Our absolute favorite Switch deal at the moment is Super Mario Party Jamboree, down to just $47.99 at Woot. IGN's Logan Plant loved the new entry into the series, awarding it a 9/10 and saying in his review: "Super Mario Party Jamboree is the series’ newest superstar, with fantastic boards, minigames, and customizable rules that return to the classic formula while also confidently improving upon it."
The best Switch SD card should be fast, reliable, and as future-proof as possible. That last one is important, especially with the Switch successor on the horizon. Therefore, you're going to want to opt for the latest in SD card tech, which is a micro SDXC UHS-I U3 A2 V30 memory card. That's a lot of random letters, so to save you a bit of time we've left our top suggestions and deals just above and below for your convenience.
Nintendo Switch Mario Kart 8 Holiday Bundles Are Live
Black Friday has arrived a little early for Nintendo fans. For the past few years, Switch holiday bundles with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe have dropped during the holiday sale event. If you've been itching to pick up one of these bundles, you thankfully don't need to wait until November as the Standard and new OLED bundle are already live at Best Buy. With these bundles, you're essentially getting the game for free, which is totally worth it.
Best Switch Power Bank Deals
Looking for a new power bank? This incredible deal on the Anker PowerCore 737 is absolutely worth checking out. Featuring a spacious 24,000mAh capacity and a hefty 140W charging output, it's a fantastic pick for your Nintendo Switch. We also featured it in our list of the best power banks for 2024, so it's well worth investing in.
Best Nintendo Switch Accessory Deals
Whether you're looking for a new controller or a carrying case for your Switch, there are quite a few different accessory deals that are worth checking out. Here, we've listed just a few of our favorite discounts at the moment, including a deal on an Orzly carrying case and a great deal on Neon Purple and Neon Orange Joy-Cons.
The short answer is that you should buy a Nintendo Switch whenever there’s any kind of sale, regardless of the time of year. Amazon will likely offer the same console bundles on any other sale as it will on Black Friday or Amazon Prime Day, so there’s no real reason to wait if you’re in need of a Nintendo Switch.
That being said, there are sometimes some unique bundles and promotions during Black Friday that you won’t find any other time of the year. They usually includes additional games (like the infamous Mario Kart 8 bundle) or Switch accessories for free, but quantities tend to be limited. As always, do your research into the seller before you make a purchase and keep in mind that the Nintendo Switch 2 is coming out next year.
With how expensive gaming is getting in 2024, we're trying to save you as much money as possible on the games and other tech you actually want to buy. We've got great deal roundups available for all major platforms such as PlayStation and Xbox, and keep these updated daily with brand-new offers. If you're trying to keep costs down while maintaining your favorite hobby, stay tuned for more incredible discounts.
Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.
Even though there are some major seasonal sale events right around the corner, Xbox has plenty of excellent deals for fans to take advantage of right now. That includes a superb deal on Xbox controllers at Lenovo using code FALLXBOX, with colors like Astral Purple down to just $39.99 for a limited time. There's also Resident Evil 4 (2023 remake), down to just $21.99, which is its best price ever. That's not all, as there are also offers on more games, storage, and so much more.
Best Xbox Controller Deals
Lenovo has a killer deal on the Astral Purple, Electric Volt, or Carbon Black Xbox Controllers, now down to just $39.99 when using promo code FALLXBOX at checkout. This is one of the best Xbox deals going right now, and well worth considering even with the Black Friday sales right around the corner. The new Xbox Ghost Cipher Controller is also discounted now long after release, down from $69.99 to $59.49 at Amazon today.
Here's what Tristan Ogilvie had to say in his 10/10 Resident Evil review for IGN: "Whether you're a fan of the original or a newcomer with a hankering for some action-heavy horror of the highest quality, Resident Evil 4 is like a parasite-riddled Spaniard: a total no-brainer."
More Xbox Video Game Deals:
Best Xbox Series X Deals
Two new variants of Xbox Series X are now available alongside a new 1TB Series S. If you're interested in picking one of these up, the fancy 2TB Galaxy Black Series X will set you back $599.99, the 1TB All-Digital Robot White Xbox Series X can be bought for $449.99, and the 1TB Robot White Xbox Series S goes for $349.99.
Best Xbox Game Pass Deals
CURRENTLY SOLD OUT - STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES
One of our favorite Xbox Game Pass Ultimate deals has returned at Woot, providing another opportunity for users to stack their membership at a discounted rate. You can get three months of the service for just $36.49. This price won't stick around for long, so act fast to secure your membership.
The headline here is of course the October 25 release of Black Ops 6, the first Call of Duty game to launch day-one on Game Pass. It comes a year after Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which has also seen the likes of Diablo 4 and Modern Warfare 3 arrive on Game Pass, and will, in November, see StarCraft: Remastered and StarCraft 2: Campaign Collection hit the subscription service.
Black Ops 6’s launch straight into Game Pass is a big gamble for Microsoft. It hopes the power of Call of Duty will boost subscriber numbers and revenue (itself bolstered by the recent Game Pass price rise and restructure), but it comes with the risk of losing sales of the full-price game. While Xbox executives have insisted sales can be boosted by a game’s presence on Game Pass, some publishers remain unconvinced.
Does your family complain when you stay up playing loud shooters late into the night? They'll stop complaining if you pick up anXbox headset that lets no one but you hear the delightful explosions you cause on the screen.
Right now, you can get 13% off the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX wireless headset and 36% off the Razer Kaira Pro wireless headset at Amazon. To see even more gaming headsets on sale, visit our roundup of the best gaming headset deals.
What is Xbox's Recent Controversy?
The recent discomfored surrounding Xbox can be isolated to a recent round of brutal layoffs. Microsoft is closing a number of Bethesda studios, including Redfall maker Arkane Austin, Hi-Fi Rush and The Evil Within developer Tango Gameworks, and more in devastating cuts at Bethesda. Alpha Dog Games, maker of mobile game Mighty Doom, will also close. Roundhouse Studios will be absorbed by The Elder Scrolls Online developer ZeniMax Online Studios. Microsoft, currently valued at over $3 trillion, did not say how many staff will lose their jobs, but significant layoffs are inevitable.
Is Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Coming to Xbox Game Pass?
Microsoft has confirmed the arrival of Call of Duty Black Ops 6 day-one on Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft made the announcement alongside the release of a live-action reveal trailer called 'The Truth Lies'. In it we see world leaders including Bill Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, George H. W. Bush, Colin Powell, and Saddam Hussein, delivering cryptic speeches. Black Ops 6 will be set during the events of the Gulf War during the early '90s.
When Should I Buy an Xbox?
In general, it is advisable to keep an eye out for sales and restocks throughout the year, as availability has improved since the initial launch of the console. Unlike the Nintendo Switch, there is no specific recommendation to wait for a sale regardless of the time of year. Instead, it's a good idea to monitor various retailers and online platforms for restock announcements and promotional offers.
However, certain events like Black Friday or other holiday seasons may bring about unique bundles, discounts, or promotional deals specifically for the Xbox Series X. These bundles may include additional games, accessories, or exclusive limited editions. While quantities for such promotions might be limited, they can provide an opportunity to get more value for your purchase. See our guide to Xbox Series X prices for more info.
Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S?
Choosing between the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S ultimately depends on your gaming preferences, budget, and specific requirements. Let's compare the two consoles to help you make an informed decision:
1. Performance: The Xbox Series X is the more powerful option, offering native 4K gaming, higher graphical fidelity, and faster loading times. It has more advanced hardware, including a larger storage capacity. On the other hand, the Xbox Series S targets a lower price point and offers a less powerful performance, targeting 1440p resolution gaming and upscaling to 4K.
2. Price: The Xbox Series S is more affordable compared to the Xbox Series X. If budget is a significant factor for you, the Xbox Series S provides a cost-effective option while still delivering a next-generation gaming experience. For example, the Series S can play Starfield at 1440p 30fps (vs 4K 30fps on Series X).
3. Storage: The Xbox Series X comes with a larger internal storage capacity, allowing you to store more games directly on the console. The Xbox Series S, however, has a smaller storage capacity, which means you may need to manage your game library more actively or rely on external storage solutions.
4. Disc Drive: The Xbox Series X includes a disc drive, enabling you to play physical game discs and enjoy a wider range of media options, including Blu-ray and DVD playback. The Xbox Series S, in contrast, is a digital-only console, meaning you can only play games downloaded from the digital store.
5. Graphics and Performance: While both consoles support ray tracing, the Xbox Series X provides a more immersive and visually impressive experience due to its superior hardware capabilities. If you prioritize cutting-edge graphics and want the best performance available, the Xbox Series X is the preferable choice.
Consider your gaming preferences, budget, and whether you prioritize top-of-the-line performance or cost-effectiveness. If you have a 4K TV, want the most powerful console, and are willing to invest more, the Xbox Series X is the recommended option. If you have a lower budget, a 1080p or 1440p TV, and don't mind sacrificing some performance, the Xbox Series S offers excellent value for money.
With how expensive gaming is getting in 2024, we're trying to save you as much money as possible on the games and other tech you actually want to buy. We've got great deal roundups available for all major platforms such as Switch and Xbox, and keep these updated daily with brand new offers. If you're trying to keep costs down while maintaining your favorite hobby, stay tuned for more incredible discounts.
Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.
Banjo-Tooie launches on Switch on October 25, Nintendo has announced.
The N64 sequel to Rare’s popular platformer Banjo-Kazooie launched in 2000 to critical and commercial acclaim, with visuals considered among the best the console had to offer. It hits Switch via the Nintendo 64 - Nintendo Switch Online collection of games. (Banjo-Kazooie hit Switch in 2022.)
Here’s the official blurb:
It's the bear-bird duo Banjo and Kazooie to the rescue! Magical minigames, perplexing puzzles, and freaky foes await them in the stages ahead — through ancient ruins, underwater realms, and even an amusement park of sorts.
In 2009, following Microsoft’s acquisition of Rare, Banjo-Tooie launched on Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade with a smoother frame-rate and HD graphics. Then, in 2015, Banjo-Tooie was re-released as part of the Rare Replay compilation. In 2019, Banjo-Tooie was enhanced to run at a native 4K resolution on Xbox One.
The last brand new Banjo-Kazooie game to come out, Nuts & Bolts, launched on Xbox 360 in 2008. Fans have called for Microsoft to release a sequel ever since, but so far not a peep. Banjo and Kazooie are playable characters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, though.
Banjo-Tooie joins a growing list of Rare-developed games on Switch, which includes the aforementioned Banjo-Kazooie, the seminal shooter GoldenEye, Blast Corps, and Jet Force Gemini.
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.
Halloween is fast approaching so that means it's the time of year again when Cardy, Mat, and Jesse share their favourite "under the radar" horror movies, shows, games, books, and more. Before that, though, there's time to discuss two of the month's standout new horror films The Substance and Terrifier 3. Plus, we've even got a great Endless Search to play. What a day.
Remember to send us your thoughts about all the new games, TV shows, and films you're enjoying or looking forward to: ign_ukfeedback@ign.com.
New York Comic Con 2024 has officially begun and promises another weekend of big announcements in the world of movies, TV, video games, comics, and so much more. There's a lot to look forward to and this roundup will ensure you don't miss a thing.
While the show has just begun, there have already been some exciting reveals, including a trailer and release date for Dune: Prophecy, a new look at some upcoming MCU projects, a glimpse at the future of current Dragon Ball games, a new comic series where Doctor Doom is emperor of the Marvel Universe, and much more.
You can check out all the news below, and be sure to keep checking back as we will be updating this page with all the biggest moments from NYCC!
HBO Prequel Series Dune: Prophecy Gets a Trailer and Release Date
“From the expansive universe of ‘Dune,’ created by acclaimed author Frank Herbert, and 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides, ‘Dune: Prophecy’ follows two Harkonnen sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind, and establish the fabled sect that will become known as the Bene Gesserit," the official logline reads. "‘Dune: Prophecy’ is inspired by the novel ‘Sisterhood of Dune,’ written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson."
At the show, a piece of artwork in the form of a Marvel Logo included a tease of the future, including the first live-action look at The Fantastic Four's Humanoid Experimental Robot B-Type Integrated Electronics a.k.a. H.E.R.B.I.E. and Harrison Ford's Hulk.
Elsewhere, we were treated to a new looks at some Daredevil: Born Again costumes.
Doctor Doom Becomes Emperor of the Marvel Universe in 2025
This five-issue limited series will begin in February 2025 and is set six months after Doom becomes the Marvel Universe's new Sorcerer Supreme. He emerges from hiding and declares himself emperor of the world. The other world powers don't seem to opposed to this idea, and even the Avengers - who are the only ones who can stand in his way - start to question whether the world is better off under Doom's rule.
The Rise of Emperor Doom is written by Ryan North (Fantastic Four) with art by RB Silva (Powers of X) and cover art by Ben Harvey.
The full lineup of creators in these teasers includes:
Chris Burnham & Dennis Culver
HamletMachine
Si Spurrier & Matías Bergara
Ethan S. Parker, Griffin Sheridan & Bob Quinn
Miles Gunter & Patrick Mulholand
Curt Pires, Rockwell White, Mike Vendrell & Ryan Quackenbush
Curt Pires & Amilcar Pinna
Cavan Scott & Nick Brokenshire
Chuck Austen & Patrick Olliffe
B. Clay Moore & Mack Chater
Chip Mosher & Peter Krause
DSTLRY plans on revealing more about its future in two panels this weekend - DSTLRY Presents: Surviving the Most Sinister Sci-Fi Dystopias and The Future of Horror Comics with DSTLRY.
Special Naruto and BLEACH-Themed Pop-Up Hits New York This Weekend
The event kicks off today at Shopify New York (131 Greene St, Soho) and also runs Friday and Sunday:
10/17-10/18 - 12 - 8pm
10/20 - 10am - 6pm
The special event will include something for everyone including:
BLEACH Thousand-Year Blood War and Naruto photo installations, where visitors can snap a picture with life-size character stands of their favorite heroes.
Limited-edition collections for Naruto, BLEACH, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Kaiju No. 8, Sakamoto Days, and other merch straight from from the iconic "Jump Shop" in Japan.
An interactive Naruto photo op.
Interactive QR codes highlighting the history of both BLEACH and Naruto
A special manga gallery celebrating Naruto's legacy.
NYCC Offers a Glimpse of the Future of Current Dragon Ball Video Games
NYCC has given Dragon Ball fans a glimpse of the future of some of their favorite, more recent titles, including Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, and Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero.
Thank your own personal deity—possibly Malvirta Drako Eht—it's Friday! We're going to round this week out with a bunch of bargains on Mario-centric titles that usually aren't this cheap, some discounted keyboards, and a marvellous Spidey saving (or two). Stay safe, save often, and see you Monday!
In retro news, I'm throwing a 33rd birthday lunch for Streets of Rage. The main course: bin-sourced chickens. Some of my fondest gaming memories are of toe-tapping to Yuzo Koshiro's sick beats as I co-oped through Sega's worthy Final Fight competitor. After the initial argument over who got to be Axel, you almost always had a jagged alliance with sneaky kidney hits and outright in-fights to the death if your bud taxed too many baseball bats / apples / money sacks. Personally, I saved my aggression for the 'bad ending' choice where one may betray their fellow vigilante cop for the crime boss throne instead.
Let's make this simple: You want to know if there are any post- or mid-credits scenes in Smile 2. The answer is no. Like the original, we cut to the credits on a big moment and writer/director Parker Finn lets that moment speak (and smile) for itself.
Writer-director Parker Finn's horror sequel Smile 2 sees the return of the shape-shifting demon from the 2022 film, back to haunt a whole new cast of characters. In our Smile 2 review, our critic gave the film a 7 out of 10. He called the film "a solid sequel that sicks the suicide-hex phantom on a pop star played – in a highly volatile, committed performance — by Aladdin’s Naomi Scott. Smile 2 doesn’t quite match its sadistically effective predecessor in the scare department, because once you’ve seen one phantom doppelganger grinning like the Cheshire Cat, you’ve seen them all. But the movie works as a nasty portrait of the downside of music-biz fame, and it builds to an ending deserving of every crooked smile it earns."
Starting on Friday, we'll have a full spoiler breakdown of the film's ending and more. So be sure to check back then!
Does Smile 2 Have a Post-Credits Scene?
As noted, there are no post-credits or mid-credits scenes in the film. Though the closing credits do find Cristobal Tapia de Veer’s terrific score going into a surreal, experimental place, overlaying music with sounds of screaming and agony, invoking the feeling that the movie’s events are bleeding into the music.
Are you excited for Smile 2? Vote in our poll and let’s discuss in the comments!
It seems Tom Holland is feeling pretty optimistic about Spider-Man 4 after reading a draft of the script, which he says still needs work but is otherwise "excellent" in a interview with the Rich Roll podcast.
“We have a creative and we have a pitch and a draft, which is excellent. It needs work, but the writers are doing a great job. I read it three weeks ago and it really lit a fire in me," Holland said. "Zendaya and I sat down and read it together and we at times were bouncing around the living room like this is a real movie worthy of the fans’ respect.”
Holland's comments were part of a wide-ranging conversation in which he touched on his relationship with Robert Downey Jr., what it's like to be part of the MCU, and his overall career as an actor. He claims that he's juggling "three or four things" right now, the "biggest of which is my re-entry into the MCU and what the looks like."
Zendaya and I sat down and read it together and we at times were bouncing around the living room like this is a real movie worthy of the fans’ respect
“One of the things is that, with Marvel, your film is a small cog in a large machine. That machine has got to keep running," he explains. "You have to make sure you can fit into that timeline at the right time to benefit the bigger picture. That’s one of the challenges we’re facing. The time in which we need to get that done is a tall order but definitely achievable with the people we have working on it now.”
As for Holland, he has his own ideas about his character moving forward, including how he might relate to an MCU version of Miles Morales. “If I would be lucky enough to somehow bring Miles Morales into my Spider-Man universe and into the MCU, I’d love to do for a young kid what [Robert] Downey [Jr.] did for me.”
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. Alienware desktops and laptops feature solid build quality, top-of-the-line gaming performance, excellent cooling (further improved on the newer models), aggressive styling, and pricing that is very competitive with other pre-built options. Best of all, there are plenty of sales that happen throughout the year, so it's not difficult to grab one of these computers at considerably less than their retail price. This page includes all of the best deals that are currently available.
Dell and Alienware Coupons
Featured in this article
You can quickly browse through all of the listed products on sale above. See below for our favorite picks.
Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 4070 Super Gaming PC
Good for 1440p gaming
Ahead of Black Friday, Dell has dropped the price on this Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 4070 Super gaming PC to $1499.99 after a $400 instant discount. This is the best value for gamers who want a PC that can run any game currently available, but don't want to spend to overspend. The RTX 4070 Super is the best graphics card for most people; it's not exorbitantly priced, and it's powerful enough to run games at up to 4K resolution (although 1440p is its sweet spot).
Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 4080 Super Gaming PC
Good for 4K gaming
The Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 4080 Super gaming PC drops to $2399.99 after a $400 instant discount. The 4080 Super is a second generation card that supersedes the RTX 4080. It's Nvidia's second most powerful card and a superior GPU to AMD's Radeon RX 7900 RTX if you factor in DLSS and ray tracing performance. In our RTX 4080 Super review, Jacqueline Thomas writes, "If you're in the market for a 4K graphics card around $1,000, it's hard to think of any GPU that's a better purchase right now. This is the RTX 4080 that should have launched in 2022."
Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 4090 Gaming PC
Good for 4K gaming
The Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 4090 Super gaming PC drops to $3099.99 after a $400 instant discount. The RTX 4090 is the most powerful GPU on the market. In his RTX 4090 review, Chris Coke writes, "The RTX 4090 may be huge and expensive, but holy smokes if it doesn’t blow the competition out of the water... Until the rest of the pack can catch up, between its impressive hardware specs and its DLSS 3 AI wizardry, even the $1,599 price doesn’t seem unreasonable for the unrivaled frame rates that this card can crank out." The 4090 is also great for AI thanks to its 24GB of VRAM.
Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 4060 Ti Gaming PC
Good for 1080p and 1440p gaming
The Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 4060 Ti gaming PC drops to $1299.99 after a $300 instant discount. The 4060 Ti is about 5-10% faster than the RTX 3060 Ti at 1080p, but it also gets an additional boost with DLSS 3.0. It is an excellent GPU for 1080p gaming. It's also more than capable of handling 1440p resolution, although we think that the RTX 4070 Super PC for an extra $200 will give you more peace of mind.
Alienware m16 R2 16" Gaming Laptop
Dell is offering an Alienware m16 R2 16" RTX 4060 gaming laptop for only $1,299.99 after a $300 instant discount. The GeForce RTX 4060 is a very capable GPU, but if you're looking for something even more powerful, you can upgrade to an RTX 4070 for an extra $300. The "R2" is a second generation model that was released earlier this year; it's lighter and more compact than its predecessor without compromising on performance.
Alienware m18 R2 18" Gaming Laptop
The Alienware m18 is the biggest Alienware laptop you can buy with an imposing 18" 2560x1600 display and top-of-the-line components like an Intel Core i9-14900HX CPU and RTX 4090 GPU. The RTX 4090 is still the most powerful mobile GPU on the market, and by a very substantial margin. It's roughly equivalent to a desktop RTX 3090 GPU.
Alienware x16 R2 Slim Gaming Laptop
The Alienware x16 laptop is one of the most portable gaming laptops around, measuring in at 0.73" at its thinnest point and weighing less than 6 pounds. Unlike other slim gaming laptops, the RTX 4090 GPU in the x16 isn't throttled; that means it should perform comparably to full-sized RTX 4090 equipped laptops like the m16 or m18 in games.
Dell G-Series Gaming Laptops
Dell has dropped the prices on both the Dell G16 and Dell G15 gaming laptops. Dells G-series laptops are great options for budget gamers. They offer excellent gaming performance equal to a comparably equipped Alienware laptop but at a much lower price point. They also have better build quality than Dell's consumer-oriented Inspiron lineup, with nicer materials that include anodized aluminum, and an aggressive cooling design borrowed from Alienware laptops.
32" Alienware AW3225QF 4K OLED Monitor
Dell is taking $200 off the new-for-2024 Alienware AW3225QF 32" 4K QD OLED gaming monitor, dropping the price to $999.99. This is one of the very few 4K OLED gaming monitors under 42"on the market, and at this price it's also the least expensive. If you're looking for the best gaming monitor for 2024, this should definitely be on your short list.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Horizon: Zero Dawn was developed by Guerrilla Games, and its remaster is being worked on by them as well. But today, the remaster's co-developer Nixxes stepped into the spotlight on the PlayStation blog to highlight a number of improvements we'll see in the remaster, including the addition of lots of new NPCs.
The post breaks down a number of updates to the game, perhaps the most notable of which is that Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered will "significantly boost the number of non-player characters." This doesn't mean more quests or story, but it does mean that villages and camps will have more folks just wandering around, attending to their business. Brian van Nunen, senior technical game designer at Nixxes, offered more details and what I find to be a delightful example of this:
Building the game for PS5 allowed us to leverage the increased amount of memory available, enabling us to significantly boost the number of non-player characters," he said. "We added many more places for NPCs to stand, sit, work and fulfil their needs. We gave them more varied schedules to increase movement and liveliness in different areas. We also tried to make creative use of existing animations. For example, there is now a woman feeding geese at the well in Meridian, reusing an existing sowing animation. Additionally, on the bridge to Meridian, we’ve made significant strides in improving the atmosphere and sense of activity.
Let's hear it for feeding the geese!
More NPCs isn't the only change players will see. The blog also goes into detail about how foliage is being overhauled to be more dense, realistic, and closer to the original concept art. Terrain, too, is being updated, including snow and sand that actually moves as it's disturbed. This was a feature in the Frozen Wilds expansion, but in the remaster we'll see it elsewhere.
In addition to these improvements, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered benefits from 10 additional hours of motion capture data for various characters, which Nixxes says will make conversations seem livelier and closer to those in Forbidden West. Mark Bazelmans, senior technical artist, has a really fascinating explanation for how all this data was incorporated into the massive game:
Horizon Zero Dawn has almost 300 conversations and well over 3100 dialog options, so we needed to find a way to easily integrate this huge number of updated animations into the conversations," he said. "We created a tool with Python to process the almost 2500 mocap files that Guerrilla provided to replace the original animation in the conversations, removing deprecated events and replacing those with the mocap and setup.
We then focused on creating a pipeline in Maya for our animators to easily load, edit and re-export the individual mocap files for any other edits that were needed, such as finger animation, art direction feedback and fixes. Animators could select the conversation and subsequent dialog option from a list which created the scene from scratch, or simply opened it if it already existed. Our tool referenced the characters and imported the dialogue audio, so the animators could time the movement better and create the camera cuts and layout. Later, we extended this pipeline to also include existing animations for both conversations and cinematics, as some of these also required edits. Our animators could then go into Guerrilla’s DECIMA engine and edit or change the updated conversation.
And there's more. The blog post goes over details to how lighting was improved, both world and cinematic, and how character models were updated to have more detail to hair, skin, and oufits. Aloy has peach fuzz, and apparently you can see it. And while before only Aloy would react to the environment and weather, now both her and her companions will react when it's too hot or cold.
If you're a sicko for fascinating, in-depth explanation of how game dev works, this blog goes into incredible detail about how some of this stuff works with quotes from a number of Nixxes developers. Here's the link again to read the whole thing.
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered it out on October 31 for PS5 and PC.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are now available, and with the holiday season approaching, lots of people will be unboxing a new iPhone soon, if they haven't already. One of the most essential iPhone accessories, in our opinion, is a screen protector. Even though Apple devotes plenty of time into research to improve the quality and durability of its display glass a little more every generation, its touch screen isn’t bulletproof. It’s still incredibly easy to damage your iPhone by accident, but a screen protector can prevent any unwanted scratches, cracks, or damage to your display, keeping your iPhone in pristine condition. After years of crooked screen protectors, we are finally in an era with seamless screen protectors, as companies have adopted new installation methods. Below, we’ve outlined the best screen protectors for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Order a screen protector to keep your display safe before it’s too late.
Best Screen Protectors for iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max
Spigen Tempered Glass Screen Protector
Best Overall
Our pick for the best iPhone 16 Pro screen protector is the Spigen Tempered Glass Screen Protector for iPhone 16 Pro. Its best feature is its simple installation. The package includes a plastic overlay that aligns with the edges of your phone. Put it on top of a clean phone screen, press down and pull on the exterior plastic, and you’re done. The install kit also comes with a small squeegee sponge to push out any air bubbles that might form.
Spigen utilizes a special formula inside the tempered glass to not diminish any of the iPhone 16 Pro’s display quality as some screen protectors tend to do. This can be a godsend if you regularly watch video content on your iPhone, as the colors will not be washed out. Additionally, this screen protector features an anti-dust nano coating, which prevents dust from clinging to your display when in your pocket. This specific model is a two-pack, so you can easily replace your old screen protector once it is either cracked or worn out.
ESR Screen Protector
Best Budget Option
The ESR iPhone 16 Pro screen protector is a great, inexpensive choice. This model also features an easy installation with a plastic housing that clips over your phone, so you only have to pull a tab to apply the screen protector. According to ESR, this glass can withstand up to 33 pounds of force, which is essential to prevent damage from drops.
Although this is a solid pick, keep in mind that the quality of the glass is worse than other selections on this list due to the price. Since this is a three-pack, the tempered glass will likely break more easily than other brands, but at least re-upping on these screen protectors isn’t a major investment.
UltraGlass Top 9H+ Glass Privacy Screen Protector
Best Privacy Screen Protector
A privacy screen protector is essential to keep prying eyes from reading over your shoulder. This UltraGlass Top 9H+ screen protector features a 25-degree privacy angle, with 130-degree anti-peep coverage to protect your iPhone 16 Pro’s display from any potential onlookers. Even with these privacy features, there’s no effect on the display quality or visuals when looking head-on.
Beyond the privacy features, the UltraGlass Top 9H+ screen protector is authorized by the International Military Standard, meaning the glass is tested and in line with military requirements in harsh conditions. Over 50 engineering tests have been performed to ensure the glass is fully protected against any scratching, cracking, or shattering.
AntShare iPhone 16 Pro Case
Best Screen Protector Case
Finally, for those looking for a screen protector and phone case without having to buy two separate products, look no further than the AntShare iPhone 16 Pro case. This has a built-in tempered glass screen protector with privacy features at a 45-degree viewing range. The case is installed in two pieces, with the display piece snapping in underneath the TPU Bumper piece. Since the display protection is directly on top of your iPhone display, this case will protect your display from any damage possibly sustained if you drop your iPhone.
The case itself features 360-degree protection with shock-absorbing bumpers. Additionally, MagSafe is supported, so you can still wirelessly charge your iPhone at up to 45W. If you aren’t keen on installing a screen protector by itself, this AntShare case can be a great alternative.
iPhone Screen Protector FAQ
What is the best screen protector brand for iPhones?
Overall, the best screen protector brand for iPhones is Spigen. It uses a refined process to create strong tempered glass that can protect your iPhone through multiple drops. While you might end up paying more for these brands, the quality ensures that the average iPhone user will purchase a screen protector less often.
Do new iPhones come with screen protectors?
Unfortunately, Apple does not offer a free screen protector with a new iPhone. In the box, you will receive an iPhone 16 Pro and a braided USB-C charger. Throughout the entire history of the iPhone, Apple has never offered a screen protector.
Do you actually need a screen protector?
Yes, you should purchase a screen protector. The iPhone 16 Pro screen is resistant to many materials, but it can still scratch or crack. Simply putting your iPhone in the same pocket as your car keys can sometimes be enough to chip or scratch the display. It’s always better to be safe than sorry with a device as expensive as a brand-new iPhone, so we recommend purchasing a screen protector to avoid any damage.
The iPhone 16 Pro uses the same Ceramic Shield technology used on the iPhone 14 and 15, but Apple claims that this year’s model is 50% stronger. This process involves injecting ceramic into the glass itself to create a stronger display that resists shattering. As a result, the glass is engineered to be 4x stronger than regular glass, but this leaves the display more prone to scratches.
Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to various publishers writing about the medium. His favorite series include Xeno, Fate, and Final Fantasy.
Netflix has quietly acknowledged that last year's entertainment writer and actor strikes made an impact on the number of shows and films it was able to put out last year. But it's also promising that the slump in releases is almost over.
In today's Q3 earnings release, the shareholder letter from the company included the line, "Our 2024 programming has been patchier than normal due to last year’s strikes. But our volume has picked up again and we’re excited for what’s ahead."
The strikes being referred to are last year's actions by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), where both groups undertook a work stoppage to push for better terms in their respective contracts. Though the strikes were understook separately, the two groups rallied together around issues such as limitations around use of AI to replace their respective work, and issues around pay.
The two strikes lasted roughly five months, meaning that for that duration no writing or acting work on shows or film could be done by guild members. It makes sense then that a five-month gap where numerous shows and films couldn't proceed with production, filming, or other work would impact things somewhere down the pipeline, but Netflix is now claiming it's weathered this period and is ready to be back in action. In Q4, it's planning for the release of Squid Game season 2, Love is Blind season 7, and various other releases.
Our 2024 programming has been patchier than normal due to last year’s strikes. But our volume has picked up again and we’re excited for what’s ahead
Though SAG-AFTRA's film and TV actors are back to work, the guild's video game actors remain on a strike which began in July and which also primarily concerns protections against AI encroachment.
Update 2:08pm PT: On the earnings call, CEO Ted Sarandos offered further context on exactly how the strikes impacted Netflix's output:
In the first half of this year, our line-up was much lumpier than we've liked, and that's primarily because of the work stoppage. It did hit UCAN [US and Canada] the hardest, but there were some effects of that felt in production around the world. We're moving closer and closer to a more normalized output schedule now, series are more on track than film, but neither are fully fully recovered. We've had returning favorites like Bridgerton that managed to get into the first half of the year, but many of our other high-profile returning hits like Cobra Kai, Emily in Paris, Outer Banks, and even our new shows like Perfect Couple and Nobody Wants This were scheduled for much earlier in the year and got kind of delayed into Q3, and that delay was again because of the strike and its impact on the UCAN slate. By the end of Q3, a lot more normalized as you see...our film slate obviously was impacted as well, and it's getting back to normal...and in 2025, we're largely back to normal.
Original story continues: Elsewhere in its earnings, Netflix reported it gained 5.1 million new subscribers in the quarter for a total of 282.72 million subscribers. The company plans to stop reporting subscriber numbers after this year, meaning next quarter's earnings will be the last time we get a subscriber number from Netflix.
The company also reported revenue of $9.8 million for the quarter, up 15% year-over-year. It's expecting revenue growth of 15% year-over-year for the full year as well as for the upcoming Q4, and it projects its Q4 subscriber growth will be higher than Q3's.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
Marvel is kicking off New York Comic Con (NYCC) 2024 with sneak peeks at upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) projects like The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Daredevil: Born Again, and Captain America: Brave New World.
Attendees at the New York-based convention have been greeted with artwork that features a number of important faces from the MCU. Some faces included in the image are Agatha Harkness, who is currently in the middle of gracing Disney+ audiences with her show, Agatha All Along, and a fiery Johnny Storm. However, it’s the keen-eyed fans who have noticed that the art comes with a first live-action look at The Fantastic Four’s Humanoid Experimental Robot B-Type Integrated Electronics a.k.a. H.E.R.B.I.E. and Harrison Ford’s Red Hulk. You can see all of this and more in the image below.
Hulk can be seen front and center and look just as angry as one might expect. Although we’ve seen glimpses of the creature in some footage before, this NYCC art might be our best view of him yet. H.E.R.B.I.E is a bit easier to miss, as he can be seen in the bottom left corner of the “A” in Marvel. The Fantastic Four’s cute little robot friend had previously made an appearance in the cast reveal art published earlier this year, but this live-action sneak peek gives us a better look at some of the details, including the bright-blue team logo placed on his chest.
A drawing of what appears to be Charlie Cox’s Daredevil can also be seen in the beginning of the art, but it’s not quite clear if the actor will sport this all-red costume when his new show premieres next year. While some set images from the Disney+ series have revealed a look that falls more in line with the original Netflix Daredevil show, the MCU version of Matt Murdock has been known to wear different outfits from time to time.
These are early looks at some of the biggest MCU projects to date, but we’ve still got some waiting to do before we see everything Marvel has been cooking up. First up on the calendar is Captain America: Brave New World, which will unveil Ford’s Red Hulk when it premieres February 14, 2025. Daredevil is expected to swing in sometime in March 2025, too, with Fantastic Four set to introduce Marvel’s superhero family on July 25, 2025. There’s also Thunderbolts*, which is primed to come to theaters May 2, 2025.
Outside of Agatha All Along and July’s Deadpool and Wolverine, the MCU is taking a bit of a break at the moment. This somewhat narrower stream of content falls in line with past comments from Marvel movie head Kevin Feige, who said that audiences can expect fewer movies and shows per year than what they had received in the past. For more on everything Marvel has planned, you can look at the full slate here.
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.
What makes a great gaming headset? It has to have immersive positional audio, have a quality microphone, be comfortable to wear, and generally sound good no matter what you’re listening to. The best gaming headsets deliver on these qualities, but they tend to split their focus across sound quality, fancy features, and the mic. Gaming headset designers generally don’t get the luxury of focusing on just one element, they have to do it all, and that’s where the Apos x Audio-Technica and ModMic bundle comes in.
What this bundle aims to deliver is a great pair of audiophile-tier headphones, a broadcast-worthy microphone, and the means to combine them into the Optimus Prime of gaming headsets. Picking these up as a bundle saves you some cash, but it doesn’t come cheap – the end result, however, is one of the best-sounding and most comfortable gaming headsets I’ve ever worn.
Apos x Audio-Technica R70X Refine + ModMic 2 – Design and Features
This is a different kind of review for us at IGN since we’re actually looking at several different products packaged as a bundle. At the core is the Apos x Audio-Technica R70X Refine, a customized version of the Audio-Technica R70X that features new grilles, ear cushions, a shorter cable, and a refreshed sound profile that fills out the bass. It’s worth noting that the original R70X is still a popular choice among audiophiles for its balanced but spacious sound and truly exceptional comfort.
The other half of the equation is the recently released ModMic x 2 series. You can choose to bundle the ModMic Uni 2 (which uses a 3.5mm connection), the ModMic USB 2, or the original ModMic Wireless (we expect a new version of this at some point, but this is still the “classic” ModMic Wireless). If you’re new to the ModMic, it’s essentially a standalone microphone that can attach to any pair of headphones with a clever magnetic clasp. With it, you can turn your favorite headphones into a full-fledged gaming headset and enjoy microphone quality well in excess of anything gaming headsets have been able to deliver. Or, if you have a headset you love and want to make better or repair, that’s a fitting use case too.
That was true at the time of the original ModMic’s release back in 2012. In the years since, the company has released several revisions to stay ahead of the curve. The ModMic Uni 2 and USB 2 are its latest releases and feature redesigned and improved microphones that offer noise canceling and a full-bodied sound that you would typically expect from a full-fledged, more expensive desktop mic.
Each piece of this bundle is outstanding.
The original Audio-Technica R70X was released in 2015 and was the company’s first-ever pair of open-back reference headphones. They were designed to deliver a neutral, highly detailed sound that mixing engineers could rely on. Its earcups are big and circular with wide-open grilles that allow sound to travel in and out. Sound bleed is an expected side-effect of this design, and you shouldn’t count on isolating yourself from any sound around you (or keeping anyone from hearing what you’re listening to), but they have the benefit of sounding wider and deeper than just about any gaming headset on the market.
I say “just about” because it would be impossible to test every gaming headset, but I’ve been reviewing them professionally since 2015 and can say that they’re better than any gaming headset I’ve ever heard. There may be a unicorn out there, but I doubt it because there’s no other gaming headset that shares the R70X’s design.
The Refine carries through everything I’ve described but the flat sound signature. While they’re not bass cannons, they’re designed to be more enjoyable for everyday listening. This set isn’t designed for the audio engineer grinding out their hours in the studio. It’s made for audio enthusiasts, gamers, and normal listeners who appreciate high quality audio. Apos didn’t skimp on specs, though. It still uses the same 45mm dynamic drivers and has the same extra-wide frequency response range of 5Hz to 40,000Hz.
Apos has made some other changes in addition to refining the R70X’s sound. The wide-back grilles now have a gold finish instead of black. The cable has been trimmed down to a more manageable six feet instead of nine like the original. And the ear cushions have also been reworked by Audio-Technica itself, and are now thicker to enhance their comfort over time, while still being wrapped in oh-so-comfy velour.
If sound quality is the leading feature of the R70X, comfort is a close second. Weighing in at only 210 grams, they’re surprisingly lightweight. The cushions are thickly padded but aren’t bulky and feel very nice on the skin; literally like pillows. The headband is milled out to reduce weight but isn’t adjustable like you might expect. Instead, it uses two cushioned “wings” that rest on either side of your head and adapt to its shape. Even over 3+ hour gaming sessions, there was no hotspotting or soreness whatsoever. The clamp force is just about perfect: the headphones stay in place well but don’t squeeze tightly enough to cause discomfort.
There’s a good amount of plastic in the frame to accomplish its airy design but the grilles and headband are metal and the yokes are reinforced to promote durability. Even still, I would take care not to drop them. They don’t feel fragile, but with its light mass, you can’t expect a lot of resilience if you’re careless.
The ModMic Uni 2 and USB 2 are very similar in their design and how they attach to the headphones. Both mics come as kits with their own branded carrying cases. Each uses a steel boom arm that’s meant to be bent to properly position next to your mouth. At the base of the arm, before it bends to a 90-degree angle and transitions to its six-foot cable, is a two-part magnetic clasp. One half attaches to the headphones. The other stays attached to the microphone. The magnets are strong, so when they’re next to each other they pull together and lock in place with interlocking teeth.
It’s cleverly designed – you can rotate the mic up and down by lightly pulling up from the base to move it out of the way. Since it’s just moving it on the base, there’s no flip-to-mute but both versions have an in-line mute button that you can easily access. You can also remove it entirely, leaving only the receiving half of the base attached to the side. A small baggie in the carrying case includes a second base so you can swap to another pair of headphones, as well as a replacement adhesive pad.
The microphones are unidirectional, which is a shift from last generation. The original Uni was also unidirectional but used a different capsule and the USB gave you the option between uni- and omnidirectional modes. Traditionally, omnidirectional microphones provide the best sound quality but carry the downside of capturing everything in a spherical radius around the mic. Unidirectional mics sound a bit more compressed but cancel out some of that external noise. With the Uni 2 and USB 2, Antlion claims to have cracked the code and has delivered the best of both worlds with microphone capsules that sound better than ever and block out more external noise than last generation.
If you’re thinking that this sounds like a mess of cables, you would be right. Instead of a single, unified cable like a normal gaming headset, you’ll have two. To help with this, Antlion provides a set of clips to hold them together as one. It’s not perfect but it does work. My secret hope is that Antlion releases some kind of thin sleeve to really bind them together and hide the slack between the clasps. Until then, slim general use sleeves like this one seem able to do the job, though I expect something official would both look and feel nicer to use.
Apos x Audio-Technica R70X Refine + ModMic 2 – Performance
The R70X Refine, ModMic Uni 2, and ModMic USB 2, are all excellent in their own ways. The headphones are ridiculously comfortable. Genuinely, this is the most comfortable headset or pair of headphones I’ve tested and that’s saying something. I collect and enjoy headphones as a hobby and have sets that range from $300 to over $2,000. Not a single one is as comfortable as the R70X Refine.
Its light weight is only part of it. The suspension wing system looks strange at first but, unlike a normal headband that balances the entire weight of the headphones on the top of your head, this balances it on the sides. The springs allow it to find a balance with the grip force so they can rest with perfect distribution. The cushions are also so, so comfortable and are very breathable. They don’t isolate sound, but with such open-back earcups, isolation isn’t something these headphones are designed to offer anyway.
The soundstage and tuning make the Refine an ideal choice for gaming. It isn’t a pair of headphones that will blow you away by sounding artificially large. Instead, the soundstage offered is all about giving a natural sense of space to everything you’re listening to. Playing through Battlefield 2042, nothing sounded unrealistically close-in, even when shooting it out in tight hallways. Enemies around the corner sounded like they were actually around the corner out of sight. The reverberation of footsteps and call-outs sounded true to life as well.
In outdoor settings, there’s a realistic sense of air to the sound. Gunshots echoing in the distance are accurately distant and directional. Compared to a gaming headset like the Corsair Virtuoso Pro, which is also open back and delivers wide staging of its own, the R70X’s larger earcups make an immediately noticeable difference. Putting spaciousness into words is difficult, but if you imagine the sound of someone clapping in a living room and then someone clapping in a field, you’ll be on the right track. In the living room, you hear the walls. In the field, you hear the distance.
The tuning and clarity play a major role in the R70X Refine’s positional accuracy for competitive games. While there’s enough bass to give tanks and grenades a sense of impact and tactility, the fine-tuned middle and higher frequencies ensure that important audio cues, like enemy footsteps or a window breaking as someone makes their entrance, come through nicely and signal where they’re coming from.
For music, they’re fantastic. You can hear every little detail, from fingers on fretboards to the small breaths vocalists take between lines. Percussion is especially nice, as hi-hats sprinkle through the mix, and make sure it sounds lively. The soundstage is immersive, the details are rich, and the sound is crisp and exciting but full.
Genuinely, this is the most comfortable headset or pair of headphones I’ve tested and that’s saying something.
The ModMics are Antlion Audio’s best yet. Getting them installed was easy sinceyou only have to peel the adhesive and press the base onto the earcup. The cable clips are simple, which is good, because they’re necessary. I tried to go without and draping two long cables from your ears is a pain without them.
Both the ModMic Uni 2 and USB 2 offer impressively rich, full-bodied capture. The work Antlion Audio has done to improve the capsules is admirable. While the built-in mics on gaming headsets always seem to be improving, both ModMics lead the pack in their quality. They’re the closest you’ll find to a desktop mic in headset form you can find today.
They’re an especially good choice for streamers. Their full-bodied sound and clarity make them a viable alternative to standalone microphone setups. Professionals with full XLR setups probably won’t be tempted to switch, but if your desk is cluttered and you want to regain some space, you can simplify things back to a single headset without sacrificing too much on mic quality.
The new unidirectional capsule delivers the best of both worlds in terms of sound isolation and vocal quality. While omnidirectional still has a slight edge in naturalness to my ear, it’s small and the ModMic’s ability to minimize outside noise is definitely preferable. I would take the new capsule over the old omnidirectional mic any day of the week.
Between the two, the ModMic USB 2 offers the best quality. While they both sound great, the USB 2 benefits from having an onboard sound card and amplifier. You don’t need as much gain to achieve the same volume levels, which makes for a cleaner signal. Its built-in processor also removes your motherboard from the mix, so any interference or sub-par components won’t have a negative impact on the quality you can achieve. The Uni 2 may be fine if you have a nice gaming motherboard but the USB 2 will be good with just about anything.
The much-hyped streaming bundle that puts Disney+, Hulu, and Max all on one tab is now available. Now that Disney+ and Hulu have increased their prices, this is potentially the best streaming bundle deal on the market. At $16.99 a month for a subscription with ads (and $29.99 to go ad-free), this bundled trio saves up to 45% off the price of individually subscribing to each platform. Not that bad a deal for three of the best streaming services around.
We figured out how to sign up or switch over from existing subscriptions below. Note that you'll only be able to register or update your plan from a web browser, not in-app, and only directly through Disney+, Max, or Hulu, not a third-party like Roku or Apple or TV/internet provider.
How to Get the Disney+/Hulu/Max Bundle
For newbies:
Easy: Head over to the sign-up page on Disney+, Max, or Hulu. From there, you can pick whichever plan best suits you, enter your email to create a login that will be connected to all three streaming services, put in your payment info, and start streaming right away. Unfortunately, there is no free trial period for new subscribers.
For existing subscribers:
If you currently only subscribe to one of the streamers included in the bundle, head over to the page where you manage your subscription and update your plan accordingly. That'll essentially become your primary streaming service through which you're billed. Once you do that, you'll be able to link up the other two streaming services via the primary account.
Current subscribers to Disney+'s Duo plan (which includes Hulu) or Hulu with a Max add-on can follow the same steps:
Go to your Disney+ or Hulu Account page.
Click 'manage plan' on Hulu or 'subscriptions' on Disney+, and select the option for Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle, With or Without Ads. If you were already subscribed to the Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ bundle and switch over, you'll have to add on ESPN+ just like Showtime, Cinemas, or Starz. (Max's Ultimate Ad-Free plan and Hulu + Live TV, however, are not available as add-ons.)
You'll be billed the new price on your next statement.
What if I have three separate accounts for Disney+, Max, and Hulu?
The steps are a little annoying, but for the amount of money you're potentially saving (see below), it's worth the effort. (You could also just connect to the customer service chat on any of the streaming services' websites and have an agent help you out.)
For monthly subscribers:
First, pick whichever streaming service you want to be charged from.
Next, you'll have to "manage" the subscriptions for the other two – meaning, you'll have to cancel them so you're not subscribed to them twice.
Go back to the page where you manage subscriptions on your primary streaming service and select the option for Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle, With or Without Ads.
The plan takes effect immediately and the price will update on your next billing statement.
If you're changing over annual subscriptions on any of the streaming services, the steps will be identical. The only difference is that you'll be refunded the prorated amount from when your yearly billing cycle starts.
How Much Money Do I Save by Bundling Disney+, Hulu, and Max?
Let's play with round numbers here, since streaming services like to charge some dollar amount and 99 cents. Accounting for the year, the new bundle costs $204 with ads and $360 for no ads in total. Which sounds scary until you break it down:
Max, with ads, costs $10 a month, or $100 with an annual subscription; the basic ad-free plan is $17 or $170 a year; and its "ultimate ad-free" plan, which gets you access to 4K streaming, jumps to $21 and $210. Across the board, choosing any Max annual plan saves you 16%. Just at a glance, the monthly ad-free Max subscription costs the same as the bundle trio with ads.
As of October 17, the existing Disney+ and Hulu Duo bundle with ads clocks in at $11 a month and increases to $20 for premium with no ads. For Disney+ alone you're paying $10 a month with ads (but there's no option for an annual plan), and $16 a month or $160 a year for the premium plan. Solo Hulu subscribers pay $10 a month or $100 a year for a plan with ads, and $19 a month to go ad-free with no annual option.
Here's the quick maths: If you opt for individual plans on each streaming service with ads, you'd be paying $31 monthly. Going for the $17 bundle nets a savings of $167 per year. Or if you bundle Disney+ and Hulu and pay for Max separately, your bill would be $21 a month. It's $4 cheaper per month to sign up for the new bundle, which isn't nothing!
For those of us who want that ad-free experience, we'd be paying $37 to $41 monthly (depending on the Max subscription tier) for the Disney+ and Hulu bundle and a separate Max sub, or $52 to $56 per month for all three individually – which, yikes! Switching over to the new bundle saves up to $312 a year (!!). Granted, the biggest savings means giving up 4K streaming on Max as the bundled trio currently does not include that option. For the non-4K ad-free tier, that's still up to $264 in savings. Do you know how many times I could have gone to see Twisters in 4DX with $264? It's a lot of times.
Is There an Annual Subscription Plan for the Disney+/Hulu/Max Bundle?
Unfortunately for people used to saving another couple dollars for their annual subscriptions, the bundles are only available as monthly subscriptions at present. They'll only let us have so many discounts, y'know?
Leanne Butkovic is an Editorial Project Manager at IGN and has previously written about movies, TV, and the business of streaming.
For all of you Honkai Star Rail gamers, there's a custom PC case made just for you. Hyte has started shipping its custom themed Honkai Star Rail Silver Wolf Y70 Computer Case. The Early Bird bundle, which also includes matching fan guards and a cute little keychain, is currently available for $299.99. The vanilla Y70 normally runs for $220, so there's a $70 surcharge on this themed case, but that's a small price to pay if you're a Mihyo or Honkai Star Rail superfan.
Now Available: Hyte Y70 Honkai Star Rail Themed Case
Hyte is well-known and well-reviewed among PC case brands. In fact, the smaller Y60 model is actually one of our favorite cases of 2024. Its lineup of Y-series cases have absolutely blown up the PC modding scene, which helped kickstart the panoramic glass panel "fish tank" chassis that's currently in vogue.
Fortunately, the flashy design doesn't mean performance is compromised; the Y70 is Hyte's biggest case, and all that extra space allows for ample cooling potential. Because the case is so spacious, it can fit a total of 10 120mm or eight 140mm case fans (note that no fans are included). It's also both liquid-cooling and air-cooling friendly. For air cooled setups, the 180mm CPU height clearance fits pretty much every tower heatsink on the market, including oversized options like the Noctua D15, which we picked as the best CPU cooler. For water-cooled setups, there are mounting points to accommodate up to two 360mm radiators, as well as pump and reservoir mounts if you want to DIY an open-loop setup.
The Y70 employs a forced vertical mount for your graphics card (a PCI-e 4.0 riser is included). Fortunately, the case is big enough that video cards up to 142mm in length and as thick as four slots are compatible, which means even the Asus ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 GPU will fit in this case without any hassle.
Of course, what's really special about this case is the custom themed artwork. Honkai Star Rail's 5-star character Silver Wolf is professionally UV printed onto all three glass panels. These don't peel off like vinyl stickers and they're applied on the interior side of the panels, so they're less prone to scratching off. Matching purple and blue graphics adorn the top and side metal panels as well, and the ventilation slits are tastefully done. Even the case feet and PCI slot covers have been painted a matching purple. It all looks very premium and will be surefire hit for anime fans.
For even more of a "wow" factor, the Y70 also has an option to install a 14.5" 2.5K multi-touch display in lieu of the smallest tempered glass panel. Not surprisingly, it isn't included with this limited edition case, but at least you do have the option to retrofit it in at a not-so-inexpensive price of $199.
Check out all of our Honkai Star Rail content, from wikis and guides to banners and updates. If you've never played the game, maybe you should give it a try, so long as you're capable of playing gacha games responsibly. In our 9/10 "Amazing" Honkai Star Rail review, Jess Reyes writes "Honkai: Star Rail is the best free-to-play game of the year so far. Its stellar storytelling and satisfying progression systems offer dozens of hours of content that a HoYo newcomer can enjoy, even without paying for gacha items or having played Honkai Impact 3rd or Genshin Impact. Combat boasts layers of strategy for those willing to dig into details without barring more casual players from enjoying it. Its worldbuilding also expands outside of the main story into the side missions and interactable objects, making an already captivating world even more lively. It surpasses even Genshin in my mind, and I can see myself playing even months from now."
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
We may take it for granted today, but imagine telling a younger version of yourself that one day there will be a magical app that will gather everything Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel, and National Geographic in one place you can watch whenever and wherever you want for a relatively low monthly price.
That is what Disney+ is thanks to all of the companies Disney owns, and it’s obviously one of the leading streaming platforms as it offers a wide collection of classics and original programming featuring some of the most beloved characters and stories ever told. However, there are so many streaming services out there and it can be tough to keep them all, no matter how much they claim to offer.
That being said, if you are considering signing up for Disney+ for the first time or feel the time is right to jump back into the vault as Scrooge McDuck would dive into his money bin, this guide will provide you with everything you need to know about the current Disney+ subscription plans, bundles, and more.
As of October 2024, Disney+ offers two main plans - Disney+ Basic and Disney+ Premium - and the main differences between the two are whether you get ads, if you are able to download content to watch on the go, and if you get Dolby Atmos. One thing you may not know, however, is that there are various Disney bundles that can get you multiple streaming services for a much lower price than you’d be able to get each individually. The newest streaming bundle includes Disney+, Max, and Hulu, but you can also bundle Disney+ with ESPN. You’ll be able to see all the options below, and we hope it helps make the decision of joining or not an even easier one!
Disney+ Plans and Prices (As of October 2024)
All Disney+ plans increased in price on October 17, 2024. The following information has been updated to reflect these changes.
Disney+ Basic - $9.99/month
Steam Disney+ with ads
No downloads
Watch on four screens at once at no extra cost
Over 300 titles in 4K UHD and HDR
This is the cheapest Disney+ option and is excellent for those who don’t mind watching a few ads and don’t feel the need to have movies and shows ready for those times when no Wi-Fi or cellular service is available. If you travel a ton or have kids and want to load up some episodes of Bluey or Spidey and His Amazing Friends on a tablet for a vacation, you may want to consider an upgrade to the premium plan.
It’s also important to note that, while Disney+ Basic does offer over 300 titles in 4K UHD and HDR, it does not offer Dolby Atmos like Disney+ Premium does.
Disney+ Premium - $15.99/month or $159.99/year
Stream Disney+ with no ads
Unlimited downloads on up to 10 devices
Watch on four screens at once at no extra cost
Over 300 titles in 4K UHD and HDR
Dolby Atmos
There are only two tiers of Disney+ and this is the top one. With the increase in price, you get everything Disney+ Basic offers, but you also don’t have to sit through ads and can download as much as you want on up to 10 devices.
Another big benefit you get from upgrading to Disney+ Premium is the addition of Dolby Atmos, which is one of the leading surround sound technologies on the market. In addition to having sound enveloping your room, Dolby Atmos features spatial audio that allows creators to place sounds in specific places and fully immerse you in your favorite stories.
Disney+ Bundle Pricing
Disney Bundle Duo Basic - $10.99/month
Disney+ with ads
Hulu with ads
No downloads
Watch on four screens at once at no extra cost
Over 300 titles in 4K UHD and HDR
This bundle is for those who want to watch everything Disney+ and Hulu have to offer, but don’t mind watching ads and don’t need to download content to their devices.
Disney Bundle Duo Premium - $19.99/month
Disney+ with no ads
Hulu with no ads
Unlimited downloads on up to 10 devices
Watch on four screens at once at no extra cost
Over 300 titles in 4K UHD and HDR
Dolby Atmos
This bundle is for those who want all the benefits of Disney+ Premium, including unlimited downloads on up to 10 devices, Dolby Atmos, and no ads, in addition to the full ad-free Hulu library.
Disney Bundle Trio Basic - $16.99/month
Disney+ with ads
Hulu with ads
ESPN+ with ads
No downloads
If ESPN+ is something you’d like to add to Hulu and Disney+, this bundle or the one below it are for you. For those unfamiliar, ESPN+ allows you to stream live sports from across the world, purchase UFC PPV events, and enjoy a ton of on-demand content including the entire 30 for 30 library, select ESPN films, game replays, and more. You also unlock exclusive fantasy sports tools and premium articles on ESPN.
Both of these Trio bundles get you the same content on ESPN, you just have to decide if you want ads on Disney+ and Hulu, if you want to download content, and if Dolby Atmos is worth it to you!
Disney Bundle Trio Premium - $26.99/month
Disney+ with no ads
Hulu with no ads
ESPN+ with ads
Unlimited downloads on up to 10 devices
Watch on four screens at once at no extra cost
Over 300 titles in 4K UHD and HDR
Dolby Atmos
Legacy Disney Bundle - $21.99/month
Disney+ with no ads
Hulu with ads
ESPN+ with ads
No downloads
This plan is no longer available for purchase but existing subscribers can keep it as long as they don’t cancel or change it
This plan is a legacy one that is only available to those who are already subscribed to it, meaning no new account can take advantage of it. If you are a member of this bundle, just know you can keep it as long as you want if you don’t cancel or change it!
Disney +, Hulu, and Max Bundle Pricing
Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle (With Ads) - $16.99/month
Disney+ with ads, including Disney+ Basic features
Hulu with ads
Max with ads
Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle (No Ads) - $29.99/month
Disney+ with no ads, including Disney+ Premium features
Hulu with no ads
Max with no ads
Disney Plus Subscriptions FAQ
What If I Already Have Disney+, Hulu, and/or ESPN+? How Do I Get Bundle Pricing?
While bundling to save money is a wonderful thing, it can be a bit confusing how to get the best pricing if you are already subscribed to Disney+, Hulu, and/or ESPN+. Luckily, it’s not too tricky once you know where to look! To help, here are the instructions right from Disney to ensure you get the best deal!
Existing Disney+ Subscriber
Log in to yourDisney+ account through a mobile or web browser
Select your PROFILE
Select ACCOUNT
Under the SUBSCRIPTION section, select the subscription that you want to change
Select CHANGE next to the name of your subscription
For more, check out our review of Disney+, in which we said, “For what is essentially a streaming service dedicated to the output and archives of a single company – albeit a company that now commands a vast swath of the entertainment landscape – Disney+ is doing a good job at widening its scope with documentaries, programming from its other banners, and, interestingly, concert films.”
The Sihoo Doro S300 promises a lot for an office chair. With springs all around for support, ultra-adjustable armrests and lumbar supports, and mesh upholstery, it attempts to be a shoe-in among the best ergonomic office chairs. While its features can work together well to find an ergonomic seating position, it all begins to fall apart as soon as you move out of that set position. And for an office chair that ranges in price from about $700 to $900, it really needs to be more comfortable in every position. After all, sitting stock still, no matter how ergonomic the position, isn’t a good thing.
Sihoo Doro S300 – Design and Features
Let’s start with the good. The Sihoo Doro S300 is a very attractive chair. The many steel elements lend it an air of luxury, and the sprung seat and lumbar supports look high-tech. The armrests are incredibly adjustable, showing most gaming chairs that “4D armrests” still aren’t hitting as many dimensions as they could. The armrests’ surfaces can swivel and slide independently from their supports, which can in turn swivel and angle upward, and the whole system is height adjustable, all without any buttons needing to be pressed to move them about. Getting the armrests to line up a desk surface is easy, and angling them toward a keyboard and mouse, just a keyboard for ergonomic typing, or inward toward a controller is also possible.
The seat, lumbar supports, and backrest all have a flexible mesh that’s supportive and breathable, which can certainly help during summer heat and sweaty gaming sessions. The seat can also slide forward and backward, helping users of different leg lengths find a comfortable fit with enough support for their upper legs without having the seat press into the backs of their knees. The chair sits on a height-adjustable piston that can raise the seat from 18.5 inches to 21.85 inches. The piston slots into a metal base, which is curiously the first I’ve ever encountered that required assembling the five legs around a separate hub. It comes together nicely, though it still looks a little cheaper than a single-piece base. The whole unit sits on fairly basic caster wheels with a metal center. The casters aren’t particularly stand-out hardware nor do they glide quite like the roller-blade style wheels I’ve seen used on the Mavix M9, for example.
What sets the Sihoo Doro S300 apart from its lower-tier S100 model design-wise is that the seat rests on four springs. The lumbar supports also have spring backings on both models, but the Doro S300’s lumber can swing forward and shift angle to add extra pressure. It also features a more spacious seat, more adjustable armrests, and a different bill of materials – more steel, less plastic.
The seatback is kind of the star of the show. The upper portion of the seatback can have its height adjusted simply by pulling it up. It latches into different notches as it’s raised, though once it tops out, it can slide back down to its lowest height. This can be tedious if you’re trying to reach the tallest setting but frequently overshoot on the adjustment. The arms adjust in this way as well.
Below the upper portion sit two independent lumbar supports. With these attached to springs, they can conform to the shape of your lower back. And they have a small piston of their own that will push them further into your lumbar. The controls for this piston sit right next to the lumbar supports on the right side.
A small dial in the control cluster underneath the seat unlocks reclining. It has three settings – one locks the chair upright, a second that lets the chair recline a relaxed 110 degrees, and a third that lets the seat swing back 130 degrees (which feels much further back). There’s no fully locking the chair at any of the reclined angles in between, which is a shame to see, especially as the 130-degree recline can feel a bit much at times. A dial allows adjusting the tension of the reclining mechanism, but even at its most tense, it feels a bit weak. With it looser, I felt like the backrest wasn’t even there and I’d fly out of the back of the chair.
Sihoo Doro S300 - Performance
In practice, the Sihoo Doro S300 is reasonably comfortable in its fully upright position for short bursts. I’m 6’3”, which is right at the upper limit of what the chair is designed for, and the seat is a little too narrow and too short, making the sides of my legs hit the plastic rim of the seat instead of resting entirely on the mesh. The back rest is also nowhere near tall enough to support my head if I feel like leaning back unless I want to stare at the ceiling. Shorter, smaller users will benefit more.
While the backrest can slide up quite a ways, the lumbar support remains in place, so it doesn’t effectively adjust to the backs of taller users. Between that and the inward curvature of the seatback, I feel the Sihoo Doro S300 fighting against me rather than helping me have an upright, open-chested posture.
There’s just too many ways that it doesn’t quite meet expectations in anything other than an upright posture.
There’s a lot going on with the Doro S300 adjustments – some of it clever and some of it not so well conceived. For instance, the armrests are incredibly adjustable and can certainly lend themselves to an ergonomic setup, but their angle is linked to the backrest angle. So if you recline the backrest to what the user manual indicates is the “normal office sitting posture,” you end up with the armrests angled upward. This means you can’t keep the armrest and desk surface aligned while reclined, and as a result, you either sit with your arms only slightly supported (which introduces extra pressure where they sit on the armrest) or have your arms tilted up, neither of which makes for ideal ergonomics when using a mouse and keyboard.
The armrests themselves have curving tops, which can work to support more of your arm if they’re positioned correctly, but it’s just as easy to end up with this support working against you. I often find I end up with my elbow jabbed by the back end of the armrests or end up with just the front of the cushion supporting my forearm, where its smaller contact patch puts a lot of pressure on the muscle. As good as these armrests can be in a static position that’s been carefully arranged, they can struggle to keep up with shifting postures and positions, and their extra ergonomics become hindrances if you’re not willing to dial them in just right after every move you make. Perhaps that explains why the Steelcase Gesture, for example, opted for flatter armrests.
While it’s great that the Sihoo Doro S300 can create an ergonomic arrangement with a desk, there’s just too many ways that it doesn’t quite meet expectations in anything other than an upright posture. The Mavix M9 has a lot of similarity with (optional) armrests that have tons of flexibility and an adaptive lumbar, and by being a bit simpler, it actually manages to pull it off better, even if it tends to be a bit more expensive. The Razer Fujin Pro also pulls off a similar design and gets a much stronger recommendation from us.
The show is a prequel to the events of the movies, set 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides and with showrunner and executive producer Alison Schapker telling the story of sisters from the House of Harkonnen and the birth of the sect that becomes the Bene Gesserit. A previous trailer told us: "The more influence our sisterhood gains, the more enemies we make."
During the panel it was revealed that spice plays an integral part in the world of Dune even at that point in the timeline and that dysfunctional family proved a key theme for the story. Schapker added the show focuses on "how power operates in the light and how power operates in the shadows. It can highlight some questions about power we have today.
"Expect a real look at the Bene Gesserit and a look behind the mystique. We certainly don't want to take away their mystique, but we do want to go behind closed doors and see how they operate."
Jessica Barden reveals that the Bene Gesserit were actually wearing Nike Airs on the Dune Prophecy set (which the audience won’t see). #NYCCpic.twitter.com/OtU67UDHwP
The cast boasts Emily Watson (Chernobyl, Red Dragon) and Olivia WIlliams (The Crown, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power) alongside rising stars like Jessica Barden (The End of the F***ing World) and Chloe Lea (Foundation). Australian actor Josh Heuston will appear as Constantine, so of the emperor with Vikings star Travis Fimmel as Desmond, a soldier with a mysterious past.
Director Denis Villeneuve is confirmed to be working on a third Dune movie, but with no official title or release date as yet, Dune: Prophecy could tide fans over until they get more Muad'dib.
The nascent God of War TV series previously announced for Prime Video is hitting the reset button. A report by Deadline separately confirmed by IGN reveals that Sony Pictures and Amazon MGM are planning to hire a new writers room following the departure of showrunner Rafe Judkins and executive producers Hawk Ostby and Mark Fergus, who are said to have written several scripts for the show's first season. According to the report, Sony and Amazon are apparently looking to take the series in a new creative direction, though it's unclear what that direction might be.
Indeed, little is known about the God of War TV series, which looks to still be early in development after first being announced back in 2022. The original announcement revealed that it would be a live-action series set in the Norse realm of MIdgard, putting it firmly in the God of War 2018 era. Judkins, who is also showrunner on The Wheel of Time, was confirmed to be helming the show, with Sony Santa Monica creative director Cory Barlog service as an executive producer.
In an early 2024 update, Sony confirmed that writing was underway on the God of War series, though it revealed no additional info. While Judkins has since departed, IGN understands that Barlog is still involved with the show as an executive producer. Judkins, for his part, remains on an overall deal with Sony Pictures and is focusing on new development in addition to his work on The Wheel of Time. One way or another, it seems as it'll be a while before we finally get to see Kratos in live action, though IGN understands that Sony Pictures and Prime Video are still commited to continuing development.
In the meantime, work continues apace on adaptations of PlayStation's other franchises. The Last of Us Season 2, which released its first trailer in September, is expected to be out in September. PlayStation is also working on a live-action Ghost of Tsushima movie.
If you haven’t watched this week’s episode of Agatha All Along yet, “Familiar by Thy Side,” and panic-clicked into this article, don’t worry, Billy Maximoff isn’t dead. But, based on this latest installment, it seems that young William Kaplan — the young man whose body Billy took over — sure seems to be.
After the hex on Westview fell in WandaVision, Billy and Tommy’s bodies were gone. Their spirits, however, remain on our plane, finding new hosts after Wanda’s dream of a normal family unit comes to an end. Moments before the hex fell, the Kaplan family ended up in a terrible car accident that killed William, allowing for Billy’s soul to hop right on in. When he wakes up in the hospital, he has none of William’s memories, just a family who loves him, some curious powers, and a concerning lack of memory of his own past.
Folks familiar with Billy’s comic book origins know that this is close enough to his (and Tommy’s) origin, but I’m quite surprised that they stuck with it for Agatha All Along. The MCU is well-known for tweaking story origins and adjusting characters to their needs, and the Maximoff twins’ tale is more complicated than I figured the average MCU viewer would have the patience for. But, while much of the episode was rehashing familiar territory, it still had plenty of twists and tricks up its sleeve.
Before we get to the tricks, please join me, IGN’s resident witch, as we take a look at the craftiest moment of the night: The Tower reversed.
What Does The Tower Reversed Mean for Billy Maximoff?
Part of the purpose of “Familiar by Thy Side” was showing that Billy (a.k.a. Wiccan in the comics) had ties with the coven all along, but none of those ties are as important as the one with Lilia Calderu (Patti Lupone). He meets the witch at his bar mitzvah, where she is giving psychic readings. Calderu gives William two reads: that his life line is split in two (which fans can easily infer on their own) and the tarot card The Tower reversed.
Upright, The Tower essentially means chaos and destruction. This would be another easy read for Kaplan’s future, given that his body will soon be literally teeming with chaos magic. However, when a tarot card is reversed, it essentially has the opposite meaning. Unfortunately for William, that still doesn’t necessarily mean good news.
The Tower reversed can have a lot of meanings: you’ll narrowly avoid disaster (which is an easy read for William given that his body gets to go on living) or you’re delaying the inevitable. It can also mean that you need to meet your fate head on and, devastatingly for Billy, it can be a warning not to try to get back what you once had and to create something new instead.
Each card in a tarot deck can mean different things for different aspects of your life as well. In a bit of morbid humor from the writers, if they meant it that way, The Tower reversed can mean that a health scare that you were worrying too much about may ultimately end up to be nothing serious. Boy died, but hey! He came back. Kinda.
Pulling The Tower in any form, or creating a “Tower event,” basically just means that you come out the other side of your inevitable future irrevocably changed but ultimately intact. So, y’know… good job Agatha All Along writers room!
As for what this means for Billy Maximoff vs. William Kaplan, it’s essentially his rebirth. Though I suspect the young hero will have plenty of other Tower events in his future.
The Return of Ralph Bohner
I don’t care if you had fun with the Bohner joke when it occurred back in WandaVision or took it as a deep offense to your fandom, Evan Peters’ Ralph Bohner returning and Agatha Harkness wearing a shirt that says “Bohner Family Reunion: Pitch a Tent” is comedy gold.
Ultimately, Bohner’s return doesn’t have any real bearing on the show moving forward. It was largely just the impetus for Billy finding Agatha and sending their makeshift coven down the road. But, there’s something clever about a Maximoff trying to find their long lost brother and, once again, stumbling upon Ralph Bohner. I’m sorry, I am pro this bit. It makes me witch-cackle every time.
Oh, and we also learned that he killed Sparky. But it was still under Agatha’s command so she still gets the blame.
Billy looking for Tommy rather than Wanda makes plenty of sense, especially given that they do seem to be sticking relatively close to the pair’s origin story. They gotta find each other before they start the hunt for mommy. This shift does, unfortunately, eliminate a lot of my hope that we’ll see Wanda in the finale. But the fact that we’ll meet an older, new version of Tommy and likely see his alter ego Speed before it’s all said and done helps take out some of the sting!
Is William Kaplan Still Alive?
I regret to inform you that William Kaplan is very much dead. Or, if we’re being generous, is basically a zombie? Billy’s soul, William’s body, bam: teen witch! (Wiccan.)
While there could be a future where the writers elect to have Billy start to hear whispers of his “former self,” it’s been three years since the accident and that change seems unlikely. It’s a more interesting story to have him start to remember clips of his life before the Westview hex fell. But Billy does tell his boyfriend Eddie (Miles Gutierrez-Riley) that he’s “not Willaim Kaplan, at least not entirely.” So there’s always some wiggle room there!
Here's your chance to get one of the best OLED TVs on the market at an amazing price. Right now, Samsung is offering its 65" Samsung S90C 4K OLED Smart TV for only $1,299.99 after a massive 50% price drop. Free shipping is offered for select zip codes, but you can also pick it up in-store at your local Best Buy. This is an excellent TV to pair up with your PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X. In fact, this TV could even be a better gaming TV than the LG C4. Although we haven't personally tested it, RTINGS has and they mention that "the LG (C4) is noticeably dimmer in Game Mode while the Samsung (S90C) isn't, making the Samsung the better choice for gamers."
65" Samsung S90C 4K OLED Smart TV for $1299.99
The Samsung S90C is a 2023 model (superseded by the S90D for 2024) and was considered one of the best OLED TVs on the market last year, superior to even the LG C3. The S90C uses Samsung's proprietary quantum dot (QD) OLED panel. QD OLED panels are brighter than traditional OLED panels without losing the color accuracy, range, and wide-viewing angles that OLEDs are known for. It's generally considered superior to LG's "Evo" technology found on the C-series TVs, which attempt to do the same thing. Compared to a traditional LED LCD TV, an OLED TV offers superior image quality, near-infinite blacks, near-infinite contrast ratio, and near-instantaneous response times. At the moment, there's no better panel technology that's readily available at a reasonable price.
OLED technology aside, the Samsung S90C also has all the features you'd want in a gaming TV. It has a native 120Hz panel that can be pushed to as high as 144Hz (rare in a 2023 TV) as well as four total HDMI 2.1 ports for running 4K at 120Hz on a PS5 or Xbox Series X. The S90C also supports variable refresh rate and auto low latency mode.
Despite being a generation old, the S90C is still easily one of the best gaming TVs on the market right now. It's currently priced the same as this 65" LG C3 4K OLED TV deal. If I had to choose, I'd go with this TV over the LG C3. If you're looking for alternative discounted TV options such as a less expensive TV or one of a different size, check out the rest of the best TV deals.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
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