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George R.R. Martin is producing animation with Blue Eye Samurai studio
Game Updates

George R.R. Martin is producing animation with Blue Eye Samurai studio

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A Dozen Tough Jobs sets the Greek myth in 1920s Mississippi, making Zeus’ son Hercules a former sharecropper descended from slaves. After being released from prison for a heinous crime, he lands in the custody of the wicked Boss Eustice, and has to earn his freedom through spins on the classical 12 labors of Hercules. That story feels like a good fit for Blue Spirit, which combined Japanese history and the blood-soaked trappings of Quentin Tarantino movies in Blue Eye Samurai.

Joe R. Lansdale (Bubba Ho-Tep, Hap & Leonard) is writing the script for Lion Forge Entertainment, the studio behind the Oscar-winning short Hair Love. No timeline for the release has been announced.

“If anyone understands the power of epic stories and expansive franchises, it’s George R.R. Martin,” Lion Forge founder David Steward II said in a news release. “With A Dozen Tough Jobs, we’re reimagining a timeless legend through fresh, culturally rich lenses. This isn’t just a retelling — it’s a groundbreaking take unlike anything audiences have seen before, grounded in history but pushing myth into uncharted territory.”

Martin previously produced the 2022 short film adaptation of Waldrop’s short story Night of the Cooters, starring Vincent D’Onofrio. Beyond Game of Thrones, he is producing several other projects in various stages of development, including adaptations of Nnedi Okarofor’s Who Fears Death, Roger Zelazny’s Roadmarks, and his own Wild Cards shared-world anthology series.



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Fujifilm's X Half is an $850 digital camera with an analog film aesthetic
Product Reviews

Fujifilm’s X Half is an $850 digital camera with an analog film aesthetic

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Fujifilm has already released one unusual camera this year in the GFX100 RF medium format compact, but it’s latest model may be the most offbeat yet. The $850 X Half is an 18-megapixel digital compact camera, but it uses half of a 1-inch sensor to shoot 3:4 vertical photos. To drive home the retro vibe, it has a rear screen dedicated to displaying the camera’s 13 film simulation modes and can only shoot JPEG and not RAW images.

The name comes from “half-frame” cameras popular in the ’60s, like the famous Olympus Pen F, that use a 35mm film frame sawed in half (18mm x 24mm in size). The backside-illuminated sensor on Fujifilm’s X Half is, well, half that size in both dimensions (8.8mm x 13.3mm) or a quarter the area. It’s also the smallest sensor on any recent Fujifilm digital camera, as the X-series uses the APS-C format and GFX models medium format. In fact, the X Half has the same 3:4 vertical ratio as Fuji’s Instax Mini instant cameras — so you can make prints using an Instax Mini printer via the new dedicated X Half smartphone app.

Fujifilm

The X Half naturally uses Fujifilm’s film simulation and grain effect modes. Among the new ones are “light leak” for a blown-out quality that happens when film get exposed to light inadvertently, “expired film” and “halation,” an effect caused by light bouncing off film emulsion layers. To really get you into that analog film mood, you can switch to the new Film Camera Mode that limits your view to the optical viewfinder, makes you pull a frame advance lever for each new shot and only lets you see the photos once they’re “developed” through the X Half app. It even produces a “contact sheet” layout for 36, 54 or 72 images.

Another feature is 2-in-1 images that let you combine two still images or movies into one composition in-camera for extra artistic possibilities (using the film advance lever again). That also means the X Half can shoot video as well as photos, with a vertical or square size (up to 2,160 x 2,160) that looks ideal for social media — especially with film simulations applied. Also exuding nostalgic vibes is the “Date Stamp” function that lets you imprint dates in the bottom right of images, just like on old-school Kodak-style film camera.

On top of the main rear 2.40inch LCD 3:4 monitor, the X Half has an optical rather than an electronic viewfinder, adding another analog touch (and the accompanying parallax distortion errors). The camera itself is small enough to slide into a pocket and weighs just 210 grams (7.4 ounces). Other features include a built-in flash, massive 880 frame battery life and SD UHS-I card slot.

The X Half looks like it could be coveted by social media users or anyone looking for a fun party or vacation camera. However, it’s expensive considering that you can just get an Instax (or regular film camera and a lot of film) for a lot less. Fujifilm has definitely captured the photography zeitgeist before with models like the X100 VI, though, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it becomes a hit. The X Half is now on preorder for $850 (in black, charcoal silver and silver) with shipping set to start on June 12.



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Video games' soaring prices have a cost beyond your wallet - the concept of ownership itself
Game Reviews

Video games’ soaring prices have a cost beyond your wallet – the concept of ownership itself

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Earlier this month, Microsoft bumped up the prices of its entire range of Xbox consoles, first-party video games, and most (or in the US, all) of its accessories. It comes a few weeks after Nintendo revealed a £396 Switch 2, with £75 copies of its own first-party fare in Mario Kart World, and a few months after Sony launched the exorbitant £700 PS5 Pro (stand and disc drive not included), a £40 price rise for its all-digital console in the UK, the second of this generation, and news that it’s considering even more price rises in the months to come.

The suspicion – or depending on where you live, perhaps hope – had been that when Donald Trump’s ludicrously flip-flopping, self-defeating tariffs came into play, that the US would bear the brunt of it. The reality is that we’re still waiting on the full effects. But it’s also clear, already, that this is far from just an American problem. The platform-holders are already spreading the costs, presumably to avoid an outright doubling of prices in one of their largest markets. PS5s in Japan now cost £170 more than they did at launch.

That price rise, mind, took place long before the tariffs, as did the £700 PS5 Pro (stand and disc drive not included!), and the creeping costs of subscriptions such as Game Pass and PS Plus. Nor is it immediately clear how that justifies charging $80 for, say, a copy of Borderlands 4, a price which hasn’t been confirmed but which has still been justified by the ever graceful Randy Pitchford, a man who seems to stride across the world with one foot perpetually bared and ready to be put, squelching, square in it, and who says true fans will still “find a way” to buy his game.

The truth is inflation has been at it here for a while, and that inflation is a funny beast, one which often comes with an awkward mix of genuine unavoidability – tariffs, wars, pandemics – and concealed opportunism. Games are their own case amongst the many, their prices instead impacted more by the cost of labour, which soars not because developers are paid particularly well (I can hear their scoffs from here) but because of the continued, lagging impact of their executives’ total miscalculation, in assuming triple-A budgets and timescales could continue growing exponentially. And by said opportunism – peep how long it took for Microsoft and the like to announce those bumped prices after Nintendo came in with Mario Kart at £75.

Anyway, the causes are, in a sense, kind of moot. The result of all this squeezing from near enough all angles of gaming’s corporate world is less a pincer manoeuvre on the consumer than a suffocating, immaculately executed full-court press, a full team hurtling with ruthless speed towards the poor unwitting sucker at home on the sofa. Identifying whether gaming costs a fortune now for reasons we can or can’t sympathise with does little to change the fact that gaming costs a fortune. And, to be clear, it really does cost a fortune.

Things are getting very expensive in the world of video games. £700 for a PS5 Pro! | Image credit: Eurogamer

Whenever complaints about video game prices come up there is naturally a bit of pushback – games have always been expensive! What about the 90s! – usually via attempts to draw conclusions from economic data. Normally I’d be all on board with this – numbers can’t lie! – but in this case it’s a little different. Numbers can’t lie, but they can, sometimes, be manipulated to prove almost anything you want – or just as often, simply misunderstood to the same ends. (Take most back-of-a-cigarette-packet attempts at doing the maths here, and the infinite considerations to bear in mind: Have you adjusted for inflation? How about for cost of living, as if the rising price of everything else may somehow make expensive games more palatable? Or share of disposable average household salary? For exchange rates? Purchasing power parity? Did you use the mean or the median for average income? What about cost-per-frame of performance? How much value do you place on moving from 1080p to 1440p? Does anyone sit close enough to their TV to tell enough of a difference with 4K?! Ahhhhh!)

Instead, it’s worth remembering that economics isn’t just a numerical science. It is also a behavioural one – a psychological one. The impact of pricing is as much in the mind as it is on the spreadsheet, hence these very real notions of “consumer confidence” and pricing that continues to end in “.99”. And so sometimes with pricing I find it helps to borrow another phrase from sport, alongside that full-court press, in the “eye test”. Sports scouts use all kinds of numerical data to analyse prospective players these days, but the best ones still marry that with a bit of old-school viewing in the flesh. If a player looks good on paper and passes the eye test, they’re probably the real deal. Likewise, if the impact of buying an $80 video game at full price looks unclear in the data, but to your human eye feels about as whince-inducing as biting into a raw onion like it’s an apple, and then rubbing said raw onion all over said eye, it’s probably extremely bloody expensive and you should stop trying to be clever.

Video games, to me, do feel bloody expensive. If I weren’t in the incredibly fortunate position of being able to source or expense most of them for work I am genuinely unsure if I’d be continuing with them as a hobby – at least beyond shifting my patterns, as so many players have over the years, away from premium console and PC games to the forever-tempting, free-to-play time-vampires like Fortnite or League of Legends. Which leads, finally, to the real point here: that there is another cost to rising game and console prices, beyond the one hitting you square in the wallet.

How much is GTA 6 going to cost? $80 or more? | Image credit: Rockstar

The other cost – perhaps the real cost, when things settle – is the notion of ownership itself. Plenty of physical media collectors, aficionados and diehards will tell you this has been locked in the sights of this industry for a long time, of course. They will point to gaming’s sister entertainment industries of music, film and television, and the paradigm shift to streaming in each, as a sign of the inevitability of it all. And they will undoubtedly have a point. But this step change in the cost of gaming will only be an accelerant.

Understanding that only takes a quick glance at the strategy of, say, Xbox in recent years. While Nintendo is still largely adhering to the buy-it-outright tradition and Sony is busy shooting off its toes with live service-shaped bullets, Microsoft has, like it or not, positioned itself rather deftly. After jacking up the cost of its flatlining hardware and platform-agnostic games, Xbox, its execs would surely argue, is also now rather counterintuitively the home of value gaming – if only because Microsoft itself is the one hoiking up the cost of your main alternative. Because supplanting the waning old faithfuls in this kind of scenario – trade-ins, short-term rentals – is, you guessed it, Game Pass.

You could even argue the consoles are factored in here too. Microsoft, with its “this is an Xbox” campaign and long-stated ambition to reach players in the billions, has made it plain that it doesn’t care where you play its games, as long as you’re playing them. When all physical consoles are jumping up in price, thanks to that rising tide effect of inflation, the platform that lets you spend £15 a month to stream Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Oblivion Remastered and the latest Doom straight to your TV without even buying one is, at least in theory (and not forgetting the BDS call for a boycott of them) looking like quite an attractive proposition.

Xbox, for its part, has been chipping away at this idea for a while – we at Eurogamer had opinions about team green’s disregard for game ownership as far back as the reveal of the Xbox One, in the ancient times of 2013. Then it was a different method, the once-horrifying face of digital rights management, or DRM, along with regulated digital game sharing and online-only requirements. Here in 2025, with that disdain now platform-agnostic, and where games are being disappeared from people’s libraries, platforms like Steam are, by law, forced to remind you that you’re not actually buying your games at all, where older games are increasingly only playable via subscriptions to Nintendo, Sony, and now Xbox, and bosses are making wild claims about AI’s ability to “preserve” old games by making terrible facsimiles of them, that seems slightly quaint.

More directly, Xbox has been talking about this very openly since at least 2021. As Ben Decker, then head of gaming services marketing at Xbox, said to me at the time: “Our goal for Xbox Game Pass really ladders up to our goal at Xbox, to reach the more than 3 billion gamers worldwide… we are building a future with this in mind.”

Four years on, that future might be now. Jacking up the cost of games and consoles alone won’t do anything to grow gaming’s userbase, that being the touted panacea still by the industry’s top brass. Quite the opposite, obviously (although the Switch 2 looks set to still be massive, and the PS5, with all its price rises, still tracks in line with the price-cut PS4). But funneling more and more core players away from owning games, and towards a newly incentivised world where they merely pay a comparatively low monthly fee to access them, might just. How much a difference that will truly make, and the consequences of it, remain up for debate of course. We’ve seen the impact of streaming on the other entertainment industries in turn, none for the better, but games are a medium of their own.

Perhaps there’s still a little room for optimism. Against the tide there are still organisations like Does It Play? and the Game History Foundation, or platforms such as itch.io and GOG (nothing without its flaws, of course), that exist precisely because of the growing resistance to that current. Just this week, Lost in Cult launched a new wave of luxurious, always-playable physical editions of acclaimed games, another small act of defiance – though perhaps another sign things are going the way of film and music, where purists splurge on vinyl and Criterion Collection BluRays but the vast majority remain on Netflix and Spotify. And as uncomfortable as it may be to hear for those – including this author! – who wish for this medium to be preserved and cared for like any other great artform, there will be some who argue that a model where more games can be enjoyed by more people, for a lower cost, is worth it.

Game Pass often offers great value, but the library is always in a state of flux. Collectors may need to start looking at high-end physical editions. | Image credit: Microsoft

There’s also another point to bear in mind here. Nightmarish as it may be for preservation and consumer rights, against the backdrop of endless layoffs and instability many developers tout the stability of a predefined Game Pass or PS Plus deal over taking a punt in the increasingly crowded, choppy seas of the open market. Bethesda this week has just boasted Doom: The Dark Ages’ achievement of becoming the most widely-played (note: not fastest selling) Doom game ever. That despite it reaching only a fraction of peak Steam concurrents in the same period as its predecessor, Doom: Eternal – a sign, barring some surprise shift away from PC gaming to consoles, that people really are beginning to choose playing games on Game Pass over buying them outright. The likes of Remedy and Rebellion tout PS Plus and Game Pass as stabilisers, or even accelerants, for their games launching straight onto the services. And independent studios and publishers of varying sizes pre-empted that when we spoke to them for a piece about this exact this point, more than four years ago – in a sense, we’re still waiting for a conclusive answer to a question we first began investigating back in 2021: Is Xbox Game Pass just too good to be true?

We’ve talked, at this point, at great length about how this year would be make-or-break for the triple-A model in particular. About how the likes of Xbox, or Warner Bros., or the many others have lost sight of their purpose – and in the process, their path to sustainability – in the quest for exponential growth. How £700 Pro edition consoles are an argument against Pro editions altogether. And about how, it’s becoming clear, the old industry we once knew is no more, with its new form still yet to take shape.

There’s an argument now, however, that a grim new normal for preservation and ownership may, just as grimly, be exactly what the industry needs to save itself. It would be in line with what we’ve seen from the wider world of technology and media – and really, the wider world itself. A shift from owning to renting. That old chestnut of all the capital slowly rising, curdling at the top. The public as mere tenants in a house of culture owned by someone, somewhere else. It needn’t have to be this way, of course. If this all sounds like a particularly unfavourable trade-in, remember this too: it’s one that could almost certainly have been avoided.



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UK Appeals Court Dismisses Bitcoin SV Investors’ $13.3B Damages Bid Against Binance

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In brief

  • The UK appeals court has dismissed the bulk of a $13.3B class action against Binance, rejecting claims that BSV could have reached Bitcoin-level value if not delisted in 2019.
  • The court ruled damages were speculative and unsupported, saying that investors had a duty to mitigate losses by selling in an open market.
  • The scope of the lawsuit was significantly narrowed, though smaller claims from investors who lost access or sold at a loss may still proceed.

The UK Court of Appeal has dismissed the majority of a $13.3 billion (£10 billion) class action against crypto exchange Binance, dealing a major blow to Bitcoin SV (BSV) investors who said the company’s 2019 delisting of the token crushed its growth potential.

The court rejected the investors’ “foregone growth effect” theory, which suggested BSV would have reached price levels similar to Bitcoin had it not been removed from major trading platforms, in a judgment handed down on Wednesday.

The claim sought 352 times the original value of BSV held by “sub-class B” investors, but the court deemed it speculative and ruled it could not proceed.

“I asked Mr. John Wardell KC… how the representative could possibly claim hundreds of times more than the value of the assets that the defendants had allegedly damaged,” wrote Master of the Rolls Sir Geoffrey Vos in the ruling. “He was unable to give any answer.”

Wardell, a senior barrister at Wilberforce Chambers, represents BSV Claims Limited, the entity bringing the collective action on behalf of over 240,000 UK-based investors.

Last week, his team asked the court to revive the dismissed claims, including a “loss of chance” theory.

The Court found that the claimants’ own expert had relied on comparators like Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash to estimate damages, undermining the argument that BSV was a unique or irreplaceable asset.

It also dismissed the “loss of chance” claim, ruling it was not legally applicable.

The judges explained the damages sought did not involve missed opportunities tied to third-party decisions or realistic probabilities.

Instead, the claim turned on whether BSV would have developed into a top-tier cryptocurrency, a question the Court said could be resolved on the balance of probabilities and not through speculative or fallback theories.

In doing so, the Court affirmed the Competition Appeal Tribunal’s July 2024 decision, which applied the “market mitigation rule,” a legal principle requiring claimants to take reasonable steps to reduce their losses when a functioning market is available.

Decrypt has reached out to Binance for comment and will update this story should the exchange respond.

Lawsuit narrowed

The judgment narrows the lawsuit, which also targets Kraken, ShapeShift, and Bittylicious over their 2019 delistings of the BSV token.

The BSV token, the full name of which is Bitcoin Satoshi Vision, was created by Craig Wright, whose claim to be Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto was dismissed by a UK court earlier this year.

While the Appeal Court dismissed the largest part of the lawsuit against Binance, some smaller claims could still move forward.

These include claims from investors who lost access to their BSV after it was removed from exchanges, or who sold it at a loss soon after the delisting.

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Promising Investments as Bitcoin Explosion Promises New Altcoin Season
Crypto Trends

Best Altcoins to Buy as Bitcoin Explosion Promises New Altcoin Season

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

After hitting ATH after ATH, Bitcoin ($BTC) is now edging close to the $111K mark after briefly touching it earlier today.

A combination of institutional demand, supply-side dynamics, and broader macroeconomic conditions has driven $BTC’s recent surge to a record high.

As $BTC dominates the spotlight, crypto analysts are eyeing what could come next. A new altcoin season is high on their radar, as the best altcoins are set to explode.

$BTC Jumps 71% in Daily Volume & Overtakes Amazon

Underscoring $BTC’s market authority, its 24-hour trading volume is up by over 71% and its market cap is an eye-boggling $2.19T.

Source: CoinMarketCap

Following the rise, $BTC made history again yesterday, overtaking Amazon in market cap. Consequently, it’s now the fifth most valuable asset on the planet.

A key reason for this is the influx of capital into US-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs, which have snagged over $2.8B in net this month.

These products have propelled the total number of held Bitcoin ETFs to surpass $122B, further reflecting investors’ growing appetite for exposure to the #1 crypto.

The April halving event also contributed to the crypto king’s rise. It tightened Bitcoin’s supply, slashing block rewards in half and reducing the rate at which new $BTC enters circulation.

Halving events have, historically, acted as bullish catalysts in creating scarcity. And this cycle appears to be no different.

Macroeconomic tailwinds also contribute to the $BTC buzz. Looser monetary conditions, increased market liquidity, and geopolitical uncertainty – particularly heightened trade tensions – have caused the US dollar to weaken. In turn, this has propelled riskier assets like $BTC.

Since Donald Trump was elected president on November 5, the US dollar has declined by over 7% over the past six months.

Source: TradingView

As the flagship crypto continues to stand tall in both DeFi and TradFi, attention turns to a broader altcoin rally possibly being on the horizon.

But according to eToro Australia analyst Reece Hobson,  a true altcoin season will only kick off when two key events align: ‘Quantitative easing must begin, injecting more liquidity into the system, and Bitcoin dominance needs to hit around 70%.’

Per CoinGecko data, $BTC’s dominance currently stands at 61.50%, so it shouldn’t be too long until it reaches that target.

Source: CoinGecko

Now could be the perfect time to enter the new altcoin season before rising demand sends prices soaring.

Ahead of the highly anticipated market frenzy, we’re bullish on BTC Bull Token ($BTCBULL), MIND of Pepe ($MIND), and Hyperliquid ($HYPE) – and for good reasons.

1. BTC Bull Token ($BTCBULL) – Win Free $BTC Before the Crypto King Possibly Reaches $300K

Do you want to ride the Bitcoin and altcoin rally without spending a fortune? The BTC Bull Token ecosystem makes that possible. It offers a novel way to earn free $BTC, plus snag more of its native token, $BTCBULL.

Imagine receiving $BTC automatically when Bitcoin hits new milestones ($150K and $200K). Well, the BTC Bull Token ecosystem does precisely that.

To top it off, you can anticipate winning a large $BTCBULL airdrop when the crypto leader hits the $250K mark.

Source: BTC Bull Token

For airdrop eligibility, all you need to do is buy and hold $BTCBULL in Best Wallet, our #1 anonymous crypto wallet. You can also save on gas fees when buying $BEST, its native coin.

Crypto analyst ‘PlanB’ predicts that $BTC could soar to $300K if the S&P 500 hits 7K points by year-end. With markets heating up and momentum building, the airdrops might be a stone’s throw away.

Source: X (PlanB)

You can stake $BTCBULL for additional income at a 67% APY. Over 1.5M tokens have already joined the staking pool, showing strong community trust and growing investor confidence.

And there’s more. $BTCBULL has planned token burns when $BTC hits $125K, $175K, and $225K. Reducing its token supply at these key milestones could increase its demand and price as Bitcoin rallies.

With over $6M already raised on presale, fueled by a whale investor recently contributing $19K and then another $20K, momentum is clearly building.

You can buy $BTCBULL for just $0.002525. Its price will increase in two days and could reach $0.006467 after exchange listings, so now’s a prime time to get involved.

2. MIND of Pepe ($MIND) – AI-Powered Altcoin Nears Presale Close With $9.8M Raised

MIND of Pepe ($MIND) is quickly emerging as a standout altcoin, having raised $9.8M ahead of its presale close on May 31, 2025 – the final chance to buy before it hits the open market.

At the heart of the MIND of Pepe ecosystem is an AI agent that launched on May 10, 2025. It scours social media, dApps, and Web3 ecosystems to detect early market trends.

Such insights are already being shared with $MIND holders, and some public updates are also posted on its X account (@MIND_agent) and the MIND of Pepe Telegram channel.

X (MINDagent)

The agent is rapidly expanding to stay ahead of the curve. It’s getting ready to integrate tools like persona-trained large language models (LLMs), Solana and DexScreener trackers, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and vector embeddings.

Soon, holders will also gain entry into the MIND of Pepe Terminal, a live dashboard that delivers real-time market analytics and trading signals for an even sharper edge.

Now’s your last chance to buy $MIND for $0.0037515. It’ll likely get a bigger boost once listed on the best crypto exchanges, possibly bringing its price to $0.00535.

3. Hyperliquid ($HYPE) – Daily Market Cap Surges 18% Over Powering Leading DEX

Last but not least, there’s $HYPE. Its market cap has spiked by 18% since yesterday, reaching $10.43B.

Albeit more expensive at $31.15, its sharp rise makes it one to watch as the bull run continues to unfold.

$HYPE turns heads as the backbone of Hyperliquid, the highest-ranked DEX that commands 45%+ of the market share and boasts a daily trading volume exceeding $19B.

Source: CoinMarketCap

Ultimately, it wants to rival CEXs’ speed and features while maintaining decentralization’s transparency and self-custody benefits.

$HYPE serves several purposes within the Hyperliquid ecosystem, including governance, staking, and gas token fees. Therefore, after buying the coin, you can spur the DEX’s overall direction, earn staking rewards, and pay for transaction fees seamlessly.

You can buy the coin on various exchanges, including Bitget, MEXC, and KuCoin.

Invest Before a Possible New Altcoin Season

$BTC’s explosive spike, spurred by ETFs, a post-halving supply crunch, and macro conditions, possibly lays the groundwork for a new altcoin season.

If you’re waiting for the right moment to capitalize on the best altcoins, that moment is now.

Whether you want to win free $BTC, receive hot crypto insights ahead of the rest, or have governance rights in the top-ranked DEX, $BTCBULL, $MIND, and $HYPE are worth a look.

However, you must always DYOR and never invest more than you’d be sad to lose. Only time can truly test their market success.

 

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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The best Apple AirTag accessories for 2025
Gaming Gear

The best Apple AirTag accessories for 2025

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If you’ve picked up an AirTag, you already know how handy it is for keeping track of your stuff — but finding the best Apple AirTag accessories can make it even more useful. With the right gear, you can clip, stick or stash your AirTag just about anywhere, making it easier to keep tabs on everything from keys and wallets to purses and backpacks.

An AirTag keychain holder is one of the simplest and most popular ways to keep your tracker attached to everyday essentials like your car fob, while rugged cases and mounts help expand where you can place an AirTag without worrying about damage. Of course, it’s also important to double-check compatibility when you’re shopping around, especially if you want something slim, stylish or built for heavy-duty adventures.

Whether you’re looking for a sleek leather holder, a waterproof case or something designed specifically for bikes or luggage, there’s an AirTag accessory out there that can make your life a little less stressful — and your valuables a lot easier to find.

Caseology

Caseology’s Vault has a more utilitarian design, made with tough, textured TPU. The oval-shaped holder has an opening on one side into which you pop your AirTag. The other side has a smaller opening that attaches to the included carabiner, which is one of the best clips I came across in my testing. It’s pretty basic as far as carabiners go, but it’s better than a standard key ring — especially if you want to easily attach your AirTag to something other than your keys like straps on a backpack, or even a pet collar. Overall, the Caseology Vault is one of the most attractive holders I tested and it will be a solid choice for anyone who doesn’t need stainless steel or leather.

$14 at Amazon

Elevation Lab

It’s easy to throw an AirTag into your coat pocket or in the bottom of your backpack, but it’s also easy for the tracking device to fall out of those things. Enter Elevation Lab’s TagVault Fabric mount, which adheres to a number of different types of fabric to discreetly track your stuff. The exterior ring of the Vault is super flexible, so once you stick it to the lining of your jacket or bag, it’ll move and adjust as you do the same with your stuff. The adhesive is quite strong, but it’s still easy to insert or remove the AirTag as much as you need. The plastic enclosure’s cap comes off with a bit of force, so you can take out your AirTag whenever you need to replace its battery. If you want something similar with an even more durable, water-resistant design, Elevation Lab makes these surface adhesive mounts that fit the bill, too.

$14 at Amazon

Spigen

Spigen’s Valentinus AirTag cover is one of the best alternatives I’ve found to Apple’s own leather key rings. It has a very similar design to the first-party accessory (albeit made with pleather) , but it comes in much cheaper at only $8. Your tracking device nestles into the perfectly-shaped leather AirTag loop and snaps shut, and since the leather extends slightly over both sides of the tracker, there’s very little chance it will pop out unexpectedly. I also appreciate that it comes with a carabiner-style key ring, which makes it easier to secure to your belongings.

$21 at Amazon

Belkin

AirTags can also help you keep track of larger bags and luggage, and you could easily slip one into an interior pocket and call it a day. But if you’d rather hook the tracker to the outside, you’ll need something a bit larger and more flexible than a standard key ring. Belkin’s Secure Holder with Strap is a good option: it comes in different colors and it’s budget friendly at only $13. The case opens up into two pieces, allowing you to sit the AirTag inside the circle and twist and snap the two halves together to lock it in. You can then attach the AirTag to your luggage handle, dog collar, water bottle or other item with the strap, which feels quite strong.

I appreciate the unique design of Belkin’s Secure Holder, although it was hard to twist open when the AirTag was inside of it. But that’s a good thing for daily use; your AirTag isn’t going anywhere when in the Secure Holder. I also liked its slightly raised edges, which provide extra protection against impacts and bumps.

$13 at Amazon

Belkin

Another exterior-attachment option for luggage with a bit more durability is Belkin’s Secure Holder with Wire Cable. Whereas other holders use a simple keyring to attach the tracker to your stuff, this case uses a braided wire cable that’s extra tough. The case itself unlocks via a small Allen key to let you insert the AirTag, and then you can lock it back up again before putting the tag to use. Not only is it highly unlikely for your AirTag to get knocked out of this thing, it’s also just as unlikely for the wire strap to get caught on something and break. Overall, it’s a thoughtfully designed holder than would make a great luggage tag.

$20 at Amazon

elago

Whether you’re attaching an AirTag to your house keys or clipping one to your kid’s backpack, you don’t need to settle for a boring holder. There are a number of fun AirTag cases available now and some of our favorites come from Elago. The accessory company makes a bunch of minimalist AirTag holders – which are good options if you’re looking for something simple and cheap – but it also has silicone cases in the shapes of avocados, ice cream bars, floppy disks and even retro game controllers. The best part is that, unlike other brands that can quickly raise prices when you want a fancily-shaped case or a holder with your favorite character on it, Elago’s playful cases will run you no more than $15 apiece.

$16 at Amazon

Pelican

Keyrings and straps aren’t the best way to attach an AirTag to anything and everything. Things like bikes, coolers, luggage and other items would be better served by an adhesive mount. Pelican makes one of the most protective ones available at the moment – the Protector Sticker Mount case has a two-piece design that you pop open to insert your AirTag inside. It basically acts as a little box in which your AirTag lives while it’s tracking your stuff. You can stick it to your items using the strong adhesive panel on the back of the case, and Pelican even includes an extra adhesive pad in the package as well, just in case you need another one. While the case itself is a bit tough to get open at first, that just shows how hard it would be for your AirTag to accidentally pop out of it.

$10 at Amazon

Orbitkey

Orbitkey’s Leather Holder for AirTag is a more elegant version of Apple’s accessory. It’s a genuine leather sleeve that opens just wide enough for you to slide your AirTag into its pocket. Attached to it is a quick-release ring that takes some getting used to, but once you know how to open it up, it’s easy to secure onto your keys. You essentially just have to push in one direction on the holder’s ring to unlock it, which then allows you to secure the AirTag to a lanyard, your car keys and the like. It’s a good option if you prefer that your accessories have a more polished look.

$40 at Amazon

Incase

Incase’s Woolenex AirTag holder is one that is just as attractive as it is durable. The company’s Woolenex fabric is made of a woven blend of polyester fibers that make the accessory lightweight, water repellant and fade- and tear-resistant. Incase makes a bunch of gadgets and accessories out of this material, and those who like premium fabrics that can also handle a bit of wear-and-tear will gravitate to it. The holder has a TPU snap closure and circular cutout so it won’t interrupt the AirTag’s signal — plus, it lets you see any cute engraving you may have on your tracking device.

$20 at Incase

AirTags need a holder because they do not have built-in keyring holes like Tile, Chipolo and other Bluetooth trackers do.

You’ll need a holder or case to attach an AirTag to your stuff. If you’re comfortable slipping an AirTag into an interior pocket of a bag or coat, you can do so without an extra accessory. But if you want to use one to keep track of your keys, wallet, backpack or even your pet on their collar, you’ll need an accessory that can accommodate that use case.



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Veteran Trader Reveals Key Strategy
GameFi Guides

Veteran Trader Reveals Key Strategy

by admin


In a recent post, renowned trader Peter Brandt disclosed that he has a long position in spot Bitcoin, demonstrating his continued confidence in the cryptocurrency. The announcement was made in conjunction with a more comprehensive disclosure of his trading book, which includes long entries in Swiss francs and short positions in Russell 2000 Index futures, along with setting orders in commodities like coffee and cotton. 

When it comes to Bitcoin, Brandt’s position is in line with the current market and technical conditions. The most popular cryptocurrency recently surpassed $110,000, breaking through its all-time high (ATH). Retail investors might be excited by that figure, but for seasoned market players like Brandt, the ATH is a confirmation of momentum rather than merely a milestone.

BTC/USDT Chart by TradingView

It indicates that Bitcoin has not only bounced back from its last decline, but is also moving into uncharted territory with opportunities for further growth. The 26 EMA is providing strong support for Bitcoin’s upward movement on the daily chart, and the volume is still high but not euphoric. Crucially, a trend reversal is confirmed over a longer period of time by the golden cross that was formed earlier this month when the 50-day EMA crossed above the 200-day EMA. 

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The RSI is 76, which indicates some overextension but not enough to cause panic or reversal signals right away. Notwithstanding the rally, Brandt’s remark that Bitcoin is not very extended indicates that he still sees more upside. In contrast, many traders who focus on retail have overbought concerns and may be alarmed by recent vertical moves. 

Using macro tailwinds to his advantage while protecting his risk-balanced exposure against wider equity volatility, longing Bitcoin and the Swiss Franc, and shorting Russell, demonstrates a hedged strategy. The next obstacle for Bitcoin could be found between $112,000 and $115,000. 

However, the market might gain more momentum as institutional sentiment rises and players like Brandt enter or double down. His action is a sign that even for an experienced trader with decades of experience, it makes sense to hold onto Bitcoin at this time.



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Last Defense Academy Is 2025’s Dark Horse
Game Updates

Last Defense Academy Is 2025’s Dark Horse

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Despite having spent 45 hours with the game, I’m still not quite ready to slap “The Kotaku Review” on anything I write about The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy yet. Too Kyo Games’ tactical RPG has 100 endings and I’ve only seen a handful, the game’s “true” route not among them. But, my god, I gotta get more of my feelings about this game out of my system. I know we’re all talking about big games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II as early Game of the Year contenders, but if you’re a fan of tactics RPGs and branching narratives, and you can tolerate a bit of cringe, The Hundred Line is a game too ambitious to let pass you by. If you’re okay with some spoilers (no, I’m not about to tell you the ending), let me try and sell you on it.

The Week In Games: A Rebirth, A Remake, And A Remaster

The Hundred Line follows a group of high school students conscripted into a war against alien-like “Invaders” attacking the titular academy. The group is told that they’re defending something within the walls of the school that is vital to humanity’s survival against the Invaders, but before they can be told what they’re actually defending, Sirei, the ghost-like mascot in charge of the whole operation, is found massacred by an unknown assailant, his remains discarded in a trash can. The “Last Defense Squad” is left with no real explanation for their mission, but they have to defend the school for 100 days, lest everyone they’ve ever known and loved be doomed to an agonizing death at the hands of the Invaders.

The uncertainty that springs up from Sirei’s early demise is a key part of the tension across all 100 days in the Last Defense Academy. Some of the students have agreed to fight in this war, while others have to be convinced to take up a weapon in the game’s turn-based tactical battles. As the war goes on, people betray each other and mysteries are uncovered, and by the time you reach day 100, there’s still a lot you don’t know.

I’m gonna get into some major spoiler territory here, because talking about what makes The Hundred Line such an incredible game, one worthy of being seen as a contender for 2025’s Game of the Year, requires me to blow the lid off of some of its secrets. I fully understand that not everyone wants to see something get cracked wide open as they listen to a game recommendation, but I do believe that if the initial premise isn’t enough to fully win you over, hearing about the full scope of what The Hundred Line offers might push you over the edge. I’ve talked to people who had no interest in playing the game until I told them about the midgame twist, and then they completely changed their tune. 

Screenshot: Too Kyo Games / Kotaku

As you approach the 100th day of your mission as the Last Defense Squad, pretty much everything that could have gone wrong has. You’ve lost people, the mission was a failure, and all that’s really left to do is take your team’s escape pod and reunite with the rest of humanity’s doomed remnants. However, throughout this series of unfortunate events, protagonist Takumi Sumino has gotten an unintended upgrade. Each member of the Last Defense Squad has a “Specialist Skill” in combat that lets them do something their teammates can’t. Eito, the team’s scythe wielder, gains random buffs each time he attacks, for instance. Meanwhile Ima, the group’s troublemaking little shit, becomes more powerful when his sister, Kako, is below a certain health threshold. And Takumi has the ability to reset turns in battle if you find yourself in a pickle. Because of some of the late-game reveals, Takumi’s Specialist Skill goes into overdrive, and he becomes able to go back farther than one battle. In fact, he can go back all 100 days and try this entire mission over. Maybe this time he’ll succeed.

When I reached this reveal while playing the game before its release, I felt a mix of awe and anxiety. The latter was only because I was on a deadline and was taken aback upon realizing that The Hundred Line was going to be, at a minimum, twice as long as I was expecting. But holy shit, finding out that what you thought was the full game was basically just a 30-hour prologue for the real thing is a bonkers twist not many developers can pull off. The Hundred Line is a collaborative effort led by Danganronpa creator Kazutaka Kodaka and Zero Escape lead Kotaro Uchikoshi, two writers known for huge narrative swings, and if you asked me to pick two game developers who could pull off such a maddening, ambitious twist, I would have likely chosen them.

Screenshot: Too Kyo Games / Kotaku

Kodaka and Uchikoshi’s collaboration here sees each one’s creative tendencies brought to their most extreme. The Hundred Line’s first half is full of Danganronpa’s signature school life, ham-fisted (complimentary) themes of hope and despair, and the same disruptive slapstick humor that frustrates as much as it delights. The second half is when Zero Escape’s time travel influence takes over, and Takumi’s second chance at success adds a new layer to the storytelling: branching paths. You’ve seen this whole thing play out once already. Surely you can use all that knowledge to find the “good” ending, right? It’s up to you to make the right decisions, save everyone, and uncover every truth hiding within Last Defense Academy’s walls. This stretch of The Hundred Line has you repeatedly walking through an elaborate time loop, keeping your hand against the wall and feeling your way through every turn in the dark, hoping you’re on the right path.

Some choices feel small, such as whether or not to reveal a secret to the group you only know because you’ve experienced these 100 days before, but doing so can completely change a route’s trajectory in ways you can’t anticipate. You might think you’re doing everything right, but by the time you reach the end of a route, your choices may have snowballed into something unsalvageable. If moving through hours of compelling narrative branches just to find yourself at a dead end sounds more frustrating to you than rewarding, I understand, but as someone who is always drawn in by Kodaka’s grandiose, exaggerated themes and writing, I’ve been enjoying seeing just how many ways this team can riff on the same concept.

I’ve spoken to several others who have been chipping away at The Hundred Line and learned about routes I couldn’t have even fathomed. I guess there have to be some pretty wild variations for there to be 100 endings. I don’t know that I want to put in the work to see them all, but I will find the true ending if it’s the last thing I do.

Screenshot: Too Kyo Games / Kotaku

Kodaka has been pretty candid about the fact that securing funding for The Hundred Line put Too Kyo Games into a great amount of debt, and despite some high praise and decent sales, the studio is “still on the brink of going under.” While nothing has quite reached the highs of Kodaka’s work on Danganronpa for me, I have a lot of love for the studio’s projects like Master Detective Archives: Rain Code and the Akudama Drive anime. I enjoyed those projects, but The Hundred Line feels like Too Kyo Games finally finding its footing. Its premise is such an incredible Hail Mary that it would be an absolute tragedy if we lost this studio just as it had put out its breakout game. So if you’re a fan of tactics games, social sims, and the kind of plot twists that would make M. Night Shyamalan blush, I can’t recommend The Hundred Line enough. I would love to see it in conversations around Game of the Year come December, and it would be great if Too Kyo Games still exists then, too.

 



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Best instant cameras for 2025
Product Reviews

Best instant cameras for 2025

by admin


Even with the ability to take excellent photos with our phones and instantly share them across the world, there’s something magical about the old-school instant camera. With just a click of a button, you can capture a moment in a photo that you can see and touch almost immediately. Images captured by an instant camera aren’t as pristine or perfect as those produced by modern digital cameras, but their soft images and imperfections are often a big part of the allure.

Yet not all instant cameras are the same, and some of them are better suited for different needs and budgets. That’s why we tested some of the most popular instant cameras on the market from brands like Fujifilm, Polaroid, Leica, Canon, and Kodak.

All of the models featured in our instant camera buying guide are enjoyable to use, but each offers a different set of features at a different price point. As a result, some are more appropriate for a child or budding photographer, while others are more advanced and provide added creative control (for a price). When it comes down to it, though, we consider print quality, ease of use, and affordability to be the hallmarks of a quality shooter. That’s why we picked Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 12 as the best instant camera for most people, as it ticks all three boxes wonderfully.

What I’m looking for

How we test instant cameras

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Typically, I try to spend at least a couple of weeks — if not months — testing each camera to get an idea of what it would be like to actually own one. I’ll use them to capture photos of loved ones while hanging out, or subjects and scenes I stumble across as I’m exploring Los Angeles and its many beaches. I shoot indoors and outside, with and without the flash, allowing me to compare how each camera performs in both bright and low-light environments.I also ask friends and family — both young and old — for their input on image quality, and I have them take photos with the instant camera to get their thoughts on usability. If the camera comes with extra features, such as filters or support for a companion app, I’ll make sure to put them to the test in real-life situations. I note how easy it is to pull up and navigate the app, apply the effects, and, of course, how the results look.

Photo quality

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Instant cameras aren’t known for producing high-quality, sharp photos, and most of them struggle with low-light conditions. However, the photos should at least be clear and bright enough that the subject is discernible and the picture looks relatively true to life.

Ease of use

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How easy is it to set the instant camera up and take photos with it? Ease of use is a big part of what makes instant cameras fun and accessible to people of all ages. You shouldn’t need a professional photography background just to enjoy an instant camera. Instant cameras aren’t known for producing high-quality, sharp photos, and most of them struggle with low-light conditions. However, the photos should at least be clear and bright enough that the subject is discernible and the picture looks relatively true to life.

Value

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Instant cameras come with different features at various price points. Generally, the more feature-rich cameras tend to be pricier, but do the extra capabilities justify the added cost? Some cameras, for example, pair with a companion app or feature a built-in selfie mirror, while others include the ability to print images from your phone. None of these are essential, though the added niceties may be worth it for some people.

Suitability

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Some instant cameras aren’t as well suited for some situations and / or people as others. For example, there are instant cameras that print old-fashioned Polaroid photos that aren’t very clear. They frustrate me, but retro lovers might find them charming. Other cameras come with advanced creative modes that let you edit photos and even print smartphone pictures, but a young child might find them hard to use.

Film

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Each instant camera requires a different kind of film, which means that the sticker price of the camera isn’t the true price. This is something you should take into account before making a purchase, as the cost of film can quickly add up. Depending on the brand, you may have to pay anywhere between 50 cents and $2 a shot.It’s also important to take into account that some film is easier to find. The Instax Mini 12, for example, uses credit card-size Instax Mini film that’s sold at most major retailers. Other types of film, including the film needed for Kodak’s Mini Shot 3 Square Retro, are available on Amazon but aren’t sold by as many retailers.Finally, most instant camera brands sell films of varying quality in a range of styles. Some are decorated with colorful frames and patterns, while others are black and white. They also vary in shape and size, from small rectangular prints you can stick in your wallet to square-shaped ones. You can also buy wider prints, and some brands even sell film with an adhesive backing that allows you to use the resulting images as stickers.

If you’re looking for more creative control or features like filters, however, the Instax Mini Evo is our choice, one that boasts great image quality and allows you to choose which photos you’d like to print. Other instant cameras, like the second-gen Polaroid Now Plus and Kodak’s Mini Retro 3, also offer a variety of advanced creative modes for those who desire more.

Take a look at this list of our instant camera recommendations to find the best fit for you.

The best instant camera for most people

$79

The Good

  • Produces relatively true-to-life photos
  • Terrific ease of use
  • Very affordable

The Bad

  • Instax film can get pricey
  • Minimal creative control
  • Flash can be overpowering

Film type: Fujifilm Instax Mini film (sold separately) / Film size: 2 x 3-inches / Weight: 306 grams / Charging method: AA batteries / Companion app: None / Other features: Built-in selfie mirror, film counter

If all you’re looking to do is just click a button and get a decent print for a reasonable price, we recommend Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 12. It’s a basic instant camera that’s similar to our former pick, the Instax Mini 11, but with some minor updates. It still takes less than five minutes to start shooting, but the setup process is easier since all you need to do is twist the lens to either “on” or “off.” Such ease of use, combined with the camera’s thinner build, makes it particularly well suited for those new to photography and kids.

For an instant camera, Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 12 produces vivid, relatively true-to-life photos. Image: Sheena Vasani / The Verge

For an instant camera, image quality is also better than most of the other cameras I tested, producing relatively true-to-life photos. Most of the cameras I tested struggled to capture low-light conditions well, and this one is no exception, but the built-in flash does help. Fujifilm claims the Mini 12 optimizes image quality in both dark and bright environments better than its predecessor, but I didn’t notice much of a difference. The flash — which you can’t disable — is also still overpowering in some instances, resulting in a few overexposed images. If anything, the photos actually seemed a little darker and less vivid than before.

However, at least the Instax Mini 12 captured my features and skin color more accurately when I used the included selfie feature — which is really just a small mirror mounted on the front of the camera.

Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 12 features a new lens structure that’s fun and more intuitive to play with. Image: Sheena Vasani / The Verge

You can also now zoom in a little easier thanks to a new lens structure, which you can twist to enter the Close-Up Mode in lieu of pressing a button. When in this mode, you can take advantage of the camera’s new “Parallax Correction” feature, which is supposed to result in a more aligned photo. The lens was fun to play with and reminded me of a traditional point-and-shoot, but actually using it to take quality photos takes some time to figure out. As with the Mini 11, it’s still somewhat tricky to center your subject in the frame using this mode, even with the updated lens. Thankfully, it became easier to properly align photos after a couple of attempts (as well as some composition guidance from the manual).

The Mini 12 also offers a number of other niceties. I appreciated the larger-than-average viewfinder and the fact that the camera comes with a small counter that displays the remaining number of shots, which is a feature many of the other instant cameras I tested lacked. It’s easy to lose track of how many photos you’ve taken, especially when out for drinks or while sightseeing on vacation. Yet given each print costs about $1, it’s important to be mindful of how many shots you’ve got left.

All in all, the Instax Mini 12 is a basic camera that caters to all ages and experience levels and gets the job done — and done relatively well. It doesn’t feature Bluetooth or pair with a companion app that allows you to edit photos (only scan them), and it also doesn’t offer advanced features like filters, lens options, or portrait modes. But if you’re looking for an instant camera that offers a great traditional analog experience, this is it.

Best premium instant camera

$199

The Good

  • Great use of dials and buttons
  • Lots of printing flexibility
  • Good battery life

The Bad

  • Internal storage is limited
  • Micro USB port is annoying
  • No viewfinder

Film type: Fujifilm Instax Mini film (sold separately) / Film size: 2 x 3-inches / Weight: 285 grams / Charging method: USB-C (on newer models) / Companion app: Yes / Other features: LCD screen, smartphone printing

One of Fujifilm’s newest instant cameras, the Instax Mini Evo, was a favorite of my former colleague Becca Farcase — and it’s mine as well. A hybrid camera that bears a resemblance to Fujifilm’s more expensive Fujifilm X100 line of cameras, it looks good and boasts vintage dials and buttons so stylish that they even caught the attention of passersby as I walked around Los Angeles taking photos. I tested the black camera, but Fujifilm also sells a brown version and limited edition models in silver and gold.

It’s easy to balk at its $199 price tag, but this camera offers a level of flexibility that could save you money in the long run if you use it a lot. That’s because the Instax Mini Evo includes a full-color three-inch LCD screen that lets you preview and select which images you want to print, which can help you avoid wasting film on unwanted shots. The added flexibility gave me more room for creative experimentation, too, as I wasn’t worried about running out of film. I also loved using the Instax Mini Evo app to print photos from my smartphone. Plus, unlike the Instax Mini 12, the Evo now uses a USB-C port (though older black models still use the Micro USB port) for charging, so you don’t need to keep buying new batteries.

The Instax Mini Evo comes with a large LCD screen that doubles as a viewfinder and allows you to choose which photos to print. Image: Becca Farsace / The Verge

Unlike Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 12, the Mini Evo comes with a few extra features that can help you capture better photos. For example, you can actually turn off the flash on the Mini Evo and use the three-inch LCD screen as a viewfinder. You can also use the menu to adjust how bright you want the film to look when it’s printed out, which was helpful given neither the Evo nor the Mini 12 are particularly great at capturing dark environments.

Additionally, there are dials you can use to apply various lens options and filters, ranging from retro to monochrome shades, as well as a mirror lens, vignette, soft focus, and more. You can take app-based remote shots, too, which adds an extra element of photographic control that can help you take better selfie shots than the selfie mirror in the front.

Being able to adjust the brightness of the prints helped me capture night photos and a low-light immersive exhibit a little more clearly and realistically, which is a feature the Instax Mini 12 doesn’t offer. Image: Sheena Vasani / The Verge

Of course, it’s not a perfect device, and there are some downsides to consider outside the price. For instance, although you can add some filters and make a few edits using Fujifilm’s companion app, it just isn’t as feature-rich as some of the apps available for the other digital and hybrid instant cameras I tested. The Evo’s extensive menu system isn’t particularly easy to navigate, either, and it took me some time to figure out how to turn the flash on and off. Plus, if you rely on internal storage solely, you can only take 45 images before the device is full. Still, all of these are minor issues, and I was very happy overall with how portable the stylish camera is, as well as how easy it is to take good photos quickly.

Read our Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo review.

The best instant camera for social occasions

$98

The Good

  • Lets you print photos from your phone
  • Entertaining companion app
  • Comes with film

The Bad

  • So-so image quality
  • Unable to store images
  • Not as stylish as the Instax Mini Evo

Film type: Kodak Instant Print 3 x 3-inch cartridge (included) / Film size: 3 x 3-inch square prints / Weight: 467 grams / Charging method: Micro USB / Companion app: Yes / Other features: LCD screen, smartphone printing

Whereas the Instax Mini Evo’s companion app is more functional, Kodak’s hybrid Mini Shot 3 Retro is all about fun. The camera’s accompanying mobile app allows you to apply frames, stickers, filters, and a plethora of customization options to photos, making the camera great for scrapbooking. There’s even a beauty feature within the app to conceal blemishes, as well as a set of Snapchat-like filters you can use to add, say, dog ears, making this a fun instant camera to use as a mini photo booth of sorts at parties.

With its feature-rich app, Kodak’s Mini Shot 3 Retro is more modern than retro. It’s also a ton of fun. Image: Sheena Vasani / The Verge

Like the Instax Mini Evo, Kodak’s Mini Shot 3 Retro comes with an LCD screen (albeit a much smaller one) you can use to decide whether or not you want to print a shot. It also supports Bluetooth, and you can use the Kodak Photo Printer app to upload photos to social media or print decent, relatively crisp photos from your smartphone. Unlike the Mini Evo, however, Kodak’s Mini Shot 3 Retro retails for around $170 and includes a pack of a film (it’s also often on sale for a lot less). It also uses cheaper film; you can currently pick up a 60-sheet cartridge for about $17.99, which equates to roughly $0.33 a shot. The fact that the film is cheaper arguably encourages play and creative experimentation, even if the large 3 x 3-inch square prints feel lower in quality and more flimsy than both Fujifilm’s and Polaroid’s.

Photos taken with the Kodak Mini Shot 3 aren’t particularly sharp and can have an excessive pink tint. Image: Sheena Vasani / The Verge

However, there are notable drawbacks to the Kodak Mini Shot 3. My biggest issue is that the resulting prints of photos taken with the camera aren’t nearly as crisp or clear as those taken with a smartphone. Photo quality wasn’t consistently as good as the Mini Evo’s or Mini 12’s nor, for the most part, as clear and sharp. The photos also sometimes had an excessive pink tint that can interfere with quality. It doesn’t store images the way the Mini Evo does, either, which means you can’t decide whether you’d like to print them later. It’s also noticeably heavier than the Mini Evo and, frankly, nowhere near as stylish.

Nonetheless, if you don’t mind compromising on photo quality and want a relatively affordable hybrid camera with fun app features, the Kodak Mini Shot 3 Retro is a good choice.

The best instant camera for retro fans

$119

The Good

  • Handsome, retro design
  • Prints dreamy, vintage-style photos
  • Several creative modes
  • USB-C

The Bad

  • Struggles in low light
  • Film takes up to 15 minutes to develop

Film type: Polaroid i-Type Color Film (sold separately) / Film size: 4.2 x 3.5-inch prints / Weight: 451.5 grams / Charging method: USB-C / Companion app: Yes / Other features: Lens filter kit, film counter

If you’re looking for an instant camera that offers the most old-fashioned, instant-film experience, the second-gen Polaroid Now Plus is the camera for you. Compared to the other instant cameras on this list, it most closely resembles vintage instant cameras like the Polaroid 600 with its classic, retro-inspired design. Meanwhile, its square I-Type film prints and iconic Polaroid-style frame give photos a more authentically vintage look.

At the same time, the second-gen Polaroid Now Plus comes with a suite of modern features, including support for USB-C charging. It also offers Bluetooth and a companion app that boasts several creative modes, allowing greater photographic control. These include a remote shutter, a self-timer, and the “Polaroid Lab,” which lets you adjust the exposure and various color settings. The app also features a handful of shooting modes — including a manual option — and the camera comes with a set of five colored lenses you can snap onto the front. These were enjoyable to play with and allowed for more artistic expression.

If there’s one thing the Polaroid Now Plus isn’t known for, it’s portability. Given how heavy, large, and awkwardly sized it is, it’s not the kind of instant camera you can easily slip into your purse or carry around. Plus, it takes up to 15 minutes for prints to develop, and you have to ensure it’s not exposed to light while developing. That’s quite an inconvenience if you’re out with friends, say, at the beach on a sunny day.

The photos I took with the second-gen Polaroid Now Plus weren’t that true to life, but they did give off an old-school vibe that I found charming. Photo by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

If you’re looking for an instant camera that can easily print a good, clear photo without much effort on your part, this is not the camera for you. Of all the cameras on this list, the latest Polaroid Now Plus struggles with low-light environments the most. I could barely see images I took indoors, and I could only get the clearest shots when the light was directly behind me during the day — specifically, in the morning. Even these images weren’t as clear in comparison to Instax film, and both contrast and color saturation levels tend to be quite low.

Admittedly, this gave my pictures more of a dreamy vintage look that felt artistic, and you can use the Polaroid Lab to slightly adjust saturation and exposure settings. However, doing so is time-consuming. Given all these issues, I found it was easy to waste film, which proved expensive. After all, you only get eight I-Type sheets for $16.99, and that’s in addition to forking out $149.99 for the camera.

Truth be told, however, you could argue that many of these shortcomings are typical of a retro Polaroid-inspired instant camera and, thus, part of the experience. If that’s what you’re looking for, and you don’t mind the price, the second-gen Polaroid Now Plus is the perfect camera for you.

The second-gen Polaroid Now Plus is a good combination of old-school and modern but was way too big for me to comfortably hold with just one hand. Photo by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

All that being said, it’s worth pointing out that Polaroid recently launched the $139.99 Now Plus Generation 3. The instant camera costs $10 less than its predecessor’s MSRP, though, at the moment, the second-gen model is on sale starting at $119.26.The new camera seems like it’s largely an iterative update, with a built-in tripod and four new colors to choose from instead of just three. It should also offer brighter, more accurate lighting in high-contrast scenes and improved depth perception, courtesy of upgrades to the ranging sensor, light meter position, and autofocus.

The best instant camera for portability

$69

The Good

  • Tiny and lightweight
  • Prints vintage-like photos just like the Polaroid Now Plus
  • USB-C

The Bad

  • Struggles in low light
  • Film takes up to 15 minutes to develop
  • No Bluetooth support or companion app

Film type: Polaroid i-Type Color Film (sold separately) / Film size: 2.6 x 2.1-inch prints / Weight: 239 grams / Charging method: USB-C / Companion app: No / Other features: Self-timer, selfie mirror, film counter

Whereas the Polaroid Now Plus is huge, the second-gen Polaroid Go is tiny. It easily fits into the palm of my hand — which is saying a lot, given I’m petite and a little over five feet tall — making it easily the most portable instant camera on our list. It also produces the smallest prints of all the instant cameras I tested, which could be nice if you’re trying to save some space and want something more compact than Instax Mini prints.

Weighing just over a pound, the latest Polaroid Go is also the lightest instant camera I’ve ever held, and you can easily use it with one hand. That’s actually pretty convenient, given I sometimes struggled to take pictures with the heavier Polaroid Now Plus and, to a lesser extent, some of the other instant cameras I tested. In fact, if the images produced looked more true-to-life and didn’t require you to hide them from light for about 15 minutes while developing, I’d be tempted to call this the best instant camera for travel or small children.

At $79.99, the latest Polaroid Go is the most affordable Polaroid camera on the market, with film that costs just a little more than Fujifilm’s Instax Mini shots (or about $19.99 for a 16-sheet pack). It also sports a small number of upgrades over the last-gen model despite retailing for $20 less. The most significant is USB-C support, which allows for faster charging and prevents you from having to spend money on AA batteries.

Polaroid also claims the camera produces clearer stills than its predecessor, but truthfully, I didn’t see a significant difference from one generation to the next. The photos are a little brighter, but if anything, the original Polaroid Go — like the Now Plus — produced warmer pictures that I thought were truer to life. Still, the photos are charming in the way only a Polaroid photo can be. Contrast and color saturation levels are still low but in a way that exudes the vintage, almost dreamy look of the photos taken with the Now Plus.

The second-gen Polaroid Go produces charming photos but with a cooler tone. Photo by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

Unlike the Now Plus, however, the Go lacks creative modes and more advanced features, although it does offer a helpful self-timer and a larger selfie mirror. There’s also no Bluetooth support and, thus, no fancy app that will allow you to add extra effects. Instead, it’s just a simple point-and-shoot camera, just like the Instax Mini 12, which makes it a little easier to use. In addition, as mentioned, the prints are smaller than those of the Instax Mini, which could be a drawback for those who prefer larger, more traditional Polaroid photos. While it produces similar vintage-style shots, design-wise, it doesn’t look anything like old-school Polaroid cameras, which could also take away from the retro experience some desire.

The Polaroid Go is easy to hold with one hand. Photo by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

That said, none of the older Polaroid cameras came with an app, either. All in all, the Go’s simplicity makes it a suitable candidate for those seeking an easy-to-use camera that provides a more traditional instant film experience — one they can take advantage of just about anywhere for half the price of the Polaroid Now Plus.

Other instant cameras to consider

The Kodak Smile Plus is another hybrid instant camera you can use to print smartphone photos. It’s smaller and less expensive than Kodak’s Mini Shot 3 Retro 3 at $99.99, and it’s available in a variety of vibrant colors that should appeal to children. It also comes with physical filter-changing lens and prints on Zinc paper, allowing you to use your photos as stickers.

However, it lacks a built-in display, so you can’t choose which images you want to print directly on the camera itself. This often results in more wasted shots, especially since image quality is so-so at best, even when compared to those of the Retro 3. Photos are nowhere near as clear as the Instax Mini 12’s, either, especially in areas that are either too bright or too dark.

That being said, the Smile Plus does offer a microSD card slot, so you can store and view photos elsewhere. It pairs with an app that’s similar to the Retro 3’s as well, and although the software is not as snappy or feature-rich, it still allows you to add a variety of filters and frames. Ultimately, I’d recommend the Retro 3 since it can often be found for less than $120, but the Smile Plus is a good, budget-friendly alternative.

From photo quality to the lever you pull to print photos, Leica’s Sofort 2 is a terrific camera that’s remarkably similar to the Instax Mini Evo. In all of my tests, the photos I took with both looked identical. The two hybrid cameras also print smartphone photos via Instax Mini film and offer 10 film and lens effects, along with a macro mode for those who want more creative control. The Sofort 2’s minimalistic look is stylish, too, even if it’s not as charming as the retro-inspired Evo.

The drawback to the Sofort 2 is that it’s twice the price of the Evo. It’s hard to recommend at $389 since most people would likely consider the differences between the two cameras relatively minor. The user interface is easier to navigate on the Leica, though, and I appreciate the included lens cap and extended two-year warranty. I also like that it lets you print photos taken with other Leica cameras via the companion app — a nice perk for Leica fans. Nonetheless, I don’t think those perks are enough to justify spending nearly $200 more.

If you’re looking for an analog instant camera that’s more advanced, Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 99 is one to consider. At around $200, Fujifilm’s latest instant camera is not as affordable as the Instax Mini 12, but it’s certainly a step up from the one-button point-and-click camera given it has multiple brightness settings, focus zones, color effects, and even two shutter buttons for greater creative control. The camera even comes with a tripod socket and an aluminum extension column, as well as a Sports Mode designed to further reduce blur while capturing fast-moving subjects.

Thanks to the added level of customization, I was able to capture higher-quality photos that looked truer to life than those from the Instax Mini 12 and Mini Evo. Granted, the Mini 99 is an analog camera and not a hybrid like the $199.99 Mini Evo, meaning you shouldn’t buy it if you also want to print smartphone photos. The new model also isn’t as simple to use as the Mini 12, so I wouldn’t recommend it for young children. Still, for an advanced analog instant camera, it’s relatively easy to set up and use, rendering it as much fun for budding photographers as more experienced shooters.

While it didn’t make the cut, the Instax Square SQ1 is also worth a brief mention. Like the Mini 12, the Instax Square SQ1 produces good-quality shots, is easy to set up and use, and comes with a built-in selfie mirror. The reason we didn’t include it above, however, is that it costs nearly twice as much as the Mini 12 at $119.95, though we do sometimes see it on sale for $100.

That said, it might be worth a look if you prefer large 2.4 x 2.4-inch square prints and relatively true-to-life photos over vintage-looking stills. After all, the SQ1 is still cheaper than the Polaroid Now Plus and produces higher-quality images than the Kodak Mini Shot 3 Square Retro, which also prints similarly sized square shots.

Fujifilm also sells the newer Instax Square SQ40. It’s similar to the Instax Square SQ1 but with a vintage look that’s more visually striking, yet it’s also more expensive at $149. Given it produces similarly good-quality photos and rarely goes on sale, I’d recommend the Instax Square SQ1 or the more capable Instax Mini Evo for $50 more.

Fujifilm’s forthcoming Instax Wide Evo Hybrid is nearly identical to the Instax Mini Evo You can use it to print photos directly from your smartphone, though the $349 camera also comes with a 15.67mm lens — the widest used on any Instax camera — for taking wide-format pictures. While it’s currently available in Japan and Australia, Fujifilm hasn’t specified a US launch date, other than “soon.”

Ultimately, I preferred the smaller, more travel-friendly Instax Mini Evo, but if you’re into wide prints (and don’t mind spending twice as much), the Wide Evo Hybrid is rather fun. The photo quality is solid and on par with both the Instax Mini Evo and Instax Mini 12. The main difference is that the Wide Evo’s lens captures a broader field of view. It also offers a few additional lens and film effects, giving users a bit more creative control. I especially liked the Degree Control feature, which lets you fine-tune the intensity of each lens effect applied to your image.

Plus, unlike the Wide 400 (which I’m still testing), it’s a hybrid camera with an LCD screen — a helpful perk that can cut down on wasted shots. However, at $349, it’s a whopping $150 more than both the Mini Evo and the Wide 400. My other main complaint is that there’s a slight delay between pressing the shutter and the photo being taken — something I didn’t notice with the Mini Evo. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it can be frustrating when trying to capture fast-moving subjects like a dog or a hyper toddler.

The Polaroid Flip is a new, $199.99 instant camera that introduces scene analysis, which helps prevent exposure and focus issues by flashing a red LED warning light through the viewfinder. That’s a handy addition, as Polaroid says the Flip has the most powerful flash of any of its instant cameras (though its intensity can be adjusted to prevent overexposing close-ups). In addition, the Flip features new autofocus capabilities powered by a sonar sensor that automatically selects from one of four lenses.

Fujifilm recently announced the $129.95 Instax Mini 41, which is the follow-up to the $99 Instax Mini 40. The updated model retains its retro design but introduces parallax correction, a feature borrowed from the Instax Mini 12 to help users avoid off-center shots when taking close-ups.

Polaroid Now Plus Generation 3

Polaroid recently launched the Now Plus Generation 3, a sequel to our current pick for the best retro-inspired camera. The new model is nearly identical to the second-gen Now Plus, only it’s available in six colors and features a built-in tripod. It also benefits from autofocus improvements and a better light meter position, which, according to Polaroid, should result in better photos. We’ll be testing it soon, so stay tuned.

Fujifilm’s $149.95 Instax Wide 400 is an upgraded version of its Wide 300. It’s the company’s first wide-format instant camera in nearly a decade, and like its predecessor, it prints photos that are twice as wide as the Instax Mini 12’s. It features a new self-timer and a rounded body for better grip, though it’s currently only available in a sage green hue. So far, I’ve been impressed with the photo quality, which, like the photos from the Instax Mini 12, look relatively true-to-life. I’m still testing it to see how it stacks up to other wide-format instant cameras, though, so I have yet to form a conclusion.

Update, May 21st: Updated links/pricing and added our impressions on the Fujifilm Instax Wide Evo.





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Marvel Rivals: Star-Lord Guide
Game Reviews

Marvel Rivals: Star-Lord Guide

by admin



Image: Marvel Games / Kotaku

Peter Quill, AKA: Star-Lord, is a very straight-forward, powerful hero with the ability to keep consistent pressure on the enemy team and flexibility to fit in as both a frontline fighter and a powerful flanker, able to engage against any type of enemy effectively with his suite of tools.

The Week In Games: Dark Knights And Dark Princes

How should you play Star-Lord?

Star-Lord is fantastically well-rounded, able to fill a number of roles on a team to suit their needs. He is one of the best “harassment” characters in the game, able to deal damage to or kill enemy flyers and strategists while having the tools to escape when things get hairy.

Star-Lord shines when on teams with Magneto and Adam Warlock, who improve his survivability (and revival), letting him stay in the fight as much as possible, generating even more value for the team. Free revives from Adam and the bubble shield from Magneto are incredible tools for Peter Quill to use to be even more aggressive.

To make the most of him, you do need to have good aim, so make sure to head into Practice mode and set up a randomly moving “super fast” Cloak and Dagger in the target range for a few minutes at the start of a play session.

Use Star-Lord’s ultimate to take out strategists and duelists quickly and efficiently—and get a bubble shield from Magneto if you can. You can also use it from within Invisible Woman’s ultimate so enemies don’t know where you are aiming without coming inside (where they’ll be slowed).

What are Star-Lord’s abilities?

  • Element Guns (Primary Attack): Your primary attack. Tears through ammo like nothing else, but deals hit-scan damage. No recoil, so if your aim is good, you can land headshots all day long. Can be instantly reloaded by using Stellar Shift.
  • Galactic Legend (Ultimate): Begin flying freely and deal vastly heightened hit-scan damage to enemies, auto-targeting them so long as they are near the middle of the screen. It feels like cheating, because it kind of is. Star-Lord is very vulnerable during this Ultimate, so if you are teamed up with a Magneto, have him put his bubble shield on you, and use cover. Can also be countered by Magneto ultimate, which will absorb the projectiles from it.
  • Rocket Propulsion: Fly and move much faster towards your aiming reticle. Allows Star-Lord to quickly and easily take the high ground, circle around to harass the enemy backline, or return to battle quickly after respawning. Quick bursts of this ability are fantastic for positioning while conserving fuel.
  • Blaster Barrage: Star-Lord spins while shooting his Element Guns in every direction. Hits enemies harder the closer they are to him. A fantastic ability for him to use against enemy divers. Spider-Man being a nuisance and hard to target? Use Blaster Barrage. If you have a Magneto on your team, have him bubble you, then flying into the enemy group and use this to deal solid damage and generate a lot of Ultimate charge.
  • Stellar Shift: Dodge in whichever direction you are moving, instantly reloading your weapons. You are also Invincible and Unstoppable during Stellar Shift, meaning if you time it correctly, you can completely avoid some enemy abilities and Ultimates. Use it while moving backwards to get more distance from enemies while continuing to fire at them. You have several charges, so be sure to use them to reload and keep the pressure up, or to get out of danger.
  • Leader’s Soul (Team-Up Passive – Adam Warlock): When Adam Warlock is on your team, you can revive yourself on the battlefield once per life. You can choose not to use it, but on death, you’ll become a golden ghost, so hide and then enter your cocoon to come back to life and get back at it.

With all these tips in hand, you are prepared to become a true legend. Good luck!

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