Publisher Izanagi Games has announced a new mystery FMV game called Death Come True. Details are sparse at the moment, but the "authentic full-motion video game" is being written and directed by Danganronpa series creator, Kazutaka Kodaka.The official website teases the game's six-strong cast, and if their clothing is anything to go by, Death Come True hasn't lost any of Kodaka's previous eccentricity in the move to full-motion video. The tagline asks, "Is this a movie or a game? The story starts with your selections," and a countdown ending on December 10 at 12:00 AM PT/3:00 PM ET/8:00 pm GMT promises to reveal the game's lead actor.It will be interesting to see if Death Come True adopts a similar structure to the Danganronpa series--a host of bizarre visual novels that pits a cast of high school students against an evil bear in a battle royale-esque game of murder. The series is comprised of five core games, but its popularity has also spawned numerous spin-offs and both anime and manga series'.Death Come True is being developed by Too Kyo Games, a studio Kodaka founded with Zero Escape creator Kotaro Uchikoshi. So far the studio has announced four projects, with 2D platformer Death March Club due out on PC and as-yet-unannounced home consoles in 2020. Death Come True doesn't have a release window yet, nor any announced platforms.Info from Gamespot.com

Believe it or not, there's only about two weeks remaining in the holiday shopping season. For gamers, the Nintendo Switch is sure to be one of the most desired gifts for the third year in a row. Best Buy has a pretty good deal on the new model Switch console for Green Monday. When you buy a Switch on Best Buy's website--including store pickup orders--you'll get a $30 gift card.Nintendo Switch with upgraded battery lifeNintendo Switch (new model) with $30 Best Buy gift card | $300 See at Best Buy The offer is good for both controller color options, gray and neon red/neon blue. You'll receive the gift card via email after picking up your order in-store or after it ships to your address.Nintendo released the refreshed Nintendo Switch a few months back. The only difference between the new model and the launch model is the battery life. On a full charge, the new model can run for 4.5 to 9 hours in handheld mode, compared to the 2.5 to 6.5 hours of battery life of the launch model. The new model also bests the portable-only Switch Lite, which clocks in at 3 to 7 hours of battery life. Woot is currently selling the Switch Lite for $190, and Amazon Prime members can knock an addition $10 off that price.If you're looking to upgrade from the launch model to the new model, check out our quick guide that covers the system transfer. To complement your new purchase, take a look at our gift guides for Nintendo Switch games and accessories. Info from Gamespot.com

This week just got more jam-packed with announcements. PlayStation's final State of Play for the year goes live tomorrow, December 10, and The 2019 Game Awards airs this Thursday. Now, to add even more to the plate, Nintendo has announced a livestream of its own going live tomorrow.Nintendo confirmed on Twitter that a brand-new Indie World Showcase will stream live at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET on December 10. While what's to be shown remains unknown, the company said that "roughly 20 minutes of information" will be provided on upcoming Nintendo Switch indies. You can watch the livestream below.Nintendo Indie World Showcase Livestream and Start TimesDecember 10, 10 AM PTDecember 10, 1 PM ETDecember 10, 6 PM GMTDecember 11, 4 AM AETThe upcoming Nindies livestream makes this week a busy one for the games industry. Sony said that its final State of Play for 2019 promises around 20 minutes of announcements. This includes "new game reveals, release date announcements, new gameplay footage, PlayStation Worldwide Studios updates, and more." You can watch the State of Play livestream here.Similarly, The Game Awards promises a night filled with "surprise new game announcements, world premieres, and special video game-inspired musical performances." Show host Geoff Keighley has confirmed that, on top of these announcements, there will be around 10 new game/project reveals. The Game Awards can be streamed live right here on GameSpot, as well as on other platforms. Nintendo Direct & Nindies Showcase News Nintendo Direct-Style Switch Indies Stream Announced, Airs Tomorrow Info from Gamespot.com

MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries was announced just over three years ago now. Before that, the last entry in the series was released all the way back in 2000 with MechWarrior 4: Vengeance. Sure, MechWarrior Online came out in between, and BattleTech offered a turn-based strategy spin on the same universe, but it's been a long, long time since we've had a single-player MechWarrior game.That all changes tomorrow, December 10, when MechWarrior 5 finally launches on the Epic Games Store. The latest game in the long-running series is based on the same simulation engine that powers MechWarrior Online, utilising many of the same mechanics and features. It can be played in co-op with up to four players, and AI teammates will fill those positions when you're playing solo. Much like BattleTech--and as the subtitle implies--you'll also manage a company of mercenaries, hiring skilled pilots and maintaining your ever-growing fleet of BattleMechs with upgrades and repairs.Piranha Games has released a launch trailer ahead of MechWarrior 5's imminent release, showcasing plenty of mech on mech violence and all the collateral damage you can ever ask for.Reviewer Leif Johnson gave MechWarrior Online 6/10 in GameSpot's review, saying, "MechWarrior Online is hardly more than a solid arena shooter populated with mechs. If the game had made better use of its assets and given us a reason to care about more than the fleeting pleasures of customization and combat, it might be worth enduring the currency grind. As it is, like its strongest mechs, it runs out of power far too fast." Hopefully, tedium won't factor into MechWarrior's 5 more focused, story-driven campaign.Info from Gamespot.com

Xbox One X bundles were discounted to $350 on Black Friday and Cyber Monday at all major retailers. That was a great deal, but Ebay's current offer that coincides with Green Monday is even better--much better, in fact. Right now you can pick up an Xbox One X bundled with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and NBA 2K19 for just $290.Xbox One X with NBA 2K19 and Call of Duty: Modern WarfareXbox One X with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and NBA 2K19 | $290 ($500) See at Ebay This bundle is sold through antonline, a well-known and reliable Ebay seller, and it comes with free shipping. Orders will arrive with plenty of time to spare before Christmas.As you can tell by the picture above, this is the NBA 2K19 Xbox One X bundle. NBA 2K19 has since been succeeded by NBA 2K20--which is also bundled with some Xbox One X consoles--but outdated basketball sim or not, this is the best Xbox One X bundle we've seen this holiday season.Call of Duty: Modern Warfare regularly goes for $60, and Xbox One X bundles retail for $500. Not only are you getting an Xbox One X for $60 less than the Black Friday price (and $210 less overall), you're also getting one of the most popular games of the holiday season and a great basketball sim as a throw-in, pretty much. This deal probably won't last long, so you'll want to jump on it as quickly as possible. Info from Gamespot.com

2019 was a big year for film and television, and as the year comes to a close, various awards ceremonies are preparing lists. The 2020 Golden Globes, scheduled to go live on January 5, are nearly upon us, and the nominees are officially in. Here's a look at what did--and didn't--get the nod from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.Todd Phillips' psychological thriller Joker is up for quite a few awards, including competing against Martin Scorsese's The Irishman--which hit Netflix on November 27--for the Best Drama Motion Picture Award. Joker is also nominated for Best Director (Phillips), Best Actor (Joaquin Phoenix), and Best Original Score.Television shows are getting recognition in both the Best Miniseries or Television Film, Best Actor and Actress, and Best Supporting Actor and Actress categories. Game of Thrones' Kit Harington is nominated for the Best Actor in a Drama TV Series award, making it the only Golden Globe the show is getting recognized for this year. Apple TV Plus-exclusive The Morning Show is nominated for Best Actress in a TV Drama Series, with Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon both up for the award.Further, South Korean film Parasite is nominated for three Golden Globes. This includes Best Director (Bong Joon Ho), Best Screenplay, and Best Foreign Language Film. Also in the Best Foreign Language Film category is French drama Les Misérables, Spanish drama Pain and Glory, French historical drama Portrait of a Lady on Fire, and American comedy-drama The Farewell.The 77th Golden Globes Awards goes live on Sunday, January 5 at 3 PM PT / 6 PM ET. The full list of nominees can be viewed below.Golden Globes 2020 NominationsBest Motion Picture – Drama1917The IrishmanJokerMarriage StoryThe Two PopesBest Motion Picture – Musical or ComedyDolemite is My NameJojo RabbitKnives OutOnce Upon a Time in HollywoodRocketmanBest DirectorBong Joon Ho, ParasiteSam Mendes, 1917Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon A Time In HollywoodMartin Scorsese, The IrishmanTodd Phillips, JokerBest Actor – DramaChristian Bale, Ford v. FerrariAntonio Banderas, Pain and GloryAdam Driver, Marriage StoryJoaquin Phoenix, JokerJonathan Pryce, The Two PopesBest Actress – DramaCynthio Erivo, HarrietScarlett Johansson, Marriage StorySaoirse Ronan, Little WomenCharlize Theron, BombshellRenee Zellweger, JudyBest Actor – Musical or ComedyDaniel Craig, Knives OutRoman Griffin Davis, Jojo RabbitLeonardo DiCaprio, Once Upon a Time in HollywoodTaron Egerton, RocketmanEddie Murphy, Dolemite Is My NameBest Actress – Musical or ComedyAwkwafina, The FarewellAna de Armas, Knives OutBeanie Feldstein, BooksmartEmma Thompson, Late NightCate Blanchett, Where'd You Go BernadetteBest Supporting Actor in a Motion PictureTom Hanks, A Beautiful Day in the NeighborhoodAl Pacino, The IrishmanJoe Pesci, The IrishmanBrad Pitt, Once Upon A Time In HollywoodAnthony Hopkins, The Two PopesBest Supporting Actress in a Motion PictureAnnette Benning, The ReportMargot Robbie, BombshellJennifer Lopez, HustlersKathy Bates, Richard JewellLaura Dern, Marriage StoryBest ScreenplayMarriage StoryParasiteThe Two PopesOnce Upon A Time In HollywoodThe IrishmanBest Original ScoreMotherless BrooklynLittle WomenJoker1917Marriage StoryBest Original SongCats, "Beautiful Ghosts"Rocketman, "I'm Gonna Love Me AgainFrozen 2, "Into the UnknownThe Lion King, "Spirit"Harriet, "Stand Up"Best Animated FeatureFrozen 2The Lion KingMissing LinkToy Story 4How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden WorldBest Foreign Language FilmThe FarewellLes MisérablesPain and GloryParasitePortrait of a Lady on FireBest Television Series – DramaBig Little LiesThe CrownKilling EveThe Morning ShowSuccessionBest Television Series – ComedyBarryFleabagThe Kominsky MethodThe Marvelous Mrs. MaiselThe PoliticianBest Miniseries or Television FilmCatch-22ChernobylFosse/VerdonThe Loudest VoiceUnbelievableBest Actor TV Series – DramaBrian Cox, SuccessionKit Harington, Game of ThronesRami Malek, Mr. RobotTobias Menzies, The CrownBilly Porter, PoseBest Actress TV Series – DramaJennifer Aniston, The Morning ShowJodie Comer, Killing EveNicole Kidman, Big Little LiesReese Witherspoon, The Morning ShowOlivia Colman, The CrownBest Actor TV Series – ComedyBen Platt, The PoliticianPaul Rudd, Living With YourselfRamy Youssef, RamyBill Hader, BarryMichael Douglas, “The Kominsky MethodBest Actress TV Series – ComedyChristina Applegate, Dead to MePhoebe Waller-Bridge, FleabagNatasha Lyonne, Russian DollKirsten Dunst, On Becoming a God in Central FloridaRachel Brosnahan, Marvelous Mrs. MaiselBest Actor – Miniseries or Television FilmChris Abbott, Catch 22Sacha Baron Cohen, The SpyRussell Crowe, The Loudest VoiceJared Harris, ChernobylSam Rockwell, Fosse/VerdonBest Actress – Miniseries or Television FilmMichelle Williams, Fosse/VerdonHelen Mirren, Catherine the GreatMerritt Wever, UnbelievableKaitlyn Dever, UnbelievableJoey King, The ActBest Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries, Television FilmAlan Arkin, Kominsky MethodKieran Culkin, SuccessionAndrew Scott, FleabagStellan Skarsgård, ChernobylHenry Winkler, BarryBest Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries, or Television FilmMeryl Streep, Big Little LiesHelena Bonham Carter, The CrownEmily Watson, ChernobylPatricia Arquette, The ActToni Collette, UnbelievableInfo from Gamespot.com

James Wan was already the co-creator of two hugely successful horror franchises--Saw and Insidious--when he directed The Conjuring in 2013. But that spooky movie kickstarted the biggest series of the lot, with two main movies and five spin-offs making more than $1.9 billion at the worldwide box office. The third Conjuring movie arrives in 2020, and the title has been announced.The movie is titled The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. It releases on September 11, 2020 and once again stars Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as paranormal experts Ed and Lorraine Warren. The movie's logo was also revealed in a tweet from the official Conjuring universe account--check it out below:#TheConjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. September 2020. pic.twitter.com/XAQbpiIXRV — The Conjuring Universe (@ConjuringFilms) December 8, 2019The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It is directed by Michael Chaves, who previously helmed The Curse of La Llorona, which was also part of the wider Conjuring universe. Wilson and Farmiga also played the Warrens in this year's third Annabelle film, Annabelle Comes Home, as well as the first two Conjuring movies.An official synopsis has also been released. It reads: "A chilling story of terror, murder, and unknown evil that shocked even experienced real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. One of the most sensational cases from their files, it starts with a fight for the soul of a young boy, then takes them beyond anything they’d ever seen before, to mark the first time in U.S. history that a murder suspect would claim demonic possession as a defense."In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Wilson revealed that The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do will have "a much different feel" to its predecessors. "The process [of making Conjuring 3] was fantastic, and it's a much different feel," he said. "It's still the same bones; it's still very much Ed and Lorraine. Again, we are pushing our characters to places they haven't gone, but the film will be a really nice addition because it's definitely a different beast. Pun intended."In terms of other movies in the Conjuring universe, a sequel to The Nun is also in development, as is a movie titled The Crooked Man. However, neither of these have release dates yet. Info from Gamespot.com

Last week, product listings on the Microsoft Store made it pretty clear that both Vanquish and Bayonetta were coming to Xbox One, even if no official announcement was ever made. That changed today, as publisher Sega has revealed that a Bayonetta & Vanquish 10th Anniversary Bundle is coming to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on February 18, 2020.As the early product listings suggested, both of Platinum Games' frenetic action titles have been remastered and will run at 4K 60fps on the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X. The physical edition comes with a steelbook case and both games on a single disc, while the bundle will also be available to purchase digitally. The whole thing will set you back $40 and you can pre-order it now, but there's no indication that you can buy each game separately.If you previously missed out on two of the best action games of the last generation, this bundle is a perfect opportunity to jump in. Bayonetta is a fast-paced third-person action game that mostly revolves around defeating the titular heroine's angelic foes with an arsenal of weapons, and mystical beasts summoned through her hair. Vanquish, meanwhile, redefined the cover-based third-person shooter, implementing elements from action games and beat 'em ups to create one of the most stylish and exhilarating games around.The physical edition comes with a steelbook and some cool cover art. Info from Gamespot.com

Minecraft on PS4 will update to the unified "bedrock version" with an update on December 10, bringing it in-line with each of the other versions and allowing cross-play on the platform. This is the final platform to receive the free bedrock edition update, which is the name given to the unified structure that has been populating across PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android, and Gear VR devices.Aside from cross-play between platforms, the update will also let you carry over any purchases and progress between platforms with your Microsoft account. PS4 players will also be able to access the mod hub Minecraft Marketplace. Sony was reluctant to adopt cross-play on its platform, but began allowing it last year starting with Fortnite. Now it's available in many more games, including the recently released Call of Duty: Modern Warfare."One of Minecraft's core missions is to connect players across devices and provide the best experience regardless of platform," said Minecraft studio head Helen Chiang. "We continue to fulfill that mission here today by welcoming PS4 players to Minecraft on Bedrock and growing our cross-platform multiplayer community."This update to the classic Minecraft edition is part of Microsoft's continued support for the game since acquiring the property. It's also working on other games, including the AR game Minecraft Earth and next year's dungeon crawler Minecraft Dungeons.Info from Gamespot.com

There are a couple weeks left in the year, and new kid on the block, Disney+, still has plenty of content coming to its streaming service to close out the year, and there's more than just new episodes of The Mandalorian. Check out everything coming to Disney+ between December 18-27.On Thursday, December 26, Star Wars VIII: The Last Jedi arrives--and it's still on Netflix right now. Sadly, this is six days after The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters, so you won't be able to binge the entire Skywalker Saga before Episode IX's December 20 release date. However, with the arrival of Episode VIII, all the main Star Wars movies will be available on Disney+. The last Star Wars movie that needs to come to the service--aside from Rise of Skywalker--is Solo, which arrives July 9, 2020.The final two episodes of The Mandalorian will arrive during this time period. Episode 7 of the show arrives on Wednesday, December 18 instead of its normal Friday release schedule. The "Chapter 7" synopsis reads, "An old rival extends an invitation for The Mandalorian to make peace. This episode will include an exclusive sneak peek at Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, in theaters everywhere on December 20." Disney Plus News What's Coming To Disney Plus Mid-To-Late December? The Mandalorian Schedule: When Does Episode 5 Release On Disney Plus? The Mandalorian Episode 4: 18 Star Wars Easter Eggs And References You May Have Missed What's Coming To Disney Plus Late November/Early December Disney Plus: 16 Essential The Simpsons Episodes You Need To Rewatch Right Now As for the season finale of the show, that will air on Friday, December 27. The official synopsis reads, "The Mandalorian comes face-to-face with an unexpected enemy." Obviously, the synopsis doesn't give much away, but we do know that Cara Dune (Gina Carano) will appear in this episode.Below, you'll find everything headed to Disney+ for the end of December.What's new to Disney+ mid to late-December?Wednesday, December 18The Mandalorian "Chapter 7"Friday, December 20George of the Jungle 2High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Episode 107: "Thanksgiving"TogoEncore! Episode 107: "Godspell"Marvel’s Hero Project Episode 107: "Dazzling Lorelei"The World According to Jeff Goldblum Episode 107: "Bikes"Pick of the Litter Episode 101: "Meet the Dogs"Forky Asks A Question: "What is a Leader?"Thursday, December 26Star Wars VIII: The Last JediFriday, December 27The Mandalorian: Season Finale - Chapter 8High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Episode 108: "The Tech Rehearsal"Encore! Episode 108: "Fiddler on the Roof"Marvel’s Hero Project Episode 108: "Battlin' Braden"The World According to Jeff Goldblum Episode 108: "RVs"Pick of the Litter Episode 102: "Off to Puppy College"Forky Asks A Question "What is a Pet?"Info from Gamespot.com

One lucky winner will get the chance of a lifetime to attend to a special screening of the anticipated Sonic the Hedgehog film that will be opening in February 2020. We are teaming up with the #SonicMovie team so 12 twitter followers get the chance to win incredible prizes every day until December 20. We’re kicking it off today, December 9, with a package that includes:Round-trip, economy flights for two to Los AngelesTwo hotel nightsPrivate sedan transfers to/from Los Angeles International AirportPrepaid gift card for mealsTwo Hop-On-Hop-Off Los Angeles tour passes$25 arcade gift card to local arcadeTwo passes to the Sonic the Hedgehog family eventLimited travel insurance for twoBut this is only the today’s prize. Additional prizes include gift cards to Fandango, AMC & PUMA, exclusive Sonic merchandise and apparel, gaming systems from SEGA, a VIP trip to the movies for five, and more!To enter the giveaway you have to retweet the below tweet from @SonicMovie but remember that the prize changes daily so if you want the trip to the special screening you must RT today before 11:59 PM PT. And if you don’t win today, you still have 11 more chances to RT for a chance to get one of the prizes. #SonicMovie is kicking off the holiday season with 12 days of giveaways! RT the below tweet from @SonicMovie for your chance to win* a trip to L.A. for a special Sonic The Hedgehog screening event! *See rules for details >> https://t.co/8yCodLBiuB https://t.co/2xbFr4WFxH — GameSpot (@GameSpot) December 9, 2019You can check the complete list of prizes per day by checking the official rules of the giveaway. Good luck, everyone!ViacomCBS is the parent company of Paramount and GameSpot.Info from Gamespot.com

The hugely-anticipated fantasy adventure show The Witcher hits Netflix next week, and a new promo has been released. It follows this recent trailer and focuses on the main character, monster hunter Geralt of Rivia, who is played by Henry Cavill.The video intercuts new footage from the show with Cavill explaining who the character is. Of course, fans of either the Witcher books or the video games will be very familiar with this iconic warrior. But Netflix is making sure everyone is prepared for the show, as they've clearly spent a lot of money on it. There's some cool new footage, highlighting the monster-fighting action, plus some more lighthearted moments of humor. Check it out below:The Witcher also stars Anya Chalotra as Yennefer and Freya Allan as Ciri, and Season 1 is released on December 20. It's already been renewed for Season 2 too, but there's no release yet and don't expect to see it for at least a year. In addition to the recent trailers and promos, Netflix released three striking posters last week.The show is based on the book series by Andrzej Sapkowski, and in a recent interview with GameSpot, showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich spoke about the complexities of adapting these narratively complex novels. "To me, there are challenges, and there are opportunities. And this, to me, was such a great opportunity," she said. "You have all of these short stories presented in the first couple of books, in The Last Wish and in Sword of Destiny. There is no narrative thread between them, so Geralt doesn't grow and change that much between the stories, because that's not how they were originally written." Netflix News What's New To Netflix This Week? Movies, TV, And Originals Best Things To Stream For December 2019 - Disney+, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video What's New To Netflix In December 2019? Movies, TV Shows, And Originals Info from Gamespot.com

Black Friday and Cyber Monday may be behind us, but that doesn't mean the sales are. Best Buy has kicked off its 12 Days of Deals promotion, where it plans to offer new deals every day through December 20. These deals cover all manners of tech, including 4K TVs, soundbars, and laptops, in addition to smaller gadgets like wireless chargers and smart devices.While it's not a discount, Best Buy is also offering a deal on the Nintendo Switch. Every purchase of the new Nintendo Switch model (with improved battery life) gets you a bonus $30 e-gift card. You can't apply the $30 to your Switch purchase, but it would go nicely towards a new game.Every day of Best Buy's sale has a new theme, with today's being "Gifts for families." Today's deals last until 10 PM PT / 1 AM ET on December 9. You can expect days for "Gifts for gamers," "Gifts for foodies," and even "Gifts for Apple lovers" throughout the promotion period. You can see the full schedule at Best Buy, but we'll make sure to update this article every day with the new deals.The updated Switch model with improved battery lifeNintendo Switch (with improved battery) + $30 e-gift card | $300If you didn't grab a Nintendo Switch during Black Friday, then Best Buy is currently packaging the Nintendo Switch's updated model with a $30 e-gift card. The updated model isn't much different than the original launch model, though it does come with a slightly brighter screen and improved battery life. See it at Best Buy TV dealsSamsung 55-inch NU6900 4K UHD TV with HDR -- $330 ($380)Samsung 55-inch 8 Series 4K UHD TV with HDR -- $650 ($800)Samsung 82-inch 8 Series 4K UHD TV with HDR -- $1800 ($2200)Epson Home Cinema 1080p Wireless Projector -- $600 ($900)Smartphone and tablet dealsSamsung 9.6-inch Galaxy Tab E 16 GB -- $100 ($200)Samsung Galaxy S8 64 GB (Unlocked) -- $250 ($500)Samsung 9W Wireless Charger for iPhone/Android -- $30 ($60)Smart device dealsSonos One Smart Speaker (Gen 2) -- $170 ($200)SmartThings WiFi Smart Plug -- $16 ($18)SmartThings Hub -- $60 ($70)SmartThings White A19 LED Bulb -- $9 ($10)Samsung Multipurpose Sensor -- $17 ($20)Samsung Motion Sensor -- $22 ($25)Samsung Button -- $12 ($15)SmartThings 1080p Indoor Security Camera -- $80 ($90)Soundbar dealsSamsung 3.1.2-channel 330W soundbar with 8-inch subwoofer -- $480 ($800)Samsung 2.1-channel 290W soundbar with 6.5-inch subwoofer -- $120 ($280)PC and laptop dealsSamsung Notebook 7 Spin 13.3-inch touch-screen laptop -- $550 ($900) Intel Core i5-8250U8 GB RAM512 GB SSDSamsung 860 EVO 1 TB Internal SSD -- $110 ($170)Info from Gamespot.com

There's still time to pick up a new PS4 before the holidays, and you may be surprised to learn that current deals rival what we saw on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Both Ebay and Newegg have steep discounts on PS4 Pro bundles. Ebay is selling the PS4 Pro with Marvel's Spider-Man Game of the Year Edition for $280 for Green Monday, while Newegg is bundling Kingdom Hearts 3 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 with the PS4 Pro for $300.PS4 Pro with Marvel's Spider-ManPS4 Pro with Marvel's Spider-Man | $280Marvel's Spider-Man is one of the best PS4 exclusives, and the GOTY Edition comes with the three story expansions. You're saving $160 overall on this bundle. See at Ebay PS4 Pro with Kingdom Hearts 3 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 | $300This is a unique bundle, as It comes with two wildly different games. Kingdom Hearts 3 is a charming Disney-infused action game, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is a multiplayer-centric first-person shooter. See at Newegg The PS4 Pro was discounted to $300 as part of Sony's official Black Friday deals, so both of these bundles are quite good. However, we'd give the edge to Ebay's deal. Yes, Newegg's bundle includes two games, but Kingdom Hearts 3 retails for $20, which is the difference in price between the two bundles anyway. Also, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is last year's iteration of the popular first-person shooter franchise. The newest entry, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, released in October. For those who aren't interested in the PS4 Pro, Ebay also has a decent deal on the PS4 Slim holiday bundle. Dubbed the "Only on PlayStation" bundle, you get a 1TB black console, The Last of Us: Remastered, God of War, and Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition for $245. This bundle was $200 on Black Friday, so you have to spend more now, but it's still less than the $300 price that it's going for at major retailers.Are you in the market for an Xbox One or Nintendo Switch? Ebay has the Xbox One X with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and NBA 2K19 for $290. Best Buy is giving away $30 gift cards with the purchase of a Nintendo Switch, and Woot is discounting the Switch Lite to $180 for Amazon Prime members. Info from Gamespot.com

The wide world of DC superhero movies under Warner Bros. has never been more confusing than it is right now, with various incarnations of Batman and the Joker existing near-simultaneously, James Gunn's not-Suicide-Squad-2 being called a "total reboot" despite sharing several of the same actors with the original, and fun side adventures like Aquaman and Shazam just trying their best to get by. But the producers of Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) want to make one thing crystal clear: Birds of Prey is not related to Suicide Squad in any way, despite both movies featuring Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn.This doesn't exactly come as news, but on a recent trip to Birds of Prey's set on a backlot in Los Angeles, those involved with the movie's creation drove the point home."It's a standalone movie. It's not connected to Suicide Squad. It's not a sequel. It's not a continuation of that story," said Birds of Prey producer Sue Kroll.In Suicide Squad, Joker broke Harley out of prison, but in Birds of Prey, the two are broken up--as we glimpsed in its first trailer recently. And the movie won't explain what happened in between those two events. "It has nothing to do with the breaking out of prison," Kroll described. "We've been very upfront: This is about her emancipation. She and Joker have broken up and this is her personal journey of discovery with these women. It's not related at all, so don't try to apply, like, linear logic to how the two go [together], because they don't."That idea seems simple in concept, but reality is far more complicated, and it's difficult to wrap one's head around the idea of multiple movies that feature the same actors in the same roles but supposedly aren't related to one another whatsoever. That's worked historically for action franchises like the Bond movies, but even then, it was a high-wire balancing act. And besides, even Bond has continuity between films in the modern, Daniel Craig era.But the lack of narrative connective tissue isn't the only thing setting Birds of Prey apart from Suicide Squad. Throughout the set visit, we spoke with those involved with Birds of Prey's creation and saw firsthand how it will stand out from the DC movies that have come before it. Birds of Prey & DC News No, Really. Birds Of Prey And Suicide Squad Are "Not Connected" At All Joker Scores Multiple Golden Globe Nominations, Game Of Thrones Gets Only One Birds Of Prey's Opening Scene Debuts At Brazil Comic Con Birds Of Prey: Everything We Know About Harley Quinn's Return To the DC Universe Margot Robbie, who stars once again as Harley Quinn and has a producer credit on the film, pitched the idea for Birds of Prey as something different from your standard superhero fare. "I think that there are so many films coming out now that the bar has been lifted," she said. "There's just too much competition. You can't really get by with just a big explosion--that's not going to satisfy people. Audiences are very smart and audiences do have high expectations. So it's not enough just to say, 'Here's a really cool CG effect.'"Plus, I don't want to spend years of my life working on something if that's all we're aiming to do, you know?"Crucially, we got the impression that Birds of Prey's story won't involve bombastic, world-ending stakes like most superhero movies--and even supervillain movies like Suicide Squad--tend to have. The plot involves Harley teaming up with Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), and Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez) to save Cassie Cain (Ella Jay Basco) from crime boss Black Mask (Ewan McGregor). As far as we're aware, there are no schemes to blow up Gotham City, world-destroying aliens, or other large-scale threats--and that might prove refreshing."It's more contained, for sure," Robbie said. "That was one of the few criteria that I started off with--when I first pitched it, I was like, 'I'm just so desensitized to seeing a world, a city, being flattened, it doesn't register.' I've seen it so many times on screen by this point. And VFX is so advanced at this point, it can't even shock me with the realism of it anymore. I was like, 'I just don't want to see stakes that big, because I'm kind of numb to it.'""My initial pitch was it should be no bigger than mafia level or gang level," she continued. "It should all exist in a very small geographical vicinity, and the stakes should feel very personal, and feel life or death, but not the life or death of thousands of people, just the people that we spend time with onscreen."Director Cathy Yan, whose only previous feature directing credit is the 2018 Sundance darling Dead Pigs, seems like she could be the right person for this job, explaining during our set visit that she hopes to bring her "indie sensibility of just being a little more grounded" to the DC movie universe."I think I focus on the characters, and trying to make it about the characters and their development, making sure everyone has an arc, that they're compelling and interesting and dynamic and complicated. That's more important to me than just blowing the whole world up," the director said. "And aesthetically, too, I'm really excited by what we are able to do. The sets that we've built, the costumes, working with [production designer] K.K. Barrett and [director of photography] Matthew Libatique and [costume designer] Erin Benach. They're incredible and inspiring. [We're] really trying to push the envelope on that and create a new, aesthetic world that we haven't really seen before for Gotham."Yan also said her lack of experience with big CG visual effects "might come in handy with a film like this as well." They're shooting Birds of Prey "more of the old school way, everything in-camera," which could potentially help it stand out.Margot Robbie, Rosie Perez, and Cathy Yan on set (Photo by Claudette Barius/ & © DC Comics)Robbie said Yan was the perfect director to pull all this off. "Truthfully, she just came in and blew our minds with her pitch for the film and her understanding of what she was going to bring to it, kind of automatically built off of all the ideas that we were excited about," the actress said. "She came in and spoke about them in a way that was going to elevate them to a whole new level. That's kind of like your dream scenario. You care about a project so much that you want someone to come in and understand it, and also feel as passionate about it as you do, and she did. She came in and we're all like, 'Oh my God, we found the person for this. Thank God.'"If there's another common criticism that's often leveled against superhero movies, it's that many of them feature one-dimensional villains that serve mainly as punching bags for the heroes. According to those we spoke with, Birds of Prey avoids that problem with its bad guys, McGregor's Roman Sionis (alias Black Mask) and Chris Messina's Victor Zsasz."They were incredibly well-drawn characters from [screenwriter Christina Hodson]," said producer Bryan Unkeless. "She really pushed to make them singular. It's so easy to kind of fall into the familiar villainous tropes, and she just refused, over and over and over again, to settle for that, which you have to respect a lot."Unkeless and Kroll praised McGregor's portrayal of Black Mask, saying they've been surprised by his performance."In a way, we didn't go for the traditional heavy," Unkeless continued. "You look at Ewan's career in particular, and how much variety of performances he's given, how much depth he has, and he brings that humanity to your villain."Kroll said the villains do "loathsome things, but in the most interesting way...and they have great chemistry together. You never know what's going to happen. Watching the two of them together is so much fun."Of course, there are plenty of fans who enjoyed Suicide Squad just fine, and none of this is meant to cast shade on that film. Personal opinions aside, it's simply clear that with Birds of Prey, the filmmakers are going for something very different."All you can do is really find the truth in the story that you are telling, and tell it to the best of your ability, I suppose," Robbie said. "I feel like if you keep trying to cater to the audience too much, ultimately you disappoint them. It's tricky with something like this, where you know there is already a fanbase and there's already people you want to please so badly. It's hard to not try and play for the laughs, or play for the spectacle, but really find the truth in the situation."Kroll said Robbie's Harley Quinn is the character who "popped out" in the original Suicide Squad cast, and that's what Birds of Prey is all about. "All the amazing things that people embrace about Harley are in our movie, and then some," the producer said. "We have this unique opportunity, right? We have this two-hours-or-whatever-it-will-end-up-being opportunity to [explore] and add dimension and context around what is, I think, arguably one of the world's favorite characters out of the DC universe."Birds of Prey hits theaters February 7, 2020.Info from Gamespot.com