If you're lucky, you've got a bunch of free days going on right now, and they need to be filled with games. I've therefore sniffed through every online store in a search for the best gaming bargains of the day. They're new, they're old, but most importantly, they're quite a bit cheaper than their original asking price. So stop reading and get scrolling / saving!
In retro news, I'm celebrating the 37th birthday of the mighty Sega Master System. I somehow pleaded my way into one of these when this oversized oblong started to be bundled with two controllers, a light phaser, and two games (Hang On and Safari Hunt). Boasting newer, improved hardware compared to its worthy NES rival, Sega's 8-bit beast seized a significant market share lead in Oz (a feat not replicated in more important markets like Japan and North America). What is your easiest, cheapest, and most reasonably authentic way to experience the Master System vibe today? Buy the modern remaster of Alex Kidd in Miracle World. Everybody owned it.
We learned a lot of new information about Monster Hunter Wilds at Tokyo Game Show 2024 during the Capcom Online Program and extended Scarlet Forest gameplay stream, including the reveal of the foul Congala and fowl Yian Kut-Ku. Both monsters are returning to the series after a long absence. Here’s a quick breakdown of everything we’ve learned with comments from the developers.
The Fanged Beast Congalala, a Farting Pink Ape
Technically, we could’ve made an educated guess that Congalala would be returning to the series thanks to the distinctly pink armor the hunter was wearing in the official Dual Blades showcase. But it was finally officially confirmed during the Scarlet Forest gameplay stream, where the developers said fans have wanted Congalala to return for quite some time. Congalala is a Fanged Beast first introduced in Monster Hunter Freedom 2 for PSP (at least in the US).
Congalala resembles a gorilla, except it has striking pink fur and a tail that’s often holding a mushroom. Its main, disgusting way of attacking is through visible farts that throw brown debris into the air and belches that change depending on the food it most recently ate. In Wilds, before a certain move, Congalala will produce a special item called “Truffle de Conga” which can be stolen and used in your own cooking.
Congalala can also cover you in a “stench” so powerful you’re unable to consume anything, including health potions. Make sure to bring Deodorant out on hunts in the Scarlet Forest which is where you’ll encounter Congalala, at least for the first time. Luckily, recovering from such a stench is simple with Monster Hunter Wilds’ new Optimal Status Recovery option in the radial menu. With this, you’ll have quick access to whatever item is needed at the moment, so you won’t have to dig through the item pouch while it’s too stinky to think.
In an interview with IGN, Monster Hunter Wilds director Yuya Tokuda says this new feature is meant to be a quality of life improvement, but you may not find yourself using it as often as you think because the Palico will be “on it” trying to heal you. The same can be said about the Optimal Health Recovery option, which will not only use guild-issued healing items like Rations before dipping into your hard-earned stores of Potions but will use the item that will get you closest to full recovery without overdoing it.
The Bird Wyvern Yian Kut-Ku, the Original “Tutorial Monster”
Yian Kut-Ku is the very first flying monster Hunters faced in the original Monster Hunter for PS2, and has the honor of being the first returning monster to be revealed after Rathalos.
Like Congalala, Yian Kut-Ku is also pink, and resembles a goofy-looking, scaly bird monster. While Yian Kut-Ku moves around a lot and is fairly quick, it usually trips and falls when it charges. Kut-Ku’s other main attack is fireballs, making it an early resource for Flame Sacs.
Monster Hunter Wilds executive director and art director Kaname Fujioka says Yian Kut-Ku was given the honored spot of first properly revealed returning monster afer Rathalos not just because they love Yian Kut-Ku, but because he thinks it’s “a sort-of well-known, popular, and beloved monster among the fan base.” Fujioka adds, “This choice of the next reveal was something that I think showed that we love Monster Hunter just as much as you guys do, and we’re always thinking about what would be fun to bring back.”
As for why Yian Kut-Ku is being brought back for Wilds specifically, Fujioka says it would be great to see how Yian Kut-Ku appears in Wilds' pack system, where the same large monsters can appear in a group for the first time.
Customizable Seikrets
During the Scarlet Forest gameplay, we also saw the hunter riding a differently colored Seikret. The Seikret is the mount in Monster Hunter Wilds, and it was confirmed during this stream that we can customize its colors. Not much else is known about the depth of this customizability just yet!
Alongside the two monster reveals, the Scarlet Forest gameplay stream also showed a portion of a hunt with Uth Una, the Leviathan revealed during the most recent PlayStation State of Play. There were also details on how fishing in Monster Hunter Wilds will be a little more involved when reeling in a big fish.
Lastly, though unrelated to Monster Hunter Wilds specifically, there were more announcements for Monster Hunter’s 20th Anniversary, including a special Rathalos Fender Telecaster guitar. Capcom also revealed that Monster Hunter is getting special collaborations with both Transformers and Digimon. For Transformers, a Rathalos Prime Transformer figure; and for Digimon, two special V-Pets featuring monsters from Monster Hunter as well as special fusion monsters. RathalosGremon is a fusion of Greymon and Rathalos, and ZinoGarurumon a fusion of Garurumon and Zinogre. As of now, we’re unsure if these will be officially available outside of Japan.
Amazon's second Prime Day event of the year kicks off next week on October 8, but some deals have already gone live. Most notably, Fire TV Sticks, Kindles, Fire Tablets, and Echo smart devices have been discounted by up to 50% off starting today. These deals are very likely to last through Prime Day, however this is your chance to get them without a Prime membership. Starting October 8, you may be required to have a Prime membership to take advantage of these discounts. Unless you're eligible for a free trial, that's still an extra expense, especially if you don't plan on getting anything else.
Prime Day Fire TV Stick Deals
Save up to 50% off every Amazon Fire TV Stick. That includes the budget Fire TV Stick Lite, which is down to $17.99 (originally $30), to the powerful Fire TV Stick 4K Max, which is down to $35 (originally $60). Xbox gamers should find this deal very tempting, since you can now play Xbox games on compatible Fire TV devices. Players with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription and a Fire TV Stick 4K or 4K Max can connect a wireless controller and access the Xbox Cloud Gaming library, which includes games like Palworld and Forza Horizon 5.
Need help deciding which model to get? We have a Fire TV Stick guide that breaks down the differences between each model and which one we'd recommend depending on your needs.
Prime Day Kindle Deal
Amazon Kindle deals were strangely absent during the first Prime Day Sale back in July. There's only one deal currently available today, but it's a very good one. Right now you can get the newest 11th generation Kindle Paperwhite Kids Bundle for only $114.99, a 32% price drop. This deal price makes it even cheaper than getting the standard Paperwhite, which is currently $150. The Kids Bundle includes the Paperwhite 16GB reader, 1 year of Amazon Kids+, a kid-friendly cover, and an extra year of warranty for a total of two years. The 11th gen Kindle Paperwhite improves upon its predecessor with a larger display, adjustable warm light, increased battery life, faster page turns, and a USB Type-C charging port.
Prime Day Fire Tablet Deals
All models of the Fire Tablet are on sale, from the compact and affordable Fire 7 tablet with its 7" touchscreen display and 10 hours of battery life for only $49.99 (originally $90) to the impressive flagship Fire Max 11 tablet with a sharp 11" 2000x1200 resolution, aluminum body, and included pen and keyboard case for $244.99 (originally $405). We picked the Fire Max 11 as the best Android tablet for families. The best deal for most people is probably the Fire HD 8; it has a massive 58% discount which brings the price down to only $5 more than the Fire 7 deal.
Prime Day Echo Smart Speaker Deals
Several Amazon Echo smart assistants have been discounted ahead of Prime Day. These include Echo speakers without a display and Echo Show speakers with display. The Echo is a great smart assistant thanks to its compatibility with a huge number of third party TVs, lights, home security systems, and home theater speakers on the market. There are also thousands of user-submitted Alexa skills for any device that isn't natively supported. Not only are most of these Echo devices heavily discounted by 40% or more, many of them also include a free TP-Link RGB LED smart light bulb at no extra cost. These freebie deals usually require a Prime membership, but not this time.
Prime Day Amazon Fire TV Deals
Amazon Fire TVs are some of the least expensive TVs you'll find, and that's doubly so during Prime Day. You'll be able to pick up a TV for as low as $73.99. They all have a built-in Fire TV smart interface so there's no need to buy a separate dongle for you to start streaming. Some models even come with a soundbar.
Prime Day All-New Echo Buds Deal
The second generation Amazon Echo Buds true wireless earphones drops to $24.99, a savings of 50% off the retail price. This is a bargain for a pair of true wireless earbuds, especially when you could easily pay upwards of $100+ from other brands. The Echo Buds features 12mm drivers, dual microphones, 5-hour battery (20 hours if you include the charging case), and multipoint Bluetooth pairing. Although the Echo Buds doesn't have ANC, it does feature a a semi-in-ear design that offers some level of passive noise isolation, while still being aware of your surroundings. Semi-in-ear earbuds are more comfortable than earbuds that completely seal off your ear as well.
Check out our definitive Prime Day article for current news on everything related to the upcoming October Prime Day Sales event, including what deals to expect and whether or not you should wait for Black Friday.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Updated, Sept. 30, 5:50pm PT: Where is Gotham City located? While widely believed to be somewhere on the eastern seaboard of the United States, the exact state that Batman’s hometown is in has remained a matter of debate over the years through its various and often conflicting depictions in DC Comics, movies, TV shows, and video games.
“Gotham” was a nickname coined by author Washington Irving in 1807 to refer to New York City. Batman co-creator Bill Finger (not Bob Kane) is the one who named Batman’s base of operations Gotham City in Batman #4 (1940), with Gotham City said to have been inspired by New York City, gangland Chicago, and even London.
Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy used locations in Chicago, New York City and Pittsburgh for its Gotham City, while other Batman movie shooting locations over the years have included Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Liverpool and Glasgow. The 1960s Batman TV show was shot in the sunny Greater Los Angeles area, while the Joker movies starring Joaquin Phoenix were filmed in New York and New Jersey. (The more fantastical Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher’s Batman films largely shot their Gotham scenes on soundstages.) All of these filming locations contributed to the varied and ever-changing look of Gotham City on screen, which only added to the ambiguity of the fictional city’s exact real-world location.
In the Todd Phillips-directed movie, Arthur Fleck is on trial for the murders he committed in the original 2019 movie. As prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Harvey Dent, the case is called The State of New York vs. Arthur Fleck. License plates and other documentation depicted in the film also identify Gotham as being in New York State.
IGN was able to get Phillips to comment on this choice of setting: “Well, Gotham is often said to be in New Jersey. It was discussed. Not with anyone at DC, it was discussed amongst ourselves,” Phillips wrote to me this week. “We just kinda went with the ‘who are we kidding’ idea. Also cause it sounded weird ‘the state of New Jersey vs Arthur Fleck.’”
Where do you think Gotham City should be located? Vote in the poll below.
October is upon us, and it’s time to fill it with nothing but the best streaming content available in Australia. Don't get me wrong—I get that some of you like to menu hunt through the six major services. Sifting through seventeen pages of the same old thumbnails to find a gem can be a rewarding thing for some. But me? I like to zip right to the gold.
If you’re the same, let’s hook you up with every single critically acclaimed film, addictive TV series, and surprisingly awesome original content available. Below are the top picks from thousands of hours of content from Australia's six major streaming networks. Click your provider from the list, home in on the must-sees, and set your eyes to square.
TV litter pick:Territory – Oct 24 : When the world's largest livestock farm in Australia is left without a successor, miners, landowners, and gangsters prepare for war.
Movie litter pick:Don’t Move – Oct 25 : When a killer injects her with a paralytic agent, a woman must run, fight, and hide before her body completely shuts down.
TV litter pick:Last Days of the Space Age – Oct 2 : In 1979, a power strike threatens Western Australia as it hosts a Miss Universe pageant and a surprise nearby landing of the US space station, Skylab.
Movie litter pick:LEGO Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition – Oct 18 : A young, aspiring hero and superhero fan inadvertently unleashes a powerful new villain looking to rid the world of the Avengers.
TV litter pick:Disclaimer – Oct 11: A mysterious delivery threatens to expose a celebrated journalist's past.
Movie litter pick:The Last of the Sea Women – Oct 11 : An extraordinary band of feisty grandmother warriors wage a spirited battle against vast oceanic threats.
TV litter pick:Like A Dragon: Yakuza: S1 – Oct 25 : Follows the lives of fierce yet passionate gangsters and people living in a huge entertainment district, Kamurochō.
Movie litter pick:Immaculate – Oct 20 : Sydney Sweeney stars as Cecilia, an American nun of devout faith, embarking on a new journey in a remote convent in the picturesque Italian countryside.
TV litter pick:Thou Shalt Not Steal: S1 – Oct 17 : A young delinquent breaks out of juvie, reluctantly teams up with an awkward teenager, and goes searching for the truth behind an old family secret.
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Movie litter pick:Bad Boys For Life – Oct 18 : This throwback threequel delivers a film fans of the franchise will likely love while setting up a possible new era for the Bad Boys world.
What notable movies are coming to Stan?
Jumanji: The Next Level – Oct 4
Burnt – Oct 5
Going Clear: Scientology and The Prison of Belief – Oct 6
Lenovo just dropped the price of its Lenovo Legion Tower 7i Gen 8 RTX 4070 Ti Super gaming PC to only $1,599.99 after coupon code: "CRAZYLEGION". This is an excellent price for a gaming PC that's powerful enough to run just about any game at high framerates even in 4K. It even comes with three months of Xbox Game Pass for PC. Check out our recent Lenovo Legion Tower 7i review for an in-depth overview.
Note: Originally I thought this was an air-cooled Legion 5 Tower. It is actually a liquid-cooled Legion 7 Tower with all the bells and whistles of the higher end model (like a bigger chassis, bigger power supply, liquid cooling, and more fans), so this deal is now even better than I had assumed it to be.
Lenovo Legion Tower 7i RTX 4070 Ti Super Gaming PC
The Lenovo Legion Tower 7i Gen 8 is equipped with an Intel Core i9-14900KF CPU, GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super GPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD. The unlocked 14th gen Intel Core i9-14900KF Raptor Lake "Refresh" CPU boasts a max Turbo clock of 6GHz with 24 cores, 32 threads, and a 36MB cache. This is one of the most powerful consumer CPUs on the market right now with a high clock speed for gaming and a ton of cores for multi-tasking.
The Legion Tower 7i is Lenovo's highest end gaming chassis and thus it's equipped with a robust 360mm all-in-one liquid cooling system (a very good thing because Intel Raptor Lake chips run hot). The chassis uses a traditional airflow configuration with three 120mm RGB fans up front as intake (this is where the radiator is also positioned), two 120mm RGB fans up top as exhaust, and a single 120mm RGB fan in the rear. The system is powered by an 850W power supply.
The GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super is about 10% more powerful than the RTX 4070 Ti and 15-25% faster than the RTX 4070 Super. This is a great card for both 1440p and 4K gaming and can even run new demanding titles like Black Myth: Wukong and Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2. The VRAM count is upped to 16GB compared to the RTX 4070 Ti's 12GB, which means it's a good option for AI apps like Stable Diffusion.
Why Choose Lenovo?
People like the fact that Lenovo does not use very many proprietary components in their rigs, so Legion gaming PCs are generally DIY upgrade-friendly with easily obtainable off-the-shelf components. Lenovo gaming rigs generally also utilize solid cooling, especially for the CPU, even if you opt for the less expensive air cooled option.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
V/H/S/Beyond streams on Shudder beginning October 4. This review is based on a screening at Fantastic Fest 2024.
As the V/H/S franchise expands under Shudder's banner, the quality of its miniature found-footage shockers continues to reach new heights. The same goes for the characters of V/H/S/Beyond: The seventh film in the horror-anthology series keeps things fresh by connecting each of its segments with a science fiction theme, bringing spaceships and aliens (among other genre-appropriate threats) into the mix. More importantly, this is the most consistent and polished V/H/S installment to date, representing one giant leap from the solid steps forward of period-piece predecessors V/H/S/99 andV/H/S/85. The energetic compilation starts with a bang that resounds through the pacing, sequencing, and momentum of the remaining chapters. There’s room for debate over which is the best, but unlike other years, there's no glaringly weak link.
Jordan Downey kicks things off with "Stork," a monster hunt with heavy [REC] and Resident Evil influences. It's my favorite segment of the bunch, following a secretive police outfit dubbed W.A.R.D.E.N as they infiltrate a hideout filled with creatures from beyond. Downey's masterful command of small budgets (as previously seen in 2018’s The Head Hunter and 2008’s ThanksKilling) makes for an exhilarating siege in which we watch agents blast their way through waves of enemies from the perspective of cameras mounted to their helmets. It has the feel of a cinematic video game (that’s a compliment) and the boot-stomping gore and Majini-like alien foes are brought to life through some unsettling special effects. Downey starts V/H/S/Beyond by kicking the door in, and while nothing that follows “Stork” matches its welcoming adrenaline rush, that's never really an issue.
Virat Pal follows with "Dream Girl," an AI-gone-rogue nightmare about two paparazzi facing insane consequences after trying to snap dressing-room candids of Bollywood superstar Tara (Namrata Sheth). Sheth shines in the role, introduced during a smoldering musical number where she sings about being a goddess. Pal's inclusion of traditional Bollywood choreography and cinematography elevates his segment above V/H/S’ usual standards, almost like we've temporarily wandered away from the franchise – before we're brought back to the fundamentals when body parts start flying around and a film set is plunged into chaos. "Dream Girl" levels harsh commentary against parasitic photographers and our desires to command artificial intelligence, but not without buckets of gore – the V/H/S way.
Next, Justin Martinez stages a mid-air collision between a 30th-birthday skydiving trip and a UFO in "Live and Let Dive." The thrill of freefalling is mixed with an alien-attack sequence before the action crashes into an orange grove, where the surviving divers flee from their extraterrestrial pursuer. Martinez orchestrates magnificent kills as characters are maimed and decapitated while plummeting toward the ground – and that's before we get a glimpse of his Death Angel-meets-Splice invader. "Live and Let Dive" epitomizes hold-your-breath filmmaking with the way it blazes through frantic action. Most impressive of all is Martinez's filming of the group’s downward plunge. If you can stomach heights, you'll be howling with glee and clutching the nearest armrest.
V/H/S/Beyond’s strangest concoction is Christian and Justin Long's "Fur Babies," which feels influenced by the latter’s performance in Kevin Smith's underrated horror-comedy Tusk. Animal-rights activists plot to infiltrate the "Doggy Dream Home," a one-stop shop for canine daycare, grooming, and training. We meet the proprietor, lonely pet lady Becky Baxter (Libby Letlow), in a YouTube advertisement, where Letlow plasters a fake smile on the face of her chipper dog mama's not-all-there character. Afterward, two protesters smuggle a hidden camera into the Dream Home, and the Longs unleash an avalanche of uncanny weirdness. Becky's also a taxidermist, you see, and her hobby plays into the deranged surgeries and four-legged fantasies she carries out at her work-from-home business – all presented in a hilariously unhinged fashion that would be reminiscent of Michael Parks hacking Justin Long into a human/walrus hybrid even if Long weren’t behind the camera. Apparently, the Long brothers and I have the same sense of humor, because I found “Fur Babies” hilarious – this one's for the freakos out there.
Last on the agenda is Kate Siegel's directorial debut, "Stowaway," written by her husband Mike Flanagan. Alanah Pearce stars as Halle Halley, a mother desperate to document proof of extraterrestrial activity in the Mojave Desert. (Editor’s note: Pearce was an IGN staff member from 2015 to 2018. She did not work with the author of this review during her time at the site.) It's the movie’s most straightforward segment, and wholly reliant on Pearce's performance. Siegel embraces a headier sci-fi angle that slowly ushers us out of V/H/S/Beyond, staging a “be careful what you wish for” drama aboard a mysterious spacecraft. Flanagan's story ponders unknowns rather than thrusting bloodthirsty antagonists upon Halle, while Siegel's direction applies delicate coats of dread atop a stimulating examination of life on other planets. "Stowaway" almost feels out of place next to V/H/S/Beyond’s other, action-heavy segments. But its softer touch and more traditional take on sci-fi horror fits the closing-act role wonderfully.
There’s room for debate over which segment is the best, but unlike other years, there's no glaringly weak link.
While wraparound segments have sometimes diminished the cohesiveness of past V/H/S movies, Jay Cheel's "Abduction/Adduction" helps ground Beyond in the sci-fi mood. Two videos purporting to contain footage of real aliens are dissected in a faux-documentary whose talking heads include Corridor Digital, the real-life YouTubers behind popular VFX reaction videos. "Abduction/Adduction"’s methods are conversation-heavy with a brief payoff, but Cheel keeps us in the proper mindset as V/H/S/Beyond switches from one otherworldly terror to the next.
Check out today's best daily deals, which include an official price drop on the Meta Quest 3 VR headset, a 30% off discount on Nanoleaf's Matter-compatible light bulbs, the lowest price we've seen on the best TV for the PlayStation 5 console, early Amazon Prime Day deals on Kindles and Fire TV sticks, a big sale on Nintendo Switch games, and more.
Featured in this article
You can quickly browse through all of the listed products on sale above. For more information on each product and why they are worth your consideration, read through below.
Meta Quest 3 512GB VR Headset
Hot on the heels of the new Meta Quest 3S announcement, the Quest 3 has officially been marked down by a not insignificant amount. The 512GB model, which previously retailed for $649.99, is now priced at $499.99. The Quest 3 is a superior headset to the new Quest 3S. It has much better optics, with a higher resolution, higher FOV, and a thinner pancake lens design, and it boasts a higher maximum storage capacity.
Nanoleaf Matter A19 E26 RGB LED Smart Bulbs
Save 30% off Nanoleaf's Matter-compatible A19 LED light bulbs. A three-pack will run you $34.99, or only $11.66 per bulb. These bulbs can connect via Bluetooth or Matter over Thread and are controllable and customizable via the Nanoleaf app on your mobile device. The bulbs are composed of RGBCW LEDS with a max brightness of 1,100 lumens. The RGB LEDs can be tuned to over 16 million colors, and the white LEDs can be adjusted from 2700K-6500K.
Meta Quest 3S 128GB VR Headset
The new Meta Quest 3S 128GBe VR headset is up for preorder and ships out on October 15. That's up to $200 less expensive than the Quest 3 128GB VR headset and definitely a more attractive price for anyone planning to jump aboard the VR bandwagon. The Quest 3S has the same Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor, Touch Plus controllers, and mixed reality capabilities as the Quest 3.
55" LG Evo C4 4K OLED Smart TV
Ahead of the holiday season, Walmart has dropped the price of the 2024 55" LG Evo C4 4K OLED TV to only $1,069, which is easily the lowest price we've seen thus far for this particular size and model. The LG Evo C4 is an outstanding TV that has won top spots in several of our buying guides, including best 4K TV, best TV for gaming, and best TV for the PlayStation 5. This is an especially good buy if you picked up the new PS5 Pro, since the updated hardware will be able to run more games at a consistent 4K @ 120fps.
Amazon Prime Day Device Deals Start Today
Prime Day starts early with these deals on Amazon devices. They include Fire TV sticks, Kindles, tablets, and more. These prices will very likely be matched on Prime Day itself; however, the benefit of getting them early is that no Prime membership is required. It's quite possible that these deals will be exclusive to Amazon Prime members starting October 8.
Arzopa 15.6" 1080p USB Portable Monitor
Amazon is offering an excellent deal on this Arzopa 15" 1080p USB Type-C portable monitor. It's normally $129.99, but right now you can get it for only $59.98 shipped. That's the best price we've ever seen for this particular model, and a much lower price compared to 15" USB Type-C monitors from major brands like LG or Samsung. This is a great portable display for your Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, or Asus ROG Ally gaming handheld.
Flexispot Electric Standing Desk with Bamboo Top
Amazon is offering this Flexispot 55"x24" Electric Standing Desk for only $197.99 shipped after a combined savings of a $40 coupon that you clip and a 30% off coupon that is automatically applied during checkout. For under $200 you're getting some pretty nice upgrades, like a one-piece solid bamboo desktop surface with pre-drilled grommets, your choice of gray or white metal legs, a pullout drawer, clamp-mount power outlet, and more.
PowerBlock (5 to 50lbs) Adjustable Dumbbell Set
Bowflex isn't the only option when it comes to adjustable dumbbell sets. PowerBlock is another trusted brand at a much lower price point. Right now Woot! (owned by Amazon) is offering the PowerBlock EXP Stage 1 (5 to 50lb) adjustable dumbbell set for only $199.99, which is less than half the cost of a comparable set of Bowflex SelectTech dumbbells.
Xbox Wireless Controller
Lenovo is currently offering the Microsoft Xbox Series X wireless controller in Carbon Black for only $39 shipped. That's about 30% off its original $55 MSRP. You won't find a better price on a brand new official controller at the moment. This is the same controller as the one that's bundled with the Xbox Series X console and it's compatible with both Xbox and PC.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless Gaming Headset
Woot! has brand new units of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Destiny Limited Edition wireless gaming headset for only $119.99 (normally $180). Note that although these are brand new, you get a 90-day Woot! warranty instead of a manufacturer's warranty. Both PS5 and Xbox models are available. This is a great price for the best wireless PS5 gaming headset of 2024 and the most comfortable Xbox gaming headset of 2024. The Destiny Edition Limited Edition is clad in a black, teal, and burnt sienna color theme with the Destiny logo adorning the earcups. For our hands-on impressions, check out our SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 review.
Logitech G29 Racing Wheel and Pedals for PS5
The Logitech G29 is one of the most popular racing wheels for under $300. This model is specifically designed for the PS5, PS4, and PS3 consoles, which means it supports Gran Turismo 7 for PS5/PS4 and Forza Horizon 5 for PC. The G29 has some really great features like a gorgeous hand-stitched leather racing wheel with 900 degrees of rotation, a sturdy metal base, durable steel ball bearings in the shaft, gear-driven dual-force motor feedback, stainless shifter, and pressure-sensitive pedals. The force feedback adds a lot to the immersion; if you want something better than this, you'd have to shell out a lot more money for a belt-driven wheel.
Baseus 20,000mAh 65W Power Bank
Although not as well known as Anker, Baseus power banks are getting very popular on Amazon with plenty of positive reviews. They're also a lot less expensive than Anker power banks. Today, Amazon is offering the Baseus 20,000mAh 65W Power Bank for only $33.59 after triple savings: a $20 instant discount, a 30% off clippable coupon, and a 14% off coupon code 88SG7TC4 that you apply during checkout. This is a great price for a power bank that features a spacious 20,000mAh capacity and a hefty 65W of charging output. It can fast charge the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and Asus ROG Ally all at their maximum charging rates.
Nintendo Switch Video Game Sale at Woot!
Woot! (owned by Amazon) is kicking off its Wootoberfest sale with some great deals on Nintendo Switch games. Amazon Prime members get free shipping, otherwise add on a flat $6 shipping cost. You can add multiple games to your order and the shipping fee will remain the same. These games are all physical copies and come with a 90-day Woot! warranty. Some copies may be imports, but the Nintendo Switch is region-free and will play any game regardless. It will also keep your language, since the setting is determined by your Switch console, not the game itself.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
It's been a wild few days for Magic: The Gathering fans. Last week, the Commander Rules Committee announced that it was banning several major cards, throwing Magic's most popular format into disarray. Now Wizards of the Coast is stepping in.
Acknowledging in an official statement that it's been a "tumultuous" week for Commander fans, Wizards of the Coast said it plans to run the format in-house going forward after previously leaving it in the care of part-time volunteers. It's a huge shakeup — one that figures to have far-reaching implications for the future of the game.
"This week has also demonstrated the truly monumental task that faced the Commander Rules Committee. The Commander RC is made up of five talented, caring individuals, all with other jobs and lives which they must balance with managing the most popular format in Magic," Wizards of the Coast said. "It results in incredible amounts of work, time spent deliberating, and exposure to the public. Nobody deserves to feel unsafe for supporting the game they love. Unfortunately, the task of managing Commander has far outgrown the scope and safety of being attached to any five people."
The decision was read in some corners as a rebuke of the rules committee in the wake of the ban decision, which has had a very mixed reception since it was first announced. But a statement by committee member Jim Lapage suggests that the committee instigated the change.
Unfortunately, the task of managing Commander has far outgrown the scope and safety of being attached to any five people
"What's become clear to me is that fulfilling my commitment requires a level of global connectedness, proactive and reactive communication, research, and skill beyond what I am capable of providing. I don't think it's possible for a group of part-time volunteers to rise to this task," Lapage wrote on X/Twitter.
Lapage said that he reached out to Wizards of the Coast last week and that the committee will be transitioning all management responsibilities, including its roadmap, contacts, and documentation.
"It's extremely important to me that the format's new leadership remains faithful to [format godfather Sheldon Menery's] vision of a vibrant global community with a strong focus on the people who play it," Lapage says.
The rules committee also said on its official account, "As a result of the threats last week against RC members, it has become impossible for us to continue operating as an independent entity. Given that, we have asked WotC to assume responsibility for Commander and they will be making decisions and announcements going forward."
As a result of the threats last week against RC members, it has become impossible for us to continue operating as an independent entity. Given that, we have asked WotC to assume responsibility for Commander and they will be making decisions and announcements going forward.
Wizards of the Coast, for its part, says that the rules committee will "continue to be involved" and that there have been preliminary conversations about the path forward. They include a "more objective approach to deck power level" as well as "additional guidance and shared language for players to find games that match the type of game they're trying to play."
Wizards of the Coast went on to outline a potential vision for what this might look like, suggesting that there may be power brackets going forward to help better define play within the format.
One way or another, the changes are a major milestone in Commander history, which originally began as a community-driven format and has grown into arguably the biggest and most influential way to play Wizards of the Coast's card game. It distinguishes itself from typical formats by letting players choose a creature as their "Commander," with decks comprised of 100 unique cards. Instead of one-on-one, Commander is a free-for-all usually played with four players.
As Commander has grown, Wizards of the Coast has embraced the format, even introducing cards specifically tailored to its rules. However, until now, it has remained governed by the community. Last week, the rules committee banned four popular cards — Dockside Extortionist, Jeweled Lotus, Mana Crypt, and Nadu, Winged Wisdom. The ban, the first in three years, sparked massive backlash among fans. Now it appears they have changed the course of Commander — and Magic: The Gathering — history.
Kat Bailey is IGN's News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.
Nekokima is a Japanese term that translates as “cat island”, which is potentially something of a problem if you’re trying to wire up an electricity network in the area. That’s the premise for this curious and spectacular-looking dexterity board game from the wonderfully named Unfriendly Games in which you’ve not only got to stack up a crisscross of wires without them touching, but deal with an infestation of frisky felines who want to hang from the cat’s cradle you’ve inadvertently created.
What’s in the Box
Dexterity games often come packed with all sorts of unexpected objects, and Nekojima is no exception. The bulk of the box space is filled up with thick wooden dowels of various lengths, paired together with stiff bits of cord, from one of three different potential colors. Each color has two or three possible pairings of different-length dowels. They’re meant to represent pylons, with the cords as power cables.
The remainder of the contents are circumspect in comparison. There’s a thick, circular plastic board, divided into four quadrants, and a sheet of counters which include some sinuous, chunky cardboard cats. There are also two custom wooden dice and a collection of wooden cubes in the same three colors as the cords plus black, to match the cats. The cubes go into a supplied linen draw bag.
It’s not the most attractive game at first glance – the only art is on the board and it, alongside the dice icons, are more about function than form. But, as is often the case, the visual kicks in Nekokima come from what you do with the components rather than the pieces themselves.
Rules and How It Plays
Again, like many of the best dexterity games, this is a pretty simple affair. On your turn you’ll roll the two dice which will indicate two quadrants of the board. Sometimes you might get to choose, sometimes an opponent will get to pick instead. You then draw a cube from the bag, pick a pair of dowels - they’re called Denchuu, which is Japanese for “power pole” – and you place one dowel in one of the specified board quadrants, and the other in the other. Occasionally, both poles need to go in the same quadrant. Simple!
Except of course, it isn’t. The poles have a specific orientation with the cords at the top and, once placed, the cords are not allowed to touch any poles, or any other cords, nor to hang over the board edge. The first couple of placements are very straightforward, but very soon a web of cords will be threading across the board, necessitating much more imaginative and nimble placements. To make matters worse, you’re not allowed to tweak the cord position with your fingers: you can only adjust it by manipulating the two poles themselves. The cord is stiff, but still has a tendency to misbehave just when you think you’ve wrangled it into position.
If you finish placing the poles and the cords break this rule, you have to extract them and try again, which a sweaty-palmed ordeal in and of itself. But even when you succeed, your job may not be done. If you were unlucky enough to draw any black cubes on your turn, you have to keep drawing until you get a color, and then hang black cats on matching cords without, again, the cats or cords touching each other, the poles or the ground. There are a selection of such death-defying feline shapes, some of which are much easier to hang than others.
Naturally, the ground space on the board fills up very quickly, and players must then start to stack the poles atop one another. This is where the different heights of the poles on each denchuu become interesting, as, with a bit of thought, they allow you to make both easier and more interesting placements. You have no way of knowing what your opponents are going to roll, but you can certainly try to cramp their style by throwing a cord across an open area. This opens up all sorts of interesting risk versus reward decisions as regards how hard you want to make life for yourself in the quest to make life harder for your opponents, which all contributes toward forcing the tower higher.
As it turns out, the poles are thick enough to stack with a fairly high degree of stability, which is kind of both a blessing and a curse. The problem is that it can make the early game feel too easy as you pile poles atop each other and up into the stratosphere. The upsides are that it both makes the game look spectacular on the table as your man-made forest ascends to head-height, festooned with cats and bright-colored wires, and that it ensures an exciting endgame as the foundations finally begin to wobble. Hanging cats also has the potential to cause instant chaos, even on a relatively low tower.
If piling the poles competitively isn’t your thing, the game plays well both cooperatively and solitaire with a very simple rules change. Drawn cubes all slot into a level board that runs up to level seven, with four cubes per level. Your challenge, either solo or working in a group, is simply to beat the highest level you can. The interesting thing about playing this way is that it reverses the calculations needed to rope off areas and block them from other players: rather, you want to stack and twist in places that will make it easier to follow on. There are also a number of variants included to try, extending the game’s replay value by doing things like limiting the stack height, or playing in pairs with each player taking one of a denchuu.
Dell has just dropped the price on this Dell G16 RTX 4070 gaming laptop to only $1299.99 after a $650 off instant discount. The Dell G15 and G16 are seriously good laptops for budget gamers. They offer excellent gaming performance equal to a comparably equipped Alienware laptop but at a much lower price point. They also have better build quality than Dell's consumer-oriented Inspiron lineup, with nicer materials that include anodized aluminum, and an aggressive cooling design borrowed from Alienware laptops to properly manage temperatures.
Dell G16 GeForce RTX 4070 Gaming Laptop
This Dell G16 gaming laptop features a 16" 2560x1600 240Hz G-SYNC display, Intel Core i9-13900HX CPU, GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, a generous 32GB of DDR5-4800MHz of RAM, and a 1TB M.2 SSD. The Intel Core i9-13900HX processor boasts a max turbo frequency of 5.4GHz and a whopping 24 cores and 32 threads. This is a fully powered (not "low voltage") chip and - despite being one generation older - is still one of the most powerful mobile CPUs you can get.
Although the G16 is a "budget" gaming laptop, it is equipped with a GeForce RTX 4070 GPU with the maximum TGP wattage of 140W (115W + 25W dynamic) supplied to it. That is the same GPU configuration you'll find in an Alienware m16 laptop that currently costs $300 more. Performance-wise, the RTX 4070 mobile is on par with the RTX 3080 but with support for newer features like DLSS 3.0. This is a very capable GPU that should be able to run any game at playable framerates on the G16's 2560x1600 QHD+ display.
The Dell G16 is also equipped with plenty of ports, like a Thunderbolt 4 port with DisplayPort compatibility, an HDMI 2.1 port, three USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and a hard-wired ethernet port. It also comes with a standard 1 year warranty.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
The next mainline installment in the Monster Hunter series is coming soon. Monster Hunter Wilds is set to release for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on February 28. It brings a gorgeous open-world setting like Monster Hunter World and introduces some of the fast traversal of Monster Hunter Rise to create what should be the best of both worlds. Monster Hunter Wilds is now available to preorder in a variety of editions (see it at Amazon). Below, we break down what comes in each one, how much they cost, and more. Let’s dive in.
Those seeking a physical copy of Monster Hunter Wilds have two options: with a steelbook case or without. The steelbook case looks pretty rad, and it only costs $5 more than the non-steelbook edition. It’s your call.
Anyone who just wants the game by itself, either in digital or physical format, can preorder it at their retailer of choice using the links above.
Monster Hunter Wilds Digital-Only Editions
Two editions of Monster Hunter Wilds are only avaialble in digital format across platforms. There's the $89.99 deluxe edition, and the $109.99 premium deluxe edition. Read on for links and to see what each one comes with.
The digital-only premium deluxe edition comes with the game itself, all the items in the deluxe edition, plus a premium bonus and two planned DLC cosmetic packs. Here’s everything all laid out:
Deluxe Pack
Hunter Layered Armor Set: Feudal Soldier
Hunter Layered Armor: Fencer's Eyepatch, Oni Horns Wig
Makeup/Face Paint: Hunter's Kumadori, Special Bloom
Sticker Set: Avis Unit, Monsters of the Windward Plains
Nameplate: Extra Frame — Russet Dawn
Monster Hunter Wilds Cosmetic DLC Pack 1 (Planned for release in Spring 2025)
Hunter layered armor: 1 series (5 pieces), and 1 piece
Seikret decorations: 2
Pendants: 6 (Color variation)
Pose Sets: 1
Makeup/Facepaint: 1
Sticker set: 1
BGM Set: 1
Pop-up camp customization contents: 2
Monster Hunter Wilds Cosmetic DLC Pack 2 (Planned for release in Summer 2025)
Hunter layered armor: 1 series (5 pieces)
Pendants: 6 (Color variation)
Gesture sets: 2
Hairstyles: 2
Makeup/Facepaint: 2
Sticker set: 1
Premium Bonus (Planned for release when the main game releases)
Hunter Layered Armor: Wyverian Ears
Premium Bonus Hunter Profile Set
BGM: Proof of a Hero (2025 Recording)
Monster Hunter Wilds Preorder Bonus
Preorder any edition of Monster Hunter Wilds, and you'll receive the Gilded Knight set of layered armor, shown above. How about that.
What Is Monster Hunter Wilds?
Monster Hunter Wilds is the latest installment in the long-running series. Based on its graphically intensive nature, it’s more a follow-up to Monster Hunter Worlds than Rise. And as such, it won’t be available on Nintendo systems.
Once again, you play as a Hunter in a world filled with dangerous beasts. Your job is to pick a weapon type/play style and use it to hunt sizable monsters roaming the land. Then you use their various parts to create better gear that lets you go out and hunt bigger and more dangerous monsters. This time around, you have the mobility of Monster Hunter Rise, with the gorgeous beasts and environments of World, creating what just might be the best of both worlds.
Rumors of a Final Fantasy IX remake have been echoing around RPG circles for at least year now, with series fans hopeful that they may soon get to revisit one of the most beloved entries in the series. But if a Final Fantasy IX remake does materialize, it may face some big challenges.
Speaking with the website Video Games, Final Fantasy XIV producer Naoki Yoshida talked a bit about what a remake might look like. He warns that it may not all fit in one game.
"Of course, I do know there are requests for Final Fantasy IX to be made, but when you think about Final Fantasy IX, it’s a game with huge volume," Yoshida says. "When you think about all of that volume, I wonder if it’s possible to remake that as a single title. It’s a difficult one. It is a tough question."
Yoshida seems to be suggesting that a potential remake could go the direction of Final Fantasy VII Remake, which is in the middle of a planned trilogy. Fans have long had mixed feelings about splitting it into multiple parts, which offers the opportunity to add plenty of new elements, but also slows the pacing. As it stands, the third part of the trilogy doesn't figure to be out until 2026 at the earliest.
Yoshida is right about Final Fantasy IX being a big game. It's absolutely loaded with sidequests, minigames, and other content, and it's set in a very large world. Reproducing all of that material won't be easy for any development team that takes on a remake.
As for Yoshida himself, he's interested in remaking a different game in the series. "The one that I would like to make myself would be Final Fantasy III, I think."
For longtime fans of the series, Yoshida is referring to the version released on the Famicom, not the Americanized Final Fantasy VI. It's a deep cut as Final Fantasy releases go, but very much in keeping with Yoshida's attitude as Final Fantasy XIV's producer.
Yoshida touches on a handful of other details in the interview, including his favorite Final Fantasy VII minigame (snowboarding), an Xbox release of Final Fantasy XVI ("we do want to release it on Xbox"), and more. In the meantime, the wait for a Final Fantasy IX remake continues.
Kat Bailey is IGN's News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.
Amazon is offering an excellent deal on this Arzopa 15" 1080p USB Type-C portable monitor. It's normally $129.99, but right now you can get it for only $59.98 shipped. That's the best price we've ever seen for this particular model, and a much lower price compared to 15" USB Type-C monitors from major brands like LG or Samsung. This is a great portable display for your Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, or Asus ROG Ally gaming handheld.
Arzopa S1 15" 1080p USB-C Portable Monitor for $59.98
This 15" 1080p monitor works as a secondary display for your laptop, tablet, phone, gaming console, or pretty much any device that has either a USB or HDMI output. The S1 has one HDMI and two USB Type-C ports. If your device has a USB Type-C output with Power Delivery, than you only need a single USB Type-C cable for both power and data. Otherwise, you'll need to use two ports: one for data (USB Type-C or HDMI) and one for power (USB Type-C). The S1 comes with one USB Type-C cable and one USB Type A to Type C cable, but you'll need to supply your own wall charger.
The monitor is designed to be portable. It weighs only 1.3 pounds and measures 0.3" thin. It sports a sturdy metal frame and includes a smart cover that doubles as a stand. The 15" display features a 1080p resolution with 60Hz refresh rate, an IPS panel with great viewing angles, and an anti-glare matte surface. It even has built in speakers. It's definitely worth the price if you want an inexpensive second screen to boost your productivity without weighing you down.
An Excellent Portable Monitor for Your Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck
This monitor works quite well with both the Steam Deck or Switch consoles. I'd recommend using the wall charger to power the monitor, otherwise you'll be draining the gaming system pretty quickly (you can use the one provided with your Steam Deck or Switch console). The 1080p and 60Hz specs on the monitor is more than good enough for the Switch since it doesn't support anything higher. The Steam Deck can support high resolutions and refresh rate, but at that point you're really taxing your system, and 1080p/60Hz is an ideal balance between visual fidelity and playability.
Upgrade to the Arzopa Z1FC 16" 144Hz Monitor for $119.99
Amazon Prime member exclusive
The higher end Arzopa Z1FC is also on sale at Amazon. The Z1FC's upgrades include a larger display (16.1" vs 15.6"), a higher refresh rate (144Hz vs 60Hz), and 100% sRGB color gamut, and a metal chassis. The larger display and better color reproduction makes it a nice upgrade for Switch and Steam Deck gamers. However, because the Z1 uses a bit more power than the S1, you'll need to keep the Z1 plugged into a wall charger since neither gaming system can power the monitor by itself. This monitor is a perfect complement for PC and laptop gamers who will be able to take advantage of the 144Hz refresh rate. I have this monitor and can confirm that the image quality is great.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
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