Modder ‘Safemilk‘ has released some new comparison screenshots between the vanilla and the RTX Remaster Mod for Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines. These screenshots will give you a glimpse at this highly anticipated mod’s current state. So, let’s take a look at them. In these screenshots, the modder focuses on the diner environments. Right now, Safemilk … Continue reading Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines RTX Remaster looks insane in these new screenshots→
Civilization 7 developer Firaxis has released patch 1.0.1 just in time for the strategy game’s full launch following an advanced access period that was met with a ‘mixed’ user review rating on Steam.
Firaxis is working on addressing various community complaints, most of which revolve around the user interface, a lack of map variety, and a feeling that the game has launched without a number of key features fans have come to expect.
Now Civilization 7 is available to all and not just those willing to pay more for advanced access, Firaxis has released Patch 2, which is only for PC/Mac/Linux/Steam Deck. In a post on Steam, Firaxis said it is “the first in a series of upcoming patches” intended to address feedback from advanced access. The patch notes in full are below.
It's worth noting that Firaxis has temporarily disabled crossplay multiplayer "to expedite" updates to the PC version. This means the developer will sometimes deploy patches to PC at a different "cadence" than on consoles, and indeed that includes patch 1.0.1. This will have no impact on console players attempting cross-platform play with other console players, nor on PC-to-PC multiplayer, Firaxis clarified.
Civilization 7 1.0.1 Patch 2 - February 10, 2025 Gameplay Windows PC/Mac/Linux/Steam Deck
Fixed an issue causing Ages in Epic and Marathon speed games to be shorter than intended.
City States will now turn into Friendly Independent Powers on Age Transition instead of disappearing completely. They will also now start with more units in Exploration and Modern Ages.
Fixed inconsistencies with Naval Combat.
Naval Units will use the correct Combat Strength values when attacking another Naval Unit in all instances.
Naval Units will properly take reciprocal damage after attacking another Naval Unit.
Naval Units will more consistently move into the attacked tile after defeating another Naval Unit.
Completing the final milestone of a Legacy Path no longer adds Age Progress in the Modern Age to ensure you have more time to complete a Victory.
Towns will now switch their focus back to Growing town automatically if they are no longer eligible for their chosen Focus (for example, if their population decreases) until they are eligible again.
Future Civic is now repeatable in all Ages. The cost of Future Tech and Future Civic will now increase more when repeated.
Fixed an issue after too many bonuses to Growth where Food needed for the next growth event became negative.
Improvements to Rail Networks aimed at increasing the reliability of Settlements connecting to the Rail Network over water by building Ports. This should apply as long as the Capital either has a Port or is connected by rail to a settlement with a Port.
Made improvements to the Loyalty Crisis in the Antiquity Age, including giving the ability to purchase Villas in towns during this crisis, giving another way to manage the happiness of your settlements.
A note about cross-play multiplayer: To expedite updates to the PC experience, we will sometimes deploy patches to PC at a different cadence than we do on consoles - including today's Patch 1.0.1. As a result, cross-play between PC players and console players is temporarily disabled. This will have no impact on console players attempting cross-platform play with other console players, nor on PC-to-PC multiplayer.
AI Windows PC/Mac/Linux/Steam Deck
AI will now offer high-value Cities less often during Peace Deals.
In Modern, AI will now declare war less often at the start of the age.
In Modern, AI will now consider Ideology more before Declaring War or offering Peace.
Other Leaders now have a decreased desire for war if neither party has an Ideology.
Other Leaders now have an increased desire for war with players of Opposing ideologies.
Other Leaders now have a decreased desire for Peace with players of opposing Ideologies.
Camera Windows PC/Mac/Linux/Steam Deck
Fixed an issue on native-resolutions where the camera would focus on the lower end of the map when clicking on the minimap.
UI Windows PC/Mac/Linux/Steam Deck
Replaced the Simplified Chinese font with the font used in Civilization VI while we work on additional improvements for future patches.
Fixed an issue where the Settlement menu fails to open when clicking on a non-player's Settlement Banner in gameplay.
Fixed an issue where yield icons fail to populate on the now available buildings when converting a town to city.
Fixed an issue where some text was cut off on the Global Yields Breakdown screen.
Added a notification for completed Espionage actions, so that you can more easily check the results of their Espionage actions.
City projects no longer appear to be purchasable.
Your current religion is now displayed first in the belief picker tabs.
Fixed an issue where a District’s health bar would remain on-screen after being fully healed.
Fixed an issue where Leaders fail to have a portrait when the relationship has changed during gameplay.
Improved the alignment of leader names and portraits on the Age Summary, when viewing the Overview screen of the Victories Rankings.
Fixed an issue where the background color remains the default color when the user changes it in the Player Customize tab.
Improved the spacing between Civ descriptions, unique units and building icons on loading screen.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
The biggest draw for The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep is its lead performance: Game Geralt Doug Cockle moves from one rendition of Andrzej Sapkowski’s ongoing fantasy saga to another to give a gravelly, sardonic turn as the famed Butcher of Blaviken in this Netflix movie. Unfortunately, the biggest draw here is also the only draw. A follow-up to 2021's Nightmare of the Wolf, Sirens of the Deep is unimaginative and dramatically sterile. Its bland, pastel anime approach turns Geralt of Rivia into a spinning action figure well enough, at the expense of the artistic curiosity that makes Sapkowski’s Witcher world such a fascinating one to get lost in.
Cockle's distinct vocal delivery is a stabilizing presence in Sirens of the Deep, lending it a brooding quality that comfortably hearkens back to the heights of CDPR's Witcher RPGs. His performance has a sly richness that’s regrettably absent in other adaptations. As the film around him veers into predictable fantasy cliches and compulsory hack-and-slash havoc, the once and future (?) Geralt holds steady, waiting for a smarter story that never materializes.
Another bright spot is his banter with Joey Batey, once more picking up the lute of live-action Witcher breakout Jaskier. This cross-franchise pairing makes a snug fit, and when Geralt and Jaskier are free to pal around, Sirens of the Deep becomes halfway enjoyable. The actors’ confidence in their roles is easily the most appealing aspect of the movie, and they’re far more of a delight to listen to than the host of appalling “Bri'ish” accents surrounding them.
And goodness, some of the cast really fail the new characters. It's especially difficult to appreciate Essi (Christina Wren) and Prince Agloval (Camrus Johnson), not only due to Wren and Johnson’s unconvincing, occasionally dire acting, but also because of the passive way they’re written. From a storytelling perspective, Essi is particularly unremarkable: a passionate, nautically savvy figure from Jaskier's past who naturally captures Geralt's affection, she’s more a stock love interest for our libidinous hero than a proper romantic foil. Agloval is just as one-dimensional, the sullen prince entangled in a politically charged melodrama between the kingdoms of merpeople and humans. His infatuation with the mermaid Sh'eenaz (Emily Carey) serves as a prelude to war, but if there’s any passion worth risking a kingdom for between these two characters, it was left out of the script.
Geralt and Jaskier find themselves in the coastal realm of Bremervoord, suffering empty stomachs and, thanks to the violet-eyed Yennefer of Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra, in flashbacks), hurt feelings that dictate where the Witcher takes his contracts and whether he'll slay a beast to earn some coin. (He insists he has a “moral code” – though that insistence is Sirens of the Deep’s only evidence of the code’s existence.) Their desperation pulls them into a conflict between Bremervoord and the merman kingdom of Ys, and despite his initial, feeble reservations, Geralt can't resist getting involved, especially when the dubious contract to cull an entire monster race comes from wealthy King Usveldt (Simon Templeman) – "Codes for none, coin for all," as famished Jaskier puts it. It isn't long before Geralt's medallion begins to shimmy and shake.
The plot is boilerplate, even by Witcher standards. Usveldt bids Geralt rout a school of vodnik – fish-men who serve Ys – plaguing pearl divers off the coast of Bremervoord, but naturally, there’s more at play than a simple dispute over aquatic territory. As the movie goes on, the courtly intrigues on land and sea paint a dull picture of racist motives from a power-hungry few who'd like nothing better than to have their kingdoms go to war simply for spite (and perhaps a little profit). And war is inevitable unless Geralt, Jaskier, and Essi get to the bottom of this conspiracy, a story that unfolds like a crappy rehash of The Little Mermaid (a parallel underlined during one crummy musical sequence) and often looks like a more uninspired version of the DC Animated Movie Universe’s spotty Throne of Atlantis. The action is rudimentary, and Sapkowski’s murky morality loses some of its nuances in lines like "Humans have a knack for seeking short-term profits and retelling the story so it wasn't their fault." As an enchanting under-the-sea adventure that also wants to be social commentary, it’s out of its depth.
Sirens of the Deep is unimaginative and dramatically sterile.
This is no reinvigoration of a franchise that’s struggling to find its footing in the wake of Henry Cavill’s departure from its flagship series. If Sirens of the Deep is the best Netflix has to offer under such circumstances, it might be time for the streamer to reconsider its investment in the Witcher universe. Perhaps it's time to finally let Geralt sail to friendlier shores.
Last month, modder ‘pancake’ released a new update for the amazing Morrowind-inspired DLC Mod for Skyrim, Journey to Baan Malur. And a couple of days ago, modder ‘Caenraes’ released a new add-on for it, called Silgrad. Let’s start with Journey to Baan Malur. This fan expansion allows all Skyrim players to explore the north-west of … Continue reading Experience Morrowind in Skyrim With These Three DLC Mods→
The asterisk in the title of Marvel’s upcoming Thunderbolts* has had fans puzzled since it was first revealed as part of the film’s marketing. What is the asterisk hinting at? Is Thunderbolts not really the name of this team? Are they the new Avengers? (Or the New Avengers, to be more comics accurate?) Even the trailers have had fun with the moniker of the super-team, with David Harbour’s Red Guardian declaring “We are the Thunderbolts!” – even while his teammates seem to hate the idea.
This also ties into Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ character’s line at the start of the trailer: “Let’s talk facts,” she says, seemingly in front of some kind of Congressional hearing. “The Avengers are not coming. Who will keep the American people safe?” If the Avengers are not available, it sounds like it’s time for the Thunderbolts and their asterisk.
Assuming that poster has spilled the beans on the Big Asterisk Mystery, this solution pretty much makes sense. Marvel is clearly positioning its marketing of the movie so that the Thunderbolts* are seen as a more humorous variation on a superhero team (nevermind that they’re mostly made up of former assassins and killers), and so the gimmick of the asterisk is just one aspect of that approach.
*The Avengers are not available
That said, there has been reason to think maybe there would be more to the name than just playing it for laughs. Thunderbolts* is the film that is next up after Captain America: Brave New World, where Harrison Ford takes on the role of Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (formerly played by the late William Hurt). The former nemesis of the Hulk is now a Red Hulk himself according to the Brave New World trailers, and the comics version of the character has served as a member of the Thunderbolts in the past (there have been a bunch of rosters and variations on the team over the years).
So one theory among fans has been that Ross will die in Brave New World, and that for some reason the team, which also includes Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), and “Bob”/the Sentry (Lewis Pullman), would take the former general/president’s name. But when you think about it, that notion doesn’t seem to really fit with the tone of the movie Marvel is selling, does it?
As for how the name came about in the comics, it was fairly random there too. Team member Citizen V (who was actually Baron Zemo in disguise, and who disappointingly does not appear to be in the movie) said they got the name from a line by 17th century poet Thomas Randolph: “Justice, like lightning, ever should appear to few men’s ruin, but to all men’s fear.” Adds Zemo: “Our hope is that we can be that lightning -- that justice.” (Of course this is all a ruse, since the original Thunderbolts were actually the bad guys known as the Masters of Evil, but you can read more about that in our Thunderbolts explainer.) Interestingly, apparently Randolph was erroneously credited with that line in the comic, and it’s a bit of a mystery where it actually originated.
So maybe the asterisk doesn’t mean all that much beyond being part of a cute joke. And if it does just boil down to the Avengers not being available, well then, that actually makes total sense in the context of the MCU. After all, we haven’t seen Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in quite some time…
If you hunger to hoard cheaply bought games, I’ve found something for every platform, genre, and thumb type. For Switch fans, I’ve found the perfect time to dive into a demon-infested, turn-based masterpiece. PC folk can curate a dream lineup of Capcom modern classics. And the PS-faithful can spend minimal Gil on a Final Fantasy whose price has been slashed by some bloody big Zweihänder.
Today in Can’t Believe It Took ‘Em This Long To Rerelease That news, I’m celebrating the 25th bday of The Sims. Not going to lie to you, friend—when this launched, I thought, “Well, this is barely a game right here.” It seemed more like a virtual fish tank that was only fun if I kept concocting new (and worryingly sociopathic) ways to torment the virtual peoples in my employ. (But it seems I wasn’t the only one into making pools with disappearing ladders.) Though this game and genre didn’t flick my switch, personally, the lights clicked on and stayed burning bright for the masses—after 15 years this original sold a whopping 11.24M copies. It deserves a big place in the PC gaming pantheon.
Check out the best deals for Monday, February 10. You can save $10 off Anker's new and improved high-capacity power bank, or treat yourself to a premium gaming chair on sale during Secretlab's Presidents' Day Sale. If you're a fan of Witcher's famous card game series, the IGN Store has a tabletop Gwent deck up for preorder. Check out more of today's deals down below.
Apple AirPods Pro for $169
Just in time for Valentine's Day, Amazon is offering the 2nd generation Apple AirPods Pro wireless noise-canceling earbuds for only $169 shipped, a savings of 32% off and the best price so far this year. Although the new AirPods 4 earbuds are also discounted (the noise-canceling model is currently priced at $148.99), between the two, the AirPods Pro are still the best earbuds because of superior sound quality and noise cancelation.
New Release: Anker 25,000mAh 165W Power Bank
Anker quietly released a new high-capacity power bank earlier this year that sits alongside the Anker 737 and Prime series of power banks. This particular model boasts a massive 25,000mAh battery capacity, 165W of total charging output, and two built-in USB Type-C cables in case you forget to bring your own. It's also attractively priced at under $100, and there's even a deal today that drops the price by another $10 to $89.99. This is a great complement to your power-hungry gaming handheld PC like the Steam Deck, Asus ROG Ally, or Lenovo Legion Go.
Secretlab Presidents' Day Sale
Secretlab has already kicked off its Presidents' Day Sale, which starts now and runs until February 17. Save up to $139 off Secretlab's popular Titan line of gaming chairs, Magnus gaming desks (including the Magnus Pro electric standing desk model), and accessories like the Secretlab Skins upholstery covers, desk mats, cable management, and more. Unfortunately, new releases like the Titan Evo Nanogen chair and the recliner add-on are exempt from this sale.
Preorder the Gwent Card Game at the IGN Store
Here's your chance to preorder the tabletop version of Witcher's addictive card game. This is an officially licensed and CD Projekt Red backed edition consisting of over 400 playing cards faithfully reproducing the iconic designs from The Witcher 3. Preorders ship out sometime in August.
Lenovo Presidents' Day Sale
Lenovo has kicked off its Presidents' Day sale early with big price drops on two of its most popular Legion prebuilt gaming desktop computers. You will have to apply two stackable coupon codes: "EXTRAFIVE" and "BUYMORELENOVO", although the second one might automatically be added to your cart. If you're waiting for RTX 50-series GPUs to come back in stock, don't. The RTX 40-series GPUs easily meet current gaming needs at a more affordable price point, and they're readily in stock.
In our recent Legion Tower 7 review, Jacqueline Thomas wrote that "the Legion Tower 7i is an incredibly powerful gaming PC, especially for the money you’re likely going to be paying for it. If all you want is a powerful, upgradeable machine without having to go through the trouble of building it yourself, it’s hard to find many gaming PCs better than this one."
Seagate Expansion 20TB Desktop Hard Drive
If you're shopping for a huge amount of local storage, here's a deal that beats pretty much anything I saw during Black Friday. For a limited time, Best Buy is offering this massive Seagate Expansion 20TB USB 3.0 Desktop Hard Drive for only $229.99 shipped. That averages out to a mere $11.50 per TB of storage.
Buy One Get One 50% Off SteelSeries Gaming Peripherals
Note that in all of my examples, I added two of the same item to cart to activate the discount. However, you don't need to buy the same item. For instance, you could add the Arctis Nova Pro wireless headset and the Apex Pro keyboard and get 50% off the keyboard (since it's the lower priced item).
Apple AirPods 4 for Only $99.99
Amazon has discounted the newest generation Apple AirPods 4 earbuds by up to 25% off. The base model is currently down to $99.99 (originally $129). This is the first time we've seen the AirPods 4 earbuds drop below $100. In fact, that's a better deal than what we saw during Black Friday or Cyber Monday.
30% Off Panther Vision Hand Warmers and Lighted Beanies
If you're looking for a practical Valentine's Day gift idea, Panther Vision is offering a big 30% coupon code that works sitewide. If you suffer from cold appendages, the Panther Vision 602R rechargeable hand warmer is small enough to fit in your jacket pocket. It offers three different heat settings depending on how numb your fingers are, boasts an IP67 waterproof rating, and can even double up as a 5,000mAh USB Type-C power bank for emergencies.
Pair it with the Panther Vision lighted beanie, which will keep your noggin warm while lighting up the way with a built-in LED headlamp rated for up to 150 lumens at max output. If you prioritize longevity over intensity, the 15-lumen setting will last up to 10 hours on a single charge. There are plenty of other useful gadgets on the site, including portable lamps and flashlights, so you might want to stock up to reach the $60 free shipping threshold.
PDP Riffmaster Wireless Guitar Controller for $104
The Riffmaster wireless guitar controller sold out quickly when it first launched in 2024, but it's back and discounted today. This is one of very few widely available guitar controller peripherals that works with Rock Band 4 and Fortnite Festival.
Apple iPad 10.9" 10th Gen for $279
Ahead of Valentine's Day, Amazon has just dropped the price of the latest model 10th gen Apple iPad to $279 shipped. Currently all colors including Blue, Silver, Pink, and Yellow are discounted. Although this price is about $20 higher than what we saw during Black Friday, This is the best price we've seen so far this year for the 10th gen iPad.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
The discounts and promotion only include the hardcover editions of each of these books, rather than the paperback or Kindle versions. It's also worth noting that the deluxe edition of Onyx Storm, which was actually hard to find when the book was first released back in January, is included in this sale.
To take advantage of Amazon's buy two, get one 50% off sale on these books, you just need to add them all to your cart at the same time. The discount will automatically be applied to the least expensive item, which in this case would be Fourth Wing. That means you can get all three hard cover books in the series for $45.75. All in all, this is a great price if you're trying to add the physical copies to your book collection or simply read them for the first time.
See more books in this sale
What Is the Empyrean Series About?
If you've never read Fourth Wing or any of the other books in the Empyrean series, you may be wondering why the Rebecca Yarros novels are currently experiencing a Hunger Games-level of popularity. In short, there are elements familiar to the Harry Potter books, romance similar to the Twilight series, and dragons similar to the Inheritance Cycle. Reading these books feels familiar, and yet somehow very new. Here's a quick synopsis of the series below:
The story follows Violet Sorrengail, a seemingly fragile young girl who has been forced by her powerful mother to enter into the very dangerous academy of dragon riders. As she finds ways to overcome her weaknesses and survive, Violet must also battle her own complex emotions about her mother, her old friend, and a boy she thinks wants nothing more than to see her dead. All the while, there's more going on with the dragons and her world than meets the eye, and she finds herself at the center of it all while in the heat of an epic romance.
Anker quietly released a new high-capacity power bank earlier this year that sits alongside their Anker 737 and Prime series of power banks. This particular model boasts a massive 25,000mAh battery capacity, 165W of total charging output, and two built-in USB Type-C cables in case you forget to bring your own. It's also attractively priced at under $100, and there's even a deal today that drops the price by another $10 to $89.99. This is a great complement to your power-hungry gaming handheld PC like the Steam Deck, Asus Rog Ally, or Lenovo Legion Go.
New Release: Anker 25,000mAh 165W Power Bank
The new Anker power bank features a 25,000mAh battery capacity, which is the second largest capacity we've seen from Anker in a compact form factor. So how much juice will that offer to today's gaming handheld PCs? A 25,000mAh battery equates to a 95Whr capacity. An 80% power efficiency rating (which is standard for power banks) means you get about 76Whr of usable charge. That means this power bank will charge a Steam Deck or ROG Ally (40Whr) from empty to completely full 2 times, an Asus ROG Ally X (80Whr) 1 time, and a Nintendo Switch (16Whr) about 4.75 times.
The Anker power bank has one USB Type-C port and one USB Type-A port. In addition, there are two built-in USB Type-C cables. One is a retractable cable that can extend up to 2.3 feet. The other is a fixed 1-foot cable that doubles up as a lanyard when not in use. Each USB Type-C port is capable of up to 100W of Power Delivery with a total 165W maximum output. That means all three USB outputs are capable of charging any gaming handheld PC at its fastest rate, including the Asus ROG Ally X, which supports up to 100W of fast charging.
Another feature common to Anker's other premium power banks is the digital LCD readout. It displays a wealth of information like remaining battery capacity, current charging rate, input/output wattage, battery temperature, battery health, charge cycle count, and more.
TSA-Approved
TSA states that power banks must be under 100Whr in capacity for carry-on (check-in is not allowed under any circumstances). This Anker power bank is rated at 95Whr. You might get checked simply because this is a relatively hefty power bank, but you shouldn't have any problems getting it cleared.
See more power banks we've recommended
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Secretlab has already kicked off its Presidents' Day Sale, which starts now and runs until February 17. Save up to $139 off Secretlab's popular Titan line of gaming chairs, Magnus gaming desks (including the Magnus Pro electric standing desk model), and accessories like the Secretlab Skins upholstery covers, desk mats, cable management, and more. Unfortunately, newer releases like the Titan Evo Nanogen chair and the recliner add-on are exempt from this sale.
It's no secret that we love our Secretlab gaming chairs. Two of the six chairs in our best gaming chair roundup are Secretlab models. Of all the gaming chairs we covered in our "Budget to Best" roundup video earlier this year, my colleague Akeem Lawanson considered the Secretlab Titan Evo to be the most comfortable. No good chair comes cheap and Secretlab chairs definitely cost a premium, but we think the craftsmanship, materials, and customizability are worth it.
TL;DR - The 7 Best Secretlab Deals
You can quickly browse through all of the listed products on sale above. For more information on each product and why they are worth your consideration, read through below.
Secretlab Titan Evo
The Titan Evo starts at $519 during the sale. This is Secretlab's flagship chair and it's available in small, medium, and large sizes. Upholstery options include Neo Hybrid leatherette, SoftWeave Plus fabric, or premium Napa leather. The chair features cold-cure foam upholstery for the seat, a supportive four-way lumbar system, full length backrest with 165 degrees of recline, full metal 4D armrests with magnetically attached PU cushions, and a memory foam headrest pillow.
Aside from the build quality, the Titan Evo also stands out thanks to the sheer number of officially licensed designs from popular video games, TV shows, and more. Some of the more popular examples include The Witcher, Overwatch, Attack on Titan, League of Legends, World of Warcraft, and Game of Thrones. They generally cost more than the standard colors, but they're worth it if you're looking for that extra personal touch.
In our Secretlab Titan Evo review, Chris Coke wrote that "after two years of daily use, the Secretlab Titan Evo has proven that it can stand the test of time and still be one of the best gaming chairs you can buy. Meaningful ergonomics paired with Secretlab’s wide selection of designs, it remains a fantastic option, especially for fans of bright colors or designs."
Secretlab Titan 2020
The prior model Titan 2020 gaming chair is available for $474, which is $45 less than the base model Titan Evo. The Titan 2020 is still an excellent chair and not much different than the current Evo model. In fact, outside of an upholstery change (the PU leather has been updated with Neo Hybrid Leatherette), the changes are mostly cosmetic. You are limited to fewer design options, so if you want to build out something that's truly unique, you might want to splurge a bit extra for the current generation Titan Evo model.
Secretlab Titan Evo Lite
Among the Titan chairs, the Evo Lite is definitely the best value with its starting price tag of $419, or a full $100 less than the base model Titan Evo. It's built upon the same frame as the Titan Evo and has the same core features like the cold-cure foam cushioning, lumbar, 165 degrees of recline, and 4D armrests. What it compromises on is customization, with "only" two upholstery options, two sizes, and five colors, a non-adjustable lumbar system, simpler arm rests, and no included head rest. If none of these tradeoffs bother you, then you'll be saving quite a bit of money.
Secretlab Titan Evo Nanogen Edition
Although the Titan Evo Nanogen Edition isn't on sale, it deserves mention simply because this is our top pick for the best gaming chair. In our Titan Evo Nanogen Edition review, Chris Coke wrote that "the Secretlab Titan Evo Nanogen Edition deserves every bit of the overwhelming praise I’ve given. Granted, at $799 it’s significantly more expensive than the original and not far off from an entry-level Herman-Miller. But the return it offers in comfortable, supportive gaming is well worth the extra cost thanks to dramatically improved materials in both the fabric and multi-layered padding. The Titan Evo Nanogen Edition is class-leading, and is hands-down the most comfortable gaming chair I’ve ever used."
Secretlab Titan Recliner Add-On
Secretlab also announced a new recliner add-on to anyone who already owns the Titan Evo chair. It's so new that not only will this recliner ship out sometime next year, it's not even available for preorder yet. We have received a unit for testing, however, and it has turned out to be a very practical addition.
In our recliner add-on review, Chris Coke wrote that "while both comfort and value are subjective things, the recliner is able to take the Titan Evo and transform it from one of the best racing style gaming chairs to standing head and shoulders above the competition at its price point. It’s novel enough that I wouldn’t be surprised to see other brands following suit in the near future. If you don’t mind paying for it, it’s an absolutely killer upgrade for your gaming chair."
Secretlab Magnus and Magnus Pro
The Magnus and Magnus Pro are also on sale during Cyber Monday. The Magnus is a traditional fixed-frame gaming desk while the Magnus Pro ups the ante with a custom designed electric standing desk frame for an additional $250. Both desks feature an all-metal desktop surface, solid steel legs and cleverly thought out areas for cable management, but the Magnus Pro has some really unique features including a power cable that runs internally inside one of the telescoping legs and an in-line control panel that you won't bump into.
In our Secretlab Magnus Pro review. Mark Knapp writes that "the Secretlab Magnus Pro is a fantastic desk, bringing the brilliant cable management solutions of the original Magnus to a fast, quiet, and wide-ranging motorized standing desk. The desk is built well and proves an excellent platform for work and play alike. It’s an expensive desk though, and for the money, it would have been nice to see a smarter safety mechanism for the motors and the desk mat included. Still, the overall quality you get is a big step up from cheaper standing desks, and the optional accessories truly enhance the experience. Anyone who’s not committed to a standing desk should save their money and go for the standard Magnus if everything else about this model sounds good, but for gamers who love a tidy desk and want the flexibility of a standing desk, the Magnus Pro should be the first they consider."
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
If you have an older TV and aren't necessarily looking to upgrade to something smarter, you might be in the market for a Fire TV stick to round out your streaming setup. Since its inception, Amazon’s Fire TV range has grown to suit a variety of different needs, resulting in a series of sticks to pick between depending on your use case. Whether you’re looking for a 4K streaming device to watch cutting-edge dramas like House of the Dragon or a budget dongle to rewatch iconic shows like The Sopranos, we can help you find the best Fire TV device for your needs.
What Fire TV Device Is the Best for Most People?
As we mentioned, there are plenty of Fire TV sticks to choose from, depending on your needs. Of all the options on our list, the best match for most people is the Fire TV Stick 4K (2023). At $49.99, it has all the modern streaming features, like HDR and Dolby Atmos sound support, within its approachable price. Plus, if you’re interested in playing Xbox games but don’t want to take the financial leap on a console, the Fire TV Stick 4K is compatible with the Xbox app. So you’ll only need a Game Pass Ultimate membership and a controller to jump into Xbox’s vast catalog of games.
Every Fire TV Streaming Device Available in 2025
Fire TV Stick 4K Max - Best Overall
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max offers a superior streaming experience without making a heavy budget compromise. Under the hood, the 4K Max has a Quadcore processor and 16GB of storage, so you can download all the apps you desire without needing to sacrifice performance. The 4K Max’s Wifi 6E support also helps to deliver lower latency and higher speeds for content streaming. Though, you’ll need to make sure that your router is compatible to make the most of that feature.
One of the biggest benefits of the Fire Stick TV 4K Max is that, like the Fire Stick TV 4K, you can play Xbox games through the Xbox Cloud Gaming service. With a Game Pass Ultimate membership and a trusty Bluetooth controller, you can take on the vast expanse of outer space in Starfield without investing in a static console.
Fire TV Stick 4K (2023) - Best for Streaming
If you’re looking for an approachable yet powerful Amazon streaming device, the Fire TV Stick 4K is the one for you. At only $20 more than the Fire TV Stick Lite, this pocket-sized wonder can control your smart home and all your content with the help of its built-in voice assistant, Alexa. Alongside streamlining your TV and soundbar remote into a single package, you’ll also find quick access buttons to key apps that make navigating the Olympic-sized pool of streaming services much more straightforward.
If rolling credits on the Fallout TV show has you hankering to spend some time in the wasteland, you can pick up a subscription and access the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate library on your Fire Stick TV 4K. Like streaming services that offer copious films and TV shows, you’ll have access to hundreds of games through this service, including Fallout 76 and Fallout 4, which you can play using an external controller paired to the device.
The Fire Stick TV 4K streams at up to 60fps and supports most HDR platforms, including HDR 10, HDR 10+, HLG, and Dolby Vision. The 8GB storage size can fill up fast, though if you’re mainly interested in sticking with the standard streaming apps, it should provide more than enough gigs to get by.
Fire TV Stick Lite - Best Budget Option
At $29.99, the Fire TV Stick Lite opens the door to Amazon’s streaming OS, delivering the bare essentials you need for a solid streaming experience. Ideal for a dorm room TV or secondary screen with a lower resolution, the Fire TV Stick Lite streams in 1080p and comes with a wide array of HDR compatibility.
Finding the right show among a cavalcade of content is straightforward, courtesy of the Fire Stick TV Lite’s controller, which has Alexa voice search built in. While the lite version of the controller doesn't have the functionality to adjust the TV itself, you can get to apps like Netflix or Prime Video using quick-access buttons.
Amazon Fire TV Cube - Best For Smart Home
Not only does the Fire TV Cube look like a spaceship, but it’s also flush with all the doodads and whatnots you’d likely find in one. Its Octa-Core processor and Alexa Voice Remote allow for smooth and snappy navigation across Amazon’s native Fire OS. You’ll also have a choice of connectivity on the Fire TV Cube, picking between Wi-Fi 6 or an Ethernet port for a more stable connection.
If you’re already in the Amazon home ecosystem, the Fire TV Cube can serve as a slick organizational hub where you can view your Ring Camera, set a snack timer, or ask Alexa to turn down the lights. And, once you’ve locked down your home and are ready to kick back, the Fire Cube TV’s broad HDR support and extensive audio compatibility mean high-intensity blockbusters like Furiosa can be enjoyed in all of their cinematic glory. This is overall an excellent option for any one looking to create more of a home theater system rather than just upgrade their TV with streaming apps.
Amazon Fire TV Stick (3rd Gen) - Best Last-Gen Option
Amazon's previous generation Fire TV stick is still available for purchase, but we generally don't reccommend picking one up now that newer generations are available. It doesn't include 4K streaming and doesn't offer the benefit of Game Pass compatibility that the newer models do, like the 4K version for just $10 more. If the more affordable price is what is drawing you to the last-gen Fire TV stick, you may want to just consider picking up the Fire TV Stick Lite instead.
Fire TV Stick FAQs
Do you need a Fire TV stick if you have a Fire TV?
If you have an Amazon Fire TV or a fairly new smart TV, then there isn't really a need for a Fire TV stick. A Fire TV device, like any of the best streaming devices, is really just a way to access streaming apps on your TV. The only real exception to this is if you want to take advantage of the Xbox Game Pass streaming app that is now accessible via the latest Fire TV sticks.
What Fire TV devices are compatible with the Xbox app?
It was only recently that Amazon and Xbox partnered up to allow users to stream Xbox Game Pass games on Fire TV devices. Because of this, only the Fire TV Stick 4K and Fire TV Stick 4K Max are compatible with the app. If you have an older generation Fire Stick or the Fire TV Cube, you will not be able to use the app.
When do Fire TV devices go on sale?
Amazon Fire TV devices go on sale fairly regularly, to the point that you should never really be paying full price. Some of the best times of the year to find discounts are on Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday. However, holiday weekends like Presidents' Day, Labor Day, and Memorial Day are also usually good times to find deals. You can take a look at our guide to upcoming sales events for an idea of when to shop.
Sarah Thwaites is a freelance tech and gaming writer at IGN, with bylines at GameInformer, TrustedReviews, NME and more.
As someone who reads a new book almost every week, one of the greatest purchases I've ever made was my Kindle Paperwhite. While I love reading an actual physical book when I can, it is way more convenient to just move on to the next book in a series at the click of a button. And because I do the bulk of my reading at night, having the built-in backlight is a total game changer.
That being said, a Kindle is a fairly expensive purchase. Amazon doesn't have deals on Kindle devices very often, but when it does, it's usually a good time to pick one up for a little bit less. Right now, Amazon is dropping the price of the Kindle Paperwhite as part of its Presidents' Day and Valentine's Day sales.
The Best Kindle Deal at Amazon Today
Amazon is currently only discounting the black version of the Kindle Paperwhite, which means both the jade and raspberry models are still full price. This shouldn't matter much, however, as you can customize the Kindle with a variety of different cases and covers. And while the 16% discount on this Kindle may not seem like much, it's enough to essentially cover the cost of a case.
I'd personally recommend getting a case to go with your Kindle. All you have to do is close the front flap and it will automatically go into sleep mode.
Is this a good deal?
The Kindle Papwerwhite doesn't go on sale very often, so any discount is usually a pretty good deal. That said, this isn't the lowest-ever price for this device. The biggest discount we've seen on this particular model of e-reader was back during Black Friday and Cyber Monday when Amazon dropped it down to $129.99. Overall, this is the first discount we've seen in 2025 and we recommend buying one if you've been waiting for a sale.
Should You Buy the Regular Kindle Instead?
In general, we recommend the Paperwhite as the overall best Kindle you can buy, but the 2024 version of the standard Kindle is still quite good and has many of the same features. I happen to own both the latest Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle and have found the biggest difference to be the size and price. The standard Kindle comes with a 6-inch screen compared to the larger 7-inch screen of the Paperwhite. Both models include a built-in backlight and a dark mode, so if you'd prefer a more compact model, the regular Kindle is a great option. It is also quite a bit cheaper, even without a discount.
Do You Have to Pay for Kindle Unlimited?
If you purchase a Kindle, you do not have to have a Kindle Unlimited subscription to read books on it. The Kindle store sometimes has free books and you can make purchases directly through your device as well. You can also download free books from other sources like Libby and read them on your Kindle if you want to avoid paying anything.
Amazon does give you the option to pair Kindle Unlimited with your purchase of the device, which will give you three free months of the service. As someone who has a Kindle Unlimited subscription, I'd definitely recommend it if you plan on reading a lot of books. It's especially good for some of the older best-selling books and genres like LitRPG that have 10+ titles in the series.
A new video breaks down the new additions and key changes to Civilization VII, outlining what players will have to look forward to ahead of the imminent launch.
If you're shopping for a huge amount of local storage, here's a deal that beats pretty much anything I saw during Black Friday. For a limited time, Best Buy is offering this massive Seagate Expansion 20TB USB 3.0 Desktop Hard Drive for only $229.99 shipped. That averages out to a mere $11.50 per TB of storage.
Seagate Expansion 20TB Desktop Hard Drive
The Seagate Expansion boasts a single 20TB disk drive so it's no bigger than any other desktop hard drive. It features a USB 3.0 interface with roughly up to 100MB/s transfer speed, which is in line with what you'd expect from a traditional hard drive. It also includes recovery software and automatic recognition of both Windows and Mac computers.
Although SSDs are all the rage these days, traditional hard drives are still the superior choice for long term storage. For one, hard drives are significantly less expensive. Compared to this hard drive's $11.50/TB cost, a solid state drive would run you at least $50/TB. Hard drives also have a much higher maximum capacity. Consumer SSDs generally cap out at 8TB, which pales in comparison to the 20TB capacity of this drive. Perhaps most importantly, although SSDs can equal HDDs in terms of lifespan, it's much easier to recover data from a HDD than SSD if either one fails.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
For a while now, Moza peripherals have been turning my head sharper than a spectator watching Skylines whip down Conrod. Without exception, they've been impressively built and well-performing bits of kit for my home racing rig. And so, obviously, when the opportunity arose to get tootsies on with their new CRP2 pedals, I volunteered my lead foot immediately.
Positioned as a premium upgrade to Moza's inaugural efforts, the CRP2s aim to eclipse in every way with new build materials, the addition of tool-less adjustability, optional kit upgrades, and, mercifully, a two-pedal design that keeps prices down while allowing upgradeability for you OG clutch bandits.
That's the basic toe dip overview covered. Before I dive feet first into some deeper impressions, let's address the elephant in the room early—considerable, non-entry-level expense. Below are the best prices I can currently find on these budget-challenging pedals. You can skip the window shop by clicking here to continue into my impressions.
Cheapest Prices For Moza CRP2 Pedals
Feets On Impressions
Before I pop the (by default non-existent) clutch and put literal pedal to the metal, let's talk looks and build quality. As with virtually every Moza racing ecosystem product I've appraised thus far—be it wheels, bases, shifters, pedals, or even clamps—the CRP2s are as eye-catching as they are eyewateringly pricey. However, if you're in a position to part with a small championship's purse worth of moolah, there's an undeniable sense of getting every penny of what you're paying for here.
Aesthetics and Build Quality
These pedals are a looker thanks to a sheeny, conservative design that will allow them to unobtrusively mix-and-match into any existing sim setup you’re rocking. They look the business, being crafted from CNC aerospace-grade aluminium with a 3K twill carbon fibre heel plate to boot (literally).
After much abuse, I can confirm that these are built like a Bushmaster PMV. For their first test, they withstood some serious heel-toe shifting (read stamping) while I blazed along the Shuto Expressway in Tokyo Xtreme Racer. (Don’t judge me—I will occasionally break from hardcore simming to devour junk food that feels like it’s been freeze-preserved from the PS2 generation.)
Setup and Customisation
Setting these up was a cinch (as was adding the clutch pedal later on). Better yet, being able to physically tweak them to be “juuuust so” without needing to go get my toolbox from the garage was a godsend. I’m a lazy man, so being able to just hop out of my seat and tinker tool-lessly with the attributes of this pedal is quite the selling point.
I also appreciate the noticeably improved cable management here as compared to my older CRP pedals. Keeping things neater was, after all, an imperative here as the use of dual sensor technology has increased the wires.
Are you not a grease monkey who’s into the physical manipulation of pedal angle/travel adjustments or face height massaging? You can, of course, keep your butt planted in your seat and affect a wide variety of other changes through Moza’s comprehensive Pit House side app. Keep your hands pristine as you mess with the various pedal output curves, engagement points, and more.
Perhaps the most exciting wrinkle of the CRP2’s design is its support for a (sold separately and not cheaply) inverted mounting kit. I’ll dive into an appraisal of that when Moza pulls its finger out and sends me one, but the basic gist is that it's an aluminium alloy support that provides 20° angle adjustment as you effectively hang your pedals like a bat. Why? To better replicate the feel of a GT3 car or similar.
Feel and Performance
When it comes to road testing these, I should probably explain why you’re going to want to step up—or rather, onto—load cell pedal technology if you somehow haven’t already. Part of their surface benefit is, obviously, a more comparative look and feel to an actual set of anchors in a bona fide automobile. That being said, I’ve found there are other pros that can genuinely make you a corner master.
Becoming an effective braker is a key skill if you wish to utilise slow-in-fast-out cornering discipline, which has…er, quite a good track record of success. In my experience, an effective, consistent braking technique is best learned through acquiring muscle memory via foot tension/load cell pressure as opposed to the mere positioning of a more inert and pliable “regular” sim racing pedal.
In all of my various tests—from ye olde fave Project Cars 2 through to my daily diet of iRacing and the more recent Assetto Corsa Evo—the CRP2s felt smooth and premium. Thanks to the benefits of both a 200 kg load cell sensor (that is, frankly, overkill) and 15-bit high-precision angle sensoring, my footwork definitely felt fancier and more responsive than on my old CRPs, which were not dual technology.
I’m not going to tell you I tried all of its 1,764 customisation options—or even most of them—as I had enough experience to quickly dial in what I liked when replicating open wheelers or road cars. As a returning/upgrading user, I can definitely say that the brake pedal is the standout improvement for me. Sometimes I’m a softer touch stopper for certain vehicles/games, and other times I’m a heavy stomper—dialling in what I wanted when I wanted it was as easily done as it was gratifying on the track.
Honestly, and no matter the discipline, car type, or sim I used with them, the Moza CRP2 pedals consistently elevated my sense of control (while lowering my PB lap times). None of those shavings were by a huge margin, but in a genre where snipping off seconds is what separates the amateur poser from the pole position maestro, that’s justification enough for an enthusiast to upgrade.
The first wave of the new Nvidia GeForce RTX 50-series video cards have launched, and they're already gone. Unless you're willing to pay upwards of $6,000 for a resold RTX 5090 or 5080, your best bet is to pick up a prebuilt gaming PC equipped with one of these coveted graphics cards.
Amazon is a bit late to the party, but Blackwell-equipped gaming PCs are starting to trickle in. I've added placeholder pages for some of the more popular prebuilts on Amazon, including Skytech, Cyberpowerpc, CLX, MSI, and Ibuypower. At this point most prebuilts are out of stock, but not all.
Skytech RTX 5080 Gaming PCs on Amazon
Note that "DOLICA" is an authorized Skytech reseller.
CLX Gaming PCs on Amazon
Cyberpowerpc RTX 5080 Gaming PCs on Amazon
MSI RTX 5090 and 5080 Gaming PCs on Amazon
iBuypower RTX 5080 Gaming PCs on Amazon
RTX 5080 and 5090 GPUs Are Sold Out Everywhere
The first wave of Nvidia GeForce RTX 50-series graphics cards went up for preorder and sold out within the first hour. First to be released were the two highest-end GPUs in the stack: the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080. The mid-range RTX 5070 and 5070 Ti cards will be released later in February.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Right now, Amazon and Best Buy are offering the current generation Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro) for only $399.99 shipped after a $100 (20% off) discount. That matches the best deal I saw during Black Friday 2024. If you're looking for an iPad that's both powerful and pocketable, this is your best pick. If you're looking to buy this as a Valentine's Day gift, Amazon Prime members can still receive it by February 14. If you're not a Prime member, then get it from Best Buy.
2024 Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro)
The iPad Mini may be the most diminutive tablet of the bunch, but that doesn't mean it's hindered in any way. This is the most compact and portable iPad measuring 7.7" long, 5.3" wide, and only 0.25" thin. The compact form factor still packs in a gorgeous 8.3" Liquid Retina display with True Tone, P3 Wide Color, and ultra-low reflectivity. The new iPad Mini was released in October of 2024 and features some pretty significant improvements over its predecessor, including a more powerful A17 Pro processor, double the base storage capacity, an updated faster Wi-Fi 6e protocol, a USB Type-C port that offers faster charging, and compatibility with the newer Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C), and upcoming support for Apple Intelligence.
Looking for More iPad Resources?
If you're not sure which iPad is best for you, we have an iPad guide which details which iPad is ideal for which use case. If you intend want to get an iPad for schoolwork, we have an iPad guide for students as well. If you're looking for options outside of iOS, check out the best Android tablets of 2025.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Marvel Rivals will round out The Fantastic Four team when The Thing and Human Torch launch as playable characters on February 21, 2025.
The release date for the new heroes in Marvel and NetEase Games’ popular hero shooter was announced today, revealing that they'll arrive alongside an update for the second half of Season 1. Although the team has yet to spill the beans on what exactly this Season 1.5 update has in store, a Dev Talk blog post on the Marvel Rivals website teased “major balance adjustments.”
As for The Thing and Human Torch, we have yet to see exactly how the two classic heroes will light up the roster with their new moves and abilities. Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman were introduced as the first post-launch Marvel Rivals heroes when Season 1 launched last month. Both characters brought along unique tools to shift the multiplayer game’s meta in a new direction, with Reed Richards able to take stretchy (and goofy) swings at enemies thanks to his elastic powers while Sue Storm introduced invisibility mechanics to the battlefield. Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm will surely do the same when they launch in a few weeks, but let’s hope NetEase reveals some gameplay before then.
The upcoming Marvel Rivals Season 1 update will also see Ranked players hit with a rank reset. Come February 21, expect to see your Rank drop four divisions, meaning if you’re a Diamond I player on February 20, you’ll be brought down to Platinum II the following day.
NetEase explained how this process will carry on in the future, saying that brand-new seasons will hit players with a six-division drop, while half-season updates will bring a four-division drop. As Marvel Rivals continues to tweak its Ranked offerings to players’ desires, NetEase said it will “tune this as necessary.”
It’s not all doom and gloom, though, as competitive Marvel fans in the Gold rank can look forward to new costume rewards with the launch of the second half of Season 1. NetEase will also be introducing new Crests of Honor to “recognize players at Grandmaster, Celestial, Eternity, and One Above All (the top 500).”
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
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