It may not be Black Friday yet, but the holiday shopping blitz is already well underway with some significant discounts on games and gaming devices. Steam is in the middle of its Autumn Sale that runs until December 4 and includes a discount on the LCD Steam Deck.
No, it’s not the OLED Steam Deck, but Steam is offering the 512GB Steam Deck with a 25 percent discount that brings the price down to $336.75. Steam’s sale also offered the smaller 64GB LCD model with a 15 percent discount for less than $300 but they’ve already run out of stock.
This may be the best time to pick up a Steam Deck since last summer. In June, Steam knocked down the price of the 64GB variant to just under $300 and the 512GB version for under $400. The 64 and 512GB models are discontinued and won’t be available once Steam runs out of stock. The 256GB LCD model is sticking around for a little while longer for those gamers who can’t afford the fancier versions.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/steams-autumn-sale-sees-deep-discounts-on-lcd-steam-decks-and-select-games-202918983.html?src=rss
It may not be Black Friday yet, but the holiday shopping blitz is already well underway with some significant discounts on games and gaming devices. Steam is in the middle of its Autumn Sale that runs until December 4 and includes a discount on the LCD Steam Deck.
No, it’s not the OLED Steam Deck, but Steam is offering the 512GB Steam Deck with a 25 percent discount that brings the price down to $336.75. Steam’s sale also offered the smaller 64GB LCD model with a 15 percent discount for less than $300 but they’ve already run out of stock.
This may be the best time to pick up a Steam Deck since last summer. In June, Steam knocked down the price of the 64GB variant to just under $300 and the 512GB version for under $400. The 64 and 512GB models are discontinued and won’t be available once Steam runs out of stock. The 256GB LCD model is sticking around for a little while longer for those gamers who can’t afford the fancier versions.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/steams-autumn-sale-sees-deep-discounts-on-lcd-steam-decks-and-select-games-202918983.html?src=rss
It may not be Black Friday yet, but the holiday shopping blitz is already well underway with some significant discounts on games and gaming devices. Steam is in the middle of its Autumn Sale that runs until December 4 and includes a discount on the LCD Steam Deck.
No, it’s not the OLED Steam Deck, but Steam is offering the 512GB Steam Deck with a 25 percent discount that brings the price down to $336.75. Steam’s sale also offered the smaller 64GB LCD model with a 15 percent discount for less than $300 but they’ve already run out of stock.
This may be the best time to pick up a Steam Deck since last summer. In June, Steam knocked down the price of the 64GB variant to just under $300 and the 512GB version for under $400. The 64 and 512GB models are discontinued and won’t be available once Steam runs out of stock. The 256GB LCD model is sticking around for a little while longer for those gamers who can’t afford the fancier versions.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/steams-autumn-sale-sees-deep-discounts-on-lcd-steam-decks-and-select-games-202918983.html?src=rss
European investigators believe a Chinese-owned commercial ship deliberately dragged its anchor to sabotage the two undersea telecommunications cables cut in the Baltic Sea earlier this month. However, Western law enforcement and intelligence officials told The Wall Street Journal that they don’t believe the Chinese government was involved. Instead, the probe is focused on whether Russian intelligence persuaded the vessel’s captain to carry out the operation.
For the past week, NATO warships from Denmark, Germany and Sweden have surrounded the 225-meter-long Yi Peng 3. The ship’s Chinese owner, Ningbo Yipeng Shipping, is reportedly cooperating with investigators. The shipper allowed the commercial vessel to be stopped in international waters.
The WSJ says Swedish and German authorities are negotiating with the owner to access the ship and its crew. International maritime laws prevent NATO from forcing the vessel to sail into one of their ports.
European investigators believe the Yi Peng 3 dragged its anchor for over 100 miles along the Baltic seabed from November 17 to 18. They reportedly viewed satellite and other data showing that the vessel moved significantly slower than usual while weighed down by the anchor.
It severed two data cables: one connecting Lithuania and Sweden and another between Finland and Germany. After cutting the second cable, the ship reportedly zig-zagged, raised anchor, and continued.
Officials said the ship’s transponder was shut down during the incident. Investigators told theWSJ that their review of the anchor and hull showed damage consistent with that account.
“It’s extremely unlikely that the captain would not have noticed that his ship dropped and dragged its anchor, losing speed for hours and cutting cables on the way,” a senior European investigator told the WSJ. An analytics company specializing in international shipping told the paper that the likelihood of accidental anchor dragging “appears minimal.”
The Yi Peng 3 sailed solely in Chinese waters from December 2019 to early March 2024. At that point, it suddenly began carrying Russian coal and other goods and began stopping in Russian ports. When the Danish Navy stopped it, it was carrying Russian fertilizer.
In September, the US issued a warning about a heightened risk of Russian interference with undersea data cables.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/investigators-say-a-chinese-ships-crew-deliberately-dragged-its-anchor-to-cut-undersea-data-cables-195052047.html?src=rss
Maybe you’re a huge football fan, maybe you’re someone who wants to kick up your feet on the couch and enjoy something on in the background while you scroll for Black Friday deals on your phone and recover from Thanksgiving. Either way, we (and the Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs) have got you covered.
This Friday, the Chiefs (10-1) host the Raiders (2-9) in a game that the home team is unsurprisingly favored to win. But last holiday season the two teams faced off on Christmas just for the Raiders to win in a shocking upset — proof that anything could happen on Friday afternoon. And if that’s not enough drama for you, odds are Taylor Swift may show up to support Travis Kelce.
Are you ready to watch yet? The game kicks off on Friday, November 29 at 3PM ET (12PM PT) inside Allegiant Stadium. Here’s what you need to know before tuning in.
The Raiders vs. Chiefs Black Friday game kicks off at 3PM ET on Amazon Prime Video and locally on KSHB-TV 41 (Kansas City market). You can tune into pregame coverage starting at 1:30PM ET.
How to watch the Las Vegas Raiders vs. Kansas City Chiefs game
Unlike the NFL’s usual Sunday slate, which airs across several channels and live streaming platforms, this year’s Black Friday football game will stream nationally only on Amazon Prime Video (which is also the exclusive home for the NFL’s regular season Thursday night games).
Game coverage will include play-by-play by Al Michaels, Color Analysis by Kirk Herbstreit and sideline reporting from Kaylee Hartung.
Amazon Prime Video is included in a standard Amazon Prime subscription ($15 per month or $139 per year), but you can also subscribe directly to the video streaming platform for $9 per month. Amazon Prime offers a 30-day free trial, so you could tune into Friday’s game totally free.
How to watch the Raiders vs. Chiefs game locally
For out-of-market viewers, the Black Friday game airs on Amazon Prime Video. But for those in the Kansas City market, the game will air on KSHB-TV 41. For Las Vegas viewers the channel is still TBA.
Are there any Black Friday deals tied to the game?
Last year was the debut of a Black Friday NFL game, and Amazon used the occasion to proffer a handful of deals to the captive audience. We expect the same for this year, but the vast majority of Amazon’s Black Friday deals are already up and running, including the usual bevy of Black Friday discounts on Amazon devices, including Kindle readers, Ring doorbells, Fire tablets and Echo smart displays. There’s no need to wait for Friday.
NFL Thanksgiving week schedule
This game is squarely in the middle of the NFL’s holiday weekend schedule. If you want to catch all of the action, the games start on Thanksgiving day proper and finish up on Monday night with the Browns taking on the Broncos.
All times Eastern
Thursday, Nov. 28
Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions: 12:30PM (CBS)
New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys: 4:30PM (FOX)
Miami Dolphins vs. Green Bay Packers: 8:20PM (NBC, Peacock)
Friday, Nov. 29
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Kansas City Chiefs: 3:00PM (Prime Video)
Sunday, Dec. 1
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Atlanta Falcons: 1PM (CBS)
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals: 1PM (CBS)
Arizona Cardinals vs. Minnesota Vikings: 1PM (FOX)
Indianapolis Colts vs. New England Patriots: 1PM (CBS)
Seattle Seahawks vs. New York Jets: 1PM (FOX)
Tennessee Titans vs. Washington Commanders: 1PM (CBS)
Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: 1PM (FOX)
Los Angeles Rams vs. New Orleans Saints: 4:05PM (FOX)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers: 4:05PM (FOX)
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Baltimore Ravens: 4:25PM (CBS)
San Francisco 49ers vs. Buffalo Bills: 8:20PM (NBC, Peacock)
Monday, Dec. 2
Cleveland Browns vs. Denver Broncos: 8:15PM (ABC, ESPN+)
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/how-to-watch-the-2024-black-friday-nfl-game-192547550.html?src=rss
Sony has revealed some games that PlayStation Plus members can claim in December, to help keep them busy throughout the long winter. This is a pretty good drop, and one pick is a bona-fide GOTY-winner.
First up, the co-op delight It Takes Two. We enjoyed this split-screen co-op adventure, even if we found the story to be a bit on the cheesy side. Simply put, the game is a strictly two-player affair and each person controls one half of a married couple as they navigate areas inspired by Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and other movies in which people shrink down for some reason. It was a legitimate hit upon release back in 2021, eventually winning Game of the Year at The Game Awards.
Temtem is monster-taming RPG, also known as a Pokémon clone. Pikachu-heads will find plenty to like here, including familiar turn-based battles and a whole bunch of cute (and deadly) creatures to collect. This game has a more robust online feature set than any Pokémon title, however, with an open world filled with actual people and their fighting pets. Players can chat and challenge these other tamers to battles. The entire game can also be played cooperatively with a friend.
Finally, there’s Aliens: Dark Descent, a real-time strategy game in which players command a squad of marines as they try to stop a Xenomorph outbreak. As indicated by the title, it’s set in the universe of the Alien franchise, complete with sinister agents of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation. The large open levels are fun to navigate and the vibes are stellar. Incidentally, this game also hit Xbox Game Pass today.
All three games will be available to PlayStation Plus members on December 3 until January 6. Also, PlayStation Plus members only have until December 2 to add last month’s games, which included Hot Wheels Unleashed 2, Ghostwire: Tokyo and Death Note Killer.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/decembers-ps-plus-monthly-games-include-it-takes-two-and-temtem-181039449.html?src=rss
Mercedes-Benz has enhanced its Active Parking Assist with PARKTRONIC system, making automated parking faster, easier, and more convenient. The system now parks twice as quickly as before, operating at a speed of up to 4 km/h. This improvement is designed to add significant value for customers by reducing the time and effort required for parking, especially in tight spaces.
The system is activated via a digital button on the car’s screen, and the parking progress is displayed via a status bar. If the vehicle is equipped with a 360° camera, the driver can select different camera views to assist with parking.
Mercedes-Benz improves automated parking
The updated Active Parking Assist is standard on several Mercedes-Benz models, including the E-Class, S-Class, EQS, EQE, and Maybach versions with the parking package, which also includes a reversing camera. The system detects parking spaces while the vehicle is traveling below 35 km/h, displaying a blue “P” symbol on the driver’s display.
It can identify tight parking spaces with just 50 cm of clearance at each end. Once a space is found, the system guides the driver to engage reverse gear and begin the automated parking process. For perpendicular parking, the driver can choose to park head-in or reverse into the space.
Mercedes-Benz vehicle using the improved automated parking system
Safety is a key focus, with the vehicle employing sensors to monitor for obstacles such as crossing vehicles, cyclists, or pedestrians when reversing. If a hazard is detected and the driver does not respond, the car will issue an audible or visual warning and can automatically initiate emergency braking to prevent a collision. This feature is active both for automated and manual parking maneuvers.
As of January 15, 2025, PlayStation’s Shuhei Yoshida will leave Sony but not retire from the industry entirely. Yoshida made the announcement while on the PlayStation Podcast Tuesday (a condensed transcription of the interview appears on the official PlayStation blog.) He hasn’t provided a reason why he’s leaving.
Many know Yoshida as Sony Interactive’s Head of Indies Initiative, a position he got in 2019. In other words, he’s in charge of getting indie games onto PlayStation consoles by networking with indie developers and promoting the games they made. Before this, he was part of the original team behind the first PlayStation console, meaning he’s been working on these consoles since the very beginning. We interviewed him back in 2013 to talk about Sony’s commitment to (and his particular affinity for) indie developers.
Yoshida believes that since PlayStation has been in good hands and has been thriving since its release, it’s time he moved on. His love for the console series remains, and he’s still highly optimistic about its future.
You may have seen his powerful roast of Microsoft’s previous plan to prevent Xbox One owners from easily sharing physical games back in 2013. It only took Yoshida 21 seconds to make his point that the PS4 wouldn’t have such restrictions and how bad of an idea Microsoft dreamed up. His horror when playtesting an early build of 2018’s God of War is also somewhat known.
As noted by Kotaku, Yoshida’s announcement is almost a week away from the PlayStation’s 30th anniversary, December 3.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/shuhei-yoshida-is-leaving-playstation-in-january-after-three-decades-172042338.html?src=rss
Here’s some good news for those who haven’t pulled the trigger on Sony’s latest VR headset. The PlayStation VR2 is on sale for $350 as part of a Black Friday deal, and it’s a bundle that includes the critically-acclaimed spin-off Horizon Call of the Mountain. This is a record low price for the headset, and that’s without a game that normally costs $60. In other words, this is one heck of a great deal.
We enjoyed this headset and gave it high marks in our official review. The OLED displays are excellent, so the graphics are on point. The headset’s fit is comfortable and it includes built-in haptics for increased immersion. Haptics for your head? That’s a pretty novel concept.
The headset also includes eye tracking technology and ships with two dedicated controllers, one for each hand. The company’s Sense controllers are eerily similar to Meta Quest controllers, with a large tracking ring, analog sticks, face buttons, triggers and grip buttons.
As for Horizon Call of the Mountain, it’s a new entry in the beloved Horizon franchise, only in VR. There’s a whole lot of climbing, as indicated by the title, but also a refined bow and arrow mechanic that feels just right in virtual space.
We hesitated to recommend this headset to everyone at its original price of $550, but it’s a no-brainer at $350. This deal is also available through Sony, if Amazon isn’t your bag. So what’s the catch? There’s only one. This isn’t a standalone headset. It requires a PS5 to work, though Sony did recently release an adapter that lets it connect to a PC.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/playstation-black-friday-deals-include-the-ps-vr2-horizon-call-of-the-mountain-bundle-for-200-off-174513723.html?src=rss
While it’s not Black Friday just yet, this GoPro Hero13 Black bundle just received a substantial price cut on Amazon. The bundle is also available on the official GoPro website at the same discount of $349, a $100 difference from its typical price — the lowest we’ve ever seen.
The bundle contains a grip called The Handler, two Enduro batteries, two curved adhesive mounts, a 64GB SanDisk microSD card and a case to hold everything while on the go. Of course, the GoPro Hero13 Black is included.
We’ve tested the GoPro Hero13 Black before, and it’s quite the improvement over its predecessor, the Hero12 Black. Its maximum resolution of 5.3K at 120fps coupled with Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) makes it a compelling choice for power users. It also runs longer in both hot and cold environments, even when 10-bit video mode is active. For those who want to capture more footage, the Hero13 Black is rated for 1.5 hours of 4K at 30fps.
The Hero13 Black is compatible with several GoPro add-ons like the Macro Lens Mod, Smart Motion Blur ND Filter 4-Pack and Anamorphic Lens Mod, all sold separately. The camera knows when you’ve attached one to it and automatically adjusts its settings to match. This function helps reduce the required setup time, allowing you to spend more time filming.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/this-gopro-hero13-black-bundle-is-100-off-for-black-friday-144338402.html?src=rss
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