Gaming

Team Vitality Bench Bo Ahead Of Final LEC Week

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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.

Related: Excel win three in a week after winning three all year

Vitality Bench Bo, Promote Daglas

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.

Related: FENNEL debut first woman in the LJL

While Vitality Fall, Noah Soars

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.

Related: Which champions are pros banning the most?

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LCS Launches 2023 Game Changers Project

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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.

Read More: Meet Noah, Fnatic’s rookie superstar

2023 Game Changers Brings Expanded Opportunities

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.

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Meet Noah, Fnatic’s Rookie Superstar

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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.

Related: FENNEL debuts first woman to play in Japan’s LJL

Noah Dominates Summer Split

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.

Related: These champions are basically pro play perma-bans right now

Excel Executes A Perfect Week

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.

Related: LEC Summer split tracker

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Xbox, PS, Nintendo: Choosing The Perfect Console

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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.

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Starfield: Release Date, Xbox Game Pass, Trailer, Gameplay, Constellation Edition & More

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Bethesda Game Studios is all set to launch Starfield, their highly anticipated space exploration game, on September 6, 2023. This role-playing action game is the first new IP from Bethesda in over 25 years. It is an ambitious venture that promises an immersive experience in a space-themed setting. The game allows players to traverse an open world within the Milky Way galaxy, landing on over 1,000 planets and numerous moons and space stations. As you journey through this vast universe, you can customize your character, engage in combat, explore and extract resources from different planets, and build outposts.

The game will be available on Microsoft Windows and Xbox Series X/S and on day one with Game Pass. For those who can’t wait to get their hands on the game, pre-orders for the Premium and Constellation Editions are now open, offering bonus features and early access up to five days before the official release. Prepare to embark on an epic space odyssey with Starfield.

Release Date

Set to embark on a cosmic adventure, Starfield, an action role-playing game developed by Bethesda Game Studios, is scheduled to launch on September 6, 2023. With the game set in a vast, space-themed setting, it marks the first new intellectual property developed by Bethesda in over 25 years. The release will be for Microsoft Windows and Xbox Series X/S​.

Xbox Game Pass

Starfield will also be coming to Xbox Game Pass on its release day. This is a major win for Xbox Game Pass subscribers as it means they’ll be able to dive into this highly anticipated game on day one as part of their subscription​.

Trailer

Bethesda Game Studios has released an official gameplay trailer for those eager to get a glimpse of the game. The footage was unveiled during the Starfield Direct video update. Director Todd Howard and his core development team presented a 45-minute showcase of the game’s expansive universe and various features. The trailer allows players to appreciate the scale and scope of this game. This includes visiting over 1,000 planets, moons, and asteroids to engaging with various factions. Additionally, the trailer shows piloting and customizing one’s ship and mastering a refined combat system​.

Gameplay

Starfield boasts an open world in the form of an area within the Milky Way galaxy. It contains both fictional and non-fictional planetary systems. The gameplay footage showcases the ability of players to land on more than 1,000 planets and an unspecified number of moons and space stations. The landscapes within the game are procedurally generated, with the terrain, alien flora, fauna, and locations of interest generated as the player approaches a planet.

At the start of the game, players can customize their character. They can choose their body, voice, appearance, background, and traits. As the game progresses, players can level up. This unlocks new abilities found in the game’s five distinct skill trees: Physical, Social, Combat, Science, and Tech. Equipped with various firearms, explosives, melee weapons, and even jetpacks, players can tackle various combat scenarios in the game.

Another intriguing aspect of the gameplay is the ability to scan planets for their natural resources. Players can extract or harvest these resources to fulfill many crafting recipes. Moreover, players can erect outposts to serve as homes or facilitate resource-extraction operations​.

Constellation Edition

In addition to the standard game, Bethesda has unveiled a deluxe Constellation Edition and Premium Edition of Starfield. These packages come with bonus features and extra content. The Constellation Edition includes the base game, a story expansion upon release, up to five days early access, a Starfield Chronomark Watch and Case, a SteelBook Display Case, a Constellation Skin Pack, access to a digital artbook and original soundtrack, and more. The Premium Edition includes the base game, a story expansion upon release, the Constellation Skin Pack, a digital artbook and soundtrack access, and more. Pre-ordering either edition will provide eager players up to five days of early game access​.

To further excite fans, Bethesda has also partnered with the Xbox hardware team to release a special Limited Edition Starfield Xbox controller and headset, featuring design elements that mimic spaceship panels and the official Constellation livery​3​.

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Exoprimal: Release Date, Xbox Game Pass, Trailer, Gameplay, Street Fighter 6 Collab & More

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In the ever-evolving realm of gaming, Capcom’s upcoming third-person shooter game, Exoprimal, is creating significant buzz. As the game’s release date draws near, fans worldwide are on the edge of their seats, ready to dive into a world filled with menacing dinosaurs and fearsome mutated creatures. This article aims to shed light on key details about the game that has everyone talking.

We will investigate the game’s release date and availability on Xbox Game Pass. Beyond that, we’ll also look at the glimpses offered by the official trailer, the unique gameplay mechanics, and more. Get ready to explore the prehistoric battlegrounds of Exoprimal and brace yourself for an action-packed journey unlike any other.

Exoprimal Release Date

Gamers around the globe are eagerly anticipating the release of Capcom’s upcoming third-person shooter game, Exoprimal. The game is set to be launched on July 14, 2023. It will be available across multiple platforms, including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S​.

Will Exoprimal be on Xbox Game Pass?

Good news for Xbox Game Pass subscribers: Exoprimal will be available on Xbox Game Pass from day one of its release. This means that subscribers will get to enjoy the game without any additional costs. This adds even more value to the popular game subscription service​.

Trailer

You can check out the official story trailer for the game above, offering a glimpse into the thrilling narrative of the game. It focuses on the third-person shooter’s storyline and introduces some of the characters players will find in the game. The trailer has stirred excitement among fans, leaving them eagerly waiting for the game’s launch.

Gameplay

Exoprimal is a player-versus-player-versus-environment video game where players assume the role of an Exofighter. As an Exofighter, players must complete a series of combat challenges set by a sinister artificial intelligence named Leviathan. These challenges aim to uncover a way to destroy Leviathan and halt the onslaught of prehistoric creatures​.

The game features various exosuit armors, each with its unique weapons and abilities. Players can choose from characters like the tank-like Roadblock, the supportive Witchdoctor, or the explosive expert, Barrage. As the game advances, players can unlock new skins and cosmetic items for their exosuits and weapons through the game’s Survival Pass​.

Exoprimal‘s main mode is “Dino Survival,” where two teams of five players compete against each other and complete objectives set by Leviathan. The game’s main enemies are dinosaurs and mutated prehistoric creatures known as “NeoSaurs” with special combat traits. As players complete objectives, they gain experience points, allowing them to upgrade their characters and unlock more story missions​.

Development & More

Exoprimal is currently under development by Capcom, with the aim of creating an action game different from Capcom’s previous titles. The game pits players against hordes of enemies, unlike Monster Hunter, where players take on one single enemy at a time. Dinosaurs have been chosen as the game’s main enemy type. This is because the team believed that experiencing the threat of history’s most fearsome predators would be exciting for gamers​.

Street Fighter 6 Collab

The game was officially announced during Sony’s State of Play livestream in March 2022, with network tests for PC players held in July and August 2022. An open beta for the game was also held from 17 to 19 March 2023. Along with the base game, Exoprimal will also feature a collaboration DLC with Street Fighter 6, including character skins based on Ryu and Guile​. With its unique gameplay mechanics, thrilling narrative, and immersive environment, Exoprimal is set to be a groundbreaking addition to the world of gaming.

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Excel Esports Pick Up First Win Since March

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After being one of the most promising teams in the LEC in 2022, Excel Esports completely collapsed during the 2023 season. Finishing dead last in both the Winter and Spring splits, Excel entered Week 2 of the Summer split with just three wins all year to their name.

The roster overhaul that brought in big-name talents like Odoamme, Xerxe, and Vetheo never got off the ground, with the team completely unable to find rhythm or cohesion. That led to more changes, with three changes to the starting line-up ahead of the Summer split.

However, things continued to go poorly. Excel were swept in Week 1, the only team to go winless. However, perhaps things are starting to look up. On the first matchday of Week 2, Excel were able to find their first win of the split, and fourth on the year.

Related: LEC Summer tracker

Excel Upset Team Heretics

This should have been an easy win for Heretics. The team was riding the momentum of a 3-0 start to the split. Meanwhile, Excel found themselves on a 10-game losing streak stretching back to Spring. Furthermore, the game would pit Heretics mid laner Vetheo against the team that benched him in March.

However, it would be Excel who came out on top. While ADC Flakked continued his strong start to the split, Team Heretics could do little of anything to stop Excel. The team combined for just three kills outside of Flakked. Meanwhile, Excel had 20 kills and controlled the game from the 10-minute mark onwards. Odoamne, who went 6/0/5 on K’Sante, picked up MVP honors.

Furthermore, the win launches Excel up the table. They now sit in seventh but remain as one of five teams who have started 1-3. Despite this, Excel will look to carry their momentum into their next match against Team BDS (2-2) on June 25.

Related: FENNEL debuts first woman to play in the LJL

Neeko Continues to Dominate Bans

Splash art for the League of Legends character Neeko's "Bewitching" skin
Riot Games

Meanwhile, Neeko continues to be the most banned champion in top region play. She is now the only champion with a 99% presence rate. Furthermore, she has been banned 221 times across the top four regions at the time of writing. She is one of three champions to have a 100% presence rate in the LEC.

The champion’s mid-scope update, which gave her the ability to disguise herself as static objects like wards, has made her an immensely powerful tool in the mid lane. Combined with the likes of her potent combos, she is basically impossible to play against effectively.

However, she is not the only character who is consistently pulling bans. Vi has been banned 200 times, while Milio has been grayed out 194 times. In the LEC specifically, these two characters also sit at a 100% presence rate. Despite Neeko’s global ban prowess, Vi leads the way in the LEC. Across the 20 games played so far, she’s been played twice and banned 18 times. Neeko, by comparison, has been banned 15 times.

Related: LCS Summer tracker

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Two LoL Champions Have 99% Presence Rate In Major Region Play

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The League of Legends summer split is underway in all four major esport regions (China, Europe, North America, and Korea). Every team will be vying for a place at the 2023 World Championships, which are due to take place in Korea between September and November.

Recent patches to the game have brought with them a lot of major changes to the meta. As a result, a handful of champions have been making regular appearances during the pick/ban phases of pro games.

Leading the way are Neeko and recently released champion Milio. The pair of colorful characters hold a 99% presence rate at the time of writing. Three other champions have a presence rate of over 90% – Vi (98%), K’Sante (95%), and Aphelios (92%). All this data comes from professional play stat-tracking site, Game of Legends.

Related: LCS Summer split begins after player strike causes two-week delay

“OP” Neeko And Milio Lead Presence Rate And Ban Lists

Splash art of Neeko from League of Legends
Riot Games

Amid complaints that Neeko has become “overpowered” in recent patches and that Milio is not properly balanced yet, the two champions’ presence on the pro scene has mostly been as bans. Neeko is the most banned champion at 184. Milio is the third-most banned at 164. Furthermore, the pair hold win rates of 47% and 58% respectively in the games where they have been picked.

A similar story can be seen at the higher levels of the amateur competitive scene. Both champions are top-ten in bans at all levels of ranked play from Gold and higher. This is in spite of a nerf to Milio on the most recent patch. Returning to pro play, the best Neeko player has been BLG’s Yagao (5 games, 100% win rate, 4.8 KDA). Meanwhile, the best Milio players are Gen.G’s Delight (5 games, 80% win rate, 12.5 KDA) and T1’s Keria (5 games, 80% win rate, 10.4 KDA).

Furthermore, Neeko is receiving a nerf on the upcoming 13.13 patch. This will also be a three-week patch, meaning that both characters could receive more substantial adjustments in the 13.14 patch after the dev team observes the long-term effects on the meta.

Related: LEC Summer split tracker

Japan Sees First Woman To Play In Pro LoL League

Speaking of dominance in the support position, Japan became the latest region to break the gender barrier. Miyu “Shakespeare” Otomo participated in FENNEL’s week 1 game against Crest Gaming Act, filling in for starting support Ian “Corporal” Pearse. Additionally, Japan is believed to be just the third Worlds-eligible region to have a woman appear in its top league.

While FENNEL’s opponents were not the toughest team in the league, Shakespeare still put on a masterful display. She ended the series with a 3/1/22 stat line after playing Yuumi and Lulu. Furthermore, if FENNEL are able to win the LJL’s single Worlds berth, Shakespeare could be the first woman to attend the year-end event as a player.

Shakespeare did not play in FENNEL’s Week 2 loss to Sengoku Gaming. Corporal recorded a 2/7/12 stat line across the three games in the 2-1 loss. Next week, FENNEL takes on V3 Esports, as well as perennial league champions DetonatioN FocusMe. Perhaps Shakespeare will get another shot at the starting job if Corporal’s numbers don’t improve.

Related: LCS Summer split tracker

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Nike x Fortnite “Airphoria” Experience Dazzles Gamers

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Nike is teaming up with Fortnite in an unlikely, digital partnership. Fortnite, developed by Epic Games, is a widely popular online video game known for its fast-paced action and competitive gameplay. Epic Games, the renowned game development company, has gained significant recognition in the gaming industry for creating engaging and innovative experiences across various platforms.

This collaboration is coming at a convenient time as Nike also revealed a partnership with EA Sports. The Nike Air Max 90 X EA Sports “Play Like Mad” is rumored to release at some point during 2023. These recent collaborations point to an uncertain time in Nike collaborations. Especially with Epic Games, we haven’t seen anything like this before. It’s certainly a space that Nike sees value in, but it will be interesting to see the future. Further, there will definitely be more partnerships like this. Brands will continue to blur the lines between physical and digital, which is incredibly exciting.

Read More: 7 Times Rappers Spit Bars About Video Games

“Airphoria” Fortnite x Nike Experience

Nike
Image via Nike

Players of Fortnite may explore the “Airphoria” realm, which has design cues from the Air Max 1, Air Max 97, and Air Max TW vintage shoes as well as more recent Air Max sneakers like the Air Max Scorpion and Air Max Pulse. By using the island code 2118-5342-7190 or Fortnite Discover, players may find the location. Players of Fortnite may now purchase the costumes worn by the “Airphoria” characters, Airie and Maxxed Out Max, for their characters in addition to “Airphoria.” Also, Nike.com has released an “Airphoria”-inspired collection today.

According to Nate Nanzer, the Epic Games vice president of global partnerships, “Epic has talked a lot about building an open, interoperable metaverse and this is a really willing partner in Nike to connect. It’s the start of what will become many more interactions to come with Nike.” Gamers can access the “Airphoria” experience on Fortnite from now until June 27 at 8 p.m. ET. Let us know what you think of this collab, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the sneaker world. We will be sure to bring you the biggest releases from the biggest brands.

Read More: 5 Greatest Hip-Hop Video Games

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Could Japan Bring The First Woman To Worlds?

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Women are rare in the top divisions of League of Legends esports. Esports should lends itself to gender parity. However, gaming culture and perceived skill differences have often led to the exclusion of women. Maria “Remilia” Creveling, remains the best example of a woman making it to a major league. She briefly played for Renegades during the 2016 Spring split of North America’s LCS. While there are many incredibly talented women playing on amateur teams and in regional leagues, it remains to be seen when a woman will be once again given a top-division opportunity.

The lack of gender parity at the top level of the sport means that no woman has ever appeared as a player at the World Championships. The theoretical closest we have come to this milestone is Vaevictis eSports’ all-women team in the 2019 LCL season. However, that might all be about to change after history was made this week in Japan.

Shakespeare Makes History

On June 11, Miyu “Shakespeare” Otomo made history as she became the first woman to play in the LJL. Filling in for starting support Ian “Corporal” Pearse, it was on the 20-year-old to help FENNEL start the Summer split with a win. The team’s first game was against Crest Gaming Act. CGA hadn’t recorded a top four finish since 2020. However, given the league’s level of competitiveness, it was not a game to be taken lightly. Shakespeare didn’t disappoint, playing dominantly in the 2-0 FENNEL victory. She ended the series with a 3/1/22 stat line after playing Yuumi and Lulu. At the time of writing, she currently holds a league-high KDA of 25. It is believed that she is the first woman to play in a Worlds-eligible league since the aforementioned all-women Vaevictis eSports played in Russia in 2019.

Japan is a one-bid team for the annual World Championships. That bid has more often than not been won by DetonatioN FocusMe. DFM have won all but one split since Spring 2018. However, league parity has steadily increased over the years. Teams such as Sengoku Gaming are now beginning to challenge the dominance of DFM. Heading into Summer, many see FENNEL as a team that can challenge for that top spot. It’s unclear whether Shakespeare will be taking to the Rift in FENNEL’s Week 2 matchup against Sengoku. However, she deserves the chance to challenge for a starting role or the team’s substitute spot if they do make it to Worlds.

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