Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is ready to kick off its multi-weekend beta testing and players can now get a closer look at all of the available modes and the rewards that they can earn during the test period.

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 Beta Modes

For the first Modern Warfare 4 early access beta weekend, access begins at 11:00 AM PT, Friday August 21 for players on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, PlayStation 5, Steam, and Battle.net. The Early Access Beta is scheduled to end at 10:00 AM PT on Tuesday, August 25.

For weekend two, the Open Beta begins at 10:00 AM PT, Friday August 28 for players on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, PlayStation 5, Steam, Battle.net, and Nintendo Switch 2. The Open Beta is scheduled to end at 10:00 AM PT on Tuesday, September 1.

Battle across six Core 6v6 maps throughout the Beta, spanning globally diverse environments from snow-covered New York rooftops and a dense South Korean shopping district to a covert armory on the outskirts of a French rail terminal and a Mexican lithium refinery. Deploy across Rooftops, Silkworm, Transit 213, Cachette, Lotus, and Lithium.

Across the Beta, players will gain have access to 22 weapons, including firepower available through Multiplayer progression, default loadouts, and Campaign.

Additionally, the NEXT showcase offered a closer look at the upcoming game’s full multiplayer lineup, including the new Inflation mode, with Hijack, Arms Deal, and Frontline also joining the launch lineup. Search and Destroy is confirmed for the Beta.

• Hijack (6v6, available during the Beta): Fight for control of a Data Spike, carrying, throwing, or passing it between teammates as you advance toward the enemy Comm Station. Plant the Spike to score points over time and earn a bonus if it detonates, while defenders counterattack to defuse it before it can score.
• Arms Deal (5v5): Based on Search and Destroy, earn in-match cash through kills and objective play to purchase a limited selection of weapons and equipment each round. It’’s single-life and high stakes: get eliminated and you lose your entire loadout.
• Frontline (6v6): Push the line in this team-based respawn mode where players always deploy from their team’’s base. Eliminate enemies to score, earning more points for taking them down outside their base, encouraging teams to push forward while defending their own.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta Rewards

Players who make progress through the Beta will level up and unlock rewards during the experience:

• During Weekend One, the first five of the Rewards, up to “Dread Tiger” Operator Skin for Reece, can be unlocked, as the maximum Player Level you can progress to is Level 20.
• During Weekend Two, all eight of the Rewards, up to and including the “Beta Forged” Weapon Blueprint for the Han 86 Assault Rifle, can be unlocked. The maximum Player Level you can progress to is increased to Level 30.
• Earn additional Black Ops 7 Battle Pass Rewards simply for playing the Early Access Modern Warfare 4 Beta.

Be sure to check back for more news and updates as the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 official release date approaches.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 releases on October 23, 2026 for PC, Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox Series consoles.

The post Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Details All Beta Modes and Rewards appeared first on VICE.

Epic Games has released 11 Gold Sprites early in Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4. Players can now find the new variants across the battle royale map. Here is a complete list of all the Fortnite Override Gold Sprites available now.

11 Gold Sprites Added to Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4

The 11 Gold Sprites are now live in Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4. Epic Games released the rare variants early. The new sprites were originally meant to make their debut on August 22, but the battle royale creators decided to release them today instead.

That means there are now a total of 33 Sprites that players can collect in Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4. For your convenience, here is a complete list of every Gold Sprite currently available in the game:

Sprite	Rarity
Gold 8-Bit Sprite	Rare
Gold Bush Sprite	Rare
Gold Adventure Sprite	Rare
Gold Jonesy Sprite	Rare
Gold Shadow Sprite	Epic
Gold Sonic Sprite	Epic
Gold Tails Sprite	Epic
Gold Killswitch Sprite	Epic
Gold Jackrabbit Sprite	Legendary
Gold Klombo Sprite	Mythic
Gold Crown Sprite	Mythic

What Is the Rarest Gold Sprite in Fortnite?

The rarest Gold Sprites in Chapter 7 Season 4 are currently the Gold Klombo Sprite and Gold Crown Sprite, as both variants have a Mythic rarity. The Gold Jackrabbit Sprite is the next rarest variant with a Legendary rarity.

With the Gold variants now available early, players can begin searching for all 11 across the Fortnite Override map. Epic Games could also add more Gold Sprites throughout Chapter 7 Season 4, so we will update this list if any additional variants are released.

When Is Fortnite Golden Hours?

Epic Games is also hosting Fortnite Golden Hours on Saturday, August 22, 2026. The weekend Power Hour will begin at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET and feature increased spawn rates for Gold Sprites.

Although Epic Games released the Fortnite Gold Sprites early today, their spawn rates are not currently boosted. If you want an easier time collecting all 11 variants, your best bet is to wait for Golden Hours tomorrow morning.

The post Fortnite Gold Sprites Are Now Live in Chapter 7 Season 4 – Complete List appeared first on VICE.

Following several apparent video leaks of Grand Theft Auto VI, Take-Two Interactive has subpoenaed Microsoft and Discord over content that "infringes copyrights" held for the game, Kotaku reports. In the subpoenas, filed on Thursday, Take-Two says copyrighted material includes "audiovisual content, artwork, images, dialogue, or other creative elements" and it is looking to identify "alleged infringers at issue." The subpoenas give Microsoft and Discord until September 4th to produce the requested information.

The leaked clips have been watermarked by a person or group going by "CyberLeek," and they have shown what appears to be GTA VI prot …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Game studio Embark has teamed up with Subway to promote its extraction shooter ARC Raiders. Purchasing a meal will earn players a code for a new skin, complete with a removable (unbranded) Subway sandwich, or possibly a wrap, tethered to the front and curiously categorized as "tech." — Read the rest

The post ARC Raiders' first promotional tie-in is with… Subway appeared first on Boing Boing.

A new datamine has revealed 6 upcoming Fortnite Sprites that will be added during Chapter 7 Season 4. Leakers have also discovered 5 new Sprite variants, including one seemingly connected to the Fortnitemares 2026 update in October.

New Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4 Sprites Leaked

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4 has only been live for 24 hours, and dataminers have already uncovered new Sprites that are planned for future updates. According to the leak, 6 new Fortnite Sprites will be coming to Fortnite Override.

The leaked lineup includes a Meowscles Sprite and Squibbly Sprite. However, it should be pointed out that we don’t currently have release dates for any of them. Plans can also change before the Sprites officially appear in the game.

For your convenience, here is the complete list of upcoming Sprites leaked for Fortnite Override:

• Meowscles Sprite
• BodySlam Sprite (collab)
• Cube Sprite
• Headshot Sprite and Gold Headshot Sprite
• Squibbly Sprite (all variants)
• Overshield Sprite (all variants)

Interestingly, it appears the BodySlam Sprite is part of a collaboration crossover. That means it will likely be a one-off Mythic Sprite, similar to the Ironmouse Sprite or John Wick Sprite from Chapter 7 Season 3. The only question left is: Who is the Sprite based on? Personally, I’m hoping for a John Cena Sprite. You know that would be funny.

All New Fortnite Sprite Variants Leaked for Chapter 7 Season 4

Dataminers have also revealed 5 new Sprite variants that will reportedly be released during Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4. So far, Fortnite Override has only introduced the new Cheat Master Sprite variant. The Gold Sprite variant arriving on August 22 is a carryover from last season.

Here is a list of all the upcoming Chapter 7 Season 4 Sprite variants that have been leaked:

• Candy
• Holofoil
• Hacker
• Reaper
• TrickTreat

While it hasn’t been confirmed, it’s speculated that the TrickTreat Sprite variant will be connected to the Fortnitemares 2026 update arriving in October. Given that Chapter 7 Season 4 ends on October 31, it will likely be one of the final Sprite variants released during the Override season.

For now, Epic Games has not announced release dates for any of the leaked Sprites or variants. However, with several Chapter 7 Season 4 updates still planned, players should have plenty of new Sprites to collect throughout the remainder of the season.

The post All New Fortnite Sprites and Variants Leaked for Chapter 7 Season 4 appeared first on VICE.

Epic Games has added a new Crown Sprite in Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4, and it’s incredibly difficult to master. Players not only have to earn a Victory Royale to obtain this Mythic Sprite, but they must also continue winning matches to unlock its Cheat Master variant. Here is how to get the Fortnite Crown Sprite and all of its variants.

How to Get the Crown Sprite in Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4

To get the Fortnite Crown Sprite, you need to win a single match in any Battle Royale mode. After earning a Victory Royale, the Mythic Sprite will automatically be added to your Sprite Collection. If you think that sounds pretty simple, I have some bad news for you when it comes to mastering it.

Unlike other Chapter 7 Season Sprites, the Fortnite Crown Sprite only levels up when you win matches. If you earn a Crowned Victory Royale by winning two matches back-to-back, you will automatically take the Sprite from Level 1 to Level 5 Mastered. However, that requires you to win two consecutive matches without dying while having the Crown Sprite equipped. It’s easier said than done.

Here are the steps to unlock the Crown Sprite in Fortnite Override:

• Step 1: Win a single match in any Battle Royale mode, including Zero Build or Build.
• Step 2: The Crown Sprite will automatically be added to your Sprite Collection.

• Step 3: Equip your Crown Sprite and level it up by winning additional matches.
• Step 4: Earn a Crowned Victory Royale by winning two matches back-to-back to master it and unlock the Cheat Master Crown Sprite variant.

How to Get the Gold Crown Sprite in Fortnite

Fortnite Crown Sprite variants are only obtainable by mastering the previous variant. For example, mastering the standard Crown Sprite will automatically unlock the Cheat Master Crown Sprite. Mastering the Cheat Master Crown Sprite will then unlock the Gold Crown Sprite variant.

The Gold Crown Sprite will be added to Fortnite on Saturday, August 22, 2026. It will debut alongside other Gold Sprites as part of the Gold Hours Power Hours event taking place over the weekend.

Here is how to get the Gold Crown Sprite:

• Step 1: Equip the Cheat Master Crown Sprite and win matches to level it up.
• Step 2: Earn a Crowned Victory Royale by winning two matches back-to-back with the Cheat Master Crown Sprite equipped.
• Step 3: Once your Cheat Master Crown Sprite reaches Level 5 Mastered, you will automatically unlock the Gold Crown Sprite variant when it becomes available on August 22.

Unfortunately, this difficult Sprite progression system appears to be a season-long mechanic. That means you will have to keep winning matches and mastering each Crown Sprite variant to unlock any additional versions released throughout Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4. As a result the Crown Sprite will be one of the rarest sprites in Fortnite Override.

The post How to Get Every Fortnite Crown Sprite – Gold and Cheat Master Variants appeared first on VICE.

Dungeons and Dragons just dropped a new Unearthed Arcana update that offers D&D players a dangerous path to power with the Path of Ceremorphosis feat.

D&D Path of CEremorphosis Feats Turns Players Into Mind Flayers

The Dungeons and Dragons team just released the latest Arcana Unleashed playtest materials and there are a ton of interesting options for players to tinker with. The largest portion of the new materials are dedicated to three brand-new Underdark-inspired subclasses, but there is also a very unique new feats path included.

The Path of Ceremorphosis feats are specifically designed to tempt players into gaining increasing levels of power as they are transformed into a mind flayer. Baldur’s Gate 3 fans will definitely notice the clear inspiration this feat draws from Tav’s potential journey to Mind Flayerdom.

One design challenge with feat paths lies in delivering balanced mechanics that satisfy the narrative expectation of the monster. And the mind flayer typically does a lot.

The D&D design team put plenty of iconic abilities into this path—including psionics, Telepathy, the Mind Blast spell (also printed in this UA), and the ability to flay minds. Similar to Baldur’s Gate 3, the team gated these abilities behind decision points along the path to ceremorphosis.

The first decision is at level 8, like the previous paths of villainy. The team added a second decision point at the “Full Ceremorphosis” feat that completes the player transformation: is your Mind Flayer more adept at casting psionic spells or eating and metabolizing brains?

The “Ceremorphosis Variables” table and “Elder Brain Control” sidebar both offer tools for players and Dungeon Masters who wish to explore telling the story of the transformation itself, as well as role playing the relationship between the character and the Elder Brain that seeks to control them.

This path sounds incredibly powerful and like it’s full of inspiration for very interesting role-play inspiration. This path combined with the previous Villainous Options Unearthed Arcana definitely seem to be hinting at a dark book in the near future for Dungeons and Dragons players.

Players who want to test out the new path can visit the Unearthed Arcana Underdark Options and find all the new rules and details for free.

Be sure to check back soon for lots more Dungeons and Dragons news and updates.

Dungeons and Dragons is available now at local game shops and digitally through D&D Beyond, Roll20, and other similar online services.

The post New Baldur’s Gate 3-inspired Dungeons and Dragons Feats Transforms Players Into A Mind Flayer appeared first on VICE.

Riot Games has officially confirmed an end to ongoing development for 2XKO, the League of Legends universe fighting game.

2XKO’s Final COntent Update Arrives In October

2XKO officially launched earlier this year, in January 2026, and expanded the League of Legends universe of characters to another game. The Riot Games fighting title attempted to standout from the competition with the iconic and recognizable League of Legends cast of characters and a focus on 2v2 tag fighting mechanics.

“… When we looked at all the options available (e.g., reducing team size, adjusting our patch schedules, changing our business model), we concluded that finishing the rest of our work-in-progress content and sunsetting active development was the best route forward for players and Rioters.”

Unfortunately, the project has not seen the growth that Riot Games had hoped for and active development is coming to an end for the project. Development on the game will wrap up at the end of 2026.

“Servers will remain on beyond 2026, and 2XKO will be playable on all platforms. Through the rest of 2026, we’ll be introducing content, feature improvements, and two new champions (Lux and Samira), with the intent to deliver our final bug fix patch in December of this year.”

Once 2027 arrives, servers will remain on to support online play for now. Offline play should be totally unaffected. Riot Games has confirmed that it will update the community if these plans change.

Additionally, the team is now unlocking all champions, bundling most cosmetic items, and refunding all money that was spent in 2XKO before August 20. Avatar and player profile items will be unlockable for Credits after patch 1.3.1 arrives in September.

Here is a summary of the changes that players will see rolling out soon:

• The 2XKO Ultimate Bundle launches in patch 1.3.1. It contains all skins, skin chromas, and taunts for every champion up to and including Lux, plus all currently-released finishers.
• For those who want to pick up everything in 2XKO, this bundle packages most cosmetics into a single purchase.
• Avatar items, select base champion chromas, stages, and player profile items will be unlockable for Credits.
• The Credits limit will be uncapped from 12,000.
• Battle Passes, KO Points, Champion Tokens, seasons, and events will be removed.
• Ranked lobbies will be disabled to ensure that we can matchmake within a single pool of players per server.
• Casual lobbies will still be matchmade by skill, so you should still expect to see players around your skill level.
• Private lobbies will be unaffected.
• All champions will be unlocked for all players. Fuses will still be unlockable through tutorials.

More information will be available in the 1.3.1 patch notes.

Be sure to check back soon for more news and updates on what is next for Riot Games.

2XKO is available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series consoles.

The post Riot’s League of Legends Fighting Game Is Coming to an End appeared first on VICE.

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4 features Cheat Codes that unlock free rewards through the game’s Admin Panel. There are also Lobby Hacks that give you Cheat Master Sprite variants. Here is a complete list of all Fortnite Override Cheat Codes discovered so far and the rewards they unlock.

What Is the Admin Panel in Fortnite?

In Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4, you will now see an “Admin Panel” button in the main menu. This is where you can enter Cheat Codes that give you free in-game rewards. If you have the right password, you can enter it to instantly unlock Sprite Dust, XP, cosmetics, Gizmos, or even a rare Fortnite Sprite.

The only problem is that you have to find the Fortnite Cheat Codes first. Epic Games is currently sharing codes through social media posts and promotional events. However, for your convenience, we have gathered all the Cheat Codes currently available in Fortnite Override below.

All Fortnite Cheat Codes and Rewards So Far

Cheat Code	Reward
GottaGoFast	Cheat Master Sonic Sprite
IWannaFlyHigh	Cheat Master Tails Sprite
DontBlockMe	Tetris transformation (turns you into a Tetris Block)
LetsBlockAndRoll	Tetris transformation (turns you into a Tetris Block)
TakeYourHeart	2 Extraction Accelerator Gizmos
SurviveTheNight	2 Cheat Code Locator Gizmos
PerfectOrder	4 Spicy Taco Gizmos
8BitBlast	Cheat Master 8-Bit Sprite
O2Override	Llama Supply and 5 Portable Extractors
Born2Play	Cheat Master Adventure Sprite
Play4All	Cheat Master Jonesy Sprite
Magilume	2,000 Sprite Dust
BeMoreAlien	Override Ready Loading Screen
Chispambo	2,000 Sprite Dust
Perlimpinpin	2,000 Sprite Dust
ReachYourImpossible	Block Party Loading Screen
Abgestaubt	2,000 Sprite Dust
FindItChat	2 Cheat Code Locators
OverrideXP	40,000 XP
GatherAndCraft	Cheat Master Bush Sprite (complete the Story Quest first)
H0p0nVC	2,000 Sprite Dust

All Sprite Codes in Fortnite override

At the time of writing, there are six Sprite Codes in Fortnite that unlock a new Cheat Master variant. Although we already listed them in the table above, we have created a separate list below to make it easier for players who only want the Sprite Codes.

Cheat Code	Cheat Master Sprite
GottaGoFast	Cheat Master Sonic Sprite
IWannaFlyHigh	Cheat Master Tails Sprite
8BitBlast	Cheat Master 8-Bit Sprite
Born2Play	Cheat Master Adventure Sprite
Play4All	Cheat Master Jonesy Sprite
GatherAndCraft	Cheat Master Bush Sprite (complete the Story Quest first)

However, it should be noted that the code for the Cheat Master Bush Sprite variant will only work after you have completed the in-game Story Questline. The Admin Panel will reject the code unless you finish this quest first.

Epic Games will likely release additional Fortnite Cheat Codes throughout Chapter 7 Season 4. We will continue updating this guide whenever new Lobby Hacks, Sprite Codes, or free Admin Panel rewards are discovered.

The post All Fortnite Cheat Codes and Lobby Hacks in Chapter 7 Season 4 appeared first on VICE.

After collaborating with 8BitDo on a gamepad two years ago, Genki launched the first controller the company designed from the ground up today. With an unorthodox design that positions its thumbsticks and buttons above a large 2.9-inch LCD screen, the Manta looks a lot chunkier than competing controllers. But what really sets it apart is a deeper focus on customizability with numerous settings that can be adjusted using the controller's screen plus buttons and thumbsticks that can be tailored to each player's preferences.

The Genki Manta is launching today through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. The earliest backers can preorder the con …

Read the full story at The Verge.

The latest Unearthed Arcana has arrived and offers Dungeons and Dragons players three brand-new subclasses to experiment with.

UnderDark Options Introduces Three New D&D Subclasses

Arcana Unleashed is all set to drop a ton of new content on the Dungeons and Dragons community when it releases in early September, but players who want to brew a new character right now don’t need to wait any longer.

The latest Dungeons and Dragons Unearthed Arcana playtest content has arrived a few weeks ahead of Arcana Unleashed and the Underdark-themed player options are full of exciting new opportunities.

The biggest highlight of the new materials are the three new subclasses for players to test out:

• Path of Unlight Barbarian
• House Agent Rogue
• Imaskarcanist Wizards

Here is a preview of what each subclass is all about, but players can dive into the full Unearthed Arcana materials to read all the specific rules:

Path of Unlight
Unlight is a mysterious and powerful form of magic originating in the lowest depths of the Underdark, among the people of Deep Imaskar. Unlight does not merely banish darkness from the Underdark; it infects those exposed to it, transforming them and making them both physically strong and supernaturally aggressive. In other words, Unlight exposure is a perfect match for the Barbarian class.

A Barbarian on this path has been infected by Unlight, which is associated with Radiant damage. When the Barbarian rages, Unlight bursts from their body, burning enemies and illuminating the darkness. More importantly, the Barbarian can infect enemies with Unlight, causing them to continuously burn. In D&D 5.5, a Barbarian’s Rage can also have uses outside of combat, and the Path of Unlight reflects that by granting a raging Barbarian Blindsight and Expertise in Perception, as they become supernaturally aware of everything illuminated by the Unlight emitted by the Barbarian’s own body.

House Agent (Rogue)
House Agents work as spies for one of the powerful drow houses of Menzoberranzan, where deception and intrigue are so commonplace as to be expected. These Rogues excel at social infiltration by charming their way into a place, extracting information from a fool with a loose tongue, and backstabbing enemies on the way out. Their house sponsor also gives them a bit of magic to assist them on these missions.

Rogues are known for leveraging their reliable skillsets. This Rogue’s skillset is primarily social. Its subclass features incentivize building relationships with NPCs and either manipulating or backstabbing them.

Many of the subclass’s abilities loop through the Attitude and Influence systems: you gain Advantage (and therefore Sneak Attack!) on Friendly creatures. You don’t suffer penalties when you try to use the Influence action on Hostile creatures. You can use the Influence action as a Bonus action. This makes the House Agent’s silver tongue an asset both during and outside of combat!

Imaskarcanist
The Imaskarcanist subclass describes Wizards following in the traditions of Deep Imaskar, located in the lowest levels of the Underdark and first described in 2003’s Underdark, a book for D&D’s 3rd edition. In that book, Deep Imaskar is protected by the Great Seal, an enormous magical ward which also illuminates the city and sheds light strong enough to grow food. In the years since, the magic of the Great Seal—now known as Unlight—has split into two competing strands, each taught by one of the Imaskarcana, intelligent artifacts sacred to the people of Deep Imaskar.

The Imaskarcanist is a master of both these strands of magic, using Unlight both to heal and to harm. On one hand, they can bolster allies with the invigorating magic of Unlight, but they can also infect enemies with Unlight’s burning radiance, causing them to explode when killed! But Unlight burns the Wizard’s inner life force, represented in the game by the Wizard expending their own Hit Point Dice to fuel their abilities. Imaskarcanists also retain other secrets of Deep Imaskar, such as a facility with magic items and knowledge they use to create powerful wards like the Great Seal.

All three subclasses sound like they are full of interesting flavor and could be used to make characters for an Underdark-themed campaign. Additionally, the options could easily be used for a campaign in a traditional setting and the characters would just have a background story related to the Underdark.

Be sure to check back soon for lots more news and updates on Dungeons and Dragons.

Dungeons and Dragons is available now at local game shops and digitally through D&D Beyond, Roll20, and other online services.

The post Dungeons and Dragons Reveals Three New Underdark-Themed Subclasses appeared first on VICE.