Despite Battlefield 6's server browser utterly failing at its one job, good things are happening in Portal
Discounts are running rampant this week, thanks to Black Friday. While the big day isn’t until November 28, you can already score thousands of deals, including on 4K Blu-ray movies. If you just want to buy one thing, I have a recommendation. Grab Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Complete Series on Blu-ray, currently on sale for $99.99 (see it at Amazon). That’s a killer deal for 178 episodes of sci-fi television.
Star Trek: TNG, as it’s known to all the coolest of people, debuted in 1987 and ran for seven seasons. It introduced what, to my mind, is easily the best Enterprise crew ever assembled. You have the Captain Picard, Riker, Troi, Worf, Data, Beverly Crusher, and all the rest. It’s a deep bench of beloved characters, who travel the universe seeking out, as they say, new life and new civilizations.
Star Trek: The Next Generation is such a good show that even its less-than-stellar episodes are worth watching just to hang out with the crew. For me, the show is so cozy that watching it is like basking in bridge ambiance as you drift off to sleep. I could live on that ship – and after spending 178 television episodes with the crew, it kind of feels like you do. The episodes are all here along with various bonus material, spread across 41 discs. It’s a lot!
For more Star Trek: TNG goodness, you’ll want to keep an eye out for LEGO Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise, which launches on Black Friday, November 28. And for more deals, check out Amazon’s early Black Friday deals. Or Target’s. Or Best Buy’s. There are plenty of sales to go around, even this far ahead of Black Friday proper.
Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN's board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Bluesky.
In case building your own rig is too much work right now or simply not a priority for you, you can always opt for a top-tier prebuilt gaming PCs. You'll miss out on the satisfaction of building your PC from the ground up, but all that time you saved skipping research, waiting for components to arrive, building your machine, and inevitably troubleshooting when something goes awry can be spent actually playing PC games.
The half-baked prebuilt systems of yesteryear are no more, cutting far fewer corners for a long-lasting gaming PC that can take on all the action you throw its way. With the latest and greatest graphics cards and processors becoming pricier than ever, you may even save money by opting for something from Alienware, MSI, or HP. Plus, most options are easy enough to open up to upgrade components down the road, including our favorite gaming PC, the Legion Tower 7i.
Buying a gaming PC is a bit more involved than a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S. You’ll need to determine the types of games you want to play and how you want to play them – even great budget gaming PCs won’t be running Cyberpunk 2077 at the highest settings. Finding the proper processors, storage, memory, cooling, and other hardware and ensuring all the components work well together can make or break the rig. Luckily, many manufacturers take care of a good chunk of that guesswork so you don’t bottleneck the system.
One thing to keep in mind is that RAM prices are extremely high right now. This is thanks in large part to AI data centers scooping all of it up, according to a post from Bontech Labs, which has led to prices of memory going up significantly. This hasn't significantly impacted the price of prebuilt gaming PCs yet, but as PC builders start working through their existing inventory, I'd expect that to change.
Whether you're looking for something more affordable for indie games, want a compact option to save space in your studio apartment, or are after a top-tier rig to tackle the action in 4K, we’ve got you covered. One of the five pre-built gaming PCs we’ve selected will align perfectly with your needs.
Prebuilt gaming PCs have always had a problem with proprietary hardware, and the Lenovo Legion Tower 7i really does show we're through those dark ages. It used to be that if you bought a gaming PC from Lenovo or Dell, you'd get a tower that was plenty powerful for the time, but because it was using some bespoke motherboard or power supply, you were limited when it came to upgrading your system.
The tower has been updated with new hardware, now with the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K and an RTX 5080, but when we reviewed it we were surprised by how much more it costs this time – even if it has genuinely excellent gaming performance. Not much other than the price and the components have changed, though.
You still get a straightforward mid-tower case housing industry-standard hardware, making it incredibly easy to fix it if something breaks or upgrade once new hardware comes out. Don't get me wrong: The Tower 7i does fall into some of the same pitfalls of any prebuilt system these days – Lenovo cheaped out a bit on the memory and the motherboard – but because all the components are the standard size, you can just swap both of those components out for better stuff when you can afford it.
This results in a gaming PC that's not just great because it plays games well, but because it serves as an entry point to customizing your own system. Building an entire system from the ground up can be an intimidating and time-consuming thing; upgrading one or two parts of your PC is way more approachable.
When you're getting a prebuilt gaming PC, you're generally looking for something that works but also looks amazing. To be honest, there aren't a lot of PC manufacturers that really nail the latter – especially among big names. But the Asus ROG G700 genuinely looks amazing, even if it leans a little further toward its "gamer" influences than some people may prefer.
This gaming PC has RGB-lit panels in several areas, bedecked with ROG logos. This is something the company likes to do with its motherboards, but now extends to the case itself. To be fair, part of this is because Asus didn't include an expensive motherboard like the ROG Maximus Z890 Extreme. But it still kind of looks like a high-end motherboard is in there, as long as you don't look too closely. Asus also hid the power supply and all the cables under a PSU shroud. That's relatively common, but what sets this one apart is a bit of prose about "being unconventional" that's backlit by RGB. Never change, ROG.
As for the system itself, the model we reviewed is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K, 32GB of RAM and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti. That's more than powerful enough to handle most games at 4K, with only Black Myth: Wukong falling below 60fps with everything cranked. If that build is a little too much for you, you can get it with an RTX 4060 for much less, but I would advise getting at least an RTX 5060, especially for the premium Asus charges for putting this rig togther.
Not all gaming PCs are either prohibitively expensive or lack power with dated hardware, and the iBuyPower Trace 7 Mesh Gaming Desktop is proof. With it comes the latest 14th-generation Intel Core i7 processor for speedy performance in everyday tasks and games. When paired with the best budget GPU, Nvidia’s RTX 4060, this rig has enough processing headroom to sail through games in 1080p at high frame rates. Looking to play in 1440p? It shouldn’t have a problem cruising through non-ray-traced games like Total War: Warhammer 3.
The iBuyPower Trace 7 Mesh Gaming Desktop is even a viable option for those ready to dip their toes in game streaming, as its current-gen processors partner perfectly with the 32GB of high-bandwidth DDR5 RAM. So, running Twitch along with a game shouldn’t slow things down too much. Storage wasn't overlooked: A 1TB SSD is baked in for speedy app launches and saves.
Even if this gaming PC isn’t as powerful as some premium options, it still gets hot. Luckily, the case is roomy with mesh at the front and top panels for proper airflow and ventilation. Three ARGB fans at the front and one at the back aid in keeping things frosty. However, better cooling options couldn't hurt. Luckily, iBuyPower has made things relatively easy to upgrade. With Nvidia’s RTX 5000 series and 15th-gen Intel Arrow Lake processors dropping sometime in the not-too-distant future, it’s nice to have the option to update hardware rather than starting from scratch. Just be sure the B760 D5 motherboard and 600W PSU can handle those newer components.
Given all that's on offer for less than $1,500, the iBuyPower Trace 7 Mesh Gaming Desktop is a great value. What helps elevate this budget gaming PC even further is the inclusion of a gaming keyboard and mouse with some flashy RGB lighting. These aren’t the best peripherals out there, but perfect for those just beginning their gaming journey.
Shopping for a mini gaming PC is an exercise in compromise. You can get an extremely small gaming PC like the Asus ROG NUC, but in order for the chassis to get down to that size, there are major losses in performance. Asus handles this by equipping the ROG NUC with a mobile-class RTX 5080 and an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, the latter of which is typically found in Ultrabooks. This is more than enough horsepower to power most games at 1080p, but you will run into issues at higher resolutions, especially in demanding games like Black Myth: Wukong.
Now, I haven't reviewed this year's model of the Asus ROG NUC. However, I did review last year's Asus ROG NUC with this in mind, and I was pleasantly surprised at how well it handled games at 1080p. At that resolution, I was able to run pretty much any game under the sun at maxed-out settings while maintaining 60fps. That's impressive, given that the PC is basically the size of a cable box and can fit pretty much anywhere. And now that it's been updated with Blackwell graphics, that performance should be a bit better – though Nvidia's RTX 5000 series hasn't had quite the glow-up some folks were hoping for.
All of this makes it an excellent home theater PC that can also play PC games. And if you're comfortable tweaking game graphics settings, this mini gaming PC would make a perfect companion for a 4K TV. You can store your media library there and have instant access to your movies and TV shows, while also being able to boot up Steam and play your games when you want to. Just keep in mind that you can likely get similar performance from a gaming laptop most of the time.
For about as long as I've been playing PC games, Maingear has been around making some of the most gorgeous gaming PCs on the planet. The company has always had a great eye for detail and backs it up with one of the best warranties in the business. The downside? They're super expensive.
Even with that in mind, I was impressed by just how pretty the Maingear Rush Artist Series was when I reviewed it. Essentially, Maingear took the Lian Li O11 case and airbrushed art onto it, and you really need to see it in person to grasp just how gorgeous it is. Every inch of this gaming PC oozes with detail, and it's one of the few times where I can't look away from it, even though I'm pretty burned out on flashy RGB lighting at this point.
A good gaming PC is more than just how it looks on your desk, though, it needs to perform. Luckily, you can configure the Maingear Rush basically however you want to. Maingear's website will let you build anything from a entry-level model with an RTX 5050 and a Ryzen 5 processor to the configuration I reviewed, with its RTX 5090 and Ryzen 9 9950X3D. Just keep in mind that the more power you pump into this thing, the more expensive it's going to be – and it doesn't exactly start cheap.
You do get more than just the PC for your purchase, though. The computer comes with free tech support for life, which will follow the PC even if you sell it. Maingear's tech support will walk you through all kinds of troubleshooting and in the off chance something does need a repair, the company offers free labor on all repairs and upgrades; you just pay for shipping and new components if necessary. That's probably not enough to sell it to experienced PC builders who can definitely get a PC with similar specs for much less. But if you don't want to deal with servicing your rig, the extra money you pay for this Maingear system might just be worth it.
Prebuilts are the most surefire way of getting into gaming and arguably the most cost-effective hardware you can buy. With a system, you’re not only getting the hardware inside, but time savings of having to track down the best processor to best RAM for your system and putting it all together yourself and praying it actually boots up correctly.
Just like building your own PC you want to make sure you’re spending your money where it’s needed most. Firstly, you should prioritize getting the graphics card you need for the gaming monitor or the gaming TV you’re gaming on. There’s no need for anything better than an Nvidia RTX 5060 Ti if you’re just playing games on a 1080p display.
Likewise, you should only need an Intel Core i5 or Ryzen 5 processor with at least four cores to play most modern games comfortably at any resolution.
System memory and solid-state drives can be the biggest money sink for any system. Those comfortable with upgrading their system after it arrives should choose a configuration with the smallest storage and RAM capacities possible, as buying these components yourself can often be more cost-effective.
If that last suggestion resonates, perhaps a barebones system is what you seek. Those can be much cheaper since they come with all the major hardware – such as the CPU, GPU, and power supply – installed, but they usually lack storage, memory, and an operating system as a trade-off.
Lastly, if you want more control over what exactly is going into your build, go with a boutique PC builder. Origin, Maingear, DigitalStorm, Falcon Northwest, PC Specialist, and many more companies offer excellent PC building services that let you pick exactly which components go into your gaming PC. From there, they build your system with the sort of cable management some can only dream of while ensuring it all works properly out of the box.
In case this all sounds a little overwhelming to you, NZXT has its own PC building service called BLD. Instead of picking every part that will go into your PC, you chose the games you’ll actually play and the service gives you several configuration options that will be able to run the games for a smooth experience.
Similarly, iBuyPower offers an Easy Builder service that operates in very much the same fashion. Users can select games that they play from a small pool that includes Fortnite, GTA V, Apex Legends, WoW, League of Legends, Overwatch, and Battlefield V. From there, users can select whether they play at a 1080p or 1440p resolution, as well as their budget, and the system will spit back a few configurations to choose from.
Prebuilt PCs also come with several features and pieces of software you might find convenient. Many gaming PCs in this category come with some sort of overclocking support and even a one-click button to boost your system's performance. Of course, it's easy enough to download a piece of overclocking software like MSI Afterburner or EVGA Precision X. Additionally, your machine may come with system monitoring software that makes downloading and updating drivers a breeze.
Unless you’re looking for an all-in-one portable package, a gaming PC is usually better than even the best gaming laptops. With a desktop, it’s much easier and less expensive to upgrade parts, and they tend to last longer before going obsolete. Read more about gaming PCs vs. gaming laptops.
It depends. Most PC manufacturers have figured out users absolutely hate proprietary parts. While you might still find no-name motherboards installed into the heart of your PC, they should all at least fall in line with the standard size and layout of Mini ITX or Micro ATX motherboards. The best gaming PCs should allow you to easily swap out the CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage on your system with just a few simple tools or just a screwdriver.
Better yet, systems that tout tool-less upgradability don't require you to undo screws or anything to replace any of the major components. One of the things you'll likely find on most modern chassis are thumbscrews, which can be removed after a few quick twists with your fingers rather than a screwdriver. Additionally, tool-less SSD and hard drive caddies make expanding and replacing your storage just a little bit easier.
When comparing a gaming PC vs. console, there appear to be more similarities than differences these days, but one still comes out on top: the gaming PC.
Not every aspect of a gaming PC beats consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Consoles are much easier to use. You’ll also find that even the most expensive consoles are cheap compared to a quality gaming PC with a good graphics card, although there are good budget GPUs. There are some great handheld gaming PCs and mini PCs that are more affordable, but they’re better for indie games or older cross-platform console titles.
Where a gaming PC pulls ahead is in its gaming library, peripherals, upgradeability, and overall performance. There’s no denying that there are a massive amount of PC games, and of course, a gaming PC has cross-platform compatibility with popular console titles. Beyond gaming keyboards and gaming mice, you’ll find a wealth of other peripherals, from racing wheels to controllers, that all work seamlessly with a PC. You can also enjoy better visuals and a higher performance ceiling, and it’s easy to upgrade components. That makes a well-equipped PC the clear winner.
Yes, it’s absolutely possible to find a great gaming PC for under $1,000. You just need to manage your expectations. Less powerful hardware will usually come in these ultra budget-friendly desktops, meaning gaming performance is more limited. Even still, you should have no problem running many of your favorite games in 1080p or sometimes even 1440p at respectable frame rates. Your PC may struggle during more graphically intensive games running at their top settings, but the savings you enjoy might be worth the trade-off.
Building your own gaming PC has many benefits. First and foremost, you get to customize your PC to your own specifications, including only the components you want and need. Rather than purchasing a prebuilt desktop that may not be tailored to your requirements, you can select all of the individual parts that make up a gaming PC.
However, you will need some knowledge of how to build PCs, or at least be able to closely follow an in-depth YouTube video. This is where things get a little tricky. If you’ve never built a custom gaming PC before, you will need to do some research. From understanding how each component interacts with each other, to how to hold a stick of RAM or a CPU so you don’t damage it, there’s quite a large learning curve.
If you do decide to build your own gaming PC, you will likely find that you can save some money over the long run compared to buying a prebuilt machine. Choosing your own parts means you can keep an eye on sales and offers to get the best deal possible.
But building a gaming PC isn’t for everyone. If you aren’t rigid on the specifics and don’t have a particular build in mind, it can be less troublesome to let someone else do it for you. You also get the added reassurance that the PC will be professionally built, and there’s no chance your warranty can be void.
After you've scored an awesome gaming PC, be sure to grab the best gaming accessories for the ultimate PC battle station.
Jacqueline Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN. When she's not helping her friends and family buy computers, you can usually find her tinkering with her own PC.
Image Credit: Annalee Tsujino is a multi-disciplinary designer and illustrator. Check them out on Instagram @antsu_illustrations.
You'll find a number of deep Apple discounts in Walmart's part of this week's Black Friday deals, one of the nicest of which the $30-off Apple Pencil (USB-C). $49 is an all-time low price for one of our favorite iPad accessories, which usually goes for $79.
With Amazon currently offering this Apple Pencil for $69, Walmart’s deal is significantly better. It’s likely that you won’t see this stylus drop any lower in price during all of the upcoming Black Friday sales. So, be sure to snag the Apple Pencil (USB-C) for this price while you still can, as deals this good won’t last long. That said, it's good to note that this is the base model version of the Apple Pencil, rather than the version from IGN's best smart pens list that attaches magnetically and charges wirelessly.
The Apple Pencil (USB-C) is an excellent stylus that works with all iPads, including our favorites like the iPad Pro and Mini. Its ultra-low latency, tilt sensitivity, and pinpoint precision makes it an invaluable illustration and design tool for creatives. Note-taking and marking up documents is also simple when using this stylus. Of course, it also conveniently charges via USB-C, hence the name, while the other Apple Pencil models magnetically attach and pair instantly with most iPads.
While the best deal is on the Apple Pencil (USB-C), some might need a slightly more capable stylus. The Apple Pencil Pro amps things up a bit, offering pressure sensitivity, a built-in gyroscope, squeeze gestures, wireless charging, and more. Walmart has dropped over $30 off the price tag for a limited time, making the stylus under $100.
After you’ve added the Apple Pencil to your cart, Walmart has tons of other killer Black Friday sales to check out. You can even score 50% off a Walmart+ subscription for early access to deals, free delivery, and more.
Danielle is a Tech freelance writer based in Los Angeles who spends her free time creating videos and geeking out over music history.
We’re still a few days out from Black Friday, but the early sales have already dropped prices to record lows on a number of LEGO sets for adults. Below, I highlight the five best deals on LEGO sets for adults that are already available. The official LEGO Store Black Friday sale starts on November 28, so know there are still more deals to come.
As you can see, plenty of sets are already on sale for over 30% off, the threshold I’d say makes a LEGO deal particularly appealing.
Target has the first discount we’ve seen on LEGO Ideas Willy Wonka & the Chocolate factory, an absolute nostalgic gem of a set. This is a set we built when it released earlier this year, and had a blast doing it. It’s a vibrantly colorful set based on the memorable room with a chocolate river and waterfall. It comes with a bunch of minifigures and a buildable Wonkatania ship to sail through the tunnel of doom. This is one of Target's best Black Friday deals so far.
There are a good number of Christmas-themed LEGO sets available now, but this Christmas tree is the best deal available. It’s actually a 2-in-1 build, because you can use the pieces to build one big Christmas tree, or to build two smaller Christmas trees. Either way, $25 for this set is a killer deal ahead of the holidays.
This deal on LEGO Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi matches the all-time low price it’s ever been discounted to. This set holds a special place in this gamer’s heart, because Super Mario World is my favorite video game of all time. I built this set and I keep it on my desk right next to the lamp at all times. Sometimes I even turn the crank to see Mario and Yoshi traipse along.
In a way, the whole Star Wars saga started right here, with the Tantive IV. This set has you build the ship Princes Leia is on at the beginning of the first movie, when Darth Vader boards the ship in search of the stolen Death Star plans. A 50% discount is absolutely a great deal on any LEGO set, especially one this big and impressive.
Another massive 50% discount on this one. It’s a collection of three insects that you build in life-size replicas: a blue morpho butterfly, Herculese beetle, and a Chinese mantis. All three are finely detailed and posable.
LEGO sets make great gifts, so stock up if you have adults on your list who enjoy the brick-building life. Or just pick up a set or two for yourself.
Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN's board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Bluesky.
Amazon's Black Friday sale is already underway ahead of the year's biggest shopping day, and you can score some pretty great early deals right now, including a Samsung 1TB microSDXC card for $79.99.
This ultrafast card is perfect for Android phones and tablets, drones, and even expanding the storage of your Steam Deck. For the more cultured, there's also a sweet Shadow the Hedgehog variant, but it's going to run you an extra $20. Honestly, it might be worth it.
Samsung is one of the best brands around for external storage, and its PRO Plus line of microSDXC cards featuring blazing fast read and write speeds of up to 180MB/s and 130MB/s, which is excellent for recording 4K footage on drones and action cams like GoPro.
MicroSD cards are also a great choice for easily expanding the storage of many of your daily devices, including Android phones, tablets, and even work with handheld gaming PCs like the Steam Deck or Asus ROG Xbox Ally X. With 1TB of storage, you'll be able to store quite a few large games with room to spare.
While this microSD card does work with Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite, it does not work with the Nintendo Switch 2, as those require special microSD Express cards.
While there are plenty of great deals to be had during Amazon's Black Friday sale, other brick and mortar retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, and Target have all hopped on the early Black Friday bandwagon and each have some sweet deals worth checking out.
Matthew Adler has written for IGN since 2019 covering all things gaming, tech, tabletop games, and more. You can follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @MatthewAdler and watch him stream on Twitch.
If you're looking for a power bank that can handle the demands of even the latest and most power hungry gaming handhelds at a great price, check out this new Black Friday deal. Amazon is offering the Baseus 20,800mAh Power Bank with 145W of Power Delivery for just $39.99 shipped after applying coupon code "Q4PSW5C3". You don't need to be a Prime member. Baseus makes good power banks and I recommend them as a less expensive alternative to Anker.
The Baseus power bank has a 20,800mAh or 77Whr battery capacity. Factoring in a roughly 80% power efficiency rating (which is about standard for power banks), this power bank will charge a Steam Deck (40Whr) or Asus ROG Ally (40Whr) from empty to completely full 1.5 times, an Xbox Ally X (80Whr) 0.8 times, a Legion Go S (55Whr) about 1.1 times, and a Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 (20Whr) about 3 times. You can see why a smaller 10,000mAh power bank might be fine for the Switch but is insufficient for the more power hungry handheld gaming PCs.
The power bank is equipped with four ports: two USB Type-A ports that can deliver 33W each and two USB Type-C ports that can deliver 100W each. The power bank supports a total maximum output of 145W. So, for example, if you were using both USB-C ports, one port could deliver 100W and the other power would then be capped at 45W.
The 100W of maximum power output is more than enough for every handheld gaming PC released so far. The Steam Deck supports up to 45W of charging, the Asus ROG Ally up to 65W, the Xbox Ally X and Legion Go 2 up to 100W, and the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 between 20W and 30W. You should be able to charge all of these gaming handhelds at their fastest rate while you're playing games at the same time, even on Turbo settings.
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.
Gaming chair maker Secretlab is getting in on the Black Friday fun with some of the best deals of the year. You can browse a wide variety of what they have to offer, but their Titan Evo gaming chairs are always a highlight of these deals. The two Star Wars-themed chairs are part of the savings, with both being discounted down to $614 ($50 off MSRP). The Stormtrooper variant is a preorder and has an estimated shipping window of December 14.
The Star Wars Titan Evo gaming chairs sport some awesome design inspired by Stormtroopers and the classic Imperial colors. The Stormtrooper chair is black and white, with accents and designs inspired by the iconic Stormtrooper armor and helmet we've grown familiar with over the years. The Empire-themed chair has the signature black and crimson color scheme, with Aurebesh writing on the front of the seat as a Sith Easter egg. These styled chairs make for a great Star Wars gift if you're willing to spend the money.
Titan Evo gaming chairs can be bundled with optional accessories like a footrest and lumbar support, but the prices shown here are just for the chairs by themselves. If you're looking for something with a few more bells and whistles, the Performance versions of the chairs start at $971, saving you $100. You'll get the chair for the same discount, but with accessories for extra comfort for an additional $40 off.
If you're in the market for a new gaming chair and Star Wars isn't quite your thing, Secretlab has tons of other licensed chairs to pick from. For you League of Legends players, there are Titan Evo chairs themed around popular characters Ahri, Jinx, Yasuo, and more. There's also the Cyberpunk 2077 chair, a personal favorite, a neon yellow design with the Samurai logo on the back. They even offer licensed chairs that aren't video games, like Game of Thrones (seen below) and Harry Potter.
Myles Obenza is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Bluesky @mylesobenza.bsky.social.
Disney Lorcana continues to go from strength to strength, and while we’re a few sets deep at this point, there’s still something special about having so many recognizable characters, songs, and moments printed to cardboard.
Amazon’s Black Friday deals present an ideal opportunity for collectors this year, too, because the Into the Inklands Bundle is reduced by 30%.
The bundle, which would usually set Illumineers back $34.99, is now down to $24.99 as part of the sales event. It’s an ideal way to kickstart a collection, offering two Starter Decks that are playable right out of the box, as well as four additional booster packs and a Mickey Mouse Pirate Captain promo card.
That’s an ideal combo because when you want to upgrade your decks with fresh cards, you already have packs to rip open. The decks included are fun ones, too, with the unlikely duo of Peter Pan and the Dalmatians helming one, and Moana and Scrooge McDuck in the other. Each deck contains a booster pack, too, so you’re really getting six in total.
It’s worth noting that Lorcana now rotates sets. This set isn’t currently standard legal - so competitive players should look elsewhere. Thankfully, though, it remains a fantastic deal for collectors or casual players looking to learn the ropes.
At the time of writing, the Into the Inklands bundle has gone past the ‘50% claimed’ mark, so you’ll want to move swiftly!
Looking for more Lorcana? So are we. You can save 16% on a Whispers in the Well Booster Box, 67% on the co-op Palace Heist, and get $10 off the Elsa Gift Box.
Best Buy's Black Friday sale may be filled with plenty of goodies, but never forget its Deal of the Day page. For today only, that includes a $40 price drop for the red Xbox Elite Series 2 Core wireless controller, bringing it down to $99.99. It's a good discount for a solid controller, just a bit higher than the lowest price ever, according to the price tracker CamelCamelCamel.
As for why you might want the Elite Series 2 Core Wireless Controller, it features adjustable-tension thumbsticks, a wrap-around rubberized grip so you can keep a firm hold on it, and shorter hair trigger locks for quick firing in your favorite games. It even offers up to 40 hours of rechargeable battery life, so you can keep playing for ages before it needs to be powered up again. In our review, we thought it had some handy tweaks to the formula but that it was priced higher than it should be, due to some issues with sticky buttons at times. Despite that, we still think it's one of the best Xbox controllers around.
While this sale only lasts for today, Xbox still has plenty of other discounts worth exploring in Black Friday sales. In our roundup of Xbox's 2025 Black Friday sale, we've gathered up some of the best discounts available right now on video games, hardware, and more. There's sure to be plenty more popping up as the week goes on, too.
To keep up with what's on sale where and when, as well as upcoming deals, keep an eye on our breakdown of this year's Black Friday.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelancer who writes with the guides and commerce teams here at IGN.
If you're looking to upgrade your gaming PC for Black Friday, you absolutely have to check out this deal. Dell Outlet has just kicked off its Black Friday Sale with some incredible pricing on Clearance, Like New (Refurbished) and Scratch & Dent Alienware Area-51 gaming PCs, equipped with your choice of GeForce RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 graphics cards. You're saving up to $1,600 compared to buying an identical system brand new.
All PCs purchased through Dell Outlet include the same warranty as buying new. Dell's certified refurbished systems are submitted to a rigorous refurbishing process. These previously owned products could have observable minor blemishes that do not affect performance, or could look as good as new.
Dell unveiled the new Alienware Area-51 gaming PC at CES 2025. The chassis is a super-sized upgrade to the 2024 R16 system with aesthetic and cooling redesigns and updated components. The I/O panel is positioned at the top of the case instead of the front, and the tempered glass window now spans the entire side panel instead of just a smaller cutout. As a result, the side panel vents are gone, and instead air intakes are located at the bottom as well as the front of the case. Alienware is now pushing a positive airflow design (more intake than exhaust airflow), which means a less dusty interior. The internal components have been refreshed with a new motherboard, faster RAM, and bigger power supply to accommodate the new generation of CPUs and GPUs.
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 has emerged as the most powerful consumer GPU on the market. Although Nvidia has prioritized software updates, AI features, and DLSS 4 technology to improve gameplay performance, the 5090 still boasts an impressive 25%-30% uplift over the RTX 4090 in terms of pure, hardware-based raster performance. The 5090 also has a whopping 32GB of VRAM (33% more than the 4090), making it the ideal candidate for a hybrid rig looking to do both gaming and AI work on the same machine. Check out our Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 FE review.
Performance-wise, the RTX 5080 is no slouch. It's one of the fastest cards on the market, bested only by the $2,000 RTX 5090 and the discontinued $1,600 RTX 4090. This is a phenomenal card for playing the latest, most demanding games in 4K resolution at high settings and ray tracing enabled. Check out our Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 FE review.
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 looks like Donald Trump is getting his way, as Rush Hour 4 is actually happening at Paramount with original director Brett Ratner involved.
Earlier this week, Semafor reported that the U.S. president had allegedly pressed the Ellisons to make a new Rush Hour movie at Paramount. Larry Ellison is the largest shareholder of Paramount and a prominent financial supporter of Trump. His son, David Elison, runs the company.
Now, Deadline reports that Paramount will release the next Rush Hour film, distributing on behalf of Warner Bros. for a “double digit percentage fee.” Brett Ratner has signed on to direct. Paramount has yet to comment.
Rush Hour was a blockbuster Hollywood hit for martial arts star Jackie Chan and American stand-up comedian and actor Chris Tucker. Rush Hour made $245.3 million at the global box office back in 1998 (not adjusted for inflation), with Rush Hour 2 going bigger with $347.4 million in 2001. Rush Hour 3 was considered something of a box office disappointment, with $256.5 million in 2007. There hasn't been a new movie in the franchise since.
Rush Hour director Brett Ratner made Amazon’s upcoming documentary about the first lady, Melania Trump, a project that comes after Ratner was accused of sexual misconduct in 2017 and was forced to exit the Wonder Woman franchise.
According to Semafor, Trump wants a revival of the “raucous comedies and action movies” of the late ‘80s to late ‘90s, and is said to be a fan of Jean Claude Van Damme’s 1988 film Bloodsport.
The deal for Rush Hour comes at a time when Paramount is heavily rumored to be leading the charge to buy Warner Bros. The Guardian has reported that senior White House officials have discussed internally their preference for Paramount Skydance to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery (we know Warner Bros. Discovery is considering bids as we speak).
According to The Guardian, Paramount is positioning itself as the best bid because it would have an easier time getting through regulatory review. Other parties interested in Warner Bros. Discovery are Netflix and Comcast.
As for Rush Hour, in December 2022, Jackie Chan revealed he was in talks for Rush Hour 4. Before that, Chris Tucker had said much the same thing, adding: "It’s happening. This is gonna be the Rush of all Rushes. Jackie is ready and we want to do this so that people don’t ever forget it.” We haven’t heard anything of the project since. Chan is now 71 years old, and Tucker is 54.
If you're hunting for the best offers this week, we're actively rounding up the strongest Black Friday deals on video games, tech, and more. You can find all our top picks and price drops in our full Black Friday hub, or check out our relevant pages for PlayStation, Nintendo, and Xbox deals.
Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
If you were burned by the latest round of Disney+ and Hulu price hikes, here's some Black Friday balm: Disney is offering and ad-supported bundle of both services for $4.99/mo or the ad-free bundle for $14.99/mo. Jump on it quickly, though – the deals are only running through December 1.
Disney+ with Hulu bundle with ads usually costs $12.99 per month, but at $4.99 a month, subscribers will save close to $100 for the year. That's quite a deal at a time when streaming plans are pricier than ever. It's easily the cheapest way to get caught up on all things Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars. With Hulu, you’ll get an unreal batch of comfort shows like Always Sunny, Abbott Elementary, and New Girl as well as more dramatic Hulu originals like Shōgun and The Handmaid’s Tale.
The big catch, of course, is you’re stuck with ads. Good thing that, unlike other streaming services, Disney has discounted the ad-free Disney+ with Hulu Premium bundle for Black Friday. It's not quite as big a discount by percentage, at $5 off a $19.99-per-month subscription, but that's still a $60 savings for a year of watching all the Star Wars, Marvel, and Pixar you can handle, with no startling ad breaks jammed in.
Both deals are live until December 1, meaning this is the official Black Friday and Cyber Monday discounts from both services. Because the deal lasts for a full year, you’ll be all set until the next round of Black Friday discounts.
If you’re already a Hulu subscriber, you can tack HBO Max into your subscription as a Premium Add-On for $2.99/mo, over 70% off the standard price. That deal is also available through HBO Max itself. Apple TV is offering six months at $4.99/mo, while Crunchyroll has knocked $20 off its annual ad-free subscription plans.
If you’re in the market for more than just subscriptions, you can also check out our full breakdown of this year's Black Friday deals.
Blythe (she/her) is an SEO Coordinator at IGN who, when she isn't following streaming news, spends way too much time in character customization screens and tracking down collectibles.
EA and Battlefield Studios have launched the first Battlefield 6 free trial, giving new players on PC, PlayStation 5 (PS5), and Xbox Series X | S the chance to try Season 1 multiplayer maps and modes all Thanksgiving week.
The limited-time event runs from today, November 25, at 4 a.m. PT / 7 a.m. ET to December 2 at 4 a.m. PT / 7 a.m. ET. It’s a scheduled test period for anyone wondering if the new Battlefield is worth it, following what EA has called the most successful launch in the FPS shooter franchise’s history.
“We are extremely proud of what our amazing teams at Battlefield Studios have accomplished and tremendously excited about the community’s passion as we continue to build Battlefield for and with our fans,” general manager of Battlefield Byron Beede said in a statement. “Today’s launch of a free trial for Battlefield 6 is the perfect opportunity for new players to have the All Out Warfare experience that millions of players around the world are raving about.”
As detailed in a blog post from EA, the Battlefield 6 free trial week offers three playlists for new players: Initiation Breakthrough, Close Quarters Battle, and All-Out Warfare. The first is meant to ease newcomers into the entry’s destructive gameplay with 48-player matches mixed with real-world people and bots. Close Quarters Combat focuses on fast-paced gunplay in smaller maps with Team Deathmatch and Sabotage modes. Finally, All-Out Warfare presents Battlefield 6 multiplayer unrestricted, giving free trial players access to Conquest, Escalation, and Breakthrough modes on the biggest maps it has.
The free trial isn’t quite the full Battlefield 6 Season 1 experience, but it does give players a chance to try out its core gameplay without leaping into a $69.99 purchase (or a little cheaper if you act fast). Maps players can expect to enjoy through the free trial playlists include Siege of Cairo, Blackwell Fields, and Eastwood.
EA has also clarified that those who have enjoyed Battlefield REDSEC, which introduced free-to-play battle royale and Gauntlet modes when it launched late last month, will notice their progress carries over to the Battlefield 6 free trial. Additional progress made during the trial will also carry over to the full experience, should a player choose to purchase the full game. Those who log in to either experience by November 30 also gain access to the free long-range Lethal Force Weapon Package.
Battlefield 6 launched for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X | S October 10, 2025. BF Studios has pushed frequent updates since, with patches adding everything from new Season 1 content, such as the Blackwell Fields and Eastwood maps, to a laundry list of gameplay tweaks, bug fixes, lighting improvements, and more. Arriving alongside these changes is news that the new Battlefield game managed to secure the best month of sales for any game in the U.S. in the last three years.
We gave Battlefield 6 multiplayer an 8/10 in our review. For more, you can see how some members of the community reacted to a new $24 skin pack.
If you're hunting for the best offers this week, we're actively rounding up the strongest Black Friday deals on video games, tech, and more. You can find all our top picks and price drops in our full Black Friday hub, or check out our relevant pages for PlayStation, Nintendo, and Xbox deals.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
Trading card marketplace TCGplayer has a special offer for Black Friday through Cyber Monday this weekend: You’ll earn 10% store credit on all products bought from the site. It’ll only be available for four days though, from 9 a.m. ET on November 28 to 11 p.m. ET on December 1, so you’ll need to act fast.
If this is your first time hearing about TCGplayer, it’s an online marketplace that specializes in trading cards. There are listings from thousands of sellers across tons of different card games. As you could probably guess, Magic: The Gathering has a big presence, including recent collaborations with Avatar: The Last Airbender and Final Fantasy. There are also tens of thousands of listings for Pokémon cards, both in English and Japanese.
Then there’s games like Yu-Gi-Oh!, Digimon, Cardfight Vanguard, Flesh and Blood, Disney Lorcana, One Piece, Dragon Ball Super, Star Wars Unlimited, Riftbound, and that’s just scratching the surface. We’re not going to list all of them here, it would take forever. But there are dozens of different games available; if you’re a collector of a particular game, chances are good you can find it on TCGplayer.
There’s an in-depth filtering system that will allow you to get very specific about what you’re looking for, and those filters change depending on what product line you pick. For example, when you choose Pokémon, the other filters will change to target specific Pokémon card categories.
So you can select things like holofoil or reverse holofoil, shiny rares, first edition, etc. And you can pick card types, like trainer, energy, or stadium. Or target specific sets, like World Championship Decks, Prismatic Evolutions, or Paldean Fates. You can make selections across all these categories at the same time and find only the cards that fit your filters.
If you only have one specific card in mind, you can always skip that whole process and just type it into the search bar. Or you can get sealed products like bundles or booster packs, which are particularly nice if you’re building a deck for the first time or if you just like the mystery box appeal.
However you get there, once you find a listing you’re interested in, you can click on it to find more information about the item itself and who it’s available to buy from. You can see product details, market price history, and all the listings and prices that are currently available. Listings will show their seller, and you can click on them to see how many sales they’ve made, where they’re located, and the reviews they’ve gotten. Many of the listings are posted by local game stores, giving you a chance to support small businesses.
Whatever product you’re interested in, you can get 10% store credit on it if you check out between Friday and Monday. But you can plan ahead by loading up your cart now, then just wait to check out until this weekend. That will still count, the timing is just based on when you complete your order. To get started, you can head over to TCGplayer now.
Mobile gamers, rejoice, for the Razer Kishi Ultra mobile gaming controller is just $79.99 during Amazon's Black Friday sale. Normally, the Kishi Ultra is $149.99 – an almost 50% discount is a great deal for what is one of the best mobile controllers I've ever used.
This expandable controller connects directly to iPhone, iPad mini, and Android devices with the built-in USB-C connector, while offering tactile controls, full-size thumbsticks, and analog triggers. This is the cheapest the Kishi Ultra has been according to Amazon price tracker CamelCamelCamel, so get it while the getting is good.
Like many modern mobile gaming controllers, the Razer Kishi Ultra doesn't require a Bluetooth connection or need to be charged. Instead, it connects directly to your smarthone or tablet through the built-in USB-C connector. This means near-zero latency while gaming and one less battery to worry about.
I gave the Razer Kishi Ultra a 9/10 in my review. I loved its satisfyingly clicky buttons, console-quality thumbsticks and triggers, and full-size grips. It's a great option for playing games natively on your device, or streaming games from your computer, using Razer's PC Remote Play software.
There's plenty more to shop already during Amazon's Black Friday sale, and with more deals being added each day, it's shaping up to be the best time to pick up some of this year's hottest items. Best Buy, Walmart, and Target also each have early Black Friday deals going right now.
Matthew Adler has written for IGN since 2019 covering all things gaming, tech, tabletop games, and more. You can follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @MatthewAdler and watch him stream on Twitch.
Considering what it offers, Disney+ is one of the best streaming services on the block. From classic Disney animated films to the latest Marvel shows, Star Wars movies, and so much more, Disney+ puts an incredible range of high-quality viewing options at your fingertips. There's tons to watch, but after another round of price hikes, you might want to revisit your streaming subscriptions. We're here to help.
At the moment, one of the best Disney Plus bundle deals available is the massive Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max streaming bundle. This starts at $19.99/month (after a recent price hike) to get you all three streaming services with ads. Bundles are definitely worth considering, especially following the news of Hulu eventually fully integrating into the Disney+ app.
Streaming deals are top of mind for plenty of people going into Black Friday. Disney+ has already unveiled what their offer for Black Friday 2025: 12 months of Disney+ and Hulu with ads for $4.99/mo, down from $12.99, or 12 months of the ad-free bundle for $14.99/mo, down from $19.99. These are by far the best prices we'll see on either of these services until next Black Friday.
Want a way to save on your Disney+ membership sooner rather than later? Bundles are a great, affordable way to go. Our top recommendation is the Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max streaming bundle can be purchased through any of the three streaming services and starts at $19.99/month for the ad-supported tier or $32.99/month for ad-free access across the three platforms. If you currently own all three and want to cut down on costs, this is a great way to bundle them together and save big on what you'd pay for them separately per month – 42% on the ad-supported plan and 43% on the ad-free plan.
Starting on October 21, 2025 these prices were increased. That means if you already have a subscription your next bill will be more expensive. Given that standalone Hulu and Disney+ subscriptions have also increased in price, your savings with this bundle (as opposed to separate subscriptions) stays roughly the same as before.
Beyond HBO Max, you can also choose to bundle Disney+ with just Hulu or the all-new ESPN Unlimited service. Here's the breakdown of all your bundle options:
Disney+ is available in a couple of different tiers. You can get the least expensive option (simply called Disney+) for $11.99/month, which gives you access to everything except the ability to download select shows to watch on the go. This tier is ad supported. If you want to get rid of ads and be able to download certain shows, you can spring for the $18.99/month or $189.99/year Disney+ Premium package.
In an effort to crack down on password sharing, Disney has added a paid sharing plan for individuals outside of your household. Basically, anyone using your account that's not within your household will have to be added as an "Extra Member" to your account. This costs an additional $6.99/month for the ad-supported subscription and $9.99/month for the Premium ad-free plan, and only one Extra Member slot is available per account. You can learn more from Disney's paid sharing explainer here.
If you want to help someone out and give them a gift that will keep on giving, gifting a one-year Disney+ card is a great option. It provides all the great things Disney+ offers and it costs a fraction of what it would take to buy even a small sampling of those movies physically.
There is a bonkers array of shows and movies you can watch on Disney+. Highlights coming to Disney+ in November include Fantastic Four: First Steps, Madame Web, and plenty of holiday-themed specials. For new and potential subscribers, here's a deeper dive into what's available on the service:
On the Disney front, you have awesome classic movies like The Sword In The Stone, Robin Hood, 101 Dalmations, Hercules, and Sleeping Beauty, modern classics like The Princess & The Frog, Tangled, and Frozen, and a wide range of animated shows, including Phineas & Ferb.
You also gain access to a ton of vintage content like Escape to Witch Mountain, The Apple Dumpling Gang, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, The Love Bug, and a whole lot more. The Disney Junior section is home to absolutely top tier animated shows like Bluey (which, for my money, is worth the price of admission on its own).
There's way more on offer, too, including a ton of Muppet movies, new live-action films and adaptions (including the new Snow White), nature programs, documentaries, Pirates of the Caribbean, and musical programs featuring Taylor Swift (like her wildly popular The Eras Tour), Elton John, Ed Sheeran, and more.
When it comes to computer generated films, Pixar stands alone. Kicking off the revolution with Toy Story, Pixar has consistently put out fantastic films, and they are all here. From the Toy Story series to Finding Nemo, Cars, and more recent hits like Inside Out 2, there is a ton to love.
Beyond even that, there are incredible shorts like Bao and Party Central, as well as a wide range of originals and series based on major films, such as Dory's Reef Cam, Forky Asks A Question, Cars On The Road, and more.
The MCU has become a true juggernaut, and there are many viewers who subscribe to Disney+ purely for access to nearly the entire MCU lineup of films and shows.
Whether you are a fan of the blockbuster action films, you are an appreciator of the classic 90s runs of "Saturday morning" cartoons like X-Men, or you are currently vibing to the funky theme of the 1981 Spider-Man series, there is a ton of Marvel to enjoy on Disney+. And with new movies and shows being added to the MCU all the time, including most recently Thunderbolts* and Captain America: Brave New World, there is always more coming.
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, there was a film that changed everything. The original Star Wars is a seminal sci-fi fantasy work that inspired generations of creators, but there is still nothing quite like that far away galaxy. Disney+ grants access to all things Star Wars, including the remastered versions of the original trilogy (hopefully some day they'll add the theatrical cuts, too), as well as the prequels and sequels.
You can also stay up-to-date on all the latest shows, including The Mandalorian and the critically-lauded Andor, which recently wrapped up its second and final season. There are also fantastic short series like Star Wars Visions, and longer-form series like The Clone Wars, The Bad Batch, Young Jedi Adventures, and a whole lot more.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.
Original story from Brian Barnett.
Kate Beckinsale has just turned in one of the most extraordinary chat show appearances in recent times, as she stunned host Jimmy Kimmel by stating that her daughter's boyfriend had recently laid two hard-boiled eggs.
The Underworld and The Elder Scrolls Online actress left Kimmel open-mouthed as she began recalling how the unnamed boyfriend had passed two eggs, complete with a shell and yolk.
Clearly uncertain of what he'd just heard, Kimmel asked Beckinsale to clarify whether she was suggesting the eggs had actually come from her daughter's boyfriend's body. "Yes," Beckinsale replied. "Not out of his mouth or ears, it came out the route it would come out of a hen. Well, not his vagina. He went to the bathroom and was very surprised to find that he had laid an egg."
Straight-faced, Beckinsale told Kimmel she had believed the account after seeing how "genuinely scared" her daughter's boyfriend had been, especially after he cracked the egg open to confirm its contents. But while Beckinsale said she had accepted that the egg itself was legitimate, she had still harbored doubts over how it had got there.
"I said to him, 'Is this some kind of attention-seeking? Are you putting eggs up your bottom?'" Beckinsale recalled. “But I think it’s quite hard to put an egg up your bottom and then get it out whole without injuring the egg."
The ordeal then occured a second time, later that same week, Beckinsale said. This time, she personally received photos as proof, in order for her daughter to examine them later.
In perhaps the most extraordinary part of the interview, Beckinsale offers to produce the photos on her phone for Kimmel and his chat show sidekick Guillermo to view, while warning them that they are "medical" in nature. At first, Kimmel says he'll judge if the photos are suitable for the programme's live studio audience to also see — but this is seemingly forgotten as the host reacts in shock to what he's just been shown.
"What in the world —" Kimmel says, before the rest of his reaction is censored, presumably due to profanity. "Your daughter's boyfriend is the Easter Bunny, there's no other way to explain this!"
Beckinsale continued her story by recalling how her family had subsequently contacted numerous medical professionals for their advice, only to be told the unexplained events had clearly been "some sort of complicated masturbation thing, which it wasn't." Another potential explanation was that the boyfriend had eaten some kind of egg-shaped foodstuff, like a lychee, or actual eggs so fast he'd just digested and passed them whole. "No, he hadn't," Beckinsale stated.
Kimmel appeared so taken in by the story that the host allows it to take up the remainder of Beckinsale's time slot on the show, to the point where he is forced to wrap up and acknowledge they had not even begun to start discussing the film she had been there to promote, action thriller Wildcat.
It's a truly odd interaction, and one that Kimmel seems to react with genuine confusion. Still, the bizarre nature of the conversation has led many viewers to conclude it has to be a bit on Beckinsale's part. (Something which, of course, medical evidence would also agree with.) Regardless, the appearance has instantly sparked conversation online, as viewers and doctors attempt to work out what the shell is going on.
If you're hunting for the best offers this week, we're actively rounding up the strongest Black Friday deals on video games, tech, and more. You can find all our top picks and price drops in our full Black Friday hub, or check out our relevant pages for PlayStation, Nintendo, and Xbox deals.
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social