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Amazon Prime Day is sure to dominate the conversation around deals when it kicks off this coming Monday, June 21, but it’s far from the only retailer launching its biggest sale of the summer right now. The size and popularity of Prime Day has driven Amazon’s biggest competitors to launch their own competing sales at the same time, and Best Buy is always one of the biggest players in the anti-Prime Day space. Right on schedule, Best Buy has kicked off a major sale just ahead of Prime Day, called “The Bigger Deal” savings event–which feels like a playful jab at Walmart’s “Deals for Days” and Target’s “Deal Days” sales.

Best Buy’s The Bigger Deal savings event is a series of 24-hour flash deals that end at 10 PM PT / 1 AM ET each night through June 22. Today’s main deals focus on “Summer Tech,” including smartwatches and portable speakers. You can also save on a new MacBook Pro, the AirPods Max, and a high-end productivity laptop from HP. There aren’t many gaming deals, but you can find big discounts on select games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Hitman 3.

We’ve rounded up the best flash deals in Best Buy’s The Bigger Deal savings event. Make sure to check back each day until the sale ends, as we’ll be updating this article every day with new flash deals.

$1,500 (was $1,900)

You can save $400 on an excellent MacBook Pro today only. This particular 13-inch model includes an Intel Core i5 processor, not Apple’s in-house M1 chip. It also comes with 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD.

$1,420 (was $1,620)

If you’re looking for a high-end productivity laptop for work or school, this HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 is a great option, especially for $200 off. This 15.6-inch laptop doubles as a Windows tablet with a touchscreen display. Speaking of the display, it boasts 4K UHD resolution, which makes it great for both work and entertainment. It’s fitted with an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and 32GB of Optane storage.

$130 (was $180)

Smartwatches can help you achieve fitness goals and monitor your daily activity as well as connect to your phone for notifications. The Fitbit Versa 2 is one of the best smartwatches around, and its already reasonable price is even better today only. The Versa 2 includes live heart rate tracking, an app that records and monitors workouts, tracks your sleep and nutrition and plenty more. It syncs up to your phone to provide email and text notifications as well as personalized reminders. The Versa 2 also has Amazon Alexa built-in, which lets you utilize its bevy of features hands-free. Amazon is matching this deal, so you can shop at your preferred retailer.

$499 (was $549)

Yes, the AirPods Max are still incredibly pricey even with a $50 discount–but this is the first markdown they’ve gotten since launch. Apple’s over-the-ear version of its popular AirPods line is aimed at the diehard fans. They’re stellar headphones with a ton of great features, including active noise-cancellation, spatial audio, and dynamic drivers that create crisp and impactful audio. The AirPods Max offer 20 hours of power on a full charge and come with a nice case for safe storage. They have comfortable earcups that are made out of knit-mesh and memory foam. You also get six months of Apple Music with your purchase. AirPods Max come in five colors: Space Gray, Sky Blue, green, pink, and silver.

$100 (was $150)

We’ve entered outdoor grilling and backyard party season, and every get-together could use some music. A portable Bluetooth speaker is the most convenient option to use both outdoors and indoors. This Logitech Ultimate Ears Boom 2 speaker has 360-degree sound, a 15-hour battery life, and a 100-foot range for Bluetooth. It has a compact, durable design and produces loud, clear audio.

If you’re an Amazon Prime member and have a device with Alexa enabled–including the mobile app–you can currently score some ridiculous deals on a number of Amazon products right now. These are substantially better deals than you’ll get ordering them via Amazon.com right now, and buying the new Echo Dot, Fire TV Stick 4K, and Kindle Paperwhite for a big discount is as simple as telling Alexa what to do. Through June 20, you can take advantage of Alexa-exclusive Prime Day deals just by saying, “Alexa, order an Echo Dot”–or any other eligible product that catches your eye.

Some of the items that qualify are both the 3rd Gen Echo Dot and the 4th Gen Echo Dot, available for $20 and $25 respectively when using Alexa. The Fire TV Stick 4K is a ridiculous $25 this way, and it comes with an Alexa-enabled remote. These are all-time lows for these products. Of course, the fact that Amazon is referring to these as “early access deals” means they’ll probably be available online for all Prime members come Monday, but why wait until then and risk stock selling out?

If you’re looking for something a bit more substantial, you can also get the Fire TV Cube for just $80, which is $40 cheaper than its MSRP. Tablets are also included in the promotion, with the Fire 10 HD available for $80–almost half off its normal price. The Kindle Paperwhite is typical $130, and it’s only $80 with the Alexa command. Make sure you’re logged into your Amazon Prime account to see the Alexa-exclusive pricing.

In order to get the discount, go to the early access Alexa deals page on Amazon and select the item you want. You’ll see an Alexa command in quotes above its listing, and saying that to your device will bring up the deal so you can order the item for the steeply discounted price. It couldn’t be easier.

Amazon Prime Day officially kicks off this Monday, June 21, and runs for 48 hours. You can check out our Prime Day Deals hub to stay up to date on the best savings.

The cast for John Wick: Chapter 4 continues to get more and more awesome. First it was Donnie Yen, then Laurence Fishburne. Now, Hiroyuki Sanada–known most recently for his turn as Scorpion in the new Mortal Kombat movie–enters the fray as well, Deadline reports.

Sanada’s role in the fourth John Wick film is still under wraps. He joins the aforementioned Yen and Fishburne, as well as pop star Rina Sawayama and actor Shamier Anderson as newcomers to the action franchise.

Sanada started his career acting in Japanese television and film, and is best known there for The Twilight Samurai and countless samurai and ninja-themed films, but has made a successful transition to American film and television. In addition to Mortal Kombat, you can catch Sanada in Netflix’s Army of the Dead, HBO’s Westworld, and movies like Sunshine, Speed Racer, and the upcoming Bullet Train with Brad Pitt.

John Wick: Chapter 4 is being directed once again by Chad Stahelski, but writing duties are being handled by Shay Hatten and Michael Finch instead of series co-creator Derek Kolstad. John Wick: Chapter 4 hits theaters on May 27, 2022.

Amazon Prime Day 2021 kicks off this coming Monday, June 21, and while there’s certain to be a number of big-ticket items on sale, you’ll also find plenty of gaming and tech products under $50 that won’t break the bank. We’ve scoured through the early deals to find the best items, but make sure to keep checking during Prime Day itself, as we’ll be adding even more budget-friendly deals to this list.

Some of the best Prime Day deals under $50 include a great Turtle Beach headset, products from Amazon’s own tech lineup (including the new Luna Controller), and a cool piece of Nintendo nostalgia in the form of the Super Mario Bros. Game and Watch. Plus, catch up on more of the best Prime Day deals, including TV deals, monitor deals, PlayStation deals, Nintendo Switch deals, and Xbox deals.

$49 (was $70)

The Luna Controller was made specifically for use with Amazon’s nascent cloud gaming service, and it’s on sale for the first time ever during Prime Day. Amazon has timed this discount to coincide with a free trial the company is offering for Prime members. If you sign up during Prime Day on June 21 or June 22, you’ll be able to try out Luna for free for seven days. And while the Luna Controller was specifically designed for use with the cloud service, it also functions as a standalone Bluetooth controller that you can use for PC or phone games. Its build is quite similar to the Switch Pro Controller.

$40 (was $50)

Originally released late last year as part of Nintendo’s celebration of 35 years of Mario, this neat little Game & Watch comes with a few games built-in: Super Mario Bros, The Lost Levels, and the classic Game & Watch game Ball (a juggling game). As with all Nintendo bits of hardware, this Game & Watch is well-made and features a slightly modified layout from the original Game & Watch that makes it more reminiscent of an NES controller. We spotted this deal at Amazon recently and it quickly sold out, so don’t expect Best Buy’s deal on this nostalgia-focused product to stick around for long.

$25 using Alexa device | $50 for two with code PDDOT2PK

This cute little orb is the fourth-generation Echo Dot released in 2020. If you have a device with Alexa built-in, you can take advantage of an Alexa-exclusive deal and get the 4th Gen Echo Dot for just $25 (normally $50). Just say, “Alexa, order an Echo Dot,” and the voice assistant will bring up the deal. You can also take advantage of a two-for-one deal on Amazon.com right now–use promo code PDDOT2PK at checkout after adding two Echo Dots to your cart, and you’ll get both for $50, effectively getting you one for free.

$15 (was $50)

Amazon is offering the best price yet on this device, which can turn your car’s audio into an Alexa-controlled device. The Echo Auto–which connects to your vehicle via either Bluetooth or an auxiliary input–lets you use your phone’s Alexa app and plays through your car’s speakers. This allows you to use voice commands for typical Alexa functions like choosing music, adjusting volume, make calls, and more. Some cars won’t be compatible with this device, however, so make sure to check the list on Amazon’s site to see if your car’s Bluetooth setup can use the Echo Auto. You can still connect it by using the included auxiliary cable.

$25 using Alexa device | $40 (was $50)

The Fire TV Stick 4K is already on sale for less than $50, but if you already own a device with Alexa, you can snag it for 50% off by saying, “Alexa, order Fire TV Stick 4K.” That’s the lowest price it’s ever been, so don’t sleep on this deal. The Fire TV Stick 4K supports 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, HDR, and HDR10+.

$50 (was $60)

This wired headset from Turtle Beach comes in two colors (black or white) and is compatible for use for most gaming devices–if your device has a 3.5mm jack, then this will work. This headset features tech that helps amplify in-game volume while allowing you to hear your own voice in chat (so you can tell if you’re yelling too loudly mid-match). This extra tech, however, means that while these are wired, the headset still requires a battery to work. At just under $50, this is a great budget gaming headset for use with Xbox, PlayStation, PC, and Switch.

$50 (was $70)

The Logitech G PRO Hero wired mouse (which was first released in 2018) features some neat bells and whistles for a mouse at this price range, including mechanical switches, a spring button tensioning system, six customizable buttons (with the ability to remember preferred layouts), and programmable RGB lighting.

$15 (was $25)

This Amazon Smart Plug turns any wall outlet into an Alexa voice-controlled device–all you need to do is plug it in and connect your device, then use your voice to turn it on and off, set up schedules, or control the device remotely. You won’t need a separate home hub either–all of these functions can be controlled through the Alexa app on your phone. It’s a simple way of adding more home automation to your life without too much hassle or complexity.

$45 (was $60)

Razer’s Basilisk wireless mouse features mechanical switches and can connect either via Bluetooth or a supplied 2.4GHz wireless dongle that improves connection speed. While this mouse doesn’t sport the fancy lighting of the Logitech Pro Hero, it does have a monster battery life, with Razer claiming 450 hours on a single battery (when connecting the mouse via Bluetooth).

$45 (was $80)

This Prime-exclusive deal drops the 2019 Echo Show 5 to just $45. With a 5.5-inch display, the Echo Show 5 is compact enough to fit on a small nightstand or dresser and features ambient sunrise lighting as well as multiple clock faces to choose from. All the usual Alexa capabilities are here too, letting you set alarms, check the weather, see the news, play music, and much more.

If an Australian Classification Board rating is anything to go on, it appears Castlevania’s Game Boy Advance entries are going to find a home on new systems. The Castlevania Advance Collection has been rated for a multiplatform launch, and the listed developer should have fans very excited.

The rating page on the Australian Classification Board website, which was just published June 18, gives the collection an M rating, which is not the same as the ESRB’s M rating–it’s more in line with a T rating and doesn’t require any sort of restrictions on purchases.

No individual games are listed on the page, but a compilation with this name will almost certainly include Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance, and Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow–all of which original released for the Game Boy Advance. The three acclaimed games were built on the metroidvania formula established in Symphony of the Night, which would become the standard for the series for about a decade.

Konami, naturally, is listed as the publisher of the collection, and M2 is listed as the developer. M2 has done excellent work on porting retro games for years, and it partnered with Konami to create the software for the TurboGrafx-16 Mini console, which itself included a Castlevania game, Rondo of Blood. That game is, for some reason, even getting a re-release on the long-discontinued TurboDuo console via Limited Run Games. M2 also developed the Castlevania Anniversary Collection back in 2019.

Though we haven’t gotten information on any brand-new Castlevania games since Lords of Shadow 2 released more than seven years ago, the animated Netflix series has received critical acclaim over its four seasons and it’s getting a sequel series, as well. Still, we sure would like to pick up the Belmont family’s famous Vampire Killer whip again, ourselves.

State of Decay 2‘s Update 25: Plague Territory will go live across all platforms on Monday, June 21. Undead Labs shared a short video on Twitter teasing one of the main aspects of the update, Plague Territories, which are regions controlled by Plague Hearts that cannot be inhabited until the controlling Hearts are destroyed.

Plague Territories have been available as part of the play testing beta on Steam since late April and while Undead Labs has not released the full patch notes for Update 25 yet, and while we don’t know everything that’ll be in Update 25 yet, the other new features in the beta might give some clues. Landmark Outposts offer one of three unique options depending on what the landmark itself is. Resource Outposts, which can produce food, ammo, or other resources, will get the ability to be upgraded, to increase their benefits.

These new features cannot be used on existing maps, so players will need to either load up a new map or change the difficulty on a current map to get Plague Territories, Landmark Outposts, and upgradable Resource Outposts. While only Plague Territories are confirmed for Update 25, we will know more when it goes live on June 21.

Nintendo made plenty of big announcements at E3 this year, but fans of the long-dormant futuristic racing series F-Zero were, perhaps predictably, left high and dry. Thankfully, one fan has taken the matter of a new F-Zero game into their own hands using a different Nintendo game altogether: Game Builder Garage.

You’d be forgiven for forgetting Game Builder Garage released. It actually launched on June 11 for Nintendo Switch, right in the midst of E3, and Nintendo didn’t exactly draw attention to it during their various presentations or livestreams. That being said, fans are already doing some amazing work with the game-creation toolkit, in particular this F-Zero creation from ZeldaBoi1.

ZeldaBoi1 has put together a truly impressive F-Zero fan-game using Nintendo’s game-making tools. Players can accelerate, drive in reverse, and drift, just like in the original F-Zero for Super Nintendo. From the pixelated visuals that look incredibly close to that of the first game in the series down to the catchy music, Zelda Boi1’s creation is incredible, especially considering Game Builder Garage has barely been out for a week.

And it’s far from ZeldaBoi1’s only creation. They’ve also put together a short demo for a new Kirby game and a first-person Zelda, as well as recreations of games like Mario Kart, Earthbound, and Excitebike. The F-Zero recreation in particular gained plenty of attention on Twitter, to which ZeldaBoi1 responded by saying if they could do this in just a week, imagine what will come after a month with Game Builder Garage. If future creations are anything like these early ones, fans can expect to see some truly remarkable stuff in the coming months as creators get more familiar with Game Builder Garage’s tools.

It’s all enough to make fans wish the series would receive a proper modern entry. An ex-Nintendo game designer recently said the F-Zero franchise isn’t dead, but that it would need a “grand new idea” in order to justify a new entry in the series, something more than a few fans likely don’t agree with.

But even if there isn’t a new, official F-Zero on the way, Nintendo did make plenty of big announcements at E3 this year when it comes to the return of classic franchises, including a new 2D Metroid and a remake of the classic turn-based-strategy series Advance Wars.

PGA Tour 2K21 is adding a new set of custom courses in its multiplayer playlists, designed by community members. Six new course collections–some fan favorites, some new–will be added into multiplayer playlists over the next few months, with the first set available now.

The courses are being designed by a number of PGA Tour 2K21 content creators from the U.S., U.K., Canada, and New Zealand.

Here is the full list of creators:

The June course collection was created by VctryLnSprts, adding Lybster Isles, The Chastener, The Razorback, Bullhead Ridge, and Devon Lakes, the last of which is only available in Divot Derby. Each month will feature a different creator and theme, with July’s theme being “Around the World,” taking inspiration from popular international locations.

In what might be disappointing news to fans eagerly anticipating the final release of Baldur’s Gate 3, it has been confirmed that the game will definitely not be leaving early access this year.

In an interview with GameSpot, Larian Studios founder Swen Vincke has confirmed that the game will remain in early access until next year. Vincke stated that “We are really trying to get the game done by next year,” and that “It’s not gonna release this year for sure.”

Baldur’s Gate 3 launched in Early Access on October 6 2020, and has been receiving incremental updates and hotfixes to the game ever since. The last large update from February added the druid class to the already expansive RPG.

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Vincke also added that the next update was “just around the corner” but didn’t give an exact date of when it might release. It seems like the next update will be a more significant gameplay-focused update that will address game systems and balancing issues, as opposed to adding a new class, stating that, “It’s more focused on features than it is on new content”.

In the interview, Vincke also touched on the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic; revealing the team at Larian “have been affected by the crisis” just like a number of game developers, and that this may be one reason why the game will remain in Early Access throughout 2021. Larian has not been the only studio affected by this, with Hideo Kojima revealing he has changed his development process due to the pandemic, and a significant increase in game delays affecting the industry overall.

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Whilst the game will remain in Early Access for the time being, Vincke appears confident that the team at Larian will be able to release the full game next year. IGN’s review for the Early Access version of the game appreciated the deep combat, but noted that it definitely felt early, with regular bugs breaking the immersion whilst playing. Hopefully, the finished product will be worth the wait when it launches in 2022.

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Liam Wiseman is a Freelance News Writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @liamthewiseman

The Borderlands movie is sticking closely to the style of the bestselling video game series, according to actor Kevin Hart.

Hart, who has been cast as Roland, a character from the first two Borderlands games and The Pre-Sequel, recently spoke to Collider about Eli Roth’s upcoming film. He touched on the authenticity of the upcoming new entry in the Borderlands universe, as he reassured fans that the big-screen adaptation will definitely be taking a page from the games in terms of its visual style and overall appearance.

“The fanbase that follows the game is already huge and unreal, but I don’t think they even have a clear understanding of how close we’re coming to the game,” he said, teasing the team’s commitment to bringing the game to life for the live-action adaptation of Gearbox’s popular looter-​shooter. “It looks like the game. It’s unbelievable, truly unbelievable.”

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In the same interview, Hart discussed his role in the movie, portraying Roland, a character who was honorably discharged from the military unit known as the Crimson Lance in the games. He admitted that the role had been a change of pace for him, having switched gears from his frequent comedic performances to step into “action full speed ahead,” but he made sure he was fully prepared for the part.

Hart recounted an early conversation he had with Roth, in which Roth told him that he would land the role in the movie, so long as he showed up prepared and ready to knock it out at the casting stages. “So I went, I did some training with some Navy SEALS,” Hart revealed. “I got real good with weapons, I got real good with my hand-to-hand combat.”

Hart also praised Roth for bringing his own flair to the movie, saying, “I can say visually, it’s like nothing you’ve ever seen. Somehow I find myself in these spaces where you get a part of these IPs that are hitting the big screen and have the potential to become so much more… Borderlands, nobody knows what to expect, but if this thing comes and it smacks people correctly, you could be looking at Borderlands 2, Borderlands 3. It’s that good.”

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The Borderlands movie centers around Cate Blanchett’s Lilith and her quest to return to the planet of Pandora to recover the missing daughter of “the universe’s most powerful S.O.B., Atlas.” Along the way, she’ll cross paths with Jamie Lee Curtis‘ Dr. Tannis, Gina Gershon’s Moxxi, Janina Gavankar’s Commander Knox, Jack Black’s Claptrap, and Florian Munteanu’s Krieg.

The movie, which is said to be loosely based on the games, is being directed by Eli Roth and scripted by Craig Mazin, and is due to be released in 2022.

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Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.