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A photo of a book shows several iterations of the original PlayStation controller.
Game Reviews

Sony Celebrates 30 Years Of PlayStation With Cool Book

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PlayStation is turning 30 this year. That’s, uh, a lot of years. Well, what better way to sit around reminiscing about the past than to flip through a lovely coffee-table book chronicling the last three decades of PlayStation hardware? You’ll have to wait until spring of next year to do so, and it’ll cost you a pretty penny, but if you love the history of product and hardware development and appreciate a good photography book, Sony and publisher Read-Only Memory have something in store for you.

In a blog post celebrating the 30-year mark, Sony showed off some images of its gorgeous-looking photography book PlayStation: The First 30 Years. It comes in two hardcover editions at 400 pages each, and documents various prototype concepts of gamepads, consoles, logo design sketches, and more. The standard edition goes for $125, while a limited run of 1994 (the year the first PlayStation shipped in Japan) deluxe-edition copies encased in a foil-stamped box and featuring other goodies will also be produced.

Even if you think you’ve seen every conceivable prototype or concept for the PlayStation brand, there might still be some surprises in these pages for you yet. I mean, take a look at this thing!

© Image: Sony / Read-Only Memory

Now no one can tell me that the boomerang controller concept from the PS3 was the most uncomfortable-looking idea from Sony. And speaking of that thing, I sure hope there are more photos of it in these pages.



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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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NFT Gaming

New Book on AI Says ‘Everyone Dies,’ Leading Chatbots Disagree

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In brief

  • Authors Yudkowsky and Soares warn that AI superintelligence will make humans extinct.
  • Critics say extinction talk overshadows real harms like bias, layoffs, and disinformation.
  • The AI debate is split between doomers and accelerationists pushing for faster growth.

It may sound like a Hollywood thriller, but in their new book “If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies,” authors Eliezer Yudkowsky and Nate Soares argue that if humanity creates an intelligence smarter than itself, survival wouldn’t just be unlikely—it would be impossible.

The authors argue that today’s systems aren’t engineered line by line but “grown” by training billions of parameters. That makes their behavior unpredictable.

As intelligence scales, drives such as self-preservation or power-seeking could emerge independently, the authors warn. If such a system ever outstrips human control, they say, extinction would follow by default.

They call the current race among tech giants and governments to build ever-larger models a “suicide race.” No villainy required, just incompetence.



Why it matters

The book lands with the AI community already fractured into camps.

AI doomers argue that extinction is the inevitable outcome unless humanity halts or drastically slows progress. Accelerationists counter that pushing forward could deliver breakthroughs in medicine, science, and economics, while slowing down poses a greater danger.

Nick Bostrom’s Superintelligence first made the existential case a decade ago. Yudkowsky and Soares sharpen it into a klaxon call.

But critics worry that fixation on extinction distracts from harms already here: bias, layoffs, surveillance, and disinformation.

What the AI models say

Since the book is talking about them, we asked leading AI models what they think of it.

As far as we know, none of the LLMs have actually read the book yet, so the following reviews are based on the platforms’ interpretations of the reviews they have interpolated.

ChatGPT

OpenAI’s ChatGPT framed the book as a useful provocation rather than a prophecy.

“The book is valuable as a perspective-shifting tool, even if you think it overshoots,” the chatbot responded. “It sharpens intuitions about alignment and unintended consequences. But treating its worst-case as inevitable ignores uncertainty around future architectures, regulations, and constraints.”

ChatGPT stated that the model of future AI developments is contingent on how architectures evolve and what regulatory, social, or technical guardrails emerge.

“That uncertainty means I wouldn’t treat their worst-case as inevitable,” ChatGPT sniffed.

Meta

Meta AI struck a middle note, saying the book’s dire warnings are exaggerated but still valuable for sparking debate.

“Its dire predictions may feel exaggerated, but the emphasis on caution and international cooperation is justified,” Meta AI responded. “Whether or not you agree with its conclusion, the book sparks needed debate about responsible AI development.”

Meta’s AI said the authors’ emphasis on the need for caution and international cooperation is well-justified, given the potentially catastrophic consequences of unaligned AI development.

Gemini

Google’s Gemini cast the book as a terrifying but clarifying read, even if its proposed solutions seem unrealistic.

“The book is essential for understanding the extreme end of AI risk,” Gemini said. “Its proposed solution—a total shutdown—is politically unachievable, but the warning can galvanize investment in safety and control techniques before we reach the point of no return.”

Gemini said the book defines the extreme stakes of superintelligence, which, in turn, helps justify robust (if less radical) safety measures today.

Claude

Anthropic’s Claude was even more skeptical, which was interesting since among the leading LLMs, Anthropic is generally considered to be the most safety-conscious. But Claude described the book’s tone as “overconfident” and its framing as too binary.

“The authors correctly identify real risks, but their certainty feels overconfident,” Claude said. “They dismiss progress in AI safety research and frame the issue as a binary between perfection and extinction. That makes their message less constructive.”

While their warnings highlight important risks that warrant substantial resources and caution, Claude said the “everyone dies” framing appears more designed to grab attention than accurately represent the complex uncertainties involved.

“The risks are serious enough to take seriously without needing to accept their claims of inevitable catastrophe,” the AI said.

Grok

Elon Musk’s AI platform also surprised, since he’s been promoting Grok as the anti-mainstream media AI of record.

But Grok was quick to cite “a scathing NYT review, [calling] its arguments weak or alarmist.”

“This book is a gut-punch reminder that intelligence without wisdom is a liability, and we’ve got none of the latter baked in yet,” Grok responded. “That said, it’s doomer porn for rationalists: thrilling in its fatalism, but it underplays human adaptability. xAI’s ethos—curiosity over conquest—suggests we can thread the needle: pursue bold AI for cosmic questions while embedding safeguards from day one.”

Beyond that call out, however, Grok said that “overall, it’s a provocative, efficient read for anyone grappling with AI’s future—compelling if you’re open to pessimism, but potentially overstated if you’re optimistic about tech progress.”

Generally Intelligent Newsletter

A weekly AI journey narrated by Gen, a generative AI model.



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A screenshot of the official poster for Marvel Zombies, which shows Wanda commanding her undead horde
Product Reviews

‘Marvel Zombies’ review: comic book giant’s new Disney+ show bites off more than it can chew in frightfully fun yet frustrating fashion

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

Spoilers follow for all four episodes of Marvel Zombies.

Marvel Studios has a patchy record when it comes to its animated projects. Sure, there have been hits like X-Men 97, but other productions – in the main – like Eyes of Wakanda and What If…? have flattered to deceive.

It’s the latter that Marvel’s latest animated show, Marvel Zombies, takes its cue from. A continuation of the story told in What If…? season 1 episode 5, titled ‘What If… Zombies!?’, the comic giant’s first adult animated TV series is undeniably its most mature offering to date.


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But, for all of its delightfully gory action and focus on the next generation of Marvel superheroes, it’s weighed down by the same storytelling issues that have plagued many of the studio’s other recent animated works.

The new avengers

Marvel Zombies opens five years after What If…? season 1 episode 5’s cliffhanger ending (Image credit: Marvel Television/Disney Plus)

A four-part miniseries, Marvel Zombies is set five years after the initial zombie outbreak. A cataclysmic event caused by a virus that Dr Hank Pym brought back from a trip to the Quantum Realm in ‘What If… Zombies!?’, the planet Earth of this universe, one that sits adjacent to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), has become a dystopia overrun by the undead.

Pockets of humanity remain, though, including a desperate groups of superpowered individuals who cling to survival against the odds. But, when a trio of heroes – Kamala Khan/Ms Marvel, Riri Williams/Ironheart, and Kate Bishop/Hawkeye – discover a key that could end the zombie scourge, the group embark on a dangerous, globetrotting journey to save their world.

It’s highly satisfying to see the next generation of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes take center stage

Marvel Zombies opening with the aforementioned triumvirate is intentional. Khan is arguably the protagonist of this story, with the optimistic and empathetic New Jersey-hailing hero being the center point that the plot is built around, as she reluctantly and then boldly leads the charge to end the zombie plague.

In Williams, Bishop and Khan, though, Marvel Zombies immediately sets out its stall to primarily focus on the new wave of superpowered beings who have begun to populate the MCU post-Avengers: Endgame.

Zombies doesn’t solely rely on that intrepid trio, either. From Shang-Chi and members of the Thunderbolts* to Moon Knight and Blade – the latter pair are admittedly spliced together to form a new yet incredibly cool individual called Blade Knight – it’s highly satisfying to see the next generation of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes take center stage.

Marvel Zombies puts the next generation of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes at the center of its narrative (Image credit: Marvel Animation/Disney+)

That said, it’s somewhat bittersweet that animated projects, such as What If…? and its zombie-based spin-off, mark the first time we’ve seen some of these popular heroes since their live-action MCU debuts – or, in Blade’s case, who’s only ‘appeared’ via an off-screen cameo in Eternals, at all.


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An indictment of Marvel’s scattergun approach post-Endgame that’s seen the comic titan throw stuff at the wall and see what sticks with audiences, it’s a great shame that many of Marvel Zombies‘ leading lights are only now getting another chance to shine, albeit via an animated Disney+ production.

It’s surreal that Marvel Zombies is the first time Blade has actually appeared in a Marvel Studios project (Image credit: Marvel Animation/Disney+)

Irksome though that is, I will admit it was really fun to see interactions between characters who are yet to cross paths in the MCU.

While all-too-brief to be emotionally impactful, the Khan-Bishop-Williams dynamic is incredibly likable, as is the broader team-up between Khan, Red Guardian, Yelena Belova, Blade Knight, Shang-Chi and the latter’s bestie Katy that becomes the core collective for much of Marvel Zombies‘ run. I regularly revelled in seeing these individuals bounce off each other and re-demonstrate that whip-smart humor that Marvel projects are renowned for.

For all of the fun-filled rapport on display, though, Marvel Zombies was a bit too quippy and corny for my tastes on occasion. I wasn’t expecting the Marvel Phase 6 TV series to be a wholly miserably affair. Nonetheless, seeing Red Guardian and Zombie Captain America duke it out in what I can only describe as a slapstick showdown, or listening to eye-roll inducing jokes from FBI agent Jimmy Woo, just didn’t fit the mood or tone of the post-apocalyptic horror reality that Marvel Zombies takes place in.

The walking dead

Marvel Zombies pays tribute to some great horror-fuelled episodes of television (Image credit: Marvel Animation/Disney+)

Speaking of the hair-raising universe that Marvel Zombies exists in, Marvel doesn’t hold back in making its first TV-MA project as gruesome as possible.

Marvel Zombies‘ first trailer teased its brutality and, while I had hoped for a bit more in the way of ultra-violence, it goes harder than any other Marvel Studios movie or TV show to date. I cannot stress this enough, but it’s absolutely not family-friendly, nor is it for those who are squeamish or of the faint of heart.

Some of Marvel Zombies’ best set-pieces and scenes add real cinematic flair to proceedings

If you can stomach its hyper-violent tendencies, though, Marvel Zombies will reward horror fans through its clear homages to some fan-favorite genre fare. Indeed, whether it’s the dread-inducing ‘Hardhome’ episode of Game of Thrones, or scenes that reminded me of similar sequences in World War Z and Train to Busan, some of Marvel Zombies‘ best set-pieces and scenes add real cinematic flair to proceedings that occasionally conceal the mid-tier art style it retains from What If…?.

Parts of Marvel Zombies’ story, as well as its action sequences, leave a lot to be desired (Image credit: Marvel Animation/Disney+)

However, all the horror genre references in the world, nor positive things I’ve said about Marvel Zombies, can disguise my frustration with its wider narrative, though.

I’ll preface my criticism by saying there’s the skeleton of an engrossing story here. Indeed, its plot makes some interesting revisions to the world-building aspect of the MCU. The recycling of certain MCU technology to try and thwart the threat posed by the undead is put to good use, too.

Add in the previously discussed new-look Avengers team, the camaraderie that exists between them, and the prospect that none of them are immune from becoming the zombie horde’s next victim, and I actually appreciate some of the creative and narrative swings that Marvel Zombies takes.

Spider-Man’s appearance in Marvel Zombies is the main reason why it was turned into a TV show (Image credit: Marvel Animation/Disney+)

Nevertheless, Marvel Zombies is hamstrung by irritating storytelling components.

Whether it’s the rudimentary MacGuffin positioned as the answer to our heroes’ prayers, the decision not to pick up the story immediately after the cliffhanger ending in ‘What If… Zombies!?’ or a spate of character deaths that are significantly lacking in the gut-punching and/or tear-jerking department, at times Marvel Zombies can feel as emotionless as the reanimated corpses that inhabit its world. That’s before we even get onto my biggest gripe about a major narrative inconsistency that occurs in its final episode, which not only changes a key moment near the end of ‘What If… Zombies!?’, but is practically waved away without explanation.

Marvel Zombies is hamstrung by irritating storytelling components

Part of Marvel Zombies‘ plot-based problems might be the fact it’s a glorified TV show. Originally, it was designed to be a two-hour movie but, due to the complexities of the rights surrounding Spider-Man – don’t worry, the lead of ‘What If… Zombies!?’ plays a part of proceedings, albeit in a reduced role – that prohibits Marvel from using him in a feature film capacity without Sony’s consent, Marvel Zombies was turned into a limited series.

As a Spidey fanboy, I’ll always take any webslinger-based storytelling and action where I can. However, there’s no denying that his ongoing inclusion in this What If…? spin-off upsets Zombies‘ narrative rhythm.

My verdict

Marvel Animation’s Marvel Zombies | Official Trailer | Disney+ – YouTube

Watch On

I really wanted to like Marvel Zombies more than I did. That doesn’t mean it’s another average or poor offering from Marvel – indeed, there’s frightful fun to be had with its gratuitous violence, unexpected team-ups and universe-altering stakes. Based on its ending, there’s clearly an appetite to continue its story, too.

Nonetheless, if X-Men 97 is the high bar with which we judge projects developed by Marvel Animation, Zombies is something of a let down. That might be overly critical of me to say, especially when I also consider Zombies to be a better and more enjoyable Marvel TV Original than What If…? and Eyes of Wakanda.

Given my high expectations and excitement for Marvel’s first adult animated show, though, I can’t mask my disappointment for Marvel Zombies as an overall package. If its creative team gets another bite at the cherry with another season, I’d love nothing more for them to cure Zombies‘ narrative ailments. For now, though, Marvel Zombies is another project from the comic giant that’ll shuffle onto Disney+ and likely be forgotten about within a week or two.

Marvel Zombies is out now in full on Disney+.

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Pencil Book Quest looks to hit the target with a solo, portable, tactile adventure.
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Pencil Book Quest looks to hit the target with a solo, portable, tactile adventure.

by admin


Tabletop gaming, for me, is one of those things I like to do with friends and family. It’s always fun to roll some dice in an RPG with people who will appreciate the epic dice roll and thwarting your gaming rivals plan by reserving a space on the board first and watching him meltdown is always entertaining. However, sometimes there isn’t someone to sit down at a table with and you have to get your fix somewhere. Pencil Book Quest aims to fill that gap with an on the go adventure that takes only 5-10 minutes to make your way through an adventure.

A map of the land you are exploring and a progress tracker.

Pencil Book Quest is an upcoming solo dungeon crawling game coming to crowdfunding from Grumpy Spider Games and designer David David. The game features 80 quick adventures featured in a small spiral bound book, needing only a special pencil to complete. Each adventure spans two pages featuring a dungeon map, specific rules and monsters, any special power ups available, and end game bonuses. The stats of your character are kept on a special card which also happens to serve as a bookmark. At various times in the game, you may be requested to roll a 6 sided die (d6), but the pencil that comes with the game can help. Each side of the pencil has a number of dots, so when asked, all you need to do is roll the pencil across the table for your d6.

D6 Pencil and your character sheet bookmark.

The goal of each session is to explore the dungeon and collect stars, which are awarded after leaving the current area of play. You will earn stars by defeating enemies, not taking damage, and being efficient with your movement. Getting killed in an area will cross out potential stars and lose any loot you’ve collected. At the end of the campaign, you will be rated by the amount of stars you’ve collected in each category.

Each session, you begin at a starting location and move in any orthogonal direction exactly four spaces. You will always move in a straight line unless they encounter a barrier or an enemy. Littered around the dungeon area are powerups such as coins, different hearts that can heal and grow your hit points, items, weapons, keys to unlock chests of goodies, and weapons. You can hold one weapon at a time which will aid you in combat. Enemies will stop movement and if you stop in any of the 8 squares surrounding it, you will engage in combat. Dun dun dun!

An example exploration.

The game uses a special “Point and Write” combat system. The basic form of attacking includes a starting point located next to each individual enemy’s name and image. Below the enemy is a special target that you must aim for. Placing the point of your pencil on the starting point, you will pick up the pencil, with your eyes closed, and aim to hit the target by placing it in the rings. The different colors and rings of the target will deal variable damage to your character and even trigger special attacks that can affect the player into later turns. No matter where the pencil lands on the target, the enemy is always defeated, but it doesn’t mean they can’t leave their mark.

An attack on an inkling.

As you move through the campaign you will have opportunities to face different enemies, bosses, and other challenges. You will also encounter different towns that provide opportunities to purchase power-ups, play mini games, and people offering quests. These quests will determine the next area and set of adventures you encounter.

A mini game from one of the towns.

Pencil Book Quest is a fantastic and lightweight way to get a game in on the go. Whether you need a quick break from work or something to do while riding shotgun on a road trip, this game has a lot to offer. Each map you encounter is a balance between fighting monsters and collecting loot and trying to get it all done or cutting your losses and getting out of the area. The mini games you experience in the town are entertaining and the branching paths let you tell your own story. My only qualms with the game is keeping track of my pencil and finding a sharpener after dulling it down with all my intense scribblings.

Some of the options for you to spend your gold.

I had a great time with Pencil Book Quest and appreciate the easy to play and mobile nature of the campaign. I’m looking forward to seeing the finished production copy and future outings from Grumpy Spider Games.

Check out the kickstarter campaign for Pencil Book Quest running through October 7th, 2025. For a gameplay sample and more information about Grumpy Spider Games, check out their website.


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Jason and lucia gta 6 artwork
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GTA 5’s Trevor actor recommends book to fans over GTA 6

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Steven Ogg, the actor behind Trevor from GTA 5, says he feels “nothing” about Grand Theft Auto 6 despite fans asking him about it all the time.

Grand Theft Auto’s single-player characters have created some iconic moments in gaming. Everyone reminisces on CJ from San Andreas, Niko Bellic in GTA IV, and Vice City’s Tommy Vercetti.

However, Grand Theft Auto 5’s trio of Michael, Franklin, and Trevor have gone to a new level. The actors behind the three main characters have become stars and regularly meet GTA fans at conventions and meet and greets. Ned Luke, the actor behind Michael, even regularly streams the game. 

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Even though he has appeared in The Walking Dead and Better Call Saul, Steven Ogg, the actor behind Trevor, is still most recognizable from his role in the game. However, he still has no interest in playing it.

Steven Ogg feels “nothing” about GTA 6

Ogg, who was appearing alongside his fellow Grand Theft Auto 5 actors at a convention, was asked about the game and GTA 6, too. “How excited are you for GTA 6?” the actor was asked. 

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“I feel nothing inside,” he quipped back. “I’m not a gamer. I’ve never played video games, so I feel absolutely nothing. 

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“Someone said yesterday ‘at one point you should play GTA 5’ and I said Why? They said ‘cause it’s so great’ and I said one day you should read Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment and he went completely blank.”

Ogg added that “books are my thing” after imploring the interviewer to read Crime and Punishment now. 

The clip, which was shared by GTA 6 Countdown, has gone on to reach over 2 million views, with fans ‘shocked’ that the actor hasn’t played his own work. 

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There have been claims previously that Ogg “hates” the character, but he refuted that by saying it was an “awesome” job. The Canadian would also be open to returning in GTA 6, but would want Trevor to “pass the touch” to new characters by dying early.

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The Silo Series Book Box Set Drops To Lowest Price Ever At Amazon
Game Updates

The Silo Series Book Box Set Drops To Lowest Price Ever At Amazon

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We’re still waiting for a premiere date for Silo Season 3, but fans of the Apple TV+ dystopian science fiction series can bide the time by reading the source material in a stylish new format. A Deluxe Collector’s Edition of Hugh Howey’s best-selling book Shift was published earlier this week. Season 3 of Silo is based on Shift, so it’s the perfect time to check out this stellar collection of novellas. Shift Deluxe Collector’s Edition is up for grabs for $37 at Amazon or Walmart.

Shift is the second book in the Silo series, though it takes place before Wool (Book 1). Fans can get a matching Wool Deluxe Collector’s Edition for only $20 (was $40) at Walmart. This deal was also available at Amazon, but it sold out earlier this week. Amazon and Walmart also have The Silo Series 3-Book Box Set for an all-time low of only $22, which is saying a lot because William Morrow published the paperback collection in 2020. And if you like ebooks, the Kindle edition of the box set is only $3 for a limited time.

$22.18 (was $60)

The Silo Series Box Set collects paperback editions of Wool, Shift, and Dust. It also comes with a separate paperback chapbook of Silo short stories. In addition to roughly 1,700 pages of awesome science fiction, you’ll get to read some of Howey’s great nonfiction essays. All four books are boxed in a slipcase.

The three mainline books in the series are also sold separately in paperback. Each book is discounted to around $12 right now.

$37 (was $40)

Each Deluxe Collector’s Edition has new cover art, sprayed edges, and illustrated endpapers. A full topographical map of the silos is printed in color on the inside of the dust jackets. Shift’s sprayed edges are blue, while Wool has red edges. In addition to the original three novellas that make up Shift, this 608-page edition has an original Silo short story by the author.

The first two seasons remained faithful to Wool while also carving their own path with unique character arcs and plot beats. It’s expected that Season 3 will also differ from Shift in some big ways while maintaining the general story arc from the book.

Shift and Wool are regularly referred to as novels, and they do read like novels, but sections of each book were originally released as novellas. Shift rewinds the clock roughly 200 years and chronicles the apocalypse as well as the creation of the eponymous Silos.

The stories are largely told from the perspective of congressman Donald Keane, who begins working on the Silo project in 2049. Throughout the three novellas, you learn more about E-Day and the global disasters that led to opening of Silo 1 in 2110. The final section in Shift leads into Wool.

Shift Deluxe Collector’s Edition:

  • First Shift – Legacy: A Novella
  • Second Shift – Order: A Novella
  • Third Shift – Pact: A Novella
  • An original short story

$20 (was $40)

The Deluxe Collector’s Edition of Wool has the same features as the new edition of Shift, just with red sprayed edges. Wool has received numerous paperback and hardcover editions since its debut in 2011, but this is easily the best-looking version. Fans should snag a copy for $20 at Walmart before the hardcover sells out like it did at Walmart.

This edition of Wool is 592 pages and includes four novellas and the short story titled Holston, which serves as Part 1 of the Silo series. Howey also wrote an original essay for this edition that has behind-the-scenes details about the Apple TV+ series.

Wool Deluxe Collector’s Edition:

  • Holston: A short story
  • Proper Gauge: A Novella
  • Casting Off: A Novella
  • The Unraveling: A Novella
  • The Stranded: A Novella

Hugh Howey – Silo Series: Deluxe Collector’s Editions

Silo Series Deluxe Collector’s Editions

We would guess Dust will get a matching Deluxe Collector’s Edition of its own next fall. For now, you’ll need to settle for a paperback copy, as the hardcover edition of Dust is very expensive on the reseller market.

  • Wool Deluxe Collector’s Edition — $20 ($40)
  • Shift Deluxe Collector’s Edition — $37 ($40)

Wool tells the tale of a world struggling to survive. What is left of humanity has been forced to live in an underground silo, as the world above is no longer fit for life. Things grow even more troublesome when the silo’s sheriff leaves his post, and a mechanic named Juliette is forced to take his place. What follows is a dramatic sci-fi epic that sees Juliette attempting to unravel a world-altering conspiracy.

Howey originally self-published Wool via Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing program. As mentioned, he released the book in chunks (novellas), which is reminiscent of serialized novels that were popular in the 1800s by authors such as Charles Dickens. The Martian author Andy Weir experienced similar success with a serialized release strategy, but Weir utilized his personal blog to deliver the story to readers.

Wool quickly became one of the early massive success stories on the Kindle publishing platform. That success led to a distribution deal for a print version of Wool and eventually a hit TV series. The Apple TV+ series debuted in 2023 to critical acclaim. The series will conclude its run with Season 4, which is expected to air late next year. This timeline could change depending on whether Season 3 winds up airing later this year or in early 2026.

The Silo Series also has an excellent audiobook version performed by Edoardo Ballerini. Audible members can get all three books for around $30, and non-members will wind up paying about $40. A graphic novel adaptation of Wool released in 2014 and is available for only $11.50 (was $19) in paperback.

More Fiction by Hugh Howey

Howey is also the author of multiple standalone novels and the best-selling duology called The Sand Chronicles. We’ve included a list of Howey’s other books beyond the Silo series below:

Upcoming Deluxe Edition Sci-Fi Novels

Red Rising / Bobiverse Deluxe Editions

Several other popular contemporary sci-fi series are getting lavish new hardcover editions in the coming weeks. Dennis E. Taylor’s irreverent space epic Bobiverse is getting its first hardcover edition October 7. The first printing of We Are Legion (We Are Bob) has sprayed edges with “BOB” written over and over again. It also has fully illustrated endpapers. The best part is that We Are Legion’s Deluxe Edition is only $21 (was $30) at Amazon. Book 2, For We Are Many, is up for preorder for $27.90 (was $30), and Book 3, All These Worlds, is available for $30.

Meanwhile, Pierce Brown’s best-selling Red Rising Series is getting an even fancier hardcover edition on October 14. Red Rising Deluxe Slipcase Edition is up for preorder for $35 (was $50) at Amazon. This edition includes an illustrated foil slipcase, sprayed edges, a fold-out poster, and full-color endpapers.

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Sasha Bordeaux looking at an off-camera John Economos in Peacemaker season 2 episode 5
Gaming Gear

Peacemaker season 2 makes a big change to Sasha Bordeaux’s DC comic book origins story, and some fans might not like it

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  • Peacemaker season 2 episode 5 has made its streaming debut
  • It puts a major twist to Sasha Bordeaux’s origins story in the comics
  • The change was necessary for one major reason

Peacemaker season 2 episode 5 has landed on HBO Max and other streaming services, and the show’s latest chapter makes a major change to Sasha Bordeaux’s backstory from the comics.

Until now, most viewers knew little about the ARGUS agent portrayed by Sol Rodriguez. But, thanks to a couple of key scenes in this season’s fifth entry, titled ‘Back to the Suture’, Bordeaux isn’t as much of an enigma as she’s been presented as.

Full spoilers immediately follow for Peacemaker season 2 episode 5, titled ‘Back to the Suture’.


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This is the face that some fans might pull when they learn about Bordeaux’s altered backstory (Image credit: DC Studios/HBO Max)

The first major revelation about Bordeaux emerges during the stand-off between Chris Smith and the ARGUS agents trying to arrest him at Kupperberg Park. None of the assembled group have a clear shot on their target because Smith has taken Agent Clyne hostage and has draped them across his shoulders to use as a protective shield.

Cue Bordeaux’s intervention. Informing ARGUS chief Rick Flag Sr that Smith is locked into a turning pattern – essentially, Smith’s moving in a circle on the spot to keep tabs on the approaching personnel – she says she has a clear shot and, if she takes it, it’ll be fatal.

Yep, Bordeaux isn’t completely human (Image credit: DC Studios/HBO Max)

In a move that’ll surprise many viewers, it’s revealed Bordeaux is actually part-android; her robotic right eye and 0.002% miss rate calculation being the clear giveaways.

Luckily for Smith, Emilia Harcourt makes a last-second intervention that prevents Bordeaux from killing the titular anti-hero. Okay, he’s subdued, arrested and carted off to ARGUS headquarters to, as we later see, be heavily beaten by Flag Sr, but at least the metahuman known as Peacemaker isn’t actually dead. Hey, you take the wins where you can.

Anyway, back at ARGUS, Harcourt reunites with John Economos and persuades him to ‘book’ Smith so there’s an arrest record, which will prevent Flag Sr from making Smith ‘disappear’ – i.e. bumping him off.

It’s during this conversation that we learn more about Bordeaux, with Economos revealing she’s a cyborg. Continuing, Economos says that, following a near-fatal plane crash, ARGUS replaced half of her body, which had been mangled in said disaster, with machinery and other technology to save her life.

Why Sasha Bordeaux’s origin story needed to be changed in Peacemaker season 2

Some DC devotees might be wondering why Bordeaux’s backstory needed to be changed (Image credit: HBO Max/YouTube)

Bordeaux’s origin story in the DC Universe (DCU) isn’t wholly dissimilar to part of her backstory in the comics. Indeed, Bordeaux is turned into a type of cyborg known as OMAC (Omni Mind and Community or, to use the original abbreviation, Observational Metahuman Activity Construct). OMACs are humans who’ve been turned into robots by a virus created by Maxwell Lord to kill metahumans.


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However, Bordeaux’s origins needed to be tweaked for Peacemaker season 2 – and, by proxy, the DCU – for one big reason: Batman.

In the comics, Bordeaux is initially introduced as a secret service agent-turned-private contractor who’s hired as the head of Bryce Wayne’s security team. Without getting into the nitty-gritty of her entire arc to date, Bordeaux *deep breath* learns Wayne is Batman, starts patrolling Gotham City alongside him, falls in love with the Caped Crusader, is co-framed for the murder of Wayne’s ex-girlfriend, almost dies in prison, joins the government agency known as Checkmate, rises through that group’s ranks, and eventually becomes said cyborg.

Sasha Bordeaux’s origins story in the DCU differs from her literary counterpart (Image credit: DC Comics)

Considering The Dark Knight hasn’t been fully introduced in the DCU yet – we know he’s already active, though, due to his silhouetted cameo in Creature Commandos episode 6 – a lot of heavy lifting would’ve been required on Peacemaker‘s part to explain Bordeaux’s comic-accurate backstory. In that sense, simplifying her origins in the DCU was the best option available to James Gunn and company.

This doesn’t mean Bordeaux couldn’t cross paths with The Dark Knight in another DCU Chapter One project. We already know that a Batman movie, currently titled The Brave and the Bold, is in early development at DC Studios. Speaking to TechRadar ahead of Peacemaker’s return, Rodriguez admitted she’d love to appear in The Brave and the Bold, but had no idea whether Gunn would include her as part of its cast.

Of course, in order to meet Batman, Bordeaux needs to survive the final three episodes of one of the best HBO Max shows’ second season. Given Gunn’s penchant for killing off characters willy-nilly, there’s no guarantee that she’ll make it to the end, either.

Anyway, what do you think about this reframing of Bordeaux’s origins tale? Does it work? Are you upset that it doesn’t follow her literary backstory ad verbatim? Let me know in the comments.

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Nintendo Announces Yoshi And The Mysterious Book For Switch 2 Next Spring
Game Updates

Nintendo Announces Yoshi And The Mysterious Book For Switch 2 Next Spring

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Nintendo is kicking off its September direct with a segment devoted to Mario’s 40th anniversary, and what would Mario be without his trusty steed, Yoshi? To close out its lineup of games starring the world’s most famous plumber, Nintendo closed the opening with the announcement of a new Yoshi game: Yoshi and the Mysterious Book.

 

The first thing that stands out is its art style, which takes a hand-drawn aesthetic and pseudo stop-motion animation style. Other than that, it’s a classic-looking 2D Yoshi. When a talking encyclopedia named Mr. E shows up, Yoshi hops inside to learn about its contents. As he explores and inevitably devours its cute and whimsical inhabitants, Yoshi takes notes on their flavor profiles and varying abilities. The trailer goes on to show a variety of different creatures riding Yoshi, Mario-style, which gives him different abilities, like fishing, surfing on waves, and throwing his rider at a wooden bullseye.

There’s not much else we know, based on the short trailer, but we’re excited to learn more about this new chapter of the green gobbler. Yoshi and the Mysterious Book launches Spring 2026 for Switch 2.



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New Art Book Explores Mortal Kombat's Bloody 30-Year Visual History
Game Updates

New Art Book Explores Mortal Kombat’s Bloody 30-Year Visual History

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More than 30 years ago, Mortal Kombat hit arcades, kicking off the hyper-violent franchise that now spans numerous video games, big-budget movies, comic books, and even an animated series. Soon, fans can get an inside look at the franchise’s gore-spattered history thanks to the upcoming art book, Mortal Kombat: Flawless Victory, written by Ian Flynn–the lead writer of IDW Publishing’s Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and Sonic Frontiers. The $50 hardcover book will be released on October 21, 2025, and is available for preorder at Amazon.

$50 (was $60) | Releases October 21

According to the book’s Amazon store page, Mortal Kombat: Flawless Victory will feature over 300 pages of concept sketches, renders, and illustrations. The art will be presented alongside exclusive interviews with the development team at NetherRealm Studios, commentary from Flynn, and an in-depth look at fan-favorite characters like Scorpion, Raiden, and Liu Kang.

While August 2025 is a bit of a long wait, the silver lining here is that you won’t be charged until the book ships, and thanks to Amazon’s preorder price guarantee, you’ll get it for the best price.

Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection is a blast from the past

The best way to experience Mortal Kombat history is through the original games, and fortunately, they’re all coming to PC and console later this year. Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection from retro specialists Digital Eclipse launches on December 12, and this bundle includes the original trilogy of arcade games, Mortal Kombat 4, Game Boy ports, several spin-offs, and a look behind the scenes with archival materials and newly filmed interviews.

Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection will be available in three editions: Standard, Deluxe, and Kollector’s. The Deluxe Edition comes with the game, a steelbook case, magnet, poster, and more, while the Kollector’s Edition offers all of those extras and a controller-holder shaped like Goro, an arcade token, and several other extras. Preorders for all editions are now live.

While the 2021 Mortal Kombat movie isn’t something you’d consider for a historical tour of the franchise yet, it’s still a ton of fun to watch. With its sequel delayed to May 2026, now is a great time to revisit the movie since it’s getting a new 4K steelbook release. The new edition launches October 7, and the cover features Scorpion’s mask on the front and his deadly kunai on the back. This version also comes with a voucher to claim the digital version of Mortal Kombat, giving you the option to download or stream the film on a wide variety of apps and devices.

If you’re a fan of gaming history, you can check out several other books right now covering various consoles and games. Game Boy enthusiasts will want to check out The Game Boy Encyclopedia–a book that explores the hundreds of games released for the handheld–by veteran video game journalist Chris Scullion, who has also authored several other books on the topic,

The Video Game Encyclopedia Series

There are also deep dives into Nintendo written by Florent Gorge, as the long-awaited translations of the third and fourth volumes in The History of Nintendo series are also up for preorder. If you ever wanted to read up on the secret history of the iconic video game company, then books like The History Of the Famicom/NES and The History Of The Game Boy are essential reading. Lastly, you can also check out the superb hardcovers produced by Bitmap Books. These cover a wide range of topics, from box art to horror games, and they’re some of the best coffee table books around if you’re looking for something that’s easy on the eyes.

More gaming history books



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