Author: Trafficblast

Best Buy has the only RTX 30 series equipped laptop for under $1000, but it’s almost always out of stock. No so today. The MSI GF65 Intel Core i5 RTX 3060 gaming laptop is available for pickup or delivery. If you want an Intel Core i7 upgrade without a big price hike, there are a couple of options under $1200 as well. Check out the deals below.

RTX 3060 Gaming Laptops Under $1200

[poilib element=”commerceDeal” parameters=”slug=daily-deals-may-17-2021″]

More Daily Deals for May 17

[poilib element=”commerceDeal” parameters=”slug=daily-deals-2-may-17-2021″]

______________________________
Eric Song is IGN’s deal curator and spends roughly 1/4 of his income on stuff he posts. Check out his latest Daily Deals Article and subscribe to his IGN Deals Newsletter.

The Pokemon Company is giving players a chance to vote for Pokemon Sword and Shield‘s next freebie. Until May 20, the company is holding a poll on Twitter asking the community what item they would like distributed during the Pokemon Players Cup IV finals, which will take place later this summer.

The poll features four options: PP Max, Focus Sash, Lucky Egg, and Gold Bottle Cap. PP Max and Gold Bottle Cap are both used outside of battle. The former increases a move’s PP, while the latter can be spent at the Battle Tower to Hyper Train a Pokemon.

The Focus Sash and Lucky Egg, on the other hand, are held items. Focus Sash will let a Pokemon withstand what would have been a one-hit KO with one HP left, while the Lucky Egg increases the amount of experience points a Pokemon gains when it’s holding the item.

The winning item will be distributed during the Pokemon Players Cup IV finals, which will be streamed on Twitch and YouTube in July. The Players Cup features dedicated competitions for the mainline Pokemon games, as well as the Pokemon TCG and Pokken Tournament DX. In addition to the winning item, The Pokemon Company will distribute a Beast Ball for Pokemon Sword and Shield and a code for a digital Crobat card for Pokemon TCG Online during the finals. You can read more on the official Pokemon website.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Pokemon series, and as part of the celebration, Katy Perry recently dropped a new Pokemon song. Some new Pokemon games are also on the way in the next few months. Later this year, The Pokemon Company is releasing remakes of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl on Switch, while a new adventure called Pokemon Legends: Arceus arrives on the console in early 2022.

Google I/O is usually a developer heavy event with talk about coding and data, but if you’re looking for the biggest platform updates and new features you’ve come to the right place. We’ve stripped out all really existential talk about Pluto and paper airplanes and odd the Michael Peña cameo to give you only the biggest announcement’s from Google’s developer conference.

Android 12

Android 12 is shaking things up with the biggest UI redesign in years called Material You. The new design adds color to buttons, elements, and even your home screen background. Android 12 essentially sets a custom palette of one dominant color and multiple complementary ones based on your wallpaper, changing the overall mood of your entire smartphone.

Meanwhile, buttons and other elements on your screen will be larger and rounded than previously. The pull-down Quick Settings, for example, is displayed as two columns of large buttons for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Flashlight, and other settings that were previously just a little icon.

Aside from the new UI, Android 12 brings plenty of new features including a privacy dashboard, a new way to trigger Google Assistant, and more. Be sure to check out our article on Android 12 for more or download the Android 12 beta that’s available starting today onto your Google Pixel device.

Wear OS x Tizen

Most smartwatches (that aren’t Apple Watches) come running either Wear OS or Tizen and now Google is combining the two. Essentially, this merger allows Galaxy Watches to load Google Maps, Google Pay, and all the apps from the Google Play Store. Supposedly, Wear OS mingling with Tizen will also improve battery life too. It should be interesting to see the next Samsung Galaxy Watch running the new Tizen Wear OS hybrid.

Additionally, Google plans on introducing Fitbit exercise tracking features into Wear OS. Google also announced its plans to design Wear OS-based devices this fall.

Android Auto remote

Google is adding digital car key support for Android. While the search company didn’t say exactly what companies it’s working with, it showed a splash page of brands including Dodge, BMW, Chevrolet, Honda, Buick, Ford, Audi, Jeep, Chrysler, Cadillac, Volkswagen, and Renault. Android car key is designed to work with NFC and Ultra Wideband, and you’ll even be able to share it with a friend. It launches on Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy devices later this fall.

The ability to use your Android device as an Android TV remote will also come soon.

Google Photos

Apple has had short-movie like Live Photos for a while now and Android users are finally getting the feature with Cinematic photos. Essentially this feature takes any burst shots you’ve captured, fills in any large transitional gaps, and animates them into short clips.

Google is also working on making updates to its camera and photometry software to capture skin tones more accurately in images.

Private Google Photos folders

Google Photos is getting a new feature called Locked Folder that lets you hide pictures on your general camera roll and stops apps from seeing them. If you want to hide that new puppy from your kids or stop your date from seeing any revealing photos, you can throw them all into a password-protected locked folder to stop them from showing up in your main photo feed.

More detailed Google Maps

Google Maps is pretty great as it is already but now Google is making them more detailed with added sidewalks, crosswalks, and pedestrian paths. It’s all thanks to machine learning translating satellite imagery into detailed Google Maps. Google says detailed maps for 50 cities will launch by the end of the year.

On top of better, more detailed maps, Google Maps will soon add more routing options for drivers. Instead of just giving users the fastest possible driving route, a new “safer routing” option will factor in road conditions, weather, and traffic to give you a path with fewer sudden stops to help you avoid getting into an accident. Meanwhile, another Eco-Friendly Route option picks roads and a route that’s most fuel-efficient for your vehicle.

[youtube clip_id=”Q13CishCKXY”]

Project Starline

Google’s latest crack at video calling after Hangouts, Meets, and Duo. Project Starline is at least introducing something innovative by essentially creating holograms using high-resolution cameras and cutting-edge compression to create 3D models. Meanwhile, users sit and talk to the other person through a half window that displays the other person with such fidelity that they look like they’re actually there. It’s all pretty impressive.

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected].

Kevin Lee is IGN’s SEO Updates Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam

2K’s upcoming NFL arcade game has been delayed. Originally set to release this year, 2K announced that its upcoming untitled NFL arcade game has been pushed out of fiscal year 2022. This places the game’s release date to beyond March of next year.

“While we are very excited to once again be working with the NFL and NFLPA, our first title under these new partnerships is no longer expected to be released during fiscal year 2022,” a statement from 2K reads. “2K will have more to share on their plans for our football offerings going forward.”

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/10/nfl-2k-isnt-really-coming-back-ign-now”]

This news comes by way of publisher Take-Two Interactive’s full-year financial results that were released today. These results revealed that the publisher has plans to release a total of 21 games between now and the end of its fiscal year in March 2022. None of those 21 games are likely to be Grand Theft Auto 6, nor will they be 2K’s first foray back into NFL games in years.

When 2K’s NFL arcade game was announced as in development, the company said it will be working on “non-simulation football game experiences,” meaning the games will not be like EA’s Madden football games, which has the simulation football video game experience cornered quite well.

When this 2K NFL arcade game releases presumably next year, it will be the first time in well over a decade that anyone but EA has released an NFL football video game. The last non-EA NFL game was 2K’s extremely well-received, aggressively-priced ESPN NFL 2K5 back in 2004. After that release, EA signed a long-term exclusive deal with the NFL.

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2004/06/21/espn-nfl-2k5-xbox-gameplay-2004-06-21-2″]

It’s unknown when this game will release, but it is now known that fans shouldn’t expect to play it before April of next year. When asked for details about the untitled game when it was originally announced, 2K said the goal is “always authenticity, depth, fun, and as it relates to these titles — approachable and social football experiences.” The company also said it believes this game is “a good opportunity to service a more casual market, and our research shows there’s an appetite for that.”

As far as what that means for platforms, that’s currently unknown. While waiting to learn more about this game, check out our thoughts on the only NFL game released last year in IGN’s Madden NFL 21 review.

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes. 

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint is getting an update very soon, and it’s focused on improving on the experience of playing with AI-controlled squadmates. As part of the game’s title update 4.0.0, developer Ubisoft is changing the way that the game’s AI systems work in order to give players more freedom to customize their teammates.

This AI Teammate Experience update will give the game an all-new progression loop, where players can level up their teammates. Additionally, the collective level of your crew will be measured by a new collective Team Level, which will level up as the Team XP bar increases. You can earn more Team XP by completing challenges.

As you level up your teammates, you can customize their loadouts with active and passive abilities. Additionally, you’ll be able to select which teammates you want to take with you on each mission. For more information on what’s coming to Breakpoint, check out Ubisoft’s roadmap for the game on their website. Ghost Recon’s last major update, 3.0, came out in late 2020, and it added many more customization options, as well as adding new missions to the game.

Breakpoint has received many updates over the last year, after a messy launch that saw players cry foul over missing modes and broken promises. However, many of those issues have been resolved.

During Google’s I/O 2021 developer conference today, the company fully unveiled Android 12, its upcoming operating system coming later this year.

The upcoming mobile operating system introduces a slew of new features. Most notable is a new design as well as a redesigned user interface which is based on Google’s Material You, a new design language that adds more flair to the OS.

Moreso, Android 12  adds a ton of interesting new features, such as new animations and widgets. Yet, the biggest standout feature for Android 12 is the ability to change the color of the UI, such as the widgets and lock screen, whenever you change your phone’s wallpaper.

With #Android12, we redesigned the entire look and feel of your phone. From the lock screen to widgets, it feels more responsive, personal and customizable than ever before. Check out a sneak peek now. #GoogleIO pic.twitter.com/c3VOm6sGad

— Android (@Android) May 18, 2021

Google also notes that Android 12 includes some new changes to privacy and security, most notably with a new privacy dashboard. This dashboard offers a single view into your permission settings along with other information such as easy access to disabling app permissions and looking at what data is being accessed.

Android 12 will also expand on the leverage of the Android ecosystem by allowing your Android phone and other devices it is connected to provide more convenience in your day-to-day. One such feature gives “select Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones” the option to double the smartphone as a car key. Google confirms it was working with several car manufacturers, including BMW, to add support for the feature.

Google has released a public beta for Android 12, which you can download for several phones, including Google Pixel 3 and up, and devices from companies such as OnePlus, Asus, and Lenovo.

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Taylor is the Associate Tech Editor at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

Hori’s Monster Hunter Rise Split Pad Pro is back in stock on Amazon. The Monster Hunter-themed gamepad has been sold out since Rise released on the Switch back in March, but it’s currently available again on the online retailer at a slight discount. You’ll definitely want to pick one up, as it’s one of the best Nintendo Switch controllers.

If Monster Hunter isn’t your thing, Hori has released a few other Split Pad Pro designs, including ones based on Daemon X Machina, Pac-Man, and Pokemon. The gamepad also comes in a few more neutral shades like volcanic red and midnight blue that are slightly cheaper than the other designs. You can see some more Split Pad Pro deals below.

Switch Split Pad Pro Deals

Capcom has more Monster Hunter-themed merchandise on the way. The publisher is releasing a line of adorable Monster Hunter Rise plushies later this year. A new spin-off game called Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is also coming to Nintendo Switch and PC this July. The game will release alongside three new Amiibo figures. You can learn more in our Monster Hunter Stories 2 preorder guide.

Blizzard’s MOBA Heroes of the Storm just received a new Overwatch cosplay event, turning iconic Blizzard characters like Starcraft’s Jim Raynor into Soldier 76.

Skins for the event also include a Roadhog skin for World of Warcraft’s Stitches, a Reaper skin for Diablo’s demon hunter Valla, and a Reinhardt skin for the Diablo crusader Johanna.

Alongside the new skins come a large number of hero reworks, adjusting the various abilities and talents for all the same characters receiving skins, along with updates to characters like D.VA, Mei, Anduin and the game’s newest addition, Hogger.

Blizzard has largely put Heroes of the Storm on the backburner since 2018, when the developer shifted resources away from the game and canceled its esports program. A blog post announcing the change told players that Heroes of the Storm would “remain a love letter to Blizzard’s worlds and characters,” but that the “cadence” of new content for the game would change.

Many took a shifting of resources away from the game to mean Heroes of the Storm would be on life-support, but balance changes and the occasional new event or hero do still come to the game, albeit at a much slower pace than prior to 2018. The game’s latest hero, WoW’s Hogger, was added in December of 2020, and iconic characters like WoW’s Deathwing and Overwatch’s Mei have all come to the game after Blizzard’s 2018 announcement.

The Heroes of the Storm Overwatch event comes hot on the heels of Overwatch’s own anniversary event. A two-hour long Overwatch 2 presentation is coming May 20 and is set to reveal new maps and gameplay changes coming to the highly-anticipated sequel.