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Black Friday is usually a good time to restock on video games and gaming gear at a discount, and this year should be no exception. If youre looking to pad out your backlog, pick up a new console or refresh your desktop with new peripherals, were rounding up the Black Friday gaming deals that are most worth your attention below.
To be candid, the selection as of Wednesday morning is fairly light we expect tons more discounts to pop up Thursday and Friday, after Amazon, Best Buy, PlayStation and other retailers start their official Black Friday sales in earnest. That said, a number of noteworthy Switch, PS5 and Xbox games are already down to their lowest prices to date, while the Xbox Series X and a few well-reviewed accessories are cheaper than usual too. Weve dug through reviews and used price history trackers to ensure each offer below is a genuine deal, and well update this post regularly over the next couple of weeks as additional deals become available.
Xbox Series X (1TB) for $448 at Amazon ($52 off MSRP): This is well off the lowest price weve seen for the higher-end Xbox, and theres a chance we see alternative deals next week. It is Microsofts official discount, though, and any chance to save $50 is still worth calling out. Whether any Xbox is a must-have is another question, as Microsoft has put less and less emphasis on exclusives, but the Series X is still a nice piece of kit if youre sold on Xbox Game Pass or just have friends who use the platform. Also at Xbox, Walmart, Target and others.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for $42 at Woot ($18 off): This is a new low for the recent Switch remake of the beloved GameCube RPG Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Engadget Senior Editor Devindra Hardawar was pretty straightforward in his review: Its great, you should play it.
Super Mario RPG for $32 at Woot ($18 off): The lively and brisk Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars remains one of the Super Nintendos essential games. It didnt necessarily need a Switch remake, but it got one last year anyway; thankfully, the new version keeps the originals oddball spirit in tact as it spruces up the visuals for true 3D. If youre in the market for a lighter RPG, this deal at Amazon subsidiary Woot brings the game down to a new all-time low.
Portal: Companion Collection for $5 at Nintendo ($15 off): Portal and Portal 2 are two of the most fully-actualized games ever made, a pair of human-lab-rat simulators overloaded with wit and mind-opening puzzles. The second is also one of our favorite couch co-op games. This discount ties the lowest price weve seen for the Companion Collection, which bundles both games for the Switch, and it comes as part of a wider suite of digital game deals at Nintendos online store.
The Xbox Series X.Photo by Aaron Souppouris / Engadget
Mass Effect Legendary Edition for $5 at Epic ($55 off): The Mass Effect trilogy doesnt hold up perfectly the original is very much a game from 2007, while the overarching morality system feels ancient in a post-Baldurs Gate 3 world but it remains as accessible and deeply entertaining as any action-RPG series out there. The Legendary Edition remasters all three titles, and this discount brings the compilation down to its lowest price to date. The deal comes as part of the Epic Games Stores Black Friday sale, which is otherwise light on standout offers.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection for $10 at Xbox ($30 off): This matches the all-time low for The Master Chief Collection, which gathers five of the venerable FPS series essential games in one package. It also includes Halo 4 (we kid).
Pentiment for $10 at Xbox ($10 off): Pentiment remains one of the Xboxs true gems, a gorgeous and unusually soulful 2D adventure/visual novel that examines the nature of truth itself. This deal for the Xbox version represents an all-time low.
Psychonauts 2 for $12 at Xbox ($48 off): Another entry on our list of the best Xbox games, Psychonauts 2 is a distinctly eccentric, wonderfully written 3D platformer that tackles heavy themes with real warmth. This is another all-time low. Several other digital Xbox games are on sale as part of Microsofts Black Friday sale.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection.Xbox Game Studios
Madden NFL 25 for $35 at Amazon ($35 off): Madden could pretty badly use a creative reset, but its ultimately still Madden, so theres fun to be had if youre in the football mood and feel like denying Patrick Mahomes a championship in at least one realm of existence. This is the best price to date for this years latest installment. Also at Walmart.
EA Sports FC 25 for $35 at Amazon ($35 off): Were not going to sit here and tell you the series formerly known as FIFA is good AI defending is still a mess, while the Ultimate Team mode still blends grinding with gambling to mind-numbing effect but we realize that many people just want to mess around as their favorite footy team. This is a new low for the PS5, PS4 and Xbox editions. Also at Walmart, PlayStation, Xbox and Steam. The Switch version is at an all-time low of $30, too, though it wont run as well.
WWE 2K24 for $24 at Amazon ($11 off): We acknowledge that this is a new low for the physical PS5 and Xbox copies of the latest WWE game, which should scratch the itch for most people looking to do some fantasy booking and digital powerbombing. Just dont be surprised if you run into a few bugs every now and then; this is a 2K game, after all. Also at Walmart, Target and Best Buy, or for $23 at Xbox. The last-gen versions are on sale for a few bucks less as well.
NBA 2K25 for $30 at Amazon ($40 off): NBA 2K has its own longstanding issues with pay-to-win online modes and occasional glitchiness, but its on-court play is generally rock solid if youre looking to play through a season or run some offline games with friends. This is a new low for the PS5 and Xbox copies of the game. Also at Walmart, Target and Best Buy. Nintendo has the Switch edition for $4 less, though that verson is generally slower and more watered-down than the others.
The WD Black C50 Expansion Card for Xbox Series X/S.WD
WD Black C50 Expansion Card for Xbox (1TB) for $100 at Amazon ($58 off): Its aggravating, but the only way to fully increase the storage of an Xbox Series X/S is to use a proprietary expansion card. Only two of those currently exist, but the C50 is one, and this discount drops the 1TB model to a new low. Its normally sold for roughly $40 more in recent months. Is this still expensive compared to a normal SSD with the same capacity? You bet. But any extra savings should be welcome. Also at Best Buy. A 512GB model is a couple bucks above its all-time low at $68 as well.
Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X/S (2TB) for $200 at Amazon ($160 off): Seagate makes the other official storage expansion card for the Xbox Series X/S. This discount isnt the best weve ever seen, and its been live for most of the month, but its still about $30 to $50 below the 2TB models typical street price. Theres little performance difference between this and the C50, so which is best merely comes down to how much space you need and whatever one costs less.
8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard (N Edition) for $60 at Woot ($40 off): While not a top pick in any of our keyboard guides, the wireless 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard is still a nice value for anyone looking to give their desk a more vintage look, as its keycaps and accents are inspired by Nintendos old NES console. Its comfy for typing and hot-swappable, too, though the default switches are pretty noisy. This discount matches the lowest price weve seen.
The 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard.Will Lipman Photography for Engadget
ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition (2023) gaming laptop for $700 at Best Buy ($400 off): Although its a 2023 model, this configuration of the A16 should do the job for value-minded buyers. It comes with a 16-inch 165Hz 1,920 x 1,200 display, an AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS processor, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and an AMD Radeon RX 7700S GPU. Youll still have to deal with the usual trade-offs of a cheaper gaming laptop it can get warm under load, its bulky, the keyboard isnt great and the screen is somewhat dim. But its powerful enough to run newer games in 1080p, the chassis generally feels sturdy, and the battery can reach double-digit hours when you arent gaming. This discount is $20 above than the configs all-time low but ties the best price weve seen otherwise.
LG 32GS95UV-W 32-inch gaming monitor for $1,000 at Amazon ($400 off): This is a variant of the no-compromise pick in our guide to the best gaming monitors. Its a premium OLED panel with a sharp 4K resolution and a fast 240Hz refresh rate, though it can jump to a super-smooth 480Hz if you drop to 1080p (and own a PC that can handle that). Thats great if you spend a decent chunk of time in esports-style games like Counter-Strike 2. Being an OLED monitor gives it excellent contrast with deep black tones, though its not quite as vivid as the handful of high-end OLEDs that also use quantum dots to boost colors. Still, its well worth a look if you have cash to burn and know youll use the dual refresh rate modes. This deal has been live for a month but represents an all-time low. Also at LG and Best Buy. Compared to the recommendation in our guide, the only differences with this model are that it has a white finish and its built-in speakers arent as strong.
Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-best-black-friday-gaming-deals-on-video-games-consoles-accessories-and-more-144605538.html?src=rss
Ooni is discounting all of its ovens and accessories by 20 percent as part of a Black Friday deal. This sweeping sale means you can snag one of our two top choices for a home pizza oven. If you're looking to splurge, the Ooni Karu 16 Multi-Fuel pizza oven is available for $519, down from its typical price tag of $799. We appreciate that this model can use wood, charcoal or gas to sizzle up your slices, plus it has a built-in digital thermometer and can fit up to a 16-inch pie.
If you'd rather not prep your pizza in the great outdoors, then the Ooni Volt 12 Electric pizza oven might be more your speed. It's on sale for $719 instead of the usual $899. This is our top choice this year for an indoor pizza oven thanks to its quick heating and flexibility for fitting pans or other baked items into its 13-inch interior. It's also flexible on location, since the weather-resistant materials mean it can be used outside too.
At the scorching temperatures needed for good pie, you don't want to mess around with the wrong gear. Since Ooni is also cutting the prices on accessories, this is a good time to stock up on other essential tools, like a baking stone or pizza peel. And if you need the ingredients to kick off your pizza journey, Ooni is also taking 20 percent off orders of its dough and up to 50 percent off other grocery items. The Black Friday offer for Ooni goods will be available from today through 11:59 pm local time on December 2.
Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/get-20-percent-off-ooni-pizza-ovens-for-black-friday-150052139.html?src=rss
Strinova is a third-person hero shooter coming out this week, and its recent closed beta functioned more like an open beta despite the label. Its anime art style caught my eye, so I decided to register and try it out. While this hero shooter had much in common with others in the genre, I thoroughly enjoyed the new mechanics it introduced.
This new third-person shooter from iDreamSky has elements players of Counter-Strike 2, Overwatch and Valorant will find familiar, such as game modes and Agent roles. However, the game sets itself apart by implementing a mechanic called Stringify, allowing Agents to turn from 3D into paper-thin 2D models.
Stringify allows Agents to avoid gunfire, climb up walls and even glide through the air, but they cant shoot or use abilities while Stringified. This mechanic allows for possibilities like chambering sniper rifle rounds while minimizing ones hitbox and traversing walls mid-gunfight. It was incredibly entertaining to move around like this, but it isnt so over-the-top like how some Call of Duty games and Titanfall implement movement mechanics. Spamming glides or sprints wont do much good.
Each Agent has unique abilities and primary weapons, while secondary weapons and grenades can be swapped out. You have many familiar roles like snipers, designated marksmen with semi-automatic rifles, mid-range assault units and close-quarters-focused brawlers armed with shotguns. The abilities range from defensive supports to lone-wolf offensive kits, though Strinova doesnt encourage engaging groups of enemies alone due to a longer time to kill.
My favorite Agent from the open beta is Meredith (image below), a mid-range assault Agent who can glide in mid-air longer due to a time-slowing mechanic. Her gunplay feels almost inspired by Warframes Zephyr, who also has extended airtime. Meredith also has area denial abilities that apply debuffs, most significantly with her Ultimate Skill that drains HP temporarily while limiting vision.
Jeremy Gan for Engadget
Another standout is Audrey, whose ability turns her into a stationary turret and lets her fire her machine gun without recoil or reloading. However, youll want to watch out for overheating. She has a limited shield that blocks some incoming fire while aiming down the sights but theres a catch. Despite being a bullet hose, shes vulnerable to a single sniper headshot, and a shotgun user can take her out quickly before she enters turret mode, which has a longer startup animation.
There were four game modes in the open beta: team deathmatch, team arena, escort, and demolition. Escort is similar to what Overwatch offers, which has an attacking team escorting a payload to the goal. Demolition is basically competitive Counter-Strike. Team deathmatch has five teams of three fighting each other, while team arena has a 7v7 format. In the last two game modes, Ultimate Skills are disabled.
Based on my experience, Strinova has a longer time to kill, which forces players to be more tactical, especially when everyone can use Stringify to move around. I was forced to ditch my highly aggressive playstyle and employ proper movement and peeking to ensure I survived gunfights. Since each Agent gets to turn 2D, glide and climb walls, there are plenty of ways to get the drop on opponents.
Jeremy Gan for Engadget
Strinova ran smoothly on my gaming laptop, reaching 120FPS easily and rarely dropping many frames. However, there was a glaring bug in which my A key was perceived as being held down. The only way to fix was to pause or unplug my keyboard. I usually had to perform the latter, and it was rather annoying to deal with, though hopefully its something that gets worked out by release.
I definitely enjoyed playing the Strinova open beta, and the game is set to come out on November 21. There are plenty of other cool things in the game, but the combat absolutely stands out. I dont play that many hero shooters, but this one is like a diamond in the rough to me.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/strinovas-2d-stringify-mechanic-breathes-some-new-life-into-hero-shooters-140043155.html?src=rss
Apple has rolled out updates for its operating systems, which come with security fixes for vulnerabilities that may have already been used to target its customers. The updates are now available for Macs, iPhones, iPads, the Vision Pro and the Safari browser. In its notes, Apple revealed that the security patches will fix bugs affecting WebKit, the rendering engine Safari uses, and JavaScriptCore, which runs JavaScript code on macOS and iOS devices.
If JavaScriptCore is fooled into processing "maliciously crafted web content," it could execute arbitrary codes, Apple explained. Meanwhile, WebKit could be exploited for cross site scripting attacks if it gets tricked into running malicious content. The company said it's aware of a report that the vulnerabilities could've been actively exploited on Intel-based Mac systems. According to TechCrunch, the bugs are zero-day vulnerabilities, as Apple had no knowledge of their existence when they were exploited. Researchers from Google's Threat Analysis Group were reportedly the ones who discovered the vulnerabilities. The group is known for detecting and analyzing government-backed hacking and attacks.
Apple didn't say how many devices had been attacked using exploits taking advantage of the bugs, and it didn't say if any information was stolen from the targets. Mac, iPad and iPhones users may want to check their devices for the latest updates, though, so they can install the security fixes as soon as possible. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/apple-patches-vulnerabilities-used-to-target-intel-based-macs-133027514.html?src=rss
The UK government is expected to launch a parliamentary inquiry into the roll of social media in summer riots, particularly around the use of generative AI, The Guardian reported. As part of that, MPs (members of Parliament) wish to cross-examine X owner Elon Musk, along with senior executives from Meta and TikTok, as part of a Commons science and technology select committee social media inquiry.
"[Musk] has very strong views on multiple aspects of this," said Labour chair of the select committee, Chi Onwurah. "I would certainly like the opportunity to cross-examine him to see how he reconciles his promotion of freedom of expression with his promotion of pure disinformation. [The committee will] get to the bottom of the links between social media algorithms, generative AI, and the spread of harmful or false content."
The government is looking into the use of fake images created by generative AI, often containing Islamophobic content, which were widely shared in social media posts on Facebook and X. Such posts may have inflamed riots last August that took place after three schoolgirls were murdered. MPs are also looking into big tech business models that "encourage the spread of content that can mislead and harm."
Musk, who may soon have a large role in the US government under incoming president Trump, has criticized the UK government and isn't likely to attend. During the riots in August he said: Civil war is inevitable," and on Monday stated that "Britain is going full Stalin."
In December, UK regulator Ofcom will publish new rules as part of the Online Safety Act. With the new regulations, it's likely that social media platforms will be forced prevent the spread of illegal materials such as CSAM and survey activities that could stir up violence. Companies like X and Facebook will then be required to remove any illegal material. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/uk-government-will-summon-elon-musk-as-part-of-social-media-inquiry-130004409.html?src=rss
The Department of Justice is reportedly planning to make Google sell its Chrome browser to address its search monopoly. Its in response to a 2020 lawsuit filed by the DOJ and several US states that was finally ruled upon in August. Google has, naturally, said such a sale would be a terrible idea and would harm American competitiveness in the tech industry. Im more curious about how much inherent value Chrome has without the backing of its parent company.
Dan Cooper
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News in Brief
The Oura Ring Gen 3 drops to a record low of $249 for Black FridayIts a good deal if you dont wear a smartwatch.
Meta wants its Llama AI in Britains public healthcare systemHow do you reduce wait times? More staff members AI, somehow.
Bluesky hits 20 million usersIts the new home for the soul of old Twitter.
Minecraft is getting its own theme parks
And view a new trailer for its forthcoming movie.
Merlin Entertainments
The company behind Legoland is teaming up with Mojang to build Minecraft theme parks in the US and UK. Both locations will have interactive attractions based on the game, as well as rides, gift shops and restaurants designed to milk cash out of weary parents. The announcement came on the same day as the first full trailer for A Minecraft Movie, another sign of the games growing cultural dominance. Given I cant move in my own home without hearing famous Minecraft YouTuber Aphmau screech-shouting at the top of her lungs, I cant wait to grind my teeth into powder taking my kids to enjoy both.
Continue Reading (Theme Parks)
Continue Reading (Trailer)
Sony will trial cloud streaming for the PS5 Portal
i.e. The thing it should have had from the start.
Devindra Hardawar for Engadget
Someone at Sony has finally noticed the PlayStation Portal was shipped without its raison dtre: cloud streaming. The company is pushing a software update for users to test the feature with more than 120 PS5 Plus games. It only took them a whole damn year to get around to it.
Continue Reading.
Germany says cut undersea data cables were sabotaged
Finger pointing is happening.
Over the weekend, two undersea data cables in Europe were cut, with one German politician claiming sabotage. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has gone public with his belief the two lines were deliberately cut, but admits he has no proof to support his claim. Both Germany and Finland, two of the countries affected, say a thorough investigation is in progress.
Continue Reading.
What is Sonos Sound Motion technology?
A guide for the perplexed.
Sonos
Sonos hasnt had a great year, but one highlight has been the Arc Ultra soundbar, the first model to debut its Sound Motion technology. Now, I bet youre wondering what that tech is and what it does, which is why Engadgets audio expert Billy Steele has cooked up this guide. Hell talk you through what its good for, why Sonos spent $100 million to own it and what it means for the future of your home audio.
Continue Reading.
I wish Blizzard loved Warcraft as much as I do
These games deserve better than this.
Blizzard Entertainment
Ive got fond memories of playing Warcraft II as a kid, with Theyre destroying our city! a regular rallying cry in me and my friend Shanes playground games. Engadgets Igor Bonifacic has a similar love for the series and leapt in to play the recently released remaster. Sadly, it looks like Blizzard phoned this one in, prompting Igor to look a little closer at whats going on.
Continue Reading. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-121538152.html?src=rss
Uber is rolling out some new features for the holiday travel season. On Wednesday, it announced a new, super-duper-sized option with extra trunk space for airport travel. In addition, there will be a third shuttle route for NYC travelers.
UberXXL is the companys new extra-spacious rideshare option. These airport-only rides offer more trunk space and plenty of comfortable seating room for you and your group. Uber says pricing for the new jumbo-sized service will fall somewhere between UberXL and Uber Black. Upfront pricing will be available in the app.
The service is launching at 40 airports in the US and Canada, including New Yorks Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark. Other participating UberXXL airports include (among others) LAX, SFO, Reagan National, OHare, DFW, Miami and Atlanta. It will be available at over 60 airports globally.
Uber
Holiday travelers will also have new ways to save a few bucks on their trips this year. UberX Share is launching at eight US airports and two international ones. The service lets you book a trip with just one other airport traveler to save up to 25 percent compared to UberX fares. The company says the cheaper rates will apply even if you arent matched with a random stranger.
UberX Share for flights will launch at Austin, Denver, Newark, Dulles, Miami, New Orleans and Phoenix airports.
Uber Reserve, the companys schedule-ahead feature, is adding Flight Capture, which lets you enter your flight info and schedule your trip around it. The app will recommend the best time to leave and ask if you want to adjust your drop-off if your flight is delayed. In addition, Uber Reserve will now give you the option of adding multiple stops when setting up your ride.
After launching in New York City last month, Uber Shuttle has added an extra stop to and from LaGuardia. The $18 shuttle service, which lets you save some money on its preset routes, will now include a third stop at the World Trade Center site at 198 Fulton St. It joins the previous two shuttle pickup and drop-off points: Midtown Manhattan (with stops at Port Authority Terminal and Grand Central) and Penn Station.
Finally, the Uber app for iPhone has added a widget that could shave a few seconds off the time it takes to schedule a pickup. Starting today, the iOS app has a new Home Screen widget that lets you request a ride in as little as two taps. You can check the App Store for the update today. The company added a ride-tracking Live Activities feature last year.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/ubers-new-xxl-rides-will-have-extra-room-for-your-big-ass-suitcase-110027241.html?src=rss
Dutch secondhand marketplace Marktplaats has launched a childrens book aimed at normalizing used toys as holiday gifts, addressing an apparent disconnect between childrens and adults attitudes toward pre-loved playthings. While research shows that 66.6% of (grand)parents acknowledge children are just as happy with secondhand toys as new ones, only 9.7% of Dutch adults plan to give pre-owned gifts this holiday season. The hesitation stems largely from ingrained habits and social pressure, with 26.6% of parents feeling uncomfortable giving secondhand presents and 20.1% worried about judgments from friends and family.To help shift these preconceptions, Marktplaats collaborated with children's author Lisa Maschhaupt to create De kraam van Billy (Billys Stall), a storybook about a child who opens a market stall to help friends find their dream toys without buying new ones. According to Florence Schmit, General Manager at Marktplaats, the book targets parents as much as it does children, using storytelling to challenge consumption habits and nudge people towards more sustainable gift-giving. The initiative comes as research reveals that 56.7% of parents would consider secondhand toys as gifts if it became more socially acceptable, suggesting that shifting social norms could significantly impact buying habits.
