Animal Crossing: New Leaf is celebrating its 10-year anniversary today, June 9, 2023. Below, we reexamine New Leaf next to the explosive popularity of its successor, New Horizons, and find appeal in the simpler approach.

It's no exaggeration to say that Animal Crossing: New Horizons changed everything for the once-sleepy life simulation series. Thanks in large part to the onset of the pandemic, New Horizons blew past the combined sales of all previous entries just six weeks after release, and it's sold more than 42 million copies so far. But though New Horizons garnered some well-deserved love from critics and fans alike, I've personally put more hours into its 3DS predecessor, New Leaf, which just turned 10 years old, which still stands as the best pure Animal Crossing experience.

New Leaf is the fourth entry in the Animal Crossing series, and it's fair to say that the game was considered a somewhat conservative evolution of what made the series so good in the first place. Prior to New Horizons, every new entry was essentially more of the same, with a few small twists to keep things interesting. Though that might sound like a criticism, the slow-paced life simulation offered by Animal Crossing doesn't need dramatic shifts to entice fans, especially when they wait a few years between releases.

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Netflix has released the first official trailer for Skull Island, an animated series about a group of explorers who embark on a rescue mission after saving a young woman named Annie from the ocean. Unfortunately for them and all involved, their act of heroism leads them to Skull Island, a place filled with peculiar creatures and formidable monsters, including the iconic Kong.

The series is set to hit Netflix on June 22. The series features a talented cast of voice actors, including Nicolas Cantu (American Born Chinese, The Fabelmans) as Charlie, Mae Whitman (Arrested Development, Good Girls) as Annie, Darren Barnet (Never Have I Ever, Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles) as Mike, Benjamin Bratt (Doctor Strange, Poker Face) as Cap, and Betty Gilpin (Mrs. Davis, Glow) as Irene. Check out the trailer below.

Skull Island is created, written, and executive produced by Brian Duffield, known for his work on Cocaine Bear and Love and Monsters. The animation for the series is crafted by Powerhouse Animation, known for their contributions to Castlevania and Blood of Zeus. Jacob Robinson, Brad Graeber, Jen Chambers, and Thomas Tull serve as executive producers.

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Ubisoft is releasing a trio of documentary-style video updates on the development of the studio's upcoming game, Assassin's Creed Mirage, with the intention of giving players a better idea of what to expect. The first video, titled A Return To Roots, was released June 9 and focuses on all the ways Mirage is bringing features from previous games to the franchise's latest addition.

Although the majority of these features affect gameplay itself, developers have revealed a small treat for long\time fans of the series: a desaturated visual filter meant to evoke the same aesthetic as the game that started it all, 2007's Assassin's Creed.

"We know how excited our community is," artistic director Jean-Luc Sala said of the game. "We also have a nice surprise for our long-timers. We implemented a nostalgic visual filter as an option for those who wish to explore the game with the desaturated blue-gray color palette from the very first AC game."

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If you're in the market for a PS5, now's a great time to buy one with the God of War: Ragnarok PS5 bundle on sale for $500 (down from $560). But before you order the bundle, you should check out Antonline's offer via eBay. The retailer is selling brand-new God of War bundles with the DualSense Edge for $660 total. That means you'll have two controllers out of the gate, including PlayStation's first pro-style controller, which hasn't been discounted yet since launching earlier this year.

PS5 Console + God of War + DualSense Edge Bundle $660 (was $760)

Antonline is a Sony authorized seller, so this is just like buying the console and controller from Amazon or Best Buy. You'll receive the full manufacturer's warranty, and it comes with free shipping and returns within 30 days.

Since the God of War Ragnarok PS5 bundle is currently discounted to $500, you're technically saving $40 overall on this eBay deal versus buying each product separately.

This is the standard PS5 with an optical drive, and inside the box you'll find a voucher for God of War: Ragnarok, one of the best PS5 games.

The DualSense Edge normally sells for $200 on its own. The controller has a premium build and has great customization features, including three pairs of swappable analog sticks and two sets of removable back triggers. It retains the marquee features of the standard DualSense (adaptive triggers and haptic feedback) and comes with a carrying case to help keep it safe and clean.

See at eBay Nintendo Switch OLED Model (Refurbished) $290 (was $350)

eBay also has an enticing deal on the Nintendo Switch OLED.

This Switch OLED model on sale is an eBay refurbished unit that’s in “very good” condition. It also comes with a one-year warranty from a trusted seller with excellent feedback ratings, giving you peace of mind it’ll work as intended. Toss in eBay’s usual money-back guarantee, and you can shop with confidence knowing your OLED model will serve you well.

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The two consoles listed above are among the best gaming deals at eBay right now, but they’re not the only ones you should check out.

You’ll also find an interesting Xbox Series S deal that slashes the console's price to just $218. It only comes with the console and the power cord--you'll need to supply your own controller and HDMI cable. This deal could be good for current Xbox owners looking to add a secondary console to their home. If you do need an Xbox controller to pair with the console, check out this deal on an open-box Elite Series 2 controller. Rounding out the Xbox deals is a Certified Refurbished Xbox Series X sold by Microsoft for $460.

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You can never have too many games in your Steam library, and if you're looking to add a few new titles to your collection that'll work on your Steam Deck, then good news because Green Man Gaming has a great sale right now. The On The Go Sale has discounts for dozens of games, all of which are verified to work on the Steam Deck. The sale runs until June 23, so you have two weeks to make your picks. We've listed some of the highlights below, but we'd recommend checking out the catalog for yourself--there are too many great deals to list here.

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One of the titles that you can grab at a discount is this year's surprise hit, Hi-Fi Rush. It's colorful, charming, and action-packed content that plays like Devil May Cry meets Scott Pilgrim, and if you have a great sense of rhythm, then this game's combat is going to feel incredibly rewarding. Don't worry if you're not the most gifted when it comes to keeping a beat, as the game has plenty of assists that help you have a great time.

Another game that's all about mastering rhythm is Sifu, although you'll be using fists instead of guitars as you deliver punishing blows to anyone who gets in the way of your revenge. An elegant brawler with challenging scenarios, Sifu will test your skills to the max, but mastering virtual martial arts in the process can feel incredibly fulfilling. For a change of pace, check out Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. Developed by Eidos Interactive, this is a gorgeous cosmic rock opera with terrific teamwork that makes the dream work.

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1993's Jurassic Park will be 30 years old on June 11, and actress Ariana Richards--who played John Hammond's granddaughter Lex in the film--is celebrating with a humorous recreation of the film's iconic "Jello scene," where Richards is gobbling down a dessert buffet in the deadly theme park's kitchen before pausing in horror, the Jello on the end of her fork jiggling as she quivers with fear. The camera zooms in on her terrified expression before revealing that she's spotted the silhouette of a velociraptor lurking nearby.

The TikTok clip--which was posted to the official Jurassic World TikTok account--features the original scene of then-13-year old Richards looking terrified, but the bottom half of the screen plays new footage of the actress--now 43 years old--re-enacting the spine-tingling, gelatin-jiggling scene for comedic effect.

The following scene (in which Lex and younger brother Tim are hunted through the park's kitchen by a pair of velociraptors) is not included in the clip, though it's possible more throwback reenactments will be uploaded in the near future, as the franchise is celebrating the film's 30th anniversary all month long, dubbing the month "Jurassic June."

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The Elder Scrolls VI is one of the most-anticipated upcoming games across the video game industry, and it's about to reach an anniversary of sorts. The game was officially announced on June 10, 2018 as part of Bethesda's own E3 event that year.

The announcement trailer didn't reveal much but showed off a massive, sprawling world that fans got pretty excited to learn more about. What fans might not have expected, however, was that five years would pass without Bethesda providing any further significant information. In any event, you can re-watch the original trailer below.

A lot has changed since The Elder Scrolls VI was announced. Microsoft announced it would acquire Bethesda parent company ZeniMax in September 2020 and closed the deal in March 2021. Because of that, The Elder Scrolls VI is now a Microsoft game, and its exclusivity status has been one of the biggest talking points around the game over the years.

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Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 3 has kicked off with a ton of new stuff, including a Transformers crossover that is certain to excite fans of the beloved franchise. In addition to some events around the map and a new Optimus Prime skin in the Season 3 Battle Pass, players can get their hands on a powerful Cybertron Cannon to blast away their foes. Here's where to get one and how they work.

Where to get a Cybertron Cannon and how it works

Cybertron Cannons can be found on the ground or in chests around the island. Although the weapon is Mythic rarity, it's not quite as rare as you'd think, so you should be able to round one up--especially if you're a pretty thorough looter. Cybertron Cannons are a powerful weapon to keep around, so if you manage to come across one, don't pass up the opportunity to add it to your arsenal. It's possible these will have their drop rates nerfed soon, so get in there and enjoy them while you can.

Cybertron Cannons are extremely powerful, so make sure to pick them up when you see them.

Cybertron Cannons take a moment to charge, can be fired two times, and they have a 30-second cooldown that ensures you can't spam firing them repeatedly. This is probably a good thing, as each hit with this heavy-hitter does 110 damage, making it an incredible option for opening an encounter--this will break an enemy's shield and then some. That being said, it's not a particularly good choice for close-quarters combat, so consider SMGs or shotguns at that range.

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There are a lot of fish to catch in Disney Dreamlight Valley, and while most of them are simply specific to certain color puddles, a handful of these water-dwellers can only be caught during certain types of weather or times of the day. That's the case with Kingfish, which you won't be able to catch unless you visit Dazzle Beach when the time is just right. Here's how to catch one.

How to catch Kingfish in Disney Dreamlight Valley

Kingfish can only be caught in the Dazzle Beach biome at night. This means that any quests or tasks you have for catching them will have to wait until the sun sets, which can be a bit of a bummer when you're trying to get things done. But once nighttime arrives, you'll be free to head down to Dazzle Beach and start fishing.

Kingfish can be fished up in the Dazzle Beach biome--but only at night.

To catch a Kingfish at night, look for blue puddles in the water, as these have a high chance of rewarding you with this elusive fish. However, even fishing late in the day doesn't always guarantee you'll catch a Kingfish on your first cast. Keep at it with those blue puddles, though, and you'll eventually get what you're after.

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Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 3 is live, and the season starts a brand-new line of weekly and story-based quests. As you jump into this new season, you'll be given a selection of Snapshots, Weekly, and Trials quests to help you score some additional XP in your matches. There are also Transformer-themed quests to complete. While more will be added with the weeks to come, here are all the quests currently available.

Transformers - More than meets the eyeTransformers Part 1 - 150k XP total

• Acquire a Cybertron Cannon in different matches 0/3 (30k XP)
• Collect the first Transformer token 0/13 Stage 1 of 13 (30k XP)
• Damage opponents with the Kinetic Boomerang 0/500 (30k XP)
• Emote after destroying a gas can or pump 0/1 (30k XP)
• Travel distance in vehicles or while mounted 0/1000 Stage 1 of 3 (30k XP)

Transformers Part 2

These quests will unlock one week from Season 3's launch.

Snapshots Quests - Discover adventures on the island

For the story-invested players, these narrated quests will clue you in what new chaos has been brought to the island this season. There's never a dull moment in Reality Zero.

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If the recent Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has you in the mood for more expanded universe Star Wars stories, Humble's new Star Wars Legends, Myths, And The High Republic book bundle will more than satisfy.

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This giant ebook bundle packs over 40 Star Wars books from across the new expanded universe and the classic pre-Disney Legends universe alike. There are even several titles from the new High Republic era, which is set hundreds of years before the prequel trilogy. While the books are mostly aimed at children and young adults, this is also a great way to jump into Star Wars' massive expanded universe content.

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Netflix has no shortage of great content in its catalog, but The Haunting of Hill House (directed by Mike Flanagan) sits near the top of the pack. Offering a terrifying story about a family haunted by memories of their old home, the mini-series is one of the creepiest shows you’ll find on TV today. If you were a fan of the show (which is itself an adaption of a novel by Shirley Jackson), you’ll want to check out an upcoming novel that will take you back to the same nightmare-inducing universe.

A Haunting on the Hill: A Novel $15 - Kindle | $27 (was $30) - Hardcover

A Haunting on the Hill: A Novel, written by Elizabeth Hand, doesn’t release until October 3, but preorders are now open at Amazon. The 336-page book returns to the same world of Jackson’s original book and follows Holly Sherwin--a struggling playwright that’s on the cusp of hitting her big break. However, after renting Hill House to relax and write in peace, things start spiraling out of control.

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Novelist and The Sandman creator Neil Gaiman called the book “scary and beautifully written,” as it offers a tale of isolation that should be thrilling to both newcomers of series veterans alike. Novelist and juror for the Shirley Jackson Awards Paul Tremblay had even more kind words to say about the book.

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A new season has arrived in Fortnite. Chapter 4 Season 3: Wilds brings a new biome and a Transformers crossover, letting you fight through the jungle as Optimus Prime. Additionally the update replaces Fortnite's bounty boards with the all-new job board, and here's what you need to know about the change.

How job boards work

Bounty boards, which were removed from the game back in May, previously let you accept a bounty on another randomly selected player, and eliminating the target within a time limit would reward you with gold. In Season 3: Wilds, bounty boards are replaced with job boards to give you more choices in how you earn your gold.

Interacting with a job board will give you a choice of three jobs, one of which is still the normal bounty option.

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John Wick director Chad Stahelski has commented on the ongoing Hollywood writers' strike, saying there is a genuine concern that AI could become problematic.

"I think the writers are addressing something that people dismiss too easily, which is the AI influence," Stahelski said on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast.

Stahelski said some people are asking, "Why are we talking about AI?," adding that the technology is too rudimentary at this point to actually write a good movie. But Stahelski believes the writers' union is right to take a stand because of what could happen in the future.

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In a recent interview, Hayden Christensen and Diego Luna revealed their shared passion for collecting props from their iconic Star Wars roles. Speaking with Variety, both actors expressed their deep connection to the franchise and the significance of these props in their lives.

Christensen, known for his portrayal of Anakin Skywalker in two Star Wars prequels--Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith--as well as on Disney+'s Obi-Wan Kenobi, discussed his lifelong admiration for Star Wars. Being cast as Anakin Skywalker was a childhood dream come true.

"I mean, getting to swing a lightsaber is pretty awesome," Christensen said. "I got to keep a couple of them. One from the prequels, and then I got to keep two lightsabers from the Obi-Wan show--one Darth Vader, and one Anakin, because they’re a little bit different."

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Humble Bundle is celebrating Pride Month with a special Pixel Pride game bundle. The limited-time bundle includes up to seven indie PC games made by LGBTQ+ developers and featuring LGBTQ+ themes and stories, and a portion of all sales is donated to The Trevor Project charity.

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Humble's Pixel Pride bundle is available in two price tiers. The base $7 package gets you four games, including the award-winning 2D platformer Celeste, the hand-drawn adventure game Later Alligator, the road trip RPG Get in the Car, Loser!, and pixel art visual novel Bad End Theater.

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Projectors are a great way to watch movies or even play games on a big screen, but they can be quite expensive. Luckily, in celebration of National Movie Night--yes, that’s apparently a thing that happens to be today, June 9--a bunch of Yaber projectors are on sale at Amazon, bringing several models down to the $100 range or lower.

The most affordable of the Yaber deals is the Yaber V5 mini projector, which is available at Amazon for just $80 (normally $120). The Yaber V5 features native 1080p resolution and can upscale to 4K playback, built-in speakers, and supports wifi and Bluetooth connections. It ships with a protective carrying case and a tripod.

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If you're looking for deals on higher-end models, the Yaber K1 is on sale for $350 (down from $400). The K1 supports 1080p and 4K resolutions and features 5G connectivity, high-fidelity speakers, and autofocus. The Yaber Pro V9 is also available for $190 (normally $300), which also sports 4K support and wireless connectivity but at a more affordable price point.

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The Ubisoft Forward Sale is now live, slashing prices on hundreds of games. Everything from Assassin’s Creed Valhalla to Riders Republic is on sale, giving you a chance to clear out your wishlist without destroying your wallet. The annual sales event launched ahead of Ubisoft Forward 2023, which will detail upcoming Ubisoft projects on June 12.

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Better yet, you can save an additional 20% on select titles when using promo code UBISOFT20 at checkout. This code works on most games in the Ubisoft catalog, although preorders, subscription services, and in-game credits are excluded. Be sure to use it before checking out to take a few extra bucks off the price.

If you’ve fallen way behind in the Assassin’s Creed saga, consider checking out the Mythology Pack. The bundle includes Valhalla, Odyssey, and Origins, and now that it’s discounted by more than $100, it’s a great way to get three awesome games for less than the price of one. You can also grab the American History Pack for $28. It comes with Assassin's Creed III + Liberation Remastered, Black Flag, Freedom Cry, and Rogue.

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One of the most legendary Yakuza of all time is making a comeback soon, Kazuma Kiryu finds himself drawn into a new conflict. The unstoppable Dragon of Dojima returns in Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name later this year. If you preorder at Fanatical, you can save 13% off the price and get some great extras by preordering it. Like a Dragon Gaiden regularly costs $50, but Steam keys at Fanatical are down to just $43.49.

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Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name

All preorders of Like a Dragon Gaiden will unlock three characters to use in the game when they're available, as you'll be able to step into the ring as Goro Majima, the Mad Dog of Shimano, Taiga Saejima, otherwise known as the Slayer of Eighteen, and Tojo Clan chairman Daigo Dojima.

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Netflix recently started seriously cracking down on password-sharing in the United States by forcing people on a shared account who don't live in the same house to sign up for their own or leave, and, surprising no one, Netflix subscriber numbers are reportedly increasing as a result.

Research company Antenna put out a study that said after the password-sharing changes went into effect in late May, Netflix had the four single-largest days of US subscription additions since 2019. Netflix is said to have added almost 100,000 new sign-ups on May 26 and May 27.

NEW on the Antenna Blog: A first look at the impact of Netflix’s pw sharing crackdown. In the first 6 days since they implemented the new policy, Netflix has had the 4 single largest days of US user acquisition in the 4.5 yrs that Antenna has been measuring the streaming service. pic.twitter.com/rDYGxR43Qm

— Antenna (@AntennaData) June 9, 2023

Average daily sign-ups after the password-sharing changes jumped by 102% compared to Netflix's previous 60-day average. New sign-ups were reportedly higher than even the spikes that came during COVID lockdowns.

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