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PlayStation Magic Cards
Game Updates

The Gathering Is Making PlayStation Cards, And They Look Great

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Magic: The Gathering has become the Fortnite of trading card games, and as annoying as I find the practice of constantly dumping different IPs together, even God’s strongest soldiers are not immune to propaganda. At MagicCon Atlanta, Wizards of the Coast and Sony announced that PlayStation series are getting seven different Secret Lair drops for various games, and folks, I want those Last of Us cards.

On October 27, Wizards of the Coast will be selling seven PlayStation sets, with most of them covering different franchises in the console maker’s catalog. However, both The Last of Us and God of War are getting two sets. The former will have a pair of cards for both the first game and its sequel, while the latter will cover both the original Greek storyline and the reboot’s Norse one. With the exception of the Last of Us and God of War sets, most of these drops just seem to feature one card with their respective games’ protagonists. The set will drop at 9 a.m. Pacific Time that Monday.

The full line-up includes:

  • The Last of Us Part I
  • The Last of Us Part II
  • Uncharted
  • God of War: Greek
  • God of War: Norse
  • Horizon Forbidden West
  • Ghost of Tsushima

Though it’s not surprising that Sony would want to spotlight its current stable of prestige action games, I’m bummed there’s not more classic PlayStation representation here. Give me Parappa the Rapper, you cowards. But that’s pretty par for the course these days with Sony. Even its upcoming concert series is leaning heavily into its new stuff. 

I don’t play Magic, but I did buy the Sonic cards they put out earlier this year just to get the Shadow the Hedgehog one. He’s sitting pretty on my shelf, so I guess I’ll also buy the Last of Us ones next month, to keep him company. You know, as long as they don’t sell out before it’s my turn in the queue.



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Suno’s upgraded AI music generator is technically impressive, but still soulless
Product Reviews

Suno’s upgraded AI music generator is technically impressive, but still soulless

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When it’s not trying to fend off lawsuits from major record labels, Suno is still working on refining its AI music creation tool. The latest model, Suno v5, is an obvious technical improvement over its previous version, v4.5+. But it still can’t seem to escape the bland emptiness that pervades most AI art.

There are some across-the-board upgrades in audio quality that are undeniable, like fewer artifacts and clearer separation between instruments. Some tracks produced using v4.5+ can smush all the melodic parts together in a way where the lines between guitar, bass, and synth are muddy at best. But with v5, the mixes are much cleaner.

During a demo, Henry Phipps, a Suno product manager, pointed to a song we had the model generate that included a flute-like synth with what sounded like a ping-pong delay effect on it: “I’ve never heard that before in previous models… what that says to me is that the model understands that this is an isolated sound that’s being affected and needs to be reproduced faithfully in different parts of the stereo field.” Since Suno isn’t actually applying effects in the traditional sense, this means the model is identifying a particular instrument and approximating the sound of a stereo delay because it’s decided that is what it should sound like.

There are no edges to any of the Suno vocals. Everything is bathed in reverb, layered with harmonies, and perfectly on pitch. Even if you explicitly tell it not to do these things, the model just ignores you.

Suno also claims that v5 has a better understanding of genre, though that claim seems questionable from my testing. With some of my prompts like “modern avant R&B with glitchy, but funky drums, atmospheric melodic parts, and breathy vocals,” neither v5 or v4.5+ seemed to be the clear winner in delivering what I had in mind (mostly Kelela’s Take Me Apart). They both got close, giving me downtempo tracks with some moody synths, but they lacked the weirdness I was hoping for.

Neither could Suno quite figure out what I was looking for with “early ‘90s lo-fi indie rock recorded on a 4-track cassette recorder with off key vocals and slightly out of tune guitars” either, but v5 was definitely more off target. Despite everything I tried, I could not get Suno to spit out anything that sounded even remotely like Pavement. The loose slacker noise pop I associate with Slanted and Enchanted was nowhere to be found. Instead, I got bombastic “indie” rock with chunky riffs and clean driving power chords. Suno v5 kept serving up songs that sounded more like Arctic Monkeys than anything released before the turn of the century.

Similarly, in my testing, v5 seemed to struggle with era- or decade-specific prompts at times. When I asked for “late 1970s krautrock,” v4.5+ basically nails it outside of the vocals (more on that later). But v5 often delivers ‘80s-tinged synthpop and tracks that are distinctly more modern sounding, even if they have some of that classic krautrock DNA.

What I will say is that the arrangements that Suno’s v5 model creates are much more complex. Compared to v4.5+, there are more one-off musical flourishes that keep things from getting too repetitive and more varied song structures. Where v4.5+ is usually content to stick with a basic verse-chorus-verse structure (with a bridge tacked on for good measure), v5 would often have pre- or post- chorus sections, multiple bridges or breakdowns, and generally build over the course of a track offering more of an arc than just distinct sections.

It also occasionally delivered interesting results when remixing existing tracks. I uploaded a song from an EP I released a few years back (which probably should have tripped its copyright filter) and look, I’m not going to lie, I kind of liked the way it transcribed parts of my guitar solo into a recurring synth motif and turned my big chord pads into driving arpeggios.

But what was missing in all of these covers of my song that I asked Suno to create was the raw, lo-fi nature of the track that I recorded in my living room at 3AM about six years ago. And that’s kind of a running theme here. While Suno can mimic some of the superficial features of an old recording or a human performance like tape hiss or breaths, it always feels inauthentic.

Phipps admits that he hasn’t heard the vocal model recreate the unique imperfections of a real human performance. In its early messaging about v5, Suno touted its “emotionally rich vocals” and “human-like emotional depth,” but that phrasing is now absent from any public-facing materials. Instead, the company has now chosen to describe the vocals as “natural, authentic,” chalking the change up to a “stylistic choice.”

But even that feels like a stretch. While, yes, compared to v4.5+ the vocals feel more human, they’re still stiff. Phipps explained that “when we perceive a vocal out of Suno [v4.5] to be emotionally flat, I think it’s because it’s just missing some detail that gives it that edge,” and that the higher fidelity of the v5 model delivers that detail.

It’s hard to argue with the technical aspects of that claim — vocal performances are more detailed — but they’re still all painfully generic. Every rock vocal ends up sounding like Imagine Dragons or Mumford and Sons, every R&B song like a sleepwalking Adele or a charmless Ariana Grande.

There are no edges to any of the Suno vocals. Everything is bathed in reverb, layered with harmonies, and perfectly on pitch. Even if you explicitly tell it not to do these things, the model just ignores you. I asked v5 for an “unprocessed emotional solo A cappella female vocal performance with no reverb, no harmonies, no effects, just dry vocals.” The two songs it delivered were bathed in reverb, included additional vocalists harmonizing with the first, and one even had what sounded like a bass accompaniment. (Though, it may have been a voice approximating a bass.) But Phipps wasn’t surprised. The “models don’t yet understand descriptions of specific effects and recording techniques. The way the vocal is performed is most influenced by the lyrics and the general mood,” he said.

So, I fed Suno lyrics that were just different enough from the Rolling Stone’s “Gimme Shelter” to avoid getting flagged for copyright infringement. At first brush it seemed to have all the elements that make the original so devastating. A powerful female vocalist shouting over a full, bluesy arrangement, but it had all of the emotional impact of a dentistry textbook.

When I listen to the “Gimme Shelter,” it’s the way Mary Clayton’s voice cracks as she belts out “rape and murder” during the bridge that causes me to choke up. It’s Robert Smith’s completely out-of-tune warble that conveys the desperation in “Why Can’t I Be You” and the tangible exhaustion in Kurt Cobain’s breath right before he delivers the last line in “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” that tells you this is a man struggling with real demons.

In general, trying to make Suno sound “bad” — out of tune, raw, off key, sloppy — was futile. For all the company’s talk about how “natural” the new model’s vocals sound it lacks the imperfections that often carry the emotional weight of a performance. Suno’s virtual vocalists still sound detached. Model v5 might understand that a particular lyric should be sad, but it has no actual emotional connection to the words, because it’s a pile of code, not an artist.

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Forza Horizon 6 will come to PlayStation 5, but not immediately
Game Reviews

Forza Horizon 6 will integrate Japanese culture into the “most full” series location so far

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Forza Horizon 6 will be set in Japan, as revealed by Microsoft at this year’s Tokyo Game Show. Not only that, it will be the biggest and “most full” of any map in the series so far.

Art director Don Arceta discussed the game with Games Radar, describing its version of Japan as “full of contrast”.

“This map that we’ve created for Japan, or Horizon’s version of Japan, is big, but also dense,” he said. “There’s always something around the corner for you to discover and see.” What’s more, the map will include Tokyo too – “the biggest city that we’ve done in a Horizon game yet.”

Forza Horizon 6 – Official Teaser Trailer | Tokyo Game Show 2025Watch on YouTube

Japan has long been requested as a location for the driving series. Arceta provided further detail on the approach from studio Playground Games.

“We never set out to make a location one-to-one,” he said. “It’s always capturing the spirit of the location, and trying to do that in an authentic way and obviously a respectful way. We use a lot of real life data as much as we can to build our world; so a lot of satellite data for the terrain, we take a lot of 3D scans of objects actually on location, a lot of reference photography. We capture skies. So, you know, there’s a lot there that we take”.

He added Forza Horizon 6 will be “the most approachable and welcoming game”, and will also be something of a celebration of Japanese culture.

“Japan’s a breathtaking location, but I think [players will] be surprised just how much more of the culture we’ve tried to integrate into Horizon 6 outside of just the location,” said Arceta. “So obviously there’s car culture, but there’s different festivals and other cultural aspects that we actually wanted to inject a lot more into this game. I think we kind of dipped our toe in that a bit with Horizon 5. But working closely with Kyoko [Yamashita, cultural consultant], I think people will be surprised; they’ll probably learn a bit more about this location than they might expect.”

Forza Horizon 6 ended Xbox’s Tokyo Game Show Broadcast yesterday, though it wasn’t actually shown. Instead we just saw a quick teaser. The news also leaked ahead of the show.

The game will be coming to Xbox and PC first in 2026, with a PlayStation 5 release to follow.



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what the on-chain data says
NFT Gaming

Smart Digital Group stock crashes 87% after crypto pivot announcement

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Smart Digital Group faced a brutal investor revolt as its Nasdaq-listed shares imploded following a surprise announcement to establish a diversified cryptocurrency asset pool, a move markets likely viewed as a high-risk diversion.

Summary

  • Smart Digital Group stock collapsed 87% after announcing plans for a diversified crypto asset pool targeting Bitcoin and Ethereum.
  • The move likely drew investor backlash due to vague details, diverging from peers that saw stock surges after similar pivots.
  • Meanwhile, regulators are probing trading activity in companies adopting crypto treasury strategies, adding systemic risk to such moves.

On Sept. 26, Smart Digital Group Limited (SDM) publicly unveiled its strategy to deploy capital into a pool of cryptocurrency assets, naming Bitcoin and Ethereum as primary targets for their perceived “stability and transparency.”

“This move is designed to strengthen Smart Digital Group position in the digital asset ecosystem while leveraging the growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies in global markets. By allocating resources to established digital assets, the company aims to enhance portfolio diversification and capture value in the evolving digital economy,” the company said.

The announcement, intended to position the firm within the growing digital asset ecosystem, instead triggered an immediate and devastating sell-off. By the end of the trading day on Sept. 25, preceding the official press release, SDM’s stock had been decimated, collapsing 86.84% to $1.88 from a previous close of $13.60.

A pivot that defied the playbook

The dramatic collapse of Smart Digital Group’s valuation stands in stark contrast to the market’s typical reaction to such announcements. According to a 2025 Animoca Brands report, companies announcing corporate crypto-treasury strategies have surged an average of 150% within 24 hours of disclosure. This pattern has played out repeatedly in recent months.

Brera Holdings, a small European soccer club investor, saw its stock skyrocket as much as 464% after revealing its plan to rebrand as Solmate and transition to a Solana-based digital asset treasury, a move backed by a $300 million private placement from names like ARK Invest and the Solana Foundation. Similarly, Chinese EV technology firm Juizi Holdings enjoyed a 25% stock bump following its authorization of a $1 billion Bitcoin treasury initiative.

The critical difference lies in the details markets are now scrutinizing. Companies rewarded by investors have presented clear funding mechanisms, high-profile backers, and specific operational roadmaps.

Smart Digital’s announcement, by comparison, lacked concrete details on the size of the planned asset pool, its funding source, or any strategic partnerships. This vagueness, coupled with the absence of a clear, crypto-native business synergy, transformed a potential growth narrative into a red flag for shareholders concerned about uncalculated risk and diluted corporate focus.

Regulators take note of crypto treasury companies

This escalating trend has not gone unnoticed by regulators. The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority have reportedly initiated a broad probe into trading activity surrounding more than 200 companies that have announced crypto-treasury plans, according to WSJ.

The core of the investigation revolves around suspicious stock-price increases in the days preceding public announcements, a potential sign of selective disclosure or insider trading that would violate Regulation Fair Disclosure.

While Smart Digital’s pre-announcement trading involved a plunge rather than a gain, the intense regulatory spotlight adds a layer of systemic risk to any public company making a crypto pivot, potentially spooking institutional investors.



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Bitcoin
Crypto Trends

Bitcoin Accumulation Trend Shows Signs Of Weakening, What Does This Mean?

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Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

While Bitcoin’s price has declined sharply from its recent all-time high of $124,000, the development has caused a wave of concerns and uncertainty within the community. Several metrics are starting to reflect this waning sentiment among investors toward the largest cryptocurrency asset.

A Cooling Accumulation Bitcoin Trend Score

When a crypto asset’s price experiences a persistent downward trend, history reveals that the negative movement mostly hampers investors’ sentiment. The same can be said for Bitcoin, with the current state of its market and the action of investors toward BTC’s recent price pullback.

Following an examination of the Bitcoin Accumulation Trend Score, Glassnode, a leading financial and on-chain analytics platform, revealed that the metric is showing signs of weakness. This cooling period in the crucial metric indicates that large and long-term BTC investors are reducing their aggressive purchasing habits.

According to the on-chain platform, the BTC accumulation trend score has softened with conviction from large cohorts despite elevated costs. Even though the indicator still demonstrates healthy levels of holding, the recent softening points to a break in the surge of accumulation that may have been boosting the market uptrend and confidence.

BTC accumulation slowing down | Source: Chart from Glassnode on X

Such a change currently may signal a transitory stage in which institutions and whales reevaluate their positions in light of altered sentiment toward cryptocurrencies and changing macroeconomic periods.

Glassnode highlighted that a more cautious bid is frequently indicated by lighter accumulation. At the end, this cautious trend leaves the BTC market susceptible to a supply overhang until demand picks up speed once again.

Market Eyes Shift As BTC Exchange Inflows Drop

Investors’ conviction in Bitcoin has not yet fully faded, as evidenced by a drop in BTC total Inflows to all crypto exchanges. In a quick-take post on the CryptoQuant platform, Nino, a market expert, claims that the declining BTC exchange inflows hint at a possible shift in market dynamics and sentiment.

Nino determined the continuous decline using the 7-day Moving Average (MA) time frame. Given the present market state, the expert noted that this trend could be explained in multiple ways. When there is a high influx, it often points to potential selling pressure, and derivative markets face a more complex situation than spot exchanges. 

Furthermore, a surge in inflows may not necessarily imply a clear market direction but rather the potential for future high volatility due to the fact that the funds can be used to open both long and short positions. As a result, the declining inflow might suggest a rising confidence among holders to retain their assets off exchanges. Considering the trend, a short-term supply reduction becomes highly likely.

At the time of writing, BTC was trading at $109,492, showing a nearly 2% drop within the last 24 hours. Despite the fading momentum, its trading volume in the past day has increased by over 36%, indicating a gradual resurgence in bullish bets.

BTC trading at $109,029 on the 1D chart | Source: BTCUSDT on Tradingview.com

Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.



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Overwatch lootbox
Gaming Gear

Brazil’s president has signed a ban on selling loot boxes to minors as part of a larger online child safety law

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In March, videogames will no longer be able to sell lootboxes to users under the age of 18 in Brazil due to a ban signed earlier this month by Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Part of a broader law passed by Brazil’s congress to enact online safety measures for children, the ban continues an ongoing international effort to regulate exploitative monetization practices (via Eurogamer).

The law, Lei 15.211/2025, aims to defend “the best interests of children and adolescents,” which it defines—according to machine translation—as “the protection of their privacy, safety, mental and physical health, access to information, freedom to participate in society, meaningful access to digital technologies, and well-being.”

Chapter 7 of the law says that “loot boxes offered in electronic games aimed at children and adolescents or likely to be accessible by them are prohibited, in accordance with the respective age rating.”


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Additionally, the law mandates that games featuring “interaction between users through text, audio or video messages” must comply with guidelines established by a separate law passed in 2024, which requires companies to moderate “abuse and irregularities committed by users” and provide transparency for how their moderation systems are used, maintained, and updated.

Brazil isn’t the first country to attempt to regulate loot boxes, and likely won’t be the last. Belgium banned loot boxes—with varying degrees of success—in 2018, while US lawmakers, Dutch political coalitions, and members of Australian parliament have proposed their own bans on loot boxes as a form of digitized gambling.

For those protections to have any effect in Brazil, however, they’ll necessitate the usage of age-verification mechanisms. Previously, Brazilian law had considered it sufficient for users of digital services to self-declare their age. The new law, however, requires the providers of those services to “take proportionate, auditable and technically secure measures to assess the age or age range of users.”

While the law states “data collected to verify the age of children and adolescents may be used solely for this purpose, and its processing for any other purpose is prohibited,” similar age verification measures have been the source of privacy concerns as online safety legislation has advanced in the UK, Australia, some US states, and elsewhere.



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Softbank And Ark To Join In Tether’s $20B Funding Round
GameFi Guides

SoftBank and Ark to Join in Tether’s $20B Funding Round

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Tether, the company behind the world’s largest stablecoin, is preparing for a fund raising round and SoftBank Group and Ark Investment Management are looking to join, but final commitments have not yet been made.

According to Bloomberg’s report on Friday, the investment firms are among high-profile backers holding early discussions as Tether seeks new capital to boost its global presence.

Tether Targets Record-Breaking Valuation

Tether is looking to raise between $15 billion and $20 billion by selling about a 3% stake through a private deal. If this deal goes through, the company could be valued at close to $500 billion. That would make Tether one of the most valuable private companies in the world, in the same league as OpenAI, and other tech giants

The company is being advised by New York-based investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald, which has long been run by Howard Lutnick, now serving as U.S. Commerce Secretary.

Bloomberg reported earlier in the week that Tether’s plan could become one of the largest crypto funding deals ever attempted. 

Stablecoin Giant Expands Its Reach

Tether is the biggest player in the stablecoin market. Its main token, USDT, is tied to the value of the U.S. dollar and is widely used for trading and moving money quickly the crypto world without relying on banks 

According to CoinGecko, USDT has a market value of about $173 billion, making it the largest stablecoin in circulation.

USDT Price Chart | Source: CoinGecko

The El Salvador-based company has also invested in other sectors including artificial intelligence, cloud computing, telecommunications, and even real estate.

SoftBank, led by Masayoshi Son, has a long history of investing in new technology, including chips, AI, and self-driving cars. The firm started increasing its exposure to the crypto space recently. Ark Invest, run by Cathie Wood, has also expanded its digital asset portfolio, previously investing in Circle, a direct rival to Tether.

Also Read: Theta Capital is Seeking $200M for its Blockchain Fund-of-Funds



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Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 Preorders Include Bonus Items
Game Updates

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 Preorders Include Bonus Items

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It’s been a long wait, but Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 finally launches on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on October 21. Those eager to preorder the long-awaited follow-up to the immersive RPG from 2004 can grab one of the multiple physical and digital editions available now–including a $60 physical edition on PS5 and Xbox. The game is available at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy. Preordering the game even unlocks a fun bit of bonus content that fans of the original Bloodlines will enjoy.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 Preorder Bonuses

Bloodlines Nostalgia Jukebox

Preorder any version of Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 to unlock the Bloodlines Nostalgia Jukebox. This in-game item unlocks original music from the original Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines soundtrack composed Rik Schaffer. It’s not much, but it’s a fun extra for long-time fans of the series.

$60 | Releases October 21

The Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 standard edition is the only physical edition of the game available. It includes the base game, plus the Bloodlines Nostalgia Jukebox if you preorder before October 21. You can preorder physical PS5 and Xbox Series X copies for $60 at Walmart and Best Buy. Digital preorders are also available on consoles and PC.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 Deluxe Edition

$70 | Releases October 21

While the standard edition is the only physical version of the game, there are also multiple digital editions available that add additional in-game content. The first is the $70 Deluxe Edition, which has the base game and the Santa Monica Memoris DLC pack. The pack contains extra decoration items you can add to your in-game home, including:

  • Ankaran Sarcophagus
  • Neon Clan sign
  • Stop Sign
  • Voerman Sister Portrait

You can preorder the Deluxe Edition at the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, and Steam. For those who purchased the standard edition, you can also purchase the Santa Monica Memories pack separately for $12.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 Premium Edition

$90 | Releases October 21

There’s also a $90 Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 Premium Edition available digitally on all platforms. This version of the game includes everything in the Deluxe Edition, plus an Expansion Pass that will grant players access to the upcoming Loose Canon and The Flower & The Flame story DLC packs launching in 2026.

Preorders are available at the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, and Steam. The Expansion DLC will also be available as a separate purchase for those who pick up one of the other versions.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 takes place in Seattle, with you stepping into the shoes of an elder vampire. You’ll get to join one of several clans in the region, before diving into a sprawling open world that gives you countless ways to forge your own story. Combat relies on both physical prowess and deadly vampiric powers–though finesse and talking your way through encounters is also a possibility in some scenarios.

If you’re itching to dive back into the Vampire: The Masquerade universe, you have plenty of time to play through the most recent release in the series, Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong. The narrative RPG is quite different from the upcoming Bloodlines 2, but it offers a unique storyline in the gothic horror world, and is available for cheap on most platforms.

$55 | Releases December 2

Though it won’t arrive until December, this hardcover book looks like it’ll be an excellent companion to the long-awaited video game. At over 200 pages, it provides a look at the game’s development, artwork, and overarching vision for its sprawling narrative. It’s a massive book (literally), and with dimensions of 12 inches by 9 inches, it could make a cool centerpiece for your game room or bookcase.

Published by Dark Horse Books, The Art of Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is all but guaranteed to be high quality. So beyond developer commentary, concept art, and all sorts of Bloodlines 2 goodies, you’re getting a premium book that should be every bit as luxurious as its $55 suggests. Preordering at Amazon means you won’t be charged until the item ships, and you’ll be eligible for any discounts that may occur ahead of its release.

Sign up for GameSpot’s Weekly Deals Newsletter:



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Vernal Standing Desk 1
Product Reviews

Vernal Standing Desk review | TechRadar

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We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Whilst many of the best standing desk brands out there often with several models for different sizes and weight capacities etc. Vernal aims to make the customers life simpler by introducing one frame to do it all at a price of £430 (at time of writing).

With a rated load of 120kg, it should be more than enough to lift anything a regular work from home environment can throw at it.

(Image credit: Future)

Vernal Standing Desk: Unboxing

The desk came as expected in two parts, one large heavy box for the frame and very flat for the desk top.

The frame was well boxed with all parts separated by protective foam, cardboard and plastic. All the assembling accessories were packaged neatly in one box. The screws, tool etc were in a bandolier of plastic, each section marked in size and part number.

All sections of the desk had nice, large and more importantly low tack sticker labels identifying each part. This allowed easy identification of parts and removal of the labels post assembly without leaving that horrible sticky residue.

The desk top was equally well packaged with large rubber like corner protectors. We opted to go with the 120cm x 60cm walnut laminate desk top, the smallest size on offer from Vernal.

You also get a nice, premium feeling beech wood coaster.

(Image credit: Future)

Vernal Standing Desk: Assembly

Assembly of the desk was equally easy. Vernal provided all the tools necessary, namely an M6 Allen Wrench and Phillips Head Screwdriver, so if you have absolutely no tools, you can still put this desk together. We had power tools at out disposal making assembly significantly quicker.

The manual was incredibly clear and easy to follow being like a large book. We start by putting together both the legs, side and mounting brackets together then the desktop. Vernal’s desk tops already have pre threaded metal inserts showing where the mounting brackets are to be screwed in.

This easily done by mounting one set of legs to one side, then sliding the cross bars in before finally sliding the opposite side legs on and screwing it all down. Vernal has also provided the screws as well for non-Vernal desktops along with separate instructions on how to do this.

I chose to put the control panel on the left side and this is where I noted the first issue. The screws appeared to be short, they are only 15mm long. The control panel bracket is quite thick, I measuring the screw against it, I saw that only the tip, about 5mm of it, would bite into the desk.

As expected, on my first try, the screw tore desktop veneer and failed to grip, same thing with the second screw. With no other provided screws, I had to go and rummage in my tool box to get some longer screws.

Once the control panel fiasco was done, it was matter of attaching the control box, connecting all the cables, tidying the underside up before covering it with the decorative cable cover for a neat install and lastly the cable tray hooks.

(Image credit: Future)

The feet are last to go one, before the inaugural flip, they can be positioned center or offset back, the choice/preference is yours. I opted to have it central as I am sure that is how most end users would want it. The desk is then flipped the right way up, to add the finishing touches, two hooks and decorative plates, one on each side.

The last part had me a little concerned, most brands supply all metal parts pre molded or bent to shape. However Vernal has chosen to allow the end user to bend the cable tray themselves along a perforated line.

Whilst I found this easy to do, it did crack the paint on the sheet of metal. I’m not sure how confident others would be doing this for fear of breaking or damaging this part. Hooking on the cable tray is the last part of the assembly save for putting the desk where it needs to go.

(Image credit: Future)

Vernal Standing Desk: In use

Over the past few weeks, the desk was put to the test by me and wife who works exclusively form home. The Vernal standing desk was big upgrade from her smaller Ikea desk, just in terms of real estate.

Vernal claims that this desk should be able to lift 120kgs easily with max load of 160kgs. Sitting all my 100kgs on it I found the desk seem to be slow to raise, and it had to stop a few times under the load of me. However, I did not hold this against the desk as carrying 100kgs is unusual for what is an office desk.

Putting the usual office equipment on it, the Vernal desk had no problem lifting and lowering the load smoothly and quietly.

(Image credit: Future)

The control panel is simple in form yet provides all the needed functions for going up, down and three memory functions. I like that the buttons had to be pushed physically into actuate them as some other tested desk will activate simply by you brushing against the control panel. The panel can be switched between metric and imperial measurements and other settings based on button presses.

(Image credit: Future)

The hooks on either side are a nice feature allowing you to hang handphones or other peripherals off the desk rather than crowding it. Each side of the desk has a Vernal magnetic vanity plate on the legs, ostensibly to hide two screw heads. This is a subjective matter but I would have preferred a more subdued such as black engraved rather than the Silver.

I was initially skeptical about the size of the cable tray as it was so large, however this has proved to be a boon for ease of access from all angles of the desk.

What I wasn’t a fan of were the feet of the desk. The feet, whilst planted firmly on the ground has a “decorative” plate on top that extends beyond the actual feet, this plate is thin and more crucially at toe stubbing level as I found to my detriment.

(Image credit: Future)

Vernal Standing Desk: Final verdict

Overall, the Vernal Standing Desk is a great desk, for the price and simplicity of only having one model puts them ahead. The assembly, large cable tidy tray, head phone hooks and easy to use control panel make this a breeze to own and use.

However, it is sorely let down by the fact that the screws for the control panel are not adequately long enough, some bending is required by the end user and the most egregiously, the toe stubbing feet of the desk.

We’ve listed the best office chairs.



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The cast of Cyber Sleuth
Game Reviews

Best Digimon Games To Play Before Or After Time Stranger

by admin


Digimon Story: Time Stranger is out next week. It’s the latest in the turn-based RPG series, but these digital monsters have shown up in a lot more games than just RPGs. Across its nearly 30 years, Digimon has been pretty experimental in the video game space. Not every swing has landed, but it has kept things interesting. A few of these games never made their way out of Japan, but the best ones came stateside, though they’re harder to come by because companies do not care about preservation. If you’ve never played a Digimon game before, here are some of the best ones to go back to.

Digimon World / Digimon World: Next Order

Despite my dislike of the virtual pet mechanics of Digimon World, I know if I don’t include the original PlayStation game on this list, someone will get mad at me. As frustrating as it can be, Digimon World’s vibes are still unmatched by most of the franchise. There’s a true sense of loneliness as your character is isekai’d into the Digital World, aimlessly wandering through this unknowable realm and discovering new friends and enemies as you explore. It also still has that PS1-era grit that has kind of washed away from more modern Digimon games, which is especially effective when you’re young and these worlds still feel vast and scary. If you can train your Digimon into something powerful enough to fight through its various challenges, Digimon World has an expansive, fascinating world to watch grow over the course of the game. It’s the training part that can become tedious. But those with the patience to fight through it found a lot to love. Next Order is a modern spin on this same loop, and if you can handle it with one monster, that game lets you manage two at a time. Godspeed, friend.

Digimon Racing

Wait, no. Come back. I swear, the Game Boy Advance kart racer rules, actually. If you ever played Mario Kart or Sonic Racing, you know the gist of what Digimon Racing has to offer. The Digimon spin is that the monster you put behind the wheel will gradually digivolve over the course of a race as you drift over a digitized track, gaining speed and power as you leave your opponents in the dust. Digimon Racing was also one of the only games that supported the GBA’s wireless adapter, as Nintendo was trying to cut the link cable in the lead-up to the Nintendo DS. I have some pretty fond memories of racing against my brother across our living room. It felt like magic at the time. 

Digimon Rumble Arena 1+2

Everyone has tried a Super Smash Bros. knock-off at some point, right? Digimon Rumble Arena and its sequel may not have become competitive darlings that had people dragging CRT TVs to conventions decades later, but they’re silly, fun party games starring your favorite Digital Monsters. The first game was on the original PlayStation and only supported two players, which could make some fights a bit of a drag as they devolved into games of tag with the two fighters chasing each other around the large arenas. Rumble Arena 2 came out two years later and leaned harder into the Super Smash Bros. comparison, supporting four players and making fights much more active, frantic, and fun. 

Digimon World 2

The original Digimon World game implemented the series’ digital pet mechanics in a way that some people get really into. Personally I can’t stand it, and was annoyed when it came back in Digimon World: Next Order. Do you know how annoying it is to try to train your partner Digimon for an hour, only for them to end up turning into one of the poop monsters? However, the World series has changed a fair bit over the years, too. Digimon World 2 left the first game’s real-time digital pet era behind, and is instead a dungeon crawler with turn-based battles. The battle system isn’t too deep, but its elaborate, experimental Digivolution mechanics set the tone for future iterations.

Digimon Survive

Digimon Survive isn’t a great tactical RPG, but it is a damn good visual novel. The combat is mind-numbingly simple and lacks the depth of much older classics like Final Fantasy Tactics. That said, its choice-driven horror story visual novel side is actually a pretty gripping tale that really brings a fresh take to the universe. Survive’s tedious fights are worth slogging through to get to the rich, often harrowing story it has to tell. 

Digimon World 3

If Digimon World 2 brought the subseries into turn-based battles, World 3 solidified it with a solid, more streamlined system in one of the coolest versions of the Digital World. The RPG’s roster of Digimon is much more limited, but its challenge comes from working within its set party compositions and finding a party that works for you in all its limitations. Outside of battles, its gorgeous PS1-era sprite work still holds up. Meanwhile, its dark story of a group of people trapped within a virtual reality MMO is a bit rote by today’s standards, but was pretty unnerving back in the day. Plus, it was the first time Guilmon, the best Digimon, got to have a starring role in one of the RPGs. More than most Digimon games, I constantly wish I could go back to World 3, but it’s been trapped on the original PlayStation for over 20 years.

Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth

I just finished a replay of Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth earlier this year, and that shit holds up. The turn-based detective RPG is one of the series’ best stories, and it perfectly marries the franchise’s mysteries, mythology, and themes of the power of friendship. It is the closest to a Persona game the series has ever gotten, and though its turn-based battles are pretty simple, the game, with its elaborate evolution mechanics that enable you, through careful planning and metagaming, to turn just about any Digimon into almost any of the other 200+ on the roster, is dripping with depth. The Hacker’s Memory follow-up, which you can find packaged with the original game on PC and Switch, adds another 50 hours of parallel story that’s also worth your time. If you haven’t played the game before and are curious about Time Stranger, you won’t find a better onboarding on modern platforms than Cyber Sleuth.



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