Animal Crossing: New Horizons Shrub Guide
Google Stadia Connect Event Will Show Off “A Few New Games” Next Week
Google has announced that it will broadcast a Stadia Connect event on Tuesday, April 28 at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET / 4 PM GMT to highlight “a few new games” coming to the cloud gaming platform.
It’s time for another #StadiaConnect! Tune in this Tuesday 4/28 9AM PT / 6PM CET on YouTube to hear from the team and see a few new games coming to Stadia. pic.twitter.com/Fuao6QvHF3
— Stadia (@GoogleStadia) April 24, 2020
The latest Stadia Connect event can be watched on the platform’s official YouTube channel. Google did not go into detail about what it will show off during the upcoming livestream.
This announcement follows the company giving away two months of Stadia Pro for free earlier this month. The only requirement to get two months of free Stadia Pro access is a Gmail account.
From Bleach To Warm Weather: Trump’s Dangerous Coronavirus ‘Cures’
The president continues to push scientifically unsound quick fixes to the coronavirus.
Office Boss Says He and Steve Carell Have Talked About a Reunion ‘Something’
Ever since The Office ended in 2013, fans have been clamoring for a reunion – and despite pretty much everyone involved admitting that reassembling the busy and successful cast would be a gargantuan task, there could be a glimmer of hope on the horizon (especially following the news that the Parks and Recreation cast is reuniting for a scripted special for charity).
IGN spoke to The Office showrunner (and Parks and Rec co-creator) Greg Daniels ahead of the launch of his two upcoming streaming shows – Amazon’s Upload (premiering May 1), and Netflix’s Space Force (releasing May 29), which reunites Daniels with Office star Steve Carell – about the continued interest around an Office reunion, and whether he and Carell have discussed the possibility.
“It’s so personally satisfying for me to work with Steve again, and I have talked with Steve about the fact that in a year or so we’re gonna start on Peacock as a rerun and I’m sure that they would love something, some sort of a… something,” Daniels told IGN. “I’m a little reluctant to open up the characters’ endings because we wrote specifically to an ending, but as we hang around we sometimes think about [it]. And there is a script that was written in Season 1; there was an extra script written that was never shot, called ‘Pet Day,’ so I don’t know, sometimes we joke around about gathering to do Pet Day.”
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Rumors of an Office reunion have been percolating for years, with former NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt fanning the flames back in 2018 by publicly expressing interest in a revival.
Ever since then, the cast and writers have been grilled about a potential reunion at every opportunity – soon after Greenblatt’s comments, star John Krasinski told IGN, “I love the idea of coming back together… I think it’d be impossible to get us all together to do a run of the series, but [British shows] have the Christmas specials.”
Carell then staged a mini-reunion when he hosted Saturday Night Live, with former co-stars Ellie Kemper, Ed Helms, and Jenna Fischer jokingly harassing him about returning for a reboot. Soon after, a number of cast members reunited at Daniels’ home and recreated the character photo op from “A Benihana Christmas.” More recently, Krasinski reunited with Carell for the first episode of his Some Good News webseries.
“Some of the most fun memories, personally or professionally, are intertwined and connected with that show, without a doubt,” Carell said.
“Listen, I know everyone’s talking about a reunion; hopefully one day, we just get to reunite as people, and just all get to say hi,” Krasinski responded.
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How would you feel about an Office reunion or revival special? Weigh in below, and read up on HBO Max’s (sadly unscripted) Friends cast reunion coming later this year.
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Rogue One Prequel Casts Star Wars And Witcher 3 Actors For Disney+ Series
The upcoming Disney+ series following Rebel Alliance member Cassian Andor has two new actors joining the series. The show will be a prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, set five years before the 2016 movie.
Both Genevieve O’Reilly and Denise Gough have signed on to appear on the series, according to The Hollywood Reporter. They’ll join Diego Luna who will reprise his role as Andor.
O’Reilly has already appeared in the Star Wars universe multiple times. She’s played Mon Mothma in 2005’s Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Rogue One, and on the animated series Star Wars: Rebels. It’s been confirmed she’ll be playing Mothma once again for the Disney+ show.
New York Retailer Accused Of Price Gouging Sanitizer, Masks And Gowns
Federal prosecutors accused Amardeep “Bobby” Singh of hoarding disposable masks, surgical gowns and hand sanitizer.
Take Your Mobile Gaming to the Next Level With a Phone Controller
It’s 2020. If you’re not gaming on your Nintendo Switch during the morning commute, you’re doing it on your smartphone. Just one problem: touchscreen controls on smartphones and tablets can be…awkward.
That’s why we’d recommend a phone controller to any serious mobile gamer. There are heaps that work with both iOS and Android, and luck for you we’ve rounded up the ones we consider to be the best. Get a load of these.
TL;DR – These are the Best Phone Controllers:
- Xbox One Wireless Controller
- SteelSeries Stratus Duo
- SteelSeries Nimbus
- DualShock 4 controller
- 8BitDo SN30
- Razer Raiju Mobile
1. Xbox One Bluetooth Controller
Best Mobile Controller
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The mobile controller market is filled with unknown names, but you’ll certainly recognize this one. The Xbox One controller gained Bluetooth support in 2016, making it compatible with PC, Android and iOS devices. And we’re thrilled, because Microsoft has fine-tuned the Xbox One controller to perfection.
The controller runs on two AA batteries, which is a good or bad thing depending on your preference, but personally, we like having one less thing to charge. The controller doesn’t have a grip, so you’ll need to supply your own – or find something to prop your phone/tablet up against.
2. SteelSeries Stratus Duo
A top Android all-rounder
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Another well-rounded controller, the SteelSeries Stratus Duo is absolutely loaded with buttons: two joysticks, a four-way directional pad, four action buttons, two shoulder buttons, two triggers, and three front-facing buttons.
It’s a superior controller to the Status XL thanks to the new, more comfortable design and the rechargeable battery, which the XL doesn’t have. Best for Android phone and PC users only – for iPhone, check out the SteelSeries Nimbus below.
3. SteelSeries Nimbus
A great choice for iPhone users
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If you’re a PlayStation 4 gamer at home and don’t like the idea of rewiring your brain to a different layout, the Nimbus takes the PS4’s same analog stick layout, along with a four-way directional pad, four action buttons, two bumpers, and two triggers.
This is the iPhone user’s answer to the SteelSeries Stratus Duo, complete with a Lightning port to recharge the battery, which should net you a little over 40 hours of playtime. There’s no mount, annoyingly, but we do like the haptic feedback motors that give our mobile gaming a little extra edge.
4. Sony DualShock 4
For Team Sony
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It would be remiss of us to include the Xbox One controller and not mention Sony’s DualShock 4, which also works with both iPhone and Android devices. If you’re a PS4 player at home, you’ll probably already have one of these PS4 controllers hanging around; pairing it with your mobile device is nice and easy.
While we personally prefer the comfort of the Xbox One controller, the DualShock 4 is still a fantastic gamepad. In fact, those who find the Xbox One’s a little too chunky are more likely to prefer Sony’s alternative. It does, however, have a far inferior battery life. You can also pick up a phone mount from one of the many PS4 accessory makers.
5. 8BitDo SN30
Best for retro appeal
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If Nintendo’s SNES is a major feature of your childhood memories, then this one’s for you. The 8BitDo SN30 is both a great mobile controller and a shameless appeal to nostalgia. And sure, you could actually use it on your Nintendo Switch for the ultimate throwback, but it also makes a great retro accessory for your Android phone (sorry iPhone users, but this one’s not compatible).
Better still, the controller’s color options are based on variations of Nintendo’s original Game Boy Pocket. The price is good, too.
6. Razer Raiju Mobile
The everything package
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As another of the more established names on this list, it’s no surprise to see Razer turn in one of the more “elite” mobile controllers on our list. It can connect over Bluetooth or wired via one of the USB-C cables that Razer bundles in the box.
The controller also has a built-in dock for your phone, which slides upwards and should have no problem handling most Android handsets. Our favorite bit is the companion app, which lets you map buttons and adjust the sensitivity of the analog sticks. The downsides: it’s an expensive controller, one we’d only recommend for the most ardent of mobile gamers. Android only.
What You Need to Know About Mobile gaming controllers
Compatibility: First things first, make sure the controller works with your mobile device. A lot of mobile controllers are Android-only, but there are plenty of iPhone options too. And pay special attention to the version compatibility, especially if you’re running an old version of Android or iOS, as some controllers will need newer versions to work.
The games: Some games are better suited to specific control types, so you need to think about the types of games you tend towards. More of a touchscreen puzzle player? A mobile controller might sooner find itself in a draw collecting dust. But if you play a lot of first-person shooters or find yourself longing for more precision in your platformers, then chances are your gaming experience will improve vastly with something more tactile.
Mounting: If you’re playing with a mobile controller, then you’ll need something to hold up your phone or tablet. Some controllers come with a mount, some don’t. You could also get a stand for the phone, which is great if you have a surface to play it on, but less helpful when you’re trying to cram in a quick game of Fortnite on the bus. A mount, either built-in or attachable, is recommended.
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Hugh Langley is a tech journalist who’s fascinated by wearables, health tech, the smart home, and more. You can find him tweeting (often nonsense) over at @hughlangley.
Disney Theme Parks and Resorts May Not Open Until January 2021
Disney is reportedly considering keeping their theme parks and resorts, such as Disneyland in Anaheim and Disney World in Orlando, closed until at least the beginning of the new year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Disney parks remain indefinitely closed at the moment.
According to the Los Angeles Times (via ScreenRant), the global financial advisory firm UBS informed their clients Monday that the “Walt Disney Co. is likely to wait until Jan. 1 to open its theme parks.”
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And once they do, UBS predicts that Disney “will see only about 50% of 2019 attendance” and that they can expect reduced profitability until there’s a vaccine for the coronavirus. Disney’s stock dropped earlier this week following a downgrade from UBS.
Disney Executive Chairman Bob Iger recently said Disney parks and resorts will implement new screening measures and health precautions once they reopen, including possibly taking visitors’ temperatures, in order to ensure employee and customer safety.
Disney is reportedly losing upwards of $30 million a day as a large swath of their businesses remain closed, a downturn in the media giant’s fortunes that has seen their rival Netflix become more valuable than them.
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Fortunately, there are new attractions you can look forward to in the future when the parks reopen, like Disneyland’s upcoming Avengers Campus and the new Spider-Man ride featuring Tom Holland.
As for Disney films, the company recently announced a slate of new release dates for their movies postponed due to COVID-19, and have pivoted to releasing some of their titles, like Onward, earlier than expected on VOD. The studio also scrapped plans to release Artemis Fowl theatrically, opting to debut the film on Disney+ instead on June 12.
This Discounted Gaming Laptop Is Great For Shooters Like Fortnite And Valorant
There have been some great gaming laptop deals over the past couple of months, and now, Newegg has a new one for a limited time. You can snag an Asus Tuf gaming laptop for $1,000, down from its original price of $1,300. This deal is valid for less than 12 hours, so you’ll need to act fast. It boasts an RTX 2060 graphics card, a Ryzen 7 R7-3750H processor, and a 1080p 144Hz display, which makes it an excellent choice for PC shooter fans that want the freedom a laptop provides.
The Asus Tuf laptop’s specs are powerful enough to run all of today’s most popular shooters at medium-to-high settings, from Fortnite and Valorant to Call of Duty: Warzone and Rainbow Six Siege. though you may want to lower your settings if you want to take full advantage of the 144Hz refresh rate. This means that the screen can display up to 144 frames per second, which makes it much easier to react to things happening on your screen, such as an enemy coming around a corner.
Asus Tuf gaming laptop with RTX 2060 and 144Hz display
$1,000 ($1,300)