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By now, you’ve burned through a lot of July offerings from the numerous streaming services, including Season 3 of Stranger Things on Netflix. However, it’s almost August, and Amazon Prime Video revealed what new content it’s bringing to the service for August, which includes an original series that had a large presence at Comic-Con.

At the end of the month, on August 30, Season 1 of the Amazon Prime original Carnival Row comes to the service. At this year’s Comic-Con, there were plenty of ads and parties that involved the new series in some fashion. The series stars Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne and takes place in a fantasy world inhabited by both humans and mythological creatures. These beasts aren’t free, however, and they’re forbidden to live their lives or love anyone. A string of murders by a monster causes the city the show takes place in to delve into chaos as the peace treaty between humans and creatures collapses.

Early on in the month, there are a few selections you might be interested in. On August 2, 300 arrives, so you can watch it again and yell, “This is Sparta,” just like you did throughout all of 2006. Also, comedian Jim Gaffigan has a new comedy special arriving on August 16 you’ll want to check out.

However, the majority of Amazon’s content arrives on August 31, when it dumps a ton of new movies onto its service. There are plenty of notable selections including Hellboy II: The Golden Army, 2014’s Godzilla, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, and the sci-fi classic The Fifth Element.

Check out everything coming to Amazon for August below, and make sure to see what Netflix has in store for that month as well.

New To Amazon Prime Video In August 2019

August 2

• 300 (2006)
• This is Football S1 – Amazon Prime Original

August 7

• All I See Is You (2016)

August 9

• Free Meek S1 – Amazon Prime Original
• Pete the Cat S1 Part 2 – Amazon Prime Original

August 12

• Andy Irons: Kissed by God (2018)

August 16

• Photograph (2019) – Amazon Prime Original
• Jim Gaffigan: Quality Time S1 – Amazon Prime Original

August 21

• A Simple Favor (2019)

August 23

• Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
• #IMomSoHard Live S1 – Amazon Prime Original
• Mike E. Winfield: StepMan S1 – Amazon Prime Original
• Alice Wetterlund: My Mama is a Human and So Am I S1 – Amazon Prime Original
• Alonzo Bodden: Heavy Lightweight S1 – Amazon Prime Original

August 26

• The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)

August 30

• Carnival Row S1 – Amazon Prime Original

August 31

• A Cadaver Christmas (2011)
• Boy (2010)
• Computer Chess (2013)
• Dast-neveshtehaa nemisoosand / Manuscripts Don’t Burn (2013)
• Failure to Launch (2006)
• Far from Home (2014)
• Firstborn (1984)
• Flashback (1990)
• Glissements Progressifs du Plaisir / Successive Slidings of Pleasure (1974)
• Godzilla (2014)
• Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)
• I, Frankenstein (2014)
• Jack Frost (1998)
• Kicking the Dog (2009)
• Klip / Clip (2012)
• Korkoro (2009)
• La Maison de la radio (2013)
• Looking Glass (2018)
• Miss Hill: Making Dance Matter (2014)
• Music from the Big House (2010)
• Naples ’44 (2016)
• Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (2008)
• Parting Glances (1986)
• Pirate Radio (2009)
• Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986)
• Sacred Ground (1983)
• She Must Be Seeing Things (1987)
• Sucker Punch (2011)
• Surviving Progress (2011)
• Ten Dead Men (2008)
• The Bog Creatures (2003)
• The Collectors (1999)
• The Fifth Element (1997)
• The Hills Have Eyes Part II (2006)
• The Man Nobody Knew: In Search of My Father, CIA Spymaster William Colby (2011)
• The Oyler House: Richard Neutra’s Desert Retreat (2012)
• The Penguin Counters (2017)
• The Uninvited (2009)
• This Ain’t No Mouse Music (2013)
• Top of the Food Chain (1999)
• Top Spin (2014)
• Vito (2011)
• Za Ji Wang Ming Dui (1979)

Fire Emblem: Three Houses marks Nintendo’s big release on Switch this summer. The latest entry in the long-running strategy RPG series maintains much of what has made the series so iconic, but it makes some significant changes too.

Three Houses puts you into a bustling school, and the titular three houses represent different factions. This gives the game a fresh tone as you navigate school life. On top of that, it lets go of the weapon triangle, a staple of the series that has given a rock-paper-scissors aspect to combat. Critics are largely regarding the changes as positive, as reflected in GameSpot’s review.

“When all was said and done, all I could think about was starting another playthrough,” wrote Kallie Plagge. “I was curious about the mysteries left unsolved, of course, but I also hoped to undo my mistakes. There were characters I didn’t talk to enough, students I didn’t recruit, and far more effective ways to train my units.”

Several other outlets have published their Fire Emblem reviews as well. We’ve gathered a sampling of them below. For even more reviews, check out GameSpot’s sister site Metacritic.

• Game: Fire Emblem: Three Houses
• Platform: Nintendo Switch
• Developer: Nintendo
• Release date: July 26
• Price: $60 / £50 / $100 AUD

GameSpot — 9/10

“Mastering the art of thoughtful lesson planning as a professor improves your performance on the battlefield, where success relies on calculated teamwork and deft execution. Cultivating relationships during battle in turn draws you closer to each of the characters, who you then want to invest even more time into in the classroom. Every piece feeds into the next in a rewarding, engrossing loop where you get lost in the whole experience, not just in the minutiae.” — Kallie Plagge [Full review]

GamesRadar — 5/5

“Fire Emblem: Three Houses fully realizes a new, meaningful direction for the franchise that makes it the best it has ever been.” — Aron Garst [Full review]

Game Informer — 9.5/10

“Fire Emblem: Three Houses is ambitious, and takes more chances than previous entries in the series. The way it lets your role as professor play into both the narrative and gameplay is nothing short of fantastic. This is the most I’ve ever cared about my Fire Emblem characters, and that’s incredibly high praise.” — Kimberley Wallace [Full review]

USGamer — 4.5/5

“Fire Emblem: Three Houses soars on to Switch with a fully-realized school setting, deep character customization, and multiple full-length campaigns. While it loses momentum in the second half, it still manages to come off as a striking reinvention of the well-worn Fire Emblem formula. That makes its first real console appearance in more than a decade a triumph.” — Kat Bailey [Full review]

The Guardian — 4/5

“It all adds up to a new lease of life for one of Nintendo’s younger series, bolstered by revised combat and a gorgeous new look that endows these 3D characters with the grace and style of older games’ portrait art. By turns grandiose and silly, but always engrossing, this bubbling school soap opera is a game to spend a summer with.” — Edwin Evans-Thirlwell [Full review]

Daily Star — 3/5

“Fire Emblem: Three Houses is not a bad game–it starts off strong and for some reason systematically unpicks everything by the time you’re 30 hours in. The battle system is fairly impressive but still carries some of the flaws the series has had for the past decade, and the writing of the central cast feels like a step back compared to the 3DS series’ entries.” — Dom Peppiatt [Full review]

Zombieland hit a decade ago in 2009, and now we’re finally getting a sequel with the original cast — and some new faces as well (watch the Double Tap trailer).But after 10 years, you’d think the stars of the original might’ve changed a little bit at least, right? Well, maybe not so much with this crew. What can you say? They drink virgin blood in Hollywood or something…

Check out the slideshow below which looks at how the original cast of Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin have evolved since the 2009 film. And then also take a look at the many new faces that are joining the sequel. Turns out there are still some humans left in Zombieland!

Zombieland: Double Tap – Side by Side Cast Comparison With Original Movie

Zoey Deutch, Avan Jogia, Rosario Dawson, Thomas Middleditch and Luke Wilson also join the cast of Zombieland: Double Tap. For more on the film, check out the cast’s 10-Year Challenge movie poster comparison. Catch up on the 2019 movies we’re geeked out about. And watch the Double Tap trailer right here:

Fire Emblem: Three Houses releases Friday, July 26 on Nintendo Switch, and surprisingly, the game is already on sale at release. If you live near a Walmart, you can pick up the game for just $49.94 in stores on release day. But an even better deal is available for a limited time at MassGenie, where you can get the game for $45.95 with free shipping as part of a limited-time Power Deal. While coupon code FETHNSWITCH is technically valid until July 31, we expect this Power Deal will sell out quickly, as over 300 copies have been sold already and only 360 copies total were reserved for the offer, according to MassGenie.

Get Fire Emblem: Three Houses for $45.95

To claim the deal at MassGenie, either click the button above or head to the product page and hit the button that says “Power Deal.” You’ll be prompted to either log in or create a free account if you don’t already have one. Afterward, you’ll be redirected to checkout, where you’ll see coupon code FETHNSWITCH automatically applied, dropping the price to $45.95.

The game earned a 9/10 in GameSpot’s Fire Emblem: Three Houses review for its variety of characters and storylines, streamlined strategy elements, rewarding time management requirements, and more.

“A second playthrough treads familiar ground in the beginning, but after learning and growing so much in the first, it feels fresh, too,” wrote GameSpot’s Kallie Plagge. “That speaks to Three Houses’ mechanical complexity and depth as well as the connections it fosters with its characters–and whether you’re managing inventories or battlefields, it’s the kind of game that’s hard to put down, even when it’s over.”

Hey, LISTEN! … to Nintendo Voice Chat, IGN’s Nintendo podcast. This week host Casey is joined by Tom, Brian, and Brendan to discuss the Fire Emblem review (Brendan played for 155 hours. Woof.), our first play session with the mobile Pokemon Masters, and Joy-Con drift issues (that’s that annoying thing where your Joy-Con analog sticks move your character when you don’t want them to).

Here are some topic timecodes for your convenience:

• 00:00:01 – Welcome / Housekeeping
• 00:02:00 – Fire Emblem Three Houses review discussion and Q&A
• 00:21:00 – Nintendo Now Fixing Joy-Con With Drift Issues
• 00:34:00 – Pokemon Masters Hands-On Impressions
• 00:43:00 – Some News! Oninaki, Tencent/The Pokemon Company collaboration
• 00:47:00 – Out This Week
• 00:54:00 – Whatcha’ Playin?Dragon Quest Builders 2
• 01:01:00 – Question Block

NVC is available on your preferred platform!

You can also Download NVC 467 Directly Here

You can listen to NVC on your preferred platform every Thursday at 3pm PT/6pm ET. Have a question for Question Block? Write to us at [email protected] and we may pick your question! Also, make sure to join the unofficial official Nintendo Voice Chat Podcast Forums on Facebook. We’re all pretty active there and often pull Question Block questions and comments straight from the community there.

Ray Tracing is IGN’s newest editor, a being made of light that was brought to life for the sole purpose of colorfully illuminating the Nintendo Voice Chat set — but turned out to be perfectly capable of publishing podcast articles, too.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses arrives on Nintendo Switch this week. Like previous installments in the series, you’ll have the option to play the game on a couple of different difficulties, but if those aren’t enough of a challenge, Nintendo will be adding an additional difficulty setting post-launch.

On its official Twitter account, Nintendo announced that an even more challenging difficulty mode is coming to Three Houses as part of a free update. The company hasn’t announced exactly when the update is expected to be released, only noting that it will be out sometime “later this year.”

That isn’t the only post-release content on the way to Three Houses. Nintendo also has several pieces of DLC in the pipeline for the game. First, the company will release Officer’s Academy outfits for protagonist Blythe on launch day, July 26. After that, new Auxiliary battle maps and more will be added to the game by October 31. Additional quests and costumes are expected to arrive by December 31, and finally, new story content that will introduce additional playable characters, locations, and more will release by April 30, 2020.

All four waves of DLC are included as part of Three Houses’ expansion pass, which retails for $25. The base game, meanwhile, typically costs $60; however, players in the US an pick it up on launch day for $10 cheaper from Walmart. You can read more about Three Houses and its expansion pass on Nintendo’s website.

Reviews for Three Houses are starting to go live ahead of its release, and the game has received a positive reception from critics. GameSpot awarded it a 9/10 in our Fire Emblem: Three Houses review. Critic Kallie Plagge wrote, “Fire Emblem: Three Houses asks a lot of you. Every piece, from battle to friendships to training your units, must be managed both individually and as part of a whole. It can be intimidating, but when it all clicks together, it really clicks.”

While many major retailers like Walmart, GameStop, and Ebay pulled out all the stops to compete against Amazon during Prime Day 2019, Best Buy was relatively quiet, aside from a 48-hour flash sale that didn’t offer much in the way of gaming deals. Rather than attempting to break through all the Prime Day noise, Best Buy launched its sitewide Black Friday in July sale a couple weeks later, and early access is currently available for My Best Buy members. That early access period ends after July 25.

At the most basic level, My Best Buy membership is free, and all you have to do is create an account to start shopping the sale. Being a My Best Buy member gets you 5% back in rewards on qualifying purchases, free shipping on all $35+ orders, and more, so it’s not a bad idea to sign up.

In terms of gaming deals, you’ll find PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and even some PC games marked down. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night for PS4 and Xbox One is on sale for $30, and a free metal case is included. Other notable game deals include Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle (Switch) for $20, Resident Evil 7: Gold Edition (PS4, Xbox One) for $20, and Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice (PS4) for $15. On the hardware side, you’ll find an Xbox One console deal that throws in an extra wireless controller and copy of Halo 5: Guardians for free. You can also save $30 on a bundle of two DualShock 4 controllers, and if you’re into streaming, you can get a Logitech webcam and Yeti Blue microphone for $60 off.

Check out more details on the best gaming deals below!

See all deals in Best Buy’s Black Friday in July sale

Game deals

• Assassin’s Creed Odyssey — $20 (PS4, Xbox One)
• Battle Chasers: Nightwar — $30 (Switch)
• Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night — $30 (PS4, Xbox One) – free metal case included
• Darksiders – Warmastered Edition — $20 (Switch)
• Days Gone — $40 (PS4)
• Death Mark — $30 (Switch)
• Dragon Marked for Death — $40 (Switch)
• The Escapists 2 — $30 (Switch)
• The Evil Within 2 — $20 (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
• Forza Horizon 4 — $30 (Xbox One)
• Friday the 13th: The Game – Ultimate Slasher Collector’s Edition – $40 (PS4, Xbox One)
• The Golf Club 2019 feat. PGA Tour — $20 (PS4, Xbox One)
• Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Online Edition — $20 (PS4, Xbox One)
• Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice — $15 (PS4)
• Judgment — $40 (PS4)
• Little Dragons Cafe — $40 (Switch)
• Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle — $20 (Switch)
• The Occupation — $15 (PS4, Xbox One)
• Overcooked 2 — $30 (Switch)
• PES 2019: Pro Evolution Soccer — $50
• Red Dead Redemption 2 — $35 (PS4, Xbox One)
• Resident Evil 7 – Gold Edition — $20 (PS4, Xbox One)
• Sea of Thieves — $25 (Xbox One)
• Sega Genesis Classics — $15 (PS4, Xbox One)
• Starlink: Battle for Atlas Starter Pack — $20 (PS4, Xbox One, Switch)
• Strange Brigade — $15 (PS4, Xbox One)
• Super Bomberman R — $30 (Switch)
• This War of Mine — $30 (Switch)
• Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus — $20 (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
• Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner — $20 (PS4)

Console & accessory deals

Get a free game and bonus controller with select Xbox One consoles

See deal at Best Buy

If you’re looking to pick up an Xbox One, you can get some bonuses by doing so during Best Buy’s sale. The bonuses include a free copy of Halo 5: Guardians and a free black Xbox wireless controller in addition to the bundle itself. The available bundles include two Xbox One X and two Xbox One S bundles with Battlefield V or NBA 2K19.

Save $30 on two DualShock 4 controllers

See deal at Best Buy

Best Buy is also offering a combo deal if you buy two DualShock 4 PS4 controllers. Select colors are already $5 off, and when you buy two together, you’ll save an additional $20.

Insignia wireless controller — $10, free extension cables included

See deal at Best Buy

The Insignia wireless controller works with the NES Classic and SNES Classic consoles. Not only is it 50% off at Best Buy right now, but you’ll also receive a two-pack of extension cables that work with the consoles’ wired controllers.

Save $60 on Yeti Blue mic and Logitech webcam

See deal at Best Buy

If you’re looking to get into game streaming, you can grab two streaming essentials and save $60 on the pair as part of Best Buy’s sale. The bundle includes a Logitech C922 Pro Stream Webcam and a Yeti Blue Microphone, available in three colors: black, blue, and silver.

Logitech M325 and M310 wireless mice — $10

See deal at Best Buy

Normally listed at $20 each, these Logitech wireless mice are available for 50% off for a limited time. Available in a wide range of designs and colors, the Logitech M325 and M310 mice are great, affordable options for everyday use.

WD Easystore 4TB External Hard Drive with 32GB USB Flash Drive — $90

See deal at Best Buy

Originally listed at $160, this hard drive/flash drive combo is on sale for only $90. Compatible with both Mac and PC, the portable hard drive has a 4TB storage capacity with data transfer speeds of up to 5 Gbps with USB 3.0.

Astro Gaming A50 Wireless Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset — $200

See deal at Best Buy

Need a new headset? The Astro Gaming A50 wireless headset is 30% off, selling for $200 instead of $300 during Best Buy’s sale. Available in both blue and green, this headset features Dolby 7.1 surround sound and can handle up to 12 hours of gaming on one charge. It’s compatible with both PS4 and Windows.

Acer Nitro 5 15.6″ Gaming Laptop — $600

See deal at Best Buy

This Acer gaming laptop is $200 off from its usual price of $800 and features a 15.6″ full HD display, an Intel Core i5-8300H mobile processor, and 8GB of system storage. It also comes with a 256GB solid-state drive and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics card.

Earlier this month, Nintendo announced a revised model of the original Nintendo Switch, one with a much improved battery life over the current crop of Nintendo Switch consoles.No, I’m not talking about the Nintendo Switch Lite, but the iterative Nintendo Switch upgrade, which is kind of confusing if you’re an outsider. It’s still kind of confusing even if you follow gaming news closely. The Switch Lite is slightly smaller, can’t be docked, and its Joy-cons are permanently affixed to the sides. The new Switch model is just the same as the existing Switch model, except it has now has better battery life. To help clear up confusion around the new Nintendo Switch model, we put together this handy guide.

Nintendo Switch: Model Number Difference

At a glance, there’s no way to tell the difference between the original Nintendo Switch and the upgraded version with the dramatically improved battery life.

The original Nintendo Switch that has been on retailer shelves since its March 3, 2017 launch have a HAC-001 model number. The new and improved Switch, which Nintendo said is coming mid-August, is stamped with model number HAC-001(-01). Here’s a photo of the current Nintendo Switch model number and where to find it:

Serial numbers for the original Switch model begin with “XAW,” while serial numbers for the model with better battery life begin with “XKW.” Here’s a photo of where to find the serial number on your Nintendo Switch:

You can also check the serial number of a Nintendo Switch when it’s still in the box by taking a peek at the window built into the packaging itself. Check out the photo below, and the serial number can be checked without the box being opened at all, so don’t let this image grab from our Switch unboxing mislead you. I just don’t have an unopened Switch handy.

That brings us to the next big, obvious differentiating feature of the new Switch model and the original Switch model: new packaging.

Identify a Newer Nintendo Switch Model From Its Packaging

On its own website, Nintendo lists all the various Switch models available in the past, as well as the upcoming Switch revision with longer battery life. You don’t even need to check the numbers to know instantly you’re getting the newer version. Take a look at the new packaging below:

Updated Nintendo Switch Model Box

Current Nintendo Switch Model Box

Keep in mind, however, it’s probably still worth double-checking the model and serial numbers if there’s a special edition or bundle with special packaging and you want to ensure you get the newer one.

Nintendo Switch Battery Life Difference

The main draw of the new Nintendo Switch hardware revision is its dramatically better battery life. The older HAC-001 models have “approximately 2.5 to 6.5 hours” of battery life, according to Nintendo. As a real-world example, Nintendo says the HAC-001 Switch model lasts “approximately 3 hours for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.”

The new model of the original Nintendo Switch, with the HAC-001(-01) model number, gets 4.5 to 9 hours of battery life, and “will last approximately 5.5 hours for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.” That’s a pretty substantial jump.

The Nintendo Switch Lite, on the other hand, beats the original Switch model but comes up way short against the new Nintendo Switch model, giving you between 3 and 7 hours and around 4 hours of Breath of the Wild play time.

Additional Nintendo Switch Model Differences

As far as differences are concerned, they basically stop with battery life. The Nintendo Switch Lite is a completely different device, designed only for handheld use, while the HAC-001(-01) Switch model is a small upgrade over the existing model. They all play Nintendo Switch games, just some last longer than others, and only the HAC-001 and HAC-001(-01) models work with your television.

When You Can Buy the New Nintendo Switch Models

We’re still waiting for preorders for Nintendo Switch Lite, and the new Nintendo Switch model is scheduled to go on sale sometime in the middle of August. In the meantime, it’s a good time to score a deal on a Nintendo Switch model with the HAC-001 model number.

Seth Macy is IGN’s tech and commerce editor and just wants to be your friend. Find him on Twitter @sethmacy.