Games

It has been, and is going to continue to be, an exciting time for Nintendo Switch gamers, having just seen the release of arguably the best modern 2D Mario experience ever and with the Super Mario RPG remake on the horizon. Not to mention all of its upcoming Black Friday deals. Just over a week away from release, and coming loaded with updated visuals, nostalgic gameplay mechanics, and a few new features, too, Nintendo is ramping up for release with today’s new Super Mario RPG – Overview Trailer. Head below to check it out. 

Just after Nintendo confirmed it was in development on a live-action Zelda movie, Woot is now offering the The Legend of Zelda Edition HORI Wireless Nintendo Pro Controller for Nintendo Switch at $34.99 with free shipping for Prime members. Otherwise, a $6 delivery fee will apply. This one launched last summer at $60 and has, for the most part, remained there ever since on Amazon. While it did see a slight drop to $57 recently, today’s deal is the lowest price we can find and the best we have tracked at 42% off the going rate. Alongside the Zelda design, you’re looking at Bluetooth wireless Switch controller with a 32-foot range and a “lightweight, ergonomic” footprint. On the inside, HORI has employed accelerometer and gyroscope tech for full motion control and included a USB-C cable in the package for charging. Head below for more details on the officially licensed gamepad. 

After what feels like a lifetime of waiting in anticipation, the first official announcement for Grand Theft Auto 6 has arrived via an open letter on its official site. It’s not the trailer you were hoping for but it is coming “in early December.” Rockstar officially revealed the next crime drama in its (in)famous GTA series was underway back in February of 2022 and, outside of what feels like an endless string of both credible and mostly not-so-credible rumors and leaks, the game has indeed (almost) finally arrived in official form. Head below for more details on today’s Grand Theft Auto 6 announcement. 

Nintendo achieved wild success with its animated adaption of the world’s most famous plumbers with the 2023 silver screen release of The Mario Bros. Movie, but it’s now going big-time with plans to develop a live action Zelda film!?! Nintendo has now issued an open later on behalf of itself and Sony Pictures entertainment to announce “it will develop a live-action film of The Legend of Zelda.” This was not expected. Head below for more details. 

The annual Nintendo Black Friday deals sneak peek has officially arrived. While we already featured some of the new upcoming hardware packages that are on the way starting as early as this week, it’s time to take a look at the entire breadth of the official Nintendo Black Friday deals that are on the way. While all of the usual major retail outlets will be featuring their own Nintendo deals, as is always the case, the official Nintendo Black Friday sneak peek gives us a good idea of the deals we are guaranteed to be seeing and they all start a whole lot sooner than Black Friday this year. Head below for all of the details. 

A new transparent Xbox controller from HyperX has arrived. We are no strangers to the HyperX Clutch Gladiate controllers around here – we called this year’s version a “budget gaming beast” after going hands-on – but now it’s time for the new see-through RGB edition. Today, HyperX is launching the new Clutch Gladiate RGB Gaming Controller for Xbox, officially licensed under the Designed for Xbox program and fully compatible with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC to ensure “seamless use across all platforms.” Now available for purchase, you can get all of the details and a closer look down below.

Today out of San Jose, California, Lexar is launching its new affordable heatsink SSDs. After the release of the standard issue NM790 models back in August, Lexar is ready to officially unleash its new NM790 Heatsink M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4×4 NVMe SSD to the world. Much like the base model versions, the heatsink variants are delivering some relatively economical solutions to PC gamers and PS5 users with more than respectable specs at the ready alongside a series of launch deals courtesy of the official listings on Amazon. Head below for a closer look and more details on Lexar’s new affordable heatsink SSDs. 

Sony is ready to begin shipping its new PlayStation 5 slim as early as next Friday alongside the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III and a new bundle featuring the game, if recent reports ring true. This new machine will indeed be replacing the existing PS5 machines altogether once the original run of consoles has sold out to deliver what Sony describes as a 30% smaller unit. And now, images have begun floating around the inter webs offering up a direct visual comparison between the PS5 slim and the standard models. Head below to take a look. 

Sony recently debuted the new PlayStation 5 slim at the beginning of last month with one crucial bit of information purposely omitted, the release date. But now, new reports originating from Call of Duty news outlets suggest it will be available on November 10 as part of a new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III bundle. Head below for more details. 

Halloween 2023 here and so is a new classic Castlevania experience for Switch Online members. Just after the launch of Mario Party 3, the next influx of Nintendo Switch Online games are now at the ready. Nintendo has now taken to its official X (Twitter) feed and YouTube channel to debut the October 2023 Game Updates in the form of some classic GameBoy action and obscure NES titles that are now available to play for all base tier Switch Online members. Head below for all of the details. 

Update: The new PS5 Pulse Explore wireless buds and Elite headset are now available pre-order directly from PlayStation. 

After the initial official debut back in August alongside the new PS5 Portal Player, we now have new details and pre-order information on Sony’s upcoming Pulse Explore wireless earbuds, Pulse Elite wireless headset, and additional PlayStation Link USB adapters. Just after the launch of the new INZONE sets (full review here), Sony’s next-generation PlayStation headsets are now slated to go up for pre-order in just over a week’s time. Head below for more details.

We are now tracking some notable deals on the latest officially licensed WD_BLACK PS5 SSDs. You can now score the 2023 model WD_BLACK 4TB SN850P NVMe M.2 PS5 Solid-State Drive down at $299.99 shipped after clipping the on-page coupon. This one sold for closer to $530 at Amazon before starting to drop into the $350 range this past summer. Today’s deal is matching both our previous mention and the lowest we have tracked at Amazon, including the fall Prime Day event. It debuted for the first time a few months ago as the brand’s latest officially licensed solution, delivering speeds up to 7,300MB/s with an integrated heatsink and the M.2 form-factor optimized for use directly inside your flagship Sony console. You can “play directly from the drive and eliminate the need to transfer games or remove games from your console with this tested and officially approved PS5 storage expansion.” Get a closer look in our launch coverage and head below for a deal on the 2TB model. 

Xbox recently announced its next broadcast games showcase in the form of what it is calling its Xbox Partner Preview and it all kicks off shortly. It has been a quite a few months now since the big-time summer Xbox showcase and the dedicated Starfield show that hit about a week after PlayStation’s primetime event, and the folks at Xbox are back today with another round of reveals and announcements from its “incredible third-party publishing partners.” Head below for more details and to follow along with the show. 

The latest addition to the Switch Online game library is on its way in the form of Mario Party 3. Members of Nintendo’s online service will be able to “punch, pound, and stampede right over” their opponents starting later this week. Today’s announcement comes on the heels of new Switch Online titles like the Metroidvania-style Kirby & The Amazing Mirror alongside previously Japan-only classics and the Pokémon Trading Card Game, but Nintendo has now turned its attention to one of its vintage family party games with the third-entry in Mario’s multiplayer experience. Head below for more details. 

Anticipation for the new Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 PlayStation 5 game has been ramping up all year, culminating in a record-breaking launch last Friday. After the reveal of the limited edition Spider-Man 2 PlayStation 5 console, matching PS5 console covers, and DualSense controller, what many expected to be the biggest PlayStation release of the year has certainly delivered. And after early sales number were shared this morning, Insomiac, Sony, and Marvel Games clearly have a serious hit on their hands. Head below for more details. 

Now roughly 12 hours before web-slingers everywhere can finally jump into the epic new Spider-Man 2 on PlayStation, Sony and developer Insomniac have hit us with a rundown of the game’s photo mode as well as the new story recap trailer. The latter of which delivers “The Story So Far” as told by Miles and Peter so gamers can get a recap of sorts to prime them for tomorrow’s official release of the next entry in the PlayStation series. Hit the jump to to dive in for yourself and check out today’s details on Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Photo Mode. 

The PS5 Slim release date may have just leaked. Last week Sony unveiled the new PlayStation 5, or as the internet calls it the PS5 Slim, and now it appears we have the not yet official release date by way of a reliable online leaker. Reports suggest the machine will land in early November, just as Sony hinted, alongside a special Spider-Man 2 bundle just a couple days prior. Head below for all of the details. 

Sony’s nearly impossible to get Spider-Man 2 PS5 console covers have been all the rage, but its archnemesis is here to save the day. Sony’s legal team has been looking down its scopes at Dbrand ever since it first introduced its unlicensed PlayStation 5 console covers, but the brand doesn’t really seem to care and it’s now back with some “arachnoplates” to wrap your PlayStation console in less-than-legal, not Spider-Man 2, plates you can actually purchase right now. Head below for more details. 

You’ll get another chance to buy the Spider-Man 2 PS5 console covers tomorrow morning. We are getting one last blast of Spider-Man 2 pre-release goodies ahead of launch on Friday this week, including the official collector’s art books, a new launch trailer, and the official Wheaties crossover cereal box, but next up is another chance to score the nearly impossible to get Spider-Man console covers. Head below for all of the details on how to buy the official Spider-Man 2 PS5 console covers tomorrow at Best Buy.

The Razer Edge WiFi Gaming Tablet is now available for pre-order on Amazon after remaining a Razer exclusive since earlier this year. The Wi-Fi model comes in well below the regular $600 5G variant that requires cellular service (and is only available via Verizon) with a $399.99 list, now live at Amazon ahead of the October 23, 2023, delivery date later this month. If you’ve yet to check out Razer’s Android handheld gaming system, head below for more details and a refurbished deal. 

Update: The Spider-Man 2 Wheaties are now available for purchase! 

Now less than four days away from the highly-anticipated release of the latest entry in Insomniac’s web-crawler PlayStation series, the developer, Sony, and Marvel are teaming up with Wheaties on the official breakfast of champions, Spidey edition. Sony just took to its official PlayStation X (Twitter) feed to unveil the new The Breakfast of Champions x Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 in the form of a “historic, limited-edition Wheaties box.” Head below for a closer look and more details. 

While we have seen a few solid price drops this year on the 8Bitdo Dual Charging Dock for Xbox, today’s is the best yet. The late 2022 model charger from the brand is now available for $24.99 via Woot with free shipping for Prime members. A $6 delivery fee will apply otherwise. Regularly $45 and currently fetching as much via Amazon, this is 44% off the going rate and the lowest price we can find. today’s deal comes in at $11 under our previous mention to under cut the best price we have ever tracked directly on Amazon. Much like the name suggests, this is 8Bitdo’s latest Xbox charger that can juice up a pair of gamepads at the same time. But the real standout feature here is the see-through base and built-in ambient lighting (illumination modes including bright, medium, dim, and cycle). It ships with two 1,100mAh battery backs and four battery doors alongside the charger unit itself. Head over to our launch coverage for additional details and down below for more. 

The new Analogue N64 console has now surfaced. We are no strangers to Analogue and its special brand of modern-retro gaming hardware, like its new limited-edition Pocket Game Boy that comes in seven transparent colors and its TurboGrafx Duo console, but the brand has now turned its attention to “64 bits of pleasure” with the new Analogue 3D. Head below for more details and a closer look at the new N64 console. 

After featuring the new official collector’s art books this morning, Sony has now unveiled the official Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 launch trailer. Hype for the PlayStation exclusive has been ramping up all year and Sony has now unleashed the official launch trailer as we inch closer and closer to the game’s release date this upcoming Friday. Just before the reveal of the Spider-Man 2 special edition PlayStation 5 console, DualSense controller, and console covers, Sony hit us with a story trailer to flesh out the game’s narrative and now a short but very sweet and, frankly, quite epic glimpse at what’s to come later this week. Head below for a closer look at the Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 official launch trailer. 

Now under a week away from the release of the next entry in the hit Insomniac web-slinger series, the official new collector’s Spider-Man 2 art books have surfaced. Much like we saw ahead of The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom (and plenty of other major gaming releases), Dark Horse Books and Marvel are ready to unleash the The Art of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 hardcover books in both standard and deluxe form. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is one of the most anticipated releases of the holiday season, easily the biggest PlayStation exclusive of the year, and now fans of the web-crawlers can secure a pre-order on both versions of the collector’s book. Head below for more details. 

Update: Amazon is now offering a new all-time low on the carbon fiber-style on Razer’s Vinyl Xbox Series X Console Skin at $31.94 shipped. Regularly $45, this is the best Amazon price yet. More details below. 

After debuting over the summer, we are now tracking the first price drops on the Razer Vinyl Console Skins for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. While not all of the designs are now marked down, you will find a few of the options for the all-digital current-generation PS5 as well as the disc version and the Series X now seeing the very first deals we have tracked since launch starting from $33 shipped. If you’re looking to wrap your console in one of Razer’s premium 3M cast vinyl, the up to 25% in savings on tap here today is as good as it has got thus far. Not only do they add some new vibes, but also some extra protection to keep the console in pristine condition. Razer says they are “thoughtfully designed for simple installation without tools or heat, these Skins are quick and easy to apply while being safe to remove without leftover residue or damage.” Head below for a closer look at the deals. 

After the reveal of its new INZONE Buds and (more or less) just as previous rumors suggested, the new PlayStation 5 consoles are here. Sony has now officially unveiled a new design for PlayStation. While this isn’t officially known as the PlayStation 5 slim, it is a thinner and more compact design that also introduces the removable disc drive we heard about quite some time ago now. The new PlayStation 5 consoles will be rolling out globally “in the coming months” and sound as though they will indeed be shipping in time for holiday season 2023. Head below for all of the details on the new PlayStation 5 consoles. 

Sony is expanding its multi-platform PC and console gaming audio gear today with the announcement of its new Sony INZONE Buds. These truly wireless noise cancelling gaming earbuds join the existing over-ear lineup – here’s our hands-on review of those – to provide gamers with Sony’s 360 spatial audio treatment in an in-ear form-factor. Now available for pre-order at $199.99 shipped, you can head below for a closer look and more details on the new Sony INZONE Buds. 

As part of its Deals Holiday Kickoff event, Walmart is now offering the Nintendo Switch OLED bundled with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for $374.99 shipped. Normally you’d pay $350 for the Switch itself, with the game adding another $60. Today’s offer is a rare chance to save on the console, with $35 in value thrown in. It matches an offer we saw back over Prime Day that had the same bundle available. While you can get a full rundown of what to expect in our hands-on review, the new OLED Switch lives up to its name with an improved screen that makes for more immersive handheld gaming, as well as upgraded speakers, too. There’s still the same hybrid action thanks to a refresh docking station that lets you play all of Nintendo’s most recent games on the big screen, too.

Amazon is now offering the WD_BLACK 1TB SN850P NVMe M.2 PlayStation 5 Solid-State Drive for $99.99 shipped. This model launched for the first time back in June of this year at $150 as the latest, top-of-the-line option from the brand and is now at the lowest price we can find. While we did see it drop to $110 back in August, today’s marks a new Amazon all-time low and the best we have tracked since release. Officially licensed for PlayStation 5 with the PS logo right on the body of the drive, it is a notable way to upgrade your machine before Spider-Man 2 launches later this month and to prep some extra storage for the busy holiday release season. It clocks in at 7,300MB/s with the integrated heatsink and M.2 form-factor PS5 requires, allowing you to “play directly from the drive and eliminate the need to transfer games or remove games from your console with this tested and officially approved PS5 storage expansion.” Get a closer look right here and head below for more details. 

Today, Sony is officially introducing Sony Pictures Core for PS4 and PS5. The new service launches on both generations of consoles starting today to deliver “exclusive benefits and early access to a host of Sony Pictures films to PlayStation gamers.” This is esentially an official rebranding of the Bravia Core app that will soon make the switch over to Sony Pictures Core sometime next year on the brand’s displays but will launch on PS4 and PS5 starting today with some special perks including access to rotating collection of movies to stream FREE for Premium and Deluxe PS Plus members. Head below for more details. 

Next up in the run of 2023 official special edition Xbox controllers is the new Gold Shadow. It has been a busy year for fresh coats of paint on the current-generation wireless Xbox gamepad, last time we checked in Microsoft was unveiling the Astral Purple model after the debut special edition Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles controllers and the smokey blue wireless LE Stormcloud Vapor before that, but now it’s all about the new moody gold treatment. Head below for a closer look at the now available for pre-order Gold Shadow Xbox wireless controller. 

Update 1/24/24: Nintendo has now announced it will officially shut down the Wii U and 3DS online services by 7 a.m. ET April 8, 2024. 

…as of 4/8, online play and other functionality that uses online communication will end service for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software. Thank you very much for your continued support of our products.

Get more details right here. 

Nintendo 3DS and Wii U online support is going away for good. We previously reported on the permanent closure of the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS shops, and it looks like online services for both platforms are now on the way out as well. It’s always sad to see the end of an era and Nintendo has now officially announced that “online play and other functionality that uses online communication will end service for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software.” That means that starting in spring of next year, just about all online action on these platforms using Nintendo’s servers will be no more. Head below for more details. 

It’s Monday afternoon and that means we have a fresh batch of discounted Android game and app deals to peruse down below. Just be sure to check this morning’s $300 price drop on Samsung’s unlocked Galaxy Z Fold 5, the return of all-time low pricing on Samsung’s new 200MB/s PRO Ultimate microSD lineup, and the first deals on Samsung’s official Galaxy Z Flip 5 cases. As for the apps, highlights include titles like Burly Men at Sea, Maglev Metro, Crystalline, Kenshō, The Light, and much more. Hit the jump for a complete look at today’s best Android game and app deals. 

Just before pre-orders on the new PlayStation Portal player are scheduled to hit other retailers tomorrow, Sony has now announced the PlayStation Plus free games for October. While most PS gamers are (not so) patiently waiting for the release of Spider-Man 2, a fresh batch of freebies for PS Plus members will go live beforehand starting on Tuesday, October 3. The collection is headlined by some sci-fi survival horror action alongside peaceful farming simulation and a “dark fantasy reimagining of the Wild West.” Head below for more details on the October PlayStation Plus free games. 

While we have seen a couple price drops on 8Bitdo’s new model Xbox Arcade Stick, both the white and black variants are now dropping to $107.99 shipped via the official Amazon storefront. Be sure to clip the on-page coupon. This one launched as the “world’s first” officially licensed Xbox arcade controller back in June of this year at $120, and it has now returned to the lowest we have tracked since. Today’s deal is matching our previous mention and the best price we can find. This model delivers a more traditional setup centered around a joy-stick, unlike the button-only PS5 and PC Razer model that just launched, alongside a series of ten arcade-style face buttons. You’ll also find a traditional 3.5mm headphone/audio jack and the ability to use it both wired or tether-free with up to 30 hours of wireless playtime per charge. This model also works alongside the brand’s Ultimate software so you can leverage bespoke button mapping, adjustable stick sensitivity, and more. Get a closer look right here and down below.

Amazon is now offering the WD_BLACK 5TB P10 Game Drive Portable External Hard Drive for $97.49 shipped. Regularly $150 at Best Buy where it is now selling for $125, today’s deal is the best we can find. It is also roughly $13 below our previous mention and within $1 of the Amazon 2023 low. While it might not be one of the more pricey SSD Game Drives with faster transfer speeds, you aren’t going to find 5TB of SSD game drive storage for anywhere near this price. You’re looking at under $20 per TB here and a notable way to store your older titles or move games around on the go – just 1TB of WD_BLACK P40 SSD Game Drive is currently selling for $105. The P10 is designed for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox with an 18-inch USB cable included in the package alongside the usual WD_BLACK build quality. You’ll also score a 3-year warranty to protect the “purpose-built for gamers” design and your investment alike. Take a closer look in our hands-on review and head below for more details. 

Sony is now offering folks who purchase and active a new PlayStation 5 console a chance to score a FREE game. There’s no real stings attached here and the game selection is actually quite good – it’s not just some cheapy smaller titles, but rather some serious blockbusters from the platform that have released over the last few years. Head below for all of the details. 

Your Monday afternoon collection of the best Android game and app deals is now ready and waiting down below. Today’s Android app offers are joined by this deal on Motorola’s razr+ foldable alongside Jabra’s just-released Elite 8 Active ANC earbuds and an ongoing discount on Google’s Nest Cam Indoor. As for the apps, highlights include titles like Reventure, 60 Parsecs!, Sheltered, The Escapists 2, Flockers, and more. Head below for a complete look at today’s best Android game and app deals. 

For years now Hallmark has debuted a series of official Nintendo ornaments well ahead of the holiday season and 2023 is no exception. This year’s collection of ornaments is now going up for pre-order featuring designs ranging from Mario Kart characters to Link from The Legend of Zelda, replica NES consoles, and even the beloved Legend of Zelda golden NES cartridge. While most folks would rather not think about decorating for the end-of-year holidays just yet, there’s no telling how long stock will stick around for on the latest releases and these ornaments are frankly good all year round if you ask me. Head below to take a closer look at the new Hallmark Nintendo ornaments and more. 

Amazon is now offering the Arcade1Up Midway Legacy 30th Anniversary Edition Mortal Kombat Arcade Machine down at $399.99 shipped. Regularly $500, this is a solid $100 price drop and the lowest price we can find. Today’s deal is also matching the lowest we have seen this model go for on Amazon since it launched there at this time last year. This one takes it up a notch from the standard version with 14 “iconic” games including Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat 2 and 3, Toobin, Rampage, Joust, Rootbeer Tapper, Defender, and more. On the outside, you’ll find a 17-inch full color display and real-feel joysticks and buttons wrapped in original licensed artwork with a light up marquee. The companion app is another standout feature on this model – users can “compete with friends, post scores to leaderboards, and join a community of gamers across the country.” Head below for more Arcade1Up deals. 

The next drop for the Nintendo Online game library has arrived with Kirby & The Amazing Mirror. Just after Pokémon Trading Card Game and Pokémon Stadium 2 landed on the service, Nintendo dug into the Japan-only archives to bring some previously-unreleased classics to the US alongside Kirby’s Star Stacker from the SNES catalogue. But this month it is reaching back to the Game Boy Advance library to deliver Kirby & The Amazing Mirror to Switch Online members. Head below for more details. 

Earlier this summer, Nintendo launched a pair of new pastel-colored Joy-Con sets. Now we’re seeing the first chances to save. Live courtesy of Amazon, pricing now starts at $70.28 shipped for the pastel purple and green set. Down from $80, today’s offer lands at the first and only chance to save – marking a new all-time low in the process. You can also save on the pastel pink and yellow set at $67.99, too. While summer may be coming to a close, that doesn’t mean the vibes have to die, and Nintendo is making sure of that by bringing some adorable pastel action to your Switch – and for less cash! Dive into our hands-on feature from earlier in the year and then head below for more.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder pre-order bonuses are now available in full force. While you can lock-in a copy at Amazon right now, it is the other retailers that are throwing in special bonus goodies to entice buyers elsewhere. Elephant Mario and the latest entry to the 2D side-scrolling Mushroom Kingdom games (this one actually takes place in the Flower Kingdom) is set for release next month and is just the start for what’s shaping up to be quite a notable holiday season for Switch gamers. The new Mario vs. Donkey Kong and Princess Peach Showtime! might not be slated to land until early 2024, but we will be getting some exciting new titles ahead of the holidays this year. Head below for a closer look at the best Super Mario Bros. Wonder pre-order bonuses to ensure you get the most bang for your buck ahead of release next month on October 20, 2023. 

The next-gen Nintendo Switch looks to indeed be a real thing now. Rumors of the next-generation Switch have been floating around the interwebs for years now, but it looks like some of the first real solid proof of it being in the works has surfaced. A recent report highlights that Activision was briefed on Nintendo’s next-generation machine late last year after internal emails came to light from the FTC Microsoft hearing. Head below for more details.