Hazelight Studios announced that their co-op game, A Way Out, has surpassed nine million copies in sales. The studio celebrated the game’s ongoing success, highlighting its profitability since its 2018 release when it quickly sold one million copies within the first two weeks.

A Way Out offers a different story, set in 1972. Here, you play as two convicts, Vincent and Leo, working together to break out of prison. Each character has their own reasons for escape, and the gameplay emphasizes teamwork and cooperation. You can play A Way Out in split-screen or online co-op with another player, but there’s no matchmaking system.

Co-op Prison Escape A Way Out Reaches 9 Million Players

It Takes Two might be the champion (16 million copies!), but A Way Out is still going strong!
⚡️Over 9 million players have escaped prison together since 2018. Have you tried either Hazelight co-op adventure? #Hazelight #ItTakesTwo #AWayOut pic.twitter.com/c3XOOXCtA4

— Gaming Mitra (@gamingmitra_) June 27, 2024

Hazelight described the development as a rollercoaster ride, adding, “Even so, we never imagined so many people would play our game!”

A Way Out has now sold more than 9 million units! 💥

The development was a wild ride and the game was already a success back when it released. But even then, we never dared to dream of THIS many people playing our game! 😍

With that said, we will continue to look back at… pic.twitter.com/vWrnMPSLKL

— Hazelight Studios (@HazelightGames) June 26, 2024

Hazelight Studios, a Swedish development team headed by film director Josef Fares, developed A Way Out. Many team members had previously contributed to the acclaimed title Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons at Starbreeze Studios. While A Way Out emphasizes cooperative gameplay, it is also regarded as an “emotional adventure.” This is achieved by incorporating cutscenes even during online co-op play, ensuring that both players fully grasp each character’s story.

A Way Out is available on PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One.

Also Read: Dr Disrespect Loses Sponsors After Ban Reason Revealed: NBA 2K and 49ers Cut Ties

Popular streamer Dr Disrespect, renowned for his outrageous persona and online gaming prowess, is experiencing backlash after revealing the reason for his 2020 ban from Twitch.

A rumour sparked online on June 21st, with a former Twitch employee (Cody Conners) tweeting that a streamer’s ban stemmed from inappropriate contact with a minor. This speculation quickly focused on Dr Disrespect, whose permanent Twitch ban in 2020 remained unexplained. Later that night, Dr Disrespect’s co-founder at Midnight Society, Robert Bowling, took the allegation seriously and launched an internal investigation.

After these revelations, companies quickly cut ties with Doc. His game studio, Midnight Society, and Turtle Beach, known for Doc-branded gaming accessories, terminated their partnerships. Initially denying misconduct, Doc admitted on June 25, 2024, to sending inappropriate messages to a minor, resulting in his ban.

THE TWITCH BAN

Hello, I'd like to make a quick statement..

Lets cut the fucking bullshit, as you know there's no filter with me. I've always been up front and real with you guys on anything that I can be up front about, and I'm always willing to accept responsibility… which…

— Dr Disrespect (@DrDisrespect) June 25, 2024

Most recently, the San Francisco 49ers and video game publisher 2K have cut ties with him.

49ers Cut Ties with Dr Disrespect After Controversy

The San Francisco 49ers and Mountain Dew have confirmed they're ending their partnerships with the streamer.
❌Looks like his past collaborations won't be enough to save future deals. #DrDisrespect #Twitch @Dexerto pic.twitter.com/EoOFi1KjAn

— Gaming Mitra (@gamingmitra_) June 27, 2024

Following the severed partnerships, there has been speculation about Doc’s standing with other past collaborators, including Mountain Dew and the San Francisco 49ers.

Digiday, a media and marketing news website, contacted Dr Disrespect’s major sponsors. The San Francisco 49ers confirmed they would no longer be working with him.

“We take these developments seriously and will not be collaborating with him in the future,” they told the publication,” told the company to Digiday.

This decision comes despite past collaborations, including a video from August 2022 where Dr Disrespect threw a football at the team’s camp, and his appearance at the NFL Draft just months before that, where he even announced one of their picks.

Mountain Dew, the company behind a limited-edition cherry flavour featuring Dr Disrespect’s likeness, also confirmed to Digiday that their partnership with the streamer had ended “some time ago.”

NBA 2K24 Drops Dr Disrespect Following Twitch Ban Claims

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After 49ers, the American Video game publisher, 2K has confirmed that they would remove Dr Disrespect from  NBA 2K24 over the coming weeks, as reported by Dixerto.

2K has verified to Dexerto that the streamer’s name, animations, and custom in-game jump shot and dunk technique would be erased. These elements will be replaced by generic ones. This modification will be introduced with the release of the 2K24 Season 9 patch, which will come shortly after the Season 8 update, which is set to ship on June 28, 2024.

Furthermore, 2K has declared that future versions of the game will not have any Dr Disrespect content.

Dr Disrespect is currently on an indefinite break from his YouTube streams, spending extended time with his family. While a return date is unknown, he has assured viewers he will be back eventually.

Also Read: SuperGaming’s Indus Battle Royale Adds TDM Mode and Hits 11 Million Pre-Registrations

Pune-based game developer SuperGaming is revving its upcoming battle royale title, Indus Battle Royale, with a brand new Team Deathmatch (TDM) mode. This exciting addition comes after Indus surpassed a staggering 11 million pre-registrations on the Google Play Store for Android.

The TDM mode, as seen in other Battle Royale games like BGMI, and PUBGM, throws players into a fast-paced 4v4 showdown on the all-new Saaplok map. Unlike the classic battle royale format, TDM offers respawns after elimination, keeping the action relentless. The first team to rack up 50 kills takes home the victory.

Indus Battle Royale Introduces TDM Mode and Surpasses 11 Million Android Pre-Registrations

The developers have also announced that they have made enhancements to several gameplay elements. Weapon sway, crosshair centring, and muzzle effects have all been reworked for a more realistic and immersive experience. Furthermore, achievements and kill confirmations have received a visual upgrade, making them more satisfying to achieve. A brand new UI widget element called “ferrofluids” has been introduced which keeps track of the direction, intensity, and count of your gunfire and self-inflicted damage. Additionally, it also boasts a unique and stylish design unlike anything seen before.

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Players can also expect a complete audio overhaul. This includes dynamic voice lines, impactful interior reverb during combat, and a new endgame track with unique sound effects for victory and defeat. Weapon handling has been upgraded, with increased gun responsiveness visible during sliding manoeuvres and while firing.

To enhance combat, TDM will offer four pre-made weapon load-outs:

• A27 Locust (Assault Rifle) & Judgement (Handgun)
• Devastator (Light Machine Gun) & R4-FTR (Handgun)
• V – Fury (Submachine Gun) & Kismet CS10 (Shotgun)
• Tempest CFA (Submachine Gun) & Vigil SR-14 (Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle)

Currently, Indus Battle Royale is in closed beta. Gamers interested in experiencing it firsthand can sign up at www.indusbeta.com to join the official waitlist. Once on the list, users will receive a direct link to download and play the game as soon as they are whitelisted.

Indus Battle Royale will release be released on consoles, PC and mobile.

Also Read: BGMI Master Series – BGMS 2024 Announced with Major Partners and TV Broadcast

Riot Games has released Patch Notes and an update for Valorant Episode 9 Act 1. This is the first update after Valorant‘s release on consoles earlier this month. So, this patch brings a wide variety of updates to the game, including new content for both PC and console players.

For both versions, the developers have introduced new conversation voice lines between several agents including Phoenix, Harbor, Brimstone, Yoru, Raze, Iso, Sage, Neon, Gekko, Skye, Deadlock, Omen, Kayo, and Reyna. Let’s delve into more details about Valorant Episode 9 Act 1.

Valorant Episode 9 Act 1: All You Need to Know

Speaking of PC-specific updates, Iso’s gameplay has been tweaked to balance his abilities. The duration of Iso’s “Double Tap” buff has been reduced from 20 seconds to 12 seconds, and the signature kill reset has been removed. Iso can now only extend “Double Tap” by shooting the orbs that spawn while the buff is active.

Coming to Console-specific updates, there are a lot of changes and new features.

• Sova’s Owl Drone: Sova’s Owl Drone gets a health buff, increasing its survivability from 60 HP to 100 HP.
• Competitive Mode: The biggest news for console players is the introduction of Competitive Mode! You can now climb the ranks and compete for a spot on the Immortal Leaderboards. The initial map pool includes Abyss, Ascent, Bind, Haven, and Sunset, with more maps planned for future patches.

Gameplay System Updates

New Control Presets

A new “Controls Preset” screen now appears on the first boot-up, letting players choose between Valorant-specific or traditional console FPS controls, which can be customized anytime via the settings menu. To retain previous settings from Patch 08.11, players should enable the “Advanced Sensitivity Settings” option. Additionally, a new sensitivity slider is available for easy aim sensitivity adjustments.

Other Console Improvements: Several improvements have been made to the console experience, including better sound transitions, updated crosshair presets, and a new Aim Sensitivity slider for more precise control. Voice chat management and settings have also been revamped for easier use.

Zero Tolerance Text Chat

In an effort to maintain a positive gaming environment, PC players will see increased penalties for repeated use of zero-tolerance terms in text chat.

Premier Updates (PC-Only)

The Premier system gets an overhaul with the introduction of the “Invite Division.” Teams that performed well in previous stages can now compete in this new division, with the chance to earn a spot in the Challengers League. The update also details changes to rules and scoring for Contender and Invite Divisions.

Social Updates

Players can now add friends more efficiently by pasting or typing a full Riot ID (including tagline), which will automatically split into the “Riot ID” and “tagline” fields. For console players, the communications menu has been updated for easier management of team and party voice settings.

Bug Fixes

The patch addresses various bugs across agents, competitive systems, gameplay systems, and maps. Some notable fixes include resolving hitbox issues with Iso’s shield (PC) and Jett’s Tailwind ability (Console).

Known Issues

The update introduces a control lock issue when navigating surrender menus on consoles. Due to this, the Surrender and Remake functionalities are temporarily disabled. The developer team is working on a fix, and Draw remains functional.

For a complete list of changes and known issues, you can refer to the official Valorant patch notes.

Also Read: Avowed is now Fully Playable in Third-Person Mode Along with First-Person, Confirms Obisidian

While some details were fuzzy after the Xbox Games Showcase, Obsidian’s developers have solidified information about their upcoming RPG, Avowed. Players can rejoice, as the game is confirmed to be fully playable in a third-person perspective!

This news comes from a recent interview with RPG Site, where developer Gabe Paramo directly addressed the question of a third-person option.

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While Avowed was built with a first-person experience in mind, developer Gabe Paramo clarifies that the third-person mode isn’t an afterthought. He emphasizes that it’s been in development for a significant amount of time, not something hastily added recently.

For a deeper dive into Avowed, check out the full RPG Site interview. It covers companions, dialogue choices, combat details, and more!

Patel further emphasized that “Avowed” is designed to welcome new players, even those unfamiliar with the “Pillars of Eternity” series. The game is set a few years after “Deadfire,” in the same world where gods exist, souls are reincarnated, and a blend of grounded political stories and esoteric metaphysical narratives unfold. Players will take on the role of an envoy from Aedyr, directly sent by the Emperor, and will gradually uncover deeper mysteries throughout their journey.

Despite extensive content and mechanics, the developers are focused on the base game for now, with no immediate plans for expansions or DLC. Avowed is set to release for Xbox Series X|S and PC in 2024.

Also Read: Popular Streamer Dr Disrespect Cut from His Own Game Studio Amid Serious Allegations

Update (June 25, 11;37PM IST): After the allegations took over the Internet, Dr Disrespect admitted to communicating with a minor on Twitch in 2017 via “whisper messages.” While he claims the conversations were casual and denies any criminal intent, Dr Disrespect acknowledges they were “inappropriate.” He maintains no pictures were shared and the situation was resolved with a settlement. Dr Disrespect takes responsibility for his actions and condemns predatory behaviour.

THE TWITCH BAN

Hello, I'd like to make a quick statement..

Lets cut the fucking bullshit, as you know there's no filter with me. I've always been up front and real with you guys on anything that I can be up front about, and I'm always willing to accept responsibility… which…

— Dr Disrespect (@DrDisrespect) June 25, 2024

Original Story continues..

Midnight Society, a game studio co-founded by popular streamer Dr Disrespect, has cut ties with him following serious accusations. In a social media statement on Monday, the studio revealed, “We learned about an allegation against co-founder Guy Beahm (Dr Disrespect) last Friday.”

Allegations Against Dr Disrespect

Here’s a quick rundown of the unfolding events:

• Friday: Former Twitch employee Cody Conners ignited the firestorm with a tweet alleging Dr Disrespect’s permanent Twitch ban stemmed from “se*ting a minor” through the platform’s now-defunct “whispers” feature.
• Friday (Later): Robert Bowling, a co-founder of Midnight Society alongside Dr Disrespect and a former Infinity Ward developer, swiftly responded, acknowledging the allegation and launching an internal investigation.
• Sunday: Adding weight to the claims, The Verge reported a second, anonymous Twitch employee, who worked on trust and safety during the relevant period, corroborated Conners’ initial tweet.

Breaking: Gaming studio co-founded by Dr Disrespect terminates relationship with streamer amid controversy.#DrDisrespect #Gaming #MidnightSociety pic.twitter.com/CBCiKyIwG4

— Gaming Mitra (@gamingmitra_) June 25, 2024

Following these accusations, Midnight Society stated,” We assumed his innocence and began speaking with parties involved. And in order to maintain our principles and standards as a studio and individuals, we needed to act. For this reason, we are terminating our relationship with Guy Beahm immediately.”

The announcement from the game studio came after he streamed for the first time since the allegations surfaced. During the stream, Beahm mentioned feeling “fatigued” and contemplating “removing himself from the scene.” He hinted that he might also depart from Midnight Society as part of this process, stating, “Maybe I step away from there, too.”

Midnight Society further added, “While these facts are difficult to hear and even more difficult to accept, it is our duty to act with dignity on behalf of all individuals involved, especially the fifty-five developers and families we have employed along with our community of players.”

Beahm took to social media platform X on Saturday to address the allegations. In a post, he denied any wrongdoing, stating, “I didn’t do anything wrong, all this has been probed and settled, nothing illegal, no wrongdoing was found, and I was paid.”

Listen, I’m obviously tied to legal obligations from the settlement with Twitch but I just need to say what I can say since this is the fucking internet.

I didn’t do anything wrong, all this has been probed and settled, nothing illegal, no wrongdoing was found, and I was paid.…

— Dr Disrespect (@DrDisrespect) June 22, 2024

Founded in 2021 by Beahm alongside industry veterans Robert Bowling (former Infinity Ward developer) and Quinn DelHoyo (who worked on Halo and Gears of War), Midnight Society was poised to make a splash in the gaming industry. Their debut title, Deadrop, an extraction shooter, even experimented with NFTs as a monetization strategy in 2022.

Also Read: Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone Season 4 Reloaded Unveiled: New Powers, Maps, and Modes

Activision unveiled Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone Season 4 Reloaded, which is bringing an array of otherworldly abilities to operators and exciting new content across all modes. Alongside these enhancements, players can expect a variety of new maps, weapons, and missions that will further enrich the immersive world of Call of Duty. Here is all you need to know about COD MW3 and Warzone Season 4 Reloaded update.

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone Season 4 Reloaded Update

New Weapons and Challenges

Players can now arm themselves with the versatile Reclaimer 18 Shotgun, which features both pump-action and semi-auto modes, and the brutal Sledgehammer melee weapon. Completing new weekly challenges will unlock additional customization options, including the animated “Helical Reverb” weapon camo.

Embrace the Mutations

Season 4 Reloaded introduces Mutation Mode, where one team of human operators faces off against mutants with unique abilities. Humans must rely on increased ammunition reserves and specific killstreaks, while mutants have special classes like the Mutated Leaper and Radioactive Beast, each with distinct powers. The mode promises a dynamic and tactical gameplay experience as teams switch roles at halftime.

New Maps and Game Modes

The update features several new maps and modes:

• Incline (6v6): A new snow map set in the mountains of Urzikstan, offering intense combat scenarios in a research outpost and transit facility.
• Das Gross: Part of the Vortex Mosh Pit Playlist, this map is a horrifying variant of Das Haus, transformed by an alien entity.
• G3T_H1GH3R: A retro-futuristic utopian map with challenging parkour elements and hidden rewards.

Altered Strain Event Augmentations

As the Altered Strain Event progresses, players can unlock augmentations to their mutant powers, enhancing abilities such as rapid cooldowns, explosive dives, and damage reduction.

Havoc and Headshots Only Modes

The Havoc mode returns with match modifiers that change the rules of Team Deathmatch, ensuring no two matches are the same. In Headshots Only mode, precision is key as players can only damage opponents through headshots.

Blueprint Gunfight and Bit Party Playlist

The Blueprint Gunfight Playlist introduces new weapon blueprints and compact maps, while the Bit Party Playlist offers a unique twist where eliminating enemies inflates the player’s head, providing both a visual spectacle and gameplay bonuses.

Modern Warfare Zombies and Warzone Updates

Modern Warfare Zombies introduces the Unstable Rift challenge, where players face waves of enemies for high rewards. In Warzone, the Popov Power Plant POI has been drastically altered by the DNA bomb explosion, introducing new pathways and a toxic environment. Players can engage in Mutation Resurgence Quads and Mutation Buy Back Quads, harnessing mutant abilities to dominate the battlefield.

Warzone Mobile Features

The mobile version of Warzone also receives new content, including Zombie Royale and Havoc Resurgence modes. The Verdansk map now features eerie graveyards and crash sites filled with undead targets, synchronizing with the overall zombie theme of the update.

New Store Offerings and Rewards

The Season 4 Reloaded update launches on June 26 at 9 AM PT across all platforms, promising a host of new content and thrilling experiences for Call of Duty players. For more details and official announcements, visit the Call of Duty Blog and check the Patch Notes for ongoing updates throughout the season.

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