram. Many use it to keep in contact with friends and family, send photos and videos, and to make video calls. Since Instagram is owned by the company, it’s hardly surprising that its site is down too, with many across the world also complaining it won’t work for them either. The social media giant has yet to update its users about when they can expect the sites to return to normal, neither have they reported on what exactly is causing the outages. Dexerto will update this article with any new information on the outages as soon as more develops.

Is Discord down? Cloudflare issues affecting online services worldwide DiscordPeople around the world are struggling to gain access to popular chat service Discord, as the platform continues to experience issues when attempting to log in. Discord is one of the most popular chat services in the world, marketing to gamers who use the service to communicate with friends and fellow players through both text and voice calls. The service has also become host to a number of massively popular communities, with fans of games like Call of Duty or League of Legends able to join massive servers in which they can talk to other enthusiasts about their shared interest. The service became unavailable on Monday, June 24 however, when networking company Cloudflare suffered a “possible leak” which left other sites such as Crunhyroll offline. According to The Verge, Cloudflare stated that the leak is impacting “many internet services,” and that they are continuing to work with the network provider that created this route leak to remove it. While Cloudflare chose not to name the network that had been causing the issue, it appears that Verizon were also struggling with their networks today, so it’s possible that the two instances were linked. Apparently, CloudFlare’s systems were working fine, but this issue meant that traffic wasn’t “reaching us for a portion of our domains.” Cloudflare have noted that they believe the route leak has now been fixed, and services should start returning to normal operations soon. Discord’s status site warned users that the platform had been affected by the “general internet outage,” and advised those anxious to get back online to “hang tight” and “pet your cats.” According to the service themselves, users should all be able to reconnect now, however some people have continued to complain about the outage on Twitter. Those who are still affected should be able to log in once again in the near future.

Internet mourns Instagram star Bianca Devins after brutal murder Instagram: beegtfo / UnsplashA 17-year-old girl was brutally murdered on the night of July 14 after she’d attended a local concert in Utica, New York. The suspect then allegedly shared disturbing images of his actions to Instagram, before trying to selfishly end his own life. The victim is confirmed to be 17-year-old Bianca Devins by local police, who was thought to have been murdered at her home in Utica, New York, according to an article by Metro. She was a popular Instagrammer with a following of over 35,000 across two accounts. Rumors of the homicide started after suspected perpetrator Brandon Andrew Clark allegedly posted images of her corpse onto his Instagram story. The suspected killer also allegedly posted several dark messages to his story, with one captioned “I’m sorry Bianca” and another “Here comes Hell. It’s redemption, right?” – the account has since been removed by the company itself. According to a news story from NBC New York, Instagram issued a statement regarding the suspect’s account, stating that it had removed an image from said account for violating its terms of service, and had taken steps to prevent other users from re-sharing the image on the platform. Just what steps were taken, we don’t know. Local Utica news channel WKTV published a news report video, where it was detailed that police had obtained a search warrant for the suspect’s home. Police also requested that if anybody comes across the photographs of the victim on social media, they need to report it to the website host to be taken down. The report then claimed that they spoke to a police officer on the case who detailed how the suspect made the 911 call himself after committing the homicide. The suspected killer is in hospital with severe lacerations after allegedly turning the weapon on himself after the brutal slaying. Another local Utica news station, WIBX950, revealed that police haven’t been able to speak with Clark – presumably because of his injuries – and that no charges for the alleged crime have been filed at this time of writing. Police also confirmed that the two had returned from a concert on the night of July 14 and drove to the murder location, where Clark’s vehicle was later found. Bianca’s sister Liv Devins posted a heartfelt message to Instagram, where she said “I hate that I have to write this. I hate knowing you’re not going to ever come back home. You were the best sister anyone could’ve ever asked for.” View this post on InstagramI hate that I have to write this. I hate knowing you’re not going to ever come back home. You were the best sister anyone could’ve ever asked for. Thank you for always being there for me. Thank you for being the best sister I could ever imagine .Thank you for always protecting me and sticking up for me. I am going to do this for you. Every day I’m going to do my best and I’m going to get through this thing called life and do it all for you. Rest easy, I love you so much forever and always . Another article by WKTV detailed that her family has since released a statement on their loss, saying: “We are very grateful for the outpouring of love and sympathy we have received from our Friends, Family, Bianca’s Friends and the whole community. Your prayers help to strengthen us through this difficult time. Bianca, age 17, was a talented artist, a loving sister, daughter, and cousin, and a wonderful young girl, taken from us all too soon. She is now looking down on us, as she joins her cat, Belle, in heaven. Bianca’s smile brightened our lives. She will always be remembered as our Princess. Bianca graduated from T. R. Proctor High School this past June and was looking forward to attending MVCC in the fall.” A candlelit vigil is being held for the victim by her family tonight at 8PM in their local town, according to an Instagram story by her sister.

Instagram is Starting to Allow Applications for Account Verification Instagram has started rolling out an option to all users in certain regions to request verification and get that shiny blue mark next to your Instagram handle. Verification on Instagram has been shrouded in mystery in the past, with users who feel they are deserving or in need of the blue checkmark simply having to hope that one day when they wake up it will be there. But now, iPhone users in Australia and a handful of other ‘unspecified’ countries, have the option to ‘request verification’ right in the Instagram app. This is the first time that the Facebook owned service will offer a user facing method for anyone to apply, perhaps in hope of shutting down the somewhat shady business that has generated around it. Because of how difficult but sought after Instagram verification is, there have been numerous reports of people paying thousands of dollars to people who claim to have backdoor access and can get you the blue tick. While some of these may be true, many times they are fraudulent and have left blue-tick wannabe’s badly out of pocket after being scammed. This is likely a part of the reason Instagram has started allowing this option to request verification, in attempt to crack down on the so-called ‘verification black-market.’ Instagram’s APAC strategic partner manager Nicci Meek told nine.com.au that the process will give insight to users and safeguard them, but it likely won’t make it any easier to be verified. “This new feature will allow our community the opportunity to apply for verification themselves, and understand the process behind getting verified on Instagram. We believe opening up verification to the public will also work towards safeguarding our community.” Mashable

Instagram accidentally roll out new scrolling update to surprise of users Popular photo sharing website Instagram accidentally changed how scrolling through posts works on its mobile app, and some people are extremely upset. First rolled out on Thursday, December 27, Instagram were testing a horizontal image feed instead of a vertical one on the app’s home screen. Instead of scrolling up and down to view new posts, users instead scroll from right to left, or can tap on the right hand side of the screen to move to the next post, like they would if they were using an Instagram story. 400This meant it was no longer possible to quickly scroll through new posts, as each individual post must be swiped or tapped to move to the next. This change only affected the main page, and user profiles worked the same way they did previously. INSTAGRAM JUST TURNED SIDEWAYS WTF?! pic.twitter.com/cDAUUfa9UF — TmarTn (@TmarTn) December 27, 2018 While some Instagram users liked this new update, others were extremely unhappy with the change, immediately calling for Instagram to revert to the standard vertical orientation, with some going as far as to say the update will kill the app. #instagramupdate Me after i did the Instagram update pic.twitter.com/ZqWFVkPGVs— UltraInstinct (@shanuddin8888) December 27, 2018 Opening up Instagram like… pic.twitter.com/PoDkHC9okq — Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 27, 2018 While users have been shocked by this update, the horizontal feed has been in the works for some time, with Instagram originally rolling it out to a select number of users in October. The new feed went live on Thursday morning, however it wasn’t intended to go live for everyone, with Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri tweeting that it “was supposed to be a very small test but we went broader than we anticipated.” Mosseri confirmed that the update should be cleared for everyone, and to just restart your app if you were still seeing it. Sorry about that, this was supposed to be a very small test but we went broader than we anticipated. :grimacing: — Adam Mosseri (@mosseri) December 27, 2018 Instagram went on to state that the update was released due to a bug, and apologised for any confusion caused. Due to a bug, some users saw a change to the way their feed appears today. We quickly fixed the issue and feed is back to normal. We apologize for any confusion. — Instagram (@instagram) December 27, 2018 Given the extremely negative response that the updated received from its users, Instagram may think twice about releasing the update to the public. Earlier in 2018, Snapchat released an incredibly unpopular redesign update to their app. The reaction to this change was so bad that Snap, the company that owns Snapchat, saw their stock price drop by $1.3 billion.

Incredible story of how Twitter reunited best friends after 12 years apart When a woman posted an image of her and a friend on a cruise in 2006, seeking to get in touch with them again, she didn’t expect Twitter to track her down in less than 24 hours. Twitter user @briannacry posted the image on November 24, saying “I need y’all to help me find my bestfriend cause I miss her and I need to see how she’s doing now.” Compassionate Twitter users quickly began to share the post, which currently has over 90,000 retweets at the time of writing, but almost 24 hours later, Brianna still hadn’t found her friend. Hey twitter, I met this girl on a dinner cruise in Hawaii in 2006. We were basically bestfriends for that night so I need y’all to help me find my bestfriend cause I miss her and I need to see how she’s doing now. Please retweet this so we can be reunited. pic.twitter.com/LRtk6ClvV3 — Bri (@briannacry) November 24, 2018 However, perhaps in all the confusion and endless notifications, Brianna actually missed that the friend in question had responded a few hours earlier – 11 hours and 18 minutes after the original Tweet was posted. The best friend Brianna was searching for sent back a selfie of herself holding a photo from when she was around the same age in 2006, as evidence it was her. Simply writing “Heard you were looking for me”, @heii_tree send Twitter into a frenzy as she reunited with her long lost best friend. It turns out that Heii hadn’t been on Twitter for years, but that friends of her recognized her in the picture and alerted her that an online search party was looking for her. Bruhhh it’s been literal years since I was last on Twitter and the first thing I see is a search party for my ass — heii (@heii_tree) November 24, 2018 When asked how it came to her attention, Heii explained that she hasn’t “changed much in the time span between elementary and middle school”, so her middle school friends knew it was her. Most of the friends that alerted me I’ve known since middle school!! I don’t think I changed much in the time span between elementary and middle school, so that’s why — heii (@heii_tree) November 25, 2018 Unfortunately, someone did try to spoil this wholesome moment by attempting to scam people, starting a GoFundMe to help them meet up – but Heii assured people that it was not linked to them at all. To my knowledge, neither @briannacry or I have set up/been contacted about a gofundme. Please be careful about links everyone, and keep your muns close to your huns uwu pic.twitter.com/bRXItgPJDU — heii (@heii_tree) November 25, 2018 However, a GoFundMe might actually be exactly what is needed if the pair are to meet each other again, as Heii explains she isn’t in a position to make a trip any time soon. To everyone who’s saying @briannacry and I should meet up: I’m going to community college on financial aid I’m not going anywhere anytime soon pic.twitter.com/PJaqZqHZvP — heii (@heii_tree) November 25, 2018 The power of Twitter reuniting the pair was noticed by some of the biggest influencers on Twitter, such as YouTuber Daniel ‘KEEMSTAR’ Keem. If the pair do ever meet up, it will most likely be all over Twitter now that it is somewhat in the public interest, as one of the great positive outcomes of social media.

Husband of pregnant woman killed in car crash dies in hospital: Parker Stott and Chloe Stott Instagram: ChloestottParker Stott, the husband of mom-to-be Chloe Stott who died in a collision on December 20, has succumbed to injuries and died in hospital. The couple from Utah were driving to Arizona, reportedly planning to share the news of Chloe’s pregnancy. Chloe, 24, was killed in the crash, while her husband, Parker Stott, was critically injured. On GoFundMe, their friend said, “They had just found out they were pregnant with a baby and were so excited to be parents and share the news with their loved ones over Christmas.” Local outlet KSL-TV said that Chloe was killed on impact, while Stott was taken to hospital. The story quickly garnered an outpouring of support on both of their social media pages. Parker Stott dies in hospital following car crash On Christmas Eve, it was confirmed by KSL-TV reporter that Parker had died in hospital. “A sad update to this story,” said reporter Lindsay Aerts, “Stott family friends confirm to KSLTV5 that Chloe’s husband, Parker died tonight. On Instagram, a new comment reads, “Rest in peace Parker! I’m glad you can be with your wife and son now.” The couple’s family shared footage of a candle-lit vigil that had been held for the couple. A GoFundMe has raised almost $200,000, to provide financial support to the family including the cost of medical bills and funeral services. The couple owned the ‘Clover Skin Bar’ in Lindon, Utah. On the company’s Instagram story, they have stated they will reopen on December 27, and that the business is to continue in honor of the couple.

How to watch Bernie Sanders’ first-ever Twitch stream – schedule, stream, and more U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders Twitch channel will have it’s first ever stream tonight and here’s how to watch. Sanders, at 77 years old, is definitely longer in the tooth than most other streamers on Twitch, but he is the first U.S. presidential candidate ever to have their own, official channel. Now the countdown has officially begun until his first ever stream just before the second night of debates among Democratic candidates. How to watch Sanders’ stream Sanders will be streaming a pre-debate show starting at 8:20 EST (5:20 PST) ahead of the June 27 Democratic debate, which begins at 9 PM EST (6 PST). He probably wont play any games and just stick to a Just Chatting-style stream before the debates tonight, but with his own channel he could do something like a Q&A as well. Bernie Sanders’ Twitch stream can be watched below: Watch live video from Bernie_Sanders on www.twitch.tvWho is Bernie Sanders? Bernie Sanders is a U.S. politician from Vermont who is currently campaigning for president in a crowded Democratic field. Sanders made headlines on June 26 when he launched his Twitch account as the first ever U.S. presidential candidate to have an official channel on the platform. Whether Bernie and his campaign staff actually plan to regularly use his Twitch channel or just made it as more of a publicity stunt ahead of the debates remains to be seen. With the amount of spam already piling up in the channel’s chat logs, Bernie may want to invest in some moderators before too long.

How to watch Apple’s 2018 iPhone keynote announcement – Stream, schedule, info The 2018 Apple keynote in Cupertino on September 12 is expected to cover three new iPhone releases, plus news on the next generation of the Apple Watch. Whether you an Apple brand loyalist or simply want to tune in to see what all the fuss is about, you can watch all the action unfold from 1pm ET (10am PT, 6pm EST, 7pm CEST) on the official live stream. It will be streamed as normal on the official Apple website, and you can watch a YouTube version below. Stream Also for the first time, because Apple is allowing its stream to be played on other platforms, it will be available on Twitter. If you hit like on the Tweet below, Apple will send you live updates for the Twitter stream. Three new iPhone models are reportedly set to be announced, all of which based on the design of the iPhone X. There is expected to be an 5.8 inch screen ‘iPhone Xs’, and a 6.5 inch ‘iPhone Xs Max’ – the latter is said to feature an A12 chip, improved camera quality and potentially new color options, but will come at a steep price (estimated to be between $999-$1,099, according to analysts). Finally, a 6.1 inch iPhone Xr is expected, and this is slated to be the go-to model. It will cost much less than the Xs and Xs Max, predicted to be around $600. It won’t feature an OLED screen like the others, rather only LED, and will be aluminium rather than steel, but the lower price tag will attract the most attention. But it won’t just be iPhones, as the fourth series of the popular Apple Watch is also set to be unveiled at the September 12 keynote. It is rumored to feature a larger display, faster processor, improved battery life and more. iPad may also get some attention, with two new and improved models possibly on the schedule.

How to watch Apple Special Event 2019: iPhone 11 reveal stream Apple is set to announce its next iPhone at the Special Event keynote from the Steve Jobs Theater on September 10, plus news on the Apple Watch, AirPods 3 and more. The event will be livestreamed, this time available on YouTube for extra convenience, so that you don’t miss any of the new announcements and reveals at a very pivotal time for Apple. Of course, the main attraction will be the future of the iPhone, with a successor to the XS, XS Max and XR expected to be on show for the first time. When is the Apple Special Event 2019? The keynote will begin at 10AM PST / 1PM EST / 6PM BST on September 10, when Apple CEO Tim Cook will do his introductions. Typically, these keynotes will save the best till last or at least later on the conference, and it’s likely there will be some general Apple-related housekeeping news up first, before we get into the big stuff. You can watch the official Apple Event stream below. What to expect at Apple Event 2019 A foldable iPhone? The tagline for this year’s keynote is ‘by innovation only’, but just how much innovation this entails remains to be seen. One thing that would certainly be ‘innovative’ (although only for Apple, not the industry at large) would be a foldable iPhone, which has been rumored ever since Samsung released their ‘Fold’ last year. Reputable Apple insider, Ming-Chi Kuo, via YourStory, has suggested that an “all-new form factor design” will kick off the next generation of iPhone. 5G on iPhone 5G is certainly the way of the future, and so it would make sense that Apple is lining this up for their new devices. However, according to Kuo, Apple’s own 5G chip will not be ready yet, and so they would have to rely on a chip from Qualcomm to enable 5G. Apple Arcade and TV There will almost certainly be new details on Apple’s gaming streaming service, Arcade, as well as updates about what is coming next for Apple TV. Arcade is set to launch this year, and is confirmed to have over 100 exclusive games. iOS 13 In addition to new devices, Apple often reveals their upcoming operating systems too, and iOS 13 has already been confirmed, slated as the fastest iOS system to date. We’re sure to get a much more detailed look at what is planned for the new iOS in 2019 keynote. There will be much more too and hopefully a few surprises included.But, one thing’s for sure, you won’t want to miss this Apple Special Event as the industry leaders share their current and future plans.

How to scan documents on iPhone Unsplash: Omid ArminIf you need to scan a document, iPhones have a handy feature that allows you to do so — here’s everything to know about scanning documents on iPhones. There are several occasions where you might need to obtain a digital version of a printed document, but if you don’t have a scanner handy, you are actually able to scan documents using your iPhone. The feature is available from the Notes app, and makes it a lot easier to scan something so that you can have a digital copy easily accessible from your device. If you want to know how to scan documents using your iPhone, here’s how to do it. How to scan documents on iPhone To scan documents on your iPhone, you will first need to locate the Notes app, which will have been pre-downloaded onto your iPhone. Once you’ve got the physical document you want to scan at the ready, simply do as follows: Open the Notes app. – Click on the icon in the bottom right corner to create a new note. – Tap the camera icon. – Select ‘Scan documents.’ – Hold your phone over the document so it fits entirely on your screen. – Click the shutter button. – Drag the circles at the corners of the document to line it up. – Click ‘Keep scan.’ – Tap ‘Save.’ – If you want to learn more about how to use the apps on your phone, you can check out our other guides here: How to duet on TikTok | How to Stitch on TikTok | How to go live on TikTok | How to find contacts on TikTok | How to link your Instagram account to TikTok | How to see your first-liked Instagram post | How to switch Instagram feed to chronological order | How to remove someone from your Snapchat best friends list | How to allow camera access on Snapchat | How to make a public profile on Snapchat

How to clear Safari cache on iPhone Unsplash: Bagus HernawanOne way to help speed up your iPhone is to clear your Safari cache — here’s how to clear the cache on your device. There are over a billion iPhone users in the world, and many of them use the web browser developed by Apple, Safari, on their devices. On Safari, the cache will store some data from websites that you have previously visited in order to make these pages perform faster. However, sometimes your cache data can build up and cause your device to perform slower the more storage it takes up. Clearing your Safari cache is one way to help your phone perform better — here’s how to do it. How to clear Safari cache on iPhone Before you clear your cache, note that doing so will remove the history of websites you have visited, as well as recent searches. In addition, it will remove cookies and permission you gave to websites to access your location or send notifications. To clear your Safari cache, do as follows: Open your iPhone settings app. – Scroll down, and tap ‘Safari.’ – Scroll again until you find ‘Clear history and website data.’ – Tap it, and then tap it again to confirm that you want to delete your history and data. – If you want to learn more about how to use the apps on your phone, you can check out our other guides here: How to duet on TikTok | How to Stitch on TikTok | How to go live on TikTok | How to find contacts on TikTok | How to link your Instagram account to TikTok | How to see your first-liked Instagram post | How to switch Instagram feed to chronological order | How to remove someone from your Snapchat best friends list | How to allow camera access on Snapchat | How to make a public profile on Snapchat |

How to check if new Discord malware is stealing your info Popular voice and text chat app Discord is reportedly being targeted by a malware through the Windows application for the service – potentially endangering users’ information. First reported by BleepingComputer, since the Windows Discord app is mostly reliant on CSS, HTML, and JavaScript, the malware is able to infiltrate and modify base lines of code that can cause the program to compromise data. The malicious program is reportedly called “Spidey Bot” or “BlueFace,” and was discovered by the MalwareHunterTeam. While there’s uncertainty of when the malware first appeared, its been known to steal date including first 50 characters of Windows clipboard, local IP address, Discord user token, and more. Check if Discord was infected by malware Luckily, there’s an easy way to check if the malware was able to creep onto your Windows Discord app since the targeted files should only have one line of code in them. To check if your version of Discord has been infected with the malware, open up %AppData%Discord[version]modulesdiscord_modulesindex.js in Notepad2. If the file only reads one line of code that says “module.exports = require(‘./discord_modules.node’);” then that hasn’t been compromised by the malware. After that, do the same with the file called %AppData%Discord[version]modulesdiscord_desktop_coreindex.js, which should again only contain one line saying: “module.exports = require(‘./core.asar’);” However, if you run the check and find multiple lines of code, then those shouldn’t be there and it’s probably been infected. After identifying it, you should uninstall Discord from the computer and reinstall it, then run the check again, just in case. How can a Discord user get the malware? The backdoor program can be dangerous especially if left unchecked, but it looks like it has to be let in in order to do its damage. Unfortunately, there’s not much any app can do to prevent something like this. However, you should always be cautious about clicking strange links and even more suspicious of downloading unknown software from unverified sources. Doing so could lead to things like this. — Discord (@discordapp) October 24, 2019 Discord users should steer clear from messages from unfamiliar usernames, or those random links thrown in a server unless you know they’re safe or come from a trusted source. “Unfortunately, there’s not much any app can do to prevent something like this,” Discord said in regards to the malware. “However, you should always be cautious about clicking strange links and even more suspicious of downloading unknown software from unverified sources. Doing so could lead to things like this.”

How to change background color on an Instagram story Unsplash: Brett JordanNot everyone is a fan of the default color Instagram chooses for you when you upload an image to your story, but thankfully there is a way to customize the color of your background. Stories are one of Instagram’s most popular features, serving as an ideal way for users to share updates with family, friends, and followers in a way that doesn’t clog up their feed. Over the years, Instagram has made a number of additions to the feature that allow people to use GIFs, music, stickers, and more, all to make their stories look as interesting as possible. Some take creating the most aesthetically pleasing stories very seriously, but this process can sometimes be hindered when the app auto-selects a background color. No need to worry, however, as there is a way to customize your own background color and make the perfect Insta story. How to change default background color in Instagram stories When uploading an image to a story, Instagram selects a default background color based on your image. but you might not like the color that’s chosen for you. However, there is a relatively simple way to alter the background color. Open the Stories tab, and click on your gallery to select an image. – Resize your image and adjust its location. – Click the three dots, and tap ‘draw.’ Select the pen tool if you want a solid color background, or the highlighter tool if you want a translucent background. – Choose the color you want the background to be. – Press and hold the screen for a couple of seconds until the whole screen floods with color. Then click ‘done.’ – Tap on the stickers icon, and select the ‘camera roll’ sticker. – Select the same image you put in your story originally. – Pinch to resize, and place it over the top of the other image, so that it is clearly visible above your new background color. – While there are a few steps involved, this method is a great way to switch up Instagram’s default options, and means you’re able to customize your stories in more interesting ways using whichever colors you want.

Here’s why Twitter might be removing the ‘like’ button Users of the massively popular social media website Twitter may soon have to adjust to a world where the platform no longer has a ‘like’ button. Twitter founder and CEO Jack Dorsey is reported to have maid the claim at a Twitter event last week, and is said to have stated that he “is not a fan” and that the like feature will be removed “soon”. It is believed that Twitter are taking away the feature in an attempt to improve the quality of debate on the site, as Dorsey believes this would make Twitter a “healthier place.” This isn’t the first time that Jack Dorsey has spoken of his dislike of the platform’s like feature. Back in September, rapper Kanye West released pictures of a conversation he had with Dorsey about hiding the number of likes a tweet gets. In it, the Twitter CEO stated: “We’ve been thinking deeply about the follower and like counts, and what that incentivizes. We want to change. We want to incentivize contribution to the global discussion.” The social media platform has been testing out new options that allow users to save tweets they enjoy since March 2018, with the ‘Bookmarks’ tool that the company added thought to be a possible replacement. While Dorsey has stated this will likely happen in the near future, there is no official announcement as to when the feature will be removed, so users can still like all the pictures of dog memes they can find until the tool is removed.

GTA RP community raise over $40,000 after death of streamer Blue622 Twitter: imaSpaceboy / Blue622Following the unexpected passing of GTA RP player and streamer Kenny ‘Blue622’ Tancredi, the streaming community has come together to help raise an incredible amount of money, and pay tribute to a popular figure in the scene. When GTA Roleplay took off in 2019, the experienced players were crucial in helping big-name streamers like LIRIK and Summit1g to become embedded in the unique culture and community it fosters. Blue622 was a particularly influential member of the RP community, and his unexpected death sent a shockwave through the scene. As well as supporting other streamers, he was also a big part of the success of NoPixel, now the most well-known RP server. He died suddenly on July 4, at his home. He was 30 years old. An obituary from Morgan Funeral Home says “Kenny was a Network Engineer and had a natural affiliation with anything technology related. This led to his spare time passion for gaming, which he turned into a successful, entrepreneurial endeavor that produced a following of other gamers. He also loved animals, water sports and snowboarding – and making everyone laugh.” GTA RP community pays tribute to Blue622 In an incredible gesture, the NoPixel community on GTA RP paid a special in-game tribute to Tancredi, by visiting his home in the server. Hundreds of players gathered peacefully outside his virtual residence, and shared a moment of reverence. Streamer JoshOG explained the important role Tancredi had within the community, particularly how he helped get himself and Summit1g into the game. I broke down in tears on stream today and there has only been a few times that has happened.@blue622 brought myself and @summit1g in to the GTA RP world If it wasn’t for him, I would not have met a lot of the amazing people I know today Rest in peace buddy 💔 — JoshOG (@JoshOG) July 8, 2020 Blue622 GoFundMe A GoFundMe was set up by Tancredi’s mother, Holly Bentzen. The money will go towards ‘paying it forward’ “to give to others in Kenny’s memory. Also to create a memorial monument for his gravesite fitting for this gamer!” At the time of writing, the GoFundMe has raised over $43,000, with Summit1g himself contributing $5,000. Tancredi’s death came only days after the passing of fellow Twitch streamer Byron ‘Reckful’ Bernstein, who took his own life on July 2. On July 7, streamer Ohlana also passed away after an apparent suicide. It has been a difficult week for the streaming world, and there is now heightened focus on the pressures of being a full-time content creator.

GoFundMe Setup for Victims of Fatal Shooting At Madden Tournament in Jacksonville, Florida Esports team Gankstars and non-profit organization Joint Forces Initiative have teamed up to open a GoFundMe account to support the families of those killed or injured during the mass shooting at a Madden tournament in Jacksonville, Florida. The attack which took place at a Madden 19 tournament in Jacksonville, Florida on Sunday August 27, left 14 people injured, with 3 fatalities, including the gunman himself, who was a competitor in the tournament. In the aftermath of the attack, social media has seen an outpouring of mourning and support for those affected by the tragedy. On the back of this, mobile esports team Gankstars and non-profit organization Joint Forces Initiative have launched a GoFundMe in an effort to support the victims and their families with the cost of medical, funeral and other expenses. Through the GoFundMe, Gankstars and Joint Forces Initiative hope to raise $25,000 to help the victims and their families, and will be working with professional gamers, streamers, businesses and athletes to raise money and awareness. Joint Forces Initiative is a non-profit organization that use games to link active members of the Armed Forces to athletes based in the United States. They have since expanded their focus, and support various charitable causes related to gaming. The gunman, identified by Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams, was 24 year-old David Katz from Baltimore, Maryland, was a competitor in the Madden 19 tournament, but was eliminated before the attack took place. The names of the two victims fatally injured by the gunman have not been officially released at this time, but messages have been posted to social media commemorating two Madden competitors.

Popular geek toy distributor Loot Crate files for bankruptcy Loot Crate via ShopifyLoot Crate has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy according to a report from the LA Times. The popular nerd culture company has found itself short on funds after years of attempting to reach critical mass with its subscription boxes. The company was founded in 2012 and quickly rose to popularity among fans of all things geek and gaming culture. Its boxes included everything from clothing, merchandise, figures, limited-edition collectibles, and so much more. While the company did manage to gain some traction in its early years with an easy way for fans to get merch from their favorite games and shows, the company is finding itself in a troubling predicament as it looks for someone to step up and buy them to start the rebuilding process. Loot Crate’s Chief Restructuring Officer Stuart Kaufman sponsored the court declaration filed in Wilmington, Delaware and said that the company’s credit-card processor is withholding customer billing. This resulted in Loot Crate not shipping goods that make up about $20 million in sales. The company owes more than $30 million in trade debt, and still haven’t caught up in over $5 million in sales tax, per the L.A. Times report. The Los Angeles-based company has been taking steps to get back on better financial footing that saw around 50 employees let go in the week prior to their August 12 bankruptcy filing. “We have worked diligently to overcome challenges with our capital structure, along with legacy issues the Company has been struggling with for the past 18 months,” Loot Crate’s Chief Executive Officer Chris Davis said in a press release. “We are very pleased with our progress from an operational efficiency standpoint, however, the company still faces liquidity issues.” While company heads have been exhausting their options to stay afloat, it seems like the tough decision to sell was the best route to take with all parties in mind. “After careful review of a wide range of available options, management determined that a sale of the Company is in the best interests of all parties, including our valued Looters (customers) and employees,” Davis said. The CEO ensured that “daily operations will continue as usual” while they maneuver through the Chaper 11 filling to find a solution to their difficulties as soon as possible.

Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford under fire for tweets about animal abuse GearboxPresident and CEO of Gearbox Software Randy Pitchford added to the already-substantial controversy surrounding himself when he quote-tweeted a video of a kitten crying in pain after being pinched by a large crab. Gearbox is the studio behind the upcoming Borderlands 3 game, but Pitchford seems to have attracted attention for everything except his company’s latest game recently. Pitchford decided to share the video, which was originally posted on a now-suspended Twitter account called DAILY KITTEN, on March 27 and it didn’t take long for people to voice their objections. I tend to favor curiosity and disfavor setting up a feeling and empathetic creature for discomfort. Yet among the negative reactions I felt watching this, there’s also some other stuff that isn’t exactly negative. This makes me curious about how other people react… — Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) May 26, 2019 “Why don’t you just promote your game?” A lot of followers said that Pitchford’s decision to share the video had changed their minds about purchasing the upcoming Borderlands 3. Several people wondered why Pitchford decided to post the video at all, before the Gearbox CEO followed up his original tweet and claimed that he shared the video as a sort of social experiment. The more you speak, the more I’m convinced you need help, my dude. I’m glad I don’t like Borderlands very much, because it makes my decision to not support you very easy. I feel bad for everyone else at Gearbox. — Justin Meader (@justinmeader) May 27, 2019 His follow-up tweet quickly got ratio’d and many of the tweets urged Pitchford to seek mental help, amongst other things. YouTuber TheQuartering attacked Pitchford for sharing the tweet in a video shortly after the whole thing happened, “I get it, at the end of the day on the scale of important things to be mad about, I understand that this is low,” he said in the video, before adding, “Randy Pitchford is an idiot, why don’t you just promote your game?” An interesting year for Pitchford 2019 has been a wild ride for the Gearbox CEO. In January, he was accused by the company’s former general counsel – with whom the company is currently involved in a lawsuit with – of possessing underage pornography. Read More: Twitch streamer’s boyfriend hilariously exposes viewer for trying to buy her feet pictures – Pitchford denied the allegations and even though nothing happened from the claims, it’s definitely not the kind of attention Gearbox wants their CEO attracting while they try to build hype for their latest game.

Gaming Community Warns Against False Link Between Video Games and Violence, Following Shooting at Madden Tournament Following the tragic shooting at a Madden 19 qualifying tournament in Jacksonville, Florida, which left three dead and 14 injured, the gaming community has come together to support each other and those affected. One of the main concerns is that there will be blame levelled at gaming itself for these violent acts, as has been seen previously with mass shootings in the United States. In the aftermath of the Florida school shooting in February, two high profile US politicians blamed Call of Duty specifically for the violence. Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin said death was celebrated in video games, and that it was desensitizing people. This time, with the incident taking place at a gaming tournament, there is almost an expectancy that more accusations of violence being directly caused by games and gamers. YouTuber Daniel “KEEMSTAR” Keem warned that the gaming community would be “attacked”, and must be prepared to fight back. The Gaming community needs to come together & FIGHT BACK! We will be attacked in the coming days by the Mainstream media , Politicians , Political Pundits & the NRA with ” Video Games cause violence” DO NOT LET THEM BLAME VIDEO GAMES! Esports journalist for ESPN, Jacob Wolf, also said that he was prepared in expectancy of ‘false narratives’. Analynn Dang, director of social media and community at Overwatch League team LA Gladiators, echoed these sentiments. Numerous studies have dismissed supposed links between games and violence as a “phantom”. A recent study, published in January 2018 by researchers at the University of York, addressed violent video games (VVG), and all forms of ‘antisocial effects’: “Whilst early studies in this field may have suggested a strong relationship between VVG and antisocial effects, recent scholarship seems to imply that this effect is in fact a phantom” Similarly a 2014 study, concluded that the existing evidence cannot support claims of violent games being harmful or ‘representing a public health crisis.’ “Empirical evidence regarding the impact of violent digital games on player aggression is, at best, mixed and cannot support unambiguous claims that such games are harmful or represent a public health crisis” Of course, it should also be noted that Madden specifically is not a ‘violent’ video game at all, rather simply a football simulator.

Another gamer convicted of swatting online opponent WikipediaAn American man has pleaded guilty to swatting an opponent across the country following a gaming-related argument. A Pennsylvania gamer has confessed in court that he swatted a Florida-based player after an argument online. Nicholas Huffine pleaded guilty to one charge of interstate threats in Federal Court for the incident in January 2017. He will face up to five years imprisonment, or a $250,000 fine. Swatting involves a person making a hoax call to the police about a serious crime at another person’s house. Often hostage situations or bomb threats are claimed, which means the police have to act with a full emergency response. According to a Department of Justice report, Huffine admitted to calling police in Florida, saying someone was armed and holding a family hostage at a home in Winter Garden. This was after Huffine and the unknown man had a dispute over a game, although the court did not say what game was involved. While there were no injuries, there was significant damage to the property after the police had to forcibly enter. Huffine was indicted in June 2017, six months after the incident. US State Attorney Scott W. Brady said in court that swatting is an incredibly dangerous act that puts the lives of innocent people at danger. “Swatting is terrifying to victims, as well as highly dangerous as law enforcement agents operate under the belief that they are responding to the scene of active and ongoing violent criminal activity.” Earlier this year, Tyler Barriss was sentenced to 20 years in jail after swatting an opponent in 2017 over a $2 Call of Duty wager match, leading to their death. The Barriss swatting case led to a change in Kansas state law surrounding false alarms made to police that result in death, with the crime now carrying a minimum ten year prison term. Huffine will face court against on January 9, 2020 for sentencing.

G FUEL Energy announce new can product for Summer 2019 G FUEL is branching out from its current powder-only design and launching a new way to experience G Fuel is coming this summer. G FUEL is arguably the most popular energy drink among gamers and Twitch streamers thanks to its sponsorships with streamers and now it is looking to reach an even larger audience. Beginning this summer, G FUEL will be bringing select flavors to cans. These flavors include Fazeberry, Blue Ice, Sour Cherry and Rainbow Sherbet. The canned G FUEL will be known as the Ready-to-Drink version. There are numerous other flavors of G FUEL that exist but these four will be the only ones as part of this initial rollout. “We were early adopters in the gaming space and we now have an aggregated reach of more than 200 million fans,” said G FUEL Founder and CEO Cliff Morgan in a press release. “They’ve inundated us with requests for a ready-to-drink version of G FUEL. We have a history of delivering products that meet our consumers’ demand for performance energy, extreme focus, and zero sugar. While they get that with our powdered products already, now they can get it in the convenience of a can.” :fire::fire: THE NEXT CHAPTER :fire::fire: SUMMER 2019. WE CHANGE THE GAME FOREVER. #GFUEL “READY TO DRINK” IS COMING. BE READY. #GFUELRTD⚡️ PRESS RELEASE: https://t.co/j6mFqohwhN :point_left::point_left::point_left::point_left::point_left: pic.twitter.com/pBnZs2UhSZ — G FUEL® (@GFuelEnergy) March 15, 2019 The canned version G FUEL will be available in 16-ounce cans once it launches in June. G FUEL was first developed in 2012 and quickly became popular in the esports community. The powder version, unlike the ready-to-drink version, has 25 calories a serving compared to zero calories and zero sugar in the Ready-to-Drink version. For more information about the Ready-to-Drink G FUEL you can head to their website and sign up for early access. In the meantime, the powered version is available for sale if you are interested in giving it a try for the first time.

G FUEL announce new Mortal Kombat 11 flavors: Scorpion Sting, Ice Shatter G FUELG FUEL have officially partnered with Warner Bros. on two new flavors inspired by Mortal Kombat 11’s Sub-Zero and Scorpion characters: Ice Shatter and Scorpion Sting. For nearly 30 years, Mortal Kombat has been one of the most iconic franchises in pop culture. From arcade fighting games to cinematic cult classics to children’s Halloween costumes, the gory, savage series has been a cultural mainstay. Now, two of the franchise’s most popular characters have landed a new collaboration in the public eye. Fitting their high-octane acrobatics, Sub-Zero and Scorpion have become inspirations for G FUEL’s newest two flavors. While little is known about the exact flavor profiles based on each character’s special moves, what is known is that the two options will be available in early 2021 and in powder or canned form. Additionally, G FUEL will be partnering with Warner Bros. on two MK11 tournaments to celebrate the collaboration. Thus far, G FUEL haven’t indicated how Ice Shatter or Scorpion Sting will taste. But they have confirmed that their formula follows the brand’s traditional standards: sugar-free, antioxidants from 18 different fruit extracts, 15 calories per serving, and 140 mg of caffeine per serving. Read more: When is Mortal Kombat movie coming out? – For those who are more interested in the canned variety, the drinks will come in 16 oz. cans — each with zero calories and a heftier 300 mg of caffeine. For reference, that puts them at about double the caffeine content of a similarly sized Red Bull or Mountain Dew Game Fuel. In an announcement for the collaboration, G FUEL’s founder and CEO, Cliff Morgan, explained why the brand is so excited about the partnership: “G FUEL Scorpion Sting and Ice Shatter pay homage to these iconic special moves. We can’t wait for our fans to fuel their ‘Kombat’ with these new game-changing flavors.” While the new flavors will become available in powder tubs and cans on January 13, 2021, fans can also snag limited-edition collectors boxes and the most talented MK11 players can get even more. The G FUEL Energy Games will be a two-part tournament series with an All Stars invitational and an open online event. Winners of each will get a ton of merch and access to both Ice Shatter and Scorpion Sting, but they’ll also have a chance to win some more exclusive goodies: a G FUEL mini fridge and an Xbox Series X. For more information on the product pre-orders, tournaments, and sweepstakes for the mini fridge, fans can check out G FUEL’s Mortal Kombat collab page.

How to watch the Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix on Twitch for free F1 and Twitch have partnered to offer a stream of the Mexican Grand Prix in October for free in selected countries for the first time ever. As Twitch continues to expand its horizons, the streaming service is set to welcome more exhilarating action to the platform, but not in its typical format. Initially gaining popularity among gamers, Twitch has brought various formats of content to the platform — from talk shows to real-life streams, it boasts a diverse range of content. Now, in a bid to continue its evolution, Twitch is offering a unique and interactive viewing experience by broadcasting the fast-paced action of Formula 1. How to watch the Mexican GP on Twitch for free Initially announced via Twitter, the Mexican Grand Prix will be streamed at the following times: Practice session 1: Friday, October 25 at 11 AM (EST) / 4 PM (BST) – Practice session 2: Friday, October 25 at 3 PM (EST) / 8 PM (BST) – Practice session 3: Saturday, October 26 at 11 AM (EST) / 4 PM (BST) – Qualifying: Saturday, October 26 at 2 PM (EST) / 7 PM (BST) – Race: Sunday, October 27 at 1:10 PM (EST) / 6:10 PM (GMT). – It’s worth noting that daylight savings ends in Europe on Sunday, October 27, meaning that clocks will roll back one hour. The inaugural event will be streamed live in Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden on their Formula 1 channel. As for other countries, various broadcasting companies own the rights to this event in each respective country, which can be found on the official Formula 1 website. Interactive F1 on Twitch As part of the deal, Formula 1 will be broadcasted with interactivity underpinning the viewing experience. A data extension will be offered to complement the livestream, which will allow users to predict driver performance in 10-minute intervals. Each prediction will then be ranked and displayed, which will add a more competitive element alongside providing a more immersive experience. The stage is set to what will most definitely be a thrilling race to potentially decide the top spot on the podium, given Lewis Hamilton’s soaring lead at the top of the standings. Director of Digital and Licensing, Frank Arthofer, had the following to say about the one-race deal: “Twitch has incredible reach, a unique creative spin on sports media coverage and an engaged digital audience; they are a perfect partner for us to be working with on this project.” As Formula 1 utilizes Twitch’s platform to engage with new fans in the selected countries, the deal sees F1 move into the livestreaming space for the first time — potentially signaling the start of big things to come.

Former Mixer employee calls out management for alleged racism MixerA former Mixer employee has described his time working for the streaming platform as “the worst I’ve ever had professionally and it’s all due to RACISM.” On June 21 Milan Lee, who formerly worked in business development for Mixer and its parent company Microsoft, posted a Twitlonger detailing the alleged racism he experienced while working for the streaming platform. Lee shared four different examples of what he went through when working for Mixer, claiming that “one of the main people calling the shots has zero respect for any partner nor their platform.” “I was one of the only black people working at Mixer during my tenure. While at a conference I was pulled aside and told that the only reason I was hired is because I am “street smart,” Lee asserted. “The first thing that popped into my head at the time was affirmative action. I believed I was only hired to meet a diversity goal because I was black. Anyways I decided to brush it off and let it go.” The “street smart” comment only seemed to be the tip of the iceberg, as Lee went on to claim that a manager had used an analogy literally comparing partners on the platform to “slaves”. “My manager decided to give us an analogy, that analogy was ‘I’m in between a rock and a hard place. What I mean is all the partners are my slaves, I own their content. I control their success on our platform. For me I am the slave master, I own partners’,” Lee wrote. “Immediately I got angry, pissed off, and honestly I didn’t want to work at Microsoft/Mixer anymore.” Taking up the issue with other management didn’t seem to solve the problem at all, Lee alleged, and it was their inaction on the issue that eventually drove him to leave the company completely. “I reported my entire experience to a skip level manager, I also included examples when my ideas in meetings were passed on. When said ideas were the exact same from my white colleagues,” Lee claimed. “The skip level NEVER reported any of the slavery comments to HR. So when I spoke with HR they were surprised and said this has never been communicated. After that meeting, I resigned a few weeks later.” For the record, it’s NOT @Solice She is a great person and would never do this — Milly (@MilanKLee) June 21, 2020 Finally, Lee reported the manager who had allegedly made the slave comments to higher-ups, who assured him an investigation would get to the bottom of things, but the mind-bending response he said he received wasn’t what he had been hoping for. “I spoke with the legal team to start an investigation with my manager. This investigation would continue even though I decided to terminate my employment. Months go by without a verdict. One day late last year I get a call from the legal team with their final findings. That finding was not guilty!” Lee claimed. “The reason my manager was not penalized and the reason she still has her job today is because she CANNOT be racist. The reason she CANNOT be racist is because she hired a black person.” Mixer has yet to respond to Lee’s allegations at the time of writing this article, but we will keep this page updated with any news or response that comes next.

Finalists for first Noble Purpose Sports Integrity Awards announced YouTube: 60 Minutes AustraliaSeveral professional athletes and a reporter have received nominations for the first-ever Noble Purpose Sports Integrity Awards. The University of New Haven Sports Integrity Center, which combats rampant corruption, doping, abuse, and match-fixing in the sports world, has announced the finalists for the Center’s first Noble Purpose Sports Integrity Awards. The award, which is given to “the individual who best represents the virtues of integrity and courage in the sports world,” was chosen by a panel of international advisors – including Dexerto’s Richard Lewis, who was selected for his work on match-fixing and corruption in esports. Others on the selection committee include three-time Olympian Nancy Hogshead-Makar, World Champion Kick Boxer Caradh O’Donovan, and Professor Manase Kudzai Chiweshe, all of whom have devoted their careers to protecting athletes and exposing predatory practices in the sporting world. Noble Purpose Sports Integrity Awards nominees announced The three nominees chosen by the committee include two prominent athletes who have taken a stand for human rights abuses and a reporter who exposed the doping scandal in Russian Olympic sports. Enes Kanter Freedom Enes Kanter Freedom is a former NBA player who gained notoriety for his criticism of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for his government’s corruption as well as Chinese leader Xi Jinping for his human rights abuses of the Uyghur and Tibetan people. As a result of these criticisms, Kanter was released from his contract with the Portland Trailblazers in 2021, claiming it was done to appease the Chinese state. Peng Shuai Peng Shuai is a female tennis player who accused a Chinese senior official of sexually assaulting her in 2018. After sharing her story, social media posts about Peng were blocked in China, and she has been keep effectively isolated under house arrest. Richard McClaren Finally, professor Richard McLaren is a sports investigator who penned the McLaren Report, which revealed state-sponsored and rampant doping of Russian Olympic athletes, as well as subversion of drug testing procedures during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. McLaren has also done extensive work on other sports scandals, such as corruption in the International Weightlifting Federation, and match-fixing of Olympic boxing matches during the 2016 Rio de Janiro Summer Olympics. The award will be presented to one of the three finalists on Thursday, September 22. In addition, the committee will award the “Anti-Noble Purpose Award to the government in the world whose actions have demonstrated the worst principles in the sports world.”

FGC outraged after woman is allegedly sexually assaulted at Evo after party EVO / PixabayThe fighting game community is in a state of outrage after an esports reporter attending an official Evo 2019 after party on August 4 was allegedly sexually assaulted during the event. Former GameSpot editor Zorine ‘harli’ Te attended the Official Red Bull After Party held at the HyperX Esports Arena at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas on August 4. A series of tweets posted on August 5 claimed that she was sexually assaulted during the event, which then turned into a full-blown fight once her friend stepped in. The alleged sexual assault claims “Nobody should ever feel unsafe for being a part of the FGC.” Zorine tweeted as she described the alleged attack. “Last night during the Evo Red Bull after party, a man stuck his hand up my skirt and assaulted me. I turned to confront him, the guy got physically aggressive, and my friend jumped in to push him away. A fight ensued.” Nobody should ever feel unsafe for being a part of the FGC. Last night during the Evo Red Bull after party, a man stuck his hand up my skirt and assaulted me. I turned to confront him, the guy got physically aggressive, and my friend jumped in to push him away. A fight ensued.— Zorine ‘harli’ Te (@Zorine) August 5, 2019 The esports reporter claimed that the event staff escorted the alleged assaulter outside after the brawl, and that they handled the situation well. “Esports Arena / Luxor staff escorted him out and handled the situation well. I am trying to follow up with a name. Sucks that such a great Evo had to end this way.” she tweeted. Esports Arena / Luxor staff escorted him out and handled the situation well. I am trying to follow up with a name. Sucks that such a great Evo had to end this way. — Zorine ‘harli’ Te (@Zorine) August 5, 2019 Zorine’s friend Mike ‘Joskii’ allegedly stepped in after the attack, and she claimed that the situation could have ended up much worse if he hadn’t been around to help her. “Big thank you to @imJoskii who had my back. It could’ve been much, much worse if he hadn’t been there,” she finished. Big thank you to @imJoskii who had my back. It could’ve been much, much worse if he hadn’t been there — Zorine ‘harli’ Te (@Zorine) August 5, 2019 It was apparently not the only incident The alleged sexual assault was apparently not the only inappropriate incident to occur during the after party – a man claimed to have been drugged after taking a drink intended for a female. “I only had three drinks last night but I took a drink that was intended for a woman friend of mine and that’s the last thing I remember all night. Definitely got roofied. This shit is not ok. What the fuck is wrong with people?” CEO Gaming Chief of Staff Tong Lee tweeted. I only had three drinks last night but I took a drink that was intended for a woman friend of mine and that’s the last thing I remember all night. Definitely got roofied. This shit is not ok. What the fuck is wrong with people? — Tong @ EVO (@TongNeverSleeps) August 5, 2019 Luckily, his female friend was okay after allegedly only consuming one sip of the dangerous liquid. “I just checked with my friend who had a sip of it and she felt something was off and made it back safely to her room. Personally, I’m angry, disgusted, and a bit shook up.” Tong followed up. I just checked with my friend who had a sip of it and she felt something was off and made it back safely to her room. Personally, I’m angry, disgusted, and a bit shook up. — Tong @ EVO (@TongNeverSleeps) August 5, 2019 The FGC is outraged Members of the community were furious with the event hosts after the claims and took to social media to air their outrage. FGC commentator James Chen tweeted: “I hate that this even needs to be said: RESPECT WOMENS’ SPACES. But more importantly, we as men have to do a better job of being allies to the women you know. Discuss this with your other guy friends if they ever make jokes that hint at this behavior.” I hate that this even needs to be said: RESPECT WOMENS’ SPACES. But more importantly, we as men have to do a better job of being allies to the women you know. Discuss this with your other guy friends if they ever make jokes that hint at this behavior. — James Chen (@jchensor) August 5, 2019 Chen then advised his followers to always stay vigilant and keep an eye on women when at events, especially when surrounded by suspicious individuals. “Keep an eye out for suspicious behavior of guys around women. I hate that this has to keep happening at events, after party or not. We all need to do better in making sure women feel safe at our FGC events. I wish I could do more.” Keep an eye out for suspicious behavior of guys around women. I hate that this has to keep happening at events, after party or not. We all need to do better in making sure women feel safe at our FGC events. I wish I could do more. — James Chen (@jchensor) August 5, 2019 Popular fighting game player Dawn ‘Yohosie’ Hosie also warned her followers, and tweeted: “Friends of mine were sexually assaulted at EVO, others were roofied. Be safe out there and take no shit.” Friends of mine were sexually assaulted at EVO, others were roofied. Be safe out there and take no shit — Yohosie @ EVO (@yohosiefgc) August 5, 2019 Proclaimed FGC veteran Anthony Nguyen also expressed his outrage at the alleged assault and drugging incidents, issuing a stern warning to those who attempted the behaviours. “I have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to certain things. Sexual assault and drugging others is within that policy. For those who attempted this at our FGC women: Fuck you. You are not welcome in our community, do not invade this home. Get out or we will get you out.” he tweeted. I have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to certain things. Sexual assault and drugging others is within that policy. For those who attempted this at our FGC women: Fuck you. You are not welcome in our community, do not invade this home. Get out or we will get you out — Anthony Nguyen (@Crackfiend) August 5, 2019 UPDATE 5:27PM PST August 5: HyperX Esports Arena Las Vegas responded to Dexerto’s request for comment via email and stated: “We are aware of an incident that occurred last night at the Arena. Safety of our guests is always our top priority and we are cooperating with local authorities on the matter. We will not have any further comment at this time.” Zorine also replied to our request for comment via Twitter DMs, and said: “I have nothing else to say about the incident other than to add I have filed a police report. Thank you for reaching out. And I appreciate you raising awareness. I am definitely about that.” Dexerto has also reached out to Red Bull, and MGM for comment, but has yet to hear back as of press time.

FBI searching for PS4 user who allegedly used PSN to deal drugs The FBI has requested Sony provide data on a PlayStation 4 user who allegedly used the console’s online service to deal thousands of dollars worth of drugs as part of a cocaine distribution network, according to court records. According to the reports, which were first reviewed by Motherboard, the FBI is ordering the electronics and entertainment company to disclose information on a man named Curtis ‘Dola’ Alexander, including what games he played on the PS4. “The Provider is hereby ordered to disclose the above information to the Government within 14 days of service of this warrant,” the search warrant application, filed on October 22 in the Western District of Missouri, reads. The orders also request Sony detail all progress made in the games played on the console, the physical address and telephone numbers associated with his PlayStation account, security questions, and his IP address. The FBI has been allowed to make this request due to evidence they allegedly have regarding the fact “Speedola20,” as Alexander was known online, used PSN access to coordinate the sale of more than $34,000 worth of cocaine. The application also reveals that a Confidential Human Source (CHS) confirmed Alexander contacted them “during game.” After setting up a meeting, Alexander sold the CHS a bag of an estimated 100 grams of white powder for $4,400. All this was facilitated through PlayStation’s instant messaging system, which allows ‘friends’ to speak over the console. It was also suggested Alexander and the CHS took their conversation into the PS4’s audio chat rooms. “Investigators believe Alexander likely believes communication during the course of his participation in an online game is secure,” the FBI detailed in the warrant request for Dola’s PSN information. “As such, Alexander likely believes he can use audio during gameplay to arrange the details of a drug transaction.” Dexerto has yet to ascertain what game, or games, Alexander was playing during his facilitation of the $4,400 drug deal, and whether he has been employing the same technique to move the other $30,000 worth of illegal substances. This isn’t the first time Sony has been approached by the FBI for information on a gamer using the console’s online systems either. In May 2017, the FBI was granted information from Sony relating to a suspect that the FBI believed was planning to travel from Kansas to the Middle East to fight on behalf of a terrorist organization, and had been contacted through the PS4. The gamer, Isse Aweis Mohamud, was alleged in the warrant to have a travel plan from Kansas to Egypt, and then to Iraq, to join a terrorist cell. Sony disclosed they had released PSN account info in February 2018, according to Forbes. There has, as yet, been no information on the location or arrest of Alexander, but with the FBI now possibly in possession of his personal information from the PlayStation Network, it’s likely they will have a leg up in finding the criminal dealer. It has also not been confirmed whether Sony complied with the FBI at the end of the 14-day window, though considering the company helped the agency in the past, it’s likely they complied with the October 22 court order as well.

FBI arrest swatter responsible for attacks on gamers and journalists FlickrThe FBI has criminally charged a Virginia man who allegedly organized dozens of swatting attacks carried out by an online group that targeted Twitch streamers, video content creators, journalists, and even a Facebook executive. With the rise of streaming culture across gaming communities and the internet at large, swatting has become more and more prevalent in recent times. The action itself requires the perpetrator to make an anonymous phone call to the police, faking serious threats to draw in extreme responses from authorities, and often even SWAT divisions. These ‘pranks’ can often have deadly consequences. According to an FBI affidavit unsealed this week, one such ‘swatter’ by the name of John William Kirby Kelley has been charged by authorities for orchestrating a series of these attacks on “prominent gamers, journalists, and government officials.” The affidavit also details that he was found to have had a helping hand in founding Internet Relay Chat channel “Deadnet.” This channel was used for the sole purpose of identifying targets, and carrying out organized swatting attacks. Perhaps the most high-profile gaming victims Kelley is alleged to have targeted during his time operating on the Deadnet server is Andrea Rovenski, who streams on Twitch under the name ‘Cyberdemon531.’ Rovenski was targetted by a swatting attack in 2018. She was playing through a Sypro 2 speedrun when armed officers surrounded her house, before storming her residence and pinning her, and her disabled mother, to the ground. “I go outside and what I see is maybe five or six police cars and 10 to 15 riot cops,” Rovenski told Vice. “They all have assault rifles and they‘re all pointed at me. You know, my arms are up and, you know, it’s horrifying.” According to Vice, the streamer’s mother struggled to recover from the incident, often having nightmares and struggling to sleep, before passing away due to a stroke Rovenski linked to the “extremely stressful event” of the swatting. https://youtu.be/VD9pB-wjYdQ Soon after this attack, the FBI began investigating Kelley. They moved their investigation into high gear when the Old Dominion University in Virginia received an anonymous bomb and shooting threat, which was eventually linked to Kelley. The FBI revealed the swatting organizer used a VPN service to hide his internet location, and employed voice-over-IP services to call the police. After the initial call, Kreb reports, Kelley redialed authorities, but accidentally did it on his own phone. Officers were then able to determine the voice on the first call was a match to the second, accidental call from Kelley, and conducted an interview with the suspect. Investigators later confirmed he admitted to the hoax attacks, and was found in possession of two phones, and storage devices with hosts of IRC logs. Investigators also revealed they found photos of him and others wearing tactical gear, armed with automatic weapons, and brandishing pictures of Atomwaffen recruitment material and the neo-Nazi publication Siege, all stored on his phone. Kelley’s attacks may have been orchestrated and methodical, but not every swatting incident is as nefarious and calculated in nature. Gamer Nicholas Huffine was sentenced to five years jail or a $250,000 fine after he swatted an opponent, and Fortnite World Cup winner Kyle ‘Bugha’ Giersdorf fell victim to a swatting in August, though he knew the officer that arrived at his door. Unfortunately, not every swatting ends so well. In 2017, Tyler Barris swatted gaming rival, Andrew Finch. Finch, the victim of the ‘swat,’ was killed by police, and Barris was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

FaZe Clan & KSI pay tribute to TikTok star FaZe Chemo who passed away FaZe ClanTributes have been pouring in since news broke that well-known TikToker and FaZe Clan superfan Anas ‘FaZe Chemo’ Alazzawi passed away due to complications from cancer. [jwplayer Y7PB7YwV] Chemo was very popular on the video-sharing platform, with over 440k followers, and more than 10 million likes spread throughout his videos. He was also a diehard FaZe Clan fan, which, needless to say, is what inspired his social media name. It was no secret he was battling cancer either, as his progress against the disease was a regular topic on his channel. Sadly, Alazzawi’s brother Armo broke the news on October 30 that the TikToker had passed away suddenly due to complications with the disease. “Anas has been experiencing more and more pain this recent month.” Armo wrote on Chemo’s page. “The cancer spread throughout his bloodstream and got into his other leg, spine, shoulder, and head,” “It got progressively worse and worse. He eventually died in the company of my parents around 8:30 pm est on October 30th.” After the news came out, posts remembering the FaZe superfan began pouring in from all over the internet including from YouTube star KSI, with whom Chemo often interacted through TikTok. “So I got the news that FaZe Chemo passed away, I just wanted to say rest in peace, my guy,” a somber KSI said in his own video. “F**k cancer bro, you’ll always have a better beard than me.” FaZe Clan also remembered their fan with a post on their official Twitter page, where thousands of fans of the organization and Chemo’s videos filled the replies with even more tributes. “We are saddened to hear of the passing of Anas Alazzawi, a fan of ours who was loved all over Tik Tok under the username “FaZe Chemo,” the org wrote. “Our thoughts are with his friends and family.” We are saddened to hear of the passing of Anas Alazzawi, a fan of ours who was loved all over Tik Tok under the username “”FaZe Chemo”” Our thoughts are with his friends and family. A friend has setup a GoFundMe below to help his family with medical bills: https://t.co/i8kfAzdV7F pic.twitter.com/j1ocG9VaO9 — FaZe Clan (@FaZeClan) October 31, 2020 In a very classy and touching manner, FaZe also promoted a GoFundMe link that a friend of Alazzawi’s created in order to help his family pay for the TikToker’s funeral fees and medical bills. As of the time of writing, the fundraiser has raised over $10,000 of its $50,000 goal. If you’d like to donate to help Chemo’s family with the expenses, you can do so by visiting the GoFundMe here.

FaZe Clan’s Agony live tweets scary home invasion situation YouTube: FaZe AgonyFaZe Clan’s ‘Agony’ duo Devin and Kieran Agony were reportedly caught up in a home invasion early on April 10, live tweeting the “scariest night of [their] life” to their near-million followers. The Canadian FaZe Clan brothers were allegedly the target of a home invasion early on Friday morning. One half of the Call of Duty duo, Devin, sent the first tweet at just after 10pm PT on April 9, stating that his house had been broken into. Please pray for me and my brother and my roomate. people just broke in our house and tried to breakdown my bedroom door then i heard a gunshot. Im locked in my gaming room and cops are here. Please pray that kieran is okay 🙁 cops are about to clear the house now.,, — Agony (@Agony) April 10, 2020 “People just broke in our house and tried to break down my bedroom door, then I heard a gunshot,” his tweet read. He was reportedly inside his gaming room, while brother Kieran and their roommate were elsewhere in the house at the time. “I’m locked in my gaming room and cops are here. Please pray that Kieran is okay. Cops are about to clear the house now,” he continued. Devin added he was “scared for his brother,” as the two were separated in the house. However, he confirmed his brother’s safety minutes later. This was on the staircase 🙁 literally the scariest night of my life pic.twitter.com/WhHo1Iz7q0 — Agony (@Agony) April 10, 2020 After coming out, Agony reported there was a “shotgun shell on the staircase,” — which he revealed in a follow-up photo — and called the ordeal “the scariest night of my life.” No one was injured in the home invasion, which Devin said he was thankful for. “Everyone in our home is safe. Will update after we talk to detectives. Thank you, and Thank god no one got hurt,” he tweeted. The duo have received an outpouring of support on social media after the incident. Fellow members of FaZe Clan, as well as the wider Call of Duty community, commented saying they were also relieved to hear no one was injured. Agony has since responded to some social media criticism, as followers of the FaZe Clan star enquire as to why he chose to tweet about the incident, rather than seek help. “To the people calling me out for tweeting, I did not have my phone on me to call the cops. I went on discord to message anyone to call 911,” Agony explained. “I was locked/trapped in my gaming room. Luckily [my] roommate had discord on [their] phone to reply and tell me he’d called 911 and they were on the way”. to the people calling me out for tweeting, i did not have my phone on me to call the cops. i went on discord to message anyone to call 911. i was locked/trapped in my gaming room. luckily roommate had discord on phone to reply and tell me he called 911 and they were otw — FaZe Agony (@Agony) April 10, 2020 The brothers, who live in Ontario, Canada, spoke to local police shortly after the incident. A statement has yet to be released.

FaZe Banks asks internet for help after friend’s daughter is diagnosed with Leukemia FaZe Clan member Ricky Banks has called upon the internet for help after his god brother, and best friend’s, daughter was recently diagnosed with a form of Leukemia. On February 4, Banks shared the heartbreaking news on Twitter with his fans, asking for help: “My best friend & god brother received life-shattering news last week. His 3-year-old daughter, Isabella has been diagnosed w/ Leukemia. So unfair. They’re prepared to fight for as long as they have to. He started a gofundme, here’s the link. Anything helps.” The GoFundMe is looking to help Banks’ best friend’s daughter – Isabella – who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (A.L.L) a few days prior to his tweet. GoFundMe: Isabella vs. Leukemia (A.L.L.) The original post on the donation link tells the story of how the three-year-old started to feel ill, needing to stay home from school before having to go to see a pediatrician for some blood work. After undergoing tests, it was revealed to the family that they would need to take their daughter to a hospital for further evaluation. There, it was revealed to them that Isabella had A.L.L. The GoFundMe, set up by a Carey Hamilton, has already reached over $13,500 – with over 200 people donating in the first two days, including a $1,000 donation from Banks himself. However, it is still less than halfway to the $30,000 goal – a goal that would help the family’s costs as Isabella will have to begin 25 months of chemotherapy treatment. My best friend & god brother received life shattering news last week. His 3 year old daughter, Isabella has been diagnosed w/ Leukemia. So unfair. They’re prepared to fight for as long as they have to. He started a gofundme, here’s the link. Anything helps https://t.co/69VmxZNCFz — FaZe Banks (@Banks) February 4, 2019 If you have the ability to help and you can assist with Banks’ heartfelt appeal you can do so using the GoFundMe link. The thoughts of everyone at Dexerto go out to Isabella and her family.

Ex-Vlog Squad member claims David Dobrik tricked him into “traumatizing” content Instagram: daviddobrik/sethfrancoisDavid Dobrik has been accused of producing racially insensitive and nonconsensual content by former Vlog Squad member Seth Francois. Former collaborator Francois left the vlog squad in November 2019 to pursue creating his own content, and, during the BLM protests, called out content creators for producing racially insensitive content. Speaking on the podcast H3 After Dark, Francois explained how David pressured him into taking part in racially insensitive jokes, and performing a nonconsensual kiss. This isn’t the only complaint of inappropriate behavior made by a former Vlog Squad member. The week before, Nik ‘BigNik’ Keswani explained how he felt like a “punching bag” when making videos with Dobrik, which made him feel “worthless”. Francois recalled one incident where he performed a racially-charged watermelon joke about black people, despite feeling uncomfortable. “There was an unwritten rule where people saying ‘I’m uncomfortable with this, this isn’t really cool’ all of a sudden just disappear [from the channel],” he said. “It’s not like the whole entire experience of being with this group is a nightmare every single day, but some days it does get a little bit darker.” Topic starts at 39:30 Interview starts at 39:22 for mobile users. Francois then discussed a controversial ‘makeout video’ that came in his early days with the group. He explained how the video was supposed to involve a makeout scene with Corinna Kopf, who was then, unknown to Francois, swapped out for Jason Nash. “I was touched by someone I did not consent to,” he added. “When I was in LA after dealing with the make-out video with Jason, millions of people were misconstruing my own sexuality and how I felt about participating in something he didn’t have my consent for. “I ended up moving to a different state to get away from it so people aren’t coming up to me left and right bringing up a situation that is legitimately traumatizing. Read More: What is KomodoHype? – “When he pulled the mask off it was a split decision. I could either give in to my natural instincts and be the angry black guy in the room, or I can just go along with it, and I made that decision.” David Dobrik is yet to respond publicly to these comments.

Esports Players Demand Better Event Security Following Mass Shooting at a Madden Tournament Esports pros and fans have called for security at events to be improved after a mass shooting took place at a Madden tournament in Jacksonville, Florida. According to Jacksonville Sherriff Mike Williams, three fatalities and fourteen injuries have been confirmed following the incident at the GLHF Game Bar in the Jacksonville Landing on Sunday afternoon, leading players such as Call of Duty pro Seth ‘Scump’ Abner, Smash player Dark NAKAT, and CS:GO pro Markus Kjærbye to ask for increased security at future tournaments. Call of Duty champion Seth ‘Scump’ Abner suggested that something should have been done about security to avoid such a incident taking place. “I’ve been saying events NEED better security. Such a damn shame that now event coordinators will respond after a tragedy happens. Thoughts are with everyone at the Madden tournament and their families.” believes that mandatory security checks should take place at every esports event. “I’ve been saying for a longggg time now that eSports events should have mandatory security checks. Now a shooting breaks out at a Madden event. I feel so bad for the victims and those who were at the location of the shooting. Disgusting things like this should never happen.” CS:GO pro Markus Kjærbye is another player who feels that extra security at events should have been considered before now. “We live in a crazy world. Lost for words, sending all my prayers to the victims and their families involved in the shooting at a Madden esports tournament in Florida. Really awful this happened, before the security at gaming events was taken seriously enough. Heartbreaking” 600https://twitter.com/ipidev/status/1033849428216635392

EEOC contact Activision employees amid sexual harassment investigation ActivisionOn August 12, Activision Blizzard employees were contacted by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as the government body begins an investigation into potential violations of discrimination laws within the company. Current and former employees at all levels of the company were contacted via email and asked to participate in a survey, with each employee being given a unique reference code to ensure the ability to follow up on any claims of discrimination. The email comes after a long, heavily publicized period of internal unrest around working conditions. The investigation takes place a little over a week after employees at the company shared their salaries in a bid to figure out if they were being paid fairly for their work, a story that was published by Bloomberg. The email reads: Hello, The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is the U.S. Government agency responsible for enforcing the federal laws against employment discrimination based on sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, and retaliation. The EEOC is investigating Activision, in regard to allegations of gender-based and/or sexual harassment. The fact that EEOC is conducting an investigation of Activision does not mean there has been a violation of the law. You are receiving this email because the EEOC received information from Activision that you are a current or former employee. If you personally experienced or witnessed gender-based and/or sexual harassment at Activision, the EEOC would like to speak with you about your experience. When you access the survey, you will be asked to type in your passcode in order to access the survey. Your passcode is [redacted]. This is your unique passcode. Please do not share your code with others. If you are currently employed by Activision, do not take this survey during work hours or using company-supplied equipment or your work email address. If no longer employed by Activision, response to the survey should be done on personal equipment during nonworking hours. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Your participation in the EEOC’s investigation is protected by federal law, and it is a violation of federal law for an employer to retaliate against you because you participate in an EEOC investigation. Your participation in the survey and responses to survey questions are voluntary and not required. The investigation appears to have been underway for a few months now with some employees having been contacted via letter back in May this year. After the investigation began there were a number of incidents that related specifically to alleged sexual harassment that made it into the public domain. In June former Senior Manager of Global Business Strategy and Operations of Blizzard, Tyler Rosen, was publicly accused of sexual assault, with claims that Activision Blizzard had been informed of the situation and didn’t act upon it. The month after popular Call of Duty commentator Philip “Momo” Whitfield was removed from his role within Activison Blizzard’s Call of Duty League after the company was sent evidence of inappropriate messages sent to women within the esports space. Going further back to January 2019 a former Blizzard employee, Julian Murillo-Cuellar, filed a complaint with the EEOC after he claimed he was racially discriminated against in the workplace. It isn’t clear if this investigation continuing is related to these incidents becoming public knowledge. We shall update this story as we know more about the investigation’s intentions and findings

EA Cancels Remaining Madden Classic Qualifying Events Following Jacksonville Shooting Electronic Arts, the developer of Madden NFL 19, have cancelled the three remaining events in the Madden Classic qualifying series, following the tragic shooting that took place at a Madden event in Jacksonville, Florida. In a statement posted on the EA website, CEO Andrew Williams announced that EA would be cancelling the remaining three events while they evaluate future safety protocols for events. Williams also confirmed that while these events are run by independent partners, EA would be working to improve security at future events, stating; We will work with our partners and our internal teams to establish a consistent level of security at all of our competitive gaming events. EA and Williams also expressed their sorrow surrounding the tragedy that took place in Jacksonville, Florida on Sunday, August 26, and offered their support to the families of those affected. First and foremost, it is an unthinkable tragedy that Taylor Robertson and Elijah Clayton, two of our top Madden competitors, lost their lives in this way. We are committed to supporting Taylor and Elijah’s families through this difficult time, and we send our deepest sympathies to their loved ones, to those injured yesterday, and everyone affected. Taylor Robertson and Elijah Clayton were shot and killed during a Madden tournament at the GLHF Bar in Jacksonville, Florida, while 11 people were injured during the attack. The gunman was 24-year-old David Katz, a competitor in the tournament. It has since emerged that Katz had a history of mental illness, however no official motive has been released yet by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Department.

EA Announce Jacksonville Tribute Fund and Livestream In Aid Of Shooting Victims Electronic Arts have announced that they are setting up the Jacksonville Tribute Fund, and will be hosting a stream in support of the victims of the fatal shooting at a Madden 19 event in Jacksonville, Florida. Releasing a statement via Twitter, EA confirmed that they had opened the Jacksonville Tribute Fund, and donated $1 million to it, with plans to allow others to donate in the future. “First, we’re making a $1 million contribution to support the victims of last Sunday’s events. We’re also working to set up a fund where others can contribute alongside our donation, and we will come back very soon with further details. Contributions will go to the victims, including the families of Taylor Robertson, Elijah Clayton and all those who were affected. “We would also like to help by bringing the gaming community together, and uniting in play, through the Jacksonville Tribute Livestream next Thursday, September 6. We’ve heard from so many of you that you would like to support the victims, and to show that this horrific event will not define us, but only serve to make our community stronger. We’re already working with many of you to help make this happen through the livestream.” Since the tragic incident took place on Sunday, August 26, gaming society as a whole has rallied around the Madden community, as people mourn the deaths of Taylor Robertson and Elijah Clayton. EA have cancelled the remaining three Madden Classic Qualifiers, as they look to assess security at future events. Details regarding where you can donate to the Jacksonville Tribute Fund are not yet available, but be sure to tune into the Jacksonville Tribute livestream on Thursday, September 6.

Police hunt for suspect after hoax hostage situation at Ubisoft Montreal Wikimedia CommonsReports indicate that there is an ongoing hostage situation involving dozens of people at Ubisoft Montreal’s headquarters in the Mile-End neighborhood of Montreal, Quebec. There have been no confirmed injuries. Update (7:35 p.m. ET): Ubisoft Montreal have released a statement regarding the hostage situation. “We are extremely relieved this was resolved without incident and we’d like to thank you all for your support and kind words.” No injuries were reported at the offices. Montreal Police are launching a full investigation into the call. The police operation in connection with a hostage taking call is over. No threat has been detected and no injuries are reported. An investigation will follow to shed light on the call behind this important police force deployment. #SPVM Details ➡ https://t.co/dLBvQERo0n pic.twitter.com/LsnXoaVrza — Police Montréal (@SPVM) November 14, 2020 Update (5:04 p.m. ET): All of the Ubisoft Montreal’s building occupants are being safely evacuated by Montreal’s police force and the police have joined local news in suggesting that the situation was, in fact, a hoax perpetrated by a call within the Ubisoft headquarters. No suspect has been identified or apprehended at this point, but the SPVM are actively investigating. NEW: Police sources tell Radio-Canada that events at Ubisoft likely the result of a hoax. https://t.co/uQ51XnJR4t — Kristy Snell CBC (@Snellk) November 13, 2020 Update (4:04 p.m. ET): While local news outlets are reporting that the hostage situation was a hoax, Montreal’s police force have indeed confirmed that there appears to be no active threat and that the building’s occupants are being evacuated. No threat has been identified for now. We are currently evacuating the building. #SPVM https://t.co/7g7eHU2B1T — Police Montréal (@SPVM) November 13, 2020 Update (3:33 p.m. ET): Little is known about the police force’s ongoing activity in attempts to enter the building, but CTV News reports that Ubisoft’s employees have been told, via company memo, to “hide in an area that locks and to keep quiet.” Update (3:00 p.m. ET): Heavily armed Montreal police tactical units are approaching the building and preparing to make entry. Dozens of employees remain on roof and no injuries or negotiations with the suspects have been reported thus far. #Montreal #mtl #spvm Heavily-armed SPVM tactical offices move into position and prepare to enter the building.📷: LCN / TVA pic.twitter.com/a06YjmK7bK — Shane B. Murphy (@shanermurph) November 13, 2020 Update (November 13, 2020 at 2:49 p.m. ET): Police appear to have barricaded off the daycare at Ubisoft Montreal’s headquarters, at least 50 employees have barricaded themselves atop the building’s roof, and tactical police units have blocked off surrounding streets and appear to be preparing to make entry. Current reports indicate that there have been no injuries thus far, according to local news on the scene. This is happening right now near @UbisoftMTL – @CBCMontreal @CBCTheNational @CTVMontreal @CTVNews @Global_Montreal @LP_LaPresse @LeDevoir pic.twitter.com/ZxiJrAkkbm — Paul Desbaillets (@pauldesbaillets) November 13, 2020 POSSIBLE PRISE D’OTAGE | La garderie située sur place est barricadée et se trouve dans le périmètre de sécurité https://t.co/wrwYBoebWN pic.twitter.com/SOy1vzADbJ — TVA Nouvelles (@tvanouvelles) November 13, 2020 With numerous reports and tweets from local news and Ubisoft Montreal employees, respectively, it appears that a hostage situation is unfolding at the company’s headquarters but that all employees are safe. In the afternoon, it was reported by Quebec’s TVA Nouvelles that dozens of hostages were being held at Ubisoft Montreal’s building on Saint Laurent Boulevard. This ongoing situation was echoed by Montreal’s police department, who put out public announcements to avoid the area due to the police’s efforts there. DERNIÈRE HEURE | Un groupe de suspects tiendraient des dizaines de personnes en otage, vendredi après-midi, à Montréal, dans un bâtiment qui abrite les locaux de la compagnie Ubisoft, sur le boulevard Saint-Laurent https://t.co/wrwYBoebWN pic.twitter.com/pKn9qCfO36 — TVA Nouvelles (@tvanouvelles) November 13, 2020 There is an ongoing police operation at the corner of Saint-Laurent and St-Viateur. We ask people to avoid the area. The #SPVM is currently validating information and more details will follow. pic.twitter.com/44PjWzsCOh — Police Montréal (@SPVM) November 13, 2020 Shortly after, numerous employees, including Programming Project Lead Gavin Young and a Production Marketer for Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, tweeted that they were indeed safe and sound despite what was happening in the building. I’m at the office, and I’m ok. Too many people messaging me to reply to everyone. https://t.co/cXQ1R7VyW0 — Gavin Young (@GavinDYoung) November 13, 2020 https://twitter.com/Valskuiken/status/1327327343212437506 Although ‘Valskuiken’ tweeted that they would be going home, it appears that a large conglomerate of employees have made their ways to the building’s roof and have barricaded themselves up there by blocking off the door to the exterior. POSSIBLE PRISE D’OTAGE | Des dizaines de personnes sont vues sur le toit de la bâtisse d’Ubisoft, en train de barricader la porte extérieure https://t.co/wrwYBoebWN pic.twitter.com/WQA4dXcnHl — TVA Nouvelles (@tvanouvelles) November 13, 2020 Further, reports from TVA Nouvelles indicate that a ransom request has been made by the suspects, but it is unclear what has come of it as police continue to operate in the vicinity. At present, it appears that numerous employees are safe but it is unclear what is precisely happening with the situation given the multi-floor building’s space and large occupancy. At least 50 employees have made it to the roof, wherereports show they are holding up safely. However, in anticipation of the police force making entry into the building, it seems that ambulances and a tactical police force are arriving to the scene. #Montreal #quebec #mtl #spvm Additional ambulances arriving on scene and tactical police appear to be positioning themselves to make entry.📷: LCN / TVA pic.twitter.com/JJorfQ7u7F — Shane B. Murphy (@shanermurph) November 13, 2020 POSSIBLE PRISE D’OTAGE | Le SPVM en est à l’étape des vérifications et ne peut confirmer quoi que ce soit pour le moment https://t.co/wrwYBoebWN pic.twitter.com/Q0zc0UTAHS — TVA Nouvelles (@tvanouvelles) November 13, 2020 As reports indicate, the tactical forces approaching the building include numerous police officers, tactical police units, and heavier vehicles. There have been no indications of injuries thus far, so it appears that the ambulances are predominantly a precautionary measure. We will be continuing to update this page with updates as they come in and as the Montreal police force and local news provide information to the public about the current circumstances.

Dota caster TobiWan responds to accusations of sexual assault StarLadderDota 2 caster Toby ‘TobiWan’ Dawson has responded to accusations of sexual assault by outlining his accounts of separate events involving multiple women, who are, in turn, disputing his claims. The 34-year-old included three separate interactions with different people, keeping two anonymous while naming the third as an artist who goes by Botjira. One of the unnamed, cosplayer ‘Meruna,’ came forward after TobiWan’s initial response to the allegations. “I know I have made many mistakes in the past and repeated today by not addressing the real issues at hand & trying to move on as a lesson learned,” he said in his TwitLonger. “So the actions I have taken are for all to see, I do not want to be accused of things I have not committed.” In providing context to the allegations against him, he described an encounter with ‘Person A,’ detailing that a consensual relation had run its course until it had a bitter end sometime later. He was apologetic that this person “had to endure the pressure of unwanted advances” during their time. Upon the request of many people I have deleted my posts & will think long and hard as well as discussing privately with those who want to be heard before speaking further. — Inactive (@TobiWanDOTA) June 25, 2020 He also expressed surprise at Botjira’s claims and was adamant that “at no point did [he] pin her down or stop her from leaving.” Then he insisted that his relations with ‘Person B’ were also consensual. Following his first post, Meruna then revealed herself as ‘Person A’ in her own response titled ‘TobiWan did not take No for an answer’ and denied that she was ever in a relationship with the caster. Meruna had previously revealed that she had a story too, but wasn’t willing to go into detail, at first. However, after TobiWan’s since-deleted initial response, she said that she “[believed] the story must be told after all.” https://twitter.com/Meruna_/status/1276193969106534400 “Since you are so good at keeping me anonymous: we were never in a relationship,” Meruna responded shortly after the caster published his second apology. “I also never consented to being stealthed… And lastly: Good job at completely ignoring the part where you started sexual activities even though I had told you I didn’t want to, not on the first night.” Meruna does not believe TobiWan is being honest in his recount: “What happened to apologetic Toby from earlier? He was at least pretending to be sorry. You are looking to blame and twist events.” https://twitter.com/Meruna_/status/1276195535536500738 Concluding his address to the allegations, he brought up a situation where he was “completely insensitive to a transphobic comment” made by professional Dota 2 player Michael ‘ixmike88’ Ghannam. Furthermore, he apologized for his actions during the 2012 Starladder event of an all-female DOTA final, where he “made many sexist comments that mocked the players.” Since these allegations have come to light, esports talent agency Code Red Esports announced that they would no longer be representing TobiWan. Co-founder of Beyond The Summit, David ‘LD’ Gorman, also said they believe the allegations against the caster and will no longer be working with him. According to esports insider, Rod ‘Slasher’ Breslau, Valve also removed TobiWan’s voice lines from the Dota2 The International 10 Battle Pass. Valve has removed Tobiwan’s voice lines from the Dota 2 TI10 Battle Pass following allegations from several women of sexual misconduct pic.twitter.com/tTIYbpRVxt — Rod Breslau (@Slasher) June 25, 2020 TobiWan was one of the most familiar voices in the Dota competitive landscape. He has worked at every TI since its creation in 2011, as well as numerous Tier 1 events. Lauded as ‘the voice of Dota 2,’ he has received numerous accolades for his broadcasting. The allegations against TobiWan come at the heels of numerous survivors in the industry sharing their stories against creators, streamers, and prominent gaming figures like Syndicate, SayNoToRage, Mini Ladd, THINND, and more.

Discord hackers impersonating Twitch to bait users into phishing scam Twitch / Discord / PixabaySome Discord users are being tricked into a phishing scam by impersonators pretending to be Twitch, who are sending messages claiming they’ve got an “exclusive partnership” with the communication app for free access to their Nitro services and to Prime. Discord’s Nitro is a premium subscription service that awards certain perks such as server boosts, higher resolution when video calling, a higher upload limit, and more. It costs $9.99 a month or $99.99 per year, depending on what sub you pay for. On April 5, users started reporting that impersonators are taking advantage of the service by creating a fake Twitch bot that’s messaging people with claims they’ve partnered up with the app in order to give away free access to it, as well as Prime. Fake Twitch bot scamming Discord users The bot has been PMing users with the message: “Exclusive Partnership. We are super happy to announce that Discord has partnered with Twitch to show some love to our super great users! From April 5 until April 15, all our users will have access to a Nitro Games and will have access for three months to Twitch Prime.” It also includes a list of steps on how to activate the “free” subscription, telling the interested party to join the app’s Official Events server, and also add the bot to their own private servers – presumably so the impersonators can access personal and private information. The biggest giveaway that it’s a scam on unassuming users is that Nitro Games no longer exists – the service was completely removed from the sub in October 2019. People took to Twitter to air their concerns and to warn others not to engage with the bot. “There [is] apparently is a scam bot going around Discord. I got the message too, the name is Twitch#2708. Don’t click the link,” ‘Wiki82725871’ said, alongside a screenshot of the message. https://twitter.com/Wiki82725871/status/1247149601477595136 “Watch out for the phishing scam currently going on,” ‘ACR_Collection’ warned. “Some fake Twitch representative send you links pretending to give you free access to Discord’s Nitro services.” ⚠️ @discordapp users: Watch out for the phishing scam currently going on. Some fake @Twitch representative send you links pretending to give you free access to Discord’s Nitro services ⚠️ better stay safe online as well pic.twitter.com/IEzkULUKiR — ACR #BlackLivesMatter (@ACR_Collection) April 6, 2020 This apparently isn’t the first time that this has happened, either. Users have been reporting being contacted by the bot since late March, according to Distractify, with the dates being changed to fit whenever it’s sent. Discord and Twitch have both yet to speak out about the situation, or stop the bot from targeting people with its phishing scam at the time of writing.

Dexerto selected as media startup to watch in 2021 by Sifted SiftedDexerto is delighted to have been selected by Sifted as a media startup to watch in 2021, alongside a number of other fantastic organizations. Sifted, backed by the Financial Times, is all about in-depth reporting on European startups, with knowledge of the space like few others. As the sole esports startup on Sifted’s list, it further proves Dexerto’s growth across multiple channels and influence on the esports, gaming and entertainment space. Dexerto founder and Director Michael Kent told Sifted that “the company’s secret has been its ability to tell stories about the personalities of the gaming world,” providing readers the engaging pieces they want. Dexerto also operates a number of brands including CharlieINTEL, FortniteINTEL, FUTWatch, and Culture Crave. About Dexerto Dexerto, the preeminent destination for esports, gaming, and digital culture for over 20MM unique monthly visitors, is an award-winning digital media organization, production house, and creative strategy provider. Reaching tens of millions of young adults every month by publishing 24/7 content across owned social and digital platforms in three major languages, Dexerto has experienced meteoric growth, connecting like-minded communities to celebrate streaming culture through the lens of a new generation of celebrity. Today, Dexerto boasts its headquarters in London, with offices in the US and France, and content creators in eight different countries around the world. Invited by leagues and publishers to cover more than 50 major events annually, Dexerto is the premier source for everything esports and gaming-related. To discover more, please visit Dexerto.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, or contact Lauren.Hanley@Dexerto.com.

Dexerto picked among London’s best Media and Entertainment companies to work for UnsplashDexerto, a leading media company in esports, gaming and online entertainment, has been selected by Best Startup as one of London’s best Media and Entertainment companies to Work for and Buy from. Best Startups selected their shortlist of companies based on those “taking a variety of approaches to innovating the Media and Entertainment industry.” Companies were selected for exceptional performance in innovation, growth, management, and societal impact. Best Startups says “Dexerto is a multi-award winning, world leading esports and gaming lifestyle publisher and a major voice in digital culture for tens of millions of Millennial and Gen Z fans. Dexerto is the world’s largest esports and gaming news hub, with over 75 members of staff spread across 8 countries.” Dexerto was founded in 2015, by Josh Nino, Chris Marsh, Mike Kent and Nicolas Hulsmans. Since then, it has grown out a network of internet properties, and boasts over 10 million social followers. Dexerto provides unrivaled coverage of esports, gaming, and influencers, through a variety of mediums and social platforms. Dexerto operates a number of brands including CharlieINTEL, FortniteINTEL, FUTWatch, and Culture Crave.

Dexerto partners with Misfits Gaming Group to create premium content across-award winning platforms Dexerto, the world’s first and largest esports & influencer media group, has announced a partnership with Misfits Gaming Group (MGG), a global esports and entertainment leader, to create and package premium sponsored/branded content across its platforms with the goal of delivering media scale for brands seeking to engage within the esports landscape. MGG and Dexerto will collaborate to bring their collective expertise in creative programming to develop content packages that tap into Dexerto’s distribution – 25M monthly unique users, 80M monthly page views, 100M monthly video views, and 10.5M social followers globally – and MGG’s roster of esports pros and gaming entertainers. “This agreement represents a natural overlap in sponsorship, media and content that will be incredibly beneficial for brand partners looking to tap into gaming culture,” said Dexerto’s CEO and Founding Director Josh Nino de Guzman. “Our mission of championing gamers and digital creators is elevated by this collaboration.” “It’s important for Misfits to constantly re-imagine the business of esports to help new brands navigate into our world thinking beyond traditional strategies,” said MGG’s Chief Revenue Officer Lagen Nash. “Joining forces with Dexerto will allow us to approach our business more creatively and offer media solutions that can drive measurable results for our partners.” MGG and Dexerto plan to roll out new programs in Q2 ‘21. For more information, please visit Misfits Gaming Group and Dexerto. About Misfits Gaming Group Misfits Gaming Group (MGG) is a global esports and entertainment company. They compete in some of the most successful video game titles worldwide and are permanent partners in three franchised esports leagues: Riot Games’ League of Legends European Championship (Misfits Gaming), Activision-Blizzard’s Overwatch League (Florida Mayhem), and Activision-Blizzard’s Call of Duty League (Florida Mutineers). MGG utilizes world-class management and a deep understanding of the esports ecosystem to establish fruitful partnerships with international brands and organizations, and a commitment to growth through the players and the community. About Dexerto Dexerto, the preeminent destination for esports, gaming, and digital culture for over 25MM unique monthly visitors, is an award-winning digital media group. Reaching tens of millions of Millennials and Gen-Z’s every month by publishing 24/7 content across owned social and digital platforms in three major languages, Dexerto has seen meteoric organic growth, connecting like-minded communities to celebrate streaming culture through the lens of a new generation of celebrity. Today, Dexerto boasts its headquarters in London, with offices in Chicago and Paris, and content creators in nine different countries around the world.

Dexerto joins social media blackout against online abuse with FIFA channels Dexerto is standing alongside Kick It Out, UEFA, the Premier League and the rest of the football world in a social media boycott to raise awareness of online abuse and racism. The UltimateTeamUK and FutWatch accounts, across every social media platform, will stop posting from Friday, April 30 at 3PM BST until 12AM on Monday, May 3. We’re joining the social media boycott from 3pm today, with @KickItOut.#TakeAStand against online abuse and discrimination. pic.twitter.com/BKSLcWdzHx — Dexerto Sports (@DexertoFC) April 30, 2021 We join a coalition of English football’s largest governing bodies and organizations including the Football Association, Premier League and EFL in going silent on social media. These stand in solidarity against the hate and discrimination faced by footballers, fans and everyone else in the footballing world. Though, the issues span much wider than just football. As well as the nation’s leading football bodies and leagues, a number of players have committed to a social media blackout too, including Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson. He said: “Online abuse has to stop and abusers held accountable for their actions.” Back on my social channels to post this ahead of the boycott. @CybersmileHQ campaign will continue on Tuesday. Jordan pic.twitter.com/6fKijVXP7i — Jordan Henderson (@JHenderson) April 29, 2021 A joint statement from the groups staging the boycott reads: “The boycott shows English football coming together to emphasise that social media companies must do more to eradicate online hate, while highlighting the importance of educating people in the ongoing fight against discrimination. “Boycott action from football in isolation will, of course, not eradicate the scourge of online discriminatory abuse, but it will demonstrate that the game is willing to take voluntary and proactive steps in this continued fight.” Dexerto stands very proudly alongside the rest of the football community in disavowing any kind of online hate. Enough is enough.

Dexerto expands Commercial Relationship with GCN as Strategic Partner for Collegiate Esports Series Dexerto and Gaming Community Network (GCN) have agreed to an expanded commercial agreement, as strategic partners to support and market the upcoming Collegiate Esports series starting in May 2021. Dexerto will provide GCN with both expanded marketing resources and content support around the Collegiate Esports series and the over 100 universities and colleges that will be competing. GameSquare Esports, owner of GCN, is an international gaming and esports company, headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The organization also owns a number of other entities, including Code Red, an esports talent agency that represents leading on-screen talent, players and influencers and works with leading global brands on influencer campaigns and esports marketing. Dexerto to Provide Additional Inventory and Coverage of the Collegiate Esports series Dexerto is a long-time preferred partner to GCN. Its industry-leading site provides award-winning esports, gaming and influencer coverage, including news, interviews, reviews, opinions, guides and tournament coverage. The expanded relationship with Dexerto provides GCN with both expanded marketing resources and content support around the Collegiate Esports series and the 100+ universities and colleges that will be competing. GameSquare management believes that this positions GCN in an enviable industry position as it continues to grow the breadth, and quality, of its reach as it bridges the gap between global brands and the large gaming and esports communities. About GameSquare Esports Inc. GameSquare Esports Inc. is an international gaming and esports company headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The Company is seeking to acquire additional assets and entities serving the gaming and esports markets and, more broadly, in sports and entertainment. GameSquare’s acquisition of Code Red Esports Ltd. (“Code Red”), an esports talent agency, provided an initial foothold in Europe through its UK operations. Code Red represents leading on-screen talent, players and influencers and works with leading global brands to develop influencer campaigns and esports marketing strategies. The Company’s second acquisition of Reciprocity Corp. provides access to Asia, Latin America and North America. Its gaming and esports assets include: a CrossFire franchise in China that it owns with its partner LGD Gaming, a 40% interest in a League of Legends team that competes in Latin America, and, its wholly-owned subsidiary corporation, GCN, a digital media company focusing on the gaming and esports audience based in Los Angeles, USA.

Deadmau5 shares lengthy apology after Twitch ban controversy deadmau5Joel Thomas Zimmerman, who many people will know as deadmau5, admits that he’s ashamed of trying to justify the use of homophobic slur by suggesting it is part of “gaming culture.” The DJ had his Twitch channel permanently banned on February 13, after referring to a stream sniper on PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds as a “cock-sucking stream sniper f*g” during a livestream. Zimmerman then publicly criticised the Amazon-owned streaming platform – with what he described as a non-apology – accusing them of censorship and double standards, claiming that his comments were merely some “harmless shit.” He has since revealed, though, that he was wrong to react in the way that he did – posting another lengthy apology to Reddit. “I know what I said was wrong,” deadmau5 admitted. “My hastily composed non-apology was an insult to injury. I realize that trying to somewhat dismiss it as ‘gamer culture’ was even worse. “As for Twitch, they had every right to ban me for that,” he added. “What I said was incredibly stupid and I don’t actually hold those beliefs at all. I let some gamer get the best of me and in that moment I lost control.” Deadmau5 says that he was advised not to come out with another official statement, following on from his non-apology, but decided to anyway. Whether or not this apology will be treated as genuine by the public remains to be seen, but having seen Zimmerman come out with this type of response in the past, industry insider Rod Breslau seems to be giving him the benefit of the doubt. i know joel has made apologies before for similar comments he made last year, but i will give him the benefit of the doubt that this is a sincere apology. for those unaware this is the statement from yesterday https://t.co/Rxman6rQwy — Rod Breslau (@Slasher) February 14, 2019 While deadmau5 won’t be on Twitch anytime soon, he’s a known avid gamer and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him show up on another streaming platform in the future.

D&D Twitch streamer Arcadum accused of emotional abuse of women & sexual assault claim Twitch: GloriousArcadumPopular Dungeons & Dragons streamer Jeremy ‘GloriousArcadum’ Black has been accused of manipulation, emotional abuse, and sexual assault. In total, at least ten women have made accusations against the streamer, who has now issued a response. Arcadum is a well-known member of the D&D and VRChat communities, and leads the Callous Row roleplay group. Twitch streamer Momo was among the first women to post public accusations against Black, writing “I am doing this to save future women that could have the possibility of being manipulated by him. I am doing this in an attempt to inform people of his dedication to grooming the people in his life.” During a long “friendship” with Black, Momo claims that the popular streamer was emotionally manipulative, and would “lash out at me, yet again, with the same cycle: angry, jealousy, sympathy farming, and reassurance of his stature.” This is all I want to say. Read: https://t.co/EXa41Dmjd2 — Momo 👽 MYTHIC (@MomoMischief) August 31, 2021 The allegations It is alleged that on August 26, Arcadum reached out to multiple women with whom he was friends, explaining that he was going to “block, and ban all the girls he had been involved with or close with” in an attempt to save his relationship with streamer Tiffany Tiefling. However, Momo claims that “it was not until later, when I was approached by the other women who he had forcibly removed, that he was simply trying to sweep all his wrongdoing under the rug, to salvage his reputation with his community.” Another nine women have posted similar messages, all relaying their experience with Black. These include VTubers/streamers Lyra121, Cri, NaomiOop, SummerSalt, Rediculous, UzuriMia, Kelli Siren, and Folkona. Folkona’s claims include an accusation of sexual assault. “Arcadum asked to scratch my back and play with my hair,” she wrote. “I was obviously okay with this because he hadn’t been intimate with me before this point and I am super friendly in this sense with others. It was only when his hands started wandering where they shouldn’t when it became something more. “I finally got the courage to get up from the seat I was in, he also stood up and attempted to embrace me very close. I allowed it because I assumed it was a hug, only to feel his erection against my leg. I remained motionless and did not touch Arcadum back in any way, shape or form. This weird, dry-humpy embrace lasted several minutes as he cried into my neck. I could feel him gripping at my shirt and pants and holding me violently and just crying into my neck.” Since the initial accusations, more women have echoed similar claims. Twitch streamer Lowrhen said, “I won’t bother sharing my story since it’s not as bad, but it’s essentially the same.” Tiffany Tiefling has tweeted, “I feel sick. I’m sorry. I am not ready to share my side of the story.” https://twitter.com/Tiff_Tiefling/status/1432582067842387969 Arcadum responds On September 2, Arcadum published his own TwitLonger post, detailing his response to the accusations. “I never sought out relationships purely for sexual purposes, and to be absolutely clear, I have never engaged in nonconsensual activity,” he said. “These were relationships that developed as genuine friendships. I greatly valued these friendships and still do, yet I have been unfair to many of them, and I am sorry for the hurt I have caused them.” He explained that his wife Tiffany became aware of the “relationships” and “communications” and was “heartbroken.” “I tried to do as much as I could to salvage the situation. This included attempting to edit and delete messages I had exchanged with different people, as well as reaching out to them to explain I would not be able to continue any sort of professional or personal association.” Arcadum’s response has been met with criticism, particularly because it did not address the accusations from women individually. https://twitter.com/baovtuber/status/1433529652157485060 Concluding his response, Arcadum said he will not be streaming, as he seeks therapy for personal issues.

Concerns raised for Korean Twitch streamer GiannieLee after worrying tweet giannielee on InstagramKorean Twitch streamer GiannieLee raised alarm among fans after she posted a Tweet stating she “could not live anymore” due to alleged harassment from a police officer and his ex-wife. Giannie, a partnered IRL streamer with an audience of 81k followers, claimed the officer became violent on a date. She originally looked to press charges, but chose to drop the case. “I had a date violence last year. He is an American police officer,” she tweeted. “I dropped the case due to his constant push. He was not punished. I tried to kill myself. His ex-wife threatens me for no reason. They are still harassing me. No one is protecting me. I can’t live anymore. I’m sorry.” A woman, believed to be the accused officer’s ex-wife, had ridiculed Giannie’s streaming career and her videos. “I don’t really get it because I am a respectable woman that has a real income,” she said. “If that is how you choose to make money, I don’t know if you are a prostitute or whatever it is that you do.” Fans raise concern GiannieLee Giannie then changed her Twitter name and Twitch bio to the word “bye”, while her Instagram bio simply said “thank you”, prompting concerned fans to reach out to her. Her replies were flooded with well-wishes, as fans urged her to be strong. “Giannie, some people are so low and so jealous,” one fan said. “You’re such an amazing person and there’s so many people who love and support you!” “We admire you, we love you and we are here for you,” another fan said. GiannieLee has posted in her Discord at channel to assure fans was safe, but admitted she was unwell. “I’m sorry to make you worried,” she said. “I’m sick inside and outside. I am trying my best to stay strong. I hope I can see you as soon as possible.” This wouldn’t be the first time Giannie has been the victim of targeted harassment. Back in 2019, when she was in Germany, her stream was hijacked by two people who performed racist gestures live on air. She was heavily praised for her response. She was also temporarily banned from Twitch in 2019 for accidentally doxxing another person’s phone number, and had a very emotional return when her ban was lifted.

CoD Mobile player jailed for 14 years for murder of fellow player InstagramAn 18-year-old former Call of Duty: Mobile pro player has been sentenced to 14 years in prison, convicted of killing a fellow player and filming their corpse. Guilherme Alves Costa, who played under the name Flash Asmodeus, stabbed teenager Ingrid Oliveira Bueno da Silva to death a month after meeting her. Ingrid played for CoD Mobile esports team FBI (Fantastic Brazil Impact), under her in-game name ‘SOL’. He lured the 19-year-old into his home in Sao Paolo, Brazil, before attacking her in the bedroom with a weapon. Her death was first reported by ESPN on February 22, 2021. Costa handed himself over to the police after sharing the video with people in his gaming circle. He told police his “sanity is completely fit” and he “wanted to do it” while being handcuffed. Warning: Details of the attack may be disturbing to some readers. CoD Mobile player sentenced to 14 years for murder On August 15, a court jury in Sao Paolo found him guilty of aggravated murder by a majority verdict, with judge Michelle Porto de Medeiros Cunha Carreiro sentencing him to 14 years imprisonment. Footage shot by the murderer showed the victim on the floor, laying in a pool of blood with a sword in their stomach. In the video footage, Costa was heard saying: “Look, how wonderful.” It was recommended that Guilherme take up psychiatric counseling after a private psychiatrist diagnosed him with persistent delusional disorder and antisocial personality disorder. As reported by The Mirror, Ingrid’s gaming team also posted a statement, celebrating her life. They said: “She was an excellent player, she had a space in our hearts. She was an extraordinary person, always motivating us and believing. We owe her and her family our utmost respect and our condolences.”

CD Projekt Red Reveals First Look at Cyberpunk 2077 Gameplay Following a mysterious stream of code, CD Projekt Red has now revealed a first look at gameplay footage previously only seen behind the scenes at E3 and Gamescom. Narrated by a guide, the footage takes players through the beginning of the game, explaining the gritty environment of Night City and the hard lives of its high-tech inhabitants. Stream details reveal a gameplay-driven dialogue system, with players having an array of speaking options to choose from. Every decision appears to affect the overall game, and players can choose how to approach every situation with their own flair. This gameplay mirrors the game’s source material, Cyberpunk 2020, a pen-and-paper roleplaying game in the style of DnD. Also featured in the stream are the player’s body modifications, an integral part of the Cyberpunk genre and a key tool in the game. With the ocular implant, players can identify the strength of opponents and inspect items for imperative details to their quest. Players can also hack into enemies’ modifications, causing them to de-arm their weapons, kill other opponents, and more. In addition to this, players can also take a multitude of drugs to amplify their performance, initiating “bullet-time,” where users can operate in slow motion to take out the enemy. More details about the game’s development were released in an interview segment following the stream. Developers stated that the game’s first-person perspective seeks to solidify players’ immersion in the title, as it might otherwise be affected in a third-person view. They also justified the game’s use of nudity and language, maintaining that Cyberpunk’s gritty universe is a matter of death and survival, where characters are transformed into objects by the system and their own desire to upgrade. “In Cyberpunk, it’s not possible to save the world – but it is possible to save yourself.” The build used in the stream is not final, and elements of the game are subject to change before release. While other elements of the game are still up in the air, fans can check out the stream to get a better feel for the upcoming title and ready their modifications for future upgrades.

Call of Duty swatter officially sentenced to prison after fatal incident Tyler Barriss has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for ‘swatting’ a Kansas man that led to him being killed by police. California resident Tyler Barriss, the man who has become known as the ‘Call of Duty swatter’, has formally been sentenced to 20 years in prison on Friday, March 29 according to the Associated Press. The sentence stems from a 2017 ‘swatting’ incident that resulted in the death of a Kansas man. Barriss made a false emergency call to law enforcement in Wichita, Kansas claiming there had been a shooting and kidnapping at the address. Police showed up the house and shot the unarmed man, Andrew Finch, who was not the intended target by Barriss as he unknowingly gave officers the wrong address. Barriss plead guilted to 51 federal charges back in November while also admitting to making the phone calls that led to the death of 28-year-old Finch. Read More: ‘Call of Duty swatter’ Tyler Barriss pleads guilty to 51 federal charges, receives sentence – On top of all that, he was indicted on additional charges in relation to other swattings, credit card fraud and bomb threat hoaxes he made to numerous schools and federal agencies, including the FBI offices. The intended target of Barriss, 20-year-old Shane Gaskill, and the man who allegedly recruited Barriss, Casey Viner, were both charged as co-conspirators to the swatting. Everything happened over a match of Call of Duty: WWII gone wrong Gaskill goes to trial April 23 after having it delayed amid plea talks with prosecutors. Viner initially pled not guilty to the crime but has informed the court he intends to change the plea at a hearing scheduled for Wednesday, April 3. Read More: Kansas ‘Call of Duty Swatter’ Tyler Barriss Reportedly Confessed After Arrest, Police Officer Testifies – All of this stems from Call of Duty WWII wager matches in which the two players had a dispute over a $1.50 bet. Finch’s family has sued the city of Wichita and the officers involved, who have not been identified. Police said the officer who shot Finch thought he was reaching for a gun because he moved a hand toward his waistband. Prosecutors for the case did not file any charges on the officer.

Call of Duty Swatter Tyler Barriss hit with 46 new charges Infamous swatter Tyler Barriss has been charged with 46 new crimes by federal prosecutors in the Central District of California. The new charges relate to previous bomb threats that Barriss had phoned in to schools in Ohio, New Hampshire, Nevada, Massachusetts and Illinois. Barriss is also charged with various other bomb threats and swatting attempts, along with charges relating to bank fraud. Many of these new charges are for crimes he committed in the four month period prior to the fatal swatting incident in December. Prosecutors allege that Barris called police in Dedham, Massachusetts claiming to have planted a bomb at a local television station, and that he swatted people in Avon, Indiana and Cincinnati for a friend who paid him $10 for each call. It seems likely that these new charges will be included in the federal case that Barriss faces in Kansas, where he is accused of involuntary manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of 11 years. Barriss has also been indicted in the District of Columbia, where he allegedly phoned in bomb threats to the FBI and the Federal Communications Commission. Barriss was originally arrested after making a hoax phone call to law enforcement in Wichita, Kansas, pretending that he lived at the address, claiming he had murdered his father and was holding hostages in the house. The Los Angeles resident believed the address belonged to a Call of Duty player who he was in a dispute with over a $1 wager match, but was mistaken. When 28-year-old father of two Andrew Fitch opened the door, he was shot dead by a police sniper. Barriss was scheduled to appear in Kansas state court in October, but his trial has now been postponed until January 7. Source: Wired

Blizzard president opens BlizzCon 2019 with Hong Kong scandal apology Blizzard kicked off the opening ceremony for Blizzcon 2019 with an apology for the Hong Kong scandal that broke out in October, after they banned Hearthstone pro Chung ‘Blitzchung’ Ng Wai for protesting against China during a tournament. BlizzCon is currently underway and runs until November 2 in Anaheim, California. However, fans were unsure how the event would go as the American developer was mired in controversy after banning pro Hearthstone player Blitzchung for showing support for the Hong Kong protests during a tournament in October. Blizzard President J. Allen Brack began the convention’s opening ceremony by addressing the scandal – which angered many in the community – and gave a speech to fans, apologizing for how the company had handled the incident, while admitting they “failed” to live up to expectations. Blizzard apologizes for Hong Kong scandal Addressing the elephant in the room, the Blizzard executive said, “Before we start the opening ceremony I want to say a few words. Blizzard had the opportunity to bring the world together during a tough Hearthstone esports moment about a month ago and we did not.” He then explained that the company “moved too quickly” on their initial punishments for the player, and “were too slow” to communicate with their community about the decisions they had made. The developer then outlined why he was not happy with how things were handled. “When I think about what I am most unhappy about, there is really two things. The first one is we didn’t live up to the high standards we really set for ourselves,” he said. He then stated the second point, and apologized to the crowd. “And our second is that we failed to live up to our purpose. And for that, I am sorry. And I accept accountability,” he said, which got a round of applause from the audience. The President for the company then shifted towards the power and positivity that gaming can achieve, by bringing players from around the world to play together and “transcend divisions that surround us.” “We will do better moving forward. Our actions are going to mean more than these words”, Brack finished. The controversy first kicked off on October 6 when Hearthstone pro Blitzchung showed support for the Hong Kong protests in a post-tournament interview. The player was swiftly banned for a year, and had all prize winnings withheld. While Blizzard reduced his suspension to six months and gave the prize money back, many were still angered. It remains to be seen if the President’s speech at Blizzcon will heal the wounds of those upset by the scandal, but the developer was quick to address it before the annual convention kicked off this year.

Artists reveal touching graffiti memorial for YouTuber Etika A New York-based group of artists have unveiled an outstanding memorial for late YouTuber Desmond ‘Etika’ Amofah five months after his death. Etika was a larger-than-life YouTuber with a massive love for all things Nintendo. He garnered a following of almost a million subscribers on the platform, and a legion of fans who loved his boisterous personality, before news of his death rocked the gaming community last June. Now, a group of graffiti artists have looked to immortalize his ongoing legacy within the industry with a beautifully crafted mural in his hometown of New York. On November 6, mural organiser ‘Double A’ tweeted out a panorama of the graffiti mural dedicated to the Smash content creator. “We present to you the Art Mural dedicated to the legend Desmond ‘Etika’ Amofah,” they said. The artpiece extends over 20 meters, and was designed by artists ‘bkfoxx’ and ‘kestaadm’. It features some of the YouTuber’s most iconic lines, including “Have yourself a damn good one” and “Take care of yourself” – always signing off to his viewers with the same positive message. We present to you the Art Mural dedicated to the legend Desmond Etika Amofah! Please share and RT. Pls use #joyconboyzforever when you post your pics/vids and tag us. Shoutout to the amazing artists @bkfoxx & #kestaadm with support from @jmzwalls 1280 Myrtle Ave, Brooklyn NY pic.twitter.com/RiN6vgxcT1 — Double A (nut-job) @AnimeNYC (@DoubleA_Charged) November 6, 2019 It also pays homage to his love of Nintendo, and specifically Smash. The artists integrated two Switch joycons into the mural, as well as a number of Smash-related icons. Fans of Etika have come out to celebrate the life of the popular YouTube personality, and admire the wonderful tribute. Many pledged to make the trek out to New York to see it in person. “Etika will forever be imprinted on this world,” said user ‘CynicalEmo’. ‘Fl33k_ssbu’ also showed off a before and after photo of the mural. The plain old wooden boards have now been transformed into a beautiful shrine. “You guys really put in work,” he said. This is amazing. Here’s a before picture. You guys really put in work. pic.twitter.com/iqOHqTzKIZ — CNP Fl33k | Lawrence (@fl33k_ssbu) November 7, 2019 Etika went missing on June 19, sparking a five-day search for the YouTuber. A collection of his personal belongings were found on the Manhattan Bridge, with his body being recovered from the East River on June 24. New York-based fans of the content creator can see the mural for themselves at 1280 Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn, and pay their respects to the late YouTuber. If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health issues, and would like to talk to someone, please reach out to your local hotline. USA: 1-800-273-8255 – UK: 116-123 – Australia: 13 11 14 –

Amazon’s best selling Video Games of 2018 show very surprising results Amazon has revealed all of the best selling video games purchased on the website in 2018 and the standings might shock a few people. The list, which also includes many video game related items, features a number of household favorites which are available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch platforms. Activision announced that Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 had set a new record for revenue generated on its opening weekend, with $500 million worth of sales counted. Yet, despite that fact, it was outsold on Amazon last year. Red Dead Redemption 2 was a game that the gaming community had been craving for over eight years and went one better than the Call of Duty title, as it was announced that $725 million had been generated in the Rockstar game’s first three days on sale. Surprisingly enough, though, Red Dead 2 didn’t make the top of Amazon’s list either. Instead, it was Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. Ultimate which generated the most sales for the online retailer in 2018 – which may seem surprising. A possible cause for the new Smash Bros game appearing at the top of the list is that it’s only available on Nintendo Switch, much like Super Mario Party, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and other Nintendo games which feature high on Amazon’s 2018 best seller list below. On the other hand, Black Ops 4 and Red Dead Redemption 2 have online versions sold on both the Microsoft store and Sony’s PlayStation store. It looks like more PlayStation players buy from Amazon also, with not one Xbox game making the top 10 – which is dominated by games from Sony and Nintendo. For reference, the highest selling Xbox One game on Amazon was Black Ops 4, which just missed out on the top 10, in the 11th spot. Prices accurate as of January 6, 2019. Source: Amazon US

Activision Blizzard accused of ‘shredding documents’ related to California lawsuit According to new reports, California is expanding its lawsuit against Activision Blizzard and accusing the company of interfering with its investigation by shredding related documents. One of the biggest gaming stories of 2021 has to be the state of California’s lawsuit against Activision Blizzard for a “pervasive frat boy culture.” According to a report from Axios on August 24, California allegedly expanded its lawsuit to include temporary, as well as full-time female employees. It also claims the state is alleging Activision destroyed documents related to the investigation. These new details allegedly appeared in a change to the complaint by California’s Department of Fair Employment & Housing, that was filed in court on Monday, August 23. According to the filing, the word “employees” has been switched with “workers” throughout the documents in the lawsuit, and added that California employment protections includes “employees and contingent or temporary workers.” It also alleges that Activision Blizzard has been hampering the DFEH’s efforts at an investigation with NDAs, and making employees speak with the company before talking to the DFEH. In addition, the state is claiming “documents related to investigations and complaints were shredded by human resource personnel.” Apart from affecting the company’s public image, these ongoing legal issues are also driving advertisers away from the publisher’s esports leagues. First we saw several Overwatch League sponsors leave, followed closely by some from the Call of Duty League not long after. Read More: Asmongold worries Activision Blizzard won’t fix internal issues following lawsuit scandal – Based on this report, it’s clear California is building their case against the embattled video game publisher, but the lawsuit is still ongoing.

100 Thieves CEO Nadeshot becomes the latest hacking victim 100 Thieves CEO Matt ‘Nadeshot’ Haag has become the latest esports personality to have their PlayStation Network and social media accounts hacked. In a tweet posted to Nadeshot’s Twitter account, the hackers included a screenshot of the former OpTic star’s PlayStation Network profile screen, with the options on the left hand such as “set online status” confirming that they are logged into the account. Included in the tweet is a statement which reads “follow us, you dig?” asking Haag to follow them, likely in exchange for the return of his accounts. Nadeshot isn’t the only esports personality to be affected by this group of hackers. FaZe Clan’s professional Call of Duty player Dillon ‘Attach’ Price also had his PSN account hacked on Friday, November 23. The hackers then reset his Call of Duty account, meaning that Price lost his account that had just reached Master Prestige on Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. The hackers then turned their attention to Attach’s teammate Tommy ‘ZooMaa’ Paparatto, gaining access to his PlayStation Network account, but refraining from resetting his account. The hackers who have taken control of Nadeshot’s accounts have been breaking into accounts on a regular basis, including those belonging to FaZe Clan members Agony and Testyment. It also appears that the hackers have gained access to accounts belonging to YouTuber Bryan ‘RiceGum’ Le and popular rapper Travis Scott using this method. Nadeshot has yet to respond to his hacking, but we will be sure to keep updating as new information becomes available.

100 Thieves announce return of Cream Hoodie: release date & how to buy The most lauded piece of merchandise in the 100 Thieves brand’s lineup is back to celebrate the organization’s two year anniversary and here’s how to get your hands on the 2019 cream hoodie. The cream of the crop rises to the top. It’s not just a saying popularized by an astoundingly bizarre Macho Man Randy Savage promo from back in the day, it’s a fitting description for merchandise. The best always rises to the top, and the cream has risen to the top one more time. On November 20, the 100 Thieves brand announced that they would be celebrating their two year anniversary in style, and are doing so by re-releasing a highly demanded piece of merchandise, the cream hoodie. How do I get the hoodie? The cream hoodie will become available on November 23, at precisely 12pm PST/3pm EST/8pm GMT. Currently, the shop page features a slideshow of all the brand’s biggest personalities showing off the returning piece of apparel. Celebrating 2 years of 100 Thieves: We’ve revamped our most popular piece of apparel. All new materials, same classic design. 100 Thieves 2019 Cream Hoodie 11.23.19. 12 PM PT.https://t.co/mX5Z04Uh7h pic.twitter.com/zjoJdeZueX— 100 Thieves (@100Thieves) November 20, 2019 Nadeshot, CourageJD, Valkyrae, BrookeAB, Yassuo, and all the members of The Mob are sporting the returning hoodie above a countdown to the release. There is currently no option to pre-order the item, but shop visitors can create an account and add their shipping address now if they want to beat the rush on Saturday. Judging by the reactions, it should be pretty massive. Why is this hoodie so popular? Previous versions of the hoodie fetch for very high prices on resale. Currently on eBay, there are listings for the previous cream hoodie ranging that range from $350 up to $800. 100 Thieves merch re-sells high regardless, but this piece of merch runs especially pricey. Social media responded overwhelmingly positive to the announcement of the hoodie’s return, reaching near five thousand likes in just half an hour, which is absurdly high for an announcement based solely on a hoodie. ITS. BACK. 💜⚪️ 📸: @LoganDodson https://t.co/cUgGlyUFsD pic.twitter.com/i30v6f6tm8 — The Mob (@TheMob) November 20, 2019 It’s understandable to see this kind of reception, as it is indeed a very stylish hoodie. It doesn’t feature the oversized logos, distracting patterns, and excessive sponsor logos that usually makeup esports merchandise. It’s a simple cream hoodie with the 100T logo front and center, but not too big, and a 100T hem tag along the bottom. Currently, there is no word or announcement of price yet, but expect to see these hoodies get sold out quick regardless of the cost. Creating an account and saving your address now might be the only advantage you have against the others who will be there when the countdown ends.

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Xbox rumored to be remastering another iconic franchise from 360 era MicrosoftDespite a shaky launch, Halo’s The Master Chief Collection has become one of the best all-around package deals available to gamers today. Now, it looks as though another iconic Microsoft series is getting the same treatment. For many long-time gamers, the Master Chief Collection was a dream come true. Every single Halo title is packaged neatly together, alongside their respective multiplayer all in one place. Given the wealth of content across all of the games included, it’s the kind of deal many fans thought would never happen. It’s something we hadn’t seen before or since. Well, that could be about to change, as a leaker has hinted that another one of Microsoft’s big-name titles could be getting a Master Chief Collection-style remaster. This time, it looks like Gears of War is getting the full treatment. Speaking on the XboxEra podcast, Shpeshal Nick claimed that a source close to Microsoft told him about the existence of another package similar to the MCC. “There is another franchise – I’m not allowed to say the franchise – that will be getting the Master Chief Collection treatment,” Nick said. “That’s probably the best way to describe it.” While he couldn’t go into specifics, his fellow hosts pointed out that only Gears of War and Fable felt big enough to warrant their own collection. Plus, Gears also has its popular multiplayer modes across the six games, which would make it the most similar to Halo. The clip was posted on social media by Xbox leaker Idle Sloth. One of the responses was from The Verge editor, Tom Warren, further fueling the rumors that it is actually a ‘Marcus Fenix Collection’ that Microsoft is working on. “The gears are really turning on this rumor,” said Warren’s reply. Gears of War 1 through 5 are all currently available to play on Xbox Games Pass, but they need to be downloaded as separate entities. Bundling them all together and introducing seamless multiplayer integration would be the perfect way to free up some space in the library. Also, aside from Gears of War’s Definitive Edition, the second and third games (and Judgement) are all Xbox 360 versions. Fans on Reddit also pointed out that would be the ideal way to make all of the Gear of War titles available to play on PC. As it stands, Gear of War 2, 3, and Judgement are all missing on PC platforms. The other real contender is Fable, which has been mostly dormant since the third game was released in 2010. With a reboot in development, a Fable collection could pique the interest of those who have never experienced the action RPGs for themselves. Bundling Fable, Fable 2, and Fable III together with all of their DLC and additional story content would still be welcome. While this rumor is far from confirmed, and it could easily turn out to be another franchise, there’s no doubt that the Gears series still makes the most sense for a full collection. There’s currently no time frame, but fans will be hoping they can lancer their through every game in one place very soon.

The Four Open Bracket Teams Qualifying for Pool Play at the Gears Pro Circuit New Orleans Open Have Been Decided A tough Open Bracket test saw four teams battle their way out for a spot in Pool Play at the $250,000 Gears Pro Circuit NOLA Open. With $250,000 on the line, the Gears Pro Circuit NOLA Open is one of the largest events of Season Two and saw a collection of teams show up for their shot at a portion of the prize pool. While 12 squads started their Gears NOLA journey in Pool Play, over 20 teams needed to fight their way through the gauntlet of an Open Bracket in order to keep their hopes at a Championship alive. Now that the winner’s portion of the Gears NOLA Open Bracket has come to a close, four teams will be moving on to Pool Play for the remainder of the event – Bittersweet, Nimbus Esports, Lucent Esports, and Vertacon. Congratulation to the four teams that successfully progressed through the Open Bracket into Pool Play! @BitterSweetGG @Lucent_eSports @Vertacon @Nimbus_GG pic.twitter.com/OCjVqCBgFN — Gears of War Esports (@EsportsGears) July 13, 2018 None of the Open Bracket teams that made it to Pool Play dropped a single map during their run and will play their first matches in Groups on Saturday, July 14. More: Gears Pro Circuit New Orleans Coverage Hub – Stream, Schedule (All Timezones), Matchups, and More! – A full list of the updated Pools can be found below, with more information on the Gears Pro Circuit NOLA Open able to be found on our dedicated Coverage Hub, including matchups, scheduling, and more. Pool A OpTic Gaming – The GosuCrew – Disrupt – Numbus Esports – Pool B Fable EU – eUnited – Ghost Gaming – Lucent Esports – Pool C Echo Fox – OpTic Mexico – Elevate – Vertacon – Pool D EU’s Finest – Simplicity – Rise Nation – Bittersweet –

Reigning Champions Ghost Gaming Fall in First Pool Play Match of Gears NOLA Ghost Gaming got off to a rough start during their Gears Pro Circuit New Orleans Open campaign after a tough loss to the new Fable EU squad. After showing their power at the Gears Pro Circuit Vegas Open back in early April where they took down the former Fable EU roster in the Grand Final, Ghost Gaming appeared to be one of the top teams in the game. However, after deciding to replace Jourdan ‘Ribs’ Ribeiro with Kaid ‘GODPLAYS’ Saleh, Ghost Gaming got a player with a much different playstyle than the other, which raised questions regarding how the new roster would shake out. More: Gears Pro Circuit New Orleans Coverage Hub – Stream, Schedule (All Timezones), Matchups, and More! – They ended up getting placed into Group B for Gears NOLA, which is a Pool that many believe is one of the most difficult in terms of raw talent between the three original teams that were drawn. Ghost matched up against Fable EU, now a French roster since they were represented by the current ‘EUsFinest’ squad, it was expected that the reigning Champions would be able to take the match with ease. Yet, led by veteran Jack ‘Reaxion’ Oliver who may be on one of the best rosters for him in recent memory, Fabe EU managed to 2-0 Ghost Gaming with ease, and go up 1-0 in Group B after a huge win. Although it is certainly not time to hit the panic button yet, Ghost Gaming will look to regain after the loss, and continue their run to hopefully make the Championship Bracket. More info on Gears NOLA can be found on our dedicated Coverage Hub.

OpTic Gaming’s Gears of War Team Undergoes Another Major Roster Change But It’s Still One Player Short OpTic Gaming’s Gears of War roster has undergone yet another change as long-term member Nicholas ‘Red Icy’ Cope has been replaced by Brian ‘SoLuRs’ Valenzuela. OpTic Gaming has dominated the Gears of War scene for the best part of two years, ever since picking up Gilbert ‘Xplosive’ Rojo and company back in August of 2016. However, their last event was their worst result to date as they finished in 4th place at the 2018 GPC Las vegas Open and it soon became apparent that all was not well behind the scenes. Justin ‘Kenny Bounce’ Kenny was removed from the roster in April but soon found a new home with Echo Fox while OpTic started the process of finding a new fifth to put them back on top. Read More: Karma Responds to Speculation About Him Joining 100 Thieves After Nadeshot Confirmed a Team is Coming This Year – It would seem that those plans hit a major hurdle, though, when Icy, who had been with the team since January of 2017, asked to be released from the roster as he no longer felt comfortable on the team. Eventually an arrangement was made that worked for all parties as OpTic came to an agreement with Echo Fox to trade Red Icy for SoLuRs. Please help us welcome Brian “”SoLuRs”” Valenzuela to our OpTic Gears squad! We would like to thank Icy for being such an instrumental part of our Gears family and we wish him the best in his bright future in the competitive Gears of War community. pic.twitter.com/h8KCC6u93G — OpTic Gaming™ (@OpTicGaming) May 31, 2018 The trade will reunite Red Icy and Kenny Bounce as well as provide OpTic with one of the hottest talents in the competitive Gears of War scene in the form of SoLuRs. Meanwhile, the rumors about Arody ‘Praized’ Dipre also joining OpTic Gaming from Echo Fox have started to reach a fever pitch. Again, Praized is regarded as one of the best slayers in the game. Red Icy leaving will certainly have thrown a spanner in the works for OpTic, who had already been working on replacing Kenny for a number of weeks, but if Praized does eventually join, OpTic Gaming could well go on another two year run of dominance. For the time being OpTic Gaming consists of: Gilbert ‘Xplosive’ Rojo – Billy ‘MentaL’ Putnam Jr. – Alex ‘SuMuNs’ Ascencion – Brian ‘SoLuRs’ Valenzuela –

OpTic Gaming’s Gears of War dominance continued in Mexico Twitter: EsportsGearsOpTic Gaming’s Gears of War squad continued their dynastic dominance with a tournament victory at the Gears Pro Circuit Mexico City Open. The Green Wall are usually the favorites heading into any Gears of Wars event and it was no different in Mexico. Only Ghost Gaming have been able to deny them a tournament win in the last five events, but from the start it looked like destiny that they would be defending their crown and picking up the Mexico City Open trophy yet again. OpTic got their weekend off to a hot start with 2-0 sweeps of their Group A games against Team Reciprocity, Elevate and Orlando Reapers. They turned that momentum into a Winners Bracket Finals run, defeating Buddy Buddy and Simplicity in the quarter and semi-finals – again by 2-0 scorelines. However, they were surprisingly defeated 2-0 in the Winners Finals by Denial Esports, dropping them into the Losers bracket and making their chance at success just look less certain. However, the Green Wall was rebuilt and they secured a 2-1 victory over crowd favorites Ghost Gaming to set-up a Grand Finals rematch against Denial. CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?! Reigning champs @OpTicGaming are sent to the Losers Bracket with a 0-2 defeat at the hands of @DenialEsportsWill they survive the Losers Bracket to get another shot at @DenialEsports? pic.twitter.com/Rz1aKz8YST — Gears of War Esports (@EsportsGears) February 3, 2019 It took some incredible plays from Gilbert ‘Xplosive’ Rojo to secure map one of the Grand Finals and push the series closer to a bracket reset. The OpTic Gaming star maintained hill control despite having no support. Looking to pick up the first map, Xplosive quickly action rolled around cover to pick up two quick kills, pushing Denial back while his teammates finally swarmed to him as they captured the hill. Yeah, @Xplosive just wants it more. Map 1 is ours. #GREENWALL | #GearsMX pic.twitter.com/z57ZqZl9Sc — OpTic Gaming™ (@OpTicGaming) February 4, 2019 From that point forward, it was plain sailing for OpTic. While Denial had been the only team to trouble them at the event, they were able to secure a reset of the Grand Finals bracket as they picked up a 4-0 sweep, a new piece of hardware for the trophy case and $80,000 in prize money. Meet the winners of the Gears Pro Circuit Mexico City Open! Congratulations to @Xplosive , @MentaL, @SuMuNs, @Solurs, @Praized & @thyAshes from @OpTicGaming :trophy: #Greenwall pic.twitter.com/zGZnrp4b5d — Gears of War Esports (@EsportsGears) February 4, 2019

OpTic Gaming win Gears Pro Circuit San Diego Open 2018 Ghost Gaming took on OpTic Gaming in the grand final of Gears San Diego, as both North American teams fought for the title of the world’s best Gears of War team. It was a rematch of the winners finals, which Ghost lost 2-0, sending them down to losers. They took on top European team Spacestation in the losers finals, who had just come off a win over Echo Fox. Ghost almost slipped up against Spacestation, but eventually closed out a tight series 2-1 to make it back to another grand final – a chance at redemption vs OpTic. History was against Ghost though, as they have still never beaten OpTic Gaming on LAN in Gears of War – so there first ever would need to be in a grand final. Despite not losing a series all event, OpTic had looked vulnerable early in the tournament, losing maps against OpTic Mexico and Simplicity, while Ghost hadn’t dropped a single map – until they faced OG. Ghost took a slight advantage on the first map, but OpTic quickly took control and started to take round after round, eventually smashing Ghost 7-2 on map one. And it was a similar story on the second map. OpTic started well and Ghost immediately looked deflated and completely out of fresh ideas. During a listen in with OpTic, they could be heard saying “save it for the next event’ – referring to saving strategies for another event – while in a Grand final. It is testament to just how far ahead of the competition they are. It makes it two championships in a row for OpTic, after winning New Orleans in July. There previous record of six championships in a row was spoiled after Ghost won Gears Vegas, earlier in 2018. The recruitment of Praized and SoluRs paid off at New Orleans and yet again was proved the right decision. It means OpTic goes out as the undisputed best team in the world in season 2 of the Gears Pro Circuit.

OpTic Gaming Defeat Echo Fox in Grand Final to Be Crowned Champions of Gears New Orleans 2018 Two North American titans locked horns in the grand finals at the Gears Pro Circuit New Orleans Open, as Echo Fox faced off against OpTic Gaming for the trophy an $100,000 first place prize. OpTic Gaming had already beaten Echo Fox in the first round of the winners bracket on day two, but the EF players, namely former OpTic player Icy, maintained that they weren’t in a good state of mind in that match. After dropping to the losers bracket Echo Fox looked back to their best though, making quick work of OpTic Mexico and Elevate, and closing out a close series against reigning champions Ghost Gaming. In the losers final they pushed to the very edge by EU’s Finest, but eventually clutched up the third map 7-5 to earn their replay against OG in the final. OpTic took the early rounds in map one and it was beginning to look like business as usual as Echo Fox provided little in response. But from seemingly out of nowhere Echo Fox gained a new lease of life and motivation, shocking OpTic by winning seven straight rounds and taking the first map in what was, eventually, dominant fashion. And it was the former OpTic star Icy who really stood, not just with his round saving plays but also with his motivational communications, firing up his squad against his old team. Map two was more closely contested, with rounds trading back and forth as OpTic fought to get a foothold in the series. Echo Fox were the first to edge out an advantage at 5-4, but OpTic took the map with three straight rounds, despite Kenny’s best efforts. So map three in the first series was Echo Fox’s last chance to force a second series, but OpTic had no plans of giving them a second chance, quickly extending out to a 6-0 lead – at which point Icy had zero kills. Echo Fox managed to take one round (and Icy managed 2 kills), but OpTic won the match, series and tournament with a 7-1 win. We are your Gears Pro Circuit New Orleans Open CHAMPIONS#GREENWALL pic.twitter.com/VwNVKPQRW1 — OpTic Gaming™ (@OpTicGaming) July 16, 2018

OpTic Gaming Advance to Gears New Orleans Grand Final with Hard Earned Win Over EU’s Finest OpTic Gaming had looked unbeatable coming into championship Sunday at the Gears Pro Circuit New Orleans Open, but faced their toughest challenge against an in form ‘EU’s Finest’ in the winners final. After a flawless pool play stage, OpTic made quick work of both Echo Fox and Ghost Gaming, their main North American rivals, but it was the Europeans who would give them a real test. EU’s Finest were previously Fable’s European roster, but since departing the organization chose to stick as a team and represent their own brand – and were very aptly named. Definitely the top European team, they were the only one to secure top eight, and looked even more hungry as EU’s main hope in the New Orleans event. And EU’s Finest started the stronger in the match, winning a couple early rounds, but in typical OpTic fashion they remained unfazed and started gaining momentum. Eventually closing out map one 7-3, OpTic just looked the stronger team as a set of individuals as well as coordination as a squad. EU’s Finest good use of power weapons like the Boom Shot earned them the few rounds they did manage, but they could never gain any real momentum. They did play much better on map two however, perhaps beginning to grow in confidence after a tough map one. EU’s Krazed went huge for his side to push it to a third map, handing OpTic their first map loss of the tournament. But OpTic were not about to lose another, as they looked dominant on map three, steamrolling EU’s Finest with a demorsalizing 7-0 sweep. EU will have no time to feel sorry for themselves as they have another chance to make it to the grand final in the losers final. OpTic may have shown they are human, but still look utterly dominant going into the final.

New Gears of War game in development according to job listings Xbox Game StudiosJob listings for developer The Coalition show the studio is staffing up to enter production on a new Gears of War game. The last mainline Gear of War entry, Gears 5, launched in 2019. Since then, The Coalition has yet to formally announce what it will produce next. But rumors suggest Xbox does have at least one major project in the works for the series. It will allegedly come in the form of a Gears of War remaster collection, akin to the Master Chief Collection that featured a total of six Halo experiences. And it appears Xbox has even more Gears-centric adventures planned if a recent job listing is anything to go by. Job posting hints at new Gears of War game from The Coalition Postings on The Coalition’s website show the studio is in the market to hire for several senior roles, including a Senior Environment Artist, Tools Engineer, and Multiplayer Designer. Write-ups for several listings state the development team’s current objective of “forge the future of the [Gears of War] IP…” When taking the full list of vacant roles into consideration, it’s clear the group is ramping up development on a new game. This all aligns with claims from journalist Jeff Grubb who reported in February that the Canadian studio had transitioned to another Gears title after canceling two unannounced games. Such change came amid Microsoft layoffs that affected teams such as 343 Industries, Bethesda, and The Coalition. In addition, Gears of War veteran Joshua Ortega teased his return to the series just last week in a Twitter post. When Microsoft and The Coalition plan on officially lifting the lid presently remains a mystery.

Multiple Gears 6 insiders have started talking about the game all of a sudden MicrosoftGears of War 6 could be surfacing later this year according to proven insiders, with it likely getting teased at this summer’s Xbox showcase. News of a potential tease for the returning Gears of War franchise has come in thick and fast in the last day with three separate insiders making claims about Gears 6. Firstly, known industry insider Jeff Grubb teased that he has heard it’s likely we will see something from Gears 6 later this year. On the Kinda Funny XCast, he affirmed speculation that Gears 6 should turn up at the Xbox Summer in the summer, so I think that tease sounds about right.” Furthering that speculation, in response to the clip of Grubb teasing the reveal, The Verge’s Tom Warren tweeted: “Correct”. Elsewhere, in a Resetera forum post, long-time insider Shinobi602 responded to a poster saying that new Hellblade 2 screenshots were “stunning”, by saying: “Wait until you see Gears. People aren’t ready” That’s quite a flurry of Gears of War 6 hints in a short amount of time. It’s not clear if this has been spurned on by some kind of event, or if it is just the universe aligning for Gears 6. Regardless, as ever with insiders, you can’t take it as gospel. That said, all of these sources have good track records, and that sure is a lot of smoke to happen without a fire. Here’s hoping we do see Gear 6 this summer because it’s been far too long since we’ve had a trip to Sera.

Microsoft files new Gears of War trademark as remastered collection rumors fly MicrosoftMicrosoft has filed a new Gears of War trademark leading fans of the series to believe a remastered collection is on the way. Gears of War fans have long been waiting for a remastered collection of the original games. The Microsoft-owned IP was one of the original franchises that helped skyrocket the popularity of the Xbox 360 in the mid-2000s. Now, dedicated Gears fans believe a move from Microsoft could signal the return of the original games. Gears of War trademark could be remastered collection Xbox fans spotted a new Microsoft trademark filed on September 20 for “Gears of War.” The re-upping of the trademark for the Gears franchise signaled to some that Microsoft could be prepping a remastered collection. Rumors had circulated earlier in 2022 that a collection could be coming, and now some are speculating this could mean that becomes a reality. One Reddit user said of the filing, “A Gears of War collection wouldn’t surprise me. Getting a version of 2 and 3 that I can play on the PC would be very sick. So mostly a wish, but still.” Another added, “I would actually love a Halo MCC-esque remake of the first 3 Gears games under the Unreal 5 engine first the Series S/X. I would love to see what the Coalition could do with new models and such. Especially Gears of War 3.” Despite the high demand for a remastered collection, Microsoft hasn’t announced any concrete plans just yet. For Gears fans’ sake, let’s hope Microsoft has something in store for the very patient fandom.

How to watch first ever Gears 5 tournament at ELEAGUE Invitational – Stream and schedule ELEAGUEProfessional players are set to go head-to-head in the first ever competitive Gears 5 event at the ELEAGUE Invitational on July 13-14, as fans get their first glimpse at the upcoming game, played by the very best. Gears 5 is set to release on September 19, after which the Gears Pro Circuit will be back in full swing, but ahead of release pro players will be showing off some competitive action. Eight of the very best teams in the world, including the former OpTic Gaming roster, now playing under TOX, which is heralded as one of the most dominant teams in all of esports, will be in attendance for the two-day tournament, playing for the $80,000 first place prize. Where to watch Gears 5 ELEAGUE Invitational There won’t be any general admission to the tournament, but of course you can catch all the action on Twitch. Matches begin at 12PM ET (9AM PT / 5PM BST) on July 13. We’ve got the Twitch stream below for your convenience. Watch live video from Gears of War on www.twitch.tvFormat The eight teams will go straight into a single-elimination, best of three bracket, starting at the quarter-final stage. The opening bracket is now available, with Ghost vs Glory, Rise vs Reciprocity, TOX vs Simplicity and Mazer vs EU’s finest the first round matches. ELEAGUE Gears 5 invitational teams Eight teams in total will take part, with plenty of familiar names in Gears of War esports. Prize pool A whopping $200,00 will be split between all eight teams, so even first-round losers won’t go home empty handed.

Rumored Gears of War remastered collection still in development, says insider MicrosoftAccording to an industry insider, Microsoft is still working on the rumored Gears of War Remastered Collection. Rumors about a Gears of War remaster began circulating in early 2022, due to claims made during an episode of the XboxEra podcast. One of the show’s co-hosts, Nick Baker, alleged Gears of War would get the Halo Master Chief Collection treatment. And apparently, the rumblings were that it would hit store shelves sometime in 2022. Since that release window has passed, fans of the groundbreaking action franchise have begun to doubt the remastered collection claims. A new rumor suggests holding on to hope isn’t such a bad idea, though. Supposed Gears of War Remastered Collection is still coming In a recent Twitter thread, Nick Baker confirmed that he’s convinced the Gears of War collection is still on the way. “…I won’t back down. It’s happening,” the insider wrote. Responding to another post, Baker stated he couldn’t offer much more in the way of concrete information. He is “working on loosening the grip,” however, suggesting there could be more details to share in the not-too-distant future. Notably, Microsoft filed a gaming-related Gears of War trademark in September 2022, drawing further interest in the remastered collection rumors. But the only Gears of War projects announced in the months since then concern TV and movie endeavors. Developer The Coalition is partnering with Netflix to bring an animated series and live-action film to the streaming platform. How exactly the story will be adapted remains to be seen, yet fans have high hopes that Dave Bautista, who’s long campaigned for the Marcus Fenix role, will take part in some capacity.

Gears San Diego day two – Ghost Gaming dominate, OpTic overcome hurdles Day two of the Gears Pro Circuit San Diego open concluded with the winners finalists decided, as the two favorites for the tournament in Ghost Gaming and OpTic Gaming are set to face off. After the top teams closed out their pools, Ghost, OpTic, Echo Fox and Spacestation all advanced to the championship bracket with 3-0 group records. It meant the bracket was set exactly how seedings would have predicted it, and once again the four group winners didn’t slip up, advancing to the winners semis. Ghost, yet to lose a map the whole event, took on North American rivals Echo Fox, and they still didn’t drop a map – in fact barely lost a round, winning 6-2, 6-3. It wasn’t as straightforward for OpTic up against Spacestation, as they dropped yet another map – their third map loss of the tournament – and were forced to pull off the reverse sweep. But pull it off they did, looking much more assured in the next two maps, and OpTic’s Praized explained exactly how they did it, after the match. The losers bracket is still on going, and with heavyweights Echo Fox and Spacestation dropping down, it is as stacked as always. Rise Nation will take on Reciprocity in the losers bracket, with a match against Spacestation awaiting the winner. On the other side of losers bracket, Echo Fox awaits the team which can come out on top between Elevate, Nimbus and Fable. Gears San Diego will resume for championship Sunday at 10am PST / 1pm EST / 6pm BST.

Gears Pro Circuit San Diego Open $250,000 tournament – Final Placements The final event of Season of the Gears Pro Circuit took place in San Diego on September 28-30, with the best teams from around the world competing for their share of the $250,000 prize pool. The usual suspects were all in attendance and in fine form, with reigning open champions OpTic Gaming, their main competition Ghost Gaming and Echo Fox, plus top EU team Spacestation. A stacked open bracket saw over 30 teams target a pool play spot too, and the four spots were secured by Nimbus, Krisis Gaming and both Fable rosters (US and LATAM). The top teams didn’t slip up in pool play though, with OpTic, Ghost, Echo Fox and Spacestation all finishing top of their respective groups with 3-0 records. Ghost were particularly impressive, coming into championship Sunday without losing a map, and despite OpTic having won the last event, Ghost certainly looked like the team to beat. We will keep the final placements from the tournament updated throughout championship Sunday as more teams bow out of the tournament, until the San Diego champ is crowned. Gears San Diego Open Final Placements

Gears Pro Circuit San Diego day one roundup – OpTic show vulnerability, Echo Fox and Ghost look comfortable Reece Martinez / Esports GearsDay one of the Gears Pro Circuit San Diego Open has come to a close with the top teams strolling through the competition, as the challengers fail to upset. The final event of the Gears Pro Circuit Season 2 takes the competition to San Diego, California, and boasts a $250,000 prize pool over the course of the three-day major LAN event. OpTic found their way back to the top of Gears at the last event San Diego, but their dominance was threatened when Ghost Gaming won the event previous, and Ghost came in as the dark horse once again. There was little indication on day one that the favorites, OpTic, Echo Fox and Ghost Gaming would slip up, as they rolled through the competition. In Pool A, OpTic first showed vulnerability against their Mexican counterparts, dropping a map against OpTic’s Mexico roster, although the North Americans closed it out 2-1. They came up against Simplicity next and dropped yet another map, and were forced to a 13th round in deciding map, which really should have been won by Simplicity. with a 4v1 in Simplicity’s favor, OpTic just managed to bring it back. OpTic Mexico beat Simplicity in their first match up on mainstage, and it wasn’t that close, so it was surprising that Simplicity were able to put up such a fight against the tournament favorites. In Pool B, Echo Fox faced tough tests in Rise Nation and Fire N Ice, and Rise certainly put up a fight. In a nailbiter of a match, Echo Fox had to make a huge comeback in map one, before Rise bit back. In the game 3, Echo Fox only just managed to avoid the round 13, closing it out 7-5. Unfortunately for Fire N Ice, they seemed somewhat out of their depth in this group, and with Nimbus coming in from open bracket, it may not get any easier for them. In Pool C, it was all Ghost Gaming. They dropped only three rounds in their opening two matches, as they simply dominated Lucent and Worlds Best. Worlds Best looked surprisingly flat, and will need to bounce back big time on Saturday if they are to make a run. Pool D was perhaps the hardest to call, but Spacestation made it pretty straightforward in the end. They looked very strong against a tough Reciprocity roster, and eLevate struggled despite boasting a talented lineup. Matches will resume tomorrow as the open bracket winning teams will enter each pool and vie for a top 2 spot to advance to the championship winners bracket. Judging by day one, it will be one of the top North America teams making lifting the trophy on Sunday, but there is still a long way to go.

Gears Pro Circuit San Diego hub – Stream, schedule, matchups, and more! The Gears of War Pro Circuit is heading to San Diego, California for the fifth major of Season 2 with teams battling it out for their share of the $250,000 prize pool, and the chance to be crowned San Diego Champions. Basic Information Prize Pool: $250,000 – Location: San Diego – Dates: September 28 – 30 – Format: Groups > Double Elimination Bracket – Stream Watch live video from Gears of War on www.twitch.tvBrackets Coverage Four Open Bracket teams advance to Pool Play – Gears San Diego Day One Round Up – Final Pool Play results at Gears San Diego – Gears Pro Circuit San Diego Open $250,000 tournament – Final Placements – OpTic Gaming win Gears Pro Circuit San Diego Open 2018 – Five Stories From the Gears Pro Circuit San Diego 2018 Open – Interviews Interview with OpTic Gaming coach Ashes – Interview with Echo Fox’ Franchis – Interview with Ghost Gaming’s FatalStryke – Interview with Spacestation’s Jack – Interview with OpTic Gaming’s SuMuNs – Interview with OpTic Gaming’s Xplosive – Schedule Group C Group D Format Open Bracket Double Elimination Bracket – Best of 3 Series – Top 4 Winner’s Bracket teams qualify for Group Play – Top 4 Loser’s Bracket teams qualify for Championship Bracket Losers Round 1. – – Group Play Best of 3 Series – Top 2 teams in each group are placed in Championship Winner’s Round 1 – 3rd Place team is placed in Championship Loser’s Round 2 – 4th Place team is placed in Championship Loser’s Round 1 – – Championship Bracket Double Elimination – Best of 3 Series – –

Gears Pro Circuit NOLA Day One Pool Play Roundup – Upsets Galore as Ghost Gaming, EU’s Finest Struggle in Groups Day One of the Gears Pro Circuit New Orleans Open has come to a close with a collection of surprising results after a full slate of competition. Held at the Ernest Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Illinois, the Gears Pro Circuit NOLA Open boasts a $250,000 prize pool over the course of the three-day major LAN event. Although they came off a win at the Gears Vegas Open in April, Ghost Gaming kicked off their Gears NOLA run with a tough loss to Fable EU in the first match of Pool Play, which seemingly set the tone for the roster going forward. More: The Four Open Bracket Teams Qualifying for Pool Play at the Gears Pro Circuit New Orleans Open Have Been Decided – Ghost ended up finishing the day with a disappointing 0-2 finish after they fell in devastating 7-6, 7-6 fashion to eUnited, who ended with two massive wins in Group B. OpTic Gaming, in Group A, and Rise Nation, in Group D, were the only two other teams in Pool Play that managed to end Friday with 2-0 records, with Rise taking down EUsFinest – a team which many thought could potentially take the event. Finally, Echo Fox, with the addition of KennyBounce and Icy, appeared to start their Gears NOLA run strong win over OpTic Mexico, in Group C. Elevate ended up losing to OpTic MX, who finished 1-1 on the day. Day two will be the first opportunity for the four Open Bracket teams – Nimbus Esports, Lucent Esports, Vertacon, and Bittersweet – to prove their worth in Pool Play, and potentially qualify for the Championship Bracket. More: Gears Pro Circuit New Orleans Coverage Hub – Stream, Schedule (All Timezones), Matchups, and More! – Saturday of Gears NOLA will kick off at 10:00 AM CT (8AM PST, 11 AM EST, 4 PM BST) with Rise Nation taking on Bitterweet on Mainstage.

Gears Pro Circuit New Orleans Open Group Previews – New OpTic Gaming, Ghost Gaming Looks to go Back-to-Back, and More! The Gears of War Pro Circuit New Orleans Open features a collection of incredibly strong pools with $250,000 one the line across the weekend. Following the Gears Vegas Open in early April where Ghost Gaming managed to take down Fable (now EUsFinest), multiple teams made changes over the course of three months to better themselves for the New Orleans Open. Although the former OpTic Gaming roster may have typically been the favorite for each tournament, their disappointing performance at Gears Vegas sparked a roster change, with many believing that Gears NOLA may be one of the most competitive events in regards to the number of teams that could take home the tournament win. More: Gears Pro Circuit New Orleans Coverage Hub – Stream, Schedule (All Timezones), Matchups, and More! – With the Gears NOLA Open set to take place between July 13 and July 15, we have compiled a collection of previews for each Group in Pool Play prior to the start of the competition. Group A After a disappointing showing at Gears Vegas where they were sent home with their worst finish as a squad, OpTic Gaming decided to make two changes by replacing Nicholas ‘Icy’ Cope and Justin ‘Kenny Bounce’ Kenny with Brian ‘SoLuRs’ Valenzuela and Arody ‘Praized’ Dipre. While some community members believe they got even better following the roster moves, others think that Gears NOLA can be a chance for other squads to potentially take down the new squad. OpTic will be joined by The GosuCrew, a team with a completely new roster since Gears Vegas, and Disrupt Gaming, however, many believe that the Green Wall will remain strong, and take home the top spot in Group A. Group A: OpTic Gaming; The GosuCrew; Disrupt Gaming; Open Bracket team TBD. Group B Even though they managed to take home the Gears Vegas Championship, Ghost Gaming decided to make a change by bringing on Kaid ‘GODPLAYS’ Saleh in place of 6x Champ Jourdan ‘Ribs’ Ribeiro. The two competitors may have vastly different playstyles from one another, but the aggression brought to the roster by GODPLAYS may be what the squad needs in order to potentially secure back-to-back Championships. Fable is now a French squad after formerly being the home to EUsFinest, the Gears Vegas runners-up, and bring Jack ‘Reaxion’ Oliver into the mix as a veteran leader. Group B is rounded-out by eUnited, who made some adjustments in the months prior to NOLA, and will look to get back into their Championship-contending form. Group B may be one of the toughest Pools at NOLA, especially depending on which Open Bracket team makes their way in on Saturday. Group B: Ghost Gaming; Fable EU; eUnited; Open Bracket team TBD. More: Fable Esports (now EUsFinest) Crowned Champions of EGL Gears London $20,000 Open – Final Placements – Group C Now that they have brought on Nicholas ‘Icy’ Cope and Justin ‘Kenny Bounce’ Kenny from OpTic Gaming, Echo Fox will be one of the most interesting teams to watch across the entirety of the Gears NOLA Open. While they may want to play the main OpTic roster later in the tournament, they will need to get through the likes of OpTic Gaming Mexico, formerly known as LATM Kings, who are one of the strongest teams from Latin America. Elevate is a new team, and will still need to prove themselves on LAN in order to potentially find themselves in the Championship Bracket. Group C: Echo Fox; OpTic Gaming Mexico; Elevate; Open Bracket team TBD. Group D It is widely agreed that EUsFinest is a top-tier team in the professional Gears of War community following their impressive performance in Las Vegas back in April under the FableEU banner. Although they took second place behind Ghost Gaming in Vegas, some believe that they could have taken the Grand Final if some certain instances went their way. Although Group D is completed by Simplicity and Rise Nation, both teams are regarded as ‘wild cards’ coming into NOLA, and EUsFinest should likely take the number one spot in the Pool unless multiple upsets take place. Group D: EUsFinest; Simplicity; Rise Nation; Open Bracket team TBD.

Gears Pro Circuit New Orleans Coverage Hub – Stream, Schedule (All Timezones), Matchups, and More! Gears of War Esports The Gears of War Pro Circuit is heading to New Orleans, Louisiana for the fourth major of Season 2 with teams battling it out for their share of the $250,000 prize pool, and the chance to be crowned NOLA Champions. After Ghost Gaming managed to come out strong at the Gears Las Vegas Open in early April and managed to take home a first-place finish, a number of teams from across the scene underwent roster changes, including OpTic Gaming, Echo Fox, and others in order to strengthen their hopes for the NOLA title. Basic Information Prize Pool: $250,000 – Location: New Orleans – Dates: July 13-15 – Format: Groups > Double Elimination Bracket – Stream Watch live video from Gears of War on www.twitch.tvBrackets Coverage Video Interviews SuMuNs on OpTic Gaming Roster Changes and Gears Vegas Performance – Benson Discusses Gears vs CoD Event Atmosphere – Xplosive on What Went Wrong for OpTic in Vegas and How They Fixed it – Elevate’s Sneak on His Leadership Role – Hydrone on winning a round 13, and what he expects out of Elevate in the Semi – Fatal Stryke on Losing Ribs, a bad start, and Ghost Gaming leadership – Solurs on joining OpTic and how good the team is – Praized reflects on OpTic’s championship win – Sunday Content OpTic Advance to Grand Final with Hard Earned Win Over EU’s Finest – Next Major Gears of War Pro Circuit Event Announced for San Diego – OpTic Gaming Defeat Echo Fox in Grand Final to Be Crowned Champions of Gears NOLA – Five Stories From the Gears Pro Circuit New Orleans 2018 Open – Saturday Content Final Pool Play Results – Championship Bracket is Set at Gears New Orleans – Gears New Orleans Final Placements – Gears New Orleans Day Two – OpTic Gaming Look Unbeatable, EU’s Finest Impress – Friday Content Reigning Champions Ghost Gaming Fall in First Pool Play Match at Gears NOLA – The Four Open Bracket Teams Qualifying for Pool Play at the Gears Pro Circuit New Orleans Open Have Been Decided – Gears Pro Circuit NOLA Day One Pool Play Roundup – Upsets Galore as Ghost Gaming, EU’s Finest Struggle in Groups – Pre-Event Content Pool Play Group A Group B Group C Group D Format Open Bracket Double Elimination Bracket – Best of 3 Series – Top 4 Winner’s Bracket teams qualify for Group Play – Top 4 Loser’s Bracket teams qualify for Championship Bracket Losers Round 1. – – Group Play Best of 3 Series – Top 2 teams in each group are placed in Championship Winner’s Round 1 – 3rd Place team is placed in Championship Loser’s Round 2 – 4th Place team is placed in Championship Loser’s Round 1 – – Championship Bracket Double Elimination – Best of 3 Series – –

Gears Pro Circuit New Orleans $250,000 Tournament – Final Placements The best Gears of War teams from around the world descended on the Ernest Morial Convention Center in New Orleans over the weekend July 13 – 15 for a $250,000 open tournament. After OpTic Gaming had finally been dethroned at the last major open in Las Vegas, where Ghost Gaming took 1st, the Gears competitive scene was suddenly blown wide open. A number of very high profile roster moves, which included OpTic Gaming themselves, blew it open ever further, as numerous powerhouse teams formed from the fallout. Former OG players Icy and KennyBounce moved over to rivals Echo Fox, and the much anticipated Rise Nation roster as well as eUnited also hoped to use their advantage of team experience of the newer rosters. More: Gears Pro Circuit New Orleans Coverage Hub – Stream, Schedule (All Timezones), Matchups, and More! – But it wasn’t just the North American teams with aspirations of glory in New Orleans, with the former FableEU roster now org-less, they performed under their own branding “EUsFinest”, and were expected to be the top EU team challenging. On the LATAM front, OpTic Gaming’s newly acquired Mexican roster were the big news, as fans anticipated a strong performance under the GreenWall brand. After reigning champions Ghost Gaming were eliminated by Echo Fox, it was their turn to challenge OpTic Gaming in the grand final. OpTic looked back to their best however, and even taking on their former teammates Icy and KennyBounce in the final, showed that the GreenWall is still the top team in Gears esports.

Gears of War Esports is Heading Back to the UK for the EGL Gears Open in London EGLGears of War and the European Gamers League have partnered up again to take Gears Esports back to the United Kingdom. On May 9th, EGL announced Gears Open – London, which will be held on June 9th and 10th at Stamford Bridge, which is the home stadium of Chelsea Football Club. EGL Gears Open – London will feature up to 32 teams competing in a double elimination tournament with a prize pool that includes $20,000 and 68,000 Gears Pro Points. This will be the second Gears Esports even being held in the UK this season after EGL Sheffield, which was played April 21st and 22nd. The tournament in Sheffield was won by Fable Esports EU, with Supremacy, Lucent Esports, and The Regal Reserve rounding out the top 4. Fable will return as the favorites when they defend their title at Stamford Bridge in the heart of London, and with the top North American teams unable to compete due to the European region restriction, it would be surprise to see any other team lift the trophy. The entire announcement for EGL Gears Open – London can be viewed below, with full details and ticket/team pass prices all available on the EGL website. Fresh off the success of the EGL Gears Open – Sheffield we’re pleased to announce a further partnership with The Coalition & Microsoft that’ll see European Gaming League (EGL) bring Gears Esports to the capital of the UK. A iconic global city that hosts millions of tourists a year, with EGL bringing Gears to one of the biggest hotspots, the home of Chelsea Football Club and their stadium Stamford Bridge. The EGL Gears Open – London will feature up to 32 teams competing in a double elimination tournament for a share of $20,000 and 68,000 Gears Pro Points. You’ll be able to catch all of the action live from Stamford Bridge on June 9th & 10th via Twitch & Mixer. Teams will be seeded based on their accumulated Pro Circuit Pro Points and will be asked to submit their roster no later than 7th June 2018. All attendees must be over the age of 18. However, those aged 16 or 17 may gain entry with a consent form signed by a parent or guardian (Download here). Full tournament rules and regulations can be found here.

Gears of War: E-Day goes back in time instead of continuing the story of 5 Xbox Game StudiosThe 2024 Xbox Games Showcase featured the reveal of Gears of War: E-Day, a new prequel game that will show an important moment from the past rather than continuing the story from Gears of War 5. As one of Xbox Games Studios’ biggest franchises, it was only a matter of time before Gears of War returned. However, fans expected Gears of War 6 or a spin-off rather than delving into the lore. There were also rumors about a remastered Gears of War collection that have yet to come to fruition. The final trailer during the Xbox Games Showcase in Summer Game Fest 2024 was for Gears of War: E-Day, an upcoming title with no release date as of yet. The trailer featured some amazing visuals using in-engine footage but didn’t show any actual gameplay. Gears of War: E-Day stars a young Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago during a pivotal moment in the series’ history, known as Emergence Day. During this event, the Locusts opened massive holes beneath the planet Sera, wiping out millions of humans and officially kicking off the Locust War. The events of Gears of War: E-Day occur fourteen years before the events of the main game. This means we might get new voice actors to replace the familiar cast for this entry, with someone other than John DiMaggio taking up the Marcus Fenix role for this title. It’s fascinating that the developers went in this direction for a new Gears of War title. The Emergence Day conflict is mentioned in the lore, but it’s on such a massive scale that fans didn’t believe it would ever be shown on screen. Maybe the hardware of the Xbox Series X/S or its predecessor will do the Emergence Day stories justice and show a truly epic conflict between humanity and the Locusts in a familiar city location, rather than the ruins seen in later entries in the series.

Gears of War E-Day: Everything we know about the prequel The CoalitionGears of War: E-Day is an upcoming prequel that takes place years before the original game in the franchise, so here is everything you need to know. Other than Halo, Gears of War has always served as one of the biggest exclusive franchises for the big green machine, Xbox. The original trilogy was praised by critics and fans alike, many crediting it as being a driving force in the cover-based shooter gameplay that has infiltrated the video game industry over the past few decades. After Epic Games moved on from the franchise, the Coalition took control of all things Gears, with 2019’s Gears of War 5 a major return to form for the franchise. In saying this, fans have been eagerly awaiting any news about a new Gears of War game, with the recent Xbox Showcase revealing that the devs are winding back the clock and developing a brand new prequel. Here is everything you need to know about Gears of War: E-Day, including cast, plot, and more. Gears of War E-Day: Plot details The Gears of War franchise is taking a step back in time with E-Day, going even further back than the original game. Fans of the Gears franchise will recognize the significance of E-Day plays in greater Gears lore and therefore, know what the game will likely entail. Emergence Day, also known as E-Day, was when the Locust Horde first shot up from their underground hive and began the decade-spanning war against humanity. In an Xbox blog post released after the initial reveal of the game, the game was described as “an origin story that depicts the horror of Locust invasion on Emergence Day through the eyes of Marcus Fenix.” While we can confirm both Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago will feature in the game, no other plot details have been revealed. As such, be sure to check back in with this section as we update it with all the latest details. Gears of War E-Day: Cast John Di Maggio is expected to return and once again voice Marcus Fenix. However, the rest of the cast is set to be confirmed or leaked. Be sure to check back in with this section as we keep it updated with all the latest information. Gears of War E-Day: Unreal Engine 5 While the reveal that the next Gears game is a prequel was an exciting twist for fans, gamers became extra interested after it was confirmed the game would be developed on Unreal Engine 5. “With the advancements in Unreal Engine 5, the leap in technical capabilities is tremendous,” explained Kate Rayner, Studio Technical Director at The Coalition, in a recent Xbox blog post. “The original ‘Mad World’ trailer made a real statement by using in-engine footage. We’re pushing that even further with Unreal Engine 5,” Rayner continues. “Our goal with the announcement trailer was to highlight our commitment to pushing the boundaries of both storytelling and technology in gaming.” Gears of War E-Day: trailers As part of the Xbox Showcase, the first snippet of footage for Gears of War: E-Day was revealed at the 2024 event.

Gears of War creator gives Zack Snyder tick of approval to direct film on one condition MicrosoftGears of War creator Cliff Bleszinski has given acclaimed director Zack Snyder his seal of approval to lead the charge on the upcoming live-action Netflix adaptation, though it comes with one big asterisk: Dave Bautista must be Marcus Fenix. In an era where almost every video game is coming to the big screen in some capacity, it’s only fitting Gears of War is in line for the live-action treatment too. In light of highly successful projects like HBO’s The Last of Us and Sony’s Tom Holland-led Uncharted flick, Netflix officially cut a deal last year to bring us a Gears of War movie. Not only is a big-budget film in the works, but so too is an animated television series, as the streaming giant doubles down on Microsoft’s hit third-person action franchise. For the time being, no official details have been locked in beyond the mere fact it’s all going ahead. So with the window still open for seemingly anyone to join the projects, Man of Steel director Zack Snyder has now shown a keen interest, with the game’s creator even backing him to take it on. Given his existing partnership with Netflix, Snyder is currently in Germany promoting Rebel Moon at Gamescom 2023. In a sit-down interview with IGN, the topic of video game adaptations came up. “We’ve talked about a bunch of… Gears has always come up in our sort of circle,” he teased before then adding Halo to his list of dream projects as well. Before long, this brief comment gained traction on social media and found its way to the very creator of the franchise, Cliff Bleszinski. The former game dev signed off on the idea of Snyder directing, but with one big caveat. “I approve, but only if Dave Bautista is Marcus [Fenix],” Bleszinski said. WWE Hall-of-Famer turned high-profile movie star, Bautista is no stranger to the Gears franchise. Having expressed his desire to join a live-action adaptation on multiple occasions over the past few years, it’s a role he’s been actively pursuing for quite some time. “I really hope they will,” Bautista said when asked if Netflix will make contact when casting for the film. “It’s a part that I’ve sought after for years and I feel like I could bring a lot of heart to Marcus Fenix. I really would. I think I would do that part justice. I feel confident in it, so hopefully it’ll come my way and we’ll be having this conversation in a different way sometime.” Given his evident passion for the series, we’ve even seen a Batista skin added in-game thanks to some Gears 5 DLC. Should the stars align, perhaps we’ll be hearing sooner than later about Netflix’s Gears of War movie. And if luck should have it, maybe it’ll come with both Snyder and Bautista attached. But for now, we’ll just have to wait and see how things pan out.

Gears of War community takes aim at ‘disastrous’ premium content costs The Coalition’s latest entry into the Gears of War franchise is being torn apart by dedicated fans that are enraged over the current costs of downloadable content. Since its release in September of 2019, Gears 5 proved to be the most successful launch for Microsoft throughout the current console generation. Despite being heavily criticized by popular content creators, the Gears of War community rallied around the latest release. Following an initially positive reception however, it appears as though the developers have gone overboard with extraordinarily expensive post-launch content. Being labeled as “worse than a Free To Play game,” Reddit user ‘TurianGhost’ broke down the costs of each and every downloadable item in the game and tallied the egregious costs. Cosmetic items in Gears 5 are unlocked through a premium currency known as Iron. There are only two ways to acquire this currency in-game. Completing three daily challenges will net you a small amount of Iron or a cosmetic item outright if luck is on your side. The only other way to accrue Iron in Gears 5 is to purchase it. Bundles range from $4.99 for 500 Iron to $99.99 for 12,500 Iron. For reference, a number of premium items in the game exceed the 1000 Iron mark. In total, after 10-weeks of vanity items being added to the game, it now costs $750 to complete the collection and keep up to date with all the latest. That’s just under a thousand dollars of skins and visual alterations for Triple-A game, developed by a large-scale studio, that released at a full price of $60. As Reddit user ‘YouAreSalty‘ expressed, “calling it $750 ‘worth’ of content seems so wrong,” due to the fact that all post-launch content thus far has been purely cosmetic. Fortunately, it was revealed post-launch that all additional modes and maps would be implemented at no extra costs. Despite this however, with the constant influx of new cosmetics, it seems as though the community is growing tired of having to wait for substantial content to be introduced. With how frustrated the Gears of War community appears to be just weeks after launch, perhaps Dr Disrespect’s initial argument was indeed on point.

Gears New Orleans Day Two – OpTic Gaming Look Unbeatable, EU’s Finest Impress, Open Bracket Teams in the Mix Esports Gears/Joe BradyDay two at Gears New Orleans saw numerous high profile teams drop out of the running for the top placements, while others looked back to their best. The open bracket teams entered pool play and immediately caused a storm, as they continued the theme of day one with a slew of upsets. Despite Vegas champions Ghost Gaming’s abysmal start on Friday, they did bounce back on day two with a win over open bracket team Lucent Esports, and one head to head record narrowly managed to get a spot in the winners bracket. They then took down Rise Nation in winners round one, but their run ended there as they faced an OpTic Gaming who looked unbeatable, in the winners semi. OpTic had completed their group 3-0, before sweeping Echo Fox in a very quick 2-0, and did the exact same to Ghost. Ghost only managed to win a single round vs OG, and there is no doubt who the tournament favorites are. On the other side of the winners bracket, EU’s Finest took out both eUnited and Elevate to secure top 3 and earn a match against OpTic in the winners final. Perhaps the highlight of day two was actually a non-gameplay moment, as OpTic Gaming’s Praized sent some brutal trash talk towards Echo Fox after their match. Can you say that one more time, @Praized_Z? Watch the @EsportsGears #GearsNOLA Open at https://t.co/nsz1mEbwmY pic.twitter.com/jXusTu2be3 — MLG (@MLG) July 14, 2018 It was the losers bracket were things got really interesting, as of course teams were playing for their tournament lives. The success story of the open bracket so far is NA team ‘Nimbus’, who grinded through open to make it in to pool A, but after failing to win a pool play match dropped to losers. However they remained resilient, eliminating Fire N Ice and Vertacon to secure top 16. They eventually fell in their next match up against eUnited, but it was a valiant run nonetheless. Echo Fox also took out European team Fable to secure top 12 themselves. OpTic Gaming’s Mexico roster had a tough pool play, but have faired better in the losers bracket, knocking out Worlds Best APAC, Disrupt and then Rise Nation to secure top 12, where they will play eUnited. Keep up to date with all the action on the dedicated coverage hub.

Gears 5 is Xbox’s biggest launch this generation, but there’s a catch XboxWith over three million players in just the first weekend, Gears of War 5 has already had the biggest launch week of any Xbox Game Studios title this generation. Gears of War 5 officially launched on September 6 and so far the numbers indicate it’s well on its way to being a big hit for Xbox. Three million active players doubled the first week debut of Gears 4 and is the most players for an Xbox Studios release in the first week since Halo 4 was released in 2012. What makes Gears 5 so special? The fifth Gears of war game focuses on Kait Diaz, an Outsider of Locust descent, who has to uncover the origins of the Locust and her family. JD and Marcus Fenix, from past Gears games also make a return as well. The game also brings back Gears multiplayer – arguably one of the most popular features of all the games in the franchise. On PC, Gears 5 has blown its predecessor out of the water completely, nearly tripling the amount of users and becoming the biggest launch for an Xbox Game on Steam to date. The game has seen good reviews from critics and fans alike, it currently sits at an 8.7 user score on Metacritic – the sixth-best rating of any Xbox One game. The Gears 5 hype is real Several streamers have hopped on the Gears of War 5 hype train since release, including Dr. Disrespect, whose multiplayer gameplay was roasted by NickMercs for resembling a “bot”. Streaming superstar Ninja also played Gears 5 on Mixer, for awhile at least, before the allure of WoW Classic drew him back in – as it’s done for many streamers, including shroud. Gears may not have seen the streaming explosion that WoW Classic did following release – but that doesn’t mean fans and players aren’t any less excited about it. At a time when a ton of new games are dropping for the upcoming holiday season, Gears 5 definitely seems to have made a name for itself.

Four Open Bracket teams qualify for Pool Play at Gears Pro Circuit San Diego Open Esports Gears / Joe BradyA gruelling Open Bracket gauntlet at the $250,000 Gears Pro Circuit San Diego Open is almost complete, as four teams earned a spot in Pool Play. As the final event for the Gears Pro Circuit season 2, San Diego is a big event for these amateur upcoming teams coming through the open bracket, and reaching pool play is just the first step. Only 12 teams are guaranteed a pool play spot, with the open bracket featuring another 30+ teams fight for a spot in the open winners bracket. There is also a losers bracket in open, so teams do get a second chance, but if they want a pool play spot, they will have to go near perfect in the winners side. With the winners section of the bracket now finished, the four teams making it to pools are now confirmed – Nimbus, Fable, Fable LATAM and Krisis Gaming. Pool Play teams have been finalized at #GearsSanDiego: Congrats to @Nimbus_GG ,@FableGG , @FableGG LATAM and @krisis_gg for making it out of Open Bracket! pic.twitter.com/XgMy3rg3pL — Gears of War Esports (@EsportsGears) September 29, 2018 Krisis Gaming – Morality, Sickest, Diligen, RedN9ne, Abolics Placed in Pool A alongside both OpTic rosters and Simplicity, Krisis have a very tough task when they get into their matches on Saturday, but they looked dominant in open, so could be a potential banana skin team. Nimbus – Terrence, KilleM, Toti, DemiseiN, TidyWidy Nimbus land in Pool B with Echo Fox, Rise Nation and Fire N Ice, which will be no easy task either. Rise and Echo Fox are heavy favorites here, so Nimbus will have to beat Fire N Ice and somehow take down one of the two NA juggernauts if they want a shot at finishing top 2 here. Fable – DFazio, Fanatic, Exhaustted, REPSOLID, Flamsy DFazio is a player more used to pool play than the open bracket, and it was no surprise that this talented roster made quick work of the winners in open. They will face Ghost Gaming, Worlds Best and Lucent in Pool C, and have a very good chance at finishing top 2 here. Fable LATAM – Lyrickz, Gordocher, Auttenz, ReLiamSe, Prospect Just like their North American counterparts, players here will not look out of place in Pool Play. They land in Pool D and will take on Spacestation, Reciprocity and eLevate, making this pool one of the most finely poised as it moves into Saturday.

Former Gears of War pro player killed in Virginia county shooting MicrosoftFormer Gears of War pro Chris ‘Xcells’ Hill was shot to death in an incident on Wednesday night, after an encounter with a homeowner. The Gears of War community is mourning the death of one of their own after Ex Enigma6 Group player Xcells was reportedly shot and killed. According to a report by WFXRTV, 26-year-old Hill approached a man at a home along Virgil Goode Highway in Virginia. Police received a call about shots being fired at 9:28 PM. Authorities say that “an encounter occurred” that resulted in Hill being shot and killed. News reporters also indicate that his body was visible on the front lawn of the house. However, currently, no charges have been filed or are pending according to WDBJ7, which cites a sheriff’s office spokesperson. The Gears of War community is saddened by the loss. “I know you were battling so many demons from your past and trying to be a better person. I’ll cherish the times we got to talk and watching you compete,” wrote one of his friends, xSUND0WN. “Regardless of any and everything, you didn’t deserve this Chris.” Xcells first began competing in Gears of War back in 2014 as a member of LoX. Throughout the years he jumped to a number of teams including NRG where he placed first at MLG GameBattles 2K Series 2016. His final competition was the 2019 Fall League Qualifier 5 with Lux Gaming which ended in a first round exit. More information is scheduled to be released later on August 25.

Five Stories From the Gears Pro Circuit San Diego 2018 Open Gears San Diego hosted over 40 of the world’s best Gears of War teams all competing for their share of the $250,000 prize pool. Unlike the previous tournament, Gears New Orleans in July, there was less upsets in early stages, but they were made up for later in the event. The top two teams were deserved grand finalists, as OpTic cemented their dynasty with yet another championship, taking down Ghost Gaming to secure the trophy. Spacestation proved they remain Europe’s top talent These players were orgless at New Orleans, and so used the name ‘EU’s Finest’. Now represnting Spacestation, they lived up to their slogan. They won their group 3-0, and even put OpTic to the test in the championship bracket, taking the first map and forcing OpTic to reverse sweep (they did). They fell down to losers but still had enough in the tank to defeat New Orleans runner-up Echo Fox. An extra push, and this European squad has a trophy within reach. Ghost Gaming back to being the biggest challengers to OpTic After a disappointing fourth place finish at New Orleans, it looked as though Ghost Gaming’s spot as the team right on the heels of OpTic was gone. Instead Echo Fox looked like the biggest challenger. But, after making it to winners finals without dropping a single map, and then bouncing back to make the grand final after being knocked to losers, Ghost reclaimed their spot as the number two team – and are once again the biggest threat to OpTic. Nimbus make a splash from Open Bracket After making it into groups, Nimbus made the strongest case for being a pool play team in the future. They managed to take the number two spot in Pool B. They went on to beat Fable and Elevate in the losers bracket, securing a top 6 finish. Another Open Bracket team, Fable (their US roster), also made a run to finish top 12, all the way from the gauntlet. New Organizations Impress Two organizations made their debut in Gears of War at San Diego, Spacestation and Reciprocity. It was only Rise Nation’s third event too, and they are quickly making a name for themselves in Gears. Spacestation secured third, while Reciprocity made a deep run too, placing top 6. It wasn’t so good for Rise, but they still managed a very respectable top 8. More big name organizations with competitive rosters in Gears is always a good thing. Roster Changes didn’t stop OpTic There was a host of roster changes to many of the top teams in Gears. Spurred on by eUnited’s departure from Gears, there was suddenly a slew of top talent entering free agency. Most of the changes, certainly amongst North American teams, were all aimed at creating a roster capable of taking down OpTic. But, as history shows, there is simply no defeating the Greenwall when it comes to Gears of War esports.

Five Stories From the Gears Pro Circuit New Orleans 2018 Open One of the best events of the Gears competitive season this year concluded with an all star grand final between OpTic Gaming and Echo Fox, and there is a lot to unpack after three days of hectic Gears action. The tournament started with plenty of upsets to get it off to an unpredictable start and this meant for an even more exciting championship bracket after the pool play stage. For some of the top teams, the event was a chance to prove their roster changes had paid off and while for one team it certainly did, most will be licking their wounds after this event. So here’s the five main takeaways from Gears New Orleans, to recap all the drama and get you excited for what is to come competitively after the 2.8 patch. Team changes favored OpTic Gaming The changes to OpTic Gaming’s lineup was one of the big stories coming into the event, as long time members KennyBounce and Icy left to join rivals Echo Fox. But bringing on Solurs and Praized made OpTic an even more dominant force than before (if that’s even possible), as they didn’t drop a single map all the way to the winners final. EU’s Finest did manage to take one in the 2-1 loss, as did Echo Fox in the grand final, but the OpTic super team is back and looking better than ever as they take the trophy. EU’s Finest are here to stay Speaking of EU’s Finest, it would be wrong to leave them without their own mention. They more than lived up to their self-branded name as the only European team to make top eight, and the first team to really test OpTic. After falling to the losers final they battled hard against Echo Fox but lost a crushingly close series, finishing 3rd overall. Despite being org-less, this team have proven that sticking together was the best option after leaving Fable and they will no doubt have plenty of offers from organizations, after another impressive performance. Echo Fox back to being biggest challengers After Ghost Gaming won Gears Vegas and Echo Fox came in 5-6th, it looked like EF’s time as the main challengers to OpTic Gaming’s dominance was coming to an end. But the roster changes they made (picking up two former OpTic players) seemed to be just the move they needed, as they went on a mightily impressive losers bracket run to find them back in a grand final against their nemesis. From 1st to 4th — Ghost drop off without Ribs On the flip side, having GODPLAYS in place of Ribs didn’t work out for Ghost, who started the tournament in terrible fashion with an 0-2 day one in pools. They bounced back on day two after narrowly earning a winners bracket spot, but eventually where cut down by Echo Fox and finished in fourth. There is still a lot of promise for the roster, but they will know that having such a poor start to the tournament likely cost them in the end. Next event will be San Diego And the final thing we learned from Gears New Orleans? Where the Gears Pro Circuit is going next. For the first time Gears will be heading to SoCal, giving all these teams, possibly after a few roster shake-ups, a chance to prove they can take out OpTic, who are back to being top dogs. And there is also the significant 2.8 patch releasing which will seriously effect competitive play, so who knows, it may just tip the balance in favor of certain teams.

Final Pool Play results at Gears Pro Circuit San Diego Open Reece Martinez / Esports GearsPool Play has now completed at Gears San Diego, after the open bracket winning teams tried to cause an upset on their way to the championship bracket. After day one, the top teams stayed on top, as Ghost Gaming and Echo Fox dominated their groups, and while OpTic Gaming also ended Friday at 2-0, there was definite weakness shown in their matches. Ghost Gaming will be glad not to have had another nightmare pool play like they did at Gears New Orleans, were they finished with a 1-2 record, this time around securing top spot with a 3-0 record. OpTic also ended 3-0 in Pool A, after defeating open bracket team Krisis Gaming. Their Mexican counterparts on OpTic GamingMX come in just behind them with a 2-1 record, while Simplicity finish 3rd in pool A, at 1-2. More: Pool B saw Nimbus, the team coming through from open bracket, really upset the balance. It wasn’t enough to knock Echo Fox off the top spot, but they did at least manage 2nd, with wins over Rise Nation and Fire N Ice. Pool C was always Ghost Gaming’s for the taking, and they didn’t slip up like at New Orleans, dropping barely a round never mind a map throughout their matches. Lucent took second, with their only loss coming to Ghost, with Worlds Best win over Fable earning them the third spot. Pool D was dominated by Spacestation on day one, and they didn’t slip up against open bracket team, Fable LATAM, on day two, taking top spot. Reciprocity finished second with a 2-1 record, and will be happy to make the championship winners bracket in their first event as an organization. Group A Group B Group C Group D

Final Pool Play Results at Gears Pro Circuit New Orleans The pool play stage at Gears New Orleans has concluded at the Ernest Morial Convention Center, with a slew of upsets making for some surprising final standings. It was a tough group stage for some of the top teams, namely reigning champions Ghost Gaming who dropped a series early to Fable EU, followed by another tough loss to eUnited. Ghost did manage to beat the open bracket team, Lucent, with a swift 2-0, but with a 1-2 record the championship winners bracket was out of their reach. OpTic Gaming’s Mexico team faced their toughest match first, losing to Echo Fox, but did bounce back against Elevate. Surprisingly though, they lost their final pool play match to open bracket team Vertacon – a team that only formed a week ago. More: Gears Pro Circuit New Orleans Coverage Hub – Stream, Schedule (All Timezones), Matchups, and More! – Echo Fox narrowly missed out on the top spot in the group though, as their loss to OpTic MX hurt them in the end, with Elevate taking 1st in Pool C on head to head record. For OpTic Gaming’s NA squad, pool play was much more smooth sailing, as they dominated their group up against Gosu Crew, Disrupt and open bracket team Nimbus. And thanks to Ghost Gaming’s poor start, eUnited took their opportunity to snag the top spot in pool B, But Ghost still narrowly managed to take the 2nd spot on head to head record. Rise Nation strolled to victory in pool D, as top rated European side ‘EUsFinest’, came in just behind Rise as Simplicity and Bittersweet looked somewhat out of their depth in this group.

Exclusive: JD Fenix voice actor says he hasn’t “heard anything” about Gears of War 6 The CoalitionLiam McIntyre, who voiced JD Fenix in the last two Gears of War games, reveals he is yet to hear from the devs about Gears of War 6, with the actor also weighing in on the split ending of Gears 5 and whether or not he would want to be involved in the live-action Gears of War Netflix film. Back during the time of the Xbox 360, the Halo and Gears of War franchises were the two big flagship exclusives for Microsoft. And while the Halo series has been struggling to reclaim its old success, fans of the Gears series are hotly anticipating the release of Gears of War 6. While the original trilogy and spinoff game largely focused on a linear experience, Gears 5 broke the mold by opening up the world. Players were able to traverse around different terrain, explore new areas, and even make gaming-altering choices toward the end of the narrative. Much like a classic action RPG title. However, little to nothing has been mentioned about Gears of War 6 despite Gears 5 having been released all the way back in 2019. At the beginning of 2023, Dexerto reported that the game was in development following an online job listing. However, the exact state of the game is still yet to be confirmed. Liam McIntyre hasn’t heard about coming back as JD for Gears of War During our exclusive interview with Liam McIntyre at Supanova Melbourne in April, the actor spoke about his role as JD Fenix in the last two installments of the franchise. Also revealing what he knows about the next sequel. When we asked McIntrye if he has been called in for Gears of War 6, the actor candidly revealed that he is yet to hear about whether or not he will be coming back for the new game. “I haven’t heard anything! And that’s genuine. Like it’s not even one of those ‘I’ve got an NDA I can’t tell you.’ I’m like, where we at?” The actor then added, “I don’t know whether or not they’re like ‘we’re about to finish production and I’m sorry you were not the canon choice.’” Liam McIntyre on the split ending of Gears 5 At the end of Gears 5, players were forced to choose between saving either JD Fenix or Dell, two characters who gamers had grown to love throughout the past two games. While Dell was more of a fan-favorite character, many players still chose to save JD because of their love for Marcus Fenix. For McIntyre, this split ending is one that he hopes could even lead to two different experiences for players in Gears of War 6, likening the move to something out of a Mass Effect game. “I pitched a whole thing where I’m like, we can do both trust me it’ll be great,” he said, before admitting “I don’t think people care what I think. I don’t know what they’re gonna do, maybe like a Mass Effect split storyline thing depending on what save game you have from the last one?” Would he be interested in playing JD in the live-action Netflix Gears of War film? Finally, we asked McIntyre what his thoughts were on the previously announced Gears of War Netflix film. Quizzing him on whether or not he would be interested in taking part if JD was added into the live-action franchise in the future. “I’m gonna make peace with the fact that if they make JD in the live-action they’ll probably pick Liam Hemsworth or something like that. There is no world where they are not going to take Dave Bautista [as Marcus].” Time will tell when and if more news about Gears of War 6 is revealed. However, one thing we can confirm is that Liam McIntyre would love to come back as JD Fenix for the next game, should he get the call. For all the latest gaming news and updates, be sure to check out Dexerto’s full coverage here.

Championship Bracket at Gears Pro Circuit New Orleans is Set After Some Surprising Pool Play Results Esports Gears/Reece MartinezAfter some very surprising pool play results, the championship bracket has been set at the $250,000 Gears Pro Circuit New Orleans. The headline match was OpTic Gaming vs Echo Fox in the winners bracket. After EF narrowly missed out on the top spot in pool C, they came up against their North American rivals immediately. Despite Echo Fox’s confidence, OpTic Gaming looked far superior closing out the match 2-0 and knocking EF instantly down to the losers bracket. And the next match in the winners bracket was just as stacked, as another two North American titans in Ghost Gaming and Rise Nation locked horns. Ghost were fortunate to even make it to the winners bracket after an 0-2 record in pools in day one, and would need to up their performance significantly to take down a Rise team that had been flawless in pool D. Another all American battle next in the winners bracket, as The Gosu Crew take on Elevate. Elevate managed to snag the top spot in their group thanks to a superior head to head record over Echo Fox, but Gosu Crew will be another tough challenge for them. And the only European side to make the winners bracket was suitably ‘EUsFinest’ – the former FableEU roster – who would take on the another flawless pool play team eUnited. In the losers bracket, the lineups are less star studded but full of plenty of talent. Simplicity vs Justified – Nimbus vs Fire N Ice – Fable vs Armada – OpTic MX vs Worlds Best APAC – And the winners of the losers championship bracket round 1, will go on to face Lucent, Vertacon, BitterSweet and Disrupt respectively. The championship bracket is already well under way, with OpTic taking on Echo Fox on the mainstage, you can watch all the action via our dedicated coverage hub.

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A new Betrayal at House on the Hill scenario by Matthew Lillard is available right now Avalon Hill/Matthew LillardThe multi-talented actor has cooked up a spooky new scenario for Betrayal at House on the Hill that can be downloaded for free, just in time for Halloween. Actor, Director, Businessman, and now…board game designer? Matthew Lillard has partnered with Avalon Hill to bring a new free scenario to Betrayal at House on the Hill’s third edition. While the collaboration may initially seem a little out-of-nowhere, Lillard is no stranger to this space. Perhaps best known for his beloved live-action portrayal of Scooby Doo’s Shaggy, as well as turns in WarGames, the Scream franchise, and the upcoming Five Nights at Freddy’s. Lillard is also a lifelong board game and tabletop fan, seeing great success with his Beadle and Grimm’s venture. The company offers premium releases of MTG and D&D products, full of bespoke physical additions to add texture to each release. Combined with multiple starring roles in tongue-in-cheek horror properties, Lillard’s experiences make him a perfect fit to add to the ever-growing world of Betrayal. How Betrayal at House on the Hill is played Betrayal at House on the Hill is a fan-favorite horror-themed board game with multiple scenarios to be run. With each scenario – or ‘Haunt’ – being triggered based on specific player actions, Betrayal at House on the Hill offers near-limitless replayability for board game fans. Lillard’s Haunt, Thirteen Ghoulies Are All That, comes with some deliciously self-aware meta trappings, playing on the creator’s cult stardom and jokingly sending up some of his most well-known roles. The Haunt takes place during location scouting for a Lillard-esque actor’s next production, and I’m sure you can guess the creepy, run-down location that seems a perfect fit. While it is not yet known what the Haunt’s inevitable twist will be, the setup alone seems prime for a unique and engaging addition to Betrayal’s list of scenarios. And if you find yourself engaged by Lillard’s story, this is just the start! Betrayal’s first-ever ‘Season of Treason’ promises a wealth of new editions to the game, making it a very good time to be a horror fan. How Betrayal’s newest collaboration got off the ground When asked how Betrayal’s collaboration with Matthew Lillard got started, Brian Baker, VP of Hasbro Gaming had this to say: “When we decided to create a custom Betrayal at House on the Hill haunt for our inaugural Season of Treason, Matthew Lillard was easily our top choice. Between his love for tabletop gaming and expertise with the horror genre, Matthew felt like the perfect fit for this campaign. We were thrilled when he agreed to join the project because it’s important for us to partner with someone with an authentic love for the game. It was inspiring to have Matthew involved creatively from start to finish and we think players will have a lot of frightening fun with the free haunt.” If the focus remains on authenticity and creativity, we hope that Lillard is just the first high-profile collaboration in Betrayal’s future. Starting October 13, (Friday the 13th) Lillard’s multi-part haunt will be available to download for free from the Hasbro Pulse website. If you already own Betrayal at House on the Hill, there’s no reason not to grab a copy for yourself and expand your play options. For anyone still on the fence about Betrayal, Lillard has streamed a full playthrough of the haunt, the recording of which can be found on the Hasbro Pulse Youtube channel. Be sure to tune in and see the spine-tingling scenario for yourself.

Best Zhu Yuan Zenless Zone Zero build: W-Engine, Drive Disc & team comp HoYoverseZhu Yuan is a new Zenless Zone Zero character that will be released in Phase 2 of the 1.0 update, so here’s everything we know – including her element, abilities, and gameplay. Zenless Zone Zero’s roster of characters is constantly expanding, and Phase 2 of the 1.0 update will see the arrival of Zhu Yuan. This highly anticipated S-rank character is known for her deadly martial arts and marksmanship skills, making her a great choice for any player looking to increase their team’s damage. So, if you’re aiming to roll on the Zhu Yuan banner or simply wish to know more about her, then our hub has everything you need to know. Best Zhu Yuan build in Zenless Zone Zero While this is the best build for Zhu Yuan, if you are interested in learning about the individual components in the setup, we have discussed those in detail in the following section. Best W-Engine for Zhu Yuan Riot Suppressor Mark VI This is the best W-Engine for Zhu Yuan in Zenless Zone Zero. Upon using, it increases the wearer’s Crit Rate by 15%. Additionally, the wielder will gain 8 Charged Stacks upon launching an EX Special ATK. Once the equipper’s Basic ATK deal’s Ether DMG, a Charged Stack gets consumed providing a 35% boost to Skill DMG. Overall, this W-Engine is quite straightforward as it provides a stats boost and enhances DMG, benefiting Zhu Yuan in combat. The Brimstone This is another S-rank W-Engine that can be considered a decent alternative for Zhu Yuan. This weapon provides a 3.5% ATK boost to the wearer and can stack up to 8 times in total. The ATK boost comes in handy for Zhu Yuan, though the lack of Crit stats means, you need to have very good Drive Discs. Best Drive Disc for Zhu Yuan The best Drive Disc for Zhu Yuan is Chaotic Metal. The set bonus for this Drive Disc is as follows: Woodpecker Electro can fill the final two Drive Disc slots. The set bonus is as follows: This combination of Chaotic Metal and Woodpecker Electro provides a stat boost and damage boost to Zhu Yuan. This ensures there is a balance between consistency and damage. Zhu Yuan Promotion and Skill level-up materials Promotion Zhu Yuan needs Basic Offense Certification Seal, Advanced Offense Certification Seal, and Pioneer’s Certification Seal. The exact number of materials she needs is as follows: Basic Offense Certification Seal x4 – Advanced Offense Certification Seal x32 – Pioneer’s Certification Seal x30 – Skill level-up Zhu Yuan’s skills in Zenless Zone Zero need Basic Ether Chip, Advanced Ether Chip, Specialized Ether Chip, Hamster Cage Pass, Living Drive, and Higher Dimensional Data-Ethereal Pursuit. The exact number of materials she needs is as follows: Basic Ether Chip x5 – Advanced Ether Chip x15 – Specialized Ether Chip x50 – Hamster Cage Pass x1 – Living Drive x9 – Higher Dimensional Data-Ethereal Pursuit x60 – Best Zhu Yuan team comp Being an attack unit, Zhu Yuan needs a debuffer and support in the team. In the current state, the best units you can pair her with are Lycaon and Rina. In this team, Lycaon is the Stun unit that will make it easy for Zhu Yuan to hit the targets, while Rina can provide PEN boosts. If you do not have Lycaon and Rina, you can go for a team of Zhu Yuan, Anby, and Nicole. In this team, Anby plays the role of a Stun unit, while Nicole helps with damage as well as crowd control. Zhu Yuan abilities Basic Attack Dodge Assist Special Attack Chain Attack Core Skill Core Skill Enhancements Mindscape Cinema Level 1 — Quick Reload: When Zhu Yuan activates a Chain Attack/Ultimate, she gains the Quick Reload effect. When Zhu Yuan has the Quick Reload effect and uses up all Enhanced Shotshells, the Quick Reload effect will be consumed to instantly gain 6/9 Enhanced Shotshells. – Level 2 — Ether Ember: In Suppressive Mode, Zhu Yuan’s Anti-Interrupt level is increased and DMG taken reduced by 10%. When Zhu Yuan hits an enemy with Enhanced Shotshells, the target takes 10% more Ether DMG from Basic Attack: Please Do Not Resist and Dash Attack: Overwhelming Firepower, stacking up to five times and lasting for 5 seconds. Each shot adds one stack of this effect, and repeated triggers reset the duration. – Level 3 — Public Security Special Training: Basic Attack, Dodge, Assist, Special Attack, and Chain Attack Lv. +2. – Level 4 — Ether Perforation: When Zhu Yuan hits an enemy with Enhanced Shotshells, her Basic Attack: Please Do Not Resist and Dash Attack: Overwhelming Firepower ignore 25% of the target’s Ether RES. – Level 5 — Special Ops Experience: Basic Attack, Dodge, Assist, Special Attack, and Chain Attack Lv. +2. – Level 6 — Expanded Energy Pack III (C6): When Zhu Yuan consumes a total of 12 Enhanced Shotshells, she receives the Ether Afterglow effect, and the Energy cost of the next EX Special Attack is reduced by 30. Launching an EX Special Attack will consume Ether Afterglow and shoot an additional 4-bullet Ether Buckshot. Each extra bullet deals DMG equal to 220% of Zhu Yuan’s ATK. – Zhu Yuan pros and cons While Zhu Yuan is exceptionally strong, she comes with a few weaknesses. Here are the pros and cons of Zhu Yuan in Zenless Zone Zero: Zhu Yuan trailer Now that you know about Zhu Yuan, be sure to check out leaks for her companions Jane Doe and Qingyi, who will be coming in the 1.1 update. There have also been new details surrounding the upcoming Virtual Idol faction, which you can read about here.

Is Zenless Zone Zero coming to Xbox Series X|S & PS5? HoYoverseZenless Zone Zero is the latest game from the developers behind Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail, but will it be released on Xbox Series X|S and PS5? The Zenless Zone Zero closed beta is well underway, and players are currently getting to grips with the flashy combat system and mastering the new characters. However, with the beta only being available on PC and iOS, many players will be wondering whether Zenless Zone Zero will be released on Xbox Series X|S and PS5. After all, being able to player HoYoverse’s latest gacha game on these consoles would certainly be a bonus for any action game fan. So, here’s everything we know about Zenless Zone Zero’s release on PlayStation and Xbox. Will Zenless Zone Zero launch on Xbox Series X|S & PS5? HoYoverse has revealed that Zenless Zone Zero will be launching on PS5. The details were announced during PlayStation’s State of Play livestream, where the game’s producer highlighted: “I’m excited to share with you the exclusive announcement that Zenless Zone Zero will be coming to PS5.” Unfortunately, we don’t know when Zenless Zone Zero will be arriving to the platform, but we can assume it’ll be at the same time as the game itself, which is currently scheduled for 2024. While we don’t have any information regarding the game’s release to Xbox Series X|S, we will be updating this article as soon as the details are announced, so be sure to check back soon. In the meantime, why not check out our Zenless Zone Zero hub for more information on the upcoming gacha game?