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How To Use Melee Weapons in Black Ops 6

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One of the most frequently asked questions among Black Ops 6 players, especially those who are new to the game, is how to use melee weapons in BO6.

Unlike most other Call of Duty titles, using a melee weapon in BO6 is a bit less intuitive, which is why players might struggle to pull out their knives in the heat of battle.

Because of the default control settings in Black Ops 6, attempting to melee usually results in a basic gun butt attack, which doesn’t deliver a one-shot kill. This can certainly be frustrating in situations where you’re looking to secure a sneaky kill on an enemy with your knife.

If you’re struggling to use your knife in BO6, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll show you how you can use your melee weapon in BO6 and take down your opponents in one hit.

How To Use Melee Weapons in BO6

How To Use Melee Weapons in Black Ops 6

By default, the melee weapon in BO6 is tied to a ‘hold’ input, meaning you need to hold down the melee button—“V” on PC or the right analog stick on console—to equip your knife.

Luckily, BO6 enables players to change their input preferences in the game settings.

If you don’t want to hold down your melee button every time you’re looking to pull out your knife, all you need to do is change the input mode from the settings. 

Here’s how you can have a much easier time equipping your melee weapon in BO6:

  • Launch Black Ops 6
  • Go to the Settings menu.
  • Select your preferred input device.
  • Head to the ‘Combat’ tab.
  • Change the “Dedicated Melee Weapon Activation” setting to either Weapon Cycle or Dedicated Keybind.

If you choose ‘Weapon Cycle,’ the melee weapon will automatically be added to your weapon rotation, while using ‘Dedicated Keybind’ will enable you to set a specific keybind from the ‘Keybinds’ section to pull out your knife. Note that the latter is only available for use on PC.

All Free Fortnite Skins for May 2025

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Epic Games’ popular battle royale Fortnite is not only known for its fast-paced, high-octane gameplay, but also for its flashy and creative character skins that are often made in collaboration with major pop culture icons and franchises.

While most premium skins in Fortnite have a price tag associated with them, the devs continue to give out a bunch of free skins to players who aren’t willing to spend any money on the game.

If you’re looking to score some free Fortnite skins to add to your collection, look no further. In this guide, we’ll provide you with a list of all the free skins available in Fortnite during May 2025 and show you exactly how to unlock them.

List of Free Fortnite Skins in May 2025

As of May 2025, the following character skins are available to claim for free in Fortnite:

  • First Order Stormtrooper
  • Vanguard Zadie
  • Shinji
  • Explorer Emilie
  • Trailblazer Tai
  • Mr. Dappermint

Now that you’re aware of all the skins that you can get for free in Fortnite, you might be curious to know how to get them.

How To Get Free Fortnite Skins in May 2025

Without further ado, let’s take a look at how you can get all the aforementioned free skins in Fortnite right away:

  • First Order Stormtrooper: To get this skin, simply link your MyDisney and Fortnite accounts before August 31, 2025.
  • Vanguard Zadie: The Vanguard Zadie skin is awarded to Fortnite players who reach 50 account levels before June 7, 2025.
  • Shinji: All PlayStation Plus subscribers are given this skin for free.
  • Explorer Emilie & Mr. Dappermint: The Explorer Emilie & Mr. Dappermint skins can be redeemed by linking your LEGO and Fortnite accounts.
  • Trailblazer Tai: To get the Trailblazer Tai in Fortnite, you’ll have to complete your LEGO Fortnite Quests.

Twitch Revenue Hits “All-Time Low” as Streamers Switch to Kick

Twitch has been bleeding streamers for a long time now as competition from KICK toughens up. This has been readily apparent in the drop in Twitch advertisement revenue, which has hit an “all-time low.”

Reports suggest that Twitch has been losing companies that were bringing in a big chunk of advertising revenue. In addition to this, streamers are also losing potential revenue after streaming on multiple platforms at once. Having the same creator on both platforms gives users less motivation to switch websites and has been a big reason why Twitch is suffering with the emergence of KICK.

“Ad revenue is at an all-time low,” said Knut. “It’s not down to zero, this (graphic) is a little bit overdone, this is a little bit exaggerated. It isn’t cut down to 10%, but it is down. 

“I talked to Mizkif about it yesterday as well, and he said he looked at his and when he saw his dashboard, his ad revenue compared to before is so s*it. But it’s good that we have KICK as well that we can help us.”

Although multi-streaming on KICK slashes the revenue down to 50%, having the flexibility of viewership across both platforms keeps creators from sticking to one. Multi-streaming is becoming more and more popular, and unless Twitch can lock in a few content creators exclusively to their platform, it is difficult to see them retain their throne as the most popular video game streaming platform.

Fortnite Returns to Apple App Store After Legal Victory

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Epic Games’ Fortnite has successfully returned to the Apple App Store in the United States. The reinstatement came following a landmark federal court ruling that opposes Apple’s long-standing App Store practices, especially regarding in-app payment systems.

In August 2020, Epic Games added a direct payment feature to Fortnite, bypassing Apple’s in-app purchasing mechanism that charged a commission of 30% on all transactions. The action resulted in Fortnite’s removal from the App Store, and Epic sued Apple for monopolistic behavior.

The fight in court ended in a 2021 decision in which Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled Apple’s anti-steering clauses, prohibitions against developers from sending users to other payment options, were against California’s Unfair Competition Law. Apple was not declared a monopolist, but the court required it to permit developers to include links for payments outside of the App Store.

Regardless of the ruling, Apple’s follow-up compliance efforts were not well received. Apple implemented a 27% commission on third-party transactions and made use of “scare screens” in an attempt to deter customers from using alternate payment options. In response, Judge Rogers charged Apple with intentionally violating the injunction and referred it for possible criminal contempt sanctions.

Fortnite’s Reinstatement and Apple’s Response

Fortnite Returns to Apple App Store After Legal Victory

In April 2025, Apple gave the go-ahead for Fortnite’s return to the App Store under judicial pressure. The move was welcomed by Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney as a triumph for consumers and developers pushing for fair competition. Apple, however, has strongly disagreed with the court ruling and has appealed, seeking to reverse the ruling.

The ruling has far-reaching implications beyond Fortnite. Developers are now in a position to incorporate alternate payment systems into their apps, hopefully earning more of their revenue that was otherwise taken by Apple’s commissions. This change might lead other leading players like Spotify and Netflix to seek out alternate paths for in-app payments as well.

Additionally, the ruling could affect Apple’s partnerships with other technology companies. Microsoft, for one, has pointed to Apple’s restrictive measures as an obstacle to the opening of its Xbox mobile store, highlighting the wider industry implications of the court’s directive.

In Europe, the Digital Markets Act (DMA) has forced Apple to enable alternative app stores and payment systems on its devices. Epic Games has used this law to distribute Fortnite via third-party app stores in the EU, further testing Apple’s grip on app distribution and monetization.

How to Acquire Mandalorian Skin in Fortnite?

Fortnite will bring the Mandalorian back into its world with a new, customizable skin in the “Mandalorian Rising” update on May 22, 2025. The drop is a flagship of Chapter 6 Season 3, “Galactic Battle,” that transports players to a Star Wars world with new characters, weapons, and game mechanics.

The Mandalorian skin will go live in Fortnite‘s Item Shop on May 22, 2025. Here is when it will go live in different regions:

  • India: May 23 at 5:30 AM IST
  • United States: May 22 at 8:00 PM ET
  • Europe: May 23 at 2:00 AM CET
  • Russia: May 23 at 3:00 AM MSK
  • Brazil: May 22 at 9:00 PM BRT
  • China: May 23 at 8:00 AM CST
  • New Zealand: May 23rd at 1:00 PM NZDT
  • Japan: May 23rd at 9:00 AM JST
  • Australia: May 23rd at 10:00 AM AEST

How to Get Mandalorian Skin in Fortnite?

How to Acquire Mandalorian Skin in Fortnite

The Mandalorian Warrior skin can be bought alone for 1,800 V-Bucks (around $13) or as a whole “Champions of Mandalore” bundle for 2,500 V-Bucks (around $18). The bundle provides an all-inclusive set of items at a lower price than if they were bought individually.

The Bundle contains:

  • Mandalorian Warrior Outfit: Editable with different pieces and styles of armor.
  • Vibrodagger & Personal Shield Pickaxe: Two-in-one harvesting tools that take design cues from Mandalorian weapons.
  • Mandalorian Cape Back Bling: A cross-over bling that complements the outfit.
  • Whistling Bird Salute Emote: A gesture that pays homage to the Mandalorian signature weapon.
  • Beskar Forge Emote: An emote that depicts the process of forging Beskar armor.
  • For Mandalore Wrap: A Mandalorian emblem and design-inspired weapon wrap.

Further, the skin features a LEGO-style version for application in LEGO Fortnite modes, which adds to its convenience in various game experiences.

This version of the Mandalorian skin provides highly customizable features, and players can change armor components like shoulders, thighs, arms, torso, helmet, and clothing. Which one of the skins mentioned above would you love to have? Let us know in the comments below.

Netflix Announces Clash of Clans Animated Series

Netflix has confirmed that they’re working on a Clash of Clans animated series, bringing the fan-favorite mobile game to life.

The animated series, called “Clash,” will be based on Supercell’s Clash of Clans, and it’s already in the works at Netflix Animation.

The announcement, which seemingly came out of the blue, has sent shockwaves through the gaming community, with fans throughout the globe sharing their excitement across social media platforms.

Netflix has previously served as the platform for several acclaimed video game adaptations, including League of Legends’ Arcane, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, DOTA: Dragon’s Blood, and a lot more. With this strong track record, expectations for the upcoming Clash of Clans animated series are higher than ever.

“Working with the incredible team at Supercell, Fletcher Moules, and Ron Weiner, we’re bringing all the fun, chaos, and spirit of the world of Clash to life in a whole new way,” John Derderian, the Vice President and Head of Animation Series at Netflix, said in a statement. “We can’t wait for fans (old and new) to experience the mayhem.”

Originally released in 2012, Clash of Clans is a free-to-play mobile strategy video game that has garnered the attention of millions of players over the years. In fact, CoC is often regarded as one of the most popular mobile games of all time.

TenZ Returns To Competitive Valorant With Cubert Academy

Legendary Valorant player Tyson ‘TenZ‘ Ngo has announced his return to the professional scene of the shooter as a last-minute substitute for Cubert Academy.

For the uninitiated, Cubert Academy is the academy roster for Sentinels, the organization TenZ currently represents as a content creator, making his sudden competitive comeback all the more surprising.

The news was confirmed via an announcement on the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of Sentinels, featuring a short video of TenZ himself declaring, “I guess I’m back!”

Later, the 24-year-old confirmed via an X post of his own that he will be livestreaming his POV during the tournament.

“Going to be subbing in playoffs for Cubert Academy, will be streaming my POV on my channels,” he said in his X handle. “Time to make my Challengers debut.”

During his stint with Cubert Academy, TenZ will be stepping in for Logan ‘skuba’ Jenkins, who recently transferred to NRG, till the org manages to find a replacement.

Fans looking to catch the Sentinels star live can tune into his Twitch handle on May 20th, as he makes his debut for Cubert Academy in a best-of-three clash against Winthrop University.

The Finals Announces First Major Event at DreamHack Stockholm

On May 20th, Embark Studios announced the first-ever Major tournament for their competitive shooter, The Finals.

As per an official announcement from the company, The Finals DreamHack and ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) will host their first Major event at DreamHack Stockholm.

“This year’s Major will be held at DreamHack Stockholm, part of ESL FACEIT Group, the leading force in global esports and gaming entertainment,” Embark Studios said in a statement. “It’s the perfect home for our biggest competitive event yet — right here in Stockholm, the city where THE FINALS was created.”

Scheduled to take place on November 28-29, 2025, the first major event for The Finals will see sixteen of the finest teams from throughout the world battling it out for a share of the $100,000 USD prize pool.

The Finals Major Qualifiers Schedule

Teams competing in the inaugural The Finals Major will earn their spots through a series of Open Qualifiers.

The Finals Major Open Qualifiers are set to kick off in early September 2025.

The top-performing teams from each region — NA, EMEA, and APAC — will then proceed to the Closed Qualifiers

The top 16 teams from the Closed Qualifiers will make their way to the Major.

The Closed Qualifiers for the event will be broadcast live.

Embark Studios has yet to reveal details on how to sign up for the open qualifiers, what the tournament format will be, or the broadcast and viewing schedules. The devs have confirmed that all of this information, along with behind-the-scenes insights, will be shared at a later date.

Actors’ Union Raises Concern for Fortnite AI Darth Vader

The actors’ union SAG-AFTRA has raised a complaint against the developers of the popular Battle Royale Game Fortnite over their AI Darth Vader, which, according to them, was created while violating several terms of the agreement between the union and the developers.

According to the union, the developers managed to “replace the work of human performers with AI technology” without informing the union thus violating the terms of agreement thus triggering a complaint stating “unilateral changes to terms and conditions of employment, without providing notice to the union or the opportunity to bargain, by utilising AI-generated voices to replace bargaining unit work.”

“We must protect our right to bargain terms and conditions around uses of voice that replace the work of our members, including those who previously did the work of matching Darth Vader’s iconic rhythm and tone in video games,” read their statement.

While the replacement of artists with AI has been a prevalent problem in recent times, this goes to show that it can go wrong in more ways than one. Having AI generate a voice that cannot be distinguished from the real character is truly disturbing, as it goes to show how easily misuse of this technology can happen.

Epic Games is yet to respond to this, but with the laws surrounding AI being in a grey area, it will be hard to fight this in a legal way, and there is a possibility of a disappointing outcome if it goes to court.