The world of Middle-earth is far more expansive than the tales of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. While Frodo, Gandalf, Samwise, Bilbo, and Gollum might be some of the most familiar faces to Middle-earth fans, J.R.R. Tolkien masterfully built his fantasy world with a staggering level of detail and lore--all of which can explored in The History of Middle-earth series. Compiled and edited from Tolkien's manuscripts and notes by his son Christopher Tolkien, The History of Middle-earth was originally published in the 1980s and '90s. Like all Tolkien books, it has received multiple reissues, but the 2024 editions are certainly the most stunning thus far.
Two of the four hardcover box sets have released already, with the final two arriving over the next two months. These are pricey sets, but as part of Amazon's early Prime Day sale, you can get the first set for over 50% off, dropping the price to only $59. The second set is also steeply discounted and eligible for Amazon's B2G1 free sale. However, if you want all of the sets, your best bet would be to buy the first one from Amazon and the other three from Target. All four box sets are eligible for Target's B2G1 book free sale for Circle members (free rewards program). The third and fourth box sets are just two of the many upcoming books you can preorder as part of the promotion.
The History of Middle-earth - 2024 hardcover box sets
Amazon's wireless Luna controller is on sale ahead of the retailer's big Prime Day 2024 sale next week. The Luna controller is a surprisingly good gamepad that supports PC, Mac, and smartphones, and is a solid choice even if you don't use the Luna game streaming service. Prime members can pick one up for just $40 at Amazon right now, which knocks a hefty chunk off its normal $70 retail price.
The Luna controller features all the normal buttons and triggers you'd expect, and it uses the offset thumbstick layout similar to what you'd find on the Xbox Wireless Controller (on sale for $44) or the Nintendo Switch Pro controller (on sale for $64). However, since it's an Amazon device, it includes built-in Alexa support, including a mic you can use for voice commands like launching Luna games or controlling other connected devices. Along with PC, Mac, Android, and iOS, the controller works with Amazon Fire TVs, Fire tablets, and Chromebooks via Bluetooth wireless or wired USB connections.
Amazon Luna Controller
While we think the Luna controller is a solid choice for all PC and mobile players--especially when it's just $40--it's an even better option of Luna subscribers. Picking one up is also a great excuse to give the cloud gaming service a try, since Amazon Prime members get access to a bunch of games on the service, along with a monthly batch of PC titles each month.
Amazon is once again selling the beautiful Illustrated Edition of The Lord of the Rings for only $26 ahead of Prime Day. You have to click the coupon box on the listing to get the full discount, and there's really no telling when the additional discount will disappear. Since launching the deal earlier this week alongside its B2G1 free promotion, Amazon has removed the coupon from the offer on at least two different occasions. It's not eligible for Amazon's B2G1 free deal, but it is part of Target's sale (though it's $39 at Target). You should also check out this incredible deal on the recently released (and gorgeous) History of Middle-earth hardcover box set.
What makes this book so special is that it's designed to look and feel like a premium print of the Lord of the Rings saga. It features gorgeous illustrations by J.R.R. Tolkien, the text has been printed in two colors, there are sprayed edges, and a ribbon bookmark for this hardcover release. There's also a special edition available, although it is pricier and costs $94 on sale. Still, that's way better than its usual $250 price tag.
Xbox has announced major changes to its Game Pass subscription and truthfully, they're so muddled even I struggle with laying them all out. But let's try.
Starting in September, new members to the Xbox ecosystem will not longer be allowed to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass for console. However, those currently subscribed will be allowed to maintain their subscription, which will include the program's back catalog as well as day one game access, as long as they maintain their subscription. New Xbox Game Pass users, then, will get a choice of a few different subscription tiers, the first being Game Pass Standard. This tier will be priced at $15 a month and gives users access to a back catalog of games and Xbox Live Gold, which is now referred to as Game Pass Core. However, Standard will not include any day one releases or Xbox Cloud gaming.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate's features will not be changed and will still include PC Game Pass, but is seeing a price hike and will now be $20 a month. Similarly, PC Game Pass remains the same but will now be $12 a month. For those looking solely for access to online multiplayer, Xbox Game Pass Core (formerly Xbox Live Gold) will now cost you $75 a month. And, just for good measure, Microsoft has also implemented a new rule in which existing users can only stack up to 13 months of Xbox Game Pass for console, though users who have currently stacked more than that will not be effected.
Xbox has announced changes to its Game Pass subscription, with a price increase and a new tier that cuts one of the service's best features: day one games. After thousands of layoffs and studio closures, but with COD and a hot first party lineup ahead, is now the time for the price hike?
We're a little more than a month away from Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 4 and, uh, well, a lot has happened since Season 3 kicked off at the end of May. The new season has been so divisive that Epic created an entirely new battle royale mode to compensate for it. That puts a lot of pressure on Season 4 to be a hit with as many people as possible.
It's still a bit early for the hype cycle to start--that won't happen until August, probably--so there isn't any official info about next season yet aside from the start date. Speaking of which...
When does Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 4 start?
Per the in-game signage, Season 4 should start on Friday, August 16, at some point during the morning US time.
Fortnite Festival Season 5 is also currently slated for the same day. It will be the first time a new BR season and a new Festival season started on the same day since Festival Season 1 in December 2023.
What's new in Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 4?
Nothing has been officially announced, but we've got some pretty important details about what to expect from Epic's leaked 2024 roadmap a few months ago, which has thus far proven authentic since it had both Billie Eilish and Metallica as Festival headliners, and teased the current car-themed season.
Keeping in mind that some of their plans have certainly changed given the response to Season 3 and the subsequent launch of Reload, the roadmap told us that Colombian superstar Karol G will be headlining Festival Season 5, and that battle royale Chapter 5 Season 4 may be the second Marvel-themed season overall, and the first since 2020.
The art for the Marvel season in the key art showed Doctor Doom, which could mean it's focused on the Fantastic Four--which has a movie on the way in the MCU. This could also simply be a normal season with a new Doctor Doom in the battle pass.
Fortnite Festival Season 5
It's very interesting that Epic would choose to launch new seasons of Festival and BR on the same day, but it's impossible to guess why since Karol G isn't slated to appear in any Marvel movies. But since they usually stagger the season launches, it's possible there's a specific reason for doing this. We'll have to wait to learn more as we continue inching closer to the launch of the new season.
Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 4 is a new Marvel season?
Given how intensely divisive Season 3 has been, I would expect that we'll be seeing a more straightforward season next time out. But I may be completely wrong, since the previous Marvel season gave us all sorts of wild mythic items based on Marvel superpowers. According to Hypex, one such mythic will be a new version of Wolverine's claws. During the previous Marvel season, every battle pass skin had an accompanying mythic in battle royale. Under normal circumstances I'd assume that will happen again, but with the situation being what it is, Epic might rein it in a little.
Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 4 collab leaks and rumors
Jason Voorhees in Friday the 13th Part VI
If we're getting a Marvel season, clearly there will be tons of Marvel cosmetics on the battle pass, plus a pile of item shop stuff to go with. But that's not all that could be coming during Season 4, which is when this year's edition of Fortnitemares will take place. Word is, from multiple different sources, that Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th franchise will make his Fortnite debut during this year's Fortnitemares, likely as this year's new spooky item shop collab skin, following Michael Myers a year ago and Ash Williams the year before--this is a great annual tradition.
We're also expecting a big NASCAR collab with Rocket League and Rocket Racing, according to new leaks, though that may not begin during Season 4. But it's on the horizon, allegedly.
Is it almost time for Fortnite OG 2?
After the massive success of last year's 30-day Fortnite OG season, Epic promised it would be back with more of that kind of thing in the future. You may be tempted to think that Reload is what they were talking about, but it's not--a second OG season, based on the Chapter 2 map, is reportedly still going to happen later this year. The leaked roadmap puts it after Season 4, just like last year, so that's the safe bet. Look for it to probably kick off in early November and run until the presumed end of the Chapter about a month later.
One of the early limitations in Stardew Valley is the quality of your tools. Your axe and pickaxe aren't powerful enough to break certain obstacles, your watering can doesn't hold much water, and doing anything uses a hefty chunk of energy. Upgrading your tools at the Blacksmith not only improves them, but in some cases, will use less energy as well. Upgrading tools requires resources and money. Here's what you need to know about how to upgrade tools in Stardew Valley.
Tool upgrades
Tool Upgrades are performed at the Blacksmith, which is open every day from 9am to 4pm, except during festivals. Upgrading a tool requires you to bring five bars of the corresponding metal, along with a fee. Upgrading a tool takes two days, but you are really only without your tool for one. You can drop off a tool at any time while the Blacksmith is open and in two days you can collect it, meaning that there is one full day where you don't have access to your tool. Only one tool can be upgraded at a time, and you have to go through each upgrade sequentially; Copper to Steel to Gold to Iridium.
Upgrading a tool requires the right materials, money, and two days of time.
For most tools, you can just go without for the single day, but the watering can is more of a problem. The best way to upgrade your watering can is to wait until the weather is listed as raining the following day. When that happens, water your crops and go drop off the watering can. The rain will water your plants the following day and the day after you can collect the watering can when the Blacksmith opens, and water your plants. You can also drop it off on the 27th of the month after watering your crops, since watering on the final day of the month is pointless, since your crops will die in the new month, unless you have multi-season crops, like Corn. Winter is also a great time, since there is only one crop you can grow in winter and its seeds have to be foraged, so you probably won't need to water anything.
Progressing through Stardew Valley will require you at some point or another to have a large amount of Iridium, one of the rarest ores in the game. Getting to the point where you can reliably mine Iridium will take some time to reach, but once you do you can reliably get more, even if it isn't always in the biggest quantities. Iridium is especially useful for upgrading your tools, as it's required for the final upgrade.
Where to find Iridium
Iridium Nodes have blue spikes poking out of them.
The primary place to find Iridium is from Iridium Nodes, which are found in the Skull Cavern. Iridium Nodes are relatively uncommon on Floor 1 of the Skull Cavern, but the chances of them appearing increases every floor you go down. Using Staircases or Bombs, you can very quickly descend into the Skull Cavern which will drastically increase the amount found. You will want to upgrade your pickaxe to Iridium as soon as possible, otherwise breaking any rock in the Skull Cavern will take multiple swings.
In addition to the Skull Cavern, there are a few other ways to get Iridium. Iridium can appear in both Omni and Lava Geodes, both of which can be found in the lower floors of the normal Mines. The issue here is that the rewards are random, so you aren't guaranteed to get Iridium from these Geodes. It can also appear for sale at the Traveling Cart and in fishing Treasure Chests, but again, these are random, so there is no way to reliably get Iridium from these sources.
Ever since the Dune popcorn bucket came along, it seems like the studios are in an unofficial contest to determine which one can come up with the most grotesque design. Who would have thought that Disney-owned Marvel would top Dune's borderline obscene collectible with a hilariously gross Deadpool and Wolverine popcorn bucket? Now, it's Alien: Romulus' turn to jump into the popcorn bucket wars.
The complete design of the Alien: Romulus popcorn bucket hasn't been released online yet. Regardless, Fandango has shared a short video that offers a glimpse of its facehugger-inspired design. It's not as obscene as the Dune or Deadpool and Wolverine popcorn buckets. But it is definitely eye-catching.
It's a fitting choice for this popcorn bucket because the early trailers for Alien: Romulus hinted that we'll see more facehuggers than ever before. The facehuggers in that footage move with alarming speed before attaching themselves to their victims and implanting their eggs. That goes a long way towards explaining why so many human colonies have been overrun by xenomorphs. Even at that stage in their lifecycle, those creatures are dangerous.
While modern games are stuffed with next gen features like ray tracing, upscaling technology and low latency tools, these boons in current tech sometimes leave our favorite classic games in the dust. Those games, after all, were programmed at the time as state-of-the-art breakthroughs, but in an age where development teams are pushing the boundaries of what is possible it was unfathomable that these classic games would be refreshed.
Now, thanks to the NVIDIA RTX Remix suite, those older games can enjoy a resurgence in the modern day, with a little help from the modding community. We took a few of our favorites from years past and put them through the NVIDIA RTX Remix rigors--with some help from the community--and the fresh coat of paint applied to these classics made us feel like kids again.
What is NVIDIA RTX Remix?
Before we get into new looks for old games, what's going on with NVIDIA RTX Remix that allows it to be a bastion of restoration? Simply put, NVIDIA RTX Remix is a suite of tools which gives modders the ability to update classic games with modern perks, including high fidelity assets with realistic materials, full ray tracing, and DLSS 3.5 with Ray Reconstruction. This tool can save a ton of time thanks to its easy-to-understand interface and robust list of options, which includes easily importing game captures, generative AI asset tools, simplified workflows thanks to NVIDIA Omniverse, and the RTX Remix Runtime – which can instantly switch on full ray tracing. With these features, skilled modders can navigate the software, figure out its true potential, and produce amazing results.
Long anticipated MMO survival title Once Human is now available, and after spending a few days with it, here are 5 Things We Wish We Knew before checking out this supernatural game.
While Amazon Prime Day 2024 isn't until July 16 and 17, plenty of Pokemon TCG sets are already on sale online. You can grab discounted Elite Trainer boxes, booster boxes, premade decks, and special collector's packs all at lower prices from Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and Walmart. A few Pokemon TCG-related games are even eligible for the ongoing Buy Two, Get One Free sales sales happening at Amazon and Target right now.
Update: July 12
Target is offering 20% off the Pokemon Trading Card Game today only (July 12). Over 40 products are eligible for this offer, but we'd expect some to sell out before the day is over.
Beyond Target's daily deals, there are quite a few discounts out there, so to make it easier to find what's still in stock, we've put together this roundup of the best Pokemon TCG deals available ahead of Prime Day. Check out the links below for all our favorite deals, and be sure to check back in the days leading up to Prime Day as we'll update this post with the latest sales. And keep an eye on GameSpot's Prime Day hub during the sale next week to catch when more Pokemon TCG deals go live.
A number of Elite Trainer boxes from various card sets are discounted at Amazon and Walmart right now. Each box comes with two promo foil cards, 11 booster packs, and 45 energy cards, plus a bunch of accessories. These normally retail for between $50 and $60, but thanks to these deals, you can snag some for as low as $37 while supplies last.
If you're looking to grab as many cards as you can, you'll want to check out these Pokemon TCG booster boxes while they're on sale. Each booster box features 36 booster packs for a specific card set, meaning you're getting 160 cards total.
In addition to the above discounts, select Pokemon TCG items are eligible for Amazon and Target's B2G1 sales. Only a few Pokemon TCG releases are included in the sales, and in some cases at full price, but you can also mix and match your B2G1 bundle with other items, including video games, board games, books, and more. Check out all the Pokemon TCG packs available in the B2G1 sales below.
What a week it's been for the looter-shooter The First Descendant. After just seven days, the free-to-play game from Nexon has reached a huge milestone with 10 million players.
On X (formerly known as Twitter), the official First Descendants account celebrated the occasion by saying: "Thank you all for your tremendous support and love. It means everything to us." This comes after The First Descendant's big start on Steam, with the looter-shooter having over 225,000 concurrent players within 24 hours of launch.
🎉 10 Million Descendants! 🎉 We've reached 10 million Descendants in just 7 days! Thank you all for your tremendous support and love. It means everything to us. We will do our best to bring you great experiences. Can't wait to continue this journey together! pic.twitter.com/SsvcelMTsh
— The First Descendant (@FirstDescendant) July 12, 2024
So far, The First Descendant seems to be keeping players around, too. Per SteamDB, the game has over 168,000 concurrent players on Steam at the time of publication. That number obviously doesn't include people in-game on PlayStation and Xbox, either.
During Target Circle Week, you can pick up the Lego Star Wars Mandalorian Fang Fighter vs. TIE Interceptor for just $70 (down from $100). That's the lowest price we've seen all year for the large Lego set. Amazon is price-matching the deal ahead of Prime Day--but note that we've seen on-sale Lego sets go in and out of stock a lot this week, so anyone interested in the deal should check it out soon.
The Mandalorian Fang Fighter vs TIE Interceptor set is comprised of 957 pieces, making it a medium-sized set. Along with two starships, you'll get minifigures of The Mandalorian with a darksaber, Mandalorian Fleet Commander, and TIE Pilot. As a bonus, you'll also get an R2-E6 droid figure.
Once you're done building the starships, both cockpits can be opened so you can place a figure inside each. They even feature spring-loaded missile blasters, allowing them to serve as either a piece of stylish home décor or as a functional toy.
Keep in mind that you'll need to be a Target Circle member to cash in on the deal at Target, but signing up is fast and free. It'll also unlock access to Target's B2G1 free deal, which includes video games, books, board games, and more.
After a few days of being teased, the first trailer for Captain America: Brave New World has arrived. This is Sam Wilson's (Anthony Mackie) first solo movie in the role he took over in Disney+'s The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.
The trailer shows off Sam's new flight suit, as well as a mustache-less Ross and the tension the two of them have on whether or not Captain American is an official military unit. There are some really cool fight scenes, a brief glimpse of Giancarlo Esposito in his yet confirmed character, and even the White House becoming collateral damage. Oh, and a certain red behemoth at the end. Check it out below.
"It made more sense for it to be more of a grounded espionage action movie as opposed to aliens and airplanes coming through portals and sh-t," Mackie told EW back in April. "Even though I've been in so many of them and have seen it all now, the opportunity for Sam to really establish himself as a true action star and Avenger comes with this movie."
Nintendo and Lego make for a dream team of fun toy ideas, and in this early Prime Day special, the Danish blocks, Super Mario, and the Donkey Kong family combine to create a fun building experience. Normally $110, the Diddy Kong's Mine Cart Ride expansion set is on sale for $82.50.
This kit has almost 1,200 pieces and allows you to recreate mine cart-riding, airplane-flying, and rock-exploding challenges. It comes with four Lego minifigures from the world of Donkey Kong--Funky Kong, Diddy kong, Snaggles, and a Mole Miner--and Lego Mario, Peach, and Luigi figures can interact with the set as well if you have them.
If you're looking to create your very own Donkey Kong world, you can add to this set with a few more kits that are now available and also on sale. You can join the DK crew at Donkey Kong’s Tree House or you can set the stage for musical fun with Dixie Kong’s Jungle Jam expansion set. A handful of other big Lego Super Mario sets have also been discounted, like Bowser's Airship, Peach's Castle, and Larry's and Morton's Airship. These are rarely discounted, so now is a good time to score a great deal on these sought-after sets.
Walmart's new sales event ends tonight (July 11) at 9 PM PT / 12 AM ET, but you still have time to grab one of the best Nintendo Switch deals. The Super Mario Party Joy-Con bundle, which originally released last holiday during Black Friday. Now, ahead of Prime Day 2024, you can get this bundle for only $69, down from its original value price of $100.
Considering a pair of Joy-Con controllers retail for $80 on their own, you're essentially getting a digital copy of Super Mario Party for free. If purchased separately, the Joy-Con controllers and Super Mario Party are valued at $140.
This bundle comes with a download code for Super Mario Party. As shown in the image above, the red and blue Joy-Con controllers are not the same as the standard Neon Red/Blue controllers. These particular, darker shades of red and blue haven't been offered before, so that makes this bundle even cooler.
While you're checking out the bundle deal, make sure to take a look at Walmart's other notable gaming deals that are still available, including 50% off select Nintendo Switch games.
Walmart Deals ends tonight at 9 PM PT / 12 AM ET (July 11), and that means you only have a few hours left to grab the best Nintendo Switch Lite deal we've seen. The turquoise Animal Crossing-themed Switch Lite bundled with a digital copy of Animal Crossing: New Horizons is available for only $159 (was $200). Considering New Horizons still regularly retails for $60, you're essentially getting a brand-new Switch Lite for 100 bucks. If you're a Zelda fan, however, you will want to consider the Zelda Hyrule Edition Switch Lite, which releases September 26 and went up for preorder today.
The Timmy & Tommy Aloha Edition of the Switch Lite features a leaf print design on the back of the console as well as an Animal Crossing logo as the home button.
Conectar
The Freegunners crew of the Northstar finally get their big break. The Concord beta runs the next two weekends in July on PS5 and Steam.
Xbox has announced changes to its Game Pass subscription, with a price increase and a new tier that cuts one of the service's best features: day one games. After thousands of layoffs and studio closures, but with COD and a hot first party lineup ahead, is now the time for the price hike?
Long anticipated MMO survival title Once Human is now available, and after spending a few days with it, here are 5 Things We Wish We Knew before checking out this supernatural game.
