I think you try and emulate building an offense like the warriors have done over the past decade. Sharpe is an absolute beast and I think could be a similar player to peak klay. Elite defender and shot maker. Can fit into a motion offense. If Dame was on the warriors instead of curry I fully believe they probably still win a few titles. He can be the 1A guy for the next 2 years which is the window if they want to win now. Next hope draymond opts out of his player option and sign the man. Then look to sign and trade grant + Simon’s and the 3rd overall for PG or Kawaii (stock is so low because he has no legs) or Mikal. Trade the 23 and nurk for a guy like Mitch Rob or Precious A or go big for walker Kessler and see if another future 1st plus the 23 and nurk is enough. Try and draft lively/edey with a 2nd as a Jokic/Embid stopper. Resign thybull, and fill out the team with 3 and d types and a guy like Dennis smith jr who can be their Livingston. If they want to win now I think they can but they need to go all in and bet if they can get over the hump now. Also I would see if they can have a conversation with kenny Atkinson and have him be the coach of the future. Looking back at the past 20 years teams in the nba finals, the only teams with their 1A being a PG have been the warriors and Nets with debatably the spurs in 2014 (Tony Parker), the Pistons in 04 (Billips) or the Celtics in 08 (Rondo?) so getting a coach who has been an X and O’s guy on a team that has been successful with their 1A as a PG could be a game changer as well. There are also more guys in this draft compared to past drafts from what I’ve been seeing that could be Austin reeves type 2nd rounders who we might be able to talk with that we could sign as udfa with a specific role in mind. Guys like landers nolley, Kobe brown, jalen bridges, Jordan Walsh, Jaquez jr, sanogo, murrell, and Andre Jackson are all guys I think will carve out roles in this league and could be day one contributors in the right situation. Especially Jordan Walsh and Andre Jackson. Even if getting an elite SF isn’t on the table now. Draft Miller + resign grant and let the plan ride. I think it’s only a matter of time until the clips blow things up and it may end being more of a deadline move that we could still make happen. I think a core of Lillard Sharpe Draymond and solid pieces could make the playoffs in the west with the right coach but I am okay with mortgaging the future on kawhi because all we need is one healthy playoff run and it’ll be all worth it and he’s a guy even with all the injuries that can be the the difference maker.
Dream team
Lillard, Sharpe, Kawhi, draymond, Mitch Rob/Kessler
Dennis smith Jr, thybull, Cam Reddish, otto porter types at the 3 and 4 and Edey/Lively
With 2 of the guys like a Jordan Walsh 2nd as your 12th and 13th men looking to step into the rotation.
I think Walsh is a very similar player to Jordan Hawkins who has shot up draft boards and could be the steal of this draft.
This draft is crazy deep and think offers some guys you could plug in next year and see better results then the bargain bin area of FA that we would be operating in with the new cba and adding a kawhi and draymond plus Lillard max.
I also think with the right system and coaching. We wouldn’t need to ride kawhi at all in the regular season and he can be that sort of KD plug and play type come playoffs time that won’t need a ton of time to gel.

Game Information

Game Title: Diablo IV
Platforms:

• PlayStation 5 (Jun 6, 2023)
• PlayStation 4 (Jun 6, 2023)
• PC (Jun 6, 2023)
• Xbox Series X/S (Jun 6, 2023)
• Xbox One (Jun 6, 2023)

Trailers:

• Diablo IV Launch Live Action Trailer
• Diablo IV Story Launch Trailer
• Diablo IV Gameplay Launch Trailer
• Diablo IV In-Game Intro Cinematic
• Diablo IV Official Release Date Trailer
• Diablo IV Official Gameplay Trailer
• Diablo IV Announce Cinematic By Three They Come

Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Review Aggregator:
OpenCritic - 90 average - 98% recommended - 72 reviews

Critic Reviews

Ars Technica - Aaron Zimmerman - Unscored

Each class has a gimmick-or "specialization"-that unlocks as you progress through the game. The Barbarian, for instance, can lug around a huge arsenal of weapons and gains "expertise" with each as you use them, granting buffs and special effects. The Necromancer can choose between different types of minions or sacrifice them to extract their power. The Rogue has three specialization options, one of which is a WoW-like combo-points system. Every class has its own personality and quirks, and they're all a blast to play.

CGMagazine - Brendan Frye - 10 / 10

Diablo IV's dark allure combines ingenious design choices to create an extraordinary Diablo that we couldn't have dreamed possible back in 1997.

Checkpoint Gaming - Elliot Attard - Unscored

Whilst Diablo IV could have done more to advance the genre or perfect its writing and tone across the entire experience, there’s no denying just how impactful this release is, especially for those of us who grew up alongside the series.

ComicBook.com - Adam Barnhardt - 4.5 / 5

Diablo 4 is perfect for both franchise mainstays and newcomers alike. The lore of Sanctuary expands drastically while the game, story and all, is large enough to keep new players busy. The game is built to allow the developers to scale it with ease with battle passes and seasons for a new generation, but it's nowhere close to being empty.

Console Creatures - David Pietrangelo - Recommended

Diablo 4 is an impressive and massive conquest of demons, loot, exploration, and wildly fun mechanics. It's already clear that this game brings tons of new content to the franchise and handles it incredibly well.

Destructoid - Timothy Monbleau - 8 / 10

Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.

Dexerto - Sam Smith - 5 / 5

Diablo 4 is a mighty sequel, but it can feel more like a grand buffet of tasty demon-slaying treats. It offers something for everyone but misses out on that acquired yet curated taste of the older entries. This doesn't take away from Diablo 4 representing the next evolution in the series. It is a stellar sequel – and one that works hard to appeal to every fan of this beloved franchise.

DualShockers - Emma Ward - 8.5 / 10

Your favorite Action Role Playing Game is back and bloodier than ever. Diablo 4 improves upon nearly every core gameplay mechanic from Diablo 3 while introducing a few great quality-of-life features that make this journey to Sanctuary the best yet. While some of the quest systems seem dated, the main story is delivered beautifully, breathing new life into the series.

Everyeye.it - Antonello Gaeta - Italian - 8.5 / 10

Diablo 4 is a canvas on which developers could, over the next few months, paint a true masterpiece.

Fextralife - Fexelea - 9.3 / 10

Diablo 4 is an excellent game and a fantastic next step for the ARPG genre. Smartly melding Open World and Online elements with traditional dungeon crawling and loot farming, this game will become the favorite time-sink of millions for years to come.

GAMES.CH - Steffen Haubner - German - 89%

The irresistible gloom is now no longer opposed by hurdles in the form of confusing item and skill management. We enthusiastically throw ourselves against Lilith's hordes and once again sink hour after hour into perfecting our character. Overall, however, there could have been a bit more innovation.

GGRecon - Joshua Boyles - 4.5 / 5

Diablo 4 has taken everything that fans love about the ARPG format and elevated it to new heights. With a fascinating world to explore, a strong cast of characters, and purposeful combat, it sets a new standard for the genre.
The wheel hasn’t been reinvented, and is remains to be seen how the series will adapt to a live service model. Nevertheless, anyone picking up Diablo 4 at launch will find themselves playing a very strong package with plenty of promise.

GRYOnline.pl - Hubert Sosnowski - Polish - 9 / 10

What are we getting? An excellent game that reeks of a game-as-a-service, with tons of satisfying content. Diablo 4 looks like the best hack’n’slash on the market. The best h’n’s for me, a guy well versed in three previous Diablos, Divine Divinity and a bit of Grim Dawn.

Game Informer - Marcus Stewart - Unscored

While it remains to be seen how the experience handles the incoming flood of players once the lights are turned on, I think Diablo fans, old and new, are in for a treat.

GamePro - Kevin Itzinger - German - 94 / 100

With Diablo 4, Blizzard has created a genre masterpiece that does almost everything right.

GameSpot - Alessandro Barbosa - 8 / 10

Diablo IV's surprisingly moving and engrossing story encapsulates gameplay systems that have learnt all the right lessons from entries past.

Gameblog - French - 8 / 10

Diablo 4 is extremely generous. A clear evolution of the franchise and a real comeback.

Gamer Guides - Nathan Garvin - 8.5 / 10

With a compelling new antagonist, a serviceable, character-driven story, and a familiarly satisfying gameplay loop with an incredible amount of depth, Diablo 4 is a worthy entry into the franchise that threatens to burn away many hours of your life.

GamesHub - Emily Spindler - 4 / 5

Diablo 4 is a behemoth of a game, boasting a gothic world that goes beyond the engaging hack-and-slash gameplay loop.

GamesRadar+ - Josh West - 5 / 5

"After sacrificing nearly 100 hours of my life to Diablo 4, I've barely scratched the surface of what it has to offer"

GamingTrend - Cassie Peterson, Ron Burke - 100 / 100

Diablo IV represents a massive shift for the series, moving to a more inclusive and open world that is somehow as inviting for new players as returning veterans. Complexity is mixed with flexibility to create a game that is sure to consume you for hundreds if not thousands of hours. Diablo IV is the game we've been waiting for, and a return to form for the Blizzard team.

Geek Culture - Jake Su - 8.6 / 10

The worry remaining is that the balance needs to be struck well in order to maintain Diablo IV as a viable and long-lasting adventure that doesn’t lose its freshness or that the incessant rush to get more powerful gear becomes a chore rather than a thrill. At this juncture, there’s much for players both old and new to dive into, making combat and exploration exciting times, all while pushing the story forward in a new chapter for Sanctuary. The hope is that this will last, and that Blizzard will continue to support the game in all ways. After all, Lilith is coming, and all hail the Mother.

God is a Geek - Mick Fraser - 9 / 10

Diablo 4 may not be the huge leap forward some were hoping for, but it still offers an incredible adventure through a dark, compelling world.

Hardcore Gamer - Chris Shive - 4.5 / 5

Based on the franchise's history, Diablo IV has large boots to fill, but does an admiral job of meeting this longtime fan's expectations.

IGN - Travis Northup - 9 / 10

Diablo 4 is a stunning sequel with near perfect endgame and progression design that makes it absolutely excruciating to put down.

IGN Spain - Álex Pareja - Spanish - 9 / 10

Diablo IV is tremendously addictive, its combat is formidable and the character building is excellent. More MMO than ever in a new path for the saga.

INVEN - Jaihoon Jeong - Korean - 9 / 10

While the fusion of Diablo franchise and the open world sounded rather unfamiliar at first, the game has succeeded in capturing the charm of both. You can't say the game is perfect as of its initial release, Diablo4 still is one of the strongest quarter view action RPGs.

Kakuchopurei - Jonathan Leo - 90 / 100

[Diablo 4] looks and feels great to play, it's full of content without being way too overburdened with systems and age-old mechanics, it's accessible but also gets really hard and challenging for action RPG standards, and it's really great with more people in your party, with a good amount of classes to play around with and tailor to your playstyle. A highly-polished loot-filled gateway drug for newbies and veterans alike; not terribly innovative but incredibly fun to get into.

LevelUp - Luis Sánchez - Spanish - 7 / 10

Diablo IV remained stuck in the past while trying to find innovation without generating friction with fans who have played the franchise for over two decades; It feels like the ghost of Diablo Immortal continues to haunt the halls of Blizzard. The game is more of a reinvention of the classic experience, focusing on a games-as-a-service format to ensure another decade of content for Diablo.

Marooners' Rock - Andrew Peggs - 9.2 / 10

Diablo IV has done a good job of delivering an exciting and enjoyable storyline and providing hours of exciting entertainment, whether playing alone or with companions.

Merlin'in Kazanı - Samet Basri Taşlı - Turkish - 90 / 100

Diablo IV has successfully brought everything we wished to be in the 3rd game and has the potential to be the best game in the series.

Multiplayer First - Vitor Braz - 9.5 / 10

Do yourself a favor: ditch your reservations and step into Sanctuary as soon as you can. It’s likely going to be literal hell during the launch queues, but you’ll have a beautifully grim and visceral adventure ahead, one where every leveling up sound will feel like music to your ears. Enjoy it to the best of your possibilities because an action-RPG of this caliber may only arrive in another decade or so, and missing out on Diablo 4 would be something that may just reserve you a spot in hell.

Niche Gamer - Jonathan White - 9 / 10

It ain’t perfect, but provided they continue the course Diablo IV is currently on, this might be the game that bridges the gap and makes Diablo the most accessible and ultimately the most fun it has ever been to players from any background.

Oyungezer Online - Can Arabacı - Turkish - 9.5 / 10

Diablo IV is definitely one of the best games Blizzard has ever made. And possibly the best story they've ever told.

PC Gamer - Tyler Colp - Unscored

An exciting, modern version of Diablo is in here—I can see parts of it poking through the surface—but I'm starting to lose patience waiting for it to show its face.

PCGamesN - Lauren Bergin - 10 / 10

Diablo 4 embodies the essence of what makes Diablo so great, taking the best elements of its predecessors and sewing them together to create an ever-changing, ever-evolving chimera that we can't wait to play for years to come.

PSX Brasil - Paulo Roberto Montanaro - Portuguese - 85 / 100

Diablo IV is, without a doubt, a great success that takes the best of its previous iterations, especially Diablo II, and takes advantage of the potential of an intense open world. With mechanics refined for today, hundreds of hours of gameplay, and the promise of an aggressive post-launch content, this game is the ultimate in the eternal battle between evil and… the other party.

PlayStation Universe - Neil Bolt - 8 / 10

Diablo IV takes the series to new heights, but also spends plenty of time covering familar ground. The compelling rush for loot is as strong as it has ever been, and visually, the game is spectacular. It doesn't exactly feel like a massive leap from Diablo III yet its focus on the series' core strengths ensures that's likely more than enough for long-time fans.

Polygon - Alexis Ong - Unscored

More busywork doesn’t lessen the series-signature lootfest appeal

Press Start - Harry Kalogirou - 9 / 10

Diablo IV is an unquestionable win for Blizzard and one of their foundational franchises when it needed it most. An unrelenting commitment to vision, redefined Sanctuary, never-ending player progression, and excellent boss fights are just a few of the reasons Diablo IV isn't held back by uneven pacing and recycled content.

Prima Games - Daphne Fama - 9 / 10

Diablo IV is a game with a deeply involved combat system, a complex and well-established world, and all the hallmarks of my next gaming obsession.

Pure Xbox - Liam Doolan - 9 / 10

You can see why it's taken Blizzard over six years to get this one out the gate when you look at the end product. Diablo 4 is a natural evolution of the series with its new open-world design and gameplay, enhanced social and multiplayer experience, and a live service that promises to keep players returning to the world of Sanctuary for years to come. These strong foundations and scale of the whole experience, combined with the five unique classes and seemingly limitless customisation options for builds, should keep even the most diehard demon slayers busy for a very long time. With all of this in consideration, Diablo 4 is a must-play if you're a veteran of the series and it's a great starting point for newcomers. We can't wait to jump back in! Now, fingers crossed we just don't have another 'Error 37' at launch.

Push Square - Khayl Adam - 9 / 10

Diablo 4 is the true successor to the bad old days of action RPGs and oozes quality in its frenetic combat and deep, engaging character development. It tells a complex, gritty narrative set in the darkly beautiful world of Sanctuary. Even better, it provides a solid foundation for years of Diablo content to come.

Rectify Gaming - Rebecca Ellis - 9.5 / 10

Diablo IV will usher a new generation of action RPGs into the modern era with its brilliance.

Rock, Paper, Shotgun - Alice Bell - Unscored

Diablo IV is a beautiful, frictionless grey toybox that puts nothing in the way of you playing it for hours and wondering what you've done with your life.

SIFTER - Adam Christou - Worth your time

Diablo IV offers a strong opening impression. It has a rich, detailed story campaign, filled with spectacle and gore. Its combat and game-feel is so satisfying. The classes feel distinct and play quite differently from each other. It feels so good to burst down screens of demons with spells and swords. Will it live up to other competitors in the ARPG space? It’s too soon to tell, but what’s here so far is extremely promising especially for players looking to enjoy an impressive horror story.

Saudi Gamer - Arabic - 8 / 10

So far, the Diablo 4 experience has been nothing short of very good, the story has been very interesting and it finally returns to what distinguished the series in terms of storytelling before the release of the third installment. The game offered a very solid base of content, activities, addictive gameplay, and a variety of character-building ways that any Action RPG should offer. This is knowing that there are some important issues that appeared at the beginning of the experiment as we mentioned in the full review.

Screen Rant - Carrie Lambertsen - 4.5 / 5

Ultimately, Diablo 4 is a must-play experience for any fan of dungeon-crawler ARPGs.

Seasoned Gaming - Ainsley Bowden - 9.5 / 10

Diablo 4 is a masterpiece. It's the culmination of decades of ARPG refinement and evolution, and it manages to pay homage to the IP's legendary namesake while successfully integrating modern RPG elements.

Shacknews - Josh Broadwell - 8 / 10

Blizzard opts for refinement over innovation with Diablo 4, but it's still a devilishly good time.

Siliconera - Kazuma Hashimoto - 8 / 10

Diablo IV features a compelling antagonist in Lilith, and while it tries to present more interesting ideas into the series by the way of story, it ends up retreading old ground in more ways than one.

Sirus Gaming - Kimberly Mae Go - 9 / 10

Diablo 4 presents an epic and visually stunning adventure, enveloping players in a cinematic journey through its immersive open-world. While some areas, like repetitive dungeons and class imbalances, leave room for improvement; Blizzard has laid a solid groundwork that sparks excitement for further exploration of the vast realm of Sanctuary.

Spaziogames - Marcello Paolillo - Italian - Unscored

Diablo IV is a smooth-running action RPG with a beautiful gothic atmosphere and a fascinating open world, aimed even at those who have never touched a chapter of the Blizzard franchise before.

TechRaptor - Austin Suther - 9.5 / 10

Diablo IV might just go down as one of Blizzard's best games. It delivers exciting and accessible ARPG gameplay, a stunning world and engaging narrative to experience, and so many activities to keep you hooked for hours on end.

TrueGaming - Arabic - 9 / 10

Diablo IV brings you a captivating story, a lot of freedom in your class building and a massive world full of monsters to pulverize and dungeons to explore that will keep you playing for lots of hours to come.

Twinfinite - Zhiqing Wan - 4.5 / 5

An incredible looter experience overall. I cannot overstate just how satisfying it is to play Diablo IV on a moment-to-moment basis, and with so much replay value to be had from its various classes and build possibilities within those classes, Diablo IV feels like a true return to form for the series.

VG247 - Connor Makar - 4 / 5

It's a damn good entry to the series as a whole, and will give the vast majority of its players a bloody good time.

Wccftech - Alessio Palumbo - 8.5 / 10

Diablo IV is a return to form at a much needed time for Blizzard. It delivers incredibly fun hack and slash action combat, a greatly improved skill system, and a ton of things to do, not to mention the best story told in the franchise yet. It also looks awesome, sounds great, and runs well (except for rare instances of traversal stuttering).

We Got This Covered - David Morgan - 4.5 / 5

Diablo IV tows several lines masterfully, be it in its mechanical complexity or the moral ambiguity of its plot. Its greatest achievement, however, is being a great Diablo game.

WellPlayed - Ash Wayling - 8.5 / 10

Diablo IV is a must-play for fans of the series and newcomers alike. It invites you to lose yourself in a world of darkness and embark on a thrilling journey filled with relentless battles, captivating storytelling, and a hauntingly beautiful audio-visual symphony. Just ignore the extraneous limb reaching for your wallet.

Xbox Achievements - Dan Webb - 85%

Diablo IV boasts a new look, with its new open-world and online format, but at its heart, it’s very much a classic Diablo experience. A little old-school still, sure, but the core combat is still as fun and addictive as ever, and there’s RPG mechanics for days to sink your teeth into. What’s not to love?

XboxEra - Jesse Norris - 9.5 / 10

Diablo IV is a triumph. It fulfills its promise, combining the aesthetics and feeling of Diablo II with the fantastic gameplay of III. It is dark and gory, featuring a meaty campaign and endgame that should delight fans of the series for hundreds if not thousands of hours.

ZTGD - Terrence Johnson - 9.5 / 10

Diablo 4 is a massive game dropping in a year chock FULL of massive games. 2023 has already seen Nintendo’s behemoth drop by way of Tears of the Kingdom which has been dominating charts and peoples’ times. Now Diablo 4 is going to come bursting in and demanding that same type of time commitment with a sprawling game world to explore on foot or horseback. Between dungeons, world events, side quests and even the main quests players will never be too far from something interesting to inspect or kill in Sanctuary. Diablo 4 feels like a wonderful homecoming, with its darker tone and sublime cutscenes which Blizzard has always been wonderful at; the whole game just feels like a love letter to us fans who have waited so long to return to Hell and defeat its denizens once more.

Last updated: 05/30/23 11:13:00 EST

LEGEND

Note	Description
Italics	Pitched previous day or twice in last 3 days.
Strikethrough	Pitched back to back days.
Bold	Recent transaction.
L3:##	Number of pitches thrown in last 3 days.
***	SP first start.
**	SP yet to reach 5.0 innings in a game.
*	SP yet to surpass 6.0 innings in a game.

BULLPEN USAGE

Team	Opp	SP	CL	SU8	SU7	MID	LR
ARI	COL	Zac Gallen	Miguel CastroL3:25, Andrew ChafinL3:22		Scott McGoughL3:33	Austin AdamsL3:8, Kyle NelsonL3:31, José RuizL3:8, Kevin Ginkel	Drey JamesonL3:59
ATL	@OAK	Bryce Elder	Raisel Iglesias	Nick Anderson	Collin McHughL3:21	A.J. MinterL3:8, Jesse ChavezL3:13, Joe JiménezL3:30, Kirby YatesL3:27	Lucas LuetgeL3:30
BAL	CLE	Kyle Gibson	Félix BautistaL3:15	Yennier CanoL3:15	Bryan BakerL3:14	Mike BaumannL3:13, Danny CoulombeL3:3, Mychal GivensL3:23, Cionel PérezL3:10	Keegan AkinL3:40
BOS	CIN	Brayan Bello	Kenley JansenL3:13	Chris MartinL3:7	Josh Winckowski	Kutter CrawfordL3:27, Joely RodríguezL3:18, Justin Garza, Nick PivettaL3:54	Corey Kluber
CHC	TBR	Kyle Hendricks**	Mark Leiter Jr.L3:16, Adbert Alzolay	Michael FulmerL3:38	Michael RuckerL3:36	Brandon HughesL3:41, Jeremiah EstradaL3:39, Julian MerryweatherL3:13	Javier Assad
CHW	LAA	Lucas Giolito	Liam HendriksL3:27	Kendall GravemanL3:6	Joe KellyL3:41	Reynaldo LópezL3:3, Keynan MiddletonL3:32, Aaron BummerL3:28, Garrett CrochetL3:46	Gregory SantosL3:40
CIN	@BOS	Ben Lively*	Alexis DíazL3:40	Lucas SimsL3:27	Ian GibautL3:29	Alex YoungL3:8, Buck FarmerL3:12, Fernando Cruz, Eduardo Salazar	Kevin HergetL3:20
CLE	@BAL	Cal Quantrill	Emmanuel Clase	James KarinchakL3:16	Trevor StephanL3:16	Eli MorganL3:16, Enyel De Los SantosL3:29, Sam HentgesL3:23, Nick SandlinL3:19	Xzavion CurryL3:28
COL	@ARI	Kyle Freeland	Pierce JohnsonL3:6	Justin LawrenceL3:33	Jake BirdL3:29	Brent SuterL3:22, Daniel BardL3:19, Brad HandL3:25, Matt CarasitiL3:36	Peter LambertL3:43
DET	TEX	Alex Faedo*	Alex LangeL3:12	Jason FoleyL3:14	Will VestL3:25	José CisneroL3:16, Chasen ShreveL3:8, Tyler HoltonL3:28, Mason EnglertL3:34	Tyler AlexanderL3:9
HOU	MIN	Brandon Bielak	Ryan PresslyL3:37	Bryan AbreuL3:48	Hector NerisL3:15	Ryne StanekL3:9, Phil MatonL3:24, Rafael MonteroL3:17, Seth MartinezL3:12	Parker MushinskiL3:22
KCR	@STL	Zack Greinke*	Scott BarlowL3:27	Aroldis ChapmanL3:27	Taylor ClarkeL3:21	Josh StaumontL3:29, Amir GarrettL3:20, Carlos HernándezL3:28, Jose CuasL3:9, Nick Wittgren	Mike MayersL3:76
LAA	@CHW	Tyler Anderson	Carlos EstévezL3:32	Chris DevenskiL3:23	Jacob WebbL3:28	Ben JoyceL3:12, Aaron LoupL3:13, Chase SilsethL3:35, Sam Bachman	Tucker Davidson
LAD	WSN	Tony Gonsolin*	Evan PhillipsL3:22, Brusdar GraterolL3:36, Caleb FergusonL3:24			Yency AlmonteL3:26, Shelby MillerL3:35, Victor GonzálezL3:23, Justin BruihlL3:16	Phil BickfordL3:43
MIA	SDP	Sandy Alcantara	Dylan FloroL3:13	Tanner ScottL3:21	Huascar BrazobanL3:20	Matt BarnesL3:27, JT ChargoisL3:21, Andrew NardiL3:22, Steven OkertL3:38	Bryan HoeingL3:14
MIL	@TOR	Adrian Houser*	Devin WilliamsL3:26	Peter StrzeleckiL3:29	Joel PayampsL3:15	Hoby Milner, Elvis Peguero, Trevor MegillL3:14, Jake Cousins, Jake Cousins	Bryse Wilson
MIN	@HOU	Joe Ryan	Jhoan DuranL3:41	Jorge LópezL3:28	Brock StewartL3:31	Emilio PagánL3:7, Jovani MoranL3:9, Griffin JaxL3:12, Cole SandsL3:16	José De LeónL3:27
NYM	PHI	Kodai Senga*	David Robertson, Adam Ottavino		Brooks RaleyL3:6	Drew SmithL3:28, Jeff BrighamL3:45, Dominic LeoneL3:32, Tommy HunterL3:16, Stephen NogosekL3:29	Josh Walker
NYY	@SEA	Nestor Cortes	Michael KingL3:22, Clay HolmesL3:28, Wandy PeraltaL3:25			Ron MarinaccioL3:20, Albert AbreuL3:30, Jimmy CorderoL3:14, Matt Krook	Ryan Weber
OAK	ATL	JP Sears*	Trevor MayL3:33, Lucas ErcegL3:47, Richard LoveladyL3:8			Shintaro FujinamiL3:20, Sam Moll, Austin PruittL3:29, Sam LongL3:26	Ken WaldichukL3:16
PHI	@NYM	Ranger Suárez*	Craig KimbrelL3:19	Seranthony Domínguez	Matt StrahmL3:24	Gregory Soto, Connor BrogdonL3:18, Jeff HoffmanL3:41, Andrew VasquezL3:38, Yunior MarteL3:27	Dylan CoveyL3:30
PIT	@SFG	Johan Oviedo	David BednarL3:29	Colin HoldermanL3:14	Dauri MoretaL3:18	Robert StephensonL3:10, Jose HernandezL3:34, Roansy ContrerasL3:22, Rob ZastryznyL3:31, Yohan Ramirez	Cody BoltonL3:38
SDP	@MIA	Ryan Weathers*	Josh Hader	Nick MartinezL3:29	Steven Wilson	Tim Hill, Tom Cosgrove, Brent HoneywellL3:32, Domingo TapiaL3:12	Drew CarltonL3:36
SEA	NYY	Logan Gilbert	Paul SewaldL3:15	Justin TopaL3:36	Trevor GottL3:21	Matt BrashL3:9, Gabe SpeierL3:17, Tayler SaucedoL3:20, Juan ThenL3:29	Chris FlexenL3:38
SFG	PIT	John Brebbia**	Camilo DovalL3:29	Tyler RogersL3:16	John Brebbia	Taylor RogersL3:10, Scott Alexander, Jakob Junis, Ryan WalkerL3:16	Sean Manaea
STL	KCR	Miles Mikolas	Ryan HelsleyL3:33, Giovanny GallegosL3:5	Jordan HicksL3:23	Andre PallanteL3:18	Génesis CabreraL3:3, Drew VerHagenL3:40, Chris StrattonL3:8	Steven MatzL3:50
TBR	@CHC	Shane McClanahan	Jason AdamL3:38	Colin PocheL3:22	Kevin KellyL3:12	Jalen BeeksL3:19, Jake DiekmanL3:10, Calvin Faucher, Trevor KelleyL3:45	Joe La SorsaL3:32
TEX	@DET	Martín Pérez	Will SmithL3:26	Brock BurkeL3:25	José LeclercL3:13	Jonathan HernándezL3:25, Josh SborzL3:11, Joe BarlowL3:12, Cole RagansL3:28, Grant Anderson	John KingL3:4
TOR	MIL	Yusei Kikuchi	Jordan RomanoL3:16	Erik SwansonL3:18	Nate Pearson	Tim Mayza, Trevor RichardsL3:24, Adam CimberL3:26, Yimi GarcíaL3:20	Anthony BassL3:21
WSN	@LAD	Jake Irvin	Kyle FinneganL3:22, Hunter HarveyL3:19		Carl Edwards Jr.L3:18	Andrés Machado, Mason ThompsonL3:19, Chad KuhlL3:27, Erasmo RamírezL3:8	Thaddeus WardL3:30

TRANSACTIONS

Date	Team	Player	Category	Description
5/29	CHW	Liam Hendriks	INJURIES	Activated from 15-Day IL
5/29	TBR	Trevor Kelley	PROMOTION	Recalled from minors
5/29	TEX	Grant Anderson	PROMOTION	Contract selected from minors

Hey everyone,
Over the last 5 days I've gone from each teams subreddit when they would be up to pick in the draft and poll that team on who they would pick with the those who are available. Had some pretty interesting picks that I wasn't expecting and I hope you all enjoy the results.
A couple of disclaimers

1. These are not my selections but are the results of the vote from the subreddit.
2. I can not facilitate a trade here so saying "we would trade this pick" meant nothing in this exercise...
3. Hornets subreddit immediately locked both of my attempts at pick 2 and pick 27. I attempted to contact the subreddits mods but received no response after 2 hours of waiting each time. So the pick defaulted to BPA for 2nd and 27th was kind of just a guess. Sorry if you disagree but best I could do, get more responsive mods.
4. Raptors pick was made as BPA since there were no replies after 2 hours. (unsure if there were issues since I could find the post in their subreddit but it had no views)
5. Heat post was locked after 10 minutes and again I received no response back from mods as to why or unlocking it. Only 6 votes had been cast at that time. I still took the leader but it was only by 1 vote at that time.
6. Voting time frame was a bit shorter early on than what I wish it could have been, but even with 1 hr for the first 20 it took 3 days to get through and I didn't want to take 2 weeks on it. (only 1 pick would have changed if the voting process had gone out past 12 hours and that would have been Utah taking Keonte George at 16).

*** Thats it before the results, sorry for the novel before hand, but I felt there were some clarifications I needed to make before posting.

1. Spurs- Wemby
2. Hornets - Scoot
3. Trailblazers- Miller
4. Rockets - Amen Thompson
5. Pistons- Ausar Thompson (in an extremely close vote).
6. Magic - Taylor Hendricks
7. Pacers - Jarace Walker
8. Wizard - Cam Whitmore
9. Jazz - Anthony Black
10. Mavericks - Gradey Dick (Super close and I actually had to extend the timer due to a tie multiple times.
11. Magic -Jordan Hawkins
12. OKC - Leonard Miller
13. Raptors - Cason Wallace (had zero replies after 2 hours and so they defaulted to BPA)
14. Pelicans - GG Jackson
15. Atlanta - Dereck Lively II
16. Jazz - Jalen Hood-Schifino
17. Lakers - Kobe Bufkin
18. Heat - Dariq White head
19. Warriors - Bilal Coulibali
20. Rockets - Nick Smith Jr.
21. Nets - Keyonta George
22. Nets - Brice Sensabaugh
23. Trailblazers - James Nnaji
24. Kings - Kris Murray
25. Grizzlies - Trayce Jackson-Davis
26. Pacers - Jett Howard
27. Hornets - Sidy Cissoko
28. Jazz - Rayan Rupert
29. Pacers - Bobi Klintman
30. Brandin Podziemski

These should be spoiler-free reviews (those go live on June 2nd), but there's no guarantee that every review will be spoiler free. This thread will aim to capture as many reviews as possible. Please feel free to leave comments with any reviews and I will attempt to add them as quickly as I can!

Game Information

Game Title: Diablo IV
Platforms:

• PlayStation 5 (Jun 6, 2023)
• PlayStation 4 (Jun 6, 2023)
• PC (Jun 6, 2023)
• Xbox Series X/S (Jun 6, 2023)
• Xbox One (Jun 6, 2023)

Trailers:

• Diablo IV Launch Live Action Trailer
• Diablo IV Story Launch Trailer
• Diablo IV Gameplay Launch Trailer
• Diablo IV In-Game Intro Cinematic
• Diablo IV Official Release Date Trailer
• Diablo IV Official Gameplay Trailer
• Diablo IV Announce Cinematic By Three They Come

Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Review Aggregator:
OpenCritic - 90 average - 98% recommended - 72 reviews

Critic Reviews

CGMagazine - Brendan Frye - 10 / 10

Diablo IV's dark allure combines ingenious design choices to create an extraordinary Diablo that we couldn't have dreamed possible back in 1997.

Dexerto - Sam Smith - 5 / 5

Diablo 4 is a mighty sequel, but it can feel more like a grand buffet of tasty demon-slaying treats. It offers something for everyone but misses out on that acquired yet curated taste of the older entries. This doesn't take away from Diablo 4 representing the next evolution in the series. It is a stellar sequel – and one that works hard to appeal to every fan of this beloved franchise.

GameSpew - Richard Seagrave - 10 / 10

We had high expectations for Diablo 4, and we’re so happy to say that Blizzard has smashed them. This is a title that takes Diablo 3’s meaningful quality-of-life improvements and expands upon them with aplomb, while also bringing back the much-loved look and feel of Diablo 2. All the while, it’s not too focused on the past, taking the series into open world territory and making it more story-led than ever before. And what a story it tells: we never expected to be so invested. But more importantly, we can’t wait to start a new character and jump once again into the endgame. Diablo 4 is devilishly good – the best Diablo game yet, in fact – and it only stands to get better.

GamesRadar+ - Josh West - 5 / 5

"After sacrificing nearly 100 hours of my life to Diablo 4, I've barely scratched the surface of what it has to offer"

GamingTrend - Cassie Peterson, Ron Burke - 100 / 100

Diablo IV represents a massive shift for the series, moving to a more inclusive and open world that is somehow as inviting for new players as returning veterans. Complexity is mixed with flexibility to create a game that is sure to consume you for hundreds if not thousands of hours. Diablo IV is the game we've been waiting for, and a return to form for the Blizzard team.

PCGamesN - Lauren Bergin - 10 / 10

Diablo 4 embodies the essence of what makes Diablo so great, taking the best elements of its predecessors and sewing them together to create an ever-changing, ever-evolving chimera that we can't wait to play for years to come.

VGC - Jordan Middler - 5 / 5

Diablo 4's always-online requirement is a shame, and a few of the classes are somewhat slow to kick into high gear, but we're only able to muster minor complaints for what is easily a game-of-the-year frontrunner, and Blizzard’s best game since Diablo 3.

VideoGamer - Ford James - 10 / 10

Diablo 4 feels like the apex of the series, bringing together everything great about the previous entries. It isn't without its minor flaws, and the success of the endgame content is still up in the air, but for once Diablo has a gripping story, phenomenal graphics, and a gameplay loop that doesn't innovate too much but is certainly better than its predecessor.

Windows Central - Jez Corden - 5 / 5

Simply put, Diablo 4 may be Blizzard's best-ever game, and that's a really tough legacy to live up to. Immaculate storytelling meets stunning art, polished, bug-free gameplay, atop endlessly customizable combat with the promise of dozens, maybe hundreds of hours of content — Diablo 4 might be Blizzard's most important, pivotal game since World of Warcraft. Do yourself a favor and go in completely blind. Even if you're not a typical fan of isometric action RPGs, I'm confident that you won't be disappointed.

Multiplayer First - Vitor Braz - 9.5 / 10

Do yourself a favor: ditch your reservations and step into Sanctuary as soon as you can. It’s likely going to be literal hell during the launch queues, but you’ll have a beautifully grim and visceral adventure ahead, one where every leveling up sound will feel like music to your ears. Enjoy it to the best of your possibilities because an action-RPG of this caliber may only arrive in another decade or so, and missing out on Diablo 4 would be something that may just reserve you a spot in hell.

Oyungezer Online - Can Arabacı - Turkish - 9.5 / 10

Diablo IV is definitely one of the best games Blizzard has ever made. And possibly the best story they've ever told.

Rectify Gaming - Rebecca Ellis - 9.5 / 10

Diablo IV will usher a new generation of action RPGs into the modern era with its brilliance.

Seasoned Gaming - Ainsley Bowden - 9.5 / 10

Diablo 4 is a masterpiece. It's the culmination of decades of ARPG refinement and evolution, and it manages to pay homage to the IP's legendary namesake while successfully integrating modern RPG elements.

TechRaptor - Austin Suther - 9.5 / 10

Diablo IV might just go down as one of Blizzard's best games. It delivers exciting and accessible ARPG gameplay, a stunning world and engaging narrative to experience, and so many activities to keep you hooked for hours on end.

XboxEra - Jesse Norris - 9.5 / 10

Diablo IV is a triumph. It fulfills its promise, combining the aesthetics and feeling of Diablo II with the fantastic gameplay of III. It is dark and gory, featuring a meaty campaign and endgame that should delight fans of the series for hundreds if not thousands of hours.

ZTGD - Terrence Johnson - 9.5 / 10

Diablo 4 is a massive game dropping in a year chock FULL of massive games. 2023 has already seen Nintendo’s behemoth drop by way of Tears of the Kingdom which has been dominating charts and peoples’ times. Now Diablo 4 is going to come bursting in and demanding that same type of time commitment with a sprawling game world to explore on foot or horseback. Between dungeons, world events, side quests and even the main quests players will never be too far from something interesting to inspect or kill in Sanctuary. Diablo 4 feels like a wonderful homecoming, with its darker tone and sublime cutscenes which Blizzard has always been wonderful at; the whole game just feels like a love letter to us fans who have waited so long to return to Hell and defeat its denizens once more.

COGconnected - Mark Steighner - 94 / 100

Diablo IV is the true successor to the second game, returning the franchise to its dark, gothic roots with a wild, operatic narrative and bold characters. Gameplay is as addictive as ever, and the sprawling campaign is only the start of a massive amount of content to experience. While Blizzard keeps nudging Diablo’s design towards MMORPG-style multiplayer and co-op, there’s no lack of fun for solo players, even if some bosses are better with friends. With off-the-charts production values and compelling characters and combat, Diablo IV is just about as good as the genre can get.

GamePro - Kevin Itzinger - German - 94 / 100

With Diablo 4, Blizzard has created a genre masterpiece that does almost everything right.

Fextralife - Fexelea - 9.3 / 10

Diablo 4 is an excellent game and a fantastic next step for the ARPG genre. Smartly melding Open World and Online elements with traditional dungeon crawling and loot farming, this game will become the favorite time-sink of millions for years to come.

Marooners' Rock - Andrew Peggs - 9.2 / 10

Diablo IV has done a good job of delivering an exciting and enjoyable storyline and providing hours of exciting entertainment, whether playing alone or with companions.

ComicBook.com - Adam Barnhardt - 4.5 / 5

Diablo 4 is perfect for both franchise mainstays and newcomers alike. The lore of Sanctuary expands drastically while the game, story and all, is large enough to keep new players busy. The game is built to allow the developers to scale it with ease with battle passes and seasons for a new generation, but it's nowhere close to being empty.

Forbes - Paul Tassi - 9 / 10

Though in theory, an “endgame” playthrough of Diablo 4 is probably 100-200 hours across a larger span of classes, I feel like I can judge what I’ve seen. My impressions are overwhelmingly positive based on what I’ve experienced so far, from the map to the gameplay to the new systems to even the story, which I was not expecting. Blizzard really seems like they’ve nailed this, and I’m going to say the only way this will be poorly received at launch is if technical issues kill people’s ability to play. But once it gets rolling? Yes, I think you’re going to like Diablo 4.

GGRecon - Joshua Boyles - 4.5 / 5

Diablo 4 has taken everything that fans love about the ARPG format and elevated it to new heights. With a fascinating world to explore, a strong cast of characters, and purposeful combat, it sets a new standard for the genre.
The wheel hasn’t been reinvented, and is remains to be seen how the series will adapt to a live service model. Nevertheless, anyone picking up Diablo 4 at launch will find themselves playing a very strong package with plenty of promise.

GRYOnline.pl - Hubert Sosnowski - Polish - 9 / 10

What are we getting? An excellent game that reeks of a game-as-a-service, with tons of satisfying content. Diablo 4 looks like the best hack’n’slash on the market. The best h’n’s for me, a guy well versed in three previous Diablos, Divine Divinity and a bit of Grim Dawn.

Game Rant - Shane Robert Moyer - 4.5 / 5

Blizzard has taken twenty years of game design lessons and put all of them into Diablo 4. The variety of things to do in the game and the plethora of build choices feel like they come from a company that has experienced the highest highs and lowest lows in game development and taken some of those hard-learned lessons to heart. There is a lot of love built into every aspect of Diablo 4, and users will find it in every system and corner of Sanctuary. With the first simultaneous release on PC and consoles in the series' history, Diablo players are finally getting back into the fight between Heaven and Hell, and they will more than likely still be fighting for many years to come.

God is a Geek - Mick Fraser - 9 / 10

Diablo 4 may not be the huge leap forward some were hoping for, but it still offers an incredible adventure through a dark, compelling world.

Hardcore Gamer - Chris Shive - 4.5 / 5

Based on the franchise's history, Diablo IV has large boots to fill, but does an admiral job of meeting this longtime fan's expectations.

Hobby Consolas - David Rodriguez - Spanish - 90 / 100

Diablo 4 is the triumphant return of the saga. The game manages to bring back the dark style of Diablo II while boasting a good narrative, gameplay as addictive as ever and some interesting novelties. It only remains to be seen how Blizzard will keep the game, but we can say that the time-eater has returned in style.

IGN - Travis Northup - 9 / 10

Diablo 4 is a stunning sequel with near perfect endgame and progression design that makes it absolutely excruciating to put down.

IGN Spain - Álex Pareja - Spanish - 9 / 10

Diablo IV is tremendously addictive, its combat is formidable and the character building is excellent. More MMO than ever in a new path for the saga.

INVEN - Jaihoon Jeong - Korean - 9 / 10

While the fusion of Diablo franchise and the open world sounded rather unfamiliar at first, the game has succeeded in capturing the charm of both. You can't say the game is perfect as of its initial release, Diablo4 still is one of the strongest quarter view action RPGs.

Kakuchopurei - Jonathan Leo - 90 / 100

[Diablo 4] looks and feels great to play, it's full of content without being way too overburdened with systems and age-old mechanics, it's accessible but also gets really hard and challenging for action RPG standards, and it's really great with more people in your party, with a good amount of classes to play around with and tailor to your playstyle. A highly-polished loot-filled gateway drug for newbies and veterans alike; not terribly innovative but incredibly fun to get into.

Merlin'in Kazanı - Samet Basri Taşlı - Turkish - 90 / 100

Diablo IV has successfully brought everything we wished to be in the 3rd game and has the potential to be the best game in the series.

Niche Gamer - Jonathan White - 9 / 10

It ain’t perfect, but provided they continue the course Diablo IV is currently on, this might be the game that bridges the gap and makes Diablo the most accessible and ultimately the most fun it has ever been to players from any background.

Press Start - Harry Kalogirou - 9 / 10

Diablo IV is an unquestionable win for Blizzard and one of their foundational franchises when it needed it most. An unrelenting commitment to vision, redefined Sanctuary, never-ending player progression, and excellent boss fights are just a few of the reasons Diablo IV isn't held back by uneven pacing and recycled content.

Prima Games - Daphne Fama - 9 / 10

Diablo IV is a game with a deeply involved combat system, a complex and well-established world, and all the hallmarks of my next gaming obsession.

Pure Xbox - Liam Doolan - 9 / 10

You can see why it's taken Blizzard over six years to get this one out the gate when you look at the end product. Diablo 4 is a natural evolution of the series with its new open-world design and gameplay, enhanced social and multiplayer experience, and a live service that promises to keep players returning to the world of Sanctuary for years to come. These strong foundations and scale of the whole experience, combined with the five unique classes and seemingly limitless customisation options for builds, should keep even the most diehard demon slayers busy for a very long time. With all of this in consideration, Diablo 4 is a must-play if you're a veteran of the series and it's a great starting point for newcomers. We can't wait to jump back in! Now, fingers crossed we just don't have another 'Error 37' at launch.

Push Square - Khayl Adam - 9 / 10

Diablo 4 is the true successor to the bad old days of action RPGs and oozes quality in its frenetic combat and deep, engaging character development. It tells a complex, gritty narrative set in the darkly beautiful world of Sanctuary. Even better, it provides a solid foundation for years of Diablo content to come.

Screen Rant - Carrie Lambertsen - 4.5 / 5

Ultimately, Diablo 4 is a must-play experience for any fan of dungeon-crawler ARPGs.

Sirus Gaming - Kimberly Mae Go - 9 / 10

Diablo 4 presents an epic and visually stunning adventure, enveloping players in a cinematic journey through its immersive open-world. While some areas, like repetitive dungeons and class imbalances, leave room for improvement; Blizzard has laid a solid groundwork that sparks excitement for further exploration of the vast realm of Sanctuary.

TrueGaming - Arabic - 9 / 10

Diablo IV brings you a captivating story, a lot of freedom in your class building and a massive world full of monsters to pulverize and dungeons to explore that will keep you playing for lots of hours to come.

Twinfinite - Zhiqing Wan - 4.5 / 5

An incredible looter experience overall. I cannot overstate just how satisfying it is to play Diablo IV on a moment-to-moment basis, and with so much replay value to be had from its various classes and build possibilities within those classes, Diablo IV feels like a true return to form for the series.

We Got This Covered - David Morgan - 4.5 / 5

Diablo IV tows several lines masterfully, be it in its mechanical complexity or the moral ambiguity of its plot. Its greatest achievement, however, is being a great Diablo game.

GAMES.CH - Steffen Haubner - German - 89%

The irresistible gloom is now no longer opposed by hurdles in the form of confusing item and skill management. We enthusiastically throw ourselves against Lilith's hordes and once again sink hour after hour into perfecting our character. Overall, however, there could have been a bit more innovation.

Geek Culture - Jake Su - 8.6 / 10

The worry remaining is that the balance needs to be struck well in order to maintain Diablo IV as a viable and long-lasting adventure that doesn’t lose its freshness or that the incessant rush to get more powerful gear becomes a chore rather than a thrill. At this juncture, there’s much for players both old and new to dive into, making combat and exploration exciting times, all while pushing the story forward in a new chapter for Sanctuary. The hope is that this will last, and that Blizzard will continue to support the game in all ways. After all, Lilith is coming, and all hail the Mother.

DualShockers - Emma Ward - 8.5 / 10

Your favorite Action Role Playing Game is back and bloodier than ever. Diablo 4 improves upon nearly every core gameplay mechanic from Diablo 3 while introducing a few great quality-of-life features that make this journey to Sanctuary the best yet. While some of the quest systems seem dated, the main story is delivered beautifully, breathing new life into the series.

Everyeye.it - Antonello Gaeta - Italian - 8.5 / 10

Diablo 4 is a canvas on which developers could, over the next few months, paint a true masterpiece.

Gamer Guides - Nathan Garvin - 8.5 / 10

With a compelling new antagonist, a serviceable, character-driven story, and a familiarly satisfying gameplay loop with an incredible amount of depth, Diablo 4 is a worthy entry into the franchise that threatens to burn away many hours of your life.

PSX Brasil - Paulo Roberto Montanaro - Portuguese - 85 / 100

Diablo IV is, without a doubt, a great success that takes the best of its previous iterations, especially Diablo II, and takes advantage of the potential of an intense open world. With mechanics refined for today, hundreds of hours of gameplay, and the promise of an aggressive post-launch content, this game is the ultimate in the eternal battle between evil and… the other party.

Wccftech - Alessio Palumbo - 8.5 / 10

Diablo IV is a return to form at a much needed time for Blizzard. It delivers incredibly fun hack and slash action combat, a greatly improved skill system, and a ton of things to do, not to mention the best story told in the franchise yet. It also looks awesome, sounds great, and runs well (except for rare instances of traversal stuttering).

WellPlayed - Ash Wayling - 8.5 / 10

Diablo IV is a must-play for fans of the series and newcomers alike. It invites you to lose yourself in a world of darkness and embark on a thrilling journey filled with relentless battles, captivating storytelling, and a hauntingly beautiful audio-visual symphony. Just ignore the extraneous limb reaching for your wallet.

Xbox Achievements - Dan Webb - 85%

Diablo IV boasts a new look, with its new open-world and online format, but at its heart, it’s very much a classic Diablo experience. A little old-school still, sure, but the core combat is still as fun and addictive as ever, and there’s RPG mechanics for days to sink your teeth into. What’s not to love?

Destructoid - Timothy Monbleau - 8 / 10

Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.

Digital Trends - Gabriel Moss - 4 / 5

Diablo 4's wealth of loot and meaningful customization systems make up for most of its frustrating MMO concessions.

GameSpot - Alessandro Barbosa - 8 / 10

Diablo IV's surprisingly moving and engrossing story encapsulates gameplay systems that have learnt all the right lessons from entries past.

Gameblog - French - 8 / 10

Diablo 4 is extremely generous. A clear evolution of the franchise and a real comeback.

GamesHub - Emily Spindler - 4 / 5

Diablo 4 is a behemoth of a game, boasting a gothic world that goes beyond the engaging hack-and-slash gameplay loop.

PlayStation Universe - Neil Bolt - 8 / 10

Diablo IV takes the series to new heights, but also spends plenty of time covering familar ground. The compelling rush for loot is as strong as it has ever been, and visually, the game is spectacular. It doesn't exactly feel like a massive leap from Diablo III yet its focus on the series' core strengths ensures that's likely more than enough for long-time fans.

Saudi Gamer - Arabic - 8 / 10

So far, the Diablo 4 experience has been nothing short of very good, the story has been very interesting and it finally returns to what distinguished the series in terms of storytelling before the release of the third installment. The game offered a very solid base of content, activities, addictive gameplay, and a variety of character-building ways that any Action RPG should offer. This is knowing that there are some important issues that appeared at the beginning of the experiment as we mentioned in the full review.

Shacknews - Josh Broadwell - 8 / 10

Blizzard opts for refinement over innovation with Diablo 4, but it's still a devilishly good time.

Siliconera - Kazuma Hashimoto - 8 / 10

Diablo IV features a compelling antagonist in Lilith, and while it tries to present more interesting ideas into the series by the way of story, it ends up retreading old ground in more ways than one.

VG247 - Connor Makar - 4 / 5

It's a damn good entry to the series as a whole, and will give the vast majority of its players a bloody good time.

LevelUp - Luis Sánchez - Spanish - 7 / 10

Diablo IV remained stuck in the past while trying to find innovation without generating friction with fans who have played the franchise for over two decades; It feels like the ghost of Diablo Immortal continues to haunt the halls of Blizzard. The game is more of a reinvention of the classic experience, focusing on a games-as-a-service format to ensure another decade of content for Diablo.

Ars Technica - Aaron Zimmerman - Unscored

Each class has a gimmick-or "specialization"-that unlocks as you progress through the game. The Barbarian, for instance, can lug around a huge arsenal of weapons and gains "expertise" with each as you use them, granting buffs and special effects. The Necromancer can choose between different types of minions or sacrifice them to extract their power. The Rogue has three specialization options, one of which is a WoW-like combo-points system. Every class has its own personality and quirks, and they're all a blast to play.

Checkpoint Gaming - Elliot Attard - Unscored

Whilst Diablo IV could have done more to advance the genre or perfect its writing and tone across the entire experience, there’s no denying just how impactful this release is, especially for those of us who grew up alongside the series.

Console Creatures - David Pietrangelo - Recommended

Diablo 4 is an impressive and massive conquest of demons, loot, exploration, and wildly fun mechanics. It's already clear that this game brings tons of new content to the franchise and handles it incredibly well.

Game Informer - Marcus Stewart - Unscored

While it remains to be seen how the experience handles the incoming flood of players once the lights are turned on, I think Diablo fans, old and new, are in for a treat.

PC Gamer - Tyler Colp - Unscored

An exciting, modern version of Diablo is in here—I can see parts of it poking through the surface—but I'm starting to lose patience waiting for it to show its face.

Polygon - Alexis Ong - Unscored

More busywork doesn’t lessen the series-signature lootfest appeal

Rock, Paper, Shotgun - Alice Bell - Unscored

Diablo IV is a beautiful, frictionless grey toybox that puts nothing in the way of you playing it for hours and wondering what you've done with your life.

SIFTER - Adam Christou - Worth your time

Diablo IV offers a strong opening impression. It has a rich, detailed story campaign, filled with spectacle and gore. Its combat and game-feel is so satisfying. The classes feel distinct and play quite differently from each other. It feels so good to burst down screens of demons with spells and swords. Will it live up to other competitors in the ARPG space? It’s too soon to tell, but what’s here so far is extremely promising especially for players looking to enjoy an impressive horror story.

Others from comments (may be duplicate)

Gaming Review Sites

• GameRant: 4.5/5 https://gamerant.com/diablo-4-review/
• WindowsCentral: 5/5 https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/diablo-4-review
• WGTC: https://wegotthiscovered.com/reviews/review-diablo-iv-is-a-complex-and-beautiful-hell/
• Video Games Chronicle: 5/5 https://www.videogameschronicle.com/review/diablo-4/
• TechRadar: 5/5 https://www.techradar.com/reviews/diablo-4-review
• Destructoid: 8/10 https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-diablo-4/

YouTube Reviews

• DM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4Wajt6hcGY
• Fextralife https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs4SDn7HP_8
• Dbrunski https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW2Ur3bDeKo
• Force https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ay_3bp29ds
• IGN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZTeEGhqh-k
• EuroGamer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNO-M-yCcRU
• Slaydra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZWtUEauGHc
• Press Start Australia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7iDTOyrECQ
• Khraze: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9vVncU-iVE
• Datmodz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PNsyFql5I4
• Gamespot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_S9rnIUQ3I
• Seasoned Gaming: https://youtu.be/Mz0cxdx2a_Y
• Rhykker: https://youtu.be/WJM3y-4tDhQ

Non-English Reviews

• Gamestar (German) https://www.gamestar.de/artikel/diablo-4-test-review-wertung,3394628.html GamePro from Germany gave 94/100:
• GamePro (German) https://www.gamepro.de/artikel/diablo-4-test-review,3394866,wertung.html
• Jeuxvideo.com (French) 17/20: https://www.jeuxvideo.com/test/1755365/diablo-4-le-meilleur-de-tous-les-episodes-de-la-saga.htm

Game Information

Game Title: Street Fighter 6
Platforms:

• PC (Jun 2, 2023)
  
• Xbox Series X/S (Jun 2, 2023)
  
• PlayStation 5 (Jun 2, 2023)
  
• PlayStation 4 (Jun 2, 2023)
  

Trailers:
Street Fighter 6 - Launch Trailer
Street Fighter 6 - Your Story Trailer
Street Fighter 6 - Pre-Order Trailer
Street Fighter 6 - Announce Trailer
Developer: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Publisher: CAPCOM CO. LTD
Review Aggregator:
OpenCritic - 92 average - 99% recommended - 86 reviews
Critic Reviews
Checkpoint Gaming - Luke Mitchell - 8.5 / 10

Street Fighter 6 provides the fast and furious action you'd expect from the refined fighting series, offering a dynamic cast of characters, new control modes to make it more accessible, and a variety of features to keep you busy. Its story mode is a campy take on the Street Fighter universe that doesn't always land the winning blow, however; while it's filled with distractions and civilian fighters to take on, it can be a little repetitive and shallow. Still, the technical foundations that Street Fighter stands on are as solid as ever, and with a whole world to battle online, there's a lot of fighting on the menu in what is once again a polished, exciting fighting experience that will keep fans engaged for years.

Console Creatures - Patrick Tremblay - Recommended

Without a doubt, Street Fighter 6 is the best and most accessible entry in the long-running series. Anyone can jump in, and there is a lot of content to keep you busy and practicing on the road to World Champion.

Cultured Vultures - Ash Bates - 10 / 10

A sublime fighting game masterpiece from a company at the peak of their powers, Street Fighter 6 is utterly incredible.

Destructoid - Chris Moyse - 9.5 / 10

Simply put, Street Fighter 6 is one of the very best entries in series history.

Eurogamer - Wesley Yin-Poole - Recommended

Street Fighter 6 rights the wrongs of its predecessor while dragging the famous fighting game franchise kicking and screaming into the modern era.

Fextralife - Castielle - 8.4 / 10

Capcom delivers and checks the majority of the boxes when it comes to the classic and new features of Street Fighter 6. It heads down a different direction making it more casual while maintaining the core values of the game, allowing it to be a mainstream fighting game for all players. However, with its awkward performance on the PlayStation 4. The concern is, will World Tour have more content and will the performance issues be fixed. We hope these will be addressed. In the meantime, it is recommended to play Street Fighter 6 on current-gen consoles and PC to fully appreciate and enjoy this game.

GamesHub - Edmond Tran - 5 / 5

Street Fighter 6 is an exceedingly good fighting game. But more than that, it’s an excellent training tool. It’s a fulfilling adventure. It’s a lively community gathering place. It’s an endearingly idealistic and inspiring world of appreciation for martial arts and friendly competition, exceptionally executed in every respect.

GameGrin - Mike Crewe - 9.5 / 10

The most complete Street Fighter title to date, Street Fighter 6 is a must-play for fighting game fans, and one to consider even if you're not familiar with the genre. An engaging, stylish beat 'em up that could well be king of the mountain for years to come.

Game Informer - Elijah Gonzalez - 9.5 / 10

Between its cohesive aesthetic, the bounty of clever features, and crisp central gameplay, it’s one of the most impressive entries the genre has seen in some time.

GamesRadar+ - Andi Hamilton - 5 / 5

Street Fighter 6 offers the most flexible, versatile, and expressive combat seen in the series to date. With its fantastic suite of game modes and diverse character roster, Street Fighter 6 has something to offer every type of fighting game fan.

GameSpot - Jason Fanelli - 9 / 10

Capcom's flagship fighter is back in form with intricate but approachable fighting mechanics and a feature-rich package.

Gaming Nexus - Joseph Moorer - 10 / 10

Capcom has given us a complete game right out of the box. The single player experiences are enormous. The online experience is perfect. Street Fighter lore is littered in every nook and cranny of this game. There are modes and modes within modes. This is one of the best Street Fighter games in the history of the franchise. If Capcom hurt you in the past, this is their apology. Street Fighter 6 is a new classic that people will be playing for years to come.

GamingTrend - Jack Zustiak and Abdul Saad - 95 / 100

Street Fighter 6 takes the series to the next stage with a wildly fun fighting system that emphasizes personal choice. Each mainline Street Fighter tends to define its era of fighting games in some way, and Street Fighter 6 confidently steps forward to that next era. From its battle system to its bevvy of modes such as World Tour, it dives deep into everything that makes fighting games great.

GGRecon - Jack Roberts - 4.5 / 5

With a slew of fighting games on the horizon like Tekken 8 and the recently announced Mortal Kombat 1, Street Fighter 6 is leading the charge in the most vibrant way possible. With a series of character guides, story campaigns for classic characters and a fantastic open world for you to take the fight to the streets, it feels like everything I could have asked for from a modern Street Fighter entry.
Despite being the sixth game in the mainline series, Street Fighter 6 is easily one of the most accessible and makes for a fantastic entry point for newer players, while still resonating with series veterans.

Glitched Africa - Marco Cocomello - 9.5 / 10

Street Fighter 6 could be the best fighting game I have played in a very long time. I am no master at these games and I don’t run out to buy them at launch. However, the game is very fun to play and its real draw for me was its accessibility. I felt good at it even though I really wasn’t. Of course, this is also completely optional too so if you’re a veteran, you’ll enjoy this just as much as noob.

God is a Geek - Sean Smith - 10 / 10

Street Fighter 6 is without question the best fighting game package I have ever played, and will keep you going far longer than a one-on-one fighter has any right to be able to. A true classic.

IGN - Mitchell Saltzman - 9 / 10

Street Fighter 6 is the most feature-rich a Street Fighter has ever been at launch, but even beyond that, it's roster of 18 characters is excellent, the new mechanics revitalize the one-on-one fighting formula, and it absolutely nails all of the little things that make for a stellar fighting game.

Inverse - De'Angelo Epps - 10 / 10

Capcom’s latest takes everything you’d expect from the father of the fighting genre and turns it up to 10. There’s something for everyone here, with no fat or filler to ruin the experience. Street Fighter 6 is the best fighting game experience in a long time, and in the years to come, its impact and legacy could be every bit as massive as Street Fighter 2.

Kotaku - Kenneth Shepard - Unscored

It’s a sublime fighter that makes smart changes that honor what makes the series great.

Metro GameCentral - GameCentral - 9 / 10

A far better launch experience than its predecessor, with an excellent fighting system and a wide range of options and features that transcend the usual genre traditions.

MonsterVine - Spencer Legacy - 4.5 / 5

Street Fighter 6 is a grand fighting game experience that just keeps building on the series’ strong foundation. Though the World Tour mode and new characters aren’t as stand-out as they could be, the core gameplay is excellent and there’s plenty to enjoy.

Nexus Hub - Keegan Govender - 9 / 10

Street Fighter 6 is not just a comeback for Capcom, but for fighting games entering next-generation consoles as a whole. It feels like a passion project made by a group of people who were tasked by Capcom to make the last Street Fighter we would ever want to play. With its fast-paced gameplay, beautifully implemented new mechanics, and timeless visuals, Street Fighter 6 has solidified itself among the fighting game hall of fame.

Niche Gamer - NECRO XIII - 9 / 10

Ultimately, Street Fighter 6 delivers the fun and proves to be one of the most engaging fighting games of the year and of most recent memory.

PCGamesN - Christian Vaz - 9 / 10

This is the first Street Fighter game in a long time where it feels like players of all skill levels are welcome. While World Tour mode is disappointing, the sheer scope of SF6 means you don't need to wait for the inevitable Ultra Edition before jumping in.

PC Gamer - Mollie Taylor - 89 / 100

Minor technical issues and questionable monetisation scuff what is otherwise one of the best fighting games we've seen in the last decade.

Polygon - Axel Bosso - Unscored

Street Fighter 6 is the ultimate fighting game toolbox

Press Start - James Mitchell - 9 / 10

Street Fighter 6 rights the wrongs of its past with multiple modes for every player and strong battle systems like no other. It invites new players into the fold with well implemented, simpler control schemes, without losing sight of the hardcore player. The World Tour mode won't be for everyone, but Street Fighter 6 stands tall as one of the best fighters Capcom has made.

PowerUp! - Charbel Asmar - 9 / 10

At launch, Street Fighter 6 is set to take the fighting game genre to another level

Prima Games - Matt Vatankhah - 9.5 / 10

In a sense, Street Fighter VI is the full package. It’s a three-course meal and then some, filling you up to the brim and serving you every dish on the dessert menu whether you’re ready for the check or not. It’s bursting with style, swagger, and abundant sophistication, and it’s the perfect entry for newcomers and veterans alike.

Push Square - Sammy Barker - 9 / 10

Street Fighter 6 is an absolute humdinger of a sequel. Capcom has created a fighting system that has all of the tactical depth professional players expect but managed to make it fairly easy for casuals to wrap their heads around. Not only that, it's introduced smart ways to onboard newcomers, including a simplified control scheme and a great suite of tutorials, which even extend to the impressively enjoyable RPG-inspired single player story mode. A strong roster of starting characters, near-flawless rollback netcode, and a seemingly never-ending selection of content – including interactive online lobbies with playable retro games – round out another unbelievably impressive effort from the seemingly unstoppable Japanese publisher.

Rock, Paper, Shotgun - Unscored

Smooth online matches and an impressively in-depth story already put Street Fighter 6 leagues above the competition.

Shacknews - TJ Denzer - 9 / 10

All-in-all, this game rekindled my love of the franchise, and I can’t wait to see how Street Fighter 6 grows over time.

TechRaptor - Robert Scarpinito - 9 / 10

Street Fighter 6 is one of the easiest on-ramps to the deep world of fighting games, appealing to casual players and veterans alike. With a diverse roster, meaty gameplay, and flashy animations, this will be a FGC staple for years to come.

The Outerhaven Productions - 4 / 5

Street Fighter 6 takes all the mistakes made with Street Fighter V and tries to not make them again. From the one on one traditional fights that we know, have been improved thanks to the addition of the Drive Gage mechanics, to the online modes where a lot of people are going to play. There is very little that Street Fighter 6 does that people won't be happy with… Unless you live in Australia… However, the looming nickel-and-dime ride of Season Pass after Season Pass could make things worse down the line. Street Fighter 6 is an easy day-one buy for the hardcore eSports player base, but casual players might want to wait for a year or more for a more complete game before buying.

TheSixthAxis - Nick Petrasiti - 10 / 10

Street Fighter 6 doesn't need recommending to hardcore fighting fans – you all already know how incredible it is – but do I recommend it for more casual players? Street Fighter 6 has a real sense of community, welcoming all players old and new, teaching new tricks and providing something for those that just want a bit of fun. This is truly a fighting game for everyone.

Twinfinite - Keenan McCall - 5 / 5

It’s the epitome of what a fighting game should be, and I can’t wait to see how the series builds off of this return to form

VG247 - Alex Donaldson - 5 / 5

It’s a must-have. And it might just be the most compelling overall fighting game package of all time.

We Got This Covered - David James - 3 / 5

Street Fighter 6 delivers a deep, complex, and satisfying fighting game bristling with fun new characters and an excellent multiplayer mode. Unfortunately, all of that's shackled to a truly terrible single-player RPG that stands as one of the most embarrassing things Capcom has released in years. If you're here for online play, you'll love it. If you want single-player action, stay far away.

Worth Playing - Cody Medellin - 9 / 10

Street Fighter 6 succeeds in its ambition to cram some big things into one fighting game. Battle Hub may be silly, but it has a lot more personality and more to do than most other titles with their own online lobbies. Fighting Ground does a great job of showing off the new roster and improvements to the fighting engine, while placing an equal amount of attention on both offline and online players. World Tour makes for a somewhat nonsensical yet addictive adventure that can serve as a good basis for a full-fledged Street Fighter RPG. All of this is tied together with a presentation that does well in improving what came before it, only with more fidelity and flash. As stated at the beginning of this review, fighting game fans are going to have a good year, and Street Fighter 6 is an excellent component of that.

XboxEra - Nick Baker - 9 / 10

Xbox players have had to wait a long time for Street Fighter to come back to the platform, and luckily got the best iteration yet.

Game Information

Game Title: Street Fighter 6
Platforms:

• PC (Jun 2, 2023)
  
• Xbox Series X/S (Jun 2, 2023)
  
• PlayStation 5 (Jun 2, 2023)
  
• PlayStation 4 (Jun 2, 2023)
  

Trailers:
Street Fighter 6 - Launch Trailer
Street Fighter 6 - Your Story Trailer
Street Fighter 6 - Pre-Order Trailer
Street Fighter 6 - Announce Trailer
Developer: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Publisher: CAPCOM CO. LTD
Review Aggregator:
OpenCritic - 92 average - 99% recommended - 86 reviews
Critic Reviews
Checkpoint Gaming - Luke Mitchell - 8.5 / 10

Street Fighter 6 provides the fast and furious action you'd expect from the refined fighting series, offering a dynamic cast of characters, new control modes to make it more accessible, and a variety of features to keep you busy. Its story mode is a campy take on the Street Fighter universe that doesn't always land the winning blow, however; while it's filled with distractions and civilian fighters to take on, it can be a little repetitive and shallow. Still, the technical foundations that Street Fighter stands on are as solid as ever, and with a whole world to battle online, there's a lot of fighting on the menu in what is once again a polished, exciting fighting experience that will keep fans engaged for years.

Console Creatures - Patrick Tremblay - Recommended

Without a doubt, Street Fighter 6 is the best and most accessible entry in the long-running series. Anyone can jump in, and there is a lot of content to keep you busy and practicing on the road to World Champion.

Cultured Vultures - Ash Bates - 10 / 10

A sublime fighting game masterpiece from a company at the peak of their powers, Street Fighter 6 is utterly incredible.

Destructoid - Chris Moyse - 9.5 / 10

Simply put, Street Fighter 6 is one of the very best entries in series history.

Eurogamer - Wesley Yin-Poole - Recommended

Street Fighter 6 rights the wrongs of its predecessor while dragging the famous fighting game franchise kicking and screaming into the modern era.

Fextralife - Castielle - 8.4 / 10

Capcom delivers and checks the majority of the boxes when it comes to the classic and new features of Street Fighter 6. It heads down a different direction making it more casual while maintaining the core values of the game, allowing it to be a mainstream fighting game for all players. However, with its awkward performance on the PlayStation 4. The concern is, will World Tour have more content and will the performance issues be fixed. We hope these will be addressed. In the meantime, it is recommended to play Street Fighter 6 on current-gen consoles and PC to fully appreciate and enjoy this game.

GamesHub - Edmond Tran - 5 / 5

Street Fighter 6 is an exceedingly good fighting game. But more than that, it’s an excellent training tool. It’s a fulfilling adventure. It’s a lively community gathering place. It’s an endearingly idealistic and inspiring world of appreciation for martial arts and friendly competition, exceptionally executed in every respect.

GameGrin - Mike Crewe - 9.5 / 10

The most complete Street Fighter title to date, Street Fighter 6 is a must-play for fighting game fans, and one to consider even if you're not familiar with the genre. An engaging, stylish beat 'em up that could well be king of the mountain for years to come.

Game Informer - Elijah Gonzalez - 9.5 / 10

Between its cohesive aesthetic, the bounty of clever features, and crisp central gameplay, it’s one of the most impressive entries the genre has seen in some time.

GamesRadar+ - Andi Hamilton - 5 / 5

Street Fighter 6 offers the most flexible, versatile, and expressive combat seen in the series to date. With its fantastic suite of game modes and diverse character roster, Street Fighter 6 has something to offer every type of fighting game fan.

GameSpot - Jason Fanelli - 9 / 10

Capcom's flagship fighter is back in form with intricate but approachable fighting mechanics and a feature-rich package.

Gaming Nexus - Joseph Moorer - 10 / 10

Capcom has given us a complete game right out of the box. The single player experiences are enormous. The online experience is perfect. Street Fighter lore is littered in every nook and cranny of this game. There are modes and modes within modes. This is one of the best Street Fighter games in the history of the franchise. If Capcom hurt you in the past, this is their apology. Street Fighter 6 is a new classic that people will be playing for years to come.

GamingTrend - Jack Zustiak and Abdul Saad - 95 / 100

Street Fighter 6 takes the series to the next stage with a wildly fun fighting system that emphasizes personal choice. Each mainline Street Fighter tends to define its era of fighting games in some way, and Street Fighter 6 confidently steps forward to that next era. From its battle system to its bevvy of modes such as World Tour, it dives deep into everything that makes fighting games great.

GGRecon - Jack Roberts - 4.5 / 5

With a slew of fighting games on the horizon like Tekken 8 and the recently announced Mortal Kombat 1, Street Fighter 6 is leading the charge in the most vibrant way possible. With a series of character guides, story campaigns for classic characters and a fantastic open world for you to take the fight to the streets, it feels like everything I could have asked for from a modern Street Fighter entry.
Despite being the sixth game in the mainline series, Street Fighter 6 is easily one of the most accessible and makes for a fantastic entry point for newer players, while still resonating with series veterans.

Glitched Africa - Marco Cocomello - 9.5 / 10

Street Fighter 6 could be the best fighting game I have played in a very long time. I am no master at these games and I don’t run out to buy them at launch. However, the game is very fun to play and its real draw for me was its accessibility. I felt good at it even though I really wasn’t. Of course, this is also completely optional too so if you’re a veteran, you’ll enjoy this just as much as noob.

God is a Geek - Sean Smith - 10 / 10

Street Fighter 6 is without question the best fighting game package I have ever played, and will keep you going far longer than a one-on-one fighter has any right to be able to. A true classic.

IGN - Mitchell Saltzman - 9 / 10

Street Fighter 6 is the most feature-rich a Street Fighter has ever been at launch, but even beyond that, it's roster of 18 characters is excellent, the new mechanics revitalize the one-on-one fighting formula, and it absolutely nails all of the little things that make for a stellar fighting game.

Inverse - De'Angelo Epps - 10 / 10

Capcom’s latest takes everything you’d expect from the father of the fighting genre and turns it up to 10. There’s something for everyone here, with no fat or filler to ruin the experience. Street Fighter 6 is the best fighting game experience in a long time, and in the years to come, its impact and legacy could be every bit as massive as Street Fighter 2.

Kotaku - Kenneth Shepard - Unscored

It’s a sublime fighter that makes smart changes that honor what makes the series great.

Metro GameCentral - GameCentral - 9 / 10

A far better launch experience than its predecessor, with an excellent fighting system and a wide range of options and features that transcend the usual genre traditions.

MonsterVine - Spencer Legacy - 4.5 / 5

Street Fighter 6 is a grand fighting game experience that just keeps building on the series’ strong foundation. Though the World Tour mode and new characters aren’t as stand-out as they could be, the core gameplay is excellent and there’s plenty to enjoy.

Nexus Hub - Keegan Govender - 9 / 10

Street Fighter 6 is not just a comeback for Capcom, but for fighting games entering next-generation consoles as a whole. It feels like a passion project made by a group of people who were tasked by Capcom to make the last Street Fighter we would ever want to play. With its fast-paced gameplay, beautifully implemented new mechanics, and timeless visuals, Street Fighter 6 has solidified itself among the fighting game hall of fame.

Niche Gamer - NECRO XIII - 9 / 10

Ultimately, Street Fighter 6 delivers the fun and proves to be one of the most engaging fighting games of the year and of most recent memory.

PCGamesN - Christian Vaz - 9 / 10

This is the first Street Fighter game in a long time where it feels like players of all skill levels are welcome. While World Tour mode is disappointing, the sheer scope of SF6 means you don't need to wait for the inevitable Ultra Edition before jumping in.

PC Gamer - Mollie Taylor - 89 / 100

Minor technical issues and questionable monetisation scuff what is otherwise one of the best fighting games we've seen in the last decade.

Polygon - Axel Bosso - Unscored

Street Fighter 6 is the ultimate fighting game toolbox

Press Start - James Mitchell - 9 / 10

Street Fighter 6 rights the wrongs of its past with multiple modes for every player and strong battle systems like no other. It invites new players into the fold with well implemented, simpler control schemes, without losing sight of the hardcore player. The World Tour mode won't be for everyone, but Street Fighter 6 stands tall as one of the best fighters Capcom has made.

PowerUp! - Charbel Asmar - 9 / 10

At launch, Street Fighter 6 is set to take the fighting game genre to another level

Prima Games - Matt Vatankhah - 9.5 / 10

In a sense, Street Fighter VI is the full package. It’s a three-course meal and then some, filling you up to the brim and serving you every dish on the dessert menu whether you’re ready for the check or not. It’s bursting with style, swagger, and abundant sophistication, and it’s the perfect entry for newcomers and veterans alike.

Push Square - Sammy Barker - 9 / 10

Street Fighter 6 is an absolute humdinger of a sequel. Capcom has created a fighting system that has all of the tactical depth professional players expect but managed to make it fairly easy for casuals to wrap their heads around. Not only that, it's introduced smart ways to onboard newcomers, including a simplified control scheme and a great suite of tutorials, which even extend to the impressively enjoyable RPG-inspired single player story mode. A strong roster of starting characters, near-flawless rollback netcode, and a seemingly never-ending selection of content – including interactive online lobbies with playable retro games – round out another unbelievably impressive effort from the seemingly unstoppable Japanese publisher.

Rock, Paper, Shotgun - Unscored

Smooth online matches and an impressively in-depth story already put Street Fighter 6 leagues above the competition.

Shacknews - TJ Denzer - 9 / 10

All-in-all, this game rekindled my love of the franchise, and I can’t wait to see how Street Fighter 6 grows over time.

TechRaptor - Robert Scarpinito - 9 / 10

Street Fighter 6 is one of the easiest on-ramps to the deep world of fighting games, appealing to casual players and veterans alike. With a diverse roster, meaty gameplay, and flashy animations, this will be a FGC staple for years to come.

The Outerhaven Productions - 4 / 5

Street Fighter 6 takes all the mistakes made with Street Fighter V and tries to not make them again. From the one on one traditional fights that we know, have been improved thanks to the addition of the Drive Gage mechanics, to the online modes where a lot of people are going to play. There is very little that Street Fighter 6 does that people won't be happy with… Unless you live in Australia… However, the looming nickel-and-dime ride of Season Pass after Season Pass could make things worse down the line. Street Fighter 6 is an easy day-one buy for the hardcore eSports player base, but casual players might want to wait for a year or more for a more complete game before buying.

TheSixthAxis - Nick Petrasiti - 10 / 10

Street Fighter 6 doesn't need recommending to hardcore fighting fans – you all already know how incredible it is – but do I recommend it for more casual players? Street Fighter 6 has a real sense of community, welcoming all players old and new, teaching new tricks and providing something for those that just want a bit of fun. This is truly a fighting game for everyone.

Twinfinite - Keenan McCall - 5 / 5

It’s the epitome of what a fighting game should be, and I can’t wait to see how the series builds off of this return to form

VG247 - Alex Donaldson - 5 / 5

It’s a must-have. And it might just be the most compelling overall fighting game package of all time.

We Got This Covered - David James - 3 / 5

Street Fighter 6 delivers a deep, complex, and satisfying fighting game bristling with fun new characters and an excellent multiplayer mode. Unfortunately, all of that's shackled to a truly terrible single-player RPG that stands as one of the most embarrassing things Capcom has released in years. If you're here for online play, you'll love it. If you want single-player action, stay far away.

Worth Playing - Cody Medellin - 9 / 10

Street Fighter 6 succeeds in its ambition to cram some big things into one fighting game. Battle Hub may be silly, but it has a lot more personality and more to do than most other titles with their own online lobbies. Fighting Ground does a great job of showing off the new roster and improvements to the fighting engine, while placing an equal amount of attention on both offline and online players. World Tour makes for a somewhat nonsensical yet addictive adventure that can serve as a good basis for a full-fledged Street Fighter RPG. All of this is tied together with a presentation that does well in improving what came before it, only with more fidelity and flash. As stated at the beginning of this review, fighting game fans are going to have a good year, and Street Fighter 6 is an excellent component of that.

XboxEra - Nick Baker - 9 / 10

Xbox players have had to wait a long time for Street Fighter to come back to the platform, and luckily got the best iteration yet.

Game Information

Game Title: Street Fighter 6
Platforms:

• PC (Jun 2, 2023)
• Xbox Series X/S (Jun 1, 2023)
• PlayStation 5 (Jun 1, 2023)
• PlayStation 4 (Jun 1, 2023)

Trailers:

• Street Fighter 6 - Zangief, Lily, and Cammy Gameplay Trailer
• Street Fighter 6 - Pre-Order Trailer
• Street Fighter 6 - Announce Trailer

Developer: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Publisher: CAPCOM CO. LTD
Review Aggregator:
OpenCritic - 91 average - 98% recommended - 42 reviews

Critic Reviews

Atomix - Alberto Desfassiaux - Spanish - 90 / 100

Street Fighter 6 is the redemption of the series. The way it presents a huge amount of content will make fans smile. The only setback is the poor execution of the World Tour.

Bazimag - Hamidreza Ghaneei - Persian - 9.5 / 10

Street Fighter 6 is an exceptional addition to this revered series, poised to secure its longevity for years to come. With its revolutionary combat mechanics and distinctive character designs, this title promises to captivate both players and spectators alike. Moreover, the implementation of novel control systems and offline modes, such as the Word Tour, offers new players a compelling incentive to explore the game. Overall, Street Fighter 6 is a masterpiece that has undoubtedly raised the bar for the entire franchise.

Checkpoint Gaming - Luke Mitchell - 8.5 / 10

Street Fighter 6 provides the fast and furious action you'd expect from the refined fighting series, offering a dynamic cast of characters, new control modes to make it more accessible, and a variety of features to keep you busy. Its story mode is a campy take on the Street Fighter universe that doesn't always land the winning blow, however; while it's filled with distractions and civilian fighters to take on, it can be a little repetitive and shallow. Still, the technical foundations that Street Fighter stands on are as solid as ever, and with a whole world to battle online, there's a lot of fighting on the menu in what is once again a polished, exciting fighting experience that will keep fans engaged for years.

Console Creatures - Patrick Tremblay - Recommended

Without a doubt, Street Fighter 6 is the best and most accessible entry in the long-running series. Anyone can jump in, and there is a lot of content to keep you busy and practicing on the road to World Champion.

Cultured Vultures - Ash Bates - 10 / 10

A sublime fighting game masterpiece from a company at the peak of their powers, Street Fighter 6 is utterly incredible.

Daily Mirror - Scott McCrae - 5 / 5

Quote not yet available

Enternity.gr - Panagiotis Petropoulos - Greek - 9 / 10

Street Fighter 6 is truly outstanding and manages to set new standards for the franchise.

Eurogamer - Wesley Yin-Poole - Recommended

Street Fighter 6 rights the wrongs of its predecessor while dragging the famous fighting game franchise kicking and screaming into the modern era.

Fextralife - Castielle - 8.4 / 10

Capcom delivers and checks the majority of the boxes when it comes to the classic and new features of Street Fighter 6. It heads down a different direction making it more casual while maintaining the core values of the game, allowing it to be a mainstream fighting game for all players. However, with its awkward performance on the PlayStation 4. The concern is, will World Tour have more content and will the performance issues be fixed. We hope these will be addressed. In the meantime, it is recommended to play Street Fighter 6 on current-gen consoles and PC to fully appreciate and enjoy this game.

GGRecon - Jack Roberts - 4.5 / 5

With a slew of fighting games on the horizon like Tekken 8 and the recently announced Mortal Kombat 1, Street Fighter 6 is leading the charge in the most vibrant way possible. With a series of character guides, story campaigns for classic characters and a fantastic open world for you to take the fight to the streets, it feels like everything I could have asked for from a modern Street Fighter entry.
Despite being the sixth game in the mainline series, Street Fighter 6 is easily one of the most accessible and makes for a fantastic entry point for newer players, while still resonating with series veterans.

GameGrin - Mike Crewe - 9.5 / 10

The most complete Street Fighter title to date, Street Fighter 6 is a must-play for fighting game fans, and one to consider even if you're not familiar with the genre. An engaging, stylish beat 'em up that could well be king of the mountain for years to come.

GameSpot - Jason Fanelli - 9 / 10

Capcom's flagship fighter is back in form with intricate but approachable fighting mechanics and a feature-rich package.

GamesHub - Edmond Tran - 5 / 5

Street Fighter 6 is an exceedingly good fighting game. But more than that, it’s an excellent training tool. It’s a fulfilling adventure. It’s a lively community gathering place. It’s an endearingly idealistic and inspiring world of appreciation for martial arts and friendly competition, exceptionally executed in every respect.

Gaming Nexus - Joseph Moorer - 10 / 10

Capcom has given us a complete game right out of the box. The single player experiences are enormous. The online experience is perfect. Street Fighter lore is littered in every nook and cranny of this game. There are modes and modes within modes. This is one of the best Street Fighter games in the history of the franchise. If Capcom hurt you in the past, this is their apology. Street Fighter 6 is a new classic that people will be playing for years to come.

GamingTrend - Jack Zustiak and Abdul Saad - 95 / 100

Street Fighter 6 takes the series to the next stage with a wildly fun fighting system that emphasizes personal choice. Each mainline Street Fighter tends to define its era of fighting games in some way, and Street Fighter 6 confidently steps forward to that next era. From its battle system to its bevvy of modes such as World Tour, it dives deep into everything that makes fighting games great.

God is a Geek - Sean Smith - 10 / 10

Street Fighter 6 is without question the best fighting game package I have ever played, and will keep you going far longer than a one-on-one fighter has any right to be able to. A true classic.

IGN Spain - Adrián Suárez - Spanish - 9 / 10

Street Fighter 6 confirms a solid and formidable start. Whether it's your first fighting game or you're a lover of the genre, go for it.

Inverse - De'Angelo Epps - 10 / 10

Capcom’s latest takes everything you’d expect from the father of the fighting genre and turns it up to 10. There’s something for everyone here, with no fat or filler to ruin the experience. Street Fighter 6 is the best fighting game experience in a long time, and in the years to come, its impact and legacy could be every bit as massive as Street Fighter 2.

LevelUp - Fernando Salinas - Spanish - 9 / 10

In addition to having a competitive focus, Street Fighter 6 offers a variety of modes filled with content for all types of players. The diversity of characters, their improvements in online modes, and the new control system are some of the reasons that make Street Fighter 6 the strongest contender to become the best fighting game of this generation.

MonsterVine - Spencer Legacy - 4.5 / 5

Street Fighter 6 is a grand fighting game experience that just keeps building on the series’ strong foundation. Though the World Tour mode and new characters aren’t as stand-out as they could be, the core gameplay is excellent and there’s plenty to enjoy.

Nexus Hub - Keegan Govender - 9 / 10

Street Fighter 6 is not just a comeback for Capcom, but for fighting games entering next-generation consoles as a whole. It feels like a passion project made by a group of people who were tasked by Capcom to make the last Street Fighter we would ever want to play. With its fast-paced gameplay, beautifully implemented new mechanics, and timeless visuals, Street Fighter 6 has solidified itself among the fighting game hall of fame.

Niche Gamer - NECRO XIII - 9 / 10

Quote not yet available

PC Gamer - Mollie Taylor - 89 / 100

Minor technical issues and questionable monetisation scuff what is otherwise one of the best fighting games we've seen in the last decade.

PCGamesN - Christian Vaz - 9 / 10

This is the first Street Fighter game in a long time where it feels like players of all skill levels are welcome. While World Tour mode is disappointing, the sheer scope of SF6 means you don't need to wait for the inevitable Ultra Edition before jumping in.

PSX Brasil - Ivan Nikolai Barkow Castilho - Portuguese - 95 / 100

Street Fighter 6 is another Capcom hit. It's a complete package, offering plenty of content and accessibility for every type of player. The fighting mechanics are varied, fun and take a long time to master. The World Tour mode is interesting and offers something varied for the series, even if it has some issues.

PowerUp! - Charbel Asmar - 9 / 10

At launch, Street Fighter 6 is set to take the fighting game genre to another level

Press Start - James Mitchell - 9 / 10

Street Fighter 6 rights the wrongs of its past with multiple modes for every player and strong battle systems like no other. It invites new players into the fold with well implemented, simpler control schemes, without losing sight of the hardcore player. The World Tour mode won't be for everyone, but Street Fighter 6 stands tall as one of the best fighters Capcom has made.

Prima Games - Matt Vatankhah - 9.5 / 10

In a sense, Street Fighter VI is the full package. It’s a three-course meal and then some, filling you up to the brim and serving you every dish on the dessert menu whether you’re ready for the check or not. It’s bursting with style, swagger, and abundant sophistication, and it’s the perfect entry for newcomers and veterans alike.

Push Square - Sammy Barker - 9 / 10

Street Fighter 6 is an absolute humdinger of a sequel. Capcom has created a fighting system that has all of the tactical depth professional players expect but managed to make it fairly easy for casuals to wrap their heads around. Not only that, it's introduced smart ways to onboard newcomers, including a simplified control scheme and a great suite of tutorials, which even extend to the impressively enjoyable RPG-inspired single player story mode. A strong roster of starting characters, near-flawless rollback netcode, and a seemingly never-ending selection of content – including interactive online lobbies with playable retro games – round out another unbelievably impressive effort from the seemingly unstoppable Japanese publisher.

Rock, Paper, Shotgun - Unscored

Smooth online matches and an impressively in-depth story already put Street Fighter 6 leagues above the competition.

Saudi Gamer - Arabic - 9 / 10

A great new entry that caters to both the hardcore and casuals, just missing some modes and more characters that keeps it from perfection.

Shacknews - TJ Denzer - 9 / 10

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Spaziogames - Italian - 9.5 / 10

Street Fighter 6 is simply one of the best fighting games ever made, with ton of contents and an incredibly fun gameplay.

TechRaptor - Robert Scarpinito - 9 / 10

Street Fighter 6 is one of the easiest on-ramps to the deep world of fighting games, appealing to casual players and veterans alike. With a diverse roster, meaty gameplay, and flashy animations, this will be a FGC staple for years to come.

The Outerhaven Productions - 4 / 5

Street Fighter 6 takes all the mistakes made with Street Fighter V and tries to not make them again. From the one on one traditional fights that we know, have been improved thanks to the addition of the Drive Gage mechanics, to the online modes where a lot of people are going to play. There is very little that Street Fighter 6 does that people won't be happy with… Unless you live in Australia… However, the looming nickel-and-dime ride of Season Pass after Season Pass could make things worse down the line. Street Fighter 6 is an easy day-one buy for the hardcore eSports player base, but casual players might want to wait for a year or more for a more complete game before buying.

TheSixthAxis - Nick Petrasiti - 10 / 10

Street Fighter 6 doesn't need recommending to hardcore fighting fans – you all already know how incredible it is – but do I recommend it for more casual players? Street Fighter 6 has a real sense of community, welcoming all players old and new, teaching new tricks and providing something for those that just want a bit of fun. This is truly a fighting game for everyone.

TrueGaming - Arabic - 9 / 10

Street fighter 6 will keep players busy for long hours thanks to its fresh and innovative fighting system, and its feature-rich content the World Tour mode Finally, friendly controls that welcomes new players to the series are the cherry on top of the cake.

Twinfinite - Keenan McCall - 5 / 5

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Unboxholics - Θέμης Μπολτσής - Greek - Worth your time

Street Fighter 6 is an extremely rich package that successfully manages to win over new players thanks to its new and sophisticated control system, while also winking at veterans, with its balanced, strategic and deep gameplay. It includes everything Street Fighter 5 did, while the development team has added an entire Street Fighter open world RPG and an online MMO on top of it. So, just like that, Capcom's positive...combo continues!

We Got This Covered - David James - 3 / 5

Street Fighter 6 delivers a deep, complex, and satisfying fighting game bristling with fun new characters and an excellent multiplayer mode. Unfortunately, all of that's shackled to a truly terrible single-player RPG that stands as one of the most embarrassing things Capcom has released in years. If you're here for online play, you'll love it. If you want single-player action, stay far away.

Worth Playing - Cody Medellin - 9 / 10

Street Fighter 6 succeeds in its ambition to cram some big things into one fighting game. Battle Hub may be silly, but it has a lot more personality and more to do than most other titles with their own online lobbies. Fighting Ground does a great job of showing off the new roster and improvements to the fighting engine, while placing an equal amount of attention on both offline and online players. World Tour makes for a somewhat nonsensical yet addictive adventure that can serve as a good basis for a full-fledged Street Fighter RPG. All of this is tied together with a presentation that does well in improving what came before it, only with more fidelity and flash. As stated at the beginning of this review, fighting game fans are going to have a good year, and Street Fighter 6 is an excellent component of that.

XboxEra - Nick Baker - 9 / 10

Xbox players have had to wait a long time for Street Fighter to come back to the platform, and luckily got the best iteration yet.

from the ijwthstd blog where you can also find download link
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I was going to let this one go but the version up on Dime is missing a song.
It was another date night, and I also had edibles, homemade and much stronger than expected. The wind was bugging again and I could barely keep the mics mounted, more due to the substances coursing through my system than any technical problems. And you only have some other taper to blame for giving me infused treats to capture his avant garde favorites, where a heavy dose of THC is a must for endurance.
This tour was a little controversial in my digital neighborhood from all ends to the people who think just because they are fan they are entitled to be one of the 15,000 inside out of the 25,000 who wish they were at either the lowest price possible or the highest, outbidding everyone else in the process. And the brokers who think feel entitled to grab all the tickets and charge whatever they want for them to Michael Rapino who was a bit inconvenienced but would rather suck it up and play along and maybe give some money back than let AEG book the tour.
Reeves Gabrels might be my favorite guitar player ever, not just his work with David Bowie (and I still maintain "Outside" is my favorite album of his) but his solo album "Ulysses" is particularly spectacular. Though his work with The Cure is a bit more restrained to that particular style, I was very happy for him when he landed this gig. And I wish I had something resembling an adult income when he was doing his regular residency at the Baked Potato where I would see the show, eat a massive spinach potato topped with jalapenos smothered with Tabasco sauce and then walk the 5 miles home to get up in 4 hours and go to work. Was only able to manage that a few times but if it were ten years later I would go to every single one and Lyft it out of there.
Speaking of good gig eats, it wouldn't be a Hollywood Bowl show if it didn't have a fair amount of wrapper crinkling thanks to the Bowl's infamous BYO policy and my love of hot peanuts and addiction to infused edibles. I tried to secure to my mics to a mask under a hoodie because these mics don't like even the slightest breeze but didn't quite work the way it used to especially with me stuffing my fat face all night.
There were T shirt kiosks crammed into corners I had never seen them before and every line like Space Mountain 4th Of July. The price? $25! Only 3 or 4 with simple designs as not to overwhelm the senses, and credit card. I don't think they cost that much since the 1990's. I never buy arena shirts but I still had to get one for my dearly neglected. Already seeing these shirts everywhere now. I doubt KISS sells as many in November as The Cure did on a Wednesday night. Wouldn't be surprised if they can even best regular merch sales record holders Iron Maiden in equivalent venues. I bet The Cure would even be undercutting the bootleg guys outside selling for $20 if the Bowl and LiveNation's hefty fees allowed.
Being date night with a traditional buy your tickets a year in advance and pay for parking patron, and I did what I almost never do anymore and buy advance in the fan to fan exchange so she would have something to look forward to, and crossed my fingers they wouldn't be canceled. I paid $192.40 for the pair, beating my record high of $40 to get into Pasadena Daydream. I got the dreaded U31 error on the first try but switched to another browser and pulled them again, but unfortunately was logged into my (former) business buy account so I was a little nervous because for a while I was spending an amount that seems so unreal to me still, even now. All that was left active were stacks of Matchbox Twenty that were sold or refunded in early 2020 for a tour that just kicked off a few weeks ago.
If anyone knows Michael Rapino, tell him to get his IT guys on that error. Not everyone says fuck it and buys in the lot day of show like I do. He may be rich but it's Never Enough and he can always use more so there is no reason regular fans with money to spend should be denied tickets they took the time to try to purchase. People are missing shows and his $122 million payday could be a little higher if he can take these customer complaints seriously and fix this constant issue.
There is so much I can say about Robert Smith's ticketing policy, especially since I am of the opinion "my ticket, my money, my property" but that opinion has evolved a bit with this tour and I can't really say I am unsatisfied with how it worked out. On it's face it looked fair to everyone and those looking to profit were sufficiently warned. Now those regular fans who had their tickets canceled might think different. It's all algorithmic, it's not like they were using a secret list of known offenders. For example, if you go to a lot of shows and have eclectic tastes you are eventually going to get your tickets canceled for something in addition to never getting the verified fan codes.
Now Eddie Vedder did the same no transfer and fan to fan resale for his YouTube Theater show. When it half sold, he lowered the prices while previously purchased tickets listed for resale were locked into the price floor at the original price, twice what even closer seats were eventually listed for. Or Ed Sheeran, notorious for inconveniencing fans in addition to resellers with his spurious ticket verification checks for secondary purchased tickets outside venues where they would cancel the tickets on the spot and resell them. Now I am getting regular notifications of discount Ed Sheeran tickets from stadiums across the continent. In a kinder, gentler era where the free market reigned it would be the third parties assuming some of the promoter's risk and taking those losses. But this tour sold out 100% instantly and any unwanted tickets had the auto refund built in because tickets resell the second they are listed on the Fan To Fan exchange, unlike Eddie Vedder where that money spent was lit on fire.
I know I get always get a clueless knee-jerks from drooling mouthbreathers when admitting to the cardinal sin of selling a sacred ducat for more than face value, especially on The Cure Reddit where I got multiple accounts banned for harassment for merely explaining how the business works from my perspective. Maybe one of those folks can answer this simple question, if I don't even qualify for housing anymore, why should I care what someone spends on a concert ticket? Or better yet, will anyone in Glendale or Burbank, California who bought their house 2010 or earlier sell it to me for what they paid? The worst is thinking of life without teeth because after three decades of neglect, once I hit the tipping point I was able to go to the dentist I liked and say do what you gotta do then just paid the bill. Still my biggest splurge, spending more than my Ireland and Finland trips combined. So what if you spent $40 more than me for a pair to Dancing With The Stars.
Right now if it's not The Cure, Taylor Swift or K-Pop, pretty much everything is $10 or so day of show. Prices fall so hard, so fast I am legitimately worried brokers will start going bankrupt and stop bulk harvesting inventory leading to the collapse of the secondary market and Ticketmaster might actually become an almost monopoly.
For those of you still looking for tickets, keep in mind there is no guest list and Robert Smith is personally handling sales to friends and family but god forbid any of Bob's friends have to pay a very fair price to see this show, and anything still unsold goes back to Ticketmaster and even the box office day of show where my friends were getting Garden Boxes out the window for all three shows.
Enough about tickets, now that the cat is out of the bag how I funded my all concerts all the time lifestyle for so long, I hope to tell that story someday. The secondary market is not what you think it is. And with the exception of Ebaying my Inland Invasion 2003 ticket for rent money because I couldn't get a ride, I have never sold a single ticket for The Cure. For more on that subject I highly recommend the Bob Lefsetz podcast interviews with both Ticketmaster founder Fred Rosen and current LiveNation chairman, the aforementioned Michael Rapino who talks a bit about this tour.
Nice to see a few classic Reeves style solos on "A Night Like This" (replacing the sax solo on the original) and "From The Edge Of The Deep Green Sea" especially with the absense of "Wrong Number" and "Yesterday's Gone" in the set. I know they are keeping a dividing wall between his projects but I sometimes wonder how David Bowie's "The Motel" would sound interpreted by this band.
The music itself was nothing short of divinely inspired and perfectly delivered but the backlighting and inefficient use of screens means you can pretty much get a seat anywhere in any building and it won't really matter. Sit in the back row, eat an infused chocolate and enjoy the sights and sounds even if you don't see much of the actual people onstage. I liked the 2016 visuals better with Reevesvision on the left jumbotron all night. Got to hear at least some of my favorites though I have soft spot for my first ever purchase "Wild Mood Swings" but they do play "Want" some nights, if not this one. Got "Disintegration," "A Night Like This," "From The Edge Of The Deep Green Sea" as well as many yet to be released songs that are meant more than sending people to the loo or for more underpriced merchandise. Robert Smith believes in them enough to put them in the set every night and should be given the same attention as the classics you, if not me, grew up with. He still takes his craft seriously in addition to the business.
There are likely better recordings, even of the same night, and as is often the case this serves as more of a vehicle to tell my story than just kicking another show out there for the obsessive compulsives to put on a soon to crash hard drive without ever hearing.
I was planning on going the last night and splurge on a garden box if possible but I did have a free show by Kara Jackson on my calendar and though I had yet to hear a note, I sampled a song and decided to save myself the cash. It was worth it to spend, but the Bowl is just a bit too much to deal with three nights in one week. Foot, car, shuttle, there is just no easy way to get out of there.
And I will leave you with a link to my most played song by The Cure, which would likely blow at least a mind or two if it returns to the set.
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https://youtu.be/-yF_PLJfe7Q

I've taken to here because I genuinely think I'm going mad. About 2-3 years ago I watched the entirety of little Britain and one joke for some reason really stuck out for me.
No it wasn't any of the controversial or dated stereotypes they did or did it involve any of the recurring characters it was just a one off 15 second sketch.
I cannot remember what character was David Walliams and what one was Matt Smith but the sketch involves a man asking to use the other man's toilet and when he goes in there's a glass door on the bathroom and the other man puts down a wooden stool and watches him on the toilet from behind the door through the glass. Simple, short, not racist or bigoted and my exact humour.
Now whenever I've tried to find this sketch on YouTube and online for probably the better part of the year I've come up with absolutely nothing, no trace. It's gotten the point now where I'm wondering if it even exists. Please somebody help me there has to be footage of this sketch out there somewhere and I'd greatly greatly appreciate the help or I think I'm going to go insane. Thank you.

When it comes to the tight end position in fantasy football there's no sugar coat to it, it mostly stinks. Each year there's usually only 5ish high end guys that preform consistently (might even be less some years). Other than those couple of guys it becomes super thin very quickly. So it's hard to work the tight end position because unlike QB, WR or RB there really is no certain mid tier guys to target that you can be confident in to produce solid numbers that are worth the cost. So the best way to try and move around this is to try and buy cheap tight ends you think can have big years the next year so you won't have to waste that investment into buying into a mid tier guy.
So after saying all that, who are some of your guys you like as cheap buys? I'll list several below I personally like.
Dalton Schultz Schultz emerged as a capable fantasy asset with Dallas in 2020 finishing as the TE12 and then going onto finish as the TE3 in 2021. Schultz from a real life perspective as a player isn't anything amazing and he isn't the most athletic either but he can be a solid fantasy producer which matters the most at the end. Schultz did leave the Cowboys this off-season which many people believed to be the only reason he had the production he had. While that may be true, Schultz did land on a Texans team which obviously isn't as good as the Cowboys are but Schultz should see a ton of targets since rookie CJ Stroud doesn't have a ton of great options to throw to. Schultz can probably easily be had for a late 2nd/early 3rd possibly even a throw in from a bigger trade and should provide very solid numbers this year on the Texans.
Trey McBride Sort of a post hype rookie here, McBride was draft in the 2nd round at pick 55 by the Cardinals just last year. Of course being a young rookie TE McBride didn't do a ton year one but he for sure did show flashes when Ertz went down which is always great to see for a rookie TE. The Cardinals are obviously going to be a disaster this year and possibly entering a new phase after releasing Hopkins. That should not prevent you from trying to see if you can buy Mcbride cheap as there is a shot Ertz gets traded sometime this season given his age and the Cardinals timeline and if/when he does McBride will be the TE1 for a Kyler Murray (or Caleb Williams) led offense.
Mike Gesicki Last year was a year to forget for Gesicki, posting some of his lowest numbers since his rookie season back in 2018. It really wasn't his fault though as the Scheme fit on the dolphins didn't do him any favors as McDaniel wanted a tight end that could block and Gesicki obviously might be one of the worst tight ends in the league at blocking. It was clear he needed a new team quickly and he got one in the Patriots. While many may instantly barf, I think the patriots are is a very good landing spot for Gesicki. The patriots made the investment into Gesicki knowing he won't block at all so he will primarily be a "big WR" while Hunter Henry will be the inline guy. With the patriots lack of WR talent it would not shock me to see Gesicki possibly lead this team in targets. Gesicki can probably be had for basically free in most, if not all leagues.
Luke SchoonmakeJake Ferguson/Peyton Hendershot As I mentioned before, Dak and the Cowboys love using their tight ends. That may turn out to be a bad thing though as if Schoon, Ferg and Hendershot are all used almost like in SEA last year then there's probably no shot one of these guys are serviceable fantasy producers this season. Although if one of them can separate themselves from the group there could be something brewing here. Out of all these tight ends I listed one of these guys could potentially have the highest upside assuming they can get the starting role. The reason I say you should buy into all three is because their all very cheap. Schoonmaker you can easily get in the mid to late 3rd of rookie drafts and Ferguson and Hendershot could possibly be on waivers in some leagues depending on league size of course.
Irv Smith Irv Smith has a had a very disappointing career so far for his draft capital in the 2nd round. He's dealt with a ton of injuries and just overall could not find a consistent groove in Minnesota. The bright side is he goes to a very good Bengals team this season. Irv may not have the highest upside in that offense given he's likely 4th in demand for targets behind Chase, Higgins and Boyd but given how good the offense is he should still have fantasy value with a solid floor and if one of those three big WRs were to go down with an injury or miss any time Irv would likely see an increase of target share.

HMs: 1993 Memphis Blues (10-70. this is actually a 71 OVR team... Wtf. Lack of ball-handlers, I'd guess. They didn't have a single Guard in the roster that season), 1919 Atlanta Kaiju (10-70), 1949 Saint Louis Spirits (10-70), 2003 Las Vegas Pandas (10-72), 2020 Utah Missionaries (8-60)

10:

1912 - Albany Bagels Record: 7-53
Once upon a time, in 1911, Albany had a decent star duo, consisting of 23-year-old 61 OVR 6'4 PG/SG Connor Juergens, who averaged 15/4/13/0.5/2, and 28-year-old 61 OVR 6'4 SF Blake Woolsey, who averaged 20/7/3/1.3/1.6 a duo that led them to a 23-37. However, both were expiring contracts that season. And both were unsatisfied. Mainly due to the team's record of 23-37 and their small contract offers, so, they parted ways with the team. Connor left for the Boston Massacre, in which he became a 72 OVR by 1914, and made $870K. While Blake Woolsey left for the Philadelphia Cheesesteaks, in which he got his bag of $870K through 4 years, despite being traded in 1913. To top it all off, in 1912 the RNGod completely crushed all their hopes through a team-wide regression spree, and they ended up with a 14 OVR team, led by 26 year-old Lithuanian C Tomas Galdikas, who averaged just 16 PPG, 6 REB and 1.6 BLK. 7 wins and 53 losses.

9:

1924 - Virginia Pigeons Record: 9-71
Virginia had been a tanking team since 1919 (yes, they did make the playoffs in 1920 and 1921, but their last 40-win season had been all the way back in 1918), and this 1924 season was just the culmination of all that tanking combined with bad front office decisions. For example, in the 1922 draft, a draft with 6 All-Stars and 4 different Hall-of-famers, they had the 7th pick. And with the 7th pick, they picked the 7'3 Center Bobby Klein, who peaked at 57.

8:

1917 - Las Vegas Pandas Record: 9-71
In 1916, Las Vegas had a decent team, with tons of decent/good roleplayers, built around their superstar David Herbig (who was their leading scorer, rebounder, assister, blocker and stealer), who was averaging 24/7.5/8.5/1.7/1.8 that season. 1917 was just the result of a team-wide regression, including David Herbig himself, who went from 71 in 1915, to 67 in 1916 and then 65 in 1917. Now, it's not like Herbig wasn't trying. He still averaged 21/7/8.5/1.8/1.4 and made the All-Stars but that's just not enough, you know? The team-wide regression really f*cked them up. Only 4 players in that team averaged double digit numbers, including David Herbig, who himself regressed from 24 PPG to 21.

7:

1987 - Minnesota Blizzard Record: 9-71
A complete lack of good players. Even in 1986, a season in which they at least won 16 games, they only had 3 players averaging 15+ PPG. Including 43 year old 50 OVR Carlos Vroman. By 1987, even he had abandoned this dumpster fire of a team, and they were left with only their star, future HOF 6'1 Guard Nicholas Rendleman, one of the hardest-working players in league history, who, despite averaging 26.5/5/11/0.5/2 couldn't help carry this team to even TEN wins, and the 10th season veteran roleplayer 6'3 SG/SF Tim Maguire, who averaged 18/6.5/3/0.5/1.2. Those were the only players to average 15 PPG+ in this team (the 26 year-old PG Nate Miller did average 15+ too, at 16.7, but he only played 23 games that season. They traded him away for young PF Len Everett, who'd be loyal to them for a long time, but still...)

6:

1961 - Austin Convicts Record: 9-71
I feel bad for Jamés Linder in this situation. He's top 15 of all time according to my GOAT Lab Formula, yet, the Boston Massacre, the team he had been loyal to his whole career, even missing tons of opportunities to win more rings just to make the state of Massachusetts proud... They just abandoned him. Traded him away to this garbage of a team (a team that went 20-60 in 1960) just because he was 37 and left him to rot there. He even said on interviews that he felt completely betrayed by the front office... I mean, it wouldn't have been that bad if Austin's d*ckhead GM wouldn't have let their previous season All-Star, Sean Bernard, walk in free agency. They could've played together and... Idk maybe have made playoffs? Anyways, Jamés Linder, despite being 38, with terrible athleticism at that point and on a sharp decline, still tried to salvage the team, averaging 28 PPG, 5 REB and 10 AST (idk how tf he missed the All-Star team), but it just wasn't supposed to be. Jamés Linder hated playing basketball during 1961, and would go on to retire just 2 seasons later.
Ooh Boy, here we go. The top 5 worst teams in NBF history, the worst of the worst, the absolute most Trash, Garbage, Dumpster Fire teams are here. Are you ready? drums

5:

1917 - Boston Massacre Record: 8-72
The highest OVR player on this team was 56 OVR, 34-year-old, HOF veteran 6'5 SG/SF Kyle Turner. He averaged 17.2 PPG (SEVENTEEN) that season. Literally the only thing worth noting in this complete and utter disaster of a season is the development of their 7th pick in the 1916 draft, the 6'4 PG Tim Jones who progressed from 46 to 53 that season. He was one of their 6 50+ OVR players. They only had 6 50+ OVR players. I don't even have anything to say. (Idk why I was so surprised by this. Now, after I have finished writing, I've realized that 50s actually seems decent when compared to some of those teams)

4:

1987 - Portland Roses Record: 8-72
This team is even worse than the previous one, at least in terms of 50 OVR players. They have 4 in total. But I wouldn't say they are as bad as the presence of 4 50s indicates. They have two seasoned-veterans and future HOFers in 58 OVR 37-year-old Jackson Drayton, who averaged 17 PPG and 12 AST and 44 OVR 42-year-old Ethan Couch who averaged 13 PPG, 8 REB and 6 AST. In fact, this team had 6 players averaging double digit PPG and a defensive specialist who averaged 8 PPG. Their main option, the 6'1, #7 pick in the 1983 draft Zach Seacat, who many considered to be a bust, showed he could at least score and shoot a bit, averaging 18 PPG, 4 REB, 3 AST, 1.6 STL on 37.8% from downtown. Yeah, the team was terrible, but it's all fun and games when you're averaging 18 PPG on 38% from 3, right?

3:

1992 - San Diego Armadillos Record: 7-73
Now, this team is a TERRIBLY underperforming team. Not as underperforming as the 1993 Memphis Blues, but still, they were a 27 OVR team. They should've won at least 11 games, you know? At the start of the season, they also had 2 Future HOFers in the form of 60 OVR 23-year-old PF/C Frank Johnson, who was averaging 15 PPG, 11 REB, 2 AST, 2.1 BLK and 2 STL on elite shooting splits. However, he got traded, just before the trade deadline for Boston's Kareem Kirven, an actual 34-year-old All-Star Caliber Guard, who averaged 25 PPG, 9.8 REB, 7 AST, 0.3 BLK and 1.3 STL through 32 games with them. Their other future HOF player was Dominick Womack, a classic PG who was averaging 17 PPG, 4.5 REB, 8.5 AST and 1.2 BLK with 41 3P%. But yeah, outside of the 2 star players they had through the season (either Dominick and Frank or Dominick and Kareem), they didn't really have much help, outside of 3 & D Wing Aaron Walker, who was averaging 17 PPG, 1 BLK and 1.6 STL on 36% from 3, and maybe veteran Devin Outlaw, who was averaging 12 PPG and 6 REB? So, let's just say the lack of role-players was what ultimately ruined them
oh god...

2:

2000 - Atlanta Kaiju Record: 4-76
To see arguably the 3rd or 2nd greatest franchise in NBF history be brought down to it's knees like this is completely heartbreaking. The same franchise that won 10 championship rings and had the greatest season of all time in 1950, going 73-7, is also the franchise tied for the worst season in league history, at 4-76, exactly 50 years after their glorious season. Truly disheartening. It's not even funny to laugh and insult them at this point, it's just sad. Their leading scorer was acquired in the middle of the season through a trade, having only played 36 games. That player was Kelvin Smith, a 26th overall pick. He averaged 23 PPG, 9 REB, 4 AST, 0.7 BLK and 1.7 STL. Now, he was at least a 62 overall, but as a I said, he was acquired in the middle of the season. Their true scoring leader, through the entire season? A 54 overall. 54 OVR, 7'1 Nate Ramos. A DEFENSIVE-SPECIALIST CENTER. THIS TEAM IS FUCKING TERRIBLE. He averaged 17.8 PPG, 11.5 REB, 6 AST (he has 57 passing), 1.7 BLK and 0.8 STL. And was the team-leader in everything. expect steals, that goes to 47 overall PG Nick Martin, who averaged 1.6 STL.

1:

1953 - Minneapolis Snipers
Their 4 best players were, respectively: A 57 A 52 A 51 A 50 Now, let's look at 2022 San Diego Armadillos. They were a terribly MID team, going 40-42 and getting the 9th seed. You know how many minutes their 52 and 51s get? 52 Valentino Burgess - 13.7 51 Case King - 11.2 51 Ken Hicks - 10.5
Wanna know who got more than that in this Minneapolis Snipers team? 37 Tosin Nwosu - 15.4
This is just an absurdity. At least their 57 OVR was averaging 21 PPG, but still, that's 13.8 PER for him. Their best player had 13.8 PER. Their second best, the 30-year-old 51 OVR F Lance Onwuasor had 13.7 PER. Their third best, the young future HOFer SF 50 OVR Brendan Paongo, had 10.7 PER.
Oh, and this team is a, a kid you not, MINUS ONE Overall. Let's just say that, not even in the first season in league history (1891) there was a negative overall team. In fact, the worst team that season, at least in terms of OVR, was a 44 Overall team. The ultimate disaster: 1953, Minneapolis.

After several years, the Eastern Europe Rework is complete, as the release of the Ukraine rework signals the end of an era for Kaiserreich. We learned a lot from the development process, with the Eastern Europe Rework being released incrementally, unlike the single large update that gave much of the China rework. With each successive release, we try our best to reach new heights with the mod, and to build on the work that was done beforehand, and both of these aims particularly apply to the Eastern Europe Rework. Our efforts remain ongoing on the reworks of all European majors, and the team members who worked on Ukraine have already moved on to work on Russia, Spain and Austria-Hungary. But for now, we are pleased to bring you our latest release, and we hope you enjoy it!

• The KR4 team

Changes
Notable Additions

• Updated the format of the Country Selection screen.
• Added new introduction screens for several countries, including the majors and notable minors.
• Removed the cap on the war support debuffs that is present in vanilla HOI4, applied by casualties, bombing and lost convoys, and decreased the rate of the war support decay.
• Countries now will lose 20% war support if at war, regardless of it being a defensive or offensive war.
• Reduced the Chinese “Unequal Treaties” resource export malus to 60%.

Reworked/Expanded Focus Trees

• Ukraine

Tweaked Focus Trees

• Lebanon - overhauled political and military trees
• Ottoman Empire - added four new national foci for NatPops

New Events

• Added new alerts informing the player of impending declarations of war.
• Added events alerting the player when the AI has given them land in annexation events.
• Added annexation events for the Northern Caucasus, Corsica, the Kuban, Nice, Savoy and Syrmia.

New Decisions

• Added a new “Ostpolitik” decision category for Germany, detailing their relations with their eastern allies.

New Custom Country Paths

• Cuba (expanded current options)
• Ukraine
• West Indies Federation (expanded current options)

GFX

• New portraits
  • American Union State: Robert Melville Danford
  • Australasia: Henry Douglas Wynter
  • Bharatiya Commune: Madhav Sadashivrao Golwalkar, Madan Mohan Malaviya, Sarojini Naidu, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
  • Union of Britain: George Nathan
  • Bulgaria: Manol Vasev
  • Cambodia: Son Ngoc Thanh
  • Chile: Oscar Escudero Otárola
  • Cuba: Juan Blas Hernández
  • Combined Syndicates of America: Edward Allen Carter Jr., William Edward Foster, Daniel Webster Hoan, Campbell Carrington Johnson, James Kelly Parsons, Hyman Godalia Rickover, David Monroe Shoup
  • Commune of France: Henri Adeline, Florimond Bonte, Jean-Édouard Verneau
  • El Salvador: Salvador Castañeda Castro, Maximiliano Hernández Martínez
  • French Republic: Paul Reynaud
  • Germany: Wilhelm II, Wilhelm III (civilian & military)
  • Greece: Georgios Papandreou
  • Illyria: Stjepan Radić
  • Latvia: Constitutional Assembly
  • Lebanon: Anthony Peter Arida
  • Kurdistan: Bakr Sidqi
  • Malaya: Zhuang Mingli
  • Mountain Republic: Ali Mitayev
  • Ottoman Empire: Abdülmecid II
  • Papua New Guinea: Sumsuma
  • Paraguay: Higinio Morínigo Martínez
  • Russia: Pavel Milyukov
  • Serbia: Petar Zivkovic
  • Shandong: Wu Huawen, Lu Jin
  • Siam: Phraya Phaholponpayuhasena, Rama IX, Paribatra Sukhumbhand, Sarit Thanarat
  • Slovenia: Leon Rupnik
  • Kingdom of Spain: Emilio Mola Vidal
  • Taiwan: Lin Xiantang, Lin Xiongzheng, Xie Xuehong
  • Tripolitania: Ahmad Faqih Hasan
  • Ukraine: Marko Bezruchko, Roman Dashkeyvch, Petro Diachenko, Opanas Fedenko, Oleksii Federov, Vasyl Fylonovych, Nykyfir Hryhoriiv, Yevhen Konovalets, Isaak Mazepa, Mykhailo Omelianovych-Pavlenko, Vsevolod Petriv, Kostiantyn Prisovskyi, Sviatoslav Shramchenko, Oleksandr Shulhyn, Oleksandr Shumskyi, Leonid Stupnytskyi, Mykola Stsiborskyi, Yurii Svirskyi, Yurii Tiutiunnyk, Oleksandr Udovychenko, Omelian Volokh, Vasyl Vyshyvanyi, Oleksandr Zahrodskyi
• Tweaked portraits
  • Argentina: Pedro Eugenio Aramburu, Isaac Francisco Rojas
  • Bohemia: Viktor Hoppe
  • Commune of France: Aubert Frère
  • Galicia & Lodomeria: Hnat Stefaniv, Dmytro Vitovskyi
  • Liangguang: Li Zongren (changed uniform)
• New advisor portraits
  • Germany: Reichskolonialamt
  • Lebanon: Khayreddine al-Ahdab, Rashid Baydoun, Michel Chiha, Philibert Collet, Jacob of Ghazir, Selim el Khoury, Rose Shahfa
  • Princely Federation: Council of Princes
  • Russia: Aleksandr Novikov, Mikhail Yangel
  • Somalia: Assembly of Clans
  • Syria: Army Air Command / Army Naval Arm
  • Taiwan: Chen Fengyuan, Lan Gaochuan, Jian Ji, Cai Peihuo, Riad el-Solh, Jiang Weishui, Liao Wenkui, Liao Wenyi, Lin Xiantang, Lin Xiongzheng, Xie Xuehong
  • Ukraine: Asan Sabri Aivazov, Rostyslav Bereziuk-Voloshyn, Petro Bolbochan, Mykola Boretskyi, Mykhailo Bilynskyi, Volodymyr Chekhivskyi, Ivan Cherniakhovskyi, Dmytro Dontsov, Dmytro Doroshenko, Oleksandr Dovzhenko, Solomon Goldelman, Oleksandr Hadd, Borys Homzyn, Oleksandr Hrekiv, Mykhailo Hrushevskyi, Hryhorii Hrynko, Borys Huber, Andrii Hulyi-Hulenko, Dzhambulat Kanukov, Pavlo Khrystiuk, Andrii Khvylia, Mykola Khvyliovyi, Ihor Kistiakovskyi, Volodymyr Kedrovskyi, Mykola Kochubei, Vasyl Kochubei, Serhii Koroliov, Volodymyr Korostovets, Mykola Kovalevskyi, Levko Kovaliv, Oleksii Kozlovskyi, Ahatanhel Krymskyi, Andrii Livytskyi, Yurii Lypa, Ivan Lytvynenko, Mykola Maksymov, Arnold Margolin, Borys Martos, Andrii Melnyk, Mykola Mikhnovskyi, Zinaida Mirna, Yakiv Moraleyvch, Kyrylo Moskalenko, Vasyl Murashko, Andrii Nikovskyi, Oleh Olzhych & Olena Teliha, Kyrylo Osmak, Serhii Ostrovidov, Yurii Otmarshtain, Viktor Pavlenko, Anatolii Pisotskyi, Andrii Pokrovskyi, Mykhailo Poloz, Viacheslav Prokopovych, Serhii Rudenko, Volodymyr Salskyi, Volodymyr Savchenko-Bilskyi, Fedosii Shchus, Pavlo Shandruk, Oleksandr Shapoval, Serhii Shemet, Oleksandr Skoropys-Yoltukhovskyi, Zakhar Sliusarenko, Olena Stepaniv, Fedir & Mykhailo Tereshchenko, Vasyl Tiutiunnyk, Stepan Tymoshenko, Metropolitan Vasyl, Mykhailo Volobuiev, Serhii Yefremov, Maik Yokhansen, Vsevolod Zmiienko
  • United Baltic Duchy: Baltische Landeswehrkommission
• Added some new generic American, British and German general portraits.
• Added a generic “Council of Advisors” advisor portrait.
• Added new national spirit icons for Chinese splinters, Ethiopia and Ukraine.
• Updated the Irish national focus icons for their army, navy and air force.
• Updated several Indian national focus icons.
• Added new national focus icons for Ukraine.
• Added new flags for the Bharatiya Commune, RadSoc Centroamerica, Hindustan, Madagascar, socialist Ukraine, Taiwan, Transamur and native-led Zimbabwe.
• Tweaked the flag for the West Indies Federation.
• Updated the flag render of Kolchak-led Transamur
• Fixed NatPop Egypt using the wrong flag.
• Updated the icons for the Artillery traits for commanders.
• Moved and resized the paper clip icon used in all event pictures.
• Added and tweaked the icons, names and models for the tanks and planes used by multiple countries across the mod.
• Added some custom infantry weapon icons for Austro-Hungarian constituents and White Ruthenia.
• Fixed a Mongolian leader being used as a generic leader portrait.
• Removed the Blackshirt insignia from a vanilla division icon.
• Updated Ireland’s event pictures.
• Updated the resolution and colouring on an old loading screen.

Music Mod

• Reconfigured the Music user interface and reformatted the track titles to ensure they fit into the interface properly.
• Added “Mars Genderang Kemenangan (March to the Sound of Victory)” for Insulindia.
• Removed “Rayuan Pulau Kelapa (Love of the Coconut Island)” for Insulindia.
• Added “Two Brothers Were Going There” for Russia.
• Added “Black Clouds Cover Over the Ruins”, "Cossacks Were Riding", “Ked my pryishla karta (This is the Map)”, "Long Live, Free Ukraine", "Oh, Grow You Dry Oak“, “Oh, On the Mountain the Reapers are Harvesting”, “Oi, vydno selo (Oh, You Can See the Village)”, "There's a Willow in the Field" for Ukraine.
• Fixed music not playing correctly for Azerbaijan, Madagascar, Mali and Zanzibar.
• Fixed “Protect the Yellow River” playing for non-Chinese countries.
• Fixed several tracks from vanilla HOI4 not playing, tweaked when some tracks from vanilla are likely to play, and renamed several vanilla tracks to more Kaiserreich-appropriate titles.

Mapping

• Added more naval bases to the Bharatiya Commune and Princely Federation.
• Added Bastogne as a victory point.
• Fixed the French city of Verdun being too close to the German border.
• Adjusted the shapes of Dalmatia and Syrmia.
• Tweaked Morocco’s provinces.
• Fixed an invalid Moroccan railway.
• Added Terneuzen as a victory point.
• Increased the Infrastructure level in India.
• Updated the eastern Ottoman railway around Kars.
• Re-added the Sea of Marmara as a strategic region, to fix issues with AI pathfinding in the Aegean due to the blocked straits.
• Fixed Iquitos’ location to Peru from Ecuador.
• Improved supply situation in and around Transamur.
• Increased the supply availability between Crimea and Kherson.
• Removed the strait between Courland and Saaremaa.

Other Changes

• North America
  • Rebalanced American war support and stability.
  • Reduced the amount of military factories given by the factory conversion decisions, to avoid hobbling the AI.
  • Increased the priority given by American civil war participants to building military factories during the Second American Civil War.
  • Revised the combat AI for the participants of the Second American Civil War.
  • Replaced the American Union State general Jacob Devers with Robert Danford.
  • Buffed Canada’s starting army and war support.
  • Canada’s NatPops no longer make John Diefenbaker their leader, as Henry Herbert Stevens stays in the position.
  • Adjusted several Canadian and Combined Syndicate character names to include the nicknames they are most commonly known as.
  • Renamed William Zebulon Foster to William Edward Foster, as he was never actually named Zebulon.
  • Nerfed the Combined Syndicates of America commanders Robert Sharon Allen, Smedley Darlington Butler, Evans Fordyce Carlson, Benjamin Oliver Davis Sr, Herbert Charles Heitke, Campbell Carrington Johnson, Robert Hale Merriman, Maurice Rose and David Monroe Shoup, each by one skill level.
  • Nerfed the military advisor traits of the Combined Syndicates of America’s Smedley Darlington Butler, Evans Fordyce Carlson, Bessie Coleman, William Rea Furlong, Eddie August Henry Schneider and David Monroe Shoup.
  • Added Jacob Loucks Devers, from the American Union State, and Campbell Carrington Johnson, as generals for the Combined Syndicates of America.
  • Removed George H. Cannon as a general for the Combined Syndicates of America.
  • Added a Chief of Army role to the Combined Syndicates of America’s commander James Kelly Parsons.
  • Removed Robert Sharon Allen’s Chief of Army role for the Combined Syndicates of America.
  • Added the Armour Officer trait to Robert Sharon Allen, the Organiser trait to Robert Hale Merriman, the Cavalry Officer trait to Benjamin Oliver Davis Sr and the Chief Engineer trait to Hyman Godolia Rickover.
  • Removed the Reckless trait from the Combined Syndicates of America’s Maurice Rose.
  • The Combined Syndicates of America’s naval advisors are now available from either of the “American People's Navy” or “New Naval Plan” national foci, instead of just the former.
  • Nerfed the initial “Red Guards” national spirit for the Combined Syndicates of America.
  • Improved the effect of the Combined Syndicates of America’s “Roll Out The AO-2” and “The Red Dragon” national foci.
  • Increased the duration of the “New European Military Schools” national focus for the Combined Syndicates of America.
  • Revised the AI’s logic in supporting or abandoning Hawaii.
  • Hawaii’s faction-joining decisions are now quicker.
  • The American Union State now leaves any factions if couped by Pelley, and a player-led leader of the Entente can choose to attack him in return.
  • The United States now starts with medium tank designs.
  • Player-controlled United States can now decide whether or not the assassination attempt on Huey Long or Jack Reed is successful.
  • Removed “Canberra” from the America ship name lists, due to its presence being an OTL reference.
• Central America & the Caribbean
  • Added a unique flag for Augusto César Sandino’s Centroamerica.
  • Removed “Fulgencio Batista” from Cuba’s ship name lists.
  • Added party descriptions to Cuba.
  • The Dominican Republic’s Trujillo now loses his advisor roles after being fired.
• South America
  • Demoted Argentina’s Pedro Eugenio Aramburu from Field Marshal to General.
  • Tweaked the map colour of NatPop Brazil.
  • Brazilian puppet Patagonia (the Kingdom of Araucania) now starts with a core on Neuquén.
  • Releasing Brazil now retains Acre and the borderlands for separate decisions.
  • Added a Head of Army role to Brazilian Field Marshal Eurico Gaspar Dutra.
  • Nerfed the Head of Army trait belonged to Brazil’s Euclides de Oliveira Figueiredo.
  • Removed the option to create a puppet Ecuador on the Galapagos Islands, as it resulted in Ecuador getting too many volunteers in subsequent wars.
  • Updated and standardised the names of many Paraguayan characters.
• Western & Southern Europe
  • Added Breton endonyms.
  • Replaced the Union of Britain’s George Sutherland Aitken with George Nathan.
  • Decreased the skill level of the Union of Britain’s Thomas Jacob Hutton.
  • Added Henri Adeline, Florimond Bonte, Georges Revers and Jean-Édouard Verneau as generals to the Commune of France.
  • Added Henri Adeline as a military advisor to the Commune of France.
  • The Commune of France’s Maurice Gamelin is improved to a level 3 field marshal, with a different Chief of Army trait, but now has the Old Guard trait.
  • The Commune of France’s Clement Blanc now has the Artillery Officer trait, Charles Delestraint now has the Armour Officer trait, Diego Brosset has swapped Infantry Officer for Engineer, and Raoul Magrin Vernerey has swapped Adaptable and Infantry Officer for Commando and Harsh Leader.
  • The Commune of France’s Marie-Pierre Koenig now has a Chief of Army role.
  • Increased the army experience reward given to the Commune of France’s “Communal Army” and “Grand Army Reform” national spirits.
  • Countries can no longer choose not to attend the Internationale Congresses.
  • Moved the general Aubert Frère to the Commune of France, from the French Republic.
  • The Commune of France’s Jacques Sadoul is changed from a general to a political advisor.
  • Removed colonial names from the Commune of France’s submarine name list.
  • Added Alessandro Sardi as a general for the Italian Republic.
  • AI-controlled Socialist Republic of Italy will now attempt to perform naval invasions on the Republic of Italy.
  • The Canadian decision to support the Orange Order in socialist-controlled Ireland now spawns Northern Irish units rather than Irish ones.
  • Portugal will now actively try to annex the Congo in peace conferences.
  • Portugal can now intervene in the Third Boer War.
  • Halved the political power cost in the United Kingdom’s reconstruction decisions.
  • The United Kingdom can now ask for the return of Canadian and Australasian fleets.
  • The United Kingdom’s naval national foci have been considerably nerfed.
  • Added the option for a player to refuse handing over the leadership of the Entente to the United Kingdom, while playing a country other than Canada.
• Central & Northern Europe
  • Revised the frequencies at which Austria goes each of its three paths.
  • Pluralist Austria can no longer integrate any parts of Germany.
  • Non-pluralist Austria can now core all of Germany.
  • Austria can no longer potentially integrate the German-speaking part of Switzerland, unless they have reformed the German Empire.
  • Austria and Germany now start with medium tank designs.
  • Austria now retains south Germany when releasing the German Empire, to be decided in its own annexation event.
  • The Austrian-led German Empire, and German splinters, can now integrate German border regions, and no longer get instant cores.
  • Added new descriptions to the late infantry technology for Austria-Hungary and its constituents.
  • Denmark now starts with a core on Greenland, which no longer causes resistance for any other occupying power.
  • Added English translations of Finland’s party names.
  • Lwow is now not automatically given to Poland in the latter’s annexation event, unless its controller chooses to give all of Galicia & Lodomeria to Poland.
  • Updated the events surrounding the division of Galicia to Poland and Ukraine.
  • Germany’s integration of Austria, Slovenia and Switzerland is now compliance-based.
  • Improved Manfred von Richtofen’s unique trait.
  • Added air bases as rewards to German aviation national foci.
  • Improved Germany’s AI at defending from naval invasions.
  • Expanded the release of the North German Federation to match the standard of the other three German splinters.
  • Germany now starts with interwar anti-tank technology.
  • Germany’s “Anti-Russian Foreign Policy” national spirit is now removed from countries that join Russia’s faction.
  • Replaced the news event picture from the “Fall of Amsterdam” event.
  • The Netherlands’ integration of Flanders is now compliance-based.
  • Decreased the war-related stability debuff given to the Nordic Federation by the “Nordic Neutrality” national spirit.
  • The Nordic Federation will now send volunteers to Finland and Germany in the Weltkrieg.
  • Reichspakt Poland will now get kicked from their faction, should they declare war on a Habsburg-led Austria during the Weltkrieg.
  • Republican Poland having a failed nationalist coup will now prevent the nationalist uprising from occurring.
  • AI-controlled Republican Poland will now have a nationalist coup less often.
  • Increased Poland’s priorities in completing its economic decisions.
  • Poland can now only complete Operation Parasol if it has less than 20% surrender progress.
  • Poland will now lose some monarchy influence when the King appoints Studnicki after the election, even if the Circle won the election.
  • Tweaked the AI’s event choice priority in Poland’s Clover Revolution.
  • Changed the icon for Poland’s “20th Century Cavalry Tactics” national spirit.
  • Releasing the Rhenish German splinter state now requires control of Cologne or Essen.
  • Added Bogumil Vošnjak as the NatPop leader of Slovenia.
  • Added Leon Rupnik as a general for Slovenia.
  • Increased the amount of steel that Sweden gains in Kiruna.
  • Updated several of Switzerland’s national focus icons.
  • The Kingdom of Two Sicilies Confederation now gives annexed territory to its Italian puppets.
  • Added two starting military factories to the Kingdom of Two Sicilies.
• Eastern & Southeast Europe
  • The AI will now prioritise giving lands in the Balkans to an ally, rather than releasing puppets.
  • Added an alternate description Bulgaria’s “Anti-Belgrade Pact”, should the Belgrade Pact be already defeated.
  • The Estonian admiral Johan Pitka no longer starts in the United Baltic Duchy.
  • Added party descriptions to Latvia.
  • Latvia can now organise a state visit to NatPop Russia, so long as the latter is Realpolitik.
  • Buffed several Latvia traits, national spirits and national foci.
  • Added more trains to Latvia’s starting stockpiles.
  • Added air bases to decisions and national foci rewards for Lithuania and the United Baltic Duchy.
  • Added option in Macedonia’s annexation event, for it to be offered to Bulgaria or Serbia in exchange for an alliance.
  • Increased the amount of war support drain that Romania receives from integration of Transylvania.
  • Halved the maluses incurred by Romania’s “Great Game”.
  • Romania can now attack Austria immediately if Austria is at war, ignoring normal revolt preparations in Transylvania.
  • Romania is now able to core Bucovina without owning Transylvania.
  • Romania will now no longer try to join Russia’s faction if they previously were at war.
  • Russia’s annexation event can now result in the release of the Mountain Republic, made up of part of the Northern Caucasus under Russian control
  • Made multiple tweaks to Russia’s political power, stability, and war support situation.
  • Expansionist Russia can now invite Romania to the Moscow Accord, so long as Germany has been beaten and Serbia is also in the faction.
  • Moved Russian military advisors Sergey Korolyov and Sergey Rudenko to Ukraine, replacing them with Aleksandr Novikov and Mikhail Yangel.
  • Added a volunteer limit bonus to the “Twilight Struggle” national spirit, associated with the Russian/Entente event against the Internationale.
  • Imperial Russia can now choose to just empower the Hohenzollerns for a puppet German Empire, instead of a Romanov.
  • Socialist Russia now uses a slightly different green.
  • Socialist Russia will now declare war on Central Asia before joining the Internationale.
  • Nerfed Socialist Russia’s war support and starting stability.
  • Added more AutDem party popularity for Russia’s Wrangel path.
  • Serbia will now keep its core on Montenegro, if it loses the Fourth Balkan War.
  • Added a two year truce and non-aggression pact to the Belgrade Pact’s Treaty of Budapest with Austria.
  • Added generic Ukrainian name lists.
  • Tweaked costs of several Eastern European Defence Cooperation decisions.
  • Replaced the consumer goods cost from Eastern European Defence Cooperation contributions, with a political power cost.
  • The United Baltic Duchy’s integration of Latgale is now compliance-based.
  • Decreased the weekly stability loss from White Ruthenia’s “Solidifying Our Identity” national spirit.
  • Added a new description a White Ruthenian upgrade to the infantry weapon technology, featuring Najman’s hand mortar.
• Africa
  • Adamawa and Cameroon can now claim and integrate Ubangi-Shari on their own during the annexation event, not just when granted by their overlord or ally.
  • Removed Cape Verde-Guinea as a releasable puppet, as Cape Verde remains an integral part of Portugal.
  • Adjusted the starting borders of the Manikongo’s secession from Mittelafrika.
  • Added additional outcomes for Ethiopia’s DKAEB event chain.
  • Changed some Ethiopian national spirit icons.
  • The French Republic’s “Indestructible Bonds” national focus now gives claims on the states changed between the French Republic and the United Kingdom.
  • The French Republic’s “Expand Communications in the Colonies” national focus now gives a bonus to the Psychological Warfare agency upgrade, if the “La Résistance” DLC is enabled.
  • Changed the French Republic’s starting occupation laws, to match the in-game lore.
  • The French Republic now gets a compliance bonus on Chad, after the completion of the “Fate of Equatorial Africa” national focus, and the merging of the area’s administration with French West Africa.
  • The French Republic can now no longer call its allies in to help with the native revolts, unless facing three or more at once.
  • The French Republic no longer uses African-style generic commanders.
  • Increased the weekly stability debuff and decreased the party popularity stability modifier applied to the German Government in Exile’s “On Borrowed Time” national spirit.
  • Removed Katanga’s national focus to integrate itself into Südwestafrika.
  • Tweaked the visibility of some Katanagan national foci dependent on availability.
  • Adjusted the conditions for Mittelafrika’s collapse. It will now only happen as a result of von Göring’s failure to quell the revolts against his rule, and for the German Government in Exile.
  • Added leader descriptions to Mittelafrika.
  • Replaced the stability bonus in Mittelafrika’s “Spirit of von Lettow-Vorbeck” national spirit with a war support bonus.
  • Kenya and Nigeria are now allowed to secede during the Mittelafrikan collapse, if not previously subjugated.
  • Von Göring’s Mittelafrika can no longer become free before dealing with its revolts.
  • Added a tooltip for Mittelafika’s von Göring resigning, so that it's clearer this is what is happening, and removed its associated extensive stability and political power penalties.
  • Rewrote several Mittelafrikan events, including the setup for the Kikuyu uprising. Also removed several outdated events.
  • Removed Ludwig Bockholt and Theodor von Hassel as potential replacement leaders of Mittelafrika.
  • Added party names and leaders to Nyasaland.
  • South Africa’s Third Boer War peace now only requires a 180 day stalemate, instead of an entire year.
  • Added bypasses to two of South Africa’s Nuweveld national foci.
  • Rebalanced much of the Third Boer War.
• Caucasus & Middle-East
  • Alash Orda, Bukhara, Khiva, and Turkestan can now claim and core Ashkhabad.
  • Tweaked the map colours for Alash Orda and Khiva, and updated it entirely to Turkestan.
  • Georgia can join the Reichspakt when World Tension is over 75%.
  • Iraq’s Yusuf Salman Yusuf no longer uses a picture of a living person.
  • Added several new political advisors to Lebanon.
  • Tweaked multiple Lebanese events, modifiers and traits.
  • Added more content to Lebanon’s war with Syria, and its build-up.
  • Added an option for player-controlled Najd & Hasa to leave the Cairo Pact.
  • Removed a reference referring to Mustafa Kemal as “Atatürk”, which he would not be called in the Kaiserreich timeline.
  • Decreased some of the political power gain for the late-game Ottoman Empire.
  • NatPop Ottomans will now also have Azerbaijan rebel against them, during their large revolt.
  • Removed the ability of the NatPop Ottomans to join the Moscow Accord after defeating their large revolt.
  • Added Turkish endonyms for Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Greece, Western Persia and Tunisia.
  • Decreased the cost of several of Turkey’s expansion decisions.
  • Updated the icon of Turkey’s “Turkish-Iraqi Economic Accord” national spirit.
  • Tweaked the effect of a few of Yemen’s national foci.
• East Asia
  • Added a description to Anqing’s Sun Liren.
  • AI China will now always annex Mongolia, Tibet and Xinjiang.
  • Removed the “Autonomy” puppets of the above Chinese conquests.
  • Chinese concessions will always be returned by socialist countries, if they are requested.
  • China can no longer declare unification if a neighbouring country is still hostile.
  • Clarified the requirement of the Northwest War being over, for China’s decisions to ally with the Kumul Khatate, Ma Clique and Xinjiang.
  • Wuhan now merges from its constituent parts, should it be made the capital of China.
  • An AI-controlled Chinese splinter that controls Beijing will never now accept a submission demand.
  • Adjusted East Turkestan’s national foci to account for potentially being a puppet.
  • Fengtian can now be invited to the Japanese economic sphere.
  • Japan’s “Operation Ichi-Gou” now bypasses if the strongest Chinese splinter is defeated.
  • Japan’s peace with Germany will now result in all German allies being removed from the Legation Council.
  • Japan’s “Fading Sun” mission will autocomplete if Japan is directly invaded successfully.
  • Japan will now remove countries from the Co-Prosperity Sphere economic bloc if they are puppeted by another country.
  • Japan will now add non-aggression pacts and truces upon peacing out with European countries, and mutual wargoals will be removed.
  • Removed land-based carrier planes from Japan’s starting air force.
  • Renamed Liangguang’s HH Kung to Kong Xiangxi.
  • The Nanjing clique now doesn’t lose the “Conspicuous Kleptocracy” national spirit until it completes the “Government by Coercion” national focus.
  • Manchu Qing will lose the general Sun Liren, if he is with them and they adopt a pro-German outlook.
  • Merged Qing’s “Demand Warlords Bend the Knee” national focus into the “Pacify the Nation” national focus, to avoid them having a focus with potentially no effect.
  • Russia can now choose whether to retain Port Arthur or not when releasing Manchuria.
  • Added Wu Huawen and Lu Jin to Shandong as generals and Military High Command advisors.
  • Changed the Military High Command trait of Shandong’s Jin Yune.
  • Shanghai now turns PatAut or NatPop if puppeted.
  • Rebalanced some of Shanxi’s Balance of Power mechanics to have a more even outcome.
  • Sichuan is now set as a potential government when Chen Jiongming arrives.
  • Sichuan’s Tian Songyao is now retired if Liu Wenhui loses the “Two Lius' War”.
  • Added descriptions to Taiwan’s new puppet leaders, and changed the name given to the island depending on its ideology.
  • Added seconds-in-command and political advisors to Taiwan.
  • Added a division limit bonus to Transamur’s “Greater Transamur Ambitions” national spirit.
  • Yunnan’s Zhu De can now align with Chen Mingshu, if the Left Kuomintang are defeated in the League Collapse War.
• South Asia & Oceania
  • AI Afghanistan will now always accept Russia's demand of subjugation if isolated.
  • Added Henry Douglas Wynter as a general for Australasia.
  • Increased the level of Australasian generals Horace Clement Hugh Robertson and Iven Giffard Mackay, adding the “Desert Fox” trait to the former.
  • Renamed the Bharatiya Commune’s Sardar Patel to Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel.
  • Renamed several of the Bharatiya’s political parties.
  • Removed the delay in uprisings involving the Bharatiya Commune and Princely Federation.
  • Increased the starting stability and war support for the Bharatiya Commune.
  • Moved the commanders Kodandera Madappa Cariappa, Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri and Satyawant Mallanna Shrinagesh to the Bharatiya Commune, from the Princely Federation, Madras and Mysore, respectively.
  • Removed the Bharatiya Commune’s commanders Naseem Haider and Mahendra Pratap.
  • Burma now starts the game with cores on Kachin, Upper and Lower Shan.
  • Expanded Cambodia’s annexation event options to now include the country being released as a republic, or a kingdom with one of two different dynasties.
  • The Dutch East Indies accepting the Congress of Batavia now causes them to be instantly annexed by the Netherlands.
  • Fiji is no longer given back to Australasia, if puppeted.
  • The Dominion of India is now known as the “Republic of India” if it leaves the Entente, rather than just “India”.
  • The Dominion of India no longer renames itself to just "India" after reunifying India.
  • Increased the starting army and stockpiles of the Dominion of India and Princely Federation.
  • Improved the starting “Rifle Division” template for the Dominion of India.
  • Added three starting offmap military factories to the Dominion of India.
  • Added a tooltip to let the player know which states will be transferred upon India seizing Ceylon.
  • Added an option for India to be declared on by Germany, should the former seize Ceylon.
  • Replaced the manpower requirement in Indian national focuses with a World Tension level requirement.
  • Added Hindustan as its own releasable, separate to the Bharatiya Commune.
  • Indian splinters now get a claim on Sikkim upon releasing Bhutan or Nepal.
  • Each Indian splinter will now try not to pursue territorial claims until after reunification.
  • Renamed several Indian national foci.
  • Added Sarojini Naidu as SocLib, Madan Mohan Malaviya as SocCon, Madhav Sadashivrao Golwalkar as AutDem/PatAut and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar as NatPop puppet leaders of India, respectively.
  • Replaced Chin Peng with Zhuang Mingli as the leader of socialist Malaya, due to the former only starting secondary education in 1936.
  • Moved the commander Akbar Khan to Pakistan, from the Bharatiya Commune.
  • Added party descriptions to Papua New Guinea, and a socialist leader and second-in-command.
  • Increased the Consumer Goods debuff for the Princely Federations’ “Backwards Economy” national spirit.
  • Replaced the free unit spawn from a Princely Federations’ event, with a minor war support bonus.
  • Removed the Princely Federations’ “Pact with the North” national focus, since that will now always happen by necessity.
  • Removed the initial division recovery rate bonus in the Princely Federation’s “Decentralised Rule” national spirit.
  • Replaced the division recovery rate malus with an organisational malus in the Princely Federation’s “Rebellious Princes” national spirit.
  • Improved the AI for the revolters against the Princely Federation.
  • Nerfed the Princely Federation’s starting stability and equipment.
  • Added some Operation names to Siam.
• Miscellaneous
  
  • Added an option to the in-game start menu, linking to the page where a player can report a bug directly to the Devs, allowing them to be fixed more quickly.
  • Enabling integration mid-game now applies the correct resistance and occupation law.
  • Increased baseline unit limit bonus to +8 from +5.
  • Added two new Ukrainian quotes for the loading screen.
  • Replaced a Boris Savinkov quote with one that was said by Boris himself, instead of a character in a book he had written.
  • Renamed the “Artillery Specialist” trait to “Artillery Leader”. Made “Fortress Buster” trait now available to commanders holding either “Artillery Leader” or “Engineer” traits, and the Artillery Military High Command role is now unlocked by “Artillery Leader” instead of “Fortress Buster”.
  • Buffed the effects of several political advisor traits.
  • Overhauled the tank design templates and armour division composition, and number of tank divisions that the AI will try to research and create.
  • Tweaked the AI’s air production priority between close air support and fighters.
  • Decreased the cost of awarding medals to division commanders by 50%.
  • Increased the AI’s priority in circumstantially defending their allies’ borders.
  • Generic advisors no longer have the “Ideological Crusader” or “Quartermaster General” traits.
  • Increased the AI’s priority in hiring a Chief of Army, in comparison to Chiefs of Navy and Air Force.
  • Improved the AI’s decisions in choosing the Army Academy spirits.
  • Added generic Arab name lists.
  • Increased the AI’s willingness to perform naval invasions against enemies with a larger navy.
  • Multiple typo corrections and text inconsistency removals.
  Change notes continue in the comments due to Reddit's character limit.
  

We hope you enjoy playing Kaiserreich as much as we did making it!
- The KR4 Team: 84F8D8, Alpinia, Arvidus, Augenis, Blackfalcon501, Carmain, Chazem, Chiang Kai-shrek, Chiron29, Cody, Conchobhar, DuoDex, El Daddy, Fedex, Flamefang, Gaboemi, Gideones, Hamfast, hildagrim, Ido, Igor050301, JazzyHugh, Jeankedezeehond, Jonny BL, Juliet Wehrwolf, Kano, katieluka, Kennedy, kergely, KFateweaver, Klyntar King, Krčo, Luwofe, Matoro, McOmghall, ~mw~ // miwaco, NukeGaming, Owenomaly, PPsyrius, Pelmen, RagnoStrangeros, Rnk, Shiroe, Sonny O’Cad, SuperGreenBeans, suzuha, The Alpha Dog, The Irredentista, The Italian Jojo, Vidyaország, and Zimbabwe Salt Co.

Let me know if I'm missing anything noteworthy from any era, recent or past. I put White's shot from the other night on the list, but we'll see if it stands the test of time.
4/8/50 - Bob Harrison's halfcourt buzzer-beater to win Finals Game 1 (which is actually the very first NBA Finals game ever)
4/21/51 - NY was down 0-3 in Finals but forced Game 7, and in it they went down big to come back and take a lead in final minutes before making mistakes to lose
4/10/55 - controversial Finals Game 7 ending (Syr vs FtW)
4/6/57 - Red Auerbach punched Hawks' owner Ben Kerner before Game 3 of the Finals
4/13/57 - crazy Game 7 for Boston's first title (Russell's "Coleman Play", Hawks nearly tied it on full-court inbounds play in final second of 2OT)
4/12/58 - Bob Pettit 50 pts to close out Finals
3/24/60 - Tommy Heinsohn's buzzer-beater to win EDF
4/5/62 - Sam Jones ECF Game 7 game-winning pull-up jumper over Wilt in last couple seconds
4/10/62 - Jerry West steal and buzzer-beating layup in Finals Game 3
4/14/62 - Baylor's 61 most pts in Finals game
4/18/62 - Russell's 30-40 in close-out game, Selvy shot
4/15/65 - Havlicek stole the ball
4/29/69 - Sam Jones Game 4 shot in Finals (the "picket fence" play)
5/4/69 - Game 7 drama for Russell's last title, upset W in LA
4/29/70 - Jerry West 60-ft buzzer-beater
5/8/70 - Reed limps out, NY wins
5/10/74 - Kareem skyhook in final seconds to win in 2OT
4/29/76 - Cleveland's Miracle of Richfield complete
5/16/76 - Barry sabotaged his team (maybe/allegedly)
6/4/76 - "Greatest Game Ever Played", Celtics top Suns in 3OT
6/5/77 - Bill Walton 20-23-7-8 closeout game for Blazers
5/11/80 - Dr. J iconic baseline scoop shot
5/16/80 - rookie Magic's 42-15-7 to win title
5/5/81 - Bird's putback shot
5/23/82 - Andrew Toney ("Boston Strangler") scored 34 in Game 7, Celtic fans chant "Beat LA" for Sixers
4/27/84 - Isiah/King shootout
5/31/84 - Gerald Henderson steal
6/6/84 - best Bos/LA game ever, arguably most intense playoff game ever ("Tragic Johnson", McHale clotheslined Rambis, Maxwell choke symbol to Worthy, etc.)
4/20/86 - MJ's 63 pts, playoff record
5/21/86 - Sampson's crazy buzzer-beater
5/10/87 - Sleepy Floyd game
5/26/87 - Bird steals Isiah's inbound pass
6/9/87 - Magic junior skyhook followed by Bird barely missing a 3, Gm 4 W for LA
5/22/88 - Bird/Dominique shootout
6/19/88 - Isiah's ankle destroyed, still goes ballistic in 3rd quarter in game with controversial ending
6/21/88 - Worthy's 36-16-10 closeout game
5/7/89 - MJ "The Shot" vs. Cavs
6/14/90 - Vinnie Johnson great ending to win title
6/5/91 - MJ's change-hands lay-up
4/30/92 - Kemp's "Lister Blister", plus dunk on Gatling
5/11/92 - 153-151 Port/Phx, highest scoring playoff game
6/3/92 - MJ shrugged
5/17/93 - Jordan's "The Shot, part 2" to beat the Cavs
5/20/93 - Barkley's jumper over Robinson to win WCSF
5/25/93 - Starks dunk on Bulls
6/20/93 - John Paxson late 3-pointer wins Finals
5/7/94 - 8 Denver knocks off 1 Seattle in Game 5 led by Dikembe
5/13/94 - Pippen won't take the floor as Kukoc hits game winner
5/20/94 - Pippen's dunk on Ewing
6/1/94 - Reggie's 25-pt 4Q comeback for Pacers, choke sign to Spike Lee
6/17/94 - NBC cut to OJ Simpson chase during Finals Game 5
6/19/94 - Hakeem blocked Starks' 3 at buzzer to win, forced Game 7
5/7/95 - Reggie 8 pts in 9 seconds
5/20/95 - Mario Ellie's Kiss of Death
5/24/95 - Hakeem's most famous Dream Shake against MVP Robinson
5/29/95 - 4 lead changes in last 14 seconds, Smits game-winner
5/1/97 - Rex Chapman's miracle 3 to force OT (Suns/Sonics)
5/13/97 - huge Knicks/Heat brawl (Brown flipped Ward, led to 5 NY players suspended)
5/29/97 - Stockton buzzer-beater wins WCF
6/11/97 - MJ's Flu Game
6/13/97 - Steve Kerr's shot wins Finals
4/30/98 - huge Knicks/Heat brawl (Zo vs. LJ, Van Gundy on Zo's leg)
5/25/98 - Reggie 3 to win Gm 4 in ECF, jumps/spins in circles
6/14/98 - Jordan game-winner over Byron Russell in final game as a Bull
5/16/99 - 8 NY over 1 Miami, Allan Houston shot
5/31/99 - Sean Elliott Memorial Day Miracle
6/4/00 - Blazer 4Q meltdown in Gm 7 vs LA w/controversial reffing, Kobe to Shaq oop
6/14/00 - Kobe scored 8 in OT with Shaq fouled out to lift LA in Gm 4
6/6/01 - Iverson stepped over Lue in OT win
5/2/02 - Reggie with two buzzer-beaters (3 to go to OT, dunk to go to 2OT) before Nets top Pacers and advance to 2nd round
5/26/02 - Horry 3 to win Gm 4 of WCF after misses by Kobe and Shaq
5/31/02 - controversial Sac/LA 4th quarter in Game 6
6/15/03 - Duncan's 21-20-10-8 closeout game
5/13/04 - Derek Fischer shot with 0.4 seconds
6/19/05 - Horry carried Spurs to Gm 5 win with 21 pts in 4th/OT including game-winning 3
4/30/06 - Kobe two buzzer-beaters to beat Suns
5/14/07 - Horry hipchecked Nash, Suns suspensions turned WCSF
5/31/07 - LeBron scored final 25 pts for Cleveland in 2OT win to take 3-2 lead over Detroit
5/22/09 - LeBron 3 to beat Orlando
4/23/11 - Portland trailed by 23 in 3rd and by 18 at start of 4th, Brandon Roy came off the bench to score 18 of his 24 points in the 4th to beat Dallas
6/18/13 - Ray Allen shot gets Heat to OT and the improbable win
6/20/13 - nail-biter Game 7 with two great teams (Mia/SA), much closer than 95-88 final score
5/2/14 - Lillard's buzzer-beating 3 sends Portland to 2nd round over Houston
6/19/16 - LeBron's block and Irving's 3 led to epic Game 7 Finals win
5/31/18 - JR Smith thought Cleveland won in regulation and didn't pass to LeBron, Cavs lose in OT
4/23/19 - Lillard's long 3 over Paul George to end OKC's season
5/12/19 - Kawhi's game-winner over Embiid
8/26/20 - Bucks refuse to play because of a police shooting in Wisconsin, entire NBA postpones playoffs (in the Bubble)
6/19/21 - Bucks survive wild OT Game 7 over Nets (without Kyrie) in ECSF, Durant sent it to OT with 1 second left on a long-2 that was half an inch away from being a 3 that would have won it
7/20/21 - Giannis 50-14 in closeout game to win title
4/26/23 - Butler's off-balance, catch-and-shoot buzzer beater to send Game 5 to OT where 8 Heat knocked off 1 Bucks
5/14/23 - Tatum's 51 pts sets Game 7 record, breaking Curry's 50 from two weeks prior
5/27/23 - Derrick White buzzer-beater forced Game 7 after Boston was down 0-3 in ECF
I think that's 93 of them.

Another Madden $70 re-skin is upon us, so let's take a moment to explore the history of all the people who have been featured on the cover of an pro football video game.
While the selection of the Madden cover athlete is now an event, there was a wild wild west period of football games from the 80s to the mid-2000s where anybody with a computer could and would build football games, with the selection of the cover being all over the place. Roger Craig was the first cover athlete in 1985 on NFL Challenge for MS-DOS. Madden's first game was in 1988, then by the mid-90s getting a cover athlete or spokesman for your football game was pretty standard.
I wanted to compile those games and covers based on this Wiki article (and a few that it was missing from that list) and see who was on the main cover of all of those games (some games were almost completely irrelevant, so I left them off this list). Some of these may have more alternates with other people, but I'll stick with the main cover.

Covers by Position

https://preview.redd.it/1dzua4o2hl2b1.png?width=600&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=023c573335e64d21fccc937a44db0ae995510db6
*These are heavily boosted by John Madden being on 10 Madden covers
Obviously QBs dominate here, but I didn't realize how little defensive players have been on football game covers (9%), with none being on a cover since Richard Sherman in 2014. I'd love to see more defensive players on the Madden cover. Who would be the most likely defensive guy in the near future? Aaron Donald, TJ Watt, Nick Bosa, Myles Garrett, or Sauce Gardner?

Covers by Team

https://preview.redd.it/8f29df4ygl2b1.png?width=600&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=3b93f8a4ddb26b2cee1f6abd74652f44b7fbfdcb
If a team's player was not a lead on the cover or was not any identifiable player, I gave them a *
The Re-skins/Commanders?, Jags, Panthers, and Bills have appeared on a cover but never with an athlete as the lead or with a real person. Only the Texans have never appeared at all on the cover of any football video game. I'd say the Bills are most likely to get one next (Josh Allen), then the Jags (Trevor Lawrence), then the Panthers/Texans if either hits a home run with Young or Stroud. The Commanders have a long road ahead to getting a feature cover athlete, unless you ask Sam Howell who thinks he should be this year's Madden cover athlete.

Most Prolific Cover People

https://preview.redd.it/5axoymcakl2b1.png?width=2871&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=9ecf9c52cad0647d1572d2d9c85ebdef0dd277c3
Kordell Stewart, Daunte Culpepper, and Donovan McNabb (and possibly Lamar Jackson, still too early for him) are the only players with multiple appearances that are either not or are unlikely to make the Hall of Fame. McNabb is the only guy to appear in multiple covers in the same year. Also of note, 7 athletes were on a cover without ever making a pro bowl in their careers: Brad Muster, Pat Terrell, Gordon Laro, Chris Zorich, Albert Fontenot, William Floyd, and Peyton Hillis (Hillis was the only one to be the primary cover athlete).
I'll list all the games and their respective covers by their era below. I'll also attach some of my favorite covers from each era. If the cover person was a Hall of Famer, I'll mark them with a ^\). If they're very likely to make the HoF but they're not yet eligible, I'll mark them with a ⁺

Covers by Era

Decade	# of Games	# of Games w/Cover Athletes	# of Cover Athletes
60s	1	0	0
70s	4	0	0
80s	11	2 (18%)	2
90s	36	32 (89%)	21
00s	40	38 (95%)	36
10s	14	10 (71%)	12
20s	8	4 (50%)	5
Total	114	86 (75%)	76

We didn't see the first cover athlete until 1985 with Roger Craig. They didn't really become standard until the early to mid-90s after Madden became a big selling point for the early Madden games. The dip in the last 2 decades is because there's just less games, so any generic football games will have a large effect.

The Early Days: 1965-1982

1978: Football! for the Magnavox Odyssey 2 was the first football video game with a cover, but obviously the cover athletes are generic.

Year	Game	Cover Athlete	Team	Position
1965	FTBALL	NA	NA	NA
1972	Football (Magnavox)	NA	NA	NA
1978	Football!	Generic players	NA	NA
1978	Football (Atari)	Generic players	NA	NA
1979	NFL Football	Generic players	NA	NA
1982	Realsports: Football	Generic players	NA	NA

The 2D Era: 1983-1996

1985: NFL Challenge was the first football game with a real cover athlete (Roger Craig). This was the original bar for realism in football simulation, to where it was used in a 1988 ESPN Program \"NFL Dream Season\" where they simulated the greatest teams of all time against each other.
1988: John Madden Football released on the Apple II, MS-DOS, and Commodore 64/128 (partly being developed by Bethesda), which was the beginning of the most dominant franchise in football video games. They featured no NFL teams due to a lack of an NFL license.
1991: Tecmo Super Bowl is probably still my personal favorite football video game. It's totally timeless, and if you pick the Raiders then you're a cheater.

Year	Game	Cover Athlete	Team	Position
1983	10-Yard Fight	Generic Jersey	NA	NA
1984	Super Action Football	Generic player	NA	NA
1985	NFL Challenge	Roger Craig	49ers	RB
1987	4th & Inches	Generic players	NA	NA
1987	Tecmo Bowl	Generic players	NA	NA
1988	TV Sports: Football	Generic player	NA	NA
1988	John Madden Football ('88)	John Madden*	None	John Madden
1989	ABC Monday Night Football	Generic player	NA	NA
1989	NFL	Generic players	49ers, Raiders, Oilers, Broncos, Re-skins	NA
1989	PlayMaker Football	Equipment	NA	NA
1990	Joe Montana Football	Joe Montana*	None	QB
1990	John Madden Football ('90)	John Madden*	None	John Madden
1991	John Madden Football II (or '92)	John Madden*	None	John Madden
1991	Tecmo Super Bowl	Generic player	NA	NA
1992	NFL Sports Talk Football '93	Joe Montana*	49ers	QB
1992	Front Page Sports Football	Generic players	NA	NA
1993	Capcom's MVP Football	Brad Muster	Bears	FB
1993	Madden NFL '94	John Madden*	NA	HC/Announcer
1993	NFL Football '94 Starring Joe Montana	Joe Montana*	Chiefs	QB
1993	Mutant League Football	Mutant	NA	NA
1994	ESPN Sunday Night NFL	Chris Berman	NA	Announcer
1994	Madden NFL '95	John Madden*	NA	John Madden
1994	Tecmo Super Bowl II: Special Edition	Generic player	Cowboys	NA
1994	Troy Aikman NFL Football	Troy Aikman*	Cowboys	QB
1995	Emmitt Smith Football	Emmitt Smith*	None	RB
1995	Madden NFL '96	John Madden*, Pat Terrell, Gordon Laro	NA, Panthers, Jags	John Madden, DB, TE
1995	NFL Quarterback Club 96	Steve Young*, Chris Zorich, Albert Fontenot	49ers, Bears	QB, DL
1995	Sterling Sharpe: End 2 End	Sterling Sharpe	None	WR
1995	Tecmo Super Bowl III: Final Edition	Generic players	Raiders, Bills	NA
1995	NFL GameDay	William Floyd	49ers	FB
1996	Madden NFL 97	John Madden*	NA	John Madden
1996	NFL '97	Kordell Stewart	Steelers	QB
1996	NFL Quarterback Club 97	Dan Marino*	Dolphins	QB
1996	NFL GameDay '97	Daryl "Moose" Johnston	Cowboys	FB

​

The Parity Era: 1997-2004

1997: NFL Blitz came from Midway studios and was a breath of fresh air for football games. They had mostly been stagnant trying to hone in on realistic simulation in 2D form, whereas Blitz came out in 3D and threw realism out the window. I definitely spent too much money on the arcade version of this game.
2000: Madden 2001 started the tradition of having their games feature a cover athlete in this format, which consolidated into nearly everyone following this trend.
2001: Backyard Football 2002 was a more kid-friendly version of a football video game, and they also had other games for other professional sports. I definitely played this a lot on my old Windows Me computer, and Pablo Sanchez is a god.
2002: NFL Fever was Microsoft's foray into football video games on the original Xbox. All 3 of their games featured Peyton Manning as the cover athlete.
2002: NFL GameDay 2003 was 989 Sports' exclusive for Sony on the PlayStation platform.
2004: ESPN NFL 2K5 was the last great football game before the NFL exclusively gave their license to the EA. It was this game that definitely led to NFL's decision though, as they slashed their release price to an unheard of $20, which forced Madden 2004 to release at $30 instead of the typical $50. This pissed off the NFL, who decided to have less competition instead.

Year	Game	Cover Athlete	Team	Position
1997	NFL Blitz	Kordell Stewart	Steelers	QB
1997	NFL Quarterback Club 98	Brett Favre*	Packers	QB
1997	NFL GameDay '98	Jerome Bettis*	Steelers	RB
1997	Madden NFL 98 (64)	John Madden*	NA	John Madden
1998	NFL Xtreme	Mike Alstott	Bucs	FB
1998	NFL Quarterback Club 99	Brett Favre*	Packers	QB
1998	NFL GameDay '99	Terrell Davis*	Broncos	RB
1998	Madden NFL 99	John Madden*	NA	John Madden
1999	NFL Xtreme 2	John Randle*	Vikings	DL
1999	NFL Quarterback Club 2000	Brett Favre*	Packers	QB
1999	NFL GameDay 2000	Terrell Davis*	Broncos	RB
1999	NFL 2K	Randy Moss*	Vikings	WR
1999	Madden NFL 2000	John Madden*	NA	John Madden
1999	Backyard Football	Steve Young)*, Jocinda Smith, Amir Khan	49ers, Generic	QB
2000	NFL Quarterback Club 2001	Brett Favre*	Packers	QB
2000	NFL GameDay 2001	Marshall Faulk*	Rams	RB
2000	NFL 2K1	Randy Moss*	Vikings	WR
2000	Madden NFL 2001	Eddie George	Titans	RB
2001	NFL Quarterback Club 2002	Brett Favre*, Rich Gannon	Packers, Raiders	QB
2001	NFL GameDay 2002	Donovan McNabb	Eagles	QB
2001	NFL Fever 2002	Peyton Manning*	Colts	QB
2001	NFL 2K2	Randy Moss*	Vikings	WR
2001	Madden NFL 2002	Daunte Culpepper	Vikings	QB
2001	Backyard Football 2002	Drew Bledsoe or Donovan McNabb	Pats or Eagles	QB
2001	ESPN NFL PrimeTime 2002	Edgerrin James*	Colts	RB
2002	NFL GameDay 2003	Tom Brady+	Pats	QB
2002	NFL Fever 2003	Peyton Manning*	Colts	QB
2002	NFL 2K3	Brian Urlacher*	Bears	LB
2002	Madden NFL 2003	Marshall Faulk*	Rams	RB
2003	NFL GameDay 2004	LaDainian Tomlinson*	Chargers	RB
2003	NFL Fever 2004	Peyton Manning*	Colts	QB
2003	Madden NFL 2004	Michael Vick	Falcons	QB
2003	ESPN NFL Football	Warren Sapp*	Bucs	DL
2003	Backyard Football 2004	Jeff Garcia	49ers	QB
2004	NFL GameDay 2005	Derrick Brooks*	Bucs	LB
2004	Madden NFL 2005	Ray Lewis*	Ravens	LB
2004	ESPN NFL 2K5	Terrell Owens*	Eagles	WR
2004	NFL Street	Ricky Williams	Dolphins	RB

​

The Madden Era: 2005-Present

2005: NFL Street 2 was the second in the NFL Street series as a kind of spiritual successor to NFL Blitz. EA tried to have some diversity in their football video games outside of the Madden franchise, so they had the short-lived Street franchise under \"EA BIG\"
2006: NFL Head Coach was a new perspective on NFL Games where you play as the coach instead of the players. I enjoyed these although they could get a little boring.
2007: All Pro Football 2K8 was 2K's attempt at keeping the 2K football franchise alive without the coveted NFL license. They got three HoF players on the cover in Elway, Barry, and Rice, but not the actual license to any NFL team. This game received praise for its mechanics, but poor sales showed that a non-NFL licensed game would always struggle to make it.
2011: Madden 12 was maybe the last good Madden game. Also, Peyton Hillis. The only guy on a NFL football game cover to never make a Pro Bowl. This guy is an actual hero though, so good for him.
2019: Doug Flutie's Maximum Football was a mix of american and CFL football as another attempt at making a football game without the NFL license to poor results. They have announced a new game as a free to play title on new platforms, but no games in this franchise have released since 2020.
2020: Retro Bowl is a mobile game more in the style of Tecmo Super Bowl than Madden. It's probably the most successful non-Madden game since ESPN NFL 2K5, and it's pretty fun. People should definitely give this one a try since it's free to play on any mobile platform.
2022: Madden 23 gave the cover back to Madden for the first time since 1999 to honor the passing of the legend John Madden. Unfortunately the game inside the cover was crap, has been the style of Madden games for over a decade.

Year	Game	Cover Athlete	Team	Position
2005	Madden NFL 06	Donovan McNabb	Eagles	QB
2005	NFL Street 2	Jeremy Shockey, Xzibit	Giants, Pimp My Ride	TE, Rapper
2005	Blitz: The League	Generic players	NA	NA
2005	Backyard Football 2006	Daunte Culpepper	Vikings	QB
2006	Madden NFL 07	Shaun Alexander	Seahawks	RB
2006	NFL Head Coach	Bill Cowher*	Steelers	HC
2006	NFL Street 3	Chad Johnson	Bengals	WR
2007	Backyard Football '07	Ben Roethlisberger+	Steelers	QB
2007	Madden NFL 08	Vince Young	Titans	QB
2007	All-Pro Football 2K8	John Elway*, Barry Sanders*, Jerry Rice*	Generic	QB, RB, WR
2007	Backyard Football '08	Tom Brady+	Pats	QB
2008	NFL Tour	Shawne Merriman	Chargers	LB
2008	NFL Head Coach 09	Tony Dungy*	Colts	HC
2008	Backyard Football '09	Tom Brady+	Pats	QB
2009	Madden NFL 10	Troy Polamalu*, Larry Fitzgerald+	Steelers, Cards	DB, WR
2009	Backyard Football '10	Frank Gore+, Eli Manning+, Kurt Warner*, Peyton Manning*, Adrian Peterson+, Jason Witten+	49ers, Giants, Cards, Colts, Vikings, Cowboys	RB, QB, TE
2010	Quick Hit Football	Logo	NA	NA
2010	Madden NFL 11	Drew Brees+	Saints	QB
2010	Backbreaker	Generic player	NA	NA
2011	Madden NFL 12	Peyton Hillis	Browns	RB
2012	Madden NFL 13	Calvin Johnson*	Lions	WR
2013	Madden NFL 25	Barry Sanders* or Adrian Peterson+	Lions or Vikings	RB
2014	Madden NFL 15	Richard Sherman+	Seahawks	DB
2015	Madden NFL 16	Odell Beckham Jr.	Giants	WR
2016	Madden NFL 17	Rob Gronkowski+	Pats	TE
2016	Axis Football 2016	Generic player	NA	NA
2017	Madden NFL 18	Tom Brady+	Pats	QB
2017	Axis Football 17	Generic player	NA	NA
2018	Madden NFL 19	Antonio Brown+	Steelers	WR
2019	Doug Flutie's Maximum Football 2019	Doug Flutie	Generic (Stampeders)	QB
2020	Sunday Rivals	Helmet	NA	NA
2020	Retro Bowl	Generic player	NA	NA
2020	Legend Bowl	Silhouette	NA	NA
2019	Madden NFL 20	Patrick Mahomes+	Chiefs	QB
2020	Madden NFL 21	Lamar Jackson	Ravens	QB
2021	Madden NFL 22	Tom Brady+, Patrick Mahomes+	Bucs, Chiefs	QB
2022	Madden NFL 23	John Madden*	NA	John Madden
2023	NFL Pro Era	Lamar Jackson	Ravens	QB

A new era is under way in Green Bay, and there's a lot to cover about this offseason. First, let's set the stage.
Key Signings:
KR Keisean Nixon- the return dynamo who renewed my will to live after watching Amari Rodgers play football. Signed again on a 1 year deal worth up to $4m. And he figures to have a larger role on defense this season. This was one of the biggest wishes for packer fans this offseason, as it finally shows a dedication to building the ST unit.
S Rudy Ford- he had himself a nice 2022 and got re-signed for his efforts. It's a one year deal, and he will compete for the starting safety spot as of now.
CB Corey Ballentine- a reserve CB who I will always have a soft spot for due to his tragic draft night story. Ballentine has been re-signed and will compete for snaps in an unsettled secondary.
S Dallin Leavitt- a Rich Bisaccia re-signing. Leavitt was a quiet killer last season as a special teams ace, and he returns in that role this season.
OT Yosh Nijman- a developmental prospect that has blossomed into an serviceable swing tackle, I thought Nijman would get more on the open market than his RFA tender price. He will be back with the Pack in a LT2 and RT2 role for 2023.
Key Departures:
DT Dean Lowry- Lowry gave the Pack his best and we appreciate him, but his ceiling was evident and achieved. Devonte Wyatt was drafted as a high upside replacement. Lowry signed with the Vikings on a 2 year deal.
WR Allen Lazard- Aaron Rodgers's latest security blanket, Lazard is rejoining Rodgers on a 4y, 44m deal with the New York Jets. A quiet, consistent performer for the Packers throughout his tenure, Lazard will continue to be a sure-handed possession receiver in New York, transforming the slot position previously occupied by Elijah Moore into more of a big slot. He will also continue to mug people in the run game.
TE Robert Tonyan- Bobby Tonyan heads south to Chicago to be TE2 behind Cole Kmet. Packer fans love Tonyan for bringing pride back to the position in GB, and I honestly feel bad for him. He likely missed on his chance for a big pay day after tearing his ACL in 2021 and having a down year coming back. Now he's pushing 30, but he still provides excellent hands for the position and a great work ethic. Godspeed, buddy.
DL Jarran Reed- the big man returns to Seattle this season on a 2 year deal. Reed was just about what we expected in Green Bay- not great, not bad. He was a placeholder in a spot that Wyatt hopefully can take over.
Free Agents yet to be signed:
WR Randall Cobb, S Adrian Amos, TE Marcedes Lewis, K Mason Crosby
All members of the old guard. Cobb recently had surgery, and is a contender to rejoin Rodgers in NY. Amos had a down year, but could still have some left in the tank. I'm guessing he has an offer from GB and is weighing his options. Lewis also could be weighing his options between retirement, the Jets, or sailing into the sunset where it all began for him in Jacksonville. Mason Crosbys wife seemed to confirm on social media recently that the Packers have little interest in re-signing their all time leading scorer. Crosby made some clutch kicks for us over the years, and if this is the end, the Silver Fox will never have to buy a beer in Titletown again.
2022 season review: Record: 8-9 Oh man. 2022 was the year it all came crashing down. Green Bay tried to keep its veteran core together for a few years, appeasing Rodgers and navigating the salary cap reasonably well. But they never achieved that brass ring. Minus Davante Adams and working with a broken thumb, Rodgers struggled the most he has since his inaugural season as a starter. It's now time to address Rodgers in this post; I could write an entire entry solely on Rodgers and this past season, but I'll leave it at this: Aaron is my favorite football player of all time. He led the Packers to their greatest stretch of sustained excellence since Vince Lombardi roamed the sidelines, often with depleted rosters around him. In my opinion, hes the most talented QB to play the game. It seems a majority of Packer fans were ready to move on from the man and soured on him this offseason. Personally, I think he will be an MVP contender in NY next year and still love him. But it was time. The Jordan Love era needs to happen, if only for the front office itself needing to justify their faith in the Love pick. Rodgers and the Packers were operating on different timelines the past few years, stuck somewhere between going all in and resetting. The front office has put all their chips in on Jordan Love.
The defense was expected to be a top 5 unit, but regressed heavily. Joe Barry was under scrutiny all year long, seemingly incapable of putting his plethora of first rounders in positions to succeed. A late season push did just enough to save his job (apparently).
Favorite win: Dallas Most frustrating loss: Detroit, week 18
Rodgers's exit also raises an interesting thought: will we see the True Matt LaFleur Offense this season? Offensive deficiencies have been blamed on Lafleur himself or Rodgers's hesitancy at transitioning from a traditional west coast offense to a Shanahan-esque, motion based attack. The answer will be uncovered this year, with Jordan Love having 3 years of experience in the scheme and a first round pedigree. As a Love truther in the pre draft season who hated the pick for the Packers, I am fascinated. This pick will make or break Gute's and Lafleur's tenure.
Aside from the quarterback situation, there are lingering questions concerning LaFleur's ability to lead the team in general. The Packers have consistently laid an egg in one game every season of his tenure and have come up short in the playoffs, with some head scratching decisions rearing their head in crunch time of big games (the end of the Bucs NFC championship the most glaring). I also have questions on his staff hirings/retentions. LaFleur hired 2 dogshit ST coordinators before making the obvious choice of Basaccia. He also chose to retain Joe Barry, noted football terrorist, as defensive coordinator. I've read rumblings that Gute has more say over the staff than the head coach, which is unconfirmed but concerning. I don't mean to dump on LaFleur in this piece, only to emphasize how big of a year this is for him. I think his scheme is sound and the guys play hard for him. With Rodgers gone, I think we see less RPOs and inside zone handoffs to AJ Dillon out of shotgun. The offense will have more identity. But if there are 2 more years without the playoffs in Green Bay, the Cheeseheads will advocate for a new coach.
2023 Draft:
Positions of need: S, TE, WR, DT
Round 1, Pick 13: Lukas Van Ness, Edge, Iowa With the world expecting Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Gute stuck true to his type and drafted athletic freak LVN out of Iowa. Van Ness profiles as a Rashan Gary clone, with a high RAS score and unrefined repertoire of pass rush moves. If he works out like Gary, this is a massive hit. In the pre draft process, the only guy who could have realistically been there for GB that I had above Van Ness was Peter Skoronski. He wasn't there, and there was no doubt in my mind Gute was going for LVN afterwards. He'll rotate with Gary and Preston Smith this year, and will kick inside on certain packages. He makes Smith expendable in the future.
Round 2, Pick 42: Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State Musgrave has the size and athleticism to be a game changer at tight end. His tape was short but encouraging. His biggest questions are durability and how he will develop, given his late breakout and immediate injury afterwards. My comparison to his playstyle was Travis Kelce, and if he can approach even 70% of Kelce's production in a season, this is a great pick. The biggest hole on the roster was TE, and I have a feeling Gute got the top one on his board.
Round 2, Pick 50: Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State The process of this pick was nerve wracking. I was one of many fans pounding the table for Brian Branch, the S out of Alabama. When Gute traded down instead, I was telling friends I hoped he took Jayden Reed, and that's what happened. Reed is smaller receiver who plays bigger than his size on contested catches. He carried the Michigan State offense last year after Kenneth Walker jumped to the NFL. My comparison for him is Tyler Lockett. In Green Bay, Reed will take over the slot role, and I expect him to see around 60% of offensive snaps.
Round 3, Pick 78: Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State Another tight end added to a barren room. The former Jackrabbit is similar to Musgrave in a lot of ways- big, athletic, and a willing albeit unrefined blocker. Kraft's addition along with Musgraves could push the Packers into more 22 personal this season, something LaFleur wants to run but hasnt had the personnel for, and I would not be surprised to see him outsnap Musgrave if he develops quickly. I'm really hoping this is the pick that breaks Green Bays 3rd round curse (seriously look it up its so bad).
Round 4, Pick 116: Colby Wooden, Edge, Auburn A former 4 star recruit at Auburn, Wooden collected 17 sacks as a 3 year starter in the SEC and showed inside/outside versatility. He shows an ability to rush with speed and power, but is inconsistent in his pad level and technique. He anchors well in the run game and showed great gap discipline. I don't see him getting many snaps this year, but if he does I think he takes Kingsley Engabare's role on run downs.
Round 5, Pick 149: Sean Clifford, QB, Penn State A perplexing pick until I saw this man somehow has a 9 RAS. Clifford is an experienced college starter who plays with a clear understanding of his role and a passion for the game. My issues with him were accuracy, arm strength, pocket presence, and decision making. You know, playing quarterback. I did not give Clifford a draftable grade and would have preferred Jaren Hall or Max Duggan. But this is really nit picking over a 5th round pick who was drafted to be a career backup. If the staff sees something in him, I'll give it a chance.
Round 5, Pick 159: Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Virginia A 6'1, 206 lb vertical threat, Wicks was inconsistent in his career at Virginia. If he replicated his 2021 production last year, he might have found himself as a day 2 pick. Alas, a new offense and drops led to his availability at this spot. Wicks has a good release package and the ability to stack DBs and get vertical. His tendencies as a body catcher led to drops last year, and he doesn't provide much after the catch. With his profile, he'll be a WR4/5, but could be a special teams ace very early in his career.
Round 6, Pick 179: Karl Brooks, DL, Bowling Green A bit of a tweener, Brooks is a high motor, high effort pass rusher. He flashes great technique and seems to rush with a plan. He can get washed out in the run game, and will need to commit one way or another to defensive end or defensive tackle. He graded very high from PFF, so that's something. To get on the field, he'll have to show more consistency and ability when anchoring down in the run game.
Round 6, Pick 207: Anders Carlson, K, Auburn Apparently, Mason Crosby's replacement. Anders is the brother of Las Vegas kicker Daniel Carlson, who's pretty damn good. There is a connection with Basaccia there, who's known Anders since high school. I wasn't encouraged by his stats at Auburn, but I'm not going to pretend to be an expert in scouting kickers. If Basaccia says he's that dude, then that dude he is.
Round 7, Pick 232: Carrington Valentine, CB, Kentucky Valentine is a WR convert with a long, slender frame. He is at his best in press man, where he has a variety of ways to get hands on the receiver and reroute him. Unfortunately for Vallentine, Joe Barry hates press man and will kill my family if I suggest it again. Valentine's frame can lead him to get bullied by bigger WRs at times, but he is physical at the catch point. He also brings experience as a productive kick returner, something that could be helpful in the future or even this season if the staff wants to keep Nixon fresh for defensive snaps.
Round 7, Pick 235: Lew Nichols, RB, Central Michigan A big back with some intriguing traits, Nichols enjoyed a very productive 2021 before injuries hampered his 2022. Nichols has good vision, contact balance, and power as a north-south runner. He was productive catching out of the backfield, but wasn't asked to run many routes beyond that. His biggest hurdles in the NFL are going to be elusiveness and speed. He lacks both, but should be a decent backup. For the Packers, they used their RB3 less than maybe any team in the league last year. This will be the Jones&Dillon show again in 2023.
Round 7, Pick 242: Anthony Johnson Jr, S, Iowa State Johnson Jr is a converted cornerback who plays with rare physicality for someone of that description. He did his best work in the box or in the slot at Iowa State, and that may be where the Pack will try to get him some snaps this year. He can be over aggressive in his pursuits at times and take bad angles, but that is coachable. Given the state of the safety room, the 7th round rookie may find himself starting some games this season.
Round 7, Pick 256: Grant DuBose, WR, Charlotte DuBose comes from UNC Charlotte, where there apparently is a football team, and he was 2nd team all C-USA last season. DuBose has excellent size at 6'2, and I love his agility on in-breaking routes crossing the face of safeties. He has experience both outside and in the slot, and is an interesting addition to the WR battle at the bottom of the roster, which is going to be highly competitive. It may come down to how good he can be on special teams. Coaches and teammates rave about his work ethic and love of football, and he worked at Walmart while keeping himself in shape during the Covid year. I'm optimistic he can carve out a role for himself and make the team.
Overall, Gutekunst drafted for need at times in this draft, but still stuck to picking guys that fit his type: big, athletic, and versatile. My biggest shock was not taking a safety until the 7th round, but I think it just never lined up with his board. There was an obvious effort to surround Love with talented pass catchers, which is a breath of fresh air from this team. I was surprised that they didn't take a single offensive linemen, given this is almost certainly Bakh's last year in the green and gold and question marks surrounding some of our young guys, but we drafted 3 linemen last year and the staff may have high hopes for Zach Tom to be the next left tackle. The franchise has earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to scouting and developing OL.
All told, 2023 is the most excited I've been for a Packer season in a few years. There are so many unknown variables surrounding the team, from Jordan Loves development to LaFleur's offense to Joe Barry's pending glue eating scandal. Media pundits have them ranked somewhere between 20 & 26 in the league hierarchy heading into the year. Personally, I'm a little higher on the Pack, and they will shoot up these rankings if Jordan Love delivers. There's a lot on Love's shoulders. This is the season we've been waiting for with baited breath for 3 years, the post-Rodgers era, and now it's here, for better or worse.

I've been playing Smash all my life - Melee might've been the first game I truly fell in love with - and the series has always served as exposure to other franchises. For over four years I've been slowly, methodically playing the source games for the entire Smash Ultimate roster. Most of them I wanted to play anyway, and this was just a neat excuse to try them out. And I do mean slowly, I really spread them out to avoid burnout. I also never forced myself to finish a game if I wasn't having fun; sometimes I just played the first section/level to get a feel for it, then dropped it. Overall it's been a fun way to expose myself to new genres and gain appreciation for gaming history. I'd already played quite a bit of Mario, Pokemon, Zelda, Metal Gear, and Sonic, but the rest was all pretty new for me. I won't mention the games I played before Ultimate's release, which is when I started this challenge. If you don't see a game on here, that's why.
For each character I picked the game I thought was most relevant, most similar to their depiction in Smash, or provided their backstory. Sometimes I just chose a game I was most interested in, assuming it still fits. For simple characters or characters who appear in lots of games, I was pretty lenient on which one I chose. If you want, you can look at the checklist here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1rOlk8dXwEL6wd2Lw4zouBiAce8UJabHOIgIP8bKL_7c/edit?usp=sharing
It's worth noting that this wouldn't be feasible without emulation. A lot of these games aren't available on modern platforms, and some aren't even localized into English. I'm not a collector and I'm not willing to track down old consoles on ebay.
Games are roughly ordered within their tiers, based on how much I enjoyed them. I'll try to be brief for each one.
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'It's old and I can't help being a zoomer' tier - Games I played just long enough to understand them, then dipped. I would not have chosen to play them for fun.

• Ice Climber (Ice Climbers)
• Kid Icarus (Pit)
• Game & Watch Gallery 4 (Mr. Game & Watch)
• Duck Hunt (Duck Hunt Dog)
• Star Fox (Fox)

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'Not very good' tier - Reserved exclusively for Pac-Man World 2.

• Pac-Man World 2 (Pac-Man) - This game is not very good.

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'Just not for me' tier - Games I struggled to connect with or I'm not a fan of the genre. Maybe I'd like them if I played longer, but I don't plan to pick them up again.

• Kingdom Hearts (Sora) - Exceeds my admittedly high tolerance for power-of-friendship anime schlock. Combat felt a little dull and I'm not crazy about Disney. Maybe I dropped it too early, but what little I know about the rest of the series doesn't really excite me.
• Street Fighter V (Ryu / Ken) - Cool character designs, I can say that much. Traditional fighters are interesting to learn about, but they don't really grab me as a player. I expect I'll feel the same way about Tekken and KOF.
• Mega Man 11 (Mega Man) - Some neat mechanics, but the punishing old-school level design isn't my cup of tea. Happy that fans got a new one though.
• Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (Marth) - Moving units with the touch screen is nice and I appreciate the strategy, but the generic fantasy plot bored me to tears. I might be spoiled by modern FE; this felt like going back in time and finding out my great-great-great-grandfather sold corn.

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'It was alright' tier - Games that were pretty enjoyable. I'm glad I tried them and likely won't play them again.

• Star Fox 64 (Falco / Wolf) - Pretty much what I expected. I didn't love it, but it's fun and short. The branching paths are cool for its time.
• Dr. Mario (Dr. Mario) - A pleasant surprise. I expected to play for ten minutes and ended up enjoying it for much longer. Just a solid puzzle game.
• Kirby's Dream Land 3 (King Dedede) - It's good, I think? I know I enjoyed it but honestly don't remember anything about the experience.
• Kid Icarus: Uprising (Palutena / Dark Pit) - Great writing, good music, and really inventive mechanics. Would be much higher if the controls didn't cause me physical pain.
• Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (Dark Samus) - Atmosphere, music, and visuals are impeccable. I feel mean putting it this low, but Prime 1's difficulty was perfect for me and I didn't care for the dark world being so oppressive. Still want to play Prime 3 though.
• Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (Ike) - Decent story and characters, but battles are really slow. I kind of want to go back and finish it, in which case I could see it moving a lot higher.
• Splatoon 2 (Inkling) - Novel mechanics and a fun aesthetic. I don't really play multiplayer games, but the single-player levels are enjoyable. One of the most fun credits sequences I've sat through since NieR: Automata.
• Kirby Super Star (Meta Knight) - Short, sweet, and charming, like all Kirby games. Did a lot to redeem The Great Cave Offensive, though I still hate that stage.
• Final Fantasy VII (Sephiroth) - Extremely impressive for its time, but I don't totally vibe with JRPGs from that era. Probably wouldn't have finished it without the 3x fast-forward battle option in modern ports. Famously the music is some of Uematsu's best work, and he has a lot of good work.
• Bayonetta 2 (Bayonetta) - This game oozes personality and charisma (that Moon River remix goes unreasonably hard). If I were more into the DMC school of action games, it would easily be top-tier. I could see myself getting more out of a second playthrough.

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'Hey, this is pretty good' tier - Games I liked quite a lot and would recommend to anyone with similar tastes.

• Super Mario Sunshine (Bowser Jr.) - The most unique 3D Mario. Movement is fluid and satisfying to master, and I enjoy the Margaritaville locale. Held back by some frustrating sections (you know the ones).
• Luigi's Mansion 3 (Luigi) - Great visuals, art direction, and environmental design. Feels a little too padded for time.
• F-Zero GX (Captain Falcon) - The controls and tracks are gratifying to learn, and the cutscenes are pure cheese in the best way. Would be higher if I were more into racing games, or if I were skilled enough to finish it.
• Final Fantasy VII Remake (Cloud) - After playing the original, I liked how Remake brings the characters to life and reimagines old scenarios. Decent combat and an amazing soundtrack are offset by egregious padding and an ending I don't quite know how to feel about.
• EarthBound (Ness) - Full of heart behind the quirky humor. I can forgive aimless progression and outdated dungeon design when everything else is so remarkably endearing and well-written.
• Banjo-Kazooie (Banjo & Kazooie) - Having played Mario 64, I was surprised how much better the camera is. Fun characters and catchy music make for a very laid-back experience. And in a genre infamous for bloated collectathons, it shows respectable restraint in the number of collectibles.
• Super Metroid (Ridley) - Near-perfect synthesis of atmosphere, mechanics, progression, and visuals. An incredible achievement, but hard to revisit after being spoiled by the fluidity of Dread. Still, if you claim this is the greatest game ever made, I'm not gonna argue.
• Donkey Kong Country (King K. Rool) - Great level design and a memorable aesthetic that was probably really hard to pull off on the SNES. For a game about silly apes, the soundtrack by David Wise is gorgeously atmospheric.
• Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong-Quest (Diddy Kong) - Basically DKC1, but a slight step up in every category. Though I will say, a couple of the late-game levels are unreasonably hard.
• Metroid: Zero Mission (Zero Suit Samus) - Feels a little held back by the original's level design, but still a fantastic remake. The post-game sequence without the power suit is a huge highlight.
• WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! (Wario) - Beat it in two hours and don't feel like I wasted a single second. This game actually made me laugh out loud, and often. Definitely want to play more WarioWare in the future.
• Super Mario World (Piranha Plant) - Not much to say about this one, just a good-ass platformer. I prefer it to Mario 3, but I understand why someone wouldn't.

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'This is the shit' tier - Games I thoroughly loved and would rank among my favorites.

• Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (Yoshi) - Besides Chrono Trigger, I don't think any other SNES game is this beautiful. A creative central mechanic, great level design, and wonderful art direction. The "classics" don't always speak to me, but this one did.
• Metroid Prime (Samus) - Super impressive for its time and a near-perfect translation of the series formula into 3D. Music, atmosphere, and exploration are exquisite. To me, what elevates it from good to great is the immersion factor; the diagetic HUD and scan visor really ground the player in Samus' perspective. It doesn't quite beat Dread for me, but it comes close.
• Pikmin (Olimar) - Technically an RTS, but it feels entirely distinct from the genre. The vibes are immaculate in a way I don't really know how to articulate; it's all goofy and cute and serene and a little brutal. What a charming little game this is. Olimar in Smash is kind of insufferable, but this redeems him in my eyes.
• Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Byleth) - Likeable characters and a story that, while not perfect, explores a conflict from multiple people's perspectives, nobody having all the information. I don't know how longtime fans feel about it, but the core gameplay was fun and accessible. Undeniably flawed, but for me it's greater than the sum of its parts. I played two routes and still might go back for a third.
• Mother 3 (Lucas) - Not everyone vibes with this game, but I sure as hell do. A beautiful story, gorgeous pixel art, interesting themes, memorable music, and near-perfect gameplay balance. I'd appreciate an official release, but the fan translation is so good I'm not sure they should bother.
• Persona 5 (Joker) - It's funny. If you asked me to list everything I don't like about P5, I could probably go all day. The writing is a little shallow and it's far, far too long. And yet, I can't deny how completely engrossed I was that first time through. This game enthralled me. As a sensory experience, everything about how P5 looks and sounds just tickles my brain so well. This series occupies a wholly unique space in the modern RPG landscape, in terms of mechanics, setting, and visual identity. This game made me a Persona/SMT fan. I'd put it in my all-time top five, at least.

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Here's what's left on the list. Looking forward to some of them more than others. I might get around to them this year, or three years from now, or never. Who knows.

• Super Mario 3D World (Peach)
• Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade (Roy)
• Fire Emblem Fates (Corrin)
• Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Villager / Isabelle)
• Wii Fit (Wii Fit Trainer) (lmao)
• Xenoblade Chronicles (Shulk)
• Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (Pyra / Mythra)
• Super Castlevania IV (Simon)
• Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (Richter)
• Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age (Hero)
• King of Fighters XV (Terry)
• ARMS (Min Min)
• Minecraft (Steve)
• Tekken 7 (Kazuya)

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Did I learn anything by doing this? I think so. I definitely have a greater appreciation for a wider variety of genres and franchises. This got me to try certain games I never would have considered otherwise. And in turn, I gained a greater appreciation for the crossover aspect of Smash; every time I look at the character select screen, I have exponentially more memories attached to each icon. I can spot all the references in the movesets and stages. It's just... cool, I guess.
I try to never look at this like a to-do list. I call it a "challenge" but really it's just checking the list every few months, or whenever I remember it exists, and picking one or two games to try out. Some hook me and some don't. And I play a lot of other stuff in-between. Turning my favorite hobby into a list of tasks to complete sounds like an easy way to ruin it for myself.
Thanks for reading. Hope you're having a good day. Please don't hate me for dismissing your favorite game.

Last updated: 05/29/23 09:14:31 EST

LEGEND

Note	Description
Italics	Pitched previous day or twice in last 3 days.
Strikethrough	Pitched back to back days.
Bold	Recent transaction.
L3:##	Number of pitches thrown in last 3 days.
***	SP first start.
**	SP yet to reach 5.0 innings in a game.
*	SP yet to surpass 6.0 innings in a game.

BULLPEN USAGE

Team	Opp	SP	CL	SU8	SU7	MID	LR
ARI	COL	Ryne Nelson*	Miguel CastroL3:25, Andrew ChafinL3:16		Scott McGoughL3:33	Austin AdamsL3:8, Kyle NelsonL3:31, José RuizL3:27, Kevin GinkelL3:32	Drey Jameson
ATL	@OAK	Michael Soroka***	Raisel Iglesias	Nick Anderson	Collin McHughL3:42	A.J. MinterL3:8, Jesse ChavezL3:25, Joe JiménezL3:37, Kirby YatesL3:15, Lucas LuetgeL3:43	Dereck RodríguezL3:28
BAL	CLE	Tyler Wells	Félix BautistaL3:15	Yennier CanoL3:15	Bryan BakerL3:14	Mike Baumann, Cionel PérezL3:15, Mychal GivensL3:8, Danny CoulombeL3:3, Keegan AkinL3:24	Austin VothL3:62
BOS			Kenley JansenL3:13	Chris MartinL3:7	Josh WinckowskiL3:35	Kutter CrawfordL3:27, Joely RodríguezL3:18, Justin Garza, Nick PivettaL3:54	Corey Kluber
CHC	TBR	Marcus Stroman	Mark Leiter Jr.L3:16, Adbert AlzolayL3:1	Michael FulmerL3:38	Michael RuckerL3:36	Brandon HughesL3:41, Jeremiah EstradaL3:39, Julian MerryweatherL3:37	Javier AssadL3:70
CHW	LAA	Michael Kopech	Kendall GravemanL3:6	Joe KellyL3:41	Reynaldo LópezL3:20	Keynan MiddletonL3:21, Aaron BummerL3:8, Gregory SantosL3:25, Garrett CrochetL3:46	Jimmy LambertL3:29
CIN			Alexis DíazL3:40	Lucas SimsL3:27	Ian GibautL3:29	Alex YoungL3:8, Buck FarmerL3:12, Fernando CruzL3:15, Eduardo SalazarL3:31	Kevin HergetL3:20
CLE	@BAL	Logan Allen*	Emmanuel ClaseL3:32	James KarinchakL3:16	Trevor StephanL3:24	Eli MorganL3:16, Enyel De Los SantosL3:20, Sam HentgesL3:23, Nick SandlinL3:19	Xzavion CurryL3:28
COL	@ARI	Karl Kauffmann**	Pierce JohnsonL3:6	Justin LawrenceL3:33	Jake BirdL3:36	Brent SuterL3:22, Daniel BardL3:19, Brad HandL3:21, Matt CarasitiL3:32	Peter LambertL3:43
DET	TEX	Matthew Boyd*	Alex LangeL3:12	Jason FoleyL3:14	Will VestL3:25	José CisneroL3:16, Chasen ShreveL3:8, Tyler HoltonL3:28, Mason EnglertL3:31	Tyler AlexanderL3:37
HOU	MIN	J.P. France	Ryan PresslyL3:23	Bryan AbreuL3:27	Hector NerisL3:19	Ryne StanekL3:9, Phil MatonL3:24, Rafael MonteroL3:17, Seth Martinez	Parker MushinskiL3:22
KCR	@STL	Josh Staumont***	Scott BarlowL3:27	Aroldis ChapmanL3:27	Taylor ClarkeL3:14	Josh StaumontL3:48, Amir GarrettL3:28, Carlos HernándezL3:28, Jose CuasL3:45, Nick WittgrenL3:14	Mike Mayers
LAA	@CHW	Griffin Canning	Carlos EstévezL3:14	Chris DevenskiL3:13	Jacob WebbL3:58	Aaron LoupL3:13, Chase SilsethL3:35, Ben Joyce, Sam BachmanL3:47	Tucker Davidson
LAD	WSN	Bobby Miller*	Evan PhillipsL3:22, Brusdar GraterolL3:36, Caleb FergusonL3:24			Yency AlmonteL3:26, Shelby MillerL3:18, Victor GonzálezL3:12, Justin BruihlL3:36	Phil BickfordL3:43
MIA			Dylan FloroL3:24	Tanner ScottL3:32	Huascar BrazobanL3:20	Matt BarnesL3:27, JT ChargoisL3:33, Andrew NardiL3:28, Steven OkertL3:38	Bryan HoeingL3:28
MIL			Devin WilliamsL3:26	Peter StrzeleckiL3:29	Joel PayampsL3:15	Hoby Milner, Elvis PegueroL3:37, Trevor MegillL3:14, Jake Cousins, Jake Cousins	Bryse Wilson
MIN	@HOU	Sonny Gray	Jhoan DuranL3:12	Jorge LópezL3:22	Brock StewartL3:13	Emilio PagánL3:28, Jovani MoranL3:9, Griffin JaxL3:12, Cole SandsL3:16	José De LeónL3:46
NYM			David RobertsonL3:15, Adam OttavinoL3:6		Brooks RaleyL3:17	Drew SmithL3:28, Jeff BrighamL3:45, Dominic LeoneL3:32, Tommy HunterL3:16, Stephen NogosekL3:29	Josh Walker
NYY	@SEA	Domingo Germán	Michael KingL3:22, Clay HolmesL3:28, Wandy PeraltaL3:25			Ron MarinaccioL3:30, Albert Abreu, Jimmy CorderoL3:14, Matt Krook	Ryan WeberL3:50
OAK	ATL	Paul Blackburn***	Trevor MayL3:16, Austin PruittL3:29, Richard LoveladyL3:8, Lucas ErcegL3:16			Sam MollL3:9, Shintaro FujinamiL3:11, Garrett ActonL3:35, Sam LongL3:26	Ken WaldichukL3:16
PHI			Craig KimbrelL3:41	Seranthony Domínguez	Matt StrahmL3:43	Gregory Soto, Connor BrogdonL3:18, Jeff HoffmanL3:41, Andrew VasquezL3:38, Yunior MarteL3:27	Dylan CoveyL3:30
PIT	@SFG	Rich Hill	David BednarL3:29	Colin HoldermanL3:14	Dauri MoretaL3:18	Robert StephensonL3:10, Jose HernandezL3:34, Roansy ContrerasL3:22, Rob ZastryznyL3:12, Yohan RamirezL3:25	Cody Bolton
SDP			Josh HaderL3:15	Nick MartinezL3:29	Steven WilsonL3:22	Tim Hill, Tom Cosgrove, Brent HoneywellL3:32, Domingo TapiaL3:12	Drew CarltonL3:36
SEA	NYY	Bryce Miller	Paul SewaldL3:15	Justin TopaL3:36	Trevor GottL3:21	Matt BrashL3:9, Gabe SpeierL3:17, Tayler SaucedoL3:41, Juan ThenL3:23	Chris FlexenL3:21
SFG	PIT	Anthony DeSclafani	Camilo DovalL3:29	Tyler RogersL3:16	John Brebbia	Taylor Rogers, Scott Alexander, Jakob Junis, Ryan WalkerL3:16, Tristan BeckL3:77	Sean Manaea
STL	KCR	Adam Wainwright*	Ryan HelsleyL3:33, Giovanny GallegosL3:5	Drew VerHagenL3:7	Andre PallanteL3:24	Génesis CabreraL3:3, Jordan HicksL3:23, Chris StrattonL3:25	Steven Matz
TBR	@CHC	Taj Bradley*	Pete FairbanksL3:9	Jason AdamL3:43	Colin PocheL3:25	Jalen BeeksL3:50, Kevin KellyL3:33, Jake DiekmanL3:17, Calvin FaucherL3:24	Joe La Sorsa
TEX	@DET	Nathan Eovaldi	Will SmithL3:26	Brock BurkeL3:9	José Leclerc	Jonathan HernándezL3:14, Josh SborzL3:11, Joe BarlowL3:12, Cole RagansL3:28	John KingL3:26
TOR			Jordan RomanoL3:36	Erik SwansonL3:44	Nate PearsonL3:20	Tim MayzaL3:14, Trevor RichardsL3:24, Adam CimberL3:26, Yimi GarcíaL3:20	Anthony BassL3:21
WSN	@LAD	Trevor Williams*	Kyle FinneganL3:22, Hunter HarveyL3:19		Carl Edwards Jr.L3:46	Andrés Machado, Mason ThompsonL3:19, Chad KuhlL3:48, Erasmo RamírezL3:9	Thaddeus Ward

TRANSACTIONS

Date	Team	Player	Category	Description
5/29	CHW	Liam Hendriks	INJURIES	Will be activated from 15-Day IL
5/28	PIT	Cody Bolton	PROMOTION	Recalled from minors

Layout:
— Individual Team News + Stone’s Cold Takes
— Miscellaneous/Other NFL News
— Restaurant of the Week - Washington D.C.
Arizona Cardinals:

• Released WR DeAndre Hopkins and he listed out info about what he wants in his next team:
  
  • Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert
  • He wants stable management and a great defense
• Some folks in AZ were upset with Hopkins because he sat out the last couple of games
  
• S Budda Baker says he will be at camp when its time for him to be there
  

After some decent news the last couple weeks for this organization there wasn’t really anything great from this week besides maybe the fact that if WR DeAndre Hopkins was a distraction to the team he now no longer is one. It will be interesting to see how things play out this year.
Atlanta Falcons:

• FB Keith Smith was arrested on traffic charges
  
  • Driving with a suspended license he claims was a misunderstanding
• K Younghoe Koo didn’t ask for money from RB Bijan Robinson to give him his number but asked him to pick a charity at some point down the road to donate to
  
• Will have joint practices with the Dolphins
  
• Signed:
  
  • WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside

It sounds like the situation with Keith Smith should get resolved rather quickly and was more of a misunderstanding than anything else. It will be fun for this young team to have joint practices with Miami and it will be a good way for their defense to get an initial test from an elite offense. I am sure the Dolphins won’t reveal all of their tricks but either way they will have to worry about guarding an elite offense with elite playmakers.
Baltimore Ravens:

• QB Lamar Jackson expects a more pass-heavy offense under new OC Todd Monken
• WR Michael Thomas separate his shoulder and could require labrum surgery
• WR Rashod Bateman who just played just 6 games was on the field for OTAs on Monday
• Waived Daelin Hayes
• S Kyle Hamilton excited for expanded role with the team
• Tony Jefferson is retiring and joining the team as a scout
• Signed:
  
  • DL Angelo Blackson
  • QB Josh Johnson

It is crazy to think about how just about a month ago the news around the Ravens was all negative and that it seemed like the relationship with Lamar was fractured. Now here we are and Lamar seems about as happy as can be and is excited about the offense that is being installed under new OC Todd Monken. It will be exciting for him as well to have WR Rashod Bateman back who I still think can be a key playmaker on the team. It appears the Ravens could be set for big things even in a tough division.
Buffalo Bills:

• No surprise, QB Josh Allen is hyper-focused and wants to win a Super Bowl
• S Damar Hamlin is back out working out on the field
• WR Stefon Diggs did not attend OTAs
• EDGE Von Miller guarantees he will play by week 6 but is not rushing anything
• Signed:
  
  • S Dean Marlowe
  • Joel Wilson

Great to see the that S Damar Hamlin was back out practicing. I know it has been some time since his collapse on the field but it still feels like yesterday that I was watching that game in complete shock at what I had witnessed and worry for him and his family. WR Stefon Diggs being absent at OTAs is not a big deal to me. QB Josh Allen has a lot of other guys he needs to get familiar and work in with anyways and a lot of star players don’t attend OTAs to either get rest/recovery or to do their own workouts with their private coaches. I imagine he and Kincaid will be deadly this year and who knows they may even have WR DeAndre Hopkins joining them as the Bills were one of two teams that inquired and had talks about a trade for him.
Carolina Panthers:

• TE Hayden Hurst is recovering from sports hernia surgery
• QB Bryce Young is taking most of the first team reps

Not too much news here other than what we saw and heard from OTAs about Bryce Young getting to take most of the 1st team reps. It appears that he looked good and his teammates were saying great things about him. It is tough to judge any quarterback though in the offseason because no matter what folks always say their young or new quarterback is looking amazing and things are progressing nicely. I will say though I have heard the most good things coming out from camps about him and Anthony Richardson of the Colts.
Chicago Bears:

• QB Justin Fields excited about the growth WR Chase Claypool had over offseason
• Got permission to begin demolition of Arlington Park racetrack

Good news for Chicago fans who are excited for their move. It seems that things are proceeding nicely with the process of moving to a new stadium. Also, great to hear that Chase Claypool may be able to make more of a difference this year. It would be hard to be less effective than what he was last year for this team. I still believe he can be a major impact player like many expected him to be when he entered the league. It will be key for him to become Fields’ go to receiver over some of the other talent they have on the team.
Cincinnati Bengals:

• Want to sign WR Tee Higgins and LB Logan Wilson to long term extensions
• Have made their initial push for QB Joe Burrow

This team has a lot to do in terms of contracts that they need to get figured out. The team view Tee Higgins in very high regard and so does Joe Burrow as they should. They also really want to get Logan Wilson signed. However, what will come out to being the biggest of the contracts they do this offseason is that of Joe Burrow. What will continue to make things tough here is the longer it takes for Justin Hebert to get his deal done because Burrow will likely be the last of the 4 quarterbacks to sign his because it is presumed he will get the most money and has an agent who like to wait til the last minute.
Cleveland Browns:

• WR Elijah Moore feels good now that he feels wanted with his new team
• EDGE Za’Darius Smith is excited to be facing the Ravens this year

All good news for Browns fans so far. The team is looking good and their appears to be a lot of good vibes coming out of practice. WR DeAndre Hopkins is even considering coming to Cleveland for the chance to play with his old QB. Also, WR Elijah Moore is looking crisp and at least for the moment it appears he is much happier. It will all depend on if he actually gets the ball thrown to him during the season though.
Dallas Cowboys:

• HC Mike McCarthy is keeping offense in Dak’s language despite the changeup in play callers

Not too much news here which is good for this franchise because they are almost always the center of attention. The main thing I took away from this week was just that things seems to be going well with McCarthy and Dak working together on the offense but that there have been some growing pains at least initially getting used to new systems as expected.
Denver Broncos:

• Waived Hunter Thedford with injury settlement
• Released K Brandon McManus
• K Brett Maher worked out for the team
• QB Russell Wilson has lost a lot of weight this offseason
• HC Sean Payton excited about what S Kareem Jackson can do to help team
• RB Javonte Williams was limited in OTAs starting on Thursday
• Signed:
  
  • T Cam Fleming to a 1-year $4m deal
  • DT Tyler Lancaster

It appeared to shock just about everyone when the news broke about K Brandon McManus getting released because he had become a fan favorite over the years in Denver. QB Russell Wilson has lost a lot of weight and it is evident just from seeing him this offseason. I didn’t think his weight was the issue hindering him last year but hopefully he can feel he is playing at a healthier weight. What I think most Denver fans were excited to see was RB Javonte Williams back on the practice field. He is going to end up being the real difference maker this year and whether this team competes with the top of the AFC or not will largely depend on him making the rest of the offense’s life easy or not.
Detroit Lions:

• Former WR Calvin Johnson was at OTAs this week after having been away from the organization following a rough falling out post-retirement
• RB David Montgomery said that losing with the Bears “sucked the fun out of the game”
• WR Jameson Williams says that he didn’t know about the gambling policy; HC Dan Campbell feels he is miles ahead in terms of his talent already
• Traded an undisclosed draft pick for K Riley Patterson
  
  • Signed a 1-year $2.35m deal
• RB David Montgomery and LB Malcolm Rodriguez left practice due to injury
  
• Team has done their homework on free agent WR DeAndre Hopkins
  
• NFL is investigation another Lions player about league gambling rules violations
  
• Signed:
  
  • OL Germain Ifedi
  • Max Pircher through international player pathway program

A lot of news here. Let’s start with the bad news. It appears that they may be having more penalties come down on their team/players due to the league’s gambling policy as their is an ongoing investigation into a 5th player from the team. Also, David Montgomery and Malcolm Rodriguez left the field with injuries. It is still early though and they appear to be minor injuries so hopefully it won’t affect them in the long term. Now some good news. It sounds like WR Jameson Williams is progressing nicely and the team got a new kicker in Riley Patterson from the Jaguars who should help the improve there. Lastly and maybe the biggest news is that Calvin “Megatron” Johnson was at OTAs hanging out with coaches and players. Many are hoping those good vibes carry over into the season.
Green Bay Packers:

• Signed:
  
  • WR Jadakis Bonds
• Cut TE Nick Guggemos
  
• Will host the 2025 NFL Draft
  
• HC Matt LaFleur is please with Jordan Love but still need to work on a lot of things
  

Exciting news that Green Bay will get the draft in 2025! I was thinking they would try and stick to more southern states but they clearly are willing to go North with Detroit and now Green Bay being the hosts of the next two. HC Matt LaFleur appears to be being honest with everything and trying to temper expectations a bit with Jordan Love taking over. This could be to help take pressure off of Love and also just be the flat out truth that with any young quarterback it is going to take some time.
Houston Texans:

• Appears DeMeco Ryans may not be too sure about pursuing Jadeveon Clowney
• HC DeMeco Ryans expects the o-line to be a strength for this team
• Currently it is a QB competition between Davis Mills and CJ Stroud
  
  • Other teams have been inquiring about QB Davis Mills

I am not surprised about DeMeco Ryans hesitancy about pursuing Jadeveon Clowney. First of all he just may not want to reveal his cards to others in the league about what he is thinking. The other thing is that he is one that likes for his defense to have an identity and a really good work ethic. I am not saying that Clowney can’t fit that mold but it just makes the selection process for what Ryans wants on defense that much more thorough. The other news that surprised some but something I mentioned a couple of weeks ago is that QB Davis Mills will compete with Stroud for the starting job and is viewed as a desirable QB to other teams around the league. I know his stats haven’t been the best but I am not sure any of the young quarterbacks would have done well with what the Texans organization has been the last couple years. At the end of the day CJ Stroud will end up being the team’s starter due to draft status and probably will be the more talented, better option.
Indianapolis Colts:

• No timetable for Shaquille Leonard to resume practicing
• QB Anthony Richardson was running a similar offense to what Jalen Hurts has run in Philly and was very impressive (splitting 1st team reps)
• Signed:
  
  • TE Kaden Smith

Overall things seems to be good for the organization. The main thing we are all waiting on is when Shaq Leonard will be able to get back out there and start practicing. It makes sense not to have him practicing now since things are optional anyways. The hype has been there for QB Anthony Richardson thus far and it appears he may be closer to starting right away than a lot of people thought.
Jacksonville Jaguars:

• Traded K Riley Patterson to the Lions for an undisclosed draft pick
• RB Travis Etienne looking forward to doing some fine-tuning this year
• Signed Brandon McManus

Not too much news out of Jacksonville other than the change at the kicker position. Things got busy and they were able to trade K Riley Patterson to the Lions rather than release like the reports had said prior. Then they went out and got a proven veteran in K Brandon McManus who had just been released from the Broncos squad. This team is going to be interesting this year and will go as far QB Trevor Lawrence can take them. Does not hurt to have the veteran kicker for the big moments that could be coming for this organization.
Kansas City Chiefs:

• HC Andy Reid is not a fan of the kickoff rule change hinting at the NFL getting closer to being flag football
  
  • TE Travis Kelce is not happy about it either
• QB Patrick Mahomes addressed contract saying he cares more about Super Bowls
  
• LB Nick Bolton doesn’t think the defense gets enough credit
  
• QB Patrick Mahomes says that it has been a smooth transition to new OC Matt Nagy
  
• HC Andy Reid feels fullbacks have been phased out of the NFL and that the Chiefs will not be using one
  

HC Andy Reid who normally is pretty quiet and doesn’t get too involved was in front of the media a lot this week it felt like. First, he is not a fan of the new kickoff rule and it appears most coaches are not. Second, he talked about how the team will not be using a FB because they are being phased out of the NFL and he feels that the TEs they have on the team can play the role when needed. Overall it seems things are going well for the Chiefs and things could be a going a lot better here soon as they appear to be a top option for WR DeAndre Hopkins and one the few teams that had trade talks before he was released.
Las Vegas Raiders:

• Former QB Tom Brady reached an agreement to be a minority owner of the team
• QB Jimmy Garoppolo had to have foot surgery after signing with the team and there is not timetable for his return - believe he should return before the season
  
  • Things could get interesting depending on how situation with Jimmy G works out
• WR Davante Adams is not happy about the current QB situation with the Raiders
  
  • Adams and team have been sued by the photographer he shoved last year
• Will have joint practices with the 49ers
  

It appears there is never a dull week with the Raiders. The news this week about Jimmy seem to add context potentially to what Davante Adams’ comments were about recently. With Tom Brady recently joining the ownership group here it makes us all wonder if the injury is not cleared up is there a way for him to un-retire once again…only time will tell.
Los Angeles Chargers:

• Signed:
  
  • RB Austin Ekeler to a new deal for this final year that added on up to $2m in incentives

Big news here getting the deal done with Austin Ekeler even if it still only keeps him around for 1 year. Thankfully now he should be semi-happy for that one year before he can go out and chase a big contract if he wants to.
Los Angeles Rams:
Not much news here really. Sounds like Matthew Stafford has taken Stetson Bennett under his wing and started to work with him and help him learn more about the transition to the NFL compared to college.
Miami Dolphins:

• WR DK Metcalf challenged WR Tyreek Hill
• Will have joint practices with the Falcons
• QB Tua Tagavailoa is wearing a camera on his helmet to help HC Mike McDaniel see what he sees on the field

I loved seeing Tua wearing the helmet cam. I had not thought about it before but it should be great for him to be able to show McDaniel exactly what he is/was seeing out on the field to add context and allow McDaniel to better coach him and understand what is going on. I think this should be something all quarterbacks do and especially the top ones because it could gives coaches that much more information and a better understanding of how to help young quarterbacks in the future.
Minnesota Vikings:

• Signed:
  
  • WR from the XFL Lucky Jackson
• DC Brian Flores wants defense to develop an aggressive identity but not reckless
  
• RB Dalvin Cook could be a June 1st cut
  

All signs appear to be pointing towards RB Dalvin Cook getting released. In other news it will be good for the defense to develop the aggressive mindset that Brian Flores wants and should bring in the attitude from Miami that wad established during his time there that was so effective and led to them winning games.
New England Patriots:

• Got docked 2 days of OTA workouts for violating offseason rules and HC Bill Belichick was fined $50,000 dollars
• Placed LB Raekwon McMillan on injured reserve due to partially torn ACL

The Patriots seems to always be up to something. It sounds like they were penalized the 2 days of OTAs and fined because of a meeting that Joe Judge held that lasted more than the permitted amount of time. Other tough news came when Raekwon McMillan got injured.
New Orleans Saints:

• TE Foster Moreau is participating in OTAs
• Being in New Orleans has given QB Derek Carr a breath of fresh air
• Former HC Jon Gruden is working with the team and Derek Carr

What a story. TE Foster Moreau finds out he has cancer in a physical with the team a couple months and gets ahead of things and is now practicing with them at OTAs. Interesting story here about former HC Jon Gruden working with the team because during his time with the Raiders many said that he and Carr did not get along. This team has a big opportunity to take over the NFC South and is probably the bet setup to do it with the team they have.
New York Giants:

• Rookie WR Jalin Hyatt wants to get to 190lbs as his playing weight
• TE Darren Waller is happy to somewhere where his opinions are valued
  
  • QB Daniel Jones is enjoying working with TE Darren Waller
• HC Brian Daboll will not speak on contract situations despite currently Barkley situation
  

It seems that everything is going great except the Saquon Barkley situation. There isn’t much new insight into it either after HC Daboll refused to speak on anything contract related. In good news it seems like TE Darren Waller is really enjoying being with the team and working with QB Daniel Jones. This is a team to me that is going to play inspired football like they did last year no matter what is going on because their HC.
New York Jets:

• QB Aaron Rodgers had minor calf strain
• WR Allen Lazard went down during OTAs but supposedly was just a shot to the groin
• Worked out P Matt Araiza
• Chuck Clark was happy to be traded because felt disrespected by the Ravens
• HC Robert Saleh is confident a deal will get done with Quinnen Williams
• Will have joint practices with the Buccaneers

I imagine Jets fans held their breath when they saw Aaron Rodgers get injured as well as Allen Lazard. The good news is that those are not going to be issues in the long run. However, it reminded us all that QB Aaron Rodgers is not a young guy anymore and there is always the possibility that he like any other player in the NFL can get hurt. Hopefully the deal with Quinnen Williams can get done sooner rather than later. I am looking forward to the joint practices with the Bucs because they have a solid defense and it will be fun to hear how they fare in the early phases of implementing a lot of things from both Nathaniel Hackett and Aaron Rodgers.
Philadelphia Eagles:

• OL D.J. Fluker worked out for the Eagles
• DL Jordan Davis has made major strides this offseason will take on a larger role

Jordan Davis is going to be a key piece for the team this year in my opinion so it is great to hear he has made major strides. He is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to his sheer size and the more he can be weaponized the better.
Pittsburgh Steelers:

• Signed:
  
  • EDGE Markus Golden to 1-year deal
  • LB Toby Ndukwe
• Easy decision for QB Mitch Trubisky to sign extension
  
• Started contract talks with OLB Alex Highsmith
  
• Released Tae Crowder
  
• Want to play a regular season game in Ireland
  
• WR Allen Robinson has been very impressed so far by QB Kenny Pickett
  
• QB Kenny Pickett had his car stolen with his playbook inside of it
  

Great move to get Markus Golden. He can be dangerous in this defense and is only one season removed from a double digit sack year. Also, good to see that Robinson and Pickett appear to be getting along. I am curious to see who shakes out to be the #1 receiver on this team but have a feeling it will end up being Pickens because of how good he was last year and the chemistry he and Pickett already have. A QB likes it when his receiver makes life easier and bails him out. Pickens has already done that on multiple occasions for him.
San Francisco 49ers:

• QB Trey Lance just wants a chance to compete and never considered being traded
  
  • Raved about this time working with QB Patrick Mahomes
• QB Brock Purdy expected to start throwing next week, be able to go from gripping a towel to an actual football
  
• QB Sam Darnold will push to start come week 1
  
• Levi’s will officially get the Super Bowl in 2026
  
• LB Dre Greenlaw has a thumb procedure and will miss most of the OTAs this offseason
  
• Will have joint practices with the Raiders
  

It is official the 49ers will host the 2026 Super Bowl! After speculations and rumors it finally became official this past week. Also, there was a lot of good QB news this week with all 3 of the QBs on the roster. Sounds like Brock Purdy is healing properly and as expected, Trey Lance is looking really good in OTAs along with Sam Darnold. Once again this offseason no one is sure who will be starting for the team come week 1.
Seattle Seahawks:

• WR DK Metcalf challenged WR Tyreek Hill
• CB Tariq Woolen had arthroscopic knee surgery and it out til training camp
• Signed:
  
  • CB Artie Burns

Good news for Seahawks fan that Tariq Woolen will be back around training camp time after his procedure. Other than that there was not much news here. They got a solid rotational/depth player in Artie Burns though.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

• Video of QB Baker Mayfield making an overthrow went viral on social media
• Will have joint practices with the Jets
• WR Chris Godwin feels like he has a lot of his explosion back
• Team wants to see more consistency out of LB Devin White before offering him the contract he wants

Great to see that Tampa has joint practices with the Jets. They have a tough defense and it will be good for Baker and the offense to get some work against that defense early on. The Bucs have some great weapons on the offensive side of the ball to really compete with those top defenses and if they can all stay healthy this team could be a dark horse team to watch. Overall this should be a good all around team.
Tennessee Titans:

• QB Will Levis is putting pressure on Tannehil and Willis in OTAs this far
• S Kevin Byard is skipping OTAs

Interesting to see that S Kevin Byard was not at OTAs after earlier this offseason it was rumored he was asked to take a pay cut. Definitely a situation to watch. The main news that came from OTAs is that QB Will Levis appears to be looking good and some folks think he could be putting pressure on Tannehill early on and moving himself up the depth chart.
Washington Commanders:

• HC Ron Rivera said that DE Chase Young understands them not picking up his 5th year option
• New OC Eric Bieniemy has been getting on young QB Sam Howell holding him accountable
• Trademark application was denied due to someone else already having pending applications for the name but the team is confident this issue will get resolved
• It has been good for QB Sam Howell that QB Jacoby Brissett has been in the building
• TE Amani Rodgers tore his ACL and is out indefinitely
• Released Nathan Gerry
• Jamin Davis limited in OTAs after knee procedure
• Financing needs to be adjusted in order for the Josh Harris bid to be accepted
• Signed:
  
  • XFL LB Ferrod Gardner

Feels like a lot happened with the Commanders. First off, I think QB Sam Howell is in a great spot to learn and develop this year with mentors like Jacoby Brissett and then his OC Eric Bieniemy. They will hold him accountable like has already been happening and help bring out the best in him. Now it definitely is an organization surrounded by distractions. First off the trademark application for the team’s name was denied and they hope to get something figured out but could lead to another name change. Also, the team is still working through the Josh Harris bid and there need to be some adjustments in order for it to get accepted by the other NFL Owners and the league. These distractions even though they may not always be good for the team they probably do help a young quarterback because he is not the only thing to talk about at this point in the offseason.
Miscellaneous/Other NFL News:

• Many believe that Thursday Night Flexing is to cater to Amazon but really could be the future of how deals get done
  
  • Teams have to have 28 days notice and this is currently just a 1 year move
• RB Jeremy Hill who has not played for the past 5 seasons officially retired siting injury issues leading to his retirement
  
• NFL injury data shows that turf fields are significantly worse for players than grass fields
  
• The Pat McAfee Show will be taking over Max Kellerman’s the time slot on ESPN
  
• Commissioner Roger Goodell’s lobbying convinced teams to vote in favor of the new kickoff rules
  
• Dr. Timoth Kremchek, the Cincinnati Reds' physician since 1996, says he sees an "epidemic" of youth injuries on artificial turf
  
• RB Adrian Peterson will be hanging it up if he’s not back in the NFL this season
  
• After Goodell’s retirement the NFL could change the structure of management for the NFL combining a traditional CEO with a Commissioner of Football
  
• Possible a team will play 3 back to back games in Europe in the future
  
• Devin McCourty will be joining NBC’s Sunday Night Football crew as an analyst
  
• Officially approved emergency 3rd QB rule
  
• Investigating further violations potentially of league gambling policy
  
• DirecTV will still distribute Sunday Ticket to bars and restaurants
  
• S Tony Jefferson announced his retirement
  
• Announced growth of global market program
  

​
Restaurant of the Week: (Washington D.C. - TACOS 5 DE MAYO)
Don’t really have a great picture of this place but that may be a good thing. Often times I find that the places least advertised and that are holes in the wall is typically where you get the best Mexican food. This place is about a 10 minute drive from the stadium and probably closer to 15-20 minutes on game days depending on the time you go. Personally I recommend the Tacos Al Pastor. Those are basically a marinated pork taco that is slightly spicy with some sweet pineapple flavor in it. You cannot go wrong with Tacos Al Pastor and are by far my favorite. The other thing to keep an eye on is the Pupusas. While Pupusas are from El Salvador this place actually does a pretty dang good job of making them. For those that don’t know what Pupusas are they kind of resemble a stuffed pancake but are made of corn in most cases stuffed with either just cheese, cheese and beans, or cheese and pork. My order here would be 3 tacos al pastor and a cheese and bean pupusa. Enjoy!