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NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
Gaming Gear

NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, August 25 (game #540)

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Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing ‘today’s game’ while others are playing ‘yesterday’s’. If you’re looking for Sunday’s puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, August 24 (game #539).

Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc’s Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.


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NYT Strands today (game #540) – hint #1 – today’s theme

What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands?

• Today’s NYT Strands theme is… Back to school

NYT Strands today (game #540) – hint #2 – clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

  • BACK
  • SOLO
  • STOKE
  • TALL
  • LAST
  • CORK

NYT Strands today (game #540) – hint #3 – spangram letters

How many letters are in today’s spangram?

• Spangram has 8 letters

NYT Strands today (game #540) – hint #4 – spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches?

First side: right, 5th row

Last side: left, 5th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Today’s best Get Better At Wordle deals

NYT Strands today (game #540) – the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today’s Strands, game #540, are…

  • LAPTOP
  • NOTEBOOKS
  • FOLDERS
  • BACKPACK
  • CALCULATOR
  • SPANGRAM: SUPPLIES
  • My rating: Hard
  • My score: Perfect

I had a bit of a back-to-front day today tapping out “top” and “lap”  before I saw we were searching for LAPTOP and tapping out “book” and “note” before seeing NOTEBOOKS.

I just about got through without using a hint although I was sorely tempted after a slow start. 

You will never need as many SUPPLIES for the rest of your life as you do at school. Well for your first day of school anyway. After the first week you wise up and realize you don’t have to fill your gigantic BACKPACK with every single piece of stationery item you may possibly need for the next decade.

Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Sunday, August 24, game #539)

  • BLASTING
  • LOUD
  • BOOMING
  • NOISY
  • STRIDENT
  • BOISTEROUS
  • SPANGRAM: HUBBUB

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT’s not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I’ve got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you’re struggling to beat it each day.



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'Holy grail' Jordan-Bryant sports card sells for record $12.9M
Esports

‘Holy grail’ Jordan-Bryant sports card sells for record $12.9M

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  • Dan HajduckyAug 24, 2025, 02:18 AM ET

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      Dan Hajducky is a staff writer for ESPN. He has an MFA in creative writing from Fairfield University and played on the men’s soccer teams at Fordham and Southern Connecticut State universities.

A signed sports collectible card featuring Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant sold for $12.932 million Saturday night, breaking the record for the most ever paid for a sports card.

The 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs Jordan & Bryant card, numbered 1-of-1, surpassed the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card, which sold for $12.6 million in late August 2022. The Jordan/Bryant card was sold with Heritage Auctions; the buyer’s identity was not revealed.

The Jordan/Bryant card is the second-most expensive sports collectible of all time behind Babe Ruth’s 1932 World Series “called shot” jersey, which sold for $24.12 million almost a year ago to the day.

Chris Ivy, Heritage’s director of sports auctions, said he remembers when Upper Deck first released Exquisite, charging $500 for one five-card pack/box for the 2003-04 release. That was the set responsible for a $5.2 million LeBron James rookie card, which previously held the record for most expensive basketball card until Saturday.

“[They were] kind of mocked, but it tapped into a demographic that wasn’t interested in gimmicks: They just wanted the best of the best,” Ivy said. “They were adding patches and signatures, Logomen — this was [one of] the first times logos from the jersey were used in this manner.”

The 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs Michael Jordan & Kobe Bryant card sold for $12.932 million, surpassing a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card as the most expensive sports card sold at auction. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions

In the years since, Panini’s National Treasures & Flawless lines, both of which now run $3,000-plus per box upon release, have become the standard-bearer for basketball.

“But Exquisite was first, Exquisite paved the way,” Ivy said. “It’s the pinnacle as far as modern card collectors are concerned, and this is the only time there’s been Jordan and Kobe autographed Logomans. Another one can’t be created. It’s always been looked at by modern basketball collectors as a holy grail.”

Such rarity explains the price tag, despite the card only receiving a 6 from card grader Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA).

“A 1986 Fleer Jordan in a grade 6 sells for a couple thousand while a [grade] 10 sells for almost $200,000 currently,” Ivy said. “Grades matter as far as pricing goes for standard-issue cards, but this is a 1-of-1, so the grade is less important overall to how the card performed.”

Ivy said the card’s consignment had been in process since February. The previous owner had kept the card for more than a decade and turned down “high seven-figure” private offers in lieu of an open auction, where Heritage believed it would safely eclipse $5 million.

“The pre-auction estimate was $6 million-plus, so sometimes if a piece is unique like this, it’s really beneficial to let it have its day,” Ivy said. “[Where] you can have new collectors come out of the woodwork or people willing to participate and pay more.”

Ivy also noted that, in the wake of the ongoing Brett Lemieux fraudulent memorabilia scandal, the authenticity of Bryant and Jordan is “ironclad” with this card. Lemieux claimed to have flooded the market with fraudulent Kobe items following Bryant’s death in 2020. The assistant chief of police in Westfield, Indiana, told ESPN on Friday that they have no updates on the case.

“[The scandal] makes items like this a little more desirable: Upper Deck has Jordan under contract; he’s been with them for decades. Kobe was with Upper Deck until 2009,” Ivy said. “They worked with these athletes directly to have this item signed. It’s guaranteed by them as well as PSA. That’s why you see a premium for items that have verified provenance and authentication.”

It has been quite a month for Bryant cards. High-end collector Matt Allen, who goes by Shyne on social media, shared that he privately spent $4 million on Bryant 1-of-1 signed Panini Flawless Logoman cards: one from 2017-18 for $1.7 million and one from 2015-16 for $2.3 million, which was the record paid for a Bryant card until Saturday night’s sale.

Bryant’s 47th birthday would have been Saturday.



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Hollow Knight Silksong finally gets release date, out next month
Game Updates

Silksong excitement has seen Hollow Knight’s concurrent Steam peak record smashed over and over again

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People are getting ready for Hollow Knight: Silksong in the very best way possible – by replaying the original, Hollow Knight, in record numbers.

Ever since Silksong’s 4th September release date was confirmed at Gamescom last week, more and more people have been heading back into Dirtmouth, so much so that Team Cherry’s critically-acclaimed game has repeatedly broken its own concurrent peak player count on Steam over the weekend.

Hollow Knight: Silksong release date.Watch on YouTube

Right now (and “right now” is subject to change with alarming speed), Hollow Knight’s all-time concurrent peak of 39,356 players was set less than an hour ago. And while there are plenty of games that have eclipsed that over the last few weeks, don’t forget that Hollow Knight is an indie single-player game that’s eight years old now.

Of course, concurrent Steam peaks are precisely that – an indication of popularity on Steam – but it’s usually indicative of player counts on other platforms, too. But before the Silksong announcement, Hollow Knight’s concurrent Steam peak, set back in 2022, stood at a much more modest 20K.

Hollow Knight: Silksong will release on Thursday, 4th September 2025 for PC, Switch, Switch 2, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. Yet contrary to what you may believe, Silksong hasn’t been in development hell for that time, however – in fact, Team Cherry’s developers say they were just having too much fun making it.



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The Framework Desktop and Linux have shown me the path to PC gaming in the living room
Product Reviews

The Framework Desktop and Linux have shown me the path to PC gaming in the living room

by admin


I’ve long dreamed of doing all my gaming on PC — a single platform that’s easily upgradeable and lets me play my overstuffed Steam library wherever and however I like. The Steam Deck is a fantastic handheld, but for my living room, I want something more powerful that works as well on my TV as it does at a desk. Believe me, I’ve tried. Gaming laptops are noisy and awkward, desktops are too chunky, and Windows is annoying to navigate without a keyboard and mouse. I had hoped that Valve’s Steam Machine experiment was my ticket, but it crashed and burned long ago. Nothing’s ever been as easy as a PlayStation 5.

But I’m newly optimistic. I’ve spent the past couple weeks using the Framework Desktop with a clever Linux distro called Bazzite: an open-source take on SteamOS. It’s a lot like installing the Steam Deck’s game mode and Proton compatibility layer for playing Windows games, and you can still optionally access a desktop for work too. It took me less than an hour to set up, and I’m now able to play PC games on my TV at 4K / 60fps — on a box that is smaller than a PS5, doesn’t get too noisy, and can be woken up from my couch with a gamepad.

This combo matches the simplicity of a docked Steam Deck, but it’s so much more powerful. And while a Framework Desktop isn’t as portable as a handheld — or even a laptop — it’s easy to move from room to room. I’ve even taken to working from it at my desk during the day, then moving it to the living room for after-hours game time. Sometimes you don’t want to play games in the same place you just worked for nine hours.

I so very badly want this to be the future of PC gaming.

It’s the year of Linux on the desktop in the living room.

The Framework Desktop is an ideal vessel for a Steam Machine-like experience. At 4.5 liters, it’s much smaller than most living room gaming computers, and much more powerful than your average home theater PC or streaming box. It’s way more expensive than a PS5 Pro — the Desktop starts at $1,099, or $1,999 for the AI Max+ 395 version I tested here with 16 CPU cores, 40 graphics cores, and 128GB of RAM — but it’s also much more than a gaming console.

I loved the Framework Desktop as a full Windows PC when I reviewed it earlier in August. And Bazzite is one of the easiest and most user-friendly desktop Linux incarnations. Bazzite makes it easier than ever to break away from Windows if you’re boycotting Microsoft, looking for an escape from Windows 10 before it’s cut off from updates in October, or just tired of Windows 11’s incessant pushing of services you don’t care about and attempts to extract recurring revenue from your wallet. The installer is easy, there’s a very capable OS if you switch over to desktop mode with a mouse and keyboard, and if you still need Windows for specific apps or games, you can always dual boot, like I did.

The Framework Desktop makes a nice fit in a TV stand with a Switch 2 and PlayStation 5.

Most people are not going to move a PC back and forth from the living room to the office, but this convertible setup works great with the Framework.

The only drawbacks I found were when I needed to run apps that aren’t compatible (like Adobe’s Creative Cloud suite) or the inevitable moments I had to open the Terminal to run simple commands. Many essential apps have native Linux support, like Chrome, Slack, Signal, Spotify, and Discord. And plenty of others can run with some compatibility help via Wine. But if much of your work and everyday computing needs are web-based, you’re good as gold on Linux.

Using Bazzite in desktop mode took me back to the days when I experimented with Ubuntu “Gutsy Gibbon” in college. (Didn’t we all give in to the temptation of the cube back then?) Linux is genuinely fun to use and tinker with. And Bazzite has a nice, somewhat no-frills aesthetic I admire.

1/4Bazzite has a clean and tidy look in desktop mode.

Linux can and will drive the uninitiated down many rabbit holes, with lots of Googling how to do little things you take for granted on Windows and macOS, like understanding what the hell the KDE Wallet Service is (it’s for managing passwords) or remapping the Caps Lock key. I gave up on the latter and just remapped it at the hardware level on my keyboard with VIA.

But small frustrations aside, both the gaming side and desktop side of Bazzite are fantastic. While my job of reviewing laptops will always mean extensively using Windows, macOS, and some ChromeOS, it’s been kind of freeing to break away (even if just for a little bit) from the oppressive grips of the big three.

Now, if you’re interested in trying Bazzite and living a bit of that Linux life yourself, here’s how I set it up. It’s not totally foolproof, but it’s straightforward if you’re the tinkering type and can follow some simple guides (which I’ll link to).

The second NVMe slot on the Framework Desktop’s main board makes the Windows and Linux dual boot setup super easy. Photo: Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge

A Noctua fan is ideal for the Framework Desktop, especially if you’re using it in your living room. It’s a lot quieter than the cheaper Cooler Master option. Photo: Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge

Since I already had Windows 11 installed from my review of the Framework Desktop, I opted to install Bazzite on the second internal NVMe drive. You can dual boot from a single drive, with some precautionary measures, but it’s not uncommon to find forumgoers warning that Windows 11 can disrupt things like the boot order after running an update. Since sharing game files across Windows and Linux is also complicated, I decided to keep the OSes completely separate — which helped reinforce my work / play separation. I use the Bazzite drive for most of my gaming needs and boot into Windows when I need it for work (running Lightroom Classic for photo editing) or games that require it (PC Game Pass games, multiplayer titles with stricter anti-cheat measures, etc.).

I followed Bazzite’s official guide, cross-referenced Framework’s tutorial for the Laptop 16, and I was living the Linux life in less than an hour. Bazzite’s site has a user-friendly ISO picker for downloading the file you need to install the OS — typically by burning the ISO to a USB flash drive using a tool like Rufus. If you prefer video to written guides, Mike’s Tech Tips on YouTube is an invaluable resource, with a pleasant, calming voiceover to boot.

I only encountered one technical issue running Bazzite: There was no audio coming through the HDMI connection to my TV, despite my attempts to select “External Device” or “Default (External Device)” as my source. For some reason, this was fixed by entering desktop mode and switching the source there. It’s worked fine since.

It’s easy to alter the boot order of the Framework Desktop to prioritize the Bazzite drive. Booting up puts it right into Bazzite and its Steam Deck-like Big Picture Mode. And then, to access Windows without restarting and mashing an F-key to get to the boot menu, you can set up a script to reboot into Windows right from Bazzite’s Steam interface. You just go into the Bazzite desktop, open the Terminal, and type in the ujust code below. It does the work for you and adds a “boot-windows” option to the Steam Library.

Code: ujust setup-boot-windows-steam

Bazzite’s Game Mode Home Screen is basically Steam’s Big Picture Mode. You can see my “reboot into Windows” shortcut in the top row.

As far as Linux has come, the Framework Desktop, or any other PC running Bazzite, probably isn’t the one gaming PC to rule my living room. Setting aside the requisite tinkering, there are still games it cannot play, either because they’re from services that aren’t supported (like PC Game Pass) or they reject Linux because they fear cheaters (like Fortnite or Valorant or the Battlefield 6 beta).

But color me impressed by Bazzite and even further by the Framework Desktop. I see why Bazzite has been gaining popularity with PC gamers. The time is ripe for Steam Machines to make a triumphant return, and I think this time it can work. Bazzite and devices like the Steam Deck and Framework Desktop are all showing the way.

Photography and screenshots by Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge.

Cyberpunk 2077 is demanding in 4K, but the Framework with Bazzite runs it decently. Image: CD Projekt Red

In my review, I found that the Framework Desktop is best equipped for 2.5K gaming, but the top-end Ryzen AI Max Plus 395 APU I’m using in this “Steam Machine” setup can do 4K at 60-ish frames per second on a TV. How smooth it runs and how good it looks depends on the game. Here’s a brief overview of some games I’ve been playing on it:

  • Cyberpunk 2077: Playing Cyberpunk at 4K at around 60fps meant setting it to medium preset (no ray tracing, of course) with FSR set to balanced, and it looked and played great. Flipping on some “fake frames” with frame generation pushed it into the mid-80s. Not bad at all!
  • Helldivers 2: It plays and looks great in 4K with medium settings and render scale set to balanced, hovering around the mid-60s. In busier areas it sinks to the 50s and briefly into the 40s when there are big explosions.
  • Street Fighter 6: SF6 is meant to be locked at 1080/60, which is no problem. You can push it to 4K and still get a solid 60fps with most details and settings set to “normal” (medium).
  • Monster Hunter Wilds: This is a bit of a torture test, due to Wilds’ infamously poor PC performance (though it’s been slowly improving). The game defaulted to FSR Ultra Performance mode and the lowest texture settings, which makes it look like a PlayStation 3 game. To keep things in 4K and actually looking decent I used FSR Performance and medium textures and turned on frame generation — this kept frame rates in the 70s or close to 80, which could bump to over 100 by dropping down to 2560 x 1440. Textures still aren’t great, but that’s just kind of how Wilds is unless you’re on top-tier hardware. It manages to play well overall and look solid.
  • Elden Ring Nightreign: Just as on Windows, Nightreign plays at 4K / 50-ish on medium settings, or locked in at the 60fps max if bumped down to 2.5K. (Boy, what I’d give for a FromSoftware title with FSR / DLSS support.)
  • Peak: A-okay at 4K on medium settings, with frame rates well into the 80s or higher.

Although some Windows games run better on Linux than on Windows, not all do. Black Myth: Wukong was about the same on either platform, but Cyberpunk 2077 actually ran 15fps slower in my benchmarks on Linux than in Windows with the same settings.

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Bitcoin (BTC) Price Prediction for August 24
NFT Gaming

Bitcoin (BTC) Price Prediction for August 24

by admin


The rates of most of the top 10 coins are in the green zone, however, there are some exceptions, according to CoinStats.

Top coins by CoinStats

BTC/USD

The price of Bitcoin (BTC) has gone up by 0.17% over the last day.

Image by TradingView

On the hourly chart, the rate of BTC is near the local level of $114,323. As most of the daily ATR has been passed, increased volatility is unlikely to happen by tomorrow.

Image by TradingView

On the bigger time frame, the situation is rather bearish.

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If sellers’ pressure continues, traders may witness a test of the support level of $111,919 within the next few days.

Image by TradingView

From the midterm point of view, the rate of the main crypto has made a false breakout of the support of $111,919. In this case, one should focus on the bar closure in terms of that mark. If it happens around it, there is a chance to see a correction to the $110,000 area.

Bitcoin is trading at $114,590 at press time.



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Decrypt logo
Crypto Trends

Trump-Backed World Liberty Gets Coinbase Approval With USD1 Stablecoin Listing

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In brief

  • Coinbase is listing the World Liberty Financial stablecoin, USD1.
  • World Liberty Financial is backed by President Donald Trump and its sons.
  • While a dollar-pegged stablecoin like USD1 won’t see a price jump from the listing, it could boost World Liberty’s visibility.

The USD1 stablecoin from World Liberty Financial—a crypto project backed by President Donald Trump and his sons—is now available for trading on Coinbase, the exchange announced on Thursday. 

America’s biggest crypto exchange announced the listing in a Thursday post on X. Eric Trump, the president’s son and World Liberty co-founder, then reposted it and said that more news related to the crypto project was coming “very soon.”

Decrypt reached out to WLF for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Coinbase told Decrypt that it listed the coin because it “strives to bring to market the products and services our customers want.” American users can now access USDC, Tether’s USDT, USD1, PYUSD, USDS, PAX, and DAI stablecoins on Coinbase.

In March, Decrypt reported that World Liberty had launched its own stablecoin. A stablecoin is a digital token typically pegged to the value of the U.S. dollar, but sometimes other non-volatile assets like alternative fiat currencies or gold. 

Before listing USD1, Coinbase provided support for the two major stablecoins, USDT and USDC, and other smaller tokens. 

The announcement comes amid a wave of activity in the stablecoin market coinciding with the run-up to and passage of the GENIUS Act, which set guidelines for issuing and trading stablecoins in the U.S. In recent months, a number of major financial services companies and other entities have introduced stablecoin initiatives, or said they were exploring efforts in the space. 



Stablecoins are a key part of the crypto economy, because traders would use them to swiftly enter and exit digital asset transactions. Instead of using dollars on traditional banking rails, digital tokens accelerate the crypto trading process.

USD1 is planned to be usable on World Liberty Financial, a decentralized finance or DeFi platform announced in 2024. The Ethereum-based platform, which is being built with the Aave protocol, will provide crypto borrowing and lending services. However, it has yet to launch to the public.

In addition to the USD1 stablecoin, World Liberty has also launched its own native token, WLFI. That token is not currently tradable, though token holders voted in July to make it possible to buy and sell the Ethereum-based token.

Democratic lawmakers have called out World Liberty and its connection to President Trump, especially following the use of USD1 for a $2 billion investment from Abu Dhabi-based sovereign wealth fund MGX into leading crypto exchange Binance.

Even Republicans have suggested that Trump’s various crypto dealings—including World Liberty and his own personal Solana meme coin—have made it more difficult to advance crypto legislation in Washington.

However, the House and Senate ultimately passed the GENIUS Act stablecoin bill, which Trump signed into law in July.

Editor’s note: This story was updated with an expanded list of supported stablecoins on Coinbase.

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Image for One of the best detective games of the decade is free to keep on Epic this week
Gaming Gear

One of the best detective games of the decade is free to keep on Epic this week

by admin



Put down your trowel, stop smelling the roses, and listen to me for a second. Strange Horticulture, a narrative puzzler about running a plant shop that also happens to be one of the best detective games around, is free to keep on Epic this week.

Originally released in 2022, Strange Horticulture puts players in the role of a plant shop owner newly arrived at the alt-history Lake District town Undermere. Each in-game day, numerous customers will enter your store and ask you for a particular plant, though they can usually only provide a partial description of it. Using a magnifying glass and the world’s weirdest horticultural textbook, you must identify the plants in your shop and match them to the right customers.

Through this simple yet ingenious mechanic, a dark and eerie tale unfolds. Your clientele grow weirder, the plants you discover more esoteric, and the secrets of Undermere slowly begin to reveal themselves. Moreover, by learning about the qualities of each plant, which range from remedial herbs to deadly poisonous mushrooms, you can influence the trajectory of the story for good or ill.


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It’s one of the most unique sleuthing sims out there, one of many reasons why Chris Livingston awarded it a score of 90 in his Strange Horticulture review. “Strange Horticulture is the best detective game I’ve played in years, and it’s mostly about staring at plants,” he wrote back in 2022 after rinsing through its multiple endings. “I’ve fully enjoyed each playthrough, and I plan to play again. I’m fairly obsessed with Strange Horticulture and I want to discover every single ending there is.”

Strange Horticulture – Story Trailer – YouTube

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The story behind Strange Horticulture is equally fascinating. Its developers, John and Rob Donkin, spent a decade designing Flash games for sites like Newgrounds before designing their detective masterpiece, inspired by a botanical text called Breverton’s Complete Herbal: A Book of Remarkable Plants and Their Uses.

“We just found this in a library one day and were like, gosh, how good is this?” John Donkin told PC Gamer’s Jody Macgregor. “It’s got all these cool plants and they’ve all got these amazing weird properties and uses. Some for I guess witchy things, others more as medicinal things. It’s just so inspiring. We just thought, well, let’s do that, but make them a bit more magical.”

Strange Horticulture is free until August 28. Now is a great time to play it too. A sequel, Strange Antiquities, is coming in September. It likewise takes place in Undermere, but switches your plant shop for an antique store, while also promising substantially more involved investigation techniques.

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MyNBA and MyGM get upgrades in latest NBA 2K26 blog
Esports

MyNBA and MyGM get upgrades in latest NBA 2K26 blog

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We’re closing in on NBA 2K26’s early access period, and all the improvements are being unveiled. This time, it’s all about MyNBA and MyGM. There’s a lot to like, from The Playoffs Online to Dynamic Banners. All those details are below, check it out as you practice your crossover.

2K has announced the new features and additions coming to MyNBA and MyGM* in NBA® 2K26 on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and NintendoTM Switch 2. MyNBA delivers 30 unique MyGM Offseason Scenarios based on today’s NBA, public online leagues for very first time with The Playoffs Online, improved and adjustable simulations to match every type of GM’s needs, dynamic banners to honor legacies, and more, as NBA 2K26 builds on the rich history of this iconic mode with more immersive features.

MyNBA | NBA 2K26

MyNBA and MyGM return in NBA 2K26 with 30 unique storylines, all-new Dynamic Banners, improved and adjustable simulations, online NBA Playoffs, and much more.

“We set out to make the NBA 2K26 MyNBA and MyGM a more memorable and rewarding experience for those that want to take over the league,” said Erick Boenisch, VP of NBA Development at Visual Concepts. “From competing in The Playoffs Online with friends to seeing your championship banners rise in the rafters, every detail is designed to make you feel like a true general manager building your legacy.”

Highlights include:

  • MyGM Offseason Scenarios: MyNBA in NBA 2K26 now features 30 unique MyGM scenarios set in the 2025 offseason. Players can pick a team and challenge themselves with three goals unique to that team’s roster and history. Using the real-life draft lottery order, they’ll have to tackle tasks from picking up draft picks, landing hot free agents, or winning it all. As Dallas, do they leverage Cooper Flagg to create a new page in the Mavericks legacy? Or play as the Golden State Warriors and decide the future the team lives in – one more ring for Stephen Curry and Draymond Green or do they tear it down and start a new chapter? Now players can explore the ‘what ifs’ of the 2025-2026 season in MyGM Offseason Scenarios.
  • The Playoffs Online: For the first time ever, public online leagues are coming to MyNBA with the introduction of The Playoffs Online, allowing players to compete in a whole new way. As commissioner of each bracket, players are responsible for creating and seeding all 16 NBA teams that clinch a spot in the Playoffs. They can then invite up to 15 friends to participate in a private postseason or open it up to the community. The signature presentation of the NBA Playoffs – from the players to the crowds, arenas, and commentators – will be felt throughout Online Playoffs ensuring a heightened atmosphere and elevated experience.
  • Dynamic Banners: Dynamic arena banners have been added to MyNBA to commemorate the championships and achievements attained during a player’s career as GM. Each NBA arena in the Modern Era will feature a dedicated section for these dynamic banners, representing years of history and accomplishments.
  • Unranked MyGM: In NBA 2K26, players can now choose to do an Unranked MyGM run. They can edit players, import custom rosters and draft classes, and adjust sliders for a more customized experience that retains the role-playing elements of the mode.
  • MyPLAYER DNA Integration: The Player DNA system is expanding with a new MyPLAYER DNA option to copy and paste one MyPLAYER into each roster created. Using a MyCAREER save file, players can easily clone their MyPLAYER’s appearance, animations, attributes, badges, and tendencies in MyNBA with ease. The system works in all of the MyNBA Eras, giving players the chance to see how they measure up against the legends in any period.
  • Improved & Adjustable Simulations: Based on community feedback, simulations are now more efficient. Simulation performance has been improved to yield more strategic decisions that run up to 26% faster in NBA 2K26 compared to NBA 2K25. Players now have greater control over their simulations by toggling between three options: Normal, Smarter, and Faster. Smarter sims will utilize more trade logic that can consider over 5,000 potential trade variables while Faster sims will progress through seasons more quickly – though they may not consider every possible outcome.
  • MyNBA Directives: Before the start of each season, players will sit down with the team governor to assess their goals and budget for the year while assigning them their core directives. Whether it’s winning a championship or focusing on profitability, these directives will shape a player’s strategy as they look to ensure expectations are met and their job is secure. To attract top free agents, players will need to keep their organization’s facilities updated. They can use Facility Points—earned by completing directives – to go toward updating Team Training Facilities, Team Recovery Facilities, Arena Renovations, Luxury Box Amenities and more. Players will now also experience accurate era-based team budgets, luxury tax mechanics, and more throughout league history.

For more information and a full breakdown of all the updates coming to MyNBA and MyGM check out the Courtside Report blog. Visit the NBA 2K26 official website for a full breakdown of the SKU details, availability, and more information. Stay tuned for additional announcements about the latest on NBA 2K26.

Developed by Visual Concepts, NBA 2K26 is rated E for Everyone from the ESRB.

Follow NBA 2K on TikTok, Instagram, X, YouTube, and Facebook for the latest NBA 2K26 news.

Stay tuned to GamingTrend for more NBA 2K26 news and info!


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GameFi Guides

How a GameStop Shopper Won $115K in Bitcoin From a $13 Pack of Cards

by admin



In brief

  • A collector recently walked away with 1 BTC from a $13 pack of cards purchased from GameStop.
  • The card came in via card manufacturer Cardsmiths’ Currency Series, which contains cards redeemable for real cryptocurrency.
  • The pull marks at least the third overall 1 BTC find in the last year.

GameStop doesn’t sell Bitcoin (though it does hold BTC)—but one patron recently scored a full Bitcoin, valued at nearly $115,000 today, after opening a pack of cards purchased at the retailer. 

Nestled in a pack of Cardsmith’s Currency trading cards, an Arizona-based collector recently unveiled a 1 BTC card, which comes with a redemption code that entitles the holder to claim a full Bitcoin. The top cryptocurrency is currently trading just under $115,000, as of this writing.

“I didn’t think it was a serious possibility,” the anonymous collector told card manufacturer Cardsmiths.

Cardsmiths’ Currency series cards offer redemption cards for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Dogecoin–with the biggest redemption offerings being for 1 BTC or 1 ETH.

Collectors can purchase the packs of currency-themed cards for as low as $13.25 apiece (based on the size of the pack bundle), with 1:192 odds of pulling a crypto redemption—resulting in more than an 865,000% gain based on today’s Bitcoin price.

The recent pull marks at least the third full Bitcoin redemption in the last year via Cardsmiths, with other lucky collectors pulling full Bitcoin cards from $33 and $50 packs, respectively. 

Though entitled to the full Bitcoin, the most recent collector said they are only keeping 0.5 BTC of it thanks to a pledge they made on Reddit prior to pulling the card.



“First, let me introduce myself: I’m the crazy Ape who made a promise a while back that some of you may vaguely remember,” the Reddit user named decoparts posted to the Currencytradingcards subreddit. “To recap: I was documenting my pulls from a bunch of S4 Currency cards I had saved up, and I pledged that I would give half of the after-tax value to a charity, out of whatever crypto I found.”

“Boy, was I in for a lesson on backing up my promises and putting my money where my mouth is,” they added.

Though Cardsmiths’ Series 4 Currency cards are all sold out online, its most recent SPACE Series holds unredeemed full Bitcoin cards, with packs that sell for as little as $13.75 via its online store. 

The odds of walking away with crypto remain long though, with only 1 of every 192 packs expected to provide a crypto redemption card—the same odds the recent lucky collector faced. 

A representative for Cardsmiths did not immediately respond to Decrypt’s request for comment.

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Clair Obscur Gets Amazon-Exclusive Steelbook Edition For PS5 And Xbox
Game Updates

Clair Obscur Gets Amazon-Exclusive Steelbook Edition For PS5 And Xbox

by admin



Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is getting an Amazon-exclusive collectible edition later this year. An exact release date hasn’t been set, but Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s Mirror Edition is available to preorder now for $60 on PS5 and Xbox Series X. The Mirror Edition includes a physical copy of the hit RPG, an exclusive steelbook case, three collectible trading cards, and a tuckbox.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Editions at Amazon

We feel it’s obligatory to mention Little Nightmares 3 also has an Amazon-exclusive Mirror Edition that you can preorder now.

Clair Obscur’s Mirror Edition isn’t the only upcoming retailer-exclusive edition you can preorder. GameStop’s Lumiere Edition for PS5 will be rereleased on October 31. Exclusive to PS5, the Lumiere Edition costs $70 and includes a steelbook case, 48-page art book, and the Digital Deluxe Edition DLC outfits.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Mirror Edition

Sandfall Interactive’s debut game turned out to be a much bigger hit than anyone could have expected. In fact, it currently holds a 93 on Metacritic, which includes GameSpot’s 9/10 review, making it the best-reviewed original game of 2025. Technically, it’s behind the Switch 2 versions of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, but those don’t really count.

Physical copies of Clair Obscur for PS5 and Xbox Series X sold out on launch day (April 24). Publisher Kepler Interactive struggled to keep up with demand, as the game remained sold out through May and into June. Stock for the $50 standard edition at Amazon finally seems to have stabilized for both consoles, but the game remains sold out at multiple retailers. We wouldn’t be surprised to see Amazon’s Mirror Edition sell out before launch.

Check out all four Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 physical editions below.

$60 | Amazon Exclusive

The Mirror Edition is only 10 bucks more than the standard edition–and 10 bucks less than GameStop’s Lumiere Edition. And unlike the Lumiere, the Amazon-exclusive Mirror Edition is available for both PS5 and Xbox Series X. Here’s what you’ll find inside the box:

  • Physical copy of base game
  • Exclusive Steelbook with Verso and Alicia character art
  • Mirror Edition Tuckbox
  • 3 collectable trading cards

There are 10 trading cards in all, so you’d need to buy at least four Mirror Editions–and likely more–to get all of the cards. Seems excessive, but you could buy the Mirror Edition for your friends as gifts this holiday season. Before you wrap the presents, make sure to remove the cards from the boxes.

$50 | In stock on August 22

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s physical edition sold out for PS5 and Xbox Series X shortly after the game launched on April 24. The $50 standard edition remained difficult to find for months on PS5 and Xbox Series X, but Amazon has copies for both platforms as of August 22.

Check stock at:

$70 | Reprint Preorder | Releases October 31

The GameStop-exclusive Lumiere Edition is only available for PS5 in the US. The upcoming reprint is slated to arrive October 31.

Like Amazon’s edition, this comes with an exclusive steelbook case. PlayStation 5 users need to decide if you’d prefer a mini art book plus in-game cosmetics or three illustrated trading cards plus an extra $10 in your pocket.

Here’s a look at everything included in the Lumiere Edition:

  • Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 physical edition
  • Collectible Steelbook Case featuring Maelle, Gustave, and the Paintress
  • The Expeditioner’s Journal – 48-page hardcover art book
  • Digital Deluxe Upgrade Pack (in-game DLC)
    • The Flowers Collection – Six Flowers of Lumiere outfits and hairstyles / Six Gommage outfit variations
    • Custom “Clair” outfit for Maelle
    • Custom “Obscur” outfit for Gustave

$150 | Sold Out

SOLD OUT

Unlike the Limited Edition, the Collector’s Edition appears to be gone for good. The Collector’s Edition was also exclusive to PS5 and only at GameStop. Along with all of the bonus DLC from the Lumiere and Digital Deluxe Editions, here’s what’s included in the box:

  • Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 base game
  • An 8-inch hand-painted Monolith music box
  • A collectible Steelbook case featuring unique cover art
  • The Expeditioner’s Journal 48-page hardcover artbook
  • The “Flowers” Collection DLC with unique cosmetic items
  • A “Clair” custom outfit for Maelle
  • An “Obscur” custom outfit for Gustave

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 PC Game Deals

PC players can get Steam keys for 10% off at GameSpot sister site Fanatical.

Clair Obscur is also available on Xbox and PC Game Pass. It’s an Xbox Play Anywhere title, so Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can carry their saves from PC to Xbox and vice-versa.

Disclosure: GameSpot and Fanatical are both owned by Fandom.



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