Are you excited to play Ghost of Yotei? The sequel to Sucker Punch's hit game, Ghost of Tsushima, stars a new protagonist: Atsu. After surviving a harrowing ordeal as a child and plying her trade as a mercenary, she has returned to her homeland to seek vengeance. You'll find yourself trekking across lush valleys and towering mountains, while delving into dark caverns and massive fortresses, all to put an end to your rivals. Our Ghost of Yotei guide tackles various facets to help you with the campaign.

Ghost of Yotei guides hub

Beginner's guide: 15 things you need to know before you play - Are you a newcomer who's just getting started or a long-time fan of Ghost of Tsushima who's ready for the sequel? Well, we've got a bunch of tips related to combat and exploration.

Which horse to pick - You can choose from several horse mounts, and you can even name your trusty pal.

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J.R.R. Tolkien Collector's Edition Hardcovers

All five matching hardcover editions are steeply discounted.

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J.R.R. Tolkien fans can snag the 2024 Collector's Editions of The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and The Silmarillion for exceedingly low prices at Amazon. As part of the retailer's early Prime Big Deal Days sale, the eye-catching hardcover editions are on sale for up to 68% off. Normally $35 each, all five Tolkien Collector's Editions are discounted to $15 or less, with The Hobbit being the cheapest at $11.33.

Each book has foil-stamped cover art and stained edges. The interior covers have detailed maps of Middle-earth, and you can mark your progress to Mordor with the built-in ribbon bookmarks.

The Lord of the Rings Collector's Editions (2024)

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Twin Peaks: From Z to A - Complete Series (Blu-ray)

$49 (was $70)

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Twin Peaks: From Z to A is on sale for $49 (was $70) ahead of Prime Big Deal Days at Amazon. Reissued by Paramount earlier this year, From Z to A collects all three seasons of the surrealist masterpiece, the prequel movie Fire Walk with Me, and 20-plus hours of special features across 21 discs. Fans can also save on preorders for The Criterion Collection's 4K restoration of Fire Walk with Me. Slated to launch next Tuesday, October 7--the official start of Big Deal Days--Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me on 4K Blu-ray is up for grabs for $35 (was $50).

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (4K Blu-ray)

$35 (was $50) | Releases October 7

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We rounded up and compared all of the in-print Twin Peaks Blu-rays and DVDs below.

Quick look: Twin Peaks Box Sets & Books

• Twin Peaks: From Z to A: The Complete Series (Blu-ray) -- $49 ($70)
• Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (The Criterion Collection)
  • 4K Blu-ray -- $35 ($50) | Releases October 7
  • Blu-ray -- $25.34 ($40)
  • DVD -- $22
• Twin Peaks: The Television Collection
  
  • Blu-ray -- $56.63 ($77)
  • DVD -- $42 ($51)
• Twin Peaks: A Limited Event Series
  • Blu-ray -- $21.55 ($40)
  • DVD -- $18.45
• Twin Peaks Official Tie-in Books
  • The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer (Paperback) -- $14 ($18)
  • The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer (Audiobook) -- $17.46 ($20)
  • The Secret History of Twin Peaks (Audiobook) -- $14 ($20)
  • Twin Peaks: The Final Dossier (Audiobook) -- $7
  • The Twin Peaks Tapes of Agent Cooper (Audiobook) -- $3.27

Twin Peaks: From Z to A - Complete Series (Blu-ray) $49 (was $70)

Twin Peaks is one of the most memorable TV series of all time. Created by the late David Lynch, who died earlier this year, Twin Peaks was a hit in both the early '90s and in 2017 when Showtime revived the groundbreaking series for a third season.

As mentioned, From Z to A is a one-stop shop. You'll get all 30 episodes of the original two-season run, the aforementioned 1992 prequel film, and the 2017 revival that ran on Showtime for 18 episodes. That's 48 episodes of superb TV and an awesome feature film in one package.

• Season 1 (1990) -- 8 Episodes
• Season 2 (1990-91) -- 22 Episodes
• Season 3 (2017) -- 18 Episodes
• Fire Walk with Me (1992) - Prequel movie

You'll also get a long list of special features, including 4K versions of the original series Pilot episode and Twin Peaks: A Limited Event Series Episode 8. Here's a look at the highlights:

Twin Peaks: From Z to A Special Features

• The Missing Pieces: Fire Walk with Me deleted/alternate scenes (90 minutes)
• Behind The Curtain: Making of Footage From Twin Peaks: A Limited Event Series
• Full-length versions of all Roadhouse Bar music performances
• A Talk with Kyle MacLachlan and Sheryl Lee
• On the Couch with Kimmy and Harry
• 4K versions of the Original Series Pilot and Twin Peaks: A Limited Event Series Episode 8
• Additional special features from previous Twin Peaks home releases

In total, that's over 20 hours of additional Twin Peaks content. It's worth noting that the packaging for this Twin Peaks: From Z to A reprinting differs from the original 2019 version. The new edition uses a plastic case rather than the premium fold-out box of the original, and it lacks the collectible art prints. This cost-saving measure probably makes producing the sets easier, which hopefully means this reprint run will remain in print longer. It's no longer a collector's item like the original release, but it does offer an affordable way to watch the entire series on Blu-ray.

See at Amazon See at Walmart Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (4K Blu-ray + 1080p Blu-ray) $35 (was $50) | Releases October 7

Fire Walk with Me's 4K Blu-ray edition includes 4K UHD and 1080p Blu-ray discs. Both discs have the film and all of the special features outlined below.

• Film and special features on both discs: 4K Blu-ray & 1080p Blu-ray
• 4K digital restoration supervised by David Lynch
• DTS TrueHD 7.1 Master Audio supervised by David Lynch
• DTS 2.0 Master Audio
• The Missing Pieces: 90 minutes of deleted scenes pieced together by David Lynch
• Actor interviews: Sheryl Lee, Ray Wise, and Grace Zabriskie
• Composer interview: Angelo Badalamenti
• Trailers
• English subtitles
• Excerpts from 1997 book Lynch on Lynch

Criterion's edition of Fire Walk with Me makes for a nice display piece and includes an exclusive booklet of essays. The actual on-disc content is the same as what you'll find in From Z to A, but you won't be able to watch the movie in 4K unless you get Criterion's upcoming release.

Fire Walk with Me joined The Criterion Collection on standard Blu-ray back in 2017.

Preorder at Amazon See all editions at Amazon Twin Peaks: The Television Collection (Blu-ray) $56.63 (was $77)

Twin Peaks: The Television Collection released on Blu-ray in 2019. Up until the launch of the Z to A reprint earlier this year, this 16-disc collection was the default choice for anyone who wanted to own the series in physical format in 1080p resolution. It include the original 30-episode run and the 18-part Limited Event Series.

The Television Collection is missing some of the special features in From Z to A, and it doesn't have Fire Walk with Me prequel film. But if you pick up one of the Criterion Collection editions of the movie, the omission here isn't a big deal.

The one thing The Television Collection has on the repackaged version of From Z to A is the box art and packaging. The Television Collection definitely looks better than From Z to A's oversized plastic case.

See at Amazon Twin Peaks: The Television Collection (DVD) $42 (was $51)

Twin Peaks: The Television Collection is also available on DVD in a 17-disc box set that matches the Blu-ray edition. Some fans may prefer to watch the show--or the first two seasons, at the very least--on a CRT TV in 480p resolution. To be clear, we wouldn't recommend this if you don't have a TV that plays nice with DVDs, as the picture often looks terrible on modern displays when watching DVDs.

See at Amazon Twin Peaks: A Limited Event Series (Blu-ray) $21.55 (was $40) with coupon

Season 3 also received a Blu-ray reprint in February. The 18-episode Showtime revival--often called The Return or A Limited Event Series--is on sale for $21.55 thanks to a limited-time coupon deal. If you don't see the coupon on the store page, the price is $30.79.

Along with all of the Showtime episodes, you'll get a variety of featurettes, a behind-the-scenes photo gallery, and a video of the Twin Peaks Season 3 panel at Comic-Con.

If you buy From Z to A or The Television Collection, there's really no reason to buy this separately, since all 18 episodes of the Showtime series are included in those box sets. And unlike the Criterion Collection edition of Fire Walk with Me, you're not getting any fancy packaging, bonus inserts, or higher resolution to justify buying the "same thing" twice.

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In the Mouth of Madness

$36.69 (was $60) | Releases October 28

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When it comes to horror, John Carpenter easily ranks among the genre's greatest filmmakers. With a storied career that includes numerous cult-classics to his name. Soon, one of his lesser-known works, In The Mouth of Madness, is getting a new Limited Edition 4K Blu-ray from Arrow Video on October 28. This version features all-new cover art and a long list of special features. Even better, you can preorder the Lovecraft-inspired thriller at a discount via Amazon, where it's down to just $36.69, saving you nearly 40% compared to its $60 MSRP.

In the Mouth of Madness $36.69 (was $60) | Releases October 28

The Limited Edition release from Arrow Video is a brand-new 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negatives, and it has been enhanced with Dolby Vision, HDR10 compatibility, and Dolby Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 audio. Like other releases from Arrow Video, you're getting several physical extras as well, like a reversible sleeve with original artwork, a poster with new and original illustrations on both sides, and a collector's book offering essays by several film critics and historians.

The steelbook cover uses the original--and eerie--theatrical poster art for the cover, and for on-disc special features, you can expect a mix of archival audio commentary, newly filmed interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and brand-new featurettes:

In the Mouth of Madness special features

• Reversible sleeve showcasing both original and newly commissioned art by Francesco Francavilla
• Double-sided fold-out poster with original and newly commissioned artwork by Francesco Francavilla
• Perfect-bound collector’s book with new essays on the film by Guy Adams, Josh Hurtado, Richard Kadrey, George Daniel Lea, Willow Catelyn Maclay, and Alexandra West
• Archival commentary track with director John Carpenter and producer Sandy King Carpenter
• Archival commentary track with John Carpenter alongside cinematographer Gary B. Kibbe
• Newly recorded audio commentary from filmmakers Rebekah McKendry & Elric Kane, hosts of the Colors of the Dark podcast
• Making Madness: A new on-camera interview with producer Sandy King Carpenter
• Do You Read Sutter Cane: A brand-new conversation with actor Jürgen Prochnow
• The Whisperer of the Dark: An archived sit-down with actress Julie Carmen
• Greg Nicotero’s Things in the Basement: Vintage interview with FX maestro Greg Nicotero
• We Are What He Writes: A fresh featurette celebrating John Carpenter and In the Mouth of Madness
• Reality Is Not What It Used to Be: A new appreciation piece by film scholar Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
• Horror's Hallowed Grounds: Archival featurette exploring the movie’s filming locations
• Home Movies from Hobb’s End: Candid behind-the-scenes footage
• The Making of In the Mouth of Madness: A classic making-of featurette
• Original theatrical trailer plus television promo spots

Preorder at Amazon In the Mouth of Madness (Blu-ray) $18 (was $34.93)

If you don't feel like waiting or mind watching the movie in 1080p, you can pick up In the Mouth of Madness on standard Blu-ray for just $18. Released in 2018, this is a high-quality version of the movie from Shout Factory, using 4K scans of the original film negatives. While you will be missing out on all of the new content from the Arrow Video version, the archival bonus materials on this release are still great overall for a tour of the filming locations, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and the insightful audio commentary tracks.

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In the Mouth of Madness starred Sam Neill as John Trent, an insurance investigator exploring the recent disappearance of a celebrated author of horror novels. When his investigation eventually leads him to a small town, Trent finds himself questioning his very sanity as the boundaries between reality and fiction begin to merge, with all of humanity at risk. The film is the final chapter in the unofficial Apocalypse Trilogy of films from Carpenter, which includes The Thing and Prince of Darkness, movies that also deal with cataclysmic themes.

The movie is heavily inspired by the work of author HP Lovecraft, with the title itself being a play on his novella, At the Mountains of Madness. While In the Mouth of Madness was a box office flop, it still received positive reviews and it has been reevaluated over time as one of Carpenter's most technically impressive movies with its polished production and meta-narrative.

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Like almost every annual sports game, EA Sports FC 26 is exactly what you would expect it to be: an iterative upgrade on last year's game. To EA's credit, it's a pretty good upgrade, all things considered. This is partly due to how off the mark EA FC 25 was, but also because of a concerted effort to solve some of the series' longstanding issues by focusing on player feedback. The end result is an interesting attempt to appeal to every type of player. It's not wholly successful in this ambition, but EA FC 26 is at least a step in the right direction.

The headlining change is a shift to two distinct playstyles. The series has always felt somewhat different when played online compared to offline, but the feeling is now much more pronounced and extends beyond the foibles of online netcode. Competitive and Authentic gameplay presets make a marked difference in how the match engine handles. You can choose between either one when playing offline, but online modes, such as Ultimate Team, are locked into the Competitive playstyle (even when playing Squad Battles against the CPU).

The Competitive preset is all about player skill. The pace of the game is rapid, with passes ping-ponging between players' feet, and the spotlight is on dribbling, skill moves, and consistently high-scoring matches. Despite this proclivity for attacking football, defending has also been improved. Successful tackles actually regain possession, rather than knocking the ball right back to the attacking player's feet, so a lot of the frustration from previous entries has been exorcised.

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With Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Treyarch is going back-to-back with Black Ops releases. The new game brings a futuristic setting for multiplayer, the largest round-based Zombies map ever, and a new Resurgence map for Warzone called Haven's Hollow. GameSpot went hands-on with Black Ops 7 during Call of Duty: Next, and while the jump into the future does enough to distinguish the multiplayer from last year's offering, and the latest iteration of Zombies creates a new experience, Warzone's upcoming integration currently falls flat for Black Ops 7.

Futuristic and refined multiplayer

I've always believed that Call of Duty was at its best with a rotating developer cycle. I liked flip-flopping between developers and the different series within Call of Duty. Going from Modern Warfare to Black Ops was refreshing because the different teams each introduced different styles, modes, and features to their takes on the game, lessening the yearly "CoD fatigue."

So, with another Black Ops title coming so soon, my biggest concern was how Treyarch would make Black Ops 7 feel fresh enough. I didn't want another year that felt like more of the exact same, because we already lived through that with back-to-back Modern Warfare titles. Thankfully, I can happily report that Black Ops 7 does enough to remain an invigorating multiplayer experience.

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Walton Goggins' character, The Ghoul, is one of the breakout creations from Prime Video's Fallout TV series. Now, The Ghoul is coming to Fallout 76 later this year as part of the Burning Springs expansion. While Burning Springs won't officially launch until early December, a public test server for the expansion is going to be open on October 2.

Players won't be able to control The Ghoul, but they can find him in Burning Springs, Ohio, where he operates out of a bar called The Last Resort. His function in the expansion is to give the players bounty hunter assignments. The grunt hunts are the lower-tier bounties that can be used to gain experience and the occasional legendary item. Tougher targets can be purchased in exchanged for caps. The most difficult assignments are the head hunts, which are "open to anyone in earshot." Those are some of of the most difficult targets to handle, and players may need backup to bring them down.

Burning Springs is also introducing an important new character called the Rust King. He's an intelligent super mutant who hasn't lost his taste for violence and is described as "super threatening." Players will work with the Rust King as they get acclimated to Burning Springs' cutthroat environment. In the accompanying dev chat, the Fallout 76 team teased that the Rust King may have a role beyond this expansion.

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Microsoft announced some significant changes for Xbox Game Pass today, headlined by a 50% price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, bringing it up to $30/month. But it may not be the last change for the service, according to at least one expert.

According to Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad, Microsoft is betting that its console players stay loyal to Game Pass even at the higher price while the company continues to release more and more games on rival platforms like PS5 and Switch 2, in addition to its ongoing efforts in the PC market. Ahmad also suggested Microsoft could look at an ad-based tier for Game Pass to help the subscription service remain sustainable.

"The primary concern for Xbox at this time is managing the transition from a closed-console-based ecosystem to an open multi-device ecosystem. Console sales have dropped considerably, PC Game Pass uptake has been slow, and cloud is still seen as an extension of existing play, rather than a primary entry point," he said.

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The release of a new Fire Emblem game is usually a big deal, so I was more than a little intrigued--but mostly confused--when I happened to glance at the Nintendo Today app calendar on September 24 and it said "Fire Emblem Shadows Available." There had just been a Nintendo Direct on September 12, after all, where Nintendo announced the next mainline entry in the series for Switch 2, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave. There was no mention of Fire Emblem Shadows. And after playing it, I can see why Nintendo wouldn't showcase it on that big stage

I assumed it was referring to Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon, the 2009 remake of the first game in the series, and went on with my day. It was only later that evening I learned that Fire Emblem Shadows was actually a brand-new mobile entry in the series: one where players manage "real-time strategy and social deduction at the same time."

The idea of a new game in the long-running tactics series arriving out of the blue had me eager to install it and see what it was about. I had a decent time with Fire Emblem Heroes, Nintendo's previous attempt at translating Fire Emblem to the world of free-to-play mobile games (and one that would go on to become Nintendo's first mobile game to hit $1 billion in revenue). As such, I was curious to see how Shadows, which is also free to play, would differ. Unfortunately, the monkey paw soon curled, and I found myself dumbfounded by all the ways Fire Emblem Shadows is Fire Emblem in name only.

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Pokemon Go's new Tales of Transformation season is officially underway, and the mobile game is kicking it off with a variety of events and Pokemon debuts in September. In keeping with the season's theme, numerous Mega Pokemon will appear in Mega raids this month, including the debuting Mega Sharpedo.

That's certainly not the only new Pokemon coming to the game. A few other monsters are set to make their debut this month, such as the psychic Pokemon Indeedee and a special Psyduck wearing a swim ring to celebrate the new season of the Netflix hit Pokemon Concierge. You'll also have more chances to catch the rare fairy Pokemon Flabebe during September's Community Day.

There are plenty of other activities lined up for the next few weeks. You can read more about all the biggest events happening in Pokemon Go this month below.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is a little over a month away from its November 14 launch on PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S now that we're in October. The good news, though, is that the game's multiplayer beta starts this weekend if you've preordered the military shooter, and you can now preload it to get ready to shoot your friends--and strangers--in the face.

There's a catch here, of course, if you want to preload the beta: You either had to have preordered the game, subscribed to the more expensive Xbox Game Pass Ultimate tier, or watched Call of Duty's September 30 Next livestream. For the latter, CharlieIntel noted on an October 1 X post that download codes will be "sent out soon."

There's also a new trailer highlighting the beta. Set to Playboi Carti's "FEIN," the video (below) shows off many of the game's maps, tons of bullets flying and bombs exploding, airstrikes, RC cars, and so much more.

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Amazon's Luna cloud gaming service, now in its third year, has been a constant part of their Prime lineup, allowing Prime members to stream games at no extra cost right from their PCs or TV sets. Today, the company has announced its plans to overhaul the Luna experience, with new social features and a slew of new games coming to the service later this year.

The main new offering of the Luna redesign is called GameNight, which will offer a collection of multiplayer-focused games that players control with their cell phones. The collection will include adaptations of classic board games like Taboo and Clue, established party games like Exploding Kittens, and new titles like Courtroom Chaos: Starring Snoop Dogg, where players must try to convince Judge Snoop Dogg to rule in their favor by spinning stories and placing the blame on other players.

The selection of games available to stream on Luna will also increase with the overhaul, with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, and Dave the Diver among those announced. Luna Premium members will gain access to even more games, including Lego DC Super-Villains, Team Sonic Racing, Batman: Arkham Knight, and more.

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KPop Demon Hunters, which quickly became one of Netflix's most popular things ever when it was released on the streaming service earlier this year, is coming to Fortnite on October 2, but this collaboration is way more than just new skins for the item shop. HUNTR/X is taking over Battle Royale, Blitz, and Creative, essentially getting the first week of Fortnitemares to themselves before the Halloween party begins in earnest a little later. Take a look at what's in store in the teaser below.

In all, Fortnite x KPop Demon Hunters is adding quite a pile of stuff around the Fortnite ecosystem. There are at least three new weapons and items to Battle Royale and Blitz, with Rumi's sword, Mira's Spicy Ramyeon, and a new version of the teleporting void mask. There's Demon Rush, the new KPop Demon Hunters-themed re-do of the limited-time Horde Rush mode, which Epic brings back each October. There are KPop Demon Hunter items and NPCs that can be used for modes designed using Unreal Engine for Fortnite (UEFN), as we've seen previously with Squid Game and The Walking Dead.

And, yes, there will be skins in the item shop for each member of HUNTR/X. There's been no word about any jam tracks, however.

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For Pokemon fans, it's once again time to catch 'em all, this time in grocery store aisles. Campbell's launched the Catch-a-Can Sweepstakes, which has a grand prize that includes a Nintendo Switch 2.

There are eight different cans of chicken soup with Pokemon-shaped pasta to nab, with each can displaying a different popular pocket monster like Eevee or Charizard. Collecting at least four different cans makes you eligible for the sweepstakes' first prize, which is a Campbell's Pokemon-themed bowl.

But devoted trainers and soup lovers who collect all eight cans will have a chance to win the grand prize, which, alongside the Switch 2, includes a copy of the upcoming Pokemon Legends: Z-A, and a limited-edition collectible can. Campbell’s Pokemon Pewter City Special Stew isn't available in stores, and the soup company calls the can a "true collector’s item."

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NetEase Games has peeled back the curtain on Marvel Rivals' next seasonal update, which is set to kick off on October 10. Titled Heart of the Dragon, Season 4.5 brings new additions to the game, including Daredevil as a playable character, cross-platform progression, and more.

The headliner here is, of course, The Man Without Fear: Daredevil. We've known for a while that he was coming to the game; however, Marvel Games and NetEase Games have finally revealed that he'll join the free-to-play hero brawler's ever-growing roster as a Duelist on October 10. He looks devilish, too, what with his demonic powers thanks to "The Beast" and his glowing magenta eyes. His kit looks devilishly oppressive as well, as he can locate targets with his senses, dash in to close the distance, and wombo-combo combatants to death.

Season 4.5 also brings cross-platform progression, but it isn't a full launch just yet. Instead, the team will invite "a small group of players to test" it during the mid-season, so that it'll be ready for all players whenever Season 5 goes live. Ranked and Leaderboard positions will remain separate for each platform, and your career battle stats and rank will be tracked independently for each device. That said, other forms of progression should carry over.

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Battlefield 6 isn't getting an early-access release, but Xbox players can get a jump ahead by pre-loading the game right now. However, PC and PlayStation 5 owners are going to have to wait a few days longer.

For the base game, MP, and campaign only, the Battlefield 6 file size is under 41GB on Xbox Series X and 39.10 GB on Xbox Series S. However, the game gives players the option as to whether they want to install the HD packs, both of which significantly change the size. The MP HD pack is 25.6GB, while the Multiplayer HD Marker is 23.8GB.

According to the fan-run Battlefield Bulletin account, PlayStation 5 and PC owners will be able to pre-load Battlefield 6 on October 3. The game will launch on all three platforms on October 10, with the global rollout starting at 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET, which is also 4 PM BST.

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Xbox's cloud gaming service has reached a milestone, shedding its "beta" label.

Along with Xbox Cloud Gaming exiting its beta state, Microsoft also announced that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can experience "enhanced" streaming quality up to 1440p and the "shortest wait times." Game Pass Ultimate is now $30/month after the company's revamping and price hike of Xbox Game Pass, though you can still lock in $20/month pricing for Ultimate through Amazon.

Speaking to The Verge, Microsoft director of gaming and platform communications Dustin Blackwell said that the service will "go up to 1440p for select games and select devices," though Xbox hasn't clarified which games and devices support higher resolutions.

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Microsoft announced a suite of significant changes for Xbox Game Pass today, including price hikes, the renaming of tiers, and details on new benefits for subscribers. Microsoft also clarified how to play new Call of Duty games with Game Pass. There are multiple ways, and they all cost more than before, while one tier may not get new Call of Duty games for a while.

First off, you can subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate--which is now $30/month--to play all of Microsoft's new releases at launch, including new Call of Duty titles like this year's Black Ops 7. This was always the case with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and it's not changing.

Another way to get new Call of Duty games with Game Pass is to subscribe to PC Game Pass, although, as with Ultimate, it's going to cost you more than before. The subscription service is rising in price from $12/month to $16.50/month. That's an increase of 37.5%, which is not as significant as the 50% price increase for Game Pass Ultimate.

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To spook you in time for the Halloween season, Microsoft announced a frightening price hike to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service, with Ultimate now running your wallet $30/month. It's this tier that also unlocks the new Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft+ Classic benefits, but if you've never heard of or seen them before, let us break down just what they are so you can determine if Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the right tier for you.

What are Xbox Game Pass Ultimate's new perks?

As mentioned at the top, Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft+ Classics will be available to you if you subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which has jumped from $20 to $30 today (October 1). The latter benefit is currently live, while the former perk will start rolling out on November 18. But again, what even are they? Let us briefly explain.

What Is Ubisoft+ Classics?

Let's start with the perk that's available right now. Ubisoft+ Classics is a subscription service that gives you access to a plethora of, well, Ubisoft games. Folded into Ultimate now, you can play an evolving list of curated games such as Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (which is reported to get remastered in 2026), Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege Extraction, and more across console, PC, and the cloud.

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Frictional Games, the team behind horror hits like SOMA and Amnesia, didn't show up at this year's Horror Game Awards Halloween Showcase, but it's kicking spooky season off right with a brand-new reveal. Working with Kepler Interactive, the studio released a creepy teaser for a new project called Hotel Samsara. The short video features mysterious shots of an eerie, empty hotel, accompanied by strange chanting in the background, ending with a voice saying "something new."

Along with the teaser, a website went live that looks like it's promoting a fancy investment opportunity. It promises a luxury experience and even includes fake reviews. But fans quickly realized this wasn't just a normal game announcement--it was the start of a hidden puzzle.

It's been pointed out that one paragraph had certain bolded letters. When put together, the letters spelled out "steganog," which might be short for "steganography"--hiding secret messages inside normal text or images.

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