Category: Techradar

Hold on to your lightsabers: there’s a new Star Wars game in development, and it’s called Jedi: Fallen Order.

In development by Respawn Entertainment (the studio behind Apex Legends and Titanfall), Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was announced during E3 2018 but we didn’t get a proper look at the game until earlier this year – during a special panel at the annual Star Wars Celebration in Chicago. 

While the official reveal only gave us a glimpse at a story trailer, it was more than enough to get us hyped for the upcoming game. Plus, Respawn has promised we’ll get our first look at Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order’s gameplay during EA Play in June. 

While fans of the galactic franchise have seen official tie-ins in the form of Star Wars Battlefront I and II, the new entry takes on a different tack, focusing on a single-player experience more in line with 2008’s The Force Unleashed – and we have all the concrete news and wild speculation you could want below. 

• EA said it ‘made mistakes’ with Star Wars Battlefront 2

Cut to the chase

• What is it? A new single-player Star Wars game from the creators of Titanfall
• What can I play it on? PS4, Xbox One, and PC
• When can I play it? November 15 2019

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order release date

EA has now confirmed Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order will release on November 15, 2019, just in time for Christmas and the long-awaited release of Star Wars Episode IX: Rise of Skywalker.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order trailers

So far, we’ve only been treated to a Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order release trailer. It doesn’t show any actual gameplay, but it fills in the story, and it’s better than nothing (plus Respawn Entertainment has revealed we will get our first look at gameplay during EA Play in June).

You’ll take the role of Cal Kestis, a former Jedi padawan (AKA, a student of the Force). The game is set in the period following Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith – the fateful time when the evil Emperor Palpatine executed Order 66, which saw the Jedi ambushed and killed by their own supporting Clone Trooper soldiers. Few survived and were forced into hiding.

And that seems to include Cal! A youngster only partially through his training, Cal has been forced into hiding, working construction sites and trying to keep a low-profile as the Jedi-hunting Imperial Inquisition continues to track down any remaining survivors.

The story trailer shows Cal having to use his Force powers to defend himself against rogue troopers, and to save a friend from falling from an accident. The trailer suggests the game will have some lavish set-pieces and environments, and hinted at a very-story-driven experience to enjoy.

Check it out below:

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order news and rumors

Gameplay reveal at EA Play and E3 2019
In a tweet on May 4 (May the Fourth be with you), it was revealed that we’ll be getting our first look at Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order gameplay at EA Play and E3 2019 in June.

So far we’ve only seen a reveal trailer for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Respawn Entertainment has been light on the details of how the gameplay will actually work.

Check out Respawn’s tweet below: 

EA doesn’t plan to release Fallen Order on Switch
Soon after the game’s official reveal, fans were wondering if Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order will ever be making its way to Switch. Well, according to EA community manager Jay Ingram, there aren’t any plans to do so currently.

You can check out Ingram’s reply to a fan tweet below:

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was livestreamed – check it out
We already know that on April 13 we got our first proper look at Respawn Entertainment’s Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, as part of the annual Star Wars Celebration event in Chicago.

But luckily for fans that couldn’t make the trek to the event, EA livestreamed it.

Check out EA’s announcement tweet below for a chance to replay it:

The galaxy-wide premiere saw the head of Respawn Entertainment, Vince Zampella, and game director, Stig Asmussen (whose previous work includes God of War 3), revealing the much-anticipated details of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order toys -confirmed
Disney has announced that Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order merchandise will become available in October 2019 suggesting, not only that the game will release around that time, but that the company expects it to be a title (or series) with a long life-span within Star Wars fandom. We now know that Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order will release in November, just a month after the toys release.

Development is well underway
“It’s very far along in development, and having spent time with it recently myself, it plays spectacularly well,” EA CEO Andrew Wilson revealed during a quarterly earnings call (via Seeking Alpha). “This game truly captures the fantasy of becoming a Jedi, and we will have a lot more to share soon.”

A Padawan called Cal? Confirmed
According to rumored information from a Star Wars marketing day (which obviously made its way to Reddit) the story will take place roughly five years after Revenge of the Sith and will follow surviving Padawan Cal (via GamesRadar). This rumor also states that one of the game’s main plot points will revolve around Cal’s mentor figure – a woman named Ceres. Both these names are now confirmed.

It’s set after Revenge of the Sith
We don’t know the specific time in which the game is set, but we’ve heard that it will take place at some point between Episodes 3 and 4, after the end of Revenge of the Sith but before Luke Skywalker’s appearance in A New Hope.

This places it after the Galactic Empire hunted the 10,000-strong Jedi Order practically to extinction, leaving only a small fraction of Jedi alive (aka Order 66). With the promise that the game will be set ‘in the dark times’, it sounds like our Jedi protagonist may be more the hunted than the hunter.

Could famous Jedi appear?
Playing as “a surviving Padawan”, technically meaning a Jedi apprentice rather than a fully-fledged master of the Force, Cal could do with some extra training. Given the dearth of living mentors left to train you, it’s possible Obi-Wan Kenobi or Yoda – or some less high-profile Jedi, like Quinlan Vos – will appear in a supporting role. 

The single-player mode comes first – and there will be no microtransactions
Respawn co-founder Vince Zampella tweeted about the upcoming game, describing it as an ‘SP’ (single-player) story. 

It looks like a multiplayer component won’t be available at all in the game – surprising given EA’s focus in recent years on games that extend beyond a single play session. Even more surprising is the fact that there will be no microtransactions at all, ever, in Fallen Jedi. It’s great news considering the industry falls over itself to offer chunks of games piecemeal these days – but don’t be surprised if that means there will be an aggressive DLC system instead.

I find your lack of faith disturbing
2018 was a been a bit of a fallow year for Star Wars, with Star Wars: A Solo Story struggling in cinemas and the negative player response to EA Dice’s Star Wars: Battlefront 2 – largely in reaction to its prevalent use of microtransactions – still in recent memory.

Jedi: Fallen Order has been handed to a different studio, albeit one that’s still a subsidiary of EA. But Respawn has garnered a lot of respect as the studio behind Titanfall and Titanfall 2, two critically acclaimed sci-fi action games that pit players against each other in giant mechanized suits, and which both came with strong single-player and multiplayer offerings. 

(Image credits: Respawn Entertainment)

Keep checking back here for all the latest Jedi: Fallen Order news 

• Star Wars Galaxies: how modders are keeping the dream of a Star Wars MMO alive

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If you’re in the market for a cheap laptop deal, now’s a great time to find a good price, regardless of whether you’re shopping for work, school, or home. To make finding the machine that’s right for you easier, we’ve collected the cheapest prices and best deals of the week in addition to a selection of some of our perpetual cheap laptop favorites. This week features an assortment of workhorses, versatile machines, and basic configurations perfect for students.

We know that shopping for a new laptop can be an often arduous task of comparing storage, memory, processing power and features, but our guide below will help you find the best laptop deals and get the most for your money. From huge names like Dell, Asus and Lenovo to lesser known brands, you’re sure to come away happy with these bargains.

First up, you’ll find our selection of the very latest and best cheap laptop deals of the week where one store in particular has come away with a standout price on a certain laptop. Beneath those laptop prices, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite budget-price laptops and compared prices from a range of stores so you can get the best deal. This section is well worth coming back to if something takes your fancy as the prices are automatically updating all the time and we’re deep into discount season now too. If you’re a gamer, you’d be better suited checking out our selection of cheap gaming laptop deals, as the models on this page are not usually built with gaming in mind. We’ve also rounded up a fine collection of cheap laptop offers in the UK too.

The best cheap laptop deal of the week

More top cheap laptop deals of the week

Where to find the best laptop deals in the US:

We’ve compared prices on some of our favourite cheap laptops  and run through the details on why we recommend them further down this page. But if you’d like to browse the latest laptop deals directly from your favorite retailers we’ve included a list of the most-recommended stores directly below. 

• Walmart
• Amazon
• Newegg
• Sam’s Club
• Jet
• HP

The best cheap laptops of 2018

Here we have one of the few budget laptops with a processor nearly equivalent to the MacBook Pro, that is, if you opt for the Intel Core i5 configuration. The best part? It’s roughly half the cost of its Apple-branded rival. Now given that it sells at a range of different prices, the Acer Swift 3 can be an obtuse purchase, but lucky for you, the midrange model will get you by just fine.

Read the full review: Acer Swift 3

Its name is alphabet soup to the average reader, but then again this convertible laptop has always been about function over form. For one minuscule transaction, you’re getting a tablet equipped with an included keyboard and even a fingerprint scanner for more secure logins. Along with reliable performance and a magnesium-alloy chassis, it’s built to last – not to mention, one of the best Asus laptops you can buy when you’re on the budget.

Read the full review: Asus Transformer Mini T102HA

While it may be outclassed by the Pixelbook and the Samsung Chromebook in terms of sheer power, the Acer Chromebook 15 can still pack a wallop while providing battery life that is frankly out of this world. It’s rare that a laptop can truly provide all-day battery, but in our independent battery tests, Acer’s Chromebook lasted an astonishing 17 hours – on top of providing enough power to get your work done online. If you’re looking for a 15 inch Chromebook that will give you the most bang for your buck, look no further.

Read the full review: Acer Chromebook 15 

The Lenovo Yoga Book, and the Windows 10 version of it in particular, is the sort of futuristic fodder you would find in an episode of Black Mirror. It has a keyboard that doubles as a Wacom touch panel and, best of all, it’s cheap as hell. Now, of course, that comes with the caveat of a weak Intel Atom processor, but the rest of the Lenovo Yoga Book should go down in the history books.

Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga Book

With its slick lines and a slim silhouette, the Acer Chromebook 14 makes for a subtle, snazzy laptop. Although its display isn’t the most attractive we’ve seen, it’s still acceptable for full HD. On top of that, the keyboard and trackpad adhere to the principle of ‘it just works.’ The battery life is satisfactory as well despite falling a bit south of Acer’s 12-hour claim in real-world use.

Read the full review: Acer Chromebook 14

Not quite what you’re looking for? Maybe our other laptop articles will have what you need:

Check out our laptop buying guide video below.

• 15 best laptops you can buy in 2019
• The best cheap MacBook deals
• Top 10 best gaming laptops of 2019
• Top 10 2-in-1 laptops of 2019
• The best home internet service providers of 2019

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Memorial Day weekend has officially begun! That means not only a long holiday break filled with outdoor activities but also fantastic deals from your favorite retailers. You can find Black-Friday like prices from Walmart, Home Depot, Amazon and more. Memorial Day sales include huge discounts on grills, laptops, mattresses, patio furniture and more.

To help guide you through all the promotions and offers, we’ve put together a list of the best sales that are currently going on. We’ve also hand-picked the top deals from a variety of categories such as appliances, electronics, home items and more. Some standout deals include discounts on the Apple Watch 3, 4K Fire TV Stick, Dyson V7 Vacuum Cleaner and the latest model Apple iPad.

We’ll be updating this page throughout the holiday weekend, so you don’t miss out any sale events. 

The best Memorial Day sales:

• Amazon – deals on appliances and home items
• Walmart – up to 40% off Memorial Day savings
• Nectar – $125 Off + 2 free pillows
• Amazon – save 20% on patio furniture from Amazonia
• Overstock – Memorial Day blowout, up to 70% off + free shipping
• Mattress Firm – save up to $700 on king and queen mattresses
• Wayfair – up to 70% off all things outdoor
• Amazon – save on select Philips Hue Smart lights
• Bear – use code MD20 to get 20% off + 2 free cloud pillows
• Home Depot – up to 40% off patio furniture, appliances, grills and more
• Lenovo – save up to 50% off on laptops
• World Market – up to 30% off select outdoor
• Levi’s – 30% off sitewide with code FUNSUN
• ThinkGeek – daily doorbuster savings
• TopShop – Memorial Day weekend sale, save up to 50% off
• Best Buy – save up to 30% on appliance top appliance
• All Modern – save up to 65% off sitewide
• Target – up to 30% off home and patio items
• American Eagle – up to 60% off everything
• Serta – save up to $600 on Serta iComfort mattress sets
• Shopbop – up to 40% off 5,000+ styles
• Purple – $100 off mattresses + free sheets
• Tempur-Pedic save up to $700 on select mattress sets 
• J Crew – 35% off wear now styles with code HISUMMER
• Lowe’s – up to 30% off patio furniture and decor
• Dell – save up to 50% on PCs and electronics
• Bloomingdale’s – extra 20% off sale and clearance
• Bed Bath & Beyond – up to 50% off savings sitewide
• Forever 21 – extra 30% off sale
• Newegg – Memorial Day markdowns, save on TVs, laptops and more

Our best Memorial Day sale picks:

When is Memorial Day 2019? 

Memorial Day is an American federal holiday that always falls on the last Monday in May to honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. This year Memorial Day is on Monday, May 27, with the long holiday weekend kicking off on Friday the 25.

When do Memorial Day sales start?

Most Memorial Day sales start the week before the actual holiday on Monday the 20, and some retailers don’t start their promotions till the weekend before. All sales will last through the holiday weekend, and most will end on Memorial Day.

We’ll be updating this page daily with all of the current sales so make sure to check back each day for new discounts and deals.

What are the best Memorial Day sales? 

The biggest categories discounted during Memorial Day include appliances, patio, mattresses, and laptops. Because Memorial Day is the unofficial start to summer, you can find discounts on several outdoor items such as grills, patio furniture, planters, and camping equipment. Retailers like Home Depot and Target are offering up to 40% off patio items.

Memorial Day is also a fantastic time to find deals on mattresses with retailers like Casper and Temper-Pedic participating in sitewide sales. Walmart and Best Buy are just a few retailers that will be discounting top-brand appliances all weekend long, and tech retailers like Dell have fantastic deals on laptops.

• Shop more deals and learn about Prime Day with our guide on Amazon Prime Day 2019: everything you need to know for the July deals event.
• You can also shop more of the best cheap 4K TV deals and sale prices, the best cheap laptop deals, and the best Xbox One prices and PS4 deals.

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Everyone is talking about the latest episode in the Black Mirror anthology series, Bandersnatch, and with good reason; set in 1984, the interactive installment puts you in control of key decisions throughout the film, meaning you can choose how the episode plays outs.  

Released on Netflix on December 28, Bandersnatch is a natural evolution of Black Mirror’s paranoid depictions of technology – as well as Netflix’s growing interest in interactive media on its streaming platform, such as Minecraft: Story Mode. It follows budding games designer Stefan Butler as he pitches his choose-your-own adventure game, Bandersnatch, to games company, Tuckersoft.

In typical Black Mirror fashion, no stone has been left unturned with the creation of a suitably retro-looking website for Tuckersoft, which features in the episode. Not only that, but you can play one of the games from the episode, called Nohzdyve with the help of an ZX Spectrum emulator.

A word of warning thought – it’s best not to explore the site until you’ve watched the episode in case you inadvertently stumble across any spoilers.

How do I play Black Mirror’s Nohzdyve game?

What’s interesting about the Tuckersoft website, is that there are multiple versions of it out there for you to explore, mirroring the different possible outcomes of Bandersnatch itself (spoilers ahead). 

The regular version of the website, which was discovered via a QR code in the episode, advertises Tuckersoft’s games lineup, including Nohzdyve. However, on a different version of the website, which can be accessed by removing the ‘www.’ prefix from the url, it states that the game was never completed due to a “bleak turn of events.”

Nohzdyve is a free falling game in which you need to avoid obstacles and collect eyeballs. To play the game, you’ll need to head to the regular version of the website, and click on the download button to get the .tap file.

As it’s a .tap file, the game can only be played using a ZX spectrum emulator like Speccy (for the uninitiated, the ZX Spectrum was an 8-bit personal home computer released in the UK in the early 80’s). 

Right now, it doesn’t look like the title game, Bandersnatch, is available to play anywhere – but with multiple possible realities, it’s probably only a matter of time before it’s discovered on a similarly obscure website somewhere.

• Bandersnatch is an interactive Black Mirror movie – and it’s now on Netflix

Via Tech Crunch

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It’s been a heck of a year for videogames. We’ve navigated the ruins of Greece, trekked through ancient Midgard, ran down trains in the wild west and even raced through the cobbled streets of Britain. But which games have really stood out to us this year?

It’s been a hard task, but the TechRadar team has put their heads together and thrashed out which games we believe were the best this year. At times it got vicious and downright dirty, but we did it for you. So without further ado, here are TechRadar’s games of the year.

Best Virtual Reality Game

Tetris Effect

Think you know Tetris? Think again. It’s been re-invented many times over the years, but by bringing the game into the realm of virtual reality, Tetris Effect is revelatory. 

Taking its cues from the VR port of Rez, Tetris Effect magically pulls together astonishing visual effects and an incredible soundtrack to make Tetris a multi-sensory experience more closely akin to a rhythm action game. It’s a joyous addition to the PSVR’s growing library.

Honorable mention: Astro Bot: Rescue Mission.

Best Mobile Game

Pokémon Go 

We know Pokémon Go didn’t release this year, but the mobile game showed no sign of slowing down in 2018 – if anything it’s getting even bigger. 

With the release of Pokémon Let’s Go Eevee/Pikachu, players now have even more versatile ways to play Go. Not to mention the continually popular community events, the release of the Trainer Battles feature and the unveiling of the mysterious Meltan. We will be trying to catch them all for a while yet it seems.

Honorable mentions: New Star Soccer Manager and Florence.

Best Action Game

Hitman 2 

There wasn’t a huge amount of hype about Hitman 2 before its release but, much like Agent 47 himself, the game sneaked up on us. 

Although Hitman 2 doesn’t do much to drastically change the series’ formula (except for the introduction of multiplayer Ghost mode), we found that that’s precisely what we love about it – plus, assassinating drug lords in Colombia with poison is always a recipe for a good time.

Honorable mention: Far Cry 5.

Best Action/Adventure Game

Marvel’s Spider-Man

If Batman Arkham Asylum proved that superhero games could not only be good, but be great, Marvel’s Spider-Man showed that they could rival the big-screen adaptations of our comic book heroes too. 

Dazzlingly pretty, wonderfully fun and full to the brim with jaw-dropping moments that would make the late Stan Lee proud, ol’ webhead had a truly great adventure this year.

Honorable mention: Red Dead Redemption 2.

Best RPG Game

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

We’ve come to expect a certain calibre of game when it comes to the Assassin’s Creed series: history, assassinations and a stunning open-world to explore. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey does not disappoint on any of these fronts, providing a vast environment and tantalizing story that truly captures the essence of Ancient Greece. 

Also, you can finally play as a female lead character in a game that will keep you busy for at least 100 hours. Talk about value for money.

Honorable mention: Octopath Traveler.

Best Online Multiplayer Game

Fortnite 

So, here’s the thing – Fortnite actually released back in 2017, and got off to a shaky start as it focused on its base-building, AI-wave battling campaign mode. No-one really cared all that much, but developer soon started turning its attention to the free Battle Royale mode of the game it was offering all players. And, over the course of 2018, it became a phenomenon. 

It’s improved dramatically over the past year, and has grown to become one of the most popular games, well, ever. Find us a kid that isn’t playing Fortnite, and we’ll show you a kid that doesn’t like playing online games with their pals. And so, it would be impossible to crown any other title king of the online multiplayer hill this year.

Honorable mention: Sea of Thieves. 

Best Sport/Racing Game

Forza Horizon 4

Forza Horizon 4 is undeniably stunning, letting you race through the winding countryside and cobbled cities of Great Britain. However it’s not just the graphics that made Forza Horizon 4 our favourite sports game of the year. 

Playground Games’ series continues to push the limits of the racing genre – creating an open-world racing title like no other. 

Honorable mentions: Madden NFL 19 and FIFA 19.

Best Fighting Game

Super Smash Bros Ultimate

It’s been quite a year for fighting games but there’s only one that we felt deserved the title of the best: Super Smash Bros Ultimate. We’ve been waiting for Ultimate since Nintendo announced it at E3 2018 and it certainly didn’t disappoint. 

The Ultimate roster includes more characters, stages and modes than ever before, and finally introduces an online competitive mode. Nintendo have even promised more characters are on the way. It’s not hard to see why Super Smash bros Ultimate is our King of the Ring. 

Honorable mentions: Dragon Ball Fighter Z and Soulcalibur VI.

Best Narrative Game

Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 was arguably the biggest, and most eagerly anticipated, game of 2018. Sometimes boarding the hype train means that you’re greatly disappointed when the title releases and you need to disembark, but luckily this wasn’t the case with Red Dead Redemption 2. 

Not only did Red Dead 2 look spectacular but its intertwining emotional storylines (and side quests) had us deeply invested in Arthur Morgan, the Van Der Linde gang and the changing west. We don’t want to spoil anything, but have some ice cream ready to fill the void Red Dead will leave when you finish.

Honorable mention: God of War.

Best Party Game

Overcooked cemented its place as a much-have party game when it released in 2016, so it’s no surprise Overcooked 2 followed suit. Introducing more characters, more madcap levels and new recipes, Overcooked 2 has built on what the chaotic game so much fun – absolute anarchy. 

Overcooked 2 may have destroyed office friendships but we feel that it’s completely worth it.

Honorable mention: Super Smash Bros Ultimate.

Best Indie Game

Two-Point Hospital

A spiritual successor to Theme Hospital, Two-Point Hospital injected us with nostalgia and dosed us up with tongue-in-cheek humor. The hospital sim proved a hit among newbies and old hands, with its chaotic characters and illnesses such as Bloaty Head, Mock Star, and Jest Infection. It’s a modern twist on a classic and we can’t get enough.

Honorable mentions: Celeste and Into the Breach.

Game of the Year

God of War 

It was a hard one to pin down, and Red Dead Redemption 2 almost had it, but we decided that God of War was our deserving winner of Game of the Year. Between the emotionally captivating relationship between Atreus and Kratos, powerful visuals, intriguing mythological world and action-packed combat; it’s hard to pin down what it is we value most about God of War. 

Although God of War’s gameplay strays from its predecessors, we felt that the heart of the series’ newest addition made it truly spectacular.

Honorable mention: Red Dead Redemption 2.

Most Excited About

Cyberpunk 2077

We’ve been spoiled by ProjektRed’s Witcher RPGs over the past decade, but with Geralt’s story coming to an end, it’s time for something new. Cyberpunk 2077 looks set to take the free-roaming, narrative-heavy direction of the Witcher series, but thrust it into an all-new first person futuristic world. 

Imagine a BladeRunner film that you can play, and you’re pretty much there. We’re incredibly excited about Cyberpunk 2077… but will we really see it in 2019? It seems so ambitious, we’re starting to think this one may be destined for the Xbox Two and PS5 of the future.

Honorable mentions: The Elder Scrolls 6 and Ghost of Tsushima.

• Best PS4 games 2018: essential PlayStation 4 releases
• Best Nintendo Switch games 2018: must-have games at home and on the go
• Best Xbox One games 2018: essential Xbox One releases

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When you’re trying to build one of the best gaming PCs, to take advantage of the best PC games, you shouldn’t forget about the best PC gaming chairs. You don’t want to walk away from your gaming session crouching over like Igor from Young Frankenstein. With the best PC gaming chairs, you can bring your gaming and sitting experience to a new level. Because, at the end of the day, if you’re immersed in Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, saving the world from some cult, you should be comfortable while you do it.

That’s why, now that the year is coming to a close, we decided to make a list of the best gaming chairs of 2019. Some might end up looking like your dad’s office chair, with all-black ‘real leather’ designs – others fully embrace the gamer aesthetic with RGB lighting and loud, clashing colors, making you look like futuristic race car driver.

We will help you find the best PC gaming chairs on the market, so you can spend more time sitting down and less time shopping around. Because – let’s be honest – we do our own fair share of sitting, and we’re very familiar with the best PC gaming chairs. 

It’s no exaggeration to call the Noblechairs Epic Real Leather the best gaming chair. From the cross-thatched embroidery to the real leather of its namesake, if you’re looking for a no-compromises gaming throne, this is it. Plus, it’s surprisingly quick and easy to set up. And, once the set-up is complete, the Epic Real Leather is a dream to sit on – and you can customize your position however you want. Just do us a favor, and read the instructions while you’re setting it up.

If you want to play games all day in comfort, but you don’t want a chair that looks like you’re playing games all day, the Autonomous ErgoChair 2 is for you. Marketed as an office chair, the ErgoChair 2 has a very modern and stylish aesthetic to it that will appeal to anyone that doesn’t use RGB as a personality trait. It’s not all style either, as the ErgoChair lets you adjust basically every part of the chair, so that no matter how your body is built, you’re guaranteed to be comfortable while gaming.  

• This product is only available in the US at the time of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Respawn 115 

Leather and fabric have their advantages, namely to comfort and texture, but sometimes a mesh office chair is best – especially if you live in a warmer climate, where breathability is of utmost importance. The Respawn-300 combines the racing-seat design and lumbar support and mesh material from some high-end office chairs. It really does take comfort to another level and is one of the best PC gaming chairs you can buy today. 

• This product is only available in the US at the time of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Noblechairs Epic Real Leather. 

Corsair is known for making popular and high-end PC components and gaming peripherals. It’s only fitting, then, that they dip their toes into the gaming chair game – and they may have made one of the best gaming chairs yet. Covered top to bottom in breathable PU leather with neck and lumbar pillows wrapped in microfiber, you’ll be able to game both in comfort and style. And with its rollerblade-style wheels, you’ll be able to move it around on any surface without having to worry about scratching up your floor. 

Noblechairs is well known for crafting some of the best gaming chairs out there – and the Noblechairs Icon makes it clear why. While it’s more affordable than the flagship Epic Real Leather, it’s still extremely comfortable and one of the best PC gaming chairs out there. This is thanks to its nice lumbar pillow, which you can easily remove if you don’t like it.  

The Edge GX1 is a gaming chair that actively avoids the popular racing style that is increasingly popular with modern gaming chairs. The company behind the Edge GX1 goes as far as to say that racing-style bucket chairs actually negatively affect gamer’s performance, with their designs limiting movement and comfort. It sort of makes sense, as those styles of chairs are based off designs for racing cars, where limiting movement for the driver is a priority. Instead, the Edge GX1 aims to give an ergonomic experience where comfort is key, while also offering a premium gaming chair. And when we say premium, we mean it, with the Edge GX1 costing £800, a huge amount for a gaming chair. It’s hand-crafted in the UK, and there’s some great touches, such as inflatable lumbar support. It’s a huge asking price, but we’ve been using it for a while now, and it is very comfortable. You need to adjust it a bit to suit your needs, but once you have it set up just how you like it, the ergonomic benefits of the chair really help justify the price. This ships worldwide from the UK, but be warned that shipping costs will add to the price if you’re in the US or Australia.

You can only buy this chair direct from Edge

There’s a certain subset of the PC gaming community that needs to have the absolute best of everything, at whatever the cost. These people are going to be absolutely enamored with the Vertagear Triigger 350 SE. It features over 350 individual components with a mix metal, mesh, leather and high-end plastics to create the ultimate PC gaming chair. If you have the money to spare, and you can’t stand to have anything less than the best, you might want to give this chair a look. 

Another day, another Noblechairs gaming seat – and the Noblechairs Epic is the best gaming chair for the classier gamer. It features a faux-leather covering inspired by car seats, combining both comfort and a high-end design to make it one of the best gaming chairs you can buy today. And, if you’re the type that shies away from the ‘gamer aesthetic,’ the Epic’s subtle black design is far more elegant than some of the more brightly-colored seats on this list.

For the gamer looking for some extra room in their seat, the Vertagear Racing Series PL6000 is a must-have. Specially designed to provide both added width and height, this is the best gaming chair for anyone with a larger frame – no matter how tall you are, the adjustable headrest means you’ll never experience discomfort. However, this is a complicated chair to assemble, so use the buddy system to build this masterpiece.

The Nitro Concepts C80 is a gorgeous, comfortable gaming chair that could easily blend in in an office environment – it looks more expensive than it is. Nitro Concepts made one of the best gaming chairs by keeping the price down, while keeping compromises to a minimum – like using polyurethane instead of leather. And, no compromises were made in the build quality, either – this is an impressively sturdy gaming chair. Just make sure you get a friend to help you put it together – constructing this thing had us tearing our hair out.

• This product is only available in the UK at the time of this writing. US and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Noblechairs Icon 

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It’s safe to say 2018 has been quite a year for videogames and interactive media.

Of course, it’s easy to claim that about any 12 month period when you’ve come to the end of it, but this year seemed to overflow with soaring highs and painful lows. Since January we’ve seen once stagnant franchises find new life, we’ve borne witness to some shocking launches and seen many a studio rise (and fall) along the way.

Plagiarism reared its ugly head at one of the biggest sites in the gaming media. Battle royale continued to dominate sales and streaming charts. Esports and competitive sports grew even larger in scope and coverage. And a little developer called Rockstar revealed a culture of unhealthy hours and unrelenting ‘crunch’ before unleashing a record-breaking cowboy simulator. 

Like we said, 2018 has been quite the year.

Eternal Fortnite

It’s incredible to look back and see how little enthusiasm players and critics shared for Fortnite when it finally left early access and launched across platforms in the summer of 2017. Then PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds came along and revealed to the world a ‘new’ subgenre all about players fighting one another until only one victor remained.

Then Epic Games added in a Battle Royale mode to Fortnite, made it free-to-play and boom – one instant mega-hit. With the advent of multi-year season passes, the game has only grown in popularity in 2018. In November, it was revealed that it now has over 200 million registered users, something no doubt helped by the one million-plus players now enjoying it on-the-go on Nintendo Switch.

It’s become a phenomenon of Minecraft proportions, made superstars of some of its biggest Twitch streamers (although you could argue they’ve made it as much as it made them), with Tyler ‘Ninja’ Blevins rubbing shoulders with celebrities on prime-time TV despite a prickly demeanour and a controversial decision to avoid playing with any female streamers. 

Snap, crackle and crunch

Crunch continues to play an important role in how many studios finish a game’s development cycle, but it launched itself firmly into the mainstream headlines for once when Rockstar head Dan Houser mentioned how many of his employees were working 100 hour weeks to get Red Dead Redemption 2 to gold status. He meant it to be an endorsement of their hard work, but in reality it cracked open the lid on a culture at the GTA studio where an expectation to work evenings and weekends became the norm.

For a studio like Rockstar that normally shies away from revealing the inner workings of its many studios, the developer was forced to rescind a clause that stopped employees from discussing their work experiences with the media. Plenty of programmers, designers and testers said they never felt pressure to work extra hours, but a lot did and it took some of the shine off the eventual release of RDR2. It still made the Housers millions in a couple of weeks of release, though.

Plagiarism rocks the games press

It’s not often something as serious as plagiarism is placed at the door of one of the games media’s biggest websites, but that’s just what happened when a video from a small-time YouTube channel called Boomstick Gaming turned up near-verbatim in a review on IGN.com. The video went viral, every major news site in games picked up and soon everyone was discussing Metroidvania platformer Dead Cells for all the wrong reasons.

It was revealed Nintendo Editor Filip Miucin had copied large parts of the review for IGN’s written and video-based review, and it didn’t take long for readers to find similar copied segments in countless other reviews of his on the site. IGN began frantically pulling down most of Miucin’s work and dismissed him almost immediately but it rocked the games media with a scandal it’s never really had to contend with before. Miucin even took to his own YouTube channel to make an apology video where he never actually apologized. 

Retro revival remastered

Remasters are nothing new to videogames – in fact, they pretty much kept the PS4 going during its first year – but 2018 has gone one better by either reviving some once great franchises for a new generation and offering new ways to play the games of yesteryear. 

The launch of the Nintendo Switch Online paid service in September saw the launch of a growing library of NES games – with full Joy-Con support – while Sony rounded off the year with the completely original Sony PlayStation Classic. Sony would have gotten away with its revival if it wasn’t for some clear disparity between the different emulations used on the console (and the PlayStation hits that were clearing missing from its collection).

Elsewhere, Spyro the Dragon had all three of his original PlayStation instalments revitalized from the ground up with Spyro Trilogy Reignited. Following in the successful footsteps of Crash Bandicoot: N’Sane Trilogy, it would be Toys for Bob – the developer who originally used Spyro to launch the now dormant Skylanders franchise – that would help re-imagine Insomniac Games’ much-loved platforming trinity. We also got news of a MediEvil remaster along the same lines, and confirmation that Blizzard is working on Warcraft 3: Reforged and World of Warcraft Classic. Retro never really goes out of fashion, does it?

Studio acquisitions and closures

Every year we see new studios form, while others sadly close their doors for the last time. However, there was a lot of activity on this front in 2018. 

On the plus side, Microsoft clearly showed its making big preparations for the next generation of Xbox by acquiring not one, but six new developers (Obsidian Entertainment, The Initiative, inXile Entertainment, Compulsion Games, Undead Labs, Playground Games and Ninja Theory) into its growing suite of first-party studios.

However, there were some notable closures, too. Telltale Games – which was once the hottest ticket in town thanks to its narrative-driven take on The Walking Dead, A Wolf Among Us and Batman – saw its employees forced to find work elsewhere in September thanks to an overloaded schedule of projects, the loss of a major investor and stories of mismanagement behind the scenes. Another publisher stepped in to help fund and finish the final episodes of TWD’s swansong season, but it’s a bittersweet end to a developer that’s left an indelible mark on the industry.

Games, games and more games

And, of course, there’s been a gluttony of new games – some of which will likely be looked back on as the titles that defined the generation (as is often the case in the twilight years of a console’s lifecycle). 

Sony killed it with their exclusives, with a revitalized God of War giving the two-dimensional god-killer Kratos some much-needed depth. Detroit: Become Human just about managed to overcome David Cage’s script-writing hang-ups thanks to some brilliant performances from its cast and Insomniac’s Spider-Man offered the best take on the Web-Crawler since Spider-Man 2 on PS2. High praise indeed.

Xbox One didn’t have quite so many killer apps, but Sea of Thieves has grown into a charming multiplayer take on the golden age of piracy and Forza Horizon 4 has proved even a spin-off can overtake the series that originally spawned it. Nintendo Switch also came out swinging in 2018 with some absolute belters in the form of Octopath Traveller, Mario Tennis Aces, Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu/Let’s Go Eevee, Kirby Star Allies and a little thing called Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. 

It’s been a huge year for videogames – both better and for worse – and we can’ wait to see how 2019 is going to top it (for the better, we hope)…

• These are the 11 best open world games available on PC today.

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It’s funny how certain products come full circle. Vinyl records were thought to be a thing of the past, yet sales for the collector’s items are now hotter than ever. Thankfully because of this, videogame music aficionados can get their hands on an array of incredible soundtracks, that now have been beautifully pressed onto polyvinyl chloride discs. 

From personal experience, we’ve learned that collecting records and rare soundtracks is frightfully addictive, albeit a little costly at times. One harsh lesson learned is that many popular soundtracks sell out rapidly. Consequently, this leaves many of us scouring the web for that rare special edition that won’t send us bankrupt just as Christmas rolls around. Ah well, the girlfriend can go without a present this year. Even so, the satisfaction gained by being able to cleanly listen to your favorite music tracks makes it ever the more fulfilling.

So, with that, this list has been catered to those of us that consider themselves a connoisseur of the medium, while hopefully being able to add intrigue to any curious newcomers. Late Christmas present or simply treating yourself, we’ve got you sorted. After all, you wouldn’t want to be a needle stuck in a groove this holiday. 

Uncharted Vinyl Bundle

We start off with a series near and dear to our hearts – Uncharted. We wish that we held off picking up the Uncharted vinyl records individually, now that iam8bit is offering a collection which comprises the entire Uncharted legacy. In other words, Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection, Uncharted 4 Aside/Bside, and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. 

Another added incentive is that this particular set has 30% off until the New Year (December 31). Now that’s a goddamn steal even Sully would be proud of.  

You can grab the Uncharted Vinyl Bundle from iam8bit for $90 (roughly £71 or AU$125).

Stardew Valley Complete Vinyl Soundtrack Box Set

We all know that one person whose life was consumed by Stardew Valley for a period of time (maybe it still is). Well, now you can help contribute to their farming fantasies with this exquisite new vinyl collection. Although a Stardew Valley record released previously, this particular one includes the full 77-soundtrack for the first time ever. 

A really cool extra feature is that all four vinyl discs have been colored to match every season. On top of this, the sleeve has all-new art-work created by Kari Fry, who was the designer behind the official guidebook. Forget whale noises, Stardew Valley’s harvest themes will help anyone relax come Christmas morning. 

You can pick up the Stardew Valley Complete Vinyl Soundtrack Box Set for $59 (roughly £46 or AU$82) from Fangamer.

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Original Videogame Soundtrack

What can we say about Symphony of the Night that hasn’t been said prior? Not only is it one of the highest rated videogames of all time but it also contains one of the best gaming soundtracks ever composed. 

Partnering with Konami, Mondo has brought the Castlevania cult-hit to records. Featuring the full original mix, including the unforgettable ‘Dracula’s Castle’, these remasters come packaged with seven bonus tracks from the Sega Saturn version. There are some slick original designs used for the covers too, not to mention the choice of four different colors for the record itself. 

You can pick up the Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Soundtrack for $35 (roughly £27 or AU$48) from Mondo.  

Cuphead 4xLP Deluxe Vinyl Soundtrack

Talk about catchy tunes. If you haven’t experienced the weird and wonderful world of Cuphead, you can still appreciate the stylish mixes that Studio MDHR produced with its tribute to 1930’s cartoons. Promising a ‘thrill ride of jazz jollies and big band boisterousness’, the three-hour deluxe vinyl soundtrack will add an essence of class to any party you throw. 

Packaged in a sleek 30’s inspired folio design, this is something to display proudly. Above all, what I love most it that you can tell the band are just having the a wicked time jamming together.  

You can pick up the Cuphead 4xLP Deluxe Vinyl Soundtrack from iam8bit for $100 (roughly £79 or AU$139).

God of War Soundtrack – Vinyl/CD 

Anger. Rage. Fear. Emotion. God of War’s pure storytelling is simply in a league of its own. Following Kratos and Atreus on their perilous journey into the realms of Norse mythology, Bear McCreary really outdid himself with this magnificent soundtrack, that only heightens the adventure. 

Now you can pick up a copy of the 2018 phenomenon on both CD and Vinyl. We only wish there was a track of Kratos yelling “boy” continuously…  

The God of War Soundtrack is available as either a CD or Vinyl. The vinyl is available from Amazon for $41.06 (roughly £32 or AU$57), while the CD is available from Amazon for $11.65 (roughly £9 or AU$160).

Hero of Time Vinyl (Music from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)

20 years on from release, Ocarina of Time’s musical melodies are still considered synonymous with videogames. Opting for a minimal approach with the exterior art-work, inside this vinyl you’ll find stunning depictions of both time zones that Link visits in his quest. 

A nice added touch is the vinyl records themselves, which have been coated to represent green and purple Rupees. Koji Kondo’s triumphant orchestral was the theme music to millions of childhoods worldwide, and now sounds better than ever thanks to this newly recorded set by the 64-piece Slovak National Symphony Orchestra. 

You can pick up the Hero of Time 2xLP (Music from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time) from iam8bit for $40 (roughly £32 or AU$56).

Celeste Vinyl Soundtrack

Scoring big at The Game Awards, Celeste left a double-prize winner after a stellar debut in early 2018. Initially selling out its original allotment, restocks are now on the way. So, if you do want the option to hear the extraordinary polyphonic tunes like never before, you’ll need to keep your eye on the prize here. 

The set comes with two crystal-clear records, that feature 19 tracks from the award-winning soundtrack. Don’t miss out. 

The Celeste Vinyl Soundtrack is available from Fangamer for $33 (roughly £26 or AU$46).

Japan Studio Vinyl Bundle 

Part of the same deal offered for the Uncharted bundle, the Japan Studio focused collection contains soundtracks from both The Last Guardian and Shadow of the Colossus. Anyone that has explored either title will immediately remember the epic orchestral beats that preside over each world. 

Takeshi Furukawa and Kow Otani’s scores have been heralded as masterpieces in sound, with many considering the latter to be timeless.

You can grab the Japan Studio Vinyl Bundle from Fangamer for $52 (roughly £41 or AU$73).

Doom (Original Game Soundtrack) Deluxe Double Vinyl

Hell, yes! Doom has always managed to bring the house down with its great sense of rock. Who knew shooting up demons left, right, and centre would sound so good? 

This collection offers the complete Doom 2016 soundtrack (31 tracks) on four black vinyl records, a deluxe double hard-slipcase, and four full printed deluxe inner spined sleeves. Interestingly, the music for this was cut at the world-famous Abbey Road Studios in London. 

The Doom (Original Game Soundtrack) Deluxe Double Vinyl is available from Laced Records for roughly $80 / £63 / AU$111.

Golf Story Vinyl Soundtrack

Can’t get time for a round of golf? No bother, Golf Story’s superb mix of laid-back composites and energetic rifts are terrific for any day spent at home. Released for the Nintendo Switch in 2017, the indie-darling can be purchased for a subpar price. 

What’s ace about this product is that the record is a striking fairway green color, while arriving with 17 toe-tapping tunes to keep you happy until the Masters. A hole-in-one indeed.

You can pick up the Golf Story Vinyl Soundtrack from Fangamer for $23 (roughly £18 or AU$32).

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