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sale

Harry Potter Monopoly Is Nearly 50% Off In Amazon’s Early Big Deal Days Sale

by admin October 4, 2025

This remixed take on the iconic board game features characters, locations, and artwork from the Harry Potter books and movies. It supports 2-6 players and is recommended for kids 8 and up. The six metal player tokens include the Hogwarts Express, Hagrid’s Motorbike, The Knight Bus, Hippogriff, Thestral, and Firebolt.

Harry Potter Monopoly retains the core premise and progression of the classic game with some Wizarding World-themed modifications. Instead of paper money, players vie for points for their Hogwarts House: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff.

As players make their way around the board, they can use House Points to acquire familiar locations from around Hogwarts Castle, Hogsmeade Village, Diagon Alley, and other notable spots such as Malfoy Manor and the Dursley home on Privet Drive. House Crests can be added to properties to increase rent. Hogwarts House Common Rooms serve as railroads, but surprisingly the jail isn’t named Azkaban.

Owl Post cards replace both Chance and Community Chest cards. Each card is designed to look like a letter sent from Hogwarts by owl. The cards are held on a custom stand with a Hedwig figurine.

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October 4, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Prime Big Deal Days Kindle Sale: Save Up To $230 On The Kindle Scribe

by admin October 3, 2025

A bunch of Amazon devices are already discounted to official Prime Big Deal Days 2025 prices, including Amazon’s priciest ereader in the ubiquitous Kindle lineup. The Kindle Scribe with Amazon’s Premium Pen is on sale for $100 off for a limited time. You can save even more by opting for the Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle, which includes the Premium Pen, Fabric Folio case, and power adapter. The 16GB Essentials Bundle is on sale for $315 (was $480). Alternatively, you can get the Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle with a Leather Folio case for $337 (was $500).

The standalone edition and the Leather Folio Essentials Bundles are eligible for Amazon’s awesome trade-in deal that saves you an additional 20% plus the value of the device you trade. With the 20% bonus discount from the trade-in, you will save at least $230 on the Essentials Bundle with Leather Folio. The bundle deals are exclusive to Prime members, but all shoppers can save $100 on the standalone Kindle Scribe and take advantage of the trade-in deal.

The 2024 edition of the Kindle Scribe won’t be the priciest model in the lineup for long. Earlier this week, Amazon revealed the next iteration for the hybrid ereader and note-taking device. Most notably, the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft will be the first in the series with color e-ink and retails for $630. The regular Kindle Scribe 2025 edition will start at $500 for a 32GB model with a front light. Both models are scheduled to launch before the end of the year. A Kindle Scribe without a front light will release early next year for $430.

Amazon says the new Kindle Scribe is thinner and faster than existing models. The 2025 editions also have 11-inch screens, making them slightly larger than the 10.2-inch models sold now. If you don’t want to spend $500 on a Kindle but are interested in the Scribe, the 2024 edition is a great device that happens to be $200 cheaper than the upcoming version.

$315 (was $480)

The Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle comes with Amazon’s Premium Pen ($80 value), the official Fabric Folio Cover ($60 value) or Leather Folio ($80 value), and a 9W power adapter for Amazon devices ($20 value). You can choose between Black, Denim, and Rose colors for the cover, while the tablet itself is Tungsten. The cover protects the screen and includes a built-in stand with multiple viewing angles.

All three storage configurations are eligible for the Prime Day deal: 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB. Each tier is separated by only $10-$20, so if you plan on using your Kindle Scribe to store and listen to audiobooks via Audible, you may want to opt for 32GB or 64GB model.

Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle (Fabric Folio)
Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle (Leather Folio)
- 16GB — $337 ($500) | $269.60 with trade-in
- 32GB — $347 ($520) | $277.60 with trade-in
- 64GB — $372 ($550) | $297.60 with trade-in

The Kindle Scribe has a 10.2-inch front-lit display with anti-glare coating, so you can read in any lighting setting. With 300ppi (pixels per inch) and 94 nits of brightness, text is crisp and clear.

The Scribe doubles as a physical notebook. With the Premium Pen, you can create handwritten notes and email them to other devices. It feels remarkably similar to writing on actual paper. You can also take notes in books and documents you’re reading. If you like writing in the margins of novels, the Scribe is the ereader for you.

Interestingly, the bundles with plant-based leather folio are eligible for Amazon’s trade-in promotion, which we’ve detailed below.

$300 (was $400) | Additional 20% off with eligible trade-in

The standalone Kindle Scribe is also eligible for an additional 20% discount when you trade in a device. Your old Kindle is the obvious choice, but Amazon also accepts other devices, including Fire tablets, Fire TV Sticks, and even some Apple products.

With a trade-in, you’ll get the value of that device and an additional 20% discount on your new purchase. That’s a substantial savings. Trade-in values vary considerably, but the extra 20% is automatically worth $60-$68 for the standalone edition. The new prices below don’t factor in the value of your trade-in, which will be subtracted from the $240, $252, or $272 prices.

If you take advantage of the Kindle Scribe deal and have never tried Kindle Unlimited, you can get your first three months for free, which grants access to a library of over 4 million books, comics, graphic novels, manga, and more.

Some Kindle Unlimited titles also include audiobook versions that can be listened to on your Kindle. But for even more audiobooks, you’ll want to check out Audible Premium Plus, especially since the $15/month subscription program is free for your first three months, too. With Audible Premium Plus, you’ll be able to claim and keep one audiobook of your choosing. New releases and even preorders are eligible, so Prime members shouldn’t miss out on this offer.

Amazon is already offering steep discounts on Kindle ebooks ahead of the July 8-11 sales event, so you can pair your new ereader with some cheap books.

And if you plan on listening to audiobooks on the Kindle Scribe, Amazon’s Echo Buds with active noise cancellation are on sale for only $45, down from $140. These Bluetooth earbuds can sync wirelessly with Kindle ereaders as well as other Bluetooth-enabled devices.

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October 3, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

EA Boss Thanks Employees For Making $55 Billion Private Equity Sale Possible

by admin September 30, 2025

The $55 billion sale of Electronic Arts to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and a group of other private equity investors is a big deal. Some people are going to make a lot of money off it. Others may lose their jobs when the interest bill for the debt-financed portion of the leveraged buyout comes due. CEO Andrew Wilson, who will remain in charge of the Madden and Battlefield publisher even after the sale closes, is thanking his employees.

“This moment is a recognition of your creativity, your innovation, and your passion. You have built some of the world’s most iconic IP, created stories that have inspired global communities, and helped shape culture through interactive experiences,” he wrote in a companywide email to staff after the deal was announced on Monday, a copy of which was obtained by Kotaku. “Everything we have achieved–and everything that lies ahead–is because of you.”

EA stockholders, which would include Wilson, will receive $210 per share. The executive was granted $31 million in cash and stock awards for the company’s last fiscal year, up $5 million from the year prior, even as the company laid off rank-and-file employees and hit sales snags in EA Sports FC, Apex Legends, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard. The 25 percent premium on the company’s mid-August share price comes with a catch, however. A whopping $20 billion of the buyout comes from debt, the interest on which could exceed hundreds of millions of dollars annually, or the budget of multiple AAA blockbusters per year.

“We are entering a new era of opportunity,” Wilson wrote in his email to staff today. “This is one of the largest and most significant investments ever made in the entertainment industry. Our new partners bring deep experience across sports, gaming, and entertainment. They are committed with conviction to EA–they believe in our people, our leadership, and the long-term vision we are now building together.”

He continued,

Our mission at EA to—Inspire The World To Play—continues to guide everything we do. Our values and our commitment to players and fans around the world remain unchanged. With continued rigor and operational excellence, we can amplify the creativity of our teams, accelerate innovation, and pursue transformative opportunities that position EA to lead the future of entertainment. Together, we’ll create experiences that are bold, expressive, and deeply connected to inspire generations of players around the world.

I am excited to continue as CEO, working alongside our leadership team to advance our strategy. United by our vision, we will deliver experiences that transcend platforms and empower players everywhere to create worlds, characters, and stories that are bold, interactive, and deeply connected.

Thank you for your creativity, your commitment, and the passion you bring to EA every day. This is a historic moment, and with the support of our new partners, the future we are building together is brighter than ever.

EA instituted a return-to-office policy earlier this year which would require anyone living within 30 miles of an EA office to come in at least three days a week, while others not designated as remote would need to relocate. At the time, Wilson said the goal was to ignite the “kinetic energy that fuels creativity,” but some employees saw it as a way to incentivize more “voluntary” layoffs.

Alongside the likelihood of layoffs are questions about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and the new ownership’s potential impact on creative freedom within the company and public messaging, including its annual Pride events across its various franchises, most notably The Sims. Wilson told staff EA’s “values” will remain unchanged, but didn’t lay out specifically what they are. The sale is set to close in mid-2026 pending shareholder and regulatory reviews.

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September 30, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

The best deals in the 2025 Steam Autumn Sale

by admin September 30, 2025

This year’s Steam Autumn Sale started a little earlier than usual, putting it closer to the actual start of autumn, and leaving a bigger gap between it and the Steam Winter Sale. Sensible!

Below, we’ve picked out Autumn Sale games that are hitting all-time low prices, that just released this year, or that we just like and would recommend at any price.

For even more recommendations, we compiled a list of great games that always get Steam sale discounts, and you can check out guides to the best RPGs, best FPS games, best strategy games, and best survival games for even more inspiration. To see when the next sale is expected, check out our Steam sale calendar.

Icon key

🔺— Costs more than it did in the previous Steam sale
💸— Costs less than it did in the previous Steam sale

Prices are in USD.

Lowest price yet

A selection of recent and notable games that’ve seen a sale or two already, and whose price has hit a new historical low in this one.

Steam Autumn Sale: 2025 games

In this section, you’ll find popular and acclaimed games that released this year and are already on sale. Most of these discounts will be in the 20% range, but now and then you find a bigger drop. Doom: The Dark Ages is already 33% off, for instance, and Assassin’s Creed Shadows has now hit 40% off.

Games we scored 90% and up:

Other popular 2025 games on sale:

Steam Autumn Sale: Best of 2024

Here you’ll find some of the best games last year, as determined by our annual Game of the Year awards.

Steam Autumn Sale: $10 and under

Steam Autumn Sale: 10 years of GOTY winners

10 years of greats. Read about why these games are so special in our Game of the Year awards archive.

Prices on a number of these have stayed the same or gone up since the Summer Sale, so you may consider waiting for the Winter Sale if any are on your wishlist.

2024: Balatro | $13.49 (10% off) | Steam
2023: Baldur’s Gate 3 | $44.99 (25% off) 💸 | Steam
2022: Elden Ring | $59.99🔺| Steam
2021: Valheim | $9.99 (50% off) | Steam
2020: Death Stranding: Director’s Cut | $19.99 (50% off) 🔺 | Steam
2019: Disco Elysium | $9.99 (75% off) 🔺 | Steam
2018: Into the Breach | $4.49 (70% off) 💸 | Steam
2017: Divinity: Original Sin 2 | $13.49 (70% off) | Steam
2016: Dishonored 2 | $5.99 (80% off) | Steam
2015: Metal Gear Solid 5: Definitive Experience | $29.99🔺| Steam

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September 30, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

Control is 90% off in the Steam Autumn Sale, meaning you can read some of the finest redacted documents in videogames for just $4

by admin September 29, 2025

Control is, for me, one of those games that can make playing everything else feel a little bit worse. Remedy simply nailed the paranormal bureaucratic atmosphere too hard. After playing Control back in 2019, I have to live with the faint wish that whatever game I spend time with would give me more opportunities to interact with unfathomable triangles. I now yearn to believe a postbox could imperil an entire town. Every collectible text document that doesn’t feature ominous redactions now feels like a wasted opportunity.

My time in the Oldest House left me with a mild yet incurable brain sickness. And it’s one that you can contract yourself for just $4 thanks to the Steam Autumn Sale. Control has only been 90% off one other time, during a weeklong sale in August. Otherwise, this is the lowest price it’s ever been on Steam.

(Image credit: Remedy Entertainment)

Now, there are some detractors in the world who might try to convince you that Control’s shooting isn’t terribly impressive, so it can’t be that great. You can safely ignore these misguided souls. No matter what they’ve convinced themselves, Control isn’t a game about shooting. It’s a game about throwing forklifts with your mind.

More importantly, it’s a game where a federal bureau has an archive collecting all the nonsensical, conspiratorial mail deemed unfit for delivery by the Postal Service because it could contain paranatural insights. If you don’t get a thrill out of imagining why an organization like the FBC would redact the Pinstripe World letter, you’re beyond any help I could give you.

Plus, you’ll finally get to know why people talk about the Ashtray Maze so fondly. At $4, this is a great entry point into the growing Remedy Cinematic Universe. Or in my case, a great opportunity to buy it on Steam so I don’t have to open the Epic launcher whenever I feel like strolling the FBC corridors. Everybody wins.

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September 29, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

CEO of EA, home to studios like Maxis and Bioware, claims company’s values will “remain unchanged” following sale to Saudi government, investment firms

by admin September 29, 2025

Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson has stated that the company’s values will remain unchanged following a $50bn buyout from the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners.

In a statement posted to the Electronic Arts website and titled “Exciting News About Our Future”, Wilson attempted to reassure staff at EA that the future was bright for EA in the wake of the buyout.

He said: “This moment is a recognition of your creativity, your innovation, and your passion. You have built some of the world’s most iconic IP, created stories that have inspired global communities, and helped shape culture through interactive experiences. Everything we have achieved – and everything that lies ahead – is because of you.

Watch the Battlefield 6 multiplayer trailer here.Watch on YouTube

“We are entering a new era of opportunity. This is one of the largest and most significant investments ever made in the entertainment industry. Our new partners bring deep experience across sports, gaming, and entertainment. They are committed with conviction to EA – they believe in our people, our leadership, and the long-term vision we are now building together.

“Our mission at EA to – Inspire The World To Play – continues to guide everything we do. Our values and our commitment to players and fans around the world remain unchanged. With continued rigor and operational excellence, we can amplify the creativity of our teams, accelerate innovation, and pursue transformative opportunities that position EA to lead the future of entertainment. Together, we’ll create experiences that are bold, expressive, and deeply connected to inspire generations of players around the world.”

These values are of particular note. Among EA’s developers stand both Bioware and Maxis Studios, creators of Mass Effect and The Sims respectively. These series are not only popular, but quite outwardly LGBT-positive, featuring same-sex relationships. One of the new private owners – the Saudi Arabian government – continues to keep same-sex relationships illegal.

It’s worth noting that SNK, following its acquisition by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, attempted to reassure the world that its creative input would not be changed as a result. SNK’s next game Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves would then feature Cristiano Ronaldo and Salvatore Ganacci – celebrities that featured heavily in Saudi Arabian events.

The statement from Andrew Wilson continues: “I am excited to continue as CEO, working alongside our leadership team to advance our strategy. United by our vision, we will deliver experiences that transcend platforms and empower players everywhere to create worlds, characters, and stories that are bold, interactive, and deeply connected.”

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September 29, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

EA Announces Unprecedented $55 Billion Sale To Saudi Arabia, Jared Kushner’s Private Equity Group, And Others

by admin September 29, 2025

Another one of the biggest game publishers in the world is being sold. On Monday, Electronic Arts announced a $55 billion deal to take the publisher behind massive franchises like Madden, The Sims, and Apex Legends private, selling to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and President Donald Trump nephew Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners.

The all-cash deal values the company at a 25 percent premium over its mid-august stock price and is set to be finalized by mid-2026 pending shareholder and regulatory approvals. Current CEO Andrew Wilson will remain the head of the publisher which will stay headquartered in California. Roughly $20 billion of the sale is debt-financed through JPMorgan Chase Bank.

The sale builds on Saudi Arabia’s existing 10 percent ownership of the company which was built up in recent years amid investments across the larger gaming industry. Those included the $4.9 billion purchase of Monopoly Go! mobile game maker Scopely in 2023 and the gobbling up of Pokémon Go and Niantic’s other gaming businesses earlier this year for $3.5 billion. The current $55 billion buyout of EA is not just the government-backed Public Investment Fund’s largest gaming acquisition to date, it’s also the largest sale ever to take an existing public company private.

“Our creative and passionate teams at EA have delivered extraordinary experiences for hundreds of millions of fans, built some of the world’s most iconic IP, and created significant value for our business. This moment is a powerful recognition of their remarkable work,” Wilson said in a press release. “Looking ahead, we will continue to push the boundaries of entertainment, sports, and technology, unlocking new opportunities. Together with our partners, we will create transformative experiences to inspire generations to come. I am more energized than ever about the future we are building.”

Founded back in 1982, EA’s gaming empire is vast with studios across the globe and franchises ranging from blockbusters like Battlefield and EA Sports FC (formally known as FIFA) to Mass Effect maker BioWare and smaller label signings this year’s critically-acclaimed GOTY-contender Split Fiction. It’s not yet clear how the deal will effect the size and scope of the roughly 15,000 person publisher, though this much money rarely changes hands without lots of people losing their jobs.

“EA has been challenged to innovate in the last decade,” Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter told Kotaku in an email over the weekend after news of the deal first leaked. “Several franchises have faded (Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Burnout, NFS), some failed (Anthem) and only a handful continue to produce. They suck at mobile and appear too focused on pleasing investors and not focused enough on pleasing gamers. I think the Saudis have the potential to jump start mobile and to try innovative moves like making Ultimate Team free. We’ll see if it works

Saudi Arabia’s funding partners include the private equity firms Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, the latter of which was founded by Kushner after Trump left office in 2021. Roughly half of its reported funding, approximately $2 billion, is also from Saudi Arabia. “Electronic Arts is an extraordinary company with a world-class management team and a bold vision for the future,” he said in a statement. “I’ve admired their ability to create iconic, lasting experiences, and as someone who grew up playing their games - and now enjoys them with his kids–I couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead.”

The deal arrives amid fresh criticism of people selling out to the Saudi Royal family despite its record of human rights abuses. Organizations backed by PIF held the Esports World Cup in Riyadh this summer and hosted talks with high-profile industry figures like Hideo Kojima and Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, whose company is currently producing an Assassin’s Creed DLC set in Saudi Arabia. Outside the world of gaming, famous comedians like Bill Burr and Dave Chappelle were recently criticized for attending the Riyadh Comedy Festival.

“From the folks that brought you 9/11,” quipped WTF podcast host Marc Maron last week. “Two weeks of laughter in the desert, don’t miss it! The same guy that’s gonna pay them is the same guy that paid that guy to bone-saw Jamal Khashoggi and put him in a f***ing suitcase. But don’t let that stop the yucks, it’s gonna be a good time!”

The full press release is below:

Under the terms of the agreement, the Consortium will acquire 100% of EA, with PIF rolling over its existing 9.9% stake in the Company. EA stockholders will receive $210 per share in cash. The per share purchase price represents a 25% premium to EA’s unaffected share price of $168.32 at market close on September 25, 2025, the last fully unaffected trading day, and a premium to EA’s unaffected all-time high of $179.01 at market close on August 14, 2025.

PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners bring deep sector experience, committed capital, and global portfolios with networks across gaming, entertainment, and sports that offer unique possibilities for EA to blend physical and digital experiences, enhance fan engagement, and create new growth opportunities. The transaction represents the largest all-cash sponsor take-private investment in history, with the Consortium partnering closely with EA to enable the Company to move faster and unlock new opportunities on a global stage.

“Our creative and passionate teams at EA have delivered extraordinary experiences for hundreds of millions of fans, built some of the world’s most iconic IP, and created significant value for our business. This moment is a powerful recognition of their remarkable work,” said Andrew Wilson, Chairman & CEO of Electronic Arts. “Looking ahead, we will continue to push the boundaries of entertainment, sports, and technology, unlocking new opportunities. Together with our partners, we will create transformative experiences to inspire generations to come. I am more energized than ever about the future we are building.”

“PIF is uniquely positioned in the global gaming and esports sectors, building and supporting ecosystems that connect fans, developers, and IP creators,” said Turqi Alnowaiser, Deputy Governor and Head of International Investments at PIF. “PIF has demonstrated a strong commitment to these sectors, and this partnership will help further drive EA’s long-term growth, while fueling innovation within the industry on a global scale.”

“This investment embodies Silver Lake’s mission to partner with exceptional management teams at the highest quality companies. EA is a special company: a global leader in interactive entertainment, anchored by its premier sports franchise, with accelerating revenue growth and strong and scaling free cash flow. We are honored to invest and partner with Andrew – an extraordinary CEO who has doubled revenue, nearly tripled EBITDA, and driven a fivefold increase in market cap during his tenure,” said Egon Durban, Co-CEO and Managing Partner of Silver Lake. “The future for EA is bright, we are going to invest heavily to grow the business and we are excited to support Andrew and the EA team as the company accelerates innovation, expands its reach worldwide, and continues to deliver incredible experiences to players and fans across generations.”

“Electronic Arts is an extraordinary company with a world-class management team and a bold vision for the future. I’ve admired their ability to create iconic, lasting experiences, and as someone who grew up playing their games - and now enjoys them with his kids – I couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead,” said Jared Kushner, Chief Executive Officer of Affinity Partners.

“The Board carefully evaluated this opportunity and concluded it delivers compelling value for stockholders and is in the best interests of all stakeholders,” said Luis A. Ubiñas, Lead Independent Director of EA’s Board of Directors. “We are pleased that this transaction delivers immediate and certain cash value to our stockholders while strengthening EA’s ability to continue building the communities and experiences that define the future of entertainment.”

Transaction Details

The transaction was approved by EA’s Board of Directors, is expected to close in Q1 FY27 and is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals and approval by EA stockholders. Following the close of the transaction, EA’s common stock will no longer be listed on any public market.

The transaction will be funded by a combination of cash from each of PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners as well as roll-over of PIF’s existing stake in EA, constituting an equity investment of approximately $36 billion, and $20 billion of debt financing fully and solely committed by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., $18 billion of which is expected to be funded at close. Each of PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners plan to fund the equity component of the financing entirely from capital under their respective control.

Upon completion of the transaction, EA will remain headquartered in Redwood City, California and continue to be led by Andrew Wilson as CEO.

Update: 9/29/2025 8:58 a.m. ET: Added more information about EA, details of the deal, and a quote from an analyst.

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September 29, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

The Roku Streaming Stick Plus is on sale for only $29 right now

by admin September 28, 2025

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade an old TV or add a more convenient smart interface to your main set, Roku devices are good ways to do that. Thanks to Prime Day deals that you can already get now, you can get one of our favorite Roku streaming devices for less than $30. The Roku Streaming Stick Plus is on sale for just $29 right now, which is 27 percent off and the lowest price we’ve seen.

We picked the Streaming Stick Plus as the best streaming device for free and live content, thanks in large part to The Roku Channel app that accompanies it. The Roku Channel features over 500 free TV channels with live news, sports coverage and a rotating lineup of TV shows and movies.

Roku

In our hands-on review of the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, we thought it was perfect for travel thanks to its small size and the fact that it can be powered by your TV’s USB port, nixing the need for a wall adapter. Menu navigation and opening or closing apps won’t happen at quite the same speeds as more expensive streamers, but it’s quick enough for what is ultimately a pretty low-cost option. The Wi-Fi range on this one is also weaker than Roku’s pricier devices, but unless you are placing it exceedingly far from your router, it shouldn’t be an issue.

The Roku Streaming Stick Plus supports both HD and 4K TVs, as well as HDR10+ content. It doesn’t support Dolby Vision, however; for that you’ll need to upgrade to Roku’s Streaming Stick 4K or Roku Ultra. It comes with Roku’s rechargeable voice remote with push-to-talk voice controls. Roku’s remote can also turn on your TV and adjust the volume while you’re watching.

If you’ve been thinking about getting a Roku device, or you already love the platform and want a compact and convenient way to take it with you when you travel, then this sale provides a great opportunity.

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September 28, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Consume Me is a brilliant, funny, harrowing RPG about a girl on a diet, and it’s on sale now

by admin September 27, 2025

I’ve yet to fully consume Consume Me, so please take that headline with a pinch of salt (not too much, because apparently salt can cause short-term weight gain). Still, I thought I’d rush out a quick “on sale now” piece before the weekend because this game is extremely good, and I worry based on the Steam stats that it’s being overlooked.

It’s a fast-talking, mildly anguished pocket RPG about a high schoolgirl, Jenny, who is trying to lose weight while balancing schoolwork, domestic duties, an emerging social life, and her domineering mom. It broadly consists of household tasks and Coming Of Age Milestones couched as a bunch of Wario Ware-style timed minigame puzzles. Among other antics, you’ll fold laundry by clicking on cue, manage a (dis)interest bar during a terrible date, apply your make-up as though doodling yourself in Kid Pix, and surgically arrange food on your plate while passing carbier morsels to your absurdly squishy dog.

Watch on YouTube

The developers are Jenny Jiao Hsia, AP Thomson, Jie En Lee, Violet W-P, and Ken “coda” Snyder. They offer the following cautionary note: “Consume Me is a semi-autobiographical game that depicts dieting, disordered eating, and fatphobia. If you are someone who struggles with or has struggled with disordered eating, it’s possible that Consume Me will be a stressful or even upsetting experience and we won’t begrudge you for giving it a pass.”

I myself have never had an eating disorder, but to borrow a phrase from Eddie Izzard, I am familiar with the experience of sliding up to the mirror and thinking “well I wouldn’t fuck me”. The mirror is indeed home to the Furies in Consume Me – it’s where Jenny gets her quest assignments from her comically unforgiving reflection. I laughed a lot during my first hour with Consume Me. I think I’ll probably cry a bit at some point, too. But even if I reach one of the less-good 13 possible endings, I don’t get the sense I’ll regret the journey.

Consume Me’s visual wit is balanced by a startling emphasis on resource management that is also a critique of the gamification of wellbeing. It’s divided into days, which are divided into scripted and unforeseeable events such as trips to the shops, random hot boy encounters and above all, mealtimes. These see you trying to put enough stuff on Jenny’s plate to fill her Gut gauge, without taking too many Bites. In my current save, I started out piling up objects subject to real-time physics, but then I had Jenny glean a few tips from a dieting mag, and the eating minigame evolved into a process of slotting together random Tetris blocks.

Image credit: Hexecutable / Rock Paper Shotgun

Overeat, and you may wish to burn off the pounds by exercising in Jenny’s room. Exercise takes the form of dragging an elasticated Jenny around with the cursor to fit various poses. Many of the minigames and cutscenes involve the clownish deformation of Jenny’s body. It’s amusing, and also a bit painful to watch. Consume Me does a great job of leaning into Looney Tunes slapstick while making clear that the portrayal contains an element of self-loathing.

As for those resource gauges, you’ve got to worry about your energy (used for physical labours like walking the dog), your mood (strongly affected by hunger), and your cash reserves (see also, buying a new swimsuit before the big neighbourhood pool party). While the minigames may seem flimsy, there’s a bit of strategy to distributing your time efficiently and unlocking activities, buffs and outfits that juice your stats. Again, though, this feels like critique, not an earnest equation of levelling-up with self-improvement. The developers caution in a brief foreword that Jenny’s fortunes may take a turn for the worse even if she masters all these life-hacking gambits.

Image credit: Hexecutable / Rock Paper Shotgun

The character art and interface design are sumptuously daft, with chunky Walkman buttons and a colour scheme suggestive of a virtual pet game, which I guess this sort of is. The audio is possibly even better: there’s different music for each part of Jenny’s day, and the sound effects fit the visual gags superbly. Above all, Consume Me is fast. Even when it’s dealing with more difficult stuff, like your mom body-shaming you, it rarely prolongs a scene for more than a few sentences.

Find the joyful, slightly upsetting thing on Steam. If you want a second opinion, Oisin had some quick thoughts on a demo in May. I suspect one reason Consume Me hasn’t yet made a splash is that it’s launched in the same week as various other brillo experimental games.

In particular, there’s Baby Steps from Bennett Foddy and co, which comes at similar subject matter from a very different direction. I’ve written previously about how that outwardly depressive game sort of celebrates the experience of inhabiting a disagreeable lump of flesh. I get the feeling Baby Steps and Consume Me will make natural companion pieces. We’ll hopefully have more thoughts on both down the road.

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September 27, 2025 0 comments

GameFi Guides

HYPE Price Under Pressure: $12B Unlock and Hayes’ Ferrari Sale Shake Confidence

by admin September 25, 2025

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The Hyperliquid (HYPE) token is under heavy selling pressure as concerns mount over a looming $12 billion unlock event. Trading at $43.37, HYPE has fallen more than 12% in the past 24 hours and is down 20.8% this week, raising alarm across the crypto market.

The scheduled unlock on November 29 will see team tokens representing 23.8% of the total supply released over 24 months, with analysts warning of $500 million in monthly selling pressure.

Research group Maelstrom described the upcoming vesting as a “Sword of Damocles” moment, noting that only 17% of the supply may be absorbed by buybacks.

This overhang has already caused major whales to trim their positions, with one investor withdrawing $122 million worth of HYPE while holding onto $90 million in unrealized profits.

HYPE’s price trends to the downside on the daily chart. Source: HYPEUSD on Tradingview

Arthur Hayes’ Ferrari Sale Sparks Hyperliquid (HYPE) Selloff

Adding fuel to the bearish sentiment, BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes recently exited his entire HYPE position, cashing out over 96,000 tokens for approximately $4.8 million. Hayes revealed on social media that the sale was to cover a deposit for his new Ferrari 849 Testarossa, generating nearly $823,000 in profit.

The move stunned the market, especially given Hayes’ bold prediction just weeks earlier at the WebX 2025 conference, where he forecasted a 126x surge in HYPE over three years. His abrupt selloff, paired with mounting unlock concerns, has shaken investor confidence in Hyperliquid’s long-term trajectory.

Tokenomics Reform Proposal: Can It Restore Trust?

In response to growing concerns, DBA Asset Management’s Jon Charbonneau and researcher Hasu have introduced a comprehensive proposal to overhaul HYPE’s tokenomics. The plan recommends:

Burning 45% of HYPE’s supply, including unminted tokens allocated for emissions and assistance funds.
Eliminating Hyperliquid’s fixed 1 billion supply cap, aligning with flexible issuance models seen in Ethereum and Solana.

Supporters argue the proposal could remove distortions in fully diluted valuation (FDV) metrics and create a fairer assessment of Hyperliquid’s fundamentals. However, critics warn that cutting emissions may weaken growth incentives and reduce flexibility in responding to future challenges.

Despite its current price struggles, Hyperliquid remains one of the fastest-growing decentralized derivatives exchanges, recently hitting $3.4 billion in daily trading volumes. Whether the proposed reforms can stabilize HYPE ahead of November’s unlock will be a decisive test for the project’s resilience.

Cover image from ChatGPT, HYPEUSD chart from Tradingview

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September 25, 2025 0 comments