Latest news with #StateofPlay
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Looks like Borderlands 4 heavily relies on the series' lore-bomb Sirens again, but it's sweetening the deal with new Vault Hunter Vex and her big purple cat
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. From the ashes of the Borderlands 4 State of Play stream today rises a phoenix – no, a new Siren, who seems to have made it out of the looter shooter's apocalyptic rubble with a big-ass purple cat. "Vex the Siren is a powerful Siren who can empower herself or manifest deadly shades to fight alongside her," a press release says. During the Borderlands 4 State of Play, we see how Vex wields supernatural phase energy to blast away enemies with her bare hands, or to create scythe-wielding spirits to fight her battles with her. Like other Borderlands 4 Sirens – ultra-powerful, otherworldly beings, including the fan-favorite bad girl Lilith, who may or may not be dead at the end of Borderlands 3 – Vex seems highly capable. But even with magic at her fingertips, it looks like she couldn't turn down her purple panther companion. Gearbox shows off its muscle during State of Play, while demonstrating Vex's class abilities, or action skills. Vex can use something like the skill Incarnate to trigger a Phase Explosion that destroys opponents while regenerating her health, but Phase Phamiliar offers what looks like a more unique combat strategy. With this skill, Trouble, Vex's ghostly Minion, can turn "into a Badass" that restores health and boosts damage for a limited amount of time. If only I could get the pigeons on my roof to do the same thing. You'll be able to play as Vex and her evil kitty cat – along with three other new Vault Hunters including, an exo-suit soldier Rafa, whose impressive range of weapons was also showcased during State of Play – when Borderlands 4 launches on September 12. Whoa, Borderlands 4 made huge changes to guns: we basically have 5 weapon slots now, and there are 3 new manufacturers plus modded guns with "Licensed Parts" combos.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Borderlands 4's new September release date sparks GTA 6 speculations
Source: Rockstar Games In a surprising twist, Borderlands 4 has officially been pushed up to a September 12, 2025 launch date. Though fans are eager to get their hands on the next game earlier than anticipated, many are wondering if the change has anything to do with Rockstar Games ' impending Grand Theft Auto 6. With calendars in the industry becoming tighter, the change has generated significant hype throughout the gaming world. Borderlands 4 release date moved up to September 12 — GameRollGTA (@GameRollGTA) Once previously expected later this year, Borderlands 4 now releases on September 12. This aligns with rumors of a separate, dedicated State of Play broadcast featuring the title as a highlighted event. Gearbox and 2K are seemingly setting Borderlands 4 up as among the big fall titles, but this revised schedule has led some to theorize over an ulterior motive for doing so. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 3 Reasons to Plug This Into Your Home Today elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo Most fans and industry watchers are looking to the elephant in the room: GTA 6. Scheduled for release in Fall 2025, Rockstar's much-awaited behemoth might arrive between October and December. The theory making waves is that 2K, which, like Rockstar, operates under Take-Two Interactive , might be strategically clearing calendar space to avoid overlap, or worse, competition, with the biggest video game release of the decade. By moving Borderlands 4 forward, 2K ensures it gets its moment before the marketing floodgates open for GTA 6. Speculation grows as GTA 6 news remains elusive The change in Borderlands 4's release schedule isn't the only thing generating rumors. Fans who were expecting GTA 6 news in May may now have to scale back their expectations. With Borderlands 4 receiving its own State of Play "soon," it's less and less likely Rockstar will release any significant GTA 6 updates in the same timeframe. This fits with Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick's recent statements that focused on bringing marketing materials closer to the real release date. If Rockstar is actually keeping trailers or significant announcements under wraps, it would be in line with their traditional tendency to remain silent during promotion. While enthusiasts rejoice at the earlier release of Borderlands 4, the timing leaves behind questions that extend beyond the game. With GTA 6 looming large over the industry's release calendar, publishers are undoubtedly being strategic. Whether the rumors prove correct or not, one thing's for sure, Fall 2025 is looking like a milestone time for gaming. Also Read: Former Rockstar dev says no more GTA 6 trailers needed before release
Daily Mirror
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
BBC's forgotten 'masterpiece' series with Hollywood A-lister and Walking Dead star now free to watch
The political thriller was a binge-worthy hit Viewers are urged to rediscover a neglected BBC series that's now completely free to stream online. This six-part, addictive show debuted prior to the era of streaming services, premiering on the BBC back in 2003. The political thriller begins with the death of an MP's assistant and the theft of a briefcase, which prompts the bereaved politician to enlist the help of his former campaign strategist and a reporter pal to unravel the murky deaths, reports Surrey Live. From the get-go, audiences were strapped in for a wild ride as the programme has maintained an impressive 8.3/10 rating on IMDb. The drama features an impressive lineup including big screen star James McAvoy, David Morrissey from The Walking Dead, Bill Nighy known for Love Actually, Kelly MacDonald of Trainspotting and Boardwalk Empire fame, John Simm who starred in Life on Mars and Doctor Who, and Philip Glenister, also of Life on Mars renown. Additionally, there were cameos from a pre-Game of Thrones Rory McCann (known better as The Hound), Polly Walker from Bridgerton, Benedict Wong of Marvel cinematic fame, and Tom Burke, who would later headline the detective series Strike. State of Play made such a splash that it sparked a Hollywood adaptation in 2009 featuring Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Dame Helen Mirren, and Rachel McAdams, though many argue that the film doesn't hold a candle to the original series. On IMDb, fans have lauded the series, with one user commenting: "This BBC political thriller mini-series is far superior to the American remake. "If you like newsroom dramas, and films involving investigative journalism then you'll love this." One ecstatic reviewer gave a 10/10 score, sharing: "What makes a good political thriller? Some things are obvious. Firstly, strong believable characters. Secondly, a fast-paced, complex, dazzling plot. "But the plot must resolve into something comprehensible - there may appear to be one hundred mysteries, but beneath the smoke and mirrors, there must be one story. "Anyone can write an infinite collection of coincidences and conspiracies - but a strong story makes simple sense in the end." Another thrilled viewer exclaimed: "What a trip watching this masterpiece. "It's a fast moving intelligent thriller that had me glued to the couch... more addictive than Crack!". "The acting is convincing, the plot is thick, the script is delicious and the characters are vivid." You can now catch State of Play streaming at no cost whatsoever on the spanking new platform U, which also boasts a reboot of Bergerac, Louis Theroux's L.A. Stories, the stylish Mad Men, crime drama Annika, as well as vintage episodes of EastEnders, The Shield, and Holby City. This service provides your gateway to UKTV's no-cost channels like UandDave, UandDrama, UandW, and UandYesterday. Boot up U online by heading over to sign up without spending a penny, and you're set to bask in thousands of hours of gratis telly. While U doesn't charge a fee, it does feature ads throughout its content.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
ESPN wants kids to enjoy playing sports again and in investing $5 million to push effort
Over the past decade — and especially since the COVID-19 pandemic — participation in organized youth sports has been steadily declining. Experts cite numerous reasons for this trend — the most prevalent being things like lack of access to facilities or programs, onerous costs, time constraints and the pressure to win and/or excel, among others. The outlet that bills itself as the network that serves sports fans "Anytime. Anywhere," ESPN, is determined to do something about this unfortunate trend. Last month, the media giant announced that, in collaboration with NBA superstar Steph Curry and wife Ayesha Curry's Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, it was spending $5 million on a year-long initiative called 'Take Back Sports' — with the stated goal of getting more kids to play sports and, even more importantly, have fun while doing so. The announcement was made at the Aspen Institute's Project Play Summit — where ESPN serves on the '63X30' committee. The committee's goal is to have 63% of kids playing sports by 2030 — a rather ambitious goal based on recent statistics. According to data from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association and the Aspen Institute's 'State of Play 2024' report, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 played sports on a regular basis in 2023. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that, in 2022, only 33% of children living in poverty participated in youth sports. And the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the percentage of high school youth playing on at least one sports team dropped from 57% in 2019 to a 21st-century low of 49% in 2021. 'It's time to take back youth sports from a system that has prioritized profit over well-being,' said Kevin Martinez, Vice President of Corporate Citizenship at ESPN. 'Travel leagues have overtaken recreational leagues, specialization has replaced multisport play, and winning has come at the expense of fun. We need to shift the focus back to what matters — making sports accessible, enjoyable and rewarding for all kids. With ESPN's deep sports expertise and unwavering commitment to community impact, we are uniquely positioned to help drive this change to elevate the conversation, invest in meaningful solutions and unite stakeholders to reimagine youth sports for the next generation.' Martinez explained that the $5 million investment ESPN is making will target the following areas: 1. Community recreational leagues, where kids of all skill levels and backgrounds will have a place to play. 2. Quality training for coaches so they can develop the skills critical for helping make sports enjoyable for kids. To this end, ESPN is teaming up with Positive Coaching Alliance and the National Recreation and Park Association as part of the 'Million Coaches Challenge' to provide training to coaches throughout the country. 3. Encouragement of multisport play in an effort to prevent injuries and burnout. By playing multiple sports, kids will develop more rounded skills and become better all-around athletes. develop into stronger athletes. Among the multisport programs that ESPN is investing in are the Boys & Girls Clubs of America ALL STARS program, as well as 2-4-1 Sports. 4. Promoting fun in sports, which is the most critical component for getting kids to participate in sports and stay with them. According to a study by the National Institute of Health, children cite 'fun' as the primary reason for participation in organized sports — and that its absence is the No. 1 reason while they'll stop participating in a sport. Megan Buning, a teaching specialist at Florida State University in the Interdisciplinary Center for Athletic Coaching and a former All-American softball pitcher at the University of South Carolina, specializes in the crossover of sports and classroom concepts, and strategies to improve coaching and teaching practices. She's also a wife, mother and youth sports coach. While she believes strongly in the overall benefits of youth sports, she's also seen firsthand what happens when they go awry. 'Unfortunately, I see young athletes burning out because they feel pressure to constantly train or play,' said Buning. 'Sometimes this pressure is self-created, and other times the pressure is created by parents and/or coaches. If our youth are not allowed to rest, take a break from the sport, or to explore other activities, then they are more likely to quit the sport.' When young athletes — no matter their ability level — quit playing sports, Buning believes they lose out on an array of valuable life lessons. 'Athletes learn from a young age how to work toward a common goal and work through failure,' she explained. 'Athletes usually fail more often than they succeed in sports, and each time they fail and try again, they strengthen their ability to be resilient. Another benefit to youth sports participation is athletes learn discipline and develop a work ethic. Any amount of practice requires time management, practicing when you don't feel like it and doing the same things repeatedly. All of this teaches a work ethic and discipline that will benefit them later in life.' Buning lauds ESPN's commitment to helping increase youth sports participation and stressed that, beyond the corporation's efforts, parents play a critical role in ensuring that their kids' experiences are ones they'll remember fondly. 'For parents, one of the best ways to support their young athletes is to work on productive pre- and post-game discussions,' she noted. 'Parents can completely change how youth athletes respond and handle emotions with how they speak and respond to performances. Supportive, positive and encouraging conversations can be a huge factor in making sure they continue participating in youth sports.' This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: ESPN Take Back Sports campaign to promote fun in youth sports
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pacers award $100,000 grant for new court at Herz-Rose Park
The Indiana Pacers Foundation, through its State of Play initiative, has awarded Terre Haute's Herz-Rose Park a $100,000 grant to renovate its community basketball court. The park is the second State of Play grant recipient since the foundation launched the program late last year. Advertisement Herz-Rose Park_Basketball This photo shows the current conditions of the basketball court. The initiative is part of the Pacers Foundation's decade-long, multimillion dollar investment to transform community courts and help improve the mental and physical health of children across Indiana. 'This investment in Terre Haute is part of our commitment to community building throughout the state,' Pacers Foundation Chair Rachel Simon said. Located in the Ryves neighborhood at 1515 Locust Street, the Herz-Rose Park is undergoing a significant renovation and redesign including a new playground area, splash pad and community center. Advertisement However, Terre Haute Mayor Brandon Sakbun said without the investment from the Pacers Foundation, the city could not complete the planned basketball court renovation project. 'We're grateful to the Pacers Foundation for this generous investment,' Sakbun said. 'This project will enhance our community's recreational facilities and provide a better space for residents to stay active and engage in sports.' The city will work alongside the Pacers Foundation and Pacers Sports & Entertainment to design a court that matches the character of the neighborhood and community. Groundbreaking will be announced and completion is estimated for fall of this year. City parks and recreation will work alongside the Terre Haute Boys & Girls Club on community programming for the court. Advertisement 'Herz-Rose Park, located near Benjamin Franklin Elementary School and Ryves Youth Center, is set to become a vibrant destination park for the community. Just a short drive from downtown Terre Haute and the Terre Haute Boys and Girls Club, the court will offer a great balance of structured programs and ample open play for everyone to enjoy,' said Kilie Smith, assistant superintendent of Terre Haute parks and recreation. This is the second major initiative the Pacers Foundation has rolled out in Terre Haute in less than a year. The foundation previously launched Drive & Dish, a program to help address local food insecurity by providing nutritious food and fresh produce to families in need, in collaboration with Catholic Charities and Gleaners Food Bank.
