A popular way of earning loot inside World of Warcraft Classic has been banned in the MMORPG's latest season, with Blizzard listening to player concerns over how the activity may do more harm than good.

The activity in question is called a GDKP, which stands for gold dragon kill points. It's based on the DKP system of loot distribution that was more popular back in the olden days of Blizzard's MMO but is still used by some guilds today. It's a system that doles out loot based on how much DKP players have accumulated, with guilds having different systems on how many points a player can accumulate for attending raids, downing bosses, and participating in various guild activities. Players can then essentially bid on rare items that drop using their DKP. The more DKP a player earns, the more DKP they have to "spend" on items.

GDKP takes that system, and instead of using imaginary points, uses in-game gold instead. This way of earning loot became a popular way for players with more gold than time to earn loot, and an equally popular way for top guilds to earn gold when WoW Classic released in 2019, as the guild hosting the GDKP would pocket all the gold players used to "purchase" items.

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Sonic Superstars launched during the holidays, but the new platformer is already down to just $20 at Best Buy and Amazon. Typically retailing for $60, the deal is available for Switch, PS5, and Xbox, making this a great time to check out Sonic and friends' latest adventure. This deal has been going in and out of stock at both retailers, so pick it up while you can. Heads up: While you're at Amazon, you can pick up another recent release for only $20: Persona 5 Tactica.

Sonic Superstars Deals

• Amazon
  
  • Nintendo Switch -- $20 ($60)
  • PlayStation 5 -- $20 ($60)
  • Xbox -- $20 ($60)
• Best Buy
  • Nintendo Switch -- $20 ($60)
  • PlayStation 5 -- $20 ($60)
  • Xbox -- $20 ($60)

Sonic Superstars is an easy recommendation if you're a fan of Sonic's 2D adventures. It might boast shiny, 2.5D graphics, but it's an undeniably retro experience. You'll speed through 11 zones as you chase down Dr. Eggman, avoid obstacles, and take down ever-more challenging enemies. Our Sonic Superstars review gave it a 7/10 for its impressive level design and gorgeous graphics, though knocked it for a handful of challenging (and tedious) boss fights.

Best Buy has plenty of other games on sale besides Sonic Superstars. More than two dozen digital Switch games are on sale, including big names like Animal Crossing: New Horizons and New Pokemon Snap. There are also a ton of multiplatform games with price cuts on Switch, Xbox, and PS5. You'll find a few of the best deals below.

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Picture this nightmare scenario: You've managed to find the elusive PlayStation Portal but then proceed to drop it while en route to show it off to your friends. Scratches! Dings! Tragedy! Fortunately, you can easily avoid damage to your Portal while traveling with a carrying case. Right now, you can pick up a stylish one for 50% off. This third-party case is manufactured by Orzly, a popular brand on Amazon for handheld gaming accessories.

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Normally $50, the Orzly PlayStation Portal carrying case offers a sleek and rugged design to place the device in. The lightweight case is custom-molded to ensure a snug fit for your PlayStation Portal, it comes with a microfiber screen cover to add another layer of protection. The EVA sub-layer is also water-resistant, and there's a handy carrying handle attached to it as well. The case is available in a range of colors beyond white, including blue, pink, and purple--but only the white model is on sale for $25.

Though the PlayStation Portal itself is very difficult to find for retail price, you can get Sony's new Pulse audio products. The Pulse Explore wireless earbuds offer great quality, multi-device connectivity, and hours of use. These support dual connections via Bluetooth and the Link USB adapter, so you'll be able to use them on PS5, PC, and Mac. Other interesting features on these earbuds include dual microphones for chat and onboard AI for improved audio, all wrapped up in a sleek design that mirrors the look of the PS5.

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Lego is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its partnership with Star Wars this year, and unsurprisingly, this means new Star Wars building kids are on the way. Five sets are releasing on March 1, all of which are available to preorder now. Multiple Star Wars icons are featured in the lineup, including R2-D2 and the Millennium Falcon. Each set has special 25th anniversary iconography, so we wouldn't be surprised to see the sets sell out ahead of launch. Here's a look at all five new Lego Star Wars sets up for grabs.

Lego Star Wars R2-D2 Toy Droid (1,050 pieces) $100

The R2-D2 Toy Droid is both the most expensive set and the set with the most pieces. Reaching just over 1,000 pieces, you'll be building the iconic robot companion, complete with a rotating head, detachable leg, and additional tools like a periscope. It even comes with a minifigure and info plaque for you to include in your display. Note that My Best Buy Plus and Total members get 10% off their preorders.

Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Best Buy Preorder at Target Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon (921 pieces) $85

No starship is as iconic as the Millennium Falcon. Clocking in at just under 1,000 pieces, this set is highly detailed for the price. It contains notable features such as the cockpit, cannons, and satellite dish. The display arm holds the completed piece of art at a slight angle, giving you a better view of your creation.

Preorder at Target Lego Star Wars Boarding the Tantive IV Playset (502 pieces) $55

While the three sets above are meant to be displayed, this diorama can be used as a playset. Along with a small scene from the Tantive IV, it includes seven minifigures (such as Darth Vader, Stormtroopers, and Captain Antilles). Note that My Best Buy Plus and Total members get 10% off their preorders.

Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Best Buy Preorder at Target Lego Star Wars Invisible Hand (557 pieces) $50

This starship was authentically detailed after the one seen in Revenge of the Sith. It comes with a display arm to show off your creation, along with small plaques describing the build and celebrating the Star Wars anniversary. Clocking in at over seven inches tall and 11 inches long, the Invisible Hand looks to be a pretty nice display piece for only $50.

Preorder at Target Lego Star Wars Tantive IV (654 pieces) $80

Modeled after the starship from A New Hope, this Tantive IV replica includes dozens of tiny details--including its 11 engines and lasers. Like the other two starships, this one includes a display arm and a commemorative anniversary plaque.

Preorder at Target

Best Gaming & Tech Deals This Week

• Asus ROG Ally Is Still Massively Discounted At Best Buy
• PlayStation Pulse Explore Wireless Earbuds Are Back In Stock At Amazon
• Razer's Biggest Announcements At CES 2024 - New Blade Laptops, High-End Gaming Chair, And More
• + Show More Best Gaming & Tech Deals This Week Links (1)
• Get 10 Games For Only $5 With These PC Game Bundles

There's officially a royal connection to Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. Saul Goodman actor Bob Odenkirk recently discovered that he's 11th cousins with King Charles III--and no, this isn't some classic Goodman scam.

Rolling Stone reports Odenkirk found out about his new extended family member on the PBS show Finding Your Roots. The comedian--who's also known for HBO's Mr. Show with Bob and David as well as Little Women--laughed about the revelation. "I'm an American. I'm not a monarchist," Odenkirk said with a chuckle. "I don’t believe in, uh, that."

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Milly Alcock won't need a dragon to fly for her next huge role. The House of the Dragon actress has been cast as the new Supergirl for the rebooted DC cinematic universe.

According to Deadline, Alcock edged out CODA's Emilia Jones and Zombies star Meg Donnelly for the part. Alcock is best known for portraying the young Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon, HBO's prequel series to Game of Thrones. Before that, she starred in the Australian series Upright.

Milly Alcock as young Rhaenyra Targaryen in HBO's House of the Dragon

DC Studios co-head James Gunn confirmed Alcock's casting on Instagram, saying that "Milly is a fantastically talented young actor, and I'm incredibly excited about her being a part of the DCU." Gunn, who's writing and directing Superman Legacy, added that he "was blown away" by Alcock's auditions and she "embodies Kara [Zor-El]."

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Spec Ops: The Line has been delisted from Steam, with no explanation given from publisher 2K Games as to why the 2012 action game is no longer available to purchase on that digital marketplace. Responding to the surprise delisting, the game's director, Cory Davis, said that it "makes no sense" to see Spec Ops: The Line taken down from Steam.

"Makes no sense --especially because the themes portrayed in Spec Ops: TheLine are more relevant now than ever," Davis wrote in a tweet. "Why has this happened 2K [and] Steam?"

For anyone with a sudden urge to explore the dark themes and sandy action of Spec Ops: The Line, it's not all bad news as the game can still be purchased on other platforms like GOG, the Xbox marketplace, and through key resellers.

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Microsoft has confirmed that it has no plans currently to bring Square Enix's RPG Visions of Mana to Xbox Game Pass. The game made a surprise appearance during the Xbox Developer Direct event this month, and some spotted language on the Xbox website that seemed to suggest the game would come to Game Pass on day one.

A Microsoft spokesperson told Eurogamer, though, that there are no plans to bring Visions of Mana to Game Pass. "We're aware that Xbox.com included language that indicated Visions of Mana was coming to Xbox Game Pass and can confirm this was an error," a spokesperson said.

"While we are always updating the library and looking for new ways to provide members with value and choice, we do not have plans to bring Visions of Mana to Game Pass at this time," the statement continued.

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Daisy Ridley starred in the new Star Wars movie trilogy, and while plenty of people enjoyed the series, a lot of people had many negative things to say.

Ridley reflected on the backlash in an interview with Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast recently. She said the response is "still upsetting," even years later. 2015's The Force Awakens was more universally enjoyed than its sequels The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, which some Star Wars fans had issues with.

"You don't want people to feel like you've not served the thing they're a fan of," she said (via Variety). "But [The Last Jedi] was so divisive…it felt like the first one everyone was responsive in the same way. The second, super divisive. The last one, super divisive. It didn't change how I felt about it."

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The European Union recently passed a new tech regulation called the Digital Markets Act (DMA), targeting digital "gatekeepers"--like Apple--and requiring them to allow third-party app stores, among other things. In complying with the new regulations, Apple has introduced even more fees, and the developers who publish apps on iOS aren't happy about it.

Xbox's Sarah Bond is the latest to comment on the fee structure, quoting a tweet from Spotify head Daniel Ek where he claims the new fees are simply a way of forcing developers to stick with the status quo, as picked up by The Verge.

"We believe constructive conversations drive change and progress towards open platforms and greater competition. Apple's new policy is a step in the wrong direction," Bond says in her tweet. "We hope they listen to feedback on their proposed plan and work towards a more inclusive future for all."

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Acclaimed indie platformer Celeste has released a surprise follow-up today, marking the 6th anniversary of the original game's release. Celeste 64: Fragments of the Mountain is a Nintendo 64 inspired 3D platformer that lets you explore Celeste Mountain in a new way, and can be downloaded now for free.

The game was released through Itch.io by the original Celeste team, and is available for both Windows and Linux PCs, with the devs recommending connecting a controller for this one. Celeste 64 can also be played on the Steam Deck by downloading the Windows version of the game and enabling Proton Experimental.

"Relive the magic of Celeste Mountain alongside Madeline in this small, heartfelt 3D platformer," the description reads, noting that Celeste 64 was made in just a week to mark the anniversary.

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Hyperkin just launched limited-edition wireless controllers for Nintendo Switch and PC inspired by Sriracha hot sauce, Kool-Aid, and Oscar Mayer hot dogs, of all things. All three models are part of Hyperkin's Pixel Art series. If you'd prefer a controller that's just a tad more related to video games, Hyperkin also released a pair of officially licensed Tetris controllers. You can check out the five controllers and matching Nintendo Switch carrying cases in one place by clicking the button below.

See at Amazon Hyperkin limited-edition controllers

• Hyperkin Sriracha limited-edition controller -- $40
• Hyperkin Kool-Aid limited-edition controller -- $40
• Hyperkin Oscar Mayer limited-edition controller -- $40
• Hyperkin Tetris limited-edition controller (Tetrimino Stack) -- $40
• Hyperkin Tetris limited-edition controller (Heart Drop) -- $40

Like other Hyperkin Pixel Art controllers, the Sriracha, Kool-Aid, and Oscar Mayer models resemble the original SNES gamepad's size, shape, and button placement--including Nintendo's classic ABXY layout--with additional buttons you'd expect from a modern controller like dual analog sticks and a second set of shoulder triggers. All three models feature turbo mode, wireless Bluetooth connectivity up to 30 feet or wired connection via the included USB-C cable, and support a long list of devices, including Nintendo Switch, Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Raspberry Pi, Steam Deck, Amazon Luna, and uh… Tesla cars, apparently.

The only difference between the three pads is their looks. The Sriracha Pixel Art controller sports a red chassis with bright green thumbsticks and Sriracha rooster decals. The Kool-Aid version has a blue body adorned with fruits and the Kool-Aid Man (of course), red face buttons, black thumbsticks and D-pad, and blue shoulder buttons. The Oscar Mayer model is yellow with a cartoony hotdog decal on the front. The hot dog only has mustard on it (sorry, ketchup).

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You'll encounter numerous creatures in Palworld. Along the way, you might even encounter rarer versions that have a slight buff. Here's our guide on how to get Lucky Pals in Palworld, the game's equivalent to Pokemon Shinies.

How to get Lucky Pals in Palworld

Lucky Pals in Palworld are caught normally just like other animals in the game. The big difference here is that they're extremely rare. In certain aspects, you can think of them as akin to Shiny Pokémon.

What are the differences between regular Pals and Lucky Pals

The first thing you'll notice if there's a Lucky Pal near your location is the unique sound effect. We can only describe it as somewhat similar to wind chimes or like the sound of magical stardust. You'll also see a creature that sparkles and shines, which is quite different from regular variants.

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You'll fight countless battles in Palworld, most of which take place in the environment. However, there are certain encounters where you battle creatures in their own arenas. Here's our guide on where to find all Sealed Realm Pals in Palworld.

Table of Contents [hide]

• All Sealed Realm Pal locations in Palworld
  • Tips when fighting Pals in Sealed Realms
  All Sealed Realm Pal locations in Palworld

  The Sealed Realm Pal locations can be seen in the map image below. Generally speaking, these areas tend to have a glowing teleporter in the middle. Likewise, there's usually a fast travel point that's nearby.

  The map shows the location of all available Sealed Realm mini-domains.Tips when fighting Pals in Sealed Realms

  Once you activate the teleporter to the Sealed Realm, you'll arrive at the Pal's domain. The key factor here is that defeating or capturing a Pal in a Sealed Realm triggers a cooldown, and the creature will only respawn after an hour or so has passed in real-time. As such, if you don't want to wait too long, make sure you're able to capture the Pal on your first try.

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Your journey in Palworld sometimes leads to greater dangers, including bosses that you must face. Consider these opponents as the true elites, and challenges that will test your mettle. Here's our guide on all boss tower locations in Palworld.

Table of Contents [hide]

• All boss tower locations in Palworld

All boss tower locations in Palworld

The boss towers in Palworld are scattered all over the map. Ideally, you'll want to tackle them in a particular order due to your enemies having higher levels, as well as the degree of difficulty involved.

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Palworld tends to have you focus on exploration and discover. However, there are instances when you have to defend your home from various threats. Here's our guide on how to defend your base from raids in Palworld.

How to defend your base from raids in Palworld

You can defend your base by assigning several Pals to guard it, as well as by constructing fortifications, traps, and gun emplacements. The first part is fairly simple--all the Pals that are assigned to your base using the Palbox will automatically attack any advancing hostiles that enter your base's radius. As for fortifications and gun emplacements, you've got several options which we tackle later in this guide.

When do raids occur in Palworld

Raids happen periodically in Palworld, often when your character is at the base. You'll be notified that a certain raiding party is approaching, which usually determines the type of invaders that will spawn. Here are some examples:

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Palworld has numerous deadly creatures roaming its vast landscapes. One of the first that you're bound to encounter is a massive elephant. Here's our guide on how to defeat and catch the Mammorest in Palworld.

How to defeat and catch the Mammorest in Palworld

You can catch the Mammorest by finding them in various spawn locations. You can see an image of their habitats below.

Note that Mammorests tend to be around level 18 or so. However, there's an Alpha Pal (i.e. elite) that appears fairly close to the starting area. They're known as the Mammorest King of the Forest, and it's around level 38.

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Many creatures in Palworld might appear laughably weak. However, there's a way to strengthen them even further. Here's our guide on how to merge Pals in Palworld.

Pal Essence Condenser - How to merge Pals in Palworld

You can merge Pals by using a device known as a Pal Essence Condenser. This is unlocked at level 14, but you do need to spend Ancient Technology Points. After unlocking the blueprint, you should be able to build the structure, which requires 20x Paldium Fragment, 20x Ingot, and 5x Ancient Civilization Parts.

You'll need to unlock the Pal Essence Condenser.How does the Pal Essence Condenser function

The Pal Essence Condenser allows you to select Pals of the same species to boost one of them. Here's a quick summary:

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Secretlab makes some of the best gaming chairs on the market, including some cool chairs themed around popular gaming and entertainment franchises. Right now you can save up to $100 on some of these special-edition Secretlab chairs.

Secretlab Titan 2020 Prime - World of Warcraft Alliance edition

With the promotional offer, you can grab the excellent Secretlab Titan 2020 Prime gaming chair for $484 (was $574) in multiple color options, including models based on the Horde and Alliance factions from World of Warcraft, or Houses Stark, Lannister, and Targaryen from Game of Thrones. Select Omega 2020 Prime chairs--which are slightly smaller than the Titan--are also discounted to just $434 (normally $524).

The Titan and Omega Prime line of chairs has since been replaced by the Titan Evo 2022, which starts at $549. The Titan Evo 2022 offers nice improvements, but the older Titan and Omega models are still great gaming chairs. It's also worth noting that Secretlab just launched the Titan Evo Lite, a $449 gaming chair that retains much of what makes the Titan Evo 2022 so great.

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The Bloodborne Kart fan game created by modder Lilith.zip will have to change its name as per Sony's request.

On Twitter, Lilith.zip said that Sony contacted her saying that she needs to make changes to her fan game, a Bloodborne-style kart-racing game. "Long story short I need to scrub the branding off of what was previously known as Bloodborne Kart, which we will do. But that requires a short delay," she explains. "Don't worry, the game is still coming out! It'll just look slightly different."

Lilith also clarifies that she expected this to happen and will let people know as soon as possible when a new release date is figured out. It was supposed to be launched on January 31. She mentions that scrubbing the Bloodborne references will result in an original game that her and the team have full creative control over.

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