Gaming

7 Times Rappers Spit Bars About Video Games

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Rap lyrics about video games have been appearing in the genre for years. When rappers drop brand names, we likely only know of them because we’ve heard them mentioned many times. Relating to them depends on how we spend our money. This fits the lifestyle many speak of – either we can relate to it or can’t. However, video games are much more accessible to many listeners.

If they don’t play anymore, these bars can be nostalgic for them. If they’re currently a gamer, they can appreciate the relevancy of the reference the rapper made. These days rap and video games go hand in hand, with many artists regularly streaming and appearing at events for the gaming world. We’ve gathered a list of rappers who have said a thing or two about video games in their music.

“Show Me What You Got” – Lil Wayne (2006)

At this point, we’re well aware of one of Lil Wayne’s go-to topics in rap. But, he found time to veer from that to drop these rap lyrics about the classic video game series Mortal Kombat. “The Commission or Wu-Tang n****/ Tryna tell u I can kick it like Liu Kang n****/ Got that Sub-Zero flow, how u want me ma/ N**** get over here like Scorpion.”

Even people who have never played the game know its brutal reputation. With it being a 30-year-old franchise, several generations have been exposed to it. Wayne dropped these bars in 2006, and the latest entry in the series was announced on this month. He mentioned three of the game’s most popular characters. Liu Kang, Scorpion, and Sub-Zero are go-to characters for many players. Additionally, “Get over here” is Scorpion’s catchphrase. Wayne seems to be a big fan and is proud of it.

“SUMO | ZUMO” – Denzel Curry (2018)

Saying this rap lyric about video games is dated is not an insult. In fact, “dated” may not be the right word. “Nostalgic” definitely fits better. Denzel rapped “Bills on me blue, Sly Cooper.” He has been open about his love of anime, games, and other connected worlds. This bar is from a song full of references to multiple things he enjoys. However, the bar we’re discussing is truly special for listeners. Sly Cooper was a video game series for the Nintendo GameCube. The title character was a raccoon that wore a blue outfit. This bar takes a typical subject and brings a specific reference to it because we all know rappers love their blue faces—one hundred dollar bills.

“Hoover Street” – ScHoolboy Q (2014)

This is a rap lyric about video games that shows the age of the artist. It’s also a reference to Biggie’s entry on this list. “Grandma said she loved me, I told her I loved her more/ She always got me things, that we couldn’t afford/ The new Js and Tommy Hill in my drawers/Sega Genesis, Nintendo 64, see GoldenEye was away at war,” rapped ScHoolboy Q.

He mentions a Nintendo 64, an entire generation after the Super Nintendo. Goldeneye 007 was a popular game. The song finds him talking about several moments in his past, but this one highlights one of the lighter moments. Fast forward a few years, and he’s a character in the PGA Tour game series. Seeing rappers whose topics aren’t always the brightest be interested in gaming is interesting. It’s further proof we don’t know who they are outside the booth until they tell us. 

“PTSD” – City Morgue (2018)

This rap lyric about video games references a character through a double entendre. Doing things in a coupe is something we’ve heard many rappers mention. However, City Morgue talks of doing something truly reckless in it – which is on brand for their music. “Imma crash in the coupe, do the Crash Bandicoot,“ declared City Morgue member SosMula.

Bandicoot is a video game character known for his off-the-wall personality and behavior. One of his signature moves is when he spins in a circle, destroying anything in his path and moving forward faster. While his self-titled series of games are primarily platformers, he’s got a kart racing game too. This one is titled Crash Team Racing. SosMula’s bar could refer to both.

“Juicy” – The Notorious B.I.G (1994)

We’d be remiss if we didn’t include this rap lyric about video games in this list. When rap fans think of the “oldest” rap lyric about video games, their mind usually goes to these classic bars. Biggie says, “Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis/ When I was dead broke, man I couldn’t picture this.” Of course, other songs have more niche references, but this is one even non-rap fans get. Biggie references two game consoles in this bar. It references his past and how he’s elevated since then.

For many people, games are something they had a lot more time for when they were younger. Of course, nowadays, adults get paid to play games which is just another example of how things are constantly changing as time progresses. However, these bars are timeless for a classic song and legendary artist.

“Corduroy” – BONES (2014)

These rap lyrics about video games are the most specific ones on our list. That’s because it’s not just about a video game – it’s a cheat code for a video game.“R2, R2, L1, R2, Up, Down, Left, Right, then I get to bangin’,” BONES rapped in his trademark lower register. BONES is a rapper whose music has referenced computer lingo, games, and movies multiple times. However, this bar takes things to a new level. He names specific button inputs which players know are on a PlayStation controller. The code is for Grand Theft Auto III for the PlayStation 2. When players use it, they will have all the weapons from the game equipped for their character to use. Listeners can infer BONES knows from experience.

“China Town” – Migos (2014)

Rap lyrics about video games can sometimes appear across generations. Mortal Kombat was mentioned at the beginning of our list.“Black shades, Johnny Cage, diamonds go parade/ Motorola in the kitchen, whippin’ Sonya/ My plug look like Pacquiao, his daughter is Kitana” rapped Quavo and Takeoff. Johnny Cage is a classic character from the Mortal Kombat series. His character is a movie star and often keeps his sunglasses on as he fights. Sonya Blade ends up in a relationship with him. Migos are referring to her as “white girl,” much like their hit “Hannah Montana” spoke of. They managed to seamlessly reference their lifestyle and these characters and connect the two. It sounds like they had a controller in their hands when they weren’t in the trap. 

What are some of your favorite bars about video games? Let us know in the comments section. 

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College Players Will Be Able To Opt In For 2024 EA Sports College Football Game

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EA Games once ruled the world of college sports video games. NCAA Basketball and NCAA Football were both beloved franchises that still boast active player bases today. However, NCAA Basketball was discontinued in 2009 due to a lawsuit by former college star Ed O’Bannon. Meanwhile, similar concerns brought an end to NCAA Football in 2013. The games have lived on through passionate fanbases and myriad content on sites such as YouTube and Twitch. Interest in NCAA Basketball spiked during the pandemic thanks to the work of SB Nation journalist Ricky O’Donnell. O’Donnell produced a series of season-by-season breakdowns of his journey trying to break the all-time record for NCAA titles using the worst team in the game, Western Illinois.

However, in 2021, EA announced that NCAA Football would be making a return with EA Sports College Football. Originally slated to release in 2023, the game was delayed to 2024. the return of the game was brought about by the impending implementation of NIL legislation that allowed college athletes to receive money from sponsorship deals and similar sources. Now, news that has broken about a vital part of the game development.

Real Players In “EA Sports College Football”

INGLEWOOD, CA – JANUARY 09: A player holds up a sign after Georgia Bulldogs wins their game versus the TCU Horned Frogs in the College Football Playoff National Championship game on January 9, 2023, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

While mods have long existed to import real rosters into the NCAA Football games, the restrictions on using player likenesses meant that the games were also filled with fictional players. That may no longer be the case given an interview the developers granted to ESPN. EA is collaborating with NIL agency OneTeam Partners to facilitate the addition of real players and their likenesses to the upcoming game.

Payment and revenue structuring for players who want to appear in the game is still being finalized. However, but OneTeam told ESPN that payment would be “as inclusive and equitable as possible.” Furthermore, the company outlined on its website that “revenue will be divided equally among the athletes included in each licensing program” if individual sales couldn’t be agreed on. Players who do not opt-in will be replaced by a generic fictional player. At the time of writing, Tulane and Northwestern have both publicly opted in. Notre Dame has also been “in contact” about NIL implementation, but has not formally opted in or out.

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5 Greatest Hip-Hop Video Games

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Hip-hop culture has been part of video games since sound cards could handle dope tracks. While the prerequisites to what makes a game “hip-hop” have always been broad, they’ve been apparent. Sometimes all it took was a banging soundtrack and a counterculture attitude. In some cases, actual rappers, producers, and other artists were integral to specific titles’ very existence.  But this has never been a necessity. Some games were born with a hip-hop attitude, borrowing from various music, cultures, and iconography. Let’s look at five standout titles that are undeniably hip-hop.

5. DJ Hero (2009)

FreeStyleGames’ DJ Hero was a music game that rode the wave crest of titles like Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Players would use a plastic turntable and mixer to cut and scratch two tracks to beat each level. The game was an odd duck, even in video games requiring unique controller peripherals.

With its massive soundtrack of hip-hop and house tracks, DJ Hero made players feel like they were really on the 1s and 2s. It was the closest you could be to DJ’ing a house party from the confines of a bedroom. The game was a moderate hit and spawned a sequel in 2010. Unfortunately, the franchise died as it never really found the broad appeal that games like Rock Band had.

4. Marc Ecko’s Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure (2006)

Marc Ecko’s Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure was a game that defied genres. The game utilized elements of stealth action games, beat ‘em up brawlers, platformers, and graffiti simulators. Its unique gameplay, advanced graphics (for the time), and the incredible soundtrack by RJD2 made it a defining entry in hip-hop video game canon.

Developer The Collective had previously created primarily licensed video game tie-ins, like Men in Black: The Game. However, Marc Ecko’s Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure proved the studio was capable of much more. Unfortunately, The Collective would never get a chance to develop something as unique again. The Collective became defunct shortly after the game’s release.

3. NBA Street Vol. 2 (2003)

Despite their popularity, most annual sports video games tend to be improved replications of previous releases. To be fair, the same could be said for game franchises like Call of Duty and Assassins’ Creed. The repetition could grow stale for some gamers. That’s why a series like NBA Street was such a breath of fresh air. NBA Street Vol. 2 was one of the best examples of a game genre breaking its mold. Developers NuFX and EA Canada crafted a unique vision of what a basketball game could be. The rules were stripped down, the aesthetics were raw, and the soundtrack was fire. NBA Street Vol 2. might’ve been the most hip-hop a sports game could be.

2. Def Jam: Fight for NY (2004)

Def Jam: Fight for NY was the sequel to the popular hip-hop wrestling game Def Jam: Vendetta. Fight for NY expanded the scope of its predecessor, turning into an action game by incorporating more open environments and various fighting styles for players to choose from. The story of the game was a convoluted crime saga.

Players would take control of a nameless hero as they fought through the New York Underground. A massive roster of rappers and producers appeared in the game, and famous clothing lines from the period were omnipresent. Throw in a soundtrack featuring artists like Xzibit, OutKast, and Redman, and you got an all-time hip-hop video game classic. Fight for NY was followed by Def Jam: Icon in 2007. However, it didn’t quite clear the high bar set in place by its predecessor.

1. Jet Set Radio (2000)

Jet Set Radio (also known as Jet Grind Radio in North America) was another game that shook video game conventions. The game followed a gang of graffiti-tagging inline skaters. Players would control various characters as they tried to paint over tags from rival gangs before the timer ran out.

At its release, the closest relative to Jet Set Radio would have been Tony Hawk Pro Skater, but even that wasn’t an apt comparison. Japanese Developer Smilebit had created something wholly original. The game featured an insane soundtrack filled with hip-hop, techno, and trip-hop tracks. The art style was wild, and the game’s counter-culture attitude was omnipresent.

5 Video Game Adaptations Better Than Their Movies

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The relationship between video games and film is a tumultuous one. Most films based on video games either miss why the source material was engaging, or they’re outright awful. On the other side of the coin, most video game tie-ins to movies are soulless cash grabs cobbled together by already stressed development teams.

While the video game-movie curse hasn’t quite been lifted, there are a few shining movie tie-in games in the sea of mediocrity. Now, it’s rare for a video game based on a film to be good, but it’s even rarer for them to surpass their source material. Here are five video game movie tie-ins that actually might.

5. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)has the dubious honor of being the worst X-Men film featuring Hugh Jackman. This is not hyperbole. The film, directed by Academy Award-winner Gavin Hood, was a huge swing and a miss. With lousy CGI, a terrible script, not even a stellar performance from Liev Schreiber could save the film.  

However, the video game tie-in, released the same day as the film, was awesome. It gave longtime fans of Wolverine the kind of visceral combat so many X-Men games had been lacking. The game was by no means revolutionary, but it was a solid hack-and-slash game with great animation and killer combat.

4. The Mummy: Demastered (2017)

Why is this game so good? It honestly makes zero sense. It’s a side-scrolling action game in the style of Metroidvania. And it’s a perfect one, too. The game claims to be based upon the 2017 Tom Cruise trash fire The Mummy, and if you squint hard enough…sure. Why not?

WayForward Technologies’ The Mummy Demastered follows a soldier working for Prodigium. While opening up a large map, players must fight against monsters unreleased by Princess Ahmanet. And that’s about where the comparisons end. The game is just simply solid and almost makes up for the two hours the film robbed from everyone.

3. Goldeneye 007 (1997)

The 1995 James Bond film GoldenEye was a solid entry in the series. It also introduced one of our better Bonds, with Pierce Brosnan taking up the mantle of 007. The film was a critical and financial hit that spun out three more Brosnan Bond films…all of which were bad. But as good as GoldenEye the movie was, the 1997 N64 video game of the same name was legendary.

Developed by Rare, GoldenEye was a first-person action game that mostly followed the film’s events. However, what made the game the stuff of legend was its intense multiplayer mode, which would later be replicated in games such as Perfect Dark. GoldenEye was the go-to activity of a generation of kids looking to chase each other with silenced pistols on a console. It also made that generation hate Oddjob. Look, if ya know, ya know.

2. Ghostbusters: The Video Game (2009)

Alright, alright, before anyone breaks out the pitchforks and torches, the answer is “no!” Ghostbusters: The Video Game was not better than Ivan Reitman’s 1984 comedy classic. However, it was (and still is) the best piece of media the franchise has released since the original film.

The game featured the voices of Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, and Dan Aykroyd, all of whom reprised their roles from the films. Ghostbusters: The Video Game even allowed Aykroyd and Ramis to explore their ideas for what would have been Ghostbusters 3. In fact, it would be fair to consider Ghostbusters: The Video Game the end of a trilogy. While the gameplay was simple, the story and writing make it a must-play for franchise fans.

1. World War Z (2019)

Max Brooks’ 2003 horror novel World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War was one the best pieces of literary zombie fiction. The book’s 2013 film adaptation was not exactly a masterpiece. It shirked most of the novel’s ideas and stories (and its framing device), much to the film’s detriment. But Brad Pitt looked good running from zombies, so we mostly forgave it.

However, against all odds, the 2019 video game adaptation of the film was gangbusters. World War Z was a squad-based third-person shooter game in the vein of Left 4 Dead. Developer Saber Interactive brought the film’s intensity while keeping the original novel’s “boots on the ground” narrative.

5 Hidden Gems On PlayStation Plus Premium

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With a library of around 400 games, PlayStation Plus Premium can seem overwhelming. While the service has titles for every kind of gamer, it can be difficult to know where to invest time. It truly is a bounty of spoils. There are plenty of great AAA Sony exclusives and indie darlings on the service. However, there is a trove of titles that often get overlooked. From kid-friendly indies to remastered exclusives, let’s look at five stand-out titles that deserve more love.

5. 9 Monkeys of Shaolin (2020)

Sobaka Studio’s 9 Monkeys of Shaolin is an excellent side-scrolling action game rooted in history and mysticism. Players control a fisherman who becomes one of the masters of Shaolin. Based on the Chinese fantasy genre of Wuxia, the game combines fluid combat with magical powers to help players defeat increasingly difficult enemies. The game occurs throughout five chapters, in which players fight different clans for each.

Armed with a staff that can be upgraded with perks, players fight through waves of enemies and bone-crushing boss encounters. 9 Monkeys of Shaolin’s satisfying fight system is unique and easy to learn. However, the game is hard to master as there are countless combos and fight styles to explore. This one is a must-play for fans of kung-fu films and old school beat ‘em up video games.

4. Spirit of the North (2019)

Spirit of the North might be the most mellow games PlayStation Plus Premium offers. Infuse Studio created a game experience unlike any other. Players take control of a fox to explore a long-forgotten frozen land. Inspired by the Finnish legend of “Tulikettu,” Spirit of the North contains no dialogue or narrative. It’s all vibes and context clues.

The gameplay is simple yet thoroughly engaging. With the help of a magical spirit, players are left to discover what happened to the land that has lost most of its life. Spirit of the North is one of those games that doesn’t require a lot of intense focus or skill. However, that doesn’t take away from how engaging it is.

3. Thomas Was Alone (2010)

Developer Mike Bithell might be one of the hardest-working guys in indie games. Originally a Flash-based browser game, Thomas Was Alone follows a group of rectangular shapes trying to escape each level.  The game is filled with heart and humor, most of which is from the narration by British comedian Danny Wallace.

The game design is simple yet profound. Players switch between various AI entities (all represented by shapes with unique names and personalities) to solve increasingly complex puzzles. The game occurs inside a computer where something terrible has happened, causing the varia Ais to become self-aware. Thomas Was Alone is a puzzle platforming game for players looking for a real challenge and a good laugh.

2. Party Hard (2016)

Party Hard asks the question, what would a psychopath do to quell his loud neighbors from throwing parties? The answer to that is a series of vicious sabotages and outright murders. This game is for players looking for something to exercise some inner demons or have a sick sense of humor.

Pinokl Games’ action stealth game lets players take control of a disgruntled assailant who systematically stops parties by any means necessary. The gameplay has a cat-and-mouse feel to it. If partygoers witness your acts of mayhem, they will alert authorities. The narrative is tongue-in-cheek at first but spirals out into a massive crime epic.

1. Blasphemous (2019)

There are plenty of Metroidvania-style games on the PlayStation Plus Premium service. However, none are as challenging and rewarding as The Game Kitchen’s Blasphemous. Players take control of The Patient One, the lone survivor of the Brotherhood of the Silent Sorrow. The game is steeped in Roman Catholic iconography and Gothic architecture.

In its mechanics, Blasphemous is like other side-scrolling Soulslike games such as Salt & Sanctuary and Moonscars. However, it stands head and shoulder above the abovementioned games regarding bone-crushing combat and traversal. With a sequel on its way, it’s a good time to dive into the world of Cvstodia and see what Blasphemous has to offer.

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Rappers Who Are The Biggest Gamers: Soulja Boy, T-Pain & More

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Being a hip hop artist and gamer is more common than people realize. Biggie’s iconic “Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis / When I was dead broke, man, I couldn’t picture this” bars often come to mind when one thinks of the connection. N.E.R.D’s iconic cover art for In Search Of… features member Shay Haley playing a PlayStation. Other rappers have referenced games and characters throughout the years. These days, many rappers spend their downtime playing video games. Many stream themselves playing for fun because it serves as another income stream. Gaming has become quite a successful business, with eSports leagues generating and paying out hundreds of thousands of dollars—and sometimes even more. We’ve compiled a list of seven rappers who have been quite open about their love of gaming.

T – Pain

T-Pain is a hip hop gamer who might be able to say he was one of the “first” in that lane, too. The auto-tune legend has been streaming himself playing video games since 2016. Nowadays, he does it through his brand Nappy Boy Gaming. He already had a positive attitude, and that continued during his streams. T-Pain has played several Call of Duty games on his streams over the years, leading to a big opportunity for him. He was a co-host for the world premiere of Call of Duty: Vanguard in 2021. Supporters may remember the…unique moments he shared on the mic during that event. Still, his hosting was a testament that sticking with something can lead to significant opportunities to do something with it.

Tee Grizzley

Tee Grizzley is a hip hop gamer that has made quite a profit doing something that was once called a “waste of time.” Grizzly streams Grand Theft Auto 5 on Twitch, and his brand is Grizzly Gang Gaming. He plays on a private server, and players pay to join it. He plays a variation of the game called “roleplay” (RP), where various customizations are added to make it even more stylized and fun.

Tee has stated he made $200,000 a month through his streaming. “I stream it on Twitch. I get paid from Twitch. I take the Twitch videos I already streamed, and I put those videos on Youtube. I get paid from YouTube. And I get paid from the server. Then, you have sponsorships, ads, and all this s**t I get paid from too.” he shared on the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast.

Xavier Wulf

Xavier Wulf is a hip hop gamer with one of the most interactive gaming sessions. Due to being an underground artist, he doesn’t have thousands of people watching his streams. However, since recently appearing in a song with Juicy J, his listeners and viewers may increase. Xavier celebrated the release of his most recent project, Blood Shore Season 3, by playing Fall Guys with fans and then having a listening party for the project. He did so through his Discord server and talked to his supporters through an audio channel as they played together. While his music is often quite aggressive, Xavier’s natural demeanor and voice are quite calm. Xavier is very into cars and naturally has played Need For Speed: Unbound on Twitch. However, his music nor his likeness has appeared in the game…yet. 

Soulja Boy

We’d be remiss if we didn’t include Soulja Boy’s hip hop gamer accolades in this list. Soulja’s foray into the gaming world dates back years ago. Listeners may recall when he made his Xbox gamertag public. In the same infamous YouTube video, he tossed well over 50 copies of games he had on the floor and said he bought a white PlayStation 3 because it “matched the room.”

Soulja has elevated quite a bit since then and has had a podcast about gaming as well as “made” several gaming consoles. However…these consoles are just cheaply made Chinese emulators with his branding on them. Customers expressed frustration after not receiving orders for one of their handheld consoles after waiting over a year. Also, his ban on Twitch, which lasted over a year ended in April 2023, so supporters will likely catch him on there again soon. 

Megan Thee Stallion

Megan Thee Stallion is a hip hop gamer but more in the “if you know, you know” lane. Her love for anime is well-documented in her lyrics, photoshoots, and merchandise deals. Anime lovers and gamers often overlap. However, at this point, she does not regularly stream herself playing video games. But she has done it once, and it was quite a big deal when she did. As a part of the promotion for Mortal Kombat 11, Meg did a cosplay of the game’s character Mileena and played the game on Twitch. Hosted by Fiona Nova, the gaming stream doubled as an interview (of sorts) for Megan, too. Infinitii, a notable Mortal Kombat Streamer, joined the fun and played against Megan. Fans will have to keep an eye out to see if Megan does anything for the upcoming Mortal Kombat 12. 

Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg being a hip hop gamer is not even surprising. Uncle Snoop has a catalog of business deals, has appeared anywhere and everywhere, and still records music. It’s only right he spends his downtime – still making money – on the sticks. He was once a part of FaZe Clan, an eSports and lifestyle brand, but parted ways with them in April 2023.

Snoop has streamed various games but is most known for rage-quitting games. This is when something happens in a game so frustrating that the player gets mad and stops playing altogether. However, Snoop has gone beyond playing video games…he’s literally in them. Snoop Dogg is an Operator in Call of Duty: Vanguard and Call of Duty: Warzone. His character’s face and outfit mirror him quite accurately, and his unmistakable voice comes from his character too. 

Logic

Logic is one of the most locked-in hip hop gamers. Upon announcing his (now voided) retirement, he shared that he had signed a seven-figure deal with Twitch’s streaming platform in 2020. But, before this, Logic was very open about his love of gaming. On his YouTube channel, he regularly shared tours of his gaming room, including memorabilia for various games, movies, and shows. He also streamed periodically on YouTube and played multiple games there, too. One of his favorites was The Last of Us; he voiced a character in The Last of Us Part II. As of 2023, he plays video games like Fortnite with fans and streams them on Twitch. Segments of these streams are regularly uploaded to his YouTube for anyone who can’t watch it live.

Who are some of your favorite rappers that play video games? Let us know in the comments section.

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GTA 6 Rumored Production Costs Are Insane

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If you are a fan of video games, then you have probably been waiting on GTA 6 to be released. Of course, GTA V came out back in 2013. Moreover, it got a Next-Gen version in 2014, and subsequently got another Next-Gen upgrade. This game has lasted three console generations, and there is a realistic chance it survives four. Overall, this is not acceptable for a lot of fans. Rockstar Games has refused to give proper updates on this series, and fans don’t know when the next game will come out.

Over the last few years, a target year of 2025 and 2026 has been suggested. Furthermore, it appears to be confirmed that the game will take place in Vice City. If you played the 2002 title GTA: Vice City, you know that this is a stylized version of Miami. Although, you can expect the new map to be significantly larger and livelier. Moreover, you can also expect the game to cost Rockstar Games a pretty penny to put together.

GTA 6 Is Nowhere In Sight

GTA 6
In this photo illustration a Grand Theft Auto (GTA) logo of a computer game is seen on a smartphone screen. (Photo Illustration by Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

According to a report from Dexerto, GTA 6 is going to cost a grand total of $1 billion to make. In fact, the final production costs will probably be larger than that. When GTA 6 was created, it had the largest budget of any piece of media in the history of entertainment. Of course, it was eventually surpassed as budgets began to grow and inflation consumed the industry. With this budget north of $1 billion, it seems like Rockstar Games is looking to take its record back.

For those of you who want to play GTA 6, well, you will have to be patient. If you can survive 10 years without a new game, what’s another two? That said, we’re sure Rockstar Games will bless fans soon enough. Let us know your hopes for the new game, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the gaming world.

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The 5 Greatest “Star Wars” Games (Not From Respawn Entertainment)

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Star Wars is an intellectual property that has spawned nigh countless pieces of art across all mediums. In the realm of video games, the galaxy far, far away has been omnipresent since 1983. From the early days of home consoles, the franchise has made its mark on fans worldwide.

The most recent releases in the Star Wars video game canon have been almost universally loved. Respawn Entertainment’s Jedi: Fallen Order and the recent Jedi: Survivor are masterpieces. They give players an experience like no other. Despite being (arguably) the best games set in this universe, there have been plenty of other stellar entries. Let’s take a look at some that aren’t Fallen Order or Survivor.

Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast (2002)

Jedi Outcast can be seen as the blueprint for all action RPG Star Wars games since its first release. The game’s single-player campaign followed Kyle Katarn as he earned Force abilities and various weaponry from the franchise. Katarn’s story began with him forsaking The Force, only to eventually regain his abilities after falling to The Dark Side.

The gameplay was well-measured and offered players a mix of first-person and third-person action. This game was a revelation for Star Wars fans and has remained a hallmark. While it might seem quaint to modern-day gamers, Jedi Outcast was nothing short of exhilarating when it first launched.

Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader (2001)

Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader was a launch title for the Nintendo GameCube. While most launch titles were often swallowed up by the annuls of video game history, Rogue Leader was an absolute standout. With fast-paced action and combat, this game stood head and shoulder above other titles looking to move console units.

The game spans across the Original Trilogy, in which both Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles battle in epic dogfights against The Empire. Actor Denis Lawson, who portrayed Wedge in the films, even returned to record new lines for the game. This game set a precedent for aerial combat in Star Wars video games. Even over twenty years after its release, it still plays like gangbusters.

Star Wars Battle Pod (2014)

Star Wars Battle Pod is more of an interactive amusement attraction than a video game but is a singular experience. Players sit in the cockpit of various vehicles from the Original Trilogy and find themselves immersed in classic scenes. From The Battle of Yevin to the speeder run on Endor, Battle Pod gives players an unparalleled immersive experience.

Unfortunately, unless you’re willing to shell out a king’s ransom, Battle Pod can only be experienced in an arcade setting. But if players are willing to hoof it to a Dave & Busters or similar ilk, it’s a must-play. Star Wars Battle Pod is an assault on the sense in the best way possible.

Star Wars: Battlefront II (2005)

Star Wars: Battlefront II from Pandemic Studios improved upon its predecessor in every way. It introduced a new campaign where players took control of a veteran from the 501st Legion. The scope is simply massive, from the Battle of Geonosis of The Clone Wars to the Battle of Hoth.

Battlefront II set a precedent for multiplayer combat by infusing Star Wars lore with a boots-on-the-ground experience. The game was nothing short of epic. While the single-player mode was relatively straightforward, the multiplayer mode was infinitely deep. The game was a bigger, badder version of what came before in all the best ways.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003)

Star Wars: Knight of the Old Republic was nothing short of a masterpiece. Developer Bioware created a rich world for players, unlike any other Star Wars game. The game took play roughly 4000 years before the events of A New Hope, making it a wholly original experience.

With a refreshingly rich lore and character creation options, Knight of the Old Republic (KOTOR) presented fans with an unparalleled gaming experience. The game was such a hit with fans, it spawned novels and comics set in its world. Knights of the Old Republic is simply iconic in every sense. This sort of world-building was exactly what long-time fans had been craving. KOTOR might hold one of the most extraordinary tales ever told, not in only Star Wars, but video game history.

Keke Palmer’s Twitch Stream Is The Gift That Keeps Giving

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Keke Palmer
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Twitch continues to be an enticing place for celebrities that want more interaction with their fans. We’ve seen folks like T-Pain, Mike Shinoda, Snoop Dogg, and more on the platform. Now, the multi-talented actress and musician Keke Palmer, who starred in Jordan Peele’s critically acclaimed film Nope, is the latest celebrity to hop on the streaming train.

If there’s one thing Palmer knows how to do, it’s stay busy in her creative life. While only 29 years old, she’s been a working Hollywood actress for almost two decades. She first appeared in 2004’s Barbershop 2: Back in Business and followed it up two years later with a starring role as Akeelah in Akeelah And The Bee.

Since then, she’s done everything from long-running television shows, Broadway productions, and music albums, most recently starting her digital platform for Black content creators looking to showcase their work, KeyTV.

After announcing her pregnancy in late 2022 on Saturday Night Live, Palmer began filling her time off from acting by catching up on playing video games, especially Sims 4. On her Twitch bio, she talks about this briefly, “i got on here because i got preggers and started spending more time at home which got me back into playing the sims. my followers wanted to see my game play and now we hereeee.”

Before starting her Twitch channel, she’d dabbled in live streaming her gaming exploits on Instagram. On her IG, Palmer began going live and narrating the ridiculous antics her Sims got into on her most recent play sessions. Palmer has a keen eye for creating viral moments on social media, something that translates well to what she hopes to help other Black creators do with KeyTV.

Quickly, clips from her streams went viral on Twitter and other social media platforms, showcasing the funny hijinks she got into with her characters. After a large push from her fans, Palmer set up a Twitch channel in February of 2023 and began streaming.

On Palmer’s Twitch channel, simply called “Keke,” she streams everything from video games she plays (mainly Sims but other titles like Tekken and Detroit: Become Human), karaoke, cooking, and general hangouts to catch up with her audience. She writes more about this in her bio, “i like role playing obvi, i like fighting games, i like decision based games too.. but im into many things outside of gaming because i get bored v easily haha. i like trying new things, diy stuff, karaoke, stand up(light weight haha), reviewing reality tv, reviewing movies, documentaries, conspiracies!”

Palmer’s streams are lowkey and fairly irregular given her busy schedule, but when she does go live, you can expect a no-holds-barred look into who she is as a person when she’s not on the silver screen. On one of her most recent broadcasts, she streamed the narrative, choose your own adventure game Detroit: Become Human which centers around the various lives of androids who are becoming sentient in a future Detroit.

https://m.twitch.tv/videos/1789587125

The infectious charm and wit she brings to her characters on screen are given a different light on stream. In her Detroit: Become Human live stream, chaos quickly ensued as Palmer and her partner, Darius Jackson, ate takeout while trying to figure out how to play the game which features complex button inputs.

What’s interesting about Palmer’s streams is how her immense knowledge of acting and direction comes through in how she engages with the games she plays. As if on cue, Palmer and Jackson fall into character while playing Detroit, giving their own voice acting to the cinematic scenes. A particularly hilarious moment occurs as Palmer controls her android character, dodging an assailant while she gets more and more on edge trying to keep up with the button prompts.

This is shown even more when she plays the Sims 4. Palmer creates in-depth storylines for all of the characters she creates that highlight insanely funny situations you’d expect in an evening sitcom. “This is the storyline,” she says to the viewers before telling a detailed backstory about the messy relationships her characters have. Upon giving the setup for the predicament her characters are in, she proceeds to voice all of them in their respective voices to an absurdly funny extent.

It’s rare that audiences get such an intimate look into the life and persona of their favorite celebrities. While we are certainly living in the age of over-stimulation and social media fatigue, watching Palmer on stream is a much different experience than seeing a clip of a post on a social media platform. Palmer’s Twitch streams further confirm what her on-screen performances already suggest — she is one of the world’s best at blending humor with drama today, no matter the medium.

Kevin Durant Gets Warzone Operator

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Call of Duty: Warzone is the long-running first-person shooter’s answer to the massively popular battle royale genre. Originally released in March 2020, the free-to-play game has earned a massive following. In April 2021, developer Activision announced that Warzone had surpassed 100 million active players. It also spawned a robust competitive scene. Arguably, the game became the premiere esports product for the Call of Duty franchise, even if Activision wanted to focus its attention on the Call of Duty League.

While Warzone was not without its flaws or detractors, it proved to be a big enough success for Activision to warrant a sequel. Warzone 2.0 was released in 2022 alongside Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II. A core part of the game’s visual aesthetic is the ability to buy specific skins, known as “operators”, to apply to your character. These often look like famous individuals, and now an NBA superstar is set to become the latest one.

Kevin Durant Is Latest Sports Superstar-themed Operator

In the past, Warzone has added operators modeled after the likes of Neymar, Messi, and Paul Pogba. Now it appears that the Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant will be the next sports star enshrined in the game. A teaser clip was uploaded by the official Warzone account that made reference to an “Easy Money Sniper”. EasyMoneySniper just so happens to be Durant’s Instagram handle. This was seemingly confirmed when the Warzone Facebook page “accidentally” uploaded the clip with the caption “KD_Teaser”. That was quickly deleted, but not before plenty of screenshots had been taken.

Further details have revealed that the Kevin Durant operator will become available on May 10 alongside the launch of Warzone 2.0‘s third in-game season. Based on previous operator releases, Kevin Durant will likely cost 2400 CoD points (~$20). “Swish”, a pro Warzone player for the New York Subliners organization, also uploaded images showing the Kevin Durant operator model.

Durant is seen wearing gear of the in-game weapons manufacturer Bruen, as well as wielding a climbing axe. As for the actual Durant, he is still locked in a tight playoff battle with the New York Knicks. Are you excited to play as Kevin Durant in Warzone?

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