Daily Deals: Alienware Laptops Discounted, Ghost of Tsushima Preorder and More

The best gaming laptop deals of 2020 are still live, but not for long. Don’t miss this opportunity to save $950 off an Alienware gaming laptop equipped with an RTX 2070 video card. Last but certainly not least, Ghost of Tsushima, yet another promising PS4 exclusive, is available for preorder, but the collector’s edition is already starting to go out of stock.

Alienware m15 15″ 1080p 144Hz Intel Core i7-9750H RTX 2070 Laptop with Dual 512GB SSD for $1399

Use code “AW950OFF”

This is one of the best prices we’ve seen for an RTX 2070 equipped laptop, regardless of brand. The Alienware m15 is the newly designed 15″ laptop and weighs only 4.8 pounds, which is remarkable given its payload. We reviewed the m15 and highly recommend it. It’s easily one of the best laptops you can get in terms of build quality and under-the-hood power.

Super Upgrade: Alienware m15 15″ 4K Ultra HD 3840×2160 OLED 1ms Intel Core i7-9750H RTX 2070 Gaming Laptop with Dual 512GB SSD for $1599

Use code “AW950OFF”

Upgrade to a very rare and very awesome 4K Ultra HD 3840×2160 display for only $200. We reviewed a very similar OLED equipped model less than a year ago (with inferior specs) with a price tag of $2800 and we LOVED it. This deal won’t stick around.

Out 6/26: Ghost of Tsushima for PS4

Ghost of Tsushima is coming exclusive to the PS4 console in less than 4 months. The Special Edition includes a steelbook case and some DLC goodies. The Collector’s Edition includes a steelbook case, replica Sakai mask and stand, Sashimono war banner, cloth map of Tsushima, Furoshiki wrapping cloth, 48-page mini art book, and even more DLC extras.

Free PC Games at the Epic Games Store

The new free games at the Epic Games Store are Offworld Trading Company and GoNNER. Offworld Trading Company is an economic RTS from Civilization IV lead designer Soren Johnson. The developer Stardock is known for making stellar titles like Galactic Civilizations, Sins of a Solar Empire, and Star Control. We scored this one an 8/10. GoNNER is a “tough as hell score-based procedurally-generated platformer with roguelike elements”.

Anker PowerCore Redux 10,000mAh Power Delivery USB Type-C Power Bank is Perfect for Switch

Anker makes the only official Switch power bank. For half the price, you get a power bank from the same brand with roughly the same battery capacity (can charge a Switch three times over), the same USB-PD Type C charging interface, and a slimmer design. This power bank can charge the Switch at up to 18W, equal to the official Nintendo AC adapter, and it will even charge your Switch while you’re playing a game.

Apple AirPods Pro for $234.98

The price of the AirPods Pro is back down to what we saw on Black Friday. These AirPods feature built-in active noise cancellation, but despite that that they boast a longer play time on a single charge than the vanilla AirPods. Other features include three sets of silicone tips for customized fit, a sweat and water resistant outer shell, and a wireless charging case that can provide an additional 24 hours of battery life.

2019 65″ Vizio M658-G1 4K HDR QLED Smart HDTV with Bonus $200 Dell eGift Card for $649.99

The Vizio M-series QLED TVs are one of the best values you can get if you’re looking for a TV that’s fully HDR capable. The new Vizio M-series Quantum TVs utilize the same “Quantum Dot” technology used in Samsung QLED TVs. This particular model is the best M-series TV that Vizio offers: it features a wide color gamut, full-array backlight with 90 local dimming zones and 600 nits of brightness for excellent HDR image quality. Dell gift cards carry a 90-day expiration and can be used on anything at Dell.com.

More Deals:

  • Buy 2 Fire HD 8 Tablets, Save $50 on Amazon
  • Buy a Digital Magazine Subscription for only $2 on Amazon
  • Star Trek Discovery Seasons 1, 2 Blu-ray for 40% off on Amazon

Nintendo Switch Video Game Deals:

PS4 Video Game Deals:

Xbox One Video Game Deals:

PC Video Game Deals:

  • New Free PC Games with Twitch Prime Membership
  • Death Stranding for $47.99 at Green Man Gaming (code “PAYDAY20“)
  • Red Dead Redemption 2 for $47.99 at GMG (code “PAYDAY20“)
  • Doom Eternal for $47.99 at GMG (code “PAYDAY20“)
  • The Outer Worlds for $47.99 at GMG (code “PAYDAY20“)
  • Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot for $47.99 at GMG (code “PAYDAY20“)
  • Call of Duty: Modern Warfare for $47.99 at GMG (code “PAYDAY20“)
  • Resident Evil 3 for $43.79 at Green Man Gaming
  • Witcher 3: Game of the Year Edition for $14.99 at Humble
  • Nier: Automata Game of the Yorha Edition for $19.99 at Humble
  • Celeste for $6.79 at Steam

A Quiet Place: Part II Social Media Reactions Heap Praise on the Scary Sequel

Members of the film press were able to catch an advance screening of A Quiet Place: Part II and the early reactions to hit social media hail the sequel as a worthy and terrifying successor to John Krasinski’s hit 2018 original.

Most critics address the unrelenting tension and suspense while others praise the soundscape and the performances of new-to-the-series Cillian Murphy and the returning Millicent Simmonds.

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Here’s a quick roundup of the first reactions to A Quiet Place: Part II.

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IGN’s Executive Editor of Movies, Jim Vejvoda, writes that A Quiet Place: Part II “can’t quite recapture all the thrilling magic that made the original such a beloved sleeper sensation” but that it overcomes sequel odds “thanks to its focus on character and the moving performances of its core cast and new addition Cillian Murphy.”

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IndieWire’s Deputy Editor of Film, Kagte Erbland, insists that crunchy snacks be banned, so that the silent chills can fully resonate.

Erik Davis, Managing Editor at Fandango, remarks that some sequences in the film are a “masterclass in suspense.”

Comicbook.com’s Chris Killian claims the sequel is “riveting from top to bottom.”

Steven Weintraub, Editor-in-Chief for Collider, is here making an early plea for a Part III!

Uproxx’s Senior Entertainment Writer, Mike Ryan, lauds the addition of Cillian Murphy while Daily Dead’s Heather Wixson and horror critic Meagan Navarro both celebrate Millicent Simmonds’ great performance.

Rotten Tomatoes’ EIC, Joel Meares, goes so far as to call Millicent Simmonds his “new Ripley.”

CinemaBlend’s Managing Director, Sean O’Connell, asserts that Krasinski has “Spielberg-level chops.”

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Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

Gina Carano Wraps Production on The Mandalorian: Season 2

Gina Carano, who plays Alderaanian ex-rebel shock trooper Cara Dune on The Mandalorian, posted a warm message to all her fans on Instagram, signaling her wrap of Season 2.

Seen sitting on the Razor Crest’s ramp (with an unknown armored figure near her), Carano wrote “That’s a wrap on season 2.. I absolutely love this work and the people in it.”

Check it out…

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As you can see, on the bottom right of the image, WWE’s Sasha Banks liked the post. There are currently strong rumors that Banks has filmed scenes for Season 2, though her series role is unknown at this point.

It was also recently reported that Robert Rodriguez will direct parts of Season 2, alongside Bryce Dallas Howard, who is returning to the series after directing an episode in Season 1.

The Mandalorian’s second season will premiere in October on Disney+.

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Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

Photographing Magikarp, Chatting With Pikachu, And All Of Our Favorite Pokemon Spin-Offs

Pokemon TCG (Game Boy Color)

Pokemon TCG (Game Boy Color)

It’s impossible to discuss the early days of the Pokemon series without also mentioning the Pokemon Trading Card Game. Together with the anime and video games, the Pokemon TCG was a big reason why the franchise was so explosively popular in the late ’90s. While I never had much interest in playing the actual card game with my friends, like other kids at the time, I was obsessed with collecting the cards, which is what led me to discover Pokemon TCG for Game Boy Color.

As its name suggests, Pokemon TCG for Game Boy was a digitized version of the card game, featuring the same rules and cards as the physical game. What made the title so compelling, however, were its RPG elements. Just as in the mainline Pokemon games, your ultimate goal is to travel to different clubs, each of which specialized in a particular type, and defeat the eight Club Masters. After collecting their badges, you earned the right to face off against the Grand Masters–TCG’s equivalent of the Elite Four.

Compared to other card games, the Pokemon TCG was fairly simple, but that accessibility was another reason it translated so well into a video game. As in the mainline titles, Pokemon cards have different elemental strengths and weaknesses, and you need to exploit them if you hope to defeat the Club Masters. Of course, given the nature of card games, battles often hinged in part on luck (there was only so much you could do if you drew a bad hand), but it nonetheless felt very satisfying to devise strategies and build a well-rounded deck.

The Game Boy Color game would receive a sequel in Japan, but that, unfortunately, was never localized. While it seems unlikely that we’ll ever get another proper Pokemon TCG video game, its spirit lives on in Pokemon TCG Online, a free-to-download digital version of the card game. It’s not a proper follow-up to the Game Boy title–TCG Online doesn’t have RPG elements like the Game Boy game, for instance–but it’s a lot of fun in its own right, which shows why the trading card game has been able to remain so popular for over two decades. | Kevin Knezevic, Associate Editor

Ori And The Will Of The Wisps Boss And Exploration Gameplay

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is the follow-up to one of the most acclaimed Xbox One titles of this generation, Ori and the Blind Forest. Once again developed by Moon Studios, the sequel aims to take the challenging Metroidvania-style gameplay of the first game and expand on it. The sequel features new movement abilities and, thanks to a variety of new weapons, expanded combat.

Of course, what people really responded to in the first game is the beautiful art style and world. It also had a surprisingly emotional story thanks to its wonderfully animated characters and heartfelt soundtrack. Naturally, expectations for the second game are very high and although we’ll have to wait for the game’s launch to see whether it lives up to them. However, we do have a sample of gameplay from Ori and the Will of the Wisps to give you an early indication of how it’s shaping up.

In the video above we head to Kwolok’s Hollow and do some exploration, battling enemies and solving puzzles along the way. The video culminates in a boss battle and, as a whole, should give you a good taster of the gameplay experience.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is set for release on Xbox One and PC on March 11.

Star Trek: Picard Episode 7 “Nepenthe” Breakdown & Easter Eggs

In Episode 7, Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Soji (Isa Briones) transport to planet Nepenthe to seek refuge, with help from Jean-Luc’s trusted friends Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), who both served under Picard on board the USS Enterprise-D and Enterprise-E. Soji befriends the Rikers’ daughter Kestra, and learns about Data.

Rios, Raffi and Agnes attempt to join them, but are being tailed by Narek. Meanwhile, Hugh and Elnor must face Narissa.

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

Disclosure: ViacomCBS is GameSpot’s parent company.

Destiny 2’s Season Of The Worthy – Everything You Need To Know

Destiny 2 continues its rollout of new content with the Season of the Worthy on March 10, with new story elements, new activities, and new loot. Bungie has finally laid out some of the details about what we can expect from the new season, including the return of Destiny’s greatest PvP challenge, the Trials of Osiris. Check out the video above for a full rundown–there’s a lot of ground to cover.

Trials is the biggest element of the new season. The weekend event offers some of Destiny 2’s greatest, toughest-to-earn rewards, but only if you manage to go through several rounds of competitive play undefeated. Trials has been out of the game since way back in 2018, so its return is a big deal to some of the most dedicated in the Destiny 2 fanbase.

If you’re more of a PvE player, though, there’s plenty for you as well. The Season of the Worthy is all about working with Rasputin, the giant AI that was central to the Warmind expansion, and the new Seraph Tower activity is all about working with other players to power up the computer so it can defend the solar system. Those are covered on the season’s content roadmap. We also know you’ll be chasing The 4th Horseman, an Exotic shotgun from the first Destiny, which appeared in the season’s trailer.

There are a whole lot more details for the Season of the Worthy in the video above–but don’t be surprised if Bungie slips in a few secrets it hasn’t placed on the roadmap, as well.

SXSW Canceled Due to Coronavirus Concerns

The city of Austin, Texas has canceled SXSW (south by southwest) the annual music and arts festival that in recent years has featured more video game and entertainment content.

The organizers of SXSW announced the news in a blog saying that this is the first time in 34 years of the event that it has been canceled. The organizers of SXSW are clearly stating that the decision was from the city of Austin and not the organizers themselves.

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“As recently as Wendesday, Austin Public Health stated that ‘there’s no evidence that closing SXSW or any other gatherings will make the community safer,’ However, this situation evolved rapidly, and we honor and respect the City of Austin’s decision.”

SXSW is the latest event to cancel or postpone over coronavirus concerns. Check out a full list of events impacted, postponed, or canceled due to coronavirus concerns.

Read SXSW’s full statement below:

The City of Austin has cancelled the March dates for SXSW and SXSW EDU. SXSW will faithfully follow the City’s directions.

We are devastated to share this news with you. “The show must go on” is in our DNA, and this is the first time in 34 years that the March event will not take place. We are now working through the ramifications of this unprecedented situation.

As recently as Wednesday, Austin Public Health stated that “there’s no evidence that closing SXSW or any other gatherings will make the community safer.” However, this situation evolved rapidly, and we honor and respect the City of Austin’s decision. We are committed to do our part to help protect our staff, attendees, and fellow Austinites.

We are exploring options to reschedule the event and are working to provide a virtual SXSW online experience as soon as possible for 2020 participants, starting with SXSW EDU. For our registrants, clients, and participants we will be in touch as soon as possible and will publish an FAQ.

We understand the gravity of the situation for all the creatives who utilize SXSW to accelerate their careers; for the global businesses; and for Austin and the hundreds of small businesses – venues, theatres, vendors, production companies, service industry staff, and other partners that rely so heavily on the increased business that SXSW attracts.

We will continue to work hard to bring you the unique events you love. Though it’s true that our March 2020 event will no longer take place in the way that we intended, we continue to strive toward our purpose – helping creative people achieve their goals.

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Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.

Photo by Aaron Rogosin for SXSW.