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Cyber Monday sales have kicked off and that includes the best deals we've seen on PS5 compatible SSDs. These deals might seem familiar to you, and that's because they've been carried over from Black Friday. The deal quality hasn't changed; these are still by far the best prices we've seen on PS5 compatible SSDs, especially on the bigger capacity 2TB models. You can't use any old SSD and expect it to perform well on the PS5 console. You'll want to pick up an PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 solid state drive with a rated 5,500MB/s read speed to match the PS5's internal drive.

The Best Cyber Monday PS5 SSD Deals

There may be other SSD deals out there for Cyber Monday, but these are the PS5 SSDs we've tried ourselves and highly recommend. They also double up as outstanding boot drives for your gaming PC, in case you don't need additional storage for your PS5 console.

How easy is it to install the SSD?

It's extremely easy! Removing the case cover is completely toolless. In fact, the only screw you have to remove is the one that keeps the cover for the SSD bay in place. You don't even put it back when you're done. Sony has a quick and easy YouTube video guide.

What if the SSD I bought doesn't have a heatsink?

DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has confirmed that the new DC film universe will be linked to future video games that exist in the same canon.

As reported by Eurogamer, Gunn was asked on Twitter if the DCEU (which now seems to be rebranded as just the DCU) will incorporate more forms of entertainment down the line, to which he replied, "yes, most definitely.

"The DCU will be connected across film and TV (and animation)," he added. When another fan asked if there are plans for games to be connected to the DCU too, Gunn replied plainly: "Yes."

Yes.

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) November 27, 2022

Nothing else was said, but it does confirm a trend away from Marvel's strategy of building a shared universe across its films and a separate one across its games. We do know that Gunn and co-CEO Peter Safran begun work on an eight to ten year plan for DC films, TV shows, animation, and more, however, meaning we'll likely see a game or two materialise in this time too.

The rarest card in Magic: The Gathering's pricey Anniversary Set has a pull-rate of one in every 410 packs, meaning players would need to spend more than $100,000 on average to find one.

Statistics provided to IGN by Magic: The Gathering drafting website DraftSim show that one retro Black Lotus card - a reprint of the most coveted trading card of all time - is present in exactly $102,897 worth of booster packs.

Wizards of the Cost is only selling the Anniversary Set as a $999 product containing four booster packs with random cards. Despite the high price, however, the Black Lotus (alongside every other card) is only a proxy version and therefore can't be used in tournament play, and it's currently unknown if they will be worth anything to collectors.

Normal versions of each retro card, which feature a modern Magic: The Gathering style compared to the classic look, are also available at a slightly increased rate, but this version of the Black Lotus is still only available in every 95 booster packs (so 96 given they're four per set), meaning $23,976 worth.

These packs are completely random though, meaning players may pull a Black Lotus after buying one set at $999 or may not even pull one after dropping the $100,000. Using binomial distribution to calculate the risk, DraftSim shows there's still a 36% chance of not getting a normal Black Lotus after 96 packs and a 1% chance of not getting the retro after opening 410 packs.

Developer Offworld Industries has announced Starship Troopers: Extermination, an upcoming 12-player PvE first-person shooter for PC that's inspired by the cult-classic 1997 sci-fi film. It's due to launch into Early Access sometime in 2023. Take a look at the announcement trailer above and the first screenshots in the gallery below.

Starship Troopers: Extermination promises squad-based, large-scale battles against the bugs you remember from the movie. You'll play as a trooper in the elite Deep Space Vanguard as one of three playable classes: Assault, Support, and Defense. New perks and gear will unlock as you progress in the persistent class progression system.

More details: Extermination will have a Titanfall-like ping system for easier player-to-player communication in the middle of a firefight, while tougher bugs will start swarming as the threat level increases. You'll also need to build and maintain your own defenses – erecting walls, ammo stations, lookouts, and more.

A huge five-zone map promises a scale of grandeur as you battle five different bug types. Check out the first gameplay teaser and some exclusive concept art below:

The Gran Turismo racing series could make the leap from PlayStation to PC according to series' creator Kazunori Yamauchi.

As reported by PC Gamer, Yamauchi told GTPlanet at the Gran Turismo World Finals that developer Polyphony Digital would consider bringing the racing franchise to PC, saying "yes, I do think so", when asked if it was a possibility.

However, the PlayStation exclusive series would only make the leap if they thought that a port could be developed to meet their standards.

"Gran Turismo is a very finely tuned title," said Yamauchi. “There are not many platforms which could run the game in 4K/60p natively, so one way we make that possible is to narrow down the platform. It’s not a very easy subject, but of course, we are looking into it and considering it."

Cyber Monday is a marketing term for the Monday after Thanksgiving, when retailers roll out their online sales. It's basically an extension of Black Friday, and Black Friday 2022 was pretty great for deals, actually. The Cyber Monday Nintendo Switch deal returned once again, giving you a free copy of Mario Kart 8 and 3-months Nintendo Online, but we've also seen exciting new deals like price cuts on Sonic Frontiers. Those Sonic Frontier deals have now extended into Cyber Monday.

You can check out our full list of Cyber Monday video game deals for more savings.

Sonic Frontiers Cyber Monday Deals

Best Sonic Cyber Monday Video Game Deal

Sonic Frontiers at Best Buy

Sonic Frontiers at GameStop

Xbox Series S consoles received a generous discount in the Black Friday sales, coming down to just £189 at Amazon We saw the Xbox Series S get a significant drop in price in the US, dropping to at least $249 at most retailers over the pond, and the UK quickly followed suit over Black Friday. Now it's Cyber Monday, and it's your last chance to cop this amazing Xbox Deal.

If you compare the price of the new-gen consoles at the moment, Xbox Series X sits at £449, PS5 (disc) is £479, and PS5 (digital) is £389. And while it's not new gen, it's still certainly a competitor, as the Nintendo Switch still sits at £249, plus the Switch OLED is £319. With its current price of £189.99, the Xbox Series S is significantly cheaper than all these consoles, and by a large margin as well. Do not wait around for the price to get any better, this deal expires after today so get on your bike and get saving!

Xbox Series S Drops to £190 for Cyber Monday (UK)

At £189.99, that's £60 off the original list price, and almost 25% off in total. If you're only gonna make one last-minute Cyber Monday purchase for any household it has to be this. With Christmas around the corner, this would make the perfect gift for an avid gamer in your life that hasn't jumped on the Xbox hype train so far this year. Plus, if you need an extra controller, Xbox gamepads are still down to just £34.99 right now as well (that's £20 off).

Cyber Monday deals have started, and with it the best deal we've seen yet on the Xbox Series S console. The Xbox Series S dropped to as low as $239.99 on Black Friday and we thought that was the best deal we were going to get. We were wrong. Right now, Amazon is still offering the Xbox Series S Holiday console for $239.99. However, if you enter the coupon code "XBOX" during checkout (it may be automatically applied when you click the link below), you'll also get a free $40 Amazon credit. Amazon credit is basically as good as cash, and that means you're effectively paying $199.99 for this current gen console.

Xbox Series S for $239.99 + $40 Amazon Credit

The Xbox Series S is normally priced $200 less than the Xbox Series X but can still play all of the same games. It doesn't have the power of the Series X, so games are displayed at 1440p resolution instead of 4K in order to maintain the consistent 60fps-120fps graphics you'll find in most games. If you don't have a 4K TV or feel like the $200 could be better spent elsewhere (or in this case, $300), then the Xbox Series S might be a smarter purchase.

For more Xbox deals, check out our best Xbox deals, and for more Cyber Monday deals in general head over to our best Cyber Monday deals of 2022.

The Meta Quest 2 Black Friday deal is now the Meta Quest 2 Cyber Monday deal, and if you're getting a Meta Quest 2 this is absolutely the best way to do it. On top of the usual free copy of Beat Saber (which everyone who owns a VR headset should own anyway), you also now get a copy of Resident Evil 4 VR. Both the 128GB and the 256GB versions are included in the special deal, and you can get yours from any of the usual retailers, including Walmart, Amazon, Best Buy and Target. We went ahead and made it easy by putting them in the article below for Cyber Monday.

Meta Quest 2 Cyber Monday Deals

If you're wondering if the VR device is any good, be sure to check out our Meta Quest 2 review (from back when it was called the Oculus Quest 2). And also take a look at our Resident Evil 4 VR review, which our critic scored a winning 9 out of 10.

Cyber Monday 2022 is live, and if you haven't yet gotten yourself the Nintendo Switch Black Friday deal, time is running out. This year's Black Friday deal from Nintendo is on the Mario Kart 8 bundle once again. Nintendo Black Friday deals are starting to wind down, but the console deal is still live and in stock everywhere online, at least right now. This is basically perfect if you're looking for a Nintendo Switch to give as a gift this year, for a lot of reasons.

Nintendo Switch Cyber Monday Bundle Deal

Are there Any Nintendo Cyber Monday Gift Card Deals?

As a matter of fact, yes. You can get a $20 eShop card for $18.50, or the $5 Nintendo eShop card for $4.50. Not the biggest savings around, but that's 10% and there's no limit to how many $5 cards you can buy. Just saying.

What's In the Nintendo Switch Cyber Monday Deal?

Nintendo famously offers a variation of this bundle each Black Friday but this is the first time it's lasted into Cyber Monday. Here's what the 2022 Nintendo Switch bundle gets you:

Black Friday is the best time of year to upgrade the storage in your Nintendo Switch, Switch OLED, or Switch Lite gaming console. Right now the best Black Friday deals on Switch memory cards are the SanDisk Ultra models from Amazon. Pick up any one of these and you'll never have to worry about running out of space again.

If you've started compiling a collection of digital games, you probably already know just how limited the Switch's base storage capacity. With only 32GB of starting space (and some of it reserved for the OS), you'll barely fit The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Pokemon Sword or Shield, which tap out at 13.5GB each! There's only one expansion slot in the Switch console so you want to make sure you get the biggest card you can afford.

Black Friday Deals on Nintendo Switch Memory Cards

The SanDisk Ultra Micro SDXC cards are pretty much the exact same memory cards as the ones that have the Nintendo branding on them. In fact, the Nintendo branded cards are also made by SanDisk. The SanDisk Ultra has respectable U1 A1 read and write speeds. There are other more expensive U3 A2 cards that are faster, but If you're putting this in the Nintendo Switch, it doesn't even matter. The Nintendo Switch can only support U1 speeds, so a higher rated U3 speed will just be throttled back down to U1 speeds anyways. So make sure your money goes into maximum storage capacity, not maximum speed.

Take a look at our guide to Black Friday Nintendo Switch deals for more.

Walmart's Black Friday deals on Apple Watches are still available through the Black Friday weekend. You can still pick up a 1st gen Apple Watch SE for only $149.00 with free shipping. That's a very low price for a watch that's jam packed with useful features and superb build quality. If you want something more current, the Apple Watch Series 8 is also on sale for $349. This deal is on the verge of selling out through; only the Product (RED) color is available, and only in the smaller 41mm watch size. The Series 8 is currently the newest generation; only the pricey Apple Watch Ultra is fancier.

Walmart Black Friday Deal: Apple Watch SE for $149

Although there's a new, considerably more expensive 2nd gen Apple Watch SE that was released this year, the 1st gen Apple Watch SE is still a very relevant watch. It was released in September of 2020, making it just over two years old. It might not have all the bells and whistles of the newer models, but it is easily more than enough watch for most people. If you have an iPhone, the 1st gen Apple Watch SE is still a better all-purpose watch than any non-Apple watch out there, regardless of price.

The Apple Watch SE sports a gorgeous Retina OLED display. It's powered by the same S5 chipset that you'd find in the Apple Watch 5. Its sleek aluminum casing is IPX7 rated, which means it will survive submerged in 3.3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes, or a maximum depth of 50 meters. It also has the same accelerometer, gyroscope, and altimeter you'll find on the more expensive Apple Watch models.

Black Friday might have come and gone, but these deals on PS5 compatible solid state drives (SSDs) are still available through the weekend and possibly until Cyber Monday. You can't use any old SSD and expect it to perform well on the PS5 console. You'll want to pick up an PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 solid state drive with a rated 5,500MB/s read speed to match the PS5's internal drive. High-speed SSDs have gone down in price significantly this year, and that makes Black Friday 2022 a perfect opportunity to finally score some excellent deals on bigger 2TB storage modules for your new PS5 gaming console.

The Best Black Friday PS5 SSD Deals

There may be other SSD deals out there for Black Friday, but these are the SSDs we've tried ourselves and highly recommend. They also double up as outstanding boot drives for your gaming PC, in case you don't need additional storage for your PS5 console.

How easy is it to install the SSD?

It's extremely easy! Removing the case cover is completely toolless. In fact, the only screw you have to remove is the one that keeps the cover for the SSD bay in place. You don't even put it back when you're done. Sony has a quick and easy YouTube video guide.

What if the SSD I bought doesn't have a heatsink?

Sony recommends you install an SSD that has an attached heatsink. If the SSD you purchase doesn't include one, it's simple enough to buy one for about $10 on Amazon and add it yourself. Most of these heatsinks are just attached using an adhesive like thermal tape.

The NERF LMTD Halo Needler Dart-Firing Blaster was released earlier this month for $99.99. For Black Friday, Amazon is offering an incredible Black Friday NERF deal that drops it to only $69.49, a savings of just over 30%. You better jump on this quickly because we don't know how long it will last. It was a hit when it was first released, even at its retail price.

Black Friday Deal: 30% Off NERF LMTD Halo Needler

This Halo Needler is one of the coolest looking guns in NERF's LMTD lineup, which is a collection of fan-service weapons that are designed after iconic weapons from popular movies and video games. The Needler is a common Convenant infantry weapon in the Halo universe and Hasbro did an excellent job of faithfully creating its look. There are a lot of cool little touches, like the needles and accents that light up whenever you grip the handle, a 10-dart rotating drum (10 Elite darts included, but it will also take standard darts), and a display stand that activates all the light-up features when mounted. You'll even get a game card with in-game content for Halo Infinite.

Looking for more discounts? Take a look at our best Black Friday deals of 2022.

Walmart has a couple of outstanding Black Friday deals on Apple Watches. Right now you can get the 1st gen Apple Watch SE for only $149.00 with free shipping. That's a very low price for a watch that's jam packed with useful features and superb build quality. If you want something more current, the Apple Watch Series 8 is also on sale starting at $349. The Series 8 is currently the newest generation; only the pricey Apple Watch Ultra is fancier.

Walmart Black Friday Deal: Apple Watch SE for $149

Although there's a new, considerably more expensive 2nd gen Apple Watch SE that was released this year, the 1st gen Apple Watch SE is still a very relevant watch. It was released in September of 2020, making it just over two years old. It might not have all the bells and whistles of the newer models, but it is easily more than enough watch for most people. If you have an iPhone, the 1st gen Apple Watch SE is still a better all-purpose watch than any non-Apple watch out there, regardless of price.

The Apple Watch SE sports a gorgeous Retina OLED display. It's powered by the same S5 chipset that you'd find in the Apple Watch 5. Its sleek aluminum casing is IPX7 rated, which means it will survive submerged in 3.3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes, or a maximum depth of 50 meters. It also has the same accelerometer, gyroscope, and altimeter you'll find on the more expensive Apple Watch models.

As part of its Dell Black Friday, Dell has the Nintendo Switch OLED with White Joy-Cons, the recently released Splatoon 3 game, and a second wireless controller, all for only $399.99. We haven't seen very many Switch OLED deals during Black Friday (and most of the deals originated for Dell), so any discount is welcome. Splatoon 3 hasn't been discounted very much either, since the game came out very recently.

Nintendo Switch OLED with Splatoon 3 and 2nd Wireless Controller for $399.99

Splatoon 3 came out a few months ago, so it's unlikely to get a big price drop. It's an excellent game that's familiy friendly, meaning everyone, including kids, can enjoy this game. It also has fun local and online multiplayer modes so everyone can get in on the action at the same time. The MGC Switchplate wireless controller is an aftermarket controller that normally retails for $39.99. It features two magnetic switchplate covers so you can choose black or white colors, dual rumble motors, adjustable analog sticks, and mappable back buttons. It's compact and sized for smaller hands. Overall, it's a welcome addition.

Nintendo Switch with Mario Kart 8 and 3 Months of Switch Online Membership for $299.99

If you want to upgrade your PS5's internal storage without compromising on speed, any old SSD just won't cut it. You'll want to pick up an PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 solid state drive with a rated 5,500MB/s read speed. High-speed SSDs have gone down in price significantly this year, and that makes Black Friday 2022 a perfect opportunity to finally score some excellent deals on bigger 2TB storage modules for your new PS5 gaming console.

The Best Black Friday PS5 SSD Deals

There may be other SSD deals out there for Black Friday, but these are the SSDs we've tried ourselves and highly recommend. They also double up as outstanding boot drives for your gaming PC, in case you don't need additional storage for your PS5 console.

How easy is it to install the SSD?

It's extremely easy! Removing the case cover is completely toolless. In fact, the only screw you have to remove is the one that keeps the cover for the SSD bay in place. You don't even put it back when you're done. Sony has a quick and easy YouTube video guide.

What if the SSD I bought doesn't have a heatsink?

Sony recommends you install an SSD that has an attached heatsink. If the SSD you purchase doesn't include one, it's simple enough to buy one for about $10 on Amazon and add it yourself. Most of these heatsinks are just attached using an adhesive like thermal tape.

After a brief period of sadness, the PS5 God of War bundles have returned for Walmart's Black Friday. If you're looking for a PS5 for yourself, or as the ultimate Christmas gift, now is your chance to get one. It's the best Black Friday deal going on a PS5, and it's not really even a deal. But who cares! It's finally easy to buy a PS5.

As of right now, the only available PS5 consoles are the God of War bundles, but that's fine because let's be honest: you were going to buy that game anyway. Walmart even added a "Buy Now" button if you have an account, so you can be even faster.

Get a PS5 Right Now at Walmart

• PS5 God of War: Ragnarök Bundle for $559.99
• PS5 Digital God of War: Ragnarök Bundle for $459.99
• PS5 Console for $499.99
• PS5 Digital Console for $399.99

The non-bundled PS5s are available at a much higher rate than their MSRP so don't waste your time and money on those.

When the bundles first went live, you had to have Walmart+, but that's no longer the case. You can still sign up for Walmart+ for future benefits, but for the time being, PS5 is open to everyone willing to wait in a virtual line.

Walmart+ is $12.98 for a single month or $98 annually.

It's rough out there today. There are a lot of Black Friday sales going on, so it can be hard to sift through it all to find the goods. If you're a Nintendo Switch owner who hasn't picked up Metroid Dread for whatever reason (no judgement!) now's a good time to correct that minor error. Amazon has Samus Aran's latest mission, a.k.a. Metroid Dread for Nintendo Switch, on sale for $39.99 for Black Friday. That's the best price we've seen yet on this game.

Metroid Dread Black Friday Deal

Eschewing the 3D pespective of the Metroid Prime series (and the 2.5D of the best-forgotten Metroid: Other M), Metroid Dread brings the alien surrounds back to their 2D roots. And you know what? It works wonders for this series. All you have to do is check out our 9/10 Metroid Dread review to see what the fuss is about.

From said review: "Metroid Dread gets so much right after so many years that I almost feel resentful that we didn’t get this game and a few sequels in some steady cadence starting in 2005. But instead, I’m incredibly happy to play a Metroid that is back at the top of its game."

High praise, right? And if you're after more, check out all of the Nintendo Switch Black Friday deals. If you have other game consoles as well, why not look at all the best Black Friday video game deals? I mean, you might as well.

If you've been waiting all year to invest in a Nintendo Switch — or a few new games for your Switch — this Black Friday is the time. Amazon is offering the typical console bundle we see at this time of year, which includes a Nintendo Switch, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and three months of Switch Online (vital to play with your friends). Amazon also has discounts on tons of games for the Switch, both in physical form and as download codes. That includes newer titles like Bayonetta 3 for 25% off and classic franchise games like Luigi's Mansion 3 for 30% off. Check out more Nintendo deals at Amazon below, or browse all the best Black Friday deals.

Nintendo Switch Console Bundle for $299 at Amazon

Nintendo eShop Gift Card Deal at Amazon

Nintendo Switch Games Deals at Amazon

Black Friday is a great time to grab deals on video games, consoles, and accessories, but if you don't have a Switch, PS5, or Xbox Series X or S, you may be caught up in the scramble to secure one. We've got you covered. Below are all the places you can pick up consoles right now, whether they are discounted or simply available. Good luck!

Black Friday 2022 Deal: Where to Buy a PS5

Get a PS5 Right Now at Walmart

• PS5 God of War: Ragnarök Bundle for $559.99
• PS5 Digital God of War: Ragnarök Bundle for $459.99 (in-store)
• PS5 Console for $499.99
• PS5 Digital Console for $399.99

PS5 Console Invites at Amazon

If you ask Amazon nicely, they might send you an invitation to buy a PS5, and according to recent reports, Amazon seems to be sending out an incredibly large number of invites out over the past few days, with no signs of slowing. Check the links below to see where you can buy a PS5 right now (or request to buy one). For more updates follow @IGNDeals on Twitter.

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Black Friday 2022 Deal: Where to Buy a Nintendo Switch

Woot currently has the only currently available Black Friday deal on a Nintendo Switch OLED gaming console. You can get it right now for only $319.99. Mind you this is a brand new Switch OLED with the full 1 year Nintendo warranty. Woot! is a legit company that's been around for years. It is currently owned and operated by Amazon, and that's why you get free shipping if you sign in with your Amazon Prime account.

Black Friday Deal: Nintendo Switch OLED for $319.99

Is the Switch OLED Worth it Over the Switch?

If you can afford the $50 premium of the Switch OLED over the non-OLED model, then we think it's definitely worth the upgrade. The biggest improvement, of course, is the display. The Nintendo Switch OLED features an OLED display that offers better image quality than the original LCD display. That includes deeper blacks, more vibrant colors, and a better color gradient. The text is sharper and easier to read as well. The screen isn't that much bigger (7" on the OLED vs 6.2" on the non-OLED), but it does feel a lot bigger thanks to a thinner bezel. Other upgrades worth mentioning are a new and improved kickstand, a hard-wired ethernet port on the docking station, and an exclusive white Switch shell and matching Joy-Cons.

Will there be more Black Friday Nintendo Switch OLED deals?

It's hard to say. We haven't really seen the Nintendo Switch OLED on sale at all unless you count imported models from the UK. If you're looking for a Switch non-OLED deal, then you may or may not be happy to hear that the exact same bundle from previous years will be making its return. That's right, the Nintendo Switch console bundled with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will show up at several retailers for $299.99.

As Black Friday draws to a close, one thing has become clear: Walmart Black Friday deals have been some of the best around. This may be your last chance to pick up CoD: Modern Warfare II on sale for Black Friday as the end is in sight. Get it for PS5, PS4 or Xbox Series X for $55, and it's the C.O.D.E. edition so you get the bonus Perseverance Pack.

Call of Duty Black Friday Sale

If you don't have a console to play them on, you can still get an Xbox Series X in stock at Walmart. The PS5 is also available for Black Friday, both online and in-store, but online availability has been coming in and out all day.

Anyway, check out my review of the multiplayer, which I think is great.

The Best Black Friday Sales and Deals

Black Friday deals are really getting started now (with absolutely every deal expected to be live by November 25). To ensure you don't miss a thing, make sure you're following @IGNDeals on Twitter for instant deal updates, and bookmark your favorite IGN Black Friday pages as soon as possible.

TL;DR - Best PS5 and PlayStation Black Friday+Cyber Monday Deals

Jump To

• Black Friday: Best PS5 and PS4 Video Game Deals
• Black Friday: Best PS5 DualSense Controller Deals
• Black Friday: Get 25% Off PlayStation Plus Tiers
• Black Friday: Best PlayStation SSD and Storage Deals
• Black Friday: Best PS5 Accessory Deals
• Where to Buy a PlayStation 5 Right Now

Best Early Cyber Monday PS5 Video Game Deals

We're really getting into the serious period of Black Friday now, and that means it's time for the serious deasl on PS5 games and PS4 video games. We've got some seriously good discounts here, so it's hard to pick my favorites (but you can absolutely bet I'm going to try).

The year is 2022. The Bounty debate also continues to rage as a schism threatens to develop on the IGN UK Podcast. Before that though, Cardy, Matt, and Emma are arriving in your ears to talk all about why you should be excited for Atomic Heart, should check out Warzone 2.0, and should watch the new show from the creators of Dark, 1899.

If you're into it, get tickets for our live show in London on December 2nd here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ign-uks-the-podcast-before-christmas-tickets-445286492887

Got a game for us to play or some feedback you'd like read out on the show? Why not email us: ign_ukfeedback@ign.com.

IGN UK Podcast 672: Atomic Heart is a Real Game

If you want to buy an Xbox Series X for Black Friday, Walmart has them right now. Unlike the Black Friday Xbox Series X deal from earlier today, you don't need to have Walmart+ to get yours. The consoles are now open to everyone. If you'd rather get a PS5 for Black Friday, Walmart is offering the same availability right now. If you're yearning for the Black Friday experience of the past, Walmart will have both consoles available in-stores tomorrow.

Xbox Series X at Walmart for Black Friday

Availability of the Xbox Series X is probably the closest thing we'll see to a proper Xbox Black Friday deal on the console, but there's another way. If you'd rather just have access to the Xbox game library for half the cost, the Xbox Series S Black Friday deal is among the best Black Friday deals of 2022. Amazon was offering it for a mere $239, while Dell has the Xbox Series S holiday bundle for $234.

Xbox Series S Black Friday Deals

If you don't already have a Nintendo Switch, GameStop's $299.00 console bundle that's available every Black Friday is the perfect opportunity. The bundle comes with a Nintendo Switch, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and three months of Switch Online, but there are plenty of games on sale if Mario Kart isn't your bag. GameStop is offering sales on physical games and download codes for the Switch, like New Pokemon Snap for 35% off and NBA 2K23 for just $29.00. Check out all Nintendo deals here, or browse all the best Black Friday deals.

Nintendo Switch Console Bundle for $299 at GameStop

Nintendo Switch Games Deals at GameStop

Indie hit Vampire Survivors is getting an update that adds a new character and stage.

After leaving Early Access with its recent 1.0 update, Vampire Survivors brings even more monster-themed mayhem with its 1.1 “Tiny” update.

The new patch launches today and adds a new stage, the Tiny Bridge, which sees your favorite survivors fighting for survival atop, well, a bridge. “Two bloodthirsty factions battle atop a bridge, and our heroes find themselves caught in the middle,” reads the announcement.

The stage is a lot more cramped than your usual Vampire Survivors stages, so watch out for those choke points.

Vampire Survivors is also adding a new secret character called Scorej-Oni. An ancient creature that sounds like it’s based on the Japanese Oni, it gets a hidden Lightning Ring every eight levels.

There’s also a new Seal Power Up that allows players to banish an item from level-up choices, or a pickup from light choices, presumably focussing your build on items you really need. Additionally, there are two new achievements, but you’ll have to dive in to find out what those are.

Patch 1.1 also includes some minor fixes, including improvements to the pause menu, loading times, and more.

It's time to join the Nintendo Switch club, with Walmart offering the typical console bundle available every Black Friday. That's $299.00 for a Nintendo Switch, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and three months of Switch Online. Walmart also has tons of physical games and download codes for the Switch on sale, including Animal Crossing: New Horizons for a very low $29.00 and Luigi's Mansion 3 for $47.80. Check out more Nintendo deals at Walmart here, or browse all the best Black Friday deals.

Nintendo Switch Console Bundle for $299 at Walmart

Nintendo Switch Games Deals at Walmart

The Best Black Friday Sales and Deals

In Elden Ring, death comes for us all. The inevitability of the booming "YOU DIED" game over screen is a core part of the Souls genre, as you wait to reawaken at the last checkpoint to bang your head against whatever brick wall you're fighting all over again.

Even "Let Me Solo Her", the Elden Ring player that helped hundreds of players beat the game's toughest boss, died over 200 times attempting to take Malenia down for the first time. So what if I told you there's an Elden Ring player that not only managed to cheat death, but avoid taking a single hit from any of The Lands Between's 165 bosses?

That's exactly what GinoMachino did last week, when the Twitch streamer completed Elden Ring's first-ever all bosses, no-hit run. Not only did GinoMachino beat every boss with not even a scratch to show for it, he did it all in a single ten-and-a-half hour run on Twitch. IGN spoke to GinoMachino about the run, and he told us about the sigh of relief he exhaled upon defeating the final boss to seal the deal.

"There's a lot of relief, obviously," GinoMachino says. "I was really focused towards the back half of the run, so for like four to five hours I was kind of not really talking. I was just focused on the game, making sure I wasn't going to forget some little enemy or something like that. So it's a lot of relief. I had also been working on the run for quite some time before that. So it's really nice to get that run off my shoulders."

Sony has now included EA's Battlefield franchise in its arguments against Xbox's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, saying the shooter can't keep up with Call of Duty.

As reported by PC Gamer, Sony said in its response to the UK government's investigation into the merger that Call of Duty has found unparalleled success that no other shooter can compete, even Battlefield.

"Call of Duty is not replicable," it said. "Call of Duty is too entrenched for any rival, no matter how well equipped, to catch up. It has been the top-selling game for almost every year in the last decade and, in the first-person shooter genre, it is overwhelmingly the top-selling game.

"Other publishers do not have the resources or expertise to match its success," Sony continued. "To give a concrete example, Electronic Arts – one of the largest third-party developers after Activision – has tried for many years to produce a rival to Call of Duty with its Battlefield series.

"Despite the similarities between Call of Duty and Battlefield – and despite EA’s track record in developing other successful AAA franchises (such as FIFA, Mass Effect, Need for Speed, and Star Wars: Battlefront) – the Battlefield franchise cannot keep up. As of August 2021, more than 400 million Call of Duty games has been sold, while Battlefield has sold just 88.7 million copies."

It is still unbelievable to me that after 26 years of linear, straightforward RPGs, developer Game Freak really looked Pokémon players dead in the eye and said, “It’s fine, go wherever you want.” In the lead-up to the launch of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, I thought this claim would end up being a marketing gimmick, a little joke, something we’d all be mad about later. But from the moment I left the hallowed halls of Uva Academy, that promise has been wonderfully fulfilled, with open-world, open-ended gameplay serving as a shining beacon for the future of this beloved franchise. And yet, a finger on the cursed Mankey’s paw has curled anyway – Scarlet and Violet’s wonderfully innovative design is dramatically undermined by the numerous ways in which they feel deeply unfinished, with issues ranging from an incomplete world to massive and ubiquitous technical problems. So even though I want to celebrate how this generation reinvents and reinvigorates the world of Pokémon, I can’t without putting a great big warning label on it.

The suffocating darkness of Warhammer 40,000's bleak future isn't where one would typically seek out a breath of fresh air, but I've come away from every session of Warhammer 40,000: Darktide reinvigorated nonetheless. Whether it's the vicious yet darkly comedic melee brawls or the head-bop-inducing synthwave tracks blasting throughout intense shootouts, this four-player cooperative FPS from developer Fatshark frequently has me grinning like an idiot. While Darktide is still getting updates and new content during its pre-order beta window, sluggish performance issues are the only thing that has tempered my excitement for its full release next week – but even those problems don't diminish the glory that comes with chain-swording heretics in half.

Darktide opens like many other wonderfully over-embellished Warhammer 40,000 stories before it: with a legion of Chaos-worshipping traitors causing trouble. The massive hive city of Tertium is overflowing with zombie-esque Poxwalker hordes, gun-toting preachers spouting blasphemous gospel, and all sizes of misshapen, rift-powered boss monstrosities that you'll joyously slaughter by the thousands as a conscripted convict. Only six missions are available in the beta as of this review-in-progress, so I can't judge the overarching narrative quite yet, but the cheeky squadmate banter is pretty sharp so far, at least.

Update (11/24/22) - Activision Blizzard has responded to the report from Politico, saying any suggestion that the deal between Microsoft and Activision could lead to "anticompetitive effects is completely absurd." Furthermore, Activision is ready to battle against any of these claims to ensure the deal will close.

"Any suggestion that the transaction could lead to anticompetitive effects is completely absurd," an Activision Blizzard spokesperson said to IGN. "This merger will benefit gamers and the U.S. gaming industry, especially as we face increasingly stiff competition from abroad. We are committed to continuing to work cooperatively with regulators around the globe to allow the transaction to proceed, but won’t hesitate to fight to defend the transaction if required."

The original story follows.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is reportedly "likely" to file an antitrust lawsuit to block the $68.7 billion deal that would see Microsoft acquiring Activision Blizzard.

As reported by Politico, this news comes by the way of "three people with knowledge of the matter," and they stress this lawsuit is "not guaranteed."

The FTC's four commissioners haven't taken the time to vote out a complaint or even meet with the lawyers from Microsoft and Activision, but the FTC staff reviewing the deal are "skeptical of the companies' arguments."

Walmart's Black Friday Sale kicked off earlier this week, and with it a selection of NIntendo Switch video games for only $29. Mind you these are triple A games that normally carry a hefty $59.99 price tag any other day out of the year. Of special mention is Sonic Frontiers, which is Sonic's best open-world game by far. It was released earlier this month and it's one of the games that's down to $29. That, in our opinion, makes it the best deal of the bunch.

Note that we've added a couple of $35 games as well. They are excellent games and it doesn't look like they'll drop any further for Black Friday, so we had to include them.

$29 Nintendo Switch Games for Black Friday

Looking for more discounts? Take a look at the Nintendo Black Friday deals or, if you're hunting for even more deals outside of TVs, check out our best Black Friday deals today.

We've been waiting for meaningful discounts on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild since it came out, and the time has finally come. The gamechanger of an open-world game can be played for hundreds of hours, especially if you invest in the DLC once you've beat the game.

Get Breath of the Wild for just $29.00 today, or check out these Nintendo Black Friday deals.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for $29

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God of War Ragnarok has finally arrived and has brought Kratos, one of PlayStation’s most iconic characters, back into the spotlight. Kratos has undergone quite a journey from where he began in 2005, but is he the greatest character ever to grace the world of PlayStation? To solve this issue once and for all, we need you to help us decide who the best PlayStation character of all time is.

Now, we are talking about any PlayStation character who first appeared in a game exclusive to the platform, not just those from first-party studios, so the fight is going to be a tough one. Do you think Kratos deserves that top spot? Or is your top pick Ellie, Cloud, or Aloy? We’ve selected 123 of the best of the best PlayStation has had to offer over the years to “Face-Off” against each other two at time. Will you choose Sackboy over Astro Bot? Spyro the Dragon over Nathan Drake? The choice is yours…

(And don't forget, you can pass on a Face-Off round if you don't know a character by just hitting "skip" at the bottom of the page.)

Click here to start voting in the PlayStation character Face-Off!

Save $20.00 on all nine Star Wars movies in playable Lego form. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is delightfully destructive, but instead of blood and gore you get satisfying Lego sounds and endless coins. If you're looking for a game to play with your kids during the upcoming days off from school, this is the perfect pick.

Personally, I like to play it with my partner at the end of a long work day as it's the perfect game to enjoy with almost no rigor or time stress. It's available to play on Playstation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. Check out more Black Friday deals.

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga for $29

The Best Black Friday PlayStation Deals

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CD Projekt Red has finally shared gameplay footage of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series versions, also revealing every upgrade coming to the next-gen version of the 2015 RPG.

Revealed during a CD Projekt Red Twitch livestream, a handful of developers outlined the upgraded visuals, brand new quests, cross-progression, and more that's coming to The Witcher 3 when the update is released on December 14.

CD Projekt Red confirmed that graphics settings will be added to console, letting players choose between 30 frames per second with ray tracing or 60 frames per second without. This will be available on all next-gen consoles including Xbox Series S.

The DLC based on The Witcher Netflix series has also been expanded into its own quest, which rewards the player with the previously announced armour based on Henry Cavill's version of Geralt. An alternative outfit has also been added for Dandelion, making him look like the Netflix series' Jaskier.

Multiple quality-of-life-improvements

CD Projekt Red has also announced that cross-progression is coming to The Witcher 3 next-gen version, meaning players will be able to share their save between PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC.

Haptic feedback has been added to the PS5 version of the game, vibrating the controller in different ways when players clash swords with enemies or cast magic signs.

Black Friday deals are in full swing, and it wouldn't be a proper sales event without Walmart posting tons of deals on video games.

Horizon Zero Dawn made a big splash in the PlayStation ecosystem, and Horizon Forbidden West amped everything up even further with PlayStation 5 optimizations, vastly improved visuals, and expanded gameplay. If you've been looking to jump in, you are in luck because Walmart has a $35 discount, bringing Forbidden West down to just $35.

Horizon Forbidden West - Black Friday Deal

For reference, we gave it a 9/10 in our review. Here's our verdict: "A triumphant combination of enthralling combat, top-tier creature and character design, and a captivating open world, Horizon Forbidden West is an absolute blast and fantastic showcase for the power of the PS5. Although the return of a couple of familiar series trappings and a noticeable lack of freeform climbing never threatens to derail the enjoyment, it does leave it falling frustratingly short of something revolutionary. Major evolutionary steps have firmly been placed in the right direction, however, and there’s no doubting the many, many hours of fun to have with Aloy, who stakes her claim further to be one of this generation of gaming’s greatest characters. Guerrilla has outdone itself yet again with Forbidden West, and at this trajectory, neither the horizon nor the sky's the limit for what could come next."

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