Let's remove the mystery from the headline. Three Mass Effect games are going for next to nothing right now on PC, and you need to jettison your modern perspective misgivings and take a chance on them. Forget the hot mess that was Mass Effect Andromeda. Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2—and, to a lesser extent, Mass Effect 3—were genre-defining RPGs. The remaster process has made 'em much easier on the optical implants. The writing, world-building, and companion NPC bonds you'll forge, meanwhile, all remain timeless.

In retro news, today's a day of sombre remembrance for two consoles. 27 years ago, we witnessed the discontinuance of Sega's Game Gear, a battery-guzzling beast that sold 10.62M units that I fondly remember for its Sonic games and extravagant TV Tuner attachment. It's also been 22 years since we bade farewell to the Nintendo 64, which delivered phenomenal four-player action, groundbreaking 3D AAAs, and a highscore of 32.93M units sold. I am not shedding a sentimental tear over it. That's just...Control Stick dust in my eye.

This Day in Gaming

Aussie birthdays for notable games.

- Dr. Mario (GB) 1991. Get

- Sega Game Gear discontinued 1997. Ebay

- Nintendo 64 discontinued 2002. Ebay

- Child of Light (PC,PS3,X360) 2014. Get

Table of Contents

• Nintendo Switch
• PC
• Xbox
• PlayStation

Nice Savings for Nintendo Switch

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Purchase Cheaply for PC

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Exciting Bargains for Xbox

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Pure Scores for PlayStation

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A live-action Scooby-Doo TV show is reportedly in development for Netflix, among other things immediately causing actor Matthew Lillard to begin trending on social media.

"If they’re really gonna do this, they gotta have Matthew Lillard be the culprit being exposed at the end. Especially after what happened to him in [Five Nights at Freddy's]," one user wrote, referencing the film adaptation released in 2023.

if it’s not matthew lillard we don’t want it https://t.co/a290yXvBuj

— sar-AAH! 🎃 (@saraaaaahh) April 29, 2024

Social media users were reacting to a report from Variety, which claims that a new live-action Scooby-Doo is headed to Netflix. It will reportedly be a "one-hour drama" that's based on the Hanna-Barbera cartoon of the same name. There are few other details, including who will take on the roles of the Scooby gang, but social media users certainly have ideas.

The fervor for Lillard is driven by his now-iconic performance as Shaggy in the live-action film released in 2002. While the movie was mostly panned by reviewers, many critics pointed out that Lillard was "uncannily spot-on as Shaggy." Lillard has since gone on to voice Shaggy in numerous animated projects as well as MultiVersus.

Whether or not Lillard is involved, the new Scooby-Doo project will reportedly be penned by Josh Appelbaum , who served as an executive producer on the live-action adaptation of Cowboy Bebop, and Scott Rosenberg, who wrote 2018's Venom among other projects. The project is said to be nearing a deal, though plot details remain elusive.

Elsewhere, Warner Bros. Animation recently released Velma Season 2, which has once again received mixed reviews from critics. You can find the rest of the biggest TV shows releasing in 2024 right here.

Kat Bailey is IGN's News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.

Wizards of the Coast has announced the next Secret Lair collaboration for Magic: The Gathering, and it features android superstar Hatsune Miku.

For the uninitiated, Hatsune Miku is a hugely popular digital character whose voice synthesizer can be heard in tens of thousands of songs, and whose holographic likeness sells out in-person concerts on a regular basis. Now she's taking her act from the stage to the playmat, as she'll soon have her own Magic cards.

The crossover will be rolled out throughout the rest of 2024, with four different Secret Lair drops themed around the seasons in which they become available. The first, Sakura Superstar (seen above), will include Miku, Lost but Singing, a legendary creature that lets you play two additional land cards per turn, and Miku, the Renowned which lets you recast instant and sorcery spells – both of which are reskins of favored commander cards. This set will include six cards total, and seems designed for those who want this digital diva to head up their commander deck.

“Secret Lair lets us take the things fans already love about Magic: The Gathering and combine them with pop culture moments and amazing new artists,” said Mark Heggen, Wizards of the Coast's Vice President of Collectibles. “We're thrilled to team up with the global phenomenon that is Hatsune Miku to put on this year-long celebration for fans around the world.”

Secret Lair x Hatsune Miku: Sakura Superstar will be available for preorder starting on May 13, and will cost $29.99 and $39.99 for the non-foil and foil editions, respectively.

Travis Northup is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @TieGuyTravis and read his games coverage here.

Best Buy is taking $100 off the ASUS ROG Ally Z1 Extreme gaming handheld, now only $599.99. That's $20 less than the best Black Friday deal and the lowest price we've seen for a brand new unit. If you're willing to get a used model, Best Buy is also offering Open Box (Excellent condition) units for only $503.99. Click on the link under the price that reads "Open Box: from $479.99" to see the options. This is an excellent gaming handheld for those of you who want to play games outside of Steam's ecosystem. For more details you can check out our ASUS ROG Ally IGN review.

ASUS ROG Ally Z1 Extreme Gaming Handheld for $599.99

or Open Box (Excellent) for $503.99

The ASUS ROG Ally Z1 Extreme is seen as a more powerful version of the Steam Deck. Hardware-wise, that's definitely the case. The ROG Ally Z1 Extreme edition features the same 7" screen size but with a higher 1080p resolution and faster 120Hz refresh rate. It's also powered by an AMD's Zen 4 based Z1 Extreme CPU, which is significantly more powerful than the Steam Deck's older AMD Zen 2 CPU.

The software couldn't be more different as well. Whereas the Deck runs off a Linux-based Steam OS, the ROG Ally uses the tried and true Windows 11. The benefit is that the ROG Ally is compatible with pretty much any Windows-based game launcher, including Steam, Battle.net, Xbox Games Pass, Epic Games Store, GOG, Ubisoft Connect, and more. Obviously that makes it more attractive to gamers who like to play games that aren't available on Steam, like Diablo 4, Fortnite, Genshin Impact, Call of Duty, and Forza Horizon 5.

This is a much better version than the cheaper ROG Ally Z1 variant, which is less powerful than even the Steam Deck. I would strongly recommend you spring for this Z1 Extreme model over the Z1 model, if you can afford it. The ROG Ally is essentially a mini Windows PC with a souped up APU. If you're a PC gamer who appreciates maximum horsepower and appreciates the versatility of having a general Windows OS, then the ROG Ally Z1 Extreme is currently the best Windows handheld gaming PC on the market. If you're a console gamer or someone who prioritizes an intuitive and easy-to-use experience and don't want to deal with the hassles of the Windows OS (of which there are many), the Steam Deck might be a better choice for you

Blu-ray players may seem like a thing of the past for some folks, but they still let you watch the best movies and TV shows in the comfort of your own home and at the highest possible quality this side of a movie theater. While you can easily stream content via streaming services on the latest smart TVs, Blu-Ray players offer a higher level of detail and a more immersive experience. If you’re a collector, it’s also great fun collecting and organizing Blu-Ray discs.

TL;DR – These are the 5 Best Blu-Ray Players:

1. Panasonic DP-UB9000
2. Sony UBP-X700
3. PlayStation 5
4. Xbox Series X
5. Sony BDP-BX370

Choosing the best Blu-Ray player can be tricky if you don’t know what you’re looking for. If you’re on a budget, you may feel overwhelmed by the choices, or if you’re searching for the ultimate home entertainment devices, you’ll want the best out there.

Best Blu-Ray Players in 2024

1. Panasonic DP-UB9000

Top Blu-Ray Player

Pros:

• Excellent image quality
• HDR support

Cons:

• Very expensive

If you’re ready to splurge on the best Blu-Ray player, you won’t be disappointed by the Panasonic DP-UB9000. This premium package all major HDR formats including HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, and Dolby Vision.

Thinking about upgrading your home entertainment system? You’ll want this in your collection. Not only does it boast excellent image quality, but it also produces some seriously good audio thanks to its DAC, 7.1 audio channel, and two-channel outputs.

Turn the Blu-Ray player around and you’re met with tons of input and output options. This is the best Blu-Ray player on the market if it's in your budget.

2. Sony UBP-X700M

Best 4K Blu-Ray Player

Pros:

• Decent picture
• Dolby Vision support

Cons:

• No HDR10+ support

Investing in a decent Blu-Ray player that doesn’t cost the Earth can be challenging. But the Sony UBP-X700M hits the sweet spot by offering a more affordable way into the world of Blu-Ray while maintaining decent specs and features. Despite its low price point, you still get 4K and premium audio quality.

You aren’t sacrificing an awful lot; yes, there’s no HDR10+ support, but there’s still HDR10 and the player can handle 24bit/192kHz files and multiple formats. Throw in some smart features and dual HDMI outputs, and you’ve got yourself a winner.

3. PlayStation 5

Best Game Console with Blu-Ray Player

Pros:

• Doubles up as a game console
• Atmos and DTS:X passthrough

Cons:

• May be overkill for a Blu-Ray player

Gamers will love the PS5 and could definitely consider it one of the best Blu-Ray players since it doubles up as a game console. With 4K Blu-Ray support, you can play your favorite games and movies on the same device. And while it doesn’t support Dolby Vision over HDR like the Xbox Series X, it can pass Dolby Atmos via your TV and deliver outstanding picture quality.

The PlayStation 5 upscales HD Blu-Ray discs naturally and offers clean, sharp images when playing movies and TV shows. It’s fun for all the family too. Not only does the PlayStation 5 allow you to play games, but there are loads of apps you can install, including the likes of Netflix, YouTube, and other streaming services.

4. Xbox Series X

Best Alternative for Home Entertainment

Pros:

• Great for families
• HDR10

Cons:

• Not as good as the PS5

If you’ve decided you’re going to use your game console as a Blu-Ray player, the only real conundrum you’ll have is choosing between the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. While the PlayStation 5 does tip the scales in favor of image quality, the Xbox Series X supports Dolby Vision HDR from streaming services.

Put this alongside Dolby Atmos audio, and you’ve got an entire home entertainment system for you and your family. Plus, if you invest a small amount each month on the Xbox Game Pass, there are plenty of games you can enjoy for free. You may have to suffer a small dip in 4K image quality and HD upscaling compared to the PlayStation 5, but unless you’re paying extra special attention and comparing them side by side, you won’t notice the differences too much.

5. Sony BDP-BX370

Best Budget Blu-Ray Player

Pros:

• Good value for money
• User-friendly

Cons:

• Limited to 1080p

Sometimes all you need is a Blu-Ray player that will play your discs, display decent image quality and audio, and have none of the frills more expensive models offer. That’s what the Sony BDP-BX370 does well. It’s limited to 1080p, but in full HD, this might be what you’re after. If you have older DVDs lying around, it also upscales DVDs to near-HD quality.

With support for screen mirroring from your phone, this Blu-Ray player offers more than you might expect. It’s incredibly easy to set up too thanks to the included HDMI cable and super quick start mode.

If you are looking for an affordable Blu-Ray player, Sony does not let the side down. It’s simple, effective, and will look great in any home.

How To Choose the Best Blu-Ray Player

Choosing the best Blu-Ray player can enhance your home entertainment experience by delivering stunning picture quality and immersive audio. When selecting a Blu-Ray player, it's essential to consider certain features and specifications to ensure that it meets your needs.

Let’s look at it this way; if you were stood in a shop deciding between two Blu-Ray players, the first thing you’re going to want to prioritize is picture quality. At the very least, you want HD playback, but if you want a future-proof device, opt for 4K UHD, as well as features like HDR support.

Next up is audio quality. If you’re adding to your home entertainment setup, support for audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X adds to the immersive experience. On a similar note, you’ll want to consider what connectivity options the Blu-Ray player offers, like HDMI, digital audio outputs, USB, and so on. If you have a projector at home, a smart TV, or something else, your new Blu-Ray player has to be compatible.

While streaming apps and smart features aren’t the be-all and end-all, these things are nice to have. If you are faced with two similar Blu-Ray players, having Netflix built-in or smart capabilities might tip the scales.

Upcoming Blu-Ray Players

There are no significant upcoming Blu-Ray players or planned releases, but it does look like there may be new ones at some point. Blu-Rays are having somewhat of a resurgence thanks to film studios and filmmakers investing resources into specific Blu-Ray releases. These are mostly targeted at collectors, or users who enjoy purchasing limited edition discs. This might, however, turn the tide on the Blu-Ray market.

Blu-Ray Player FAQ

Are Blu-Ray Players Still Worth Buying?

Blu-Ray players may have been invented back in 2005 (and released in 2006) to take over the DVD format, but these BDs are a great addition to movie night still today. While it’s easy to stream movies and such directly from services like Netflix, you don’t get the same level of image and audio quality as you do from a high-end Blu-Ray player. Some Blu-Ray players are also lightweight enough that they become more portable. For example, if you’ve booked a stay at an Airbnb with the family, some extra entertainment might prove useful.

Can You Play Blu-Ray Discs on a Normal DVD Player?

Blu-Ray discs only work on Blu-Ray players. You couldn’t put a Blu-Ray disc into a DVD player or CD player. The formats are different and therefore require specific drives to play them.

What Are the Advantages of a Blu-Ray Player?

Blu-Ray discs can hold large amounts of data. Not only are Blu-ray players great for the home, they are also great in workplaces. But, aside from being useful, Blu-ray players offer excellent sound and picture quality.

With many people opting to ditch Blu-Ray discs and move to online streaming services, Blu-Rays can often be picked up relatively cheaply. And if you invest in something like a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, you can enjoy games as well as movies and TV shows on the same device.

Kegan is an avid gamer who has been playing games since his Atari days. From a young age Kegan was tinkering with PCs and now has a passion for building custom gaming computers.

Bethesda fans won’t have to wait much longer before they finally get their hands on Starfield’s first expansion, Shattered Space, and there is even more content on the way, too.

Bethesda Game Studios director Todd Howard updated fans wih more information on post-launch content during an interview with Kinda Funny. When talking about how Starfield will be fleshed out throughout the year, he teased that Shattered Space is scheduled to launch this fall.

Details on Shattered Space remain a mystery, though some fans speculate that it will focus on House Va'ruun. In an interview with IGN last year, Howard promised plans to add “a lot of add-on content,” going on to suggest that the team was looking forward to fleshing out Starfield with future updates, too.

In the near term, Bethesda is continuing to deliver smaller updates that should address fan feedback and iron out a few wrinkles. Howard says the next update should be “announced in a few days” before it’s available on Steam Beta.

“It’s got some great stuff for ship building as well,” he added.

Howard also teases another “big update” that is “coming really soon for Starfield.” Details on what changes it will bring are uncertain, though the Bethesda boss does tease long-asked-for tweaks for the in-game maps.

"We redid the map stuff, so we have some city map stuff," he says.

More info on the Starfield Creation Kit "soon"

Elsewhere, Howard touched on the Starfield Creation Kit. Bethesda has offered similar creation tools in the past, allowing players to more freely mod their games and ensure long legs after launch. He didn’t go as far as to announce a release date but did reassure players that it is still on the way.

“We’ve delivered it to some people, some of our creators for Starfield,” Howard said. “You’re going to hear some information about that soon. We don’t have date to announce on when its full release is coming, but it’s really, really important to us. Our modders out there have been incredible.”

Bethesda brought Starfield to PC and Xbox Series X | S players last September. In our 7/10 review, we explained that we enjoyed the long-awaited space RPG but had a few gripes.

“Starfield has a lot of forces working against it,” we said at the time, “but eventually the allure of its expansive roleplaying quests and respectable combat make its gravitational pull difficult to resist.”

Bethesda has continued to churn out updates for Starfield since its launch. March brought a pair of worthwhile changes, including lots of quality-of-life improvements in Update 1.10.30 as well as the removal of the lockpicking penalty with Update 1.10.31. If the official updates aren’t enough to keep you satisfied until Shattered Space launches, you can check out one of Starfield’s DLC-sized mods.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.

Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.

In its quarterly earnings presentation, Remedy Entertainment shared an update on its remake of Max Payne 1 and 2, as well as the news that Tencent has nearly tripled its investment in the studio.

In a report for shareholders, Remedy announced that Max Payne 1 & 2 remake is expected to move into "full production" during Q2 of 2024 (April through June of 2024). Additionally, Codename Kestrel — Remedy's upcoming multiplayer action game formerly known as Vanguard — is still in the concept stage.

Elsewhere, the Control 2 team is finalizing its proof of concept and is expected to advance to the "production readiness stage" during Q2. Codename Condor, a multiplayer game set in the Control universe, is in "the final development stage before a game is launched," or full production.

With all these games in the cooker, Remedy has received a new infusion of cash from existing stakeholder Tencent. Previously, Tencent acquired a minority (3.8%) stake in Remedy that it later upped to 5%. Today, Remedy announced that Tencent increased its stake again to 14.8%, nearly triple what it was prior.

A busy year for Remedy

It was a busy period for Remedy. The company fully acquired rights to the Control franchise from 505 Games, and is currently discussing future partnerships and business and publishing models, including self-publishing. Alan Wake 2 sold 1.3 million units as of the start of February, and Remedy says today that the game has recouped "a significant part" of its expenses.

The company additionally announced today that its COO Christopher Schmitz is resigning, and that long-time Remedy veteran and Control game director Mikael Kasurinen is being appointed as a company-wide creative director. Remedy's revenue for the quarter was up 56.2% year-over-year to €10.8 million ($11.6 million).

Two planned expansions for Alan Wake 2 are currently in the works, one entitled Night Springs, and a second entitled The Lakehouse. Neither has a release date just yet.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

The best CPU cooler will ensure your PC doesn’t overheat. If components inside your PC overheat, your computer might not last too long. Gaming PCs are especially prone to overheating, with high-performance hardware pushing the limits. And, since your CPU is essentially the heart of your PC, you’ll want to make sure it stays cool no matter what.

TL;DR – These are the Best CPU Coolers:

• Noctua NH-D15S
• Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO V2
• Corsair iCUE H100i Elite Capellix XT
• Corsair H60x RGB Elite
• Noctua NH-L9i
• Noctua NH-P1
• Cryorig H7 (Out of Stock Right Now)
• be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4
• Corsair A500
• ProSiphon Elite

Just like humans, if your CPU has to physically work hard, it gets hot. If the components in your PC get too hot, things start to slow down, reducing performance, and shortening the lifespan of your overall PC. CPU coolers are designed to keep your CPU cool, therefore performing better and not putting so much pressure on those all-important components.

But choosing the best CPU cooler isn’t always easy. From air coolers to liquid coolers, there are choices you need to make to decide which is the best option for your rig.

Best CPU Coolers

1. Noctua NH-D15S

Top CPU Cooler

Pros:

• Incredible performance
• Extremely quiet fan

Cons

• Could be too large for smaller cases

At $100, the Noctua NH-D15S is pricier than some other coolers, but it does a lot to earn its keep. For one thing, you can use it on a broad range of processors, new and old, so you get extra value from it by keeping it over multiple PC upgrades. Its wide compatibility is aided by the cooler’s asymmetrical layout with the fin stack offset towards the upper edge of the motherboard, while recessed lower fins ensure it’ll fit with almost any RAM up to 65mm in height.

If you’re looking for powerful cooling, the Noctua NH-D15S delivers and is ready to keep the beefiest Intel and Ryzen processors frosty. This cooler features two massive sets of aluminum radiator fins with six heat pipes to pull heat away from your CPU. Those aluminum fins can do some passive cooling, but Noctua has placed one outstanding 140mm PWM fan between them to keep plenty of air flowing through the cooler super quietly, thanks to a max noise level of 24.6 dBA. There are even extra fan clips included, letting you add a second fan, if it fits, for improved performance.

2. Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO V2

Best Cheap CPU Cooler

Pros:

• Affordable
• Easy to install

Cons

• Not ideal for high-end PCs

There's a good reason the Cooler Master Hyper 212 cooler has such incredible staying power: its design is simple, its performance is solid, and its price is low. That's no less true with the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO V2 which has a few updates you should love all while keeping you on budget with your build thanks to the under $50 price tag. It features a new design with an asymmetrical tilt to provide better RAM clearance and revised brackets for easier installation. The new Sickleflow 120 fan should provide better airflow and air pressure, and if you detest the loud fan noise, it should be 10% quieter from the previous model.

The Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO V2 is ready to kit out both your AMD and Intel builds alike, and it has made the brakets more universal, so it has got the LGA1700 socket used by Intel's latest CPUs. It features four heat pipes to draw heat away from your processor and send it out to a stack of aluminum fins. There are also x-shaped vents so hot air will head directly to the heat pipes. It really is an incredible value that should get you plenty of mileage and keep your temperatures in line.

3. Corsair iCUE H100i Elite Capellix XT

Best Liquid CPU Cooler

• See it on Corsair

Pros:

• Customizable CPU block
• Excellent performance

Cons

• Very expensive

If you’re sold on liquid cooling your processor, then your best option is the Corsair iCUE H100i Elite Capellix XT. It's a 240mm cooler with socket support for the latest AMD and Intel processors, including AMD’s powerful Threadripper processors. A copper cold plate with thermal paste preinstalled pulls heat away from your CPU, while the cooler pumps liquid into a 240mm radiator fitted with two 120mm fans for ultimate cooling. You won’t need to worry about the fans being too distracting because even running at a maximum of 65.57CFM, the noise will top out at 34.1dBA.
Managing this AIO cooler is simple with Corsair’s iCUE software, which lets you control fan and pump speeds right on your PC. You can even monitor the CPU temperature, ensuring your settings deliver optimal processor performance. If visual flair is also your thing, there are customizable RGB LEDs with 33 on the pump head and 16 on the fans.

4. Corsair H60x RGB Elite

Best Compact Liquid CPU Cooler

Pros:

• Efficient cooling
• Visual flair

Cons

• No included instructions

The Corsair H60x RGB Elite is a compact but powerful AIO liquid cooler that keeps a small footprint, making it perfect for those tight on space around the CPU. You get a copper cold plate on the pump to pull heat away while it delivers liquid to the 120mm radiator fitted with a 120mm fan, ensuring your PC’s internals are nice and frosty. It does all of this quietly, with the cooler reaching only 28 dBA running at max settings.

Being an all-in-one option, you don’t have to mess around with priming and filling or spend a ton of money, as the Corsair H60x RGB Elite will set you back less than $100. You even get individually addressable RGB LEDs, with 16 on the pump head and eight on the fan for lighting effects that can match the rest of your PC build using the standard 5V motherboard ARGB header for easy control.

5. Noctua NH-L9i

Best Low-Profile Cooler

Pros:

• Quiet running
• Not too expensive

Cons

• Performance isn't great

While many tower cases have more than enough space for beefy coolers, many mATX and ITX cases have constraints to how much you can pack in. In those cases, you'll need to think carefully about what kind of CPU cooler you can fit. Noctua's NH-L9i cooler is an extra low-profile option that can let you build out that sleek, small form-factor PC of your dreams.

The Noctua NH-L9i may not be offering as serious of cooling as other contenders on this list, but that's more or less a given for a compact PC. That said, it is still offering a sizable radiator and packs on a quality Noctua fan. The combination is enough to cool a wide variety of Intel chips, excluding many of Intel's unlocked models and Extreme Editions. With a separate mounting adapter, it can even support AMD chips on an AM4 socket. And, where compactness is only one piece of the puzzle, an included adapter will let you run the fan in a low-noise mode that drops the fan speed to 1,800RPM to lower the max fan noise down to just 14.8dBA.

6. Noctua NH-P1

Best Passive CPU Cooler

Pros:

• Near-silent
• Decent performance

Cons

• More expensive than most air coolers

What kind of cooler doesn’t make any noise? The kind that doesn’t use any fans, doesn’t have a water pump, and has no moving parts to speak of. That’s what you get with the Noctua NH-P1. This doesn’t look like your normal cooler, as the heatsink and fins are designed very differently in order to let heat better escape the fin stack without the aid of a fan.

The Noctua NH-P1 can fit onto a ton of systems including those using the latest LGA1700 socket from Intel and the AM5 socket from AMD. But, passive cooling isn’t as aggressive as active cooling, so you’ll have to mind your component pairings. Impressively, Noctua boasts cooling performance that can keep up with a decent variety of strong-performing chips, including most AMD Ryzen 5 models (except overclocked X variants) and some 12th- and 13th-Gen Intel Core i5 models. However, if you don’t need dead silence, you can slap on one of Noctua’s quietest fans and dramatically increase the cooling capabilities of the NH-P1.

7. Cryorig H7 (Curently Out of Stock)

Best Hyper 212 EVO V2 Alternative

Pros:

• Better clearance
• Runs cool and quiet

Cons

• Might be too expensive for some

Why would I even bother suggesting a cooler that costs more than the 212 EVO when I already said the 212 EVO is all you need? The main reason is the H7 offers a bit more clearance which makes swapping RAM sticks easier, and it just takes up less room, so your build looks better. Plus, its smaller size doesn’t really come with any drawbacks; the H7 is slightly quieter and runs as cool (if not cooler) than the 212 EVO.

The H7 fits both AMD and Intel sockets, although again, you will likely need a bracket for AM4. There is a lot of debate as to whether the H7 is an “EVO killer,” and honestly a lot of people are just tired of the 212 EVO as it's been around forever. So, if you’re willing to spend more, and are tight on space, the H7 is the way to go.

8. be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4

Best Silent Cooler

Pros:

• Incredible performance
• Silent operation

Cons

• Expensive air cooler

The be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 is true to its name, and is one of the quietest CPU coolers money can buy. It can whisk away up to 250w of heat, which is an excessive amount. It can do this thanks to its massive 6mm copper heat pipes.

More importantly, it's designed to operate in near silence. Even with two or three fans strapped on and spinning as fast as possible, it'll only achieve a maximum 24.3dBA. It'll set you back a pretty penny at $90, making it one of the more expensive air coolers on the market, but if you demand silence, this is the cooler for you.

9. Corsair A500

Best Flexible CPU Cooler

Pros:

• Easy to install
• Looks and runs great

Cons

• Quite chunky

If you want a cooler that's easy to install, can work around the rest of your kit, and will look great in your case, then the Corsair A500 is our pick. It puts two 120mm fans onto a hefty aluminum heatsink with four heatpipes to handle cooling on CPUs with up to 250W TDP. It manages that by blowing a considerable 75 cubic feet of air across the heatsink every minute.

A solid perk of this heatsink is that it can flex to fit your rig if you're using extra tall memory modules. The fans use a sliding and locking mechanism, so it's easy to move them to exactly the right position. The cooler also supports a wide range of Intel and AMD sockets.

10. ProSiphon Elite

Best CPU-Mounted AIO Liquid-Cooler

Pros:

• Large radiator
• Gravity-driven design

Cons

• Takes up a lot of space

So, you want the cooling of a liquid cooler but don't want to deal with finding somewhere on your case to attach a radiator or running hoses that could potentially leak on your expensive PC components? Well, the ProSiphon Elite from IceGiant Cooling solves that with an all-in-one cooler that attaches a large 240mm radiator directly to its base for liquid cooling that all happens right above your CPU. You'll want to make sure you've got room for your RAM with this cooler, though, as it takes up a lot of space over the motherboard with 48mm of clearance for your memory modules.

This isn't your typical liquid cooler with a beefy pump. Instead, this design is gravity-driven, using an evaporator to transfer heat away from the CPU into the radiator and using condensers and gravity to send the cooled fluid back toward the CPU. The kit includes all the mounting hardware you need for a variety of Intel and AMD platforms, including Threadripper. And, it comes with four 120mm fans to set up in a push-pull configuration. It's recommended you also install exhaust fans on top of your case, as the common front-to-back case airflow won't be as effective with this cooler.

How to Pick the Right CPU Cooler

When it comes to finding the best CPU cooler for you and your PC setup, there are many factors to consider, with the most important being compatibility. You want to find an option that fits your specific CPU socket. Luckily, many coolers offer relatively universal support for common socket types, but some older models aren’t always compatible with the newer Intel LGA1700 or AMD AM5. You also want to ensure your CPU cooler actually fits in your case with your PC’s other components, so check the height, radiator size, and other specs before purchasing, paying close attention to higher-end options that are often bulkier.

How you plan on using your PC plays into what cooler you’ll need. Do you plan on overclocking and pushing your rig to the extreme? Are you using the latest top-tier CPUs? Then you want a high-end cooler with exceptional cooling potential, offering a large radiator, lots of heat pipes, and maybe multiple fans. One spec to pay particularly close attention to is the TPD of your processor, and then grab a cooler offering a TPD rating that exceeds that, especially if you’ll be overclocking.

There are two main cooler types to choose from: air and liquid. Air coolers offer a great performance-to-price ratio and last a long time, but for those who need extremely powerful cooling, they aren’t always the best option and can get bulky. Liquid or AIO coolers, especially high-end models, are often better at keeping temperatures down and generally have lower profiles to fit better in your setup. However, they cost more and need more upkeep. There are other cooler types, though most don’t work as well as air and liquid.

Beyond that, you should also consider the price based on your budget, of course. CPU coolers have a wide price range from $30 to over $200.

Liquid CPU Cooler vs Air CPU Cooler

Air CPU coolers are more affordable than liquid coolers and are a better option if you’re not running a high-powered gaming PC. They also tend to be easier to install, making air CPU coolers a beginner-friendly solution. However, unless you invest in near-silent air cooling (which is hard to achieve), you’re going to notice the difference in noise between air and liquid cooling.

Liquid cooling, on the other hand, is very quiet. It’s also more efficient for high-performance builds like gaming PCs. Since more power is required, and high temperatures can be achieved, liquid cooling can bring temperatures down more effectively and quickly. And, with the option to invest in an RGB liquid cooler, they look pretty cool too.

The only real drawbacks of liquid cooling are the cost and hassle of installation. If you’re a beginner PC builder, you may feel more confident installing an air cooler than liquid cooling.

FAQs

Which CPU cooler is best for gaming?

Gaming setups often have things in common; high-performance rigs and RGB lighting. For this reason, the Corsair iCUE H100i Elite Capellix XT is an ideal liquid CPU cooler for your gaming PC. Not only does it look the part, but it also boasts the latest socket support for AMD and Intel processors and keeps things quiet and cool.

You can use Corsair’s iCUE software to manage the fan, pump speeds, CPU temperature, and of course the all-important RGBs.

Kevin Lee contributed to this buying guide. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam.

Danielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.

Earnings calls tend to be pretty standard fare: an overview of quarterly revenue, maybe some news here or there, and then a Q&A with analysts and investors, usually lasting around an hour.

Paramount, however — a company swirling with big behind-the-scenes moves at the moment — took a different approach during its Q1 earnings call today. Chris McCarthy, one of three newly-instated leaders at Paramount, reiterated the main points of the earnings already shared with investors, made some brief comments about their new leadership structure, and then swiftly ended the call after just about nine minutes.

The company did not take questions and, somewhat hilariously, instead loudly played the Mission: Impossible theme song on a loop. Well, that's one way to pivot.

The unconventional earnings call came on the same day that Paramount Global announced some big news. Just hours prior, the company confirmed that CEO Bob Bakish would be stepping down, replaced by a trio of executives in McCarthy, George Cheeks, and Brian Robbins, who will now collectively make up the "Office of the CEO." Bakish had been with Viacom since 1997, becoming CEO in 2016. When Viacom and CBS merged in 2019, Bakish became the CEO of the combined company, which was renamed Paramount Global.

Basically, the announcement was a big one, and Paramount's investors no doubt have questions. Media watchers on X/Twitter were quick to take notice of the avoidance of those questions.

so in summary: Paramount fired its CEO, then hosted an earnings call for only 9 minutes, refused to take any questions, and played the mission impossible song on a loop

— Anna Nicolaou (@annaknicolaou) April 29, 2024

We were on hold longer than the Paramount earnings call lasted -- 7 minutes of saying nothing beyond what was in release $PARA pic.twitter.com/czJf16KlXu

— Rich Greenfield, LightShed 🔦 (@RichLightShed) April 29, 2024

Paramount playing the Mission Impossible music at the end of its earnings call is a bit on the nose.

— Matthew Belloni (@MattBelloni) April 29, 2024

As for the actual earnings, Paramount did see a big boost from its broadcast of Super Bowl LVIII, adding 3.7 million subscribers to Paramount+ for a current total of 71 million subscribers. It managed to cut its streaming losses by 40% and, overall, earnings were up 6% from the same period last year.

Big Moves at Paramount

On the call, McCarthy did comment on the new structure, calling his dealings with Cheeks and Robbins "a true partnership." "We have a deep respect for one another and we’re going to lead and manage this company together," he added.

Bakish's exit comes as Paramount moves closer and closer to a merger with Skydance Media. According to reports, Bakish had privately dissented against the merger and had "lost the trust of Paramount Global controlling shareholder Shari Redstone," sources told CNBC. The same report over the weekend said Paramount Global's board was indeed planning on firing Bakish as early as Monday morning.

And while the Skydance negotiations continue, the New York Times reported earlier this month that Sony was in talks to join a joint bid with investment firm Apollo Global Management to acquire Paramount.

Basically, the trio of new CEOs have a lot on their plate - with that in mind, that Mission: Impossible theme seems like a fitting choice.

Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she's not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.

Spider-Man is one of the few Marvel heroes with a supporting cast and rogues gallery wide enough to support an entire cinematic universe. And that's exactly what Sony has been trying to launch. Even as Tom Holland fans await word on where the actor will play Spidey again, Sony continues to release films in its Spider-Man Universe. Madame Web and Morbius came, went, and will never be forgotten, Aaron Taylor-Johnson is starring in the upcoming Kraven movie, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is getting another sequel after Across the Spider-Verse, and the live-action series Silk: Spider Society and Spider-Man Noir series are in the works.

To help make sense of the many Spider-Man-adjacent movies in the works, we're breaking down every Sony Marvel movie that's either been officially announced or rumored to be in development. Check out the slideshow gallery below or scroll down to get the scoop on Spidey's cinematic future.

Spider-Man Spin-Off Movies

Here's a quick bullet list of all the movies and TV shows that are in various stages of development:

• Venom: The Last Dance (a.k.a. Venom 3) - October 25, 2024
• Kraven the Hunter - December 13, 2024
• Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse (In Production) - Date TBD
• Tom Holland Spider-Man Sequels (In Development) - Dates TBD
• Silk: Spider Society Series (In Development) - Date TBD
• Spider-Man Noir Series (In Development) - Date TBD
• El Muerto (Status Unknown/Possibly Dead)
• Untitled Female Cast Into the Spider-Verse Spin-Off (Status Unknown/Possibly Dead)

Read on for more details on each project.

Venom: The Last Dance (a.k.a. Venom 3) (October 25, 2024)

Status: In Production

A third Venom movie is in the works, but little is known about it at this time. Sony officially announced the film at CinemaCon in April, 2022. In February of 2023, Tom Hardy revealed that Venom 3 was in pre-production. In July, 2023, Sony announced that the film has a release date of July 12, 2024 (which was later pushed to November 8, 2024, and then October 25, 2024). Check out what Spider-Man: No Way Home means for the future of Venom here.

Kraven the Hunter (December 13, 2024)

Status: In Production

Sony is shining a spotlight on Kraven the Hunter. One of Spider-Man's oldest rogues, Kraven is a skilled hunter who sets his sights on Spider-Man after conquering all other prey in the animal kingdom. He's also the central antagonist in the seminal comic storyline Kraven's Last Hunt, which could easily serve as a source of inspiration for the movie. Richard Wenk (The Equalizer) and the team of Art Marcum and Matt Holloway (Iron Man) wrote the screenplay. Triple Frontier director J.C. Chandor is directing the film, which will star Avengers: Age of Ultron's Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Kraven. Christopher Abbott, Alessandro Nivola, and Russell Crowe have also been cast in the film.

Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse (Date TBD)

Status: In Production

The third Spider-Verse film is called Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse (dropping the Part One and Part Two from the Into the Spider-Verse sequels' titles that had previously been announced). Obviously Across the Spider-Verse, the second film in the series, leaves a lot of questions that will need to be answered in Beyond. Beyond the Spider-Verse was expected to be released on March 29, 2024, but in July of 2023, Sony changed several of its slate's release dates, including this film. It currently does not have a date. Learn more about the Spider-Verse here.

Tom Holland Spider-Man Sequels (Dates TBD)

Status: In Development

It's a little unclear when the next appearance of Tom Holland's wallcrawler will come. When Sony and Marvel made a new deal in 2019 to continue to share the character, which allowed No Way Home to be made, an MCU crossover film was also said to be part of that agreement. What that crossover film might be is unclear, however.

As for future solo films, during No Way Home's press tour, producer Amy Pascal said that the thinking is that there will be at least three more Spider-Man films starring Tom Holland. It should be noted, however, that has not yet been confirmed by Sony or Marvel.

Silk: Spider Society Series (Date TBD)

Status: In Development

A more recent addition to Spider-Man's world, Silk is a heroine who was bitten by the same radioactive spider that gave Peter Parker his powers. Resurfacing after a decade spent locked in an underground bunker, Cindy Moon has followed the example of Spider-Man and become a costumed superhero. Cindy has actually made small appearances in Spider-Man: Homecoming and Avengers: Infinity War (played by Tiffany Espensen). But we assume the role will be recast for any new Silk project.

Silk was originally announced as a movie, but has since evolved into a series that will air on MGM+ and Prime Video (the first in a new partnership between Sony, MGM and Prime Video). Into the Spider-Verse's Angela Kang will serve as showrunner, and the series will follow Cindy's origin story as she escapes imprisonment, comes to terms with her powers and seeks out her missing family.

Spider-Man Noir Series (Date TBD)

Status: In Development

Following the announcement of Silk: Spider Society, word came that Spider-Man Noir is the second series to come about from Sony and Prime Video's new partnership. The Spider-Man Noir series is a live-action show set in this Depression-era version of the Marvel Universe, though Peter Parker himself reportedly won't be the main character.

Spider-Man Noir is being developed by Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, and 22 Jump Street writer Orien Uziel, who will write and executive produce. Steve Lightfoot (Netflix's The Punisher) was hired in December, 2023, as co-showrunner and executive producer with Uziel.

El Muerto

Status: Unknown/Possibly Dead

At CinemaCon 2022, Sony announced El Muerto, a Spider-Man spin-off movie starring musician, producer, actor, and wrestler Bad Bunny as the title character. El Muerto is a wrestler with superpowers whose mask and abilities are passed down from generation to generation. The film was reported to have a release date of January 12, 2024, at that time, and yet as of April, 2023, filming had still not begun and Bad Bunny's publicist said the film was "at a standstill" only to later clarify that it was "in development." On June 21, 2023, a Sony press release said that the film had moved to a TBD date. And in September, 2023, Bad Bunny seemed to tell Vanity Fair that he had dropped out of the film. Hmmm...

Untitled Female Cast Into the Spider-Verse Spin-Off

Status: Unknown/Possibly Dead

An Into the Spider-Verse spin-off featuring an all-female cast was said to be in the works at one point, with Spider-Gwen expected to make her return. Other characters like Spider-Girl, Spider-Woman, Madame Web, Silk and even Black Cat might've been featured. Not much has been heard of this project since it was first revealed in 2018, however, and it seems likely to have died on the vine (web?).

Unrealized Projects

There has been a host of rumored or reported Spider-Man spinoff movies over the years that have never actually gotten made. Along with Venom, one of the earliest Spider-Man spinoff movies Sony pursued was Silver & Black, a team-up film featuring mercenary Silver Sable and master thief/occasional Spider-Man love interest Black Cat. While Sony went as far as hiring director Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Secret Life of Bees) and dating the film for a February 2019 release, it was eventually canceled. Last we heard, the studio was reworking Silver & Black into solo movies for the characters, though it's unclear if there's any movement on these projects at this point. In 2020, reports indicated that Black Cat and Silver Sable might become TV projects for Sony instead.

Variety reported in March 2018 that director Spike Lee was in talks to direct a Nightwatch film, though Lee has since said he is not attached. The vigilante hero wears a durable nanotechnology costume that enhances his strength by stimulating his adrenal glands, but apparently is not capable of getting him out of development hell.

Another fairly recent addition to the Spider-Man universe, Jackpot has often fought alongside Spider-Man in defense of New York City. When she was first introduced, readers were led to believe she was actually Mary Jane Watson in disguise. Instead, it was eventually revealed that Jackpot is an identity used by two different women - genetic researcher Sara Ehret and her admirer, Alana Jobson. It was reported in August 2018 that a Jackpot movie was in development, and in 2020 further news came that Marc Guggenheim was writing the screenplay. No cast or director have been revealed so far and this one also seems unlikely to happen at this point.

Sony Pictures Entertainment execs clearly have plans for the Marvel characters they have the rights to. “We have the next seven or eight years laid out as to what we’re going to do with that asset, and that will not only be on the film side -- it’ll be on the TV side,” said Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman Tony Vinciquerra. “Our television group will have its own set of characters from within that universe that we will seek to develop.” Of course, that was in 2019, so we're already five years into his seven...

Could the Olivia Wilde-directed Spider-Woman movie that was reported on in 2020 still be in the works? Or the Roberto Orci-scripted Marvel project that was also rumored that year? How many of the projects already reported on fall under Vinciquerra's plans, or have been dropped by now? Madame Web probably already knows, but for the rest of us, time will tell.

Which of the Spider-Man spin-offs are you most looking forward to? Let's discuss in the comments!

Note: This story originally ran in August, 2018. It was updated with the most recent information available on April 29, 2024.

For a limited time, Amazon has marked down the popular 34" LG UltraGear 34GP63A gaming monitor by nearly 40% off. It's normally priced at $399.99, but today you can pick it up for only $249.99. The GP63 has all the features you'd want in a gaming monitor, like a curved ultrawide form factor, a fast response time and refresh rate, and great color reproduction and viewing angles.

34" LG UltraGear Ultrawide Gaming Monitor for $249.99

The LG GP63A keeps the price tag down while maintaining all of the features you'd want in a gaming monitor. For starters, this is a generously sized 34" display with a 3440x1440 resolution. It's definitely sharp enough for gaming, and at the same time the 1440p isn't too taxing on a current-gen GPU so you don't have to spend a lot of money on a high-end graphics card. Something like an RTX 4060 or RTX 4070, for example, could easily handle the bandwidth.

The GP3A utilizes a VA panel, which offers wider viewing angles and better color reproduction (99% sRGB color space) han a TN panel and a faster sub-1ms response time and more uniform backlighting than most IPS panels. Because this is an ultrawide display, it's curved for better immersion. It supports VRR and MBR and is FreeSync Premium certified. Although it isn't officially G-SYNC certified, it has been successfully tested to be G-SYNC compatible much like most other gaming monitors nowadays. Both DisplayPort and HDMI ports are available, but you'll want to use DisplayPort for the 160Hz refresh rate.

Overall if you're specifically looking for a 34" ultrawide gaming monitor, this is a great option for the price. We actually rated its higher end 34GP900G cousin as the best gaming monitor for 2024, which has the same 34" ultrawide form factor but upgrades the VA panel to a Nano IPS panel. However that one retails for nearly $1300. You could technically buy this gaming monitor and a nice gaming PC for the same price.

Baby Reindeer, a dark new British drama, is proving to be quite the hit for Netflix. It's gotten rave reviews, with critics calling it "a rare gem," "a brave, moving, and often disturbing watch," and more. It's currently the top show on Netflix's U.S. chart, and even Stephen King has taken notice. The reaction to the series, however, is sparking a new debate, as sleuths try to dig up the real-life people referenced in creator Richard Gadd's story.

For those who haven’t caught up on the drama, Baby Reindeer tells the story of Donny Dunn, a struggling comedian who winds up attracting the attention of a stalker named Martha Scott. It’s based on a true story from Gadd's own life, who also wrote the project and stars as its lead. It's undoubtably a harrowing watch, not only for the extensive stalking situation (Gadd's real-life stalker sent him 41,000 emails over three years, in addition to hundreds of hours of voicemails), but another intense plotline involving sexual abuse.

Given that it's based on real events, Gadd has spoken in several interviews about the lengths he's gone to keep his real-life stalker from being identifiable. For one, "Martha Scott" is not her real name, and Gadd told GQ Magazine that they went to far to disguise her "to the point that I don’t think she would recognise herself. What’s been borrowed is an emotional truth, not a fact-by-fact profile of someone." Still, fans believe they have found the stalker, who's allegedly come out to identify herself too, as well another person who's referenced in the series.

Warning: Spoiler for Netflix's Baby Reindeer below.

In addition to Martha, another prominent character in Gadd's story is a comedy writer named in the show Darrien O'Connor, played by Tom Goodman-Hill. About halfway through the seven-episode limited series, it's revealed that Darrien sexually assaulted Donny in one of its most devastating moments. Viewers have in turn tried to dig up the real-life inspiration for Darrien, and one individual facing the fallout of speculation is Mindhorn director and Gadd’s friend, Sean Foley, who fans targeted due to his previous work with Gadd and his resemblance to Goodman-Hill.

“People I love, have worked with, and admire (including Sean Foley) are unfairly getting caught up in speculation,” Gadd wrote in an Instagram story (later shared by Foley on X/Twitter). “Please don’t speculate on who any of the real life people could be. That’s not the point of our show.”

pic.twitter.com/6LDuNcXVBu

— sean foley (@SeanFoleyJ) April 23, 2024

In a separate X/Twitter post, Foley said, “Police have been informed and are investigating all defamatory abusive and threatening posts against me.” This same post is littered with replies related to Baby Reinder.

“Just admit it,” one user replied.

“Internet detectives got ya,” another added.

The TV version of Gadd’s stalker, meanwhile, is portrayed by Jessica Gunning, but as reported by The Daily Mail, it didn’t take viewers too long to find out who the real-life stalker probably is. The individual, whose identity the story keeps anonymous, says she’s received death threats and abuse from the show’s supporters.

“He's using Baby Reindeer to stalk me now,” she claimed. “I'm the victim. He's written a bloody show about me.”

She denies stalking Gadd, saying that he has “main character syndrome” and that he “always thinks he’s at the center of things.” The woman is considering taking legal action against Gadd.

"I'm not writing shows about him or promoting them in the media, am I?" she added. "If he wanted me to be properly anonymous, he could have done so. Gadd should leave me alone."

Baby Reindeer, a series that tackles stalking by retelling a true story through a new lens, has somehow managed to spawn an online campaign dedicated to, well, digging up real-life people. As Gadd pleads with fans to refrain from digging into the lives of real individuals, the irony isn't lost on all of the show's viewers.

"People's immediate reaction after watching a show on stalking is to stalk someone," one user on Reddit said.

Howard Kennedy Media Lawyer Mark Stephens commented on the trend that has seen true crime fans flocking to attempt to solve cases themselves (via The Guardian). He calls the desire to become an internet detective "incredibly dangerous," explaining that these same people could wind up ruining real investigations.

"Perhaps we have got to the stage now with true crime entertainment where we need warnings to viewers and listeners saying, ‘Please don’t investigate this yourself’, of the kind already made to a jury," Stephens added. "Certainly, drama makers may need to go further to disguise people, routinely changing some of the fundamentals, and not just names, to prevent people being identified or misidentified."

Baby Reindeer premiered on Netflix on April 11, 2024. For more, be sure to check out the best movies to watch on Netflix this month.

If you or someone you know are a survivor of sexual abuse you can reach the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. Additional resources can be found at the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.

Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.

Today Amazon has dropped the price of the LG UltraGear 27GR95QE 27" OLED gaming monitor to $599.00. That's a hefty 40% markdown from its original $1000 MSRP. This is the best price out there right now for a 27" OLED gaming monitor from a legit brand, especially one that also boasts a blazing fast 240Hz refresh rate. We like this monitor so much that we deemed it one of the best OLED gaming monitors of 2024.

27" LG UltraGear 240Hz OLED Gaming Monitor for $599

The LG UltraGear 27GR95QE is a 27" 2560x1440 (1440p) monitor that boasts a 240Hz refresh rate. The combination of OLED and 240Hz is pretty rare in a gaming monitor. Although the GR95QE isn't a true 4K monitor, the plus side is that you don't need to spend a lot of money on a crazy expensive GPU to run games on it. At 1440p resolution, affordable GPU options like the RTX 4070 or 4070 Ti are capable of achieving 240Hz+ framerates on even the newest games. Even something like an RTX 4060 Ti can feasibly hit 240Hz on older games like Fortnite, Apex Legends, or Warzone. A 4K resolution makes sense for a very big gaming monitor, but 1440p is perfect for a smaller 27" size.

OLED panels are generally superior to other panel types because of their near-instantaneous response times (in this case a 0.03ms GtG). the lack of any kind of ghosting, outstanding color reproduction, near infinite contrast ratio, and true black levels. Even Mini-LED panels can't even come close. Like all OLED monitors, the GR95QE isn't the brightest display, so if you're constantly playing in a bright room with no light control, this might not be the monitor for you. In most scenarios, though, it's perfectly acceptable.

LG also includes a 2 year "zero burn-in" warranty. Burn-in warranties are uncommon and a two year burn-in warranty is only reserved for LG's gaming monitors, NOT for their OLED TVs. That's yet another reason to choose a dedicated OLED monitor over converting an OLED TV to monitor use.

Looking for more options? Check out the best gaming monitor deals today.

Amazon is offering the lowest price we've ever seen on the officially licensed WD Black C50 1TB Expansion Card for Xbox Series consoles. Right now it's only $124.99, a 16% off price drop from its original $150 MSRP. It's currently $25 cheaper than the Seagate 1TB Expansion Card. The C50 is one of the best SSDs for the Xbox, which isn't surprising since your options are pretty limited.

WD Black C50 1TB Expansion Card for Xbox for $124.99

The WD Black C50 expansion card is essentially a 1TB NVME SSD encased in a specialized Xbox-compatible shell. Unlike the more complex PS5 SSD installation process, which involves opening up the PS5 to access the SSD slot, the Seagate expansion card simply plugs into its dedicated port on the back of the Xbox.

This expansion card offers the same speed as the internal SSD, ensuring that you won't sacrifice performance or encounter extended load times as you might with a regular USB drive. With a 1TB expansion card, you can double the storage on your Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S Carbon Black Edition console, and triple the storage on your OG (white) Xbox Series S console.

In contrast to the PS5, there are no alternative methods for adding high-speed storage to your Xbox console. Your options are limited to either the WD or Seagate expansion cards, underscoring the importance of seizing a good deal when one becomes available.

Looking for more Xbox accessories? Check out the best Xbox deals today.

Google Play recently decided to pay tribute to Sonic the Hedgehog on social media. Reasonable, given that the famous mascot is currently having a bit of a cultural moment. The only problem? Most of it was completely wrong.

Over the weekend, Google Play’s X/Twitter account took it upon itself to make an impromptu Sonic The Hedgehog appreciation thread where the chili dog-eating hero gets older the more you scroll through it. But the Google Play’s scrapbook-esque thread's dabbling in historical revisionism of the blue hedgehog would spark a wave of corrections, even prompting Sega's own social media account to ask what was on every Sonic fan’s mind: What are you doing?

Google Play’s Sonic-themed thread, which sporadically covers the blue blur’s evolution from 1991 to 2022, is now riddled with community notes criticizing the social media account for its litany of factual errors.

1991 Sonic. The cover? Rotund. Husky. Still fast as lightning. The actual game? 8-bit GLORY 🙌 pic.twitter.com/a2k2j9mvXH

— Google Play (@GooglePlay) April 27, 2024

For instance, Google’s first threaded post of Sonic and Tails in 1991 is actually of Sonic’s 2013 mobile game. The key signifier of this error on Google Plays part is the fact that Tails isn’t Sonic’s companion in the original game. The post also refers to the original Sonic the Hedgehog as "8-bit glory" despite first releasing on the 16-bit Sega Genesis. And that's just the beginning.

what are you doing

— Sonic the Hedgehog (@sonic_hedgehog) April 28, 2024

Other blatant errors in Google Play’s thread include a screenshot of Sonic from 2014’s Sonic Boom cartoon saying this was the “short king” in 1993; a 2022 screenshot of Paramount Picture’s live-action Sonic that was actually from the 2020 movie, and a 2006 Sonic image from the 2017 mobile game Sonic Forces Mobile —which is available on the Google Play store.

Fans went so far as to wonder if AI was used to create the strange thread, not the least because one of the images is poorly altered to remove background characters.

2022 Sonic. Just like us, he’s healed from 2020 but isn’t quite the same 😆 pic.twitter.com/f9XYSeLtxm

— Google Play (@GooglePlay) April 27, 2024

While the endgame of Google Play’s Sonic thread remains a mystery, what isn’t is the fact that Sonic fans are treating it like material for Twitter's version of a comedy club's open mic night with a sea of hilarious memes at Google Play’s expense. Here's one of our favorites.

We all know who's behind this https://t.co/CMgSvvd31X pic.twitter.com/1qpmQu6RRc

— Artvader || Commission Season (@Artvader_AF) April 29, 2024

All in all, it was a strange moment for Sega's biggest franchise, which is otherwise celebrating the release of the Knuckles TV series on Paramount+. We called it a "fun, chaotic bonus level that nails everything that made the Sonic movies great, earning a well-deserved fist bump," and is one more step along the path toward a potential Sonic Cinematic Universe.

In the meantime, the third Sonic the Hedgehog film, starring Keanu Reeves as Shadow the Hedgehog, hits theaters on December 20, 2024.

Isaiah Colbert is a freelance writer at IGN.

With the Fallout TV series topping 65 million viewers to become one of the most watched Prime Video shows ever, the pressure is on for more content set in the wasteland, and Bethesda is seemingly ready to oblige.

In a new interview with Kinda Funny Games, director Todd Howard appeared to tease two unannounced Fallout projects, saying, "We look at what we are doing with the [Fallout] franchise and then we say do we still feel good about — I can't reveal it now — but here is our runway for Fallout as a franchise."

He continued, "When is Season 2 happening. What are we doing on mobile. What are we doing in [Fallout 76]. What are we doing with this thing. What are we doing with this other thing. And when are these landing. And again if I could snap my fingers and have them all be out and ready I would. But the main thing is how do we deliver these at a high quality level. That is always most important."

Howard's oblique comments appear to suggest that at least two projects are in development, though it's unclear what they might be and when they'll be released.

One of the projects may be the Fallout 3 Remaster revealed in the documents accidentally published by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which also leaked an Oblivion remaster and other projects. The remaster did not have a formal date, but appeared to be targeting financial year 2024, which ends in June.

Howard has also said that Fallout 5 will be arriving sometime after Elder Scrolls VI, and that he has a "one-pager" for the project. With Elder Scrolls VI seemingly still in pre-production, though, Fallout 5 may not appear until 2030 or later.

In the meantime, Bethesda recently released the long-awaited Fallout 4 next-gen update, which stirred controversy by breaking various key mods among other issues. Bethesda also confirmed that those who own Fallout 4 via the Playstation Plus Collection do not get the next-gen update for free.

One way or another, demand for Fallout is higher than ever thanks to the success of the show, and Bethesda is seemingly doing its best to keep up. Elsewhere, we talked to Howard in our own interview, where he clarified some of the big questions about Fallout's timeline among other issues. For more, check out our complete guide to Fallout's official timeline as well as everything we know about Fallout 5.

Kat Bailey is IGN's News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.

The best gaming chairs are the best gaming accessory you can buy: after all, during those long gaming sessions, where are you going to sit? So while gaming keyboards and gaming monitors can really lift your gaming experience to the next level, none of it really matters if you don't have a comfortable gaming chair to sit in. Our top entry, the SecretLab Titan Evo, is a perfect example – it's a chair big enough for pretty much any body, and it's comfortable and sturdy enough to sit for hours.

TL;DR – These are the Best Gaming Chairs:

• Secretlab TITAN Evo series - Best Overall
• AndaSeat Kaiser 3 - Best High-End Chair
• Corsair TC100 Relaxed - Best Budget Chair
• Vertagear SL5800 - Best Ergonomics
• Razer Fujin Pro - Best Mesh Chair
• noblechairs Icon - Best Leather Chair
• E-Win Champion - Best Fabric Chair
• Respawn 110 - Best Budget Fabric Chair
• Secretlab TITAN Evo XL - Best Big and Tall Chair
• AutoFull C3 - Best Relaxation Chair
• CordaRoy’s OpTic - Best Bean Bag Chair
• X Rocker Floor Rocking Gaming Chair - Best Rocker Chair

The best gaming chairs offer a place to sink into for hours of gaming without fatigue or pain. Amping up ergonomics with the inclusion of customizable lumbar support, adjustable armrests, and a movable headrest only adds to your comfort, letting you focus on the action in the best PC games.

However, there are an excess of options to choose from. So, we’re here to assist, bringing you 12 tested and researched gaming chairs offering solid frames, high-quality material, and all the creature comforts you could want – and for those in the UK, go here for our top picks on your side of the pond.

The Best Gaming Chairs in 2024

1. Secretlab TITAN Evo series

The Best Gaming Chair

Pros:

• High-quality, durable build
• Comfortable and ergonomic

Cons:

• Backrest foam can be stiff for some

Secretlab continues to wow us with the TITAN series. It takes what we already loved about the series and continues to refine it further with the TITAN Evo series. A soft, spacious, and generously padded seat is still a staple, and the material options of leatherette or fabric hold up great over time. That's paired with a sturdy backrest containing a sneakily added adjustable lumbar support ensuring you maintain good posture and preventing back pain. Plus, you still get a deep recline that locks into place for better relaxation between heated gaming sessions.

Where the latest model changes things up is in the headrest and armrests; Secretlab has ditched straps for holding the neck pillow in place and instead opted for magnets. This makes for a stylish appearance and finer control over positioning. The tops of the 4D armrests are also magnetically attached, so you’ll have an easy time taking them off if you want to swap them out for some of the alternate toppers Secretlab has available. That also means you can your arms in an ergonomic postion for when you're pulled up to the best gaming desk. Note: See below for the XL version!

See Review.

2. AndaSeat Kaiser 3

Best High-End Gaming Chair

Pros:

• Built-in, adjustable lumbar support
• Wide plush seat and a long backrest

Cons:

• Aggressive racing-style design

The AndaSeat Kaiser 3 is a perfect teammate whether you pull it up to your gaming desk or kick back while playing the PS5 or Xbox Series X on the big gaming TV. You’ll rest comfortably for hours on this racing-style chair’s wide, plush seat that loses those uncomfortable side bolsters, ensuring you can place your legs in whatever position you please. That seat, along with the tall backrest, is wrapped in either a durable PVC leather or soft fabric and sits on a sturdy frame ready to hold a range of gamers up to 260 pounds—an XL version supports up to 395 pounds.

Ergonomics were not forgotten on this throne, starting with the 4D armrests featuring magnetically interchangeable toppers, while inside the backrest, you’ll find easily adjustable lumbar support. A memory foam neck pillow even attaches to the headrest at different heights. When you want to kick it between games, the chair reclines down to 165°, and the seat base rocks, helping to get out some nervous energy.

See Review.

3. Corsair TC100 Relaxed Gaming Chair

Best Budget Gaming Chair

Pros:

• Breathable, long-lasting leatherette or fabric material
• Back and neck pillows included

Cons:

• No built-in lumbar support

Corsair isn’t new to the gaming chair game, and that knowledge extends to their wallet-friendly option, the TC100 Relaxed. This racing-style throne offers a robust steel frame and wide seat packed with plush padding to ensure your behind is comfortable during long playing sessions. The entire seat is then wrapped in a durable leatherette or soft fabric material with perforated sections for extra breathability to stay cool during intense play sessions.

Setting you back only $250, this budget gaming chair is great for those that splurged on one of the best gaming PC deals. Though it isn’t as feature-full as more expensive chairs, it has all the basics you need. 2D armrests and a gas lift with a wide range of height adjustments make for an ergonomic alignment with your desk. There is no built-in lumbar support. However, back and neck pillows come with it, while a deep recline lets you kick back between matches.

4. Vertagear SL5800

Best Ergonomic Gaming Chair

Pros:

• Ample adjustability
• Ultra-plush, well-ventilated bottom and back cushions

Cons:

• Lumbar support is not adjustable

Ergonomics are the number one feature you will want in a chair, especially if you plan on spending a lot of time sitting. With that in mind, the VertaGear SL5800 offers the most adjustability in a gaming chair we’ve seen. It starts with a ContourMax lumbar support system that combines a layer of memory foam with four flexible panels that adjust to the shape of your back.

Meanwhile, you’re seated on a highly ventilated and plush VertaAir Seat. The bottom cushion is basically fitted with eight foam pucks with a host of air funnels to keep your bottom from getting hot while seated. Add in all the adjustability you get from the seat height, tilting backrest, and armrest, and you can seriously tune your setup for maximum comfort.

5. Razer Fujin Pro

Best Mesh Gaming Chair

Pros:

• Easy to assemble
• Excellent lumbar support system

Cons:

• Can’t fully recline

While the Razer Fujin Pro doesn’t look much like a gaming chair, nor does it boast stylish colors or fancy patterns, this mesh chair offers refined elegance that contours to your shape. The built-in lumbar support helps you from slouching in your chair, and the shape promotes healthy blood circulation. Plus, most of the mechanics can be adjusted.

Easy to assemble, this gaming chair can be built in around 15 minutes, so you can get your gaming on in no time. When it’s time to sit down, you’ll appreciate the Razer Fujin Pro’s supportive cushioning, promoting the right ergonomics for you to work and game with. No, you can’t fully recline the chair, you can tilt it to 130 degrees; but it stops you from putting yourself into a position that you might not be able to get up from.

See Review.

6. noblechairs Icon

Best Leather Gaming Chair

Pros:

• Durable and sophisticated genuine leather
• Subdued design

Cons:

• Expensive

Leather often comes at a premium, but it is super durable and adds a bit of sophistication to your setup. The noblechairs Icon is one of the few gaming chairs that use real, genuine leather, rather than a typical PU and other synthetic leather option. Inside the leather-wrapped seat is a healthy dose of cold foam for a soft, comfy place to rest your behind for extended gaming sessions. The subdued design also doesn't scream "gaming chair," so it fits in just as well in a work environment as in a gaming one.

On top of the noblechairs Icon premium leather design, it is also highly adjustable. The seat can be raised or lowered nearly 4-inches in height, giving you plenty of room to get a proper position at your desk. The 4D armrests make it that much easier to find an ideal ergonomic setup. Plus, when you want to kick back, the chair can recline back to 135 degrees, and the base provides a bit of rocking range as well. Though the design doesn’t insist on them, the Icon includes a lumbar cushion and neck pillow for those who want a little extra support.

7. E-Win Champion

Best Fabric Gaming Chair

Pros:

• Plush softweave material for breathability
• Well-padded 4D armrests

Cons:

• Mediocre adjustable lumbar support

For those of us who enjoy wearing shorts when gaming, we all know the inevitable sticky, sweaty, nastiness that can happen during extended play sessions while relaxing in PU leather or leather chairs. Going for a fabric option like the E-Win Champion helps avoid the issues plaguing those types of seats. With it, you get a plush, beautifully-textured softweave material wrapped around the backrest and seat cushion that’s surprisingly breathable, making it ideal for gaming marathons. In fact, the seat cushion is made of a temperature and pressure sensitive cold cure foam, preventing overheating while providing just the right amount of support—not too firm or too soft.

Admittedly, the E-Win Champion series isn’t going to win any awards for its adjustable lumbar support. So, if you suffer from back pain, you might want to seek another option, though an included lumbar pillow does help slightly remedy this problem. Otherwise, the chair’s ergonomics are solid with well-padded 4D armrests, a deep tilt, and decent height adjustability, ensuring ultimate comfort.

See Review.

8. Respawn 110

Best Budget Fabric Gaming Chair

Pros:

• Soft, breathable, and long-lasting fabric
• Built-in lumbar support and headrest

Cons:

• Non-adjustable armrests

A good chunk of gaming chairs feature PU leather or pleather for the haters, but if you’re gaming in shorts or a tank top, it doesn’t always feel great on the skin, especially when the inevitable sweat starts to happen. To avoid that sticky situation, you can snag a fabric option, like the Respawn 110, while still staying on budget. You’ll welcome this racing-style chair’s soft, breathable, and surprisingly durable material that’s ready for even your longest gaming sessions.

Respawn didn’t skimp on features, starting with its large, inviting seat toting built-in lumbar support and headrest, while a sturdy frame and piston can hold 275 pounds, so bigger gamers need not shy away. If you want to kick back after each match, you get a deep 135-degree recline, and the tilt tension is adjustable for a bit of rocking action. Unfortunately, the armrests don’t move, but at least it’s easy enough to adjust the seat height to get ergonomic positioning at your gaming desk.

9. Secretlab TITAN Evo series XL

Best Big and Tall Gaming Chair

Pros:

• Wide, well-cushioned seat
• Sturdy, reliable build, ready to hold large max load

Cons:

• Pricier than the smaller model

The Secretlab TITAN Evo series is already in this guide, but we’re happy to see it in an XL model, making it the best big and tall gaming chair. It features a slightly larger form, so you get a wide seat at 19.3 inches, while the bolsters on either side add to that total width. Secretlab also uses a Class 4 lift that combines with the rest of its sturdy structure to support a hefty 395-pound max load.

The Secretlab TITAN Evo Series doesn’t forget taller gamers, as it’s ready for individuals ranging from 5-foot-11 to 6-foot-9 with its high back. Of course, you still get all those ergonomic luxuries like integrated adjustable lumbar support, a magnetic neck pillow, and magnetic 4D armrests that you can swap out to get your optimal arm position. It doesn’t stop there, as your behind rests in a well-cushioned memory foam seat with cooling gel, and the base of the chair can even tilt as you recline, letting you comfortably sink back without sliding out in between matches on your gaming PC.

Before you shop, keep in mind there are really cool limited edition and speciality styles you can from Secretlab in XL size, beyond the simple black or gray chair design. So, depending on your gaming, anime and entertainment franchise interests, you may even want to splurge on a more colorful Esports design (like Cloud9), a special edition design like Mortal Kombat or Cyberpunk 2077, or of course a classic franchise favorite such as Star Wars Stormtrooper or Batman:

10. AutoFull C3

Best Gaming Chair for Relaxation

Pros:

• Retractable footrest and deep recline for relaxation
• Sturdy all-steel frame

Cons:

• Can’t adjust lumbar support pillow

Sometimes, you want to kick back between intense matches, and the AutoFull C3 lets you do exactly that. While enthralled in the action, this gaming chair keeps you comfortable and focused with a lumbar pillow to dissipate back pressure and a high-density foam seat to ensure your behind doesn’t get sore during longer play sessions. But this seat especially shines in relaxation, as it has a deep 165° recline, supports rocking, and even offers a retractable footrest, so this chair is perfect for getting in a quick nap or watching TV.

Given the chair’s affordable price tag, you may question how well it holds up. Luckily, the AutoFull C3’s seat rests on an all-steel frame and durable nylon base ready to support up to 350 pounds, while the 2D armrests are super stable. A sleek PVC leather wraps around the racing-style seat, making it easy to clean, and the SGS level 4 certified gas cylinder ensures adjusting the chair is smooth and simple.

11. CordaRoy’s OpTic Gaming Bean Bag

Best Bean Bag Chair for Gaming

Pros:

• Large and plush
• Folds out into full, queen, or king size bed

Cons:

• Expensive

Gaming chairs are great and all, but maybe you want something you can pull up to a gaming TV or melt into when playing on your portable gaming PC. That’s where one of the best gaming bean bag chairs come into play, like CordaRoy’s OpTic. This seat is large, plush, and built to last—with its lifetime guarantee. Under the cover, you’ll find a polyfoam rather than your typical beans that tend to flatten over time, ensuring your comfort is never compromised.

CordaRoy’s OpTic isn’t your usual bean bag chair, as once you unzip and take off the easy-to-remove, machine-washable cover, you’ll discover the seat folds out into a proper bed. It isn’t some tiny, make-shift mat either; you can choose between full, queen, and king sizes 8-10 inches thick. So, whether you want to nap between matches or gaming marathons with friends go a little too late, and they need a place to crash, this versatile bean bag chair is ready.

12. X Rocker Floor Rocking Gaming Chair

Best Rocker Gaming Chair

Pros:

• Built-in speakers
• Foldable

Cons:

• Plastic frame

Rather than pulling up to a gaming desk, maybe, you're looking for a seat that sits perfectly in front of the best gaming TVs. That’s where the best rocker gaming chairs come into play–literally– and our favorite is the X Rocker Floor Rocking Gaming Chair. You’ll enjoy the c-shaped, free rocking design these seats are known for, while plush padding adds to comfort and faux leather covering makes for easy cleaning. However, given the plastic frame and smaller dimensions, it’s best for smaller gamers and children.

The X Rocker Floor Rocking Gaming Chair does more than rock. It has a built-in speaker system for deeper immersion into your games, movies, shows, and music. Connecting your audio is simple thanks to Bluetooth support or an aux input, and compatibility with all the latest consoles makes it even better. Plus, when you’re done using the chair, it’s foldable for easy storage.

How We Choose the Best Gaming Chairs

When choosing the best gaming chairs for this guide, we did extensive research and testing—attempting to get our behinds in as many seats as possible to see how they held up to real-world use. Even if we couldn’t use the chair ourselves, we were sure to pay close attention to different specs and pricing, helping significantly narrow our picks.

Beyond the basics of the chair size and max load, we looked into the materials used, whether it be the fabric and cushioning in the seat or the frame’s build, ensuring durability over time. Of course, many chairs are full of extra features, including tilt, recline, lumbar support, 4D armrests, neck pillows, and more, making for a better gaming experience, and we checked that they were up to snuff. Cost is always important, if not the most important factor, so all our picks deliver great value for their price.

How to Choose the Best Gaming Chair

The biggest determining factor in the gaming chair you choose will most likely be the price. Going out with a set budget is helpful, as you’ll find chairs ranging from under $50 to almost $1,000. Cheaper gaming chairs, like the Corsair TC100 Relaxed, still deliver the comfort of more expensive offerings. You just need to be prepared to sacrifice features, like 4D armrests or adjustable lumbar support. Though we’d stay away from anything under $100, especially if the chair makes promises that appear too good to be true.

With design, comfort is king; nobody wants to spend hours in a seat that causes back or neck pain. Finding a chair that’s the right size for you is essential for preventing discomfort. Luckily, most chairs list their dimensions, so you’ll want a wide, well-cushioned seat, a long backrest, and a good range of height adjustability, especially if you’re a larger-than-average gamer. All that should rest on a sturdy metal frame ready to hold your full body weight. If you’re looking into a racing-style chair with bucket seats, like the AndaSeat Kaiser 3, pay special mind to the bolsters, as they can dig into your thighs.

When making your decision, you can’t forget about the material used, and for the most part, gaming chairs offer PU leather, fabric, or mesh. PU leather is easy to clean but may not always be super durable and gets hot when wearing shorts. Fabric, which is used on the E-Win Champion, won’t be as easy to clean, though it’s less of a heat magnet. Mesh is the most breathable option. However, you’ll lose the cushioned seat and backrest in favor of a suspension system, which can be a hit or miss. The Razer Fujin Pro is one chair that gets mesh right.

After locking those in, a movable headrest, adjustable armrests, and customizable lumbar support can enhance the chair’s ergonomics. But these features often up the price of the chair. Other quality-of-life additions, like a tilting or rocking mechanism, also help with relaxation between heated gaming sessions.

Keeping all this in mind ensures you know how to pick the perfect gaming chair for your needs.

Gaming Chair: FAQs

How much is a gaming chair?

While you can buy a gaming chair for $79 or less, doing so is just asking for eventual pain. Something cheap is usually nothing more than a cheap plastic frame (versus steel) with some thin fabric or pleather upholstery on top.

You can get a quality gaming chair for as little as $200 and that’s the absolute bottom floor of affordability we’d go for. Spending $300 or more will get you access to better options like the Secretlab TITAN Evo series and AndaSeat Kaiser 3. If your budget allows you to soar a bit higher, more expensive gaming chairs start to come with built-in lumbar support, cooling gel layers, and even more adjustable ergonomics; not to mention RGB LED Kits and more. It all depends on what matters most to you in the longterm.

How should you sit in a gaming chair?

Between the tall back and support pillows, you should almost feel like you're being forced to sit up straight. Making them feel almost a little challenging and uncomfortable to sit in. That might sound counterintuitive to how chairs are supposed to be just comfortable, but it'll help save you from a lifetime of lower back pain and developing other gaming-related health complications like repetitive strain injury.

Alternatively, most gaming chairs come with a lever like you’re ejecting out of a jet fighter. This is used to recline all the way back so you can lie on the gaming chair like it’s a mini bed.

Should you get a gaming chair or an office chair?

One of the biggest differences between gaming chairs vs office chairs is the seats with gaming in mind often come toting a long back and a headrest to better support your back and shoulders than a short office chair. Extra lumbar and neck pillows on gaming chairs help keep you sitting straighter, while office chairs often offer more effective lumbar support and better seat adjustability. However, gaming chairs usually deliver a deeper recline for better relaxation.

Of course, aesthetics set the two apart, as gaming chairs often feature distinct racing-style seats and come in a variety of colors with big logos, while office chairs keep it much more subdued.

How do you ensure your gaming chair is comfortable?

No matter which type of gaming chair you choose, one thing you'll definitely want is solid, adjustable ergonomics. When we say that we mean a chair with customizable lumbar support, adjustable armrests, levers to tilt and height, and a movable headrest. For the most part, all the gaming chairs on this list include at least one to all the points of adjustability mentioned and you'll want to take advantage of them. Be sure to pick the right size for you, as taller folks may need an XL size for the most support and back comfort.

In short, look for:

• Customizable lumbar support
• Adjustable armrests
• Levers to tilt and height
• Headrest (movable)
• Size (best for your weight and height)

What’s the best brand of gaming chair?

Your classic gaming brands like Razer and Corsair have been known to make mean chairs. Otherwise, brands like Secretlab, AndaSeat, and E-Win consistently deliver comfortable, well-built seats that last a long while for a mid-range price. We’d be remiss not to mention the icon that is Herman Miller. Though expensive, its chairs are made with the best materials and are full of ergonomic features. Just be wary of some brands available only on Amazon, as some offerings may be cheap, but they’re also cheapy. It may be worth it to spend extra on a more notable company.

Best Gaming Chairs in the UK

When it comes to gaming chairs in the UK, the Secretlab TITAN Evo series is the best option available. It offers a durable construction and ergonomic features like adjustable lumbar support and a multi-tilt mechanism. The attention to detail and customizability make it a favorite among serious gamers looking for a high-end chair that can keep up with their long gaming sessions. But ultimately, the best gaming chair for you will depend on your personal preferences and budget.

What's been your favorite gaming chair and why? Let us know in the comments.

Contributions from Danielle Abraham, freelance tech writer, and Kevin Lee.

Image Credit: Annalee Tsujino is a multi disciplinary designer and illustrator. Check them out on Instagram @antsu_illustrations.

It turns out Tesla isn't the only car manufacturer experiencing a mass recall for its video-game-esque car because of pedal-related issues. Now a bunch of drivable Mario Kart toys are being recalled because they seems to pose a significant crash hazard to their drivers.

JAKKs Pacific, a California-based toy company, recalled 17,500 units of its Mario Kart 24V Ride-On Racer Cars on April 25 because of a crash hazard related to its battery-powered acceleration pedal. According to the United States Consumer Product and Safety Commission, if debris gets clogged in the $400 Mario Kart’s acceleration pedal, it can cause the pedal to stick even if the rider’s foot isn’t pressing down on it.

“The firm has received 65 reports of incidents of debris-clogged pedals sticking, of which 15 of the vehicles crashed into permanent structures with one minor injury, a chafed hand,” the United States Consumer Product and Safety Commission wrote in its recall report.

For anyone who already purchased the Mario Kart from online and brick-and-mortar stores like Amazon, Walmart, or Target, between October 2022 to January 2024, the United States Consumer Product and Safety Commission recommends that users immediately stop using it and contact Jakks Pacific to receive a free repair kit, which includes a free replacement pedal and installation instructions.

If there’s an upside to this whole debacle, it's that gamers will have a genuine experience modding their karts just like they were in Mario Kart 8.

Isaiah Colbert is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow them on Twitter @ShinEyeZehUhh.

It's official: Fallout is a hit for Prime Video. The streamer revealed that the television adaptation topped 65 million viewers in first 16 days, making it the second most-watched title ever on the service and the biggest since Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

Prime Video shared the relevant stats in an official release, claiming among other things that it's the most-watched show among adults age 18-34 on the service. Its numbers have already propelled it to the top of Prime Video's charts, topping even popular mainstays like The Boys.

Fallout debuted to strong reviews and more than a little controversy over the timeline in early April. Season 2 has already been confirmed, and we already know a bit about where it will be set and what iconic monster will be making its debut.

In the meantime, Fallout's viewership seemingly adds fuel to the growing sentiment within Hollywood that video games are the new superheroes. Last year, The Last of Us was a big hit for HBO, and Nintendo found huge success at the box office with Super Mario Bros. Numerous other video game adaptations are now in the works, from Borderlands to God of War. Even Knuckles has his own show now (though some fans are at odds with how little the echidna actually appears).

For more, check out our full interview with Todd Howard and Jonathan Nolan, who answer all of our burning questions about the Fallout TV series and more.

Kat Bailey is IGN's News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.

You want your games to look great without spending a fortune, right? Great gaming monitors needn’t break your visual jam or bank, since you can get your hands on incredible options like the HP OMEN 27q, which happens to be our top "cheap" gaming monitor pick right now. Jump to our picks of the best gaming monitors on a budget, or check out your quick shopping list below:

TL;DR – These are the Best Budget Gaming Monitors:

• HP OMEN 27q
• Asus TUF Gaming VG259QR
• LG 27GN800-B
• Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q
• Asus ROG Swift PG329Q
• Dell S3422DWG
• Alienware AW2523HF
• HP OMEN 32q

Just like top tier TVs, gaming monitors can get extremely expensive, especially if you’re going for a high-end option like the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9. However, if you would rather spend that extra money on one of the best graphics cards or another component to spice up your gaming PC, there are cheap displays for pretty much any type of PC gamer.

Whether you’re looking for a cheap 4K gaming monitor or a whopping 360Hz refresh rate, you can still pick up a gaming monitor that offers premium features without the hefty price tag. (See them in the UK.)

The Best Budget Gaming Monitors

1. HP OMEN 27q

Best Budget Gaming Monitor

Combining affordability and quality features, the HP OMEN 27q might make you wonder why you ever paid more. It totes an IPS panel with a 400 nit peak brightness, making it possible to take advantage of HDR, albeit basic. Whatever you’re viewing will look rich, vibrant, and colorful, while the 1440p resolution hits the sweet spot with the 27-inch display, ensuring crisp, clean graphics in every frame. The contrast ratio isn’t the best out there, but it’s no worse than other monitors of this type. Still, at a typical retail price below $300, those flaws can be forgiven.

If you’re into playing fast-paced games on your gaming PC, you’ll welcome the screen’s 165Hz refresh rate and adaptive sync technology. That, along with the 1ms response time, means games should remain silky smooth and tear-free, no matter how graphically heavy they become. HP also throws in a sturdy, height-adjustable stand and a VESA mount while packing in a DisplayPort 1.4 for an easy connection to your PC and two HDMI 2.0 ports that let you play games on console at 144Hz.

2. Asus TUF Gaming VG259QR

Best Budget 1080p Gaming Monitor

• See it on Target

The Asus TUF Gaming VG259QR has an IPS panel over a VA panel, so you’re in for some incredible motion performance. With a refresh rate up to 165Hz and Nvidia G-Sync compatibility, games will be smooth and stutter-free. A shadow boost feature also helps to expose enemies lurking in the shadows. Clearly, it’s great for gamers who want a budget display for competitive titles.

This 1080p gaming monitor offers up a wide viewing angle of 178 degrees, so you can see the screen whether you’re sitting or standing. Plus, an anti-flicker feature and ultra-low blue light prevent eye fatigue, making you good to game for hours. It does have a less than stellar contrast ratio though.

The VG259QR ticks off the required quality-of-life boxes with a height-adjustable, pivoting stand. Plus, there are two HDMI ports, and one DisplayPort for ample connectivity opportunities.

3. LG UltraGear 27GN800-B

Best Budget 1440p Gaming Monitor

• See it on Target

The LG Ultragear 27GN800-B is a great upgrade for gamers on a budget. For under $300, you get a boost in resolution to 2,560 x 1,440, which brings a serious increase in sharpness compared to a 1080p monitor. Those crisp visuals will pop even more thanks to great color accuracy on a 27-inch screen, though the contrast ratio is a bit disappointing in dark scenes. And, even if you’re gaming in a sunny room, the display is plenty bright to still enjoy your content.

This monitor excels in other areas, too. It has a 144Hz refresh rate and is compatible with AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync for smooth, tear-free HDR gaming. The LG Ultragear 27GN800-B also manages to be virtually bezel-less on three sides, helping keep you further immersed in the action.

There’s just one major flaw worth noting, and that’s the lack of a height-adjustable stand. The monitor has a 100mm x 100mm VESA mount, however, so you can add a third-party stand or monitor arm if needed.

4. Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q

Best Budget 4K Gaming Monitor

• See it on Amazon

4K resolution is not easy to find on a tight budget, but the Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q makes it possible. It has a 4K IPS panel with support for AMD FreeSync. The 28-inch display provides a sharp, smooth look that will blow a 1080p budget gaming monitor out of the water. With good color performance and reasonable contrast for an IPS display, there’s really no comparison after you see the under $320 price tag.

The impressive resolution does mean you sacrifice refresh rate, as this monitor is limited to 60Hz, but anything higher will be difficult for most graphics cards to hit anyways. There is, however, a stunning HDR gaming mode as well as a shadow boost feature, helping you to get the most enjoyment out of your games.

The TUF Gaming VG289Q includes an ergonomic stand that’s height-adjustable, swivels, and tilts, so you can find your ideal viewing angle. It’s rich in connectivity, as well, with two HDMI ports, and one DisplayPort. Asus has an alternative model, the VG289Q1A, which ditches one HDMI port and the height-adjustable stand to reach an even lower price.

5. Asus ROG Swift PG329Q

Best Budget HDR Gaming Monitor

By admission, the Asus ROG Swift PG329Q is much more expensive than other monitors on this list. Despite that, it’s here for good reason. This is the least expensive HDR-capable monitor we recommend buying on the merits of its HDR performance.

The PG329Q has a maximum brightness of up to 600 cd/m2, which is almost twice that of other budget monitors on this list, but it’s necessary to make HDR matter. It delivers a punchy, vivid experience that will make you want to turn on HDR in every game that supports it.

Overall image quality is excellent. This is a large 32-inch monitor with 1440p resolution, a maximum refresh rate of 175Hz, and Nvidia G-Sync support. It’s smooth, colorful, and eye-catching, though the contrast ratio is low, as typical of monitors with an IPS panel.

6. Dell S3422DWG

Best Budget Ultrawide Gaming Monitor

• See it on Dell

An ultrawide curved monitor is a great choice if you want an immersive gaming experience, and the Dell S3422DWG stands out as the best budget ultrawide. It has a contrast-rich VA panel with a resolution of 3,440 x 1,440 that provides a vibrant, sharp image that looks great in any genre of game. The 21:9 aspect ratio and slight curvature of the screen wrap around your field of vision, so you can focus on the action occurring in your games rather than outside distractions.

The monitor features a solid 144Hz refresh rate and supports AMD FreeSync. This means your games should play butter smooth. The S3422DWG can suffer motion blur behind dark objects. Motion clarity is otherwise strong.

Despite its competitive price, the S3422DWG is an attractive monitor. It has a height-adjustable stand, two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort, and can even be used as a USB hub.

7. Alienware AW2523HF

Best Budget 360Hz Gaming Monitor

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Forget 240Hz gaming monitors with the blazing-fast refresh rate of the Alienware AW2523HF delivers. You’ll get insanely speedy frames up to 360Hz, while AMD FreeSync support and Nvidia G-Sync compatibility ensure your screen and graphics card play nicely for some next-level silky smooth action in 1080p when playing the best PC games. It’s a fantastic monitor for competitive E-sports players, as you experience virtually no motion blur and will also enjoy super low input lag.

The Alienware AW2523HF doesn’t stop there, delivering decent color accuracy and better-than-average contrast performance for an IPS monitor. The 1080p resolution is not the sharpest, but that’s an acceptable trade-off given the monitor’s high refresh rate and an easily attainable price under $400. The solid display also lives on a robust adjustable stand offering great ergonomics and a subdued look to fit perfectly in any environment.

8. HP Omen 32q

Best Budget 32-inch Gaming Monitor

Sometimes you want to go bigger to see all of the action of the game a bit closer, and the HP Omen 32q has you covered for a budget price. The 31.5-inch display features a 1440p resolution with a 165Hz refresh rate and supports AMD FreeSync for supreme motion clarity.

This monitor uses an IPS panel that delivers great color performance, though its contrast is not the best. That means darker games may look flat or dull. HP claims there’s HDR support with the display’s max brightness being 400 nits, though it’s not VESA DisplayHDR 400 certified, and like other similarly priced monitors, don’t buy it for the HDR.

The HP Omen 32q has one DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.0 ports but lacks USB connectivity. It rests on a sturdy, compact square stand that’s adjustable to get the ideal viewing angle.

Where to Get the Best Budget Gaming Monitors in the UK

You don't always need to spend above and beyond to ensure you're getting a decent gaming monitor. There are plenty of brilliant, and affordable, options available to those in the UK, with all the big brands set and ready to take your orders.

What to Look for in a Cheap/Budget Gaming Monitor

In short, you'll want to consider what type of gamer you are and look at these main factors:

Gamers on a tight budget don’t have to make as many sacrifices as they once did, but there’s still a need for some compromise. In general, you can go for a higher resolution, or you can go for a higher refresh rate, but you sadly won’t be able to snag both in a budget gaming monitor.

1080p remains the standard go-to resolution in budget displays. It certainly lacks the clarity of modern 4K TVs, but on the plus side, the low display resolution means you won’t need high-end hardware to play new games. 1440p resolution is a nice upgrade, and a better overall value if you can stretch your budget. A 1440p monitor with a 27-inch screen actually has a higher pixel density than a 48-inch 4K television. However, this means a 240Hz refresh rate will no longer be affordable.

4K is available on a budget but only at a 60Hz refresh rate. Some gamers might contend a 4K 60Hz display doesn’t truly qualify as a gaming monitor. In any case, this is the compromise you must make if you want to play at 4K for as little cash as possible.

The refresh rate of budget gaming monitors is generally 60 to 240Hz, with most landing at 144Hz or 165Hz. A refresh rate of 144Hz is a great all-around choice that can handle most games with ease, but 240Hz is a noticeable upgrade for players who only care about competitive titles. 360Hz is also now in reach for cheaper gaming monitors.

It’s important to note a monitor’s maximum refresh rate may not be supported by every input. For example, many monitors that reach up to 165Hz will only support 144Hz over HDMI. DisplayPort is the best bet if you want to use a high refresh rate.

A monitor’s display panel technology is an important and often overlooked factor. All the monitors we recommend use either an IPS or VA panel. IPS panels are prized for motion clarity, vibrance, and responsiveness, all of which makes them great for competitive gaming. VA panels have a much better contrast ratio and far superior dark scene performance, so they’re better for games with immersive, high-end graphics.

Screen size is less of a limitation than it used to be. Our budget gaming monitor guide includes options for 24-inch, 27-inch, and 32-inch monitors, and a 34-inch ultrawide. Smaller monitors tend to be less expensive and are also preferred by competitive gamers, who want the entire display to be firmly within their focus. Larger monitors are more immersive and a better choice for immersive gaming. With that said, it is possible to buy a monitor that’s too large for your desk, so make sure to measure if you’re unsure. If in doubt, a 27-inch monitor with a 16:9 aspect ratio is a safe bet.

It’s wise to buy a monitor with Nvidia G-Sync or AMD FreeSync support, depending on whether you have an Nvidia or AMD video card. Many budget gaming monitors support both. Our picks all list the standards they support.

Finally, a note about HDR. We only recommend one HDR monitor on this list, and while it’s a great value, it’s also by far the most expensive recommended here. While HDR is available on other affordable monitors, it unfortunately remains unimpressive on most as they only get up to a maximum 400-nits of screen brightness. We suggest looking for a monitor that’s at least VESA DisplayHDR 600 certified if HDR matters to you.

Danielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.