Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days finish today after a shorter run than in July, but the retailer isn’t the only one with deals to go around.
Target’s Circle Week, which offers deals for anyone who’s a Target Circle member (it’s $99 a year or $10.99 annually), has sales on Apple tech, LEGO, and even Magic: The Gathering cards and video games. Here are our picks.
Save On Tech And Toys At Target
Kicking off with a doozy, you can get this LEGO Star Wars Darth Vader Helmet for under $50 with Target’s deals. It’s an 834-piece build, so is ideal for intermediate builders, and shows off arguably the most iconic helmet in cinematic history (seriously, who comes close other than Stormtroopers?).
Target also has some Apple tech deals. The Apple Watch Series 10 is down to just over $300 now that the Series 11 is here, and considering the new model adds very little on top of what the Series 10 offers, it’s well worth that if you want a device that’s a seamless extension of your current iPhone.
Next up for Apple, there’s a $100 discount on the ridiculously powerful iPad Pro M4. I’ll be honest, there’s a good chance an M5 version arrives in a few weeks, but this is a phenomenally powerful tablet that can take advantage of iOS 26’s new features like multitasking and more Mac-like features.
The Apple deals continue, with half off the Beats Studio Pro over-ear headphones, and 32% off the AirPods Pro 2, although expect the latter to get cheaper for Black Friday since the third-generation ones are out.
Next up, you can get a compact Anker Power Bank for $14.99, saving around $10 – ideal for charging your phone while out and about.
Next up Target is running a Buy 2, Get One Free promotion across books, movies, music, and uh, Funko Pop figurines. If you’ve been lacking in any of those areas, now’s the time to splurge, with books like the recently released Alchemised, movies like Moana 2 and Thunderbolts, and more included.
PS5 gamers can pick up some first-party exclusives on the cheap, too. The Last of Us Part 1 and Gran Turismo 7 both see 56% discounts, dropping to $29.99 each.
Finally (ha!) the Final Fantasy Limit Break Commander Deck is now cheaper than MSRP. This is the one that’s tended to hold its value since launch in June, and it’s now reduced by 22% – and you don’t even have to be a Target Circle member for this one, either.
Lloyd Coombes is an experienced freelancer in tech, gaming and fitness seen at Polygon, Eurogamer, Macworld, TechRadar and many more. He’s a big fan of Magic: The Gathering and other collectible card games, much to his wife’s dismay.
Online video games! They’re the future of the medium! Or, I guess they’re already here, but still, online co-op is very much in Vampire Survivor’s future. It’s a feature that’s been promised for a little while now, and developer Poncle have shared a little look at it, as well as a confirmation as to when you can expect it: autumn! This autumn, to be precise, which we’re currently experiencing, though a more specific window of time wasn’t provided.
When the original Little Nightmares was released in 2017, it won praise for its fresh take on puzzle platforming horror. Its sequel upped the scare factor even further, earning critical acclaim while deepening the series’ mythos. With a new developer at the helm of its threequel, the question on everyone’s minds is whether the franchise’s third outing sticks the landing.
The answer is, ‘Yeah, sort of…’ but with some major caveats. Little Nightmares III is essentially a soft reboot for the series with an all-new storyline and lead protagonists, yet it faithfully adheres to the well-trodden gameplay formula and level design of Tarsier Studios’ earlier entries, resulting in an experience that leans perhaps too much into reiteration rather than reinvention.
Get Ready For An Action-packed Adventure With The Outer Worlds 2 Xbox Design Lab Controllers
Xbox Accessories Team
Experience big sequel energy with The Outer Worlds 2 Xbox Wireless Controller and Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2. The world needs a hero, but you will have to do. Embark on your own action-packed sci-fi RPG adventure with a new crew, new weapons, new enemies, new colony, and a new controller.
These designs are out of this world featuring the iconic The Moon Man and the galactic rifts that threaten to destroy all of humanity. With your new controller, your ultimate weapon, you’ll rise to the occasion and be the hero that Arcadia system desperately needs. Both controllers are available now with Xbox Design Lab.
To be the hero Arcadia needs, you’ll need to be well equipped. The Xbox Wireless Controller on Xbox Design Lab offers endless customization to help you play your way, whether its guns blazing or stealth combat. Choose from a variety of button styles curated for your chosen The Outer Worlds 2 color scheme.
You can enhance your controller with a variety of upgrades, including metallic triggers that shine like the rifts of Arcadia, a metallic D-Pad, rubberized side and back grips, and even topcase engraving for a personalized touch. Whether you’re exploring The Outer Worlds 2 or embarking on any other adventure, this controller is ready to go with Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth compatibility. It connects seamlessly to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One consoles, PCs, as well as iOS, Android, and cloud devices. Plus, with the dedicated share button, you can easily capture and share photos and videos of your heroic moments with friends.
The Elite Series 2 version of this design comes with all the features you’ve come to love, including adjustable-tension thumbsticks, wrap-around rubberized grip, and shorter hair trigger lock for even more precise gameplay. For even greater customization, you can add back paddles for enhanced input control and limitless customization with exclusive button mapping options in the Xbox accessories app. Immerse yourself deeper into The Outer Worlds 2 with the 3.5mm jack—just connect any compatible headset to experience the action-packed Arcadia system like never before. Plus, just as you shift between different paths in the game, the controller’s dynamic features ensure you’re always ready for whatever the galaxy throws your way.
If you’re ready to become the hero the galaxy needs, head over to Xbox Design Lab today to design yours. These controllers are available today, starting at MSRP $94.98 for the Xbox Wireless Controller and MSRP $184.98 for the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 exclusively at https://www.xbox.com/accessories/controllers/the-outer-worlds-2-xbox-controllers. Visit Xbox.com for more information.
The Outer Worlds 2 launches October 29 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, PlayStation 5, Battle.net, and Steam — and day one with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Pre-order The Outer Worlds 2 Premium Edition now to get up to 5 days early access and the Commander Zane’s Anti-Monopolistic Battle Pack.
Pre-order The Outer Worlds 2 Premium Edition now to get up to 5 days early access and the Commander Zane’s Anti-Monopolistic Battle Pack.
The Outer Worlds 2 Premium Edition includes:
– The Outer Worlds 2 base game
– Up to 5 days early access
– DLC Pass for 2 future story expansions*
– Moon Man’s Corporate Appreciation Premium Prize Pack
– Access to The Outer Worlds 2 Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack
* Story expansions available as released
The Outer Worlds 2 is the eagerly-awaited sequel to the award-winning first-person sci-fi RPG from Obsidian Entertainment (just look at the exciting number of dashes in this sentence!). Time to clear your calendar – get ready for an action-packed adventure with a new crew, new weapons, and new enemies in a new colony! So much newness!
As a daring and most likely good-looking Earth Directorate agent, you must uncover the source of devastating rifts threatening to destroy all of humanity. Your investigation leads to Arcadia, home of skip drive technology, where the fate of the colony, and ultimately the entire galaxy, rests on your decisions – your strengths, your flaws, your crew, and the factions you choose to trust.
Explore a New Frontier
The Arcadia colony is engulfed in a factional war, as the Protectorate’s so-called benevolent rule is challenged by the rebellion of their religious order and a corporate invasion. As destructive rifts spread across the colony, each faction fights to control or close them for their own ends. Navigate diverse zones, uncover hidden lore, and shape the fate of a system on the brink!
Your Commander, Your Way
Build your character with the abilities and choices that reflect your playstyle. The colony reacts to your every move, crafting a narrative that’s yours to own -whether you’re a disciple of diplomacy, an astute strategist, a crusader for chaos, or something different altogether. And yes, you can dumb!
Enlist Your Companions
Recruit companions with unique traits, backgrounds and goals. Whether you choose to help them achieve their ambitions or steer them toward your own objectives, your influence shapes their growth (or death), making them an integral part of the immersive story you create together.
Create an infinite number of unique islands to house prehistoric animals with Jurassic World Evolution 3’s Island Generator. The Island Generator will be available to players in game when it launches October 21 on PlayStation Store, and is available to pre-order now.
The powerful new feature in Sandbox Mode will allow players to create completely custom island layouts on which to build their sprawling Parks.
Park Managers will have control over the Shape and Terrain of the island, as well as the amount of Trees, Water and Mountains, giving them the tools to create endless unique tropical islands at the tweak of a slider.
The Island Generator also comes with the full host of sandbox settings so Park Managers can build, manage, and control every aspect of their Parks.
Each island layout will have an Island DNA code, so players can share the seed and settings of their island. Inputting other players Island DNA codes will let them recreate other islands players have made. Players will also be able to upload Parks to the Frontier Workshop to share their Community Creations.
“We are so excited to bring the Island Generator to Jurassic World Evolution 3. This is a feature we have wanted to realise for a long time now, and with the incredible new environmental tools we’ve developed for JWE3, we are finally able to do it justice. Not only does this feature give players endless variety in their Sandbox maps, but the ability to share Parks on the Frontier Workshop means that people all around the world can see how you’ve developed your own unique starting point into a truly distinctive park. We also really love that players can use Monorails and Hyperloop transport systems to connect and extend their park out to any smaller islands that may have been generated away from the main landmass. The potential for elaborate and creative island parks is now greater than ever and we can’t wait to see what players do with these tools when the game launches.”
– Andy Fletcher, Game Director
Jurassic World Evolution 3 on PlayStation 5 Pro
Building on the success of the previous game, Jurassic World Evolution 3 pushes the boundaries with new and improved graphical technology. The team at Frontier have worked with brand-new console technology to create the best player experience possible.
PlayStation 5 Pro offers players incredible image quality with both PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) and Ray Traced Sun Shadows. PSSR delivers super sharp image clarity with an extraordinary level of detail.
Without Ray Traced Sun Shadows, the shadows cast by foliage and dinosaurs are darker and interact with the environment less realistically.
Ray Traced Sun Shadows adds a great depth of realistic detail, with shadows cast by foliage and dinosaurs appearing softer.
Brand-new to the Jurassic World Evolution franchise, the delivery of Ray Traced Sun Shadows is made possible on console by the PlayStation 5 Pro’s upgraded GPU and Advanced Ray Tracing. Ray Traced Sun Shadows provides accurate penumbra for shadows using ray tracing to improve their quality, making the subtle details even more noticeable than before.
Without Ray Traced Sun Shadows, colours are brighter but have less contrast and shadows are more detailed but behave less realistically.
Ray Traced Sun Shadows have a more accurate penumbra, softening the shadows cast by foliage and scenery items.
This means sun shadows in Jurassic World Evolution 3 are very sharp near to the shadow-casting object and get blurrier further away, just like shadows in real life. This is one of two Ray Tracing features on the console with Ray Traced Global Illumination also available on PlayStation 5.
With Ray Traced Sun Shadows off, the shadows cast on to Psittacosaurus, as well as the dinosaurs shadows themselves, are harsher and more solid.
When Ray Traced Sun Shadows are on, shadows behave more naturally, adding a great depth of realistic detail.
Jurassic World Evolution 3 launches on 21 October and is available to pre-order now on the PlayStation store.
How about a fresh look at Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions, that not-an-Astroneer-sequel from System Era? The developer revealed an extended look at gameplay yesterday, detailing what it is you’ll be doing exactly. As has already been established, it’s an online co-op game, one of those “friendslop” kind of games you’ll see people be mean about on Ditter and TikTok comments. To be specific, you can play it solo, or with three of your friends, but there are elements that draw on other players (more on that in a bit).
Battlefield 6‘s servers are ready for launch day on Friday, one of the game’s developers has insisted.
Battlefield lead producer at DICE, David Sirland, replied to a question on X/Twitter about server readiness with a sort of confident sounding “should be!”
“We are planning for [servers to be ready], of course,” Sirland said, “and open beta helped gauge the interest as well.”
He’s not wrong about the beta helping to gauge interest. Battlefield 6 became the series’ biggest beta ever, hitting a peak concurrent user count of 521,079 players on Steam alone, resulting in a lengthy queue for those trying to get into August’s open beta. Whether or not the full, paid release will garner such a draw remains to be seen — but we’ll find out one way or the other on Friday.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 developers Sandfall Interactive have wheeled out news that the RPG‘ll be getting a free update which’ll include a new location for its party to explore, more boss battles, and some extra costumes. The studio are teasing that there’ll be other stuff packed into this update, which they say is designed to act as a thank you to folks who’ve delved into the Belle Époque Frenchness.
Trinket Studios (Battle Chef Brigade) and Outersloth revealed their brand new and rather tasty-looking card-battler, Battle Suit Aces, a little while back, and it’s out right this very moment on the Nintendo Switch Entertainment System.
Now, if you’re feeling in any way like this particular writer, you may have just thought, ‘No, no more card-battling games – I reckon I’m all good for now, folks.’ But judging from what we’ve seen of this one, it may well be worth your time, especially if you’re into Persona-styled storylines threaded throughout battles that feature things like massive robots and gigantic monsters. Y’know, all the best things.
Coming to Xbox Game Pass: Ninja Gaiden 4, Keeper, Ball x Pit, Supermarket Simulator, and More
Megan Spurr, Senior Community Lead, Xbox Game Pass
We surprise-added a bunch of games last week – for cloud, console, PC, and even the upcoming ROG Xbox Ally handhelds – with more to come, meaning we have something for everyone. Let’s get to the games.
Available Today
Supermarket Simulator (Cloud, Console, and PC) Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
Run your own supermarket in this store management game! Stock shelves, set your prices, take payments, hire staff, expand your store, handle shoplifters, and design your layout. Purchase goods from online or local markets around town and personally deliver online orders to your customers.
Coming Soon
Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Editions (PC) – October 9 Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
Available on console and cloud gaming and now coming to Xbox on PC! Gather your party; the RPG saga returns. Immerse yourself in an epic RPG series where every choice matters. Play over 100 hours of adventure in enhanced editions of Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II!
The Casting of Frank Stone(Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – October 14 Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
The shadow of Frank Stone looms over Cedar Hills, a town forever altered by his violent past. As a group of young friends are about to discover, Stone’s blood-soaked legacy cuts deep, leaving scars across families, generations, and the very fabric of reality itself.
Ball x Pit(Cloud, Console, and PC) – October 15 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
Available on day one with Game Pass:Ball x Pit is a brick-breaking, ball-fusing, base-building survival roguelite. Batter hordes of enemies with ricocheting balls and gather the riches of the pit to expand your homestead, generate resources and recruit unique heroes.
The Grinch has a wonderful, awful idea – steal all the presents in Who-ville, using gadgets like his stealthy Santa costume and Candy Cane Lasso. Help him sneak around, freeze creatures with snowballs, and learn the meaning of Christmas along the way, in this festive platformer!
Eternal Strands(Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – October 15 Now with Game Pass Premium
Eternal Strands is the debut fantasy title from Yellow Brick Games. Fight epic, towering creatures while blending magical abilities with an arsenal of powerful weapons to keep the world from crumbling in this third-person, action-adventure game.
Deep in the forgotten corners of the world, a dark force stirs – the Demon King rises once more. Sharpen your wits, seek out powerful artifacts, and stand firm in the face of the apocalypse in this roguelite RPG auto battler.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black(Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – October 15 Now with Game Pass Premium
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black features the high-speed, ninja action of iconic hero Ryu Hayabusa and his deadly Dragon Sword. Embark on a global battle against formidable foes, engage in relentless combat, and play as additional characters Momiji, Ayana and Rachel.
Pax Dei (PC) – October 16 Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
Welcome to a vast, social sandbox MMO inspired by the legends of the medieval era. Here, myths are real, ghosts exist, and magic is unquestioned. Join thousands of players as you explore the land, build your home, forge your reputation, and craft your own stories. What world will you make?
Keeper(Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – October 17 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
Available on day one with Game Pass! From Lee Petty and Double Fine Productions, Keeper is a story told without words, in which a long-forgotten lighthouse is awakened and, joined by a spirited seabird, it embarks upon a heartening tale of unlikely companionship, and an unexpected journey into realms beyond understanding.
Evil West(Cloud, Console, and PC) – October 21 Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
Making a return to the Game Pass library! A dark menace consumes the Old West. In solo or co-op, fight with style in visceral, explosive combat against bloodthirsty monstrosities. Eradicate the vampiric hordes with your lightning-fueled gauntlet and become a Wild West Superhero.
Ninja Gaiden 4(Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – October 21 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
Available on day one with Game Pass! The definitive ninja hack and slash franchise returns with Ninja Gaiden 4! Embark on a cutting-edge adventure where legacy meets innovation in this high-octane blend of style and no-holds-barred combat.
In Case You Missed It
We recently revealed new details about Xbox Game Pass memberships. You can learn more about this below:
Hogwarts Legacy(Cloud, Console, and PC) – Available now Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
Hogwarts Legacy is an open-world action RPG set in the world first introduced in the Harry Potter books. Embark on a journey through familiar and new locations as you explore and discover magical beasts, customize your character and craft potions, master spell casting, upgrade talents and become the wizard you want to be.
Little Rocket Lab(Cloud, Console, and PC) – Available now Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
Little Rocket Lab is a cozy, machine building RPG. You play as Morgan, an aspiring engineer! Head home to St. Ambroise to help complete your family’s dream-building a rocket. Help the locals with new machines, be creative, and become the ultimate engineer! That rocket isn’t going to build itself!
DLC / Game Updates
Dead by Daylight: Sinister Grace – Available now The skin tears. The head rises. The hunt begins. In Dead by Daylight: Sinister Grace, play as The Krasue, forever cursed by insatiable hunger and a terrifying creature well suited for The Fog. The Krasue’s blood-drenched tale is one of ambition gone awry.
Diablo IV: Season of Infernal Chaos – Available now Season 10 takes gameplay to chaotic heights, with updates that encourage deeper build experimentation and mastery through powerful Chaos Armor Uniques and deadly class-tailored Chaos Perks. The chaos persists in endgame with revamped Infernal Hordes, now overtaken by new, relentless Chaos Waves.
FBC: Firebreak – Breakpoint Update – Available now The first free Major Update, Breakpoint is packed with systemic overhauls, new content, and quality-of-life improvements – all aimed at making FBC: Firebreak more fun, varied, and rewarding to play.
Grounded 2: Hairy and Scary Update – Available now The Hairy and Scary update unleashes AXL the tarantula with a full armor set to craft, new weapons to wield, and new base décor. Fine-tune your loadout with new gear and build smarter with the streamlined BUILD.M interface as you prepare to face AXL on the back of your Buggy.
Age of Empires II: DE – Chronicles: Alexander the Great – October 14 Pre-order now and save 15%! Prepare for the next chapter in the fan-favorite Chronicles saga by stepping into the sandals of history’s greatest conqueror. Embark on Alexander the Great’s epic journey in this narrative-driven campaign featuring three new civilizations, customizable armies, and fresh storytelling.
In-Game Benefits
Now all Game Pass subscribers can get in-game benefits for eligible free-to-play games and titles in the Xbox Game Pass library, in addition to special offers like Discord Nitro. Specific benefits may vary per plan, region, and time.
Valorant: Play the new Agent Veto (Console and PC) – Available now Upset your enemy’s gameplan and take every fight on YOUR terms with Veto: Valorant’s new Senegalese Sentinel whose Radivore mutation shuts down and shrugs off enemy abilities.
Call of Duty: Warzone – Game Pass Pack 4 (Cloud, Console, and PC) – October 15 Get a free in-game bundle for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone. This pack includes operator skins, weapon blueprints, emotes, weapon charms and more that you can use in both games.
Leaving October 15
The following games are leaving the Game Pass library soon. Be sure to pick up where you left off before they go and remember you can save up to 20% off your purchase to keep the fun going!
Cocoon (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Core Keeper (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutants Unleashed (Cloud, Console, and PC)
No matter how you want to game – be it on your PC, your console, a metaphorical ton of devices for cloud gaming (maybe a literal ton, if you count the CAR that has cloud gaming??), we have something for you. Talk soon!
