Star Trek: Picard Episode 9 “Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1” Breakdown & Easter Eggs

In “Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1”, The crew of La Sirena arrive at the Synthetics’ home world, Coppelius, with Narek following closely. Meanwhile, Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) and the XBs take control of the Borg Artifact cube and follow after Picard.

Picard (Patrick Stewart), Soji (Isa Briones) and the crew meet the synths who populate Coppelius Station, along with Dr. Alton Soong (Brent Spiner) son of Noonien Soong. Soji warns them that a large fleet of Romulan warbirds is on its way to destroy them.

We also got another handful of Star Trek Easter eggs and references in this episode, calling back to The Next Generation and The Original Series.

Disclosure: ViacomCBS is GameSpot’s parent company.

8 Crucial Tips For Starting Animal Crossing

We’ve been enjoying Animal Crossing: New Horizons for the past few weeks and, like previous games in the franchise, there’s a lot of systems to keep track of, activities to do, and milestones to meet. There’s definitely a bit of a learning curve to it all.

In the video above, Jake Dekker goes over the eight details that we all wish we had known about before beginning our own island getaway in New Horizons. If you’re just picking up the latest Animal Crossing game yourself, these tips should help you expedite the process of getting through the first few days.

For those looking for a bit more help, we have several other video guides that may help you out during your initial weeks in New Horizons. Admittedly, the game is a bit slow when it comes to progression, so you may feel like you’re getting nowhere, but trust us–commit the time and you will begin to see developments on your island.

More Animal Crossing: New Horizons Video Guides

In GameSpot’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons review in progress, Kallie Plagge writes, “New Horizons certainly has a slower pace than other Animal Crossing games, partially because you have to work to get things up and running on the island at the start. And while I’m impatient to discover what upgrades might be coming my way (and I need to mess around with Island Designer more), I still feel as though I’ve done a lot on my island. I’ve crafted tons of furniture, upgraded my house seven times, picked thousands of weeds, and done far too many drastic outfit changes. I’m as excited to see what random events await me each morning as I am to decorate my island and make it my own, and that’s sure to keep me coming back for the foreseeable future.”

Doom Eternal Arc Complex: Mission 6 Walkthrough And Tips

Now that you’ve reached Doom Eternal‘s sixth mission, things are in full gear. You’re nearly halfway through the game, so keep at it! Below you can find a walkthrough detailing how to get through the sixth mission, including the game’s second major boss fight.

For walkthroughs of Doom Eternal’s other chapters, check out our guide hub collecting what we have up so far. We’ll be publishing more in subsequent days. But if you’re looking for more basic Doom Eternal tips, be sure to read our guide detailing everything you should know before playing. Otherwise, you can read our Doom Eternal review in progress.

Mission 6 Walkthrough — Arc Complex

Time to go meet a familiar face! As soon as the mission begins, immediately punch through the wall and follow this corridor to an elevator shaft you can hop down. After the doors open there are a few fodder enemies to take care of, and you’ll eventually be faced with a Mancubus and Whiplash. Once all the enemies are dead, the demonic seal blocking the path forward will disappear.

Continue through the facility and you’ll find a consistent onslaught of enemies emerging from every nook and cranny, even the gift shop. Utilise your full arsenal to fight your way through them–whether that means using an Ice Bomb to freeze a Pinky in place, or peppering a Dread Knight with the Chaingun–until you eventually reach the building’s lobby. Go left and drop down the hole in the floor, then use the Plasma Rifle to cut through the Energy Shields being used by the Soldiers and Carcass in this area. Head down the stairs and continue following the waypoint down the corridor, defeating any enemies along the way.

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Jump up a floor and drop down the hole on the other side to kill the rest of the enemies here. Follow the waypoint and you’ll eventually reemerge outside. The purple goo returns in this area, so try and stay out of it to avoid being slowed down. If you do find yourself wading through the goo, use the Super Shotgun’s meat hook to quickly pull yourself out of it.

Once all the enemies in this combat arena are dead, you can attempt to open the main gate. With the path blocked, you need to enter through the building a Pinky just emerged from. As you engage in combat with the enemies inside, a Cyber Mancubus will eventually appear. This enemy type is a heavily armored variant of the regular Mancubus, but a single Blood Punch will destroy all of its armor. A couple of Super Shotgun shells and rockets work well, too.

With the Cyber Mancubus and all of its pals dead, follow the waypoint and climb up a floor. Use the pole to swing over to the next building over and clear out the enemies inside before heading up the stairs. Jump down onto the jump pad below and then Dash across to the other building using the Dash Refill to reach it. More Zombies and Imps will swarm in here, so take them out and exit through the large gap in the wall. Swing across the two poles and launch yourself to the right to grab onto the wall. Turn around and jump to the next platform, then hop behind the pile of broken office supplies with the green light shining on it to find a block you can melee. Use that to reach the next floor, then swing across the next pole and onto the climbable wall. Now you’ll have to jump to the wall on the right that’s a fair distance away, and follow the waypoint through the gap in the wall from there.

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Clear out the enemies inside, then use the elevator as a stepping stone to reach the next floor. Face the destroyed plane and you’ll see some more green lights projected onto the billboard beneath the wreckage. Jump down here and there’s a wall you can latch onto. Climb up and fight your way through the plane’s interior until you emerge inside another building. Take out the enemies in this arena until the demonic seal is broken, then make your way up the flights of stairs.

When you reach the top, jump across to the burning building and make your way down until you can hop in the elevator. There’s a tough encounter in the foyer, so just make sure you’re replenishing your health, armor, and ammo with the tools in your arsenal. Head through the door and there’s a few more enemies to take care of outside. Once they’re all dead, head to the waypoint and jump down to the right and into the portal. Now you can enter the turret and destroy the first tentacle blocking the path to Hayden.

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Exit the turret and fight through the next corridor until you reach an elevator. Continue moving through the innards of the facility and you’ll eventually enter another combat arena. There are multiple floors and a portal you can use to get out of danger, so utilise the environment when you can. With everything defeated, a Cyber Mancubus will burst through the floor. Take it out and drop into the hole it opened up and you’ll find yourself in the sewer.

There’s more purple goo here so your movement speed is impeded. Use the Super Shotgun to clear out the enemies, including the tentacles, and melee the blocks right in front of you as you enter the larger area with a chain link fence. Climb up the blocks and launch off the pole to your right to reach the next platform. Continue moving through the facility, while making sure to avoid the electric traps, until you reach the second turret.

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With the massive tentacles now gone, follow the waypoint down the next few corridors and into the car park until you’re back outside in the main courtyard. Now you can access the shutter doors and fight your way across the bridge to the Arc building where Hayden is.

Boss fight – Marauder

Now it’s time to fight Doom Eternal’s second boss. The Marauder is a defensive opponent who uses an impenetrable shield to block your shots. You want to stay fairly close to him, but not too close, and wait until his eyes flash green to counter his melee attack and damage him with the Super Shotgun.

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Quickly dispatch the golden wolf whenever he summons it, and make use of the fodder enemies that come in to replenish your health, armor, and ammo. This can be a lengthy fight because of the Marauder’s defensive strengths, so you just need to be patient and wait for those openings when his eyes flash green, utilising your Dash to avoid his other attacks in the meantime. Damage him enough and you can end the fight with a gruesome Glory Kill.

Now Playing: Doom 2016 vs Doom Eternal Gun Comparisons

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MLB The Show 20 Review – Bases Loaded

MLB The Show 20 suddenly finds itself in an unprecedented position. The COVID-19 coronavirus has disrupted sports across the globe, and baseball is no different, as Opening Day of the 2020 Major League Baseball season was recently postponed for at least the next two months–and even that seems optimistic. It’s an unfathomable turn of events, yet it also means Sony San Diego’s latest baseball sim is now one of the only ways to experience the 2020 season of America’s favorite pastime. It’s a good job, then, that MLB 20 maintains the series’ consistently high quality. Refinements to fielding and hitting may only be incremental this year, but they add more depth to what is still one of the most compelling sports games on the market, while new additions and modes off the field increase the game’s variety as you chart a course towards World Series glory.

Fielding and defense received a lot of love in last year’s game, so MLB 20 adds a few more wrinkles without rocking the boat too much. The distinction between Gold Glove caliber outfielders and mere mortals is now slightly more pronounced, particularly when the CPU is in control. The best outfielders in the game are much more dialed in this year, reacting to the ball off the bat with authentic accuracy and a dependable first-step. On the flip side, the square peg you’ve lodged into the round hole in left field might struggle when it comes to reading the flight of the ball, committing a fair few errors over the course of a season as balls careen off the edge of his glove instead of nesting in its palm.

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There’s also a new Extreme Catch Indicator that identifies those bloop singles and hard-sinking line drives that are right on the edge of being catchable. If you have a player like Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton patrolling the outfield, you might take a chance and attempt a risky diving catch on one of these tough-to-reach balls, knowing full well that he’s skilled enough to pull off a spectacular grab. With an average defender hustling towards the ball, however, you might prefer to play it safe and get yourself in position to gather the ball after it bounces. Surrendering a single is a much more positive outcome than laying out for a catch and completely missing the ball, resulting in a triple for the fortunate hitter.

Snagging that single might even give you the opportunity to use MLB 20’s new Throw Home Indicator. Nailing the small needle in the center of an outfielder’s throwing meter will see them launch the ball towards home with as much power and accuracy as they can possibly muster, giving you a greater chance of recording one of those bang-bang plays at home plate. It’s a smart, albeit subtle, addition to the game, which is true of all of these improvements to the game’s fielding. It’s possible you won’t even see the Extreme Catch Indicator until 20 games in, but they each add more dynamism to the outfield, and the best defenders may even influence your strategy when stepping into the batter’s box, too.

When it comes to hitting, the Plate Coverage Indicator (or PCI) has been redesigned in MLB 20 to give you a better idea of the type of hitter you have at the plate and how you should approach their at-bat. When using the default PCI, the outer reticle displays your batter’s plate vision, while the inner reticle represents their ability to make contact. Previously, the PCI consisted of an average between these two attributes, so there was some vexing guesswork involved when trying to square up the ball and make solid contact. Splitting these attributes up with seperate reticles illustrates exactly what your hitter’s contact and vision are, offering an immediate distinction between good and bad hitters (with each reticle varying in size based on the player’s skill), and providing you with better feedback for lining up the PCI in the optimal position.

This all ties into the new Perfect/Perfect system that gives you the best possible chance of having a productive at-bat. The first part of this new mechanic is displayed by three dots in the centre of each player’s PCI. From top to bottom the dots represent fly balls, line drives, and ground balls. If a player’s top dot is bigger than the other two, then you know he excels at launching powerful fly balls into the stratosphere. A bigger bottom dot, meanwhile, means you’ll want to try and focus on sending hard-hit ground balls through gaps in the infield. If you manage to line up the PCI so that the ball connects with one of these dots and your swing timing is absolutely perfect, you’ll be rewarded with Perfect/Perfect contact and the auditory euphoria that comes from the crack of the bat.

This new distinction results in high exit velocities and a significant chance the ball will fall for a hit if it doesn’t just wind up in the stands. The redesign of the PCI and the addition of the Perfect/Perfect system adds more layers to MLB 20’s batting that rewards you for guessing a pitch’s location, having immaculate timing, and playing to each player’s strengths. With these new tools at your disposal, you’re given more control over the outcome of each at bat. That doesn’t mean you’re suddenly going to start hitting .500, and you may only execute a Perfect/Perfect hit once or twice each game, but the feedback you’re given after every swing of the bat feels more pertinent, and there’s a tangible consistency to the way hitting works, with solid contact resulting in hard-hit balls instead of weak lineouts, as was often the case in MLB 19.

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As for new modes, MLB 20 enhances the Franchise experience with a couple of additions. You now have the ability to add custom teams to your Franchise by replacing a current team with one of your own. You can change the name, design your own uniforms, and select a home venue–whether it’s the historic Polo Grounds or the Texas Rangers’ brand-spanking-new Globe Life Field. The fact you can’t pick the roster means this isn’t quite the expansion team mode the community has wanted for years now. It’s a small step in the right direction, though, even if the execution is a tad underwhelming. If you opt for a fantasy draft or force some trades, you can somewhat emulate the experience of adding an expansion franchise to the league, but it’s not as involved as it could be.

The most significant new addition is the inclusion of full Minor League rosters. In the past, the community would create its own custom rosters from scratch, replacing every Joe Random with the top prospects and Double-A veterans from each team’s MiLB affiliate. Now these players are included straight out of the box, with real names, accurate stats, and even face scans in some cases. Instead of waiting weeks for the community to come up with the goods, you can now start Franchise mode and have an entire organisation’s roster at your disposal from the get-go, including players like Gavin Lux, Wander Franco, and Luis Robert.

Elsewhere, Online Leagues make their return in MLB 20. These are customisable one-off seasons that give you a lot of options when it comes to setting up a league with friends. You can even use your Diamond Dynasty rosters, which is a nice addition. The problem is that there are none of the aforementioned Minor League teams to call up players from, nor is there a draft or any sort of free agency. It’s a one and done season with no CPU teams–a far cry from the robust Online Franchise mode that was once a part of the season and is still a feature in other sports games. Again, Online Leagues is a small step in the right direction, and it’s great being able to play competitively with a group of friends, but one would hope Online Franchise returns in some form in the next iteration of The Show.

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Diamond Dynasty also received a lot of love last year, so MLB 20 doesn’t mess with the formula too much. There’s a new Showdown mode that’s sort of like a mix between Moments and Battle Royale. You begin by drafting a skeleton crew of players and then play through a series of scenarios that are often based on significant moments in baseball history. You won’t know exactly what challenges await, but every playthrough ends in a Showdown against a formidable pitcher, where you’re tasked with coming back from a variable deficit before recording 15 outs. Each challenge you complete along the way gives you the opportunity to draft more players to improve your team, unlock special perks, and add runs to your final score in order to reduce the deficit you need to fight back from. It’s a fun mode that gives you another way to play Diamond Dynasty, sample some of the best players, and unlock rewards, especially if you don’t touch the multiplayer.

March to October and Road to the Show have received some similarly minor improvements. The latter still offers the same truncated season experience, only now you can influence your team’s roster moves with trades and Minor League call-ups. RTTS, meanwhile, allows player relationships to develop on the field as well as during locker room conversations. Building a rapport with your teammates will unlock useful perks throughout the season, and they now feel more natural. Play as a shortstop, for example, and you’re likely to improve your relationship with the first baseman by spraying accurate throws his way. The addition of Minor League players pays dividends in RTTS, too.

MLB The Show 20 doesn’t make any large strides forward, choosing instead to focus on refining areas that needed improvement from last year. This results in a game that feels more balanced in terms of variety across an assortment of game modes, while the action on the diamond has been tightened up with rewarding consistency and added dynamism that maintains the series’ lofty standards. It’s the ideal foundation to build upon as the PlayStation 5 looms on the horizon, and with the baseball season suspended for the foreseeable future, MLB 20 goes some way to filling an empty space in our pursuit for escapism.

The Walking Dead Spin-Off, World Beyond, Postponed Due To Coronavirus

Though it was previously set to premiere on April 12, AMC has postponed the debut of The Walking Dead: World Beyond, a two-season limited event series set in the world of the network’s zombie franchise, The Walking Dead. The delay is due to the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

The news was first revealed in a tweet that simply noted the premiere was moving. However, in a statement to GameSpot, AMC explained, “Given current circumstances, we have decided to shift the premiere of the new series The Walking Dead: World Beyond to later in the year.”

While World Beyond has already completed filming on its first season, it joins a growing list of delayed entertainment releases, including a long list of blockbuster films that are changing release dates because of the pandemic–from Disney’s Mulan to the highly-anticipated F9: The Fast Saga.

Meanwhile, Entertainment Weekly notes that production on Season 11 of the original Walking Dead was set to begin in early May, but has been delayed by three weeks. A planned week-long hiatus on production of Fear the Walking Dead has been extended by an additional two weeks.

The Walking Dead: World Beyond is set to feature an all-new cast of characters, following a group of young people who grew up in a world overrun by zombies as they venture beyond the safe barriers of their community for the first time. The series will star Aliyah Royale Iris, Annet Mahendru as Huck, Alexa Mansour as Hope, Nicolas Cantu as Elton, and Hal Cumpston as Silas.

Best Streaming Accessories 2020: How To Start Streaming On Twitch, YouTube, And More

Video game streaming is a popular and fun way to play games, entertain an audience, and interact with your friends and viewers. However, it can be incredibly confusing when it comes to getting started and figuring out what you need. That’s why we’ve tested a multitude of products–from microphones and capture cards to webcams and gaming headsets–to help you find the best streaming accessories that are perfect for Twitch, YouTube, Mixer, or anywhere else.

If you want to start streaming, then there are some things you need to consider. First and foremost, you need a PC that is capable of streaming. In most cases, dedicated desktop PCs will be able to handle this task much better than laptops, and if you’re also gaming on that PC, you should take your specs and settings into consideration as you’ll need to split the workload between the game and the stream. As for the type of accessories you’ll need, the bare essentials tend to be a capture card, microphone, headphones, and webcam. Some of the accessories that’ll improve your stream (but aren’t exactly necessary) include a second monitor and a controller like Elgato’s Streamdeck.

Of course, there are plenty of professional-grade products that producers and top-tier streamers take advantage of, but in this guide, we’ve focused on products that are affordable and accessible to those who want to start streaming or improve their setup. All of these microphones, capture cards, and other accessories are excellent and easy-to-use, and if you’re looking to get started, then this guide will be perfect for you.

As we test more accessories that are great for streaming, we’ll update this guide with our recommendations. For now, read on for the best streaming accessories we’ve tested and swear by.

Note: The prices shown below indicate a product’s standard list price and may not reflect any current discounts or other fluctuations.

Quick look: The best streaming accessories for 2020


Best streaming capture cards

If you want to capture and stream your PS4, Xbox One, or Switch, then you’ll need a capture card to bring the signal into your PC and out to your live stream. They come in compact form factors, sometimes even as internal PCIe cards that you can plug directly into your PC’s motherboard, and thankfully, there are a couple of great options to choose from.

Elgato 4K60 Pro

$250

Elgato 4K60 Pro
Elgato 4K60 Pro

Once plugged into your PC’s motherboard, internal PCIe capture cards are the most convenient way to capture gameplay footage, and Elgato’s 4K60 Pro is one of the best. Capable of capturing gameplay up to 4K and 60 frames per second, the 4K60 Pro can also capture HDR10 and passthrough a 1080p signal at 240Hz and a 1440p signal at 144Hz. It’s more than enough to capture any video game console, but it’s also an absolute beast when it comes to capturing your own PC’s feed. If you’re looking for an excellent capture card that won’t kneecap your own gaming experience, then the 4K60 Pro is your best bet.

Elgato HD60 S+

$200

Elgato HD60 S+
Elgato HD60 S+

The HD60 S+ is Elgato’s latest external capture card for 1080p60. The new model is powered by USB-C, and while it’s only capable of capturing 1080p60 and HDR10, it has the ability to pass through a 4K60 signal with no noticeable latency. It’s not the best card for capturing PC gameplay–it doesn’t feature 1080p240 or 1440p144 passthrough–but it’s an excellent card for PS4, Xbox One, and Switch. Elgato’s upcoming 4K60 S+ is exciting, especially with the ability to capture straight to an SD card, but streaming at 4K is a huge task that requires powerful specs and very fast internet speed, so for most people, the HD60 S+ will be an excellent option.

Razer Ripsaw HD

$160

Razer Ripsaw HD

The Ripsaw HD is Razer’s attempt at a capture card, and the company has managed to make a great capture option. Unlike most of Razer’s products, it’s incredibly discrete, making it easy to place anywhere around your setup and not bring attention to itself. It’s capable of capturing 1080p60 and passing through a 4K60 signal–though it’s not capable of HDR10 passthrough. One of the cooler features of the Ripsaw HD is the fact that you’re able to plug in and record a microphone with a 3.5mm cable as well as your headphones to actually monitor your audio–I was able to plug in my headset, which features 3.5mm jacks for both the mic and headphones.


Best streaming microphones

There are some really excellent microphones out there, hitting price ranges that are out-of-reach for most people. There’s no doubt these microphones are going to outmatch the ones on this list, but they’re also quite expensive and not as easy to use, as most will require a separate interface to connect to your computer. As someone who has spent a lot of time editing podcasts, audio interviews, and radio documentaries over the past six years, I have always been hesitant about USB microphones, but to my surprise, USB microphones have come a long way–the quality is quite impressive. We’ve selected the best microphones that are specifically optimized for streaming.

Razer Seiren Elite

$199

Razer Seiren Elite

The Razer Seiren Elite is one of the most impressive USB microphones I’ve ever used. The audio quality is great, and with it being USB, it’s easy to set up and start streaming. It features a switch that enables a high-pass filter, which gets rid of a lot of the static room noise you might hear and makes your voice come through more clearly. The Seiren Elite also has an LED ring around the microphone that lights up red when your voice is coming in a little hot, making it easy to tell when you need to lower the microphone’s gain. The Seiren Elite lives up to its name, making for a great streaming microphone.

HyperX QuadCast

$140

HyperX QuadCast

The HyperX QuadCast is a great mic for streaming, but it’s also quite versatile, making it an excellent microphone for a number of different activities. It has four different polar patterns, which helps it adapt to different settings–stereo, omnidirectional, cardioid, and bidirectional. The main polar pattern you’ll want to use for streaming is cardioid, which pulls in the audio from one direction–your voice. Stereo works great for recording music, omnidirectional is best for podcasts with multiple people, and bidirectional is perfect if you’re interviewing or doing a podcast with one other person. Thankfully, the QuadCast sounds great no matter which pattern you use, and if you need to mute the mic, it’s an easy tap on the top–the mic’s red light (pictured above) turns off in this instance. For the price, it’s an excellent, versatile streaming microphone that you’ll definitely love using.

Razer Seiren Emote

$180

Razer Seiren Emote

The Razer Seiren Emote rocks its gimmick well–syncing your microphone’s LED functionality to what emojis your chat is using most. You connect it to your Twitch account through Razer’s Streamer Companion app, at which point it can display a large number of different emojis, from smiley faces, salt shakers, and the infamous eggplant. Thankfully, it’s also quite good in terms of audio quality. It doesn’t quite match up to the QuadCast and Seiren Elite, but its fun, emoji-powered gimmick makes up for it.


Best streaming webcams

There are a lot of bad webcams out there, and it can be hard to tell which ones are worth your money. Thankfully, with the upturn in the popularity of streaming, companies have released higher-quality webcams that make it easy to set up and get your face on Twitch, YouTube, Mixer, or anywhere else. There’s even a great option to connect your high-quality DSLR camera to your computer and use it as your webcam.

Razer Kiyo

$100

Razer Kiyo

The Razer Kiyo is a webcam that features its own built-in light to brighten up your face and image for your stream. It’s quite effective if you happen to be streaming from a dimly lit room, and the convenience of not needing a separate light is appreciated. Thankfully, the image quality is great and smooth no matter how you’re streaming. It can handle up to 720p60 or 1080p30 and features auto-focus.

Logitech C920S

$70

Logitech C920S

The Logitech C920S is a solid webcam that I’ve used for a long time, and if you’re looking for something on the affordable side of things, then it’s the way to go. You may need to adjust your lighting to get the best-looking image, but the C920S delivers a great picture for the price. It also now comes with a privacy shutter, which makes it easy to stop your webcam from seeing you when you don’t want it to–the webcam also has two blue LEDs that light up when the webcam is active.


Best streaming headsets

Gaming headsets aren’t going to compete with dedicated microphones in terms of audio quality, but sometimes, the convenience of getting your headphones and microphone in one package is hard to turn down. Thankfully, several companies have made great headsets with quality microphones that can definitely keep your stream entertaining and sounding good–one headset even boasts a unique feature that adds a little extra charm. And if you want to take a look at more options, check out our guide to the best gaming headsets of 2020.

HyperX Cloud Alpha S

$130

HyperX Cloud Alpha S

The HyperX Cloud Alpha S is our favorite wired gaming headset for good reason. It features a sturdy aluminum frame, extremely comfortable earpads, and top-notch sound quality. On top of that, its microphone is quite good, making it a great option for those wanting to go with a gaming headset as opposed to a dedicated mic.

Razer Kraken Kitty

$150

Razer Kraken Kitty

The Razer Kraken Kitty is a special headset, and it’s easy to see why–yes, it’s the cat ears. The LED lights fitted within the headset’s cat ears can sync up with your live stream through Razer’s Streamer Companion app. The audio quality is pretty good as well, though the microphone doesn’t match up against the HyperX’s Cloud Alpha S. The Kraken Kitty is a fun headset that is sure to get a reaction from your viewers, though it may be best to invest in a dedicated microphone if you pick them up for the light-up cat ears.

Also available in Black


Best streaming controllers

Controlling your stream in the middle of a game can be a difficult process, from switching scenes and sources to playing fun sounds and videos. Thankfully, there are some easy solutions to this that don’t cost nearly as much as a proper control board would.

Elgato Streamdeck – 15 keys

$150

Elgato Streamdeck

The Elgato Streamdeck is one of the most fun tools you can have at your streaming disposal. It gives you the ability to control your stream with just a button press and, in my case, play funny sounds and music at key moments. Elgato’s Streamdeck software is extremely easy to use, and there’s a community that has figured out ways to get it working with various other apps as well. The 15-key version is compact and small, though I wish the stand was built-in, as I’ve found it can easily slip out of its stand or fold in on itself on a crowded desk. Regardless, the Streamdeck definitely feels like an essential accessory.

Elgato Streamdeck XL – 32 keys

$250

Elgato Streamdeck XL

The Streamdeck XL is what I would go with. It features 32 keys, and while that might be a bit overwhelming for some, it gives you room to grow your desired actions. It’s one solid piece of plastic and feels much more sturdy than its 15-key counterpart. If you want a great-feeling device that will make you feel safe and secure in controlling your stream, then the XL is a great upgrade over the standard Streamdeck.


Best budget monitors

If you’re looking to get serious about streaming, then a second monitor is paramount. With a single screen, it can be hard to see your chat and monitor your stream’s feed as you try to game and entertain your viewers–and the best part is you won’t have to break the bank to solve this problem. There are a number of great monitors that you can get on the cheap and are perfect for that second-screen experience. We’ve got a guide to the best budget monitors, and we’ve selected a few you can see below.

Acer R240HY 23.8-inch, 1080p monitor

$130

Acer R240HY

If you’re looking for a cheap monitor that’ll be great for viewing your chat, monitoring your stream, or any other activity you need to do while streaming, then the Acer R240HY is a great option at $130. It features a 23.8-inch, 1080 display at 60Hz and 4ms of latency. That means you can even game on it if need be.

HP VH240a 23.8-inch 1080p monitor

$110

HP VH240a

The HP VH240a monitor is a popular one for a reason. It’s a solid cheaper option, and while it’s not the best for gaming, it will work perfectly for all streaming-adjacent activities. It features a 23.8-inch, 1080p display at 60Hz and 5ms of latency and is capable of being rotated vertically for a portrait display.

Animal Crossing Guides And Tips: What To Do, How To Make Money, Building Unlocks, And More

So you’ve found yourself choosing the peaceful embrace of living on a deserted island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. But if you’ve played through the introduction, you probably have a lot of questions regarding how to make the most of your time in a day. And if you’re an Animal Crossing veteran, you might also be curious about what you need to do to gain access to some of the series’ most well-known tools, utilities, and shops. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered with a wealth of guides answering some of the biggest queries you likely have about the game so far.

Below we you can find links to all our Animal Crossing: New Horizons guides and videos. If you’re more curious about our thoughts about the game, then be sure to read our review in progress. Otherwise, please read on!

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What To Do On Your First Day

We’ve outlined everything you should do on day one on your new island so you can maximize your early progress. You can check out our feature or watch the video above for a breakdown of all the essential tasks.

How To Get A Shovel

You get your hands on a lot of tools in Animal Crossing, but one of the most important is the shovel. It’s not necessarily clear how to get it at first or if there’s a recipe to craft it, so we’ve outlined the steps in our quick shovel guide. It takes a little time, but don’t worry; you’ll be digging holes in no time!

Things You Should Do Every Day

When it comes to Animal Crossing, consistency is the key to success, so we’ve put together a list of things you should do every day. In the video above, GameSpot video producer Jake Dekker walks you through 11 things you should do every day in Animal Crossing.

Essential Tips To Follow

If you’re just starting, here are 13 essential tips ranging from daily tasks you won’t want to forget about to advice on how to catch some of the most cunning insects. Give this a watch if you want a general overview of the things you should look out for as you play Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Building Guides: How To Unlock These Key Locations

Like previous games, Animal Crossing: New Horizons requires you to complete certain tasks to unlock new locations on the island. We’ve compiled guides to give you clarity on how to build and upgrade some of the game’s key locations.

How To Make Money Fast

There are a lot of ways to make money in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, but if you want to maximize profits here are some tips to make a ton of bells. The video above covers fishing and bug catching strategies, deserted islands, and the Stalk Market.

Completing Your Critterpedia: Bugs And Fish Guides

If you’re the type who absolutely loves to catch bugs and fish in Animal Crossing, and is willing to go exhaustive lengths to get them all, then you’re probably looking for a resource compiling every single one you can get in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Like you, we’re just as into catching every critter, so we’ve compiled extensive lists containing all our findings so far, where and when you can catch them, and even how much you can sell them for. Definitely bookmark each of our guides as we’ll be working around the clock to complete our collections so that we can give you all the data you need to catch every bug and fish.

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Disclosure: ViacomCBS is GameSpot’s parent company


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Disclosure: ViacomCBS is GameSpot’s parent company