Tag: GLHF

League of Legends World Championship Series returns to North America in 2022

The biggest esports event in the world is coming back to North America.

It turns out that the 2022 League of Legends World Championships will take place in North America. 

Chris Greely, LCS Commissioner at Riot Games, confirmed during an interview with content creator Travis Gafford that the wildly popular international tournament series would take place in several unannounced cities across the continent. Of course, this is all COVID-19 permitting, but all the same: it’s a huge deal! North America hasn’t hosted a League of Legends tournament of this scale since the 2016 World Championships in Los Angeles. 

Check out the clip from Gafford’s interview where Greely breaks the news for yourself below.

There’s been plenty of fan speculation that the 2022 League of Legends World Championships would happen in the region already, but now it’s a certainty. No news just yet as to the cities hosting the events, but at least League of Legends fans in North America won’t have to travel far to attend this time.

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF. 

[mm-video type=video id=01fec4hhn2w231ze6azs playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fec4hhn2w231ze6azs/01fec4hhn2w231ze6azs-7d3a33779d6d43653e176b299da9aa68.jpg]

[listicle id=1083617]

Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard kicks off ‘Rainbow Six: Siege’ esports team

The midfielder is dipping his toes into the world of esports.

Yup, you read that headline right: Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard has started a Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege team called Jlingz Esports. Formerly known as Team JLE, Jlingz Esports came about after Lingard acquired the European organization Audacity Esports.

“My JLINGZ brand has been growing for a number of years but to finally dive into esports and add my own teams to JLINGZ is incredible,” said Lingard in a press release. “Esports has everything for me it’s fast-paced and competitive, the community is amazing and it’s been great to have Ubisoft’s support on this journey too. Watch this space, JLINGZ esports is going all the way!”

Lingard shared a video on Twitter announcing Jlingz Esports, which you can check out for yourself below.

“We’re thrilled to have Jesse on board and look forward to someone who knows all about competing at the highest level bringing his expertise to the UK and Irish scene,” Will Attwood, Esports Marketing Manager from Ubisoft UK, added in the same press release.

“Rainbow Six Esports and the UK & Ireland Nationals are going from strength-to-strength; to have someone as well-known and respected as Jesse Lingard involved is a testament to the game’s enduring popularity within the local esports community.”

From Lingard’s involvement in Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege to former Valorant pro Rowan Crothers winning gold at the 2020 Paralympics, traditional sports and esports seem to be having a lot of crossovers lately.

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF. 

[mm-video type=video id=01fec4hhn2w231ze6azs playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fec4hhn2w231ze6azs/01fec4hhn2w231ze6azs-7d3a33779d6d43653e176b299da9aa68.jpg]

[listicle id=1083617]

Twitch star DrLupo signs exclusive streaming deal with YouTube Gaming

YouTube Gaming continues to poach big Twitch streamers.

Ben “DrLupo” Lupo is one of Twitch’s biggest stars at 4.5 million followers, and he’s leaving the platform altogether after signing an exclusive streaming deal with YouTube Gaming. In an interview with The Washington Post, Lupo states that this move was best for his personal life after years of streaming upwards of 60 hours per week.

“Family time is crazy important, [as is] reducing the amount of pressure, because mental health is crazy important,” Lupo said via The Washington Post. “Everybody’s just trying to secure the bag, right? There’s no shame in that. That’s literally why everybody gets up and goes to work, right? So of course, the financial situation that YouTube presented me without a doubt is like, you know, I’m secure for life. Everybody’s trying to get to that point. Why would I say no to that?”

Lupo made the announcement official with a fancy trailer on Twitter which you can check for yourself below.

Lupo also mentioned that YouTube will allow him to try out new kinds of content.

“Obviously, I’ll still be playing video games on YouTube,” states Lupo in the same interview. “But we have a chance now to do some new stuff. We’ve got some trips coming up, so there’ll be behind-the-scenes stuff. I can record some vlog-style content, and a lot of people who are at my level that are dads don’t really put out that kind of stuff.”

Lupo, along with others like DrDisrespect, is one of several former Twitch content creators making the move to YouTube.

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF. 

The 10 best multiplayer video games of all time

With zombie hordes on the horizon, here are 10 of the greatest multiplayer games to consider.

Depending on your disposition, the advent of online multiplayer has transformed video games for better or for worse. Gone are the days where you would sit on the sofa with your friends and soak in a shooter, at least in the mainstream. 

Nowadays, everyone has to have their own console, and you’re often playing over the internet, connecting over voice chat, and bringing down squads in a battle royale. For keeping in touch with distant friends and family, this is a godsend for the gaming-savvy, but you may still have fond memories of those halcyon days of couch co-op and cheap controllers.

[mm-video type=video id=01fec4hhn2w231ze6azs playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fec4hhn2w231ze6azs/01fec4hhn2w231ze6azs-7d3a33779d6d43653e176b299da9aa68.jpg]

With Turtle Rock’s zombie horde shooter Back 4 Blood out in October and looking to capture the magic of co-operative multiplayer for a new generation, we thought it’d be a good time to reminisce about some of the best multiplayer video games of all time. Here are 10 of our favorites, from stone-cold classics to new contenders.

Malevento is the new deathmatch map for ‘Overwatch’

Hop on the PC public test realm to get in on the free-for-all action.

Overwatch doesn’t get too many content updates these days, but Malevento, its new deathmatch map, is currently live on the public test realm (PTR). Though as is always the case with PTR updates, it’s only available to PC players at the moment.

This new map challenges players to fight for dominance on the gorgeous cliffsides of Duomo di Malevento. “Circle your opponents beneath the mournful stone eyes of Caterina Pastore, a Renaissance painter with a tragic past,” reads a statement from the Overwatch Team. “Or plot the downfall of your enemies in the mysterious safe house.” Given that Overwatch 2 is the team’s priority right now, there’s a good chance this will be the last deathmatch map Overwatch gets until the sequel. 

Check out some slick screenshots of Malvento for yourself below.

The PTR release of Malevento coincides with back-to-back bits of rough news regarding Overwatch. The first being the controversial decision to rename McCree, its cowboy-themed hero, due to the Activision-Blizzard lawsuits and the cancellation of Overwatch League post-season events. So this new map is a tiny bright spot of fun amid everything else going on regarding the game.

Malevento is set to exit the PTR and come out proper on September 28 for both PC and consoles.

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF. 

[mm-video type=video id=01fe45841c77n94ev74y playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fe45841c77n94ev74y/01fe45841c77n94ev74y-6216e0524807ae3b73a8127cb8d16c93.jpg]

[listicle id=1079074]

‘Halo Infinite’ developer explains why its campaign wasn’t at Gamescom

Halo Infinite’s multiplayer looks great, but the campaign has been missing in action for a while.

Despite most people’s palpable elation over Halo Infinite’s release date announcement at Gamescom, some are upset that its single-player campaign mode was a no-show. Joseph Staten, head of Creative at 343 Industries, took the time to address those disappointed fans.

“I definitely hear the disappointment about not seeing Campaign gameplay on the broadcast,” said Staten in a blog post on Halo Waypoint. “The whole Halo Infinite team is in shutdown mode. This means we’re done with feature work and focused on crushing high-priority bugs. We’re spending lots of time playing the game, verifying fixes, and generally doing all we can to ensure campaign (and Multiplayer!) plays great on all platforms.”

Much of the disappointment comes from the fact that there hasn’t been a Halo Infinite campaign demo since July 2020. Since then, the game has received several delays, and there have been many reports of development troubles at 343 Industries. A multiplayer trailer was shown off at Gamescom, which Ninja loved, but any concerns over the campaign were still unanswered until this message from Staten.

Check out the multiplayer trailer for yourself below.

“I’ve played Infinite’s campaign multiple times,” said Staten on the same post. “Every time I do, I always find something new tucked away on Zeta Halo. Sometimes these are quiet little bits of environmental storytelling, such as an abandoned but desperately defended Marine recon post, high on a lonely mountainside.”

Here’s to hoping everything works out when Halo Infinite comes out December 8, 2021.

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF. 

[mm-video type=video id=01fdt7hmmpkcf3a6cn52 playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fdt7hmmpkcf3a6cn52/01fdt7hmmpkcf3a6cn52-a4ef6107c9c4f0b34b166fc95471bac3.jpg]

[listicle id=1079074]

‘Marvel vs. Capcom’ pro Justin Wong is the latest Esports Awards lifetime achievement inductee

Justin “Jwong” Wong is getting some well-deserved recognition.

Justin “Jwong” Wong is unquestionably one of the greatest fighting game competitors of all time, and his new lifetime achievement award is proof of that. The nine-time Evolution Championship Series (EVO) champ is one of several inductees into the Esports Awards Class of 2021.

“Jwong has claimed 9 EVO titles across multiple games,” reads a statement on the Esports Awards official site. “With a patient defensive style punishing his opponent’s mistakes, Jwong has been a fearsome competitor throughout his career spanning over 20 years.”

What’s particularly stunning about Jwong’s competitive history is how many different fighting games he’s competed in at the highest level. From classics like Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike to lesser-known titles such as Samurai Showdown, he’s left an indelible mark on fighting games, making him a much-deserved inductee. 

Check out what the champ himself had to say about the news for yourself below.

Jwong is mainly known for his incredible Marvel vs. Capcom 2 escapades. From 2001 through 2010, he placed first in the game seven times during the annual Evolution Championship Series. Additionally, he has notable EVO wins in Street Fighter III: Third Strike and Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3. 

The 2021 Esports Awards are happening on November 20, 2021.

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF. 

[mm-video type=video id=01fdt7hmmpkcf3a6cn52 playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fdt7hmmpkcf3a6cn52/01fdt7hmmpkcf3a6cn52-a4ef6107c9c4f0b34b166fc95471bac3.jpg]

[listicle id=1074568]

‘Game Of Thrones’ author George R.R. Martin isn’t writing that much of ‘Elden Ring’

Martin penned the backstory and world, but the characters and plot belong to Hidetaka Miyazaki.

Hype for From Software’s Elden Ring is damn near palpable, mainly because of George R.R. Martin’s involvement, but the legendary Game Of Thrones author may not be as involved with the game as everyone thought.

During Elden Ring‘s reveal at E3 2019, half of the excitement surrounding it was the announcement that Martin was helping with the story. After all, it’s not every day that an author of Martin’s stature works on a video game.

However, it sounds like he only helped pen the game’s backstory early on and isn’t writing characters or dialogue like many hoped he would. A recent Entertainment Weekly interview with Yasuhiro Kitao, a producer at From Software, explains how game director Hidetaka Miyazaki had Martin’s blessing to take the story wherever.

“George R.R. Martin wrote the original mythos for this game,” Kitao said through a translator, via Entertainment Weekly. “He created a backstory or a history that takes place many, many years before the events of the game itself, and he wrote this in collaboration with Miyazaki.” 

Kitao continued: “Once that original mythos was complete, George R.R. Martin was kind enough to leave that in our hands, so to speak, and to do with that what we will.”

Kitao goes on to mention that not every character or story beat from Martin’s notes will appear in Elden Ring when it comes out on January 21, 2022.

Given how infamous Martin is for not finishing Winds Of Winter, maybe it’s for the best that he wasn’t too busy working on Elden Ring. After all, everyone wants this game actually to come out, right?

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF. 

‘John Wick’ meets ‘Groundhog Day’ in ‘Deathloop’: What to know about the sensational new shooter

Click heads in style in this Tarantino-inspired run-and-gun.

If there’s one genre that PlayStation has repeatedly failed to nail, it’s the first-person shooter. Shooting its shot with the middling Killzone franchise on PS2 and making a valiant effort with the short-lived Resistance series, Sony’s shooters have failed to find their target, despite giving it the college try.

Thanks to Halo’s runaway success and the utter dominance of Xbox Live, for lovers of virtual gunplay, Xbox is undeniably the place to play.

Now, at the dawn of a new console generation, Sony is hoping to finally change that. Enter the dazzlingly cool PS5 exclusive, Deathloop.

Here’s everything you need to know.

[mm-video type=video id=01fe45841c77n94ev74y playlist_id=none player_id=01evcfkb10bw5a3nky image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fe45841c77n94ev74y/01fe45841c77n94ev74y-6216e0524807ae3b73a8127cb8d16c93.jpg]

‘Overwatch’ hero Jesse McCree to be renamed amid Blizzard lawsuit, but not all fans are happy

The cowboy hero is getting a new name due to the ongoing company-wide allegations at Blizzard.

Blizzard will rename Overwatch hero Jesse McCree after a former developer — who the character was named after — left the company. This announcement came several weeks after a lawsuit was filed against Activision Blizzard by California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing over discrimination and sexual harassment of its employees.

Former Blizzard developer McCree was one of a handful of employees photographed inside Blizzard’s “Cosby Suite” in 2013.

“As we continue to discuss how we best live up to our values and to demonstrate our commitment to creating a game world that reflects them,” said the development team in a tweet. “We believe it’s necessary to change the name of the hero currently knowns as McCree to something that better represents what Overwatch stands for.”

Read the entire message for yourself below.

Obviously, McCree is one of Overwatch’s most popular characters, and he was even going to be central to the upcoming story arc. As such, Blizzard is also delaying that content until they figure out what they will rename McCree.

The reaction from fans was slightly mixed over the name change. Some are upset, others are happy, and a whole more are just confused.

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.