Vishal Kamal has been covering video games for 7 years, writing about everything from hardware deals and new releases to esports and the business
side of the industry. He runs TheBadGamer, focused on gaming news worth your time.
Elden Ring, with over 30 million copies sold, has propelled its developer FromSoftware to global acclaim, yet Kadokawa, its parent company, is under fire from activist investor Oasis Management for not maximizing profits, especially through self-publishing globally. Despite CEO Takeshi Natsuno surviving a recent shareholder vote, Oasis, now holding a 15.25% stake, continues to push for strategic changes. The franchise's future, including the upcoming Tarnished Edition and potential sequels, hangs in the balance.
The Alienware Aurora RTX 5070 Gaming PC, featuring the powerful GeForce RTX 5070 GPU, was available for a limited time at $1,433 from Dell Outlet, ideal for 1080p and 1440p gaming. This refurbished unit came with a 1-year warranty and a robust spec list including an Intel Core Ultra 7 265F CPU and 16GB DDR5 RAM. Although the deal has sold out, its brief availability highlighted the value in seeking refurbished gaming PCs for high-performance needs.
Discover how Amazon's Prime Day offer lets you read all eight Dungeon Crawler Carl books for free with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. This deal is a game-changer for fans of LitRPG series. Prime Members can leverage a 3-month free trial to devour the entire series without additional cost.
Amazon's Prime Day offers significant discounts on a wide range of comic books, including omnibuses, compendiums, and graphic novel adaptations of popular works like "The Hobbit". Notable deals include "Invincible Compendium Volume 1" and "Venomnibus", alongside manga deluxe editions such as "Berserk" and "Uzumaki". Prime Day runs until June 26, with some titles available as daily Lightning Deals.
Valve's Steam Machine, touted as the easiest entry into PC gaming, launches at $1049, a significant hike from its estimated $750 initial target. The price surge is largely attributed to the explosive demand for RAM from the AI industry, leaving Valve with no bargaining power over suppliers. This dynamic makes the Steam Machine "a bit too expensive" to compete directly with consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A Switch 2 Edition, praised for its refined gameplay, has received its first major price cut on Amazon, dropping to $45. This deal is particularly timely given the next generation, Pokémon Winds and Waves, isn't set to release until 2027. Fans of the series can now enjoy an enhanced experience on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Marathon's mid-season update brings a significant boost to endgame content with a brand-new PvE mode, promising challenging encounters and high-level loot. This update aims to address player requests for more substantial late-game activities. The new mode introduces complex scenarios designed to test veteran players' skills.
Amazon's Prime Day offers a discounted Audible subscription for new users, providing three months for $0.99/month and a $20 credit. Strategically, you can use this to access the first four Harry Potter full-cast audiobooks for less than $11. These immersive editions, complete with full voice casts and sound effects, are a must-try for fans.
Snag a used PlayStation Portal for $166.87 (33% off) plus an extra 15% off at checkout during Amazon's Prime Day Sale. This wireless handheld streams PS5 games locally and supports cloud gaming with a PlayStation Plus Premium subscription.
Snag a "Like New" PlayStation 5 Disc Edition Console for $499.61 during Amazon Prime Day, a significant $150 discount from its current $649.99 price. This deal, available through Amazon Resale, includes a 30-day return policy. Act fast, as availability is limited.
