If you're looking for a gaming headset for your new PS5 or Xbox Series X, it's an excellent time to buy one. Black Friday 2020 has brought some stellar deals on a bunch of solid gaming headsets. We've rounded up a handful of the best Black Friday gaming headset deals below, some of which have universal compatibility across all platforms, including Xbox Series X and PS5.
A gaming headset is one of the first accessories you should grab when you get a new console. Headsets are vital for multiplayer games, but they're also great for single-player games, since they typically pinpoint sounds and create a more immersive experience. See our guide to the best PS5 gaming headsets for 2020 for more options if you're shopping for that platform.
Sound Particles is a one of a kind program for rendering 3D audio, capable of supporting thousands to millions of sounds in your simulation. Sound Particles has been battle tested used in big budgets movies such as Alita, Ready Player One and the new Star Wars films, as well as games such as Assassins Creed Origin.
Sound Particles is a sound design software application capable of generating thousands (even millions) of sounds in a virtual 3D audio world. This immersive audio application will enable you to create highly complex sounds on the fly, which will ultimately enable you to design sound better and faster than ever.
Sound Design The best 3D software for complex sound design. Used for film, videogames and virtual reality.
Postproduction Working in postproduction? Use Sound Particles to add depth and richness to your sounds.
Immersive Audio Supports immersive audio formats, such as Ambisonics, Dolby Atmos, Auro 3d and much more.
If you are interested in trying this unique audio application they have a fully functional demonstration available for Windows and Mac available here. All licenses are currently 50% off during Black Friday/Cyber Monday from indie to enterprise licenses. You can see Sound Particles in action in the video below. Sounds used during this demo were all downloaded from the excellent FreeSound.org website.
Better than Black Friday pricing hits new iPad Air 4 at Amazon
Better than Black Friday pricing is going on now at Amazon, with Apple’s latest iPad Air 4 dropping back to $559, matching the all-time record low price.
On sale for $569 on Black Friday, Amazon has slashed the price of Apple’s new iPad Air 4 even further, dropping it down to down to $559, and matching the all-time record low price we’ve seen. At the time of publication, Amazon says the tablet is expected to ship on Dec. 20, so you’ll want to secure your spot in line for the best delivery dates.
Stay tuned for Cyber Monday Apple deals
AppleInsider will be highlighting the best Cyber Monday throughout the holiday weekend. Be sure to download our app and follow us on social media for the latest news and best prices on your favorite Apple gear and accessories.
Additional Apple deals
AppleInsider and Apple authorized resellers are also running additional exclusive discounts on hardware that will not only deliver the lowest prices on many of the items, but also throw in bonus deals on AppleCare, software and more. Here are some of the offers:
For the second time ever, US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is streaming Among Us right now. Following her record-breaking stream, AOC is taking part in another stream, this time one organized by Jagmeet Singh, leader of the Canadian New Democratic Party. The stream is live right now on Twitch, and you can watch it for yourself below. It's already cracked the 100k viewer mark.
Today's stream began at 4 PM PT (7 PM ET). We don't know how long it will run for, but her first stream lasted for several hours as she worked to encourage people to get out and vote. While that game was broadcast on multiple Twitch channels, AOC's channel alone saw peak concurrent viewers top a whopping 430,000.
[freebies.indiegala.com] Clockwise, an adventure, puzzle, horror game with different playthroughs.
80% OFF XCOM 2 Collection Steam Key
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The 238th GalaQuiz will be LIVE soon, win up to $50 in GalaCredit!
[www.indiegala.com] The GalaQuiz will take place in less than 45 minutes from this announcement Today's GalaQuiz[www.indiegala.com] hints are up. The theme will be Movie Protagonists #2 Redux.
Attention Halo fans! The holidays are nearly upon us and it’s time to start shopping for friends, family, and maybe yourself while you’re at it. Well, you’re in luck, as we have a ton of brand-new Halo-themed products and toys in-store now, all of which will fill you with the holiday spirit as you step into the boots of your favorite Spartan. Let’s take a tour through some of the amazing products that are out there, and available…right now!
Mega Construx
We’ve teamed up with our friends at Mega for some absolutely incredible new sets this year. You can now put the Master Chief right on your shelf with the new helmet set, complete with a buildable AI chip that slots right in. The 414-piece set may not be quite big enough to wear yourself, but you can look over and see the Master Chief’s gold visor watching over you anytime.
Mega has also created two of their best sets to date with the replica Energy Sword that’s going to look extra-intimidating on your mantle, as well as a massive new Pelican dropship. The Pelican features poseable wings, a cockpit hatch, working landing gear and comes with three micro-figures of the Master Chief, the Pilot and a Banished Hunter. At over 2000 pieces this set is massive, and the perfect gift for the builder in your life.
It’s some strong words, but my personal favorite set is the Forerunner Ring Installation. Now you can finally have a piece of a Halo ring right in your home, complete with mini trees, rivers, and mountains. But what makes this set so perfect is that each ring segment can snap together, and with five sets you can build a full-blown Halo Ring. You still can’t fire it without an Index though, so all sentient life in the galaxy should be safe… I think.
Wicked Cool Toys
If you or someone you love is a collector, or just really likes to play with toys, then we’ve got a great lineup of action figures for you to check out. Scaling from four inches all the way up to a full foot tall, there’s sure to be something perfect for you to recreate the massive battles Halo is known for. Available figures include Kat-B320, a Brute Chieftan with gravity hammer, a Banished Ghost, Elite Warlord, a Warthog and, of course, the Master Chief himself. I’m not saying I spend most of my afternoons recreating iconic moments from the game with action figures, but I’m not saying I’m not doing that either.
Nerf
Whether you’re a kid or just a kid at heart, there are few things more fun than blasting your best friend with a Nerf dart. Now you can give your battles a little Halo flavor with then new MA40 and Mangler, both inspired by the weapons in Halo Infinite. The MA40 comes with a 10-dart clip and motorized blaster, while the Mangler boasts a 6-dart drum. Both toys also come with exclusive digital codes which will allow you to get a special in-game add on to use when Halo Infinite launches in 2021. The MA40 is available now, and the Mangler will be released on January 1.
Funko
Let’s not pretend we don’t need more Funko Pops in our lives, because of course we do! We’re scratching that itch with some new items featuring both the Master Chief and the Spartan MK VII, with some unique and exclusive variants. In addition to the three standard Funko Pops you can find we’re also offering a Master Chief Hydro Deco variant exclusively at Best Buy, a Master Chief Active Camo variant exclusively at Target, and a Spartan MK VII with shock rifle variant exclusively at GameStop. But why choose when you can just collect all six instead?
Dark Horse
Those who know me know I have one passion…I love statues. More specifically, I love this statue of the Master Chief on Zeta Halo – inspired by the beautiful key art for Halo Infinite. This 10.5-inch statue is rich with gorgeous details and is a must-have for any collector. Just look at the pose! The burns and scuffs on the armor! The quiet heroism! This work of art is a Best Buy exclusive in the U.S. (visit Halo Waypoint for international availability) and is available now!
2020 has been a year (to say the least), so hopefully you’re able to find some joy and fun with these great Halo products from our amazing partners. I hope everyone has a great holiday season and we’ll see you in 2021 with even more cool Halo gear!
MechWarrior developer Piranha Games acquired by EG7 for $24.2 million
MechWarrior developer Piranha Games has been acquired by Enad Global 7 (EG7) for an initial SEK 207 million ($24.2 million).
The deal will see EG7 hand over SEK 138.9 million ($16.2 million) in cash and SEK 68.9 million ($8 million) in newly issued shares. An earn-out consideration could also result in the company paying out an extra CAD 63.4 million ($63.4 million) if Piranha meets certain financial performance targets.
For those unfamiliar with either name, EG7 is a Swedish video game cooprative that develops, markets, publishes, and distributes PC, console, and mobile titles around the world. It’s the parent company of publisher and distributor Sold Out, and also owns a number of studios including Antimatter Games and Toadman Studios.
Piranha, meanwhile, is based in Canada and is the developer behind MechWarrior Online and MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries. It has previously worked on other franchises including Medal of Honor and Need for Speed, creating handheld entries for both series for the PSP.
EG7 explained that Piranha will continue to operate as an independent studio moving forward, and will “significantly strengthen” its development capacity in Canada. The company added that it will collaborate with Piranha on “future joint projects” that combine the studio’s knowledge of PC and console game development with its own publishing and marketing expertise. It also views the MechWarrior franchise as a key asset.
It looks like Nintendo Switch could be on the verge of smashing new sales records this holiday season, as shoppers flock to stores to grab Black Friday deals in time for Christmas.
This year has seen a number of welcome deals on Switch consoles as retailers battle it out to earn your custom over Black Friday. While most stores have opted for bundles containing games and online subscriptions at reduced prices, others – including a number of supermarkets in the UK – have been slashing the base console’s RRP by as much as £50.
The deals have triggered a number of reports stating that consoles are selling out across a variety of different stores. Astris Advisory Japan KK’s David Gibson has confirmed one such claim, adding that Switch shipment volumes to the USA over October were up 30% year-on-year, a fact he says could lead to “crazy records” being made.
In Nintendo’s latest financial earnings report, the company revealed that it had shifted 12.53 million units in the six months between April and September 2020. Those sales mean that, as of September, the Switch’s lifetime sales were at 68.30 million – expect that number to rise significantly as we enter the new year.
Update #2 [Fri 27th Nov, 2020 12:40 GMT]: The Mohammad bin Salman Charity Foundation has confirmed that it is investing 813 million riyals ($223 million) in SNK, giving it a 33.3% stake in the company. That values the company at $669 million (thanks, GamesIndustry.biz).
The purchase has been made via ‘Electronic Games Development Company,’ a wholly-owned subsidiary, and stipulates that the foundation will eventually purchase an additional 17.7% of SNK’s shares, giving it 51% ownership of the Japanese video game company. That would give the Prince – via his foundation and the EGDC – a controlling stake in the firm.
SNK Corp’s share price on KOSDAQ has risen in response to the news, jumping 30% to 16,500 Korean won ($14.93).
Update #1 [Thu 26th Nov, 2020 12:20 GMT]: It would seem that EGDC is becoming the company’s largest shareholder, rather than buying the company outright. The deal will see EGDC gain 33.3% of SNK stock.
Original story [Thu 26th Nov, 2020 11:15 GMT]: Well, here’s a story we didn’t think we’d be writing this morning.
According to reports coming out of the Far East (thanks, ResetEra), video game veteran SNK – famous for properties such as Samurai Shodown, Metal Slug and King of Fighters – has been purchased by the Saudi-based Electronic Gaming Development Company (EGDC).
The deal – which has been signed today – transfers all SNK stock to EGDC. However, it is reported that the agreement has been 100% funded by the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who is the largest shareholder of EGDC. It would appear that the acquisition of SNK is part of the Prince’s “Saudi Vision 2030” program, which seeks to diversify the traditionally oil-led Saudi economy via sectors such as tourism and technology.
The Crown Prince is a controversial figure in global politics and is accused of having a hand in the assassination of Washington Post journalist and Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. He is also accused of detaining and torturing human rights activists and actioning the mass execution of 37 civilians in 2019.
SNK was purchased by a group of Chinese investors back in 2015, with the aim to turn the company’s properties into a “Marvel-style” multimedia hit factory.
Amazon Black Friday Anime Sale Has Great Deals On Blu-Rays, Box Sets, And More
Black Friday has kicked off, and if you're looking to spend the end of the year with some quality animation directly from Japan, Amazon's got a terrific selection of Blu-rays and box sets at great prices. The Black Friday sale includes a number of cult classic series such as Cowboy Bebop (currently in development as a live-action series for Netflix), Black Lagoon, and Naruto Shippuden.
More modern series are also included in the Black Friday sale, like the violent fantasy epic Goblin Slayer, the twisted superhero series Zetman, and the wonderfully weird Jojo's Bizarre Adventure.
