Not everyone is the DIY type. If you're in the market for a prebuilt gaming PC, Dell is one of best brands we'd recommend. The Alienware gaming desktops offer a staggering array of options, all built into a custom chassis that's both easy on the eyes and easy on the wallet. Alienware gaming laptops in recent years have been redesigned to be thinner and lighter while still offering the same immense power under the hood. Consistent build quality, available inventory, frequent sales, and solid customer service are the main reasons why Dell is at the top of our buying list. Below, you'll find some of the best deals available on PCs and laptops on Dell right now as well as some of the newest releases from CES 2024.

Dell and Alienware Coupon Codes

Alienware Aurora Ryzen RTX 4090 Gaming PC $2654.99

Dell is offering a great deal on this powerful Alienware Aurora R15 equipped with a GeForce RTX 4090 GPU yet again. Right now you can get it for $2654.99 after a 10% off code "10AMD". RTX 4090 GPUs are currently difficult to find at MSRP; right now, a 4090 GPU on Amazon sells at a $200-$400 markup. If this is the GPU you really want, you might actually save money buying a prebuilt PC like this one instead of sourcing your own parts and going the DIY route.

Alienware Aurora R15 RX 7900 XTX Gaming PC for $1935

Score the most power AMD-based Alienware gaming PC available for under $2K. Dell currently has the Alienware Aurora R15 Ryzen Edition Radeon RX 7900 XTX Gaming PC for only $1934.99 after a 10% off code "10AMD" is applied. This is an outstanding deal for anyone looking to get a tremendously powerful gaming PC without paying NVIDIA prices.

32" Alienware AW3225QF 4K 240Hz QD OLED Gaming Monitor (Refurb) for $799.99

Dell currently sells one of the very few 32" 4K QD OLED monitors on the market. The Alienware AW3225QF 32" 4K QD OLED gaming monitor normally retails for $1199.99, but right now you can pick up a refurbished model at Dell Outlet for only $799.99 shipped. Note that it comes with a 90-day warranty. This is one of the best 240Hz gaming monitors as well as one of the best OLED gaming monitors around.

Alienware Aurora R15 RTX 4080 Gaming PC for $1935

Looking for a 4K gaming rig but don't want to spend a huge sum for the RTX 4090? Fortunately Dell is also offering this Alienware Aurora R15 RTX 4080 gaming PC for $1934.99 after a $200 instant discount and extra 10% off coupon code "10AMD". The RTX 4080 GPU is still one of the most powerful graphics cards available and will allow you to comfortably run any game out there at 4K resolution.

Alienware m16 16" RTX 4080 Gaming Laptop for $1799.99

This is the lowest price we've seen currently for an RTX 4070 equipped Alienware m16 gaming laptop. It also features a 16" 2560x1600 QHD+ display, the latest AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX CPU, 16GB of DDR5-4800MHz RAM and a 1TB M.2 SSD. The mobile RTX 4080 is a very powerful GPU; it's the second most powerful mobile graphics solution right behind the RTX 4090. It's nearly as powerful as an RTX 4070 desktop GPU.

Alienware m18 Radeon RX 7900M Gaming Laptop for $2070

Dell is currently offering a powerful Alienware m18 18" Ryzen Edition Radeon RX 7900M gaming laptop for only $2069.99 after $400 instant savings an an extra 10% off coupon code "10AMD". This is the most powerful AMD-based m18 laptop that Dell sells right now, and the RX 7900M GPU performs on par with the considerably pricier GeForce RTX 4080 (mobile).

Alienware RTX 4080 SUPER Gaming PC for $2399.99

Starting this week, Dell has dropped the price of the Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 4080 SUPER gaming PC to only $2399.99 after a $400 instant discount. That's the lowest price right now for an Alienware RTX 4080 SUPER gaming PC and $400 cheaper than the least expensive Alienware RTX 4090 gaming PC, a 14th gen Intel Core i9 processor, and a beefy 240mm AIO cooler. This is a very powerful gaming PC that can run any game you can throw at it, even at 4k resolution with high framerates and ray tracing enabled.

The Alienware Aurora R16 is the most current Alienware Aurora gaming desktop. The R16 chassis is 40% smaller in volume compared to previous iterations. It features a simple yet proven airflow design; air is drawn in through the side intake vents over the GPU area as well as a 120mm rear fan drawing air in and a generously sized 240mm all-in-one liquid cooler exhausts air out through the top. A side benefit is that the GPU is supplied with fresh air from the outside instead of recirculating hot internal air.

Alienware RTX 4070 Ti SUPER Gaming PC for $1799.99

Dell is currently offering the 2024 Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 4070 Ti SUPER gaming PC for $1799.99 after a $200 instant discount. It's equipped with an 14th gen Intel Core i7 processor and a 240mm AIO cooler. The GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is an excellent GPU that was released earlier this year. It's powerful enough to handle just about any game at 1440p and 4K resolution.

Alienware m18 R2 RTX 4090 Gaming Laptop for $3399.99

Dell has dropped the price on its flagship Alienware m18 R2 gaming laptop to $3399.99, a savings of $600. The Alienware m18 "R2" model was released in January of 2024; this is Dell's highest-end gaming laptop and features the newest 14th gen Intel Core i9 processor paired with the best-in-class GeForce RTX 4090 GPU. This is an absolute monster of a gaming laptop that performs better than most dedicated desktop gaming PCs..

Dell G-Series Gaming Laptops on Sale

Dell G-series gaming laptops are marketed towards budget gamers who can't or don't want to spend a lot of money on an Alienware laptop. They feature similar specs as the Alienware laptops at a much lower price.

Why Pick a Dell or Alienware Gaming PC?

Not everyone is the DIY type, and building your own PC is definitely not for everyone. If you're in the market for a prebuilt gaming PC, Dell is one of best brands we'd recommend. The Alienware gaming desktops offer a staggering array of options, all built into a custom chassis that's both easy on the eyes and easy on the wallet. Alienware gaming laptops in recent years have been redesigned to be thinner and lighter while still offering the same immense power under the hood. Consistent build quality, available inventory, frequent sales, and solid customer service are the main reasons why Dell is at the top of our buying list.

Amazon is offering the newest generation Apple AirPods Pro truly wireless noise cancelling earbuds with the universal USB Type-C connector for only $179.99, a savings of $70. This is the absolute lowest price we've ever seen and beats out last year's Black Friday deal. The AirPods Pro is our top pick for the best Airpods of 2024, and a no-brainer for any iPhone user.

Apple AirPods Pro with USB Type-C for $179.99

With this current gen AirPods Pro, Apple has replaced the proprietary Lightning port with the more universal USB Type-C. For people who want to bring along a single charging cable for all of their mobile devices, this is a godsend. Other small upgrades include dust resistance and lossless audio support when paired with Apple’s upcoming and massively expensive Vision Pro headset.

The Apple AirPods Pro is one of the best-sounding "truly wireless" earbuds you'll find, especially at this price point. Aside from the more expensive and bulkier Max, the Pro is the only Airpods with active noise cancelling technology. If there are moments where noise cancellation might be a hindrance, the AirPods Pro features an "Adaptive Transparency Mode" to pick up ambient noises so you can hear your surroundings.

Compared to the standard AirPods, the AirPods Pro features a more refined low-distortion driver and amp as well as a more powerful Apple H2 chip. More importantly, the AirPods Pro has customized ear tips that do a much better job of sealing your ears properly. Note, only do they stay in place better and are instrumental in isolating ambient noise, but the seal helps improve sound quality tremendously. That makes it easily worth the mere $30 price premium over the 3rd-gen AirPods.

If AirPods Pro are out of your budget but you still want AirPods for your iPhone, check out the best deals on other AirPods like the AirPods 2 wireless earbuds for only $79.99

Dell is offering a great deal on this powerful Alienware Aurora R15 equipped with a GeForce RTX 4090 GPU yet again. Right now you can get it for $2654.99 after a 10% off code "10AMD". RTX 4090 GPUs are currently difficult to find at MSRP; right now, a 4090 GPU on Amazon sells at a $200-$400 markup. If this is the GPU you really want, you might actually save money buying a prebuilt PC like this one instead of sourcing your own parts and going the DIY route.

Alienware Aurora Ryzen RTX 4090 Gaming PC $2654.99

This particular Alienware Aurora R15 config boasts an AMD Ryzen 9 7900X CPU, GeForce RTX 4090 GPU, 32GB of DDR-4800MHz RAM, and a 2TB M.2 SSD. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X features a boost clock speed of 5.7GHz with 16 cores, 32 threads, and 80MB of total cache. This is still one of AMD's best general purpose CPUs, excelling at gaming, 3D rendering, AI generation, multi-tasking, and pretty much anything else you can throw at it. It's cooled by an upgraded Cryo-Tech edition 240mm all-in-one liquid cooling solution, which offers even better thermal performance than the normal liquid cooling system that Alienware offers thanks to a thicker radiator and better fans. It's all powered by a massive 1350W 80PLUS Platinum power supply.

The RTX 4090 is the most powerful video card you can get right now. No other GPU, either from NVIDIA or from AMD, comes close. The RTX 4090 is about 110% faster at 4K gaming than the RTX 3080. It's about 60% faster than the previous king, the RTX 3090 Ti. The 4090 is also the consumer card of choice for stuff like machine learning or AI image generation apps like Stable Diffusion. NVIDIA cards are generally more powerful than AMD cards with these kinds of apps and the amount of VRAM is of the highest priority; the 4090 has 24GB of GDDR6X VRAM, more than any other consumer NVIDIA card.

Why Pick a Dell or Alienware Gaming PC?

Alienware is always one of our top picks for best prebuilt gaming PCs, especially when they're on sale. Not everyone is the DIY type, and these days prebuilt gaming PC aren't that much more expensive than building your own computer. In fact, depending on the demand of certain components like the GPU, it might even be cheaper. Alienware gaming laptops and desktops offer a staggering array of options, all built into a custom chassis that's both easy on the eyes and easy on the wallet. The newest Alienware gaming PCs have significantly improved their cooling performance, especially when paired with a liquid cooling solution. Alienware gaming laptops in recent years have been redesigned to be thinner and lighter while still offering the same immense power under the hood. Consistent build quality, available inventory, frequent sales, and solid customer service are the main reasons why Dell is at the top of our buying list.

Amazon is offering the Jackery Explorer 100 31,000mAh Power Bank for $99.99 after you clip the $30 off coupon on the product page. This is the largest capacity power bank we've seen that's TSA carry-on eligible. It also uses superior LiFePO4 battery cells, can charge up to 3 devices simultaneously, and boasts up to 100W charging output via USB Type-C.

Jackery Explorer 100 31,000mAh Power Bank for $99.99

At first glance the Jackery Explorer 100 looks like one of those large power stations you might use as a backup battery for your home. But actually, this thing is pretty small, small enough to fit on the palm of your hand. It measures only 5"x3.4"x3.4" and weighs about 2 pounds. This is a 99Whr power bank, which means it just barely squeezes its way under TSA's sub-100Whr requirement. With a 31,000mAh total capacity, this is definitely the largest TSA carry-on eligible power bank we've posted on IGN.

Unlike most smaller power banks which use lithium-ion cells, the Jackery Explorer 100 uses LiFePO4 cells. They're usually more expensive and also a bit heavier, but in exchange you get inherently safer battery chemistry and a much longer lifespan, both in terms of number of cycles and calendar aging.

The Jackery Explorer 100 has three outputs: two USB Type-C with PPS and Power Delivery up to 100W total, and a USB Type-A with 28W of charging for a total of 128W. The Steam Deck supports up to 45W max charging, the ASUS ROG Ally up to 65W, and the Nintendo Switch up to 18W. That means ou can charge a Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, or Nintendo Switch at its maximum charging speed. In fact, you could almost charge all three at their maximum charging rate simultaneously.

Jackery is a well known brand that's based out of Fremont, California. They're very reliable and are often a great alternative to the juggernaut Chinese companies like Ecoflow and Bluetti. This power bank is UL 94V-0 certified and includes a 2 year warranty.

For more options, check out our favorite power banks for 2024.

Behaviour Interactive is teasing its next chapter for the Dead by Daylight universe, implying a Dungeons & Dragons crossover is coming to its widely popular asymmetrical horror game.

The Dead by Daylight X/Twitter account posted a brief teaser trailer that suggests its next licensed chapter is based on the popular tabletop game series Dungeons & Dragons. While not much was shared, Behaviour Interactive plans to hold an 8th anniversary stream for the Dead by Daylight series next week; hopefully to confirm a release date and which D&D characters will become the killers and survivors.

Listen closely to the voice in the darkness... pic.twitter.com/krNbZQnanH

— Dead by Daylight (@DeadbyDaylight) May 9, 2024

A D&D-themed chapter in Dead by Daylight would be interesting, as Behaviour Interactive has yet to implement dark fantasy into its horror game. However, Behaviour has previously added sci-fi and supernatural themes, introducing licensed chapters for Alien and Ringu.

Dead by Daylight first released in 2016 on PC before making its way onto consoles, most recently the PS5 in late 2020. Since launch, Behaviour Interactive has released a slew of original and licensed chapters from various horror franchises across gaming and entertainment, such as Silent Hill, Resident Evil, Stranger Things, and Scream. Each chapter introduces a map based on that respective franchise, in addition to familiar characters serving as new playable killers or survivors. Dead by Daylight's popularity has surged since its release, with Behaviour Interactive reporting in 2023 that the game has amassed over 60 million players.

2023 was a massive year for Dead by Daylight. Aside from introducing several new licensed chapters, Behaviour Interactive revealed during its 7th-anniversary stream that two spinoff games set in the Dead by Daylight universe are in development. One is a narrative-driven game developed by Supermassive Games titled The Casting of Frank Stone, which is set to release sometime this year. Atomic Monster and Blumhouse are also teaming up to adapt Dead by Daylight for the big screen.

Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

Nowadays, PC gamers are no longer limited to playing their games on a desktop computer. Gaming laptops offer plenty of power to handle even the most demanding games in a form factor that you can take just about anywhere. Best of all, the prices have gone down significantly over the years and the price premium of a gaming laptop isn't much more than a gaming PC. But if you're on the lookout for a good gaming laptop deal, we've compiled a list of the best right now below. These are from the manufacturers themselves like Dell (Alienware), HP, and Lenovo, as well as from reliable 3rd party retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart.

Today's Best Laptop Deals

We singled out the best gaming laptop deals available right now. These laptops are significantly discounted from their normal retail price and are going to be less expensive than comparable models from other brands.

Alienware m18 18" RTX 4070 Gaming Laptop for $1799.99

Alienware m16 16" RTX 4080 Gaming Laptop for $1799.99

Alienware m18 R2 RTX 4090 Gaming Laptop for $3399.99

Alienware m18 Radeon RX 7900M Gaming Laptop for $2070

More Dell and Alienware Gaming Laptop Deals

If you're in the market for a prebuilt gaming PC, Dell is one of the brands we'd recommend. The Dell G-series laptops are for gamers on a budget, while the Alienware M-series and X-series laptops are Dell's premium gaming lineup intended for gaming enthusiasts. Alienware laptops offer a staggering array of options, all built into a custom chassis that looks good and performs well. Consistent build quality, available inventory, frequent sales, and solid customer service are the main reasons why Dell is at the top of our buying list.

If price isn't a factor and you're only concerned about getting the best PC for your needs, check out our picks for best gaming laptops of 2024. If you've already picked up a new gaming laptop, maybe you're ready to start playing some great PC games or want to see some excellent PC video game deals. And lastly, if you're interested in a desktop instead, check out our best gaming PC deals.

For even more specific Dell and Alienware sales info, see our always up-to-date Dell and Alienware deals.

Dell & Alienware GeForce RTX 40 Series Gaming Laptops

For those of you who want desktop-class gaming performance in a laptop, it makes sense to get an RTX 40 series GPU. The most powerful cards, the RTX 4080 and 4090, perform as well as a desktop RTX 3070 or 3080. That means that gaming even in 4K at playable framerates is actually possible on a laptop.

Alienware m18 R2 RTX 4070 Gaming Laptop for $1899.99

Alienware m16 R2 RTX 4060 Gaming Laptop for $1499.99

More Dell and Alienware Gaming Laptop Deals

Dell G16 RTX 4070 Gaming Laptop for $1299.99

Dell G15 RTX 4060 Gaming Laptop for $959.99

More HP Gaming Laptop Deals

HP has two gaming laptop lineups, the Victus and the OMEN. The OMEN is HP's flagship gaming series with better build quality and far more customizability. There are 16" and 17" models available with enough cooling to support even the most powerful GPUs like the latest RTX 40 series video cards from NVIDIA. The HP Victus is only available in a 15" form factor, and generally you can't pick anything more powerful than an RTX 3060. However, if a 15" RTX 3050 Ti or 3060 gaming laptop is exactly what you're looking for, then you'd be hard pressed to find a better value.

More Lenovo Gaming Laptop Deals

Lenovo Legion gaming laptops are highly rated for their excellent build quality, robust cooling, and comprehensive warranty. These premium laptops also generally cost more than their Alienware and HP OMEN counterparts. However, last year, Lenovo released a new budget friendly lineup dubbed the Lenovo "LOQ". These laptops feature the latest 13th gen Intel Raptor Lake processors and RTX 40 series GPUs at extremely affordable prices.

Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 8 Intel (16") with RTX 4060 for $1206.49

Lenovo LOQ (15" Intel) with RTX 4050 for $1010.79

Things to Consider When Buying a Gaming Laptop

Which video card is enough for me?

As a general rule of thumb, you want to size your gaming rig based on (1) the resolution, not size, of your monitor and (2) the games you play. A 4K display has 2.25 times more pixels than a QHD (2560x1440) display and 4 times more pixels than a 1080p (1920x1080) monitor. Simply put, the more pixels on your monitor, the more power your GPU needs. Some games are also more performance intensive than other games, but that's often scalable by tweaking your settings. This is a rough recommendation:

• 1080p - RTX 3050 Ti to RTX 3060 Ti (RX 6600M to RX 6700M)
• QHD - RTX 3070 to RTX 4080 (RX 6700M to RX 6900M XT)
• 4K - RTX 4080 to RTX 4090

Gaming PC vs Gaming Laptop?

In past years, the performance of gaming laptops paled in comparison to gaming PCs. Nowadays, the gap has narrowed significantly. Although gaming PCs are still more powerful dollar for dollar, gaming laptops are no longer deserve your stigma. 1080p gaming is a breeze on most competent gaming laptops, and 1440p or even 4K gaming is now possible with the latest GPUs. In fact, the newest mobile RTX 4090 is more powerful than a desktop RTX 3080, a card that certainly has the chops to take on 4K gaming. Also, if you plan to game on the road, then there's no question, the gaming laptop is the way to go. If you're on the fence between getting one of the other, you will have to weigh your priorities. If you want to know more, check out our in-depth article on the gaming laptop vs gaming desktop dilemma.

Console vs Gaming PC

Consoles may have come a long way in terms of graphical improvements, but gaming PCs still remain uncontested when it comes to absolute technical performance. A PS5 or Xbox Series X might be the most powerful consoles ever created, but gaming laptops still have the potential to be far more powerful. Unlike consoles, gaming laptops are also infinitely backwards compatible, and the thousands upon thousands of games available at your disposal via Steam, Xbox Live, Origin, Battle.net, and more puts any console library to shame. Even better, most games that are released for the current gen consoles are often also available for the PC as well, often with even more extensive customization and graphics options. Unless you're talking about the Nintendo Switch, which fulfills a different niche altogether, you're also stuck playing console games at home. With laptops you can play all your games even when you're on the road.

For more gaming computer deals:

• Best Gaming PC Deals
• Best Gaming Laptop Deals

We now know when we'll officially be returning to Carmy's stressful culinary world, as FX/Hulu has unveiled the premiere date and a quick first teaser for The Bear Season 3.

The third season of the hit drama will premiere on June 27, it was announced today. Star Jeremy Allen White posted the teaser on his Instagram, which just shared a brief glimpse of him gearing up for what's certainly going to be a long day in the kitchen.

While the exact date is fresh news, the fact that it's dropping in June isn't, as FX chairman John Landgraf confirmed earlier this year that The Bear would return that month. He also said that Season 3 would stick with the series' all-at-once drop model, with all of the episodes premiering on Hulu at the same time instead of weekly. That's doubly confirmed with today's teaser, which ends with the words, "all episodes streaming June 27."

The Bear has proven to be a massive hit for FX and Hulu, and it seems the companies have no intention of slowing down on the culinary drama. Various outlets reported in March that The Bear had quietly been renewed for a fourth season, with the plan being to shoot Seasons 3 and 4 back-to-back on location in Chicago to accommodate its actors' increasingly busy schedules. FX, however, had no comment on the reports at the time.

Lenovo is offering this Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 9 16" Ryzen Edition RTX 4070 Gaming Laptop for only $1192.24 shipped after coupon code "SURPRISEOFFER" (may be automatically applied). This is a very competitive price for a Lenovo branded RTX 4070 gaming laptop, especially since this particular model is more compact than your typical gaming laptop, and yet is still equipped with a GPU that has the same high-wattage TGP as its thicker Legion Pro 5 alter. Not surprisingly, Lenovo is on our list of best gaming laptops of 2024 for its rugged build quality, ample cooling and top notch performance.

Lenovo Slim 5 Gen 9 16" RTX 4070 Laptop for $1192.24

The Lenovo Slim 5 Gen 9 is a current generation 2024 model. It features a 16" 2560x1600 QHD+ 165Hz IPS display, AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS CPU, GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, 16GB of DDR5-4800MHz RAM, and a 1TB SSD. The AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS has a max boost clock of 4.75GHz with 8 cores, 16 threads, and a 16MB cache. This is a lower voltage processor that the CPU found in the Legion 5 Pro, but it's still an excellent gaming and workstation that won't bottleneck your GPU. In exchange you get lower power consumption (and thus longer battery life) and less heat.

The RTX 4070 mobile GPU performs on par with the RTX 3080. It's a little bit faster than the RTX 3070 Ti but not quite as powerful as the RTX 3080 Ti. You'll want this kind of power to run games comfortably on the laptop's beefed up 2560x1600 or QHD+ display. Despite the Lenovo Slim 5's more compact dimensions, the GeForce RTX 4070 mobile GPU isn't gimped in any way. The 4070 in the Slim 5 Gen 9 has a TGP wattage rating of 140W, which is the highest we've seen. Lenovo keeps things cool with its ColdFront 5.0 active cooling system, which employs a pair of fans and heatpipes to transfer heat away from your components.

The Slim 5 Gen 9 also has plenty of connectivity options, including a total of four USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports. Two of them are USB Type C ports, and one of them supports up to 140W of Power Delivery.

Not married to a specific brand? Check out all of the best gaming laptop deals today.

Frontier Developments has announced Jurassic World Evolution 3, due out during its 2026 financial year. That means it will be out at some point between June 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026.

Frontier said it had signed a license with Universal Products & Experiences for a third Jurassic World game, which follows 2018’s Jurassic World Evolution and 2021’s Jurassic World Evolution 2. In February 2024, Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment announced an all-new Jurassic World event film currently scheduled for release on July 2, 2025, so Jurassic World Evolution 3 will aim to benefit from increased excitement in all things dinosaurs generated by the movie.

Jurassic World Evolution and Jurassic World Evolution 2 rank first and second respectively within Frontier's game portfolio in terms of revenue generated in their first two years, the developer said, with Jurassic World Evolution being Frontier's best-selling game to date since its release almost six years ago. IGN’s Jurassic World Evolution 2 review returned a 7/10. We said: “While park management and customization aspects are a bit shallow, Jurassic World Evolution 2 has tons of excellent dinosaurs and exciting ways to interact with them.”

Frontier has refocused on creative management simulation (CMS) games after a tough few years in which a number of high-profile games failed to meet sales expectations. In November, Frontier issued a trading update following poor launch sales of its real-time strategy game Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin. The studio has also suffered a round of layoffs. Earlier in April, Frontier sold the publishing rights to RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 to Atari for $7 million, bringing in much-needed cash. Frontier recently came under fire from Elite Dangerous players after announcing plans to sell virtual spaceships for real money.

Countering the doom and gloom, Frontier recently said sales of its games since January have been “in-line with expectations”, with Jurassic World Evolution 2 and Planet Zoo leading the charge. The recent console release of Planet Zoo saw “strong player engagement”, with total sales up to and including the day of release greater than the sales achieved by Planet Coaster when that game came out on consoles in November 2020.

Over the next three consecutive financial years, Frontier plans to release one new CMS game per year. There’s an unannounced own-IP CMS game for FY25, which Frontier said is “on track”, the third Jurassic World game confirmed today scheduled for FY26; and a third unannounced CMS game planned for FY27.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Peacock and Seth MacFarlane’s raunchy comedy spinoff series, Ted, is returning for Season 2.

The news was announced on the official Peacock X/Twitter account today, as well as a subsequent press release. Details on how Ted Season 2 will continue the story have yet to be revealed, and no release date has been confirmed.

Apparently @WhatTedSaid already ran out of beer money so he's making more episodes.

Season 2 of #ted is coming to Peacock. pic.twitter.com/vvd6Pc7oRF

— Peacock (@peacock) May 9, 2024

Despite originally being referred to as an "event series," it’s not a total shock to see Ted Season 2 being stitched together. Earlier this year, it was revealed that the TV show spinoff managed to be deliver Peacock’s biggest opening weekend for an original series ever. NBCUniversal confirmed the news with IGN, and although no exact numbers were revealed, it meant that Ted managed to surpass other popular offerings like Poker Face, Twisted Metal, Mrs. Davis, and Bel-Air. In today's announcement, Peacock also calls Season 1 its "most-watched original title to date" period.

The streaming platform also notes that, according to Nielsen, the show was the top original streaming comedy in the U.S. for more than two months upon its release last January.

Ted the series is a ‘90s-set prequel to MacFarlane’s original 2012 movie as well as its 2015 sequel. It follows Ted, a sentient stuffed bear played by MacFarlane, and his high school friend John Bennett, played by Max Burkholder. John, a younger version of the same character played by Mark Wahlberg in the movies, and his potty-mouthed teddy bear star alongside Susan Bennett (Alanna Ubach), Matty Bennett (Scott Grimes), Blaire Bennett (Giorgia Whigham). It’s unclear who will return for Season 2, but we can probably bet that Ted, at least, is back.

We thought Ted Season 1’s seven-episode run was “Okay.” In our 6/10 review, we said, “Ted is a welcome return for everyone’s favorite trash-talking teddy bear, even if he doesn’t have much new to say.” For more, you can read up on what we think the show has to say about how audiences consume R-rated comedies.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.

Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.

Editor's Note: This review takes a fresh look at Fallout 76, replacing our previous review from 2018. You can read more about our review policies and philosophy here.

As someone who hadn’t returned to Fallout 76’s post-apocalyptic West Virginia since its troubled debut back in 2018, six years really has made quite the difference. Appalachia looks pretty dang gorgeous on modern systems, its reworked leveling and perks make for an extremely engaging grind, and in stark contrast to the lonely and depressing slog I endured last time, the world is actually filled with interesting NPCs to chat up – you know, like a Fallout game. Throw in all the new quests and activities that have been added, and you’ve got yourself a pretty robust multiplayer adventure filled with gore and silliness. That said, there’s still plenty Fallout 76 misses the mark on in 2024, whether it’s an endgame that’s fairly light on content, underwhelming jaunts into other areas of the Fallout setting, or an encumbrance and storage system that’s so irritating it’s practically a requirement to pay for a monthly subscription that eases the pain. I’ve still overwhelmingly enjoyed my time blasting ghouls into pink, irradiated meat chunks, though, and can easily recommend it to anyone who similarly felt a deep yearning for more Fallout after watching the recent TV show.

Like the other 3D Fallout games, Fallout 76 is a goofy first-person shooter RPG where you explore a radioactive wasteland stuffed with disgusting monsters, complete harebrained quests that usually involve shooting and/or dismembering said monsters, and claim loot to fuel your badass survivor’s legend. Fallout 76 mixes up that playful and gory formula by letting your friends join your quest online, which comes with most of the advantages and drawbacks you might expect. A compelling story and the ability to make major decisions that impact it certainly take a backseat, but on the other hand, you get to fight giant, flying gargoyles with your buds while you all sing along to classic bops straight out of 1934.

As a vault dweller, you emerge from the titular Vault 76 only 25 years after atomic warfare has left the world in tatters, at which point you are vaguely told to go and rebuild it or something. Instead, you’ll spend most of your time blowing it up even further with grenades, missiles, and even the odd atomic bomb while you run around completing errands foisted upon you by survivors, computer terminals, and constant pop-ups that recommend you do things like “kill the protestors” – typical heroic Fallout stuff. There are definitely some funny gags, wacky characters, and even the occasionally interesting bit of lore along the way, but Fallout 76 largely ditches the focus on story found in its single-player siblings in favor of letting you, your friends, and strangers tell your own stories in a big sandbox filled with ridiculous nonsense. That can be a lot of fun, though, and at least now there are non-robotic NPCs to talk to out in the world to make it feel more alive. (It’s still pretty wild to me that this wasn’t always the case!)

Running around shooting things and making use of the still excellent V.A.T.S. auto-targeting mechanic as you loot everything in sight is as entertaining as ever, especially when you’ve got your favorite radio station providing the perfect backdrop for horribly mangling all manner of hideous beast and smack-talking marauder. You can go around slinging a revolver like one of them western outlaw types, or put on a massive suit of power armor and spin up a laser gatling gun to hilariously mow down everything in sight. Combine that with perks that can do wild things like make you brawnier as you’re exposed to more radiation, as well as mutations that could give you scaly skin that serves as a natural layer of armor, and you’re in for some pretty great buildcrafting that adds to the insanity. There’s really nothing quite like it, and Fallout 76 manages to retain most of the beloved moment-to-moment combat and exploration the series is known for despite pivoting to online multiplayer.

Although you can absolutely play alone, teaming up with others is unquestionably the better experience. You’re given additional XP for bringing along a friend, not to mention you are able to take on tougher activities with less difficulty since you’ll be firing twice the bullets. It’s also especially nice to have company since many of the quests are so light on dialogue, and interactions with NPCs are more focused on action while passive story developments come in over your Pip-Boy radio.

It’s especially cool that other players can join your crew and help out on missions and activities regardless of their level thanks to a scaling system that makes almost every activity playable for everyone. Way too many online games create barriers between players, where you’ll have to wait for a friend to catch up to a certain part of the story or force them to rush through a bunch of old content before they can join you – but Fallout 76 opts to let everyone join in on the action almost immediately. Not only are you given an option to skip some of the initial busywork by auto-leveling to 20 right after you leave the vault, there are only a few endgame activities that really require some playtime under your belt before they can be accessed. I even made one of my friends go and fight an uber-powerful enemy in a high-level area minutes after he finished making his character, which was both really convenient and hilarious to watch.

One major miss, however, is that many of the main story missions won’t progress for all players when they are completed in a group. You’ll either have to break your team apart and tackle them solo, or replay them multiple times together as you cycle each player in as the party leader until everyone gets credit for it. It’s just a bizarre limitation, and resulted in a few instances where I was playing the same mission as my friends, but in separate instances so we could all move past it at the same time.

One of the main things that’s been added in recent years are Expeditions, which pull you out of Appalachia and send you on brief tours of new and returning regions of Fallout’s post-apocalyptic America. In Atlantic City, you run around swamps and casinos shooting living plants who annoyingly regenerate their health, while in Pittsburg, you fight against psychotic raiders and disgusting mutants to help out the former steelworkers there. Unfortunately, each of these regions amount to just three short side quests that can be completed in a couple hours total and don’t have their own open-world maps to explore. Instead you just pop in, shoot new enemies in some admittedly cool regions, and are then quickly sent back to West Virginia with zero fanfare. I get that these areas were added as free DLC over a number of years, but they were disappointingly thin nonetheless, and I would have much rather just paid for a full expansion if it meant it had more meat on the bones.

The main world map, though, is still impressively large and filled with a lot more things to discover than when I last explored it. There’s a creepy and highly radioactive swamp in the northeast, a barren and deadly stretch of land filled with the toughest enemies to the southeast, and even a water park to shoot up if you’re in need of a vacation to the far north. Not only are these massive expanses beautiful in a disturbing kind of way and enjoyable to trek through with friends, they’re perfect for setting up camp and building a base on, which is a major part of Fallout 76. Every time you join a server filled with others, you’ll see their customized settlements out in the world and on your map – you can drop by to check out their creative abodes, buy some overpriced gear from them, or even steal or break their stuff if you want to get blasted apart by good samaritans hoping to claim the resulting server-wide bounty placed on your head.

More importantly, you can set up your own camps and fill them with useful workbenches, vending machines, resources, and storage containers that will make your life easier while out exploring the world. Unlocking building schematics, crafting furniture and defensive units, and making your bases bigger, better, and more impressive can be a really compelling part of the endgame, though you’ll need to collect and scrap a whole lot of junk to fuel those habits. This is a process that’s made way easier for those willing to pay real money for new schematics, some of which are are only available in an online store, but you can also just haphazardly toss a few pieces of equipment around a bonfire like a wild animal and call it a day – you do you. Either way, there’s a lot of interesting things to build and experiment with, and I spent quite a few hours just goofing around.

However, a lot of Fallout 76 (especially base-building) is limited by some very irritating storage capacities, both in what your character is able to carry and the maximum amount of loot you’re able to store in the global inventory of your unique stash chest. It didn’t take very long at all for me to realize my hoarding instincts were not sustainable, as I filled up all the storage available to me in just ten hours without even trying. As it turns out, the best way to combat this issue is by paying real money to subscribe to “Fallout 1st,” which gives you access to separate storage chests for your ammo and raw materials (among other things), greatly reducing the annoying capacity limits. It’s pretty silly that stocking up on valuables you need to keep your guns filled with bullets and your camps supplied isn’t feasible unless you pay what is essentially a monthly “loot toll” in addition to Fallout 76’s upfront price – especially in a game that incorporates survival mechanics where you regularly need a whole lot of junk to keep the action moving along.

Like plenty of ongoing multiplayer games, you’ll likely spend most of your time working through the endgame once you’ve completed all the main story content and reached the soft-capped max level of 50, which took me about 40 hours total. While Fallout 76 tempts you with infinitely repeatable public activities, limited time events, seasonal unlocks, and more, there isn’t a ton of content to actually chew on. Daily missions and public events, like one where the whole server is called to push back an alien invasion, provide some hilariously chaotic action, and the ability to launch nuclear bombs onto the map and then march into the mushroom cloud to take on powerful enemies and claim amazing loot is dope as heck. It’s just that there aren’t really any activities that require that loot to be beaten, and so you’d only be doing so to flex on your friends or prepare for theoretical future content that is more demanding of you.

A lot of the endgame seems to mostly be about repeating the same handful of activities indefinitely with no real purpose. I do really enjoy the ability to level up and unlock new perks endlessly, though, especially the legendary perks that only unlock once you’ve overleveled past the soft cap. Even if you’re not provided any scenarios where you’d need these perks to prevail against your foes, some legendary options have some truly awesome effects – like one that makes you generate combat-enhancing consumables out of thin air for every 40 minutes you spend playing. That makes trying to unlock them all entertaining, just not particularly compelling.

Update, 1:50 p.m. PT, May 9: After a day of backlash, Apple has responded to the criticism over its Crush! ad, telling Ad Age in a statement that it "missed the mark."

“Creativity is in our DNA at Apple, and it’s incredibly important to us to design products that empower creatives all over the world,” Tor Myhren, Apple’s vice president of marketing, told Ad Age in the statement. “Our goal is to always celebrate the myriad of ways users express themselves and bring their ideas to life through iPad. We missed the mark with this video, and we’re sorry.”

Previous story as follows:

Apple debuted an ad for its new iPad Pro this week, seemingly meant to show the versatility and power of the product. It's getting backlash, however, from many in the creative community, who see it as an unfortunate metaphor for the crushing of human creativity.

After announcing new products at its Let Loose event earlier this week, Apple aired the ad in question for its new flagship tablet, the seventh-generation iPad Pro. The "Crush!" ad depicts a room with a hydraulic press that slowly descends and crushes various artistic and creative equipment, including an arcade cabinet, a guitar, several DSLR cameras, and a bunch of painting tools, to name a few. After the machine flattened all that equipment, it disappeared and instead revealed the new iPad Pro tablet.

Meet the new iPad Pro: the thinnest product we’ve ever created, the most advanced display we’ve ever produced, with the incredible power of the M4 chip. Just imagine all the things it’ll be used to create. pic.twitter.com/6PeGXNoKgG

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) May 7, 2024

The ad's seemingly meant to highlight the product's versatility across art, gaming, music, and more. Plus, using a hydraulic press leans into the oddly satisfying video compilations that have made the rounds on TikTok and YouTube, which show hydraulic presses crushing everything from flowers to mugs to containers of marmalade.

Many creative professionals, however, have interpreted it as a metaphor for using technology across various forms of creative-centric industries to replace jobs and displace human creators. Actor Hugh Grant called the ad the "destruction of the human experience" in a post on X/Twitter.

The destruction of the human experience. Courtesy of Silicon Valley. https://t.co/273XB3CfnF

— Hugh Grant (@HackedOffHugh) May 8, 2024

Actress and filmmaker Justine Bateman, meanwhile, wrote on X/Twitter that Apple's new ad "crushes the arts," arguing that it hurts creators instead of supporting them. Luke Cage creator Cheo Hodari Coker noted said the ad was "a problem": "Not in hip-hop 'bad meaning good' problem. But a problem problem."

Others have reflected that this contradicts Apple's previous stances and/or symbolic advertisement. Programmer Paul Graham replied to Cook's post, arguing that late Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs would have never shipped an ad like the Crush! one, claiming that "would have pained [Jobs] too much to watch." Others called it "antithetical" to Ridley Scott's famous "1984" Apple MacIntosh Super Bowl ad, which showed its protagonist attempting to free her people from a Orwellian dystopia.

The ad comes at a time of tension between creative professionals and the tech industry, specifically regarding the use of artificial intelligence. Last year, Hollywood writers and actors went on strike, with protections against AI technology being one of their major priorities.

The gaming industry, which has already seen an unprecedented number of layoffs in the first five months of 2024 alone, is also having issues with ethically implementing artificial intelligence. Additionally, several writers and musicians have pursued legal action against tech companies like OpenAI and Nvidia for using their creative work for AI training without their consent.

Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

Every time we get a trailer for a new Planet of the Apes movie, people wonder just where the latest film in the venerable series takes place in the Apes timeline. From the Andy Serkis trilogy to the original movies to various other offshoots, this is a franchise that spans thousands of years. And not just that, but it also takes place over a variety of timelines.

Basically, the chronology of the Planet of the Apes movies is a total mess, totally crazy, but also – and this is the most important part – totally awesome. But where to start when explaining the Planet of the Apes timeline? It’s a complicated question when you’re dealing with a cyclical, if ever-evolving, chronology where there’s no beginning or end. This is time travel, people! But we’ll get to that shortly, because the most sensible place to begin would seem to be with the most recent so-called “reboot” series that kicked off in 2011, and which is directly connected to the newest film, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (circa 2008 to 2016)

The first of these films was Rise of the Planet of the Apes, starring James Franco as Will Rodman, a, ummm, chemist who’s working on a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. He secretly adopts a baby chimpanzee that was born in his lab, naming it Caesar, and of course the chimp grows up to be Andy Serkis in a performance-capture suit… but also a freedom fighter for apes everywhere.

Through Rodman’s experimental drugs ALZ-112 and ALZ-113, Caesar gains human-like intelligence and the ability to speak. Caesar later shares the drug with other apes. Unfortunately, or fortunately actually because there wouldn’t be a Planet of the Apes otherwise, the second drug also causes what will become known as the Simian Flu, eventually leading to a devastating worldwide pandemic for humanity. And yeah, it’s all basically James Franco’s character’s fault, even if he didn’t mean it.

Sidenote: I was lucky enough to visit the set of this movie way back when they were filming in Vancouver, and Franco would spend his time between takes just sitting in the shade of a tree and reading. Which kinda seemed like a really douchey way to act in front of the visiting press? Though actually, what’s more douchey? Reading, or making fun of someone for reading? It’s that kind of attitude that will lead to a Planet of the Apes!

Anyway, the events of this film take place more or less in the present day of when Rise was released, so figure from Caesar’s birth in 2008 through 2016 or so, when Caesar and his fellow apes stage their first battle for freedom against humanity on the Golden Gate Bridge. Rise ends with Caesar and his apes embarking on a new life in the forests of Northern California even while the apocalypse approaches for an unknowing mankind. Great job, Franco!

And by the way, there are a bunch of Easter Eggs in Rise which might confuse more casual viewers who think they’re meant to be bigger connections to the original Planet of the Apes series. Character names like Dodge, Landon, Maurice, Bright Eyes, and others are callbacks to the 1968 film, but nothing more. A more interesting bit, however, involves the mention of a space vessel called the Icarus which launches and subsequently is lost in space. We’ll get to the importance of that shortly… well, in a few thousand years.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (circa 2026)

By the next film, which takes place 10 years later, the Simian Flu has ravaged mankind and society has collapsed. Billions have died offscreen. And James Franco’s character too!

Meanwhile, Caesar and his apes have flourished and multiplied, building their own society which co-exists precariously with the remnants of humanity in their region. The apes encounter some friendly humans in Jason Clarke and Keri Russell’s characters, whose names aren’t really worth remembering because like all the humans in this reboot trilogy, they’re one and done after a single movie. Caesar also runs into trouble with one of his lieutenants, Toby Kebbell’s great character Koba, a tortured survivor of animal experimentation who is most certainly not down with HUMAN WORK.

Anyway, Koba tries to assassinate Caesar and attacks the humans, and over on the human side Gary Oldman is being kind of a dick too. Ultimately, even though Caesar is able to defeat his former friend, the damage is done: War between the humans and the apes is inevitable.

And I’ll just pause for a second again here to say that I also got to visit this set during production, and the set of the next movie too, War for the Planet of the Apes. For someone who grew up watching Apes Week every year on New York’s local ABC affiliate, doing these and other Apes opps was some kind of dream come true. Also, Andy Serkis is cool as shit.

War for the Planet of the Apes (circa 2028)

Two years later, a human military group known as Alpha-Omega is hunting for Caesar and his fellow apes. Their leader, Woody Harrelson's Colonel – who you can say hates every ape he sees from chimpan-A to chimpan-Z – murders Caesar’s wife and eldest son. Meanwhile, things go from bad to worse for humanity, as the Simian Flu has now mutated into a form which affects even those who were previously immune to it. It’s now causing its subjects to lose the ability to speak and in some cases to revert to a more primitive mental state. Yep, it’s definitely happening: Earth is turning into a Planet of the Apes!

Caesar’s group takes in a mute human girl, indicating that apes and humans could still live together peacefully if they have the will. And while the girl goes by the name Nova, which is a reference to Linda Harrison’s Nova from the original 1968 movie, this is not the same character. I mean, they’re separated by thousands of years for one thing, and seemingly live in different timelines too.

We also meet Steve Zahn’s Bad Ape, who stands as proof that the heightened intelligence of Caesar’s apes has spread to others beyond their tribe. By the end of the film, the Colonel is defeated, succumbing to the mutated Flu, and Caesar dies after ensuring that his apes are able to escape to a lush new land across the desert where they can begin to build a new life for their people. Uh, apes. Apes-people?

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (several generations after Caesar)

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (review) leaves Caesar’s story behind to jump ahead to what 20th Century Studios describes as “several generations in the future following Caesar’s reign, in which apes are the dominant species living harmoniously, and humans have been reduced to living in the shadows.”

Anyway, let’s let Bad Ape sum things up for us so far. As he explains in War for: “Human get sick. Ape get smart. Then human kill ape. But not me. I run!”

So as humans progressed to a more primitive state, ape civilization continued to grow. But how does that connect to the classic movies? One thing’s for sure. We need to travel to a different timeline from here!

Planet of the Apes (circa 3955/3978)

O.K., now we’ve finally arrived at the beginning, which is also the end, but for the purposes of this piece is just sort of the middle point of the story. The original classic from 1968 plopped Charlton Heston’s Colonel George Taylor into the mixed-up world of the Planet of the Apes after he and his crew spent a couple of millennia in hyper-sleep onboard their ship the Icarus, also known as the Liberty 1.

Walmart has the first discount we've seen on the new 2024 Hisense U8N 4K Smart TV. Right now you can get the 65" model for $1148.00. Add $50 for freight shipping. This TV currently sells for $1500 everywhere else. The U8N replaces last year's U8K and is Hisense's highest end model. This TV pairs well with the current generation PS5 and Xbox Series X gaming consoles.

New for 2024 65" Hisense U8N 4K Mini LED TV for $1148

Add $50 for shipping

The Hisense U8N is one of the best TVs for watching 4K HDR content; it supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+ for video and DTS, Dolby, and Dolby Atmos for audio. The U8N upgrades last year's Mini-LED to a Mini-LED Pro+ panel with Full Array Local Dimming Pro (up to 2000+ local dimming zones) and up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness. Like last year's model it also features QLED technology and wide color gamut for richer colors and excellent dynamic range. Other specs include WiFi 6E, an integrated ATSC 3.0 TV tuner, hands-free voice control, and Google TV.

Hisense is always one of our picks for best gaming TVs and the U8N definitely fits the bill. That's because it comes equipped with a native 144Hz refresh rate and HDMI 2.1 inputs. It is capable of running games at 4K @ 120Hz on PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles. Other gaming centric features include variable refresh rate and auto low latency mode. Among the Hisense lineup, there's no better TV for gaming.

One big advantage that Mini-LED TVs have over OLED TVs is brightness. Hisense's U8 series TVs are one of the brightest Mini-LED TVs on the market. It's significantly brigther than any OLED TV and is a better fit in rooms where light control is an issue. Mini-LED TVs also don't suffer from burn-in.

NERF guns are awesome. They've always been awesome, but much like LEGO sets, some of their coolest stuff has come around in recent years with the advent of licensed blasters. Whether you want to check out standard NERF blasters to play games with friends, or you just want to enjoy a functional version of weapons from your favorite shows or video games, there is a lot out there.

From Star Wars and Halo weapons to Fortnite and Destiny blasters, here is our list of the best NERF guns.

NERF Hyper Siege-50 Pump-Action Blaster

• Model Number: B096MQLDQX
• Dimensions: 22.52 x 2.64 x 10 inches
• Price: $19.99
• Age Rating: 14 and up

This Amazon-exclusive bundle includes a Nerf Hyper Siege-50 blaster, 65 Nerf Hyper rounds (25 more rounds than the standard model) -- and an exclusive color design. Kinda cool.

NERF MicroShots 6-Blaster Bundle

• Model Number: E8889F07
• Dimensions: 16.5 x 1.73 x 10.98 inches
• Price: $33.99
• Age Rating: 8 and up

As the old saying goes, the more NERF blasters you have, the better. This 6-pack gives you everything you need to have a NERF war with your friends. Note that it only comes with six darts, so you'll probably want to pick up a few more so everyone can fire more rounds.

NERF Pro Gelfire Raid Blaster

• Model Number: B0BS48YKGL
• Dimensions: 2.6 x 24 x 9 inches
• Price: $39.99
• Age Rating: 14 and up

When you think NERF ammo, you probably think foam darts. The Gelfire series ditches the foam in favor of tiny gel pellets that you have to soak in water before using. Do that, load them into this weapon, and you're ready to riddle your friends with soft gel rounds that burst on impact and somehow leave nothing to clean up. Nice.

NERF LMTD Star Wars Boba Fett's EE-3 Blaster

• Model Number: B09MZKMKNR
• Dimensions: 3.74 x 32.36 x 9.02 inches
• Price: $109.99
• Age Rating: 8 and up

Despite his minimal screentime and comical death in the original trilogy, Boba Fett became a breakout beloved character years before the prequels were even a glimmer in George Lucas's eye. This NERF re-creation of his blaster is a worthy addition to your collection.

NERF Fortnite Heavy SR Blaster Scope

• Model Number: B08SY8GH5F
• Dimensions: 2.63 x 33.5 x 14 inches
• Price: $52.99
• Age Rating: 8 and up

If you've ever wanted to score a chicken dinner (wait a second... that's not right) in the real world, this NERF blaster themed around the Fortnite Heavy SR is an awesome way to do it. With a 6-dart clip, a removable scope, and a bolt action, it's time to 360 no-scope your friends.

Nerf Modulus Tri-Strike Blaster

• Model Number: B5577F07
• Dimensions: 3.58 x 15 x 22.01 inches
• Price: $24.99
• Age Rating: 8 and up

If you want a NERF blaster that gives you options for how to blast away at your friends and enemies, the Modulus Tri-Strike Blaster is the weapon for you. It comes with 10 Nerf Elite Darts, 4 Nerf Mega Darts, 1 Rocket, giving you all the options you need to wage foam warfare.

NERF Halo Needler

• Model Number: F5487
• Dimensions:
• Price: $24.99
• Age Rating: 8 and up

This blaster has a 10-dart rotating drum as well as light-up needles and accents, and is modeled on the popular Covenant homing weapon from the Halo series. It comes with a display stand and unlocks a NERF-colorized skin in Halo Infinite.

N-Strike Mega Mastadon Blaster

• Model Number: B5575F07
• Dimensions: 4.33 x 15.83 x 33.86 inches
• Price: $99.99
• Age Rating: 8 and up

If you need power, this is the one. The Amazon-exclusive N-Strike Mega Mastadon has a crank firing mechanism with a big, 24-dart drum, and a shoulder strap so you can just aim and blast away.

Star Wars Amban Phase-Pulse Blaster (The Mandalorian)

• Model Number: F2901
• Dimensions: 3.75 x 53.13 x 9.25 inches
• Price: $125.99
• Age Rating: 8 and up

The Mandalorian is a no-nonsense bounty hunter, scouring the stars for the next big job. This Amban Phase-Pulse blaster is a replica of his long rifle from the Star Wars Disney Plus show, including a breech-load setup for 10 darts, as well as blaster sounds and light-up effects. And if that's too pricy, you can pick up a cheaper model with fewer features.

Brian Barnett writes reviews, guides, features, & more for IGN & GameSpot. You can get your fix of his antics on Twitter (@Ribnax) and Twitch (Ribnax) or check out his fantastic video game talk show, The Platformers, on Twitch & Apple Podcasts.

If you're an IGN Plus member, a new free game is available to claim now from IGN Rewards! For a limited time, any IGN Plus member can now claim a free Battle Ram Steam key. Battle Ram is a unique title developed and published by Runic Rise Games. Take down as many robots as you can as a powerful lamb and utilize strategic thinking to overcome all obstacles! If you're looking for a fresh take on the shooter or RPG genre, look no further than Battle Ram.

Claim a Free Battle Ram Steam Key!

Battle Ram can be quite the challenge as you can only control the Battle Ram with your mouse, so you cannot use a keyboard for precise controls. It's all part of the fun and challenge that comes with taking down the robots. While you're ramming into any enemy in your path, an upbeat soundtrack will accompany you. This soundtrack, combined with the action-packed levels, makes Battle Ram a great pick for your next title.

About IGN Plus

If you're unfamiliar with IGN Plus, it's the ultimate subscription to get the most out of your IGN experience! Some of the perks include no ads across IGN, unlimited maps and checklists for games, free games each month, and even discounts at IGN Store! Learn more and try IGN Plus today.

Since Helldivers 2 was released just over three months ago, development team Arrowhead Game Studios has frequently rebalanced the game's meta, frustrating quite a few players who have grown comfortable with weapons only to have them nerfed in the next patch. Now, it looks like those complaints might lead to a change - or, at the very least, a discussion at Arrowhead.

Today on X/Twitter, in response to a player who said "Helldivers has just become un-fun for me" regarding balancing changes, Helldivers 2 director Johan Pilestedt said, "Hey, yeah i think we've gone too far in some areas. Will talk to the team about the approach to balance. It feels like every time someone finds something fun, the fun is removed."

Hey, yeah i think we've gone too far in some areas. Will talk to the team about the approach to balance. It feels like every time someone finds something fun, the fun is removed.

— Pilestedt (@Pilestedt) May 8, 2024

Pilestedt's response comes after months of players taking to social media to complain about the game's frequent balancing patches. Last week's patch 01.000.300, for example, increased recharge time for the LAS-99 Quasar Cannon amid several valuable buffs for other weapons, which led to frustration among players who relied on the gun.

Especially this week, though, quite a few players have posted about their concerns that the nerfs "suck the fun out of the game" or make weapons entirely unviable, with some reporting never seeing frequently nerfed guns like the RS-422 Railgun in matches.

Despite some players' concerns over constant nerfs, we gave Helldivers 2 a 9 in our review, calling it "the rare modern multiplayer game that does almost everything right." However, it hasn't been immune to controversy beyond its balancing changes — just last week, players left 14,000 negative reviews after it was announced that it would began requiring players to link their accounts to PlayStation Network. The decision was reversed, though, after the avalanche of backlash, and some have organized a campaign to clean up the game's Steam page with positive reviews.

Amelia Zollner is a freelance writer at IGN who loves all things indie and Nintendo. Outside of IGN, they've contributed to sites like Polygon and Rock Paper Shotgun, and they're currently developing a game called Garage Sale. Find them on Twitter: @ameliazollner.

asdfasdf

Over the years, the best gaming laptops have evolved, becoming much more powerful. But, gaming laptops can produce more heat than your run-of-the-mill laptop, thanks to H-series CPUs and GPUs kicking out more heat. This is where the best laptop cooling pads come in, helping you keep temperatures down, and ensure your gaming laptop runs smoothly.

TL;DR – These are the Best Laptop Cooling Pads:

• Thermaltake Massive 20 RGB
• Klim Ultimate
• TopMate C5 Laptop Cooler
• Targus Lap Chill Mat
• Havit HV-F2056
• Klim Cool+
• TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad
• Miggoing Laptop Table
• Cooler Master NotePal X3

Cooling pads come in many shapes in sizes, but most commonly they’re shaped to fit snugly under your laptop, drawing excess heat out with their fans. Some of them also include a mesh surface to reduce dust build up and further help ventilation and airflow.

With so many laptop cooling pads to choose from, you will want to make sure you choose the right one for your laptop. If you have a larger laptop, make sure you pick one that will be big enough to cool it effectively. Or if you’re simply looking for something that can double up as a laptop stand, make sure to look for an adjustable laptop cooling pad. Take a look at our favorites below - and click here to see them in the UK.

The Best Laptop Cooling Pads

1. Thermaltake Massive 20 RGB

Best Laptop Cooling Pad

• See it on Walmart

Pros:

• Powerful airflow
• Adjustable height

Cons:

• Expensive

Laptops are very limited when it comes to cooling, and that’s where the Thermaltake Massive 20 RGB comes in handy to push that hot air away from your laptop. With it comes a metal mesh surface for ample airflow, especially when compared to the desk or lap it’s usually plopped on, while a 200mm fan moves plenty of air. That fan is also adjustable, letting you go for max cooling or silence by turning a knob on the pad.

If you're wondering about its ergonomics, you can change the Thermaltake Massive 20 RGB’s height to three levels for the ultimate viewing and typing angle. It’s even ready for chunky devices, holding laptops up to 19 inches. And as the name suggests, there’s a stylish taste of RGB lighting all around the edge with multiple lighting modes and colors that are all adjusted using a control panel on the pad.

2. Klim Ultimate

Best Gaming Laptop Cooling Pad

Pros:

• RGBs galore!
• Adjustable fan speed

Cons:

• Really expensive

If you just scored an awesome gaming laptop deal, you're going to need a cooling pad, like the Klim Ultimate, to keep its internals in tip-top shape. Set behind a metal grid panel, it comes ready for all your gaming needs with a big 200mm fan that can run at a quiet 750RPM while still providing plenty of airflow. Fan speed can always be turned down depending on your needs using a handy control panel, but there might not be a point since it runs silently at full speed.

On top of being a practical heat dissipation solution, the Klim Ultimate will really amp up your portable gaming setup. You can comfortably rest your laptops up to 17 inches, but your 19-inch devices or even consoles will fit, while there are four different inclination levels for easier viewing. It doesn’t stop there, as no gaming accessory is complete without RGB lighting, and this cooling pad’s flashy RGB light strip wraps around the entire circumference of the device, offering seven different colors and five lighting effects.

3. TopMate C5 Laptop Cooler

Best High-Airflow Laptop Cooling Pad

Pros:

• Plenty of fans
• Two USB ports

Cons:

• Not suitable for larger laptops

Need tons of airflow? Then a whole bunch of fans is the way to go, and the TopMate C5 laptop cooler packs in five—a 140mm fan at the center and four 70mm fans surrounding it. With all those fans running simultaneously alongside a metal mesh surface, cool air will push against the laptop base, keeping your thermals in check. You aren’t limited to just one speed either, as a tiny LCD control panel lets you run several cooling modes and displays wind speed.

Aside from the insane cooling power of the TopMate C5, you also get a few extras starting with five height adjustments for more ergonomic positioning. Laptops up to 15.6 inches should fit perfectly on the stand, though you can always throw a gaming console on it to prevent overheating. And adding to its convenience are two USB 2.0 ports, one to plug into your laptop for power and the other for your computer’s peripherals.

4. Targus Lap Chill Mat

Best Laptop Cooling Pad for Your Lap

• See it on Walmart
• See it on Target

Pros:

• Simple but effective
• Rubberized grip

Cons:

• No height adjustment

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it applies perfectly to the Targus Lap Chill Mat, which has been keeping our laptops and laps cool for over a decade. This straightforward cooler rests comfortably on your lap for hours thanks to the pad's lightweight, and the neoprene material on its bottom acts as cushioning. If you're worried about your laptop sliding all around as you’re thighs aren’t the flattest surface, a rubberized grip and little notches on the stand's surface ensure it stays in place.

As for heat dissipation, a mesh surface and hollow chamber in the middle of the mat allow fresh air to enter from beneath the laptop, while hot air can easily escape. Furthering airflow is a pair of built-in fans ready to pump fresh air near the back edge of the laptop where the CPU and GPU often sit—thus the hottest and most important parts of the machine. And the handy addition of a four-port USB hub makes plugging in extra peripherals a breeze, while velcro straps keep those cables organized.

5. Havit HV-F2056

Best Budget Laptop Cooling Pad

Pros:

• Affordable
• USB passthrough ports

Cons:

• Limited to 3 fans

If you're looking to keep your gaming laptop cool on the cheap, the Havit HV-2056 is an excellent option. This cooling pad may only have three 120mm fans to keep your device cool, but they're arranged in a configuration that will efficiently channel cool air to the most sensitive parts of your laptop. Plus, the fans have gorgeous blue LEDs – unfortunately RGB is saved for more expensive laptop coolers.

The Havit HV-F2056 also features two USB passthrough ports, so you don't have to lose out on connectivity just to keep your laptop cool. Combine that with the low $39 price tag and its quiet operation and there's not a lot to hate here.

6. Klim Cool+

Best Portable Laptop Cooler

• See it on Newegg

Pros:

• Extremely portable
• High RPM

Cons:

• Will only work on some laptops

Cooling pads are great, but you often lose the on-the-go portability of your laptop when you use them. The Klim Cool+ is a nifty, compact external air vacuum that remedies this issue while still boosting the cooling capabilities of your machine. It attaches using suction cup sleeves to the exhaust port of your laptop, pulling even more air through, though it only works with laptops toting side or back air exhaust vents and should only be used on a flat surface. There are also some other size restrictions to make note of before purchasing.

The Klim Cool+ has different operating modes that let it run silently for light cooling or kick it into high gear when pushing your laptop to the extreme. In total, it delivers 4,500 RPM to drop your laptop’s temperature quickly, which you can see on the digital temperature display. The device's durable metal structure even acts as a heatsink taking the heat away from your laptop's precious internals.

7. TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad

Best RGB Laptop Cooling Pad

Pros:

• Customizable lighting
• Intuitive controls

Cons:

• Must be unplugged to turn RGBs off

The TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad is the perfect way to jazz up your laptop setup, as it has an RGB light strip wrapping around the entire pad. You can cycle through various lighting effects, from colorful rainbow flows to a steady monochrome glow. A small button on the control panel towards the bottom of the pad makes it easy to flip through and find your favorite style.

Using that same panel, you can control heat dissipation, as it lets you adjust the speed of the six fans on board—three small and three large. Those fans effectively and quietly push cool air through the pad's metal mesh surface at up to 2,400RPM on the small and 1,400RPM on the large fans. The TopMate C12 is also height adjustable for better ergonomics and ready to hold laptops up to 17.3 inches, so it’ll work for a clunky gaming laptop. There are even two USB-A ports to power other peripherals and a bonus cell phone holder that you can tuck away when not in use.

8. Miggoing Laptop Table

Best Laptop Cooling Stand

Pros:

• Versatile
• Sturdy

Cons:

• Adjustment is a little awkward

Most cooling pads do a great job if you aim to use your laptop on your lap or low on a desk. However, sometimes you’re after something that can raise your device a bit higher while cooling, and that's where the Miggoing Laptop Table comes in. This stand consists of several segments, allowing you to keep it low or raise it to 18.9 inches high, making perfect for use on couches, in bed, or on top of your current desk, effectively turning it into a standing desk.

As for cooling, the Miggoing Laptop Table offers dual USB-powered fans and small ventilation slots to help keep air blowing past your computer, preventing overheating. All that is in a large, sturdy aluminum tray with stoppers ready to hold your devices up to 33 pounds. Another nifty extra is a mouse plate, eliminating the worry of finding a surface to place your mouse.

9. Cooler Master NotePal X3

Best for Gaming Laptops

Pros:

• Front vent
• Stylish design

Cons:

• Quite large

If you’re searching for a high-quality laptop cooler that looks as good as it performs, then the Cooler Master NotePal X3 shouldn’t be overlooked. With its large 200mm fan, its perfect for gaming laptops that are prone to heating up. While this laptop pad is on the large side, it can support up to 17-inch laptops.

All of the controls are on the side, including a USB out and USB in port, fan speed dial, fan, and LED switches. The stunning blue LED is an added touch that gamers will love, while the front vent pumps out a small breeze to keep your hands cool. There are two height adjustments, too, for additional versatility.

Where to Get the Best Cooling Pad in the UK

How to Pick the Best Laptop Cooling Pad

Picking the best laptop cooling pad can make a world of difference in keeping your laptop running smoothly and preventing overheating issues. There are different types and styles to choose from, but first and foremost, consider the size and compatibility of the cooling pad with your laptop.

The last thing you want is a cooling pad that’s too small for your laptop. Most cooling pads provide specifications on the laptop sizes they support, so double-checking these details is a good starting point.

Something else to consider is the cooling mechanism. Some cooling pads rely solely on fans, while others incorporate additional features like ventilation slots or a mesh surface for enhanced airflow. Ideally, you'll want a cooling pad that offers effective cooling without producing excessive noise, so you don’t get disturbed while working (or gaming).

If you're someone who frequently travels or works on the go, opting for a lightweight and compact cooling pad might be more convenient. On the other hand, if you use your laptop primarily at a desk, a larger, more robust cooling pad with additional features like height adjustment or built-in USB ports could be beneficial.

FAQs

Do Laptop Cooling Pads Really Work?

Cooling pads can prevent your laptop from overheating, prolonging its lifespan. If you use your laptop for long periods of a time, a laptop cooling pad can be a great investment.

What Can I Put Under My Laptop To Keep It Cool?

A laptop cooling pad is the best investment you can make to keep your laptop cool. Many laptop cooling pads are available for close to $30 if you’re happy to forego RGB lighting or additional features.

How Do I Know if My Laptop Needs a Cooling Pad?

If your laptop feels hot while you’re using it, you probably need a laptop cooling pad. There are apps you can download to monitor the temperature of your laptop, alerting you when high levels are reached.

Choosing the best HDMI cables for PS5 is more important than you think. The PS5 is capable of outputting video at 8K, 60Hz or 4K, 120Hz, so it’s important to get best HDMI cable, so you can reliably push your PS5 to its maximum potential, especially if you have one of the best 8K TVs.

TL;DR - These are the best HDMI cables for PS5

• PowerA Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable
• Belkin HDMI 2.1 Ultra High Speed
• Ugreen Right Angle HDMI Cable
• Amazon Basics HDMI Cable
• Anker 8K HDMI Cable
• Cable Matters Premium Braided HDMI Cable
• Snowkids 8K HDMI Cable

You might think it’s just a cable, but you would be wrong: HDMI cables come in multiple shapes, sizes and even standards. The most common standard is HDMI 2.0, which is often cheaper than its successor, HDMI 2.1, which is capable of 8K @120Hz, making it the ideal choice for anyone with an 8K TV.

And with the release of the PlayStation 5 Pro seemingly just around the corner, you might want to invest in a better HDMI cable to take advantage of the upgraded graphical improvements coming with the PS5 Pro.

1. PowerA Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable

Best HDMI Cable Overall

Pros:

• Officially licensed
• Gold plated

Cons:

• Expensive

With an officially licensed HDMI cable for your PS5, you can’t go wrong with the PowerA Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable. Yes, it comes with a premium price tag, but if you want the best of the best, you’ll have to part with a bit of cash. Supporting HDMI 2.1, this HDMI cable can output 4K@120Hz, and even 8K@60Hz.

Matching the console’s simple, clean, and white aesthetics, the PowerA Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable is durable, minimalist, and sports gold-plated connectors. And, at 10 feet long, you’ll have plenty of wiggle room should you need it.

2. Belkin HDMI 2.1 Ultra High Speed

Best High-Speed HDMI Cable

Pros:

• High quality
• Reliable brand

Cons:

• Expensive

The Belkin HDMI 2.1 Ultra High Speed is one of the priciest HDMI cables for PS5, but that’s because you’re paying a premium to future-proof your setup. Boasting HDMI 2.1, the cable can handle speeds of up to 48Gbps; more than your PS5 will ever output.

With slim profile connectors, this HDMI cable fits nicely into the back of your PS5 and your TV. Everything here is high quality. Knowing you can game in 4K@120Hz with a compatible display, or watch videos in 8K@60Hz warrants the higher price tag.

3. Ugreen Right Angle HDMI Cable

Best Angled HDMI Cable

Pros:

• Unique design
• Not expensive

Cons:

• HDMI 2.0

If your TV is mounted to the wall or you’re limited on space, sometimes a standard HDMI cable won’t be the right fit. Enter the Ugreen Right Angle HDMI Cable. Instead of taking a risk and trying to bend your HDMI cable, why not invest in a right-angle cable from the offset?

You do sacrifice a few things with this cable, however. For instance, it’s much shorter than many HDMI cables at only 3.3 feet. This might be fine for some users, but you should check how much cable you need to connect your PS5 to your TV first. There’s also the fact that it only supports HDMI 2.0, so you won’t be able to enjoy the 120Hz refresh rate the PS5 is designed to be capable of.

But, if you need a right-angle cable at a very affordable price, the Ugreen Right Angle HDMI Cable is your best bet.

4. Amazon Basics HDMI Cable

Cheapest HDMI Cable

Pros:

• The price of a premium coffee
• Supports 4K@120Hz

Cons:

• Short cable length

If you’re on a budget and need an HDMI cable that’s going to allow you to make the most of the PS5’s 4K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, you simply can’t go wrong here. The Amazon Basics HDMI Cable does what it says on the box – there are no fancy features, braided cable, or right angles - it costs a little over $6 and is capable of speeds of up to 48Gbps.

While the length could pose a problem to some users, this HDMI cable is also available in 6-foot and 10-foot options. It’s incredibly affordable and can easily be a suitable replacement for the included HDMI cable you get with the PS5 if you have lost it, broken it, or need a spare.

5. Anker 8K HDMI Cable

Best Everyday HDMI Cable

Pros:

• Solid and reliable
• Future-proof

Cons:

• More expensive than similar cables

Anker is a well-known brand; it’s reliable, and that’s what you need when you invest in a HDMI cable for your PS5. The Anker 8K HDMI Cable supports 8K@60Hz and 4K@120Hz, making it the perfect PS5 console companion. Since it’s HDMI 2.1, you could use it to connect your monitor to your PC, too, should you need to.

While there are definitely more affordable HDMI cables available, if you want a solid cable that’s going to last a long time, Anker’s offering is a no-brainer. The only thing you might want to do is spend a little more and get a slightly longer 6-foot or 10-foot cable.

6. Cable Matters Premium Braided HDMI Cable

Best Premium HDMI Cable

Pros:

• Good value for money
• Long cable length

Cons:

• Isn’t very flexible

Braided HDMI cables are a better choice if you tend to move your HDMI cables from one device to another, have kids, or perhaps aren’t as gentle with your cables. The Cable Matters Premium Braided HDMI Cable supports up to 8K - you can comfortably play your PS5 on your TV at 4K@120Hz, and enjoy Dolby Atmos when you’re setting up for movie night.

Despite being high quality and having a more premium feel to it, the Cable Matters Premium Braided HDMI Cable is actually very affordable. It comes in a generous 6.6 feet, but if you need a longer cable for any reason, you can also upgrade to 9.8 feet.

7. Snowkids 8K HDMI Cable

Most Durable HDMI Cable

Pros:

• Durable
• Gold plated connector

Cons:

• Can be hard to get hold of

Long-lasting cables at an affordable price are hard to come by, but that’s exactly what the Snowkids 8K HDMI cable is. Featuring a double-fiber nylon braid, this cable is incredibly durable. It’s another great option if you move your HDMI cable around between devices, or take it with you to the office.

The 24K gold-plated connector is nice to have, too, ensuring your signal is transmitted accurately at all times. Snowkids claims the cable can withstand up to 25,000 bends – while we weren’t going to test it to that extreme, there’s no doubt the Snowkids 8K HDMI Cable is going to last a long time.

Upcoming HDMI Cables

HDMI 2.1b is the latest HDMI standard. This allows for 8K@60Hz and 4K@120Hz. Until a new standard is released, which isn’t going to happen any time soon, there are plenty of suitable cables available.

How to pick the best HDMI cable for PS5

You could spend a lot of money on a HDMI cable for your PS5 when you don’t have to. With lots of marketing jargon, it’s easy to get lost and spend over and above for what you actually need.

The PS5 can output 4K@120Hz; HDMI 2.1 is the standard that supports this, so if you have a TV capable of this resolution, you should look for a HDMI 2.1 cable.

If you’re on a tight budget, don’t have a compatible TV, or just need a spare, then you could get away with a HDMI 2.0 cable - but this can only reach 4K@60Hz.

Ultimately, though, for around the same price, it’s not hard to find a suitable HDMI 2.1 cable. You just need to assess the distance between your PS5 and TV, ensuring you invest in a cable that gives you plenty of room.

FAQ

Are expensive HDMI cables worth it?

If you have a modern 4K or 8K TV, you shouldn’t get sticker shock when looking for an HDMI cable. At these high resolutions, the amount of data the PS5 is pushing to your PC is massive, and cheaper cables run the risk of corrupting that data by using lackluster materials. However, if you’re playing your PS5 on an older display, you might want to consider either upgrading your TV, or opting for a cheaper HDMI cable.

What Kind of HDMI Cable Does the PS5 Use?

To get the most out of your PS5, you should use a HDMI 2.1 cable. This supports 4K@120Hz, or 8K@60Hz, providing the best gaming experience.

Does the PS5 Come With a HDMI 2.1 Cable?

Yes, the PS5 does come with a HDMI 2.1 cable. You don’t need to buy any additional cables unless you want a longer cable, one with features like braiding, or you need a spare.

Is HDMI 2.1 Backward Compatible?

If you plug a HDMI 2.1 cable into a HDMI 2.0 port, it will still work. HDMI 2.1 is backward compatible. So, if you plug a HDMI 2.0 cable into your PS5, it will still work, but it won’t offer support for the same video output.

Kegan is an avid gamer who has been playing games since his Atari days. From a young age Kegan was tinkering with PCs and now has a passion for building custom gaming computers.

Many gamers argue that PC gaming is the way to go, but some games just feel better with a controller. This is where the best PC controllers for gaming come into play, pairing the raw power of a gaming PC with a controller that can often offer a more immersive gaming experience.

TL;DR – These are the Best PC Controllers:

• Xbox Core Controller - Our top pick
• PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller
• Logitech F310
• Turtle Beach Recon Controller
• Sony DualSense Controller
• Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller
• 8Bitdo Pro 2
• Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra
• Razer Kitsune
• Gran Turismo DD Pro
• Thrustmaster eSwap XR Pro
• Scuf Instinct Pro

Using a controller with your PC can also be a great way to make the transition from console to PC gaming If you’ve just made the switch, choosing one of the best PC controllers can help ease that transition, so you don’t immediately have to master the best gaming keyboards and mice.

If you’re still not quite convinced about making the switch from keyboard and mouse to a gamepad, you can check out the range of options available to you. You never know, you might be surprised how well these PC controller scan complement your existing gaming PC setup – and find them here in the UK.

Best PC Controllers

1. Xbox Core Controller

Best PC Controller

• See it on Target

Pros:

• Feels good in your hands
• Impulse trigger

Cons:

• Requires add-on for rechargeable batteries

If you’re searching for a controller with a quality design and ample flexibility in how you use it to game on your PC, the Xbox Core Controller is a solid place to start. Microsoft has created an ergonomic controller that’s easy to hold onto thanks to added grip on the side, rear, and triggers. Of course, it has a familiar Xbox layout, while the majority of its buttons are remappable, and the D-Pad is even more tactile than the Xbox One iteration.

Let's make this simple: You want to know if there are any post or mid-credits scenes in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. The answer is there are not but there is ... something. FULL SPOILERS AHEAD.

The Planet of the Apes film franchise is 56 years old and with the latest entry, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, now in theaters, it doesn’t show any signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Director Wes Ball has said Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is the start of a new trilogy and it does indeed close with a clear set-up for a sequel. So let’s break down this film’s ending and post-credits hint and mull where the filmmakers could take the sci-fi simian saga next.

If you don’t want to know what happens in the film then use your stinkin’ paws to bookmark this page and come back to read it after you’ve seen the movie, you damn dirty ape!

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes: Ending Explained

One major reveal is that Nova (played by Freya Allan) is anything but feral and voiceless – and her name’s not Nova! (There’s a joke in the film that “Nova” is what the apes call every human female but they don’t know why. It’s a nod to both the young mute female Nova from 2017’s War for the Planet of the Apes, who was befriended by Andy Serkis’ Caesar, and the character Nova from the original 1968 film.)

Nova is, in fact, Mae, and she is not among the mute, primitive humans whom the Apes have dubbed “echoes” (i.e., they are but an echo of what humans once were). Mae was part of a group of other similar humans who were attacked by the soldiers of ape ruler Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand).

Mae is the sole survivor of a group of humans out to reach the destination Proximus has made his base: a former US military site on the shore of the West Coast. (It appears to be the Coronado Bay area of Southern California.) Mae has been shadowing the main protagonist Noa (Owen Teague) so that she can swipe food or a blanket from the young ape and flee.

Proximus knows what Mae knows: that within the vaulted doors of the base are human technology and weaponry that will help him develop ape society more rapidly. (The apes are basically in their Bronze Age period in this film.) Proximus seeks to establish a kingdom for his apes with himself as their king – their new Caesar, whose centuries-old teachings he has twisted to fit his quest for power and glory.

Mae doesn’t want Proximus to acquire this human tech. While she is allied with Noa, we eventually learn Mae wants humans to resume their position as the dominant species on Earth. After gaining the aid of Noa and his companions Soona and Anaya to sneak her inside the base – in exchange for helping to free their clan who have been captured by Proximus – Mae finds what she’s been looking for: a hard drive of encrypted military information. (More on that soon.)

While she’s searching for that, Noa, Soona, and Anaya discover some children’s books in what appears to be a daycare facility or classroom for children. They look through one kids book that depicts pre-apocalypse chimps behind bars at a zoo, demeaning images that disturb the trio.

Things quickly deteriorate once Mae gets the hard drive and the vault doors open. Proximus and his soldiers are outside and quickly storm in and overpower them. During a standoff between Proximus and Noa, Mae shoots and kills one of Proximus’ guards with a revolver. Proximus reminds Noa that humans can’t be trusted right before Mae runs off to trigger the explosives she and the apes had laid out the night before.

The explosives destroy the sea wall, letting the Pacific Ocean flood into the base, carrying off apes both friendly and enemy. Noa and his surviving clan apes escape to the roof and adjacent cliffside. But before they can climb down the cliffside, Proximus appears and savagely beats Noa.

Proximus demands that Noa submit to him before he slays him. Noa begins to sing his clan’s song for the eagles they raise – a song mentioned but not yet heard in the film – and his fellow clan members join in. Proximus doesn’t understand until he is attacked by several eagles beckoned by their song. The eagles overwhelm Proximus, who falls off the cliff to his apparent demise in the ocean hundreds of feet below.

The film then jumps forward some weeks in the future. The Eagle Clan apes are rebuilding their village and trying to restore life to normal. Noa is emerging as the natural successor to his slain father, the former leader of the clan. Noa is surprised by an unannounced visitor: Mae. She and Noa exchange words about what happened at the base. Noa says Proximus was right, that humans will never rest until everything is theirs again and apes return to silence.

The audience notices that Mae is holding a revolver behind her back, acknowledging that Noa is right not to trust the person he’d previously risked so much for. (Freya Allan explained in a recent THR interview that this scene was originally far less open to interpretation than what's seen in the final version.) They part ways and Mae rides off on her horse across the landscape until she arrives at another former US government facility.

The site opens its doors to Mae. A worker in a hazmat suit emerges, takes the hard drive from Mae, and allows her to enter. This site is a fully staffed and functional base with power, resources, and military hardware. The drive that Mae obtained is one of a set of three identical drives. They appear to operate as keys to a long-dormant satellite array above ground. Mae told Noa that she sought a “book” that would allow humans to speak again. This is what she meant.

The satellites power up and a technician sends a call asking if anyone else is out there. They quickly receive a reply from another base of humans elsewhere. The underground human resistance groups are now in contact with each other.

The Apes franchise has always pondered whether humans and evolved apekind can coexist. The ending of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes suggests that a violent conflict is looming in the next two films to determine which will reign as Earth’s dominant species.

Does Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Have Any Post-Credits Scenes?

While there isn't a post-credits scene per se, there is a nice clue at the very end of the film. Similar to how Dawn of the Planet of the Apes had a post-credits audio cue that hinted Koba might have survived (it turns out he didn’t although he appears as a vision to Caesar in War for the Planet of the Apes), Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes has a post-credit audio cue that suggests one of its presumed dead characters may still be alive.

After the end credits finish rolling, we hear the sounds of an ape over a black screen. These murmurings sure sound a lot like Raka (played by Peter Macon), the thoughtful orangutan who helped Noa and Mae on their journey. Raka appeared to have perished in a river along the way.

Raka is the only one who still understands Caesar’s teachings of decency, morality, and strength. He has a trove of old books and while he can’t read them, he understands their value and that they were a means for humans to communicate ideas.

Raka told Noa about Caesar, a long-dead figure the young chimp is unfamiliar with, and his teachings. Like Caesar, Raka preaches tolerance and peace with humans. Before he apparently drowns, Raka gives Noa his medallion and urges him to follow the example of Caesar. Noa kept the medallion with him for the rest of the film.

The symbol on the medallion is a callback to the Caesar trilogy. That shape was first seen in Rise of the Planet of the Apes as the window in Caesar’s childhood bedroom and he later etched it while in captivity. It later appears in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. While the symbol evoked freedom in the Caesar trilogy, Proximus has, as he has also done with Caesar’s teachings, perverted it to use as another means to dominate his fellow apes.

If that is the sound of Raka in the post-credits and not Proximus Caesar (whose survival seems unlikely given the height of his fall) it suggests that Raka and Noa may have their beliefs challenged in the next films.

Will Raka still believe apes and humans can coexist in peace after he learns of Mae’s betrayal or if war breaks out between apes and humans? Like Professor X and Magneto, might Raka and Noa find themselves bitterly opposed in how to deal with humans? We’ll have to wait a few years to find out.

Let us know in the comments what you thought of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, its ending and post-credits audio cue, and what you think might happen in the sequels.

For more monkey business, read IGN’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes review, watch our epic interview with the cast and director Wes Ball. find out how to watch Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, and learn about the "raw version" of the movie that will be included in the home video release.

Jesse Schedeen contributed to this report.