Daily Deals: Big Price Drops on Razer, Asus ROG, and Alienware Gaming PCs
There are a lot of sweet deals on gaming PCs and gaming laptops that just went up today. If you want to go the conservative Intel route, save up to $500 off a Razer Blade i7 laptop or an Alienware i7 RTX 2080 SUPER equipped desktop. However, if you’re willing to make the jump, the AMD laptops from Dell, Asus, and Skytech offer the same punch for a much, much lower price. Check them out.
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Eric Song is IGN’s deal curator and spends 25% of his pay on stuff he posts.
The Top 30 Simpsons Episodes
These Retailers Are Beating Steam Summer Sale Prices
One of the biggest sales events of the year for PC gamers is in full swing right now: Steam Summer Sale 2020 kicked off Thursday, June 25, and will run until July 9, offering literally thousands of discounts on some of the platform’s best games. It’s hard to beat many of those deals right now, and you should definitely check out all of the best Steam games on sale right now, but it’s worth keeping in mind that some of these games are cheaper elsewhere. And we’re not talking about different launchers like Rockstar, Uplay, or Epic–no, we’re talking about officially licensed Steam codes from legit stores like Fanatical and Green Man Gaming. For games like Borderlands 3 or Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, you can save yourself a few bucks by buying from a different store, and you’ll still end up with a new game for your Steam library.
The standouts include Borderlands 3, which is cheaper for all three editions at Green Man Gaming. The standard edition is $27 ($30 on Steam), while Deluxe edition is down to $36 ($40 on Steam) and the Super Deluxe edition is $45 ($50 on Steam). If you’ve been looking to get into Civilization VI (which you definitely should, because it’s fantastic), the Platinum edition is just $40.53 at Fanatical compared to $47.43 on Steam. With a normal list price of $120, this is the best version to buy as you’ll get all the expansions and DLC.
Resident Evil 3’s PC version is also the cheapest we’ve seen it at Fanatical right now, selling for $33 as opposed to nearly $40 on Steam. If you held off when the game launched at $60 just a couple of months ago, here’s a great chance to nab it for nearly 50% off (a more reasonable price, in my opinion, for the relatively short game).
Persona 4 Golden recently launched on Steam, making it much more accessible to people who never owned a PlayStation Vita–but unfortunately, it’s not discounted in the Steam Summer Sale. However, you can find it on sale at Fanatical, which has the base game for $17 and Digital Deluxe edition for $21.24.
You’ll also find some upcoming games on sale that either aren’t discounted at all or have a smaller discount on Steam, including two that release in July. PS4 exclusive Death Stranding will finally launch on Steam July 14 and is already down to $48.95 on Fanatical. Steam is selling the game for $60. Othercide, a turn-based tactical horror game releasing on July 27, is on sale for $26.17; Steam has it for $29.74 right now. Note that this deal ends in less than 48 hours, so it won’t be available much longer. Finally, one of this holiday’s next-gen releases is on sale as well: Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines 2 is down to $52.79 at Fanatical while still full price at Steam.
We’ve rounded up some of the best Steam games that are cheaper to buy elsewhere below. End dates for these deals may vary, so be sure to double-check the discount before purchasing.
Best Steam games on sale for cheaper elsewhere
Steam pre-orders on sale:
Of course, there are many, many games that are still way cheaper at Steam, so you’ll want to browse this year’s Steam Summer Sale before it ends in a couple of weeks. For a quick look at all the best deals, see our guides to the best games on sale in Steam Summer Sale 2020, including the best PC exclusives on sale and the best cheap Steam games under $10.
New Smash Bros. Ultimate Freebie Now Available
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate‘s next DLC character, Min Min from Arms, arrives alongside the title’s 8.0 update on Monday, June 29, but before then, Nintendo Switch Online subscribers can grab another freebie in the game.
Nintendo is giving away a new Spirit Board Challenge Pack for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Like previous freebies, this pack contains a handful of helpful items for the game’s Spirit Board mode. You’ll get the following:
- All Primaries x10
- All Supports x10
- Rematch x5
- Sluggish Shield x10
- Shield Spacer x10
To claim the Spirit Board Challenge Pack, go into the Switch Eshop and select the Nintendo Switch Online option on the left sidebar. From there, you’ll see the pack listed near the top of the page under exclusive offers. Click on the pack and select Download to claim it.
Like previous Spirit Board Challenge Packs, this freebie is only available to those who have an active paid Nintendo Switch Online subscription; you can’t claim the pack during a free trial period. Individual NSO memberships cost $4 USD for one, $8 USD for three months, and $20 USD for one year, while an annual family plan runs for $35 USD.
That’s not the only freebie that NSO subscribers can claim right now; Nintendo is also giving away an exclusive Nook Inc. rug for Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Meanwhile, Tetris 99–which is free to download and play for NSO members–is getting a Xenoblade Chronicles crossover theme as part of next week’s Maximus Cup event.
As for Min Min, she’ll arrive alongside a new stage–Spring Stadium–and a handful of Arms music tracks. The Min Min challenger pack is available individually for $6 USD or as part of Smash Bros. Ultimate’s Fighters Pass Vol. 2, which costs $30 USD and grants holders access to all six upcoming DLC characters as they release.
GameSpot has officially kicked off Play For All–a celebration of all things gaming. Join us as we bring you the summer’s hottest news, previews, interviews, features, and videos, as well as raise money for COVID-19 relief efforts and Black Lives Matter with the help of our friends from around the gaming world. Check out the Play For All schedule for more.
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The Office Episode Featuring Blackface Re-Edited
The Office has become the latest NBC sitcom to retroactively remove an instance of blackface from its series on streaming platforms and where it is available for purchase. A new version of 2012’s Episode 909, titled “Dwight’s Christmas” has been replaced with an edited version removing the problematic scene. Other NBC sitcoms, like Community, Scrubs, and 30 Rock, have opted instead to pull similar episodes.
The Office was a mockumentary-style adaptation of the British series sharing the same name, which was adapted for American audiences by Greg Daniels. In a statement issued to news site TheWrap, Daniels writes: “The Office is about a group of people trying to work together with mutual respect despite the inappropriate actions of their boss and assistant manager. The show employed satire to expose unacceptable behavior and deliver a message of inclusion. Today we cut a shot of an actor wearing blackface that was used to criticize a specific racist European practice. Blackface is unacceptable and making the point so graphically is hurtful and wrong. I am sorry for the pain that caused.”
The new cut will also replace the original version slated for syndication airings on Comedy Central and other Viacom-owned channels.
This move is part of a larger rising tide happening across television more broadly to enact greater sensitivity–also this week. For example, five South Park episodes have been removed from the animated series’ 23 seasons due to their controversial depiction of Prophet Muhammad. Also in animation, and more centered on casting choices, both Jenny Slate has left the Netflix series Big Mouth and Kristen Bell has left the Apple+ Central Park for the same reason: So Black actors can step in and take over their roles. On the writing front, actor Terry Crews stated in an interview that Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s forthcoming eighth season “had four episodes ready to go and [showrunner Dan Goor] threw them in the trash. We have to start over.”
Destiny 2: Where Is Xur June 26-30? Location For Exotic Weapon And Armor
Xur is back in the solar system in Destiny 2, offering you another chance to get new Exotic weapons and armor for your collection. Here’s everything you can get from Xur and where you can find him.
Head to the EDZ to find Xur this week, hanging out in Winding Cove region. For his weapon, Xur is offering The Colony. Hunters can pick up the Young Ahamkara’s Spine gauntlets; for Titans, there’s the Synthoceps gauntlets; and for Warlocks, Xur has the Phoenix Protocol chest armor. Read on for a breakdown of each item’s stats and what you need to know about them.
Xur Location
Spawn in at the Winding Cove transmat zone and look to the north. Hop on your sparrow and drive up the road on your left to reach the cliff face bordering the area. You’ll see a crashed Fallen dropship above you. Make your way up, either by climbing or using the nearby cave path, to find Xur standing beside the ship near the cliff’s edge.
Xur Exotic Items
If you don’t already have it, be sure to nab Xur’s weekly weapon offering, The Colony, and take it into next week’s Iron Banner competition. The Exotic grenade launcher fires spider robots that track targets, chase them down, and blow them up–perfect for PvP fire-and-forget situations. As for armor, all of Xur’s Exotics now comes with much higher stats than in past seasons, making them all worthy of your consideration. If you’re not a fan of his other options, Xur also sells an Exotic engram that will decrypt into an Exotic you don’t already own. He also has the Five of Swords challenge card, which lets you enable modifiers for Nightfall Strikes.
- Exotic Engram — 97 legendary shards
- The Colony — 29 legendary shards
- Young Ahamkara’s Spine — 23 legendary shards
- Synthoceps — 23 legendary shards
- Phoenix Protocol — 23 legendary shards
- Five of Swords — free
The Colony
The Colony is a longstanding PvP standby, and for good reason. It’s the kind of gun that usually guarantees kills if you manage to snag Heavy ammo in any given match. It first robot grenades that run along the ground and climb walls to chase down targets, making them very hard to avoid–perfect for getting hard-to-chase prey.
Young Ahamkara Spine (Hunter)
Hunters who like Tripmine grenades will find a lot of utility in the Young Ahamkara Spine gauntlets. The Exotic amps your grenades significantly, making tripmines last longer and blow up bigger. If you manage to get kills with them, you get grenade energy back, as well. Tripmines can be particularly effective in PvP if you’re careful with where you place them and when you use them, and with Young Ahamkara Spine, they can be pretty devastating.
Stats:
- Mobility: 7
- Resilience: 11
- Recovery: 14
- Discipline: 6
- Intellect: 11
- Strength: 14
- Total: 63
Synthoceps (Titan)
Synthoceps make Titans into melee monsters, especially in dangerous situations. The gauntlets increase your melee lunge range, which is great in PvP situations, and gives you increased melee and Super damage when you’re surrounded, which can be helpful just about anywhere. If you want more effective melees, give Synthoceps a try.
Stats:
- Mobility: 9
- Resilience: 8
- Recovery: 14
- Discipline: 9
- Intellect: 13
- Strength: 9
- Total: 62
Phoenix Protocol (Warlock)
For Warlocks reliant on Well of Radiance in situations like raids and other high-level content, Phoenix Protocol is an Exotic you want in the regular rotation. Though it’s not as powerful as it once was, the chest armor still is extremely useful for getting you more Well Supers more often. While standing in your well, you get Super energy for any kills and assists you make–which means you can get your Well back more quickly if you’re wiping out a lot of enemies with your fireteam. The more Wells you can cast, the more likely you are to survive tough encounters, so you’ll want this one handy for tough activities.
Stats:
- Mobility: 10
- Resilience: 8
- Recovery: 15
- Discipline: 8
- Intellect: 14
- Strength: 6
- Total: 61
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Pokemon: What You Get For Completing The Isle Of Armor Pokedex
The Isle of Armor–the setting of Pokemon Sword and Shield‘s first expansion–is home to more than 100 returning Pokemon not found in mainland Galar. When you first arrive, you’ll be given a separate, island-specific Pokedex with which to catalog all of the newly added monsters, and some nice rewards await if you can catch ’em all. Here’s what you get for completing the Pokedex. Isle of Armor spoilers follow.
Isle Of Armor Pokedex Rewards
After you catalog all 210 Pokemon in the Isle of Armor Pokedex, you’ll need to return to the Armor Station in the Fields of Honor and speak with the scientist who first gave it to you. Show her the completed Pokedex and you’ll receive a certificate commemorating your achievement, along with a couple of neat rewards.
First is the Replica Gold Crown, which your trainer will be able to wear in place of a hat. On top of that, you’ll receive the Mark Charm. This increases the likelihood that you’ll encounter marked Pokemon. These marks are displayed alongside Ribbons on the Pokemon’s summary screen and give that monster a special title when you send it out into battle. You can take a look at the rewards below.
There’s more to do around the Isle of Armor besides completing your Pokedex. You can also upgrade the Master Dojo with new amenities and teach Pokemon how to Gigantamax. On top of that, there’s a big sidequest that involves tracking down 150 lost Alolan Diglett, and you’ll receive free Alolan Pokemon for finding them.
In addition to all the returning Pokemon, the Isle of Armor expansion introduces a few new monsters as well, including Galarian Slowbro and the Legendary Kubfu, which can evolve into either Single Strike or Rapid Strike Urshifu. Here’s everything you need to know about how to evolve Kubfu and which form is better.
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Square Enix To Announce Multiple Games In Next Few Months
Square Enix will announce multiple games individually throughout July and August in lieu of having a press conference, Gematsu reports. During a shareholder meeting it was asked how the company would announce new video games since it did not have an E3 press conference due to the entire event being canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Square Enix responded that it would be announcing games (plural) “individually as the timing permits.”
The company followed up saying that several will debut around July to August, but nothing more specific was said. Square Enix recently announced Project Athia at the PS5 reveal event, a new action-adventure game designed exclusively for PS5.
Its most recent release was Final Fantasy VII Remake. GameSpot awarded it a 10/10 in our Final Fantasy VII Remake review, with critic Tamoor Hussain writing, “Final Fantasy VII Remake’s narrative and characterization achievements are facilitated by gameplay that feels modern but is crystallized around the classic’s role-playing fundamentals. In many ways, its gameplay model feels like the culmination of the franchise’s evolutions, with ideas from throughout the series brought together in a composite that is fresh but familiar. This is the first time that the action-focused style of modern-era Final Fantasy games doesn’t feel like it comes at the expense of the methodical nature of the series’ roots.”
GameSpot has officially kicked off Play For All–a celebration of all things gaming. Join us as we bring you the summer’s hottest news, previews, interviews, features, and videos, as well as raise money for COVID-19 relief efforts and Black Lives Matter with the help of our friends from around the gaming world. Check out the Play For All schedule for more.
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Focus Home Interactive Acquires The Surge 2 Developer
French indie studio Focus Home Interactive has announced the acquisition of Deck13 Interactive, the studio behind Soulslikes such as Lords of the Fallen and The Surge franchise.
Deck13 is the first studio Focus Home has bought, according to a recent financial report. “Focus Home Interactive has acquired 100% of Deck13 Interactive’s share capital shares for a total price of €7.1 million [$8 million] (of which €6.5 million [$7.2 million] in cash from the new bank financing and €0.6 million [or $673,000] in shares held in treasury) and a long-term incentive plan for the managers,” the report said. “Deck13 Interactive is a leading German game development studio and long-time partner of Focus Home Interactive.”
Over the last years we forged a strong bond with Focus. Today we’re happy to announce that this friendship evolved to the next level. Deck13 is now part of the Focus family! 🧡 https://t.co/GXdO9FsL0w
— Deck13 (@Deck13_de) June 25, 2020
Deck13 is most known for The Surge series, releasing a sequel to the 2017 Soulslike in 2019. The Surge 2 received a mixed reception from critics and fans, with our The Surge 2 review scoring it an 8/10. The studio is also a publisher, bringing the retro-inspired RPG CrossCode to life on PC in 2018 through its spotlight program. CrossCode will make the jump to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on July 8.
While also a developer, Focus Home is best known as a publisher of other action-adventure titles like GreedFall, Styx: Shards of Darkness, Vampyr, and more. The studio’s latest publishing effort, A Plague Tale: Innocence, launched in May 2019 to much fanfare. It received an 8/10 in our A Plague Tale: Innocence review, with critic Khee Hoon Chan saying, “[A Plague Tale is] an incredibly grotesque and spine-chilling sight–one that will linger in your mind hours later.”
GameSpot has officially kicked off Play For All–a celebration of all things gaming. Join us as we bring you the summer’s hottest news, previews, interviews, features, and videos, as well as raise money for COVID-19 relief efforts and Black Lives Matter with the help of our friends from around the gaming world. Check out the Play For All schedule for more.
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