Nicki Minaj and 21 Savage are two artists at the top of their respective games right now. Of course, Nicki is set to release Pink Friday 2 in November. Moreover, 21 is currently on tour with Drake. He has been in Boston for the last couple of nights, however, he will not be making the trip out to Montreal. In fact, 21 cannot attend any of the Canadian events for the tour. Although this has proven to be disappointing, Drake is ready to rock the show on his own.
When you think of both 21 and Nicki Minaj, you probably aren’t thinking about Call of Duty. Well, you may just have to change that attitude, very soon. According to a leaker by the name of @HeyImAlaix on Twitter, there is some data mining that suggests the two artists will soon be characters in the game. They would come in the form of “operators.” Essentially, they would be playable characters that you can use in multiplayer. Overall, this would be for Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2.
If you are a fan of either of these artists, this news will definitely come as a surprise. However, for gamers who still play Call Of Duty, this is definitely great to hear. After all, COD is one of the biggest franchises in the world. Getting to play as the likes of Nicki Minaj and 21 Savage is a novelty that many can appreciate. Unfortunately, the game has not confirmed their inclusion. For now, this is just a rumor based on a data mine leak. Either way, it is something to potentially look forward to.
While COD games have gotten quite a bit of flack in recent years, there is now doubt they still dominate the industry. The average casual gamer will continue to buy these until the end of time. Let us know if you still play Call Of Duty, in the comments section down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news from around the music world.
July 15 marks the first day of the LEC Summer split playoffs. The remaining eight teams will face off in a GSL-style group stage to determine which four teams move on to the knockout bracket. Furthermore, the group stage runs until July 23.
This is the first year of the LEC’s new three-split format, which culminates in the LEC Finals. That event is set to begin in Montpellier, France on August 19. It will feature six teams – the three split winners and the three teams with the highest championship points. If a team wins a split but has already qualified for the LEC Finals, the automatic berth is passed down to the best-placed team who is yet to qualify.
But who’s left in the competition? Who can still qualify for the LEC Finals? And how can they still qualify? Well, dear reader, we have the answer to all those questions and more.
When Are The LEC Playoffs?
The LEC playoffs begin on July 15. The group stage runs from July 15 to July 23, with matches played on July 15, 16, 17, 22, and 23. The knockout bracket begins on July 28 and continues until July 30.
How Can I Watch The LEC Playoffs?
The LEC playoffs will be streamed on the LEC’s official Twitch page. Additionally, the LEC playoffs are 100% free to watch on Twitch. You can also buy tickets to watch the matches live at the LEC Studio in Berlin, Germany.
Who Is Taking Part In The LEC Playoffs?
There are eight teams in the LEC playoffs. In Group A, we have G2, Koi, Team BDS, and Team Heretics. Meanwhile, in Group B, we have Excel Esports, Fnatic, MAD Lions, and SK Gaming.
Who Has Qualified For The LEC Finals?
Currently, G2 and MAD Lions are the only teams to have qualified for the LEC Finals. They did this by winning the Winter and Spring splits respectively. The winner of the Summer split, or the best-placed team who isn’t G2 or MAD, will also automatically qualify.
Who Can Still Qualify For The LEC Finals?
Excel Esports, Fnatic, KOI, SK Gaming, Team BDS, Team Heretics, and Team Vitality can all still qualify. However, this is where it gets complicated, given that Team Vitality is not participating in the Summer playoffs. Furthermore, Astralis is the only LEC team who cannot qualify for the LEC Finals. They did not make the playoffs and ended the season with 105 Championship Points. This is not enough to qualify as one of the highest Championship Point-earning teams.
Okay Then, How Can Teams Qualify For The LEC Finals?
Let’s do this team-by-team and break down their scenarios. However, as things stand, this is the Championship Points [CP] table. I’ve excluded MAD Lions (250) and G2 (225) because they have already qualified. Furthermore, these points totals reflect the minimum amount of points each team can earn based on the standings at the time of writing. To make things simpler, these totals include the 30 points all teams except Team Vitality can earn for finishing a minimum of 8th.
Team
CP
Team BDS
160
KOI
150
Team Vitality
137
SK Gaming
120
Astralis [E]
105
Fnatic
60
Team Heretics
60
Excel Esports
40
For the sake of simplicity, we’ll say that the minimum total for qualification is Team Vitality’s 137, meaning you need at least 138 points to qualify for the LEC Finals. However, it’s sadly not that simple because we also have to acknowledge that one of the teams in contention will earn an automatic berth.
Excel Esports
BERLIN, GERMANY – MARCH 11: Andrei Pascu “Odoamne” competes at the League of Legends EMEA Championship “LEC” at LEC Studio on March 11, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Gerald Matzka/Getty Images)
Current Total: 10
Excel Esports qualified for the playoffs after a wild final two weeks of the Summer regular season. However, they face the most difficult path to the LEC Finals. Having finished 10th in both the Winter and Spring splits, they bring just 10 CP into the playoffs with them.
The “easiest” route for Excel to qualify for the LEC Finals is to continue their Cinderella run all the way to the Summer split title. However, due to only having 10 CP, the lowest that Excel can finish and still have more points than Team Vitality is second. Even a third-place finish, which earns 120 CP, would still see them finish below Vitality.
However, if SK Gaming finishes eighth, Excel could potentially reach the playoffs as the six-seed if they finish third. Despite this slim shot, it would hinge on how the rest of the table lined up.
Fnatic
BERLIN, GERMANY – MARCH 11: Iván Martín Díaz “Razork” competes at the League of Legends EMEA Championship “LEC” at LEC Studio on March 11, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Gerald Matzka/Getty Images)
Current Total: 30
Fnatic became one of the best teams during the Summer regular season, thanks in large part to their rookie ADC, Noah. However, it has been a tough year for Fnatic, who finished 9th and 8th in the first two splits.
This will be the last time I say as it is true for all teams besides Vitality, but Fnatic’s best way to the LEC Finals is to win the split. Beyond that, Fnatic must finish at least third to surpass the points total of Team Vitality. However, in the scenario in which Excel finishes third and SK Gaming finishes eighth, a fourth-place finish could be enough to finish sixth. However, it would depend on the rest of the table.
KOI
BERLIN, GERMANY – MARCH 11: Mathias Jensen “Szygenda” competes at the League of Legends EMEA Championship “LEC” at LEC Studio on March 11, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Gerald Matzka/Getty Images)
Current Total: 120
KOI slipped a little in the Summer split but benefit from two strong runs in the previous splits. This means that an eighth-place finish in the Summer playoffs still sees them end the year on 150 CP. While dependent on the rest of the table, this should be more than enough to see KOI finish as a LEC Finals participant.
SK Gaming
BERLIN, GERMANY – MARCH 11: Mark van Woensel “Markoon” competes at the League of Legends EMEA Championship “LEC” at LEC Studio on March 11, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Gerald Matzka/Getty Images)
Current Total: 90
It’s been an up-and-down season for SK Gaming but they still have a shot at the LEC Finals. The worst thing that they could do is lose their momentum and finish eighth. That would see them finish the season on 120 CP, below Team Vitality, and as the worst-placed team who could potentially finish on 120 CP. To surpass Team Vitality (137 CP), SK will need to finish at least 6th (a 7th-place finish would see them finish 2 points behind Vitality). However, SK does not really control their own fate as their finish, aside from a top-four, really depends on how the rest of the table shakes out.
Team BDS
BERLIN, GERMANY – MARCH 11: Adam Maanane “Adam” competes at the League of Legends EMEA Championship “LEC” at LEC Studio on March 11, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Gerald Matzka/Getty Images)
Current Total: 130
Like KOI, Team BDS slipped during the summer but are buoyed by their previous performances. They currently hold the highest CP total outside of a split winner. This means that even an eighth-place finish sees them close out with far more points than Vitality (160). It’s hard to see a scenario in which BDS does not make the LEC Finals. It would have to involve the likes of Excel, Fnatic, Heretics, and SK Gaming running the top of the table.
Team Heretics
BERLIN, GERMANY – MARCH 11: Marcin Jankowsk “Jankos” competes at the League of Legends EMEA Championship “LEC” at LEC Studio on March 11, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Gerald Matzka/Getty Images)
Current Total: 30
Like Fnatic, Heretics went from bottom three finishes to one of the best teams in the Summer. Unfortunately, that makes their journey to the LEC Finals incredibly difficult. Heretics must finish at least third to surpass the points total of Team Vitality. However, in the scenario in which Excel finishes third and SK Gaming finishes eighth, a fourth-place finish could be enough to finish sixth. However, it would depend on the rest of the table. In short, Heretics have the exact same win condition as Fnatic does.
Team Vitality
BERLIN, GERMANY – MARCH 12: Zhou Yang-Bo “Bo” at a backstage portrait session at the second game day at the spring split at the League of Legends EMEA Championship “LEC” at the LEC Studio on March 12, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Gerald Matzka/Getty Images)
Current Total: 137
Team Vitality may be in the most interesting position of all LEC teams. They are still in contention for a LEC Finals slot, despite finishing 10th in the Summer split. They have concluded their season with 137 points. As you know from this article, that is the baseline I have been using to mark all other teams. In short, Vitality needs as many teams currently below them to have early exits from the playoffs. However, we will once again remind ourselves of essentially what Vitality needs from each team currently trailing them:
SK Gaming needs to finish 7th or lower
Fnatic needs to finish 4th or lower
Team Heretics needs to finish 4th or lower
Excel Esports needs to finish 3rd or lower
Now, it is worth mentioning, because we are not painstakingly charting out all 64 (?) possible playoff permutations, there is likely a scenario I have not covered. However, this is the most straightforward way to explain what’s at stake over the next few weeks in the LEC.
NBA 2K has gained notoriety for not being great about player ratings. While they are mostly fine on the whole most. However, there have been some glaring exceptions. For example, every single WNBA player in 2K20 had the lowest possible dunking stat. While dunks are not commonplace in the WNBA, saying that 6″9 Liz Cambage and 5″5 Leilani Mitchell are equally bad at dunking is objectively wrong.
Meanwhile, fans loved rating reveal season because it allows them to debate who’s underrated, who’s overrated, etc. After the ratings were “leaked” earlier this week, fans got their first look at how well (or badly) 2k had done year. The top five are to be expected. Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Dončić, Joel Embiid, and LeBron James are all rated at 97. Just below them are Kevin Durant and Steph Curry at 96. However, there are a few surprises. Zion Williamson is a 92 despite only playing 29 games last season. Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are an 86 and 83 respectively. Furthermore, Jamal Murray has taken his rating very personally.
Murray Questions 84 Rating
Ain’t no way my rating that low! How is that possible??
Jamal Murray has come out as one of the most vocal critics of the revealed ratings. The Nuggets guard will start the game as an 84. It’s a rating he shares with the likes of Cade Cunningham, Rudy Gobert, Jordan Poole, Franz Wagner, Nikola Vucevic, and Nic Claxton. “Ain’t no way my rating that low! How is that possible??,” Murray asked on Twitter. Looking into Murray’s individual attributes, he has great perimeter shooting and playmaking. However, his ratings suffer from sub-80 athleticism, sub-70 inside scoring, sub-60 defense, and sub-50 rebounding.
It’s Murray’s second year starting the game as an 84. His best start to a game was as an 86 in 2k21. This is where things stop making a whole lot of sense. 2k21 was based on the 2019/20 season. That year, Murray’s line was 18.5/4/4.8 with 34.6% shooting from three. 2k24 is based on the 2022/23 season. Last year, Murray’s line was 20/4/6.2 with 39.8% shooting from three. So 2k decided that after an objectively better season, Murray deserved a worse rating than his historic peak. What’s even funnier is that there is a version of Murray on the All-Time Nuggets team, and that version of Murray starts 2k24 as an 85 overall.
100 Thieves has never been content to simply be an esports team. Company founder Matthew “Nadeshot“ Haag has always been very clear about his intentions. He wants to make 100T the luxury lifestyle brand of the gaming world. This has included a partnership with Gucci in 2021, the sugar-free energy Juvee, and series A funding led by Drake. However, one major area the company has invested in is game design.
It all began with the acquisition of gaming peripheral company Highground in 2021. That blossomed into the announcement that 100T were working on their own FPS product simply known as Project X. While Project X appears to be some way away still, 100T aren’t sitting idly by. After all, it would be very un-100T to simply wait for the game to be ready. Instead, they have reportedly jumped on a smaller side project to be deployed inside of the biggest games on the market.
In a video released to Twitter, Nadeshot and 100T CPO Pete Hawley revealed that they would be dropping a Fortnite game mode on July 11. As yet unnamed mode would be a three-on-three heist game. Teams would have to infiltrate a bank, steal money, and then successfully escape. The game was designed in Unreal Engine Fortnite, a UE build that Epic Games has made available for the development of internal Fortnite projects. Fortnite has become the hub for wild promotional crossovers. In fact, 100T feels tame compared to the likes of Marshmello and Travis Scott concerts. There are still few things weirder than being killed by someone in an Ariana Grande cosmetic.
According to Nade and Hawley, their development team was able to put together the game mode in under two months. Furthermore, they stated that they hope to be able to utilize the game to help provide feedback in order to improve UE Fortnite. Meanwhile, Project X continues to be worked on behind the scenes. Elsewhere, 100 Thieves continue to have mixed success in their esports operations. Their LoL team is currently 4th in the LCS. Meanwhile, their Apex Legends team continues to struggle in pro play, as has their VALORANT team.
Speaking after T1’s 2-1 series win over Nongshim RedForce on July 2, Faker revealed that he was being treated for an arm injury. “I haven’t been feeling well recently. I believe my performance since the BRION match may have been impacted because of this […] I am under treatment and in talks with the team,” Faker told the media. The news hit an international audience thanks to a translation from veteran reporter Ashley Kang. While Faker assured fans that he was doing okay, there were fears that Faker would have to step away from the rift to recover. This was especially the case, given the hectic LCK schedule that the fact that T1 were scheduled to play on July 5.
Subsequently, that’s exactly what happened. On July 5, T1 announced that they would bench Faker to allow him to “take a break and focus on his treatment and recovery.” It would be the first time that Faker would miss LCK matches since 2021. Toward the end of the 2021 Spring split, Faker benched himself because he did not believe that he was playing well enough. Ahead of their July 5 series against DRX, T1 announced that academy mid laner Poby would be taking over from Faker.
In theory, it should have been the perfect debut for Poby. Despite being the reigning world champions, DRX have struggled mightily in 2023. They were just 2-6 entering the match against T1. However, they looked like a completely different team in this rematch of the 2022 Worlds Grand Final. In Game 1, they outkilled T1 19-2. While things were a little less lopsided in Game 2, DRX still outkilled the perennial champions 18-6. DRX improved to 3-6 while T1 fell to 6-3.
17-year-old Poby had a debut that he will likely prefer to forget. Playing Jayce and Annie, he went 2/8/2 across the two-game sweep. T1 is next in action on July 8 against league leaders Gen.G. It’s unknown how long Faker will remain sidelined. However, T1’s announcement of his benching makes it sound like they are hoping he will return before the end of the split. This is a developing story and we’ll have any updates here at HotNewHipHop.
By the lofty standards of T1, the 2023 Summer split has been somewhat disappointing. At the time of writing, the team is 6-2 in the LCK. By comparison, T1 have lost just four matches over the last two splits combined. The slow start has seen them leapfrogged by an undefeated Gen.G as well as a one-loss KT Rolster. However, part of the issue may lie with the health of their veteran mid laner, Faker.
Faker, who has been spent his entire career with T1, has essentially professional League of Legends every week since 2013. When he’s not in pro play, he’s more than like at home or at the training facility playing the game. Faker has a 3.7 KDA this split, which puts him around the middle of the league for that category. If he maintains that KDA, it would be his lowest tally since the 2021 Summer split. However, Faker recently revealed that he has been dealing with an injury that has affected his play.
In the press conference:@Faker: I haven’t been feeling well recently. I believe my performance since the BRION match may have been impacted because of this […]
Speaking after T1’s 2-1 series win over Nongshim RedForce on July 2, Faker revealed that he was being treated for an arm injury. “I haven’t been feeling well recently. I believe my performance since the BRION match may have been impacted because of this […] I am under treatment and in talks with the team,” Faker told the media. The news hit an international audience thanks to a translation from veteran reporter Ashley Kang. Arm injuries can be common, especially in more intense leagues such as the LCK. Dplus star Showmaker received treatment for a wrist injury in 2020. Meanwhile a recurring shoulder injury led to the first retirement of Chinese legend Uzi in 2019.
T1 played BRION Esports on June 17, meaning that the issue has been hampering Faker’s play for nearly two weeks. However, T1 has gone 4-1 during that span, only losing to the aforementioned KT Rolster. While Faker reassured fans that the injury wasn’t too severe, he won’t have much time to recover. T1 are scheduled to play DRX on July 5, giving him just three days of rest. This is a developing story and we’ll have any updates here at HotNewHipHop.
The LEC Summer split could have hardly gone worse for Team Vitality. After a fifth-place finish in the Winter split, and a third-place finish in Spring, Vitality were essentially a lock for the LEC Finals later this year. They had seemingly proved their roster doubters wrong. However, the team was still hunting for a LEC title to call its own.
However, they currently sit at a 1-5 record after two weeks of the Summer split. Their games look sloppy, their teamwork is non-existent. Suddenly, one of the hottest teams in the LEC looked like a hastily slapped-together amateur outfit. What’s more, if results go against them, there is a chance that this performance could cost them that “seemingly-guaranteed” spot in the LEC Finals.
The worst of the bunch has been Zhou “Bo” Yangbo, the team’s supposedly rookie phenom jungler. Vitality picked up the Chinese player last year. Previously, Bo had played for FPX in China in 2021, before being suspended as part of a match-fixing scandal. After good performances in the first two splits of the year, Bo has become one of the worst players in the LEC. As a result, Vitality is sending Bo to the bench.
In a move announced on June 30, Team Vitality benched Bo for the final week of the LEC season. Bo had a KDA of just 1.1, the worst in the entire league. While Bo has good farming and kill participation, he also has a tendency to recklessly throw himself into fights. He has 4.8 deaths per game, compared to just 1.5 kills.
As a result, Vitality will field their academy jungler Kacper “Daglas” Dagiel for the final week of the Summer split. Daglas joined Vitality.Bee in December 2022 after starting his pro career in the Greek League. He didn’t exactly blow the LFL, the French regional league where Vitality have their academy team, away. In Spring, he had a KDA of 3.3 as Vitality.Bee went 9-9. At the time of writing, he currently has a 2.3 KDA with Vitality.Bee at 4-6 in the Summer split.
Essentially, Vitality have decided to see if Daglas miraculously turns into a god-tier player on the LEC stage. At the very least, it will give him some playing time at the LEC level and potentially set up a battle for the starting jungle spot. Daglas’ debut will see him take on KOI, Team BDS, and a surging Excel Esports.
At the other end of the LEC spectrum to Vitality, you have Fnatic. After struggling immensely in the first two splits of the year, Fnatic revamped their bot lane. Among the changes, they added Oh “Noah” Hyeon-taek, an ADC playing in the Polish Ultraliga.
After six games in his first LEC split, Noah has a KDA of 78. The next highest KDA in the league is held by Trymbi at 7. His KDA over the 19-game Ultraliga Season 9 split was 6.2. Simply put, Noah is a cheat code. He appears to understand the league, the meta, and the game like no one else in the league. His overall stat line is 36/1/42. Even in the single loss Fnatic has suffered so far, Noah still put up a KDA of 7.
As a result, Fnatic are one of two teams to have secured a place in the GSL stage already. They cannot finish with a losing record, and then have immense momentum behind them. While Vitality’s “generational talent” has failed them, Fnatic’s Korean rookie is climbing to ever-new heights.
The LCS, the top League of Legends league in North America, opened applications for its Game Changers project on June 29. The project is aimed at helping women and individuals of marginalized genders gain experience in the competitive aspect of the male-dominated world of esports.
Riot Games, the developers behind League of Legends, has previously found success with the Game Changers model within their other major esports title, VALORANT. Meanwhile, Europe has started to foster a growing scene for women and marginalized genders in League of Legends. Elsewhere, Japan’s LJL recently saw the debut of the first woman to play in the league.
Per Riot Games, Game Changers 2023 is bigger and better than ever before. Successful applicants will join three teams comprised of 5 players, one coach, and one manager. The inclusion of coaching and team manager positions allow for a wider range of positions for applicants to explore. Game Changers 2023 sees Riot Games and the LCS working with esports consultancy firm, SIDO. The two-month project will culminate in a live four-day event in Los Angeles in September. “The chosen participants will self-organize into teams of one coach, one manager, and three players. Together, they will run tryouts to fill out their roster, allowing them to experience the process and build a full team that they believe best suits their goals. At the end of the program, each team will take the stage in Los Angeles for the first-ever broadcasted LCS Game Changers Final at the end of the program.”
Applicants must be at least 18 years old and identify as a woman or another marginalized gender. Furthermore, applicants must be a resident of the United States or Canada and have a valid driver’s license or passport, allowing them to travel. Applications close on July 4 for coaches and managers, and July 8 for players. It represents a major step forwards for the LCS in helping promote those who may otherwise struggle to break through in esports. Good luck to all those who apply. Furthermore, follow for all the latest esports news here at HotNewHipHop.
Just a few weeks ago, Oh “Noah” Hyeon-taek was playing in the Ultaliga, Poland’s regional League of Legends competition. After turning pro in 2018, Noah spent a few years with Awe Star before signing with LCK outfit KT Rolster in 2020. However, after proving himself at the academy level, Noah struggled to maintain his spot in the LCK starting lineup. After spending the entirety of 2022 back in the LCK Challengers League, KT Rolster released him. But now, Noah is Fnatic’s latest superstar ADC.
Noah helped lead Zero Tenacity to their second consecutive Ultraliga title. However, they pulled the group of death at EMEA Masters and bowed out after a 1-5 performance. Despite this, Noah had impressed enough to earn an invite to the LEC.
Fnatic were looking to shake things up. After ninth and eighth-place finishes in the Winter and Spring splits of the 2023 LEC season, the perennial contenders needed a change. As a result, they revamped their bot lane, bringing in Noah alongside KOI support Adrian “Trymbi” Trybus. All Noah did was establish himself as a league superstar.
After six games in his first LEC split, Noah has a KDA of 78. The next highest KDA in the league is held by Trymbi at 7. His KDA over the 19-game Ultraliga Season 9 split was 6.2. Simply put, Noah is a cheat code. He appears to understand the league, the meta, and the game like no one else in the league. His overall stat line is 36/1/42. Even in the single loss Fnatic has suffered so far, Noah still put up a KDA of 7.
Maybe this is all temporary. After all, Jeff Francoeur seemed to be a baseball god until teams figured out how to pitch to him. Noah has played three champions so far – Aphelios, Xayah, and Lucian. Maybe he struggles once he’s taken off comfort picks. But that’s the thing. Even if he reverted to his Ultraliga numbers, he’d still have the second-best KDA in the league.
But do we really want him to stop being great? Sure, if you’re one of the nine teams he doesn’t play for. But this is the sort of storyline esports fans live for. A kid who couldn’t stay in the Korean League, and gets a shot playing in the LEC after a standout split in one of Europe’s smaller leagues. It’s less a question of how can he last, and more of a question of how high can he go. And if he continues like he has, there might be no ceiling for Noah and Fnatic.
In other LEC success stories, Excel Esports shocked the league with their Week 2 performance. They entered the week on a ten-game losing streak, only to snap it with an upset win over Team Heretics. Then they turned around and secured an easy win over the ailing Team BDS. Just like that, they had equaled their win total from the Spring split. All that left for the week for MAD Lions, the defending champions on a 4-1 start.
They may have needed nearly 40 minutes to do it but Excel beat MAD to cap a shocking reversal of fortunes. The team that everyone had counted out, that everyone expected to blow up and rebuild after the season, had gone 3-0. Furthermore, thanks to results elsewhere, Excel found themselves in fifth place. After a disastrous year, Excel were suddenly playing for a playoff team.
Excel’s final week begins against current league leaders G2. However, we’ve already seen what Excel can do against teams atop the LEC. Furthermore, their other two games are much more crucial. First, there’s Astralis (2-4), a must-win game for Excel, not only to keep their playoff hopes alive but also to dash Astralis’. Then, they end the split against Vitality (1-5). While Vitality could already be eliminated by Monday night, the win might mean everything for Excel.
As one navigates the uncharted waters of choosing a games console, deciding between the PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo might seem overwhelming. All three have their unique pros and cons to consider. It can be tricky to decide which machine is best suited to your individual gaming needs. Fortunately, we have compiled a comprehensive guide that outlines each console’s exclusive perks and drawbacks. Plus, don’t miss our breakdown of which system has superior exclusive titles to read up on.
Nintendo: Switch & Switch OLED
Nintendo Switch is a revolutionary console with an ingenious design. It also serves as a fully-fledged handheld and a traditional gaming machine. At $299, the Switch offers kid-friendly titles like Super Mario, Pokémon, and The Legend of Zelda. The Switch’s stellar library is home to legendary titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Nintendo’s first-party offerings, such as the vast Super Mario Odyssey and the tranquil Animal Crossing: New Horizons, certify that this console will never remain idle for long.
For those seeking more complex experiences, the console hosts many stimulating indie games and third-party ports, from Doom to The Witcher 3. Moreover, the newer $349 OLED Switch provides enhanced audio and visuals, a larger 7-inch OLED display, 64GB storage, a dock with a wired LAN port, and an adjustable stand. For more budget gamers, the Nintendo Switch Lite at $199 is perfect for on-the-go fun. With its groundbreaking dual-setup feature, the Switch enables gamers to experience entertainment wherever they go.
The Nintendo Switch, the oldest of the current-generation consoles, is the least powerful compared to its newer counterparts. While the PS5 and Xbox Series X offer gamers 4K/60 FPS resolutions and graphical prowess, the Switch lags with a mere 720p display at handheld mode and 1080p when placed in docked mode, with most games running at 30FPS. These hardware limitations mean that owners of UHD TVs cannot take full advantage of their setups, making an upgrade imminent.
The Switch OLED is only capable of 1080p resolution and offers no real improvement in performance over the standard model. As developers push for more power-hungry games, those with a Switch may miss out on some of the best titles due to the aging hardware.
Xbox: Series X
Packing more power than its competitors, the Xbox Series X offers a standout gaming experience. Boasting a sleek black finish and disc drive on the front, this console offers a variety of ports for enhanced accessibility. With Xbox’s game-saving feature, you can continue your progress across other Xbox devices or Windows 10 PCs and mobile devices. Priced at $500, the full-featured console is also sold alongside its less expensive all-digital twin, the Xbox Series S, which retails at $300.
Boasting the most formidable power of all the consoles, the Xbox Series X is the ultimate destination to experience popular multi-platform series such as Call of Duty and Assassin’s Creed. You will find hours of entertainment with Microsoft exclusives like Halo, Gears, and Forza and an array of acquired studios offering single-player treasures.
With full backward compatibility, you can replay almost every Xbox One title and many Xbox 360 and original Xbox games. Above all else, it’s the option to avail yourself of the convenient and affordable Xbox Game Pass that could be the true game changer. For only $15 per month, you gain access to a library of over 300 titles across your Xbox console or PC. Additionally, you can stream them to an Android or iOS device with progress transferring effortlessly.
Xbox Series X may lack the beloved exclusives of its stablemates, with Halo, Gears, and Forza still too far off to make an appearance. However, its multiplatform games are available via the economical Xbox Game Pass subscription. Moreover, its absence of USB-C ports detracts from its reputation as a future-proof device. Though a minor issue, it nevertheless warrants consideration.
PS: PS5
As Sony’s flagship console, the fifth generation PlayStation – the PS5 – offers gamers a spectacle of power and potential. Its two-toned, unappealing exterior may be deceiving, yet it belies the core focus of this device: gaming. Enjoy exclusive titles such as Horizon Forbidden West and Deathloop. Alternatively, harness the PS5’s backward compatibility to play previous PlayStation titles. Boasting comparable specs to the Xbox Series X and an 825 GB SSD that blasts through load times.
The PS5 is an incredible powerhouse in the gaming world, with two unique features that set it apart. Those are the exclusive licenses to the acclaimed Sony series and its innovative DualSense Controller. The Ratchet and Clank, God of War, Horizon, Last of Us, Spider-Man, Demon’s Souls, and Gran Turismo franchises—to name just a few. Such titles have gained widespread admiration over the past generation due to their impeccable game design and production value.
The DualSense also deserves mention, as it boasts impressively detailed haptics, unlike any other controller on the market. Instead of being limited to basic vibrations, the DualSense can simulate footsteps, currency collection, and other obstacles encountered in game. Adaptive triggers provide a level of realism when playing a variety of games.
The PS5 is a unique game console requiring you to stay within your local network when streaming. Its difficulty in obtaining and its limited streaming apps and subscription services make it a less desirable option. Moreover, its large size and lack of upgradable storage space pose logistical problems for many users. Nonetheless, if you can manage the practicalities, there are still noteworthy benefits from investing in a PS5.
Xbox, PS, Nintendo: Which One Should You Get?
From mobile gaming to retro revival, gamers have no shortage of options these days. Nevertheless, the PS5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch remain the most popular consoles on the market. They are your best bet unless you need something vastly powerful or affordable.
(@TeamVitality)