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GET $200 OFF: As of July 15, Prime members can get the 13.6-inch Apple MacBook Air (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for $898.99, down from $1,099. This 18% discount saves you $200.01 and beats the previous all-time low price by $1.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: 13.6-inch Apple MacBook Air (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $898.99 at AmazonWe’re all for discounts and deals, but this one is a bit of an eye-roll. To compete with (itself?), Amazon has dropped the price of the M3 MacBook Air to a whopping $1 below the all-time low. Yes, you read that right — a single dollar.
As of July 15, the 13.6-inch Apple MacBook Air (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is on sale for $898.99, down from $1,099. This is the lowest price we’ve seen since June 10, when it dipped to $899. Ridiculous as it is, you can’t find this deal anywhere else — it’s still listed at $1,099 on the Apple website and the old all-time low of $899 at Best Buy and other retailers.
SEE ALSO: Prime Day laptop deals: Apple MacBooks and LG grams are the stars of the showSo, I guess Amazon is competing with the rest of the market by offering an almost comically lower price, undercutting even its own previous record-setting discount.
Pettiness aside, the M3 MacBook Air is still a pretty impressive machine. Its M3 chip offers solid (and fast) performance, is lightweight, less than one-half-inch thin, and has up to 18 hours of battery life. While the $1 discount may not be enough to sway everyone, it's hard to deny that this is an unprecedented deal you won't find anywhere else.
If you need a larger screen, the 15.3-inch Apple MacBook Air (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is on sale for $1,099, down from $1,299 — the lowest price we’ve seen on this model. You can also get the 16.2-inch Apple MacBook Pro (M3, 18GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for $1,999, down from $2,499. That’s a $500 price cut!
THREE MONTHS FREE: As of July 15, Prime members can get a three-month free trial of Wondery+. After the trial, the subscription will automatically renew at $5.99/month or $44.99/year, plus tax, depending on the plan.
Opens in a new window Credit: Wondery Our pick: Wondery+ Get three months free with Prime Get DealEven though Prime Day hasn't started just yet, Amazon is handing out early Prime Day deals like candy, including free trials for streaming services like Audible, Kindle Unlimited, and Amazon Music.
As of July 15, Prime members can get three months of Wondery+, a podcast subscription service with exclusive shows and early access to popular series, for free — a pretty substantial discount considering the $5.99 per month (or $44.99 per year) regular price tag.
SEE ALSO: The 10 best podcasts of 2024 (so far)Wondery+ is the premium subscription tier of Wondery. It gives you ad-free listening, early access to new episodes, exclusive behind-the-scenes content, and access to Wondery's full library of original podcasts, including faves like Even the Rich and American Scandal. Wondery+ members can also snag a 15% discount on Wondery merch via the Wondery Shop.
This Wondery+ deal is only available to new Wondery+ subscribers. Once the free trial period ends, your subscription will auto-renew at the regular $5.99 per month/$44.99 per year price unless you cancel.
Note: You'll need to be an Amazon Prime member to take advantage of this offer. If you're not already a Prime member, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial to get the Wondery+ deal.
The countdown is on. We're merely hours away from Prime Day proper, but the deals are already hella impressive. There's really no point in waiting if you see something you want — we're seeing record-low prices on top brands like Apple, Dyson, and Amazon's own Echo and Blink devices. We've rounded up some of the best deals you can add to your cart on July 15 to help you out on your shopping excursion.
Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. And if you want to keep tabs on all of the best deals this Prime Day, follow along with our shopping coverage.
Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Buds with ANC (2nd gen) $34.99 at AmazonWhile the first rendition of the noise-cancelling Echo Buds was kind of a dud, Amazon redeemed themselves with the second generation. "If you've been looking for a device-agnostic pair of wireless earbuds that will drown out the world around you, look no further," Alex Perry writes in his review. Originally released in 2021, these buds offer effective noise cancellation, solid sound quality, and a pretty comfortable design. The battery life isn't anything to write home about, but for budget earbuds with ANC, they're basically a no brainer — especially when you take the early Prime Day price drop into consideration. Snag a pair for a record-low $34.99 with Prime and save a whopping 71%.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3 chip, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $898.99 at AmazonWith a 15% faster processor (compared to the M2), WiFi 6E, and support for up to two 5K, 60Hz external displays, the M3 MacBook Air is truly a beast of a laptop. We haven't had a chance to test the 13-inch model, but we did review its larger sibling and were blown away. Mashable reviewer Kimberly Gedeon writes that it "continues to blur the line of the Air and Pro models, providing ample “oomph” for creatives, professionals, and students who need robust performance that can handle their multifaceted workflows." The day before Prime Day, you can grab the base model M3 Air (with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD) for a record-low $898.99. That's a savings of 18%.
Opens in a new window Credit: Yeti Yeti Tundra Haul portable wheeled cooler $297.50 at AmazonIf you're looking for a cooler that's practically indestructible and can keep ice for days, the Yeti Tundra is the one to beat. And if you want to bring that legendary insulation and toughness on the go, you'll want the Tundra Haul — which is the first-ever Yeti on wheels. Don't worry; the wheels are a single-piece, puncture-resistant material, so you'll never have to worry about changing them or getting a flat. Prime members can score the ultimate Yeti cooler on sale ahead of Prime Day for just $297.50 — that's not only a rare 30% in savings, but a record-low price. The only catch is that the deal is limited to one colorway: cosmic lilac.
Opens in a new window Credit: Blink Blink Mini 2 $19.99 at AmazonReleased earlier this year, the Blink Mini 2 offers better performance in low light settings, a wider field of view, a built-in LED Spotlight for night view in color, and just an overall enhanced image quality. Plus, with the purchase of the Blink weather resistant power adapter, it can now be used both indoors and outdoors. Ahead of the big day, you can get the Blink Mini 2 for only $19.99 with Prime. That's 50% in savings and its lowest price to date.
Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Airwrap $549.99 at AmazonAn official early Prime Day deal, the Dyson Airwrap Amazon exclusive bundle is on sale for just $549.99. That's nearly a 20% price drop for Prime members looking to snag the versatile hair tool. In addition to the Airwrap itself, the bundle includes a storage case, travel case, detangling comb, filter cleaning brush, and six attachments: two long barrels, two smoothing brush attachments, Coanda smoothing dryer, and round volumizing brush. That's plenty to achieve tons of different hairstyles with a single tool. As for whether the discounted price is worth it, we'll leave it to personal preference. If luxury in your beauty routine is something you crave, we say go for it.
None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is one of the most unique games of 2024, blending various different gameplay genres into a cohesive package.
The real-time action, real-time strategy, and tower-defense mechanics work surprisingly well together. With its gorgeous classic Japanese folklore aesthetic, it’s just as pleasing to look at as it is fun to play.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess plotThe game follows two characters: Soh, the warrior, and Yoshiro, the Maiden of Mt. Kafuku. One day, monsters called "The Seethe" take over the top of Mt. Kafuku and overpower both of them, prompting them to have to make their way down the mountain and purify areas along the way.
Path of the Goddess is relatively light on story aspects and feels more like background in order to focus on the gameplay. In fact, there’s absolutely no spoken dialogue whatsoever, and any story bits are told through synopsis. It’s a nice change of pace to not be bogged down with dialogue and just let Soh and Yoshiro’s body language do the talking.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess charactersSoh and Yoshiro are really the only characters that have any sort of personality at all, with Soh protecting her as she makes her way down the mountain. Both of them don’t really go through any character development, and the villagers that they rescue are literally faceless minions.
Credit: CapcomHowever, the absence of characterization didn’t bother me in the long run due to the game’s unique gameplay loop. The Japanese yokai inspired bosses are a big highlight, too. What they lack in personality, they make up for grand spectacle and artistic design.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess mechanicsIn Path of the Goddess, gameplay is split into two day time and nighttime parts. During the day, Soh prepares for battle by rescuing villagers and turning them into their own soldiers. Along the way, you find crystals that help Yoshiro forge a path for her to slowly walk to the end of the map and purify the exit.
Credit: CapcomEven the preparation has an air of tension because Soh is on a clock, and you have to prioritize whether you want to find all of the villagers first or purify different side areas of the stage first. More villagers means more allies to fight with, but unlocking side areas leads to finding more equipment and items. It’s a great way to keep players on their toes throughout the entire time — not just the battles.
The villagers can be changed into different roles, such as healer or marksman, by spending crystals found throughout the stage. The roles you pick are crucial to your success at night when the monsters come out. The process is fun because you can switch their roles on the fly and experiment.
At night, Soh’s goal is to guard Yoshiro and fight off the monsters until sunrise. What makes Path of the Goddess different from other tower defense games is that Soh isn’t a passive observer. While the villagers auto-attack incoming enemies, Soh is free to run around and join in the fights. He can also give commands to villagers to either gather around Yoshiro to protect her or individually place them throughout the stage. All of these different mechanics kept me engaged in every single stage in a way that similar games haven’t. I was actively playing a role rather than just sitting back and letting the auto-attacks do all the work for me.
Credit: CapcomAfter purifying a stage, Soh can visit them in person and rebuild the village in that area to earn rewards such as more Musabi, which are skill points. It’s a great way to slow down and reset the game’s pacing in between battles. I also appreciate how simple the progression is. You can use skill points you’ve earned to upgrade roles, such as giving your Sumo more attack power — or even have Soh learn new moves, including the ability to use a bow and arrow to hit flying enemies. It’s an incredibly straightforward system that keeps Path of the Goddess fun to play without unnecessarily complex mechanics
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess graphicsPath of the Goddess has gorgeous art direction inspired by Japanese folklore. The monster and boss designs are memorable, with plenty of variety to boot. You fight everything from ghosts to giant frogs, and the distinct Japanese folklore style makes Path of the Goddess distinct.
Credit: CapcomHowever, some of the game’s environmental graphical textures have low quality and resolution. They aren’t very detailed and it looks like I was playing a Nintendo Switch game rather than a PS5 title.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess soundtrack and audioSince Path of the Goddess features no spoken dialogue, it’s up to the game’s audio and music to do a lot of heavy lifting. Thankfully, the soundtrack sounds great with its emphasis on flutes and drums. This can be heard most prominently during the battle theme, where the drums go into overdrive, making me feel like I’m commanding an army.
Credit: CapcomThe soundtrack also strays away from modern day instruments, like electric guitars, in order to keep the authentic Japanese folklore aesthetic. My personal favorite track is the one that plays while Soh is attending to bases in between missions and rebuilding them. It's incredibly stripped back and bare with simple piano melodies, and it really stands out amongst the rest of the tracks that feature heavy instrumentation.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess challenge and difficultyPath of the Goddess isn’t particularly difficult as long as you prepare for the upcoming night.
Credit: CapcomWhether you succeed is all dependent on where you position your villagers to fight back against the monsters. If you’re having trouble, sometimes just picking the right class might make the difference between winning and losing.
Some of the optional objectives in stages can be difficult to achieve during your first time playing them, but you can always come back with stronger units later on and complete them.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess performancePath of the Goddess runs well with very little performance issues. The loading screens take a bit more time to load up then I’d like (around 9-10 seconds), but it’s not really worth worrying about too much.
Is Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess worth getting?For the main story, you’re looking at around 10 to 15 hours to reach the end. A $50 price tag may sound hefty, but Path of the Goddess has plenty of replay value as you can go back to previous stages to complete optional objectives. There’s also a New Game Plus when you finish the game for the first time, and there are rewards that can only be unlocked when replaying it.
There are a few tech issues here and there, but with its great art direction and strong gameplay loop, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a standout title in 2024.
Amazon Prime Day isn't just about buying physical products. You can also get PC games for free, too.
That part isn't new, as Amazon has offered a bundle of free video games leading up to Prime Day through its Prime Gaming promotion since late June. With the exact dates of Prime Day coming up this week, though, Amazon is expanding the list with three popular or otherwise noteworthy video games:
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Chivalry 2
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Amazon Prime subscribers will have 48 hours to claim these three games, starting July 16 at 3 a.m. ET. To claim them, arm yourself with an Amazon Prime login, take it to the Prime Gaming website, log in, and follow the on-screen instructions.
While it isn't horribly surprising to see Rise of the Tomb Raider (which launched in 2015) or Chivalry 2 (which was recently free on Epic Games Store) on this list, Suicide Squad stands out. It's a very recently released big-budget game with a big-name license behind it. Kill the Justice League has notably been a financial failure for Warner Bros., but to see it hit the proverbial bargain bin this soon is astonishing.
But hey, anything is worth trying for the price of free.
GET $125 OFF: As of July 15, the Dyson Airwrap bundle is $549.99, down from $674.99 at Amazon. That's a 19% discount of $125.
Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Our pick: Dyson Airwrap bundle $549.99 at AmazonPrime Day doesn’t officially start until tomorrow, but Amazon is already pulling out all the stops with early Prime Day deals that have us wondering if we'll have anything left to shop for once the main event rolls around. Even the coveted Dyson Airwrap is getting a massive discount.
As of July 15, you can score the Dyson Airwrap bundle (this includes the Airwrap, two long barrels, two smoothing brush attachments, a Coanda smoothing dryer, a round volumizing brush, a detangling comb, a storage case, and a storage bag) for $549.99 — $125 off the listing price.
SEE ALSO: The Dyson Airwrap is an impressive multi-styler that's by no means essentialThis deal is an Amazon exclusive, and you’ll need to be a Prime member to get it, but the price tag is well worth it if you consider the additional attachments and bonus storage included in the bundle.
The Dyson Airwrap multi-styler is designed to curl, wave, smooth, and dry hair without intense heat, keeping locks safe and healthy while getting a salon-worthy look. And, if you’re unsure how to get the look on your own (I definitely wouldn’t know what to do with this thing), the Dyson website offers tutorials to guide you through mermaid waves, voluminous curls, and more.
We get it: Dating in 2024 is no joke. As more and more folks try to find their one and only, the rise of exploring new relationship dynamics, inevitably casual dating, and more, the dating game can be a lot. But what if it didn’t have to be? Enter: Tawkify.
What could be categorized as an anti-dating app, Tawkify helps folks date while removing apps from the equation entirely. Instead of being an app, the brand offers a dating service meant to help folks by prioritizing human connection and the luxury of matchmaking and aiming to make dating truly fun again.
Here’s why we think Tawkify could be the right dating app alternative for you (or a friend).
1. Ditching the burnout of the dating gameIn a recent Forbes study, participants were asked if they have ever felt emotionally, mentally, or physically exhausted by dating apps — 78 percent said they had. That, folks, is called dating burnout.
Regardless of generation, it has also taken its toll across the age spectrum. A high 80 percent of Millennials, 79 percent of Gen Z, 78 percent of Gen X, and even 70 percent of Baby Boomers report having dating burnout.
To combat it, Tawkify matches every client with a matchmaker who aims to take the headache out of dating. Comparable to having a personal assistant, head hunter, and life coach, the service finds high-potential matches, plans first dates, and does post-date debriefs to refine your approach so you can focus on what matters most: finding your match.
2. Sick of swiping on the apps? Us, tooInstead of relying on apps, though, Tawkify uses technology to build a pool of high-potential matches based on what clients have provided or conversations they have had with their own personal matchmakers.
“No swiping, no small talk, no unwanted messages,” they explain to Mashable, “You go right to the date, which we’ve planned for you, without ever having had to lift a finger. This also represents a swiping and chatting time savings of 40+ hours per month vs. app dating.”
3. Making dating feel human againTawkify is also on a mission to make dating feel human again. Through their matchmakers, members don’t just interact with algorithms; instead, they have human conversations that can lead to more effective matches.
To get started on finding your perfect match, visit Tawkify now and explore the possibilities.
Disclaimer: Services are only available in the contiguous US.
GET $50 OFF: As of July 15, the Ninja Creami ice cream maker is available at Amazon for $149.99, down from $199.99. That's a 25% discount of $50.
Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Our pick: Ninja Creami ice cream maker $149.99 at AmazonIf you haven’t been on TikTok (honestly, good on you), the Ninja Creami ice cream maker might have slipped under your radar.
This compact countertop appliance has influencers and actual chefs raving about its ability to create restaurant-quality ice cream, sorbet, and gelato right at home. (A pretty good sell, if you ask us.) And, as of July 15, you can get this trendy kitchen gadget for just $149.99 at Amazon, down from $199.99. That’s a 25% discount of $50 and an early Prime Day deal.
SEE ALSO: TikTok's newest obsession is coming — meet the Ninja SlushiThe Ninja Creami ice cream maker can turn any ingredient into creamy frozen treats. Just load up the 16-ounce pint container with your base (think: dairy, dairy-free, or fruit purees), then let the machine work its magic. It’s ideal for anyone on a low-sugar, keto, or dairy-free diet since you can control exactly what goes into whatever you’re making (unlike the chemical-ridden stuff in the grocery store).
It has seven one-touch programs for ice cream, sorbet, gelato, milkshakes, smoothie bowls, and more, taking all the guesswork out of getting the perfect consistency. The machine also comes with a pint container, a lid, a storage lid, and a recipe book to help you get started.
TL;DR: In this early Prime Day deal, you can get the Hatch Restore 2 sunrise alarm clock at the record-low price of $144.95, a 28% discount. As a Prime Day deal, it's exclusive to Prime members.
Opens in a new window Credit: Hatch Hatch Restore 2 sunrise alarm clock $144.99 at AmazonAre you still using your phone as your alarm clock? You know it's terrible for your sleep cycle, but it's just so darn easy to set alarms (and inevitably hit the snooze button) on your smartphone. We get it, and we're not judging. But there is a better way to go to sleep at night and wake up in the morning.
The Hatch Restore 2 is an award-winning piece of sleep tech. This smart sunrise alarm clock doesn't just wake you up in the morning with gentle alarm tones and warm light. It also works as a white-noise machine. This alarm clock comes pre-loaded with nature sounds, white noise, pink noise, and other natural soundscapes that can make it easier to fall and stay asleep. And when it's time to wake up, you can create a gentle wakeup routine that's fully customizable in the Hatch app.
As mentioned above, this smart alarm has never been this affordable—for Prime members. It's even more affordable at Amazon than at the official Hatch online store. Use your Prime membership to save $55 on this sleep system. And if the price is turning you off, check out the new smart alarm clock from Amazon — the new Echo Spot alarm — also on sale for just $45.
This sunrise alarm doubles as a white noise machine. Credit: HatchThe Hatch Restore 2 displays the time, but this clock dims at night. With all of its powers combined, this smart alarm clock promises to support your body's natural circadian rhythms. It's also easy to turn your alarms on and off, and soon you might be so well rested that you don't want to use a "snooze" button ever again.
Finally, you can also use the Hatch Restore 2 and companion Hatch app as a meditation buddy. While a Hatch+ membership isn't free, a low-cost membership gives you access to additional features, guided meditation, and soothing sleep stories. However, you can access all the core features of this smart sunrise alarm clock without a paid membership, so don't worry.
Featuring WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, this innovative piece of sleep tech could be your key to a better night's sleep. As of this writing, it's one of Amazon's best early Prime Day deals.
This week, House of the Dragon brought back a teeny, tiny cameo from who fans are calling "the only loyal character in the entire show." Yep, it's the dog.
In Season 2, episode 5, "Regent," the HBO series took at least one shot to champion the mistreated canine from episode 1. The dog was kicked by his owner, the ratcatcher (Mark Stobbart), during the abhorrent assassination on the child heir to the Iron Throne, Jaehaerys Targaryen. The moment had viewers irate, spewing vitriol against the doomed ratter for abusing his loyal pooch.
SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 2, episode 4: Pay attention to the dogs at HarrenhalIn episode 2, we saw the dog nobly sitting at the foot of his now-dead master, hung by his neck on the walls of King's Landing among the city's other ratcatchers by order of King Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney). It's a grisly scene, and terrible PR for the Red Keep.
So, in episode 5, when the newly appointed Prince Regent Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) takes his spot at the head of the small council, one of his first orders is to "cut down the fucking ratcatchers." While the King's Hand Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) sees the job done, you can see the same dog sitting under a cart, presumably having been sitting there for the last four episodes.
Tweet may have been deletedHow long has the dog been there, really? Between then and now there's been the attempted assassination at Dragonstone, the Battle of the Burning Mill, the Battle at Rook's Rest, and more, so it's been a while. This dog is basically the Hachiko of King's Landing.
As the bodies drop into a wagon, pulled away by the Kingsguard, the dog gets up, whines, and follows the cart. This level of loyalty in the snake-filled House of the Dragon is rare, and didn't escape fans.
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedEven George R.R. Martin himself has praised the dog, a character not in Fire and Blood the author said he wished he'd thought of:
"I am… ahem… not usually a fan of screenwriters adding characters to the source material when adapting a story. Especially not when the source material is mine. But that dog was brilliant," Martin wrote on his blog after episode 2.
"I was prepared to hate Cheese, but I hated him even more when he kicked that dog. And later, when the dog say at his feet, gazing up… that damn near broke my heart. Such a little thing… such a little dog… but his presence, the few short moments he was on screen, gave the ratcatcher so much humanity. Human beings are such complex creatures. The silent presence of that dog reminded us that even the worst of men, the vile and the venal, can love and be loved.
"I wish I’d thought of that dog. I didn’t, but someone else did. I am glad of that."
New episodes of House of the Dragon air Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.
Oh Alicent, with sons like these who needs Dragonstone-based enemies?
The fallout from the events of House of the Dragon Season 2, episode 4 make up the bulk of episode 5, following the near-fatal unsaddling of Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) by his brother Prince Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) on dragonback.
Now we know Aegon isn't quite dead, just extremely injured, enough to require Aemond's instalment as prince regent. But did the prince mean to kill his own brother? What exactly happened at Rook's Rest is at the forefront of their mother Alicent's (Olivia Cooke) mind in episode 5, and there's one particular moment in episode 5, "Regent," where we know she knows.
SEE ALSO: How 'House of the Dragon' Season 2 is different from George R.R. Martin's 'Fire and Blood' What happened at the end of episode 4?During the brutal battle at Rook's Rest, Aegon and his dragon Sunfyre take on Rhaenys (Eve Best) riding Meleys, and the drunken king gets his ass served to him by the Queen Who Never Was. Aemond intercepts them on the colossal Vhagar. Problem is, when he gives Vhagar the order "dracarys" at the two fighting dragons, he does so knowing full well Aegon is also in the firing line.
While we can brush off Vhagar's chomping of Lucerys in the Season 1 finale as a rogue dragon act, this time it's Aemond's direct order.
Featured Video For You House of the Dragon Season 1: Everything you need to remember about Season 1 in 60 secondsWhen we see Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) staggering about at the end of the battle, once Aegon and Sunfyre have fallen, he searches for the king and finds Aemond with him, holding his sword aloft, possibly poised to end his brother. When Aemond hears Cole call out as if to stop him, he sheathes the blade, and picks up Aegon's Valyrian steel catspaw dagger — previously owned by King Viserys (Paddy Considine). Nothing is said, Cole looks devastated, and Aemond walks off.
How does Alicent know what Aemond did?At the start of episode 5, when Aegon's (still alive!) body is being semi-covertly brought through the streets of King's Landing, trailing after Meleys' unceremoniously severed head, Alicent and Aemond are watching from the Red Keep's walls. Alicent glances down trepidatiously at Aemond's belt, where Aegon's dagger sits prominently. Alicent knows this dagger well — it's the same one she came at Rhaenyra with in Season 1, episode 7, when she was gaslighting a continent about her heirs. It's also the same one Viserys had treasured, inscribed with King Aegon I's "Song of Ice and Fire" prophecy that speaks of "The Prince That Was Promised".
Oh "someone" has to rule, huh? Credit: Ollie Upton / HBOOh, Alicent knows what Aemond is capable of after Lucerys, and she's seen Aegon's blatant bullying of Aemond over the years. But would he actually fell his own brother, her son? Nothing is said between them, but Aemond hasn't exactly made his yearning for the Iron Throne a secret. Later standing over Aegon's bed as he's being treated, Aemond knowingly declares to a nearby Alicent, "Someone will have to rule in his stead."
Later, Alicent tries to get the truth of Aemond's part out of Cole, previously her lover, and he lies to her face. Then, at the small council, Alicent is publicly betrayed by Cole, who supports Aemond's claim to prince regent while Aegon lies incapacitated. It seems Cole saw the opportunity for jumping ship as soon as he realised he'd failed to protect the king.
Didn't see what happened in the gigantic dragon battle in the sky, huh? Credit: Ollie Upton / HBOBetween her constant undermining of the small council, this realisation of her son's true nature, and the truth bombs dropped by Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) in episode 3 during their stealth meeting, Alicent must by now know she should hotfoot it out of there and join the Dragonstone crew.
Heleana also knows what's upNothing gets past Heleana (Phia Saban), who also realises what hand her brother had in her brother-husband's plight straight away. At the end of the episode, Aemond is standing unsubtly in front of the Iron Throne late at night, admiring its many swords, when the queen appears behind him.
"Was it worth the price?" Heleana asks her brother. Oh, she knows too.
However, Aemond's time as prince regent might not be as secure as he thought it was. In the last few moments of the episode, we hear Aegon's rasping voice say the word "mummy" as Alicent is leaving his room, though she doesn't hear it. If Aegon can talk, there's one other, particularly treasonous word he'll want to report to the small council, the one Aemond ordered toward him before he plunged to the forest below: "Dracarys."
New episodes of House of the Dragon air Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.
AT&T reportedly paid a hacker over $370,000 to delete stolen customer data. In an unusual twist of events, the ransom may not have gone to those who actually conducted the breach.
Last Friday, AT&T revealed that an April data breach had exposed the call and text records of "nearly all" its customers, including phone numbers and the number of calls made. In its filing to the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), AT&T stated that it has since beefed up its cybersecurity measures, and was working with law enforcement in investigating the incident.
SEE ALSO: New AT&T data breach impacts 'nearly all' customersIt now seems as though that isn't the only action AT&T has taken in connection with the hack. Wired reports that AT&T paid a ransom of 5.7 bitcoin to a member of hacking group ShinyHunters in mid May, equivalent to a little over $373,000 at the time of the transaction. In exchange for this payment, the hacker reportedly erased the stolen data from the cloud server where it had been stored, as well as provided video proof that this had been done.
There's no guarantee that the millions of people impacted by the recent massive AT&T hack are completely out of the woods though, as digital data can easily be copied. The security researcher who facilitated negotiations between AT&T and the hacker told Wired they believe the only complete copy of the stolen dataset was deleted. However, incomplete fragments may still be at large.
Who is responsible for the AT&T hack?There's also the lingering issue regarding exactly who was responsible for the initial breach. Speaking to Wired, the individual who obtained the ransom pointed the finger at known hacker John Binns, who was arrested in Turkey earlier this year due to his alleged involvement in the 2021 T-Mobile hack.
Binns' alleged connection to the AT&T hack has not been officially confirmed, but the company's SEC filing stated that at least one individual involved had been arrested. 404 Media further reports that Binns has been linked to the AT&T breach.
The hacker claimed that Binns distributed samples of the data to other hackers, and that they would have attempted to extort a ransom from him rather than AT&T had he not been apprehended. Having initially demanded $1 million, they eventually accepted a lesser amount and had it transferred into their nominated cryptocurrency wallet. The hacker was reportedly able to access the cloud server on which Binns stored the hacked data, and deleted it from there.
While questions remain regarding whether the hacker who obtained the ransom was directly involved in the AT&T breach, their hacker group ShinyHunters has been behind some high profile hacks as of late. ShinyHunters recently demanded an $8 million ransom after conducting an enormous Ticketmaster hack earlier this year, which it stated includes the data of around 440,000 ticket holders for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. Though ShinyHunters claimed that Ticketmaster's parent company Live Nation initially offered to pay $1 million in ransom, the company has denied offering the hackers any money at all.
The Ticketmaster and AT&T hacks have both been linked to a breach of third-party cloud storage provider Snowflake, of which the companies were clients.
Even so, it seems as though AT&T has been having a tough time keeping its data secure even without Snowflake's help. An unrelated leak in March exposed data belonging to approximately 73 million current and former AT&T customers, including Social Security numbers and encrypted passwords.
Amazon Music and Spotify both have a free ad-supported and subscription listening tier.
For Prime members, Amazon Music Unlimited costs $9.99/month or $99 annually. Non-Prime members pay $10.99 monthly, and Spotify Premium costs $11.99 monthly. Both music services also have family plans. The Amazon Music Unlimited family plan allows for up to six people and costs $14.99 per month or $149 annually. Spotify offers a family plan for up to six people for $19.99 a month, in addition to a $5.99 student subscription and a $16.99 duo subscription.
Spotify raised its prices twice in the past year, from $9.99 in 2023 to its present price.
Amazon offers five months of Amazon Music Unlimited for free in conjunction with Prime Day.
SEE ALSO: Amazon just announced the exact dates of Prime Day 2024 Amazon Music Unlimited boasts higher sound qualityAmazon Music Unlimited's main advantage over Spotify Premium is its sound quality. While both music services feature compressed music for their free tier of subscribers, Amazon Music Unlimited listeners can listen to songs in SD, HD, Ultra HD, Dolby Atmos, or 360 reality audio when available. Meanwhile, Spotify has teased HiFi lossless audio since 2021 without ever releasing it.
While the differences between lossless and compressed audio quality might not be noticeable to the casual listener, Amazon Music Unlimited wins over Spotify for those looking for a listening experience akin to CD-quality.
Spotify's interface is more intuitiveAmazon Music and Spotify have similar app user interfaces, but Spotify's desktop version is miles ahead of Amazon Music's basic design. Spotify's desktop version is a feast for the eyes and features nearly identical usability to its app; you can even download music offline.
Spotify's personalization and social functions take the cakeSpotify has an unparalleled recommendations algorithm that allows users to follow other users and make collaborative playlists. While Amazon Music also features recommendations, they aren't as on the nose, and the music service lacks any of the social components that define Spotify's listening experience.
The verdictDepending on your listening priorities, either could work for you. Spotify is the right fit if you prioritize music discovery and swapping playlists with friends. But if you're a diehard music-head who wants top-tier sound quality above all else, Amazon Music is for you.
My jaw is still on the floor. You won't believe the battery life we recorded for the Surface Laptop 7, which is a part of Microsoft's "Surface" family that features a wide variety of devices, from tablets to convertibles. And quite frankly, I was never the biggest fan of Surface machines.
They all seem to be missing that je ne sais quoi — that X factor — that makes 'em stand out in the world of MacBooks, Lenovo ThinkPads, and Dell XPS series laptops. The competition was always quite stiff for the Surface family, with rivals offering more performance for the price.
The biggest hindrance to the Surface family's success was, sorry to say it, Intel. (Even when Microsoft decided to pack AMD chips inside their laptops, they performed significantly better than their Intel-based variants.)
"It's me! Hi! I'm the problem it's me," is what Intel should be saying, quoting Taylor Swift.
Now Microsoft has made the smart decision to ditch Intel for the Surface Laptop 7, which features a star chipset called Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite. Long story short, Qualcomm said the Snapdragon X Elite crushes MacBooks, particularly the models with the M3 chips — and it didn't tell a lie.
Did it make our best laptops list? Read on to find out.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 price and specsThe Surface Laptop 7 I tested for this review costs $1,999 via Amazon and comes with the following specs:
Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite CPU
Qualcomm Adreno GPU
32GB of RAM
1TB of SSD storage
13.8-inch, 2496 x 1664-pixel resolution touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate
Windows 11 Home
If that's too much, Amazon is also selling a Microsoft Surface Laptop for just $1,199, but it comes with some downgrades, including 16GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and a Snapdragon X Plus chipset.
Opens in a new window Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 $1,999.99 at AmazonThe Surface Laptop 7 oozes sophistication and polished refinement. Personified, this Microsoft laptop would be the smooth-talking Wall Street banker, dressed in an all black suit, who says, "I'd like a whiskey neat, please."
Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashableThe build quality is mint. The chassis, partially made from recycled aluminum, is sturdy with little to no give on the lid and deck. As a cherry on top, it doesn't collect too many fingerprints.
The review unit I have sports the Black colorway, looking as if it was draped in ink. There are three other color options, including Sapphire, Dune, and Platinum. Overall, the Surface Laptop 7 has a minimalist, subdued look, with the only eye-catching element being the slightly lustrous Microsoft logo on the lid.
The Surface Laptop 7 is light, too, coming in at 2.96 pounds. Its dimensions are 11.85 x 8.67 x 0.69 inches.
Surface Laptop 7 - 2.96 pounds
14-inch M3 MacBook Pro - 3.4 pounds
15-inch M3 MacBook Air - 3.3 pounds
For comparison, the 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro is heavier and thinner at 3.4 pounds and 0.61 inches thick. The 15-inch M3 MacBook Air is also heavier at 3.3 pounds, but significantly thinner (0.45 inches thick).
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 displayThe Surface Laptop 7 comes in two sizes: 13-inch and 15-inch variants. I have the former, which sports a 13.8-inch panel (a step up from its predecessor's 13.5-inch screen).
Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashablePlus, the bezels have slimmed down, too, for a more modern look. (Because, come on, large bezels are so passé.) The LCD display features a 2,304 x 1,536-pixel display with a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate. In other words, depending on your task, it can climb up to 120Hz (e.g., light gaming and other frenetic activities) while dropping down to 60Hz for less demanding activities.
The Surface Laptop 7 also features a 3:2 aspect ratio, which means the screen is more tall than it is wide. Emanating about 600 nits of brightness, the Surface Laptop 7 passed my "sunny day" test. Yes, its display can be seen in bright environments, but the screen is quite reflective. (You could somewhat see yourself while using the screen, even with the panel cranked up to max brightness.) As such, the Surface Laptop 7 could benefit from an antireflective coating on the display.
I watched the Gladiator 2 trailer on YouTube, and the Surface Laptop 7 delivers rich, pungent colors. But compared to my 15-inch M3 MacBook Air, it could stand to be a tinge sharper and more crisp. For example, Denzel Washington, playing as Macrinus, is draped in a Roman grab with vivid red, gold, and purple hues, but the leopard print portion of his getup appeared to be more detailed and sharper on my MacBook.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 portsThe Surface Laptop 7 is a bit selfish with its ports, but my MacBook Air is worse; it doesn't even have legacy ports like USB Type-A.
The Surface Connector on the Surface Laptop 7 Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashableSo perhaps the Microsoft's offerings aren't too bad.
On the left side:
USB Type-A port (3.2 Gen 1)
Two USB4 Type-C ports
3.5mm headphone jack
On the right side:
Microsoft's proprietary Surface Connect port
Like the MagSafe 3 connector for MacBooks, the Surface Connect port is proprietary. It lets you charge the Surface Laptop 7, freeing up the other ports for displays, peripherals, and more. This model doesn't have a microSDXC card slot, but you can find one on the 15-inch model.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 audioThe Surface Laptop 7 has MacBook-beating performance and power efficiency, but it cannot match the stunning sound quality you get on an Apple laptop.
I fired up "Not Like Us" by Kendrick Lamar via Spotify, and while the audio can get pretty loud at max volume, the diss track didn't sound very impactful on the Surface Laptop 7's speaker set up. The tune lacked bass and that rich depth you get from a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 keyboard and trackpadIf I could rate the Surface Laptop 7's keyboard, I'd give it a — well — 7. The keyboard's key travel is a bit shallow as you'd imagine for a thin-and-slim laptop, but there is still enough snappiness and tactile feedback to gracefully launch my fingers from one keycap to another.
Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashableThe touchpad, compared to the last iteration, now has precision haptic capabilities. This means you'll receive reliable click feedback across the entire surface. It felt a bit stiff out of the box, as if I needed to exert more effort than usual to move the cursor around the screen. However, this can be remedied by going to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad > Cursor speed.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 benchmarks and performanceThe Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 comes equipped with the showstopping Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip. As mentioned at the outset, Qualcomm has been boasting that it can beat the M3 MacBooks. We ran Geekbench 6, which stress tests the CPU, to validate Qualcomm's claims.
Surface Laptop 7 - 11,875
M3 MacBook Pro - 11,998
M3 MacBook Air - 12,170
You can squeeze more performance out of the Surface Laptop 7 by switching the power mode to "best performance," which eked out an incredible multi-core score of 14,586.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 battery lifeI couldn't believe my eyes. The Surface Laptop 7, on our 1080p video rundown test, lasted 22 hours and 50 minutes on a charge. That's nearly 23 hours.
Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashableAs of this writing, this is the longest battery life we've ever recorded for a Windows laptop in recent years.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 webcamThe Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 has a 1080p camera located on the top bezel, which also has an IR sensor for Windows Hello facial authentication.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableThe webcam is a bit of potato. It's giving watercolor vibes; it's a bit fuzzy and lacks crispness. On the plus side, it renders color relatively well, accurately picking up my complexion and the bright colors on my shirt.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 compatibility issuesI tried to download the Apple Music app from the Microsoft Store, but it doesn't surface (no pun intended) in search results. As it turns out, the Apple Music app doesn't support the Surface Laptop 7 (though it supports other non-Windows-on-ARM PCs I've tested). For the uninitiated, the Surface Laptop 7 has an ARM chip (hence why it's called Windows-on-ARM), and in order for software to run its smoothest on PC, developers must create ARM64 native apps.
For example, apps like Photoshop, Dropbox, Zoom, Prime, Spotify, Hulu, and Chrome all have native apps on Windows-on-ARM PCs. Apps that don't have native support require emulation with Microsoft's Prism (a translation framework). However, Apple Music isn't available on the Surface Laptop 7 whatsoever, so my guess is that Apple simply hasn't allowed support for it just yet. (According to Reddit, you can sideload it to your PC, though.)
I haven't spotted any other compatibility issues during my normal workflow, but one website claims that some games like Fortnite and Dirt 5 are not playable on Window-on-ARM PCs. However, this doesn't faze me much; the Surface Laptop 7 isn't a gaming laptop. (But if you like to bend the rules, you can definitely get away with some light gaming, as long as the titles are compatible).
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 AI featuresThe Snapdragon X Elite chip is a power-efficiency champ and a performance beast, and on top of that, it boosts the Surface Laptop 7's AI capabilities with an NPU, a dedicated processor designed to shoulder all the AI-related tasks.
This makes the Surface Laptop 7 a Copilot+ PC, allowing users to play around with fun features like Cocreator on Paint.
For example, I was able to draw a rough sketch of a pink flamingo with heels on Paint, only for the new-and-improved AI-powered app to recognize my drawing and fix it into a more sophisticated masterpiece of a fancy, rose-colored bird.
Using Cocreator on the Surface Pro 11 Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableBasically, Cocreator is the let-me-turn-your-ugly-doodle-into-something-pretty AI feature.
I tried the "Renaissance" art style on my selfie via the new AI-powered Photos app. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableIn the Photos app, you can transform your images into a number of different art styles, from anime to watercolor. However, I noticed many of the styles would only apply the style to the background of my selfie due to a high risk of distortion.
I tried the "Papercraft" art style on my selfie via the new AI-powered Photos app. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableYou can even make an image from scratch with the Image Creator feature. Check out what it spat out with a prompt that said, "A beautiful bride celebrating her wedding on roller skates in a bowling alley."
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableFaces are definitely distorted, but it got the gist of what I wanted to convey visually.
The controversial Recall utility, a feature I like to call the "CTRL + H" of your entire digital life, has been delayed. Once it does get released, it will only be available in Preview for Windows Insiders.
Is the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 worth it?With nearly 23 hours of battery life and MacBook-beating performance, of course this Microsoft laptop is worth it. The Surface Laptop 7 is the longest-lasting Windows laptop we've tested in 2024, blowing my expectations out of the water.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 combines a sleek design, a powerful Snapdragon X Elite chipset, and the longest battery life for ultimate productivity and AI-powered creativity. Apple must be sweating through its armpits with the launch of the Surface Laptop 7 because — holy cow — this is one hell of a laptop.
Its power and energy efficiency is serious, but its AI-boosted apps makes Windows fun again. For the first time in a long time, the preinstalled apps on a Windows PC are offering attention-stealing entertainment. It makes me feel like a kid again.
Starting at just $999, if you're OS agnostic and have no allegiance to macOS, I can't believe I'm saying this, but the Surface Laptop 7 is the better choice over M3 MacBooks.
To answer my question at the outset, yes, the Surface Laptop 7 has earned a spot on our best laptops list.
Opens in a new window Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 $1,999.99 at AmazonTL;DR: Charge multiple Apple devices at once with a Waloo portable charging dock on sale for $14.99 (reg. $24.99).
Opens in a new window Credit: Waloo Waloo Portable & Foldable Charging Dock $14.99 at The Mashable ShopIf you're sick of all the wires needed to power your devices, this portable charging hub is a sleek, all-in-one solution that keeps your devices organized and charged without the mess of tangled cables.
You can get the Waloo portable, foldable charging dock for Apple devices on sale for only $14.99 (reg. $24.99) for a limited time.
No more hunting for multiple chargers to get your devices to 100%. The Waloo dock supports charging for your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all at once, making it ideal for those who value convenience and efficiency. It easily folds for portability, ensuring you stay powered up wherever you are — perfect for your morning commute or vacation.
Setting up your charging station is a breeze. Just unfold the dock, plug it in, and place your devices on it. No complicated instructions, no hassle — just functionality.
It's important to note that this dock only works with iPhones and AirPods that charge with Lightning cables, and is not compatible with devices that use USB-C.
Normally $24.99, you can get the Waloo portable and folding charging dock on sale for only $14.99 for a limited time.
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Opens in a new window Credit: StackCommerce The 2024 Career Productivity Hacker Bundle $29.99 at The Mashable ShopLanding your dream job usually requires having the right skills and mindset to stand out from the other candidates. If you want an edge in today’s competitive job market, you could use some help from online courses you can do right from home.
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Opens in a new window Credit: AI Magicx AI MagicX: Lifetime Subscription $39.99 at The Mashable ShopTo tell you the story of EA Sports' NCAA Football, I need to tell you the story of Ingle Martin.
You'd be forgiven if you were unaware of Martin, a University of Florida quarterback who flamed out before transferring and setting records at the tiny liberal arts school Furman University. He's not much of a household name. You might think Ingle Martin sounds like a South Carolina accountant, or you might assume I'm talking about the loss adjustment firm — whatever that is — that nearly shares his name.
But in my house, Martin is a legend. Or, at least, an unnamed digital avatar of Martin is a legend.
My childhood pal and next-door neighbor, confident in his NCAA Football abilities, once rushed for 1,000 yards in a single game with Martin. It was an all-time performance, an unbelievable feat of speed option that nearly broke my young brain. I will never forget that journeyman quarterback's name.
That was the magic of what is largely considered the finest sports video game franchise in history. With more than 100 Division 1 football rosters, a Dynasty Mode that could reshape a university's athletic program, and its unique gameplay, the possibilities of the game were endless. It was the closest a sports video game came to being open-world, where you have near-infinite options in shaping the narrative of a team. It was a place where Ingle Martin could be a household name.
Then, the game disappeared for 10 years. "There was this feeling that this thing had been taken from us," Rodger Sherman, a sportswriter formerly at The Ringer who just spent last season chronicling a 62-game college football road trip, told Mashable. "It's strange; it kind of acquired mythical status."
Tweet may have been deleted Reigniting a fandomSo why would EA Sports shelve a popular franchise that defined an entire genre of gameplay? For legal reasons, of course. NCAA Football was killed off after its 2014 edition because of a high-profile legal case that found the game was using players' likenesses without compensation. At the time, NCAA rules forbade players from making money off their name, image, or likeness (otherwise known as NIL) to maintain their amateur status while the NCAA, universities, and EA raked in cash hand over fist. NCAA rules have changed over the last 10 years, allowing players to be compensated for NIL endorsements. (Though college players still don't receive an outright salary.)
Now, EA's College Football '25 is set to drop on July 19, roughly a decade after its last iteration. A long-rumored dream, College Football '25 has built the sort of online momentum typically reserved for cultural monoliths like Barbenheimer and Succession.
For a certain kind of person — typically speaking, a sports-enjoying dude born between 1985 and 2000 — this is the most highly anticipated media in ages. I hardly play video games, and I cannot wait.
SEE ALSO: I'm playing video games like a caveman during the pandemic. It rules.Kevin Clark, an ESPN personality and host of This Is Football for the Mannings' production company, is about as eager as a person can be for this game. He even used precious airtime on ESPN to petition for the release date to be a national holiday.
Tweet may have been deleted"The game went away a decade ago, and in that decade, I've gotten married, advanced quite a bit in my career, had a child, bought a house, and I am only half-joking when I say all of these things were made possible because I wasn't playing the video game," Clark told Mashable over the phone. "Sometimes I'm like, 'What if they just made the game for the past decade?' What exactly would I be doing, and would the trade-off have been worth it?"
In truth, there's no telling which timeline is more rewarding. "I'd be living in a studio somewhere in Middle America, but I'd be in Year 49 of my Miami Dynasty," Clark joked. "And we'd have something rolling, you know?"
The issue with the game or its potential pitfall is a symptom of that imagined world. We have only the memory of NCAA Football. And it existed in a much different time — both in the real and gaming worlds. Lots has changed. Chiefly, micro-transactions and online gaming exist now.
But as a great philosopher of our time and UT's Minister of Culture, Matthew McConaughey, once said: "Sometimes you gotta go back to actually move forward."
Building a worldIf you're wondering if College Football '25 will mirror the halcyon days of NCAA Football, all indications are yes. The folks who got an early look at the game have almost universally said it's very good. And, even more importantly, it understands what the game should be.
In short, it's not a reskinned version of Madden. The folks who loved the NCAA franchise loved it for its expansiveness inside the game, specifically in Dynasty Mode, where you'd control every aspect of a university's football program. You could play at 130-some colleges. You could turn a tiny school in places like North Texas or Tulsa into a powerhouse through countless seasons of recruiting computer-generated studs. A slow drip of stories and reporting, such as a recent episode of ESPN Daily, revealed that Dynasty Mode and authenticity were the focus of the game's re-creation — things like making sure the water fountains at Arkansas State, of all places, were rendered just right.
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedThe NCAA Football series existed back when online gaming wasn't a thing. Without that worry, it was the best sports game on the market. Many folks, myself included, were worried EA would take College Football down the same path as EA's Madden NFL series, which has devolved into a frustrating offline product over the last decade. It seems to skew toward younger players and incentivizes spending extra money on Ultimate Team microtransactions. As an offline gamer molded by NCAA, I had to adjust settings endlessly to get anything worth playing in Madden's offline Franchise mode. It took a lot of Reddit research to stop the computer model from permanently benching my best players. The team behind College Football '25 has seemingly understood it couldn't fall into the same trap.
It's a game that will get long-retired gamers back into the fold. The last thing you want to do is have a game not for the people who remember the magic of creating a new reality for their favorite college team. That's why the game was so great in the first place.
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedCollege Football '25 should benefit from the fact that it's more fun to recruit from an endless pool of talent from 130-some schools rather than being tied to just 32 NFL teams and a limited number of players.
"The NFL is a closed system where you're dealing with only NFL players. The transactional part of college [football] is always going to be more fun because of how almost open-world it is," Clark said.
He added: "There are thousands of players, in theory, available to you, and you can filter by speed. You can filter by state. You can filter by: 'We just want the biggest guys on the planet. We want the fattest five guys on Earth to play offensive line for us.' And it's all realistic... There are gems like that all the time."
The idea that the game is what you make it — it's your world to create and expand — is a lost art in sports games.
"That's why I think people love it so much," Sherman said. "It allows you to bend reality."
Pre-game jittersThere is no overstating the excitement surrounding the release of this game, especially in the sports world. Clark mentioned that "one of the top TV personalities" in sports got in touch with him about gauging interest in starting a 32-team online Dynasty, and some of the most famous names in football —huge NFL players — were down to do it.
"The energy is pretty palpable," he said. "I don't think I've seen anything like this where everybody's excited."
"I have not come into anybody my age, who's a guy, or even within 10 years of me who's like, 'Oh, I'm not an NCAA guy," Clark added. "Everybody's got a story."
Tweet may have been deletedMine is Ingle Martin. Clark's was Jordan Futch, a University of Miami recruit who struggled during Clark's time at the school. But in Clark's Dynasty, Futch was the guy who had a game-winning interception against Wisconsin in the national championship. He remembers the exact play: the Wisconsin quarterback threw a cross-body pass over the middle that Futch picked up and took to the house.
"If I saw or met Jordan Futch now, I would be so happy," Clark said. "I would just be like, 'Oh my god, you have no idea what you did for me.'"
What other video game creates nostalgia like that? Clark and I are not alone. Sherman, a Northwestern grad, recalled building the lowly Wildcats into something great via computer-generated recruits.
"I got the Heisman Trophy for this fullback that I recruited; his last name was Lovelady. It was auto-generated, his name was like, Steve Lovelady or something," Sherman said. "And I would just run passes to the fullback over and over and over again. And yeah, I built Northwestern up into a national champion."
For years, we were in a desert without the game. Sure, you could dig up a 2014 NCAA Football game. You could even play a modded version that dedicated fans continually updated throughout the years. In 2020, uber-popular Barstool personality Big Cat briefly enthralled the sports world by streaming his Dynasty mode while we waited for real sports to return. But none of this scratched the specific itch of playing a modern version of the game.
Talk with a dude who loved NCAA Football, and they've got something akin to pre-game jitters. We're bouncing off the walls. Sherman and I expressed how we'd have to buy a new console to play the game because it will be available only on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
The internet is just as hyped for it. One viral post and its replies focused on what you would do the first playback. A classic triple option? Four verts? Take a knee to honor the years without the game? It's wild how much of that game stuck with those who played it.
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedThat's far from the only viral post about College Football '25. It's ramping up further as we approach the release date. People have joked about the older generation schooling the kids on this game — or, at least, the kids not understanding how good they have it. We used to Google players' numbers, figure out the person's real name, and manually change it if we wanted accuracy. There are jokes about how people will run their team in Dynasty mode. There was a trend of people farming likes on TikTok to get their significant others to buy them the game.
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted SEE ALSO: TikTokkers are farming likes to force their partners to buy them 'College Football 25'For the people who loved this game, we get something huge back. Come July 19, the nostalgia can recede; instead, we can re-enter that world and drop an avatar into our favorite university.
"The thing about college football is people feel such a strong connection to the place and the school and its traditions," Sherman said. "It feels like you grow up in that stadium."
Sherman wasn't certain what team he'd use in his first foray with College Football '25, but Clark was dead set and eager to run it back with The U, his alma mater. He plans to practice the game's mechanics via Practice Mode before jumping directly into a Miami Dynasty.
"I'm gonna go headfirst into [University of Florida's] The Swamp, which is Miami's real opener," Clark said. He knows his exact play-call.
"I gotta take that deep shot, play one in The Swamp. Play action," he said. "And then we'll all be whole again."
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