HBO's The Last of Us series just wrapped up its second season, and viewership across all platforms for the finale reached 3.7 million people. That's down 30% from the 5.3 million viewers for the Season 2 premiere in April (via Variety) and down 55% from the 8.2 million viewers for the Season 1 finale in 2023.

Importantly, these figures count the number of viewers for their Sunday night showings alone. Many people cannot or choose not to watch new episodes on the nights they air. Some people also wait for the entire run of episodes to debut before watching so they can binge-watch an entire season quickly.

Season 2 is doing better than Season 1 overall, with HBO reporting that Season 2 has reached 37 million average viewers per episode compared to 32 million for Season 1. This counts viewers after 90 days on all platforms.

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The Witcher 3 brought Geralt of Rivia's story to a fitting conclusion in the Blood & Wine DLC. Now that the game is celebrating its 10th anniversary this month, the developers behind Witcher 3 have confirmed that they always intended Geralt's adoptive daughter, Ciri, to take the lead in The Witcher 4.

In the new issue of PC Gamer (via GamesRadar), The Witcher 3 devs stated, "It was pretty early on we realized that [Blood & Wine] is where it ends, and also pretty early on, we knew that we wanted to work with Ciri later on. Even like 2014, it was already an idea floating around the studio that she's next. In Witcher 3, Geralt is just helping out… he is there for her. So it was pretty clear we want her as the next... main character."

Geralt voice actor Doug Cockle recently defended the choice to put Ciri in the lead and denounced the idea that doing so was "woke."

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There's no shortage of interesting games to play these days, but the sad fact is that a lot of them get buried by bigger releases. Fortunately, you can give these quirky titles a chance, as Fanatical is hosting a new sale that puts 17 games in the spotlight and only costs $12. As usual, each game listed below is supplied as a redeemable key for Steam. Proceeds from the sale will go toward the Into Games initiative, a non-profit organization designed to help budding developers in the UK learn the skills they need to enter the industry.

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Most of the games are Steam Deck-compatible as well, so this makes for an affordable way to pump up your on-the-go gaming library. Some of the highlights here include Worms Revolution, a colorful entry in the turn-based strategy series about cartoonish invertebrates wielding a devastating arsenal of weapons against each other, and Call of the Wild: The Angler, is a stunning fishing game.

There's even a treat here for fans of the second-best cat in cartoon strip syndication--first place obviously goes to Heathcliff--the Monday-hating grouch, Garfield. Overcooked is also a great co-op game to try out, as it involves a team of players doing their best to run a restaurant and fulfil increasingly absurd orders for hungry customers.

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This is what you might describe as a no-brainer: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 maker Sandfall Interactive plans to make another video game. However, the developer isn't saying exactly what that next title might be, though noting there are already "great ideas."

Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Sandfall chief operating officer and producer François Meurisse discussed the developer's future. "There will be another video game, for sure," Meurisse said. The executive wasn't ready to announce specifics necessarily, which makes sense considering Clair Obscur launched only just over a month ago. But he did say the team's experience from making the RPG will be beneficial going forward.

"Plus the team has grown up, has acquired new skills throughout production," said Meurisse. "Many of them were junior when we started. We learned to work together. So I can't wait to get to the next project, because we'll start from a more efficient position than when we started the company five years ago. And that [comes] with higher expectations as well, so it will be challenging. But I can say that we have--and Guillaume [Broche, Sandfall CEO and creative director] in particular has--great ideas for the next game."

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Pokemon Go's Might and Mastery season is winding down, but the next season is just around the corner. Beginning June 3, the mobile game is kicking off its Delightful Days season, which will introduce another batch of new Pokemon, several new Gigantamax forms, and more.

Over the next few months, more Pokemon originally from the Galar, Hisui, and Paldea regions (the settings of the Pokemon series' eighth and ninth generation games) will arrive in Pokemon Go. Yamper, Hisuian Lilligant, Tatsugiri, and more Pokemon will be available for the first time, while other monsters from the aforementioned regions--like Charcadet, Frigibax, and Galarian Ponyta--will appear in the wild and as Research Breakthrough encounters.

More Gigantamax Pokemon are also coming to the game. Gigantamax forms of Rillaboom, Cinderace, and Inteleon will make their debut during a trio of events leading up to Pokemon Go Fest 2025, while Dynamax forms of Hatenna and other Pokemon will appear in Max Battles throughout the season.

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PlayStation has revealed this month's batch of free games for PlayStation Plus subscribers. All PS Plus members will be able to claim several freebies starting June 3: NBA 2K25, Alone in the Dark, Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, and Destiny 2: The Final Shape (the Destiny 2 expansion will be available starting May 28). If you haven't claimed May's PlayStation Plus free games yet, make sure to do so before next Tuesday.

The next era of Destiny 2 kicks off in June, but in case you missed it last year, you can grab The Final Shape to experience the end of the Light and Darkness saga for yourself. The Final Shape was a thrilling adventure that wrapped up the first decade of Destiny, introduced the new Prismatic subclass, and dropped a ton of new weapons into the game's loot pool. You will need Destiny 2 to play it, but the base game is free-to-play.

Sports fans can shoot some hoops in NBA 2K25, but you might want to watch out for some especially egregious microtransactions in this year's edition. The core experience still looks and feels great, but it is tarnished by various pay-to-win systems.

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The Last of Us Season 2 ended on a dark note that should be very familiar to players who experienced The Last of Us Part II. Things are going to be very different in The Last of Us Season 3, and showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have noted that some fan-favorite characters may not about around as often when the series returns.

Warning: This story contains some spoilers for The Last of Us Season 2 finale. Stop reading now if you haven't seen it yet.

Ellie (Bella Ramsey) spent most of Season 2 hunting down Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) for murdering Joel (Pedro Pascal). But in the closing moments, Abby had the drop on Ellie and fired her gun before the perspective shifted to Abby's first day in Seattle. The Last of Us Part II had a similar transition when Abby became the playable character. Since Season 3 is Abby's story, there may not be much room for Ramsey and the other returning cast members. But Mazin wants to assure viewers that they will be back.

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Lies of P's first expansion, Overture releases this summer, and the new content is looking great. GameSpot's Tamoor Hussain played a demo of the upcoming expansion, including a spooky new zoo level filled with mutant animals, and a preview of the new boss rush mode.

Tamoor compares Overture to the Bloodborne expansion Old Hunters--not so much because of the content of the expansion, but because the developers now seem confident enough with the game to get creative with it. From what he played in the demo, Tamoor says that Overture shows a level of creativity above what is present in the base game--and it's also harder than anything in the base game.

The Overture demo featured a zoo-like level filled with "weird and freaky" versions of animals you might find in a regular zoo, including gorillas, kangaroos, wolf-like creatures, and a horrifying-looking giraffe. You can check out plenty of footage of the new level in the video, as well as some of the mutated monsters that populate it.

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Fortnite has finally returned to the App Store in the US after a five-year long legal battle, and Epic is giving players a free skin to celebrate. In order to redeem the free Burnoff skin, all players have to do is log in to Fortnite on mobile, whether that's on Android or iPhone.

The new skin is a red and black motorbike outfit with flame motifs called Burnoff, which looks to be a reskin of the all-white Whiteout skin. To redeem the freebie, players will have to log in on Fortnite Mobile on either Android or iOS--though once the skin is acquired it can be used in all versions of Fortnite. The skin is available from now until June 17.

New Skin - Burnoff pic.twitter.com/t7wvi63v8I

— iFireMonkey (@iFireMonkey) May 16, 2025

Despite Epic Games' recent win against Apple, which saw Fortnite reinstated on the App Store in the US by order of a California district court judge, the game still isn't available on iOS outside of the USA and the EU. It's unlikely that the legal drama between the two companies will end here, but for now fans can enjoy the spoils of Epic's victory.

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Last year, Polished Games' top-down 2D survival roguelite Be My Horde introduced players to Moriana, a necromancer--or necromancess, if you prefer--who can make the dead serve as her army. She's the villain of her own story, so it shouldn't be too surprising that Moriana is heading to Hell in the game's newest update. If anything, that's bad news for demons, because Moriana might be taking over Hell one circle at a time.

The name of update is "Welcome to Hell," and it adds the Hell level, which may be Moriana's biggest challenge to date. As seen in the newly released trailer below, Moriana's travels through Hell will bring her face-to-face with the Devil himself. That video also offers a more in-depth look at what awaits in Hell. Moriana and her undead minions will have to battle new enemies and survive the severe hazards of the underworld. Fire tornadoes, lava ponds, and explosive volcanoes all stand between Moriana and her destiny.

As you may have noticed, Moriana's powers thrive on death, and she can turn every fallen enemy into one of her new warriors. There's no entrance test for this army. If Moriana can kill it, it's her's to command, even if it's just an exploding sheep. However, Moriana is not invincible and she can be defeated in battle. But she always returns with a vengeance.

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The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated Box Set (Leather/Cloth Hardcover)

$146 (was $325)

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The Lord of the Rings Collector's Edition Box Set (Hardcover)

$49.45 (was $105)

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The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien Box Set

$68.34 (was $125)

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The Lord of the Rings enthusiasts and anyone who loves beautiful books should check out the incredible deal on The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated Box Set at Amazon and Walmart right now. The premium, three-volume hardcover collection released last October with a staggering $325 price attached to it. If the high cost deterred you from picking up this gorgeous box set last fall, now's your chance to get it for a price that could be far easier to stomach. The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated Box Set is on sale for $146, saving you $179. This 55% price cut doesn't have a listed end date, so interested Tolkien fans would be wise to snag it sooner rather than later.

You can take a closer look at the Deluxe Illustrated Box Set below. We've also included the 2024 Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Collector's Editions for those who want nice copies of Tolkien's iconic fantasy novels for budget-friendly prices. The Lord of the Rings Collector's Edition Box Set is also on sale for over 50% off at Amazon. Lord of the Rings fans should also check out our buying guide for two upcoming Tolkien box sets: Tolkien Myths and Legends and The Great Tales of Middle-earth.

The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated Box Set (Leather/Cloth Hardcover) $146 (was $325)

The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated Box Set is a revamped version of a gorgeous collection first launched in 1992. Across the three hardcover volumes--The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King--there are more than 50 new pencil sketches and full-color paintings by beloved Lord of the Rings artist Alan Lee. All told, the box set has 1,332 pages, which makes it longer than most, if not all, editions of LOTR currently in print.

The page edges are sprayed dark blue on the top and bottom, and the side edges have unique illustrations of billowing smoke from Mount Doom's eruption. Lee created new artwork for the covers, too. Each cover has a framed rectangular drawing in the center. The illustrations are inset on gray cloth board and surrounded by an elegant, silver foil-stamped border. Each book is quarterbound in blue leather, and the pages are sewn into the spine. You can mark your spot using the attached ribbon bookmark.

The silver-foil text along the spine and on the covers was stamped onto each book. The custom display case was constructed from cloth board and features stamped circular emblems designed by Lee. The case has rounded front edges to make it easy to remove each book. With all three books removed, you can peer inside the fully illustrated interior of the case. Lee's depiction of Mount Doom's eruption covers every surface inside the lovingly crafted slipcase.

Inside each book, you'll find a large art card that can be removed and displayed separately. Along with three art cards, you get a pair of foldout maps of Middle-earth drawn by Christopher Tolkien, the author's literary executor who edited, expanded, and organized many supplementary writings about Middle-earth, including The Silmarillion and his legendarium, which formed the massive 12-part series now known as The History of Middle-earth.

To be clear, The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated is much different from the popular 2021 version illustrated by Tolkien, but the premium design is reminiscent of the Deluxe Special Edition of the Tolkien Illustrated version.

See at Amazon See at Walmart The Lord of the Rings Collector's Edition Box Set (Hardcover) $49.45 (was $105)

While the discount on the Deluxe Illustrated Box Set is quite good, $146 is still a lot of money for a single novel. But the great thing about modern editions of Tolkien's work is that there are beautiful collectible editions available at various price points. Case in point: The Lord of the Rings Collector's Edition Box Set.

Published just a few weeks after the Deluxe Illustrated Box Set, the hardcover Collector's Edition Box Set carries a $105 MSRP. Right now, however, you can buy this handsome collection for only $49.45.

Once again, the Collector's Edition is split into the three distinct parts that make up Tolkien's novel: Fellowship of the Ring, Two Towers, and Return of the King. Each book can be stored in the included display box shown above.

The Collector's Editions have foil-stamped cover art, stained page edges, illustrated maps as endpapers, and built-in ribbon bookmarks. The beautiful cover art was previously featured in collectible editions released in the UK, so it's cool that American readers no longer have to import the books to admire the artwork up close.

The box set also comes with an exclusive foldout map of Middle-earth.

All three volumes in this box set are also sold separately, though it'd cost you about $15 more to buy them that way right now--and you miss out on the display case as well as the poster. But you may want to pair the box set with the matching Collector's Edition versions of The Hobbit and The Silmarillion, which were also published last year and are discounted close to 50%.

• J.R.R. Tolkien 2024 Collector's Editions (Hardcover)
  • The Lord of the Rings Collector's Edition Box Set -- $49.45 ($105)
  • The Fellow of the Ring Collector’s Edition -- $22.50 ($35)
  • The Two Towers Collector's Edition -- $18 ($35)
  • The Return of the King Collector’s Edition -- $21.47 ($35)
  • The Hobbit Collector’s Edition -- $18.83 ($35)
  • The Silmarillion Collector’s Edition -- $19.40 ($35)

See at Amazon See all Tolkien Collector's Editions (2024) The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien Box Set $68.34 (was $125)

For a markedly different Tolkien experience, consider picking up The Collected Poems of J.R.R Tolkien. This three-volume hardcover collection follows a similar design philosophy as The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated Box Set, so they would look great next to each other on a display shelf.

This collection contains poems composed by Tolkien the teenager as well as Tolkien the aging literary giant. The nearly 200 poems across the box set's 1,700 pages were written across nearly 70 years. The poetry is accompanied by commentary about the author's work and life from two Tolkien scholars.

Just know that this collection isn't related to Lord of the Rings or Middle-earth in general. While Tolkien included poetry in his famous fantasy novels, the verse in his Middle-earth novels barely scratches the surface of Tolkien's lifelong love of poetry.

If you like the idea of reading poetry by Tolkien, you should also check out the upcoming hardcover box set titled Tolkien Myth and Legends. Releasing August 19, this eye-catching collection includes four books of epic poems. Two books feature Tolkien's own poetry: a narrative poem about King Arthur and a Norse mythology-inspired classic poem. The set also comes with Tolkien's personal translations of Beowulf and three other classic poems.

See at Amazon The History of Middle-earth Box Set Deals & Tolkien Box Set PreordersThe History of Middle-earth Box Sets 1-4, Tolkien Myths and Legends, The Great Tales of Middle-earth

• The History of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Set 1 (4 Books) -- $63.37 ($125)
• The History of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Set 2 (3 Books) -- $56.42 ($100)
• The History of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Set 3 (4 Books) -- $72.88 ($125)
• The History of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Set 4 (4 Books) -- $67.27 ($125)
• Tolkien Myths and Legends Hardcover Box Set (4 Books) -- $125 | Releases June 10
• The Great Tales of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Set (2025) (3 Books) -- $125 | Releases August 19

The aforementioned History of Middle-earth series edited and compiled by Christopher Tolkien was reissued as 15 stunning hardcover books spread across four box sets, each of which is on sale for very low prices right now. Box Set 1 comes with four books, including The Silmarillion, and is on sale for only $63 at Amazon (nearly 50% off).

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Until Dawn (4K Blu-ray + Blu-ray + Digital)

$50 | Releases July 8

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Until Dawn on Prime Video

Buy for $25 / Rent for $20 | Available Now

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While movie adaptations of video games can be very hit or miss, Until Dawn was one of the more memorable projects thanks to the film putting its own spin on the game's choose-your-own-design mechanics. In case you missed it on the big screen, Until Dawn is now available to watch from the comfort of your own couch. You can rent or buy the digital release from Prime Video for $20-$25. If you prefer physical media and don't mind waiting, Until Dawn's 4K Blu-ray combo pack is up for preorder at Amazon and Walmart ahead of its July 8 release date.

Until Dawn is the third video game film adaptation from PlayStation Productions following Uncharted and Gran Turismo. The production company, which was founded in 2019, is also credited with the TV adaptations of Twisted Metal and the critically acclaimed HBO series The Last of Us.

Until Dawn (4K Blu-ray + Blu-ray + Digital) $50 | Releases July 8

Until Dawn's 4K Blu-ray edition also comes a 1080p Blu-ray disc and digital copy of the film. Along with native 4K resolution, Until Dawn will support Dolby Atmos audio on supported devices.

Amazon and Walmart have the 4K Blu-ray combo pack priced at $50 at the moment. That said, we expect the price to drop prior to launch. Both retailers offer preorder price guarantees, so you'll be eligible for any future discounts from the moment you place your order until your Blu-ray ships.

Until Dawn is also getting a DVD release, in case you want to experience the horror film in spine-tingling 480p resolution. Amazon has the DVD version priced at $28.60, while Walmart listed it for $35.

Here's the full list of Until Dawn special features:

• Adapting a Nightmare - Director David F. Sandberg and writer Gary Dauberman discuss the inspirations of the film and how they built off of the game world from the hit PlayStation game.
• Death-Defying Cast - Meet the cast
• Practical Terrors - A look at the practical effects and props used to garner realistic reactions from the actors and actresses.p
• Audio Commentary with director David F. Sandberg and producer Lotta Losten
• Deleted and extended scenes

Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Walmart Until Dawn on Prime Video Buy for $25 / Rent for $20 | Available Now

If you don't want to wait, you can rent Until Dawn for $20 or buy a digital copy for $25. If you buy the film, you can watch it whenever you want, but rentals on Prime Video have a couple of rules to keep in mind. You'll have 30 days to start watching the movie after making your purchase. Once the movie begins, it will be returned to Amazon in 48 hours. Your rental/purchase grants access to the 4K and standard definition versions of Until Dawn.

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In case you missed it, Until Dawn tells an original story and is set within the same universe as the game. Connecting the video game and the film is Stormare's character, Dr. Hill, who appeared in both mediums. Another nod to the game is that the movie has the same tone and vibe, as the main characters find themselves caught in a time-loop where they frequently die due to a variety of grisly means. The only way to break this vicious cycle is to survive…until dawn. The film has received mixed reviews, but if you're in the mood for a cheesy horror-comedy with slick direction, Until Dawn is an enjoyable watch.

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Tolkien Myths and Legends Hardcover Box Set (2025)

$125 | Releases June 10

Preorder at Amazon

The Great Tales of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Set (2025)

$125 | Releases August 19

Preorder at Amazon See at Amazon (2018 set)

J.R.R. Tolkien fans can soon add two display-worthy book box sets to their collection. Tolkien Myths and Legends Box Set, which features lesser-known original works and translations of classic English literature, releases on June 10. It will be followed up on August 19 by new editions of The Great Tales of Middle-earth, which is comprised of the final three prose novels set in Tolkien's iconic fantasy world. The new hardcover box sets feature lavish cover art and display cases. They are considered the fifth and sixth entries in a series of hardcover book box sets that debuted last year with the The History of Middle-earth, which was published by William Morrow in its entirety across four beautiful collections.

Tolkien Myths and Legends Hardcover Box Set (2025) $125 | Releases June 10

The Tolkien Myths and Legends Box Set is a unique collection of J.R.R. Tolkien's work, because it doesn't contain stories about Middle-earth. Instead, as the title suggests, it compiles classic myths and legends, two of which were written by the author, while the other two were personal translations of some of his favorite works that inspired him.

Like the vast majority of his posthumously published work, these were pieced together and edited by his son, Christopher Tolkien. Each hardcover book comes with a double-sided dust jacket. Just like The History of Middle-earth Box Sets, one side features elaborate artwork, while the other side has a more subdued aesthetic with solid colors. The four books come packaged in an eye-catching display case.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight / Orfeo / Pearl: Translations of a trio of classic epic poems juxtaposed with Tolkien's famous 1953 lecture on Sir Gawain.

The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún: An epic verse poem by Tolkien. It was inspired by classic poetry and Norse mythology. Along with Tolkien's composition, you'll find notes and commentary from Christopher Tolkien.

The Fall of Arthur: A narrative poem written by Tolkien that chronicles King Arthur's final days. The book includes extensive notes made by Tolkien while drafting his only Arthurian legend. Fans of The Silmarillion will want to read this one, as it clearly inspired the plot of Tolkien's Arthurian-esque Middle-earth book.

Beowulf: One of the most famous--and the oldest known---epic poem of Old English literature, Beowulf has received many translations. Tolkien wrote his translation in 1926 and then circled back later. In addition to the translation of the original poem, this book contains a plethora of commentary by Tolkien himself, which will give readers a glimpse into the mind of Tolkien the scholar.

If you're interested in the Myths and Legends Box Set, you should also check out The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien, a massive three-volume hardcover box that released last fall. The gorgeous box set, which is on sale for nearly 50% off, compiles Tolkien's life's work as a poet and clocks in at over 1,700 pages.

Preorder at Amazon The Great Tales of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Set (2025) $125 | Releases August 19

The Great Tales of Middle-earth is a must-read collection for all dedicated fans of The Lord of the Rings. Though understandably not nearly as well-known as The Hobbit, LOTR, or even The Silmarillion, the trio of novels in this set are the final pieces of prose fiction that take place across the author's iconic brilliant fantasy world. All of the stories take place during Middle-earth's First Age, so while written and published later than Tolkien's other books, these are the oldest full-length stories in Middle-earth.

The new 2025 hardcover editions come with reversible dust jackets and feature special color plates, pencil drawings, and illustrated maps by Christopher Tolkien and beloved LOTR illustrator Alan Lee.

Here are the three books you'll find in the beautiful display case, which features a fire-breathing dragon.

The Children of Húrin (2007): Written after The Silmarillion as a standalone prequel story, The Children of Húrin takes place 6,000 years before the events of LOTR. The story follows the cursed son of Húrin, named Túrin, during an era of intense and constant war and widespread devastation caused by the Dark Lord Morgoth. If you've read The Silmarillion, you will recognize some of the names found in this novel.

Beren and Lúthien (2017): Another very early tale set in Middle-earth, Beren and Lúthien was reworked and revised over time and eventually became part of The Silmarillion. This compilation of Lúthien and Beren's story was originally published in 2017. It shows the evolution of the love story between the mortal man Beren and immortal elf Lúthien.

The Fall of Gondolin (2018): Founded by King Turgon, the eponymous city of elves was concealed for many years before Lord Morgoth's quest to destroy elven life across Middle-earth. The Fall of Gondolin's main protagonist is Túrin's cousin, Tuor, and his family. Tuor is married to Turgon's daughter, Idril. The story follows their attempt to save their child after the Gondolin (unsurprisingly) falls.

It's worth noting that The Great Tales of Middle-earth is already available as a hardcover box set. While it won't match Myths and Legends or the four History of Middle-earth Box Sets, the 2018 hardcover collection is on sale for only $50 (was $100) at Amazon. Alternatively, you can purchase each book individually in hardcover or paperback.

The Great Tales of Middle-earth Editions:

• The Great Tales of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Set (2018) (3 Books) -- $50 ($100)
• The Great Tales of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Set (2025) (3 Books) -- $125 | Releases August 19
• The Children of Hurin (Paperback) -- $10.70 ($19)
• The Children of Hurin (Hardcover) -- $14 ($35)
• Beren and Lúthien (Paperback) -- $13.69 ($19)
• Beren and Lúthien (Hardcover) -- $22.50 ($35)
• The Fall of Gondolin (Paperback) -- $11.69 ($19)
• The Fall of Gondolin (Hardcover) -- $14.41 ($35)

Preorder at Amazon See at Amazon (2018 set)

The Great Tales of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Set (2018)

$50 (was $100)

See at Amazon The History of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Sets (2024)J.R.R. Tolkien - The History of Middle-earth Box Sets (2024)

• The History of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Set 1 (4 Books) -- $63.37 ($125)
• The History of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Set 2 (3 Books) -- $56.42 ($100)
• The History of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Set 3 (4 Books) -- $72.88 ($125)
• The History of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Set 4 (4 Books) -- $67.27 ($125)
• The Complete History of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Set (3 Books, 12 Volumes) -- $138 ($250)
  • Part 1 - Vol. 1-5 in Hardcover (1,920 pages) -- $64 ($80)
  • Part 2 - Vol. 6-9 in Hardcover (2,032 pages) -- $44 ($80)
  • Part 3 - Vol. 10-12 (1,488 pages) -- $54 ($80)
• The History of Middle-earth Paperback Box Set (5 Books) -- $28.61 ($50)

The History of Middle-earth was originally published over a 14-year stretch from 1983 to 1996. While creating his fantasy world, Tolkien took extensive notes, building a backstory for Middle-earth across three different ages and 6,500-plus years. You could argue that the author's dedication to crafting the setting that would become home to a pair of landmark fantasy novels turned Middle-earth into the most believable character Tolkien created. His mythopoeic writings formed what is commonly referred to as Tolkien's legendarium.

At the time of Tolkien's death in 1973, the exhaustive backstory of Middle-earth remained unpublished. Over the next few years, his son and literary executor, Christopher Tolkien, undertook the daunting project of editing, expanding, and curating the legendarium into publishable works. The legendarium would become a 12-volume series titled The History of Middle-earth.

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AMD announced its latest graphics card, the Radeon RX 9060 X, at Computex 2025 earlier this week. This is the third GPU in AMD's 9000 series lineup that also includes the RX 9070 and 9070 XT, and its slated to launch June 5. While it's positioned as the entry-level option in the RX 9000 series, the RX 9060 XT runs on the same RNDA 4 architecture as the more powerful RX 9070 and 9070 XT and includes FSR 4 resolution upscaling and frame generation, as well as DisplayPort 2.1a and HDMI 2.1b support.

AMD is producing two versions of the RX 9060 XT: one with 8GB VRAM and another with 16GB VRAM. Both models will feature 32 RDNA 4 CUs (computation units), up to 3.13GHz clock speed, and between 150W and 182W power draw, depending on the model's VRAM and clock speed. While those are solid specs for an entry-level card, things get a bit more confusing from there.

Power and pricing

AMD lists the MSRP as $300 for the 8GB model and $350 for the 16GB model. However, the company is not releasing RX 9060 XT reference cards itself. Instead, third-party manufacturers like Asus, Acer, Gigabyte, and others are launching their own versions of the RX 9060 XT starting June 5. As such, performance, power draw, and pricing will likely differ between the various RX 9060 XT models (especially for overclocked models), but at least some of these GPUs will stick to the reference clock speeds and therefore MSRP (assuming the ongoing tariffs do not impact those prices).

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There are a lot of different jobs to choose from in The Sims 4, including a pretty robust group of careers included with the base game and plenty more that have been added via DLC over the decade-plus that The Sims 4 has been out. What jobs you have your sims sign up for is totally up to you, but there are a lot of factors that can affect your performance, like whether your sim's skills are appropriate for the job you want. If you want your sims to be successful, some knowledge and effort are required--just like it is with a real job.

While there are specific things you'll need to know about each individual career that can help you get ahead, there are also some universal tips that can help your sims climb their corporate ladders.

Table of Contents [hide]

• General tips for any Sims 4 career
  • Pick an active, self-employment, or rabbit hole job
  General tips for any Sims 4 careerPick an active, self-employment, or rabbit hole job

  There are three main types of careers in The Sims 4. Most of them are rabbit hole-type jobs, where your sims just go offscreen and do their thing without any meaningful input from the player. But there are also "active" careers, where you follow your sim to their place of business and you'll have to make them do various tasks (though you can also play these as rabbit hole jobs if you'd prefer), and self-employment and freelance careers where your sim will complete individual gigs from the comfort of their homes, like writing a book, painting a picture, or building furniture.

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There are two main types of Sims 4 players. There are the folks who are here for the simulation side of things, with all the fun drama that entails. And then there are those who are here to build dope houses. Regardless of which of those you are, there's one cheat that is absolutely essential (though it'll matter much more for the builders): bb.moveobjects.

This cheat is among the most-used Sims 4 cheats aside from the ones that give you money. Once you've used it, it's not tough to understand why it's so beloved--the moveobjects cheat makes building a realistic house much easier, and generally allows you to play a lot more items than there would normally be room for. It's so fundamentally important that EA has actually incorporated certain aspects of the cheat into the base game. At this point, EA treats it more like a tool for advanced users than a real cheat.

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• How to turn on bb.moveobjects

How to turn on bb.moveobjects

To activate this cheat, press ctrl+shift+C on PC, or hold down all four shoulder buttons if you're playing on a console, to bring up the command console at the top left of your screen, and then type "bb.moveobjects on". There is no need to activate cheats generally with the separate "testingcheats true" command or to do anything else. Moveobjects works by itself.

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Hitman developer IO Interactive is keeping busy. In addition to a fantasy new IP, the studio is developing Project 007, which is the working title for its new James Bond game.

Announced in November 2020, Project 007 tells an origin story for James Bond. We haven't seen any footage yet, but we've still learned a fair amount about the upcoming game. Read on to learn everything we know so far about Project 007, including plans for it to potentially kick off a new trilogy.

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• When will Project 007 be released?

When will Project 007 be released?

There is no word yet on when Project 007 will be released. It was announced in November 2020, and many took the reveal to be a specific strategy to encourage people to come work at IO on the IP. Announcing games early in development for the purpose of attracting talent is a comment practice in video games.

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Next year, Pokemon will celebrate its 30th anniversary, but The Pokemon Company didn't wait to find a reason to celebrate now. In the 29 years since the franchise's debut, almost 500 million copies of Pokemon video games have been sold.

According to The Pokemon Company, the sales total across all platforms is 489 million through the end of March 2025. No further breakdown was included that displayed which Pokemon titles sold the most, but it did include a notice that the games are available in nine languages.

When it comes to the trading card game, Pokemon's success is even more impressive. 75 billion Pokemon cards have been sold since 1996. There's no way the Pokemon video game sales can match that number any time soon. But the title most likely to carry the games over 500 million is Pokemon Legends Z-A, which recently unveiled a few of its starter Pokeman ahead of its launch on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 later this year.

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EA's Star Wars Battlefront II is experiencing a surge in players, potentially fueled by the recent May the 4th Star Wars holiday and the Star Wars TV series Andor. The resurgence in popularity for the 2017 game has prompted some fans--and celebrities--to petition EA to make a third game. But it probably won't happen.

That's the opinion of former DICE live producer Mats Holm. He said on Reddit (via IGN), "I don't expect Battlefront 3 to be announced at the end of this rally." However, Holm said he believes there are people "who are talking about it." In another post, Holm said it would be challenging to bring back the team that made Battlefront II. "We are spread far and wide," he said of himself and others who have since left DICE.

No new Battlefront games have been announced, which may sound surprising considering the 2015 game and the 2017 sequel combined to sell 33 million copies. A report said EA rejected a pitch for a third game due in part to licensing costs.

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Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning is (allegedly) the final installment in the long-running series. It just landed in theaters today, and it quickly earned positive reviews from critics and viewers alike, thanks to the high-flying shenanigans of Tom Cruise. If you’re eager to add it to your home theater, preorders are now open for the Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning Limited Edition Steelbook. Standard 4K Blu-ray and DVD formats are also available, so as of now you have three editions of The Final Reckoning to choose from.

See all editions at Amazon

Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning Steelbook $51 | Release Date TBA

Since The Final Reckoning just hit theaters, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that this steelbook doesn’t yet have a firm release date. We’re also waiting for a list of bonus features--though expect to see a variety of behind-the-scenes content and featurettes. For now, we know it’ll come with a steelbook plus 4K Blu-ray, standard Blu-ray, and digital copies of the hit movie.

Most retailers won’t charge your credit card until the item ships, and you’ll be eligible for any discounts between now and release. Amazon currently has the product listed for $51 and Walmart for $40, though we’re expecting Amazon to eventually lower their price.

Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Walmart Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning 4K Blu-ray $25 | Release Date TBA

If you don’t mind ditching the steelbook, you can save a bit of money with the standard 4K Blu-ray. We’re still waiting for official confirmation, but it’ll likely include all the same bonus features. It also gets you 4K Blu-ray, standard Blu-ray, and digital copies of the movie. A DVD version is available for $26 at Amazon or $20 at Walmart, and a digital copy can be purchased at Amazon Prime for $20.

Preorder at Amazon:

• Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (4K Blu-ray) -- $25
• Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (DVD) -- $26
• Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (Digital) -- $20

Preorder at Walmart:

• Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (4K Blu-ray) -- $25
• Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (DVD) -- $20

Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Walmart

If you want to rewatch the saga before seeing The Final Reckoning, check out the Mission: Impossible 6-Movie Collection on 4K Blu-ray or standard 1080p Blu-ray. The 4K set also comes with Blu-ray discs, but the digital vouchers in these collections are expired. You can also find a few budget-friendly steelbook editions and standard editions of most of the Mission: Impossible films on 4K Blu-ray.

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