Let’s recap the gaming news of October!
It’s no shock to anyone to talk about the fact that October was a very busy month! From highly anticipated game releases to international competitions… this month’s gaming news has not gone unnoticed, to say the least. In case you’ve missed the main news, here’s a recap!
October’s games releases: a very busy agenda!
With so many unmissable releases to get the end of the year off to a good start, we had no choice but to sort out what we thought were the most memorable!
On the all-ages and family games side, how could we not mention the releases of Detective Pikachu Returns and Super Mario Bros. Wonder? Released on October 6 and 20 respectively, these releases are sure to delight Switch users! In addition to accompanying Pikachu as he solves new mysteries and following Mario’s adventures in the Kingdom of Flowers, they represent a revival of the famous Mario Bros. series.
For PS5 gamers, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, also released on October 20, offers breathtaking graphics and an extraordinary adventure, switching between Peter Parker and Miles Morales.
For its own part, Ubisoft released its new opus, Assassin’s Creed: Mirage, the 13th in the series, on October 5. Available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series, the game is a genuine return to its roots, with gameplay at the heart of the action.
In the meantime, BIGG TV brings you the best adventures of the year! From the famous adventures of Mario or Pikachu, to the best eSports championships… you’re bound to find a program to keep you warm and entertained!
Throwback to the games from the 80’s that changed gaming forever
Video games’ popularity keep spreading every year, but there was a time where they were not to the taste of everybody. Yet, some games in the 80’s clearly contributed to today’s video games’ fame, design and long story. Let’s remind us of the games that shaped the gaming world!
PAC-MAN
One of the most memorable games from the 20th century is certainly Pac-man. Released in 1980, it is the most sold arcade game ever, with more than 400,000 sales worldwide. Two years later, the game was launched on the Atari 2600, and then on several other game consoles.
The concept was simple : guide Pac-Man in a labyrinth, gobbling up dots while avoiding ghosts. To add some strategy, Pac-Man could swallow super-powers to kill the ghosts. This simple concept clearly helped the democratization of gaming to a wider audience, everyone could easily enjoy the game’s aesthetic and gameplay. 40 years after its first launch, the pie shaped mouth is still famous in the gaming community.
SUPER MARIO BROS.
He is certainly the world’s most renowned plumber, instantly recognizable with his iconic outfit and mustache, cherished by both children and adults. Originally discovered in the Donkey Kong series, a global hit with over 49 million sales, Mario took center stage in 1985 as the protagonist of “Super Mario Bros.”.
Set within a 2D universe, Mario embarks on adventures in the Mushroom Kingdom, deploying superpowers across themed worlds in order to rescue Princess Peach from the clutches of Bowser. The game’s captivating aesthetics and innovative mechanics earned it a spot as the 12th highest-selling video game, reaching 43 million copies sold for this singular opus.
TETRIS
It is rare to play a video game without any characters, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be popular! It’s what Tetris proved with its unique gameplay. The concept is simple : various blocks of 4 square shapes fall down, and the player must manipulate them so as to create lines. When a full line is formed, it vanishes, allowing players to continue stacking blocks. If the player manages to vanish 4 lines at once, he creates a Tetris, which gives much more points than erasing a regular line.
If the game seems simple, it actually requires a lot of strategic thinking and quick reflexes to win the most points and not make holes between the squares, that can be a real handicap in the game. The game’s popularity exploded with the Gameboy, allowing people to play during their commutes, breaks, travel and more, making it today’s 2nd most sold video game ever, with more than 100 million sales worldwide.
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA
Peach isn’t the only princess who needs to be rescued. In 1986, The Legend of Zelda introduced us to the heroic Link in a fantasy world. With its large exploration, combat and puzzle-solving system, the game was far from being as simple as other popular games at the time such as Tetris, Space Invaders and Pac-Man. Yet, the story-line and the universe became extremely popular, reaching more than 6 million sales for this opus.
Whether you played these games or not, they surely had an influence on the games we play today, with their great gameplay and unique world, especially Mario and Zelda, which are games that are still highly popular nowadays. Those can make us nostalgic of the great improvement gaming has made since its creation!
If you miss retrogaming, how about watching some talk-show that discusses it? BIGG TV broadcasts some of the best talk-shows about retrogaming every month, so make sure to not miss it!
Game releases, events and eSports competitions : What happened in the gaming world in June!
Summer is finally here, and for those who like to keep cool while the weather is hot, here is the gaming news that you might have missed in June!
June’s games releases
This month, 3 popular franchises’ sequels with a unique style and gameplay were released. Let’s dig in!
If you feel like confronting your friends in a fun and dynamic 2D fighting game that reminds you of your childhood, Street Fighter 6 will be the game of your 2023 summer. On June 2nd, the 6th opus was launched on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series and Steam for computers. Only a few days after its release, the game had already sold more than a million copies. However, it might take some time to defeat the previous Street Fighter 5’s record, which made it to more than 6 million copies sold in 7 years.
A few days later, on June 6th, the fourth opus of Diablo was released. Eleven years after Diablo III, the game was highly anticipated by the fans. In only 5 days, the game’s revenue already reached $666 million, a great proof for the players’ commitment. Diablo IV is an adventure game in which the player plays a character between 5 classes (rogue, sorcerer, barbarian, druid, and necromancer), and needs to fight monsters all along the adventure. Some Twitch streams of the game already show more than a million views from the streamer Fextralife (1.6M followers), and more than 700 000 from JenFoxxx (+900k followers).
Finally, for those who prefer a more fantasy-like adventure game, Final Fantasy XVI was released on June 22th. Since the first launch of the franchise in 1987, the game met several adjustments, making the gaming experience always better than the previous, but also very different. In the game, the player follows the incredible and magical adventure of the main character, fighting the evil through quests in an immense fantasy world.The franchise is one of the most popular franchises in the world, with its unique adventure and fantasy style and characters. Indeed, all of the games resulted in more than 173 million copies sold.
June’s gaming events
If the 3 releases of this month are not to your taste, don’t worry! Some great events were broadcasted this month.
Besides the Olympic Esports Week, we were thrilled to learn more about Xbox’s future releases thanks to the Xbox Games Showcase that was broadcasted on June 11th. On Youtube, more than 3 million viewers watched the showcase. Among all of the games that the company presented, some highly expected titles have been announced, such as : Fable, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Payday 3, Forza Motorsport, Starfield and Star Wars Outlaws.
Whether you prefer to watch video game content or to play them, June definitely had something for you!
If you want to watch some Street Fighter, chess or racing content, BIGG TV is the channel made for you! We broadcast various kinds of video game content, with some of the best championships esports has to offer!
The legendary 20th century video games consoles
Do you remember the time when you couldn’t play games in online multiplayer? Or when controllers had mandatory wires to the console?
Modern consoles, such as the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch, offer impressive features that enhance the gaming experience. With their advanced graphics, these consoles deliver stunning visuals, realistic animations, and complex gameplay. The online multiplayer functionality allows players to connect and compete with friends and gamers from around the world, fostering a sense of community and expanding the possibilities video games have to offer.
Yet, vintage consoles still hold a special place in our gaming memories, with their charms and simplicity. Today we will talk about a few of the consoles that definitely marked our childhood and the evolution of gaming in the 20th century.
Atari 2600 : the pioneer of home video gaming
The mother of all consoles, released in 1977, is often considered one of the first successful home video game consoles. It democratized gaming to the general public. Indeed, more than 27 million consoles were sold, making it today’s 19th most sold console ever. More than 900 games could be played on it, including highly popular games like Space Invaders, Pitfall and Pac-Man.
NES : the rise of Nintendo
In 1983, the Nintendo Entertainment System brought video games to a next level. With an incredible array of video games you could play – 1,251 in total – this console brought Nintendo to another stage of fame. Introducing famous franchises like Super Mario Bros, which was sold 50 million times, but also The Legend of Zelda, and Metroid. The NES popularized the concept of controllers with directional pads and buttons, expanding video games’ gameplay. This evolution surely made its success, with 61 million copies sold, making it the world’s 13th most sold console ever.
Playstation : the beginning of 3D video games
In 1994, Sony’s PlayStation revolutionized the world of video gaming by popularizing 3D graphics. It introduced titles that are still well-known today such as Final Fantasy VII, Metal Gear Solid and Resident Evil. The PlayStation also pioneered the use of CD-ROM, enabling games to be more detailed, with spectacular cinematics and immersive music. This evolution was certainly a huge success, given the +104 million copies sold, making it the 6th most video games console sold ever.
Game Boy : the democratization of portable gaming
The Game Boy, released in 1989, was a revolutionary gaming console that left an indelible mark on the gaming industry, paving the way for portable consoles like Nintendo DS and Nintendo Switch. As of today, it is still one of the most famous gaming consoles, that both young and old people know. With its compact design, the Game Boy allowed gamers to take their favorite games on the go for the first time. It democratized iconic franchises like Pokémon and Tetris, becoming the 4th most sold video game console ever, with +118 million copies sold.
These are certainly not the only games that marked the 20th century, but they surely made it to the top in this category, allowing gaming to be more accessible and more intricate.
If you would like to discuss retro gaming in more detail, or that you would like to discover more about it, how about watching some retro gaming podcasts on BIGG TV?
Game releases, events, eSports and facts : What happened in the gaming world in May!
As the temperatures start to rise and summer approaches, the gaming world is heating up with new releases, events, and interesting facts. Here’s a recap of some of the biggest news from the month of May.
May's releases
The month of May saw a lot of great game releases. One highly anticipated title was Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. This sequel follows the story of the well acclaimed Breath of the Wild. As a proof of the anticipation, more than 10 million copies were already sold. The Legend of Zelda series, renowned for its captivating narratives and awe-inspiring fantasy realms, follows the valiant Link on his quest to rescue Princess Zelda and vanquish the malevolent lord Ganondorf.
Besides that, some other great games were released this month. Out of all of them, we can notably talk about Redfall, Lego 2K Drive, The Lord Of The Rings: Gollum, and the Outlast Trials.
May's events
On May 24th, Playstation broadcasted its annual Playstation Showcase, announcing 2023 future releases on PS5 and PS4. Christmas ain’t coming soon, but we were already spoiled with these announcements!
At the top of the podium, we have Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. The gameplay reveal on Youtube already collected more than 8 million views in 5 days, and it promises to be a really entertaining game!
Moreover, some highly popular and expected fighting games like Street Fighter 6 and its concurrent Mortal Kombat 1, but also some open world action and adventure games like Assassin’s Creed Mirage and Final Fantasy XVI were announced.
For those who prefer to sit back and relax watching eSports competitions, the League of Legends MSI (Mid Season Invitational) was held from May 2nd to 21st. 13 teams fought for the great prize of $250.000, and a few qualified for the future League of Legends World Championship. It was indeed a great appetizer for this year’s World championship!
Fact of the month
Out of everything that happened in May, there is something that is simply enormous and that deserved to be noticed in BIGG’s recap. A decade after the launch of GTA V, fans are clearly showing their excitement towards the sequel, and start to be impatient. The reason behind the length for the sequel to be available could be the amount of work Rockstar Games is putting in GTA VI.
Although the studio did not comment on the rumors, GTA VI is estimated to cost between $1-2 billion, making it the most expensive game ever created. Such a huge budget promises lots of fun in the game, and we cannot wait to try it out!
In the meantime, we could surely watch some video game content as we wait for this year’s great releases!
Spotlight on the Middle Eastern Gaming Community for the sacred month of Ramadan
From April 18th to June 4th, The Ramadan Gaming Championship is back for its third consecutive year. Organized by Playtonia Middle East, intense gaming battles are expected!
Although the 2023 Ramadan is over, the tournament still has a lot of live events to broadcast while sharing the values of the sacred month. This event is the perfect occasion to celebrate and share our gaming passion all together in the spirit of Ramadan!
PUBG and Valorant take center stage in this edition
This year’s tournament promises exhilarating gameplay across two popular FPS games: PUBG and Valorant.
PUBG is a highly popular online multiplayer battle royale game. Players are dropped onto a vast island where they then need to find weapons and equipment to survive and eliminate their opponents. Who says battle royale means there can only be one winning team amongst a lot of eSports teams, therefore PUBG always promises lots of excitement and unexpected twists!
Team spirit is always at the heart of the Ramadan Gaming Championship, and you can also find it in Valorant! Here, two teams fight each other, one being the attacker, and the other being defender. Characters’ specific abilities make each game more unique and breathtaking than the last one, which promises fun and new content every time.
And the winner is…
As always, the Ramadan Gaming Championship is more than a competition, it’s the occasion to gather and share amazing eSports moments to get nice memories. No spoilers here, but PUBG enthusiasts already watched an intense finale that gave spectators a whole lot of emotions. The competition was fierce as several teams fought and showcased their skills to claim the title of PUBG champions. It was definitely worth the wait!
Although the PUBG finale already aired recently, Valorant’s awaits! On June 4th, the match that will close this year’s championship will air live on BIGG TV on prime time! The finale promises a lot of surprises, so make sure to not miss it!
After weeks of intense matches, Ding Liren became the 2023 world Chess champion, a sacred title after Magnus Carlsen’s long reign.
On April 30th, the highly anticipated FIDE World Chess Championship came to a climactic finish. After weeks of intense and grueling matches, Ding Liren emerged victorious, defeating the Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi and claiming the coveted title of World Chess Champion for the first time in his career.
In what was a thrilling and closely contested final, Liren played 14 long games against Nepomniachtchi, with the time control set at 120 minutes for the first moves, followed by 60 minutes for the next moves, and then 15 minutes for the rest of the game. Indeed, this very long format can be very exhausting, but also full of twists and turns.
Not a real dethronement?
While Ding Liren’s victory is a tremendous achievement and a major milestone for Chinese chess, some have questioned whether it can be considered a true dethronement of the legendary Magnus Carlsen, who has held the world champion title for nearly a decade.
Carlsen opted not to participate in this year’s tournament due to a reported “lack of motivation,” leaving many wondering how Ding Liren would have fared against the Norwegian master. Nevertheless, Ding Liren’s triumph is a testament to his talent, hard work, and dedication to the game.
What's next?
As big fans of Chess, we’re really excited to see what the future holds for Ding Liren and the world of chess. The FIDE World Chess Championship showcased the very best of the game, and we look forward to witnessing more thrilling matches and inspiring performances in the years to come!
In the meantime, how about rewatching some more Chess’ championships? If you miss watching Magnus Carlsen’s gameplay, we got you covered with the Champions Chess Tour 2023, so stay tuned!