Category: Viral

The tabletop industry has exploded in recent years, and life in quarantine has made games more popular than ever. But the competition to get to market is as fierce as ever, and the Gamemaster documentary out next week shows just how much work it takes to make it big in a crowded industry.

“We’re in the middle of a tabletop renaissance,” a narrator says in the trailer. “It’s a $3 billion industry and every year it grows.

The documentary highlights designers trying to make it big in the industry and also talks to those behind some of the biggest games in the table top industry, including Settlers of Catan, a game that’s spawned a number of variations and digital versions while selling millions of copies all over the world. One of those is Exploding Kittens, a card game from The Oatmeal creator Matt Inman and designer Elan Lee. Launched on Kickstarter, the game was a huge success and has sparked expansions, spinoffs and toy components to make it an industry mainstay.

In this exclusive clip from the documentary, Lee explains one of the many ways they’ve tried to make Exploding Kittens stand out in a very crowded game industry: giant versions of cards that force players to use a bit of teamwork to play at conferences and conventions.

The tactic is effective because it draws big crowds watching people navigate the super-sized cards while serving as a huge advertisement for the game’s colorful illustrations and quick gameplay. In an industry where those conventions are essential for spreading word of mouth about games, getting that kind of attention can be the difference between a quiet launch and tabletop super stardom.

The documentary is a blend of exploring lesser-known designers and their quest to make their games as well as taking lessons from successful designers who have made many of the titles likely to be in your game collection. It’s a fascinating look at an industry often overlooked by some but one that, like its digital gaming counterpart, continues to grow

Gamemasters hits video on demand on July 7.

The Indiana Pacers will not have the services of their top star when they head to Orlando for the NBA’s upcoming bubble league. Victor Oladipo spoke to Shams Charania of The Athletic and said that while he wants to take the floor when the league resumes following its COVID-19 hiatus, he does not want to risk suffering some sort of setback with his surgically-repaired quad.

“I really want to play, and as a competitor and teammate this is tearing me apart,” Oladipo said. “I feel like I’m at a great place in my rehab and getting closer and closer to 100 percent. With all the variables, from how I have to build my 5-on-5 workload back up, to the increased risk of a soft tissue injury which could delay my rehab, and the unknown exact set up of the bubble, I just can’t get my mind to being fully comfortable in playing. I have to be smart and this decision hasn’t been easy, but I truly believe continuing on the course I’m on and getting fully healthy for the 2020-21 season is the right decision for me.”

Oladipo suffered the quad injury in early 2019 and missed a year worth of basketball as he recovered. While he came back on January 29, Indiana made it a point to take things slowly with its All-Star guard, and as a result, Oladipo never quite looked like himself as he was working off the rust. In 13 games this year, Oladipo averaged 13.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and three assists in 25.9 minutes per game while connecting on 39.1 percent of his attempts from the field and 30.4 percent of his threes.

Previously, Oladipo said that he wanted to test out his quad before making his decision on playing in Orlando. The Pacers currently sit at 39-26 this year, putting them in a tie for fifth place in the Eastern Conference with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Last month, there were rumblings that Gucci Mane was growing dissatisfied with his label, Atlantic Records. Those rumblings were started by Mane himself, as he referred to Atlantic as “polite racist” and asked his followers if he should “go independent.” However, that situation seems to have been resolved, as he tweeted an apology earlier this week, tweeting, “I’m not going independent but so respect those who go that route I apologize for my rude harsh language lately I’m a do better #1017/Atlantic.”

Now his relationship with Atlantic has taken on a new dimension: The rapper has his own label now, The New 1017, in partnership with Atlantic. The first artist signed was Foogiano, followed by Pooh Shiesty, Big Scarr, and So Icy Girlz (K Shiday and Enchanting).

This news arrives alongside Gucci Mane Presents: So Icy Summer, which serves as a celebration of the new label. Mane leads the first twelve tracks, and the aforementioned New 1017 artists feature throughout the project, as do Future,, Young Thug, Lil Baby, 21 Savage, Young Nudy, Key Glock, Ola Runt, Moneybagg Yo, and Big30.

Gucci Mane Presents: So Icy Summer is out now via The New 1017/Atlantic Records.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

One of Sony’s most unique console exclusives is headed for a surprise PC release in August. Guerrilla Games announced on Friday that Horizon Zero Dawn will arrive on both Steam and the Epic Games Store on August 7, removing the PS4 exclusive title just months before the console’s successor is expected to drop in late 2020.

The 2017 release will come with a few new bells and whistles when it drops in August. Most of them come on the graphical side with multiple ways to improve resolution, including an option for superwide resolutions. These graphic updates will only whet the appetite of those who wanted to play Horizon, but were unwilling to play it for the Playstation 4.

On top of the graphical updates, this PC edition will also carry The Frozen Wilds DLC as well, giving PC gamers the full Aloy experience. An experience that if you haven’t experienced yet, you absolutely should.

Rumors started flying in January about a potential PC port of Horizon Zero Dawn, but until today’s announcement nothing was substantiated. Also, Horizon isn’t the only PS4 exclusive to head to PC as Death Stranding will be out on PC later this month. With this release, it’s fair to wonder if the PS5 will see a similar re-release with updated graphics. A new title in the series, Horizon: Forbidden West, is reportedly slated for a release in 2021 and there are few better ways to stoke excitement than re-releasing this game for all to enjoy.

The NBA’s bubble league in Orlando faces a number of questions that stem from the fact that it is occurring amid a global pandemic, something that is magnified by the fact that Florida has been one of the states hit hardest in recent days and weeks. But beyond that, the United States is in the midst of frequent calls for social reform following the death of George Floyd, a Minnesota man who was killed by a police officer earlier this year.

In the aftermath, untold numbers of individuals have taken to the streets worldwide in an effort to spur widespread change in the face of systemic inequality that disproportionately targets individuals of color. A number of NBA players have reportedly raised this as a concern, with the belief being that basketball coming back would take away from the attention that is currently on this moment.

The NBA’s response to this has included promising to “drive direct action and create meaningful and generational change” through off-court initiatives that spark societal change. There have also been examples of things the league will do in Orlando to show solidarity with this movement, like a report that indicated players can have social justice-inspired messages across the backs of their uniforms where their nameplates would be. On Friday, we got the entire approved list of slogans that players can use, as approved by the NBA and the NBPA.

Via Marc Spears:

The list of the approved suggested social messages, per the source, for the back of the NBA jerseys: Black Lives Matter; Say Their Names; Vote; I Can’t Breathe; Justice; Peace; Equality; Freedom; Enough; Power to the People; Justice Now; Say Her Name; Sí Se Puede (Yes We Can); Liberation; See Us; Hear Us; Respect Us; Love Us; Listen; Listen to Us; Stand Up; Ally; Anti-Racist; I Am A Man; Speak Up; How Many More; Group Economics; Education Reform; and Mentor.

Spears had previously reported that, in an effort to be sensitive towards those who have lost a loved one, players would not be allowed to display the names of those that “died in police custody or in racially motivated incidents.”

Next week marks two months since Tekashi 69 made his return to music, social media antics, trolling, and all things that come with the package of being the outspoken rapper that he is. Since his return, Tekashi has debut two new singles, “Gooba” and “Trollz,” and landed a No. 1 spot on the Billboard singles chart thanks to the latter Nicki Minaj-featuring single. He also stirred up a bit of controversy following accusation of chart manipulation against Billboard as well as a “Locked Up” remix with Akon that social media was not too happy about.

With all that in the past, Tekashi pushes full-steam ahead with his latest release. Returning to Latin music for the first time since his sophomore album, Tekashi debuts his latest release, “Yaya.” He previewed the single earlier this week directly from his home studio. On the song, Tekashi shows off his Spanish skills as he speaks it for the majority of the song. Tekashi’s last dive into the Spanish language came on “Bebe,” from his sophomore album, Dummy Boy.

The new single arrives after Tekashi proudly announced he was just a month away from ending his house arrest sentence. “I have about 34 more days til house arrest is over, about 34 more days and the ankle monitor comes off and the king of New York is back on the street,” he said earlier this week.

Watch the “Yaya” video above.

If nothing below suits your sensibilities, check out our guide to What You Should Watch On Streaming Right Now.

Hamilton (Disney+, Friday) — After a bumped-up release date, the cinematic version of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s original Broadway production (which nearly broke the Tony Award record and fetched a Pulitzer Prize, a Grammy, and an Olivier Award as well) will be streamable in your living room for Independence Day weekend. The movie version promises to bring “live capture” to viewers in an artistic way, which will harness the power of streaming in an intimate manner, for something that Hamilton fans have never experienced. Read our interview of Okieriete Onaodowan, the longest-tenured original cast member, and enjoy the new behind-the-scenes documentary after the show.

I Am Not Your Negro (Hulu documentary, Friday) — This James Baldwin doc (narrated by Samuel L. Jackson) is based upon his unfinished manuscript, Remember This House, and is based upon his equality-seeking experiences as well as those from civil rights leaders including Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.

Warrior Nun (Netflix series, Thursday) — This manga-comic-book adaptation does indeed contain warrior-ing and nunn-ing, but it’s much more than that, including a superhero origin story, a coming-of-age tale, and an often-schlocky creation that arrives with certain expectations from the title itself. The action might take a few breaks, but when it’s on, expect some serious butt kicking of demons.

Hanna: Season 2 (Amazon Prime series, Thursday) — The gritty TV adaptation of Joe Wright’s 2011 film continues after saying goodbye to Joel Kinnaman’s Erik (RIP). Now, the teen assassin has a foe in Utrax’s new leader, John Carmichael, who’s portrayed by Dermot Mulroney. Nothing like a dose of Dermot to antagonize things up, and Mireille Enos will also return as her CIA operative character.

Unsolved Mysteries (Netflix series, Wednesday) — This revival should satisfy fans of the original and newcomers alike. Yes, there are some key differences between the show that ran for 14 years, but it feels fresh while still maintaining familiarity. That is to say, these cases will still thrill and chill and captivate the true crime-buff audience, so enjoy this six-episode batch with more to come.

The Whistlers (42 Km Film on Hulu, Thursday) — Romanian New Wave director Corneliu Porumboiu’s 2019 festival-circuit film has a heist for you. The story involves a Romanian cop. who just happens to be a whistleblower, learning a coded whistling language (for real) to help mobsters escape from prison and steal millions of euros.

Thiago Ventura: POKAS (Netflix special, Thursday) — Another stand-up comedy special’s here to bridge the gap between the streaming giant’s regular Tuesday comedy infusions. Thiago Ventura will tell anecdotes about growing up in a poor Brazilian community while digging into social issues and taking a clear stance of actions mattering much more than words.

Say I Do (Netflix series, Wednesday) — Just what we need, another reality romance show, right? This one revolves around couples who have always planned on getting married but just never got around to tying that knot. Interior Designer Jeremiah Brent, Fashion Designer Thai Nguyen, and Chef Gabriele Bertaccini are all about creating dream weddings, and hopefully, we’ll see some Bride- and Groom-zillas.

Here’s the rest of this weekend’s notable programming:

Black Monday (Sunday, Showtime 8:00 p.m.) — Blair greets election night with a risky proposition, and it’s double-date time for Mo and Dawn.

Perry Mason (Sunday, HBO 9:00 p.m.) — Mason and Strickland are working to gain some unauthorized access to physical evidence at the city morgue while the DA uses a new development to gain favor with the public.

The Chi (Sunday, Showtime 9:00 p.m.) — Emmett’s working on getting his new business of the ground, so he and Tiff move in with Jada.

Snowpiercer (Sunday, TNT 9:00 p.m.) — The time for revolution has arrived, so Melanie can say goodbye to power while Layton leads an armed rebellion.

I’ll Be Gone In The Dark (Sunday, HBO 10:00 p.m.) — This true-crime docuseries is revolutionary, much like the Michelle McNamara book that fueled it. This is a duel-edged story of obsession and a “portrait of an artist” — one who pursued justice for dozens of survivors and victims’ families, decades after law enforcement let the Golden State Killer case go cold. It’s about those survivors, and it’s about the citizen investigators, including Michelle. She was a wife (to Patton Oswalt), a mother, a friend, and, yes, an obsessive, who was instrumental in solving this case, but not before it consumed her as well.

NOS4A2 (Sunday, AMC & BBC America 10:00 p.m.) — Charlie Manx is looking for a favor from an old friend while Millie’s revisiting the past, and Vic’s hopping on the shorter way while leaving Lou and Wayne to confront a threat on their own.

Outcry (Sunday, Showtime 10:00 p.m.) — This five-part documentary launches to examine the case of high school football star Greg Kelley’s controversial conviction and sentencing for child molestation, along with the subsequent quest for truth and justice.

Desus & Mero (Sunday, Showtime 11:00 p.m.) — The illustrious guest will be New York educator and politician Jamaal Bowman.

Fortnite has leaned into comic book culture a number of times over the years. Whether it’s been the heavy influence that Deadpool has played on a number of facets of the game, or the time that Thanos’ Infinity Gauntlet was available as a weapon that gamers could use, or a handful of other examples, Fortnite has leaned into the fact that the Marvel and D.C. universes have gigantic followings with some frequency.

The latest example of this came on Thursday, when Fortnite released a trailer for its newest comic-inspired instillation into its gigantic corner of the video game-playing world: Captain America. The video announced that gamers will have the opportunity to toss on the red, white, and blue, pick up his shield, and play as Steve Rogers.

According to The Verge, picking up this skin will run gamers 2,000 V-bucks, and in addition to getting to toss on Captain America’s threads, his shield with serve as a pickaxe, meaning gamers can use it to farm materials or, if you are like me and never seem to pick up a weapon in time when you land on the same house as someone else in Pleasant Park, as a weapon. Beyond the skin, The Verge noted that gamers can drop 300 V-bucks on a Captain America fireworks emote as well.

In recent years, a brighter light has been shined on the idea that women in rap aren’t treated the same way men are. In some ways, though, things have started to turn around. Just halfway through 2019, for example, there were more female rappers on the Hot 100 chart than there were in any other year of the decade. That same year, Cardi B became the first solo female rapper to win the Grammy for Best Rap Album, with Invasion Of Privacy picking up the honor.

As far as Janelle Monáe is concerned, though, there is still progress to be made. She let her thoughts be known about the topic today, when she said she “really only ever [wants to] hear women rapping” and offered an explanation for that statement.

Monae tweeted, “I really only ever wanna hear women rapping. The amount of misogyny from most of men in rap and music is infuriating. We need to abolish that sh*t too.” She then retweeted a response to her tweet, which reads, “I feel the same. Even the ‘woke’ male rappers have a lot of misogynistic lyrics.” Monáe continued, “Women (black women inparticular) have been betrayed by the majority of men for far too long. The systems that enable Patriarchy and abusers of power are burning. Either bring gasoline or burn with them.” She then added, “Y’all can’t wait to call women every b*tch, hoe, discuss violent acts against women, etc for clout in rap, rock, and through out music history. Misogny has NEVER been okay yet it has become normalized. Women didn’t create misogny, y’all did. SO YOU DO THE WORK to ABOLISH IT.”

Monáe has recently voiced her opinions on other pertinent goings-on as well, like when she and other artists spoke out against the Buffalo police officers who shoved an elderly man to the ground.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

There is no such thing as a normal release or announcement of something new anymore. Deviating from traditional project rollouts is a good way to get eyes on it, and that might be what Kid Cudi has done today. Last night, he simply tweeted the date for next Friday, writing, “7/10/2020.”

This sort of cryptic message is usually interpreted to mean that whoever tweeted it has something coming on that date, so next Friday could very well bring something new from Cudi. But what could it be? There are a few possibilities for what that day could bring.

Last week, Cudi teased a new animated Kids See Ghosts show with Kanye West, so perhaps that will drop next week. He’s also considered starting a podcast, so maybe the first installment of that is on the way. He could also be releasing new music to follow up his recent No. 1 song with Travis Scott, “The Scotts.” Cudi recently called on Eminem for some sort of “help,” so optimistically, maybe they have something in the works.

Whatever the case may be, Cudi doesn’t tend to put a ton of misses out into the world, so whatever might be coming on Friday, it’s probably worth looking forward to.