Tag: Activision
Round Up Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 PS5 Reviews Say Shove-It to the Sceptics
A worthy grind
If you grew up with a PlayStation in the late 90s and early 00s, then chances are you had a Tony Hawk game. For this author, it was the original Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, but many of you may have jumped in with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 on the PS2. Wherever you did your first virtual kickflip, there’s a good chance this franchise...
News Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4's PS5, PS4 Trophies Look Like Less of a Grind Than 1 + 2
Manual labour
The Trophy list for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 has popped up online, and upon inspection, it looks like it won't be quite as tough as the previous game's list. Don't get us wrong, the game's Platinum gong will still be pretty hard to obtain, but some of the more grindy Trophies in THPS 1 + 2 aren't present, so it shouldn't cause...
News Xbox's Phil Spencer 'Not Retiring' After Dark Day of Cancellations and Job Cuts
At least someone's safe
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer is “not retiring anytime soon”, after overseeing a disastrous day of layoffs which have devastated the Xbox division. The executive – who oversees publishers like Bethesda and Activision Blizzard following their unprecedented acquisitions – had been tipped to quit earlier in the day...
News What the Hell Has Happened to Call of Duty?
"This sucks more than anything that has ever sucked before"
Fortnite’s vibrant art style works lends itself well to the pop culture blender Epic Games has created. Call of Duty’s grey, hyper-realistic art style does not. That’s why it’s so weird seeing Beavis & Butt-Head sprinting around with AK-47s in this bizarre new Premium Event...
News Mass Layoffs at Xbox Expected to Be Confirmed on 2nd July
Entire studios could be axed
Industry whispers suggest Microsoft could be poised to layoff up to 2,000 employees across Xbox as soon as next week. Bloomberg’s extremely reliable Jason Schreier first reported on the “major job cuts” earlier this week, when he cited sources familiar with the company’s plans. According to his write-up...
News Crash Team Racing Has Topped 10 Million Units, But Is Still Locked to 30fps
A crime
With a miraculous 10 million units sold across all consoles as of June 2025, the excellent Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled is one of the best-selling kart racers on the planet. The crime? It’s still locked to 30fps when played using PS5 backwards compatibility, and there’s no sign of a patch or native PS5 upgrade in sight...
News Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 Will Include THPS4's Less Conventional Objectives After All
But not the minigames
Fans of the legendary Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series have been a little conflicted about the upcoming remake of 3 + 4 due to structural changes to the more open fourth instalment, but it seems that nearly all of its content will at least be included in the package. To recap, THPS 3 + 4 brings back the third and fourth games in...
News Black Ops 7 Will Be the 'Most Mind-Bending' Call of Duty Ever on PS5, PS4
The numbers, Mason
It was quite amusing seeing the reactions to the conclusion of the Xbox Showcase this week, as for a few minutes it seemed like many people were expecting an original intellectual property, until the Call of Duty logo appeared. This is, at least, a different direction for the storied shooter series, however: Black Ops 7 is...
News Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 Demo Out Now, TMNT Skaters Teased in Launch Trailer
Cowabunga
A playable demo for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 is now available, although you'll need to pre-order if you want to play it. For those that have, the Foundry demo contains two levels, two playable skaters, and a limited selection of the game's full soundtrack. Those that have pre-ordered the Digital Deluxe edition of the game can also...
News Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Confirmed in Teaser Trailer, Coming to PS5, PS4
Presumably out in 2025
The big show closer, Activision has announced Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 from Treyarch. You can watch the teaser trailer above. The game releases for PS5 and PS4, presumably at the end of the year — though, no date was shared. The blog post on the Call of Duty website reads: "In Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Treyarch and Raven...
News Microtransactions Reach New Low in Call of Duty
More adverts in your menus
Activision is advertising Call of Duty microtransactions in-game more than ever before, as it's been spotted the recent Season 4 update for Black Ops 6 has added a new place to promote purchasable weapons in the Create a Class menu. Now, when you cycle through guns for your loadout, there's sometimes an advert in between...
News Tony Hawk Comments on Potential Tony Hawk's Underground Remake
"I'll campaign all I can"
Activision brought back the beloved Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series with its 1 + 2 remake, and now it's set to continue with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4. The natural next step is to tackle Tony Hawk's Underground, the more story focused evolution of the franchise — but will it happen? Screen Rant ran the question past...
News Concern Call of Duty Could Be About to Paywall Gameplay Modes
Pay or play
A fresh rumour has Call of Duty fans concerned Activision could be about to lock certain gameplay modes behind a paywall. The speculation – which stems from serial series leaker TheGhostofHope – claims the company is planning to lock season time-limited modes behind its Battle Pass, meaning even if you own the game, you may not...
News Xbox's Multiformat Move to PS5 Seems to Be Working Out Very Well for Microsoft
CEO praises performance on PS Store
Microsoft’s gradual transition to multiformat publisher appears to be working out well for the platform holder, as its hardware sales continue to torpedo but software sales increase. The trillion-dollar tech titan announced a five per cent year-over-year increase in gaming revenue for the quarter ending 31st...
News Age Ratings Suggest Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and 3 Remasters Heading for PS5
Age ratings discovered
Newly spotted age ratings for a pair of Call of Duty games suggest they're getting current-gen ports in the near future. As reported by Insider Gaming, Australia's classification board has listings for what appear to be PS5 versions of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. The campaign remaster...
News PS5, PS4 Users Can Avoid PC Hackers After New Call of Duty Update
Crossplay option restricts to consoles only
While crossplay is an overall excellent feature that every multiplayer game should support, it does introduce some flaws when console and PC players are matched against one another. Hacking is still prevalent on PC despite many measures to stop it, and it can result in an unfair experience for console...
News Tony Hawk's Call to Remove Classic Tunes from Pro Skater 3 + 4 OST
"It was my choice"
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 is shaping up to be a largely nostalgic trip down memory lane, with a few exceptions. The fourth entry won't feature free roam, which is certainly a blow. Another is the predictably controversial decision to remove or change classic tunes from its soundtrack, including hits from Alien Ant Farm, Iron...
News Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 Will Reportedly Include Bam Margera After All
Viva la Bam
Fans eager to relive the glory days of skating in the upcoming Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 were somewhat mystified by the apparent exclusion of early 2000s skating icon and stuntman Bam Margera. Apparently, Mr Hawk himself decided to pull rank, demanding that Activision do whatever needed to be done to ensure that Margera was present in...
News BlizzCon Returns in 2026 After a Two Year Absence
No show this year either
Blizzard has revealed its fan-focused BlizzCon event will return in 2026, marking its return after a two-year absence. The event didn't take place in 2024, and this latest update confirms there won't be one later this year either. 2026 is the year for BlizzCon's return, though, as Blizzard looks to "elevate this iconic...
News Warzone Brings Back Fan-Favourite Verdansk Map on 3rd April
To mark Battle Royale's fifth anniversary
Activision has announced the original Verdansk map for Call of Duty: Warzone will be returning to the Battle Royale title on 3rd April 2025, as part of its fifth anniversary festivities. The firm says it's "time to revisit a place of unforgettable memories", as Verdansk is the place most Warzone players will...
News Activision Confirms Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 Won't Be Free Roam on PS5, PS4
Two-minute format for Pro Skater 4 confirmed
In response to fan concerns, Activision has now confirmed that Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 won't ship with the free roam structure of the original game when it launches alongside Pro Skater 3 on PS5, PS4 this July. The fanbase first caught wi
Gallery Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 Comparison Screenshots Show PS5, PS4 Glow Up
Hey good lookin'
Much like its predecessor, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is bringing two classic skateboarding games to modern hardware. And while a different developer has been enlisted to handle this project, the glow up is easy to appreciate. Here are a bunch of comparison screenshots which pit the grainy originals against their PS5 and PS4...
News Tony Hawk's Pro Skater Fans Sceptical of Seismic Changes to Fourth Game on PS5, PS4
"Please keep it civil"
You perhaps had to be there, but Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater was the Call of Duty of the early PlayStation era. The franchise was unfathomably huge, and its impact reached beyond just video games: it had genuine cultural influence. All of that meant that the series started to get milked, and perhaps identifying that it...
News Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 Is Finally Official, Ollies onto PS5, PS4 This Summer
Back to the old grind
Well-known leaker billbil-kun, who often snags scoops for Dealabs, has revealed some key information about Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4, which is scheduled to be officially revealed later today. Over on X, billbil-kun has leaked the game's release date and information about various editions and pre-order bonuses: To...
News Activision's 'AI Slop' Strikes Again as Fake Crash Bandicoot, Guitar Hero Games Appear Online
Users forced into surveys instead of gameplay
If its use of generative AI to produce Call of Duty assets wasn't bad enough, Activision is using the controversial tech to create adverts for fake games based on its IPs. It's been noticed how the publisher is advertising on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram for Crash Bandicoot Brawl,...
News Blurred Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 Art Leaks Ahead of Reveal
Dawn of the final day
An early look, albeit blurred, of the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 key art has been posted online by reliable leaker Billbil-Kun a day ahead of the official announcement. Seen below, you can just about make out Tony Hawk performing a trick and the remaster's logo, essentially confirming the return of Pro Skater 3 and 4 is the...
News Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 Ollies Singaporean Ratings Board
Skating pun
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4, the anticipated next double-whammy from publisher Activision, is one step closer to reality. A timer, counting down to 4th March 2025, has been ticking down on the website of the Call of Duty-maker; now, it has officially been rated by the Singaporean ratings board. Spotted by internet sleuther,
News Call of Duty Confirms Use of Generative AI in Blockbuster PS5, PS4 Franchise
And so it begins
Call of Duty sells millions upon millions of copies every year and pockets even more money through microtransactions and in-game purchases. But as its community has been well aware for a while, Activision Blizzard is using generative AI to create assets within the release. While it was obvious once six-fingered zombies started to...
News Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 Reveal Teased for 4th March in Countdown
The new CoD map Grind spreads the word
Activision appears to have an announcement related to the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series penned in for 4th March, as it's been noticed in a new Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 map that a TV screen displays the "03.04.25" date in a skateboard shop. The teaser follows hot on the heels of speculation surrounding a Tony...
Rumour Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 Will Launch on PS5 During Xbox's Summer Showcase
Shadow drop incoming?
There's no smoke without fire, and it seems the blaze is getting bigger. We're now hearing rumours about the unannounced Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4, which will allegedly be simultaneously announced and released in June. This comes from known leaker eXtas1s, speaking in a recent YouTube video. According to eXstas1s, Tony...
News Pro Skater Claims to Be in an Upcoming Tony Hawk Remaster That's 'About to Come Out'
3+4 happening after all?
A professional skateboarder has stated that he's set to appear in an upcoming Tony Hawk video game remaster project. In an appearance on the Breakfast Club podcast (embedded above), Tyshawn Jones claims he's going to be in a new game in the fan favourite skateboarding game series. "I'm in a Tony Hawk coming out, so, that's...
News Treyarch Co-Founder 'Deeply Sorry' His Drone Collided with LA Firefighting Plane
Akemann will avoid spending time in jail
Peter T. Akemann, co-founder of Call of Duty developer Treyarch, has pleaded guilty to piloting the drone that collided with a Canadian Super Scooper firefighting aeroplane during last month's devastating and, in some places, ongoing Los Angeles wildfires. The reckless act, which grounded the valuable...
News Activision Details Black Ops 6, Warzone Season 2 Content, Teases The Terminator
"I'll be back"
In exhaustive detail, Activision has outlined the many changes, additions, and gameplay revisions players can expect alongside Season 2 of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone, launching on 28th January. Confusingly, we have a launch trailer for you a whole week early. In broad strokes, Season 2 will introduce three new maps, tw
News Black Ops 6, Warzone Ranked Play Will Be Less Sweaty Soon on PS5, PS4
Season 2 will bring "the ability to disable cross-play for console players"
We aren't sure why this wasn't already the case, but Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone players will soon be able to disable cross-play with PC in the restricted Ranked Play mode, which Activision hopes will "improve the gameplay experience." This news follows the firm's...
News This Is Why Call of Duty Is Not Gonna Stop Launching on PS5
Black Ops Cold War cost $700 million to make
Sony has a contract to keep Call of Duty on PS5 (and, presumably, PS6) for the next ten years, following Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. But aside from the fact Xbox is gradually transitioning into a third-party publisher, there’s another big reason why the first-person shooter...
News Call of Duty's Squid Game Skins Reignite Monetisation Debate
Premium game treated like its free-to-play
The skin situation in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has reached some kind of boiling point, with players fed up with the high price Activision is asking, as well as the way microtransactions are being handled. The Squid Game event pass itself contains a paid premium track, a money-making endeavour that is...
News Squid Game Reaches Critical Mass with Playful Call of Duty Crossover
"The game will not end unless the world changes"
You know something has truly entered the mainstream when it arrives as a limited-time Call of Duty event. Such is the case with Squid Game, the Korean smash-hit on Netflix released in 2021. With Season 2 now streaming, it was only a matter of time before the survival dystopian thriller would come to
News Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Players Fed Up with Activision's 'AI Slop' Artwork
How many fingers should Santa have?
A six-fingered image of zombie Father Christmas appears to be the last straw for some Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 fans, who claim this is the telltale sign of low-effort generative AI. At the same time, Activision defenders insist it references the sixth entry in the subseries. The authenticity of Santa's horrible...
News Black Ops 6 Is Going Free for a Whole Week on PS5, PS4
Eyes on target
If you've been on the fence about buying Black Ops 6, you may be interested in knowing that the game's going free to play all next week. The popular shooter launched for PS5 and PS4 back in October, and was met with very positive reviews from critics. The fan reception has been a bit up and down since then — as it always is when it...
News Infinity Ward's Turn in 2026, Sledgehammer Games in 2027, Says Call of Duty Insider
2025 remains a mystery
As everyone is still glued to Black Ops 6, it might seem too soon to start looking ahead to future releases, but the voracious Call of Duty beast never rests. According to a known series insider, Sledgehammer Games will reportedly lead development on 2027's inevitable Call of Duty release. This same leaker expects that 2
News Black Ops 6 Is the 'Biggest Call of Duty Ever', Player Engagement Through the Roof
In the 30 days since launch
In further proof that we are living in a simulation, the Call of Duty series 2024 entry, Black Ops 6, is the biggest yet in the franchise's 21-year history. That's in terms of both sales and player engagement, with publisher Activision proudly crowing BO6 ranks #1 in terms of launch window hours and matches played...
News Strong Fan Backlash Forces Treyarch to Reverse Black Ops 6 XP Token Erasure
Apparently a UI bug
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 developer Treyarch has been forced to reverse its decision to remove legacy XP tokens from the game following a very heavy wave of fan backlash and criticism. Upon the launch of Season 1 on Thursday, players noticed the Black Ops 6 multiplayer menu screen had been updated to let them use the XP tokens...
Realism vs absurdity
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is drawing increasingly heavy criticism from its community for pretty much instantly dropping the somewhat serious nature of its multiplayer skins for the absurd, unrealistic cosmetics that dropped yesterday with Season 1. Instead of standard military men and women seen in the campaign, Treyarch has...
News Black Ops 6, Warzone Season 1 Is Live Now with New Maps, Battle Pass
Plus more to come in Season 1 refresh
Following one of the strongest launches in the series' entire history, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has been updated with its first season of content. Also covering Battle Royale spin-off Warzone, Season 1 provides fresh multiplayer and Zombies content, as well as the game's first Battle Pass to work through...
News Black Ops 6 Gets One of the Biggest Call of Duty Updates Ever in Season One
Six multiplayer maps, new Zombies map, and new Resurgence map
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be treated to one of the series' biggest-ever seasonal updates on 14th November 2024 as Season One begins across both the new game and Warzone. Some of the content will be available on day one and other bits will be rolled out throughout the season. In...
News Three New Black Ops 6 Maps Teased for Season One
Hideout, Extraction, and Heirloom
Treyarch has now teased the first three post-launch maps coming to Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 as part of its Season One content update. Set to arrive on 14th November 2024, the three maps arriving for free are Hideout, Extraction, and finally Heirloom. All of them support 6v6 player matches, and Heirloom is also...
News PS5 Dominates UK Black Ops 6 Sales, As Game Pass Causes Xbox Share to Collapse
Up 30% on PS5, down 66% on Xbox
The sales of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 were always going to be absolutely fascinating because Microsoft has tampered with the franchise’s tried-and-trusted business model. Traditionally, the series has relied on strong full-price sales, and then has enjoyed long-tail success through microtransactions released...
News PS5 Pro Will Upgrade the Xbox-Owned Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Diablo 4 to be enhanced too
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has appeared in an official Sony list of PS5 Pro launch games, confirming Treyarch is working on enhancements for the upgraded console despite now being owned by Microsoft. It's not known just yet what those technical updates will be, but Diablo 4 also appears on the list, so it seems the Xbox...
News Black Ops 6 Double XP Event Extended, Miserly Reward Bug Quashed
Let the good times roll
A glitch has been addressed that may have limited the amount of XP earned during Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's first double XP weekend, and thus, developer Treyarch has opted to extend the good times. The bonuses will run through 5th November until 10 AM PT or your local equivalent. Activision took quick action and pushed out...
News Black Ops 6 Enjoyers Rewarded with Double XP All Weekend on PS5, PS4
Get on that grind
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is officially in the mix, competing for the hearts and minds of gamers alongside other probable GotY contenders Metaphor: ReFantazio and the imminent Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Unlike those nerdy RPGs, Treyarch is dialling up the XP rewards over the weekend, so if you'd rather efficiently grind out levels...
