Diablo 4 Season 8 is in full swing, and the first balance update of the season has brought buffs to a number of classes and seasonal mechanics. Blizzard additionally used the update to introduce a major quality-of-life change, one that it initially forgot to include in the official patch notes.

Update 2.2.1, released on May 14, added the ability to turn in Tree of Whisper bounties from any major city, with Ravens of the Tree now located in Cerrigar, Gea Kul, Ked Bardu, Kyovashad, Kurast, and Zarbinzet. It's actually a feature originally part of Season 7 that has now been added to the game permanently.

"This is a commonly requested feature from Season 7 that has been brought back into the game to help players save time on Whisper events," Diablo community manager Adam Fletcher said in a post on the Diablo 4 forums. "This was originally missing from the patch notes, but we will be updating the notes to include this feature."

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It’s been three years since Sony launched its popular WH-1000XM5 Headphones, and today it’s officially launched its successor--the WH-1000XM6. Combining the sleek design of the XM5 with the folding functionality of the fan-favorite XM4, it looks like a promising upgrade to one of the most popular series of noise-canceling headphones on the market. Early reviews are incredibly positive, with critics pointing out the headphones impeccable noise-canceling skills and ultra-comfortable design.

Sony WH-1000XM6 - Noise-Canceling Wireless Headphones $448 at Amazon | $450 at Best Buy

Sony made two big upgrades with these new headphones. First and foremost is the new noise-cancelling processor. The QN3 is said to be seven times faster than the processor found in the XM5, resulting in enhanced active noise cancellation. Using 12 microphones, it can sense and react to noises in your environment, quickly adapting its performance to reduce ambient sound.

The other big addition is a folding design. Sony abandoned this with the XM5, and while the folding system isn’t identical to the older XM4, the end result is the same. Thanks to metal joints, you can swivel and fold the earcups, making them easy to transport in the included carrying case.

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You’ll get up to 30 hours of battery life on a single charge, a wider headband for added support and comfort, and a six-microphone system that picks up and transmits crisp audio for phone calls. Of course, it also benefits from enhanced drivers, which should provide clearer audio for all your content. The headphones are available in black, midnight blue, and silver.

If you’re looking to upgrade your audio but don’t want to drop $450, both the XM5 and XM4 headphones are currently on sale. The XM5 are $348 (was $400) and the XM4 are $298 (was $348). The XM5 offer superior noise-canceling chops compared to the XM4--but they lack the ability to fold, making them a bit more cumbersome for travel or storage. The XM4 are also on sale for $50 off, though audio quality and ANC aren’t quite up to par with the newer XM5.

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Kratos & Aloy 10-Inch Plushies

Kratos - $10.77 (was $20) | Aloy - $11.80 (was $20)

See Kratos Plush See Aloy Plush

Horizon Forbidden West - Aloy 6-Inch Deluxe Action Figure

$20.62 (was $50)

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The Last of Us - Joel & Ellie 6-Inch Action Figures (2-Pack)

$50

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Several figures and plushies in the official PlayStation Shapes Collection are on sale for super cheap at Amazon. God of War fans can get the awesome 10-inch Kratos plush for $10.77 (was $20) and the six-inch Atreus action figure for $15.10 (was $30). Meanwhile, Horizon Forbidden West fans can grab the deluxe Aloy action figure for $20.62 (was $50), the Aloy plush for $11.80 (was $20), and Varl action figure for $12 (was $30).

• PlayStation Studios 6-inch Action Figures
• Aloy from Horizon Forbidden West (Deluxe 6" Figure) -- $20.62 ($50)
• Atreus from God of War: Ragnarok (6" Figure) -- $15.10 ($30)
• Varl from Horizon Forbidden West (6" Figure) -- $12 ($30)
• Jin Sakai Action Figure - Ghost of Tsushima (6" Figure) -- $27 ($30)
• Kratos from God of War: Ragnarok (6" Figure) -- $30
• Joel & Ellie from The Last of Us (6" Figure 2-Pack)-- $50
• PlayStation Studios 10-inch Collector's Plushies
• Kratos from God of War Ragnarok (10" Plush) -- $10.77 ($20)
• Aloy from Horizon Forbidden West (10" Plush) -- $11.80 ($20)

PlayStation Shapes Collection

Check out full lineup of official PlayStation action figures and plushies

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The PlayStation Shapes Collection debuted last year and currently features seven action figures and two plushies based on characters from popular PlayStation Studios games. All of the action figures were designed by Spin Master and officially licensed by PlayStation. Each 6-inch figure has many points of articulation and is bundled with swappable accessories. The PlayStation Shapes Collection also includes a two-pack of action figures featuring Joel and and Ellie action figures, though The Last of Us figure set isn't on sale right now.

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Playing video games is getting more expensive these days, with companies like Nintendo and Microsoft announcing plans to charge $80 for games, and consumers are ready and willing to embrace the higher price points. That's according to analyst Rhys Elliott of Alinea Analytics.

He told IGN that with Nintendo and Xbox announcing price hikes on games, "the floodgates are now open." He expects every publisher in video games that can raise prices to do so.

"The market will bear it. Plenty of gamers are willing to pay price points above $70, as shown by the high numbers of those willing to pay $100 for a few days' early access," Elliott said.

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There's a reason Blizzard used World of Warcraft's 20th-anniversary livestream in November 2024 as the stage to finally announce player housing. It's likely to be the biggest feature in the game's two-decade history: a huge undertaking that players have wanted Blizzard to commit to since WoW first launched back in 2004. The news that Blizzard was finally rolling up its sleeves and tackling it was a huge deal that had players buzzing with ideas, possibilities, and more than a few concerns.

Blizzard is buzzing with ideas and possibilities, too. That much is clear after spending several hours going hands-on with an early version of WoW's player housing and talking to the developers behind it. There's no shortage of "what if this was possible?" or "that's a great idea!" conversations during my day at Blizzard's Boston office. It's the first time a group of players outside Blizzard have been able to take the game's player-housing decoration tools for a spin, and the team seems eager to learn what members of the press and various WoW content creators in attendance think, both good and bad. Blizzard employees are constantly jotting down ideas or making notes about player feedback. It's almost as if you can see light bulbs going off in real time about what might be possible.

The basics of player housing seem set in stone--the actual mechanics of decorating a home, the philosophy behind all players being homeowners, and the social-driven nature of the entire endeavor--and have already been officially detailed by Blizzard in a series of blog posts dedicated to the subject. Every player who wants a house will be able to get one, and homes will be located in neighborhoods (one for each faction) where players will have persistent neighbors. Home decor will be doled out as quest rewards, from professions, and other areas of the game. Those are the major facts we already knew, but the finer details, as well as the big ideas for what the housing system could be potentially capable of in the future, all still feel a bit ethereal.

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May is Military Appreciation Month, and Activision is marking the occasion by releasing new DLC in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone, with revenue from sales going to supporting military veterans.

The new Call of Duty Endowment United Force tracer pack includes operator skins based on real people, including First Sergeant Korey Staley and Captain Florent "Flo" Groberg. Activision also announced a special in-game event called Got Your Six, which was made in partnership wth USAA.

The DLC includes the "Veiled" and "Daggered" operator skins, as well as the "Ballistics Breaker" LW3A1 Frostline sniper rifle with tracers. The DLC bundle also comes with the "Barreled Barrage" Kilo 141 assault rifle with tracers, along with the "Koriolis Effect" weapon charm, the "7.62 Fangs" spray," the "Valiant Vines" weapon sticker, and the "Ghillie Glint" animated calling card. What's more, it includes the "Rattling Ranger" animated emblem, the "Fieldcraft" loading screen," and one-hour double XP tokens for player XP and weapon XP.

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Wizards of the Coast is collaborating with Square Enix for Magic: The Gathering - Final Fantasy, a full expansion to the decades-old trading card game themed completely around the 16 mainline Final Fantasy games. Included within the main set is a small "bonus sheet"--a set within the set--called Final Fantasy: Through The Ages.

Through The Ages features 64 cards from MTG history and reskins them with official artwork from the Square Enix archives in Japan. Over 5,000 pieces of art were considered for the project, but 64 cards--four for each of the 16 mainline games--have been created, and we have an exclusive look at three of them; two from Final Fantasy VIII, and one from the newest game in the franchise, Final Fantasy XVI.

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Magic: The Gathering - Final Fantasy launches June 13 in local game stores and big box retailers. Cards from the Through The Ages bonus sheet can be found in one out of every three Play Booster packs, as well as one in every Collector Booster pack.

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Blue Protocol: Star Resonance is the anime MMORPG Blue Protocol brought back from the dead, only it's from a completely different development team and, unlike the original Blue Protocol, will actually be receiving a Western release later this year.

You may remember Blue Protocol as a long-in-development MMO from Bandai Namco. The game was released in Japan in 2023, with a planned Western release in conjunction with Amazon Games planned for 2024. Unfortunately, the game struggled to find an audience, and Bandai Namco announced last year it would end service for Blue Protocol in January 2025, with its Western release also canceled.

Flash forward to now, and Chinese gaming giant Tencent has struck a deal with Bandai Namco to use Blue Protocol's assets, and under a new studio called Shanghai Bokura Network Technology, has essentially rebuilt and will be rereleasing Blue Protocol with a new subtitle: Star Resonance. It's slated to release this year on Steam, the Epic Games Store, and on mobile devices, with cross-play and cross-progression between platforms.

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Bring a piece of aerospace history into your home with the new (and gigantic) Lego Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. Lego Insiders can pick up the 2,417-piece set for $230 at Lego's online store, while everyone else can get their hands on it starting May 18. Signing up to be a Lego Insider is entirely free, so if you’re worried about inventory running out or want it in your hands as soon as possible, consider joining the free membership. You’ll also get an adorable Up-Scaled Baby Astronaut as a bonus.

Lego Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (2,417 pieces) $230

This intricate build is based on the Boeing 747 and NASA Space Shuttle Enterprise. Its 18-wheel landing gear is fully retractable, there’s a functioning cargo bay, and the shuttle easily clips onto the Boeing thanks to a simple mounting system. It looks like a faithful replica of the two aircraft--complete with a bunch of interactive components. The completed model measures 25 inches long and comes with a few informational markers so your guests can learn more about the centerpiece.

See at Lego Store Lego Shuttle Carrier AircraftGallery

As mentioned above, buying the Lego Shuttle Carrier Aircraft includes the Up-Scaled Baby Astronaut set as an added free bonus with purchases over $150 until May 23 (normally $20). Standing over four inches tall and composed of 250 pieces, it should make a fun companion for the premium Lego Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.

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Pokemon biology has been one of the great pseudosciences, with some fan books going into great detail on the ins and outs of some of your favorite Pokemon. Japan and Nintendo, however, have actually taken this a step further and created the Pokemon Fossil Exhibit. The exhibit featured sculpted Pokemon "skeletons" displayed alongside real dinosaur fossils, and has been traveling across Japan since its creation. The Pokemon Company has confirmed the exhibit is coming to North America in May 2026.

The exhibit is heading to Chicago's Field Museum on May 22, 2026. It'll be the first time the exhibition will be seen outside of Japan. It is currently at Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum in Katsuyama, Fukui. Its next stop will be the Benex Dinosaur Museum in Nagasaki.

Kabuto and Kabutops

"During your visit, you'll see vibrant Pokemon models side by side with extinct lifeforms from the Field Museum's collection--including scientific casts of Field Museum dinosaurs like Sue the T. Rex and the Chicago Archaeopteryx next to Fossil Pokemon like Tyrantrum and Archeops," the museum said in a statement. "How many differences (and similarities) will you spot, Trainers?"

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The Rambo Report

$23.69 (was $29)

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When you think about iconic '80s action stars, there's a good chance that Rambo is at the top of the list. The five-film series starring the troubled war veteran still ranks as one of the most iconic cinematic franchises out there, and if you'd like to explore the cultural impact of the character, you can do just that with The Rambo Report. The 304-page hardcover book is written by film historian Nat Segaloff, and it includes a foreword by Rambo's creator, David Morrell. It's available now at Amazon, and even slightly discounted to just $23.69 (was $29).

The Rambo Report $23.69 (was $29)

Billed as the ultimate guide to Rambo, the book examines the entire franchise, starting with the 1972 novel First Blood that inspired the first Rambo film (and the differences between the two), and the sequels that rebooted the character into a one-man army--all the way up to the final (for now) entry, 2019's Rambo: Last Blood. The project also includes behind-the-scenes anecdotes, critiques about violence in the media, and a whole lot more.

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If you're interested in exploring Rambo's origins, Morrell's First Blood novel remains popular to this day, and you can easily pick up a copy if you want to read it for yourself. Amazon offers the paperback edition for $15.32 (was $19). Despite serving as the basis for the first Rambo film, the book features some major differences, making it worth reading even for fans who've seen Rambo: First Blood numerous times. Like the movie, First Blood focuses on a war veteran who is brutalized by the police chief of a small town and responds by waging a personal war against him and his officers. While the movie makes Rambo a much more sympathetic character who goes out of his way to minimize casualties--in the first movie, anyway--the book has a much higher body count.

You can also get a good deal on the live-action Rambo movies. If you want to pick up multiple movies at once, Rambo: The Complete Collector's Set compiles the first four Rambo movies on Blu-ray for $26.25 (was $45). You can pick up the first three films with the Rambo Box Set for $13.71 (was $25) on standard Blu-ray, or a collector's edition of the first four movies for $26.25 (was $45). This version includes numerous featurettes focused on the production of the Rambo movies, audio commentary tracks, interviews, and the infamous alternate ending to First Blood. 4K editions of all five films--Rambo: First Blood, Rambo 2, Rambo 3, Rambo (2008), and Rambo: Last Blood--are also available, and there's a healthy mix of archival materials mixed with new bonus materials and sharper image and audio quality.

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Publisher Playsaurus has announced that Cookie Clicker will release on consoles May 22--exactly a week from today. One of the first major idle games, Cookie Clicker originally released on the web in 2013 before hitting Steam in 2021. The title, developed by DashNet, is coming to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and even Switch 2 (though of course at a later date).

Nintendo's listing for Cookie Clicker notes that the game will cost $5. This is in line with the Steam edition of the idle game. Playsaurus is promising more than 600 upgrades in Cookie Clicker, as well as the ability to "pet your dragon." For those unfamiliar, you click the cookie to make more cookies.

The clicker or idle genre has proven to be quite popular on Steam. For instance, over 100,000 people were playing Bongo Cat last month. The game sees a feline pawing a taskbar as a player clicks their mouse or types, and then you can earn hats for your digital kitty.

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After seven years on the market, 150 million systems, and more than 1 billion games sold for the original Switch, Nintendo is finally ushering in its next console--the Nintendo Switch 2. Following many rumors, leaks, and reports, Nintendo revealed lots of new information about the Switch 2 during a Nintendo Direct on April 2--and it was a beefy broadcast with tons of announcements.

This post covers everything we know about the Switch 2's price and release date, launch titles, backward compatibility, and lots more. Preorders for the Switch 2 were expected to open on April 9 but were later delayed due to US President Donald Trump's controversial tariff plan. They eventually opened on April 24, with original pricing for the system and games--but not accessories--being maintained.

Table of Contents [hide]

• Switch 2 Price And Release Date

Switch 2 Price And Release Date

The Nintendo Switch 2 will launch on June 5, and it's priced at $450 in the US. Nintendo will also offer a $500 bundle that includes a digital copy of Mario Kart World, though it will only be available until this fall. This bundle represents a good value, as Mario Kart World on its own costs $80. A June launch for the Switch 2 was previously rumored, while the price point is also in the ballpark of what people expected it to cost.

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Netflix's BioShock movie remains in development, director Francis Lawrence confirmed in an interview, adding that "it's a tricky adaptation" that will take time to get right.

Lawrence told IGN that he just recently got a new draft of the BioShock movie script, and he took a meeting with writer Justin Rhodes on May 7. Rhodes was a writer on Terminator: Dark Fate and the video game anthology series Secret Level. A previous draft was written by Blade Runner 2049's Michael Green.

"It's a tricky adaptation, so there's lots of things to figure out and to get right," Lawrence said of the BioShock movie.

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After launching in South Korea, China, and Taiwan back in April 2024, Persona 5: The Phantom X finally has a worldwide release date. The Persona 5 spin-off hits PC and mobile devices on June 26, 2025, and brings with it even more of the series' stylish turn-based combat and an entirely new cast of Phantom Thieves.

Developed as a collaboration between Atlus' P-Studio and Chinese developer Black Wing Games, Persona 5: The Phantom X is a mobile-focused title that sends players back to the world of Persona 5, albeit as a new character and under slightly different circumstances. In it, players control Wonder, a second-year high school student at Kokatsu Academy whose worldview is shifted upon meeting a mysterious owl-like creature named Lufel. After some good old-fashioned exposition, the duo eventually set off on quest to recruit a new cast of Phantom Thieves, their ultimate goal being to restore the concept of desire back to humanity and put a stop to the mysterious force hellbent on taking it away.

What ensues is a continuously-expanding, live-service adventure filled with much of the same turn-based combat, social simulation, and time management elements found in mainline Persona titles. Players will get the chance to explore new dungeons and areas of Mementos, take on part-time jobs and join after-school clubs, strengthen their Personas, raise Wonder's social stats, and form relationships all while experiencing an original story. Players can also expect fan-favorite Persona characters--like Joker, Ann, Ryuji, and the rest of the original Phantom Thieves--to make appearances in the game via special contracts. Lastly, the Phantom X also introduces new elements to the series, including the PvE-focused Velvet Trials, mini-games, and the ability to create and join Guilds.

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In the past few years, the demand for Pokemon cards--like most collectible cards--has skyrocketed, as has the rise of scalpers and theft. In most instances with these massive stolen hauls, they're recovered and the suspect arrested, much like a recent story of a man in the UK getting caught with a stolen cache of cards worth £250,000 (approx. $332,500).

The stolen haul was discovered after Greater Manchester Police raided a home in Hyde, Tameside, which is on the outskirts of Greater Manchester. Booster packs were still in their original bags, with some of the individual graded cards worth up to £560 (approx. $744).

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Back in September, Ubisoft announced its commitment to fixing the gameplay issues that plagued Star Wars Outlaws since its launch. Today, the game's second DLC story, A Pirates Fortune, is launching alongside a new Star Wars Outlaws patch that's adding a few more improvements.

Ubisoft shared the details about the new patch on Star Wars Outlaws' official site. Some of the most notable changes involve Kay's newfound ability to smoothly switch from her blaster to two-handed weapons. Kay has also gained the ability to free-fire while riding her speeder. New space contracts have also been added for all players that feature multiple challenge types for additional rewards.

Some of the latest changes are essentially cleaning up problems, like audio lines playing out of order or certain props disappearing or floating in the air during cutscenes. A handful of other fixes were introduced to keep players from being unable to complete intel quests and to prevent Kay from getting trapped in a room on Toshara while respawning.

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It's the biggest movie of the year, one of the biggest video games ever, and now the medium to deliver the NFL schedule for one of the biggest-market organizations in the US. That's right: Minecraft was utilized by the Los Angeles Chargers to unveil the football team's 2025-26 schedule.

On X, the official Chargers account posted the video, calling it the Schedule Release: Minecraft Edition (Bolt Up). Along with showcasing the order of their opponents for later this year (and into 2026), the video recreates the Minecraft chicken jockey craze during the credits. This includes even a crowd of people flipping out when the scene occurs.

should we REALLY make our schedule release video in minecraft?
yes yes yesyes
yesyes yes yes yes
yes yes yes yes yes
yes yesyes yes yes
yes yesye yes yes
yes yes yesyes pic.twitter.com/gxk31Dql5L

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) May 15, 2025

Chargers senior director of social media Megan Julian stated on X that the Minecraft video took over 500 in-game hours to create, with usually three meetings weekly (sometimes up to five) for the writers. Everything was made in-house. This is the second straight year the Chargers have delivered their schedule through a video game. Last year, The Sims 2 was utilized by the NFL organization.

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Today marks the official launch of Nubs!: Arena, a chaotic arena brawler developed by Glowfish Interactive and Rangatang. Anywhere from four to 20 players can battle each other or team up in the game. And the devs are so eager to introduce players to Nubs!: Arena that they are giving it away for free for the next 24 hours.

Players who want to give Nubs!: Arena a shot only need to visit its Steam page and claim it before the free promotion ends tomorrow, May 16. The launch trailer for Nubs!: Arena has also been released to give everyone a taste of the party-style brawl that awaits them.

This game supports local co-op with up to four players, while 20 players is the limit online. There are numerous traps and power-ups in the arena, and knocked-out player-characters are actually transformed into stars. The players can still run while turned into a star, and they're going to have to put their legs to the test. Because if any of the other players capture the stars before they respawn as their regular character, then the corresponding player is eliminated from the game.

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Video game research firm DFC Intelligence has released its newest report, spotlighting how the GTA 6 delay and the launch of the Switch 2 may impact the video game industry's fortunes this year.

Beginning with GTA 6, DFC said the delay of GTA 6 from Fall 2025 to May 2026 is "particularly impactful" in part because it was expected to help lift sales of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S during the holidays. Read on to see a full breakdown of what the DFC report said about GTA 6, the Switch 2, and more.

A "real blow" to PS5

DFC's David Cole told Bloomberg that the GTA 6 delay is a "real blow to the PS5" this year in part because the game is expected to convince "consumers to get off the PS4 and on to a PS5."

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