- A HUGE Change for Razer – Barracuda X Headset Review Hardware Canucks
- Razer’s Barracuda X wireless headset plays nicely with many platforms The Verge
- Razer’s Barracuda X wireless headset is geared toward Switch and Android players Engadget
- Razer’s $99 Barracuda X seamlessly connects to PC, Android, Switch, and PS5 Digital Trends
- Razer Barracuda X wireless headset boosts games on the Switch, PS5, Android CNET
- View Full Coverage on Google News
TechNews
Tag Heuer Reveals Limited-Edition $2,150 Super Mario Watch
Update: Tag Heuer has now unveiled its the Tag Heuer Connected x Super Mario watch, a limited-edition piece that’ll cost a staggering, if unsurprising, $2,150.
The new release is actually a special edition of the Tag Heuer Connected, a digital watch that uses Android’s Wear OS tech (thanks, VGC). Over on the Tag Heuer website, visitors are taken on a tour of the watch’s features, which include special animations that change as you meet certain activity milestones, different watch faces, and access to all of Google Suite’s widgets such as Calendar, Emails and more.
On Instagram, Tag Heuer explains how you can get your hands on one:
Unveiling our newest collaboration that’s sure to bring both the watchmaking and gaming worlds in new territories! Nintendo’s iconic character, Mario, is taking over the TAG Heuer Connected with a new limited edition timepiece in a daring, creative style.
Available for purchase on July 15th, dropping at the right moment for you: Japan 10 AM – Local Time, Europe 10 AM – Geneva Time, USA 10 AM – Washington Time. And 2 hours before for the priority subscribers.
The Tag Heuer Connected x Super Mario watch will be limited to 2000 units, going on sale exclusively at select ‘super boutique’ locations and the Tag Heuer website from 15th July.
Original Article (Fri 9th Jul, 2021 11:00 BST): Luxury watchmaker and fashion accessory brand Tag Heuer has teased a new and surprising collaboration with none other than Super Mario.
Very little has been revealed about the collab so far, but what we do know is that an exclusive limited-edition product is set to go up for early access next week. You can register on Tag Heuer’s website to gain access to this early listing if you wish; the page features a countdown to the big reveal, alongside an image of the Mario case shown above.
The collab was also teased on social media [Update – original tweet deleted, new tweet embedded]:
Are you intrigued? Assuming it’s going to be a luxury Mario watch, are you going to be keeping an eye on that early access listing? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Tag Heuer made a Super Mario-themed smartwatch because why not
Your favorite video game plumber will soon be available on a Wear OS watch. Tag Heuer announced today that it’s collaborating with Nintendo to make a Super Mario edition of its Connected smartwatch, featuring “the intrepid, iconic hero” in various watch faces and animations. It’ll be available July 15th for $2,150, which is in line with how much the Connected series has cost in the past. One of the highlights here, though, is the company’s use of Mario’s appearances to encourage wearers to get active and reward them when they move.
According to Tag Heuer, Mario’s “upbeat and active personality will encourage wearers of this smartwatch to enjoy moving too.” But it’s not just about being inspired by simply seeing his face on your wrist. The watch’s dial will become “livelier and more animated the more the wearer is active.” There’s also a “gamification rewards system” at play. Mario will greet you with a salute each morning, and as you move about, you’ll get different animations as you hit 25, 50, 75 and 100 percent of your steps target. These animations feature familiar items from the Mario universe, like the Super Mushroom, Pipe, Super Star and Goal Pole. The company says this idea was inspired by the notion of “easter eggs,” so I suppose you’re supposed to treat these animations as such.
Even when you’re not being active, the Tag Heuer Connected Super Mario edition’s interface will remind you of the character. You can choose from a selection of four new watch faces, and they don’t just offer red-and-blue themes. The Timekeeping dial, for example, uses “retro elements from the 1985 version of Super Mario Bros. with Mario, all in pixels.” One of the designs features Mario’s cap, while another takes elements of the game and puts them in a rotating animation.
In addition to onscreen graphics, the watch itself has Super Mario touches. Push buttons, crown logo and bezel graduation now come in Super Mario red, and you’ll find symbols etched into the bezel that reflect the in-game objects you’ll see when you hit your steps goals, too. A letter M is engraved on strap buckles and the crown, while the words “TAG Heuer x Super Mario Limited Edition” are also carved into the back of the watch. The company is also offering two interchangeable straps for the new watch: a black leather band on red rubber and a “sporty alternative in matching red perforated rubber,” as well as a travel case in — what else — Super Mario red.
Those hardware touches are pretty important since even though the Mario faces and skins will be available first on this limited edition of the Connected watch, Tag Heuer said it “is also considering making it available on other editions of TAG Heuer Connected at a later stage.”
Gallery: Tag Heuer Connected Limited Edition Super Mario press pictures | 24 Photos
Gallery: Tag Heuer Connected Limited Edition Super Mario press pictures | 24 Photos
Since this is a Wear OS device (Tag Heuer hasn’t responded to Engadget’s query on whether this is the existing OS or if it will update to the version co-engineered by Samsung and Google), the rest of the watch’s functions will feel familiar. You can access Google Assistant, get your calendar and weather updates, along with Fit progress tracking on the watch. It’ll also offer the company’s own Sport, Golf and Wellness apps for better fitness tools.
The Super Mario version of Connected has a 45mm face and weighs 86 grams (0.18 pounds) with a rubber strap. It’s water resistant up to 5ATM, and Tag Heuer promises its 430mAh battery can last a full day.
Tag Heuer is only making 2,000 of these watches, which will be available in selected boutiques and at its website in some regions, from 15th July 2021. At $2,150, the special edition costs more than its non-Mario counterparts, which start at $1,800, but if you’re that hardcore of a fan, you might be convinced to fork over the cash.
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
‘Oh yeah! Mario time!’ Unopened Super Mario 64 game sells for $1.56M, smashing records
An unopened copy of Nintendo’s Super Mario 64 that has sold at auction for $1.56 million on Sunday, July 11, 2021. Heritage Auctions in Dallas said that the 1996 video game broke the previous record price for the sale of a single video game. (Courtesy of Heritage Auctions via Associated Press)
DALLAS (AP) — An unopened copy of Nintendo’s Super Mario 64 has sold at auction for $1.56 million.
Heritage Auctions in Dallas said that the 1996 game sold Sunday, breaking its previous record price for the sale of a single video game.
A spokesman did not immediately respond to an inquiry about who purchased the game.
Super Mario 64 was the best-selling game on the Nintendo 64 and the first to feature the Mario character in 3D, the auction house said in a statement.
🎉#HERITAGELIVE#WORLDRECORD!! Super Mario 64 – Wata 9.8 A++ Sealed, N64 Nintendo 1996 USA just sold for $1,560,000 at #HeritageAuctions, smashing previous mark of $870K, set Friday at Heritage for The Legend of Zelda! https://t.co/SUgiijkkzL#SuperMario#Nintendo#N64#WATApic.twitter.com/rHpTuZl95l
— Heritage Auctions (@HeritageAuction) July 11, 2021
The sale follows an unopened copy of Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda selling at auction Friday for $870,000. Valarie McLeckie, Heritage’s video game specialist, said the auction house was shocked to see a game sell for more than a $1 million two days after the Zelda game broke its past record.
In April, the auction house sold an unopened copy of Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. that was bought in 1986 and forgotten about in a desk drawer for $660,000.
Photos
Related Stories
More stories you may be interested in
The Best PS4 And PS5 Game Deals On The PlayStation Store Right Now
The PlayStation Store has no shortage of game deals right now, with multiple sales bringing hundreds of PS4 and PS5 discounts from now until July 22. The spotlight PSN sale right now is Planet of the Discounts, which features a random assortment of games at excellent prices, including Resident Evil 3 for $19.79, Dead by Daylight for $15, and Doom Eternal‘s Deluxe Edition for just under $30–the latter two deals also get you the PS5 editions of those games.
Budget-minded shoppers have another Games Under $15 sale to check out, which is chock-full with classics like The Witcher 3: Complete Edition ($10), Titanfall 2: Ultimate Edition ($4.49), and Dragon Age: Inquisition‘s Game of the Year Edition ($8). As we enter a slower period for new game releases, this is an excellent opportunity to snag some older gems for less.
Finally, the PlayStation Store’s add-ons sale lets you stock up on DLC for cheap, from season passes and expansions to costume packs. Notably, you can pick up The Outer Worlds‘ expansion pass for $20, Cities: Skylines‘ Ultimate Content Bundle for $50, and the Resident Evil 7 season pass for $12.
Check out more of the best PlayStation Store deals worth checking out below–all of these markdowns should be available until 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET on July 22. It’s also worth shouting out the Deal of the Week: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare for $30 (ends July 14). Keep in mind that PlayStation Plus members will save up to 10% more on some games!
Best PlayStation Store deals through July 22
Current sales
Best game deals
*PS5 edition included
PAX West 2021 Tickets Still Available Two Weeks Later
Tickets for Penny Arcade’s annual West coast video game fan convention normally sell out incredibly fast, with choice tickets to the weekend-long event usually gone in minutes. But 2021 isn’t a normal year, and in the looming shadow of a continuing global pandemic, tickets to this year’s PAX West, even running at reduced capacity, are still readily available two weeks after going on sale.
“Badges on sale” reads a button at the top of the PAX West 2021 website, inviting the masses to come in and get their pass to the latest iteration of the original Penny Arcade Expo. Clicking the button takes you to the sale page. While the option to purchase a four-day pass to the convention is listed as “sold out,” individual day passes for Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday are available for purchase. At $60 apiece, one could purchase passes for all four days and pay only $10 more than they would for a four-day pass.
This continued availability is most likely due to the ongoing covid-19 pandemic. Last year convention organizers opted for a digital-only event due to the dangers of gathering in large groups while a deadly virus ravaged the global population. This year Reedpop and Penny Arcade surprisingly decided to gamble on the return of the live event, inviting game companies and gamers from around the world to converge in Seattle, Washington from September 3-6.
Even with a brighter outlook in the United States regarding covid-19 at the time thanks to the rapid deployment of vaccines, the general consensus seems to be that it’s still too soon to be planning large gatherings. Many countries in the world do not have easy access to covid-19 vaccinations, new variants of the virus are running rampant, and there are plenty of folks out there who just don’t want to get vaccinated for whatever reasons. While PAX organizers suggest they will take some sort of precautions to help avoid the potential spread of the virus, they will not be requiring any sort of proof of vaccination. That’s a bold move for the show that’s already got a fake sickness, PAX Pox, named after it.
Read More: Do You Feel Comfortable Attending PAX Or Another Gaming Event Yet?
Judging from current ticket sales, the show’s bold reopening might not pan out. PAX West 2021 already planned to be running at a diminished capacity, a measure meant to combat the spread of covid. That there are still tickets available out of this diminished pool is a possible indicator that many folks still feel skittish about attending a live event.
We’ve reached out to Penny Arcade and Reedpop for comment on ticket availability and will update should we hear back. With all of the four-day passes accounted for, it seems doubtful PAX West 2021 will be completely scrapped. It just might wind up being the smallest, most intimate Penny Arcade Expo ever.
F1 2021 Review – IGN
God of War Ragnarok trailer rumoured to feature in a State of Play next month
A God of War Ragnarok trailer could be shown off next month, according to a new rumour.
As spotted by The Gamer, Reddit user QuimSix recently posted saying that their sources claimed “there will be a new God of War Ragnarok trailer in August,” suggesting that we could get our first proper look at Kratos and Atreus’ next adventure in just a couple of weeks.
QuimSix doesn’t provide any further details as to what we can expect from the trailer, but it’s widely assumed that the sequel to Sony Santa Monica’s 2018 hit will be closely linked to Thor and his involvement in Ragnarok, the end of the world in Norse mythology.
While we don’t know much about what’s in store for Kratos, QuimSix suggests that God of War isn’t all we’ll get to see. As well as the new trailer, they suggest that we’ll get updates for Horizon Forbidden West, including a release date and some more trailers. On top of that, they say that they “wouldn’t be surprised” if GTA V Expanded & Enhanced edition also shows up at the major event that they claim is scheduled for August, suggesting we should have our eyes out for another State of Play in a few weeks’ time.
In the absence of any word from Sony, it’s always worth taking leaks of this nature with a pinch of salt. That said, QuimSix has established a relatively reliable reputation, predicting the dates of this month’s State of Play, as well as revealing a number of details around Far Cry 6. Also of note is Sony’s hint that it’d have more to show over the summer, which would align with these latest rumors.
Last month, Sony confirmed that God of War 2 had been delayed out of its 2021 release, and is now expected in 2022. Beyond the story beats we can predict from the last game, details are very scarce, but we do know that God of War Ragnarok is coming to PS4 as well as PS5. Hopefully that means that even if you can’t get your hands on any PS5 stock just yet, you won’t miss out on Sony’s upcoming first-party offerings.
Here’s a whole bunch of upcoming PS5 games to keep you excited until Kratos’ return.
Psychonauts 2 to Feature an Invincibility Toggle as ‘All People Should Be Able to Enjoy Games’
Double Fine has revealed that Psychonauts 2 will feature an invincibility toggle as it believes that “all people should be able to enjoy games.”
Double Fine shared this bit of news on Twitter in response to Xbox’s Twitter saying that “beating the game on the lowest difficulty is still beating the game.”
“If you beat Psychonauts 2 with the invincibility toggle on, you still beat P2.” Double Fine wrote. “All people should be able to enjoy games. All ages, all possible needs. It’s an ongoing and important process for our industry and a challenge we need to met [sic]. End of the day? We want you to have fun, to laugh, to experience a story that affects you. On whatever terms you want.”
The studio also shared a satirical quote that pokes fun at those online who try to gatekeep games and say not everyone should play a game.
“‘uh, excuse me I beat Sword Guy Serious Time on a no hit hard mode and if didn’t do that I don’t respect you. and like, can you even comment on things if you’re not diamond six rank in shooty mcBlam? I don’t think so,'” The quote reads.
In response to the fake quote, and to emphasize the point, Double Fine added, “cool bud. you’re soooo cool!”
This debate on game difficulty has been an ongoing one for years now, but the truth of the matter is that difficulty is relative to individual players in so many ways. By adding an invincibility toggle to Psychonauts 2, this in no way impacts the player who wants to play on the hardest difficulty. It only allows more players to enjoy a game that just may become their next favorite of all time.
Psychonauts 2 and its invincibility toggle will be released on August 25, 2021, on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, and PS5 via backwards compatibility. Oh, and it will be available on Xbox Game Pass on day 1.
Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.
Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.
Leaker corroborates that LiDAR will remain exclusive to iPhone 13 Pro
Following a claim earlier today about the built-in camera of future Macs, leaker DylanDKT has now shared on Twitter some details about the next generation iPhone. According to him, the LiDAR scanner will remain exclusive to the iPhone 13 Pro lineup, which means that the sensor will not be available on the less expensive models.
Early rumors about the iPhone 13 suggested that Apple wanted to implement the LiDAR scanner across the entire lineup this year, not just in the Pro models. However, the company is no longer expected to release the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini with a LiDAR scanner.
More recent reports had already suggested that LiDAR would not come to this year’s entry-level iPhone models, and Dylan corroborates those reports. In a new tweet on Sunday, the leaker stated that “LiDAR will only be coming to the pro iPhone models,” although he also confirmed that Apple considered including the sensor in all models at some point.
LiDAR will only be coming to the pro iPhone models. Earlier this year it seemed Apple wanted to release all iPhone 13/12S models with LiDAR but due to one reason or another, it won’t be happening this year.
It’s worth noting that DylanDKT correctly predicted details about unreleased Apple products in the past.
The LiDAR scanner was first introduced with the 2020 iPad Pro and then added to the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. It uses Time-of-Flight technology to measure the distance between the sensor and objects so that the camera can capture depth with exact measurements. Apple uses LiDAR mainly to enhance the AR experience, but it also enables Portrait photos in Night Mode and other camera improvements.
Rumors suggest that Apple is also working on a better ultra-wide lens for the iPhone 13 Pro models. Both iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro are expected to feature a similar design to the iPhone 12 with a new processor, smaller notch, and expanded 5G support. The new iPhones are likely to be introduced sometime between September and October.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.