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Source: Sony / PlayStation 5 / PS5 Slim
The rumors of Sony dropping a new PS5 model were true, but it’s not the “Pro Model” everyone was anticipating.
On Tuesday, October 10, Sony hit everyone with a big surprise when it unveiled a new, slimmer PS5 model. The new model dubbed the “PS5 Slim,” is slightly smaller and shorter than the original PlayStation 5 disc and all-digital model.
What’s New?
The new PS5 Slim is not only changing esthetically but will also have some improvements. It will also come with a much-needed 1TB of internal storage, and for owners of the new slim all-digital model, a detachable Ultra HD Blu-Ray drive will be available.
The new PlayStation 5 console boasts a significant overall reduction in volume of more than 30 percent and an up to 24 percent reduction in weight, depending on what console you purchase.
There is now a significant bulge on the side where the disc drive is that Sony says you can replace with a side panel if you’re not feeling the look.
Source: Sony / PlayStation 5
“There are four separate cover panels, with the top portion in a glossy look, while the bottom remains in matte,” Sid Shuman, senior director of SIE content communications, notes while speaking on the new console’s design in a blog post.
For those who purchase the PS5 Digital Edition, you can buy the Blu-ray disc drive later for $79.99. There are now visible slits on the console, giving it a much more sleeker look.
Gone is the single USB-C and USB-A ports. Instead, dual USB-C ports will be on the front of the console.
Source: Sony / PlayStation 5
Unlike the previous model, the new PlayStation 5 model will have a new horizontal stand. You have to dish out $29.99 separately if you want a vertical one.
Source: Sony / PlayStation 5
Price & Release Date
Source: Sony / PlayStation 5
The new PS5 model will arrive in North America in November at select retailers and Sony’s PlayStation Direct site for $449.99 without a drive or $499.99 with one.
Shuman says that the new PS5 model “will continue to roll out globally in the following months,” says Shuman. “Once inventory of the current PS5 model has sold out, the new PS5 will become the only model available.”
The announcement of the new PS5 model comes after an Insider Gaming report hinting at the tech giant working on a PS5 console with a detachable drive.
It also follows the massive Xbox leak revealing Microsoft’s plans to drop a “console refresh” of the Xbox Series X.
As you can imagine, the video game world is reacting to the news.
You can see those reactions in the gallery below.
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Photos: Sony
1. Interesting
2. Talk Yo Shi*t
3. The price hike does suck.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Prime Day is now upon us, which means deep discounts on just about everything at Amazon — including TVs, smart home devices, beauty products, stylish threads and even gaming gear.
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From Oct. 10-11, you can save up to a whopping 88% on video games, headsets, gaming laptops, pc accessories and much more from the retail giant. If you’re looking to stock up a hit titles for PS5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch and more, then we have you covered.
And if you have Amazon Prime, you can get free two-day shipping (and sometimes even one-day free shipping) on all of these deals. Not a member? No problem. You can sign up for a 30-day free trial to take advantage of Prime Day and other perks, such as discounts at Whole Foods Market, access to Prime Video and Prime Gaming, early access to deals, and much more.
Ahead, you’ll find the best gaming deals during Prime Day. Scroll down and shop, below:
Dying Light 2 Stay Human
Amazon
Set in an post-apocalyptic world, Dying Light 2 Stay Human — which is on sale for $25, or 60% off, at Amazon — is an open-world game where you must fight off and kill hordes of zombies. Explore the city during the day, but watch out for ghouls at night.
More PS5 Deals
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection, $29.99 (regularly $49.99)
NBA 2K22, $16.39 (regularly $69.99)
Elden Ring, $44.95 (regularly $59.99)
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, $49.99 (regularly $69.99)
Sniper: Ghost Warrior – Contracts 2, $24.92 (regularly $29.99)
Riders Republic, $14.18 (regularly $59.99)
The Last of Us, Part I, $57.99 (regularly $69.99)
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction, $4.37 (regularly $39.99)
Jumanji: The Video Game, $19.28 (regularly $29.99)
Sonic Frontiers, $29.99 (regularly $59.99)
Marvel’s Midnight Suns: Enhanced Edition, $22.49 (regularly $39.99)
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
Amazon
On sale for $29.82, or half off, at Amazon, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is the wild and madcap sequel to Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle for the Nintendo Switch. It features all-new bosses and enemies with a bizarre mashup of everyone’s favorite plumber with everyone’s favorite wild rabbit-like creatures.
More Nintendo Deals
Back 4 Blood
Amazon
Priced at a whopping 88% off at Amazon, Back 4 Blood for Xbox Series X is a thrilling co-op first-person shooter where you’re in the middle of a war against the Ridden, once-human host that are hellbent on consuming all of society.
More Xbox Deals
Asus Vivobook Go 15
Amazon
Equipped with a 15.6-inch Full HD Display and Intel Celeron N4020 Processor, Asus Vivobook Go 15 is an affordable laptop that’s ideal for work, school and even some lite gaming. It’s even paired with 4GB of memory and 64GB of on-board storage with Windows 11 built-in. It’s on sale for just $189.99, or nearly 25% off, its list price at Amazon. This is its all-time lowest price ever!
More Asus Deals
Asus Chromebook C424, $199.99 (regularly $249.99)
Asus ROG Strix G16 Gaming Laptop (2023), $1,699.99 (regularly $1,999.99)
Asus Vivobook 14 Laptop (2023), $399.99 (regularly $479.99)
Asus Vivobook 16X Laptop (2023), $1,149.99 (regularly $1,299.99)
Asus Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip, $589.99 (regularly $699.99)
Asus Zen AiO 24 Monitor, $899.99 (regularly $1,149.99)
Asus ROG Strix Scar 15 Gaming Laptop, $1,499.99 (regularly $2,049.99)
Razer DeathAdder V2 Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse
Amazon
Looking for precision and accuracy? The Razer DeathAdder V2 Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse offers fast speed with accurate triggering in a sleek and premium device. It features auto-calibration, Chroma RGB lighting and up to a whopping 70 hours of battery life per charge. Oh yeah, it’s also on sale for $64.99, or half off, at Amazon during Prime Day.
More Razer Deals
HyperX Cloud Stinger Gaming Headset
Amazon
On sale for 60% off during Prime Day at Amazon, the HyperX Cloud Stinger Gaming Headset is lightweight for long sessions with an over-the-ear design for deep immersions when gaming. It’s compatible with PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and more. Not bad for just $19.88, or $30.11 of its list price.
More HyperX Deals
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Source: Atari / Save Mary
Blow the dust off your old Atari 2600 console. Apparently, there are still new games coming out for it.
The Atari 2600 first arrived in homes in 1977 and is nearly 50 years old, ceasing production in 1992, but that’s not stopping Atari from making games for the iconic console.
Spotted on the company’s website, Atari dropped two limited edition physical cartridges for Save Mary and Outlaw.
Atari reveals Save Mary was a victim of the 1983 game crash, keeping it from being released until now. Tod Frye developed the game that “will keep you on your toes as you build a platform that Mary can use to escape the flooding canyon. Use the crane to carefully lower the different blocks and piece together a platform that Mary can safely stand on — but be careful! If you swing or drop a block carelessly, you may end up crushing poor Mary.”
Outlaw Was Also Announced
Unlike Save Mary, Outlaw did see a release, first arriving in arcades in 1976 before coming to the Atari 2600 in 1978. The game was initially allowed for only a single gunslinger before the home version was optimized for two players.
The description for Outlaw reads:
Based on the 1976 Atari arcade game of the same name, Outlaw is an exciting game for one or two players set in the wild west. While the original arcade game only allowed for a single gunslinger, the Atari 2600 version released in 1978 gives you the option to play alone, where you can practice your aim against moving targets, or against another gunslinger in a contest to see who can first score ten hits against the other player.
As of this writing, both games are sold out. Who knows, there could be more games on the way.
But we are sure you can find them for resale and add them to your collection to play on the Atari 2600+ mini console coming in November.
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Photo: Atari
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage is the 13th major installment in the very popular franchise, which started back in 2007. There’s a lot of excitement for the game since it’s the first major Assassin’s Creed game in the series since Valhalla was released in November 2020. Moreover, Mirage drops on Thursday (Oct. 5) across platforms.
Best PS5 Deals: Where to Buy the Popular Console & PlayStation Bundles on Sale
10/05/2023
Starting at $49.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, Target and Walmart, Assassin’s Creed Mirage is playable on Xbox Series X and PS5, as well as the previous generations Xbox One and PS4 (and Windows PC), in two editions: Launch and Deluxe.
Wondering what the difference is between the two editions? The standard Launch Edition features the game and a DLC (downloadable content) expansion called “Forty Thieves Quest,” while the Deluxe Edition — which goes for $59.99 — comes with both the game and DLC, as well as a digital artbook, digital soundtrack and new Prince of Persia-inspired outfits and skins.
As for the game itself, Assassin’s Creed Mirage takes place during the Golden Age of Baghdad, a few decades before Valhalla. It’s a “coming-of-age story” that follows Basim Ibn Ishaq, played by Lee Majdoub, a street thief who learns the world is much bigger than himself. His mentor Roshan, played by Shohreh Aghdashloo, trains him to join the Hidden One, an order of Middle Eastern assassins.
The game is expected to also be playable for the Apple iPhone 15 sometime in early 2024. Mirage will be the first Assassin’s Creed game to be officially released, natively, for the premium smartphone.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage for Xbox and PlayStation is available now at all sorts of online retailers. The game goes for $49.99 for the Launch Edition and $59.99 for the Deluxe Edition.
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NewJeans is the latest act to play a part in the League of Legends World Championship. The K-pop stars provided the championship with this year’s anthem “Gods,” making them the first K-pop group in the game’s history to provide a song for the annual event. The track also marks the 10th anniversary of the game’s […]
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Source: Activision / Activision
Another year means a new Call Of Duty title. On November 10 you’ll be able to get your hands on Modern Warfare III but today (Oct. 3) Activision revealed the long-awaited trailer for the multiplayer mode of the video game.
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare III is touting “16 iconic maps modernized for fast-paced combat” (that would be OG launch maps from 2009’s Modern Warfare 2). While we’re sure the campaign will be epic and the zombies will be cool, many players will check in strictly for the multiplier, and the trailer features a peek at all the assault rifles, SMG’s, snipers, kitted-out loadouts and tide-turning killstreaks you will surely desire. As for the soundtrack, it’s Emimen’s “Till I Collapse,” featuring the late, great Nate Dogg.
Starting Friday (Oct. 6), you’ll be able to play the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III Multiplayer Beta all weekend on the PlayStation while you’ll get your turn the next weekend if you’re on an XBox or a PC.
Source: Activision / Activision
Also worth noting, Call of Duty: NEXT will go down this Thursday, October 5, and will be followed up by the Call of Duty Endowment (C.O.D.E.) Bowl IV.
Watch the new multiplayer action below.
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“Strike a pose!” In a follow-up to WarioWare: Get It Together! released in 2021, WarioWare: Move It!, the 11th installment in the franchise, drops for the Nintendo Switch on Nov. 3.
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Available for pre-order at $49.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, Target and Walmart, WarioWare: Move It! is a party video game with more than 200 motion-controlled microgames across gameplay options, including Party Mode, Story Mode and The Museum.
For up to four players, “The Museum” is a collection of quick head-to-head challenges that you can pick and choose from in local co-op play, while “Party Mode” is a board-game-style match. And for a true WarioWare experience, just because you win your match, it doesn’t mean you move ahead in the game.
“Story Mode” involves Wario on a tropical island running from evil spirits in a random assortment of microgames thrown at you. The more microgames you complete, the faster Wario runs away.
Here’s a list of a few microgames found in “The Museum”:
Cowboy Up
Buttograph
Super Mario Bros. 3 (shake your tail to fly)
Feeling Peckish
Bell Chorus
Keeping Count
Thigh Fishing
Sumo Says
Train
Shell Shine
Nintendo/Amazon
Meanwhile, microgames range from short “follow-the-leader”-style games to brief Switch Sports-like challenges. There are a few microgames that are a throwback to early Nintendo titles and characters too. Moreover, you’ll sometimes have to “strike a pose” and get into a funny, yet awkward, standing position to complete a few games, but it’s all in the spirit of fun and participation from the WarioWare series.
Overall, in a first impression and without a full review, WarioWare: Move It! is loads of fun with short bursts of exciting challenges, especially with more than one player. The mircogames are creative and inventive with bright colors and slick animations, while the motion controls seem accurate and amusing to execute in a group. While “Story Mode” is reserved for single player experiences, it’s ultimately a party game meant to be played with friends and family.
WarioWare: Move It! for Nintendo Switch comes out on Nov. 3 for $49.99. It’s available for pre-order now.
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Source: Visual Concepts / NBA 2K24
Visual Concepts and 2K Sports set up NBA 2K24 with the perfect alley-oop pass with NBA 2K23, but sadly, they couldn’t throw it down for the spectacular finish.
Like the Madden NFL video game franchise, Visual Concepts’s NBA 2K video games are in a very unique position, being the only officially licensed basketball video game on the market.
The last time the NBA 2K franchise had to worry about some competition was in 2018, when EA dropped NBA Live 2018, the last time we would see an NBA Live video game on consoles.
The NBA 2K franchise has been a model of consistency and as dominant as the Jordan-led Chicago Bulls, Kobe and Shaq Lakers, and the Golden State Warriors, but as of recently, fans have grown weary of the games.
The biggest complaints as of late are that the games don’t bring any significant improvements and are nothing but rehashes of the games from the previous year with a fresh coat of paint.
It’s the same complaints Madden NFL fans have expressed about those games.
While Madden has taken a knee with its latest games on next-gen consoles, the NBA 2K franchise gave us hope with their first three entries on the PS5 and Xbox Series X. We hoped that would continue with NBA 2K24, and on paper, it seemed we were getting an improvement from 2K23, but sadly that is not the case.
This is a letdown, especially for a game that features the late Kobe Bryant on the cover.
The Mamba Moments Mode Is Fun But Feels Empty At The Same Time
Source: 2K Sports / Visual Concepts / NBA 2K24
There are still many other memorable moments you get to relive in the game, BUT it’s glaring that you can’t relive Kobe’s 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors.
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From free two-day shipping (sometimes even one-day free shipping) to access to premium movies and TV shows, getting an Amazon Prime membership has plenty of perks. But did you know that you can also get free video games just for being a member?
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Every Thursday throughout every month, Prime members can get a handful of free games to download and play via Prime Gaming — as part of the subscription service. A new set of free games come out week after week, so you can pick and choose which games you want to play and keep. Meanwhile, the gaming service also has free level-up picks for loot, unlockable characters, skins, boosts and more.
Not a member? You can sign up for a free 30-day trial to take advantage of this deal and everything that Amazon Prime has to offer.
The Prime Gaming app is available to play on PC, Android smartphones and tablets, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One, and other platforms.
Check out all the free games available during the month of September, below.
Football Manager 2023 (available now)
Amazon
In Football Manager 2023, which retails for $59.99 on Steam, you can build your own roster, outsmart your competition, manage your own soccer club, and more in the UEFA Champions League. You start from humble beginnings and then win your way to victory and glory.
Football Manager 2023
Ozymandias: Bronze Age Empire Sim (available now)
Amazon
Usually priced at $14.99 on Steam, Ozymandias: Bronze Age Empire Sim is a turn-based role-playing and a real-time strategy game where you build an empire that takes place in ancient Eurasia. You build and move your borders, raise arms, protect your home and invade your enemy’s land, and more.
Ozymandias: Bronze Age Empire Sim
Absolute Tactics: Daughters of Mercy (available now)
Amazon
Absolute Tactics: Daughters of Mercy lets you customize your characters, attacks and abilities, while you try to defeat the evil Father Eldritch and his bloodthirsty armies throughout dozens of maps and battlegrounds. It’s a turn-based tactical RPG that normally priced at $24.99 at Steam, but you can get it for free via Prime Gaming.
Absolute Tactics: Daughters of Mercy
Dexter Stardust: Adventures in Outer Space (available now)
Amazon
Retailing for $9.99 on Steam, Dexter Stardust : Adventures in Outer Space is a point-and-click sci-fi adventure game that follows Dexter Stardust and his companion Aurora trying to save the world by discovering and defeating the mysterious Robot from Planet X.
Dexter Stardust: Adventures in Outer Space
Shotgun King: The Final Checkmate (available now)
Amazon
It’s like chess, but with a shotgun. Shotgun King: The Final Checkmate — which goes typically goes for $9.99 on Steam — is a turn-based strategy game where you play as the Black King. All of your subjects have left your kingdom to join the opposing white pieces, so now you have to reclaim your black pieces with your trusty shotgun.
Shotgun King: The Final Checkmate
Unsolved Case: Murderous Script Collector’s Edition (coming September 28)
Amazon
Priced at $7.99 on Steam, Unsolved Case: Murderous Script is a first-person point-and-click game where you’re tasked with solving the mysterious murder of a museum director. You’re joined by your virtual partner Scott, as you try to find clues, uncover shady dealings, find missing persons and more. This is the collector’s edition of the game, which comes with extras, such as bonus chapters, a behind-the-scenes look, concept art, and more.
Unsolved Case: Murderous Script Collector’s Edition
Hundred Days: Winemaking Simulator (coming September 28)
Amazon
Have you ever wanted to make your own wine? In Hundred Days: Winemaking Simulator — which retails for $24.99 on Steam — you can make your own wine, grow grapes from a rich plot of land that you pick, bottle and sell it, as you run a winery business from the ground up.
Hundred Days: Winemaking Simulator
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Source: Microsoft / Xbox Series X ‘Brooklin’
Another massive leak, spilling some juicy Xbox details, has the video game world buzzing.
An FTC leak has produced documents detailing some of Xbox’s future plans and another massive acquisition. The biggest news from the leak was that Xbox plans to drop what it calls a “console refresh” of the Xbox Series X called ‘Brooklin.’
It has been confirmed that it was Microsoft were the one’s who “leaked” the information after accidentally loading it onto a government website, per Bloomberg’s reporting.
Anyway, Brooklin is a new Xbox Series X console version that ditches the original “box shape” small fridge look for a new circular design plus a much-needed increased internal storage of 2TB.
Gamesradar reports that the “console refresh” will have the same price as the previous console with tweaks like a faster wireless connection, more storage as mentioned above, eco-friendly features to reduce the console’s carbon footprint, ditching the disc drive, and even an updated controller that could finally bring it on par, or close to the greatness that is the PS5’s DualSense controller.
The new controller, code-named Sebille, is “more immersive” and will feature gyro support, Bluetooth 5.2, and a direct Cloud connection. There will also be “precision haptic feedback” that doubles as speakers.
“Improved longevity” is also a feature of the Sebille controller, thanks to new modular thumbsticks.
According to the leaks, the controller will launch sometime in August 2024, around the same time as E3 2024, when the company was set to reveal its latest offerings to the video game world.
There are also plans for an Xbox Series S refresh due in August, with the Brooklin console coming in late October, right in time for Black Friday and the Christmas shopping season.
Phil Spencer Was Dreaming of Video Game Domination
The new console and controller weren’t the only news about the FTC leak. According to leaked emails, Xbox Chief Phil Spencer wanted to bring Nintendo into the Xbox ecosystem.
In the August 2020 email sent right before Microsoft bought Bethesda’s parent company ZeniMax, Spencer called a possible acquisition of Nintendo “a career moment.”
Spencer’s lust didn’t stop there. He also expressed interest in Steam owner Valve and Warner Bros’ collection of game studios like Mortal Kombat developer NetherRealm Studios and Rocksteady, the game studio behind the Batman Arkham Series.
Per IGN:
“Nintendo is THE prime asset for us in gaming and today gaming is our most likely path to consumer relevance,” Spencer wrote in the email.
“I’ve had numerous conversations with the LT of Nintendo about tighter collaboration and feel like if any US company would have a chance with Nintendo we are probably in the best position.”
However, Spencer outlined a number of blocks on the merger, including the fact Nintendo seemed uninterested in selling up. Nintendo is “sitting on a big pile of cash”, Spencer said, and was apparently happy with its current position. As a result, Spencer said he couldn’t “see an angle” on a buyout in the short term, adding: “I don’t think a hostile action would be a good move… so we are playing the long game.”
Well damn.
You can see more reactions to the leaks in the gallery below.
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Photo: Microsoft / Xbox Series X ‘Brooklin’
2. Interesting
3. Looks like Tom was right.