Warning: This article contains some light spoilers for Alien: Romulus.

Alien: Romulus starts with something of a goofy premise. For 20 years after the events of the original Alien, apparently, the xenomorph-obsessed Weyland-Yutani Corporation has been searching for the Nostromo and the monster its crew brought aboard. When they finally find it, they discover the original alien that Ellen Ripley blew out an airlock at the end of that movie. Somehow, the creature survives, allowing the scientists to capture it and study it--with predictably lethal results.

Alien: Romulus has to jump through a lot of hoops to create a situation in which some of the most frightening creatures ever committed to film can do their thing and scare new audiences. It's a little peek at what kind of mess the Alien franchise's overarching story has become. The knots Romulus twists itself in so it can stay true to the story of Alien, Aliens, Prometheus, and Alien: Covenant are a pretty good argument for why it's time for the Alien franchise to drop all its past stories and start fresh.

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Dragon Age: The Veilguard launches for PC and consoles on October 31, and fans who are eager to learn more about the game can preorder an upcoming art book that will detail The Veilguard's many new and returning characters, locations, and creatures. The Art of Dragon Age: The Veilguard was created in collaboration with the BioWare development team, and features 256 pages full of concept art, promotional illustrations, and more. It will be available in standard and deluxe editions, both of which launch on November 5, just a few days after the game. Preorders are available for both versions of the book.

If you're interested in the deluxe edition of the book, you're probably also going to want to check out Dragon Age: The Veilguard - Rook's Coffer Edition, a collector's edition of the upcoming game.

Preorder The Art of Dragon Age: The Veilguard Deluxe Edition (hardcover)

$95 ($100)

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Terry Brooks' Shannara high fantasy series began in 1997 with The Sword of Shannara. Dozens of novels and 40-plus years later, it concluded with The Last Druid in 2020. If you've never tried Brooks' classic series, now's a great time to dive in. Humble Bundle's Shannara series deal includes up to 20 books for only $18. It doesn't come with every book in the series, but less than one dollar per book is quite the bargain.

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If you prefer physical books, you can get a hardcover edition of The Sword of Shannara Trilogy for $22 (was $40) at Amazon. This hardcover edition was released back in 2002 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the series--it's rather cool to see it still in print today. Keep in mind the original trilogy is also available in digital format for only $1 at Humble.

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Wool Collector's Edition: Silo Book One (Hardcover)

$40

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Apple TV+ is filled with critically acclaimed shows, but few are as impressive as Silo. The dystopian sci-fi series is based on a novel series of the same name by acclaimed novelist Hugh Howey. Fans of Howey's work and the show can now preorder a striking collector's edition of Wool--the first book in the trilogy. Amazon offers a preorder price guarantee, so preordering today means you'll be entitled to any subsequent price drops between now and its release on October 15. Season 2 of Silo premieres on November 15, so you'll have plenty of time to read (or re-read) Wool before it begins. Silo is an AppleTV+ exclusive, but you can sign up for a free seven-day trial to check out Season 1 of the show, if you haven't already.

Wool Collector's Edition: Silo Book One (Hardcover) $40

While Wool has been available in various formats since 2011, there's no denying this is the best-looking version of the novel. Not only does it feature a reversible jacket, but it's designed with red sprayed edges, illustrated colored endpapers, and an original essay from author Hugh Howey that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the Apple TV+ production.

Hardcover editions of the Silo series are hard to come by in new condition at major retailers these days, so it's nice to see Howey's series get the premium treatment it deserves.

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Wool tells the tale of a world struggling to survive. What is left of humanity has been forced to live in an underground silo, as the world above is no longer fit for life. Things grow even more troublesome when the silo's sheriff leaves his post, and a mechanic named Juliette is forced to take his place. What follows is a dramatic sci-fi epic that sees Juliette attempting to unravel a world-altering conspiracy.

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Marvel Encyclopedia

$40.50 (Was $50)

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Star Wars Encyclopedia

$45 (Was $50)

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All the information you could ever want to know about the Marvel and Star Wars universes is just a URL away, but nothing beats the feeling of a hardcover encyclopedia dedicated to those fictional worlds. If you're looking to update your library, you can grab two new encyclopedias featuring detailed, up-to-date information on both franchises--perfect for those rainy afternoons when you're looking to read up on your favorite characters.

Marvel Encyclopedia $40.50 (Was $50)

Kicking things off is the Marvel Encyclopedia: New Edition. This hardcover will be released in October, and has been upgraded with hundreds of new and expanded entries following the release of exceedingly popular 2019 edition. Compiled by Marvel's best historians and comic book experts, the 2024 Marvel Encyclopedia is over 500 pages in size, packed with original artwork sourced from the Marvel comic books, and it has a stylish design.

You can save 20% on your preorder at Amazon right now.

Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Walmart Preorder at Target Star Wars Encyclopedia $45 (Was $50)

Changing gears, you can grab an IRL Wookiepedia with the Star Wars Encyclopedia. This thick 448-page book has comprehensive histories of 1,200 characters, ranging from icons like Lando Calrissian to personalities you've never heard of like Therm Scissorpunch. Yes, the Therm Scissorpunch. You can also read up on the terrifying wildlife of Star Wars, the cool vehicles used across the films and TV series, and technology like the Mandalorian’s beskar armor, Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber, and much more. Preorders are available at Amazon, Walmart, and Target.

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For long-time Star Wars fans, you can also grab a massive collection of pre-Disney era Star Wars encyclopedias for $71 (normally $150). This three-volume set covers both the original and prequel film trilogies, and while it's a little dated, it's still a deluxe collection featuring hardcover design, full-color artwork, and photos. There's also the Star Wars: Secrets of the Galaxy deluxe box set, which includes tons of details on the original (and now technically non-canon) Lucasfilm-era Expanded Universe, including a timeline of major events in Star Wars history like the Clone Wars and the rise of the Galactic Empire, the fall of Anakin Skywalker and the invasion of the Yuuzhan Vong. You can grab it for $57 (was $80).

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Actor Glen Powell is making waves in Hollywood through a number of roles in high-profile films like Top Gun: Maverick, Hit Man, Anyone but You, and Twisters--but could he do a comic book movie next?

Powell told The Playlist that he enjoys DC and Marvel movies, but no one from those companies has called and asked him to star--at least not yet (Powell has, however, played a small role in a Batman movie already). "You know I've never gotten a call from DC or Marvel," he said. "But I'm a fan of everything they do."

Powell went on to say that he saw Deadpool & Wolverine and said he thoroughly enjoyed it. "I think what Shawn [Levy] and Ryan [Reynolds] did with that is like extraordinary and just such a fun flavor for audiences. And I cheer for them. And I love what [they do]," he said.

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Exclusives apparently haven't moved the needle for the Epic Games Store. In fact, most haven't even been wise investments, according to Epic Games founder and CEO Tim Sweeney. What has worked instead for the company is giving away free games.

PC Gamer reports that Sweeney revealed this strategy evaluation with reporters earlier this week while discussing user acquisition for the Epic Games Store. "We spent a lot of money on exclusives," said Sweeney. "A few of them worked extremely well. A lot of them were not good investments, but the free games program has been just magical."

Sweeney didn't go into detail about which "few" worked out. Arguably the latest big exclusive for the Epic Games Store was Alan Wake 2, which developer Remedy mentioned hadn't earned back its development costs earlier this year. Alan Wake 2 was one of GameSpot's 10 best games of 2023. Other examples of previous Epic Games Store exclusives include Metro Exodus, Outer Wilds, and Hades.

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Although there is still a long way to go, the recent representation of Hispanics and Latinos in comic book movies has been a delight for those who grew up wishing to see themselves on-screen as these larger-than-life superheroes. In recent years, we've seen Xochitl Gomez playing America Chavez in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Xolo Maridueña playing Jaime Reyes in Blue Beetle, to name just a couple. From breaking stereotypes to creating diversity in comic book films, Hispanic and Latino representation on-screen paves the way for more creative and heartfelt storytelling.

Having these characters hit the big screen showcases the Hispanic and Latino communities in ways that break what was a fairly consistent portrayal of negative stereotypes in Latino communities. For years, Hispanic and Latino characters were an easy mark to be shown as criminals, undocumented immigrants, or merely bad guys waiting to be obliterated by the hero (see 2019's Rambo: Last Blood). And it's not just movies: As pointed out by The Gateway, racist stereotypes can be seen in kid shows such as Handy Manny, which has a Latino who'll drop what he's doing and work for cheap. It also doesn't help that a lot of the time, Latinas are treated as sex objects, as seen in shows like Modern Family.

2023's Blue Beetle is a phenomenal example of how a Hispanic character can change up what audiences can expect from big-screen superheroes. The movie captures many aspects of what makes Hispanic households unique and how those aspects directly impact a person's character. In the film, multiple generations of Jamie Reyes' (Maridueña) family live under the same roof, capturing how chaotic and charming they can be--having an uncle who'll believe anything he reads on the internet and a loving grandma who'll go above and beyond whenever you need her, for instance. The film hit on every note about why our culture is beautiful. Despite having so many cooks in the kitchen, the family sticks together, supports each other, and thrives. Each member contributes in their own way to make their family special.

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The Prismatic Shard is one of the rarest minerals in Stardew Valley, worth a decent chunk of change and useful in many ways. While you will need to find one to complete the Museum collection, it might be a while before you actually get one. There are a few different places you can find a Prismatic Shard, although many of those avenues have very low odds of it actually appearing.

How to get Prismatic ShardThe Prismatic Shard is a rare drop in Stardew Valley.

The best place to find a Prismatic Shard is in the Skull Cavern. There is a small chance to find the Prismatic Shard in mystery boxes and fishing treasure chests, but mining in the Skull Cavern covers many of the other possible ways for it to drop.

It has a decent chance to appear in a Mystic Stone, which can appear in the mines post-floor 100, the Skull Cavern, and even the Quarry. It has a small chance to appear in Omni Geodes, as a drop from certain monsters, or in Iridium Nodes. Omni Geodes and Iridium Nodes can be found in large quantities in the Skull Caverns and the monsters that can drop it also appear more frequently there. Because the Skull Cavern contains multiple different ways to have a chance at dropping it, that makes it the best place to try and find them.

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If you've thought that the world could do with more superhero-themed footwear, you're in luck as there's a new pair of Batman Crocs on the way. This isn't the first time that Crocs has collaborated with DC Comics, but this new pair of shoes from the company pays tribute to arguably the best Batmobile, merging the high-speed gothic influences of that vehicle with an all-black pair of classic sandals. There's no US release date for them yet, but you can expect to pay $70 when they're in stock.

Shoe design has officially peaked.Gallery

The shoes pictured above are heavily inspired by the Batmobile used in the 1989 Batman movie and its sequel, Batman Returns. You've got the mechanical elements like the tail fins, windshield, and jet turbine molded directly into the Crocs, as well as other engine parts and the signature headlights. Will these make you quick enough to outrun the Joker's goons? Possibly--don't take our word for it--but we're confident that these Crocs will defnitely make you more fashionable than the clown prince of crime and his cohorts.

If you're going to don Batmobile-inspired Crocs, you're going to want some more gear to look ultra-cool. Sure, you can't wear it, but there's no harm in checking out the life-size Batman '89 cowl up for preorder, which is priced at $100. This is a 1:1 scale replica of the mask worn by Michael Keaton in his first Batman movie, and it has already sold out at Amazon. Fortunately, you won't have to incur the wrath of the Dark Knight by plotting to steal it, because Target still has it in stock.

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The video game industry layoff trend continues as Ubisoft has cut 45 jobs across its teams in San Francisco, California and Cary, North Carolina this week.

A spokesperson for Ubisoft confirmed to Bloomberg that the company made the "difficult yet necessary decision" to lay off staffers in an effort to "align these studios' organizations with their future business and development objectives."

Those who lost their jobs will get severance payment and outplacement support. Back in April this year, Ubisoft eliminated 45 jobs across other divisions. GameSpot has contacted Ubisoft in an attempt to get more details on these cuts.

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Best Buy is running a Microsoft 3-Day Sale from now until Sunday, with steep price cuts on laptops, desktops, handheld PCs, and dozens of other electronics. Some products are discounted up to $500--making this a great time to upgrade your laptop or desktop PC. You'll also find a few accessories for cheap, as well as an enticing deal for the ROG Ally. We've pulled together the best deals to help you make the most of the event.

Remember--these prices disappear Sunday night at 10 PM PT / 1 AM ET (Monday), so carve out a few minutes this weekend to check out all the great deals.

See all deals at Best Buy Asus ROG AllyASUS ROG Ally

The Asus ROG Ally is the most popular Windows alternative to Steam Deck, and it's also one of the most affordable--especially at the new discounted prices. The standard version built with the Ryzen Z1 processor is just $380 (was $500), and since it runs on Windows instead of a custom OS like Steam Deck, it's great for playing all your favorite PC games. For more power, the Ryzen Z1 Extreme version is $500 (was $650). Both feature a 7-inch display with a 1080p resolution, 512GB SSD, and an ergonomic design that's great for long play sessions. You also get a free carrying case and one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate with either model.

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Xur has touched down in Destiny 2, bringing a resupply of Exotic weapons and armor pieces to his stash in the Tower. Toward the end of the month, Xur will also be offering Exotic class items, although you'll need quite a few Strange Coins to afford one of these ultra-rare armor pieces. Here's where Xur is this week, and what he has for sale.

This week, Xur is offering the Exotic weapon catalysts for MIDA Multi-Tool and Lumina, and for Exotic armor, Hunters can pick up Mechaneer's Tricksleeves; Titans can grab Heart of Inmost Light; and Warlocks can buy Sunbracers.

Xur LocationXur's location in the Tower's Bazaar

Spawn in at the Tower and hang a right past Banshee-44. Continue down the stairs, follow the corridor, and once you hit the Bazaar, turn right down the nearby alleyway. You'll find Xur here in his dedicated alcove, ready to sell you his latest wares if you have enough Strange Coins in your pocket. Check out our how to get Strange Coins guide for details on earning this currency, which involves doing ritual activities.

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The tension between Marvel and former X-Men '97 showrunner Beau DeMayo has escalated this week with Marvel stripping DeMayo of any credit for Season 2 and going forward. The animated series, a revival of the 1990s X-Men series, was recently nominated for an Emmy, with DeMayo removed from the show just weeks before the series premiere on Disney+.

It was never confirmed by either party why DeMayo was removed from the show ahead of Season 1. Now, he has publicly addressed having his name removed from Season 2 of the show, though those scripts which were written before his dismissal. DeMayo would send the first shots, hinting at being discriminated against.

"Firstly, I'm so grateful to have worked on X-Men' 97, collaborating with some amazingly talented folks," DeMayo wrote on social media. "Creating this revival was a dream come true and the support fans have shown is so touching. However, I felt it pressing for me to speak up in the wake of leaving the show…"

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Transformers 7-Movie Collection

$94 (was $100)

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Transformers films are big and loud fun, and there's nothing better than see several hundred million dollars worth of pixels smash each about. If you're a fan of the series and you're looking to bring some Autobot action home, you can check out this box set of 4K Transformers movies--or standard Blu-ray if you prefer--that are now on sale at Amazon. Releasing on September 24, this collection of films has already gotten a small discount at Amazon and is priced at $94. Alternatively, you can get the standard Blu-ray box set for $55. Both sets come with digital copies of all seven films, too.

But before you preorder the collection, you'll also want to check out the Transformers Limited Edition Steelbook 6-Movie Collection, which is available for $77.49 at Amazon. While enjoying these over-the-top action movies, you could build Lego Optimus Prime--one of the best Lego sets--which is on sale for $144 at Amazon.

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Reviews are now live for Black Myth: Wukong, one of the most-anticipated games of August. A fast-paced action-RPG game inspired by the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, the game puts you in the boots of The Destined One as they navigate a dangerous world full of monsters and titanic threats. So far, reviews have been mostly positive, praising the game for its imaginative presentation and rich combat.

There have been some criticisms over technical issues, and it's worth noting that only PC review codes were provided to the press for review purposes, although the game will also launch for PS5 on August 20. On GameSpot's sister site Metacritic, Black Myth: Wukong currently has a "generally favorable" metascore of 82 from 48 reviews.

"It's not uncommon to go from one boss fight into another and then another, and it's in these elaborate battles where Black Myth: Wukong shines," Richard Wakeling wrote in GameSpot's Black Myth: Wukong review. The moments in between, however, aren't quite as strong, sometimes devolving into aimless tedium. But its satisfying combat and unique variety of boss fights mostly manages to overcome these flaws."

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If I was a father, I think I'd love playing a game like The Plucky Squire with my kid--based on a few of the early chapters I played, its plotline seems straightforward and it's mechanically simple while also offering some fun variety in its assortment of minigames. Plus, the game features a story that intriguingly deals with themes about fate and choice, and then frames that against childhood passions and interests. The Plucky Squire feels like one of those stories I so clearly remember experiencing when I was 10 or 11 years old and loving for how it broached symbolism and metaphors in a way that was more complex than what I had experienced at age five.

The Plucky Squire has a fantastic set-up: You're playing as the hero of a children's book written by a kid destined to be an author one day. You've been preordained to beat the evil wizard not only in this story but in every book by this author. Said wizard isn't a fan, and so instead opts to magically eject you from your picture-perfect world, giving him the leeway to change the events of the book. But his actions unintentionally provide you with the opportunity to fight him--no longer confined to an author's machinations, you can return to and exit the book to leapfrog between pages and rearrange words. This lets you circumnavigate roadblocks, find new weapons, and solve puzzles.

It's a pretty cool story, albeit one that I didn't see delve into its narrative themes as much as I'd like in its opening hours. There's a fascinating throughline here about people defined by their fate--the hero is doing all he can to return his book to what it once was and secure the predestined roles that he, his adversary, and his allies must play. And at the same time, the hero is specifically doing this because he's been told that if his story ends differently, the child who wrote the hero's books will become depressed and uninspired and give up writing, a loss for the real world and the stories he will write one day. That's an incredible premise that questions the nature of free will but the game seems to drop it. In the first few hours at least, the game largely ignores the terrifying implications of book characters realizing they are nothing more than a collection of paper and words.

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A secret--and possibly cursed--update for Vampire Survivors has gone live, adding not only a "hellish meat-dimension" for players to conquer but also a major new gameplay mechanic in the form of Darkanas. Called the Darkasso update, players can also expect to uncover more secrets, unlock extra skins for characters, and earn new achievements.

Like Arcana skills, Darkanas add new gameplay modifiers that can significantly change how you play. Developer Poncle says there'll be five of these to experiment with, and they offer skills like generating exploding projectiles when you lose health. For the new level, Room 1665, Poncle explained in a press release that this stage was created by the spite of the souls that fell in the Bone-Zone and features 16 floors for players to fight their way through.

The Darkasso update is now live for the PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, and mobile versions of Vampire Survivors, and will be included on the PS5 and PS4 versions of the game when they launch on August 29 for the Sony platforms. One of GameSpot's best games of 2022, Vampire Survivors has regularly added more content since its full release and has even crossed over with popular games like Among Us and Contra.

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BioWare has revealed the minimum and recommended PC specs for Dragon Age: The Veilguard. They're fairly modest in comparison to others we've seen such as God of War Ragnarok's hefty 190GB storage requirement.

For the minimum specs, an Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 3 3300X processor is required, along with at least 16GB of RAM. For the GPU, a Nvidia GTX 970/1650 or AMD Radeon R9 290X is required. The game takes up 100GB of storage and an SSD is preferred, but HDD is supported too.

For the recommended specs, the game suggests an Intel Core i9-9900K / AMD Ryzen 7 3700X processor and a Nvidia RTX 2070 or AMD Radeon RX 5700XT GPU.

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Fortnite teamed up with Razer earlier this year to launch a collection premium PC accessories, and now we're getting another interesting collaboration--this time with PowerA. The PowerA Fortnite Special-Edition Xbox/PC Wireless Controller is now up for preorder ahead of its October 1 release, and it's shaping up to be a great option for competitive players. Aside from its premium build quality, it comes bundled with a bonus in-game Fortnite item. It's not the first PowerA x Fortnite collab--several Nintendo Switch accessories, including this Peely-themed Switch wireless controller, are available now--but it is the most premium.

PowerA Fortnite Special-Edition Wireless Controller for Xbox and PC $100

The officially licensed Xbox controller is one of the priciest in PowerA's catalog at $100, but it also has more features than we typically see in PowerA gamepads. Here are the key features:

• Drift-resistant Hall Effect sticks
• Wear-resistant Hall Effect triggers
• Four remappable back buttons
• Trigger locks with three stopping points
• Three custom profiles that can be cycled through on the fly
• USB 2.4GHz wireless for Xbox and PC
• Profile and Share buttons
• Up to 30 hours of battery life
• 10-foot USB-C charging cable (also for wired play)
• Dial to adjust volume on wired headset
• Dual rumble motors
• Tooth Pickaxe in-game item

Combined with its chaotic artwork--which features graffiti of various Fortnite characters and logos--this is a slick controller for Fortnite fans.

Preorder at Amazon

Like all things related to Fortnite, this upcoming controller could be quite popular, especially since it's the most feature-packed Fortnite-themed controller thus far. Be sure to reserve a unit if you're interested in adding it to your console or PC gaming setup. Note that payment won't happen until the item ships--just like all Amazon preorders.

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