Hasta La Gadget!

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the franchise and the release of Halo: Infinite, Microsoft has teamed up with Swarovski to craft crystal Master Chief Mjolnir helmets and Energy Swords. I don’t know about you, but I could see either dangling proudly from a gold chain around my neck.

Swarovski created 117 of the helmets and swords (in honor of Master Chief’s Spartan number), which will be given away to fans in raffles via visiting a Swarovski store and scanning a QR code, or entering online at their website. I just created eight new email addresses to increase my winning chances and will be absolutely crushed if I don’t get one.

Master Chief’s Mjolnir helmet was cut from a single crystal and contains 140 facets, and the Energy Sword was constructed from 13 crystal pieces with 204 total facets. The helmet also includes a tinted visor portion, so you know it’s Master Chief’s and not just some dirt bike helmet. That will be an important distinction when I’m reselling the one I win from the contest on eBay.

[via GameSpot]

“Encanto,” “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” and “House of Gucci” repeated in the top three spots at the box office.

Don’t worry if you missed out on a Fitbit during Black Friday sales — there are now some big deals to help you stay in shape during the holidays. The Charge 5 has returned to a record-low price of $130 at Amazon, or $50 below its usual sticker. That could make it a solid bargain if you’re looking for a high-end, fitness-focused activity tracker from a well-known name. The Inspire 2 is also down to $60 (normally $100) if you’re happy with the essentials.

Buy Charge 5 at Amazon – $130Buy Inspire 2 at Amazon – $60

The Charge 5 ticks many of the boxes if you’re determine to stay in shape. The extensive fitness and health tracking features help, particularly if you get the advanced data from Fitbit Premium. You can optimize your workout performance and understand your sleep quality, for instance. You can track your stress in addition to heart rate and blood oxygen level, and you’ll have perks like GPS, Fitbit Pay and multi-day battery life.

There are limitations. Fitbit doesn’t share activity data with Apple Health or Google Fit, and you can’t steer music from the tracker’s screen. There’s also the matter of competition: you can find some close-enough alternatives from companies like Amazfit, Xiaomi and Amazon itself that will cost less (at least up front) if you can do without some frills. Fitbit’s experience in the field matters, though, and the sale price makes the Charge 5 considerably more tempting.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

It didn’t take long for Epic to confirm Fortnite Chapter 3 details. The developer has officially released a trailer that outlines what to expect both in Chapter 3 and its first season, “Flipped.” The new island is the star, with the flip from the Chapter 2 finale leading to a complete landscape overhaul that includes chaotic weather. However, the gameplay changes are arguably more important — you’ll have to rethink your tactics.

The sliding and swinging mechanics should help you move (and dodge) faster than before. Camps help your squad heal and store items that persist between matches. You can also earn XP beyond battle royale, and hold on to a Victory Crown if you keep winning. Epic is clearly hoping to both foster a non-combat metaverse and keep its top-tier players coming back.

And yes, there are new characters. Spider-Man is well-suited to the new swinging mechanic, but you can also play as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s Fortnite character The Foundation, or Gears of War‘s Marcus and Kait. Think of them as the poster children for Chapter 3. They may help draw you in, but it’s the fresh gameplay that might keep you playing in the long run.