News

New Pikachu shoes have surfaced in collaboration with Clarks, makers of the iconic Wallabees. We love a good Pokémon cross campaign around here, whether it’s CASETiFY’s latest Pokémon collection, the Converse collaboration that dropped back in May, or those more subtle adidas sneakers we saw before that, but today it’s Clarks’s turn. Head below for a closer look at the latest in Pokémon footwear with the new Clarks Pikachu shoes. 

The current Apex Legends season draws to a close next week, and Hunted takes its places. Out with the old, and in with the… older? That’s right, Kings Canyon is coming back and Skulltown is better than ever. Plus, we’re getting an all-new legend named Vantage that’s sure to take sniping to a new level in Apex Legends Hunted. What other changes are on the horizon? Let’s take a closer look.

Final Audio started collaborating with Evangelion back in 2020 with its EVA2020 true wireless earbuds, and now the fifth installment of the mecha-inspired listening experiences is now arriving. Continuing the inspiration based around the anime series’ iconic mechas, the newest pair is themed around Rei’s prototype Unit-00 Eva.

Is the Nintendo Switch screen not large enough for you to game on-the-go comfortably? Well, the UpSwitch Orion remedies that problem by delivering a large 11.6-inch HD display to your portable setup. The Orion comes as an all-in-one dock and allows you to enjoy your favorite Switch games anywhere, just bigger. Should you get this unique handheld upgrade? Let’s take a closer look.

The Samsung Gaming Hub is getting another major upgrade today with the launch of Amazon’s Luna streaming service. After launching back in June of this year, Samsung is seriously bolstering its built-in gaming capabilities with the inclusion of Xbox Game Pass cloud gaming that launched last month, the NVIDIA GeForce platform, and now, Amazon’s Luna streaming service. Head below for more details on Luna landing in the Samsung Gaming Hub. 

After last checking in with Pokémon Scarlet and Violet back in June for the official release dates and a first look at the new Legendaries, the Pokémon Company is back today with its latest Presents showcase. Detailing the latest news from Gen 9, we’re breaking down all of the announcements from today’s virtual event now that the upcoming games are available for pre-order.

After going hands-on with its Pro Edition tripod last month, SANDMARC is expanding its iPhoneography lineup today with the new Cloud Diffusion iPhone lens attachment filters. Designed to deliver that dreamy filmic look to your photography and videos, the SANDMARC Cloud Diffusion Filter is compatible with just about all iPhone models ranging all the way back to the 5 series devices with a standard clip-on approach. Now available for pre-sale directly from the official site, you can even land a solid discount on your order with our exclusive 9to5Toys promo code. Head below for a closer look and more details. 

Today, Microsoft is announcing the latest additions to its Xbox Game Pass lineup of titles. Further expanding its offerings, you’ll now find yet another Ubisoft game joining the Game Pass ranks with the inclusion of Ghost Recon Wildlands for the first time ever. There’s a lot more coming to Microsoft’s monthly game subscription service, so keep reading to find out all you’ll be able to play over the next month.

After seeing over 45 different LEGO creations hit store shelves at the start of the month for the summer wave, we’re now getting official looks at this year’s holiday sets. Every year the LEGO Group debuts some new festive kits to countdown to the holidays, and 2022 is no different. Today we’re checking out all of the details from the new Star Wars and Marvel LEGO Advent Calendars which will both be hitting shelves on September 1.

The new Insta360 Link webcam may not look like the traditional shape we’re used to, but that’s because it’s an AI-powered, three-axis gimbal-stabilized 4K camera. This thing is packed with features that will appeal to streamers, content creators, and work professionals. Be sure to hit the video below to see and hear a deep dive into everything this $300 webcam is capable of.

It’s time to dive into our 2022 edition podcast equipment list. With so many folks stepping into the space, whether it’s in a professional capacity or just as a hobby for beginners, it can be a daunting task to choose which podcast microphone and other gear you really need to get going in the right direction. It’s seeming like every even mildly audio-focused brand has an interface and a USB microphone available these days. So we thought we would organize some of the gear we have had a chance to go hands-on with (in some form or other) to help answer some frequently asked questions and to demystify some of the details for digital audio beginners and those just getting started in the podcasting space. Below, you’ll find a series of podcast equipment and gear to get you off on the right foot as well as ways to save some serious cash when first getting started. 

Anker’s latest releases take a step up from the usual iPhone-centric designs we’re used to, delivering even more capable form-factors backed by the latest GaNPrime charging tech. Its new PowerCore 65W takes that up yet another notch by delivering USB-C charging speeds alongside an internal power bank for topping off gear at-home or on-the-go. But does that versatility justify the price tag?

Launched back in May, Amazfit’s latest T-Rex 2 smartwatch is getting a pretty solid software update today. The premium GPS-enabled smartwatch will now let you import FPX/TCX/KML route files and also deliver real-time navigation, which is pretty nice. There’s more to this update, and we break down the navigational changes below.

V-MODA is unveiling its next-generation flagship product today with the new Crossfade 3 wireless headphones. The brand says the new Crossfades elevate “the highly rated V-MODA sound with new audio refinements that deliver the most immersive… experience ever.” The same premium build is present and accounted for here alongside improved battery life, enhanced codec support, and something the brand refers to as “evolved sound.” Head below for a closer look and more details. 

Every summer the LEGO Group launches one of the largest collection of new sets of the year, and 2022 is no different. This time around we’re getting a collection of all-new LEGO Star Wars sets to go alongside the likes of display-worthy Marvel builds, celebratory 90th anniversary creations, latest from Nintendo, and so much more. Head below for a break down of all the new LEGO sets for summer 2022.

Alongside seeing a collection of Star Wars sets lead the way for the summer 2022 LEGO action, the Marvel theme is also getting in on all of the new creations. Including three display-worthy sets, a refreshed and highly-detailed Sanctum Sanctorum is joined by a Nano Gauntlet kit and buildable Groot to kick off the new LEGO Marvel sets for the summer 2022 lineup now live for August 1.

August 1 has finally arrived and the LEGO Group is excitingly launching the largest Star Wars collection of the year. As the company does every year, the 2022 summer lineup is now available with seven different kits from a galaxy far, far away. Spanning sets themed around the latest Disney+ shows to buildable droids right out of video games and more, here’s everything you need to know on the new LEGO Star Wars 2022 sets in this summer lineup for August.

Yamaha is entering the game streaming space with its first-ever game streaming audio mixer. While there are loads of notable options out there when it comes to streaming and running audio for your game-centric rig, the new ZG01 Gaming Mixer from Yamaha has a number of interesting tricks up its sleeve. For everyone from casual players to eSports pros and Twitch broadcasters, the new streaming audio mixer delivers USB audio interface action alongside mic/vocal effects, 3D surround sound, and “competitive-gaming focus modes,” among other things. Head below for more details. 

No company does retro gaming quite like the folks at Analogue, and today we’re taking a hands-on look at its latest debut. Bringing all of the old school vibes from 1989 into the modern age, the Analogue Pocket takes on a Game Boy inspired form-factor with plenty of quality of life changes in tow. Alongside the ability to play official Nintendo cartridges, as well. But with orders delayed until next year, is the refreshed handheld actually worth the price?

IOGEAR is a well-known name in the PC gaming space, and it recently launched its latest UpStream 4K Game Capture Card that has a few notable unique features. The main thing that sets this capture card apart from many on the market is its support for consoles thanks to having two 3.5mm jacks for full team chat recording, without any extra wires or adapters needed, making it a solid choice for capturing both console and PC gameplay.

MSI is out with its first streaming microphone – the Immerse GV60. While MSI might be better known for hardware like laptops and motherboards, filling out its offerings with more peripherals like audio just makes sense given the popularity of streaming and content creation. With a Blue Yeti-like presence, the $130 MSI Immerse GV60 has some robust physical controls on the mic but lacks any software tweaking like some competitors. Be sure to watch the video review to hear how it sounds against the competition. 

After being announced back in late May, Canon is officially launching its all-new EOS R10 mirrorless camera. Expanding the popular R series of cameras, the R10 is the first to use an APS-C 24MP sensor as the entry-level option. The R7 was announced at the same time, but it is expected to launch later this year and is one tier higher than the R10 that is launching today.

Today, Sony announced that it’s rolling out a new PlayStation 5 beta software update to select users with several new features. The headlining part of this update, however, is finally support for 1440p HDMI output on the PlayStation 5. While this might not be that important with TVs, since they normally come in either 1080p or 4K, those who game on monitors will welcome this change with open arms. What else comes with the update, and when can general users expect it? Let’s take a closer look.

Today we are taking a look at the new Backbone One PlayStation Edition. The original Backbone One is widely considered to be one of, if not, the best mobile gaming controller for iPhone, but the company has now teamed up with Sony to unveil what is essentially the first official iPhone controller for PlayStation. Head below for more details and a closer look at the new Backbone One PlayStation Edition. 

New details of GTA 6 have seemingly emerged, including the game’s setting, playable characters, and overall change of tone. Grand Theft Auto 5 released ages ago (back in 2013) and, much like previous games in the series, has remained relevant ever since. That’s largely due to the ever-expanding GTA Online that remained one of the top 20 best selling games right up until 2020, but Rockstar has seemingly begun to move its development focus from its persistent Grand Theft Auto world over to new projects, the biggest of which is likely GTA 6. Head below for more details. 

Twelve South first launched its AirSnap case several years ago for the first pair of AirPods, and since then the cover has become one of the more popular premium options on the market. And with the most recent AirPods 3 just hitting the scene last fall, the accessory maker has finally refreshed its signature leather stylings for Apple’s latest in three different colorways.

Turtle Beach’s sister brand, ROCCAT, is now releasing an all-new Kone XP Air wireless RGB gaming mouse with quite a few notable features. Bringing the brand’s iconic Kone XP mouse an all-new lease on life with the introduction of a Stellar Wireless connection, you’ll also find a fast charging dock and great RGB here all around. Want to learn more? Head below for additional information.

After being officially revealed at LEGO CON 2022, fans have been eagerly awaiting being able to get their hands on the upcoming Star Wars AT-TE. Unfortunately they’ll have to wait even longer, as today the LEGO Group has issued a statement noting that the latest Clone Wars creation won’t be arriving alongside the rest of the summer 2022 wave dropping in August.

Now that the 2022 LEGO lineup is largely solidified for the year in the Star Wars realm, we can actually start looking ahead to what 2023 will bring. And on that front, today 9to5Toys can report on what to expect from the winter wave of next year, including nine different LEGO sets from a galaxy far, far away.

How much would you be willing to pay for a gaming headset? What features would you expect it to have? With the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, the $350 price point is jarring, but once you see the feature set, it all sounds pretty intriguing. With ANC, Bluetooth, and hot-swappable batteries, there is a lot to talk about. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

After being announced back in May, the 2D crossover brawler from Warner Bros. Games’ MultiVersus is now in open beta ahead of it’s release. Similar to Super Smash Bros., MultiVersus brings characters from multiple universes into one game to fight it out. With the launch of the open beta comes the announcement of Lebron James joining the roster and Rick and Morty joining in the near-future.

Today, Meta (formerly known as Oculus) has announced that it will be raising the cost of its popular Quest 2 VR headset. The standalone virtual reality helmet was first launched back in 2020 and since then has become one of the more fan-favorite ways to dive into VR. And with Meta set to finally remove the required Facebook account login, the company has now announced it will be raising the cost of its headset.

Philips Hue is one of our favorite smart home brands here at 9to5toys, though there’s often times some confusion from new or potential adopters as to how the ecosystem works. The biggest source of this is the Philips Hue Bridge, which arrives as an extra piece of hardware in addition to the lights, sensors, and switches that the company makes. So how does it all work? We break it down after the jump.

Today, Razer is introducing an all-new keyboard dubbed the DeathStalker V2 lineup. With both a Pro and normal version available in full-size as well as a Pro TKL, there are quite a few options to check out here. Delivering “high-profile performance in a low-profile package,” these keyboards use Razer’s fastest low-profile switches and are “optimized with top-tier performance” in mind. Plus, there’s even a wireless option on the full-size V2 Pro, making this a well-rounded launch. Sound interesting? Let’s take a closer look below.

Sony is ramping up for the launch of its latest-generation PS VR2 platform and has now taken to its official PlayStation Blog with some new details. After catching our first glimpse of the PlayStation VR2 headset back in February, Sony is now detailing some of the interesting user experience features with some new details on see-through mode, live-stream broadcasting options, custom play areas, and more. Head below for the latest on PS VR2. 

Today, the LEGO Group is giving Marvel fans a first look at three new creations out of the Black Panther sequel. Delivering smaller builds to pair with an assortment of five all-new minifigures, the upcoming LEGO Wakanda Forever kits will be hitting stores later this fall in October starting at $10.

Today, QNAP is introducing its first tower U.2 NVMe/SATA all-flash NAS with the TS-h1290FX. This NAS is designed to be an all-in-one solution for your high-end workstation and collaborative high-resolution video workflows, thanks to leveraging AMD’s EPYC processor, PCIe Gen 4×16 expansion, and native dual 25GbE networking. It can also scale up to a petabyte of storage as well, with 256GB RAM models shipping prebuilt too. What is all this all-flash NAS from QNAP capable of? Quite a bit, in reality. Let’s take a closer look below.

Today, Anker is launching an entirely new lineup of chargers, marking the first of its stable to arrive with the latest GaN charging tech. Packed into six different form factors, Anker is opting to forgo the new GaN III standard in favor of launching its own version of the tech known as GaNPrime. Delivering notable power stations for refueling your entire Apple kit, there’s everything from 150W multi-port chargers to Qi-enabled solutions and other USB-C power stations.

Originally earmarked for a release this summer and now set to launch in September, Splatoon 3 pre-orders are now live with some fun bonuses attached. After getting our first look at the co-op mode back during the massive February Nintendo Direct presentation, Nintendo launched a fresh new gameplay trailer alongside the updated September release date in late April. Since then, pre-orders have gone live on Amazon and elsewhere with some fun freebie bonuses attached. Head below for a closer look at the special Splatoon 3 pre-orders. 

Today, the LEGO Group is bringing its Minifigure Factory online, allowing builders to customize their own minifig. Taking the popular in-store experience and rolling it out as a beta to online shoppers, you can now build your own minifigure complete with custom torso designs and more.

Can you play TMNT on Switch? Will Turtles in Time come to Switch? How can the classic turtles games not be on Switch already? If you’re still asking these questions, stop. Not only is the brilliant Shredder’s Revenge now out in the wild – a sort of new retro-modern take on the classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles beat ’em ups of the 90s – but Nickelodeon’s epic Cowabunga Collection is now quickly approaching. We caught a glimpse of the classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Cowabunga Collection back in March during the PlayStation State of Play, but we now know exactly when you’ll be able to play TMNT on Switch (and just about every other platform out there) in all its retro glory. Head below for more details for the upcoming Cowabunga Collection. 

While there are plenty of video doorbells and smart locks on the market, having two separate devices at your front door may not be very appealing. Lockly is looking to reduce this setup to just one device, its all-new Vision Elite deadbolt video smart lock. Here you’ll get the same functionality of a video doorbell with the security of a deadbolt. Keep reading below to find out more about this new video lock and where you can pick one up.

New Wave Toys regualrly releases some of the more novel and downright adorable retro release on the market, and today we’re getting a look at what the newest takes on that will be. Moving away from the compact arcade cabinets that have made the company as popular as it is, New Wave Toys is launching a pair of new vintage Coca-Cola vending machines.

NERF has been a staple of childhood for decades, and now Hasbro is looking to bring a new twist to its classic blue and orange tip dart blasters lineup. Hasbro is announcing its latest innovation ahead of San Diego Comic-Con International which is set to launch this November. The all-new NERF Pro Gelfire Mythic Full Auto Blaster will be the first gel blaster for the brand. Head below to learn more about this new blaster.

CASETiFY has now unveiled its new crossover campaign featuring a collection of Dragon Ball Z iPhone cases, AirPods sheaths, Apple Watch bands, and AirTag accessories. Folks intersted in the new Dragon Ball Z Apple gear from CASETiFY will have chance at landing some of the new accessories come later this month, but in the meantime let’s take a closer look at everything down below.