Justin Kahn

SEGA is now teaming up with TOMY to release a new Club Mocchi Mocchi Sonic plush. TOMY — a well-known Japanese toy maker with a penchant for licensed products — creates those adorable Club Mocchi Mocchi Nintendo plushies you are likely to have seen featured on 9to5Toys from time to time (much of the lineup is on sale for Mario Day 2021 right now), and it is now introducing its latest Sonic the Hedgehog design. Head below for more details and a closer look at the new Club Mocchi Mocchi Sonic plush. 

We now have the official release date alongside a brand new trailer for the upcoming Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin. Now set for a summertime release on Nintendo Switch and PC, fans of the series will be diving into the all-new co-op missions and Pokemon-like Monster Hunter experience some four months after the release of Monster Hunter Rise in just over two weeks. Head below for a closer look.  

Super Mario Bros. 35, that sweet Super Mario 3D All-Stars Collection, and the Game & Watch-style handheld will all be no more come the end of the month. Back when Nintendo kicked off its Super Mario 35th anniversary in September of 2020, some of the most exciting announcements to come from the celebration were oddly slated to cease production and no longer be up for sale in March of 2021. As ridiculous and strange as this was, it seemed like Nintendo would have to change course at some point between then and now, wouldn’t it? But sadly, it looks like the company is following through, leaving the March 31, 2021 expiry date for Super Mario Bros. 35 and 3D All-Stars inching closer and closer every day. Head below for more details. 

After detailing the new Mario crossover content as part of its massive 2021 Direct presentation, Nintendo has now released the March Animal Crossing update details. Today’s New Horizons video showcases the influx of new content the game will be receiving throughout the month. Alongside the new Mario gear, in celebration of springtime and Shamrock Day, there will be new creatures to collect, items to craft, and more. Head below for a closer look. 

Reports suggest the next Nintendo Switch, or what could be considered the long-rumored Nintendo Switch Pro, is in the works. New information for Bloomberg’s sources are pointing at a new model Nintendo Switch console with a larger OLED display, and you guessed it, a 4K output. It could be set for release as early as this year and ready for the 2021 holiday season. More details below. 

Mattel is launching a series of new UNO products in celebration of its 50th anniversary, some of which are now available for purchase. The UNO Iconic series includes five individual decks, starting with the “groovy 1970s,” that feature nostalgic designs and represent each decade the popular family card game has been around. While the UNO 50th Anniversary Premium Card Set features deluxe-box packaging, it also includes some new gameplay tweaks to the classic rules. Head below for a closer look. 

A new Aliens game has been officially unveiled today. After a slew of acquisitions and years of development work, Cold Iron Studios has finally unveiled its new Aliens game. Set in the famous Sir Ridley Scott film universe, Cold Iron is working directly with 20th Century Studios to self-publish the new Aliens game known as Fireteam. Head below for more details and the debut trailer for the upcoming squad-based survival shooter experience. 

Sony dropped the release details for its world-class MLB The Show 21 baseball simulator last month, and we now know R.B.I. Baseball 21 will release one month before that. The once arcade-focused baseball game is coming with a slew of new enhancements that, while retaining that fast-paced simplicity of yesteryear, offer up an even more realistic and engaging experience than ever before. While it won’t give MLB The Show 21 a run for its money among the hardcore crowd, R.B.I. Baseball 21 is arriving for the rest of us in under two weeks’ time. More details below. 

You’re reading Tested with 9to5Toys, where we explore everyday tech essentials that make life a bit easier. Browse through our entire guide for all of the latest reviews, and sound off in the comments below if there’s something you’d like to see featured.

Today we are taking a hands-on look at the new felt AirPods case from Oakywood. Officially unveiled earlier this month, just after the brand’s MagSafe wooden cases hit, the new Oakywood felt AirPods cases feature merino wool exteriors with a handy keychain clip and a nice snap closure. We recently got a chance to put the Felt AirPods Case to the test over the last couple weeks and are now ready to feature it in our latest Tested with 9to5Toys review. Head below for a closer look. 

Elden Ring is the next FromSoftware game, although it has been entirely quiet after the development team went dark after the teaser trailer that was shown at Microsoft’s E3 2019 showcase. Anticipation is high to say the least for the upcoming collaboration between the Dark Souls/Bloodborne visionary, Hidetaka Miyazaki, and Game of Thrones/A Song of Fire and Ice creator, George R.R. Martin. But after leaving gamers with nothing but a dream since 2019, and questions of whether or not the project was still in development, it now appears a new trailer has leaked online giving a very first look at Elden Ring gameplay, and more. Head below for additional details. 

Pad & Quill has now launched a massive sitewide sale on leather Apple accessories, bags, desktop gear, and much more. These kinds of events usually sit in the 25-35% off range when it comes to Pad & Quill, but we are now seeing 40-50% off sitewide. This is easily the best Pad & Quill sale of the year and offers deals rivaling the Black Friday and end-of-year events in 2020. Everything ships free in orders over $35 and you can get even more details below. 

We are in for a special Pokémon presentation today in celebration of the franchise’s 25th anniversary. We have already seen some notable releases to mark the occasion including life-size Poké Balls, classic reprints from TGC, and even some crossovers with Casio, but it sounds like we are in for some game announcements today. The presentation is set to kick off at 10 a.m. today, and we will have the live stream and updates waiting for you below. 

OK, folks, this is it. Sony’s next State of Play showcase event is set for today with new PlayStation games and deep dives into some titles we already know about. Today’s presentation marks the first State of Play for 2021 and is expected to feature 30 straight minutes of games. After seeing an impressive Nintendo Direct last week, it’s now Sony’s turn to give us an idea about what to expect on PlayStation over the next year or so. New PlayStation games, updates on third-party titles, and more will be included and the whole thing kicks off at 5 p.m ET. Head below for more details. 

We are getting some big news today in the PC gaming world as HP is set to purchase the HyperX peripherals business. In a move to bolster its PC gaming accessory offerings, HP is reportedly dishing out $425 million to acquire HyperX — the gaming accessory arm of Kingston. This will bring a series of top-tier mice, keyboards, headsets, and microphones (as well as some console-related gear) into HP’s PC gaming stable, allowing it to compete with some of the biggest names in the space more so than ever before. Head below for additional details. 

Sony has announced that its Play At Home program will once again kick off next month with free PlayStation games and more. The Play At Home initiative launched last April in support of folks stuck at home due to COVID-19, and as most of us continue to social distance, it is once again planning a slew of free content to help out. According to today’s PlayStation Blog update, the festivities will start at the beginning of next month with free PlayStation games (Ratchet & Clank will be first). Head below for more details. 

It was only a matter of time before we got the first details on PS5 VR and Sony’s next-generation PS VR gear, and that time is now. Sony has now take to its official PlayStation Blog to offer up the first details on its PS5 VR plans, saying players “will feel an even greater sense of presence and become even more immersed in their game worlds once they put on the new headset.” Head below the fold for more details. 

Watch Dogs Legion multiplayer, along with the upcoming PvP mode, now has what appears to be a confirmed release date. After initially expected on December 3 at the tail end of last year, followed by a series of delays, it now looks like Watch Dogs Legion Online and its co-op gameplay will drop in early March. Head below for more details. 

IK Multimedia — one of our favorite affordable audio and video production gear makers — has now introduced its new wireless audio interface. iRig Pre 2 is a pocket-sized mic preamp and audio interface designed to allow folks to easily record proper XLR mics, phantom power included, on-the-go. Ideal for mobile content creators, the new wireless audio interface is now up for pre-order in the sub $50 price range. Head below for a closer look. 

Fall Guys for Xbox is official. Developer Mediatonic took to Twitter this morning to announce that its adorable party game would finally be making its way to Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. This news comes on the heels of the Fall Guys Nintendo Switch announcement during last night’s wide-ranging Nintendo Direct presentation. Head below for more details. 

Well, this is it, the latest Nintendo Direct presentation is here. After well over a year since the last full-length Nintendo Direct showcase, outside of those focused on indie games, single titles, and other Nintendo projects, the wait is finally over. Today’s lengthy 50-minute showcase was officially announced yesterday, seemingly out of nowhere, and it starts right now. Watch for yourself below or head back here shortly for up-to-the-minute updates. 

The next Nintendo Direct presentation has been announced, and it’s going to be a big one. It has been quite a long time since we have seen a full-on Nintendo Direct — it has been mostly Direct Minis, indie titles, and other Nintendo projects for over a year — but Nintendo has now scheduled a lengthy 50-minute presentation for tomorrow. Seemingly out of nowhere, the official Nintendo Twitter page, and subsequently the official Nintendo Direct site, now feature updates for what could be the most exciting Switch presentation in quite a long time. Head below for more details on what to expect and when to tune in. 

Free Metro Exodus upgrades are on the way for next-generation consoles, but we now have details on the complete upgrade the 4A Engine is getting to support them. Metro Exodus — a somewhat under-appreciated first person shooter with elements of survivalism, stealth, and post-apocalyptic crafting — is getting some serious visual upgrades on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X consoles along with the freshly-announced Metro Exodus PC Enhanced Edition. A game that was already oozing with atmosphere and even visual story-telling to some degree, 4A games is completely overhauling its game engine to realize “a fully Ray Traced experience on next-gen. consoles and high-end PC.” Head below for more details.

As we head into the President’s Day and Valentine’s Day weekend, we have a giant list of top-tier holiday iOS app deals to roundup. This week has seen plenty of big-time price drops on some of the App Store’s best titles including Stardew Valley (that just received a massive update on console), Samorost 3, Bloons TD 6, Pascal’s Wager, NBA 2K20, the brilliant Affinity imagine manipulation apps, and it just keeps going from there. Head below the fold for handy list of all of this weekend’s best holiday iOS app deals. 

DBrand’s new PlayStation 5 face plates are now up for sale. Designed to offer gamers an alternative to Sony’s techno-looking white exterior PS5 wings, the new Darkplates are basically precisely cut slabs of plastic created to replace the stark white stock shell. For how long Sony allows this to be the case is unknown — it previously took legal action against a company known as PlateStation that was selling a very similar product. Head below for more details. 

Amazon is offering the Cuisinart 4-Piece Mini Pizza Pan Set for $10.99 with free shipping for Prime members or in orders over $25. Regularly up to $22, today’s offer is as much as 50% off, within $1 of the all-time low, and the best we can find. This 4-piece set is great for making mini pizzas or flat breads in the oven and ships with a lifetime warranty. Made of “heavy-gauge steel” to provide even heating, they also sport a non-stick surface, a dishwasher-safe design, thick rolled edges to prevent warping, and measure out at 7-inches wide. Rated 4+ stars from over 500 Amazon customers. More details below. 

While the folks at CD Projekt Red might be busy with ransom demands for its stolen source code right now, a new Witcher game is on the way. Well, a board game to be exact. Made in conjunction with publisher Go on Board, CDPR is ready to bring its Witcher world of magic and monster slaying to board game night, once again. Head below for more details and The Witcher: Old World game announcement trailer.

A series of new IKEA gaming furniture, accessories, and gear is set for release later this year in the US. Designed in collaboration with ASUS’ gaming arm, Republic of Gamers (ROG), the new product lineup consists of gaming chairs and desks as well as unique headphone holders, ring lights, a gaming-focused drawer unit, neck pillows, and much more. All in all, there are more than 30 products here, most of which with particularly affordable pricing, spread across six different product families. Head below for a closer look at the new IKEA gaming furniture and accessories. 

After covering the launch of its new MagSafe covers and taking a hands-on look at its iPhone 12 case lineup, it’s time for Oakywood’s new felt AirPods cases. Today the brand is unveiling a pair of new covers for Apple’s AirPods and AirPods Pro models with wool construction and soft fiber lining in two different colorways and with handy metal clips. Head below for a closer look. 

Today we are taking our first look at the new JLab Talk USB microphones. The brand is taking its expertise in the affordable audio gear space into the world of USB microphones with three new models known as Talk Go, Talk, and Talk Pro. Starting at $49, these new mics enter as a great choice for folks looking to up their recording quality from built-in solutions at an affordable rate. Head below for a closer look. 

Owners of the PlayStation 4 version will be able to upgrade to Final Fantasy 14 on PS5 for FREE alongside an upcoming open beta. As announced during the recent showcase, Square Enix’s ongoing Final Fantasy 14 title is about to see some major new updates as well as a current-generation console upgrade just ahead of the next mainline expansion known as Endwalker. Head below for more details. 

It appears as though Sony might be in the process of developing a new DualSense controller, or at least one with Wi-Fi built-in. A recently published Sony patent appears to show some sort of DualSense controller with dual Wi-Fi and Bluetooth transceivers, suggesting there could very well be a new model in the works, if not some kind of upgrade. Head below the fold for even more details.

Amazon is now offering Nintendo’s Ring Fit Adventure for $69.88 shipped. Also matched at Walmart and Best Buy. Regularly $80, this is nice $10 discount and one of the lowest prices we have tracked since release. Initially unveiled back in 2019, Nintendo’s fitness gaming bundle for Switch was difficult to get your hands-on at first, especially at a discount. But you can now bring the fun workout game home at one of its best prices to make staying in shape over the winter even more enjoyable. Rated 4+ stars from over 15,000 Amazon customers and you can get even more details on the experience in our hands-on review. More details below. 

You’re reading Tested with 9to5Toys, where we explore everyday tech essentials that make life a bit easier. Browse through our entire guide for all of the latest reviews, and sound off in the comments below if there’s something you’d like to see featured.

Today, we are taking a look at the wood iPhone 12 case from Oakywood. Known as the Oakywood Wooden iPhone 12 Bumper Case, it combines a real, hand-polished wood layer across a solid polycarbonate frame to offer a touch of natural protection and style to all of Apple’s latest handset models. As wood iPhone 12 cases go, it also falls into the more affordable category compared to brands like Pad & Quill and others. Head below for a closer look at the Oakywood Wooden iPhone 12 Bumper Case in the latest Tested with 9to5Toys review. 

MLB The Show 21 Xbox and PlayStation release dates have now been made official alongside the special editions and more. While we already knew the premier baseball simulator would be making its way to “additional consoles,” Sony has now made the release date official with both the PlayStation and Xbox One versions set for release later this spring. Head below for today’s new trailer and more details on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X upgrades. 

Sony has now confirmed it has tracked over 4.5 million PlayStation 5 sales. After early indications suggested Sony was already ahead in the now current-generation console war, the latest PlayStation 5 sales numbers have led Sony’s gaming business to one of its best fiscal quarters in history. While that might not make a whole lot of sense for the gamers out there still trying to get their hands on one of Sony’s latest home consoles, PS5 is clearly off to a running start here. More details below. 

The Mass Effect Legendary Edition has been officially unveiled. The new collection brings the entire Mass Effect trilogy (not that Andromeda one) into one epic and very much enhanced package. While the franchise might have had some missteps over the last few years, there’s no denying that the legions of Commander Shepard fans out there will be stoked for this one. The lauded science-fiction trilogy remaster from BioWare is now set for release this spring in glorious 4K. Head below to feast your eyes on today’s Mass Effect Legendary Edition reveal trailer and for more details. 

Today is the day you can score the free God of War update for PlayStation 5. While the 2018 God of War reboot was already backwards compatible with the new PS5 hardware, not to mention available inside of the new PlayStation Plus Collection package, the development team at Sony Santa Monica is ready to take it up a notch. The team has apparently been hard at work since the launch of PS5 to squeeze every last ounce of power out of Sony’s latest hardware and is now ready to dish out a free God of War update with new graphical modes. Head below for more details. 

It looks like a new Netflix Sonic show is on the way courtesy of Sega, Wild Brain Studio, and Man of Action Entertainment. Netflix has now taken to Twitter to confirm the existence of a new Sonic the Hedgehog series known as Sonic Prime. After a brief unveil was quickly deleted at the tail end of last year with no indication as to why, many correctly assumed the powers that be just weren’t quite ready to make the new Netflix Sonic show announcement. Fast-forward to this morning, and it appears as though the show is now full steam ahead with 24 episodes coming down the pipeline. Head below for more details. 

Developer Psyonix has now announced a series of upcoming Rocket League Super Bowl events. Not only is Champions Field being transformed, the upcoming NFL Super Bowl LV Celebration introduces a new game mode known as Gridiron, complete with its own set of rules and game tweaks, as well as a series of themed in-game goodies ranging from bonus XP to the return of the NFL Fan Pack. It all kicks off on February 2, 2021, some five days before Super Bowl LV. Head below for more details. 

Nintendo has unveiled a special edition Monster Hunter Rise Switch console. Now roughly two months away from the release of the next mainline Monster Hunter title, Nintendo is revealing the custom painted console bundle to go along with it. Head below for more details, information on the bonus in-game content, and a closer look at the special edition Monster Hunter Rise Switch console design. 

After getting our first look at the Tula mic in September, we have now had a chance to go hands-on with the new hybrid. Designed by the same team responsible for the professional Soyuz tube mics, Tula is a culmination of high-end recording expertise with a focus on affordability and standing out from the pack. It is specifically tailored to folks interested in field recordings, podcast discussions, and interviews, as well as musical recording and the like. It combines typical USB microphone features with a unique, retro-inspired design and some interesting tricks up its sleeve including built-in recording to its internal storage, noise cancellation, and the ability to connect another mic to it for 2-track recording. Head below for a closer look and our hands-on impressions of the new Tula mic. 

We now have details on the next free Animal Crossing update, courtesy of Nintendo. A trailer to highlight some of the upcoming events hit this morning alongside fresh new details on the upcoming Festivale and Valentine’s Day events, as well as all of the in-game goodies that come along with them. Head below for more information, launch dates, and to take a look at today’s trailer for yourself. 

The latest lineup of controllers from Alesis carries one of the more affordable mini MIDI keyboards out there alongside updated versions of its Q-series 49- and 88-key models. All compatible with Mac/PC as well as iOS devices, the new Q mini MIDI keyboard is the real highlight here, offering up a particularly capable package and even more affordable price tag. Head below for a closer look.