Nintendo Switch 2 ended its debut summer with record-breaking sales numbers, according to data from research firm Circana.

Sharing the firm's monthly sales report for August on Bluesky, Circana executive director Mat Piscatella stated that 2.4 million Switch 2 units were sold in the US during its first three months on the market, surpassing the record set by the PlayStation 4, which had sold 2.2 million units in its first three months. That makes Switch 2 the fastest-selling home console in the US through this timeframe.

Hardware - With 2.4M units sold LTD over its first 3 months market, Nintendo Switch 2 is now 5% ahead of the previous record setting pace of PlayStation 4, which sold 2.2M units during the 3 months ending January 2014.

— Mat Piscatella (@matpiscatella.bsky.social) October 8, 2025 at 9:02 AM

Piscatella added that Switch 2 sales are pacing 77% ahead of the original Nintendo Switch when comparing their respective first three months on sale. Circana also credited Switch 2 for driving an 11% increase in spending growth in August 2025 compared to the same month in the previous year.

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Fans of the Dead Space series have expressed strong dissatisfaction over the pricing of a new crossover bundle in EA's free-to-play title, Skate, currently in early access. The bundle features a cardboard-style Isaac Clarke costume, a themed skateboard, the Necro Stomp emote, and several stickers. The bundle is priced at 3,350 San Van Bucks, the game's virtual currency, but the pricing structure forces players to spend a minimum of $35 to acquire the necessary in-game funds. While a USG Ishimura T-shirt is available for free, the cost of the full bundle has drawn criticism for being excessive.

While this isn't the first collab between Dead Space and Skate, as there was a free Isaac Clarke skin in Skate 3, the new bundle has continued the debate over microtransaction practices. Some players drew comparisons between the original Skate 3 unlockable and this new version, pointing out that when the costume was free, it felt more like a fun Easter egg than a monetized item. However, others have suggested the new costume's exaggerated cardboard look may be intentional, aiming for a Halloween costume aesthetic rather than a direct replica of Isaac Clarke's iconic armor. Even so, the $35 price tag remains a sore point.

On the left is Isaac Clarke from Dead Space in Skate 3. Model looks incredible & could only be obtained through a cheat code.

On the right is an Issac Clarke outfit in a bundle (pic included of bundle) on Skate 4. It costs roughly $30-$40 and looks horrible.

Idek what to say… pic.twitter.com/G4dd9Y76jr

— SirBlackout (@BlackoutTV_) October 7, 2025

However, not all community feedback has been negative. One Reddit user offered a more nuanced view of the game's direction: "On the one hand, I do get it. I would definitely have preferred this game to be a traditional, single-player Skate game where everything is included in the purchase price. On the other hand, I've been playing and loving the new Skate. You do get tons of cosmetics for free if the virtual dress-up part of the game is your bag. The biggest downside is that you only get a handful of items for free that are from real skating brands."

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WD Black and Seagate Xbox Expansion Card Deals

WD 1TB for $110 (was $150) | Seagate 2TB for $200 (was $250)

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If you're running out of space on your Xbox Series X or Series S, check out Amazon's deals on the WD Black C50 and Seagate Expansion Cards before Prime Big Deal Days ends tonight at 12 AM PT. The WD Black C50 1TB is discounted to $110 (was $150), but make sure to click the coupon on the store page to get the full discount. Seagate's 1TB model is bit more expensive at $123.49, while both 2TB models are on sale for $200.

• WD Black C50 Xbox Expansion Card
  • 1TB -- $110 ($150)
  • 2TB -- $200 ($250)
• Seagate Xbox Expansion Card
  • 1TB -- $123.49 ($160)
  • 2TB -- $200 ($250)

If you're an Xbox Game Pass subscriber, you've probably noticed that your storage space can disappear fast. Speaking of Game Pass, with substantial price increases on the horizon--Game Ultimate will soon be $30/month--you may want to stock up on prepaid codes. Amazon is selling 3-month Game Pass Ultimate codes for $57 ($19/month).

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Pokemon Battle Academy (2024)

$16 (was $25)

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If you've ever wanted to learn how to play the popular Pokemon Trading Card Game, this is a wonderful time to dive in. Amazon is discounting Pokemon Battle Academy (2024) to just $16 (was $25) for Prime Big Deal Days, which is the best price ever for the board game. Often cited as the fastest way for newcomers to learn the basics of the TCG, it comes with everything you need to get started. This deal is expected to end later today when Big Deal Days wraps up--so head over to Amazon and take a look while you can.

Pokemon Battle Academy (2024) $16 (was $25)

Several versions of Pokemon Battle Academy have released over the years. This 2024 edition is the latest. It includes three prebuilt decks of 60 cards, each deck featuring either Armarouge ex, Pikachu ex, or Darkrai ex. There's also a bunch of promo cards with characters like Mareep, Miraidon, Bisharp, and Pawniard, among others.

Beyond the three prebuilt decks, here's a look at what else is included:

• Instruction sheet
• Tutorial guides to walk you through the decks (x2)
• Two-player game board
• Deck boxes (x3)
• Rulebook
• Metallic coin
• Damage counters
• Code card for Pokemon TCG Live

In short, Battle Academy is packed with everything you need to successfully play your first few matches of the Pokemon TCG. If you're looking to get started with the game, this is a great choice at just $16.

See at Amazon Pokemon Battle Academy

Interested in learning other tabletop games? Disney Lorcana Gateway is less than $20 right now, and it shows you the ropes of Ravensburger's hit TCG. It's designed specifically to show newcomers how a typical match should run, and its two prebuilt decks serve as a nice entry into the increasingly popular world of Lorcana.

The Star Wars: Unlimited Shadows of the Galaxy Starter Set is even cheaper at $14 (was $35), and this just so happens to be its lowest price ever. While it's not quite as hands-on as Gateway or Battle Academy, it comes with everything you need for your first battle. You'll get two decks featuring the Mandalorian and Moff Gideon, various tokens, a rulebook, and 10 exclusive cards you won't find anywhere else.

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After a day of speculation and befuddlement, Nintendo has released a second animated short with a baby that shows Pikmin moving blocks, toys, and a pacifier around a room. However, the company still doesn't seem to be announcing a new video game, movie, or TV show--at least not yet.

On the Nintendo Today app, the company posted the new video, which is titled "Close to You" just like the first weird animated short from yesterday. However, this time Pikmin are seen in the baby's room as the instigators for the harmless mischievous. Other than the blue, yellow, and red creatures, the two videos seem identical. Neither mentions any other sort of Pikmin project.

Earlier this year, Shigeru Miyamoto did express his desire to create a Pikmin movie or TV series. The creator behind the franchise has helped make Pikmin shorts before, and Nintendo has them featured on a dedicated webpage.

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Amazon Big Deal Days is almost over, but the sales event is still offering some big discounts on dozens of console games. The specials includes PS5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch titles, with big savings on a surprising number of recent releases. Whether you're looking for JRPGs or a massive sandbox to lose yourself in, there's bound to be something here that'll catch your eye, and we've rounded up the notable items on the sale for you to check out.

Some of the big discounts are for Assassin's Creed Shadows, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, and Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon. If you're looking for PS5 games specifically, then you're in for a treat thanks to a big PlayStation Studios sale that offers price cuts on numerous first-party titles like Horizon Forbidden West, Gran Turismo 7, and The Last of Us.

We've rounded up the best Prime Day game deals for Nintendo Switch, PS5, and Xbox Series X at Amazon, and you can check the lists below--or click through to their respective Amazon hubs--to see what you can grab for cheap.

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A Borderlands 4 dataminer has claimed that the game might have featured one of the franchise's most polarizing characters at one point in its development. Having dug through files for the game, EpicNNG uploaded their findings online.

Warning: Spoilers for Borderlands 3 and 4 below

After spending a chunk of time on Kairos, players eventually run into the Siren Amara in Borderlands 4 as part of their quest to find the villainous Vile Lector. Amara was the playable Siren character first introduced in 2019's Borderlands 3, but EpicNNG believes that the files they uncovered pointed toward players originally teaming up with a different Siren at this point in the story: Ava.

Alright I guess we're gonna talk about it:
AVA WAS CUT FROM BORDERLANDS 4
There are numerous files related to her in the game, more specifically outlining that she was completely replaced by Amara late in development. This means yes, she was originally going to team up with… https://t.co/QF8ESnQp0p pic.twitter.com/tBoVNJ8hpq

— EpicNNG (@EpicNNG) October 6, 2025

The Siren-in-training made her debut in Borderlands 3, but over the years, she's become more hated than Claptrap due to her role in that game and her overall character arc. The files discovered by EpicNNG have several "Ava" titles, and Amara uses powers that are very similar to Ava's own Siren abilities that she inherited from her deceased mentor, Maya.

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The Battlefield series has been plagued over the years with significant server issues at launch, but Battlefield 6 lead producer David Sirland doesn't sound too worried about the situation for the new game.

He said on social media that the servers "should be" ready for launch. He added that the popular Battlefield 6 open beta "helped gauge interest" in the game overall.

The Battlefield 6 open beta reportedly reached more than 20 million players and more than 500,000 peak concurrent players on Steam. The beta was so popular that Battlefield Studios implemented server queues to help, but it remains to be seen if there will be server queues for the full release.

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Epic hasn't been shy about going after Fortnite cheaters or targeting cheat sellers in court. Now, Epic is suing two UEFN devs, Idris Nahdi and Ayob Nasser, and accused the pair of using bots to artificially create engagement on their creations.

As laid out in the lawsuit, Nahdi and Nasser allegedly created over 20,000 fake bot accounts and programed them to visit each others' Fortnite islands to inflate the engagement metric Epic uses to compensate creators. Epic paid the pair for the month of December 2024, and then noticed that the bots they created were only engaged with the 10 islands created by the plaintiffs.

The lawsuit contends that over 80% of the engagement on the plaintiffs' Islands was artificial, and in some cases, "over 99% of the engagement ... was artificial." Epic is attempting to claw back the tens of thousands of dollars" it paid to the pair for December 2024 in addition to asking the court to set additional fees for damages incurred while also legally barring Nahdi and Nasser from ever using Fortnite or any Epic Games server ever again.

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If you pick up a new video game every few months, you are in the minority for US players. That's because roughly 63% of American gamers buy a maximum of two games annually, according to research firm Circana. Taken further, 33% of the market overall doesn't even purchase one new title per year.

Circana senior director Mat Piscatella shared these purchasing frequency nuggets on Bluesky. They're part of the company's Q3 2025 Future of Games report. "Hyper enthusiast, price-insensitive players are really keeping things going, especially in the non [free-to-play] gaming space," Piscatella said.

Hyper enthusiast, price-insensitive players are really keeping things going, especially in the non f2p gaming space. According to Circana's Q3 2025 Future of Games, only 4% of US video game players buy a new game more often than once per month, with a third of players not buying any games at all.

[image or embed]

— Mat Piscatella (@matpiscatella.bsky.social) October 2, 2025 at 12:54 PM

The data states that only 4% of US players buy more than one game monthly. People who pick up one title per month account for 10% of the market, while 22% grab a game every three months.

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Sandfall Interactive's Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 came out of nowhere on its way to becoming one of 2025's breakout success stories. Now, Sandfall has announced that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has passed 5 million sales across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. To celebrate the news, the developers revealed that a new free update is coming with a lot of fresh content.

Although Sandfall didn't share the release date for its update, it did state that the characters of Expedition 33 will be sent to a "brand-new location" where previously unknown enemies await. The studio went on to promise "challenging new boss battles for late-game players to overcome" as well as some "surprises to discover." Each character will also receive new costumes.

This update will accompany new localizations that increase the number of supported languages to 19. The fresh language options include Czech, Ukrainian, Latin American Spanish, Turkish, Vietnamese, Thai, and Indonesian.

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EA is in the process of selling itself to an investor consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund to the tune of $55 billion. Should the sale go through, it would likely result in cutbacks, possible layoffs, and EA selling "non-essential assets," according to DFC Intelligence. There could be upsides, too, DFC Intelligence president David Cole said in a new interview.

He told Polygon that, if the deal happens and on a long-term basis, the EA sale could allow the company to "focus on more creative, risky ventures."

This is because, Cole said, EA would no longer be a public company and would not be beholden to the mission of driving up the stock price and focusing more on safer bets. However, in the short term, that's exactly what Cole predicts will happen. "Short term, we expect them to focus more on core money generators and look to get top dollar for 'secondary' IP/products," he said.

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Sony is feeling blue — but in a good way — as the company has just revealed a new limited-edition DualSense controller. The Icon Blue Special Edition gives the peripheral a striking makeover, wrapping it in layered shades of blue, and it'll be available to preorder exclusively from Walmart for $85 when it goes on sale starting October 20.

The peripheral's colorway is inspired by the signature blue glow of the PS5 consoles when it's powered on, and according to Sony designer Leo Cardoso, the design is meant to capture the "feeling of anticipation and wonder" whenever you boot up the console. Other small touches include Katakana characters on the back and PlayStation shapes on the D-pad.

Icon Blue DualSense controllerGallery

If you're looking for a different type of design, you can grab limited edition DualSense controllers inspired by two of the biggest PS5 exclusives of the year, as well as one of the company's beloved franchises. The God of War 20th Anniversary DualSense controller was recently revealed, and the design is directly inspired by Kratos' omega tattoo. Preorders for it are live ahead of its release on October 23, and it's priced at $85.

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Castlevania Animated Series on Blu-ray

B2G1 Free Deal: Get Seasons 1-4 for $39.41

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Castlevania: The Complete Series released on Blu-ray last week, but only as a pricey Limited Edition that'll set you back $148 at the moment. That sounded expensive when compared to buying individual seasons on Blu-ray already, but now the price gap is even wider thanks to Amazon's Buy Two, Get One Free Blu-ray promotion during Big Deal Days. Castlevania fans can get all four seasons of the original Netflix animated series for $39.41 at Amazon. The Seasons 1-2 Blu-ray bundle ($17) will be free if you also buy Season 3 for $19.53 and Season 4 for $19.89.

Castlevania: The Art of the Animated Series hardcover book is also eligible for Amazon's B2G1 free promotion.

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Earlier today, developer Teenage Astronauts and publisher No More Robots were preparing to launch their new role-playing game Little Rocket Lab. Unfortunately for the team, Steam went down just as the game was about to launch.

Mike Rose--the founder of No More Robots--shared his reaction to this turn of events on social media.

Steam genuinely just went down as we were about to hit the launch button I am stress

[image or embed]

— Mike Rose (@mikerose.bsky.social) October 7, 2025 at 9:28 AM

In a follow-up message an hour later, Rose said he was "livid," before expressing his relief when Steam went back online. Players can now grab Little Rocket Lab on Steam and Xbox. No More Robots released a trailer for the game as well.

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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: Alduin The World Eater (619 Pieces)

$36 (was $54)

Get deal at Amazon

Fallout: Red Rocket Truck Stop (824 Pieces)

$55 (was $86.39)

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The Elder Scrolls and Fallout fans can save big on officially licensed Mega Bloks sets during Prime Big Deal Days. The 619-piece posable model of the dragon Alduin from Skyrim is up for grabs for only $36 (was $54) at Amazon. The discount on The Red Rocket Truck Stop from Fallout 4 is even more substantial, as you can get this 824-piece building set for $55 (was $86.39). These are the lowest prices yet for both sets, which are part of Mega's Collector series lineup geared toward adults.

These are two of the best Mega Bloks deals at Amazon right now, but they aren't the only ones. Amazon is also offering steep price cuts on G.I. Joe, Squid Game, Halo, and several Pokemon sets.

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8Bitdo M30 Bluetooth controller

$21.24 (was $30)

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8Bitdo M30 Bluetooth controller

$25.49 (was $30)

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8Bitdo M30 2.4G wireless controller

$18.69 (was $25)

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Anyone looking to relive the glory days of the old-school gaming can grab 8BitDo's excellent Sega-inspired M30 wireless controller for just $21.24 (was $30) during Amazon's Big Deals Days event, which runs October 7 to 8. The M30 controller is inspired by the Sega Saturn's six-button gamepad, and it features several modern touches--including Bluetooth wireless connectivity compatible with PC, Android devices, Switch, and Switch 2.

8Bitdo M30 Bluetooth controller $21.24 (was $30)

Available in both black and white, the M30 is a lightweight controller that features a pivot-based D-pad, six face buttons, shoulder buttons, and an input for taking screenshots. It also features a turbo-button function--this sadly does not work on Switch consoles--and like other 8BitDo controllers, you can customize it extensively via the official free-to-download app. When you do need to recharge it, you can plug in a USB-C cable to keep playing while it refuels.

See at Amazon 8Bitdo M30 Bluetooth controller $25.49 (was $30)

The white version of the M30 is identical to the black version, but it sports a crisp colorway that's reminiscent of the white Sega Saturn consoles that were sold in Japan.

See at Amazon 8Bitdo M30 2.4G wireless controller $18.69 (was $25)

You can also pick up an M30 controller that's compatible with Sega Genesis Mini and Switch consoles, but it's worth noting here that this model will not work on a Switch 2 as a firmware update has not been released for it yet. Like the version listed above, it's available in both black and white colorways. This is also a little bit more expensive than the black version, but you can still save some cash on it.

See at Amazon

For Switch owners looking for a dedicated controller--and not wanting to pay upwards of $90 for the official Pro controller--PowerA and 8BitDo have several options. PowerA's controllers are budget-friendly and themed around Nintendo franchises, making them ideal for younger members of the family. Some of the colorful devices on sale include the wireless Princess Peach and Super Mario controllers for $30 each, while the Kirby Mouthful Wireless Controller is very good value for money at $30 (was $50).

PowerA Wireless Controllers for Switch 1/2

Save big at Amazon ahead of Prime Big Deal Days.

Get deals at Amazon

Gamers who appreciate being able to tinker with their hardware can get the ultra-customizable controllers from 8BitDo's Ultimate and Pro series line. These have been updated for 2025, and the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller is on sale for $60 (was $70). We'd also recommend the 8BitDo Pro 3 Gamepad with GameCube-inspired color schemes for a retro-inspired option, and we've listed more controllers below that you can choose from. For even more deals on controllers, accessories, and videos games in Amazon's Big Deal Days sale, be sure to check out our Deals Hub.

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Disney Dreamlight Valley: Cozy Edition

$25 (was $40)

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If you're looking for a relaxing game to unwind with, Disney Dreamlight Valley is one of the best options. It's a bit like Animal Crossing, as it sees you building an idyllic neighborhood and befriending the locals, but you'll also get to go on adventures and solve a variety of mind-bending puzzles. Disney fans will find it particularly exciting, as you'll come face-to-face with dozens of iconic Disney and Pixar characters. And for Prime Big Deal Days, Amazon is discounting Disney Dreamlight Valley: Cozy Edition on Nintendo Switch to just $25 (was $40). That's the lowest price ever for the game--though the savings end on October 8.

Disney Dreamlight Valley: Cozy Edition $25 (was $40)

This version of Disney Dreamlight Valley comes with a bunch of in-game and physical collectibles. Along with the base game, you'll get:

• Exclusive sticker sheet
• 1 of 6 double-sided collectible posters
• Cottage House Style (In-game)
• Exclusive Raccoon Companion Skins (In-game)
• Exclusive Cheshire Cat Sweater (In-game)
• 14,500 Moonstones (In-game)

Those goodies should help jumpstart your game (and give you a fun way to decorate your home). Dreamlight Valley is playable on Switch and Switch 2, though you won't find a game card inside the case. Instead, it's a voucher for a full game download.

Note that the Cozy Edition for PS5 and Xbox Series X are both still $40.

See at Amazon Disney Dreamlight Valley: Cozy Edition Bonuses

Our Disney Dreamlight Valley review called it a "great game," though there's a long grind that might not make it everyone's cup of tea. But if you love Disney, you'll certainly find something to enjoy about this cozy adventure.

"The best part about Disney Dreamlight Valley is its inclusion of fan-favorite characters, along with their respective themes or locations," wrote critic Jason Rodriguez. "The initial batch consists of Merlin, Mickey, Goofy, and Scrooge McDuck (Goofy and Scrooge act as vendor NPCs, too), but you soon gain access to the Dream Castle, which has portals that lead to realms populated by other notable characters from Disney and Pixar films. These include Simba, Nala, and Scar (The Lion King); Moana and Maui (Moana); Ariel, Eric, and Ursula (The Little Mermaid); Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, and Olaf (Frozen); Mirabel (Encanto); and many more."

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Microsoft recently announced a major Xbox Game Pass price hike, but it's not going into effect right away in the US or abroad. Back when the 50% price hike for Game Pass Ultimate was announced on October 1, people got emails from Microsoft saying when the change would happen for them, and for some people in the US, the price hike wasn't set to go into effect until November.

Now, it's been confirmed that Microsoft will allow people to keep their existing membership rates in certain countries outside the US, so long as they do not cancel. If they do, the price will go up. The Verge confirmed with Microsoft that the price increase only affects users in Austria, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Korea, Poland, and India if they cancel and then sign up again.

"At this time, these increases will only affect new purchases and will not affect your current subscription for the market in which you reside, as long as you are on an auto-recurring plan," Microsoft said in an email to subscribers in those regions. "Should you choose to cancel your plan and repurchase, you will be charged at the new current rate."

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Have you been completing your daily Wordle challenge every day since the end of 2021, when the spelling puzzler first launched? If so, you may be the perfect candidate for the new game show that NBC is piloting. Deadline has reported that the show is being filmed in the United Kingdom.

Savannah Guthrie, known for her role on NBC's Today show and other journalistic work, will host the show. The project comes from Jimmy Fallon’s Electric Hot Dog company, Universal Television Alternative Studio, and The New York Times. Fallon, who has said he is "addicted" to Wordle on The Tonight Show, will serve as an executive producer.

This show follows The New York Times’ acquisition of the Wordle, which was originally created by Welsh software engineer Josh Wardle in 2022. The daily puzzle is still hugely popular. Last year, it was played 5.3 billion times, up from 4.8 billion in 2023. Everyone plays it, even Pope Leo.

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