Last week, Microsoft revealed an official remake of the first Halo game in Unreal Engine 5, called Halo: Campaign Evolved. So, here are two videos that compare this remake with the remastered and original versions of Halo: Combat Evolved. These videos will give you an idea of the changes between the remake, the remaster, and … Continue reading Halo Original vs Remaster vs Remake Graphics Comparison→
After another round of price hikes, it's worth paying closer attention to what Disney+ is offering its subscribers. Over the course of November, the streamer will get a selection of holiday-themed picks, particularly from the likes of Food Network, as well as a decent spread of rom-coms. From the MCU, we'll get the streaming release for Fantastic Four: First Steps, while a documentary about James Cameron's Avatar movies should give us a glimpse at Fire and Ash. And, of course, there's plenty of Disney Jr. series too.
Here's the full breakdown of what's hitting Disney+ in November.
Everything Coming to Disney+ in November
Ongoing Series
Several series will release new episodes on Disney+ throughout November. Dancing With the Stars continues in its 34th season, with new episodes streaming on Tuesdays until the winner is crowned on November 25. Disney Twisted-Wonderland, the villain-themed anime, will get new episodes every Wednesday. Subscribers will also sporadically see new episodes from Marvel’s “Amazing Friends” Disney Jr. series.
November 1
CoComelon JJ’s Animal Time S1-3
Joy to the World
Starting off the month, the youngins will get several seasons of the animal-themed CoComelon series. Joy to the World, a collaboration with Hulu, kicks off the rom-com holiday season with a classic “pretend to be my boyfriend, oops now we're in love for real” scheme.
November 5
Fantastic Four: First Steps
Disney Twisted Wonderland: The Animation (New Episode)
The big MCU streaming release of the month. First Steps introduced us to the MCU’s take on the Fantastic Four in a retro-futuristic version of the '60s. Clint Gage highlights the cast themselves in his review for IGN, describing a certain "charisma to each of them individually and chemistry between them all.” Definitely worth a watch, especially for anyone trying to do their homework before next year’s Avengers: Doomsday.
November 7
Fire and Water: Making the Avatar Films
Life-Size
Love+War
The Worst Trip Around the World
Seventeen: Our Chapter
It’s documentary time. As you can glean from the title, Fire and Water will take a deep dive into the making of Avatar: The Way of Water while also, I imagine, giving us some fresh information about the upcoming sequel, Avatar: Fire and Ash. Love+War, another documentary from National Geographic, celebrates the work of photojournalist Lynsey Addario.
The theme continues with SEVENTEEN: Our Chapter, which follows the 13-member K-pop boy group preparing for a string of temporary absences. After premiering on November 7, new episodes will be released weekly on Fridays.
November 8
2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - 8pm ET/11pm PT
You’ll be able to watch this year’s induction ceremony through Disney+ starting at 8pm ET. Honorees include Outkast, the White Stripes, Soundgarden, and Cyndi Lauper.
November 12
Marvel’s Iron Man and his Amazing Friends (New Episodes)
Freakier Friday
The lega-sequel to 1999’s iconic body switch flick, Freakier Friday is coming to Disney+ a relatively standard three months after its initial release in theaters. In her review of the movie for IGN, Petrana Radulovic’s candid take was that "some of it slogs along, but thanks to Lohan and Curtis’s stellar performances and the underlying emotional strength of the story, the movie is a worthy sequel.”
November 14
Madame Web
Botched Bariatrics
LEGO Marvel Avengers: Strange Tails
A Very Jonas Christmas Movie
Oh, Madame Web. Released as part of the Sony Spider-verse, which has reportedly been put to rest, Madame Web achieved near "It’s Morbin’ Time" levels of online notoriety. Francesca Rivera’s review for IGN doesn’t hold back in calling the film a “waste of talent,” but as someone who did pay money to see this in theaters, I think watching it at home with friends and no expectations could be a good time.
We’re also getting a new LEGO Marvel Avengers special. We don’t have too much information about it, other than a promotional image that shows a pretty massive spread of Marvel characters in plastic brick form. And yes, there is a Jo-Bros Christmas movie.
November 18
Me and Mickey: In the Clubhouse S4 (New Episodes)
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ (New Episodes)
Disney has taken a few different approaches to modernizing its classic Mickey Mouse Clubhouse series. The Me and Mickey series, entering its fourth season, is a more interactive “vlogging” style with shorter-form videos. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ was just revived on Disney Jr. this past July, with a similar structure to the original series but with the addition of some new characters and hangout areas.
November 21
Biography: Dolly Parton
Gypsy Rose: Life After Lockup
Seventeen: Our Chapter (New Episode)
Wrath: A Seven Deadly Sins Story
A Day Late and a Dollar Short
A House on Fire
Tempting Fate
This one’s an interesting spread. We get documentaries about country icon Dolly Parton, as well as another update on Gypsy Rose. Otherwise, Disney+ is getting a spread of TV movies, including Lifetime’s Wrath installment in their Seven Deadly Sins series and the network's adaptation of A Day Late and a Dollar Short.
November 22
Christmas Cookie Challenge
My personal favorite “holiday” series are all the baking and cooking specials, so thank you Food Network for offering up your Christmas Cookie Challenge.
November 24
Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember
Chris Hemsworth and his father Craig take a road trip across Australia, exploring how memories and their bond can help Craig’s battle with Alzheimer’s.
November 25
Dancing With the Stars S34 - Finale
November 26
The Beatles Anthology
Chibi Tiny Tales S5
Kiff S2 (New Episodes)
Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends (New Episodes)
Disney+ will be releasing the restored and remastered episodes from the hallmark Beatles Anthology docu-series over the course of three days. The streamer will also be getting new episodes from Kiff, Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends, and the most recent spread of Chibi Tiny Tales shorts.
November 27
The Beatles Anthology (New Episodes)
November 28
The Beatles Anthology (New Episodes)
Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol
The fifth addition to Disney’s Prep & Landing animated TV special series will arrive on streaming the day after airing on the Disney Channel. An elf, Wayne, revisits his career working for Santa after a mission in the North Pole goes off the rails.
November 29
Holiday Baking Championship
The Food Network series returns for its 12th season, bringing 10 bakers from across America to compete in a series of holiday-themed challenges. This year, bakers will be split into “Naughty” and “Nice” teams.
New Disney+ Streams
Disney+ streams are exclusive to Premium subscribers, offering a 24/7 run of themed episodes or specific series (a full circle to cable, in some ways). On November 4, Disney+ will launch “Seasons Streaming,” featuring a run of both Thanksgiving and holiday-themed episodes and movies. “Throwback” will launch on November 5, featuring a constant feed of Disney’s “greatest hits” from 2010 and earlier.
Reminder: Disney+ Subscriptions Are More Expensive Now
On October 21, all Disney+ plans increased by around $2-3/month, meaning you will see a higher charge on your account in November and going forward. You can check out our full breakdown of Disney+ pricing (including bundles), or see offers through Disney+ below. If the price hike is making you second guess the subscription, I won’t judge you for taking a look at how to cancel.
Playground Basketball is a competitive Roblox experience, where you'll be able to shoot hoops in the city, on the court, or at the park. Whether you're going 1v1 or 2v2, you'll need to create and customize a character. They can specialize in athleticism, dunking, ball handling, and more, all in the hopes of becoming the best player. So while you concentrate on scoring, we'll help you get the codes you need for additional coins.
Working Playground Basketball Codes
The following codes have been tested and are active:
UPDATE1 - 4,500 Coins
THANKSFOR2500LIKES - 1,500 Coins
How to Use Playground Basketball Codes
Before you're able to redeem Playground Basketball codes, you'll need to like the game and join the group for Playground Basketball | Community. Then, launch the experience and follow these steps:
Look for the icons in the top right corner of the screen. One of these is a blue gift box.
Click on the gift box to bring up the codes menu
Copy the code from this article and then paste it into the bar
Press redeem and receive your rewards!
Expired Playground Basketball Codes
The following codes can no longer be redeemed. Be sure to use the codes above before they expire!
SORRYFORBUGS
Why Isn't My Playground Basketball Code Working?
Codes for Roblox experiences are usually case-sensitive, so the best way to ensure you've got a working code is to directly copy it from this article. We check all codes before we upload them, so you can guarantee they're working. Just double-check that you haven't copied over an extra space!
When Is the Next Playground Basketball Update?
Playground Basketball is already planning their second update, and like lots of Roblox experiences, it's getting into the spooky season. Update 2 for Playground Basketball will launch a Halloween event, along with new Halloween currency and haunting rewards.
Lauren Harper is an Associate Guides Editor. She loves a variety of games but is especially fond of puzzles, horrors, and point-and-click adventures.
Without fail, LEGO puts out new sets each month, but November is about as light a month as I’ve seen when it comes to new releases. That’s cool, though, because the two sets coming out in November (and their accompanying free Gifts With Purchase) are great. Plus, if you want lots of sets, check out October's LEGO releases, which were numerous. Anyway, let’s dive in to November's fresh new LEGO sets.
LEGO Ideas: The Goonies
The 1985 movie The Goonies is one of those enduring classics that both adults and kids can appreciate equally. On the back side of this set, you get a recreation of the Inferno pirate ship. On the front side, you’ll find the Fratellis’ hideaway, caves, and One-Eyed Willy’s treasure room. As you might expect, these rooms are packed with booby traps and Easter eggs from the movie.
The Goonies GWP - The Walshes’ Attic
And as an added bonus, if you buy this set between between November 1 - 7, while supplies last, you’ll receive The Goonies: The Walshes’ Attic as a free Gift With Purchase (GWP).
LEGO Tropical Aquarium
This set reminds me of the LEGO Botanicals line, because it’s a decorative set aimed at adults, and that it takes a lot less maintenance and upkeep than its real-life counterpart. This sizable build gets you a colorful, three-dimensional aquarium, complete with swimming fish and plenty of underwater flora that move in realistic ways when you operate hidden levers. The best part is, you don’t have to feed the fish or clean the aquarium.
Tropical Aquarium GWP - Fish Tank Filter & Fish Food Set
And once again as an added bonus, if you buy LEGO Tropical Aquarium between November 13 and November 19, and you’ll get a free Fish Tank Filter & Fish Food set as a GWP.
Gift With Purchase - LEGO Disney Classic Animation Scenes
Spend $130 or more on the LEGO Store between now and November 11, and you’ll get LEGO Classic Animation Scenes for free. The set is valued at $19.99 and is an old-school CRT television, complete with knobs and bunny ears. It comes with three inserts you can use for what’s being displayed on the TV. One is the Disney castle logo, which plays before every Disney movie. The other two are miniature scenes from Toy Story and The Lion King. Not a bad freebie at all, but it’s only available during the brief window, and while supplies last.
Double Insider Points on LEGO Ideas: Italian Riviera
The one other promotion at the LEGO Store is that, between now and November 3, if you buy LEGO Ideas: Italian Riviera, you'll get double the Insider points. So instead of the usual 1,950, you'll get 3,900.
This year’s Black Friday set hasn’t been announced yet, but rumor has it that it will be the Star Trek set LEGO has teased. If you don’t mind possible spoilers, some leaks suggest it will be the USS Enterprise-D, the ship from Star Trek: The Next Generation.
LEGO Sets Available for Preorder
Since November’s pickings are fairly slim, it’s worth looking ahead to sets scheduled to release in the coming months.
Fans of the 2006 Pixar animated film Cars can preorder their very own LEGO Lightning McQueen set, coming in January.
LEGO Back to the Future Time Machine
In celebration of the franchise's 40th anniversary, Back to the Future is getting a new LEGO set based on the DeLorean Time Machine. I love the scaled-down scope of it, along with the price.
And before we go, make sure to prepare yourself both mentally and physically for the LEGO Store Black Friday sale, which is far more restrained than many other retailers.
Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN's board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Bluesky.
In an age where digital platforms can pull culturally beloved content from their sites and kick films and TV series between each other seemingly at random, there’s never been a better time to commit to physical media. Not only does owning your content ensure you’ll have access no matter what the business papers say that day, but it also means you can tune out and enjoy a viewing without worrying about buffering, system outages, or connectivity issues. So, with a Blu-ray comeback on the menu, and every retailer vying for your previous dollars, we’ve rounded up a list of the best places to buy Blu-rays online.
The Criterion Collection
The Criterion Collection started out in the 1980s as a simple distribution company. Over the years, the brand has expanded its scope, earning itself icon status among cinephiles for preserving essential pieces of film history. As you might expect, the online shop is the best place to buy hard-to-find cult titles you’re unlikely to find in traditional brick-and-mortar stores and retailers. Plus, where mainstream content is concerned, you can also find plenty of gorgeous collector's editions to flesh out your Blu-ray display, like The Wes Anderson Archive, which includes the ten films the esoteric maestro has released over 25 years, organised into one delightfully twee package.
Amazon
You can’t really mention online shopping without talking about the behemoth that is Amazon. Boasting a monster-sized collection of limited edition Blu-rays and 4K boxsets all the same, Amazon hosts one of the most definitive catalogues of Blu-rays to buy online. Alongside special releases and steelbooks, you can also find numerous collector's editions, which come with art books and accessories. For example, a new release of Walter Hill’s dystopian action film, The Warriors, is now available for pre-order, featuring photocards, a movie poster, and other unique items.
Walmart
Like Amazon, Walmart is a titan of online retail, offering avid buyers a wide range of products to browse, from washing machines to Halloween decorations and Blu-ray discs. As is to be expected, the collection of physical media on the site is gargantuan, with many releases receiving multiple options like 4K versions, steelbooks, and collector’s editions, too. In addition to preorder options and site exclusives, Walmart also collates its bargains into subcategories like ‘$5 and Under’ and ‘Movie Deals’ for easy deal-based browsing.
Barnes & Noble
I know what you’re thinking – isn’t Barnes & Noble a bookshop? The short answer is yes. However, nestled next to essential reads like The Lord of the Rings and Twilight, you can also find a solid catalogue of Blu-rays from Robert Eggers' gothic vampire flick Nosferatu, to Hayao Miyazaki’s iconic isekai Spirited Away, and everything in between. Located in the Music and Movie section on the top bar of the site, Barnes & Noble categorizes its alternative media into multiple sections to browse, often featuring a discounted titles section perfect for bagging a bargain.
Zavvi
A home for LEGO, graphic tees, and collectors' items, Zavvi is a haven for pop culture enthusiasts online. As such, you can find a solid range of Blu-rays, including a selection of store exclusives, like a special edition of Marvel’s Deadpool 2, which features an image-shifting lenticular cover. If you’re looking to expand your physical media collection but operating on a budget, Zavvi also offers a carousel of coupons, including discounts, free shipping, and multi-buy deals.
eBay
If you aren’t bothered about brand new, eBay is a great place to find a deal or a special edition item that’s no longer available in retail stores. eBay is a place for personal sellers and shops to hawk their goods, and you can often find a decent selection of Blu-rays for reasonable prices. Best of all, eBay’s international footprint enables you to make purchases from other countries – just be sure to check the region code on the item before diving in. Of course, when purchasing second-hand items, there are always risks to consider, so it’s essential to buy with caution and thoroughly vet sellers before making a purchase. Thankfully, if you do encounter issues, eBay offers online support that may help facilitate refunds.
Upcoming Releases We're Excited About
If you’re looking for the latest releases in Blu-ray land, be sure to check out our list of Upcoming 4K UHD and Blu-ray Release Dates. It features releases for new film titles like Fantastic Four, as well as cult favorites like Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, and cartoon classics like Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology. Plus, if you’re a bargain hunter looking for tips, our guide to the best time to buy 4K and Blu-ray movies at a discount every year is sure to have you covered.
Ahead of Black Friday, Amazon dropped prices on official Xbox wireless controllers in Robot White and Carbon Black to just $39.99, which is impressive considering the fact that Microsoft raised the retail price of all of its controllers earlier in May. I recommend getting the Carbon Black model because it also includes a bonus USB Type-C charging cable. Not only are these the best controllers for the Xbox at this price, they're also one of the best PC gaming controllers.
Xbox Wireless Controllers for $39.99
These Xbox wireless controllers are identical to the one that's bundled with the Xbox Series X and S console. Standard features include textured grips, hybrid D-pad, button mapping with the Xbox app, a 3.5mm audio jack that works with any wired headset, and a Share button to upload screenshots and video.
The controller supports both Xbox wireless and Bluetooth connectivity. That means you can use it for your PC or mobile device. In fact, we think this is the the best PC controller you can get. If your PC doesn't have Bluetooth, you can still use it in wired mode with a USB Type-C cable or go out and buy a Bluetooth or Xbox wireless adapter.
Breaker Edition Xbox Controllers on Sale for $53.99
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.
Audible's holiday promotion for 2025 is now live. Through December 16, new and returning Audible subscribers can sign up for three months of Audible Premium Plus for just $0.99 per month. You will need to be logged into your Amazon Prime membershp to see this promotion. After the three months is up, your subscription will convert to the standard $14.95/mo, so make sure to cancel beforehand if you don't want to continue with the service. You also get a free audiobook of your choice for each of those three months that you get to keep indefinitely even after your subscription expires.
3 Free Months of Audible Premium Plus
Audible is a subscription service that gives you access to hundreds of thousands of the best audiobooks without ever having to purchase them. There are two paid membership plans: the lower tier Audible Plus ($7.95/mo) and the higher tier Audible Premium Plus ($14.95/mo). The biggest difference between the two is the size of the audiobook library. Whereas Audible Plus only lets you listen to a selection of about 10,000 audiobooks, the Audible Premium Plus plan gives you access to a whopping 500,000 audiobooks.
Premium Plus includes other perks as well. Every month Premium Plus members get to pick one audiobook to keep in their library indefinitely, even after the membership expires. Also, Premium Plus members can get 30% off any additional audiobooks they wish to purchase in addition to exclusive limited-time discounts.
If you were already planning to purchase a couple of audiobooks, then it makes more sense to pay less than $3 to get three audiobooks you get to keep indefinitely and enjoy all the benefits of Audible Premium Plus for three months. This deal only pops up a few times per year, so don't waste your "first-time subscriber" eligibility status on a short 30-day trial.
Catch up the the latest novel releases, audiobook style
Several best-selling new and recent releases are available in an audiobook format and part of Audible's Premium Plus subscription plan. Sunrise on the Reaping, the latest Hunger Games novel, is narrated by Jefferson White, who you may already know from Yellowstone where he played Jimmy Hudstrom. The audiobook has a listening time of about 12 hours and 48 minutes. Stephen King released his Never Flinch crime novel in May 27 and it's also available as a nearly 15-hour long audiobook narrated by veteran Jessie Mueller. If you're a fan of Brandon Sanderson, check out Wind and Truth, book five of the popular The Stormlight Archive series. It was released in December of 2024 and runs an epic 63 hours long.
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.
OLED TVs are considered the best TVs for gaming, but they can also be very expensive. Fortunately, LG has a B-series OLED lineup that's hundreds of dollars cheaper than its other OLED TVs while still offering incredible image quality and gaming performance. Even better, LG has already discounted one particular TV to "Black Friday pricing". Right now you can pick up the 65" LG B5 4K OLED Smart TV for just $999.99 with free delivery. LG is even offering a free TV wall mount when you add it to the same order. The B5 is a current generation 2025 TV that can play PS5 games to their fullest potential.
Note that Amazon has price matched the TV, however you do not get the wall mount.
65" LG B5 4K OLED Smart TV for $999.99
Free wall mount (must add to the same order)
The LG B5 is equipped with a W-OLED panel that boasts superior image quality compared to non-OLED TVs thanks to its near-infinite contrast ratio, near-instantaneous response times, and ability to produce true blacks. Compared to the LG C-series TVs, it lacks the Evo technology which means it isn't as bright as an more expensive C5 model, however, it's very similar to the previous generation's C4 because the generational performance improvement closes the gap.
The LG B5 is an excellent gaming TV for the PlayStation 5 console because it has a native 120Hz panel and four HDMI 2.1 ports. That means it will properly display games running in 4K resolution at up to 120fps. The LG B5 also supports variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low latency mode (ALLM).
Is the LG B5 OLED TV a good TV for the Nintendo Switch 2?
Despite being a current generation console, the Nintendo Switch 2 has lax TV requirements compared to the PS5 or Xbox Series X. When the Switch is connected to its dock and a television, it is only capable of outputting a 4K resolution signal at up to 60 frames per second. Oddly, it doesn’t even get VRR when docked – that’s reserved for handheld mode only. All that aside, the Switch 2 will still benefit from an OLED TV's overall image quality, just like how the Switch OLED looks better than the original Switch, despite the fact that the screens share similar specs.
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.
For one week only, Best Buy has brought back one of the best high-end gaming headset deals of the year. Right now you can pick up the SteelSeries Arctis Pro for PlayStation and PC for just $149.99, which is nearly 50% off its retail price of $280. Best Buy is the only retailer selling it at this price. The Arctis Pro was SteelSeries' highest-end gaming headset before the Nova Pro was released and is one of the only wireless gaming headsets on the market with hot-swappable batteries. Note that although the packaging doesn't explicitly mention it, Steelseries confirms that it's PS5 compatible.
SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless Gaming Headset for $149.99
The Arctis Pro is a very high-end gaming headset and as such, it boasts features you don't see in other gaming headsets. These include a separate, external control hub with OLED display, simultaneous Bluetooth and 2.4GHz WiFi pairing, and its signature perk: the hot-swappable battery system. SteelSeries includes two batteries: one that's in use in your headset and the other that's charging in the base station. This way, you get wireless freedom with no waiting to recharge.
Audio quality is also excellent thanks to big 40mm speaker drivers that deliver plenty of volume with little distortion and plenty of EQ presets via the Steelseries GG app, as well as the option to create your own. The ClearCast boom microphone features background noise cancelation and can be retracted when not in use. The Arctis Pro features as good a build quality as you'll find in a SteelSeries headset. It's mostly made of a combination of steel and aluminum alloy, and the headband has a durable steel core while still being elastic for adjustability.
The ear cushions are made of a breathable AirWeave performance fabric that's found on the Actis Nova 7 headsets. I actually prefer these to the earcups on the newer Arctis Nova Pro headset. The Arctis Nova Pro features noise canceling, but the unfortunate side effect is that it uses a less breathable faux leather material to create a tighter seal on the ears. That also your ears get sweatier during long gaming sessions.
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.
Ahead of the holiday season, the official LG Store just dropped the price on a current generation LG OLED TV. Right now you can order a massive 77" LG Evo C5 4K OLED Smart TV for $1,999.99 with free delivery, which also includes your choice of free stand setup or free wall mounting. LG is also offering a free LG S40T 2.1ch soundbar and TV wall mount when you add them to the same order. If you can't wait until Black Friday, this is a great deal on a 2025 OLED TV.
Note that Amazon has price matched the TV, however you do not get the soundbar or wall mount.
77" LG Evo C5 4K OLED Smart TV for $1,999.99
Free LG S40T 2.1ch soundbar and wall mount (must add to the same order)
LG's OLED TVs have been our favorite TVs for console gaming for three years running thanks to their outstanding image quality, low input lag, and high refresh rate. The 2025 C5 uses LG's proprietary Evo panel, which is significantly brighter and offers a wider color gamut than traditional W-OLED TVs. Aside from higher production costs, there's no downside to this technology; the C5 boasts the near-infinite black levels, near-infinite contrast ratio, and near-instantaneous response times you'd expect from any OLED TV This is easily the best TV for streaming 4K HDR content in its intended glory.
The LG C5 has the necessary gaming features as well, including a native 120Hz panel that can be pushed to as high as 144Hz, HDMI 2.1 inputs for running PS5 games in 4K at up to 120fps, variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low latency mode (ALLM). The C5 is also lightweight for its size because the rear cabinet housing is made of a composite fiber; for example, this 65" model weighs only 36 pounds without the stand, making it much easier to wall mount.
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.
Ahead of the holiday season, Dell is offering an Alienware Aurora R16 gaming desktop equipped with the GeForce RTX 5080 graphics card for as low as $2,045 with free delivery. Most RTX 5080 prebuilts you'll find elsewhere, including the more affordable brands you find on Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart, are priced closer to $2,400 and up. That's impressive considering Alienware usually commands a higher price premium. Such a system would have cost as much as $3,000 at the beginning of the year, but Nvidia GeForce RTX 50 prices have been trending downwards lately.
Alienware Aurora RTX 5080 Gaming PC From $2,045
This $2,045 configuration system is equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265F CPU, GeForce RTX 5080 GPU, 16GB of DDR5-5600MHz RAM, and a 1TB M.2 SSD. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265F has a max turbo frequency of 5.3GHz with 20 cores and a 36MB L2 cache. It's cooled by a 240mm AIO liquid cooling system. The system is run off a 1,000W power supply.
This system is customizable and the CPU, RAM, and storage can all be upgraded. For example, you can choose the more powerful Intel Core Ultra 9 285K processor, which boasts a higher clock speed and core count, for an extra $300. Another upgrade is a 2TB SSD (from the stock 1TB) for an extra $50.
The GeForce RTX 5080 GPU will run any game in 4K
Performance-wise, the RTX 5080 is no slouch. It's one of the fastest cards on the market, bested only by the $2,000 RTX 5090 and the discontinued $1,600 RTX 4090. This is a phenomenal card for playing the latest, most demanding games in 4K resolution at high settings and ray tracing enabled. The RTX 5080 supports DLSS 4 with multi-frame generation, which means you can push even more frames out of games that support the technology with minimal visual compromise. Recent games that support it include Doom: The Dark Ages, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Borderlands 4, Stellar Blade, and Battlefield 6. Check out our Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 FE review for our hands-on impressions.
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.
I thought I was only going to play five or six hours of ARC Raiders on launch day before sitting down to write this initial review in progress, but after just a handful of matches, I suddenly couldn’t pull myself away – and before I realized it, I’d been playing for 10 hours. This is without question the most hooked I’ve found myself on an extraction shooter (and I’ve played a lot of them), with clean and tense gunplay, a progression system that’s been incredibly satisfying so far, and a loot game that has me sweating over what to put in my backpack and what to leave behind. I’ve still got loads more to do and see before I can draw any final conclusions, but what I have played has made an incredibly good first impression.
ARC Raiders follows the usual extraction shooter formula of dropping you into a zone to take down NPC enemies and scramble for loot, all while looking over your shoulder for rival crews who would love nothing more than to crack you open like a meat pinata and take everything you’ve collected. From what I’ve seen so far, ARC Raiders hasn’t done much to iterate on those fundamentals, but it does absolutely nail them, and that’s harder to do than it might sound – for example, a big budget attempt like Battlefield 2042’s Hazard Zone mostly fell flat, and the alpha for Bungie's Marathon landed with such a thud it was delayed indefinitely.
One of the main ways it succeeds is in its stressful gunplay, where weapons only have a few rounds in each magazine, take a good deal of time to reload, and the robotic NPCs are either much faster than you or can rain down missiles to take you out in a single blast. This means I’m usually feeling like a rodent sneaking around to scavenge food and supplies from the world before slinking back to base – but when combat does break out, it’s charged with delightful anxiety thanks to the high-risk, high-reward situation of knowing you’re either about to lose everything you’ve fought for or grab some awesome gear off the corpses of those you’ve bested. This includes both AI-controlled and human players, as both can be found and fought out in the world, though it’s best to avoid either of them unless you know you’ve brought the gear and skills required for a fight. That’s because firing a shot has a good chance of drawing all robot enemies and loot-hungry players to your position, taking advantage of your vulnerability to do as much damage as possible.
All four of the maps I’ve seen so far have very cool and distinct vibes to them, from the ruined husk of a waterlogged dam to a city buried in red sand. It’s a good thing that they’re so great to look at, too, because you’ll spend a whole lot of time trekking back and forth across them in search of loot. I still feel like I haven’t seen most of the nooks and crannies of these areas, despite having played on them for dozens of matches already, but they are starting to feel a little familiar to me. Here’s hoping they’ve still got secrets to uncover that expand the amount of time I’m willing to spend on each.
As I work toward exploring every last zone, one thing I’m still looking for is an enemy combatant I haven’t faced yet (aside from the massive tanks, which I’m just steering clear of at this early stage). Most of my NPC combat encounters have been against the small roly poly bots and flying drones that are fairly easy to destroy, with my fellow players being the only proper challenge so far. I’m looking forward to the point where I’m powerful enough to actually engage with some of the chonkier enemies more seriously, but it still would have been nice to have a wider variety of low level AI combatants to shake up the early game a bit.
Thankfully, even as maps and enemies have begun to feel familiar, that hasn’t dampened my desire to play just because of how good the loot and progressions systems are. Every run, win or lose, has me excited to return to the cozy sanctuary of Speranza, where I can chat with vendors, turn in and accept new quests, upgrade my facilities that allow me to craft items and gain access to new upgrades, customize my character’s appearance, and spend skill points that make me slightly better at things like keeping quiet while rifling through loot during matches. There’s so much to do and unlock that I truly feel I’ve only scratched the surface in this regard, and that’s kept me glued to my controller and eager to dive into new matches.
Anyway, there’s still lots to do and robots to slay, so I’ll be headed back out to the wastes for more just as soon as I’m finished typing. You can expect a full, scored review early next week!
Many of the best Black Friday sales won't begin until later in November, but if you're looking to do some furniture shopping right now, Wayfair's early sale has already arrived. These discounts arrive at the same time as Best Buy's early Black Friday sale, signalling the official start of holiday deals shopping for major online retailers.
It's still very early in the shopping season, so I'd expect more official sales to start as early as next week. In the meantime, the Wayfair early Black Friday sale has up to 70% off home office furniture, TV stands, and discounts on Christmas trees. If you're looking for savings on anything for your home, these discounts are worth a look this weekend.
This Wayfair sale runs now until November 9. Wayfair always has a larger Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale, which will likely begin the weekend before Thanksgiving.
What's Included in the Wayfair Sale?
There are thousands of items currently marked down for this sale from pretty much every category. The discounts look fairly similar to what we saw during the Labor Day sale earlier this year. To help you find what you're looking for, I've put together some quick links to each major sale by category:
There are more categories with discounts going on, but these were the ones that looked to have the best overall selection. Some of the top deals I could find were on wall art, which I've found to be more expensive than a lot of furniture in some cases, depending on your tastes. I also wanted to point out the indoor recreation category includes things like pool tables, foosball tables, and shuffle board tables that are perfect for any game room. And for those looking for video game storage or a place to house all of your books, the storage sale is great for that.
Should You Buy Now or Wait for Black Friday?
Early Black Friday sales are usually a bit of a mixed bag. Retailers know that most shoppers will be waiting until the weekend after Thanksgiving to do most of their online browsing and don't usually offer the biggest possible discounts early on. That being said, these early furniture sales are a great opportunity for you to save money on items for your home before Thanksgiving. So if you're trying to order a new dining table or an extra bed for your house before family arrives, this would be the time to do so. If you're looking to save as much money as possible, however, it's usually better to wait until the official Black Friday sales launch later in November.
Jacob Kienlen is a Senior SEO Strategist and Writer for IGN. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he has considered the Northwest his home for his entire life. With a bachelor's degree in communication and over 7 years of professional writing experience, his expertise is spread across a variety of different topics -- from TV series to indie games and popular book series.
Obsidian Entertainment has released Hotfix 1.0.4.1 for The Outer Worlds 2 and shared its full patch notes. So, let’s see what this new update brings to the table. Hotfix 1.0.4.1 fixes crashes that happened every time you tried to load a save with bad data in your favorited items. It also fixes several rare crashes. … Continue reading The Outer Worlds 2 Hotfix 1.0.4.1 Released – Full Patch Notes→
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