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Sets

Save 50% On New Hunger Games Hardcover & Deluxe Edition Box Sets

by admin October 4, 2025

The Hunger Games returned in a big way earlier this year with Sunrise on the Reaping, the fifth novel in Suzanne Collins’ wildly popular dystopian book series. More than 1.5 million copies were sold worldwide during launch week in March. If you haven’t read it or are interested in snagging a nice box set for yourself or as gift, Amazon has a fantastic deal on The Hunger Games 5-Book Hardcover Box Set ahead of Prime Big Deal Days. Released in June for $125, the slipcased collection is on sale for only $60.90. Alternatively, you can snag the gorgeous collectible paperbacks that were published ahead of Sunrise on the Reaping’s release. The Deluxe Hunger Games Collection comes with an eye-catching display case and is only $36.74 (was $70). All four Deluxe Editions are also on sale individually for less than $10 each.

We’ve rounded up the best Hunger Games book deals below. Beyond the two box sets, Amazon has The Hunger Games: Illustrated Edition for nearly 50% off, which is great timing considering Catching Fire’s Illustrated Edition releases Tuesday, October 7. We also detailed notable deals on the film adaptation series, including The Hunger Games 5-Film Collection for only $25.

$60.90 (was $125)

The Hunger Games 5-Book Hardcover Box Set includes the original trilogy starring Katniss Everdeen and the two prequel novels. The Hunger Games was published in 2008, and the two sequels, Catching Fire and Mockingjay, followed in 2009-10. After a 10-year hiatus, Collins returned in 2020 with The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Set 64 years prior to Katniss volunteering as tribute, the novel focuses on Coriolanus Snow as a young man and the 10th Hunger Games. Sunrise on the Reaping follows Haymitch Abernathy, one of the District 12 tributes for the 50th Hunger Games, which takes place roughly 25 years before the original novel.

This box set would make for a great gift for longtime Hunger Games fans and new readers who enjoyed the movies. Together, the five novels are 2,112 pages. If you haven’t read the full series, it’s generally recommended to read them in the order they were published, but you can also read them in chronological order: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, then Sunrise on the Reaping, then the original trilogy.

The box set is a bit cheaper than buying hardcover editions of all five books separately. All five hardcover editions are also available separately for low prices right now. It’d cost you around $67 to buy all five, and you’d miss out on the display box.

The Hunger Games Hardcover Editions

The Hunger Games — $10.21 ($23)
Catching Fire — $9 ($23)
Mockingjay — $11.07 ($23)
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes — $17.79 ($28)
Sunrise on the Reaping — $19.17 ($28)

$36.74 (was $70)

The 5-Book Hardcover Box Set offers excellent value, but you should also check out the budget-friendly Deluxe Edition paperbacks that were published in February, a month before Sunrise on the Reaping’s release. Available to purchase individually or together in a display-worthy slipcase, the Deluxe Editions have exclusive cover art that pays homage to the original covers. Instead of being commemorated on pins, the mockingjay on these covers is alive and surrounded by foliage. The scene wraps around to the back covers thanks to the stained page edges with stenciled artwork.

If you buy the Deluxe Box Set, the four books form a beautiful mosaic when inside the display case. Each Deluxe Edition is on sale for roughly 50% off; buying all four separately would cost you about $1 less than the four-book set. But again, you’d miss out on the display case that completes the scene.

It seems likely that Sunrise on the Reaping will eventually receive a matching Deluxe Edition. For now, you’d have to settle for having one mismatched book in the series. But with Sunrise on the Reaping available for $19.17, you’d be spending roughly $56 total on the series, slightly less than the 5-Book Hardcover Box Set.

$18.15 (was $35)

Longtime fans who have already read The Hunger Games series multiple times should check out the Illustrated Edition of Book 1. Published in October 2024, The Hunger Games: Illustrated Edition is on sale for only $18.15 (was $35). This oversized hardcover edition is 368 pages and includes over 30 highly detailed black-and-white illustrations by artist Nico Delort.

$29.59 (was $37)

Catching Fire’s Illustrated Edition releases October 7 and is available to preorder for $29.59 (was $37). The 384-page hardcover also features 30-plus black-and-white illustrations by Delort.

$25.69 (was $42)

If you want to add all five movies to your collection, the 5-Film Blu-ray box set is your best bet in terms of value. Released last June, the 8-disc set comes with three Blu-rays and five DVDs. It also includes a voucher for digital editions from Vudu, though it’s possible the codes have expired by now.

The Hunger Games (2012)
Catching Fire (2013)
Mockingjay: Part 1 (2014)
Mockingjay: Part 2 (2023)
The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)

The collection is packaged with the slipcover shown above. All five movies support DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1.

Alternatively, The Hunger Games 4-Movie Collection is available for $18 at Amazon. You’d need to buy The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes separately, but this could be a good option for those who want the Steelbook Edition of the latest Hunger Games movie.

$84.68 (was $94)

The 5-Film Collection hasn’t received a 4K Blu-ray release in the US, but the Australian edition is region-free. Amazon has been stocking more and more international editions lately, and The Hunger Games 4K Blu-ray box set is an example of that. If you pick up the 4K Blu-ray edition, your order is sold and shipped directly from Amazon.

The downside here is that the 4K Blu-ray set is priced substantially higher. Even with a 10% discount, the 5-Film Collection is $84.68 (was $94), which is roughly equivalent to the cost of buying all five 4K Blu-ray editions separately. The 4K editions of the films are available for $14-$19 each. Before buying The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes on 4K Blu-ray, make sure to check out Walmart’s exclusive Steelbook Edition, which is in stock for only $25.

The Hunger Games on 4K Blu-ray

The 4K editions have HDR10 and multiple surround sound audio formats: Dolby Atmos and Dolby TrueHD 7.1. The audio and visual enhancements are significant, so it’s worth considering the box set or standalone 4K Blu-ray editions.

With Sunrise on the Reaping’s film adaptation not releasing until November 20, 2026, many fans will want to refresh their memory by rewatching the series, so the box sets would make for great gifts this holiday.

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October 4, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

Save on sets from TCL, Sony, Hisense and more

by admin October 2, 2025

Black Friday remains the best time to grab a new TV at a discount, but Amazon’s latest October Prime Day sale should be a decent time to take the plunge if you need to upgrade right away. While the two-day Prime Big Deal Days event doesn’t officially start until October 7, a small handful of well-regarded TVs from the likes of TCL, Hisense, Sony and Samsung are cheaper than usual right now. You can find our full list of the best October Prime Day TV deals below. We’ll update this roundup as prices change and new offers arise in the days ahead.

Best Prime Day TV deals

TCL

The TCL QM6K is widely regarded by reviewers we trust as one of the year’s better TV bargains. It’s a budget-oriented model, so it won’t get you the same level of contrast, color volume or brightness as more expensive sets, nor will it be ideal for HDR content (especially in well-lit rooms). Still, its quantum-dot color, mini-LED backlighting and full-array local dimming more than hold their own for the price, plus it runs on the useful Google TV platform. It’s also a nice buy for gaming on the cheap, since its input lag is relatively low and it has a native 144Hz refresh rate that can reach as high as 288Hz at 1080p. This discount ties the lowest price we’ve seen for the 75-inch model.

$750 at Amazon

Hisense U8QG 65-inch Mini-LED TV for $1,082 ($416 off): Several reviews suggest that the Hisense U8QG ticks most of the requisite boxes for a LCD TV in 2025: robust local dimming and mini-LED backlighting, exceptionally high brightness, vibrant quantum-dot colors, a fast refresh rate (165Hz in this case), support for the major HDR formats and so on. It’s a higher-end option than something like the TCL QM6K with much better brightness and contrast, though it still falls short of a good OLED TV when it comes to the latter. Like most LCD panels, it’ll also look a bit washed out if you view it from an angle. It has three HDMI 2.1 ports, which is one fewer than many other TVs in this price range, though it uniquely includes a USB-C video input if you want to hook up a gaming laptop or Nintendo Switch. (Just note that you won’t get VRR or HDR when using that.) You’d mainly get it over an OLED TV if you’re willing to trade some picture quality for something that’s better-suited in a bright room. This deal on the 65-inch model isn’t an all-time low, but it matches the best price we’ve tracked since July.

Samsung S90F 55-inch QD-OLED TV for $1,498 ($100 off): The Samsung S90F is an upper-tier model with a QD-OLED panel, which blends the usual perks of a quality OLED set — near-perfect contrast, wide viewing angles, clear motion, low input lag — with a layer of quantum dots. This helps it produce a wider gamut of more vivid colors compared to traditional WOLED TVs. It also comes with four HDMI 2.1 ports and has a fast refresh rate of 144Hz. It doesn’t support Dolby Vision HDR, however, and reviews we trust say that the LG C5, a competing WOLED model, retains darker black levels in a bright room. (The S90F has a more colorful image, though.) We saw this 55-inch model go for $100 less earlier in the month, but this deal matches the best price we’ve tracked otherwise. The 65-inch version is similarly discounted. Just make sure you only buy the 55-, 65- or 77-inch model, as every other size in the US uses a lesser WOLED panel. Shady, we know.

Sony Bravia 8 II 65-inch QD-OLED TV for $2,998 ($502 off): It’s certainly not cheap, but the Sony Bravia 8 II has earned plaudits for its excellent image processing, upscaling and overall accuracy alongside the expected color, contrast and motion benefits of its QD-OLED display. This should help it make lots of movies and shows look closer to their original intent. It also uses the handy Google TV interface. Outside of an extremely brief dip in June, this deal matches the best price to date for the 65-inch version. That said, if you can’t stomach the high price, other reviews note that the older Sony A95L offers similar performance a bit less, while more recent competitors like the LG G5 and Samsung S95F can get noticeably brighter (even if they’re not always as accurate). Those two should be better for gaming as well, as the Bravia 8 II only has two HDMI 2.1 ports — one of which is an eARC port for soundbars — and its input lag is slightly higher.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K for $25 ($25 off): The standard Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K offers the same core experience as the pricier Fire TV Stick 4K Max, only it comes with a slightly slower processor, half the storage (8GB) and Wi-Fi 6 instead of Wi-Fi 6E. For most people just looking for a casual streamer on the cheap, those shouldn’t be huge losses. This model is also more powerful than the just-announced Fire TV 4K Select, though its Fire OS interface can still be messy and ad-heavy, with special emphasis on Amazon’s own services. This deal is $3 more than the stick’s all-time low, though it matches the best price we’ve seen since Black Friday last year.

Amazon Fire TV Stick HD for $18 ($17 off): The Fire TV Stick HD is the budget pick in our guide to the best streaming devices. It can only stream up to 1080p, and it can run a bit choppier than the 4K models since it has a slower chipset and half the RAM (1GB). The usual issues with the Fire TV interface still apply here too. But if you just want to add streaming apps to an aging TV or basic monitor for as little cash as possible, it should get the job done. This discount ties the device’s lowest price to date.

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October 2, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Lego Is Retiring One Of The Most Popular Star Wars Sets

by admin September 30, 2025

Not many Lego sets have the type of run the Darth Vader Helmet has enjoyed. Released way back in March 2021, the 834-piece display model of the classic Sith Lord from the Original Trilogy has outlived many Star Wars Lego sets released after it. The Darth Vader Helmet is practically ancient in Lego years, but it remains one of the best-selling Star Wars sets at major retailers to this day. Just in the last month, Amazon says it has sold over 2,000 Darth Vader Helmets, which is a higher total than a bunch of recently launched sets. But Dark Lord Vader’s life-support system can’t keep him alive in the Lego Star Wars universe forever. Lego has marked the Darth Vader Helmet as “retiring soon,” which means it’ll likely be sold out at major retailers before the end of the year.

If you want to add the set to your personal collection or are looking for an always-popular gift for a Star Wars fan this holiday season, the Lego Darth Vader Helmet is on sale for $62 (was $80) at Amazon and Walmart ahead of Prime Big Deal Days. This isn’t the all-time lowest price, but it’s one of the better discounts offered this year. We wouldn’t be surprised if both retailers sold out, and there’s no guarantee it would be restocked again. For context, the Lego Store is selling the set for full price, but it’s on backorder and won’t ship for two months.

You can pair the Darth Vader Helmet with deals on other Lego Star Wars Helmets, including The Mandalorian and Captain Rex, which are likely next in line for retirement. Walmart also has a stellar bundle deal featuring Kylo Ren’s Helmet and Command Shuttle that saves you over $40.

Lego Star Wars Helmet Models

Check out all five of the active Lego Star Wars Helmet sets as well as one retired model that has randomly popped back up on Amazon below.

After checking out the Star Wars Helmets, take a look at some of the other deals on soon-to-be-retired Lego Star Wars sets at the end of this story.

$62 (was $80) | Retiring soon

The Darth Vader Helmet is an 834-piece build measuring 8 x 5.5 x 5.5 inches. Designed for experienced builders, this model utilizes more advanced building techniques than some of the other smaller character helmets in the lineup. Along with the detailed exterior plating, the build includes Vader’s life-support system. The brick-built display stand includes a detachable nameplate with the Lego Star Wars logo.

Walmart was offering two different bundles with the Darth Vader Helmet earlier this month–one with the new UCS AT-ST and one with the Kylo Ren Helmet–but both are currently sold out.

$70 | Bundle with Kylo Ren’s Command Shuttle for $98 (was $140)

Speaking of the Kylo Ren Helmet, the 529-piece model of the helmet worn by Lord Vader’s grandson is still available in a bundle deal at Walmart. You can pair it with Kylo Ren’s Command Shuttle, a 386-piece model of the villain’s stealthy starship, for $98 (was $140). You’re essentially getting both Kylo Ren $70 sets for only $49 each.

Outside of the bundle deals, Kylo Ren’s Helmet hasn’t received any discounts since launching in May for Star Wars Day. The 529-piece build is exclusive to Walmart and the Lego Store. The completed model measures 7 x 4.5 x 5 inches.

$56 (was $70)

The Mandalorian Helmet released back in early 2022 and probably won’t be sticking around for much longer either. The 584-piece build recreates Mando’s Beskar plate armor. When connected to the stand, The Mandalorian Helmet measures 7 x 4 x 4.5 inches.

The Mandalorian Helmet is on sale for $56 (was $70) at Amazon and Walmart.

$56 (was $70)

The replica of the popular 501st Legion Clone Commander’s Helmet actually has the highest piece count of the Star Wars Lego Helmets actively being produced today. The 854-piece Captain Rex Helmet measures 8 x 5 x 5 inches and does a stellar job recreating the unique armor plating from The Clone Wars film and follow-up TV series.

You can get the Captain Rex Helmet for $56 (was $70) at Amazon.

$65 (was $70)

The 616-piece Jango Fett Helmet released alongside the Kylo Ren Helmet for Star Wars Day, so it’s not surprising that discounts on this one are small so far. The completed model measures 8.5 x 4.5 x 4 inches and has an adjustable rangefinder antenna.

Jango Fett has received a lot of attention from Lego this year. The bounty hunter’s starship from Attack of the Clones joined the UCS lineup for Star Wars Day, and a smaller playset version of the Firespray-Class Starship launched in August.

$70 | Retired / In stock at Amazon

Lego discontinued the Clone Commander Cody Helmet in February 2025. Since then, the helmet has disappeared from most major retailers, but Amazon recently restocked the 766-piece set for its original $70 MSRP. Clone Wars and Bad Batch fans should check it out while they can. The completed model with display stand is 8 x 5 x 5.5 inches.

Lego Star Wars: Droideka & Mos Espa Podrace Diorama

Walmart has one other in-stock Lego Star Wars bundle deal featuring a set that’s retiring soon, too. Darth Maul’s Sith Infiltrator is normally $70 on its own, but you can pair it with the Darth Maul Mech for only $62 (was $88). Another notable Star Wars set on its way out is the popular 583-piece Droideka Destroyer Droid for $52 (was $65). Two Ultimate Collector Series Star Wars Lego sets are being discontinued: Luke Skywalker’s X-Wing Starfighter and massive Razor Crest Starship from The Mandalorian. The latter is on sale for a slight discount at Amazon.

There are currently 23 Lego Star Wars sets on the brink of retirement. Outside of the UCS builds, the list below focuses on the ones you can save money on right now. Multiple dioramas recreating scenes from the movies are discounted, including the Mos Espa Podrace from The Phantom Menace for $57 (was $80) and Boarding the Tantive IV from A New Hope for $44 (was $55). You can also get the 654-piece Tantive IV Starship display model for $64 (was $80). Those three sets and numerous others in the list below were part of the Lego Star Wars commemorative 25th anniversary series.

Heads up: The price of Lego Star Wars Mechs tends to jump considerably after retirement. So while the Luke Skywalker X-Wing Mech is selling for its full $16 MSRP, you won’t want to wait to long to snag one. Plus, look how cool this buildable action figure is:

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September 30, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Climber sets new world record with oxygen-free Everest descent

by admin September 27, 2025

Andrzej Bargiel has made history by becoming the first person to both climb Everest and ski all the way down without using supplemental oxygen.

The 37‑year‑old completed the feat on September 22, 2025, ascending Mount Everest to its summit and then beginning his ski descent. Bargiel spent almost 16 hours in the mountain’s notorious “death zone” 8,000 meters above sea level, where oxygen is scarce, before beginning his downhill run.

While skiers have traversed the mountain before, Bargiel’s feat marks the first instance of an individual descending the world’s highest point without using any form of additional oxygen.

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Third time’s the charm

Bargiel had attempted this same self-set challenge twice previously, in 2019 and 2022, ultimately having to cut each short. In a September 27 X/Twitter post, news outlet NEXTA said Bargiel was caught in a snowstorm during his attempt.

🏆 Skied down Everest without oxygen: Polish extreme alpinist sets new world record

37-year-old climber Andrzej Bargiel descended from the summit of Everest without oxygen, setting a world record.

At over eight thousand meters, he was caught in a snowstorm: Bargiel spent 16… pic.twitter.com/lAACzHFO8M

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) September 27, 2025

Celebrating his fellow countryman’s successful attempt, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on X: “Sky is the limit? Not for Poles! Andrzej Bargiel just skied down Mount Everest.”

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This isn’t the first time Everest or, more precisely, a person attempting to climb it, has made headlines in 2025. Back in June, an Australian YouTuber had to be rescued from the area after they experienced extreme altitude sickness from a lack of oxygen.

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September 27, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

The Gathering’ Draft May Bring More Crossover Sets

by admin September 22, 2025

Spider-Man has just come to Magic: The Gathering, but the card game already has other crossovers planned, and different ways to implement them.

Just before the latest Universes Beyond set came to shelves, Magic senior game designer Corey Bowen broke down the new Pick Two Draft, a four-person format (as opposed to the standard eight) which sees players take two cards from their Play Boosters and pass them to their left and right. Bowen explained the developers chose this new way to play as away to help casual players coming into Magic and those linking up in four-person groups. But it also has the added bonus of facilitating smaller Universes Beyond sets in the future.

“How could we represent an amazing corner of the Marvel Universe without trying to fill over 300 card concepts?” wrote Bowen. “If we were focusing only on Spider-Man, there are tons of great stories, characters, and depth, but not enough to meet the demanding threshold of a full Magic set. We also believed solving this problem now would allow us to consider more partnerships that may not to fill the shoes of a full Magic set.”

That Bowen calls out “more partnerships” as a reason for Pick Two is interesting, since Magic: The Gathering has been pushing Universes Beyond collaborations hard in recent years with full sets based on major IP like Final Fantasy and Doctor Who. Days ago, we also learned New York Comic-Con will have a panel announcing a new team-up between Magic and Nicklodeon, its third following ones between Spongebob Squarepants (for Secret Lair) and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Not every Nick IP is as big now as they were back in the day (or are that deep), potentially providing a perfect use case for Pick Two.

The Nickelodeon x Magic panel will be held on October 10, where we’ll find out what it is and just how big. And if it’s not this that gets the Pick Two treatment, we’ll eventually learn what Universes Beyond crossover it’ll be.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

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September 22, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

Metaplanet Sets Up US Subsidiary To Strengthen Bitcoin Income Business

by admin September 18, 2025

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

Japanese investment firm Metaplanet today announced that it has set up new subsidiaries in the US and Japan to expand its Bitcoin (BTC) income generation business. In addition, the company also bagged the domain Bitcoin.jp – an indication that it will continue to spearhead BTC adoption in Asia.

Metaplanet Unveils Subsidiaries To Expand Bitcoin Business

In an announcement made earlier today, Tokyo-listed Metaplanet stated it had established a new wholly-owned subsidiary in the US called Metaplanet Income Corp. to expand its BTC income business.

It should be noted that Metaplanet recently concluded a massive $1.4 billion capital raise. The firm’s US subsidiary will provide Metaplanet the opportunity to pursue derivatives operations and related activities that produce cash flow and revenue.

Source: Metaplanet

The establishment of Metaplanet Income Corp. will help the firm have a clear separation between the Bitcoin income generation business, and its core BTC treasury operations. This will help the company enhance transparency, governance, and risk management.

Besides Metaplanet Income Corp, the firm has also established a Japan subsidiary called Bitcoin Japan Inc. Metaplanet CEO, Simon Gerovich, commented on the development, saying:

This business has become our engine of growth, generating consistent revenue and net income. We are cash flow positive, producing significant internal cash flow to support future initiatives.

Bitcoin Japan Inc., will primarily look after an array of BTC-based media such as conferences and online platforms, the Bitcoin.jp domain, and Bitcoin Magazine Japan. Notably, the domain was purchased from a private investor who had held it for over a decade.

Gerovich also commented on Metaplanet’s recent $1.4 billion capital raise, stating that almost 100 investors had joined the roadshow, with more than 70 of them ultimately investing. These investors include sovereign wealth funds, hedge funds, and other similar financial entities.

Metaplanet’s long-term ambition remains to be the second-largest holder of BTC, behind Michael Saylor-led Strategy. According to data from Coingecko, Metaplanet currently holds 20,136 BTC on its balance sheet.

Source: Coingecko

In comparison, Strategy holds 638,935 BTC, and continues to extend its lead. However, to rank second, Metaplanet only needs to overtake MARA Holdings, which currently holds 52,477 BTC in its reserves.

Is BTC About To Fall?

Corporate adoption of Bitcoin continues to reach new heights, with a recent report noting that the total value of BTC treasury holdings recently surpassed $113 billion. Just a week ago, Metaplanet added to its BTC reserves.

That said, BTC whales recently dumped 115,000 – the largest distribution since 2022 – hinting that institutional demand for the digital asset may be temporarily waning. At press time, BTC trades at $115,670, down 0.7% in the past 24 hours.

Bitcoin trades at $115,670 on the daily chart | Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView.com

Featured image from Unsplash.com, charts from Coingecko, Metaplanet, and TradingView.com

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.

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September 18, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

Bitcoin Sticks To $115,000 as Gold Sets a Fresh Record High

by admin September 16, 2025

Key points:

Bitcoin attempts to liquidate longs at the Wall Street open with $115,000 a focus.
Markets are flipping short ahead of Wednesday’s Federal Reserve meeting.
Gold hits fresh all-time highs above $3,700 before correcting.

Bitcoin (BTC) wobbled at Tuesday’s Wall Street open as analysis eyed potential liquidations.

BTC/USD one-minute chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Bitcoin leverage spikes with longs at risk

Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView showed BTC/USD becoming unsettled as the US trading session began.

Price gyrated between $114,800 and $115,300 while surrounded by blocks of liquidity on exchange order books, both up and down.

“There’s a huge cluster of long liquidations below the current price, specifically around the 114724.3 level. That’s a lot of trapped longs,” trading resource TheKingfisher observed in part of its latest commentary on X.

BTC order-book liquidation levels. Source: TheKingfisher/X

An accompanying chart showed relevant “pain” levels for traders above and below spot price.

“This chart doesn’t predict the future, but it tells you where the pain is. And where the pain is, price movements often follow,” TheKingfisher added, noting high levels of leverage active on the market.

The day prior, popular trader Skew identified similar low-timeframe volatility, querying what he implied was manipulative price behavior.

$BTC
The psyops continue https://t.co/yJAKAijXLt pic.twitter.com/JY5tBX49RV

— Skew Δ (@52kskew) September 15, 2025

“Market remains top side heavy with persistent supply & offloading into price,” he summarized in his latest market coverage.

Skew said traders were flipping short into the week’s key macroeconomic event: the US Federal Reserve’s interest-rate decision. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) was expected to cut rates for the first time in 2025 by 0.25%.

“Quite large positioning decay already going into FOMC, not surprising although short positioning is starting to pick up as the consensus trade going into FOMC,” he concluded.

BTC price action yet to copy gold

Pre-FOMC nerves were apparent across risk assets.

Related: Bitcoin ‘sharks’ add 65K BTC in a week in key demand rebound

US stocks were modestly down at the open, while gold saw noticeable volatility and a fresh all-time high of $3,703.

⚡️JUST IN: Gold surges to a new ATH above $3,700. pic.twitter.com/tcM3T2Gmtt

— Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph) September 16, 2025

As Cointelegraph reported, analysis argues that both Bitcoin and gold are “pricing in” future US economic conditions.

“Gold leads the way. Bitcoin follows,” popular trader Jelle agreed in part of an X reaction, referencing the tendency for BTC price action to follow gold’s with a several-month delay.

Gold remained firmly in the lead based on year-to-date performance, up 40% since the start of the year against Bitcoin’s 23%.

BTC/USD vs. XAU/USD chart. Source: Jelle/X

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

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September 16, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Kirby Air Riders Amiibo Figure Sets Cost $50, Up For Preorder Now

by admin September 15, 2025

Nintendo is releasing two unique Amiibo figure sets alongside Kirby Air Riders. Unveiled during the September Nintendo Direct alongside a several other new Amiibo, Kirby & Warp Star and Banana Waddle Dee & Winged Star Amiibo figures are up for preorder for $50 each. That’s an unusually high price point, but technically these are bundles with two figures, as Kirby and Waddle Dee each come with their own machine from the game, too. Kirby Air Riders launches November 20 exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2.

The sequel to the 2003 GameCube hit has already had an in-depth Nintendo Direct showcase of its own, but Nintendo announced a second Kirby Air Riders stream will air prior to the racing game’s launch. Kirby Air Riders preorders are available for $70 at Amazon, Walmart, and other major retailers.

$70 | Releases November 20

The physical edition of Kirby Air Riders is available to preorder at Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy and GameStop.

Like all Nintendo-published games for Switch 2 (so far), Kirby Air Riders is a true physical edition with the full game file on the card. If you opt for the digital edition, just be aware that the download size is currently estimated at 25GB, which is over 10% of the Switch 2’s usable storage space.

Kirby Air Riders Amiibo figures have two different in-game functions. You can scan Kirby or Waddle Dee on their own to train and level up your Figure Player (FP). If you place Kirby or Waddle Dee on their machines, you’ll create a Rider & Air Ride Machine. And if you buy both Kirby Air Riders Amiibo sets, you can place Kirby on Waddle’s Winged Star and vice-versa to unlock different character and machine builds.

If you’re worried about storage space for the digital version of Air Riders, you can double your Switch 2 storage for $59 with the officially licensed Samsung 256GB microSD Express from Amazon. Over at Walmart, you can get an exclusive 512GB SanDisk microSD Express Card for $78.

Kirby Air Riders is developed by Bandai Namco and Sora Ltd, the independent studio helmed by Masahiro Sakurai. These days, Sakurai is best known as the director of the Super Smash Bros. series, but he’s also the creator of the Kirby franchise. Kirby Air Riders is the first game in the series directed by Sakurai since Kirby Air Ride. Since Kirby is in every Smash Bros. game, Sakurai has never truly left the character behind, but he hasn’t worked on a dedicated Kirby game since supervising the 2004 Game Boy Advance metroidvania Kirby & the Amazing Mirror.

The Mario Kart-esque racing game expands marquee modes from Kirby Air Ride and adds new ones. The controversial single-button control scheme from the original has been replaced by a two-button layout where B is for boosting and Y activates special moves, perform tricks, and switch machines. New abilities and characters have been added to the roster. Along with Kirby, you’ll be able to play as King Dedede, Bandana Waddle Dee, Meta Knight, Cappy, Starman, Chef Kawasaki, Magolor, Gooey, Susie, and Knuckle Joe.

Skyah, the floating island setting of Kirby Air Riders City Trial mode

The main game mode from the original, City Trial, is back with a bevy of new features. This time around, you’ll be tasked with finding machine upgrades scattered across a large floating island. You only have five minutes to secure your upgrades before heading to the Stadium to compete against computer players or friends in races and battles.

Kirby Air Riders supports local multiplayer for up to four players on one console and eight players wirelessly. Switch Online members can compete in online events for up to 16 players. Need extra Joy-Con Controllers for multiplayer? After Nintendo’s recent price increases, 2-packs of Joy-Con 2 now sell for $100.

Kirby Air Riders’ $70 price point matches other recent and upcoming Switch 2 titles, including Donkey Kong Bananza and Pokemon Legends: Z-A, which is scheduled to launch in October. Outside of Mario Kart World, the only $80 Switch 2 games so far are updated versions of original Switch exclusives with new content. Notably, this includes Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World, the Switch 2-exclusive version of the superb 3D platformer. Along with overhauled graphics, the Switch 2 Edition has the new Star-Crossed World story campaign. You’re essentially paying for the $60 base game and the new $20 DLC as a bundle, so the comparison to Kirby Air Riders isn’t exactly 1:1.

Kirby games for Nintendo Switch 1/2

Kirby and the Forgotten Land

If you’re looking forward to Kirby Air Riders and want to spend some time with the series before its November release, there are plenty of options on Nintendo Switch. In addition to Forgotten Land–the first 3D platformer for the franchise–there are two traditional side-scrolling-platformers with physical editions: Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe and Kirby Star Allies. Kirby has also starred in multiple digital-only Switch games and numerous classic titles are on Nintendo Switch Online. One of the best Kirby spin-offs in recent years is Kirby’s Dream Buffet ($15), which also happened to inspire a couple of the cutest Club Mocchi-Mocchi Kirby plushies around.

If you’re interested in the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Forgotten Land, existing owners can buy the DLC and upgrade for $20. Newcomers can also save $15 by picking up the Switch edition and Star-Crossed World separately. Multiple of the best Kirby game deals right now are for UK editions at Amazon-owned retailer Woot. Switch consoles can play games from any region, so the only difference with these Kirby games is the ratings board logo on the cover is PEGI instead of ESRB.

Kirby Game Deals

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September 15, 2025 0 comments

GameFi Guides

Altcoin Season Index Sets New 2025 High, What This Means For The Crypto Market

by admin September 15, 2025

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

The wait for the start of the altcoin season has been a long one, and even now, this market phenomenon remains elusive to investors. It was expected that after the Bitcoin price hit multiple new all-time highs over the last two years, altcoins would follow. Bitcoin continued to outperform the top altcoins by a large margin, and this blocked the way for the altcoin season to begin. However, with the market recovery, there is now a chance that the altcoin season might begin again.

Altcoin Season Index On The Rise

The Altcoin Season index takes into account the performance of the top 100 altcoins versus the performance of the Bitcoin price. This comparison is then charted and plotted over a 90-day period to show how these large-cap altcoins have performed against the pioneer cryptocurrency.

Depending on the number of altcoins that are outperforming Bitcoin in this 90-day period, the index deduces whether the market is headed into an altcoin season or not. Now, the higher the figure on the index, the higher the chances that an alt season might begin. When there are more than 75 altcoins outperforming the Bitcoin price in a 90-day period, then it is the needed signal that the alt season has begun.

In 2025, the Altcoin Season Index has trended low, mostly below the 50% mark. However, with the recent market recovery over the weekend, the index has now achieved its highest level this year, suggesting that an altcoin season is drawing closer.

According to data from the CoinMarketCap website, the Altcoin Season Index is sitting at a score of 67% at the time of this writing. With 75% being the target, it means that the market just needs another 8 of the top 100 altcoins to outperform Bitcoin to use in an alt season.

Source: Coinmarketcap

What To Expect

Previous market performances have shown altcoin seasons to be a period of explosive rallies for altcoins. The last alt season was categorized by notable rallies such as Dogecoin’s 36,000% rise and Shiba Inu’s legendary rally that saw it temporarily flip Dogecoin.

There was also the DeFi summer during this time that ushered the likes of Fantom, Polygon, and Uniswap into the limelight. Given this, it is expected that the next altcoin season will send existing altcoins flying while giving new narratives a chance to outperform as well.

Altcoin market cap holds at $1.69 trillion | Source: Crypto Total Market Cap Excluding BTC on TradingView.com

Featured image from Dall.E, chart from TradingView.com

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September 15, 2025 0 comments

GameFi Guides

Coinbase guide sets record straight on new token listings

by admin September 14, 2025

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has released a guide detailing the exchange’s asset listing process.

Summary

Coinbase CEO reveals 5-step asset listing process for transparent crypto approvals
Listings are merit-based, free, and reviewed under legal, compliance, and security
Approved tokens roll out via deposits, auctions, and full trading activation

Armstrong posted on X that the guide was released to provide transparency after receiving numerous questions about how cryptocurrencies get approved for trading.

The guide clarifies that listings are free and merit-based and that every asset is evaluated against identical standards.

Coinbase exchange listing has five key steps

The listing process involves five distinct steps:

Apply with an online questionnaire.
Coinbase then assess business factors such as market demand, community traction, and the technical requirements for integration.
The asset is then evaluated by, at a minimum, our core reviews: legal, compliance, and technical Security
The Coinbase team then typically communicates with issuers via email and phone/video calls.
Lastly, once the review process concludes, assets that are approved are eligible to trade on Coinbase Exchange.

We get a ton of questions about how and why assets get listed on Coinbase. To be more transparent we wrote a guide on how it all works.

TL;DR: listings are free and merit-based. Every asset is evaluated against the same standards.

Link in replies. pic.twitter.com/HmqQDt6085

— Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) September 12, 2025

Applications require comprehensive documentation, which includes white papers, team backgrounds, tokenomics, source code links, block explorers, and third-party audit results.

Coinbase’s review timeline varies based on project complexity and submission completeness. Due diligence on tokens averages one week, with trading enabled within two weeks of approval.

The total timeline typically stays under 30 days from review initiation to listing, though this can be shorter or longer depending on various factors.

Tokens on supported networks including, Ethereum, Base, Solana, Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon, and Avalanche can be processed faster than projects on new or unsupported chains, which require custom engineering work from the ground up.

Coinbase mandates three core reviews

Coinbase subjects every asset to three mandatory core reviews designed to protect customers and support market integrity.

The legal review determines whether trading the token constitutes a securities transaction under relevant jurisdictional frameworks. Compliance and risk mitigation assess token distribution and on-chain activity to identify financial crime and consumer safety risks.

Technical security reviews are one of the most comprehensive evaluations that look into contract code, design, and operational risks to decide safe custody and listing capabilities.

For new blockchains, this extends to technical design assessment, consensus mechanisms, network resilience, and governance models.

The exchange highlighted common roadblocks that delay approvals. This includes public statements that impact regulatory risk profiles, excessive centralized control in protocol architecture, and incomplete applications lacking governance, tokenomics, or technical documentation details.

Beyond core reviews, Coinbase evaluates market factors to decide listing priority and timing. These include trading volume, market capitalization, liquidity, number of holders, active wallets, total value locked, on-chain activity, community sentiment, and team track records.

Approved assets undergo a phased market rollout, beginning with transfer-only deposits to build liquidity. This is followed by an auction phase, collecting limit orders for at least 10 minutes to establish opening prices through natural price discovery.

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September 14, 2025 0 comments