Author - Jerry Paxton

New Stealth 700 and 600 Gen 2 MAX Headphones Available Now

2022/05/09
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Tech News, Trailers / Videos

Leading gaming accessories provider Turtle Beach Corporation (NASDAQ: HEAR) today announced the all-new Designed for Xbox Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX, Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX and Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB series wireless gaming headsets are now on-sale at participating retailers worldwide. With these superbly upgraded entries to the brand’s best-selling Stealth 700 and Stealth 600 series products, Turtle Beach once again redefines the powerful capabilities of a well-engineered gaming headset.

The all-new Designed for Xbox Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX expands upon the best-selling premium wireless series’ already impressive feature set and now offers players the ability to connect lag-free via wireless USB and Bluetooth® to more gaming systems, including Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, PS5™ and PS4™, Nintendo Switch™, Windows PCs and Mac®, and compatible iOS and Android mobile devices. Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX also takes the series’ battery life up to 40+ hours. These upgrades add to its powerful 3D spatial surround sound* and unmatched comfort features that have made Stealth 700 Gen 2 the best-selling and highly acclaimed premium wireless gaming headset since it debuted. IGN recently named the Stealth 700 Gen 2 the Best Xbox Series X|S Gaming Headset in its latest Best Gaming Headsets 2022 story. The Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX for Xbox comes in Black or a stunning Cobalt Blue and is available today from www.turtlebeach.com and participating retailers for a $199.99 MSRP.

Also available globally are Turtle Beach’s new Designed for Xbox Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX and Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB wireless gaming headsets. Just like its 700 MAX sibling, the all-new Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX for Xbox adds multiplatform compatibility and a massive, best-in-class 48+ hour battery life to the industry’s best-selling wireless gaming headset series. The Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX for Xbox comes in Black, Midnight Red, and Arctic Camo and is available today from www.turtlebeach.com and participating retailers for a $129.99 MSRP. The new Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB for Xbox brings the best-selling headset series’ battery life up to 24+ hours while maintaining its attractive $99.99 MSRP. The Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB for Xbox is available in Black or White from www.turtlebeach.com and participating retailers.

“Our new MAX models add even more options to the industry’s two best-selling wireless gaming headset series,” said Juergen Stark, Chairman and CEO, Turtle Beach Corporation. “We know many gamers are looking for one headset that works with everything, and that’s the genesis of the MAX models. Our 700 and 600 series wireless products have been steadfast workhorses for the brand since they came out in January 2019. The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 is the second best-selling wireless headset series**, second only to our Stealth 600 series, and we anticipate these new upgraded MAX and USB models will continue driving the series’ future success.”

Full details on Turtle Beach’s all-new Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX, Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX, and Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB follow:

Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX
The Designed for Xbox Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX delivers a premium gaming audio experience on more systems. With the toggle of a switch players can use their headset with Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, PS5 and PS4, Nintendo Switch, Windows PCs and Mac, and experience the immersive 3D spatial surround sound*, premium features, and class-leading comfort the Stealth 700 series is known for. The Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX’s Bluetooth connection also makes it great for mobile gaming on compatible iOS and Android devices, as well as for chatting on Discord, taking calls, or listening to music simultaneously while gaming. Players can also use Bluetooth to connect to the Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX mobile companion app on compatible iOS and Android devices where they’ll be able to customize features like audio presets, Mic Monitoring, and other settings.

The Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX’s upgraded battery delivers 40+ hours of playtime and a proprietary lag-free 2.4GHz wireless USB transmitter stays connected without interruption. ProSpecs™ glasses-friendly technology and Aerofit™ cooling gel-infused memory foam ear cushions provide exceptional comfort, while 50mm Nanoclear™ speakers bring games to life. Players will also enjoy crystal-clear chat with the Gen 2 MAX’s flip-to-mute mic, as well as game-winning features like Turtle Beach’s exclusive Superhuman Hearing® sound setting for a competitive advantage. Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX for Xbox is available globally in Black or Cobalt Blue for a MSRP of $199.99 / £179.99 / €199.99.

Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX
The Designed for Xbox Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX wireless multiplatform gaming headset delivers incredible battery life and high-quality game audio. A monster 48+ hour battery life keeps the headset going for days while a low-latency, lossless connection to game systems is handled by Turtle Beach’s proprietary lag-free 2.4GHz wireless USB transmitter. With the simple flip of a switch, players can select their favorite game system and experience immersive, 3D spatial surround sound** through large and powerful 50mm speakers, and crystal-clear chat with the Gen 2 MAX’s flip-to-mute microphone. Soft, ProSpecs glasses-friendly ear cushions offer plush comfort, and easy access controls let players adjust their settings and activate features like Superhuman Hearing for a competitive advantage. Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX for Xbox is available globally in Black, Midnight Red, or Arctic Camo for a MSRP of $129.99 / £129.99 / €139.99.

Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB
The Designed for Xbox Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB wireless amplified headset delivers high-quality game audio & chat on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. A long-lasting 24+ hour battery means less charging and more gaming while a low-latency, lossless connection is handled by Turtle Beach’s proprietary lag-free 2.4GHz wireless USB transmitter. Players will experience immersive, 3D spatial surround sound** through 50mm speakers, and crystal-clear chat through the Gen 2 USB’s flip-to-mute microphone. Soft, ProSpecs glasses-friendly ear cushions offer plush comfort, and easy access controls let players adjust their settings and activate features like Superhuman Hearing for a competitive advantage. Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB is available in Black or White for a MSRP of $99.99 / £89.99 / €99.99.

For more information on the latest Turtle Beach products and accessories, visit www.turtlebeach.com and be sure to follow Turtle Beach on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

Avatar: The Way of Water Official Teaser Trailer Released

2022/05/09
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Movie News, News, Trailers / Videos

The teaser trailer and stills for 20th Century Studios’ “Avatar: The Way of Water,” which first debuted in theaters on May 6, is available now. James Cameron’s first follow-up to his “Avatar,” the highest-grossing film of all time, will open in theaters on December 16.

Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, “Avatar: The Way of Water” begins to tell the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure. Directed by James Cameron and produced by Cameron and Jon Landau, the film stars Zoe Saldana, Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Cliff Curtis, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Edie Falco, Jemaine Clement and Kate Winslet.

To whet audiences’ appetites, the studio will re-release “Avatar” in theaters on September 23.

CCP Unveils Narrative-Driven Updates for EVE Online During 2022 Fanfest

2022/05/09
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

CCP Games today shared a set of narrative-driven updates on the horizon for spacefaring MMO EVE Online during the 2022 EVE Fanfest Keynote. The introduction of arcs will evolve the Quadrants initiative into a multi-year journey, starting by bringing EVE’s four NPC Empires to the forefront with the addition of consequential story events. An expansion finale to the very first arc will be released in Q4 2022. CCP also continues to invest in future generations of Capsuleers with enhancements to its new player experience, and is set to welcome more players to its iconic MMO with the introduction of a localized Spanish client in late 2022. In addition, CCP announced a partnership with Microsoft that will allow Capsuleers to export data from EVE Online directly into Excel.

Expanding EVE Online’s faction lore, CCP offered the most in-depth look yet at the Caldari homeworld in their trailer here:

Arcs will enable Capsuleers to build stronger ties with their home Empires through dynamic storylines and events, giving players more power to shape New Eden’s living universe. Players can expect improvements to Factional Warfare, infrastructure, and more as arc updates are released, adding further value to player roles and interactions in New Eden. CCP will release more information about EVE’s first narrative-driven arc in the coming months.

“EVE is getting ready to enter its third decade and the future has never been brighter,” Bergur Finnbogason, EVE Online’s Creative Director, said. “With arcs, we’re setting EVE up for the next chapter with a steady stream of narrative-driven content that emphasizes player actions and decisions. Veterans of the Triglavian Invasion may recall the fall of Pochven that altered trade routes and supply chains across New Eden – the narratives coming with arcs can have similar effects. The upcoming stories and events aren’t restricted to veterans, though – with more activities coming soon to the new player experience, all Capsuleers can enjoy EVE’s arcs, regardless of their skill level.”

As part of CCP’s ongoing efforts to enhance EVE Online’s new player experience, Capsuleers taking their first steps in New Eden can soon enroll in the AIR Career Program. The AIR Career Program is an initiative that helps players choose one of EVE’s four distinctive career paths: Explorer, Industrialist, Enforcer, or Soldier of Fortune and presents tailored recommendations from the endless possibilities of EVE Online.

Through the Microsoft partnership, EVE players can add a JavaScript API in Excel to seamlessly export data from EVE Online. Excel feature compatibility will help players access and calculate everything from profit margins to battle strategy, making day-to-day EVE operations easier to execute. The Microsoft integration is another step toward CCP’s goal of making the MMO more accessible for both casual and seasoned players. More information about the Microsoft partnership will be available later this year.

CCP is modernizing EVE Online for the next decade with these additional updates currently in development:

  • Audio and visual overhauls, including high-resolution nebulae, increased Levels of Detail (LOD) on all in-game models, and improved particle VFX.
  • Significant improvements to the user interface and explorations into a 3D HUD.
  • Addition of Structure SKINs, allowing players to customize their buildings in New Eden.
  • …and more!

EVE Online can be downloaded for free by visiting www.eveonline.com. For all the latest information about the game, please visit EVE News.

The Film Detective’s Monster from Green Hell Blu-ray Review

2022/05/09
Jerry Paxton
Film Review, Geek News, Movie News, News, Reviews, Trailers / Videos

Monster movies reigned supreme in the 1950s. When it came time to put butts in seats and cars in drive-ins, producers would throw whatever they could together to crank out a couple of cheap thrills to release as a B-picture. Sometimes this lead to greatness in classics such as I Was A Teenage Werewolf and others it lead to Monster from Green Hell. Recently restored and released on Blu-ray by The Film Detective, is Monster from Green Hell worth a re-appraisal? In short: No.

Feature

It’s not great.

Picture and Audio

Do I have to do this?

Extras and Packaging

Like, seriously, no.

Overall

Okay, fine. You ever had a book report you really didn’t want to write? That’s how I felt approaching this review. I try my hardest to approach every film on its own merits, look for the good in everything. That’s really hard to do with this release.
Monster from Green Hell spins the cautionary tale of what should happen when man in all his hubris loads a rocket ship up with wasps and launches it into a cloud of cosmic radiation for science. Instead of the customary super stretchy, invisible, and flaming wasps one would expect, what results is instead a race of gigantic mega wasps who make their home in a volcano and threaten the people of Central Africa.

As far as cheap thrills go, Monster from Green Hell provides some of the cheapest. Take for instance the fact that the film takes place across Central Africa. This was done specifically because the filmmakers had access to footage from Spencer Tracy’s 1939 film Stanley and Livingstone, making it easy enough to write a story around the existing expedition footage and film new dialogue scenes similar to the Super Sentai to Power Rangers pipeline of the ‘90s.

Then you have the monsters themselves- Stiff wasp puppets, barely capable of movement let alone threatening an entire continent and crudely superimposed over the scenes they’re supposedly attacking. Take these elements, throw in a loose story duct taped together and strung along by constant narration and you have a movie that may best be suited as background noise while you do more important stuff.

Monster from Green Hell is presented with a 4k restoration by The Film Detective and is viewable in either 1.85:1 widescreen or 1.33:1 full screen. The restoration is decent and the black and white tone is consistent throughout. There does happen to be a surprising amount of scratching and debris left but nothing that ruined my viewing. On disc you’ll find a fifteen minute career retrospective on lead actor Jim Davis (no, not the Garfield guy) and a commentary track by comic book artist turned film professor Stephen R Bissette. Included in the clamshell is a booklet featuring an essay Don Stradley that covers mostly the same information found in Bissette’s commentary track. I tend to think of myself as a connoisseur of bad movies. Monster from Green Hell makes the unfortunate error of falling just short of being so-bad-it’s-good and lands with a thud squarely in so-bad-it’s-bad territory. Without much beyond a commentary track to sweeten the deal it becomes hard to find a place for this in my collection let alone recommend to anybody but the most hardcore of 1950’s giant bug movie enthusiasts.

Path of Exile: Sentinel Expansion Announced

2022/05/06
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

Grinding Gear Games announced today via livestream on Twitch, that Path of Exile‘s latest free expansion, Path of Exile: Sentinel, will launch on Friday, May 13th on PC, and Wednesday, May 18th for PlayStation and Xbox.

During the stream, Grinding Gear Games Co-founder Chris Wilson revealed that the Path of Exile: Sentinel expansion will feature the Sentinel Challenge League, 20 atlas keystone passives, seven uber boss fights, new pinnacle unique items, revamped monster modifiers, game controller support, new quality of life features, a revamped challenge system and much more!

Detailed information for these features is below:

  • The Sentinel Challenge League –

    • In Path of Exile: Sentinel, ancient constructs have been unearthed across Wraeclast. You will harness the power of these Sentinels to control your level of risk and reward on the battlefield.

    • You will uncover and collect Sentinels and take advantage of their great power. When deployed, they follow you for a short time and empower your enemies, greatly increasing both their difficulty and reward.

    • There are three classes of Sentinels. Stalker Sentinels empower a moderate number of enemies in sequence as you encounter them. Pandemonium Sentinels empower a wide swath of monsters at once in a quick burst. Apex Sentinels only empower rare or unique enemies but have a very strong effect.

    • Use the Sentinel controller to power your Sentinels and customize their behavior. On the controller, you’ll connect runic nodes with filaments to dictate where the power flows and which behavior is enabled for your Sentinels. You can change these freely to experiment with your desired playstyle.

    • When your Sentinels run out of charge, they can be combined together with a Power Core to assemble a new, fully-charged Sentinel that inherits properties from both of the husks you disassembled. This hybrid Sentinel may also gain special properties such as an exclusive variant base type or modifiers that can only come from the assembly process.

    • You may also discover or assemble Unique Sentinels which behave in very specialized and powerful ways

  • 20 Atlas Keystones – We’ve doubled down on the best parts of our recent expansion, Siege of the Atlas, which was very popular with the Path of Exile community. We’re adding 20 new keystone passives to the Atlas-wide passive tree which give you even more control over what type of content you engage with.

  • Uber Pinnacle Bosses – Six of these new keystones enable uber versions of Path of Exile’s most feared bosses, creating an even more difficult level of combat for our most aspiring players to test themselves again. These boss fights include uber versions of Venarius, Sirius, The Maven, The Searing Exarch, The Eater of Worlds, The Shaper and The Uber elder.

  • New Unique Items – In our Siege of the Atlas boss kill event, several of our most experienced players earned the right to design unique items, which are being introduced in Path of Exile: Sentinel! These new unique items drop from The Infinite Hunger, The Black Star, The Shaper, The Uber Elder, The Maven and Sirus.

  • Revamped Monster Modifiers – We’re replacing all existing monster modifiers with the mods that we introduced in the Archnemesis League, which all have a great impact on combat and are easy to identify at a glance. Magic packs share one modifier between them while Rare monsters typically have two modifiers, and can rarely spawn with more. Multiple synergistic mods can create quite dangerous situations in combat.

  • Game Controller Support – We’ve implemented support for game controllers in the PC version of Path of Exile. This also means that if you’re lucky enough to already have a Steam Deck, you can play Path of Exile on the go!

  • New QOL – In this expansion, we’ve added several small quality of life features that should help to enhance the ease of your game experience. For example, it’s now much easier to add maps to your Favored Maps list on the Atlas. We’ve also added settings that allow you to define who is able to access the portals in your hideout. There are several other new features that we’ll reveal over the coming week.

  • Revamped Challenge System – The challenge system in the Sentinel League is much harder but more rewarding than that of the past 21 leagues. Early challenges have been condensed so that their rewards unlock at 6 and 12 completions, rather than at 12 and 24. There are far more difficult objectives available to challenge Path of Exile’s best players and there are ten different rewards you can unlock, which comprise two complete armor sets, each with a pair of wings.

To learn more about the updates coming in Path of Exile: Sentinel, check out the full VOD of the Twitch livestream which aired today.

Zombie Army 4: Dead War Ragnarök Campaign Launch Trailer

2022/05/06
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, PlayStation 5 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News, Xbox Series X News

Alpha Squad has just been given their final mission – they must descend further into hell to destroy Project Ragnarök and bring the nightmare to an end once and for all. The new Ragnarök Campaign & Character Pack for Zombie Army 4: Dead War contains a two-part campaign mission as well as new outfits for Karl, Marie and Josiah and is available now on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Epic Games Store, Steam, Microsoft Store, Google Stadia and the newly released Nintendo Switch version. Additionally, all Zombie Army 4 players will also receive the new “Death Collector” Horde Map free as part of an update today.

Rebellion, one of the world’s most successful video games developers and publishers, has released a hellish new trailer showcasing the content from the Season Four pack:

In the new mission, the few surviving members of the cult have retreated deep into hell and put the mysterious Projekt Ragnarök into effect. With the help of Schweiger, Alpha Squad need to stop the plan which threatens to destroy the world.

The Ragnarök Campaign & Character Pack contains:

  • Ragnarök Campaign – Parts I & II
  • Future Karl Outfit – Two Hats for Karl (Robot Eye + Ballistic Helmet)
  • Marie Lounge Singer Outfit – Two Hats for Marie (Tilt Hat + Quick Disguise Kit)
  • Josiah Detective Outfit – Two Hats for Josiah (Detective Fedora + Sunglasses)

Developed by Rebellion in partnership with Flix Interactive and Radical Forge, the Ragnarök Campaign & Character Pack is available now for $14.99. The items are also available to purchase individually. Zombie Army 4: Dead War is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Epic Games Store, Steam, Microsoft Store and Google Stadia. It’s also playable on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S with upgraded new-gen features.

For more information, please visit ZombieArmy.com

Lonely Mountains: Downhill Unveils Daily Rides Season 13: Flower Power

2022/05/06
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 News, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

Thunderful & Megagon Industries are feeling extra groovy this spring, announcing that starting today, players who missed out on Season 6 of Daily Rides have a second chance with a season recap of the far out Swinging Sixties-inspired Flower Power Daily Rides update available now for Lonely Mountains: Downhill. This season brings back the psychedelic floral patterns of the summer of love to the game, truly making you one with nature. Lonely Mountains: Downhill is available now on Nintendo Switch™, Xbox One, PlayStation®4, and PC (Steam®). The game is verified for Steam Deck.

Players wanting to feel the good vibrations of the mountain trails will be totally stoked to see all the funky outfits and accessories that they can unlock:

  • Party like it’s 1969 with the Woodstock outfit.
  • Experience being the legendary headline act with the Jimmy outfit.
  • Don your flared dungarees and chillax with the Groove outfit.
  • Spread the love with the Flower Power paint job, giving your bike a funky basket filled with a bouquet and flowers wrapped around your frame.
  • Two backpacks can be unlocked too! Make love not war with the Peacebag or get in the hippie spirit with the flower Garland – right on, man.

Daily Rides is a cross-platform daily leaderboard competition. Each day a trail will be selected randomly, complete with new obstacles and gameplay modifiers. The 4 week season offers up a new theme with unlockable cosmetic rewards for participants. Do you have what it takes to dominate the season? Get riding and see if you can rise to the top of the leaderboard!

Keep an eye out on our Twitter, Instagram and Facebook pages to stay up-to-date on all the latest straight from the mountain peaks.

Lonely Mountains: Downhill was initially released on October 23rd in 2019. During its first year, the game has been a hit amongst players and critics alike; resulting in more than one million players (2.5 million as of December 2021). The game won awards such as “Best Indie Game” at the German Developer Awards and “Best International Indie Game” at Poznan Game Arena.

Lonely Mountains: Downhill is available now on Nintendo Switch™, Xbox One, PlayStation®4, PC (Steam® and Windows 10 via the Microsoft store) and Mac (Steam®). Lonely Mountains: Downhill is verified for Steam Deck. A demo for Lonely Mountains: Downhill is available on Steam® and Nintendo Switch™, so if you are on the fence download it and head down the first trail of the Sierra Rivera mountain.

For more information about Lonely Mountains: Downhill please visit the official website: https://lonelymountains.com/

NACON Creates New Label for Italian Studio – Nacon Studio Milan

2022/05/06
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Industry News, News

NACON is proud to announce the creation of a new label for its Italian development studio: Nacon Studio Milan. This new entity will include RaceWard Studio, which specialises in racing games, and other teams as it seeks to diversify its offering.

Made up of video game industry veterans, the Italian studio recently developed the game RiMS Racing, a new motorcycling game concept combining racing and mechanics, for which the developers took realism and customization to new heights.

With positive feedback from players and support from Nacon, the studio is continuing to rise in stature and grow by hiring new talent. Nacon Studio Milan now has two areas of expertise: development of racing games by the RaceWard team and action/adventure games by another team. And there is still the option to explore other game genres.

Nacon Studio Milan recently moved to large offices in the city centre, where many talented developers can fulfill their ambitions and work on the latest projects.

The teams are currently working on a brand-new project: a survival game based on one of the world’s most popular film franchises. The studio is therefore looking to increase the size of its team to develop this new and ambitious project.

“We are proud of the direction we are heading in. Originally a team of racing experts, the studio has grown quickly, and our new talent has given us the desire to explore new territory. That’s why we decided to broaden our horizons and try another type of game. We are looking forward to presenting this new project to the world. Our family is growing and we are hoping to welcome new members soon as we build our team,” said Marco Ponte, CEO of Nacon Studio Milan.

More details about the new project will be shared in 2022.

FRACKED Official Launch Trailer Released

2022/05/06
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Fracked, the trailblazing and critically acclaimed VR action-adventure game from nDreams, is out now on Viveport, Steam and the Rift Store. The game is also available to all Viveport Infinity members from today.

Fracked is natively compatible with HTC Vive Pro, Valve Index and Rift S headsets, while Meta Quest and Quest 2 owners can get involved in the action via the Oculus Link Cable or Air Link.

In Fracked, you are a reluctant hero, stuck deep inside a remote mountain facility and forced into a final stand between the planet and the ‘Fracked’ – an army of gun-wielding, interdimensional enemies. There’s no room here for subtlety and stealth, this is bold, brash and uncompromising explosive action! Alone. On the edge. And really fracked off… humanity’s survival is in your hands!

“Fracked allowed us to push action-adventure gameplay in VR to new limits and let players live out their dream as an action hero,” said David Corless, VP of Publishing at nDreams. “We hope PC VR players enjoy the thrill of throwing themselves into Fracked’s exhilarating and intuitive 1:1 gameplay.”

Fracked’s innovative VR gunplay blends improvised run and gun combat with a 1:1 grabbable cover system allowing you to move freely around the battlefield outflanking, outsmarting, and outgunning the Fracked. The game also features free and intuitive no-rails movement on foot, on skis and climbing.

Originally released for PS VR last summer, Fracked’s first-person combat and free movement earned praise from reviewers and the game was featured on multiple ‘Best of 2021’ lists.

For more on Fracked, visit www.ndreams.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.

ESL Gaming is Back With Intel Extreme Masters Dallas Beginning May 30

2022/05/05
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Industry News, News

Intel® Extreme Masters (IEM) returns to the North American continent! June 3-5, 2022, fans are invited to enter the arena of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center during DreamHack Dallas to cheer on the world’s best Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) teams.

IEM Dallas 2022 marks ESL’s first live event in the Americas in almost three years and will take place at the first full-scale DreamHack festival in nearly 2.5 years. The most recent ESL events on U.S. soil were IEM Chicago and ESL One New York in 2019. At both previous events, a U.S. team eventually secured the trophy. We will know whether this is bound to happen again in just one month.

What’s at Stake
While battling it out for a share of the $250,000 total prize pool, 16 top CS:GO teams will face off starting May 30 to earn a spot in the playoffs and play on stage in front of a live audience. The IEM Katowice 2022 runner-up G2 Esports, the ESL Pro League Season 15 runner-up ENCE Esports, the Danish powerhouse Heroic, the recently signed Cloud9 roster, and the remarkable Australian squad LookingForOrg are all among the qualified teams.

Having a chance to compete on their home turf, Complexity Gaming has also secured its spot in the tournament. They are joined by the two Brazilian squads FURIA Esports and Imperial Esports, who will show whether it’s new blood or the veterans who make the biggest impact. Ninjas in Pyjamas also has a shot at manifesting the effect of their latest roster addition: the young Swede Ludvig “Brollan” Brolin. The Czech organization Entropiq and the German organization MOUZ are the latest two additions to the list as they secured a spot for IEM Dallas by finishing in the top two of the EU Closed Qualifier on May 4.

Furthermore, by securing their spot for IEM Dallas, FaZe Clan will have a chance to earn their third title in the race for the Intel® Grand Slam IV and its $1 million cash prize. To add this desired third out of the four needed wins to their name, they will need to compete with the previous Intel® Grand Slam winners — Astralis, Team Liquid, and Natus Vincere — who all qualified for IEM Dallas as well. In addition, former IEM title holder Team Vitality will also participate in the tournament, offering them the chance to go head-to-head with FaZe Clan in the race to mark their name in CS:GO history.

Finally, the competing teams will be facing off to earn ESL Pro Tour (EPT) points. These EPT points are needed to qualify for and join the already qualified FaZe Clan at IEM Cologne, which will take place in Cologne, Germany, July 5-17.

There is More
For the first time in the history of Intel® Extreme Masters, the event will be hosted by the three-day, immersive gaming-lifestyle festival DreamHack, allowing visitors of the IEM event to enjoy DreamHack Dallas and vice versa.

From a Cosplay Championship, Fighting Game Tournaments, Tabletop Gaming, Indie Games, Live Music concerts, and panels to the beloved and famous Bring-Your-Own-Computer (BYOC) LAN party and an Expo, DreamHack Dallas offers everything gaming under one roof. Combined with the heated-up IEM competition, fans can expect an unforgettable experience.

When and Where to Watch
The group stage of IEM Dallas kicks off on Monday, May 30. Until June 1, two groups of eight teams will battle it out in a double-elimination Bo3. After that, the top three teams of each group will proceed to the playoff stage, taking place live at DreamHack Dallas in the arena of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas, on June 3-5. The playoff matches will be single-elimination, with the quarter and semi-finals played out as Bo3, and the Grand Final as Bo5.

Fans tuning in online and watching the matches from around the globe can expect an exciting broadcast filled with extra content. The CS:GO competition can be watched on ESL Gaming’s CS:GO Twitch channel, on live.intelextrememasters.com, and will be broadcasted by our dedicated broadcast partners.

For more information about IEM Dallas, and the latest updates, please visit the official website, and follow ESL CS on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.