The first question that came to mind with the PlayStation Portal was: Who is this for? It's one that's been tirelessly posed in discussions about the device given its limited capabilities, because the Portal serves one purpose: remote play. If the PS5 is your primary gaming platform, and if you have a strong internet connection throughout your home, and if you're in situations where you're eager to play PS5 games without access to the TV the console is connected to, then you'll get plenty of use out of the Portal.

Even then, the inconsistencies I've experienced in a full week using the Portal have hampered the idea of incorporating the Portal as a piece of tech to complement my PS5. But when it works, it's kind of a revelation. It's not necessarily the remote play aspect--that's a capability you can get on your smartphone, tablet, or even Steam Deck. It's that the Portal offers the best possible controls and an impressive screen for remote play. More so than any other device, your mileage may vary since factors outside of the Portal itself are going to dictate your gaming experience. As a result, $200 USD for a dedicated remote play device, among the sea of other robust handhelds, is a tough sell.

See at Amazon See at Best Buy The Pros and Woes of Remote Play

For the uninitiated, remote play works by using a capable device to remotely control your PS5 while receiving a streamed feed of the system. After linking the two through the same local connection (and enabling your PS5 to boot via remote play), remote play is possible from any location as long as your PS5 is connected to the internet and your device of choice is as well. As for the quality of the experience, that depends on the connections of both the remote play device and your PS5.

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December is fast approaching once more, and that means one thing for Fortnite fans: it's time for a new chapter. Fortnite OG has served as an awkward interlude between Chapter 4 and the upcoming Fortnite Chapter 5 start date--it's brought in a ton of players, but there's no story going on, so it's pretty much impossible to theorize about what's coming next.

Fortunately for us, we actually know a lot about what's coming up in Chapter 5--December is shaping up to be possibly the biggest month in Fortnite's history with the introduction of a major new Lego mode, a Rocket League-related racing mode, a new rhythm game from Harmonix, and of course a brand-new battle royale island. Let's dive into what we know so far.

When does Fortnite Chapter 5 begin?

Fortnite Chapter 5 is expected to start on the morning of Sunday, December 3, though an official launch date and time has yet to be announced. This estimate is based on in-game information, including when the game goes offline for the Chapter 5 patch,

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Final Fantasy 16 is easily one of the boldest entries in the long-running Square Enix franchise, and in case you missed it when it was released earlier this year, this Black Friday special offers the game at its best price yet. Available for only $35 at Amazon--a price-match of Walmart's already-sold out deal--Final Fantasy 16 is one of the best games of the year on PS5.

See at Amazon ($35) See at Best Buy ($40)

While every Final Fantasy game is different, Final Fantasy 16 takes the RPG roots of the series and injects a healthy dose of action into its design. The result feels like a mix between the action-packed spectacle of Devil May Cry and the RPG elements of older Final Fantasy games as you use a combination of swords and sorcery to defeat powerful foes.

This is also one of the darkest Final Fantasy entries, a game that wastes no time in setting up its stale of warring kingdoms, bustling slave trades, and cutthroat politics. All of this is seen through the eyes of Clive Rosfield, the protagonist who players will guide across a story that spans decades and charts his quest to bring balance back to a world that is in disarray. Don't worry if that sounds too much like Game of Thrones, because unlike that HBO series, Final Fantasy 16 has stunning boss fights between the Godzilla-sized Eikons that you'll encounter.

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Lego sets are always great to shop for on Black Friday, as you can often find premium sets at shockingly low prices. That's once again the case this year, but few deals are as enticing as this one for Baby Yoda. Typically offered for $90, you can pick up the deluxe Lego set for just $45.

Lego Star Wars: Baby Yoda Figure $45 (was $90)

Clocking in at 1,073 pieces, this Baby Yoda set is larger than you'd expect at this price. Once you've snapped together all the bricks, you'll be able to make use of several articulating joints (such as a swiveling head, moveable ears, and rotating wrist). Lego says the kit was built for children ten and up, though you may want to help younger builders, as this 1,000+ piece set could take a while to snap together.

See at Walmart

Keep in mind that this kit is designed to be a collectible--not a toy--so you probably won't want to leave it sitting around in your living room. Instead, you'll want to display it in a game room or home office. To help show off your masterpiece, you'll get an included information sign and Baby Yoda minifigure.

There are plenty of other great Lego sets on sale for Black Friday, and you'll find all of them in our comprehensive roundup--which includes Super Mario, Star Wars, Minecraft, and other iconic brands.

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As soon as the news of a movie adaptation of The Legend of Zelda broke, there was one question that swept the discourse: Should series protagonist Link speak? A lot of people are very passionate about the possibility of the movie putting a voice in the head of the perennially near-silent protagonist, with many claiming that he should not, in fact, say anything.

And one can't help but think of the "Well excuuuuse me, Princess!" cartoon adaptation from 1989 that filled the Link void with "attitude," making him more an obnoxious smart aleck than a noble knight, or the recent animated movie adaptation of Super Mario Bros., and agree Link shouldn't speak. Adding dialogue to Link means stamping him with a potentially annoying personality, as in the '80s, or with only the broadest, dullest strokes of one, as in the Mario movie.

Either way, everyone is wrong. It doesn't matter if Link talks, because who cares about Link? The series isn't called "The Legend of Link." The Legend of Zelda movie should be about the games' only real, interesting character, and her name is right there in the title.

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If you're shopping for Xbox Series X|S games to play or gift over the holidays, you're in luck, as dozens of Xbox games are on sale at multiple online retailers during Black Friday.

Select first-party Microsoft games are discounted at Best Buy, including Halo Infinite for $15 (was $60), Forza Horizon 5 for $30 (was $60), and Minecraft Legends Deluxe Edition for $25 (normally $50), as are a few third-party releases like Dead Space for $35 (normally $70)

Over at Amazon, you can grab third-party Xbox games like Assassin's Mirage for $40 (normally $50), Lies of P for $50 (was $60), Resident Evil 4 for $30 (down from $60), and Diablo 4 for $50 (was $70). Target also has reduced prices on Xbox games like Star Wars Jedi: Survivor for $30 (was $60) and more. Check the list below for a roundup of some of the best Xbox Games discounted online during Black Friday.

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Acer Nitro 27-Inch Curved Gaming Monitor

$145 (was $259)

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LG Ultragear 32" 1440p Gaming Monitor

$169 (was $349)

See at Walmart

Walmart's Black Friday deals are now live, and if you're looking to upgrade your battlestation, you should take a closer look at the discounted Acer Nitro 27-Inch Curved Monitor. Typically sold for $259, it's down to just $145. That's an incredible bargain for this mid-range display, which is a great companion for gaming, work, and streaming. Alternatively, you can step up to a 32-inch LG Ultragear monitor for only $169 (down from $349).

Acer Nitro 27-Inch Curved Gaming Monitor $145 (was $259)

Despite its low price, this Acer monitor is packed with premium features. Aside from its ergonomic 1500R curve, it benefits from a 2560x1440 resolution, up to 170Hz refresh rate, HDR support, and AMD FreeSync Premium for tear-free gaming. It also looks like a much more expensive monitor than its price tag suggests, thanks to a "zero frame" design with minimal bezels.

Toss in a 1ms response time, and this should be an ideal companion for most gaming setups. We're not sure if this deal will sell out before the Black Friday promotion ends, but seeing as this is one of the lowest prices of the year, we'd recommend checking it out as soon as you can.

See at Walmart LG Ultragear 32" 1440p Gaming Monitor $169 (was $349)

This 32-inch LG Ultragear monitor is more than 50% off for Black Friday. It has a 1440p QHD display and sports an impressive 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time. This particular Ultragear has support for HDR10 and has an sRGB grade of 95%, which means you're getting a vibrant anti-glare display that is higher quality than you'd typically find in a gaming monitor in this price range.

See at Walmart

If the Acer or LG monitors sell out (or if you want to shop around before making a purchase), you'll find discounts for the Samsung 32-Inch Curved Monitor and the premium Razer 27-Inch Gaming Monitor.

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Black Friday 2023 is in full effect at Amazon, as the retailer is currently offering a massive buy two, get one free sale. The catalog is filled with hundreds of Blu-ray movies and TV shows, many of which are seeing generous discounts--bringing them down to the lowest price of the year. Wading through the oversized catalog to find the best deals can be challenging, so we've put together a list of our favorite deals below. Note that the B2G1 free promotion will automatically be applied to your order during checkout (discounting the lowest-priced item to a cool $0). We've split the deals into categories to make it easier to browse, and you can use our table of contents below to jump directly to what you're looking for.

See B2G1 free sale at Amazon

B2G1 free Blu-ray Black Friday saleTable of Contents [hide]

• B2G1 free Blu-ray Black Friday sale

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2024's Call of Duty game will reportedly be the next game in the Black Ops series, and will once again be set against historical real-world events. This time, the series appears primed to visit more recent history with the Gulf War of the early 1990s, as was previously rumored.

Windows Central reports that this entry will be developed by Treyarch as expected, and is being referred to internally by code names, which may indicate that the title hasn't been finalized yet, but by number, this would be Black Ops 6. It will revolve around shadowy government operations by the CIA on behalf of the coalition of US-led forces against Saddam Hussein's Iraq.

As this one would take place during relatively recent history, you would be using real-world technology from the conflict, as opposed to near-future tech. It may also address the end of the Cold War, as the series has become known for a paranoid-thriller style of alternate history retellings. It may also feature returning Black Ops maps and the return of Zombies mode, according to the report. We recently saw purportedly leaked images from the next Treyarch Call of Duty game.

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Xbox Series X Diablo 4 Bundle + $75 Gift Card

$450 (was $560)

See at Target

It wasn't all that long ago that shopping for an Xbox Series X was an exercise in futility, with retailers constantly running out of stock and inventory getting bought up by resellers. That couldn't be further from where we find ourselves today, as Black Friday has brought huge discounts on both Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S--including several bundles that make this the perfect time to jump to the new-gen console.

Target is offering one of the best Black Friday deals, letting you snag the Xbox Series X Diablo 4 Bundle for just $450. Not only that, but you'll get a free $75 gift card with your purchase. You could then use that gift card to buy a second controller for only $40 and still have money left for a game.

Xbox Series X Diablo 4 bundle

If you're not interested in bundles, you'll find the Xbox Series X listed for $400 at Best Buy, though only My Best Buy Plus or Total members are eligible for the discount (everyone else pays $450). However, that additional $50 off is enough to sign up for My Best Buy--so your membership pays for itself with this offer. On top of the discount, all customers get a free $50 gift card.

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The 8BitDo Ultimate is already one of the best controllers of 2023, but the upcoming Genshin Impact Chongyun Edition might be the most compelling model yet. Sporting a gorgeous white and blue design, a charging dock, and support for PC, Steam Deck, iOS, and Android, it looks like the ideal gamepad to use while exploring Teyvat. Preorders are now open ahead of its launch on December 18--and despite its sleek appearance, it's reasonably priced at $60.

8BitDo Ultimate Wireless Controller (Chongyun Edition) $60

Chongyun is one of the newest characters to join the Genshin Impact roster, and this controller takes several design cues from the Cryo character. It features a cool blue and white color pattern that extends to the dock, a vibrant gold d-pad, and a light blue carrying case. Aside from the controller and carrying case, you'll also get four different joystick caps, a keychain, and a fridge magnet.

Preorder at Amazon

Beyond that, this is your typical 8BitDo Ultimate gamepad. According to the official listing, it offers wireless support for PC via its 2.4GHz adapter and iOS devices via Bluetooth. It can also be used as a wired controller. For Android users, Genshin Impact doesn't have native controller support. But you can get it running if you don't mind using a third-party app.

Other notable features include two back buttons, custom profile switching, vibration, and support for the 8BitDo Ultimate Software for further customization.

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Honkai: Star Rail introduced a new healer in its 1.5 update. Huohuo, a judge-in-training for the Ten-Lords Commission, hosts a powerful spirit named Tail as a glowing, green fox tail attached to her body. This Foxian girl might seem cowardly and pitiful, but she's one of the game's best supports to this date because of her healing and energy regeneration abilities. Here's what you need to know about Huohuo, including what each ability does and the best way to build her.

Table of Contents [hide]

• Huohuo abilities

Huohuo abilities

Huohuo is the first five-star unit advertised as a healer and battery in one. She can restore health with her skill and talent, and charge up everyone's Ultimate with her own when she calls upon Tail. Tingyun, one of the game's best supports for her buffs and recharge abilities, can only charge one ally at a time. In that sense, Huohuo's abilities are a combination of the healing Abundance characters' are known for plus the energy recharge that a character Tingyun offers. She recharges more energy with her Ultimate as it levels up, so you should focus on that before her Skill and Talent.

Here's the information about her skills as explained in the game at Level 1:

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Scream's big-time stars are dropping like Ghostface victims as now both Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega have reportedly left the franchise. In the case of Barrera, Spyglass fired the star from the upcoming Scream VII, the latest installment of the horror movie series over social media comments on the Israel/Palestine war.

Deadline is now reporting that Jenna Ortega will also not be returning. Christopher Landon remains on board as director for now, but the next steps for Spyglass remain unclear.

Sources close to the report insist that Ortega's departure "has nothing to do with Barrera's firing." They're saying that Ortega's representatives informed Spyglass before the actors' strike that the actress would not be returning. In the past year, Ortega has made a name for herself and even earned an Emmy nomination for Netflix's Wednesday.

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Star Wars is nothing if not known for its iconic machines like droids and starships, and you can build your own display piece with a Black Friday deal on 4D puzzles. The model kits run the gamut from a friendly little R2-D2 to a huge Imperial Star Destroyer, ranging from about $8 to $30 on sale. These model kits are made of rigid card stock, so they come in flat sheets that you can punch out to build yourself.

R2-D2 4D model kitStar Wars 4D Model Kits for Black Friday

• R2-D2 model kit -- $8.49 ($20)
• Darth Vader helmet model kit -- $7.49 ($15)
• Death Star model kit -- $30 ($60)
• Imperial Star Destroyer model kit -- $30 ($60)
• Venator-class Star Destroyer model kit -- $47.49 ($60)
• Millennium Falcon model kit -- $17 ($40)
• X-Wing model kit -- $12.74 ($30)

Vader is the smallest of the kits, at 83 pieces and measuring 5.2 in x 4.9 in x 6.9 in. The mid-sized models like the X-Wing are a little bigger, at more than 100 pieces and measuring more than a foot across. The largest kits, appropriately, are the Star Destroyers. Both have more than 270 pieces and measure more than two feet at their longest points.

Black Friday is a great time to be a deal-hunter, and especially a Star Wars fan. This year you can score big discounts on Star Wars board games, Star Wars Lego sets, Force FX lightsabers, and Star Wars: Jedi Survivor. And for even more deals, check out our roundups of all the best Black Friday discounts.

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Streaming apps are getting in on the Black Friday discounts, including Paramount+, which is offering new and returning members a limited-time discount on the first three months of their subscription.

Join Paramount+

The Black Friday discount drops the ad-supported Paramount+ Essential tier to just $2/month (normally $6/month) for three months, and the ad-free Paramount+ with Showtime bundle to $4/month (normally $12/month) for three months.

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Despite having released only a few weeks ago, this year's new Call of Duty game, Modern Warfare III, is already seeing its first discount. As part of Amazon's Black Friday sale, the standard PS5 edition of MW3 has seen its price slashed by $10, dropping it from $70 to $60.

See at Amazon

The deal is available right now with free two-day shipping for Prime members, so if you order soon, you can get it as early as Black Friday itself. This is for a physical copy of the game on PS5 and could sell out--new Call of Duty games always end up as the year's top sellers, so you may want to act fast if you're interested.

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The Xbox One is celebrating its 10-year anniversary today, November 22, 2023. Below, we examine how its rough launch unexpectedly steered Microsoft toward embracing its legacy.

It's hardly an original observation, but the Xbox One predicted the future. Digital-only consoles are standard, and every console is a place where people not only play games, but watch TV and movies. However, the Xbox One did not release in the future we now live in, but when the industry was still haltingly moving toward its digital-focused future. Fairly quickly, Microsoft walked back its policy that games bought on disc would be connected directly to your Xbox account and removed the online check-in requirement. However, Xbox One's failed bet on the future that was to come had an odd side effect: Xbox began to look to the past.

In a deliciously ironic turn, backwards compatibility was set to be a launch feature on the Xbox One, but when Microsoft walked back the console's online focused policies, it had to be shelved. By 2014, the company began to develop an internal emulator to enable backwards compatibility in secret. After over a year of hard work, starting on November 9, 2015, you could play 104 Xbox 360 games on your Xbox One. Over the next few years, Microsoft added hundreds of games to the Xbox One's backwards compatibility list, from obvious hits like Halo: Reach to cult classics like Binary Domain.

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Andrzej Sapkowski, creator of The Witcher and author of the original novels, said that he gave the creators of the Netflix show some ideas, but that they didn't listen to him.

The quote comes from an interview with Sapkowski at Vienna Comic Con from the Austrian gaming YouTubers Cerealkillerz. The interview covers Sapkowski's inspirations, his writing method, his advice for young writers and his feelings about the franchise's various adaptations. The interview asked about when Sapkowski visited the set of the Witcher Netflix show. Sapkowski initially replied with enthusiasm, but then joked about how little influence he felt he had on the show. "The set was tremendous...I gave them some ideas but they never listened to me," he said, "It's normal. Who's this? It's a writer. It's nobody."

When asked whether any of the various adaptations captured what Sapkowski imagined, he said, "every adaptation that I saw was strange for me...sometimes it's very nice for me...sometimes it isn't. I will not elaborate." Sapkowski also said he is working on another Witcher book that will be released next winter. When asked whether he plays video games Sapkowski replied, "Never. I have no time for this."

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Epic Games has confirmed that rapper, producer, and actor Eminem is coming to the battle royale game Fortnite. In a post on social media, Epic announced that, as rumored, Eminem will have a role to play in the upcoming Big Bang event, and based on a new leak, new Eminem skins will also be released.

The Big Bang, as it's called, aims to offer a "new beginning" of Fortnite. Eminem himself also posted about the upcoming event, which begins on December 2, with a video featuring his song "Tone Deaf" and specifically the line where he sings, "At the crib, playin' Fortnite with your grandma."

The real deal. @Eminem in The Big Bang!
December 2, 2023. pic.twitter.com/hoNbFY76nH

— Fortnite (@FortniteGame) November 22, 2023

Promotional art for the upcoming Eminem x Fortnite event has leaked online, showing three versions of Eminem that may be coming to Fortnite through the event. According to the leak, Eminem will have several in-game outfits available beginning November 29, just ahead of The Big Bang.

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Bethesda has added a new Starfield-themed bedding set to its merch collection, allowing fans of the game to bring a taste of the interstellar RPG back to Earth.

The Starfield Duvet Cover Set is available via the studio's online Bethesda Gear storefront, where it can be purchased for $75 USD. The set features a navy duvet cover dotted with white stars (very similar to the background of the in-game star map), and a large, striped accent featuring Constellation's signature colors: red, orange, yellow, and blue. Also included are two pillowcases with the same navy "Starscape" pattern as the duvet cover.

The Starfield Duvet Cover Set is available for $75.

The product listing emphasizes that the bedding set contains a duvet cover and pillowcases only--no comforter or pillows are included. The duvet cover comes in three sizes--twin, queen, and king--but interestingly, the size of the duvet cover does not appear to impact the price, meaning the Starfield Duvet Cover Set costs $75 regardless of what size duvet cover is ordered.

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