It's been six years since Maddy Makes Games released Celeste, a tough but heartfelt 2D platformer that turned out to be one of the most memorable indie games of the last decade. It was one of our favorite games of 2018 too. To mark the anniversary, the studio has created a 3D spinoff that you can play for free right now.
Celeste 64: Fragments of the Mountain has many of the hallmarks of the original game. You'll once again take control of Madeline as she attempts to traverse difficult terrain, only this time there's an added dimension. Madeline can jump, dash and climb her way up perilous floating platforms while avoiding spikes and pitfalls. There are some Easter eggs for fans to discover too. As ever, Madeline's movement is slick and, based on some brief hands-on time, Celeste 64: Fragments of the Mountain is an enjoyable, fresh dose of this universe.
Gear up for the Celeste 6th Anniversary Challenge! đź—»
Celeste 64: Fragments of the Mountain is here and you can play it on @itchio.
"Relive the magic of Celeste Mountain alongside Madeline in this small, heartfelt 3D platformer," Maddy Makes Games wrote in the game's description. "Created in a week(ish) by the Celeste team to celebrate the game’s sixth anniversary."
Unsurprisingly, given the original game's popularity in the speedrunning community, players are already blitzing through the new installment. Some are already getting to the finish line in under a minute, while it took one player just over 26 minutes to complete a 100 percent run (on their first attempt) by finding all the collectible items. Best of all, composer Lena Raine crafted a new soundtrack inspired by Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine that plays off the original Celeste score.
Celeste 64: Fragments of the Mountain is available for Windows and Linux. You can download it from itch.io. Meanwhile, Maddy Makes Games' next project, Earthblade, is set to arrive this year.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/indie-platformer-celeste-gets-a-short-free-3d-spinoff-for-its-sixth-anniversary-150937085.html?src=rss
It's been six years since Maddy Makes Games released Celeste, a tough but heartfelt 2D platformer that turned out to be one of the most memorable indie games of the last decade. It was one of our favorite games of 2018 too. To mark the anniversary, the studio has created a 3D spinoff that you can play for free right now.
Celeste 64: Fragments of the Mountain has many of the hallmarks of the original game. You'll once again take control of Madeline as she attempts to traverse difficult terrain, only this time there's an added dimension. Madeline can jump, dash and climb her way up perilous floating platforms while avoiding spikes and pitfalls. There are some Easter eggs for fans to discover too. As ever, Madeline's movement is slick and, based on some brief hands-on time, Celeste 64: Fragments of the Mountain is an enjoyable, fresh dose of this universe.
Gear up for the Celeste 6th Anniversary Challenge! đź—»
Celeste 64: Fragments of the Mountain is here and you can play it on @itchio.
"Relive the magic of Celeste Mountain alongside Madeline in this small, heartfelt 3D platformer," Maddy Makes Games wrote in the game's description. "Created in a week(ish) by the Celeste team to celebrate the game’s sixth anniversary."
Unsurprisingly, given the original game's popularity in the speedrunning community, players are already blitzing through the new installment. Some are already getting to the finish line in under a minute, while it took one player just over 26 minutes to complete a 100 percent run (on their first attempt) by finding all the collectible items. Best of all, composer Lena Raine crafted a new soundtrack inspired by Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine that plays off the original Celeste score.
Celeste 64: Fragments of the Mountain is available for Windows and Linux. You can download it from itch.io. Meanwhile, Maddy Makes Games' next project, Earthblade, is set to arrive this year.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/indie-platformer-celeste-gets-a-short-free-3d-spinoff-for-its-sixth-anniversary-150937085.html?src=rss
Las Vegas will host Super Bowl 58 in its new billion-dollar, sustainably powered Allegiant Stadium. The venue holds 70,000 people, but if you’re not one of them and American football is your thing (or you just like the buzzy commercials and want to see Usher perform at halftime) you’ll need a way to watch at home. Luckily, there are a multitude of ways to do so — and one of them is nearly free. Kick off happens Sunday, February 11, at 3:30pm Pacific (6:30pm Eastern) so you have some more time to decide how you want to watch the big game. Here are all the ways to watch Super Bowl 2024.
How to watch Super Bowl 58
This year, the rights to air the biggest annual sporting event in the US goes to CBS… and Nickelodeon. Yep, the kids channel is hosting a live, family-friendly version of the event, complete with helpful thematic graphics and the cast of SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer hosting, providing commentary and explaining the rules to the youngest NFL fans. If you don’t need sideline reports from Sandy Cheeks, regular versions of the game will appear on CBS, CBS Sports Network, Paramount+ and on the NFL+ mobile app.
How to watch the Super Bowl with cable or satellite TV
Cable and satellite subscribers can tune into their local CBS station. If your plan includes CBS Sports Network (or Nickelodeon), you can go that route, too. Here’s a list of local CBS stations and affiliates so you can find your channel.
How to stream Super Bowl 2024
Last year, the Super Bowl was a little more complicated to stream since the broadcaster (Fox) didn’t have an over-the-top streaming app. It’s easier this year: the standalone Paramount+ app lets subscribers watch the game live. Plans start at $6 per month and there’s currently a free seven-day trial, but there’s no telling if that deal will still be live right before the big event. Of course, most live TV streaming services will also have the game, either on your local CBS station or via CBSSN. Here are the providers that will show Super Bowl LVIII:
If you’re willing to pay, Paramount+ is the cheapest way to stream the Super Bowl this year, plus you’ll get other shows to watch when the game’s over.
Can I watch the 2024 Super Bowl for free?
Almost. If you buy an indoor digital antenna, which hooks up to the coaxial port on your TV set, you can grab the game broadcast from your local CBS affiliate at no extra cost. It’ll let you watch your local NBC, ABC, PBS and FOX networks, too.
Can I watch the 2024 Super Bowl on mobile?
The NFL+ mobile app is airing the Super Bowl, but only on your smartphone or tablet (PC access and casting isn’t supported for primetime games, which includes the Super Bowl). So if you’re watching solo, this could be a good option. A subscription goes for $7 per month and it also provides NFL Network content with 24/7 football news.
Who is performing at the Super Bowl 2024 halftime show?
For some, the action in between the two halves of the game is what really matters. Mega stars have headlined the halftime show for decades now, with performances by Rihanna, Shakira, Lady Gaga, Prince, The Rolling Stones and Beyonce garnering almost as many headlines as the game itself. This year, Usher, who's timing the release of his latest album to drop just two days before the game, will light up the stadium with a set. Before the game, Reba McEntire will sing the national anthem and Post Malone will follow that up with a rendition of "America the Beautiful."
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-to-watch-super-bowl-2024-how-to-stream-super-bowl-133039040.html?src=rss
We finally know for certain who will face off in Super Bowl 2024: The Kansas City Chiefs will play against the San Francisco 49ers in the biggest annual sporting event in the US. The game will take place in Las Vegas at the $1.9 billion Allegiant Stadium, with kick off at 3:30pm Pacific or 6:30pm Eastern on Sunday, February 11. The game will air on CBS, which means it’ll also be streaming live on Paramount+ since both are owned by Paramount Global. You can also watch it on cable, with a live TV streaming service and with the NFL's app on mobile. That’s all to say that you have plenty of options to watch, stream and otherwise enjoy the big game this year. Here are all the ways to watch Super Bowl LVIII in 2024.
How to watch Super Bowl 58
This year, the rights to air the biggest annual sporting event in the US goes to CBS… and Nickelodeon. Yep, the kids channel is hosting a live, family-friendly version of the event, complete with helpful thematic graphics and the cast of SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer hosting, providing commentary and explaining the rules to the youngest NFL fans. If you don’t need sideline reports from Sandy Cheeks, regular versions of the game will appear on CBS, CBS Sports Network, Paramount+ and on the NFL+ mobile app.
How to watch the Super Bowl with cable or satellite TV
Cable and satellite subscribers can tune into their local CBS station. If your plan includes CBS Sports Network (or Nickelodeon), you can go that route, too. Here’s a list of local CBS stations and affiliates so you can find your channel.
How to stream Super Bowl 2024
Last year, the Super Bowl was a little more complicated to stream since the broadcaster (Fox) didn’t have an over-the-top streaming app. It’s easier this year: the standalone Paramount+ app lets subscribers watch the game live. Plans start at $6 per month and there’s currently a free seven-day trial, but there’s no telling if that deal will still be live right before the big event. Of course, most live TV streaming services will also have the game, either on your local CBS station or via CBSSN. Here are the providers that will show Super Bowl LVIII:
If you’re willing to pay, Paramount+ is the cheapest way to stream the Super Bowl this year, plus you’ll get other shows to watch when the game’s over.
Can I watch the 2024 Super Bowl for free?
Almost. If you buy an indoor digital antenna, which hooks up to the coaxial port on your TV set, you can grab the game broadcast from your local CBS affiliate at no extra cost. It’ll let you watch your local NBC, ABC, PBS and FOX networks, too.
Can I watch the 2024 Super Bowl on mobile?
The NFL+ mobile app is airing the Super Bowl, but only on your smartphone or tablet (PC access and casting isn’t supported for primetime games, which includes the Super Bowl). So if you’re watching solo, this could be a good option. A subscription goes for $7 per month and it also provides NFL Network content with 24/7 football news.
Who is performing at the Super Bowl 2024 halftime show?
For some, the action in between the two halves of the game is what really matters. Mega stars have headlined the halftime show for decades now, with performances by Rihanna, Shakira, Lady Gaga, Prince, The Rolling Stones and Beyonce garnering almost as many headlines as the game itself. This year, Usher, who's timing the release of his latest album to drop just two days before the game, will light up the stadium with a set. Before the game, Reba McEntire will sing the national anthem and Post Malone will follow that up with a rendition of "America the Beautiful."
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-to-watch-super-bowl-2024-133039872.html?src=rss
Rocksteady’s new third-person action shooter Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League has been pulled offline just one hour after launch when players encountered a bizarre bug that immediately beats the game. We’ve all heard of game-breaking bugs, but this may be the first game-beating bug. Obviously, players want more than three minutes of playtime out of their $70 purchase.
The issue immediately locks players out of all story missions, including tutorials, in a race to reach the end credits. This also makes it impossible to receive trophies and achievements, though most purchasers will probably get hung up on the whole “the game is basically unplayable” aspect. Still, if you’re looking for the easy mode to beat all easy modes, this is it. We could have used this bug for Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice or Cuphead.
There’s one major caveat here that’s saving this from becoming a huge story comparable with the disastrous launch of Cyberpunk2099, and many other recent AAA launches. The game doesn’t officially release in most of the world until February 2. Some territories get it tomorrow, January 30, and that’s where the bug comes in. Due to the magic of global time zones, it’s already January 30 in New Zealand, which is where players encountered the issue. However, it’s not too hard to change your Xbox system clock to New Zealand time to snag the game early. Don’t do that. Give Rocksteady some time to fix the problem.
To that end, the developer says they are working on a fix, which involves performing maintenance on the servers. Rocksteady urges patience, writing that it could take “several hours” before being handled. Throughout this time, the game will remain offline. In any event, the ship should right itself before February 2.
Looking for a silver lining? Being as how the bug skips the vast majority of the game, the risk of story spoilers is really low for the next few days. So go ahead. Hit up your favorite social media sites and message boards.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/suicide-squad-kill-the-justice-league-pulled-offline-after-a-bizarre-game-beating-bug-161955046.html?src=rss
With the news that Blizzard and ESL FACEIT are preparing to launch a new esports circuit for Overwatch 2, mere months after the death of the Overwatch League, it's a good time to take stock of the entire esports scene. Things are looking slightly frantic, at least in North America. League of Legends and Rocket League are particularly messy, entering their 2024 seasons with lean budgets and major shakeups. Meanwhile, an expansion of the open-qualifiers model should provide more opportunities for everyday players to compete in Valorant, Overwatch 2, Rocket League and all manner of fighting games. Get those fingers ready, folks.
This week's stories
Xbox lineup in 2024
Xbox held its first showcase of 2024 last week, highlighting a handful of games that have been in development for years. Indiana Jones and The Great Circle is due out later in 2024, and it comes from Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus studio MachineGames. The new footage showcased lots of whipping, quipping and Nazi punching, just like Indy would want.
Next, Obsidian’s big fantasy RPG, Avowed, will hit PC and Xbox in the fall. Obsidian is the studio that made Fallout: New Vegas and The Outer Worlds, and Avowed looks like its spin on an Elder Scrolls game.
Finally, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II will come out on May 21, nearly five years after it was announced alongside the reveal of the Xbox Series X.
Esports are back and smaller than ever
2024 is a moment of reckoning for esports, especially in North America. Blizzard killed the Overwatch League last year and it’s trying to start a new series with the ESL, viewership of North American League of Legends is on the decline, and Rocket League’s RLCS tournament is in a state of upheaval.
League of Legends is the king of esports, and in 2023, its World Championship tournament broke viewership records, driven by legendary performances from Korean and Chinese teams — OK, mostly Faker. But no matter how hard I cheer for them, North American League of Legends teams are still kind of a joke on the world stage. Last year, the Korean summer split attracted 1.5 million concurrent viewers, while the LCS summer tournament peaked at 223,000 viewers, and that was down from 370,000 in 2022. The 2024 season kicked off this month with regional tournaments, and the North American LCS looks like a brand new beast. The number of teams competing in the LCS has been cut from 10 to 8, meaning Evil Geniuses and Golden Guardians are gone, and the league is using a faster-paced best-of-one format in the regular season. We’ll see how this all pays off at MSI in May.
In the Rocket League Championship Series, budgets are tight and teams are scattered. There will be two major tournaments this year instead of three, plus the World Championship, and there are fewer spots reserved for both North America and Europe. Six established casters were dropped from this year’s events and it looks like only North America and Europe will have hosted tournaments, in English only. The RLCS prize pool is also smaller this year, down from $6 million to $4.3 million. A handful of teams lost sponsorships heading into 2024 and there was a ton of player shakeup among existing orgs. To top it all off, the game’s most famous player, Squishy, announced plans to retire from pro play to focus on streaming. It’s just a confusing time in Rocket League esports.
One side effect of esports shrinkage is a shift to open qualifiers. Rocket League swapped to open qualifiers this year, meaning basically anyone could compete for a spot in the RLCS, rather than teams buying in for the season. The RLCS prize pool is deeper, even though it’s also smaller, and the top 128 teams in North America will receive small payouts.
The Valorant esports scene has been steadily solidifying since the game’s launch in 2020, with a peak of 1.4 million viewers for the 2023 Valorant Champions Tour. The VCT has always featured open qualifiers, and this year that system is expanding with Premier, an in-game competitive track that acts as another funnel for everyday players to compete on the main stage. (As a side note, the VCT Game Changers series highlights players of marginalized genders and it’s really awesome, check it out sometime.)
Just this week, Blizzard announced the Overwatch Champions Series, a multi-region esports tournament for Overwatch 2. Unlike the deceased Overwatch League, the Champions Series will have open qualifiers. The new series is produced by ESL FACEIT, which is owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which makes me sad.
Meanwhile, the fighting game community has been all over open registration for a while. EVO is the biggest fighting game tournament of the year, and in 2023 it hosted more than 9,000 players competing across eight titles. As a one-on-one genre, fighting games often find themselves on the frontlines of experimentation in esports, and EVO is always a good time.
I think open registration is a cool move for esports in general — it allows more people from diverse backgrounds to participate and provides a sustainable entry point for young pros. This is how talent pipelines are built.
Now Playing
After taking a few months off to play other games, I’m back on Cult of the Lamb. The free Sins of the Flesh update landed last week, and it’s big and sexy, adding layers of debauchery and plenty of new content to the game. As Engadget weekend editor Cheyenne MacDonald said in her review, “We’re having a great time sinning, my followers and I.”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/esports-are-messy-in-2024-this-weeks-gaming-news-170043963.html?src=rss
With the news that Blizzard and ESL FACEIT are preparing to launch a new esports circuit for Overwatch 2, mere months after the death of the Overwatch League, it's a good time to take stock of the entire esports scene. Things are looking slightly frantic, at least in North America. League of Legends and Rocket League are particularly messy, entering their 2024 seasons with lean budgets and major shakeups. Meanwhile, an expansion of the open-qualifiers model should provide more opportunities for everyday players to compete in Valorant, Overwatch 2, Rocket League and all manner of fighting games. Get those fingers ready, folks.
This week's stories
Xbox lineup in 2024
Xbox held its first showcase of 2024 last week, highlighting a handful of games that have been in development for years. Indiana Jones and The Great Circle is due out later in 2024, and it comes from Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus studio MachineGames. The new footage showcased lots of whipping, quipping and Nazi punching, just like Indy would want.
Next, Obsidian’s big fantasy RPG, Avowed, will hit PC and Xbox in the fall. Obsidian is the studio that made Fallout: New Vegas and The Outer Worlds, and Avowed looks like its spin on an Elder Scrolls game.
Finally, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II will come out on May 21, nearly five years after it was announced alongside the reveal of the Xbox Series X.
Esports are back and smaller than ever
2024 is a moment of reckoning for esports, especially in North America. Blizzard killed the Overwatch League last year and it’s trying to start a new series with the ESL, viewership of North American League of Legends is on the decline, and Rocket League’s RLCS tournament is in a state of upheaval.
League of Legends is the king of esports, and in 2023, its World Championship tournament broke viewership records, driven by legendary performances from Korean and Chinese teams — OK, mostly Faker. But no matter how hard I cheer for them, North American League of Legends teams are still kind of a joke on the world stage. Last year, the Korean summer split attracted 1.5 million concurrent viewers, while the LCS summer tournament peaked at 223,000 viewers, and that was down from 370,000 in 2022. The 2024 season kicked off this month with regional tournaments, and the North American LCS looks like a brand new beast. The number of teams competing in the LCS has been cut from 10 to 8, meaning Evil Geniuses and Golden Guardians are gone, and the league is using a faster-paced best-of-one format in the regular season. We’ll see how this all pays off at MSI in May.
In the Rocket League Championship Series, budgets are tight and teams are scattered. There will be two major tournaments this year instead of three, plus the World Championship, and there are fewer spots reserved for both North America and Europe. Six established casters were dropped from this year’s events and it looks like only North America and Europe will have hosted tournaments, in English only. The RLCS prize pool is also smaller this year, down from $6 million to $4.3 million. A handful of teams lost sponsorships heading into 2024 and there was a ton of player shakeup among existing orgs. To top it all off, the game’s most famous player, Squishy, announced plans to retire from pro play to focus on streaming. It’s just a confusing time in Rocket League esports.
One side effect of esports shrinkage is a shift to open qualifiers. Rocket League swapped to open qualifiers this year, meaning basically anyone could compete for a spot in the RLCS, rather than teams buying in for the season. The RLCS prize pool is deeper, even though it’s also smaller, and the top 128 teams in North America will receive small payouts.
The Valorant esports scene has been steadily solidifying since the game’s launch in 2020, with a peak of 1.4 million viewers for the 2023 Valorant Champions Tour. The VCT has always featured open qualifiers, and this year that system is expanding with Premier, an in-game competitive track that acts as another funnel for everyday players to compete on the main stage. (As a side note, the VCT Game Changers series highlights players of marginalized genders and it’s really awesome, check it out sometime.)
Just this week, Blizzard announced the Overwatch Champions Series, a multi-region esports tournament for Overwatch 2. Unlike the deceased Overwatch League, the Champions Series will have open qualifiers. The new series is produced by ESL FACEIT, which is owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which makes me sad.
Meanwhile, the fighting game community has been all over open registration for a while. EVO is the biggest fighting game tournament of the year, and in 2023 it hosted more than 9,000 players competing across eight titles. As a one-on-one genre, fighting games often find themselves on the frontlines of experimentation in esports, and EVO is always a good time.
I think open registration is a cool move for esports in general — it allows more people from diverse backgrounds to participate and provides a sustainable entry point for young pros. This is how talent pipelines are built.
Now Playing
After taking a few months off to play other games, I’m back on Cult of the Lamb. The free Sins of the Flesh update landed last week, and it’s big and sexy, adding layers of debauchery and plenty of new content to the game. As Engadget weekend editor Cheyenne MacDonald said in her review, “We’re having a great time sinning, my followers and I.”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/esports-are-messy-in-2024-this-weeks-gaming-news-170043963.html?src=rss
Blizzard has revealed the next evolution of top-level Overwatch 2 esports after the demise of the Overwatch League. The publisher has teamed up with ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) to run the new Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS) under an exclusive multi-year agreement.
OWCS is an open-format circuit in which teams from North America; Europe, Middle East, North Africa (EMEA); and Asia can compete without having to pay multi-million-dollar franchise fees. EFG will operate the Overwatch Champions Series in North America and EMEA, while Korean esports tournament organizer WDG will oversee the Asia circuit.
There will be regional qualifiers and tournaments held in the lead up to two in-person events later this year at DreamHack Dallas (May 31-June 2) and DreamHack Stockholm (November 22-24). Eight teams will compete at each event, with those qualifying for DreamHack Stockholm duking it out to become the first OWCS champions. That tournament will also mark the first top-level Overwatch competition in Europe in over five years.
Qualifiers will start in Feburary. Additional details about the tournaments, including formats, ticket sales and prize pools, will be announced later.
Today, we are excited to introduce the new Overwatch Esports program and the Overwatch Champions Series!
“A thriving esports scene is important to a game as competitive as Overwatch 2, and we’re very excited to be entering this next era for the franchise with EFG,” the game's executive producer Jared Neuss said in a statement.
Blizzard notes that any player who is interested in getting involved can use FACEIT's community tools to find teammates and events to compete in, while an ongoing schedule of events "creates a clear path to pro play for aspiring OWCS stars." In addition, Blizzard says that by making the most of EFG's tools and capabilities, it will be able to create an open, inclusive and sustainable competitive scene. FACEIT will also support those looking to run third-party tournaments and community experiences.
The Overwatch League, Blizzard's ambitious pro circuit, came to an end in 2023 after six seasons. The day after the 2023 Grand Finals in October, Blizzard said it was "focusing on building our vision of a revitalized esports program." Weeks later, a majority of teams voted to end their participation in the league, triggering a $6 million payment to each from Activision Blizzard, and hammering the final nail into OWL's coffin.
Alongside the reveal of the OWCS, Blizzard has announced the end of its Overwatch Contenders and Open Division initiatives, which effectively added as feeder systems for OWL. "The Path to Pro system has been an initiative that has welcomed so many of our players and fans into Overwatch Esports and developed so much of the talent that made the Overwatch League," Overwatch Esports head Sean Miller wrote in a blog post. "With OWCS, we now have a more open ecosystem where any player can fight their way to OWCS Champion."
For the time being, Blizzard doesn't have any updates to announce regarding the Overwatch Collegiate system. Thankfully, the excellent Calling All Heroes program (which is designed to uplift members of marginalized gender identities across the Overwatch ecosystem) isn't going anywhere.
EFG, whose parent is the Saudi Arabia government-funded Savvy Games Group, is arguably well-placed to run Overwatch esports as a more sustainable endeavor. The company operates pro circuits for many other games, including other Blizzard titles such as StarCraft II.
Hosting several esports events at large-scale festivals like DreamHack (which has held Overwatch tournaments in the past) helps to minimize costs. The OWCS may not end up selling out arenas by itself as the Overwatch League used to, but it at least seems like a viable, open future for Overwatch 2 esports.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/blizzard-partners-with-esl-for-an-open-overwatch-2-esports-circuit-170033793.html?src=rss
It's a mighty fine time to be a pro wrestling fan. The industry is going through a bit of a boom period, with multiple companies churning out quality content on the regular. Barely a week goes by without fans enjoying at least two or three excellent displays of scripted athleticism and jacked human beings slapping each other in the chest really, really hard.
It's an even better time to be a pro wrestling fan if you have a Netflix subscription, since the streaming service will soon be the new home of WWE's flagship show in the US and pretty much all of its programming in other territories. Starting in January 2025, Netflix will livestream Monday Night Raw every week in the US, Canada, UK, Latin America and some other countries, with more to follow.
The deal is even sweeter for those outside of the US, as Netflix will stream WWE's other two main weekly shows — NXT and SmackDown — along with its major events like the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania. WWE documentaries, other original series and future projects will hit Netflix internationally starting next year.
It seems that Peacock will remain the home of WWE's library and major live events in the US for the foreseeable future. Peacock's parent NBCUniversal also owns Raw's current broadcaster, USA Network (it's unclear where the show will air between the expiry of those broadcasting rights in the fall and the Netflix partnership starting in January). USA Network will be the home of SmackDown starting this fall when the show moves over from Fox. NXT, which also currently airs on USA, is moving to The CW.
NBCUniversal and USA Network are said to be paying $1.4 billion for SmackDown rights over five years, while The CW will reportedly pay between $100 million and $125 million for NXT over the same timespan.
It seems the Netflix deal far outstrips those, however. According to multiple reports, the company is paying WWE north of $5 billion over 10 years. That's said to be around double what NBCUniversal currently pays WWE for Raw rights. Amazon was also said to be in talks to become Raw'snew home.
This marks a mammoth change for both WWE and Netflix. It will be the first time in the 31-year history of Raw that the show doesn't air on a linear TV network. But, just as the wrestling company took a big risk with shifting from a pay-per-view model to its own streaming service a decade ago, this could very well pay off for WWE at it seeks to grow its already-large fanbase.
“This deal is transformative,” Mark Shapiro, president and COO of WWE parent company TKO said in a statement. “It marries the can’t-miss WWE product with Netflix’s extraordinary global reach and locks in significant and predictable economics for many years. Our partnership fundamentally alters and strengthens the media landscape, dramatically expands the reach of WWE, and brings weekly live appointment viewing to Netflix.”
Meanwhile, it's a major first for Netflix. The company only started dabbling in live content last March with a Chris Rock stand-up show. Since then, it has aired live award shows and a few one-off sports events, though it was forced to cancel its second attempt at a livestream due to technical issues. Raw marks Netflix's first major push into live sports (or sports entertainment if you want to get sniffy about it) and it's set to become the company's first live weekly streaming show.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/netflix-will-be-the-new-home-of-wwes-flagship-show-monday-night-raw-in-2025-165434172.html?src=rss
Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ) 2024 has wrapped after a nonstop weeklong speedrunning marathon. This year’s charity raised over $2.5 million for the Prevent Cancer Foundation. Other highlights included four broken world records and a dog named Peanut Butter beating the oddball NES classic Gyromite.
This year’s AGDQ, which took place in Pittsburgh, passed the million-dollar threshold early on day five. Standout playthroughs included a no-hit run of Resident Evil 2 (2019), Super Mario 64 finished entirely on an electric drum kit (in 23 minutes!), and a blindfolded four-player / one-controller run of The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask.
World records broken in this year’s event included speed runner Glitchcat7 finishing the insanely difficult Super Mario World mod Luminescent in 41 minutes, 36 seconds. Talia finished the Celeste mod Strawberry Jam Collab in 49 minutes, 13 seconds. Mechalink beat the Sega Saturn game Virtual Hydlide in 27 minutes and 11 seconds. Finally, Bobbeigh conquered the Castlevania spiritual successor Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night — on hard mode — in 30 minutes and 24 seconds.
Games Done Quick / Ivan "Porkchop44"
Peanut Butter the Shiba Inu is now etched into the annals of GDQ history as the first canine-assisted speed run at one of the charity events. The well-trained pooch helped his owner (JSR_) finish the 1985 NES game Gyromite in 26 minutes and 24 seconds. He responded to well-timed commands, pressing his paws on a floor-pedal-operated controller to move the game’s red and green pipes up and down to lead Professor Hector to safety. (He was compensated with ham and cheese for his work.) You can watch Peanut Butter’s memorable run below.
This year’s AGDQ pushes the Games Done Quick fundraising total, stretching back 14 years, to more than $48.9 million. In addition to the Prevent Cancer Foundation, the showcases have raised money for organizations like Doctors Without Borders, Malala Fund, Organization for Autism Research and CARE. The next marathon will be an all-women speedrunning event called Frost Fatales, held online from March 3 to 10, with proceeds benefitting the National Women’s Law Center.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/awesome-games-done-quick-2024-raises-25-million-for-cancer-research-183049102.html?src=rss