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Vintage Lord Of The Rings Book Box Set Is 55% Off For Prime Big Deal Days
Game Updates

Vintage Lord Of The Rings Book Box Set Is 55% Off For Prime Big Deal Days

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Amazon’s early Prime Big Deal Days sale features a wide assortment of excellent book deals, including steep discounts on a bunch of popular fantasy and sci-fi box sets. As usual, some of the most popular deals take readers back to Middle-earth. One of the standouts is a beloved 3-book box set of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings with artwork by Alan Lee on the front covers and beautiful display box. Prime members can get this vintage hardcover box set for only $40.79 (was $90), which is the lowest price this year.

After you’re done checking out the vintage box set, read on for more superb deals on Tolkien box sets, such as The Complete History of Middle-earth for $80.65 (was $250), and budget-friendly Collector’s Editions like The Hobbit for $11.33 and The Silmarillion for $12.26. With Prime Big Deal Days set for October 7-8, you can expect to see even more great promotions on Tolkien books in the coming days.

$40.79 (was $90) | Artwork by Alan Lee

One of the most popular modern editions of The Lord of the Rings, the 1988 hardcover box set offers the most economical way to get editions with cover and box art illustrated by Alan Lee. Widely considered to be the best artist who has worked on The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, Alan Lee’s Middle-earth landscape paintings and Middle-earth maps are gorgeous.

The box set has wrap-around art on the slipcase that matches the covers of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. Each cover resembles a painting, as the full-color illustrations have ornate frames with detailed patterns. These editions also come with fold-out maps of Middle-earth during the Third Age. Each book concludes with a section of appendices filled with fascinating reference material and background information.

The muted color palette combined with the classical typeface and faded yellow dust jackets makes these editions look appropriately vintage. Even over 45 years later, though, these editions are among the most beautiful you can buy today. It’s not surprising these hardcover editions and the box set remain in print. Across all three volumes, the 1988 edition of LOTR is 1,214 pages.

You can check out the cover designs of each of the three volumes below. Each hardcover is also sold separately, but you’d wind up spending roughly $50 and won’t get the lovely display box.

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien (1988 editions)

As mentioned, the 1988 editions are the most affordable with cover art by Alan Lee, but there are editions filled with incredible illustrations by the artist. Last year, William Morrow published a remastered edition of the phenomenal 1992 Centenary Edition of The Lord of the Rings. The collector’s set carries a $325 retail price, but it’s also on sale in Amazon’s early Prime Big Deal Days sale. You can get The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated Box Set for only $135.09 (58% off). This three-volume set is packaged in a custom cloth board display box and features over 50 new illustrations and drawings by Lee. The books themselves have cloth board cases and are quarterbound in leather. Check out our dedicated story on The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated Box Set to see why these editions are so special.

In October, William Morrow will publish a four-book box set with Alan Lee’s illustrations for $139.50 (was $150). This edition is notable because it also comes with The Hobbit. All four hardcover volumes have wrap-around dust jacket illustrations. Before you preorder a copy: This edition originally released in 2020 in the UK, and you can buy that version for considerably less at Amazon, too.

All five matching hardcover editions are steeply discounted.

Amazon’s early sale has also brought deals on last year’s budget-friendly Lord of the Rings Collector’s Edition hardcovers. These editions are similar in size to the 1988 editions, but they have a more modernized look, with stained edges, foil-stamped cover art, maps on the interior covers, and ribbon bookmarks. Matching editions of The Hobbit and The Silmarillion were published, too.

All five of these $35 hardcover editions are on sale for $15 or less. The Hobbit is only $11.33, and The Silmarillion is just $12.26. There is a box set with the three volumes of The Lord of the Rings, but it’s cheaper to buy each book separately at the moment.

Amazon’s sale also includes The Complete History of Middle-earth, a massive 5,440-page box set collecting all 12 volumes of The History of Middle-earth across three hardcovers. The $250 hardcover box set has dropped to only $80.65–the lowest price ever. We also have a dedicated story about The History of Middle-earth that’s worth reading, as it also details the 2024 box set series featuring 15 History of Middle-earth books across four decorative box sets.

William Morrow continued its Tolkien box set project over the summer with a pair of beautiful hardcover collections. Tolkien Myths and Legends, a four-book box set containing epic poems and classic myths written or translated by Tolkien. This collection released in June, but it’s up for grabs for only $51 (was $125) for Prime Big Deal Days. The sixth box set in the series, a new edition of The Great Tales of Middle-earth–a hardcover collection of three posthumously published novels–released in August and is on sale for $75 (was $125).

More J.R.R. Tolkien Book Deals

Other notable Tolkien book deals include The Nature of Middle-earth, a collection of the author’s final writings on the fantasy world he brought to life. The Nature of Middle-earth’s hardcover edition is on sale for only $12 (was $32). The History of The Hobbit, meanwhile, is a 992-page hardcover containing Tolkien’s complete unpublished draft of The Hobbit as well as his illustrations and notes. It also has commentary by scholar John Rateliff that pulls back the curtain on how The Hobbit came to be. The History of The Hobbit is discounted to $18.81 (was $55) in hardcover. Another insightful behind-the-scenes book is The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Revised and Expanded Edition. On sale for $13.85 (was $40), this 720-page hardcover includes hundreds of letters written to his editors and publishers, his family and friends, and even his fans.

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The ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X prices aren’t too bad in the UK, but tariffs bite in the US
Game Updates

The ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X prices aren’t too bad in the UK, but tariffs bite in the US

by admin


After much hemming and hawing, Asus and Microsoft are finally ready to talk pricing on their handheld PC team-ups, the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X. It’s nothing too egregious in the King’s sterling, with the Xbox ROG Ally confirmed at £499.99 and the Xbox ROG Ally X at £799.99 – while hardly chump change, these are pretty standard prices for entry-level and premium portables respectively.

Those in the US, however, will be paying $599.99 for the ROG Xbox Ally and $999.99 for the ROG Xbox Ally X, the latter representing a big increase on Asus’ current ROG Ally X model.

That, at least, won’t quite make it the most expensive Windows handheld around, as the MSI Claw 8 AI+ has also hit (give or take a penny) the one-grand mark in recent months. But still, this looks an awful lot like the effects of US tariff policies, with the added cost of importing Taiwan- and China-made hardware being passed down to aspiring owners. It’s a process Microsoft’s console business will be familiar with, its current generation of lounge-dwelling Xboxes having hiked their prices twice in the past year, with big green fingers pointing at macroeconomic conditions on both occasions.

By contrast, the ROG Xbox Ally X’s UK price merely matches that Asus’ 2024 predecessor, while upgrading its innards with a newer, faster AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU. The ROG Xbox Ally, mind, still seems like something of a wildcard. It’s only £21 more than the equivalent 512GB Steam Deck OLED, and £50 less than the already budget-minded Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS. Yet mystery surrounds its own APU, the Ryzen Z2 A, a chip whose four cores and ageing RDNA 2 graphics processor gives it specs largely in line with the original Steam Deck. If performance is a match as well, then it’ll struggle with the GPU-threshers that are modern 3D games.

That said, Microsoft and Asus aren’t just banking on framerates. The ROG Xbox Ally duo will be the first Windows 11-powered handhelds to include the operating system’s new, bespoke, Xbox-branding gaming mode, where many of Win11’s extraneous guff remains switched off at launch to preserve speed and batter life. It’ll have a more handheld-friendly UI than standard Windows as well, potentially wiping out a major advantage that SteamOS has always held over its desktop-tuned rival.

I’ll be seeing whether this mode will be worth the money, especially for stateside punters, with a review prior to the handhelds’ October 16th launch date. That’s assuming they’re not partaking in ongoing boycott calls against Microsoft for their alleged dealings with the Israeli military, including providing access to Azure cloud storage and AI tools for the purpose of running a mass surveillance programme against Palestinians. Microsoft have, reportedly, since revoked this access.



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Everything Announced During The Xbox Tokyo Game Show Broadcast
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Everything Announced During The Xbox Tokyo Game Show Broadcast

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Xbox held a special broadcast for Tokyo Game Show headlined by the reveal of Forza Horizon 6. In case you missed the presentation, we’ve rounded up each announcement (in alphabetical order) for a quick recap of the event.

007 First Light

 

Actress Gemma Chan (Crazy Rich Asians, Eternals, The Creator) is making her video game debut by joining the cast of IO Interactive’s upcoming James Bond game. Chan portrays Dr. Selina Tan, a tech expert and senior MI6 official who leads a training program for recruits. 

Age of Mythology: Retold – Heavenly Spear

 

Age of Mythology: Retold is getting a new expansion set in Japan. A fresh story told across 12 missions pits players against new gods and monsters, while also introducing new powers. Heavenly Spear launches on September 30

Aniimo 

 

First announced earlier this summer, the creature-collecting RPG Aniimo got a new trailer showing off more of its whimsical monsters. That includes a majestic space whale. Aniimo launches in 2026. 

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7

 

Treyarch announced new multiplayer maps set in the Land of the Rising Sun for its upcoming Black Ops 7. The maps include the urban sprawl of 2035 Tokyo and Den, set in the rural countryside near a castle. 

Double Dragon Revive

 

In addition to its main campaign, the upcoming co-op brawler features a 50-mission Challenge Mode. Clearing them unlocks character episodes to add more narrative perspectives.

Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake

 

The upcoming remake of the first two Dragon Quest games is getting a brand new area: the ocean floor. A trailer shows players traversing its salty depths to find the fallen underwater town of Mersea, which holds a mystery about its past.

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake

 

Announced during this month’s Nintendo Direct, the remake of the 2003 PS2 horror classic made another appearance in a new developer diary. Fatal Frame series director Makoto Shibata discussed the game’s graphical and audio improvements and evolved Camera Obscura gameplay.

Forza Horizon 6

 

The next Horizon game is coming in 2026 and takes players to Japan. So far, we know the open-world racer. Although developer Playground Games won’t be revealing gameplay until early next year, it does (unsurprisingly) tease Tokyo and the countryside surrounding Mt. Fuji as some of the many locations players will cruise through. The game’s roster of cars will also highlight Japanese car culture.

Forza Horizon 6 launches next year for Xbox Series X/S and PC via Windows and Steam. The game will also come to PlayStation 5 sometime post-launch.

Gungrave G.O.R.E. Blood Heat

 

Despite Gungrave G.O.R.E. releasing in 2022, it’s getting a full Unreal Engine 5 remake. Blood Heat features revamped combat, redesigned enemy encounters, and other revisions to level design, player interactions, and other systems.

Gungrave G.O.R.E. Blood Heat is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, and has no release window.

Hitman: World of Assassination

 

Agent 47 is teaming up with an unlikely but powerful ally: Bruce Lee. The legendary martial artist/actor is an Agent helping 47 infiltrate an international martial arts tournament at the Himmapan Hotel in Bangkok, which secretly holds meetings for the Concord Union. Agent Lee must win the tournament to face Union’s elusive leader, Dragon Head.

This new elusive target mission arrives for free starting September 25 and runs until November 20.

Hotel Barcelona

 

Ahead of its release tomorrow, Hidetaka “Swery” Suehiro and Goichi “Suda51” Suda revealed the multiplayer modes for their roguelike action game, Hotel Barcelona. The game supports 3-player co-op and has a PvP invasion system where players control copies of themselves to sabotage their runs. 

Microsoft Flight Simulator

 

Following the news that Flight Simulator 2024 is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox has released the free World Update 20 that lets players take flight over Japan. The update adds 23 new photogrammetry areas covering over 20,000 square kilometers of the country, featuring numerous landmarks. A new aircraft is also coming in the form of the Japanese Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (NAMC) YS-11.

World Update 20: Japan is available now for Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024, while the NAMC-YS-11 costs $19.99.

Mistfall Hunter

 

A new map was unveiled for the upcoming fantasy action extraction game called Solemn Needles. Set in a sacred forest housing a powerful relic, it will launch alongside the game later this year.

Monster Hunter Stories

 

In addition to next year’s Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, Capcom announced that the first two games, Monster Hunter Stories and Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, are coming to Xbox on November 14.

Ninja Gaiden 4

 

PlatinumGames and Team Ninja discussed Ninja Gaiden 4’s difficulty design in a new developer video. The studios also unveiled a new training mode, a series first, that will allow players to improve their skills to tackle the game’s tough challenges. 

Project Evilbane

 

This four-player co-op action RPG got a new trailer showing off its fantastical, stylish action. Project Evilbane arrives during the second half of 2026 for Xbox on PC, but Xbox Series X/S owners have to wait until 2027. 

Rhythm Doctor

 

After coming together in Steam Early Access since 2021, this quirky rhythm game starring doctors who heal patients timing a defibrillator to their heartbeats, comes to Xbox in 1.0 form on December 6.

Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven

 

This 2024 remake of Romancing Saga 2 makes it Xbox debut, and owners can play the game starting… today!

Starsand Island

 

This whimsical upcoming life sim got its first CG trailer while teasing its multiplayer features.

Sudden Strike 5

The fifth entry in the World War II strategy series got a new trailer. Look for the game to release next year.

Terminull Brigade

 

The stylish free-to-play looter shooter is coming to Xbox Series X/S on October 31 and got a new trailer teasing a crossover with Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Winter Burrow

 

This cozy survival game stars a young city mouse who, after returning to the wilds, must endure a harsh winter. Cooking, wood cutting, and other survival activities help keep the mouse warm and fed while braving the forest. We’ve had our eye on Winter Burrow since it’s reveal last year, and it’s launching on November 12.



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Here's everything announced at the Xbox Tokyo Game Show Broadcast
Game Updates

Here’s everything announced at the Xbox Tokyo Game Show Broadcast

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As part of this year’s Tokyo Game Show, Microsoft streamed an Xbox Broadcast featuring a load of new games coming to Xbox consoles in the near future.

Xbox consoles don’t traditionally sell well in Japan, but it’s clear Microsoft is aiming to appease players in the country. That’s why Forza is moving to Japan, and Call of Duty will feature maps inspired by the country.

Here are all the announcements from the Xbox Tokyo Game Show Broadcast.

[English – 4K] Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2025 BroadcastWatch on YouTube

First look at Gungrave Gore Blood Heat

A remake of the 2002 PS2 game, today we got a first look at Gungrave Gore Blood Heat – a third-person action shooter with extravagant gore. It’s been built in Unreal Engine 5 for improved visuals and will be released on Xbox Series X/S, as well as PS5 and Steam.

Gungrave GORE Blood Heat – Announce Trailer | Tokyo Game Show 2025Watch on YouTube

Gemma Chan stars in IOI’s 007 First Light

Following an extended look at the game from PlayStation, we got another look at IOI’s Bond game First Light that’s out on 27th March next year. Here, Xbox revealed Gemma Chan (Marvel’s Eternals, Crazy Rich Asians) will play Dr Selina Tan – MI6’s Head of Tactical Simulation, a new character specifically created for 007 First Light.

007 First Light – Gemma Chan Reveal | Tokyo Game Show 2025Watch on YouTube

A look at Double Dragon Revive

Arc System Works is updating the classic beat ’em up Double Dragon – here we saw its story mode as well as a load of missions and episodic stories in its Extra Mode. It’s out on 23rd October across Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch, PC (Steam, Epic).

Double Dragon Revive | Tokyo Game Show 2025Watch on YouTube

Hold hands in Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly

Next up was Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly, a remake that will let characters hold hands at last, which wasn’t possible in the original PS2 and Xbox versions. The graphics and sound have been updated for improved skin textures and 7.1.4 sound. There are also new filters for your camera to help you defeat spirits. It’s out early next year on Xbox Series X/S, as well as PS5, Switch 2 and PC (Steam).

FATAL FRAME II: Crimson Butterfly REMAKE – Broadcast Trailer | Tokyo Game Show 2025Watch on YouTube

Pokémon wannabe Aniimo

A new trailer for Aniimo showed off a load of Pokémon-esque critters, but with barely any gameplay it’s hard to tell what this game even is. The designs are quite cute at least. It’s available to pre-register now.

Aniimo Tokyo Game Show Exclusive Trailer | Discover Even More Aniiimo! | Tokyo Game Show 2025Watch on YouTube

Sudden Strike 5 will have BIG GUNS

Out next year, war game Sudden Strike 5 will have a number of new features like BIG GUNS. Isn’t that to be expected?

The Monster Hunter Stories games come to Xbox

Monster Hunter Stories 3 was recently announced at the Nintendo Direct, but will additionally be available on PlayStation and Xbox on 13th March. It’s the latest in Capcom’s turn-based RPG spin-off, but the first two games will also be coming to Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on 13th November.

Monster Hunter Stories Series – Broadcast Trailer | Tokyo Game Show 2025Watch on YouTube

Protect Bruce Lee in Hitman

Bruce Lee is today joining Hitman World of Assassination as the latest Elusive Target. He’s not actually a target, though, but an ally, so you’ll need to neutralise anyone else attempting to kill him. The update is available on all platforms from today until 20th November.

HITMAN World of Assassination – The Infiltrator (Bruce Lee) Launch Trailer | Tokyo Game Show 2025Watch on YouTube

Swery is rubbish at Hotel Barcelona

Hotel Barcelona launches tomorrow – it’s the latest game from Hidetaka “Swery” Suehiro (Deadly Premonition) and Goichi “Suda51” Suda (No More Heroes). The 2D horror action game has both co-op and PvP multiplayer, as shown in this trailer, but Swery keeps losing – poor guy.

Hotel Barcelona | Tokyo Game Show 2025Watch on YouTube

Dragon Quest 1+ 2 HD-2D Remake features brand new area

The remake of Dragon Quest 1 and 2 will feature the Ocean Floor for the first time, a brand new expansive area inhabited by mermaids. How do you get there? In a ship encased in a bubble, of course. The game will be released on 30th October on Xbox Series X/S, as well as PlayStation consoles, Switch consoles, and PC (Steam, Windows).

DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake: Ocean Floor Playthrough | Tokyo Game Show 2025Watch on YouTube

Rhythm Doctor has just one button

One of the most interesting reveals, Rhythm Doctor is a rhythm game (obviously) that features just one button. It’s “the easiest game you’ve ever played,” the trailer boasts. Looks like there’s comedy mixed in with the cute pixel art – it’s out on 6th December across Xbox Series X/S and PC (Steam).

Travel across Japan in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

World Update 20 is out now in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, adding a whole load of locations and landmarks from across Japan. It means you’ll be able to fly over the likes of Tokyo, Osaka and way beyond in great detail – it’s available now for free.

Microsoft Flight Simulator | World Update 20: Japan | Tokyo Game Show 2025Watch on YouTube

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven out now

This remake of the classic Square Enix RPG is available now on Xbox Series X/S, and there’s even a free demo to check it out – your save data will carry over. The remake is already out on PlayStation and Switch and has been well-received.

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven | Xbox and Windows Launch Trailer | Tokyo Game Show 2025Watch on YouTube

Yet another life sim is on the way

They’re everywhere these days. Starsand Island is a cute anime life sim game that’ll be out on 1st February. I’m not sure exactly how this will differentiate itself from others of the genre, but it does at least have an adorable panda and capybara playing on Xbox controllers, so that’s nice? It’s coming to Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC (Steam).

Starsand Island | Tokyo Game Show 2025Watch on YouTube

Yet another dark fantasy game is on the way

Project Evil Bane won’t be out until 2027, but it looks like some sort of dark fantasy multiplayer game. The cinematic trailer showed a group of players battling giant creatures, using swords, guns, and magical grappling hooks. It’s coming to Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Project EVILBANE – Official Reveal Trailer | Tokyo Game Show 2025Watch on YouTube

Ninja Gaiden 4’s difficulty options detailed

The Ninja Gaiden series is notorious for its difficulty, but this fourth game in the series will expand out in both directions. For newcomers, there’s a new Hero Mode with auto-guard and auto-dodge assists you can toggle at will. You can also change difficulty at any point, while the standalone Training Mode will let you practice your combos. For experts, there’s Master Ninja which cannot be switched to midgame and will be particularly tricky, requiring deadly precision. Gameplay for this looks very cool! It’s out on 21st October across Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

NINJA GAIDEN 4 – Difficulty Design | Tokyo Game Show 2025Watch on YouTube

Mistfall Hunter is dark fantasy extraction

Mistfall Hunter’s game director Haoliang “HAO” Zhang introduced this dark fantasy extraction game, following its recent beta test. It looks particularly atmospheric – judging by some beautiful artwork at least. It’s heading to Xbox Series X/S and PC, but there’s no release date yet.

Mistfall Hunter – Developer Update | Tokyo Game Show 2025Watch on YouTube

Winter Burrow out in November

Cut mouse survival game Winter Burrow received a release date – it’s out on 12th November across Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, and PC (Steam). It’s like a deadlier Animals of Farthing Wood.

Winter Burrow – Release Date Trailer | Tokyo Game Show 2025Watch on YouTube

Evangelion collaboration coming to Terminull Brigade

An Evangelion collaboration is on its way to free-to-play roguelike Terminull Brigade on 31st October. Never heard of it? A quick check on Steam shows the game has a Mostly Negative rating from players, which just about sums up this showcase

Terminull Brigade Xbox on PC Launch and Evangelion Collaboration Announcement | Tokyo Game Show 2025Watch on YouTube

Japan arrives in Age of Mythology Retold

It’s called Heavenly Spear and will be available from 30th September on all platforms.

Age of Mythology: Retold – Heavenly Spear | Launch Trailer | Tokyo Game Show 2025Watch on YouTube

Shoot your friends in a cat cafe in Call of Duty Black Ops 7

The next in the Call of Duty series will get a bunch of multiplayer maps inspired by Japan, so no wonder they were revealed at the Tokyo Game Show. The country is a “major region woven across the entire experience”, apparently, and its 2035 setting presents a near-future merging tradition and innovation. Two maps were named: firstly Toshin, a Tokyo-esque metropolis that includes a cat cafe among the neon lights, and Japanese castle Den. It’s out on 14th November.

Forza Horizon 6 will bring Japan to life “like never before”…

…but it wasn’t actually shown. The next in the racing series will be out in 2026, but this was just a quick tease before it’s fully unveiled next year.

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



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Hades 2 Reveals Every Big Change As It Finally Hits Version 1.0 On Switch 2
Game Updates

Hades 2 Reveals Every Big Change As It Finally Hits Version 1.0 On Switch 2

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Hades 2 is finally out of Early Access and Supergiant Games has rolled out the red carpet with patch notes showing every major change as the game enters version 1.0 on PC and comes to Switch 1 and Switch 2. The true ending to Princess Melinoë’s adventure is now live, along with fresh secrets and a bevy of balancing tweaks.

Supergiant Games put Hades 2 out in Early Access back in May 2024 and it was already pretty decent. The studio’s been adding more content and fine-tuning its more ambitious scope ever since. In addition to the True Ending and Epilogue, there are also new story events, gift events, keepsakes to discover and fresh artwork and music for players to enjoy. Most of the balance changes are buffs or bug fixes. Appearance rates for resources have undergone some changes as well—all Prestige are now Kudos—and Tablet of Peace and Rod of Fishing sequences have been sped up.

“While Hades 2 spent more than four-and-a-half years in development, including about a year and a half in Early Access, it’s also the culmination of all the experience we’ve gained together as a team since Supergiant Games started back in 2009,” director Greg Kasavin wrote in the game’s Discord. “Early Access development was foundational to the entire idea of the original Hades, and proved instrumental to this latest game as well. So, from all of us, thank you for inspiring us to do our best, and we hope you enjoy your time with Hades 2.”

Opinions may vary on how well this sequel builds on the foundations of the original, but Hades 2 is an impressive achievement for a studio that’s retained all seven of its founding members and continues releasing popular indie hits without a CEO or conventional business structure. “I don’t have some kind of magical explanation for why we’ve been able to stick around for this long while some others haven’t been as fortunate,” Kasavin told SFChronicle in a new interview. “I do attribute it to the value that we place on sticking together as a team, on keeping our ambitions relatively modest. We don’t have an ambition to grow big for its own sake.”



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ROG Xbox Ally Prices Revealed, Preorders Are Live At Amazon
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ROG Xbox Ally Prices Revealed, Preorders Are Live At Amazon

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Asus has revealed the launch prices of the ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X in the US. The ROG Xbox Ally is $600, while the more powerful Xbox Ally X clocks in at $1,000. The first Xbox-branded gaming handhelds launch October 16, and preorders are starting to go live at major retailers. The ROG Xbox Ally is up for preorder at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy. The Xbox Ally X is only listed at Best Buy and the Microsoft Store (for now). An official carrying case is up for preorder for $70 at Amazon.

The $600/$1,000 price points are higher than some expected, though not all that surprising. After Best Buy quickly removed $550/$850 prices from the Xbox Ally store pages, it seemed likely that the prices of both devices would be at least a bit higher. As with many new tech products this year, Asus and Microsoft waited longer than usual to announce price points and preorder details. The ongoing tariff situation in the US has led to price increases for PlayStation, Nintendo, and Xbox hardware in 2025. Just last week, Microsoft announced price increases for the Xbox Series X|S in the US; the new prices take effect October 3.

Check out the specifications of each ROG Xbox Ally handheld below.

$1,000 | Releases October 16

The ROG Xbox Ally X, the more powerful of the two devices, has an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor (Zen 5), 24GB DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD. The Z2 Extreme is 8-core, 16-thread CPU; the GPU has 16 cores and is built on RDNA 3.5 architecture.

The grips are inspired Xbox Wireless Controller, and it has all of the inputs found on an Xbox controller as well as a pair of remappable back buttons.

Other small differences found on the X version: The UHS-II microSD card reader also reads UHS-I cards–the base model only reads UHS-I. One of the USB Type-C ports is USB4, while the other is USB 3.2 Type-C. On the base model, both Type- ports are USB 3.2. Xbox’s Impulse Triggers are found on the Ally X, while the base model has Hall Effect triggers.

Specs:

  • Processor: AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme
  • RAM: 24GB LPDDR5X-8000
  • Storage: 1TB M.2 2280 SSD
  • Display:
    • 7″ FHD IPS (Gorilla Glass Victus)
    • 120Hz refresh rate
    • AMD FreeSync Premium
  • Controller Design:
    • Contoured grips
    • Impulse Triggers
    • Shoulder bumpers
    • ABXY bumpers
    • 2 remappable back buttons
    • Analog sticks with light rings
    • 6-Axis motion controls
    • HD haptics
    • 5 menu/settings buttons
  • Ports:
    • USB4 Type-C
    • USB 3.2 Type-C
    • 3.5mm audio
  • microSD: UHS-II reader (also reads UHS-I)
  • Network: Wi-Fi 6E / Bluetooth 5.4
  • Battery: 80Wh
  • Weight: 715g
  • Dimensions: 290.8 x 121.5 x 50.7mm

$600 | Releases October 16

The ROG Xbox Ally has an AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor (Zen 4), 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 512GB SSD. The Z2 A has half the number of CPU cores (4) and threads (8) as the Z2 Extreme. The number of GPU cores is also cut in half (8), and the GPU is built on RDNA 2 architecture. Overall, the ROG Xbox Ally looks to be comparable to the Steam Deck OLED in terms of specs.

Both models have 7-inch FHD IPS displays made of Gorilla Glass with 120Hz refresh rates and FreeSync.

Specs:

  • Processor: AMD Ryzen Z2 A
  • RAM: 16GB LPDDR5X-6400
  • Storage: 512GB M.2 2280 SSD
  • Display:
    • 7″ FHD IPS (Gorilla Glass Victus)
    • 120Hz refresh rate
    • AMD FreeSync Premium
  • Controller Design:
    • Contoured grips
    • Hall Effect triggers
    • Shoulder bumpers
    • ABXY bumpers
    • 2 remappable back buttons
    • Analog sticks with light rings
    • 6-Axis motion controls
    • HD haptics
    • 5 menu/settings buttons
  • Ports:
    • 2x USB 3.2 Type-C
    • 3.5mm audio
  • microSD: UHS-II reader (only UHS-II)
  • Network: Wi-Fi 6E / Bluetooth 5.4
  • Battery: 80Wh
  • Weight: 670g
  • Dimensions: 290.8 x 121.5 x 50.7mm

Comparisons to the Xbox Series X|S are natural due to the branding, but it’s worth emphasizing that these devices aren’t really Xbox handhelds. The ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X are Windows PCs running custom UI that will remind players of the Xbox. At the end of the day, though, the ROG Xbox Ally is playing Windows versions of games. As such, the prices are more aligned with other Windows handhelds like the regular Asus-branded ROG Ally handhelds, Lenovo Legion Go, and MSI Claw. But that also means you aren’t restricted to the Xbox Store; you can launch Steam, GOG Galaxy, the Epic Games Store, and any other PC game client supported by Windows.

ROG Xbox Ally Accessories

Asus 2-in-1 Hard Case | Asus 100W Charger Dock

Official Accessories:

We also know the prices of two official ROG Xbox Ally accessories from Asus: A $70 hardshell carrying case with a built-in stand and accessories pouch, and a 100W Charger Dock. This is an AC adapter with a built-in HDMI 2.0 port and two USB 2.0 ports for accessories. It can be used to connect the ROG Xbox Ally to a monitor or TV.

Third-party (unlicensed)



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Command fleets or pilot mouthwatering starships in Nullspace, a strategy game with a "unique" take on the Fermi Paradox
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Command fleets or pilot mouthwatering starships in Nullspace, a strategy game with a “unique” take on the Fermi Paradox

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Tasty-looking space games fill the atmosphere nowadays like satellite launch debris, but perhaps you’ll find room in your weirdly adapted magnetic fishing net for one more – Kaigan’s Nullspace. I came across it in yesterday’s Indie Fan Fest stream, and I quite like the cut of its torpedo bays.


Nullspace grabs me for a couple of reasons. One is its “retrofuturistic universe”, which strikes me as both sleek and cosy. It’s kind of chibi Homeworld. The kitbashed ships come alive with swivelling turrets and manoeuvring jets, but something about the way they’re proportioned, patterned and lit also makes me think of freshly piped cake icing. I also quite like the Star Fox-style jabbering heads of unit commanders in the bottom corner.

Watch on YouTube


The other thing I like is that this is one of those possibly borked genre hybrids, like Shiny Entertainment’s Sacrifice or Activision’s old Battlezone reboot. On the one hand, it’s a real-time strategy game with planetary bases, various resources to gather, a choice of fleet formations, and the option of either using asteroids for cover or blowing them up for disruption. On the other, it’s a dogfighter, with the ability to seize control of any ship and hose the badniks with your own two thumbs.


The result may prove to be more akin to Dynasty Warriors or a punch-up in an Airfix factory than the Battle of New Caprica. There are a couple of moments in the trailer when ships barge into each other like shopping trolleys. But I do like the bustle of it all.


There’s a story to reckon with, when you’re not making battleships kiss. It channels both “the Golden Age of Sci-Fi” and “deep existential themes”. According to the Steam page, you will “lead or challenge factions like the democratic Hegen, the transhumanist Dominion, and the resourceful Junkers as they vie for survival and dominance.” Apparently the game contains a “unique take on the Fermi Paradox”, this being the contention that we really should have run into some advanced extraterrestrials by now given the amount of stuff there is in outer space. Interested to learn more, I guess.


As for those factions, they put me a little in mind of Sins of a Solar Empire, though they don’t seem quite as vicious. Here’s the blurb in full:

  • The Junkers: Survivors and scavengers, the Junkers live on the fringes of space, salvaging remnants of humanity’s past to build a precarious future. Their resourcefulness and ingenuity allow them to adapt to any situation, but their distrust of centralized authority makes them fiercely independent–and difficult to unify.
  • The Hegen: A powerful, militaristic faction rooted in discipline and order. The Hegen values tradition and hierarchy, believing that humanity’s salvation lies in strict control and unwavering loyalty. Their massive fleets and technological prowess make them a force to be reckoned with, but their rigidity may blind them to alternative solutions.
  • The Dominion: Visionaries, innovators, and seekers of progress, the Dominion is driven by the belief that humanity’s evolution lies in embracing new ideas and technologies. They see opportunity in the chaos, pushing boundaries to forge a brighter future, though their relentless pursuit of advancement often clashes with the values of other factions.


All told: I can dig it. But do I dig it more than Nebulous: Fleet Command? I can see representations of gravity wells in the trailer, there, but I doubt it’s simulating quite as much stuff. Nullspace hath yet no release date beyond “coming soon”.



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Doug Bowser Retiring From Nintendo Of America, Devon Pritchard Named President And COO
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Doug Bowser Retiring From Nintendo Of America, Devon Pritchard Named President And COO

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Nintendo of America president and chief operating officer Doug Bowser has announced his retirement from the role, effective at the end of the calendar year. Devon Pritchard, who joined Nintendo in 2006 and has served as the leader of the Sales, Marketing, and Communications division since 2021, has been named as Bowser’s successor.

Bowser joined Nintendo in 2015 as vice president of sales and marketing, before receiving a promotion to senior vice president of sales and marketing in 2016. In 2019, then-president and COO Reggie Fils-Aimé announced his retirement, and Bowser was named his successor. Although Fils-Aimé ushered Nintendo of America from its disappointing Wii U era into the prosperous Switch era, Bowser oversaw the tail end of the Switch era, which also saw rapid expansion into the film and theme park industries, as well as the start of the Switch 2 era. 

“Leading Nintendo of America has been the honor of a lifetime, and I am proud of what our team has accomplished in both business results and the experiences we’ve created for consumers,” Bowser said in a press release. “Now, it’s time for the next generation of leadership and Devon’s track record speaks for itself. She is an exceptional leader, and her promotion is a testament to her strong performance and strategic contributions to the company’s growth. I have full confidence that she will guide the company to even greater heights.”

Pritchard, as executive vice president of revenue for marketing and consumer experience, is currently responsible for managing physical and digital sales growth, and oversees all aspects of marketing, advertising, events, social media, and original content. According to the press release, Pritchard plans to build on the ways fans can connect with Nintendo’s characters and worlds.

“I am humbled and excited to take on this new role,” Pritchard said in that same press release. “Doug has been a fantastic mentor, and I look forward to building on the incredible foundation he has helped establish. With characters and worlds that offer something for everyone, my focus will be continuing to build on Nintendo’s legacy of surprising and delighting our longtime fans, while at the same time welcoming new players into the Nintendo family.”

Doug Bowser addressing the media at the Switch 2 reveal event in April 2025

In addition to Bowser’s impending departure and Pritchard’s upcoming promotion, Satoru Shibata will join Nintendo of America as chief executive officer in addition to his roles as managing executive officer, corporate director, and member of the board at Nintendo (NCL). Pritchard will also join the Nintendo of America board of directors and become an executive officer at NCL.

“During his tenure, Doug made numerous contributions to bring smiles to the faces of people connected to Nintendo,” Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said in the press release. “I would like to express my gratitude for his strong efforts. Devon, who will become the next president, has also made many contributions to Nintendo over the years. I am confident that, like Doug, Devon will continue to support Nintendo’s important mission of creating smiles.”

Bowser’s retirement is effective on December 31, 2025.



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Can you tame a medieval wilderness? City-builder Farthest Frontier gets a very close 1.0 release date
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Can you tame a medieval wilderness? City-builder Farthest Frontier gets a very close 1.0 release date

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I was really impressed by Farthest Frontier when I played it in early access a few years ago, so much so, I’ve been keeping an eye out for the full release ever since. And we now finally know when it will be: 23rd October, which isn’t far away at all.

Farthest Frontier is a city-building game spun around the idea of a group of settlers heading into a wilderness in medieval times and establishing a settlement of their own there, growing it from a handful of huts and shacks into something resembling a town.

What’s different about this game is how up-close the action is. You get to know settlers on a personal level, seeing details about who they are and what they’re like, and the game delights in the minutiae of surviving in a period like this. For instance, you’ll assign someone to fish and then have to build a little smokehouse nearby for them to smoke and preserve the fish in, but if you build the smokehouse too near people’s houses, they’ll complain about the smell, and rightly so. But if you don’t smoke the fish, they’ll go rotten in your stores.

Expect to think a lot about crop rotations and farming, to think about water supplies and how to keep them clean and away from your town’s organic waste, lest you spread disease. And to think about making sure everyone’s wrapped up to survive the very present seasonal weather. (There are difficulty options to nudge the complexity down if you want.)

This zoomed-in approach brings a great deal of calm with it. This is a slow game about the aspects of day-to-day life we now take for granted – that are handled automatically for us – and it is very connected to nature and the land around your settlement. Bears can roam into your settlement and attack your people, brilliantly. Well, it’s not brilliant for the people living there and getting mauled, but it’s entertaining to watch. Generally, though, it’s a very peaceful and gently absorbing game, full of forgotten intricacies of a time gone by.

But enough about that! Farthest Frontier has been in early access for three years now, and the success it’s enjoyed there – 1.2 million sales – has allowed developer Crate Entertainment to significantly beef-out the game. The 1.0 release will bring a significant amount of new content as well, including revamped progression, dozens of new building types, bridges (I hope there’s some troubled water to cross), a new policy system, updated animations, and more.

Note that the game’s selling price will increase when it launches, too, to reflect it being a fully rounded game. It will rise from $30 to $35 (the price here is currently £25, which I expect means it’ll rise to £30 at launch). Those existing prices will dip again before launch in a Steam Autumn Sale, which begins 29th September. Potentially, there’s a deal to be had.



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One Piece characters look down at the ground.
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One Piece And Other Manga Come To Crunchyroll Next Month For A Price

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Crunchyroll will bring a bunch of the biggest manga series to the anime streaming service on October 9 with the launch of Crunchyroll Manga. While there are other manga reader services out there, the fact that lots of people already have a Crunchyroll sub and that Crunchyroll Manga brings many different publishers under a single roof has the potential to make it one of the most convenient options out there for keeping up with One Piece and other big series.

The company announced on Thursday that Crunchyroll Manga will be available to all subscribers on iOS and Android, and will launch with works from AlphaPolis, COMPASS, Square Enix, VIZ Media, and Yen Press, followed by additional partners like Shueisha and J-Novel Club later on. There will also be a web version launching on October 15. Here’s the pricing breakdown:

  • Crunchyroll Fan + Manga – $11.99 USD / $15.49 CAD per month (includes Manga add-on at $4.00 USD / $5.50 CAD)
  • Crunchyroll Mega Fan + Manga – $15.49 USD / $17.49 CAD per month (includes Manga add-on at $3.50 USD / $5.00 CAD)

And here are some of the big-name series fans will have access to:

  • One Piece
  • Jujutsu Kaisen
  • Daemons of the Shadow Realm
  • My Dress-Up Darling
  • The Summer Hikaru Died
  • Lycoris Recoil
  • Delicious in Dungeon
  • Sasaki and Miyano
  • Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy
  • Maiden of the Dragon: Falling for the Demon’s Lies

The service will be ad-free and come at no extra cost to people who already have the $16-a-month Crunchyroll Ultimate Fan subscription. Perks for all subscriber tiers include “the ability to download chapters for offline viewing, light and dark mode settings, and the ability to build a personalized reading list with curated recommendations.”

Crunchyroll has only become more dominant since it was acquired by Sony and absorbed rival service Funimation back in 2020. It’s been riding the recent hit success of Demon Slayer in particular to new heights. Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1 broke records this year, leaving fans waiting for news on Part 2 and 3. “Well, we’ve announced that it will be a trilogy of movies, but our partners at Aniplex and Ufotable haven’t decided on dates yet,” Crunchyroll boss Rahul Purini said in an interview this week. “But look, there’s definitely urgency for all of us to bring more Demon Slayer to fans as soon as we can—because we know the urgency is there among the fan base.”



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