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Not everyone is the DIY type. If you're in the market for a prebuilt gaming PC, Dell is one of the best brands we'd recommend. Alienware desktops and laptops feature solid build quality, top-of-the-line gaming performance, excellent cooling (further improved on the newer models), aggressive styling, and pricing that is very competitive with other pre-built options. Best of all, there are plenty of sales that happen throughout the year, so it's not difficult to grab one of these computers at considerably less than their retail price.
The Aurora R16 is Alienware's bread and butter gaming PC. It can be equipped with an Nvidia RTX 5060 graphics card all the way up to an RTX 5080 and the prices for Cyber Monday are extremely competitive with other brands. For example, currently Alienware has the least expensive prebuilt RTX 5080 gaming PC that I've found anywhere. Most of these systems are customizable, however it's not difficult to upgrade your own RAM and storage yourself.
If you're seeking the absolute best of the best in PC gaming performance, look no further. Dell unveiled the new Alienware Area-51 gaming PC at CES 2025. The chassis is a super-sized upgrade to the Aurora R16 system with aesthetic and cooling redesigns. The internal components have been refreshed with a new motherboard, faster RAM, and bigger power supply to accommodate the new generation of CPUs and GPUs. With a high-end system like this, it's only fitting that it be equipped with an RTX 5080 or RTX 5090 graphics card, so these are the configurations I've listed here. Note that Dell Outlet refurbished PCs come with the same warranty as buying new.
Alienware's new mainstream gaming laptop for 2025 is dubbed the "Alienware Aurora" and it replaces the previous generation's x16 and m16 series of laptops. It comes in two models: the 16 and 16X. The 16 is the more economical model, but gamers should definitely opt for the higher-end 16X model. If you're looking for build quality and performance on par with the previous generation m16, then the 16X is its spiritual successor. It features an anodized aluminum lid and base, a higher quality display, a more powerful CPU, and a GPU that isn't throttled for maximum gaming performance.
The Area-51 is Alienware's new flagship gaming laptop for 2025. It features an anodized aluminum shell for both the lid and bottom chassis with a gorgeous iridescent finish. The frame is made of a durable and lightweight magnesium alloy. Cooling has been upgraded with generous amounts of copper and a new thermal interface material to better transfer heat away from your hottest components as well as more fans and bigger cutouts for greater airflow. Dell claims that the laptop can handle a higher power ceiling of up to 240W TDP without raising acoustics.
Design-wise, the Area 51 has a sleeker, more contoured shape compared to previous models, with rounded edges and soft corners replacing the traditional squared off design. The hinges are internally positioned so that they're near invisible. There's a transparent window on the undercarriage to show off the internal components. As befits an Alienware laptop, there's plenty of RGB illunimation, although most of it can be turned off if you want your laptop to be a bit more subtle.
Dell makes some of the highest quality gaming monitors around. They're easily on par with the best that other brands like Samsung, LG, and Asus have to offer. For Cyber Monday, they're also incredibly well-priced. For example, the venerable 34" Alienware AW3423DWF Qfor $499.99 is the lower price I've ever seen for a 34" OLED monitor. By the way, if you do opt for a Dell or Alienware OLED monitor, you also get a 3 year warranty that includes OLED burn-in protection.
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.
Disney seems to own a lot of major franchises these days, but I still don't think of Star Wars or Marvel as Disney properties. Classic Disney, to me, is hand-drawn animation and happy little magical worlds I couldn't have imagined on my own. That nostalgic love I hold in my heart for the Disney I grew up with will never fade, no matter how many times something gets remade into live-action.
There are plenty of Disney adults out there who feel the same way as me, and we are surprisingly easy to shop for. The Disney merchandise available in 2025 is more targeted at adult collectors than its ever been and there's plenty to choose from. I've rounded up a few of my top Disney gift picks of 2025 that the special fan in your life will truly cherish.
One of the greatest gifts you can get a fan of Disney movies is an actual copy of their favorite Disney movie. And while you're at it, you might as well get the highest quality resolution possible. There are quite a few classic Disney movies that have been remastered in 4K to choose from in 2025. My personal favorite of the bunch is The Emperor's New Groove, which my friends are still quoting to me on a regular basis to this day. This is Disney's latest 4K release and it's already been very popular during its preorder period.
Disney has released a lot of different LEGO sets over the years, but it's only recently that the company has started dipping its toes in the adult market. This year alone we've seen some of the best new LEGO Disney sets aimed specifically at the 18+ crowd. My overall favorite of the bunch is the Wall-E & EVE set because it's both adorable and affordable. If you're looking for something more expensive, though, I'd suggest checking out the massive Beauty and the Beast castle or Jack Sparrow's Pirate Ship sets that came out earlier in 2025. Any of these would be an excellent LEGO gift for the adults in your life.
There are a lot of great gifts for readers out there, but I've found it's just easier to buy actual books for people instead of overthinking it. Thankfully, Disney has ties with written stories that go way back. My top pick within this realm is the gift edition of Winnie-the-Pooh. It includes the classic stories of Christopher Robin and his bear as well as the original illustrations. I own a copy of this myself and it's quite delightful.
If you're hoping to find something smaller that can blend seamlessly into someone's home, there are plenty of great Disney gifts for the home available. My overall top pick is the Disney & Pixar Store puzzle. It's filled to the brim with fan-favorite characters from over the years all wrapped up in a really cool puzzle. The image itself also makes for a great poster once all of the pieces are in place, so it doubles as a piece of Disney art. It's also made from Ravensburger, one of the best puzzle brands around.
There are a surprising amount of Disney games available on the Nintendo Switch, and each of them has its place in the fandom. My overall top pick for Disney adults, though, is Disney Dreamlight Valley. First released in 2023, this game is a life sim that is functions very similarly to Animal Crossing. You play as a human who winds up in the magical world of Dreamlight Valley with a task of helping iconic characters restore their memories. It's relaxing, fun, and really easy to play.
There is no perfect gift for every Disney fan out there. Everyone has a different favorite movie or section of Disney World that makes them unique. So if you're looking for the perfect gift for someone, I'd suggest starting by figuring out exactly what it is about Disney that they love and what they already own. Fans of the movies themselves might love a 4K copy of their favorite film, for example, but only if they have a 4K Blu-ray player that can actually handle such a disc. Pixar fans might love the LEGO Pixar Lamp set, but only if they have somewhere where they can actually display it. Step one is knowing who you're buying the gift for and whether or not they can actually use it.
The second major thing to consider when picking out a Disney gift is how much you're willing to spend. LEGO sets, for example, can get really expensive as the piece count increases. You may like the idea of giving a Pirates of the Caribbean fan a giant LEGO pirate ship, but are you willing to spend almost $400 on such a gift? Knowing your price limit can help you narrow down what's actually feasible for you to buy for someone this year.
Jacob Kienlen is a Senior Audience Development Strategist and Writer for IGN. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he has considered the Northwest his home for his entire life. With a bachelor's degree in communication and over 8 years of professional writing experience, his expertise is spread across a variety of different pop culture topics -- from TV series to indie games and books.
Nintendo and LEGO fans rejoice, because one of our favorite sets just got a major discount ahead of the holidays. Amazon has lowered the price of the LEGO Super Mario Piranha Plant 71426 to just $35.99 after a 40% off instant discount. This happens to just barely clear the free shipping threshold for non-Prime members. The 18+ rating means that this set is relatively challenging, but I've built this one myself and I think it's a great set for builders of all ages. It would make a pretty amazing gift for the holidays and, unlike many new LEGO sets, won't cost an arm and a leg.
The LEGO Piranha Plant measures 9" high, 4.5" wide, and 6.5" deep – about the size of a potted plant – and consists of 540 bricks. The Piranha Plant makes for a fantastic display; it has numerous articulation points located at the head, mouth, stalk, and each of its leaves, and the jaw is also hinged, all of which allow for myriad customizable poses. There's even a cool little easter egg: A piggy bank is built into the pipe with two golden coins included to get you started on your stash. Despite the small brick count, this set is intended for ages 18+, so novice builders may need guidance. Once completed however, this adorable looking set is sure to be a hit with people of all ages, even if they didn't join in on the build.
Kevin Wong built this set for IGN and wrote, "As far as LEGO builds are concerned, the new Piranha Plant is just about perfect – vibrantly colored, well-proportioned and sized, and reasonably priced. Whether you're new to bricks or you're a dedicated hobbyist, this set captures that signature Mario franchise whimsy – cute but not too cute, menacing but not too menacing, and imbued with lots of personality."
Another LEGO x Nintendo collab that has been making waves amongst the IGN community is the new LEGO Super Mario Game Boy set. This is a near 1:1 replica of the original Game Boy released back in 1989. The set comes with two game cartridges: Super Mario Land and The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening and even includes their respective lenticular screens. Seth Macy built this set and loved it.
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.
On se demandait encore récemment si Intel allait réellement lancer une nouvelle carte graphique Battlemage. Hier, nous avons obtenu une première confirmation : la future Arc B770 est bien toujours dans les plans des bleus. Pour rappel, cette carte devrait proposer 32 Cores Xe2 et 16 Go de mémoire GDDR6 sur un bus 256 bits. Et aujourd'hui, on apprend que la carte afficherait un TDP de 300 watts. À titre de comparaison, la B580 est annoncée à 190 watts, tandis que la A770 affichait 225 watts. Bien entendu, cela ne nous donne pas encore d'indications précises sur les performances à venir, mais le passage de 20 Xe2 à 32 Xe2 donne tout de même un ordre d'idée et cette hausse de ressources graphiques semble en phase avec l'augmentation du TDP. […]
Lire la suiteOn se demandait encore récemment si Intel allait réellement lancer une nouvelle carte graphique Battlemage. Hier, nous avons obtenu une première confirmation : la future Arc B770 est bien toujours dans les plans des bleus. Pour rappel, cette carte devrait proposer 32 Cores Xe2 et 16 Go de mémoire GDDR6 sur un bus 256 bits. Et aujourd'hui, on apprend que la carte afficherait un TDP de 300 watts. À titre de comparaison, la B580 est annoncée à 190 watts, tandis que la A770 affichait 225 watts. Bien entendu, cela ne nous donne pas encore d'indications précises sur les performances à venir, mais le passage de 20 Xe2 à 32 Xe2 donne tout de même un ordre d'idée et cette hausse de ressources graphiques semble en phase avec l'augmentation du TDP. […]
Lire la suiteSomehow we blinked and the so called big sales period has come and gone, yet the bargain bins refuse to take the hint. While Black Friday and Cyber Monday have packed up their circus tents, the storefronts are still wobbling under the weight of tasty discounts. I'm here to help you take full advantage, so let's stop talking and start saving.
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In retro gamer news, I'm tapping D-F-F-HK to give a Baraka-baked, 29-candle cake to Mortal Kombat Trilogy on PS One. If you used Kano's heart rip on me right now, you'd see that this compilation holds a very special place in my subcockles. My mate Craig basically had this disc glued to the spindle hub of his PlayStation drive back in '97.
His house was perched over our local beach, so when the surf was crap, it was a party house that provided a regular dozen or so surfers for "winner plays on" punchfests. And there was a lot to love about MK Trilogy, like a ridiculously huge 37-fighter roster, the Aggressor bar, Brutalities, and the cheese-tastic Motaro. He would get you (physically) beaten up if you selected him.
Aussie birthdays for notable games.
- Kirby's Adventure (NES) 1993. Get
- Mortal Kombat Trilogy (PS) 1996. eBay
- Rugby League (PC,PS2,XB) 2003. eBay
- Sonic Advance 3 (GBA) 2004. eBay
- Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse (3DS) 2016. eBay
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Or gift a Nintendo eShop Card.
Xbox One
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Or just invest in an Xbox Card.
PS4
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Or purchase a PS Store Card.
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Or just get a Steam Wallet Card
Just like I did last holiday season, I'm getting festive with the LEGO section. In Mathew Manor, my sons and I are again racing this year's batch of LEGO Advent Calendars. Basically, we open the City, Harry Potter, Minecraft, and Star Wars on the daily and compare the mini-prizes for "Awesomeness" and "Actual Xmas-ness". 2024's winner was the Lego Marvel one, but, weirdly, there's no 2025 equivalent. So it's anybody's race this year.
Here are the cheapest prices for the four calendars we're using. Score them yourself or just live vicariously through our unboxings.
Adam Mathew is a passionate connoisseur, a lifelong game critic, and an Aussie deals wrangler who genuinely wants to hook you up with stuff that's worth playing (but also cheap). He plays practically everything, sometimes on YouTube.
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