Charles Singletary Jr.
I'm a Birmingham, AL raised author, journalist, and gaming enthusiast currently residing in San Antonio, TX. My work has appeared on Vice/Motherboard, Playboy, Pixelkin, The Koalition, ZAM, and other websites. You can also find my words in the print publication Vie Magazine. My gaming story starts way back in diapers with me avoiding my mom so I could play my NES, took a big turn when my uncle gave me his son's copy of Final Fantasy VII, and has evolved in a huge way over the years since. It continues to be written and I'm finding joy on every page.
Ghost Recon Breakpoint’s PvP is a high-tension battle royale lite
In the PvP Ghost War mode, the developers behind Ghost Recon Breakpoint drop eight players into various maps for competitive, 4v4 conflicts where the last team standing wins. We got hands-on with the mode and took stock new additions to the mode’s formula and the best ways to take on the enemy team.
Ghost Recon Breakpoint’s massive map hides nearly 800 secrets across 332 miles
Ghost Recon Breakpoint leaves Wildlands' setting in Bolivia for a fictional archipelago called Auroa, and the developers are investing a lot into bringing the collection of islands to life. That includes almost 800 hidden areas that hint at some aspect of the lore that keeps Auroa afloat.
Microsoft’s cloud gaming platform xCloud is built using Xbox One S hardware
Project Xcloud was revealed at E3 2019 and Microsoft used a video interview with publication as an opportunity to reveal more specifics about it. They started by using the Xbox One S as the template for it and the data center racks are made up of the equivalent of eight of those consoles.
Fed-up indie game devs are fighting back against shady key resellers
Controversy unfolded after indie game developers called out grey market key reseller G2A over its shady practices. G2A’s response escalated the situation and now devs are taking action. Digital Trends spoke to developers about why shady websites like G2A are bad for them and the people who buy them.
Marvel’s Avengers single-player campaign, customization make splash at Comic-Con
Marvel Entertainment is the belle of the ball at San Diego Comic-Con, as the company hosted a panel dedicated to the efforts being made to bring its properties to life through video games. Marvel’s Avengers, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order, and Iron Man VR were the three main focuses.
Google says Stadia is not Netflix for games, more like Xbox Live Gold or PS Plus
The Director of Product for Google Stadia took to Reddit for an AMA. While no breaking news was reported, we got a clearer picture of the cloud gaming platform and its plans for mobile device support, free monthly games, and the reason developers should create for Stadia over home consoles.
Player-made mod brings an Easy Mode to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
The FromSoftware developers skirted over the idea of improving the accessibility of Sekiro and left gamers to get to work themselves if they wanted an easy mode. A gamer has done just that with Sekiro The Easy, a mod that changes player abilities, enemy stats, and more to make it a bit easier to complete the game.
Nintendo announces Switch Lite with a sweet Pokémon Sword and Shield edition
After months of rumors, Nintendo has officially revealed a new edition of the Switch. The Switch Lite is completely mobile with built-in controllers and a smaller size more fit for taking on the go. Costing $200, it will only work with games that support handheld mode. It releases in September 2019.
Amazon Game Studios reveals MMO based on The Lord of the Rings
Amazon is hoping to strike gold like HBO did with the Game of Thrones television series and is making an attempt using an already established fictional world. To go along with the upcoming TV series, Amazon Game Studios will be releasing a free-to-play Lord of the Rings MMO on PC and consoles.
Free-to-start mobile game Dr. Mario World arrives early on iOS and Android
Dr. Mario World, Nintendo's latest foray into mobile gaming on iOS and Android smart devices, is available to play a day early. Much of the game isn't unlocked until you finish 20 levels but you can see where the free-to-play path ends and how gamers will be encouraged to charge forward with microtransactions.
Microsoft and Sony consider reduced console production in China due to tariffs
Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo penned a joint letter asking the Trump administration to reconsider the $300 billion tariffs being proposed, citing the negative impact on the industry and passing costs off to consumers. The tariffs were delayed but Microsoft and Sony are considering taking business out of China anyway.
Marvel Games panel at San Diego Comic Con 2019 will be jam-packed with surprises
San Diego Comic-Con is only a couple weeks away, and producers are starting to roll out panels and exhibit information. In the latest update, we learn the Marvel Games panel will include updates on games like Marvel’s Avengers and Iron Man VR. The panel synopsis teases some surprises as well.
As Sony puts emphasis on AAA games for the PS5, will some gamers be left out?
The next-generation of home gaming consoles can have all the power in the world but it comes down the games themselves. In a new report, Sony officials share that the focus going into the next generation with the PS5 is building relationships with bigger game publishers over indie studios.
Apex Legends, FIFA 19 get Twitch content drops before Amazon Prime Day
Amazon’s big retail holiday is coming up and Twitch will be home to a competition leading up to the big day. A collection of celebrities will be facing off against each other in an Apex Legends contest and Prime subscribers will be able to take advantage of content drops that start in July but run for a few months.
No public beta for Stadia could make Founder’s Bundle buyers the guinea pigs
There are a lot of questions about how Google Stadia is going to perform on the many different internet connections but Google won’t be making an effort to get that answered before launch. The company won’t be hosting a beta test for prospective consumers before the fall 2019 release.
Stadia head thinks being able to play on any screen is worth paying full price
Google Stadia will allow users to purchase games or access a library of them via a subscription and it seems those purchased games will cost full price. Stadia Chief Phil Harrison believes that there’s value in being able to play your games on any screen and there’s no reason for games to be cheaper.
Bungie delays an upcoming Destiny 2 patch to avoid overworking developers
In response to a question about a patch fix for one of Destiny 2's weapons, a Bungie developer shared that it was delayed due to an effort to preserve work-life balance for the team. He even admitted that the developers just completed an update that took longer hours and they wouldn’t want them doing that back-to-back.
Cyberpunk 2077 will feature romance options beyond heterosexual relationships
Cyberpunk 2077, CD Projekt Red’s upcoming first-person RPG, will feature a gender-fluid character creator, and the game’s lead quest designer reveals that the romance options will be more diverse than The Witcher 3's. The options are nearly endless for the NPCs the devs can put together.
